Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud

The Thinking Brain and Body Movement

Dr. Gretchen Stewart, a parent, teacher, researcher and the founder of an upcoming school, Smart Moves Academy, which focuses on the thinking brain and the moving body to maximize learning, shares her knowledge and experience with parents. As a parent of two children with learning differences, her understanding of providing for individual learning needs is highlighted.

Get in touch: gretchen@smartmovesacademy.org
Visit the Smart Moves Academy Facebook page here. 
Visit the Smart Moves Academy website here. 

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

Supporting Teachers’ PLC Practices

Experienced teacher, PLC teacher leader, and Instructional Coach, Darby Tobolka joins Steve for a conversation about PLC design, purpose, and expectations. They highlight the role of instructional coaches in focusing PLC’s on student learning.

E-mail Darby: darby.tobolka@leanderisd.org

Find Darby on Twitter: @DarbyT_IC

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

Argumentative Writing That Listens

We can teach students to write and debate with nuance and empathy to achieve productive civil discourse. An important topic when the media around them shares few examples. Erica Beaton, an experienced English and Social Studies teacher shares the highlights of her findings as she implemented a listening process into students’ argumentative essay assignments. Strategies for scaffolding students initial work are included.

Find Erica’s article here. 

Visit The Good Enough Teacher website here.

Find Erica on Twitter: @EricaLeeBeaton

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

Podcast for Parents: Developing Gratitude

Practicing gratitude creates a positive mindset, which can lead to increased self-esteem, compassion for others, and overall happiness. These can lead kids to have a better attitude towards school and their families, as well as reduced stress and a better sense of self. How can parents and care takers generate more frequent consciousness gratitude practices?

Listen to the interview with Martin Seligman here. 
"How to Teach Children to be Grateful"
"The Science of Gratitude"

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

Stop Worrying About Getting Through Stuff

Jeff Utecht from Shifting Schools explores what student learning outcomes should be driving our teaching and learning plans. Can students find problems? Can students use everything at their disposal to drive their learning? What skills should students be developing? What role does the teacher take?

Find Jeff’s blogs, podcasts, videos and resources here. 

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

Expanding Inclusive Learning Environments

Dr. Gretchen Stewart, a long time public school teacher, instructional coach and teacher educator, shares insights from her dissertation research which involves working with worldwide experts in brain development, learning, cognition, and movement, leading to the identification of 27 elements that experts felt should be included in an inclusive school where movement is a central part of how all students maximize learning. As she prepares to put her learning into practice in a new school, Smart Moves Academy, Gretchen highlights directions for coaches and administrators in all settings.

Get in touch: gretchen@smartmovesacademy.org
Visit the Smart Moves Academy Facebook page here. 
Visit the Smart Moves Academy website here. 

Smart Moves for Learning

What are researchers finding out about the natural collaboration of the thinking brain and the moving body? How can teachers use this knowledge to maximize learning opportunities for all students. Dr. Gretchen Stewart is an experienced teacher with a background in working with students with different learning needs. She completed a worldwide study with leading experts in brain development, learning, cognition and movement to guide her opening of a new school implementing these practices. She shares her findings with Steve.

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

Focusing When Things Are Changing

How can coaching assist educators in examining their empowerment to generate increased satisfaction and energy in teaching and learning? This refocus at times rather than a focus on "what has to be done” can be encouraging and energizing. Dr. Maria Gottschalk, an organizational psychologist, suggests exploring questions like, "what do you need to feel engaged and excel at work?”

Read Dr. Maria Gottschalk's blog, "5 Work Life Rules That Stand The Test of Time" here.  

Read Steve’s blogs on refocusing:

barkleypd.com/blog/reframing-the-problem-reframing-the-mindsets/ https://barkleypd.com/blog/podcast-reframing-leading-from-love-rather-than-fear/ barkleypd.com/blog/podcast-mindsets-to-explore-for-the-start-of-school-part-ii/

Podcast for Teachers: Maximizing Co-Teaching for Student Success

Co-teaching teams provide benefits to teachers as they collaborate to maximize personalized learning for their students. Dr Andrea Honigsfeld, experienced co-teacher and researcher, joins Steve  to explore the challenges of building from I/My to We/Our.

Visit Andrea's website here. 
Email Andrea: ahonigsfeld@gmail.com
Find Andrea on Twitter: @AndreaHonigsfel

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

Planning for Instructional Coaching Success

How are the expectations of an instructional coaching program shared with staff? This is an important question when implementing an instructional coaching program and an important element to address as new staff join a faculty each year. It also needs to be revisited when principal or coach positions change. Listen to a high school and elementary school coach and principal share their first three years of experiences as partners.

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