Dismissed podcaster

It’s no secret that mental health care can be expensive and difficult to access, especially for young people. This can be a huge problem for students, who often face significant stressors. Bridging the gap in student access to mental health care can alleviate some of these stressors. Dr. Travis Gayles, a recent recipient of the AMA Award for Outsta…

Tools for facing adversity When teachers at Robert W. Coleman Elementary in Baltimore are struggling with a student’s behavior, the educators have an alternative to detention. Instead, they can refer the student to meditation. The Holistic Life Foundation keeps three staff members in a “mindful moment room” ready to help a frustrated student with a…

In Episode 218 of the Class Dismissed Podcast, we caught up with Minnesota principal and author Jessica Cabeen. Cabeen, who is the author of “Lead with Grace: Leaning into the Soft Skills of Leadership,” shared tips on handling professional confrontations. Cabeen says one of the biggest mistakes school leaders can make is to “lead with their title.…

The HELPER Act In Episode 217 of Class Dismissed, we talk with Sam Royer, the architect of the HELPER Act, a bipartisan bill with broad support in the U.S. House, with a companion bill recently introduced on the other end of Capitol Hill by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) & Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA). The legislation would eliminate a down payment requirement …

For the past few years, the world has consumed podcasts at blistering speeds. Consequently, a lot of listeners can choose from a variety of content. It’s estimated that more than 2 million podcast shows are available. However, most of those shows target adults and teens. Very few podcast creators have taken the time to make shows aimed at 6-10-year…

Managing Up In this week’s Episode of Class Dismissed, we focused on some tips about managing up. The term “managing up” refers to an employee taking steps to improve their boss’s efficiency and efficacy. For some, steering their supervisor in any direction may bring anxiety, but there is a way to do it without coming across as pushy. We go over a …

Combatting Burnout Let’s face it. Being an educator can be an incredibly daunting task. There’s constantly a demand to “do more” with fewer resources, and COVID has only compounded the stressful work environment in the classroom. In this episode of Class Dismissed, a former teacher turned burnout coach, Gabby Lubin, discusses mindfulness and exerci…

It’s about teaching life lessons that prepare our children for the future. We all make thousands of decisions a day. So shouldn’t we begin teaching the psychology of decision-making to our students? Our guest on Episode 213 of Class Dismissed is a former high school English teacher and the Senior Educational Content Designer for the Alliance for De…

Predictions for 2022 In Episode 212 of Class Dismissed, we chat about what education may look like in 2022? Could we see a mass exodus of teachers fed up with educating through a pandemic? How might two years of learning in a pandemic impact test scores? Will Universal Pre-K ever become a reality? We examine Larry Ferlazzo’s latest list of predicti…

In Episode 211 of Class Dismissed, we have our 5th Annual “Classy Awards.” This annual tradition allows us to reflect on a few of our incredible show guests during 2021. This year’s categories include… Most Downloaded Episode Most Clicked on Article on our Website Most Useful Episode for Teacher Most Useful Episode for School Leaders Most Thought P…

The first step to understanding something new is often the most challenging part. Our guest on Episode 210 of Class Dismissed explains why we need to rethink the way we teach students. He suggests that we reconsider the three Rs – Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic and possibly replace those with some new Rs. Such as Relationships, Resilience, and Re…

Many students can remember details from their favorite television show but struggle with remembering things their teachers say in class. Why is this? Memory is an intriguing subject. You might think that your most recent memory would always be in front of you, but sometimes we find ourselves at a loss when trying to remember something from 15 secon…

In K-12 education, there’s a strong push for STEM education. It’s for good reason, math and science are important. But where should social-emotional learning rank? Psychiatrist Helen Riess, MD, believes we’re in a society that’s ill-equipped to talk about emotion and feelings. Riess thinks we need more than just information in this world to succeed…

Are educators doing enough when it comes to climate change? Purdue University Professors Dr. Daniel Shepardson and Andrew Hirsch believe that right now, climate change is the one topic that isn’t adequately covered in classrooms across America – even though this is one of our most pressing environmental issues today. “It tends to be addressed in a …

The Operation Varsity Blues investigation is a landmark moment for college admissions. More than 50 wealthy parents have been revealed to be participating in an expensive fraud scheme orchestrated by William “Rick” Singer that nets them their kids’ spot at some of America’s most elite universities. One of those universities is Stanford. John Vandem…

Exercising your critical thinking muscle We now live in a world where Siri, Alexa, and Google can answer straightforward questions in a matter of seconds. So when it comes to educating our students, there’s almost no doubt that teaching our students how to think critically is an essential skill. Our guest in Episode 205 has conducted research that …

Somehow the graphing calculator has stayed the same since the ‘90s Mathematics and engineering students worldwide have long been at the mercy of Texas Instruments, a company that has held an exclusive on graphing calculators for more than three decades. But that did not stop former Apple employee Romain Goyet from trying to disrupt the market. Goye…

Distracted students are not a new problem. It’s easy to blame technology as a leading factor in distracting our students. iPhones, video games, and social media are multi-billion dollar industries created to demand attention. However, our guest in Episode 203 of Class Dismissed argues that being distracted is not a new phenomenon. James Lang is a p…

Against the odds There are approximately 4000 people that live in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. The town, a 40-minute drive south of Jackson, Mississippi, is a quaint community that boasts a Walmart a few restaurants. So when the Class Dismissed Podcast learned that a science teacher was developing a scuba diving curriculum for her students at Hazlehurs…

Many schools are already back in session for the Fall of 2021. However, the Delta variant appears to have its own agenda. Thus far, in the south, thousands of students have been forced back into virtual or hybrid learning to navigate flareups of COVID-19. Each time a student or teacher is diagnosed with COVID, it takes schools time and resources to…

Our 200th Episode! It’s Episode 200 of the Class Dismissed Podcast! Over the past four years, we’ve shared stories of inspiring educators around the country, and today we’re reflecting on some of our favorites. Using Restorative Practices​ in the Classroom Back in episode 109, we spoke with Nathan Maynard. Maynard is the co-author of “Hacking Schoo…

Over the past few weeks, U.S.A. swimmer Caleb Dressel proved to be a dominant force at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. As it turns out, he credits much of his mental success to his former math teacher. If you’ve paid close attention you may have noticed the seven-time gold medalist often holding on to a blue bandana. In fact, he’s even pictured holding it…

If there’s one thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has made clear for educators, it’s that Social-Emotional Learning needs to play a critical role in the education of our children. But transitioning to an SEL classroom takes time. Our guest in today’s bright idea segment, Lorea Martinez completed her doctoral dissertation on SEL, and she found that “l…

Can you measure what matters? When companies look for employees, they look for candidates that are curious, creative, and persistent. So logically, these are the skills we should be teaching and measuring in our school system. But how do you measure curiosity or creativity? When YJ Kim was a project director at the MIT Office of Open Learning, she …

There’s little doubt that when students engage in classroom discussions, they’re going to learn more. So for many teachers, it makes complete sense to find ways to motivate students to participate in class. For years, Jim Lang (Assumption College) did this with a class participation grade. The English professor says he tried to keep track of each s…

Constructive Conflict Most school leaders get into education because they want to teach. They want to enrich the lives of their students and create a stronger community. However, those in administrative roles have to tackle an entirely different beast. Much of the role of a principal or district administrator involves managing conflict. Not just co…

Cybersecurity Incidents Strike Often If the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack had a silver lining, it was that it brought worldwide awareness to the fact that ransomware attacks are a costly epidemic. For years, school districts have been a target of such attacks creating costly headaches for those trying to educate our children. A report highlig…

Only 1% of the things in our body make us human. Doug Chadwick is a wildlife biologist, author, and frequent National Geographic contributor. During his 35 year affiliation with National Geographic, he’s offered in-depth coverage of wolverines, grizzly bears, and whales, to name a few. Now Chadwick has a new mission; he wants us to think differentl…

Dr. Dave Neumann is an Assistant Professor of History Education at Cal Poly Pomona and he was recently published in “Social Education” with his article titled “A feeling for the Past: The Role of Emotion in History Education.” In it, Neumann highlights some of his students (future educators) who were presenting their culminating model lessons in hi…

Nathan Levenson, a former school superintendent, has consulted with hundreds of districts about ways to improve special education. But in March of 2020, COVID 19 magnified the challenges surrounding special education. “Despite heroic efforts, by teachers and districts, kids with disabilities really did not thrive in any way shape, or form and the g…

Learning through play is a great way for children and adults to develop new skills, but it’s also a great way to alleviate stress and trauma and even tap into some different parts of the mind. Our guest on Episode 190 of Class Dismissed is an expert on learning through play. Dr. Bo Stjerne Thomsen is the Vice-President and Chair of Learning through…

How schools can help overcome the disadvantage of poverty. When illustrating the need for systems of support in our schools’, Harvard Graduate School of Education Professor Paul Reville uses an example close to his heart; his daughter. He’s open about the list of advantages his daughter had when she showed up for her first day of kindergarten at an…

Jerald L. Hoover is an award-winning Young Adult fiction author and has garnered success and multiple accolades over the years. He was awarded Best New Male Writer of the Year by the Literary Society in Virginia in 1993 for his novella My Friend, My Hero. He was also listed as a bestselling author among black writers from 1994 – 1996 in various Afr…

Here on Class Dismissed, we’ve published over 180 episodes. However, as we reflect on all the great topics we’ve covered, we must admit that we haven’t focused enough on the subject of rural education. What are schools like in rural America? What are the myths and stereotypes about rural education? If you keep up with education news, you may also n…

As educators, we sometimes need a spark. One great place to find that inspiration is from movies. In Episode 186 of Class Dismissed, we highlight some of the most inspirational movie scenes for teachers. The movie scenes that made our list include… Stand and Deliver (Rotten Tomatoes Score 82%) Los Angeles high school teacher Jaime Escalante (Edward…

You may know “Survivorman” from the hit Discovery Channel TV show (2000-2018), Les Stroud’s passion for the outdoors has driven him to some of the planet’s most remote locations. Now Stroud is reaching out to kids about the lessons that can be learned through outdoor adventures. Stroud says he worked with kids in camps for years, so the idea of a b…

When it comes to video storytelling, the times have changed. Most students are already equipped with an Android device or an iPhone. The advanced cameras on phones can be a powerful tool to tell a story via video. At least when appropriately used. However, as an educator, you can still bring several tricks to the table to up your students’ video fi…

Highline Promise In 2012, Highline school Superintendent, Susan Enfield, made a promise to students. It’s a promise that’s now core to the Highline School District strategic plan. The “Highline Promise” states that each student is known by name, strength, and need. Most educators come to the job with this spirit. With the intent of knowing each stu…

What is Inquiry-Based Learning? In Episode 181 we talk with Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) expert Trevor MacKenzie. MacKenzie has authored two books on the topic. For MacKenzie, IBL is all about getting the students to have a more active roll in the class and exploring students questions and curiosities as entry points into the curriculum. “Sometimes…

Over the past eight years Kahoot! has taken classrooms by storm. The learning software allows educators to create, share, and play learning games that drive effective engagement. The company debuted at SXSW in 2012, and in just five short years, they watched their platform grow to a billion players. By the start of 2021 they were up to a staggering…

In Episode 180 of the Class Dismissed Podcast, we caught up with Minnesota principal and author Jessica Cabeen. Cabeen, who is the author of “Lead with Grace: Leaning into the Soft Skills of Leadership,” shared tips on handling professional confrontations. Cabeen says one of the biggest mistakes school leaders can make is to “lead with their title.…

It’s no secret that the stress of being an educator can take a toll on any teacher’s mental health. But High School Humanities teacher, Henry Seton, is on a mission to let his fellow educators know the importance of talking openly about it. “It is OK to talk about the other ways you cope—your CrossFit and spin classes, your yoga and meditation sess…

Dumfries was voted the happiest place to live in Scotland. So much so the locals can end up resenting you if you move away. Mark talks about going back to visit his old school, bullies who now want to be friends and all those bad hair cuts and style choices that saw him through puberty. Not only that we have original wrestling finishing moves, an a…

Softening the blow for new teachers In Episode 178 of Class Dismissed we talk with Chase Mielke about ways new teachers can keep their flame for educating ignited. After a decade of reflection Mielke compiled a list of what he calls his five “Passion Stokers” for educators. Find a positive tribe Curate the good, don’t hoard the bad Forgive Own your…

You don't often think of Buckinghamshire as a hot spot of martial arts, but it turns out fighting was par for the course for a young Jake. If it wasn't his Dad starting fights down the school's back ally, it was his oldest sister finishing them. Which the protecting of his close family, Jake was them able to concentrate on his real passions that in…

The best of 2020! In Episode 177 of Class Dismissed we reflect on the best things that 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic thrust upon the education ecosystem. For example, 2020 helped normalize connectivity, renewed a focus on family, and has school districts examining the efficiency and effectiveness of their school calendar. During this episode, we a…

Dane could have gone a very different route than he chose to. Not only did he have to battle multiple teachers who seemed hell bent on making his life hell. Soon came the teenage years and the tempting call of the gangster way of life. Lucky, he had his head screwed on and decided to take a better path. But if it wasn't for his vision of a better f…

Each year public schools spend millions of dollars on copyright-protected textbooks. Districts do this even though we now live in a digitally dominated world full of open-sourced books. But there’s an alternative. The movement of using Open Educational Resources (OER) has been growing over the past five years. In 2017 Class Dismissed interviewed Ca…

For the first time in Class Dismissed, we attend the mysterious world of the all-girls school. Sophie talks us through the gossiping, sleep overs and snogging practice using your hand. Not only that, but there is the never-ending dilemma of how to style your uniform, which hat your meant to be wearing and what ludicrous hair style phase you might b…

How educators can navigate media literacy in a politically charged environment? Let’s face it. We’ve been living in a politically divided country. On Twitter, President Donald Trump listed the New York Times, NBC, ABC, CBS, and CNN as the “enemy of the people,” and he’s on record saying that 80% of media is fake news. So what responsibility do teac…