Podcasts about srdad

The U.S. has done poor job of educating children of Color and children of poverty. In order to try to seek out answers I talk with Donna Ford of Vanderbilt University about some very sticky issues around educating children. We talk about race and fairness. In this one hour session we're just getting the discussion started, including changes to family patterns surrounding education.

Teens have been an enigma for several millennium, even Socrates questioned the conduct of youth. The post-industrial revolution child-labor laws brought about the emergence of the modern teen. New pressures and new patterns of free time have molded the behavior of our modern teenager. Often surly and argumentative, our teens seem to walk around in self-selected fogs. Michael Simon, a noted psychotherapist and a specialist on teens, joins Stan Goldberg to discuss what is really going on with teens.

Homework can be a very divisive issue. It pits parents against children. It sets up uncomfortable conferences between teachers and parents. There are different ways of viewing the value of homework depending on your economic or ethnic backgrounds. In recent literature, particularly in the United States, there have been scores of books denouncing the value of homework. In this show Senior Dad Stan Goldberg speaks with Richard Walker of the University of Sydney Australia about his new book “Reforming Homework” and what his views are pertaining to the value of homework and how it should be viewed. Definitely a different slant than most education reformers have been hearing and the point of view that should be considered. Richard Walker, Reforming Homework.

Is there any value to homework? Adam Maltese from Indiana University has released a new study that analyses the time students spend on homework and how they perform on standardized tests and how homework effects their grades. He joins Senior Dad Stan Goldberg to discuss his study and teaching methods related to homework and training the teachers he educates.

There is a lot of controversy today about how we teach and manage our schools. Competing forces are pressing their agendas on teacher seniority, evaluating teacher performance utilizing test scores and assessing, assessing, assessing. New twists to the old all lockstep teaching model “the factory system” called common core standards are being pressed upon the public as the ideal way to teach. Are these new ways to teach or just a new method to leech money out of the public trough into private hands? Renée Dinnerstein has been a teacher for many years and is now a consultant. She specializes in teaching children in the early grades. She is a leading spokesperson for learner motivated content-based teaching methods and is one of the founders of a teacher committee that is providing feedback and requests for reevaluation of the new core standards for the New York City public schools. She joins Senior Dad Stan Goldberg to discuss some ways that have worked in educating young children. They also discuss some of the pressing educational issues of the day such as charter schools, teacher evaluations, testing, student evaluations and a look to the future. Renée Dinnerstein a positive voice for educational change.

How do we effectively educate our children? What makes a good education system? These are real fundamental questions. David Kirp a professor at the University of California, Berkeley has spent time researching this issue in public schools that have started approaching the methods of education differently. He has written a new book called “Improbable Scholars” where he writes about real life examples he has investigated. David shares how we can educate students and not discard the slow learners, the special education kids, older teachers or students whose first language is not English. David joined Senior Dad Stan Goldberg for a half hour video interview that will change your perspective on the future of education. If I had two spots open on the panel to speak about public education I would choose Sir Ken Robinson and David Kirp.

No one can ever promise you that you would be happy. Maybe you thought that happiness just happened like a sunrise. In reality we can learn techniques to make ourselves and our families happier. Happiness expert Dr. Christine Carter joins Senior Dad Stan Goldberg to discuss methods we can use to help our families be happy during the holidays and have our children grow up to be happier adults. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Seth Rosenfeld was an investigative reporter for the San Francisco Examiner and the San Francisco Chronicle. But it was his work for the Berkeley University newspaper, The Daily Californian that started him on a 30 year journey that culminated in the writing of his book" Subversives the FBI's war on student radicals and Reagan's rise to power". It took five lawsuits for the FBI to release over 200,000 pages of classified information about government spying. Seth Rosenfeld joins Senior Dad Stan Goldberg and gives us some insight into his fascinating book.

Sara Bennett co-authored “The Case Against Homework” with Nancy Kalish. Both have been guests on my show in the past. On this show I share with Sara some of my homework wins and losses and she shares with us what the last 3 years running stophomework.com was like.

The small school movement and the charter school movement are definitely forces that are having increasing impact on public schools. It is hard to find a more out-spoken advocate for both of these movements as Joe Nathan. He was active in the formulation of small charter schools at the beginning of the modern-day small-schools movement. He is the Director of the University of Minnesota Center for School Change. The center features and promotes charter schools. This is Joe’s first visit to a Senior Dad Briefing Room, and we discuss his background, beliefs, and define areas of agreement and disagreement. Some of Joe’s ideas are controversial and are hotly debated by national leaders of the small school movement and by opponents of the charter school movement. Joe Nathan- What type of change do you want?stan hears of lice

During the 1980’s Todd Risley and Betty Hart conducted breakthrough research on how the number and type of words a child hears from birth to age three effects IQ and determines the child's vocabulary potential for life. I interviewed Todd in December 2006, he passed away in December 2008, and was impressed with the amount of time that was needed to tabulate the results. Now that we are in the computer age techniques are being developed to automate the process and use the results for autism detection as well as vocabulary development. The Lena Research Foundation has invested over $50 million dollars to date for this research. Last year I interviewed one of the team Steven Warren from the University of Kansas, who shared some of the implications of the research. Later in the year I spoke with Kim Ollier from the University of Memphis another key advisor to the Lena team about the results of this new research based the original Risley/Hart research. In this show we hear all three interviews that can form the basis of our understanding of the education gap and the language and IQ we carry through life.

This show has two “Briefs”. Mel Levine chats with me about “Trust”. I am also joined by Susan Barnes the founder of “Classes for Causes and we learn what is happening there. The last story on the show is from Mike Henry an involved parent. We here the frightening escalation of punishment his son received from the school district and in a post script I share another “Racism” story in it’s not racism, it’s EGO.

When faced with a situation where a parent feels that a school system is not doing all it can for their children, some parents just complain. Some parents write letters and some parents, like Los Angeles parent Bill Ring, act. Bill got involved. He was on district parent advisory committee and when that was not yielding results, he started his own parent organization. When he was not satisfied with his child’s middle school choices he worked with others to start a charter middle school. The city rejected his application and he applied to the county. When the county rejected the application, they went to the state.  But time marched on, and his child was nearly in high school by the time the process was completed. Now, Bill is running for School Board in Los Angeles and has started a new parent organization called TransParent®. Bill Ring- Being quiet is not an optionStan’s soccer story about “don’t kick the goalie”

The news business has been changing even before that runner burst through the door, breathless to deliver her earth-shattering news. Nanette Asimov was not in the business that far back, but has been the mainstay of the Education Beat for the San Francisco Chronicle for over twenty years. Her focus is on state and national issues and has recently begun investigating special education and autism. Her stories are insightful, informative, and occasionally controversial, as her words describe a vision that is uncomfortable for some. Speaking with Nanette gives us insight to the person we meet so frequently at our breakfast table. Nanette Asimov- The Observant Witness.We have have a quick conversation with Shawna DeNofaStan learns about life without Father

David Alexander went to Public School 152 in Brooklyn New York. He later became a physician, ran two hospitals, and most recently has been appointed CEO of one of the most prestigious children’s health foundations in the nation, The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health. David has learned from the journey and shares with us his vision for the future, and where he would like to lead the Foundation. A helping hand for children’s healthAlison Davis and her husband have 3 boys with Autism. In the eight years since the first child was diagnosed her family has grown stronger. Alison believes that the mercury that was used as a preservative in inoculations she received before and during her pregnancies has a relationship to her children's autism. Alison has learned how to be an effective advocate for her boys. She spends a large amount of time looking for new ways to help her boys. She shares her knowledge with many people through email and continues to speak out for action against this raging epidemic. Alison Davis a voice from the front lines.Grandma has help

Mary McFarland, Oakland California Psychotherapist discusses the need for 'Parent Brainstorming" sessions at public schools and how this will help develop "community linkage". She also talks about students and alcohol and drug abuse, eating disorders and diabetes. " The quality of education a child with a disability receives is directly related to the advocacy skills of the parent". Says Pat Howey a parent whose child's illness turned her into an advocate for children with extra needs. Pat tells us how to be an advocate in part 2 of 3.The San Francisco Unified School District is improving because of increased parent involvement. Dana Woldow (a 20-40 hour @ week volunteer) committee co-chair of the student nutrition and physical activity committee wanted to feed more disadvantaged kids breakfast. Hear how far they have gotten and the adjustments they made along the way.Stan tells us of friends lost.

Dana Woldow a San Francisco volunteer is co-chair of SFUSD student nutrition and physical activity committee and feels that Catering trucks should be treated like Medical Marijuana Clubs, and kept 1000 feet from schools. Hear her in our nutrition segment.Sharp rise in girls pressured to have sex, Zephira Derblich-Milea tells us what's behind the numbers. Download the 2006 study from Liz Claiborne and listen along.Ellie Goldberg updates us on Asthma in the schools and we have 3 downloads about Asthma on our Healthy Schools page.Stan tells us about a power outage.

This week we hear a "First Person" account from Katie Russell, a mother of a first grader whose family life is at risk because of homework. Our Homework "Guru" Sara Bennett gives Katie some advice.Stan has a conversation with Amy Lanou the author of "Healthy Eating for Life, for Children". What should your child eat at lunch? Plus other reveling subjects. Look at our Lunch Box page for useful downloads.We have a candid conversation with Middle School expert Gayle Andrews about paying for our schools, also what works best when teaching and some new approaches to teaching.Stan tells us about a stomp rocket tale. Stan asks for the Hijacked Family Time to be freed.

If being a teen is so hard, why does it have to be hard for the parent as well? Dr. Anthony Wolf is a nationally known author and child psychologist specializing in Teens. We discuss some of the behaviors we can expect from our children as they become teens, why they appear to hate us and what conflict is going on within the teen. We also discuss a parent/teen education program that Anthony is working with to engage parents and teens in discussing risk behaviors centered around driving.John Gilmore is one of the architects of Autism United the collaboration of several New York area autism organizations. The held a fund raising walk on Long Island to fund a joint project. John tells us how it all started and how the walk came together. Cathy Moriarty is their national spokesperson and John tells us about Katie Wright’s help during the walk. Stan shares his impressions of the “Jenny on Larry King” and explains his “losing the dream syndrome”. They both discuss the autism collaborations and mergers of the future.Stan learns about peanuts

So why do we continue to administer this modern cod liver oil-or even demand a larger dose? Kohn’s incisive analysis reveals how a set of misconceptions about learning and a misguided focus on competitiveness has left our kids with less free time, and our families with more conflict. Pointing to stories of parents who have fought back-and schools that have proved educational excellence is possible without homework-Kohn demonstrates how we can rethink what happens during and after school in order to rescue our families and our children’s love of learning.Senior Dad Stan Goldberg does his homework

In the well-behaved community of San Marino California where 60-70% of the students have after-school tutors, there is discontent brewing. Although the school district boasts the highest API scores in the state, there are rumblings that the high school students are not getting into the best colleges that their scores would indicate. A relentless regime of homework has stripped away family time and enrichment. Tracy Mason is upset about the effect that homework is having on her daughter. Tracy made an in-depth analysis of all the available studies about homework and was startled to find that homework does not increase learning as it chips away at parental rights. She has embarked on a project to change her school district’s homework policy. At her first meeting over 60 parents attended. This is a school district that many families have cultural traditions that value vast amounts of homework. She already has been threatened and verbally attacked for speaking out in this typically quiet community. Tracy and the other parents who seek change will not cower as they show their children how to stand up for their parental rights. Part one of a long journey.

So why do we continue to administer this modern cod liver oil-or even demand a larger dose? Kohn’s incisive analysis reveals how a set of misconceptions about learning and a misguided focus on competitiveness has left our kids with less free time, and our families with more conflict. Pointing to stories of parents who have fought back-and schools that have proved educational excellence is possible without homework-Kohn demonstrates how we can rethink what happens during and after school in order to rescue our families and our children’s love of learning.Senior Dad Stan Goldberg does his homework

Many professional educators portrayed reducing homework as a dangerous idea, while at the same time parents and teachers increasingly raised doubts as to its continued usefulness in education. According to John Buell, the importance of play is culturally underappreciated. Not only grade schoolers, but high school students and adult workers deserve time for the kind of leisure that fosters creativity and sustains a life long interest in learning.Homework is assigned for many reasons, many having little to do with learning, including an accepted, if unchallenged, belief that it fosters good work habits for children's futures. As John Buell argues convincingly, homework does more to obstruct the growth of children's minds, and consumes the time of parents and children who may otherwise develop relationships that foster true growth and learning. John Buell on homework: Homework does not convey the academic benefits its proponents promise.As currently constituted, [it] is a largely ineffective and overly burdensome practice. It not only creates especially serious barriers for poor families but also unnecessarily limits other forms of personal development and leisure time that are essential even to education and working life themselves.

Amanda Cockshutt is a PhD, a university professor, a parent, and an advocate for parent’s rights. She lives in eastern Canada and has worked with her local schools to gain a voice for restoring family time. We chat about language immersion programs, homework, child discipline, and teacher re-education. Amanda exposes us to some evolutionary ideas and actions by some progressive educators. Amanda Cockshutt, moving forward softly.

NancyKalish is an education activist. She frequently appears on the Op-Ed page of The New York Times. She co-authored “The Case Against Homework” with Sara Bennett, a contributor to Senior Dad.  In conversation with Stan Goldberg she alerts us to a key reason our teens seem to be asleep the first period of the day.  After that she fills us in on what’s been happening around the country as homework policies change, including new ideas about school work at home and why some of our children are not learning to love to read.  These topics and more in “Nancy Kalish—Unvarnished Truth”.

Sara Bennett co-authored “The Case Against Homework” with Nancy Kalish. Both have been guests on my show in the past. On this show I share with Sara some of my homework wins and losses and she shares with us what the last 3 years running stophomework.com was like.

Mel Levine of allkindsofminds.org gives us his views on homework

The truth, according to Sara Bennett and Nancy Kalish, is that there is almost no evidence that homework helps elementary school students achieve academic success and little evidence that it helps older students. Yet the nightly burden is taking a serious toll on America’s families. It robs children of the sleep, play, and exercise time they need for proper physical, emotional, and neurological development. And it is a hidden cause of the childhood obesity epidemic, creating a nation of “homework potatoes.” Senior Dad Stan Goldberg chats with Sara Bennett and learns what the value of homework is.

School Districts- Jo Debolt one of three team members appointed by the State of Pennsylvania to be a trustee of the Duquesne School District tells us how the 98% African American School District was turned around without investing tons of money but by actually finding a cause of the issue.

Heddi Craft is an educator. She has taught school on most levels K-6 and has been a consultant for the Curriculum Leadership Institute. After moving to Santa Cruz, California, and beginning to raise a family she noticed how quickly her son learned the lessons from his $12-20 puzzles. Looking around for a better solution than purchasing more learning tools at the pace of her son’s voracious appetite, she founded the Educational Resource Center of Santa Cruz, a membership based lending library of educational toys, games, and learning materials. In conversation with Senior Dad, Stan Goldberg, she shares her ideas of “No Child Left Behind”, homework, teacher retraining and actions for parents. Heddi Craft reaching children differently

Karen Siris a bullying intervention expert joins senior dad Stan Goldberg to discuss how to stop bullying behavior. Karen is the author of "Stand up" a new book to help teach kindergarten through 4th grade how to counter bullying and support positive behaviors.

A few years ago when I was investigating different methods of teaching children I encountered a teaching method that was gentle yet effective. A small widespread school district in Alaska had adopted a method of teaching where every child learned at their own pace. The method had some elements of the Glasser system which includes a heavy reliance upon choice. The method that was used in Alaska, which I called the Chugach method after the school district that originated it, was a definite paradigm shift. It changed the factory model of education where time is the constant and learning is the variable to a model where learning is the constant and time is the variable. I spoke with Bob Crumley the superintendent of the district and learned about the program. In the ensuing years I have spoken to many people about this method of teaching. I have to confess after this period of time I am still in enamored with the method. Bob Crumley joins me again and we discuss his districts use of this IEP for all and everyone at their own pace method of teaching.

Can every child learn to read? An intriguing question. We talk like every child can learn to read equally and at the same pace. But in reality, is this true? There has been a lot of quality research into why and how children learn to read. Recently, I was fortunate to speak to Dr. Joe Torgesen, Director Emeritus of the Florida Center for Reading Research. Joe was a very likable guy and we covered many reading issues. Watch my hour chat with Joe.

The Spark Program identifies at-risk middle-school students who need to be motivated by the relevancy of school and matches them with people in industry that are employed in the student’s “dream job”.  The student then becomes an intern at that profession for one semester going to the job after school hours. Chris Balme, Co-Founder and Executive Director, shares the genesis of Spark and what they are doing to reduce dropouts.  What type of job does a child want?

When school districts create short lists to evaluate their progress with their small schools, or want a road map to move toward small learning environments, or a coach or consultant to help them refine their small school directions, these short lists have one thing in common. That common element is Inquiry and Learning For Change, based in Oakland, California. John Watkins, Principal of the firm joins me to talk about small schools and a wide range of topics about how our schools and learning environments are changing and the political conditions that may help or inhibit this process. John Watkins- A thinking man’s perspective.

Amber LamprechtLearning and reading are unquestionably tied together. No doubt someone can learn without knowing how to read but it makes the acquisition of information a lot harder. Amber Lamprecht specializes in teaching different types of learners how to read. One of of techniques she uses is multi-sensory learning. We discuss this as well as how the 20 percent of our population that are dyslectic-thinkers need to be trained to use their talents to learn to read. We also focus on the effects on children when we delay addressing the issues around learning to read until later grades. Amber shares with us what parents should look for as signs that their child may need additional help in learning to read. Amber Lamprecht- it’s not as simple as ABC.

Kris Olson was one of the founders of Parents for Public Schools in Waco, Texas. Kris has witnessed some very critical times for her city and its school system. Kris was in school when the courts ordered desegregation. In her lifetime she has seen the system go from promoting busing to discontinuing busing. Her entire family is a product of the Waco school system. Her city has grown and learned and Kris shares with us what that journey was like.

The small school movement and the charter school movement are definitely forces that are having increasing impact on public schools. It is hard to find a more out-spoken advocate for both of these movements as Joe Nathan. He was active in the formulation of small charter schools at the beginning of the modern-day small-schools movement. He is the Director of the University of Minnesota Center for School Change. The center features and promotes charter schools. This is Joe’s first visit to a Senior Dad Briefing Room, and we discuss his background, beliefs, and define areas of agreement and disagreement. Some of Joe’s ideas are controversial and are hotly debated by national leaders of the small school movement and by opponents of the charter school movement. Joe Nathan- What type of change do you want?

A while ago I went to a School Site Council meeting at the school my daughter attends. At that meeting all the parents participated in a first grade math lesson based on the teaching methods of Marilyn Burns. The parents were read a story and then had to solve a problem based on the information in the story. We were seated at tables and each table became its own work group. Each group addressed the solution in its own way. The experience taught us all on many different levels. It was comforting as a parent to see the gentle, caring method that was being used with our children. After experiencing this (three cheers to the school staff for presenting it) I was eager to chat with Marilyn to learn what the mind that created this method was thinking about education today. This interview was that encounter. Marilyn Burns- How did you solve that?

For some reason the issue of inclusion seems to invoke strong passions. Everyone views it differently. Add in the prescription for a least restrictive environment, and wow that gets everyone really churning. You can just see everyone in the room tighten their backs as they set their positions in stone. Walking blindly into this loaded mine field, Senior Dad Stan Goldberg meets educator Paula Kluth, a fifteen year veteran of special education. Paula has helped schools and school districts transition from exclusion to inclusion. She has held workshops to broaden the understanding of both parents and educators on the benefits of inclusion. The discussion moves through the hot topics and then on to some common ground when discussing the positive benefits of inclusion (it’s not just that it can be less expensive for a school district). Paula Kluth- Everyone is Included

The High School for Independent Learning of Albany and Piedmont California addresses the learning requirements of those students where a typical learning environment has not been successful. This school seeks to enable these students to be successful and enjoy learning, perhaps for the first time in their lives. The student body also includes youth who have work or practice requirements that preclude going to regular school. We talk with Shary Nunan, the Co-Director of the school, who tells us how the school got its start and how the needs of its students are addressed. Teaching a less traveled way.

Mike Klonsky became attracted to the modern day small schools movement when he was exposed to the ideas and actions of the leaders of the movement in the 1960’s.  As a teacher, he helped create some of the first charter schools in Chicago.  Today he is one of the champions of the small school vision that is embodied by the Chicago small schools movement, pioneered by Chicago’s first African American mayor, Harold Washington, in the 1980s.  We discuss the history of the movement, which was motivated by attempting to create the type of school that works best for children, how we should gauge student results, what we’ve accomplished with testing policies, team teaching, how to change teaching, and charter schools.  Mike runs a yahoo listserv that is a think tank for small schools professionals called Smallschools@yahoo.com.  Mike is firmly committed to equity and social change for the benefit of all children

Sir Ken Robinson is one of the foremost critical thinkers in the world today in the fields of creativity, ingenuity, and education. He is to those fields what Stephen Hawking is to physics. We learn Sir Ken’s views on the best direction for education to change, including No Child Left Behind, Inclusion, ADHD, education and the arts, education for the workplace and equality in schools.Sir Ken has sampled first hand different types of educational methods. He was born into a modest income family in Liverpool, the fifth of seven children. He contracted Polio when he was four and was sent to a school for disabled children. Later, he was included in a regular school, went on to university, and then on to an outstanding career in education. We learn how his background shaped his ideas and provided the foundation for his insightful understanding of education and creativity today.

June Jordan High School of San Francisco is a small school, by design. Started five years ago by a group of upstarts, comprised of teachers, students and community activists who were not satisfied with how the system was addressing the needs of underserved youth in the inner city who aspired to attend college. These bold, brash, and outspoken individuals got June Jordon rolling and perhaps ruffled a few feathers in the school district in the process. With test scores sinking, the faculty is becoming aware that solutions in concept are easier to achieve then solutions in reality. We speak with Matt Alexander, Principal of the school about the genesis of the school, the school structure and the challenges the school faces today. Are we seeing a very public, public school sink or are we viewing an intelligent well planned mid-course correction?

Mel Levine didn’t do well in elementary or grade school. He had a sense of humor and made his classmates laugh. When his classmates came to his house to play he told his mother to tell them he wasn’t home. He would rather play with his animals and play in his own mind. His older brother got into Harvard and had Mel visit him on weekends. These visits excited Mel’s mind and he became an A student from then on. Mel’s brother found the way in to help Mel learn. Mel graduated first in his class at Brown, became a Rhoades Scholar at Oxford, went to Harvard Medical School and is now the Director of the University of North Carolina Center for the Study of Development and Learning. Mel is one of the leading figures in the world in the study of the different ways that people learn. Mel doesn’t believe that one way or 5 ways or 10 ways fits all. There is a way to reach every child we just have to follow the clues. Mel spurns labels like “Autism”, “Bipolar”, “ADHD” and likes to visualize the child as they will be at 24. Mel founded the All Kinds of Minds Institute and has changed the way we view learning, all because a kind older brother took the time to find the way in. We learn who Mel is and what he thinks of the world around him.

The Wisdom of Deb MeierOne of the founders of the modern day small schools movement Deb Meier looks back at the small school movement and sees dangers she never envisioned. Still a supporter of small schools she sees nonetheless a possibility for oppression. Deb tells us what she thought when she started the modern day small school movement years ago in Harlem.

Jose Barillas is the Principal of Thurgood Marshal Middle School in Chicago IL and is a hero. I thought about our conversation for 1 month after we recorded it before I could edit it. His story so gripped and troubled me I needed the time to gather perspective. He has taught for 30 years. His school which is a small school (400 students) has been selected one of the “Schools to watch”. Now in the sunset years of his career he looks at what has changed and what needs to be done. Jose’s school has 97% free lunch and 85% Latino. Jose helps us understand what is happening with parental involvement at his school and how it affects the children.

A few months ago I interviewed Eric Mar, one of the Commissioners of the Board of Education of the San Francisco Unified School District. While chatting about some of the issues facing the school board we discussed the expenditure of Board of Education funds to defend lawsuits brought against the SFUSD by parents of children with extra needs, Eric said “there must be a better way”. That statement haunted me the past few months as I learned what parents and children were experiencing as they tried to cope with their children’s needs while dealing with the frustrations of dealing with the San Francisco School system. The Winkelman case, just decided by the Supreme Court, establishes a parent’s right to represent their children without an attorney in a special education matter. This one case changes the playing field from the parents going uphill to level for the first time in history. Last week we recorded a parent panel that analyzed some of the implications of Winkelman, but more importantly we discussed the issues that cause parents to file suit, and as well as ideas for sensible ways to update the process so that both the parents and the professionals in the schools can work in harmony. An important step in moving towards change is for everyone to hear about the impact that our own school system is having on our community. Parent Panel Stan Goldberg, Rachel Powell Norton, Katy Franklin

The environment that a child learns in can determine outcome. At school how we treat the child not only effects how the child learns but also teaches the child how to treat others. If a teacher uses power, force or abuse to teach, that is what a child will learn. The Grand Traverse Academy in Traverse City MI uses none of these. It is a Bill Glasser inspired school and it uses "a gentle way to teach". Kaye Mentley the superintendent of the school district tells us how they do it

Gayle Andrews is an Educator. She is the co-author of two books, "Turning Points 2000, Educating Adolescents in the 21st Century" And "Making the Most of Middle School". She is an assistant professor at the University of Georgia. Gayle understands the dynamics of teaching in middle schools. Some middle schools are so large the student can fall through the cracks and get missed. How to survive the transition to middle schools and more.

Ingrid Shafer has team taught at the college level for 40 years at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. She is a Professor of Philosophy and Religion and more degrees to boot. She is a new friend and I asked her how we should teach our quicker learners. That's where our conversation started. I hope you enjoy listening to Ingrid as much as I enjoyed thinking with her.

Jake Vigdor is Associate Professor of Public Policy Studies and Economics of the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy of Duke University. Their latest study looks to see if K-6 is better than K-5 for children. The Duke research has a chart that shows a significant improvement in behavior in the K-6 environment vs. the K-5 and that that behavior change carries forward for several years.  It also mentions that the students were behind in scores and caught up during the sixth grade in K-6, although that finding needs more thought.  There is also the factor that if you configure schools K-6, 7-9, 10-12 the ninth graders would have a more immature social structure and possibly reduce some of the issues connected with being a ninth grader in a high school.