Managing the Madness with Jack Berckemeyer

Managing the Madness with Jack Berckemeyer

In this episode of Ed Soul, we hear from educator, author, and speaker Jack Berckemeyer to explore the unique world of middle school learners and the realities of “managing the madness” in today’s classrooms. Jack shares insights from his work on young adolescence, classroom management, and the evolving characteristics of learners, offering practical encouragement for educators navigating the middle level and beyond. From creating safe and engaging learning environments to modeling social skills and ending the school year with intention, this conversation is packed with wisdom, humor, and tangible takeaways for educators.      Resources and ideas from this episode:  * Managing the Madness: A Practical Guide to Middle Grades Classrooms – Jack Berckemeyer Consulting Group [https://jackberckemeyer.com/product/managing-the-madness-a-practical-guide-to-middle-grades-classrooms/]  * ManagingTheMadness_AGuideToClassroomManagement_2024.pdf [https://www.jackberckemeyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ManagingTheMadness_AGuideToClassroomManagement_2024.pdf]  * 8NewCharacteristicsOfMiddleSchoolKidsAMLE.pdf [https://www.jackberckemeyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/8NewCharacteristicsOfMiddleSchoolKidsAMLE.pdf]  * Jack’s Watches: Shrinking [https://tv.apple.com/us/show/shrinking/umc.cmc.apzybj6eqf6pzccd97kev7bs] and The Pit [https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0N6KUT8WD9PHEPB443ML30B80S]    In the Sourcewell region? Register for our upcoming 2026 Sourcewell Educator Summit: 2026 Sourcewell Educator Summit | Sourcewell [https://mn.sourcewell.org/professional-development/2026-sourcewell-educator-summit?search=&program_category=1081] and ask Jack to “finish that story!”  Find more educational resources by topic at https://www.mn.sourcewell.org/education/podcast [https://www.mn.sourcewell.org/education/podcast] Learn more about upcoming trainings and events for educators at www.mn.sourcewell.org/education [http://www.mn.sourcewell.org/education]

Understanding and Supporting our (Anxious) Youth with Dr. Kathryn Hecht

Show Summary:  In this episode of Ed Soul, child and adolescent clinical psychologist, author, and professional bravery coach Dr. Kathryn Hecht shares about anxiety data in the classroom and what it means for educators and school leaders. Dr. Hecht discusses how adults can take the first step by creating brave, confidence-building opportunities for students and modeling calm, steady regulation that kids can “borrow.” Dr. Hecht also shares student-facing strategies that build bravery and confidence over time, reframing anxiety as something we can work with rather than simply eliminate.   Resources and ideas from this episode:  * Be Brave Activity Book — Kathryn F Hecht PhD, LP [https://www.drkathrynhecht.com/bebraveactivitybook]  * The Be Brave Activity Book: 100 Exposure-Based Challenges That DARE Kids to Boss Back Their Worry and Anxiety Once and for All: Hecht, Kathryn F.: 9781683736905: Amazon.com: Books [https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Activity-Book-Exposure-Based-Challenges/dp/1683736907]  * TEDx Talk: Brave Parenting — Kathryn F Hecht PhD, LP [https://www.drkathrynhecht.com/tedx-talk]  * Kathryn F Hecht PhD, LP [https://www.drkathrynhecht.com/]  * Raising Good Humans - Podcast - Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raising-good-humans/id1473072044]  * Anxiety In The Classroom | School Anxiety | Free Resources [https://anxietyintheclassroom.org/]   In the Sourcewell region? Register for our upcoming 2026 Sourcewell Educator Summit: 2026 Sourcewell Educator Summit | Sourcewell [https://mn.sourcewell.org/professional-development/2026-sourcewell-educator-summit?search=&program_category=1081]  Find more educational resources by topic at https://www.mn.sourcewell.org/education/podcast [https://www.mn.sourcewell.org/education/podcast] Learn more about upcoming trainings and events for educators at www.mn.sourcewell.org/education [http://www.mn.sourcewell.org/education]

Staying Personal and Authentic with Sourcewell Educator Summit Keynote: Thomas C. Murray

In this episode, we sit down with Sourcewell Educator Summit keynote speaker Thomas C. Murray to explore what it really means to keep learning personal, authentic, and rooted in strong relationships. Thomas shares practical ways to move from believing in student-centered learning to applying it through intentional design of experiences, spaces, and school culture. We also dig into what “Future Ready Schools” look like in practice—and how educators can create personalized learning at scale, even amid the realities of time, workload, and competing needs.  Resources and ideas from this episode:  * Personal & Authentic: Designing Learning Experiences that Impact a Lifetime — Thomas C Murray [https://www.thomascmurray.com/authenticedu1]  * Personal & Authentic Master Course | Thomas C. Murray [https://thomascmurray.teachable.com/p/personal-authentic-master-course]  * Thomas C Murray [https://www.thomascmurray.com/]  * Home | All4Ed [https://all4ed.org/]  * Creating Future Ready Schools and Classrooms — Thomas C Murray [https://www.thomascmurray.com/blog/futureready]  * Getting Started with Future Ready Pathways – All4Ed’s Future Ready Pathways [https://futurereadypathways.org/getting-started-with-future-ready-pathways/]    In the Sourcewell region? Register for our upcoming 2026 Sourcewell Educator Summit: 2026 Sourcewell Educator Summit | Sourcewell [https://mn.sourcewell.org/professional-development/2026-sourcewell-educator-summit?search=&program_category=1081]  Find more educational resources by topic at https://www.mn.sourcewell.org/education/podcast [https://www.mn.sourcewell.org/education/podcast] Learn more about upcoming trainings and events for educators at www.mn.sourcewell.org/education [http://www.mn.sourcewell.org/education]

Key Shifts in Social Studies Standards with Sung Ja Shin and Brittany Rawson Haeg

In this episode, we talk with social studies leaders Sung Ja Shin (Minnesota Humanities Center) and Brittany Rawson Haeg (Minnesota Department of Education) about the key shifts in Minnesota’s updated social studies standards and the broader review/revision process behind them. We dig into what’s meaningfully different in this set of standards, when they go into effect, and what K–12 educators can expect. While there’s no perfect crosswalk from the former to the new, we have you covered with resources and strategies to get you started without feeling overwhelmed.  Resources and ideas from this episode:  * Minnesota Council for the Social Studies - Home [https://mcss.wildapricot.org/]  * Social Studies Standards Implementation (Learning Progressions K-12) [https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/stds/soc/imp/]  * PZ Thinking Routines | Project Zero [https://pz.harvard.edu/thinking-routines] * Inquiry Rubric EN - Jul2020 FINAL.pdf [https://pz.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/Inquiry%20Rubric%20EN%20-%20Jul2020%20FINAL.pdf] * Why Nell Duke Believes Science and Social Studies are Essential to Literacy | The Bulletin [https://kentisdbulletin.wordpress.com/2020/02/25/why-nell-duke-believes-science-and-social-studies-are-important-to-literacy/] * C3 Framework for Social Studies Standards [https://www.socialstudies.org/sites/default/files/c3/C3-Framework-for-Social-Studies.pdf] * Inquiry Design Model [https://c3teachers.org/idm/] * C3 Teachers [https://c3teachers.org/] * Library of Congress Catalog | Library of Congress [https://catalog.loc.gov/] * Membership | Minnesota Historical Society [https://www.mnhs.org/support/membership?utm_term=museum%20membership&utm_campaign=%5BAG%5D+-+Membership+Acquisition&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=4738579562&hsa_cam=20755342788&hsa_grp=198013779968&hsa_ad=794808378615&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-285032911&hsa_kw=museum%20membership&hsa_mt=b&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20755342788&gclid=CjwKCAjwnN3OBhA8EiwAfpTYejEJxOwAHxyc7-I2kT_Ps2Ka1CqyGb1uZeOHLCXiAuYXeaRWgujhqRoCsBgQAvD_BwE] * Homepage - Minnesota Humanities Center [https://www.mnhum.org/] * Events from February 24 – April 23 – Minnesota Humanities Center [https://www.mnhum.org/events/] * Immersive Experiences - Minnesota Humanities Center [https://www.mnhum.org/what-we-do/immersive-experiences/] * Watch The Toys That Made Us | Netflix Official Site [https://www.netflix.com/title/80161497] * Why Learn History: (When It's Already on Your Phone) by Sam Wineburg | Goodreads  [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/70461440-why-learn-history] * https://www.mnhum.org/program/minnesota-center-for-social-studies-education/ [https://www.mnhum.org/program/minnesota-center-for-social-studies-education/] In the Sourcewell region? Register for our upcoming Social Studies training with Brittany and Sung Ja! Social Studies Standards: Inquiry & Interdisciplinary Shifts | Sourcewell  [https://mn.sourcewell.org/professional-development/social-studies-standards-inquiry-interdisciplinary-shifts?search=&program_category=1081&sort_by=title] Find more educational resources by topic at https://www.mn.sourcewell.org/education/podcast [https://www.mn.sourcewell.org/education/podcast] Learn more about upcoming trainings and events for educators at www.mn.sourcewell.org/education [http://www.mn.sourcewell.org/education]

Unlocking the Person Within the Professional with John Garrett

In this episode, keynote speaker and author John Garrett explores what it means to challenge “traditional professionalism” and create workplaces where people can bring more of their full selves to work. We discuss the core ideas behind his award-winning book What’s Your And? and what choosing humanity, passion, and purpose can look like in schools for teachers, staff, and leaders. John shares practical examples and addresses common hesitations—like wanting to keep work and personal life separate—while offering a tangible first step leaders can take to build a more inclusive, engaged culture.  Resources and ideas from this episode:  * Learn more about and connect with John [https://www.thejohngarrett.com/meet-john-garrett]  * What's Your "And"? Book — John Garrett [https://www.thejohngarrett.com/whats-your-and-book] * Making Sure Each Child Is Known | Edutopia [https://www.edutopia.org/video/making-sure-each-child-known/] * Ram Dass Becoming Nobody - Official Film Home Page - 2026  [https://becomingnobody.com/] Are you a regional leader in the Sourcewell area and looking for a way to see John in person at the Leadership Retreat? Reach out to education@sourcewell-mn.gov   Find more educational resources by topic at https://www.mn.sourcewell.org/education/podcast [https://www.mn.sourcewell.org/education/podcast] Learn more about upcoming trainings and events for educators at www.mn.sourcewell.org/education [http://www.mn.sourcewell.org/education]