Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud

The Power of Rapport

“If a leader wants to be seen as trustworthy, he or she needs to build a connection through rapport”, shares Mike Gilmour, elementary principal, and the author of "The Power of Rapport." Mike walks through six focus areas for building rapport, all of which can be consciously practices and coached: Body Language, Communication, Authenticity, Consistency, Energy and Enthusiasm, Intentionality.

Connect with Mike Gilmour on LinkedIn or at: https://thepowerofrapport.com/

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We Need Professional Development Around Grading

Author, teacher, and education policy doctoral candidate, Sarah Morris, explores the research around teachers’ grading decisions. Many teachers have received little if any professional development that produces reflection on the impact of their grading practices. The inequity of some grading practices cannot be decreased without teachers’ realization of the impact of their practices and exploration of possibilities.

Read Sarah's article, "I Used to Think I Was a Fair Grader. Now, I Look Back and Cringe" here.

Contact Sarah: srm041@uark.edu

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Prompting Students to Sketch to Learn

Biology and Earth Science teacher and author, Wendi Pillars, provides a look at the power of sketching in teaching and learning. Sketching provides an opportunity for students to engage with content in a non-threating and low stakes world. Time for sketching can guide a synthesis of learning. Studies show that information is recalled exponentially more when paired with visuals than without them.

"Using sketching can add laughter and boost confidence to take risk both intellectually and creatively which is ideal for building community and ensuring understanding"

Find Wendi’s books here. 
Find her on X (Twitter) - @wendi322 

Students Mentoring Students

Learn about a well-established program that has senior students serving as mentors to incoming freshman. Terrence Johnson, the designer and implementor of the program at Cumberland Regional High School in NJ, provides details around the program’s elements. Alumni mentors return as part of new mentor training and share their experience of the program’s lasting impact on them post high school. As you listen, consider insights for initiating or strengthening your programs.

Read about the program here.
Connect with Terrence Johnson: johnson@crhsd.org

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Tapping Teaching’s Satisfaction

“What to do when the magic is missing?” is the question that Foley Burckardt, a learning coordinator at the University of Chicago, explores in this podcast. How can coaches assist teachers who find themselves burned out, frustrated, fatigued, or rudderless do a reset?

Read Foley's article, "Teaching and Learning: What to Do When the Magic Is Missing" here.

Email Foley: foleyburckardt@gmail.com

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!

Is Your Grading Equitable?

The author of, "I Used to Think I Was a Fair Grader. Now I look Back and Cringe," Sarah Morris, shares the unconscious grading decisions she made as a teacher. As she learned about the impact of inequitable practices, she found changes she could implement that did not need any change in system policy. As an education policy researcher, she provides the needs for change and the possible alternatives.

Email Sarah: srm041@uark.edu

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!

Leadership Coaching

Dr. Andrew Crouse, the superintendent of the American Cooperative School in La Paz Bolivia, shares insights around school leaders being coached, coaching administrator and teacher leaders, and building coachability. Consider the characteristics of coachability and how you promote them.

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!

Creating Cross-Grade Partnering Opportunities for Students

Students can gain many benefits from cross-grade mentoring and peer-pal opportunities in academic, social emotional, and life skills success. Research shows such programs can generate a school environment that is more inclusive and supportive. Hear the results reported by educators at both the elementary and secondary levels.

Watch the video, "How to Elevate Your Buddy Program" here.
Read the article, "This High School Matches Freshmen With Senior Mentors. They All Get Course Credit" here.

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!

Opportunities for Cognitive Dissonance to Challenge Beliefs & Values

lliot Aronson, an American psychologist known for his pioneering work in the fields of social psychology and cognitive dissonance, explored the ways that people's attitudes and beliefs can be influenced by peer pressure, group dynamics, and cognitive inconsistencies. His work led to the design of the jigsaw strategy used in classrooms. Consider how elements of his work apply to instructional coaching.

Interview with Aronson on Stanford Psychology Podcast here.

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!

Why a Focus on Learning

Judy Thompson shares her views on how our traditional, "industrial" schooling model needs to change. Her focus on coaching and facilitating learning emerged as she recognized how teaching English as reading and writing wasn’t leading to success with the language. Consider how her thinking supports your desire for maximizing student learning. 

• Teachers talk-----Facilitators listen
  
• Teachers see what is wrong-----Facilitators validate
  
• Teachers are authoritarians-----Facilitators are leaders
  

Visit Judy's website here.  
Watch Judy’s Ted X video here. 

Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!