A bi-weekly podcast hosted from Central Texas with Marco and Kristen. This podcast was created by educators for educators, and others who are interested in education. We will have some guests along for our conversations, as we navigate through our careers in education and balancing what is happening at home, and in our communities.
Look, did you want a quality podcast or did you want quality show notes? In this episode we talk about a more lady-like approach to decision making, apparently. We dive into the research of Dr Johnston et al out of WA regarding the Ethic of Care and this as a framework for our decisions and interactions both within and without the classroom. That can be found here! Shawti has finally drunk the kool aid on Teachers Pay Teachers - The Teachers Talking Teaching Kool Aid that is. Burn it to the ground, support teachers sharing.
So this episode was recorded a month ago (maybe more) as an answer to some Patreon questions and then our world all fell apart. Between sickness, pandemic and adventures in heart failure (all is good now I promise, just little cardiac-hiccups) we actually thought that this episode was gone. But here it is! If you want to help us be more regular, at this point there are two places that we would love some support. First, there's a Patreon, this costs real dollars to put out and any help is appreciated. Go here for that: https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation Secondly, the real barrier for us at the moment is editing. If you want to help us edit our podcasts and help get those episodes out, we would be eternally grateful. Obviously, we would like to pay for this but as we said before, the pod costs not earns but if you'd like to be part of the team and help out - by all means let us know. We love you all and we're glad to be back. Books Mentioned on the Pod: The Cultural Practice of Teaching Sand Talk - Tyson Yunkaporta Pedagogy of the Oppressed - Paulo Friere Teaching to transgress : education as the practice of freedom - bell hooks The Practical Practice of Teaching Creating Cultures of Thinking - Ron Ritchhart Making Thinking Visible: How to Promote Engagement, Understanding, and Independence for All Learners - Ron Ritchhart, Mark Church, Karin Morrison Also, Red Dwarf sucks.
In this episode Pete and Shawtima get pumped for the new teaching year and settle in for the new normal. Shawtima mentioned using Tango as a tool for making instructables for team members and also violently threatens her team members. But then Shawtima dives deeply into some teacher wellbeing strategies. It's not always the big moments and stunt work that counts. If we can work on the simple unsexy stuff then maybe we can have a more sustainable worklife. Also, Pete says he's fine, just fine… too many times for it to be believable. On a positive note, Shawtima explains some excellent tools for people with Anxiety that Pete has 100% been using since then and it totally has helped. I tell you what, Libraries are rad and they should be the hub of all schools. Pete had an article but he got distracted by library activists and history. So, enjoy that. Tiny Wow. Small individual applets instead of buying large software for processing files. https://tinywow.com/ Z Library https://z-lib.org/ Chess vs Pete https://www.chess.com/member/mr_van_w
… not that Pete recognises the UN in any way shape or form. Shawtima talks differentiation this week. Look, differentiation is tricky in the classroom, but it's worthwhile. There are many aspects of teaching that keep getting harder and harder, but you know what, sometimes that's the deal. In good news, Pete's kids have started watching Bluey and it's magic. You can join us at https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation. Your support really does help us keep the show running. Huge shout out to our first Teachers Aide and newest Patron, Amberly. You are truly a great human.
In this episode we talk about the impacts of exhaustion. The Culture Wars are alive and well. Schools are the battlegrounds once again. Education is a political act and again we see how the conservatives/trads are looking to push education History and Maths education into a back to basics approach. It makes Shawtima's tummy hurt. Pete learns about Temptation Bundling, this is something that he does all the time. But our jobs are always political, schools are where the next generation's culture is started. If it looks like a fascism, smells like a fascism, walks like a fascism, it's probably a fascism. But this has outcomes that are purely skills based and academic - regardless of the impact on the culture at large. Streaming/tracking also hinders students and their education. This isn't surprising at all, but a large collection of data is reviewed. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/06/04/california-math-class-detrack-race-equity/ The greatest moment of televised sports in human history. How are you human if you keep it together watching this. FULL MATCH - Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair – Career Threatening Match: WrestleMania XXIV But we end it all in a nice reflective phase where we give thanks for those that helped us become the teachers we are. Also, if you know how Daylight Savings works, don't at me, I just don't care.
Here is the Cancelled podcast that led to our long ramble open https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/cancelled/id1580836614 Shawtima talks (in the most round about way possible) Habits of Mind. Like, it legitimately started that way and ended up talking about LoLs in the classroom instead. Then we get all kinds of pedagogical and talk about Newman's Error Analysis. This became something fun for me to play with since recording. Pete starts digging into the positive effects of ethnic studies in schools on the lives of students who fit into various ethnic groups as well as those of the dominant culture surrounding them. Obviously, this is something that we never talk about on this podcast so get ready for some totally new ideas. Turns out though, he could have just watched Remember the Titans. When we talk a bit more about class times, we start talking about some gamified, Star Trekified space unit where the kids get choices. Also, let's not forget that Nicky Winmar is a national treasure.
In this episode we dive into some listener mail with questions about privilege and then we talk about the Tortoise and Hare thinkers. This involves the systemic bias in artificial examination environments and the harm it does to all of our students. Thanks Revisionist History!
In this episode, we talk about the readjustment of back to home learning for Australian/NSW teachers and the value of non-essential roles in schools. Also, how great is book week! But Pete has a big focus on Inquiry-Based learning and the recent articles by the Conversation and several trad articles that have a real problem on student-centered learning. Apparently, the majority of teachers rely on inquiry-based programs. This however is clearly not the case. In fact, teachers use loads of different modalities because they're professionals. The Learning from Home resources via the AISNSW https://www.aisnsw.edu.au/learning-from-home The Look of a Compass Points done digitally via Padlet.
This week we discuss metaphor as a privileged types of language, Pete mansplains Sonic the Hedgehog and Shawtima talks about the Gradual Release of Responsibility model. Transfer of knowledge and utilisation of 21st Century Skills also become part of our discussion today. Transfer of knowledge from one area to another is a learnable skill. But most importantly, let's remember our new motto "Yeah, what Pete said"! @ShawtimaSmiles @Mr_van_w and support the episode via Patreon https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Darmok_(episode)
In this episode we cover a wide variety of topics including Learning Styles and VARK, a way to introduce welcome to country in an academically valued way and most importantly, science where rats drive cars for education. Hell yeah. Stay Shiny Pony Boy,
Hi TTT Fam, Here we have an episode that almost never made it out of the gates thanks to some dodgy recording. We got the sound good though! Enjoy.
Hey in this episode Pete (@mr_van_w) and Shawtima (@shawtimasmiles) talk about: Stuff. Not gonna lie, there's some late night energy going on here and Pete ended up spending a considerable amount of time unwell this week (hence the late ep). But here we are. Here is Stile for our Science teacher friends: https://stileapp.com/login no add here but check it out. It's genuinely useful. Tell them Pete and Shawtima sent you, they won't care. We come back to some things that we've been talking about and trying, to let you know how they went. Then there are some articles. Shawti talks about this article on the Conversation https://theconversation.com/the-proposed-new-maths-curriculum-doesnt-dumb-down-content-it-actually-demands-more-of-students-162088 Go us. Anyway, I'm going back to bed til I feel better. Also, join Pete on Pokemon GO! His trainer number is 1783 2412 6146. For real, do it. He plays and sends gifts daily. Support the podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation, it really really helps us keep this regular. Stay Shiny Pony Boy!
Hey in this episode Pete (@mr_van_w) and Shawtima (@shawtimasmiles) talk about: In this episode we share a win at school with an indigenous program at our nation's peak STEM body, CSIRO. We delve into Mastery Learning and Education Systems, particularly around the online platform setup by Sal Khan. We also look at the In another win for the Aboriginal Australians we discuss the modern usage of Aboriginal pedagogy in the classroom at Higher Education levels and High School. Also, why it's important to value our culture … but you know, that's obvious. We also look at some listener feedback and the icky feelings data can leave. We looked at the #Edureading article that lined up so well accidentally with podcast 132 Podcast: People I (Mostly) Admire Steven Levitt Episode 22. Sal Khan: “If It Works for 15 Cousins, It Could Work for a Billion People.” The ‘doublethink' of data: educational performativity and the field of schooling practices by Ian Hardy and Steven Lewis Support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation
Hey in this episode Pete (@mr_van_w) and Shawtima (@shawtimasmiles) talk about: Thinking Routines (Headlines) and how they've adapted them to suit what they want to do in the classroom. We talk ever so briefly about the authoritarian rise of the Flipped Teacher in an article from Times Higher Education. We talk in more depth about the New Pedagogies for Deep Learning that is going on at Pete’s school - The Central West Leadership Academy. This is from the book Dive into Deep Learning: Tools for Engagement (non-affiliate link - as if they’d pay us). Then Shawtima gets real misogynistic, and focuses on the work of a dude while talking about a book written primarily by a female educator (Lynn D Sharratt) and other work by Michael Fullan. To be fair, Pete was mostly distracted by what he thought was Shawtima’s insane Trad ramblings of rankings but then it all came good. Also, join Pete on Pokemon GO! His trainer number is 1783 2412 6146. For real, do it. He plays and sends gifts daily. Support the podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation, it really really helps us keep this regular. Stay Shiny Pony Boy!
Pete (@mr_van_w) is back with the original Shiny Educator, Shawtima (@ShawtimaSmiles). It's time to introduce some changes, to the podcast but also not really. Mostly, it's the same nonsense you already love. Pete and Shawti are talking about all sorts of stuff in this episode. For example, Dungeons and Dragons in schools for students who are either neurodivergent or need social skills. We also cover Student Leadership, and getting kids good. Also we
Pete (@mr_van_w) shares how his school celebrated International Women's Day and discusses some of the considerations to running genuine activities and conversations. John (@jfcatto) then looks at some Biesta's functions of education and the need for having a conversations about what we value in education. Good education in an age of measurement: On the need to reconnect with the question of purpose in education - Gert Biesta https://www.researchgate.net/publication/41529875_Good_Education_in_an_Age_of_Measurement_On_the_Need_to_Reconnect_with_the_Question_of_Purpose_in_Education Jared Cooney Horvath - What is the purpose of Education https://youtu.be/3BEjnXS6DXg Tea and Consent - Blue Seat Studios https://youtu.be/pZwvrxVavnQ How to Put on a Sock https://youtu.be/06kT9yfj7QE Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/ Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation Buy some merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore
This week Pete (@mr_van_w) shares a resource and encourages non-indigenous people to get involved in Aboriginal education and teaching Aboriginal perspectives. John (@jfcatto) then has a whine about the effects of politics on professional development opportunities. Educator Resource: 'But I am NOT ABORIGINAL I don't know how to do this stuff!' - Amy Thunig (@amythunig) https://thebabyacademic.com/2018/09/07/but-i-am-not-aboriginal-i-dont-know-how-to-do-this-stuff/ Stop the political meddling: Who is really setting education policy in NSW - Marco Cimino (@MrMCimino) https://educationhq.com/news/stop-the-political-meddling-who-is-really-setting-education-policy-in-nsw-88829 Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/ Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation Buy some merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore
Hi TTT Family, No John this week so I thought I'd reflect a little on life and my new schools for you. Enjoy, Pete @mr_van_w
This week John (@jfcatto) checks in to see how "Learning Pods" worked out. Are they the silver bullet to combatting school shutdowns? (Spoilers: No). Pete (@mr_van_w) read a couple of books. One he likes and one he doesn't like so much. Articles: Learning Pods Show Their Cracks - Ronda Kaysen https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/22/style/learning-pods-pros-and-cons.html Democracy in Education - John Dewey https://allenbolar.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/dewey-democracy.pdf Running the Room - Tom Bennett (@tombennett71) https://www.ollielovell.com/errr/tom-bennett-behaviour-management-running-the-room/ https://www.johncattbookshop.com/running-the-room-the-teacher-s-guide-to-behaviour https://www.booktopia.com.au/running-the-room-tom-bennett/book/9781913622145.html Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/ Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation Buy some merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore
Marco and Kristen reflect over their first semester back at school and what they plan on doing to cope with the challenges they face as they begin their second semester.
In this mini episode, Marco discusses the need for more civics, science, technology and media literacy education in the classroom following the events of the Capitol Riots on January 6th, 2021 in Washington D.C.
Welcome to 2021. We made it. More importantly Pete (@mr_van_w) made it. In this episode Pete and John (@jfcatto) reflect on the year that was and hopes for the year that will be. Pete shares his story and looks for silver linings in the lessons learned from this life changing experience.
This week Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) return to some of their trusted wellsprings of pedagogy. John outlines some tips for putting together educational videos. Pete describes a cool twist on the use of solo hexagons in the classroom. How to Create Engaging Instructional Videos - Jenny Gieras https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-create-engaging-instructional-videos Digital Learning Selector - NSW DofE https://app.education.nsw.gov.au/digital-learning-selector/ Hexagonal Thinking: A Colorful Tool for Discussion - Betsy Potash https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/hexagonal-thinking/ Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/ Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation Buy some merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore
On a shaky return to Term 4 our hosts (@Mr_van_w & @jfcatto) compare their struggle with the Black Dog and what their are doing for self-care. They then then discuss two recent books that address classroom management by approaching the profession from vastly different pedagogical viewpoints. Restoring Teaching - Adam Voigt (@adam_voigt) https://adamvoigt.com.au/books/restoring-teaching/ Running the Room - Tom Bennett (@tombennett71) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Running-Room-Teachers-Guide-Behaviour/dp/1913622142 3 things I've learnt from 'Running the Room' - Alice Leung (@aliceleung) https://aliceleung.net/2020/10/09/3-things-ive-learnt-from-running-the-room/ Mental Health Resources https://au.reachout.com/ https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/ https://www.openarms.gov.au/ https://soldieron.org.au/ Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/ Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation Buy some merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore
The Agent of Chaos (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) talk about the podcast format, being unbelievably tired, CSU "Taking You Higher", online conferences, TED Talks, genius hour for teachers, how to define an activity as a hobby, differentiation strategies for the top end, attainment grouping discussion on TER before devolving into talking about gaming. CSU - Free webinar with industry experts to inspire women to pursue careers in space https://news.csu.edu.au/in-brief/free-webinar-with-industry-experts-to-inspire-women-to-pursue-careers-in-space Teachers Need a Genius Hour, Too - John Spencer http://www.spencerauthor.com/teachers-gh/ The Real Difference Between Google and Apple - Mark Wilson https://www.fastcompany.com/3068474/the-real-difference-between-google-and-apple High Potential and Gifted Education - Differentiation adjustment strategies - NSW DET https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/high-potential-and-gifted-education/supporting-educators/implement/differentiation-adjustment-strategies#Table%20suggesting%20differentiation%20adjustment%20strategies TER #155 - Attainment Grouping with Becky Taylor https://terpodcast.wordpress.com/2020/09/01/ter-155-attainment-grouping-with-becky-taylor-01-sept-2020/ Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/ Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation Buy some merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore
Some unnamed bloke (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) talk time zones, Fijian time, roll marking, teaching Peers and Superiors, competing chains-of-command, holiday/pandemic learning loss, the Bloom's lie and removing grades shackles on education. Is Learning "Lost" When Kids Are Out of School - Alfie Kohn https://www.alfiekohn.org/article/loss/ I Hate the Pandemic, but I'm Grateful to Be Rid of Grades - Mariela Tyler https://rethinkingschools.org/articles/i-hate-the-pandemic-but-im-grateful-to-be-rid-of-grades/ Doom on a Pregnancy Test - Foone https://twitter.com/Foone/status/1302820468819288066?s=20 Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/ Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation Buy some merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore
This week Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) discuss some of the comments in the slow chat, clarify that Pete is not anti-data after last weeks tirade, assert that neither Pete nor John are not negative people, laugh at pictures of cycads, insult Primary School teachers. As far as articles go: John discusses some opinions on the current offering of education degrees, Pete supports that the rules around long term suspension of students is changing and finishes with the importance of teachers being their own researcher for their own classroom and evaluating the effectiveness of their own pedagogy. This weeks slow chat is inspired by a tweet from Courtney (@ComfortDisturb https://twitter.com/ComfortDisturb/status/1300913335261487104) What real world subject specific texts do you use in your classroom? Some starting ideas for a Science classroom: Science Journals for Kids - https://sciencejournalforkids.org/ Brulosophy exBEERiments - https://brulosophy.com/projects/exbeeriments/ Teaching Degrees No Longer Meet the Needs of Complex Classrooms - Jordan Baker https://www.smh.com.au/national/teaching-degrees-no-longer-meet-the-needs-of-complex-classrooms-20200901-p55rf1.html Maximum school suspension to be cut to 10 days under discipline plan - Jordan Baker https://www.smh.com.au/education/maximum-school-suspension-to-be-cut-to-10-days-under-discipline-plan-20200826-p55pme.html Teacher as Researcher - Marzano, Parsley, Gagnon and Norford https://sites.google.com/view/educational-reading-group/article-19?authuser=0 Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/ Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation Buy some merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore
This week Pete (@mr_van_w) comes in with a new hot take; apparently Twitter might not be the pollyanna, ever positive, safe space we all thought it to be. Pete continues to claim that Education research and Cognitive Science may no be all it's cracked up to be and questions not only the Laws of Thermodynamics but perhaps the Five Fundamental Forces. John (@jfcatto) manages to insult Pete whilst testing the limits of an audio medium by describing hand gestures that could be used in an classroom discussion, online or otherwise. 50+ Resources for LGBTQIA Allies - Courtney Seiter https://buffer.com/resources/lgbtqia-resources/ Teacher as Researcher - Marzano et al https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AnSpcXu9MdDBgZQ1HIwpCFMoTzqUV1wu/view Using Hand Signals for More Equitable Discussion - Edutopia https://www.edutopia.org/video/using-hand-signals-more-equitable-discussions Tea and Consent - Blue Media https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQbei5JGiT8 Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/ Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation Buy some merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore
Once again Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) jaw off about teaching adjacent topics like seating plans and youngsters accessing pornography. John explores the UK trad-prog divide, questioning Michael Gove's effect on the situation. Pete highlights a study showing most teachers want to be mentored beyond the usual induction training. 'Drill and kill' for England's state schools while private sector goes progressive - Melissa Benn https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/aug/18/drill-and-kill-for-englands-state-schools-while-private-sector-goes-progressive Nest generation mentoring : Supporting teachers beyond induction - Bressman, Winter, Efron https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0742051X17316608 Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/ Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation Buy some merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore
John (@jfcatto) and Pete (@mr_van_w) generally meander around a conversation touching on; some news, coaching, viva voce and high stakes assessment stress. John then talks about some ways that teachers can talk less in the classroom. Pete then enlightens us about the ridiculousness of so called "pod schools". John: 8 ways teachers can talk less and get kids talking more - Angela Watson https://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/8-ways-teachers-can-talk-less-get-kids-talking/ Pete: Pods, Microschools and Tutors: Can Parents Solve the Education Crisis on Their Own? - Melinda Wenner Moyer https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/22/parenting/school-pods-coronavirus.html Watch KORN: https://youtu.be/3zPvfVmL0nE Visit our website: https://www.catfish.education/ Email us feedback or suggestions: catfisheducation@gmail.com Read Pete's blog: https://mrvanw.com/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CatfishEducation Buy some merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/CatfishEd/explore
Marco, Kristen, and their friend Milton, discuss coming back to the new school year and how COVID has impacted the start we normally have as educators. We speak about what gets us back into routine, what the plans are in our districts for teachers and students, and how we are navigating the uncertainty with our faculty and friends.
This flexible reporting period; we check in with Pete (@mr_van_w) who has been diligently implementing the teaching strategies discussed from previous podcasts. We discuss the efficacy of vertical non-permanent surfaces as compared to horizontal non-permanent surfaces. Pete expresses solidarity with the Police Force in their justifiably heavy handed dealing with Sovereign Citizens. He continues to scoff at the treatment of these terrorist kooks, and unilaterally supports Officers of the Law and those who are here to protect us. Completely, devoid of the predjudice. John (@jfcatto) reminds citizens to comply to law enforcement whilst still confirming their status. John (@jfcatto) continues to discuss retrieval practice and how it could be implemented in a learning environment. Slow chat: If you could build a learner profile that was used for admission to further education. What would it include? How would it out-compete the ATAR. Remember: In every police interaction with state or federal police; confirm "Am I being detained?" CogSciSci: Retrieval Practice in the Classroom https://cogscisci.wordpress.com/2020/01/23/retrieval-practice-in-the-classroom-a-cogscisci-symposium/ How not to screw up retrieval practice - Adam Boxer https://achemicalorthodoxy.wordpress.com/2020/01/26/how-to-not-screw-up-retrieval-practice/
This week Pete (@mr_van_w) discusses ways to explicitly teach problem solving to create a thinking classroom. He introduces John (@jfcatto) to the idea of "keep thinking questions" rather than "stop thinking questions" and students work on "vertical non-permanent surfaces". Building a Thinking Classroom in Maths - Peter Liljedahl https://www.edutopia.org/article/building-thinking-classroom-math
Kristen leads a body scan in this mini episode, and offers advice on how to do the exercise on your own!
Marco discusses a conversation he had with a good friend who has been in education for over three decades, and who has been in administration for over 20 years. He shares his thoughts, tips from his friend, as well as insight from Kristen, for the educators out there who are ready to get hired, and for those who are ready to make a change.
Marco and Kristen are thankful for the support, and will plan to release mini episodes with our friends!
John (@jfcatto) discusses some of the ways that self-driven learning can be used to build relationships and meet students at the level they are at. Pete (@mr_van_w) then talks compassion in education and why now might be the right time to change the way we think about inclusive education. Self-Driven Learning Relies on Relationships - Derek Davidson https://www.edutopia.org/article/self-driven-learning-relies-relationships Pandemic a Golden Opportunity to Bring Compassion to Education - Dev Nath Pathak https://www.thequint.com/news/education/pandemic-a-golden-opportunity-to-switch-to-compassionate-pedagogy-e-learning-coronavirus Pedagogy of the Oppressed - Paulo Friere https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedagogy_of_the_Oppressed https://www.booktopia.com.au/pedagogy-of-the-oppressed-paulo-freire/book/9780241301111.html Teachers Talking Teaching on Red Bubble https://www.redbubble.com/i/iphone-case/Teachers-Talking-Teaching-Logo-by-CatfishEd/49592763.PM7U2
Marco, Kristen, and their international-teacher-friend Kathleen, discuss the headlines in education, summer vacations as a kid, and how do they spend their summers as teachers. Kathleen offers some insight in her world as not only a teacher teaching in a pandemic, but being an international teacher in China, while being stuck in Texas.
Marco and Kristen discuss how they handled spring closures of Texas schools due to COVID-19.
In this special edition of Teachers Talking Teaching, Marco shares thoughts concerning the current situation and the adversity faced by black students and teachers, as well as students and teachers of color.
Marco and Kristen explore how they came to be teachers, and how they consider experiences inside and outside the classroom to be important for educators.
Teachers Talking Teaching is a podcast created by educators for educators, and for others who are interested in teaching and education. This short episode is an introduction to the podcast with Marco.
In this episode of Teachers Occasionally Talking Teaching. Pete (@mr_van_w) tells John (@jfcatto) about Trauma Informed Teaching and how a school is using blended learning and self-paced mastery to cater for students with low attendance rates. Pete: A Student-Centered Model of Blended Learning - Edutopia https://youtu.be/zrR-KIoggf4 Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/49592763
This week Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto reflect on current events and discuss the duty and tactics for addressing issues of race within our classes. They also answer the cross platforms listener mailbags and announce an exciting new line of merch. Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/i/mask/Teachers-Talking-Teaching-Logo-by-CatfishEd/49592763.9G0D8
Unfortunately, due to technical issues last weeks episode will ever be lost in the ether. Obviously our Patreon subscribers will be able to hear John's half of the episode. However, for the rest of us Pete and John discuss online learning and the motivation for the design of the current online learning experience. They also use this time to answer a few listener question. Dylan Williams - Pose Pause Pounce Bounce https://youtu.be/TMBsTw37eaE Jess: Classroom hours slashed for teaching students to avoid educator shortage - Adam Carey https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/classroom-hours-slashed-for-teaching-students-to-avoid-teacher-drought-20200426-p54ncf.html Please keep sending in your questions, comments and doubtful points to catfisheducation@gmail.com
Pete and John are back to start another term, different from one they have ever started before. Pete suggests some ways we can build relationships with students despite being physically separated. John explores some of John Hattie's thoughts on online learning. Pete: Connecting with students in the online classroom - Reach Out https://schools.au.reachout.com/articles/connecting-with-students-in-the-online-classroom John: Visible Learning Effect Sizes When Schools Are Closed: What Matters and What Does Not - John Hattie https://corwin-connect.com/2020/04/visible-learning-effect-sizes-when-schools-are-closed-what-matters-and-what-does-not/
As COVID-19 continues to spread uncontrolled around the world, Pete (@mr_van_w) and John (@jfcatto) return to the bubble, soon to be their own private bubbles. They discuss the imminent cessation of face-to-face teaching and the move to an online learning environment. Pete: Mr Corona/Covid-19 plea to Admin everywhere - Pete Whiting (@mr_van_w) https://mrvanw.com/2020/03/15/my-corona-covid-19-plea-to-admin-everywhere/ John: Online Learning in the Time of a Pandemic: What it is, What It Isn't - Joel Speranza (@JoelBSperanza) https://joelsperanza.com/uncategorized/online-learning-in-the-time-of-a-pandemic-what-it-is-what-it-isnt/ Awkward PSA chats with the Education Minister https://education.nsw.gov.au/news/latest-news/social-distancing-in-action
This week John (@jfcatto) returns to his lane and focuses on effecting change in the classroom through different directed questioning techniques. Then, Pete (@mr_van_w) considers the challenge of teachers' teaching out of their field of expertise. John: No hands up: Rethinking questioning techniques - Daniel Beech (@MrDBeech) https://edu.rsc.org/ideas/10-effective-questioning-techniques/4011025.article Pete: “From Weakness to Strength: Turning the challenge of ‘out of field’ teaching into a team that thrives” by Yasodai Selvakumaran. Other stuff: Do We Really Need Baby Boomers? - CollegeHumo[u]r https://youtu.be/S195dc3-8D8 "Too strong for you Karen" https://youtu.be/EsaqmdQIq_0
This week Pete (@mr_van_w) laments the extra workload caused by menial tasks that have no benefit to the teacher or the students but are mandated within schools or systems. New contributor Shawtima (@ShawtimaSmiles) invites us to join her on her quest to improving her workflow and taking some of the power back. John (@jfcatto) comments on a report written by an idiot, who somehow managed to get a job as chair of a committee, that doesn't even garner support from the members of the committee. Also - who knew John would know what Dementors are? Pete: The Pedagogical Dementors - Sarah Barker https://thestableoyster.wordpress.com/2019/12/05/the-pedagogical-dementors/ It Starts as an Annotated Seating Plan - Sarah Barker https://thestableoyster.wordpress.com/2020/02/12/it-starts-as-an-annotated-seating-plan/ John: Report calls for school inspectors to monitor teachers - Jordan Baker https://www.smh.com.au/national/report-calls-for-school-inspectors-to-monitor-teachers-20200218-p541z6.html Taika Waititi - Give Nothing To Racism https://youtu.be/g9n_UPyVR5s Thanks so much Shawtima, you're a druid of the highest order, lady of all crocheted crustaceans, and the shiniest shiny there is! Contact us: catfisheducation@gmail.com www.catfish.education www.mrvanw.com
This week John (@jfcatto) wades through the Grattan Institute's mammoth report recommending the implementation of Instructional Specialists and Master Teachers. Pete (@mr_van_w) highlights the idea of Assessment Literacy for teachers and to question what inferences and conclusions can be made from assessments. John: Top teachers: sharing expertise to Improve teaching - Peter Goss and Julie Sonnemann https://grattan.edu.au/report/top-teachers/ Pete: Needed: A Dose of Assessment Literacy - W James Popham http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar06/vol63/num06/Needed@-A-Dose-of-Assessment-Literacy.aspx
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