What's the Big Idea?

In which Dan chats with Cindy Blackburn, Director of Learning and Engagement at Toddle, about curriculum, that "dirty word" at many progressive schools. Cindy is also the host of the School Leaders Project podcast, where she interviews leading minds in progressive education. Dan and Cindy talk about why curriculum design and mapping can be so so sticky in schools, lessons from the International Baccalaureate, and the future of artificial intelligence in schools. Mentioned in the show: Toddle [https://www.toddleapp.com/], a leading learning management system for IB and progressive schools School Leaders Project [https://slp.toddleapp.com/], a podcast from Toddle and hosted by Cindy Blackburn Streamlining the Curriculum: Using the Storyboard Approach to Frame Compelling Learning Journeys [https://www.amazon.com/Streamlining-Curriculum-Storyboard-Approach-Compelling/dp/1416632204/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1E0GJUVA2I30K&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.suI6XyN3h7wy2D_SgpZ0URIVlVJSHH7ZoRDEq8Y8BfQ.rbQY0WFw80NvfWIHo0Xsat4UfK0unN8JBYFEfCassUc&dib_tag=se&keywords=streamlining+the+curriculum+using+the+storyboard+approach&qid=1736283498&sprefix=streamlining+the+cu%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-1], by Heidi Jacobs Hayes and Allison Zmuda 11th Grader Takes An AI Tutoring Deep Dive [https://www.educationnext.org/11th-grader-takes-an-ai-tutoring-deep-dive/], from Education Next Two-Sigma Tutoring: Separating Science Fiction from Science Fact [https://www.educationnext.org/two-sigma-tutoring-separating-science-fiction-from-science-fact/] from Education Next Connect with Dan on Instagram @BigIdeaEd and Blue Sky @dankearney Music: Sunflower by Soyb (Youtube Audio Library)

In which Dan chats with Olina Banerji, a reporter for EdWeek who recently wrote a great article [https://www.edweek.org/leadership/schools-are-eerily-quiet-about-the-election-results-educators-say/2024/11], "Schools Are Eerily Quiet About the Election Results, Educators Say." Dan and Olina talk about why "the impact never came" following Donald Trump's election, how different stakeholders are processing the results, and what Olina and her colleagues could be reporting on in the weeks leading up to inauguration day. See also: * EdWeek [https://www.edweek.org/] - The public education paper of record * "Teachers toss their lesson plans, give students the floor to grapple with Trump win" from Chalkbeat [https://www.chalkbeat.org/2024/11/06/trump-wins-teachers-toss-lesson-plans-give-students-space/] * "Moreno Valley teacher on administrative leave after making anti-Trump remarks in class" from ABC7 [https://abc7.com/post/moreno-valley-school-district-places-view-high-teacher-administrative-leave-after-anti-trump-remarks/15536438/] Music: Gingersweet from Massobeats

In which Dan sits down (in person!) with Oshri Hakak (@oshrihakak), children's author, mental health advocate, and all-around deep thinker about the world we live in. Oshri collaborates with NAMI Westside Los Angeles (@namiwla) to talk with students young and old about the importance of breaking the silence around mental health and strategies for taking care of ourselves and each other. He's also a prolific author whose books are beautiful and poignant for children and adults alike. Mentioned in the show: National Alliance on Mental Health [https://www.nami.org/] (NAMI) NAMI Westside Los Angeles [https://namiwla.org/] Oshri Hakak's books [https://www.butterflyonbooks.com/], including Harry and the Hamster Wheel Oshri's Children's Mental Health Toolbox [https://drive.google.com/file/d/19SSgGX-LM8gaioImKRb6jQ9AvcvXBw9m/view?usp=sharing] Music: gingersweet by massobeats [via No Copyright Background Music [https://www.youtube.com/@FreeToUseMusic]]

In which Dan talks about addressing hard topics and fielding tough questions from our smallest students with Kat Nguyen, a Kindergarten teacher in California. How do early childhood teachers address the questions and comments that inevitably arise, especially in this hypermedia era when students of all ages are likely to notice, see, overhear and wonder? Dan and Kat talk about being honest, authentic, and vulnerable with students, the perils of this election year, and her book recommendations for young students. Books mentioned in the episode: No Turkey For Thanksgiving [https://www.amazon.com/Turkey-Thanksgiving-Previously-published-Duck/dp/1338149210/ref=sr_1_2?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.IwrVIJr1vd0g5xYJJPsWFkn3eTaYUShcFKasHa2dvhor0zSx_VE67npfsYoXGWzIMVm7ukdfB4jMHdlV8UcsZmhmL71TVK10l_omyPxE8cLTnDlcm8GRGpjzCM3trBOxto2MEN5QJY4KP5CMZAiIMt21YWyQIbzjeQGBAREE8CxMwWV4xREHhrLm_pfKxPzpyCYrQvTW0O1ZynS3v1O9rfi015-xVwFUOPi-THkgT4M.BaPn11saygSsBj-u4S13gEdOAUT_IflrMESRTCvN6DQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=No+Turkey+For+Thanksgiving&qid=1727534504&s=books&sr=1-2] by Jacqueline Jules and Kathryn Mitter Red: A Crayon's Story [https://www.amazon.com/Red-Crayons-Story-Michael-Hall/dp/0062252070/ref=sr_1_1?crid=A7IOZLKEP4QV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.D2ni4LeyV9QxOOXY6618WX__gIFoxFTLEBfdiqLKRH0jIB-8aTUeJy1M8adat175hUqDCmIkK4dy9IN41kpuUlucGVEEjX9kBpC3ITmJbFjmDpeAU4C_OodiPcoIl5PXxffxr5WrnZv2taBtlmAfCR1pvZne23__LaOMH5K-X1e6tKvS61ospwXEgTtisrIwMJ4gRiusJ0GAq0Tg7ffvjH7Wil2cdjb47QkzxrBT-sQ.YHobtEisjUXb9mmm_B8KJtg1E4pR7b02CkKFrFxrsI8&dib_tag=se&keywords=red&qid=1727534598&s=books&sprefix=red%2Cstripbooks%2C231&sr=1-1] by Michael Hall Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon [https://www.amazon.com/Stand-Tall-Molly-Lou-Melon/dp/0399234160/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10IX1WSNW7CFL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vdLvFZ1hzms8oxEi_qcDMZgTnYnF3XhD_HZmivRH6FJfbyBblebdjWVegOiZDciX2-Ut8bjiZym6EB5EX83-ZLg2kEQ_F4ePs4daFhVb1yX-FpRRLiVJ7ZCffROil53xZm5L2QD9oVPHBYhqHlGU9hkxjd0Nbe654l98iKJDBs9rWJPhkB2xbfrEWfVoI7Yxy1dpYza0Hu4mftjOMfjCxvGopwdCf_LyRBuYOjOk9Gg.H93pL92E6__oShR9LAlHX8xJzMf1DVnFcBqCywwtjQU&dib_tag=se&keywords=molly+lou&qid=1727534726&s=books&sprefix=molly+lou%2Cstripbooks%2C176&sr=1-1] by Patty Lovell and David Catrow Music: Que Es Estraño by Molo

In which Dan talks about how teachers can feel prepared and empowered to teach and talk about the upcoming election. He's joined by Erica Hodgin from Facing History & Ourselves [https://www.facinghistory.org/], truly the gold standard for approaching difficult history and civic topics in K-12 classrooms. This election will bring unique opportunities and challenges for all teachers (not just social studies teachers!) and meeting this moment means thinking about ourselves, our classrooms, and how we'll foster civil discourse when emotionally charged topics come up. Even more than that, Erica discusses why it's vital to engage young people in the democratic process and civic life beyond textbooks. Mentioned in the episode: From Facing History * Civic education landing page [https://www.facinghistory.org/how-it-works/our-unique-approach/civic-education] * Democracy in Action: Teaching about the 2024 Election & Educating for Civic Participation [https://www.facinghistory.org/learning-events/democracy-action-teaching-about-2024-election-educating-civic-participation] * Teaching about Voting and Elections [https://www.facinghistory.org/ideas-week/teaching-about-voting-elections?utm_campaign=educator-newsletter&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--BvCzzsxieq8Pn6r3mBYrlXqKecVbHYbL1xOMef746K-dAG5vTJEU7r3fcv1KAm51mjZzYGXQ-XZKoqwcgNWkvoBAisQ&_hsmi=320464860&utm_content=320464860&utm_source=hs_email] * Back to School Toolkit [https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/back-school-building-community-connection-learning] * Fostering Civil Discourse Guide [https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/fostering-civil-discourse-how-do-we-talk-about-issues-matter] * Teaching Resources for US Elections Collection [https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/teaching-resources-us-elections] * Democracy and Current Events Toolkit [https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/democracy-current-events] Music: We Have a Tripod