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You know how some spaces just make you feel excited to DO something? Whether it's a Cricut getting your wheels spinning with what-ifs, beautiful shelves of paint inviting you to decorate holiday pottery, or a giant stack of cookbooks suddenly causing you to wonder if it's time to fill the cookie jar, well-organized resources in a creative space can help bring out your creative side. Today, let's talk about how to choose and organize flexible resources for your ELA classroom, anytime you've got the budget and bandwidth. (Check out this post on how to use Donors Choose, if your budget is continuously falling short of your needs). Ooh, one more thing before we start. Throughout this podcast, I'm showcasing graphics and displays from the #evolvingEDdesign Toolkit, a vast free resource I made for you. You can grab it here. Go Further: Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast. Get my popular free hexagonal thinking digital toolkit Join our community, Creative High School English, on Facebook. Come hang out on Instagram. Enjoying the podcast? Please consider sharing it with a friend, snagging a screenshot to share on the 'gram, or tapping those ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to help others discover the show. Thank you! Links: The (Vast) Ed Design (Free) Toolkit: https://sparkcreativity.kartra.com/page/evolvingEDdesign The Do's and Don'ts of Donors Choose: https://nowsparkcreativity.com/2019/01/the-dos-and-donts-of-donors-choose-for.html The Power of the Writing Makerspace: https://nowsparkcreativity.com/2018/09/the-power-of-writing-makerspace-with.html The Ed Deck: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Ed-Deck-Lesson-Plan-Inspiration-ELA-Activities-and-Projects-Editable-5106443 Sources Considered, Consulted, and Cited for this Series & for the Toolkit: Abdaal, Ali. Feel Good Productivity. Celadon Books, 2023. "Aesthetics and Academic Spaces." Teachers College, Columbia University Youtube Channel: Curriculum Encounters Podcast, Episode 4. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuFs4Fyk-v0Bwtuy1eQJ3JkRTeL4Sjyz4 Accessed Oct. 21, 2025. Chavez, Felicia. The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop. Haymarket Books, 2021. Dintersmith, Ted. Documentary: Most Likely to Succeed. 2015. Dintersmith, Ted. What Schools Could Be. Princeton University Press, 2018. Doorley, Scott & Witthoft, Doorley. make space: How to Set the Stage for Creative Collaboration. John Wiley and Sons, 2012. "Exploring Google's Headquarters in San Francisco." Digiprith Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxGqbmFf9Qc. Accessed October 13, 2015. "High Tech High Virtual Tour." High Tech High Unboxed Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87xU9smFrj0 . Accessed October 15, 2025. "Inside YouTube's Biggest Office In America | Google's YouTube Headquarters Office Tour." The Roaming Jola Youtube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P26fDfFBx8I . Accessed October 14, 2025. Novak, Katie. Universal Design for Learning in English Language Arts. Cast Inc., 2023. Potash, Betsy. "Research-Based Practices to Ignite Creativity, with Dr. Zorana Ivcevic Pringle." The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast, Episode 393. Pringle, Zorana Ivcevic. The Creativity Choice. Public Affairs, 2025. Ritchart, Ron and David Perkins. "Making Thinking Visible." Educational Leadership, February 2008, p.p. 57-61. https://pz.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/makingthinkingvisibleEL.pdf. Accessed October 13, 2025. Richardson, Carmen and Punya Mishra. "Scale: Support of Creativity in a Learning Environment," 2017. Accessed through Drive with permission. Richardson, Carmen and Punya Mishra. "Learning environments that support student creativity: Developing the SCALE." Thinking Skills and Creativity, Volume 27, March 2018, p.p. 45-54. Accessed online at https://doi-org.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/10.1016/j.tsc.2017.11.004, October 13, 2025. "Sensory Inquiry and Social Spaces." Teachers College, Columbia University Youtube Channel: Curriculum Encounters Podcast, Episode 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtD_-k5QmOQ&list=PLuFs4Fyk-v0Bwtuy1eQJ3JkRTeL4Sjyz4&index=2 Accessed Oct. 23, 2025. Stockman, Angela. Make Writing: 5 Strategies that turn Writer's Workshop into a Maker Space. Hack Learning Series, 2015. Terada, Yuki. "Do Fidgets help Students Focus?" Edutopia Online: https://www.edutopia.org/article/do-fidgets-help-students-focus/. Accessed 4 November 2025. Utley, Jeremy. "Masters of Creativity (Education Edition) #1: Input Obsession (Design Thinking)." Stanford d.School Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LosDd3Q0yQw . Accessed October 15, 2025. Utley, Jeremy and Kathryn Segovia. "Masters of Creativity: Updating the Creative Operating System (Design Thinking)." Stanford d.School Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggza7df7N7Y&t=2233s. Accessed October 17, 2025. "What is Curriculum and Where Might we Find It?" Teachers College, Columbia University Youtube Channel: Curriculum Encounters Podcast, Episode 4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh_UhGATVwM&list=PLuFs4Fyk-v0Bwtuy1eQJ3JkRTeL4Sjyz4&index=1 Accessed Oct. 23, 2025.
The other day I found myself walking through a parking garage stairwell in Iowa City, and I realized they were using the same scent design as the local mall in Bratislava where we used to live. Half-shocked, half-amused, I climbed the cement stairs as I remembered riding the escalator through the same subtle scent cloud two years ago. The memory was visceral. Though we don't always think about it, our sensory experiences have a strong impact on how we feel and how we work. I do my best work in a situation where I feel comfortable. In fact, I generally prefer not to work at home because step one, for me, to working at home is often to clean the entire house, put music on, light a candle, pick flowers, make tea, etc. and so I spent an hour prepping to work before I do anything. I bet you've already put considerable time and effort into making your classroom a space where you feel comfortable and where students feel welcome. Today isn't about changing any of that; it's just about finding small places where you might be able to tune your sensory dashboard in class to make it work even better for you and your kiddos. By thinking specifically about the five senses - just like we have students do in their writing - you can find easy wins to make the workspace more welcoming, energizing, and comfortable for everyone inside. Throughout this podcast, and all the ones in this series, I'm showcasing graphics and displays from the #evolvingEDdesign Toolkit, a vast free resource I made for you. You can grab it here: https://sparkcreativity.kartra.com/page/evolvingEDdesign Please share your classroom design stories, questions, photos and ideas with the #evolvingEDdesign hashtag across platforms so we can continue the conversation off the pod! Go Further: Explore alllll the Episodes of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast. Snag three free weeks of community-building attendance question slides Join our community, Creative High School English, on Facebook. Come hang out on Instagram. Enjoying the podcast? Please consider sharing it with a friend, snagging a screenshot to share on the 'gram, or tapping those ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to help others discover the show. Thank you! Links Mentioned: Edutopia Article on Fidgets Scottish Castle Fireplace Video Nasa Space Images Video Fun Stanford d.School Timer for Class Work (one of many they've created!) Sources Considered, Consulted, and Cited for this Series & for the Toolkit: Abdaal, Ali. Feel Good Productivity. Celadon Books, 2023. "Aesthetics and Academic Spaces." Teachers College, Columbia University Youtube Channel: Curriculum Encounters Podcast, Episode 4. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuFs4Fyk-v0Bwtuy1eQJ3JkRTeL4Sjyz4 Accessed Oct. 21, 2025. Chavez, Felicia. The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop. Haymarket Books, 2021. Dintersmith, Ted. Documentary: Most Likely to Succeed. 2015. Dintersmith, Ted. What Schools Could Be. Princeton University Press, 2018. Doorley, Scott & Witthoft, Doorley. make space: How to Set the Stage for Creative Collaboration. John Wiley and Sons, 2012. "Exploring Google's Headquarters in San Francisco." Digiprith Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxGqbmFf9Qc. Accessed October 13, 2015. "High Tech High Virtual Tour." High Tech High Unboxed Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87xU9smFrj0 . Accessed October 15, 2025. "Inside YouTube's Biggest Office In America | Google's YouTube Headquarters Office Tour." The Roaming Jola Youtube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P26fDfFBx8I . Accessed October 14, 2025. Novak, Katie. Universal Design for Learning in English Language Arts. Cast Inc., 2023. Potash, Betsy. "Research-Based Practices to Ignite Creativity, with Dr. Zorana Ivcevic Pringle." The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast, Episode 393. Pringle, Zorana Ivcevic. The Creativity Choice. Public Affairs, 2025. Ritchart, Ron and David Perkins. "Making Thinking Visible." Educational Leadership, February 2008, p.p. 57-61. https://pz.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/makingthinkingvisibleEL.pdf. Accessed October 13, 2025. Richardson, Carmen and Punya Mishra. "Scale: Support of Creativity in a Learning Environment," 2017. Accessed through Drive with permission. Richardson, Carmen and Punya Mishra. "Learning environments that support student creativity: Developing the SCALE." Thinking Skills and Creativity, Volume 27, March 2018, p.p. 45-54. Accessed online at https://doi-org.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/10.1016/j.tsc.2017.11.004, October 13, 2025. "Sensory Inquiry and Social Spaces." Teachers College, Columbia University Youtube Channel: Curriculum Encounters Podcast, Episode 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtD_-k5QmOQ&list=PLuFs4Fyk-v0Bwtuy1eQJ3JkRTeL4Sjyz4&index=2 Accessed Oct. 23, 2025. Stockman, Angela. Make Writing: 5 Strategies that turn Writer's Workshop into a Maker Space. Hack Learning Series, 2015. Terada, Yuki. "Do Fidgets help Students Focus?" Edutopia Online: https://www.edutopia.org/article/do-fidgets-help-students-focus/. Accessed 4 November 2025. Utley, Jeremy. "Masters of Creativity (Education Edition) #1: Input Obsession (Design Thinking)." Stanford d.School Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LosDd3Q0yQw . Accessed October 15, 2025. Utley, Jeremy and Kathryn Segovia. "Masters of Creativity: Updating the Creative Operating System (Design Thinking)." Stanford d.School Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggza7df7N7Y&t=2233s. Accessed October 17, 2025. "What is Curriculum and Where Might we Find It?" Teachers College, Columbia University Youtube Channel: Curriculum Encounters Podcast, Episode 4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh_UhGATVwM&list=PLuFs4Fyk-v0Bwtuy1eQJ3JkRTeL4Sjyz4&index=1 Accessed Oct. 23, 2025.
With Times 10 Publications and their HACK Learning Series™, your school can become an innovator in restorative teaching practice and social-emotional learning (SEL). Go to https://www.10publications.com/hacking-deficit-thinking to find out more.
Hey Designers,In this episode we are talking to Erica Terry about designing our best co-teaching lives. Erica is the author of the book Hacking Co-Teaching that will be published in 2021 as part of the Hack Learning Series. Erica is also the host of the Edupreneur Success Summit. So if you are interested in starting an educational business whether that is selling resources on Teachers Pay Teachers or creating a Youtube channel, this summit is for you. There will be presentations on social media, affiliate marketing, finances, course creation and more. Here's the link to check it out. https://www.edupreneursuccess.com/a/31129/vLzP8KXE Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so that you won't miss an episode and share the podcast with at least 2 educators you know. Thank you for inviting more educators into our community.Here's the link to the show notes.https://www.micheleschmidtmoore.com/podcast/6Until next time Designers,MicheleSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/designlessons)
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
When is it a good time to take risks as a leader? This week’s guest, Mark Barnes, discusses how every leader needs to take chances, the ways to handle criticism, the importance of listening, and increasing the love of learning. About our Guest: Mark Barnes is a longtime educator, bestselling author, founder of Times 10 Publications and the creator of the Hack Learning Series. Mark is the author of six education books, including Assessment 3.0, Role Reversal (a 2013 Best Professional Book), and two books in Corwin’s Connected Educators Series. Mark co-authored Hack Learning’s Flagship Book: Hacking Education: 10 Quick Fixes for Every School, a Benjamin Franklin award winner. Mark is also a blogger, podcaster, keynote speaker, and education presenter. Follow Mark Barnes: Twitter: https://twitter.com/markbarnes19?lang=en Instagram: www.instagram.com/markbarnes19/ Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mark-barnes-bb60955/ Website: http://hacklearning.org/times10/ Follow our Host Twitter: www.twitter.com/Joshua__Stamper Instagram: www.instagram.com/joshua__stamper Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-stamper Join the Conversation Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on social media and in our comments section. Please use the #AspireLead hashtag as you continue the conversation on social media. If you’ve gotten any value from this show at all, please subscribe and leave a rating and review wherever you’re listening. The ranking of this show is 100% tied to subscriptions and reviews. You can help us reach more school leaders by subscribing to the show and leaving an honest rating and review.
Mark Barnes is a 23-year classroom teacher, author, international presenter, and the Founder of Times 10 Books. After writing six books for three different publishers, Mark began work on the Hack Learning Series in 2014. He envisioned a different kind of education book, so he founded Times 10, in order to create a unique team and maintain an active role in every project. Six months later, Times 10 published the fourth book in the series, and the #HackLearning movement exploded around the world. There are now dozens of books in the series with more on the way. In 2017, Mark partnered with Teachonomy's Chuck Poole to create the new uNseries, which launched in 2018, with Book 1 — uNforgettable: Your Roadmap to Being the Teacher They Never Forget.
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
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 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
The Business Generals Podcast | Helping You Maximize Your Entrepreneurial Dreams - Every Single Week
Mark Barnes is a long time educator, bestselling author, founder of Times 10 Publications and the creator of the Hack Learning Series. Mark is the author of six education books and has co-authored Hack Learning's Flagship Book: Hacking Education: 10 Quick Fixes for Every School. Reaching nearly 5 million people every month on Twitter, on twitter handle @markbarnes19 – Mark is one of education's most recognizable engagers, a popular keynote speaker and education presenter! Super pumped to dig more into Mark's story so Ladies and gentlemen please help me welcome Mark to the show!! Mark discusses how his companies generate over 70% of revenue from books, how to build a brand around your book writing so your audience keeps coming back for more. —— Book recommendation for entrepreneurs: 1. Drive: The Surprising Thing About What Motivates Us – Daniel Pink 2. WIll it Fly – Pat Flynn >>> Free Show Highlight Reel Reveals… All the tips and highlights of today’s interview…All you have to do is download and take Action! Free download: https://www.businessgenerals.com/davidh (www.businessgenerals.com/markb) >>> Legacy: To be remembered as someone who made a real impact on education who changed the outdated approaches in education especially how we assess learning, de-emphasising the traditional grading system and creating a conversation about learning, as well as shifting the conversation of homework from a “drill and kill” approach but to go home and want to extend upon the learinings from school because students want to learn, to make learning fun for students – Mark. Best way to connect: @markbarnes19 on Twitter #hacklearning on Twitter http://www.hacklearning.org/ (www.hacklearning.org)
In Episode 90 of the Hack Learning Podcast, Mark shares Toni's Template for engaging reluctant learners, taken from the forthcoming Hacking Engagement Again: 50 Teacher Tools That Will Make Students Love Your Class (Times 10 Publications August 2017) by James Alan Sturtevant.Toni taught some of Cleveland's most reluctant learners and developed a simple, hacky template for engaging even the most reluctant, and sometimes beligerant, students. Mark shares this amazing template, while providing a sneak peek into another Hack Learning Series book.See Toni's Template at http://hacklearning.org/reluctantlearnersHelp us Hack Learning by joining thousands of educators in this growing movement. Commit today at http://hacklearningambassadors.com.
Gold Medal Mindset - Learn How to Win in Business, Sport, and LIFE!
Thoughts, practice, and discussion with winners on all things winning in Business, Sport, and Life. Gold Medal Mindset is about Thinking Bigger, Playing Better, Living Happier. Mark Barnes is a longtime educator, bestselling author, Founder of Times 10 Publications and the creator of the Hack Learning Series. Mark is the author of six education books, including Assessment 3.0, Role Reversal (a 2013 Best Professional Book), and two books in Corwin’s Connected Educators Series. Mark co-authored Hack Learning’s Flagship Book: Hacking Education: 10 Quick Fixes for Every School. Reaching nearly 5 million people every month on Twitter, @markbarnes19 is one of education’s most recognizable engagers. Mark also owns and operates Brilliant or Insane–a Teach100 Top 25 education blog. Mark is a popular keynote speaker and education presenter; if you’d like to bring him to your school or conference, contact us here. Follow @markbarnes19.
Learn how Dawn Casey-Rowe, author of Don't Sniff the Glue, navigates the rough waters of standardization in her classroom. In Episode 52 of the Hack Learning Series podcast, Dawn explains how she engages students by merging her business experience with learning outcomes, in order to capture the attention of even the most reluctant learners. Dawn shares several what-you-can-do-tomorrow strategies for teachers who want to create an innovative classroom, including using social media platforms like Snapchat (yes, you read right), even in a standardized society. Listen and learn how Dawn Casey-Rowe is De-standardizing her classroom, and learn more about Dawn on the show notes page at http://hacklearningpodcast.com.
In the new Hack Learning Series book,Hacking Leadership: 10 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Learning That Teachers, Students, and Parents Love, Joe Sanfelippo and Tony Sinanis discuss how important it is for leaders to be present and engaged with all stakeholders. Hack Learning host Mark Barnes shares the authors' 5 strategies for moving beyond traditional leadership and engaging with all stakeholders daily. This is 5 Quick Tips for Becoming a Lead Learner.
Learn 3 quick tips for improving your professional growth today. Bestselling author, educator, and creator of the Hack Learning Series, Mark Barnes, explains how you can access a limitless supply of powerful information from like-minded people, and put it in the palm of your hands, using tools you likely know but may not be using to their full potential. Learn more at http://hacklearning.org.
Would teaching and learning change if teachers treated all students like they were your own children? Author/educator and Hack Learning Series book publisher Mark Barnes shares one of his worst moments as a teacher--when he humiliated a student--and how that moment forever changed his teaching style. This is hacking rapport building.
In this segment, we speak with the authors of the new book aimed at solving persistent classroom problems. The authors offer simple solutions that are often overlooked. Follow: @cultofpedagogy @bamradionetwork Mark Barnes is a longtime teacher, education author and creator of the new Hack Learning Series for educators (www.markbarnes19.com). Jennifer Gonzalez is editor-in-chief of the Cult of Pedagogy website, where she shares resources and inspiration to help teachers work happier and more effectively. Co-author of Hacking Education: 10 Quick Fixes for Every School with Mark Barnes. Brad Currie is the co-founder of #satchat, a weekly Twitter discussion for current and emerging school leaders. Brad is a Vice Principal and Supervisor of Instruction for the Chester School District in Chester, N.J.
Our guests share why starting the school year with rules for students is a bad idea. They follow by offering a superior alternative. Follow: @markbarnes19 @NancyFlanagan @bodymindchild @bamradionetwork #edchat #teaching #edreform #AskingWhatIf Nancy Flanagan is a retired teacher, with 31 years as a K-12 Music specialist in the Hartland, Michigan schools. She is co-founder of the Network of Michigan Educators and her blog, Teacher in a Strange Land. Mark Barnes is a longtime teacher, education author and creator of the new Hack Learning Series for educators. (www.markbarnes19.com)
EDUCATOR, AUTHOR, SPEAKER MARK BARNES "THE EXCITEMENT OF HACK LEARNING AND THE HACK LEARNING SERIES www.brilliant/insane.com @markbarnes19 Presented by KNOWLEDGEWORKS www.knowledgeworks.org @knowledgeworks