KindSight 101

Whether you're a well-seasoned teacher or fresh in the field, it's always great to gain insight into tried, tested, and true tips for success in the classroom. In this episode, you'll come away with some great ways to prepare yourself and your classroom environment for a successful year, before the kids even set foot in the classroom. Enjoy! I am so excited to launch these new episodes because the...

In this episode, we talk with world-class Julliard-trained violinist Tricia Park about her experiences as a child prodigy. We discuss how learning to play the violin and perform for world-class audiences at a very young age made her feel special all the while contributing to a limited sense of identity. She shares her unique insights into what it’s like to live a big life as a quiet and painfully...

More often than we'd like to think, our students experience homelessness or are at-risk for homelessness. But educators and the general public aren't powerless to help! Jody Yurkowsky Pace is the director of program services at Threshold Housing Society, which helps at-risk youth attain independence and self-reliance through supportive transitional housing. Hear some of the touching stories, strat...

Fernand Magnin of Victoria, Canada lost his daughter to a fentanyl overdose in May 2016. Bria Magnin Forster struggled with addiction for more than 10 years, but her death came shortly after she left a rehab program on the lower mainland. Fernand is sharing her story in the hopes of raising awareness about the need for better mental health and addictions supports for individuals who struggle. He i...

About Locelle (/LŌK-EL/ meaning Local Women) is a female only social networking platform that provides a safer and easier way for women to meet like-minded local women (friends, mentors, business connections or activity partners). We create real connections by nding near- by matches based on interests, location and demographics using Match IQTM technology. Mission and Vision Our mission is to prov...

With the advent of more ethically-conscious curricula that challenge the outdated colonialist outlook on history, educators are more responsible than ever for carefully and accurately talking about cultures and ways of knowing that may not be personally familiar to us. In light of the Canadian government’s reconciliation efforts with indigenous people, the way we teach has to reflect a more cultur...

I love being able to host this podcast because of the wonderful people I get to speak to. Today, I am here with Elyse Cochrane who will be talking about the actionable ways that educators can foster a sense of innovation, critical thinking, purposeful contribution, and social connection through her specialized proven methods. You’ll learn how to implement Contribution Fridays within your classroom...

How does one make meaningful change? A lot of people believe in grand openings and grandiose efforts. I'd argue that the drip by drip approach is just as meaningful, if not more so. Listen as you hear the story of Henri, a child soldier in the Congo, who makes a huge difference to the livelihood of many children through his small but impactful acts.

Have you ever wondered how kind your school is? Well, today’s guest invented the research-backed metric that every school should employ to measure the kindness of their culture. In our conversation, we explore three different types of kindness and ways to empower our students to practice daily kindnesses. We also talk about the surprising relationship between resiliency and kindness. Enjoy the epi...

Who says you can’t teach inquiry in kindergarten? This episode will have you checking your assumptions at the door. Many teachers not only believe that using inquiry-based, student centered-learning is only for the intermediate grades, but that it’s impossible in kindergarten. My superstar guest provides step by step strategies, highlights her favorite technological apps, and explains key lessons...

If you’ve ever wondered how you can easily earn the respect and trust of parents in an authentic way that doesn’t compromise your integrity, my guest has some incredible insight to share with you today. In our conversation, we discuss the importance of building rapport, creating judgement-free zones for moms, encouraging parenting communities that favor teamwork and generosity over competition, an...

Have you ever pondered how to inspire your creative and entrepreneurial-minded students to take action and achieve their potential? My very special guest, an uber successful entrepreneur has a special message he wants all teachers to hear about what it takes to support our students in reaching for the stars. Sit up and listen to this one! Today’s guest, Evan Carmichael is working to solve the worl...

Have you ever wanted to learn the key to raising successful, independent, and happy children? The key is not shooting for obedience! During this fascinating conversation, we explore how to side-step power struggles, how to explain anger to a child, how to stay calm when children are pushing us beyond our limit, and how to maintain age-appropriate expectations of our students. We examine how to set...

Have you ever wanted to take a more active role in Canadian reconciliation efforts within your classroom, but felt like you weren’t sure how to do so? In this episode, you’ll learn about the I Love First People’s Shoebox gift project, the easy way your class can become involved, and hear about how this program is has been recognized as a meaningful bridge between Indigenous and non-indigenous grou...

Today’s incredible guest talks about the inspiring journey he took to overcome the financial and structural constraints within his low-income, underserved school in the Bronx. His story of passion, determination, and change-making is an inspiration for any teacher wishing to disrupt the status quo and improve upon a broken system. Buckle up for a motivating ride! Charles Best leads DonorsChoose.or...

Cancer is a far-reaching, often-devastating illness that touches everyone either directly or indirectly. Oftentimes, navigating grief and loss can be complicated and confusing, especially for children. In this surprisingly uplifting episode, you’ll hear from a very special guest about her personal experience living through Cancer at the age of 18, how the experience enabled her to gain a unique pe...

In this episode, you’ll hear how sleeping on the streets taught these grade 8 students an unforgettable lesson about homelessness. I interview a passionate middle school teacher to learn how he was able to navigate understandable constraints to implement such a dramatic real-life lesson in empathy and how you can bring elements of his approach you’re your practice. You’ll also hear from three stud...

I remember a particularly challenging student I had who must have experienced nothing but negative interactions throughout his day. He would literally arrive at school buzzing and had such a difficult time settling into any routine. He was disruptive. He struggled academically. He could be very rude. He had a soft heart with rock hard armour and he would launch into fight-mode so as to preemptivel...

Have you ever wondered how to authentically hold space for students who have experienced adverse trauma, uphold a successful results-based academic program, and maintain your sanity? Well, you are in for a treat. My guest has been featured on a number of viral educational videos for the incredible work his school is doing to realize the trauma-informed schools movement. In this episode we discuss...

Have you ever been face-to-face with someone who has experienced unimaginable heartbreak and been at a loss for words? My guest’s personal insight into grief as a result of the sudden unexpected death of her 2 year old son will bring you to tears, inspire your soul, and provide you with tangible ways to meaningfully support parents, students, or colleagues who have experienced devastating loss. Je...

Whether you want to create rapport with a new staff member, employee or student, this is a must listen episode for you! Get ready for deep dive into the topic of love, vulnerability, consent in the age of the “me too” movement and learning the practice of truly seeing one another. My guest plunges into the story of how it took just 36 questions to fall in love with her now-husband and how the expe...

You’re going to love my guest today. Through her vulnerable poetry, she had made meaningful connections to tens of thousands of loyal followers on Instagram. You might be thinking; how does this relate to teaching? We discuss the ways that writing enables us to process our self-discovery and emotions Excellent teachers recognize the place for meaningful reflection in their practice not only for th...

Have you ever wondered what an educator and a popular radio dj have in common? In this energizing episode, my guest and I explore how to survive a public lifestyle while living with anxiety and depression. We delve into the experience of battling with perfectionism, the pressure of conformity, vulnerability, and overcoming the desire to please the arm chair critics. Through her unique perspective,...

Sheila Sjolseth brings to life acts of kindness and service projects that families and kids can do. In her daily adventures of serving with her young boys, she has witnessed the awesome things that happen when kids serve others. She started serving daily with her boys in 2012, when they were 3 and 5 years old. What started as a way to teach her kids empathy has transitioned to a way of life and a...

Ever have that feeling of overwhelm in September...the one where you feel like you'll never get to where you need to be with your students? Here's the perfect solution that'll have you feeling confident and stress-free at the beginning of the school year.