Teaching Matters

This is the second of a two-part series exploring the use of aptitude testing to help students envision career goals. In this episode of Teaching Matters, Scott Titsworth engages with Koree Hodgkinson and Victoria Hegsted from Danbury Local Schools in Ohio to discuss the implementation of YouScience (https://www.youscience.com), a platform designed to assist students in understanding career pathwa...

This conversation explores how YouScience is being used to assist teachers, staff, students, and families reduce the awareness gap for possible career paths. Edson Barton, CEO of YouScience (https://www.youscience.com), shares the company's origin story and the importance of bridging the gap between education and industry. Candice Sears, from the Montgomery County Educational Services Center in Oh...

In this episode of Teaching Matters, Scott Titsworth speaks with Danna Okuyama, founder and CEO of Urban Sandbox, a platform designed to enhance student wellbeing through creative expression and peer interaction. They discuss statistics surrounding student mental health, the origin of Urban Sandbox, and how it aims to provide a safe, engaging environment for K-12 students. Danna shares insights on...

The Alliance for Decision Education is a national nonprofit organization that provides resources to help students develop skills and dispositions for making better decisions. Adriana Masarra and Ali Stumacher, both from the Alliance, discuss the alliance’s mission and the benefits of adopting intentional decision education into students’ experiences. Link to Alliance for Decision Education: https:...

Tara Bonner, Chief Neuroeducation Officer for the Arrowsmith Program, discusses the concept of neuroplasticity as it relates to students’ growth. The neuroplasticity perspective assumes that our cognitive functions can grow and change as a result of learning experiences. Tara discusses classroom techniques that stimulate such growth, including techniques employed by the Arrowsmith Program Link to...

Dr. Jonah Schenker, Superintendent of Ulster BOCES in New Paltz, NY, discusses the concept of deeper learning and its implementation at Ulster BOCES. He emphasizes the importance of leadership in fostering an environment conducive to deeper learning and the skills necessary for students to thrive in the future. The discussion also highlights the recent Deeper Learning Conference and its innovative...

In the February 12, 2024, episode, listeners learned about the use of Writable by Galveston ISD in Texas. In this episode you will meet Andrew Goldman, co-founder of Writable (https://www.writable.com) and Executive Vice President of HMH Labs. Andrew discusses the origin story of Writable as well as the emerging role of artificial intelligence as a tool for teachers. Goldman suggests that AI may h...

Nigel Nisbet, Vice President of Content Creation at the MIND Education, discusses the intersection of artificial intelligence and education, particularly in mathematics. The conversation explores how neuroscience can inform teaching methods including the integration of experiential learning to help students make connections while learning mathematical concepts. MIND Education (https://www.mindeduc...

In this conversation, Scott Titsworth and Dr. Temple Lovelace discuss the evolving landscape of educational assessment, focusing on the mission of Assessment for Good (https://aerdf.org/programs/assessment-for-good/). Assessment for good is a program funded by the Advanced Education Research and Development Fund, a national nonprofit dedicated to unlocking scientific breakthroughs to solve teachin...

Sparking Discussion of Career Readiness through Aptitude Testing This conversation explores how YouScience is being used to assist teachers, staff, students, and families reduce the awareness gap for possible career paths. Edson Barton, CEO of YouScience (https://www.youscience.com), shares the company's origin story and the importance of bridging the gap between education and industry. Candice Se...

Aptitude Testing and Career Readiness in Danbury Local Schools This is the second of a two-part series exploring the use of aptitude testing to help students envision career goals. In this episode of Teaching Matters, Scott Titsworth engages with Koree Hodgkinson and Victoria Hegsted from Danbury Local Schools in Ohio to discuss the implementation of YouScience (https://www.youscience.com), a plat...

In this episode of Teaching Matters, you will meet Aja Cormier and Katie Assad, both with Galveston ISD, Galveston, TX. Katie is an instructional coach working in an elementary school and Aja is a 9th grade English teacher. Our discussion centers on how the technology tool, Writable, is being used in Galveston ISD to improve student writing. In addition to offering teachers a more efficient way to...

In this episode, listeners meet Lori Alhadeff, founder of Make Our Schools Safe, and Will Fullerton, Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs at CENTEGIX (https://www.centegix.com). Lori discusses how the Parkland, Florida, school shooting resulted in the death of her daughter and led to the founding of Make Schools Safe. The organization promotes safety cultures in schools and advocates for...

In this episode of Teaching Matters, Scott interviews Juan Duenas, the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services at Sheldon ISD, about the challenges of chronic absenteeism in schools, particularly in the wake of COVID-19. They discuss the importance of attendance, the role of the SchoolStatus platform in monitoring and improving student attendance, and the strategies employed by Sheldon IS...

In this conversation, Scott and Chris Stewart delve into the significant role sports play in education and personal development. They explore Chris's journey from a passionate athlete to a dedicated coach, discussing the emotional challenges of coaching, the importance of individual player development, and the lessons learned from both playing and coaching. The conversation highlights the transfor...

In this conversation, Scott and Karen Atwell explore the concept of growth mindset, its importance in education and the workplace, and how emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in personal and professional development. Karen shares her journey into consulting, the significance of lifelong learning, and the impact of remote work on interpersonal relationships. They discuss the need for empath...

In this podcast episode, Scott engages with Adam Smith and Jeannette Franklin to discuss the mission of the Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (“Air-Diff”) and its EF + Math program. They explore the importance of inclusive research and development in education, particularly focusing on executive function skills in math learning. The conversation highlights the challenges students fa...

In this conversation, Dr. Alana Gillis discusses the significance of class participation in education, emphasizing its role in enhancing student learning and engagement. She explores the inequalities present in educational systems and how they affect student participation. Dr. Gillis proposes a redefinition of participation as a skill set rather than a mere attendance metric, advocating for a stru...

In this episode of Teaching Matters, Scott Titsworth engages with Russ Davis and Dr. Kara Stern, both of SchoolStatus, to discuss the critical role of communication in education, particularly between teachers, students, and families. They discuss a research report recently released by SchoolStatus identifying specific opportunities for improving communication as well as ways in which SchoolStatus...

In this episode of Teaching Matters, Scott Titsworth speaks with Jeremy Oskins, an automotive and robotics teacher at Comanche ISD in Texas. They discuss the increasing demand for skilled tradespeople, the innovative curriculum Jeremy has developed to engage students in automotive training, and the partnerships he has built with local businesses to provide real-world experience. Jeremy shares insi...

Teacher and staff shortages, particularly in areas of specialized need like speech pathology, counseling, and accessible education, are increasing throughout the country. Such shortages coupled with increasing non-instructional demands on teachers increase stress and, for some, burnout. Despite that, a recent survey conducted by Soliant, a recruiting and staffing company specializing in education...

Reading is a fundamental skill that facilitates learning across standards, subjects, and grade levels. Yet, national statistics show that students are reading less and, generally speaking, below grade level. Kari Kurto is the National Science of Reading Project Director for the Reading League. Kari discusses a resource called Compass, which provides educators, administrators, policy makers, and ot...

This episode is part of a two-part series on the topic of scientifically supported reading instruction. Joe Burns is a regional product manager for Capstone, an educational technology and publishing company. Having taught early childhood grades, Joe discusses the importance of developmental skill development in reading as well as how Capstone augments phonics instruction with authentic texts. Joe...

In 2023, Deeper Learning Global (DLg) awarded the Ulster, New York, Board of Cooperative Educational Services (Ulster BOCES) with the “Deeper Learning” designation. Ulster Superintendent Dr. Jonah Schencker discusses this designation and how the district operationalizes deeper learning through its north star commitments of developing self, contributing to community, developing capacity, and engagi...

Following the release of Chat-GPT and other Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms, teachers and administrators at all levels of education have worked to react to both the possibilities and problems of AI. Carl Hooker is a former educator and now an author who analyzes the implications of AI for teaching and learning in his new book, Learning Evolution: The New Era of AI in the Classroom. Our disc...