Hack Learning

We're in an education crisis, and many teachers fear they won't make it through this year. Some are begging for help; some are preaching self-care. Others are quitting--just walking out of their classrooms and schools and moving on to something else.In this episode of the Hack Learning Podcast, Mark Barnes is asking you to help solve this crisis. He shares a disheartening Twitter chat, in which educators from across the country share the issues:> teachers being told to "stick it out," no matter what> a massive substitute teacher shortage is pulling teachers from their classes and moving them into others, during their plan times and lunches> teachers feel obligated to work, even ignoring doctor's orders to stay home> some fear a return to distance learning, while others hope for it> feeling of helplessness and overwhelming stress are pushing educators to the brinkYou can find the Twitter conversation Mark references here: https://twitter.com/imacoolibrarian/status/1450146195779690497?s=20Comment there and mention @markbarnes19 and add #HackLearning. Mark asks for your feedback, and your Hacks. What can we do now to solve this problem in the short term? How can we end this crisis?Find more episodes at https://www.10publications.com/Episode Photo by Olya Kobruseva from Pexels

Angry, litigious, anti-mask parents are suing schools in Ohio, and Mark Barnes has Hacks you can share to stop this madness and solve one of education's biggest problems.1 -- Don't sue schools over mask mandates2 -- Don't attend school boards in an angered state of mind3 -- Create conversations with school leaders and with kids about safety4 -- Get vaccinatedDo these hacks look simple here? They are just as simple when you put them into action.For more education hacks and practical solutions for busy educators, visit https://www.10publications.com/For more from this show, visit hacklearningpodcast.com

Sometimes teacher burnout is due to shame and blame and avoiding the problems. Mark shares some quick hacks from Hacking Teacher Burnout author Amber Harper. Learn how to seek help and to seek "help seekers." More episodes are available at hacklearningpodcast.com

Mark is joined by two national distinguished principals, Tony Sinanis, an administrator in New York and co-author of Hacking Leadership, and Jessica Cabeen, a principal in Minnesota and author of Lead With Grace and Hacking Early Learning. In this excerpt of a Times 10 Roundtable webinar, the three educators discuss the problems teachers and leaders are facing during the global pandemic and how to prepare for the huge changes we're facing in education, in what is sure to be some kind of blended learning environment now and in the future.Learn more at 10Publications.com/webinarsListen to more episodes at HackLearningPodcast.com

In this brief excerpt from the Times 10 Roundtable, Mark Barnes talks with anxiety experts Christine Ravesi-Weinstein and Connie Hamilton about anxious students' triggers, while providing powerful tips and tools for helping our kids cope with anxiety, in a pandemic society and beyond.To view the entire hour-long, free webinar, visit https://www.10publications.com/webinarsFor more from the pod, visit http://hacklearningpodcast.com

Mark Barnes shares an excerpt of the Times 10 Roundtable Webinar--Hacking Distance Learning: How to Deliver Impactful Instruction When Teaching from Home.Times 10 teachers, school leaders, and authors unpack the problems educators face with distance learning, in a climate of uncertainty, and they provide sound, practical strategies and tools that will make you successful at any level and in any subject.To see the entire hour-long discussion or other Roundtables, visit 10Publications.com/webinarsFor more podcast episodes, visit HackLearningPodcast.com

A school district in Texas is bringing back the paddle, because some parents okayed teachers hitting their children. Mark Barnes compares this to 1950s style discipline and shares the thoughts of Nathan Maynard, co-author of Hacking School Discipline, on the subject. There are better ways to handle behavior issues in class and hitting is never okay, Maynard says. In the end, Barnes says, "Spare the rod, save the child!" What do you say. For more from Times 10 and the Hack Learning Podcast, visit us at 10Publications.com

The focus and goal of mentoring is not to point out weak performance, but rather to shape a career and develop potential. Before you can be a mentor, you have to LEARN what it means to be a Modern Mentor. Mark Barnes shares the LEARN model from Modern Mentor and how you can apply it in your space, no matter what role you play.Find additional notes for this episode at http://10publications.com/learn-how-to-be-a-mentor

James had what appeared to be some major problems. How did his teacher connect with this introverted student? You'll be amazed at how simple it was.For more on connecting with introverted students, look inside Quiet Kids Count: Unleashing the True Potential of Introverts, on AmazonVisit the Hack Learning Podcast archive at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

Teacher, author, keynote speaker Chrissy Romano Arrabito was the student who always raised her hand first, always had the answer, was eager to share, was well-behaved, and made good grades. She was, from any teacher's perspective, a well-adjusted child. Little did most, if any, of her teachers realize, Chrissy was a quiet kid--an introvert. She struggled with her emotions constantly. How did her teachers miss this? Are you misunderstanding your own quiet kids? Learn more about introverts and one easy strategy for helping them cope, in this episode of the Hack Learning Podcast. Read the introduction to Quiet Kids Count at http://hacklearning.org/quietkidsLearn about Chrissy's new book, Quiet Kids Count, at http://weleadforward.comListen to more Hack Learning episodes at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

Encourage, evolve, empower. Mentor, move, motivate. Create, innovate, elevate. Always be listening. Always be learning.These are the qualities of someone who leads forward. They’re not just my words or those of the educators who write leadership books. The words belong to teachers, principals, parents, superintendents, and other education shareholders. Perhaps they are your words, too.Listen to the rest of this Foreword from the new Lead Forward Series, by Hack Learning Pod host Mark Barnes.Read the the rest at http://hacklearning.org/LFmissionBrowse our shelves at http://times10library.com

Why is impactful leadership like riding a backwards bicycle? It's actually quite simple, says award-winning school principal, presenter, and author of Be Excellent on Purpose, Sanée Bell. EduHacker Mark Barnes shares an excerpt from a conversation with Sanée about ownership over buy-in, empowering shareholders to reflect and create plans for success and other strategies for re-learning how to ride your bike and how to Be Excellent on Purpose.For details about the Lead Forward Series and how to Be Excellent on Purpose, visit http://weleadforward.com.Read all of the Hack Learning Series and other books from Times 10 Publications at http://times10library.com

Want amazing, even mind-blowing, conversation in your classroom? Throw out your ping pong questions, and become a pinball wizard. Mark shares--and SINGS--this powerful strategy from Hacking Questions, by Connie Hamilton. Listen now and learn the wizardry that can turn your students into discussion gurus. For more from Hacking Qs, visit http://times10library.comFor more from the Pod, visit http://hacklearningpodcast.com

Disruptive students are criminals who must be put out of your classroom. So says one educator, who Mark Barnes is taking to task, in this uncut episode that comes with this disclaimer: Beware, Mark is angry, and one misguided teacher is going to hear about it. Of course, if you listen past the rant, you'll learn how to keep your "criminals" in class and teach them empathy and the kind of behavior choices that will make them successful in school and in life.Learn more about the hacks in this episode in Hacking School Discipline, at http://times10library.com Subscribe and listen to more at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

In this excerpt from Hacking Questions, we learn how to set ourselves up to kick the IDK bucket by identifying the root cause for the “I don’t know” response. You see, we cannot assume that IDK means the student really does not know something.Read this Hack from Hack Learning Book 23 at http://hacklearning.org/IDKbucketBrowse books at http://times10library.comListen to more at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

People said they don't have time to teach empathy, compassion, and self-awareness. Mark Barnes responds, and you may be surprised at what he says. At first, you might say, "That's not Hack Learning." But if you listen till the end, you might agree that this attitude is what Hack Learning is founded on.

Hack Learning host Mark Barnes lost his temper recently. If only he had taken his own advice, which he shares in this episode, things might have been different.What's this earth-shattering advice? Three words: Take a breath!Sounds easy, right? It's not so simple, and in order to make it work, you have to be intentional about that purposeful pause. Take a few minutes, listen, and learn how to PLAN your breaths, change your own behavior, be a better professional and person, and model empathy for colleagues and for kids.This might be the hackiest Hack ever, and it might change your life.Learn more in Hacking School Discipline and other books that include mindfulness strategies at http://times10library.comSubscribe to the pod at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

Are you teaching Generation Alpha with Baby Boomer content? Educators are faced with new challenges from the generation that may live into the 22nd century. How can teachers cope? Mark shares what Michael Fisher and Elizabeth Fisher, authors of Hacking Instructional Design, say about planning for the future, so we can better meet the needs of Gen Alpha.Read this excerpt from the book at http://hacklearning.org/alphaBrowse all books at http://hacklearningbooks.comVisit the podcast archive at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

Mark shares a story from Hacking School Discipline, about Amarra, a troublemaker that many teachers might have given up on. Instead of quitting on her, though, her teachers instilled a growth mindset in Amarra, and a once troubled young lady became a school leader and student mentor. Learn more about Amarra and creating a growth mindset in Hack Learning book number 22, Hacking School Discipline. It's on Amazon now.Subscribe to the podcast at http://hacklearningpodcast.comBrowse the library at http://hacklearningbooks.com

Handing out office referrals like candy to students who misbehave is like sending kids away from learning for a brief holiday, and Mark Barnes says, "It's time to throw out your office referral." Mark shares a powerful, simple hack from Hacking School Discipline, that will help teachers and school leaders change behavior, while keeping kids in class as valuable members of the learning community. Read an excerpt and learn one of 9 ways to create a culture of empathy and responsibility using restorative justice: http://hacklearning.org/circleupFor more episodes, visit http://hacklearningpodcast.com

Running a marathon seems crazy to Mark Barnes. Teaching is often crazier. But being both marathon runner and teacher is unfathomable. Still, these unique individuals are littered across race courses and classrooms worldwide. And, what Mark has learned, from teacher and marathon runner Mike Roberts, is that these seemingly crazy people will never stop Chasing Greatness. Listen to an excerpt from Roberts' new book, Chasing Greatness: 26.2 Ways Teaching Is Like Running a Marathon.Look inside the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Greatness-Teaching-Running-Marathon/dp/1948212129/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=chasing+greatness&qid=1551291347&s=gateway&sr=8-3Visit us at http://hacklearningpodcast.com Show notes for this episode are at http://hacklearning.org/greatness

Florida is considering bonus pay for the "best and brightest teachers," but who are they? According to one plan, they are the teachers whose students perform well on standardized tests. This is a flawed system, for many reasons. Is there a better way to identify the "best and brightest?" Mark Barnes went to the Hack Learning audience for answers. If you think bonus pay for educators is a good idea, forget test scores, and consider this hacky plan instead.Subscribe and rate the show at http://hacklearningpodcast.comVisit our library at http://hacklearningbooks.com

Mark Barnes is Uncut again, and he's wondering if teachers and parents hurt kids by NOT teaching them about perception, when it comes to social media. He recalls a Washington DC protest video going viral, and the perceptions people had about the kids in the video. Mark shares excerpts from Hacking Digital Learning Strategies, by Shelly Terrell, that explain how to help kids identify and understand fake news and the perceptions it creates. He shares some simple hacks adults can use to teach kids about perception and help them avoid damaging their futures. Look inside Hacking Digital Learning Strategies at http://hacklearningbooks.comSubscribe to the show at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

When someone asks how your day was, do you say, “It was very satisfying?” Do you exit a roller coaster and exclaim, “That was a very satisfying ride?” When you last dined at a 5-star restaurant, did you tell the server that you just couldn’t wait for a satisfactory meal?Hopefully, you answered no to all of these questions. Hopefully, your day, your roller coaster ride, and your fine dining where much more. Mark explains the danger of "satisfying" experiences, especially when they dominate school.He says, you need the F Word.For show notes, visit http://hacklearning.org/fwordBrowse our library at http://hacklearningbooks.com

Mark Barnes shares a story about a school district that makes students wear color-coded badges that label them as potential failures. We need better leadership in 2019, Barnes says, and we need to hack these policies that harm our students. Mark shares a hack from Hacking Leadership that supplies some what-you-can-do-tomorrow strategies for creating a school culture that embraces the opinions of all shareholders, helping leaders avoid mistakes like this badge fiasco.All episodes can be found at http://hacklearningpodcast.comFind Hacking Leadership at http://hacklearningbooks.com

Mark Barnes shares some tough questions that, he says, all teachers should ask themselves. Are you ready to answer them?Browse the Hack Learning library at http://hacklearningbooks.comSubscribe to the show at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

Mark Barnes shares Hack 7 from the new Hacking Instructional Design, in which the authors explain how to use mental velcro--must one of 33 extraordinary ways to create a contemporary curriculum. Grab the authors' 61-page free resource at http://hacklearning.org/designListen to more Hack Learning episodes at http://HackLearningPodcast.com

Teachers and school leaders want compassion in their classrooms and schools. Mark Barnes explains how Experiential Learning inspires compassion in students, with plenty of help from Hacking School Culture: Designing Compassionate Classrooms, by Angela Stockman and Ellen Feig Gray.Find Hacking School Culture and the entire Hack Learning Series at http://hacklearningbooks.comFor more podcast episodes, visit http://hacklearningpodcast.com

A concerned educator and parent writes: "My kids tell me that [their classes are] basically -- take notes, do worksheets, take tests. They don't really DO anything with the stuff they're learning. No discussions or projects or anything really hands-on. Just information in, information out." This sparked some remarkable conversation and evidence that many kids across the country are exposed to old-school practices that make them hate school. Mark Barnes shares the conversation and is asking you to help Hack this problem.Share this episode and comment on Twitter at #HackLearning and tag @markbarnes19Join the conversation on the Hack Learning Ambassadors Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HLAmbassadors/Improve your practice by browsing our library at http://hacklearningbooks.com Start your own conversation and ask for solutions.

Popular author and speaker James Clear says, "Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement." That is, the effects of your habits multiply, when repeated, much like your money multiplies, as it sits in an interest-bearing account.Clear is the author of the new Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones, and he has a simple formula for making your habits Atomic, which he shares with Mark Barnes in this episode.Learn more about Clear and Atomic Habits at http://hacklearning.org/habitsBrowse our library at http://hacklearningbooks.comCheck out the new uNseries at http://unseries.com

Veteran teacher, author, and presenter Chuck Poole believes that one of the keys to becoming an unforgettable teacher is to find your balance. In his book, uNforgettable: Your Roadmap to Being the Teacher They Never Forget, Poole says that balance "frees us from unnecessary responsibilities." But how can busy teachers find balance? Poole explains in an excerpt from the book, shared in this episode by your host, Mark Barnes.Read more at http://hacklearning.org/balanceCheck out uNforgettable here: https://www.amazon.com/uNforgettable-Roadmap-Teacher-Forget-uNseries/dp/1948212099/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

A tennis match was interrupted by, of all things, coaching and, possibly, a little gender bias, and Mark Barnes has some simple hacks to put a stop to this insanity. In a departure from his usual education hacks, Mark discusses the women's US Open tennis championship and an outburst from star Serena Williams that may have overshadowed a young player's victory but shed light on a big problem in sports and society. Share you thoughts on Twitter at #HackLearningVisit our episode library at http://hacklearningpodcast.comBrows books at http://hacklearningbooks.comphot by: y.caradec http://www.flickr.com/photos/10288162@N07/8883127266"

Instead of de-funding school libraries, it's time to transform them into the revolutionary space that can inspire all education shareholders to view the library as a learning community--not just an archive of books. Learn more at http://hacklearning.org/librariesBrowse all episodes at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

Is it time to reconsider parents' role in teaching and learning in your space? Parent and family involvement in education can now be so much more than a phone call, open house, or parent-teacher conference. In her new book, Hacking Early Learning, Principal of the Year Jessica Cabeen shares some practical strategies for engaging parents in daily teaching and learning, using 21-century technology. Mark Barnes shares an excerpt from Jessica's book, explaining how you can bring parents along for the entire journey in every school year.Read more at http://hacklearning.org/parentsBrowse our shelves at http://hacklearningbooks.com

When celebrities stand by and protect bullies, without punishment, how can adults teach kids to stand up? Mark uses a high-profile example of a celebrity covering for an abuser, wondering if the person goes unpunished how it will impact our ability to teach kids to do what's right. Continue the conversation on Twitter at #HackLearningView all episodes at http://hacklearningpodcast.comBrowse the library at http://hacklearningbooks.com

In another uncut edition of the show, Mark Barnes challenges you to take a chance and ask students to rate your in-class presentations or lessons. Channeling Hacking Engagement author and podcaster James Sturtevant, Mark shares Hack 35 from Sturtevant's 50 Tips & Tools to Engage Teachers and Learners Daily, along with one nifty tech tool to easily empower your student focus groups. Listen now and learn how to leverage student opinion to be the best teacher you can be.Check out Hacking Engagement and the entire Hack Learning Series at http://hacklearningbooks.com.Listen to more podcast episodes at http://hacklearningpodcast.com.

Mark shares a story from author/consultant Angela Stockman about a student who asked for feedback from her teacher, only to be given judgement and criticism. You'll be surprised at what Angela instructed the student to do next.Read the story, excerpted from Stockman's Hacking the Writing Workshop at http://hacklearning.org/feedbackVisit our episode archive at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

What if educators knew their students so well, they could predict exactly when kids would quit? Imagine how easily you could propel learners forward, if you had this incredible power.Longtime classroom teachers Adam Chamberlin and Sveti Matejic say that understanding Quit Point is the key to unlocking the full potential of teaching and learning.Learn more at http://hacklearning.org/quitpointBrowse our shelves at http://hacklearningbooks.com

And educator commented on a tweet, which ignited what someone called a "mob mentality." This Twitter conversation inspired Mark Barnes to share a scenario he envisioned, during what he says looked like teachers bashing teachers on social media. For more detail, read the show notes at http://hacklearning.org/bashingteachersFor more episodes, visit http://hacklearningpodcast.com

Shame permeates our schools and classrooms. Kids shame their peers and, sometimes, unwittingly, teachers shame their students.Compassionate classrooms, detailed in Hacking Classroom Culture by Angela Stockman and Ellen Feig Gray, extinguish shame. Mark shares an excerpt from Hack 5 of this new book, helping you find out how to eliminate shame in your space and design your own compassionate classroom.Check out the resources from this episode and an excerpt from Hacking School Culture at http://hacklearning.org/shameLearn more about designing compassionate classrooms here: https://www.amazon.com/Hacking-School-Culture-Compassionate-Classrooms/dp/1948212048/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1525794044&sr=8-1

Mark Barnes says he used to penalize kids for insignificant things like using a pencil or putting their names in the wrong spot (a bad practice he now admits). But failing a kid for not printing a Google Doc? Mark argues that this is the stupidest school policy ever. He explains why and how this needs to be hacked ... immediately, while providing a few hacks from numerous Hack Learning experts.Check out the books referenced in this episode at http://hacklearningbooks.comBrowse the podcast archive at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

Mark shares the worst thing he did to his students and how you may be doing the same thing right now. Then, he provides one simple hack to avoid doing it again.View the archive at http://hacklearningpodcast.comBrowse books at http://hacklearningbooks.com

EduHacker Mark Barnes admits that math has always eluded him, until he stumbled upon the Unanswerable Questions hack in Hacking Mathematics, by Denis Sheeran. Mark shares Sheeran's reasoning behind Unanswerable Questions and the power they hold over not just math students, but all teachers and learners.Read the excerpt at http://hacklearning.org/UQBrowse the library at http://hacklearningbooks.com

Mark Barnes is angry and Uncut, as he unabashedly says No to the president's plan to arm teachers, in an attempt to stop school shootings. Not only does Mark say educators must say no to guns, he provides a few more ways to stop school shootings. Listen and comment on Twitter at #HackLearning.More from Mark Barnes and Hack Learning at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

Mark shared this on social channels, and something amazing happened: "A model student his whole life, my son, a freshman, suddenly hates school. He says the teachers are boring and most of the subject matter he will never use in real life. This is heartbreaking. He has three and a half years left, and I don't know what to do."Listen to how people reacted and how Mark disseminates their reactions into some powerful, What-You-Can-Do-Tomorrow strategies to make school an engaging, fun place for all kids.Learn more at http://hacklearning.org/kidhatesschoolBrowse the library at http://hacklearningbooks.comMore episodes at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

The Mississippi State legislature wants to mandate nightly homework, including spelling, across the state. Mark Barnes explains why any homework mandate undermines teachers, learners, and parents. He also declares that politicians must stay out of education policymaking, unless they enlist the help of progressive-minded educators.Learn more at http://hackinghomework.comListen to more episodes at http://hacklearningpodcast.com

A reader pushed back hard against Mark Barnes' article about going gradeless in Education Week's 10 Big Ideas Special Report. As you may have expected, Mark pushes back against the pushback in this episode, sharing excerpts from the EdWeek article and the comments. Along the way, Mark explains why grading and evaluating are not the same as effectively assessing learning in the no-grades classroom. Check out an excerpt from the article, No, Students Don't Need Grades, on our show notes page here: http://hacklearning.org/10bigideasLearn about going gradeless and other progressive education ideas at http://hacklearningbooks.com. Tell the world what you think of the podcast with an iTunes rating and review.

Mark discusses changing the narrative about school leaders. With a little help from principals Dan McCabe and Tracy R. Taylor, Mark says, it’s time to stop making the principal the bad guy. Visit the Show’s archive at http://hacklearningpodcast.comBrowse the library at http://hacklearningbooks.comCheck out http://spreaker.com for fast and hacky podcasting

Mark interviews Utah English Teacher of the Year Mike Roberts, author of Hacking Classroom Management: 10 Ideas To Help You Become the Type of Teacher They Make Movies About. Learn more about Roberts and the Movie Teacher approach at http://hacklearning.org/movieteacherCheck out all Hack Learning Series books at http://hacklearningbooks.com

Mark cites a Psychology Today Blog post, in which the author references an interview with a Google executive who says the search engine giant does not use GPAs and SAT scores to assess potential new hires. Mark Barnes despises grades and tests, and he wonders why schools continue to use them when one of the most successful companies on the planet disdains them.Read the article at https://medium.com/the-mission/inverse-relationship-between-gpa-and-innovative-orientation-57e604e7112Listen to more episodes at http://hacklearningpodcast.comBrowse the library at http://hacklearningbooks.com

Mark posted this on social channels: "No, I won’t lecture, assign homework, punish, or grade my students, just because that’s the way we’ve always done it." And people reacted. He talks about it in classic Hack Learning Uncut style.Want more episodes? http://hacklearningpodcast.comNeed a solution to a big problem? http://hacklearningbooks.com