They discuss planning as a reflective process — making sense of what has already occurred, surfacing ideas and misconceptions, and responding to the interests and needs of individuals and the group. Planning becomes a way of offering provocations, questions, and possibilities for what comes next, rather than a fixed script to be followed.

Informed by shared philosophy, mission, and vision — alongside broader pedagogical models and inquiry cycles — collaboration is continuous and embedded in the culture. Teachers are in constant dialogue, new educators are closely supported through counselling and community, and competition gives way to collective growth.

By drawing fully on students, staff, parents, and the wider community, learning becomes more connected, more meaningful, and more holistic — developing students’ approaches to learning, from critical thinking to personal wellbeing. It’s complex, with many moving parts and few certainties, but it’s a way of planning that dances with the known while staying open to what’s emerging.

Let us know what you think.

They explore how genuine professional development grows from what’s needed in the community, where learning is shared, reflective, and constantly evolving. A PD where meaning sits at the centre — not metrics or checklists. When everyone supports each other’s growth, goals become more fluid, evaluation more personal, and all experience becomes transferable. It’s about learning as a living process: collective, adaptive, and completely meaningful.

Let us know what you think!

Tune in to learn how to stay grounded, energized, and—yes—happy in the classroom.

We highly recommend that you check out Michelle's site for link to the book and resources to help you on your journey to becominG a happier teacher!

We highly encourage you to check out Daphne's 2 books:

-The First Year Principal: 52 Practical Lessons to Help New Principals Thrive as Conscious Leaders

-Beyond the First-Year Principal: 23 Powerful Lessons for the Conscious Leader

Check out Daphne's online supportive intiative The Principal's Collective 

Craig shares how TBO replaces judgment and anxiety with trust, reflection, and meaningful growth—helping teachers feel safe to take risks, innovate, and truly improve. We dive into how short, frequent, conversation-based observations offer a more supportive and sustainable alternative to traditional evaluation models.

If you’re an educator or school leader looking for a more human, more effective approach to professional growth, this one’s for you.

You can find Craig here. https://trustbased.com/

Challenge Accepted on Kickstarter Chris Balme on Substack

In this episode our guests are from The Community Connection podcast. Hosts Nathaniel Provencio and Dr. Eric Worcester, along with our own Brendan O'Leary explore the three dominant school models—Expert, Coach, and Counselor. Each has its own take on what makes a good education and how schools should operate. Join us as we unpack their competing priorities, where they clash, and how they might actually complement each other.

Listen to the Community Connection Podcast On Spotify  Watch the Community Connection Podcast on YouTube

Follow Nate Provencio's work on Instagram

In this episode, we're joined by author, speaker and "recovering high school principal" Dr. Darrin Peppard, to talk about Culture First Classrooms. Creating a positive classroom culture is both an art and a science—and Darrin shares practical strategies and powerful stories that show how it’s done.

In his book, he shares examples of how to set and maintain expectations—covering everything from seating arrangements and modeling behaviors to creating daily routines that build relationships and set a positive tone.

Dig into Darrin’s work here.

Get a copy of Culture First Classrooms 

Get a signed copy of Culture First Classrooms

We explore what makes an outstanding Early Years (EY) program, as Erica shares her vision for nurturing environments that grow alongside child development. She highlights the kind of educators who bring that vision to life—reliable, team-oriented, and full of heart.

We also dig into the tough stuff—why it’s hard for parents to leave their kids (and how to make that transition easier), how to truly assess whether an EY program is effective, and what mentorship really looks like in this field.

Plus, we talk about avoiding leadership burnout and navigating conversations with parents, whether their expectations lean progressive, traditional, or somewhere in between.

This is a super practical, down-to-earth conversation for anyone involved in early childhood education—or just curious about what it really takes to do it well.

You can find Erica's podcast and youtube channel here

https://www.youtube.com/@childcaredirectorschair690

https://childcaredirectorschair.buzzsprout.com/

They are very much worth checking out!

Connect with Dr. Joseph Weisler Website

Linkedin

Social media handles--instagram @classroomnarratives and @throneintheclassroom. 

Listen to his Classroom Narratives podcast here or watch the latest short for "The Throne in the Classroom" series here.   

Receive Joey’s Trauma informed handout for educators here.

Here are the episodes that Joey referenced in our discussion:

School mental health counselor Monica Langer

Music educator Jen Rafferty, breaking down the "superhero narrative" 

National Council of English Teachers trauma scholar Dr. Adam Wolfsdorf

Rob and Brendan examine both the potential benefits and the significant challenges of such a department. They explore whether centralized oversight could lead to greater equity, innovation, and accountability in education or whether it risks creating excessive bureaucracy and eroding local autonomy. Drawing on examples from countries like Belgium, Japan, the USA, the UK, and others, they highlight how different nations approach the balance between national control and local flexibility in their education systems.

The conversation also tackles broader questions: to what extent should education policies be driven at a national level versus being tailored to regional or even school-specific needs? What can we learn from other countries’ successes and failures in managing their education systems? And ultimately, does centralizing educational governance provide more solutions or more problems?

Whether you're an educator, policymaker, student, parent, or just curious about the future of education, this episode will give you plenty to think about.

We’d love to hear your thoughts—join the conversation by emailing us at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com.

Discover how this role focuses on facilitation over authority, fostering relationships, empowering teachers and students, and cultivating a supportive, inclusive school culture. We’ll explore how the counselor principal promotes participatory decision-making, emotional well-being, and collective leadership to create a truly community-driven educational environment.

Tune in to learn how this innovative approach challenges conventional models and redefines what leadership can look like in today’s schools.

Following up on our previous discussion about the teacher shortage, we turn our attention to a recent article that sheds light on why so many educators are leaving the profession.

We’ll explore compelling stories, including that of Paul, a former graphic designer who transitioned to teaching with virtually no experience after being hired on the fast track. How did he find himself in a classroom so quickly? What does this mean for the future of education?

Join us as we dissect these pressing issues, share insights, and consider what innovative solutions might help reshape the education landscape. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that goes beyond the headlines to uncover the realities of teaching today!

In P.E. there is a move toward treating these parts of the school as flexible, community-driven areas that explore and embrace a range of approaches to physical health. We’ll look at how these spaces are shaped by the ongoing needs of students and their communities.

The same goes for libraries, which, in a counsellor centred school, evolve into dynamic hubs that connect students with their local communities. Whether it’s hosting workshops, collaborative projects, or student-led initiatives, libraries in a counsellor centered school are more than just places to read—they're the heart of student-driven, real-world learning.

But with all this flexibility, what happens when there’s no consistency? No regular practice for your team? No quiet time for study? Does the freedom outweigh the confusion?

We’re talking about the pros, cons, and everything in between. Get ready for a conversation that’s as flexible as the spaces we’re discussing!

We delve into how this approach aims to build a resilient, compassionate community where individual pursuits enhance collective progress and explore how understanding our needs, wants, and drives, both now and in the future, contributes to personal growth and community well-being.

Enjoy!

-we discuss the benefits of this including meaningful contributions to a community and the pursuit of what matters to individual students

-but also the drawbacks of ensuring we are doing so well and the potential for students to drift aimlessly

The Agora model is a child centred approach that prioritises individualised learning experiences. It has no standard classes, classrooms, or fixed curriculum, instead students are encouraged to pursue their passions and interests under the guidance of personal coaches.

We were also lucky that Pete Merry of Ubiquity university, whose children have attended an Agora school, was able to join us for the conversation.

Join us as we delve into Hans' journey of transforming education and discover the profound impact the models such as the Agora system may have on shaping the future of learning. 

We hope you find this discussion interesting and inspirational. If you are interested in establishing which of the the three of school contexts you are currently in and how to support positive growth, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found here.

Peter, Co-founding Chief Innovation Officer, guides us through the vision, strategic partnerships, and the holistic learning pathways that set Ubiquity apart and shows how the ideas pioneered at Ubiquity can be applied to schools and colleges around the world.

We hope you find this discussion interesting and inspirational. If you are interested in establishing which of the the three of school contexts you are currently in and how to support positive growth, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found here.

We hope you find this discussion interesting and inspirational. If you are interested in establishing which of the the three of school contexts you are currently in and how to support positive growth, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found here.

The counsellor approach, more than the other 2, makes students the center of their learning and also authentic participation in the school. In this episode we compare and contrast the views of all 3 types regarding what childhood means for students now and later in life.  To find out which type of school you are in now, take our free 2 minute survey found here. 

To find out if your school is more expert, coach or counsellor take our free two minute survey found here. 

Over these episodes, we'll delve deep into the transformative ideas and practices that are reshaping the landscape of education. We inquire into how the Counselor Model addresses the diverse needs of students, fosters holistic well-being, and promotes an inclusive and empowering educational environment. We'll explore the principles, challenges, and successes of this cutting-edge model that places students at the center of their learning journey.

We hope you find this discussion interesting and inspirational. If you are interested in establishing which of the the three of school contexts you are currently in and how to support positive growth, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found here.

Rob has recently begun that process and so we took the opportunity to dig into how the book is coming along, its overall aims and how it could provide a step towards a conception of school that really aligns cultures and practices.

We hope you find this discussion interesting and inspirational. If you are interested in establishing which of the the three of school contexts you are currently in and how to support positive growth, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found here.

And, as always, we hope you find this discussion interesting and inspirational. In terms of our 3 types of school model, If you are interested in establishing what kind of school context you are currently in and how to move forward, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found by clicking here.

In the interview, we discuss strategies for increasing student autonomy and democratic decision-making principles, as well as the need for adults in the learning community to shift from being instructors to facilitators.

We also explore the importance of moving from coercion to consent in driving learning, delve into why learning experiences should be authentic, and ruminate on how Chat GPT and AI may transform the future of education.

Here is Chris's website, where you can find links to buy his book and writings on all of the things we cover in today's episode.

And, as always, we hope you find this discussion interesting and inspirational. In terms of our 3 types of school model, If you are interested in establishing what kind of school context you are currently in and how to move forward, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found by clicking here.

The FREI DAY learning format empowers students to take charge of their learning, become active participants in their communities, and develop the essential skills needed for the future. 

Through our conversation with Miriam, we will delve into the core principles of FREI DAY, its impact on students' growth and development, and the vision for implementation in schools around the world.

We hope you find this discussion interesting and inspirational. In terms of our 3 types of school model, If you are interested in establishing what kind of school context you are currently in and how to move forward, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found by clicking here.

Illich didn't hold back in criticizing the traditional and mainstream approaches to education that we've all become familiar with. He also presented a clear and progressive vision for the future, which still holds weight even after five decades.

Join us for part 2 of our book review, where we dive into Illich's ideas for a post-school society. His proposals of skill exchanges, peer networks, and resource sharing, align pretty well with the systems we have available today in 2023. And so we're left wondering why our current reality doesn't match Illich's vision.

We hope you find this discussion interesting and perhaps it inspires some ideas for how the 3 types of school model in your school’s context. If you are interested in establishing what kind of school context you are currently in, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found by clicking here.

We have worked closely with Nicole and Jorg over the last few years using the 3 Types Of School model to guide school development. We wanted the opportunity to reflect on the work we have done together including the practicalities of how the concept of the 3 types of school was introduced to the school community, pros and cons as well as next steps.  

We hope you find this discussion interesting and perhaps it inspires some ideas for how the 3 types of school model in your school’s context. If you are interested in establishing what kind of school context you are currently in, please take our 2 minute survey which can be found by clicking here.

The link here will take you to the tool (form).

Our tool considers various factors, including communication, trust, and collaboration, to provide an analysis of your school's relationship type. Whether your school has an Expert, Coach, or Counselor relationship, our tool will help you identify it and provide actionable insights to improve it.

In this episode, we'll take a closer look at our tool and explain how you can use it to being a journey that empowers you as an educator, student, or parent. If you leave your email in the form, We'll reach out to begin a conversation how you can enhance your school's relationship type and create a better learning environment for everyone.

Join us as we delve into the world of school relationships and discover how our tool can help you build stronger, more collaborative relationships in your school. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who's passionate about education and wants to make a positive impact in their school community.

In this episode we provide you with tools to serve your school's development:

-discern differences between the 3 types of school (expert, coach & counselor)

-uncover which you gravitate toward, which your school is now & which is the best fit for its context

-explore the 8 aspects of your school that reinforce the type of school and need to change to make sustainable change

(systems, environments, activities, resources, communities, cultures, reactions & beliefs) 

-we also make the case for a 4th type of school, an integrative approach that aims to integrate the babies and bathwaters of the others

Illich laid out a thorough critique of what we've called traditional and mainstream approaches to education. He also articulated a concrete progressive vision for moving forward. 50 years later his critique still holds weight. 

In part 1 of our book review, we highlight the main components of his critique against schooling as it was in 1971 and still is in 2023.

In this episode, we highlight what he calls the 4 myths of school and the 3 kinds of teachers. 

-sociocratic systems of organization

-adaptive physical and digital environments

-transdisciplinary practices

-sustainable & natural resources

-inclusive communities & cultures

-beliefs and reactions towards meaning

These schools not only challenge the mainstream education, but also democracy as we know it. They put into practice Sociocracy, a method for collective organisation based on a systems perspective, in which the decisions are made by hearing all the voices and getting everyone's consent." In this episode Brendan and Rob share their thoughts, questions and interest in circle schools and their progressive approach to school organization. 

We highly encourage you to watch the documentary. It can be found here:

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/schoolcircles

In this episode we focus on:

-how parent's roles in schools have changed from passionate volunteers to qualified professionals

-utilizing local businesses for job preparation

-field trips as an extension or chance to apply learning 

-creating communities that expand beyond your geographic location

The process to get there can be messy. 

Brendan and Rob working on a 2-week cycle to produce episodes. 

Week 1 - brainstorm, sort & organize ideas

Week 2 - record a condensed and hopefully concise episode

For something different, we're giving you a chance to be a fly on the wall to listen in on what we do during Week 1. Next week we'll release the final product of this episode. 

We look at how the following events either serve the curriculum, help celebrate merit, or wow us with something unique:

-parent information evenings

-celebrations of learning

-holiday celebrations

-social gatherings and talent shows 

Well, the answer seems to be, to get out of the way in a mainstream school. 

In this episode, we look at how the role of a parent in a school has moved away from the passionate volunteer in the school to an informed coach at home. We examine the pros and cons of this new approach. 

- parent-teacher conferences

- ongoing weekly or monthly communication

- admissions & selling a school to parents

-play-based learning

-differentiation and addressing developmental stages

-social-emotional learning strategies

-conflict resolutions

-assessment and developmental benchmarks

We look at:

- shared social agreements & conflict resolution

-clubs, sports & organized activities

-equipment & staggered timings

-influence of health & safety and legal responsibility for supervision

-student chaired meetings

-class representatives

-input in schoolwide decisions including staff hiring & budgeting

-event organization

We also examine Roger Hart's framework Ladder Of Participation to help clarify student governments as merely tokenism vs authentic decision marking. 

-class job schedules

-role-playing real-life job applications and reviews

-jobs for lessons and student learning

-school-wide jobs and rewards

-purposes for standardized assessments vs in school assessments

-alternatives to written tests

-testing validity: does it measure what it says it measures

In this episode we explore strategies the modern Mainstream approach uses:

-feedback for improvement

-finding your zone of proximal development

-ongoing and frequent feedback

-transparency 

-specificity

-conferencing models

Tonight we dig into the pros and cons of the way the mainstream school system approaches homework.

In this episode we reference the paper "Does High School Homework Increase Academic Achievement?" by Charlene Marie Kalenkoski & Sabrina Wulff Pabilonia,  and the article "Key Lessons: What Research Says About the Value of Homework" from the Reading Rockets site. We also mention Alfie Kohn and his classic educational text, "The Homework Myth".

Join us! And feel free to add your own voice to the conversation at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com 

We decided it would be a fun way to end the year to invite our friends Miriam (who is an integral coach) and Dwayne (an elementary school principal) along as we try to define the three types of school -Traditional, Mainstream and Progressive - in only ten words.

Take a listen and see if you think we get close...and play along yourself if you like. We'd love to hear your ten!

As always, get in touch at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com For more on Miriam's coaching: http://miriamthecoach.com/

Mark is a highly experienced inquiry educator with a specialism in loose parts play and play responsive learning. Join Rob and Brendan as they dig into notions of agency, safety, reflection and experience in this fascinating, and often controversial, area of education.

Get in touch at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

The responsibility of a mainstream teacher is to find what works for maximum achievement. Somewhat like a coach creating an athletic training plan.

Mainstream schools use assessment based diagnostics to establish their next steps and aim to provide support for students of all levels and needs. Content, process or product may be differentiated for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in terms of student achievement in relation to curriculum standards. 

As with everything, this concept carries positives ("babies") and drawbacks ("bathwater").

Join us as we navigate this tricky path. And as always, get in touch at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

In a mainstream "3 Part Lesson" we may find differentiated instruction, transparent objectives, diagnostic assessments, and even the odd spot of "edutainment" (for better or worse). 

Join us as we discuss the "babies & bathwaters" of the mainstream school's approach to instruction!

Rob Macleod attempted to lay out the basic framework of the Reinventing Education Podcast earlier this year during his online presentation with Spiral Dynamics Integral Live. Check out their Facebook & Youtube pages for engaging & potent content on a wide variety of topics from education to LGBTQ equality in the workplace to self-organizing transit. 

At its best, the mainstream school sees the class as a group of high achieving individuals supporting each other as a team. It's a place that is fair and acknowledges that fair looks different for each of us. There is an emphasis on personal motivation and trust is gained through transparency.

However, an over-emphasis on competitiveness might erode those social connections leading to isolation and a loss of a sense of community.

Today we look into the "babies and bathwaters" of classroom ethos in a mainstream school. Join us and let's keep the conversation going!

We may see differentiation, transparency, accountability and collaboration emerge as central. The complexity of study may move up the taxonomy from remembering, through understanding and into analysis or application.

But it is all for the best? What do we gain and what do we lose as we move into a world than may see us boiled down into data points or thrust into a winner takes all competition? 

Join us as we dig into the "babies and bathwater" of the mode of thought and beliefs that underpin mainstream teaching and learning.

Get in touch!     reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

Speaking of chaos, we ramble at the beginning of this episode, and if you have any interest in following up on the wide variety of inside topics we mention, here are some introductory links. 

Frank Sidebottom - unique northern England entertainer 

Chris Sievey - underappreciated pop musician who created a 45 single that had its own computer loaded video on the bside. 

Uncle Bob Pollard - the lead singer of the band Guided By Voices and general prolific song writer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqecxYBKtOY

Kayfabe - a pro wrestling term that has now worked its way into mainstream political commentary. 

Tragically Hip - a band who were successful in Canada, but failed to make a splash internationally. Kind of like REM but with a lot of added Canadiana: 

Kincardine - Rob’s hometown. 

Bruce County - the county that Rob originates from. Some HD footage 

Lucy Calkins Readers & Writers Workshop - A model that Brendan and I have used in our teaching.  

Stewart Lee’s Clowns Documentary. 

Maudecast- Brendan’s other podcast about Maude Flanders of (semi) Simpsons fame. 

But they've been stingy about their personal details.

Malcolm Giles returns to flip the tables & ask us questions about why we're doing what we're doing and where things might be going.

Malcolm was our guest in our 65th episode. All 3 of us wanted to keep our conversation going, so here he leads the discussion with Brendan and Rob.

Michael helps students define theirs. 

We focus on the importance of letting students know they are valued, gratitude in the classroom and helping students tell an empowering story about themselves. 

Brendan and I then reflect on some of Michael's key points and do our best to see what a superhero might mean to traditional, mainstream and progressive teachers. 

You can check out Michael's book here: https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Superhero-SECRET-Official/dp/1674020309

& his work here: http://www.superherohill.com

David's books include, “Someone Has to Fail" & "How to Succeed in School Without Really Learning.”

We are joined by fellow educator Dwayne Primeau to discuss how the purposes of school have evolved from building citizens to producing human capital. Along the way, we dig into hopes for the future and ways to bring political decisions about education back to the community.

Enjoy! And please get in touch with us at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com if you want to be part of the conversation.

Following this, we tackle that most controversial of issues.. what shall we wear? The mainstream opportunity centred school is torn between the freedom of fashion and the efficiency of uniforms. Join us!

Get in touch with us at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

How does the mainstream school system support parents that work beyond the school day? Should childcare in these cases be the responsibility of schools and local government to support and subsidise or should friends, family and the local community take care of it?

Get in touch with us as reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com and let's continue to discussion!

-debate the merits of ideas & proposals together

-collaborate in teams to reach school goals

-share roles to ensure effective & efficient use of time

In this episode, we dive deep into the culture, protocols and activities found in mainstream staff meetings and tease apart the pros and cons of this approach. 

These could be questions at the core of the hearts and minds of teachers in mainstream schools. Today we dig deep into the indicators you'd see when planning that help you identify that you are likely teaching in a mainstream school.  

Also...

We all agree that we want “good teachers”, but it's tough to reach a consensus about just what constitutes a good teacher ,and even tougher to measure it. Teacher Evaluation can come in many forms and when done effectively can contribute to individual growth and a supportive school culture. In the second half of the show, we look at how mainstream schools go about this evaluation and the "babies and bathwaters" of the mainstream opportunity value approach.

In the show we reference the following articles : 5 Ways To Make Teacher Professional Development Effective by Maria Kampen (Prodigy) and Teacher Evaluation: An Issue Overview by Stephen Sawchuk (Education Week)

We ask, what matters to teachers in mainstream schools in terms of their relationships? And how can we build strong, positive cultures that balance transparency, logic and support without being in constant flux or getting tied up in the cold data of bureaucracy?

We also dive into the evolution of the staffing hierarchy, from the single teacher in the one room school house to the mainstream mega-schools with its hundreds of specific roles.

And finally, we discuss how we can employ our limited budges to build a pastoral & teaching staff that best serves the wide needs of students.

Listen in and tell us you thoughts on twitter and at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

We also discuss how the job of principal grew from coordinating a few teachers in the one room schoolhouse to the complex managerial role that it is today.

We hope that you enjoy the conversation. Feel free to reach out to us on Twitter or at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

We dig deeper into the ways that we can create a developmentally minded school in both culture and practice. We also talk about the kinds of relationships that we want to nurture and ask how we can best embody our broad and complex human values in a world where education is often reduced to workplace preparation.

Brad is a school leader and educational theorist. He is currently the head of the Early School at Carolina Friends School in Durham North Carolina. He has an MA in the philosophy of religions and a PhD in education. 

Brad's book "Understanding Educational Complexity" is available for pre order now and will be published in December. You can pre-order here!

Before listening today, if you have not already checked out episode 50 of Reinventing Education, we suggest heading over there first to get an overview of many of the ideas that we talk about in today’s episode.

It might also be helpful to listen to that first discussion with Brad a few weeks back in episode 55.

We hope that what you hear is engaging, relevant and enjoyable. Feel free to contact us with questions and feedback at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com or on Twitter.

We discuss why the traditional one room schoolhouse gave way to the mainstream cellular model and consider the extent that this better serves students and teachers.

And, of course, we get to the thorny issue of whether schools are just designed to save money, even where education sufferers.

And when push comes to shove, where does it devote its limited resources?

Join us! And be sure to let us know your thoughts and experiences in this area at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com and on Twitter.

In today's show we refer to this paper written by Shuayb & O'Donnell (UK National Foundation for Educational Research) which compares aims in schools across Europe since the 1960s.  

The website purposeofschool.org was also very helpful in clarifying school aims.

The mainstream school is the water that we swim in, and it's very easy to see it as the only form of education. However in this season we will ask, "To what extent does mainstream education fit the global context of the 21st century, and what can it learn from the traditional and progressive systems?

Brad Kershner is a school leader and educational theorist. He is currently Head of the Early School at Carolina Friends School in Durham, NC. He earned a MA in Philosophy of Religions at the University of Chicago and a PhD in Education at Boston College. His recent writings and presentations have addressed topics such as: complex systems, mindfulness and meditation, human development, integral theory, racism, and the (mis)use of technology.

Check out one of his talks here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjktqQ0SSSNwUCcjh-Av1vg

Every kind of school, be it traditional, mainstream or progressive has some vital, healthy elements that we want to keep and expand on. We call these "babies". While at the same time there are things that are holding us back from really making educational cultures & systems that serve the entire community. These are our "bathwaters".

In today's episode, we take a look at the "babies" that the traditional paradigm brought to the table as it swept away the problems that the previous mindset was causing. And then we talk about how some of these same innovations became bathwater in the eyes of the emerging mainstream opportunity minded system over the course of the 20th century. 

Hope you enjoy. Thanks for all your support and feedback. We will see you back here after our Summer break for Season 5, as we deep dive into the "mainstream" opportunity minded school!

We talk on topics such as, how traditional schools allow for redemption, how an administrator can use values to best place staff and how we can consciously move in the direction that is best for the whole community.

For further details on Lennie's work as an integral Coach, or to contact him, please check out his website at https://www.lenniemacleod.com/

Today, we take a casual tour thought the back roads of the Reinventing Education model. We dig deep into some of the pros and cons of the traditional, mainstream and progressive school systems to answer the question, "How we can best serve the huge range of needs within our educational communities?"

Go check out episode 50 first and then join us back here for further glimpses into the nuts and bolts of Reinventing Education!

How does a traditional school communicate with parents? Are the kinds of parent teacher conferences that you find in these schools still meaningful and effective in 2020? Today we dig into the thorny topic of interaction with parents and discuss the strengths & weaknesses in the ways that Traditional schools go about it.

We also talk about how students in a traditional educational system work with those in the local and global community. As with everything, there are babies and bathwaters!

In our reverse sponsorships, we shout out the Circle Schools documentary & the book "The Conditions of Learning" by Robert Gagne.

During the main part of the show, we talk about this study on parent involvement from the University Islam Indonesia, this article from "The Resilient Educator" on great parent teacher conferences and Robert Hart's "Ladder of Participation".

Find us on Twitter or Email us at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

We also look at something that is close to our hearts - the staff meeting. Over the last 15 years Rob & I have attended hundreds of these meetings in traditional, mainstream and progressive schools. So what do they look like in the traditional school and does this form still serve the school?

In today’s episode, we refer to this Quartz article on great meetings & this BBC piece on how meetings may even function as a form of therapy. Our “reverse sponsorships” today mention Rob's upcoming presentation at the Integral European Conference and the Joseph Campbell classic “The Hero with 1000 Faces”

Find us and feedback to us on Twitter or at reinventingeducationpodcast@gmail.com

In the second part of the show we dig into how a security minded traditional school might run a student government. How does a school that values authority delegate decisions to its students?

Also, as the Corona virus pandemic continues to have a major effect on the world, we update how our own schools are adapting to the crisis.  

In this show we reference this research paper on the introduction of academic studies to Kindergarten and also this article on the differences between Montessori early years education and traditional kindergarten.

Our "Reverse Sponsorship" this week shout the online portfolio tool "Seesaw" and the book "Igniting Brilliance : Integral Education for the 21st Century"

Today we look into the solutions that these three types of school systems have developed as they attempt to continue teaching and learning while staying true to their core values.

We also discuss the idea of classroom jobs for students and look into the belief that they play an important role in building responsible people.

In our opening ramble, we reverse sponsor, "Third Culture Kids" a great book on the topic of students who live in multiple cultures and we give a shout out to the "Meetup" app as great way to organise informal educational events.

Enjoy!

Our reverse sponsorship today celebrates the work of Stephen McIntosh and his video  ("Developmental Politics in 5 Minutes").

And during our segments on discipline and assessment, we refer to the following articles & research papers : Michael Carson - Psychology Today article - “Punishment Doesn’t Work" ; Jessica Samakow -  Huffington Post article - “What Science Says About Using Force To Punish A Child” ; Elizabeth Gershoff - American Psychological Association article -  “Is Corporal Punishment an Effective Means of Discipline?” ; Mark E. Bouton and Scott T. Schepers - Research Paper - "Renewal after the punishment of free operant behavior" ; Rebecca Putman - Texas Journal of Literacy Education article - "Using Research To Make Informed Decisions About The Spelling Curriculum"

In today's episode, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses in the approach to homework and marking that you may find in a traditional "security" minded educational establishment.

We reference the work of Alfie Kohn (rethinking homework) & John Hattie (feedback in schools)

We also throw out a few of our own (non educational) podcast recommendations -enjoy! Adam Buxton, The Portal, Weird Studies, Athletico Mince, The Daily Evolver & That Naturopathic Podcast

Also in today's show we talk briefly about Salman Khan's Khan Academy

and the influential work of Ernest Boyer and his book, "The Basic School"

Schools could learn a thing or two from how pro wrestlers are trained. We interview Tyson Dux, owner and head trainer at the Tyson Dux Wrestling Factory in London Ontario Canada. Tyson is a 23 year veteran of the wrestling world and has a reputation as one of the greatest because of how he conducts himself in and out of the ring.

We discuss how a traditional old school approach to teaching serves upholding lineage, reputation and belonging. Tyson helps us see the sense of responsibility and accountability a master has to push their students to meet the demands that mastering a craft requires.

Check out Tyson's Wrestling Factory here:

https://www.facebook.com/tysonduxwrestlingfactory/

See Tyson in action in one of the matches he mentions here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCGuCWlZeLw

In this episode, we give a shout out to:

Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed  https://www.amazon.com/Pedagogy-Oppressed-Anniversary-Paulo-Freire/dp/0826412769

Brad Kershner's Parenting & Education in the 21st Century - A Developmental Evolutionary View  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFvluOoBQCE&t=