SEL in EDU

096: The Soft Life: Humanizing Math and Learning with Dr. Natalie Odom Pough

In this episode of SELinEDU, Dr. Krista Leh sits down with Dr. Natalie Odom Pough, a mathematics educator and advocate for joyful, justice-centered learning, to explore what she calls the soft life. Together, they unpack the idea that learning environments do not have to be rooted in pressure, comparison, and compliance—but can instead be spaces where students feel seen, respected, and capable of growth. Through stories from her work in middle school math classrooms and her own experiences as a parent and educator, Natalie shares how identity, culture, and personal experience shape how students engage with learning. She challenges the notion that math exists in isolation, offering powerful examples of how relevance, real-world context, and student-centered design can transform both engagement and understanding. From rethinking word problems to connecting math with history and community, she reminds us that meaningful learning happens when students can see themselves in the work. The conversation also highlights the deeply human side of teaching. Natalie reflects on what it means to truly see each student—even in large classrooms—and how relationships, consistency, and communication with families create the foundation for both academic and social-emotional growth. She shares practical ways educators can support productive struggle, build classroom culture over time, and shift from comparison-driven environments to ones that honor each student’s unique abilities. At its core, this episode is a reminder that social emotional learning is not separate from content—it is how learning comes to life. When we center students as individuals, treat learning as a conversation, and create spaces grounded in respect and belonging, we open the door for both rigor and humanity to coexist. Chapters * 00:00 The Soft Life in Education * 05:43 Empowering Students in Math * 13:01 Seeing Students as Individuals * 18:02 Social Emotional Learning and Teaching * 37:22 Productive Struggle and Discourse in the Classroom

095: Possibility as a Practice with Thom Stecher

What helps young people and adults see beyond what is into what could be? In this episode, I’m joined again by educator, author, and lifelong champion for young people, Thom Stecher, for a conversation about possibility... a powerful mindset that invites hope, stretches imagination, and opens doors where others see walls. Together, we explore possibilities not as wishful thinking, but as a way of seeing, teaching, and living that helps people move beyond limitation into growth, agency, and purpose. Throughout this conversation, Thom shares wisdom about nurturing possibility in schools and in life: how educators can become cultivators of potential, why belief often precedes achievement, and how creating conditions for curiosity, courage, and imagination can transform learning. We also reflect on how possibility connects to SEL, fueling hope, resilience, perspective-taking, and self-discovery. If you’ve ever wondered how we help students envision futures they may not yet be able to name, or how we keep possibility alive in ourselves, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical wisdom that will stay with you.

094: The Resilience Loop: How Facing Discomfort Builds Inner Strength with Josephine Hunt

Discover practical strategies for fostering resilience and emotional wealth in students and educators alike. This episode features insights from Josephine Hunt, a seasoned special education teacher and media voice, who shares how natural consequences, intrinsic motivation, and mindful coaching cultivate resilient learners.Main topics: * The resilience loop: understanding how overcoming challenges builds long-term strength * Differentiating resilience as a skill versus a fixed trait * The impact of social media and technology on youth mental health and resilience * Practical classroom strategies: choice, autonomy, and reflective questioning * The importance of self-regulation and co-regulation for adults working with youth * The role of physical strength and movement in emotional well-being Resources & Links: * Josephine Hunt’s Website [https://www.josephinehunt.com/] * The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz [https://riverside.com/dashboard/studios/kristas-studio-PKUmI/projects/amazon.com/dp/B0030V976A] * Dealing with Feelings by Dr. Mark Brackett [https://riverside.com/dashboard/studios/kristas-studio-PKUmI/projects/amazon.com/dp/B09BZCCD2R] * Brené Brown on Vulnerability [https://brenebrown.com/] Connect with Josephine Hunt: * Website [https://www.josephinehunt.com/] * YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@JosephineVHunt] * Email [https://www.josephinehunt.com/contact] Thank you for joining this conversation about resilience, growth, and emotional health in education. Remember to notice one small way SEL showed up in your day and keep nurturing meaningful, connected learning.

093: Clarity First: Why School Initiatives Stall with Casey Watts

If your school feels busy but not aligned, the issue might not be effort at all. It might be clarity. I’m joined by speaker, author, and consultant Casey Watts to dig into why well-intentioned initiatives stall when teams don’t share a clear, detailed grasp of the destination, the language, and the role each person plays in getting there. We get concrete about what “clarity” actually means in education leadership. Casey shares the moment a group of teachers admitted they didn’t know what they were being asked to do, and how that kind of quiet confusion can erode collaboration. We also discuss the hidden dangers of jargon in school improvement work. When terms like SEL, tier one instruction, and differentiation mean different things to different people, alignment becomes impossible, no matter how many meetings you hold. Then we walk through Casey’s Clarity Cycle Framework and challenge the idea of chasing “buy-in” by shifting toward commitment by building agency, self-efficacy, and collective efficacy. We connect the same leadership moves to student engagement, especially the role of relevance, belonging, and inviting students into the learning process. If you want practical tools for clearer meetings, stronger roles and responsibilities, and success indicators that sustain momentum, this conversation offers a simple lens you can apply right away. EPISODE RESOURCES:  Connect with Casey via her website [https://www.catchingupwithcasey.com/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/catchupwithcasey], and LinkedIn. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/catchupwithcasey/] Read her book, The Craft of Clarity [https://a.co/d/6lAKiTE], and subscribe to her newsletter [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/leading-clarity-driven-teams-7312243414433992705/].

092: The Psychological Safety Gradient with Chase Mielke

A single hand raised can fool us into thinking a class feels safe, while most students are silently calculating the social cost of being wrong. We sit down with award-winning educator and burnout expert Chase Mielke to make psychological safety practical through a Goldilocks Gradient lens: low, mid, and high-risk moments that shape student participation, academic risk-taking, and real engagement. We talk through why “one student in the spotlight” instantly creates a high-gradient situation, even when the question is simple. Then we map out how to sequence learning so students warm up before you ask for courage: quick partner exchanges, brief opinion prompts, and fast confidence checks that serve as formative assessments. We also get honest about the harm of cold calling when it spikes threat responses, and how “lukewarm calls” preserve rigor while protecting dignity. The conversation moves beyond talk into the environment itself. Classroom layout, teacher movement, lighting, and visual cues can quietly broadcast safety or threat. Chase shares ways to use anchor spots in the room, class agreements, and displays that celebrate progress and courage so students see mistakes as part of learning. If you’re building SEL, classroom culture, and equitable participation, these strategies are designed to be usable tomorrow.  Subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review with the one small change you’re going to test next. EPISODE RESOURCES: Connect with Chase via his website [https://topyouthspeakers.com/speakers-topics/chase-mielke], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-mielke/], and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chasemielke]. Purchase Chase's book and read his articles [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-mielke/].