#EduCrush

What if qualitative evidence were amplified to the same status as quantitative data in our education system? How might our schools transform if we tapped into the rich insights that come from story, anecdotes, experience, and emotion? Shane Safir, author of “The Listening Leader” and recent co-author of “Street Data” with Jamila Dugan, joins Natalie to discuss why we need to amplify qualitative ev...

In this holiday special, Natalie explores the topic of grading through the lens of the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. Get ready for a visit from the ghosts of grading past, present and a future yet to come! Show Notes: The ghost of grading past. (2:29) The ghost of grading present. (11:05) The ghost of grading yet to come. (21:03) Follow Natalie: Twitter | Instagram Follow the Podcast...

On this PodSwap episode, Natalie connects with Peter Hostrawser, one of the co-hosts of the Disrupt Education podcast, to talk about edu-podcasting, the industrial story of school that needs disrupting, and how Spikeview empowers students to tell their story. Show Notes: Peter’s backstory; what called him into education and what he’s doing now. (2:00) Creating a podcast to stay grounded and connec...

What does a Tarot card reading have to do with leadership? How is our current story of work depressing? What are we getting wrong about change in our schools and organizations? Natalie joins Meghan Donohoe who is a Principal Catalyst at the Southern Alberta Institute for Technology to answer these questions and more! Show Notes: Reliving the “answers” we discovered during a Tarot card reading. (8:...

This week on #Educrush I chat with Drama Teacher Arlene Orchard and Dance Instructor and Teacher Hayley Jonason as we continue our look into how electives and options courses lead students to build confidence and belonging in the classroom.  Arlene on Instagram: @ArleneOrchard_Writer Alex on Twitter: @MrAlexNoel Natalie on Twitter: @natabasso Podcast on Twitter: @educrushpod Podcast on Instagram:...

A story about the permission, vulnerability and challenge inherent in creating an interdisciplinary middle school program. Preston Hickert is a teacher from Kansas City and he joins Natalie to share his story of “playing the mud” to learn with his students. Show Notes: Despite originally pursuing journalism and film, Preston ended up bringing a passion for storytelling to the classroom as a teache...

On this episode of #Educrush we talk with Adam Mailman, a teacher, conductor, and musician who sees the potential for the music classroom to allow student to explore their limits. We explore some of the experiences and strategies that students undergo in the band room and how that can potentially apply to other spaces in school. Alex on Twitter: @MrAlexNoel Natalie on Twitter: @natabasso Podcast o...

The field of psychology offers important perspectives on topics integral to education, especially engagement, agency and learning. Teacher, author, and psychologist Don Berg joins Natalie to unpack the concept of agentic engagement and to explain what joy has to do with equity and deeper learning. Show Notes: Two things more people in education should take seriously from the field of psychology; u...

On this episode of #EduCrush we are talking through the idea of belonging. Particularly in music class through out my years of school. I think that belonging can be a key component in student success, and this is the start of a series where we explore where that can come from and how we can learn from what other teachers do in their classes.

Power is neutral, but how we use it determines whether it is positive or negative. The old story of power tells of dominance and control and sees it as a finite resource that must be hoarded. But, how might we rewrite the story of power to include more feminine values? Elizabeth Lesser is the author of several bestselling books, has given two popular TED talks, and is one of Oprah Winfrey’s Super...

  This week on #Educrush we are exploring the idea of questions! What does the best day at school look like? Kids are known for their ability to dream BIG right? Do the systems of schools nurture this natural inquisitiveness or is there something that we’re doing that stifles that in the classroom? I spoke with a few people, including a 5th grader and his mother about curiosity.   Alex on Twitter:...

Brene Brown says, "When we deny our stories, they define us. When we own them, we can write a brave new ending." Natalie's work in assessment, in many ways, has been her way of writing a "brave new ending" to her own experiences in school. In this episode, she comes to you solo to share how she broke free from perfectionism and a need for external validation to finally find her voice.  Show Notes:...

On this week’s episode of #Educrush we continue to work through the essential question “How can we rehumanize education through story?”. We talk to various teachers about their experiences with the first day of school and reflect on the idea that teachers are students too. Alex on Twitter: @MrAlexNoel Email Alex: Alex@learnfirstyyc.com Natalie on Twitter: @natabasso Podcast on Twitter: @educrushpo...

For too long, the “real world” has been a mythical place that only exists in schools when teachers are trying to make students do things they don’t want to do. Stories of the real world create a culture of compliance. It begs the question… what’s it really like in the world of work beyond school? Dr. David Finch is a Full Professor and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Community Prosperity at Mou...

On this Episode, we continue our look into how people feel about the first day of school. At least we tried, but in the process of spending time interviewing Parents, our theme for the episode shifted. This episode is simply about the stories of parents and School. You will hear from two parents as well as hear me summarize a few of the other conversations that I had. Truth be told, this was a cha...

One of the most persistent narratives of the school system is that it’s a place where students do work in exchange for grades. However, what would school look like if grades didn’t exist? Chris Sarkonak is one of many teachers involved in the grassroots movement called “ungrading” to move school away from a culture of compliance, towards a culture of authentic learning. He joins Natalie to talk ab...

During this season, we’re looking at the role story has to play in how we see and interact with education. There are many people and perspectives needed for us to answer this question. Today you are going to hear from students, some at the very beginning of school life, some at the end and some far beyond the hallways of high school. They are going to share their perspectives, not about school in...

Welcome to season 3 of #EduCrush! As a primer for the season, we are talking about the secret to “rehumanizing” education. It is something that we ALL do naturally, yet don’t understand very well. Learn what this powerful tool is and how it helps to elevate our consciousness, build empathy, and create a positive culture. Follow the #EduCrush podcast: Twitter | Instagram Follow Natalie: Twitter | I...

We're back, baby! This season, we're trying something new and organizing our episodes around a central theme: story. Join us as we release new episodes every Monday to explore the essential question, "How might we rehumanize education through story?"  Follow Natalie: Twitter | Instagram Follow Alex: Twitter | Instagram Follow the podcast: Twitter | Instagram Email the podcast: hello@educrushpod.co...

In the final episode of season 2, Nat and Alex come together to look back on the highs, lows, and learnings from the past year and reveal the season 3 theme. #conceptbasedpodcasting Show Notes: Checking-in on our rose/thorn moments this past school year. (1:20) The unanticipated benefits of podcasting that Alex has experienced since joining EduCrush. (5:20) Exploring the differences between season...

If you were to scroll through most job postings today, you will likely see creative thinking listed as a required skill. And yet, many workplaces do not have the psychological safety for this skill to thrive. On the episode, Natalie is joined by Dr. Caroline Brookfield who is a veterinarian that discovered her passion for creativity late in life as she began to explore performance and stand-up com...

This week a passionate teacher team talks about taking bold steps to innovate in their own classrooms to give students hope through a project they called the Sustainability Summit. Charlotte Nixon, Mark Schuegraf and Neil Frail bring their experience and expertise together to form an audacious team taking on an ambitious project. Show Notes: Overview of the sustainability Summit 02:23 Students pre...

How might school leaders apply inquiry-based learning in their work? If we know that inquiry can inspire curiosity, connections, and agency for our students, how might it transform the professional learning culture of a school? Jessica Vance is an Enrichment and Environment Coordinator in Austin, Texas, and author of the newly released book, “Leading with a Lens of Inquiry: Cultivating Conditions...

How was school for you? I mean as a student. For me, it was a bit rough at points. School has always been a struggle for me. That said, I would not trade the experiences I’ve had as a student. They made me who I am, the showed me what it looks like when a teacher believes in you. I think those experiences give me real insight into the mind of students who struggle. This week, we’re talking a bit a...

Have you ever wondered if one of your students is capable of murder? Well, what if you knew that your entire class had committed violent crimes? How would you build a positive classroom culture!? Dawn Matthews-Nichols has been teaching since 1987 in a variety of settings with “emotionally disturbed” youth. She’s seen education from the margins and has some powerful advice for mainstream teachers....