Urban State of Mind

Akia and Kharena chat about social media its impact on education.

So many options, with so little time! How do you go about choosing the best learning community for your child? Akia and Kharena share their tips for picking a school.

Get to know USM co-hosts a little better. In this episode, Akia and Kharena answer four questions from a fourth grade student.

In this mini-rant, Kharena and Akia discuss an appalling situation that is too common in education.

Literacy advocate, Stephanie Jordan, joins Akia and Kharena to discuss the diversity gap in children's books. Tune in to learn more about children's books that are for us and by us. Follow Stephanie on facebook, twitter and instagram @Mcbooksters to learn more about her work and find resources for the children in your life!

Part two of our conversation with the president of the Kicks 4 Kids foundation, CheKeita Jones, about boosting self-confidence in youth.

President of the Kicks 4 Kids foundation, CheKeita Jones, joins Akia and Kharena to chat about boosting self-confidence in youth. Stayed tuned for the second half of our conversation next week.

Akia and Kharena share their personal experiences with testing, proctoring high-stakes testing and offer tips for tackling test anxiety.

What skills are necessary for all students to succeed? Akia and Kharena explore vital skills that educators have a responsibility to teach, regardless of subject-area expertise.

Local artist and former art teacher, Jamar Lockhart, returns to chat with Akia and Kharena about unequal access to arts education in urban schools. He also offers his tips to increase the opportunities for students to engage in the arts.

Akia and Kharena welcome local artist and former art teacher, Jamar Lockhart, to discuss the skills that children learn from the arts.

Our mini-series with special guest Jon Parks continues. Tune in as we explore social reform, pulbic policies and financial systems that keep us from getting ahead.

Jonathan Parks joins Akia and Kharena for a candid conversation about micro-aggressions in education.

Conflict is inevitable in our lives and especially the lives of young people. In this episode, Akia and Kharena delve into the research behind conflict resolution and offer concrete approaches to finding resolve.

Akia and Kharena offer 10 ways to join your community or stay in and relax while honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This week Akia and Kharena sit down with Sandra, who is new to the profession, and learn about the challenges and joy that she is experiencing after just 1 month as a classroom teacher.

Akia and Kharena discuss what makes school boring and how to engage students in the classroom.

Special Guest, Andrea Villarreal, discusses the hurdles that teachers face on a day-to-day basis and ways that we all work through it with Akia and Kharena. Learn more about our fellow educator, Andrea, on her popular blog at https://mytangledstring.com/

Akia and Kharena explore this old adage in education. Is it bad or good advice for managing a classroom?

Akia and Kharena share their thoughts on the importance of building relationships with students and strategies that ultimately improve classroom management.

If you can't manage the classroom, then you can't educate students. Check out the first installment of our Classroom Management series discussing how to establish and maintain routines and procedures for students.

Motivation may be the single, most important, factor in a student's educational success. Special guest, Jonathan Parks, discusses the fundamentals of motivating youth with Akia and Kharena. Check out our suggestions on improving motivation among urban students.

What is common core? Akia, Kharena and guests, Courtney and Dominique, break down common core standards for parents and their fellow educators.

It's time for more parent accountability in schools. Akia, Kharena and Courtney discuss initiatives such as parent report cards, mandatory parent service hours, home visits and even jail time for educational neglect. Education is a three-way street between teachers, students and parents. None of us can do it alone.

Special guests, Courtney and Dominique, help us consider the parent perspective when talking about violence and police brutality with children from the classroom to the living room. We would love to hear your thoughts!

Expectations vs. Excuses: How should educators draw the line between the two? Do students in an urban setting have legitimate excuses that we should consider? Should teachers lower their expectations for students? As educators, should we make excuses for our students not meeting our expectations? Kharena and Akia share their thoughts and more!

Meet Akia and Kharena on episode 1 of Urban State of Mind. Learn how they stopped taking work home with them and found work-life balance.