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Do you need innovative strategies to strengthen your school culture and spark student growth? This podcast is your go-to resource for coaches, teachers, administrators, and families seeking to create dynamic and engaging learning environments.
In each episode, you'll discover how to unite educators and caregivers to support students, tackle common classroom challenges, and cultivate an atmosphere where every learner can thrive.
With over 25 years of experience as a teacher and coach, host Olivia Wahl curates episodes with insights from more than 150 expert interviews, offering practical tips that bridge the gap between school and home.
Tune in every Monday and Friday for actionable strategies and inspirational stories that can transform your approach and make a real impact on learning.
Start with a fan-favorite episode today (S5E1: Inside the Secret Moves of Expert Teachers with John Hattie) and take the first step towards transforming your educational environment!
278 Episodes
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In part two of my S5E32 Schoolutions conversation with Dr. Benjamin Freud of the Green School Bali, we explore how regeneration and regenerative agriculture principles can inform learning, emphasizing a more holistic view. This conversation is designed to cultivate fresh perspectives on adult learning and sustainable development in educational contexts. We cover: → The four S's of the Bird Lab — sensing, seeking, shaping, and storytelling — and why this framework supports active learning and...
This short with Benjamin Freud, Ph.D., of Green School Bali explores how the learning process is intrinsically linked to active participation. Benjamin highlights the profound connection between learning by doing and contributing to community building. Discover how a trajectory focused on community engagement shapes a meaningful learning journey. This isn't just a school in the jungle; it's a radical reimagination of why we learn, how we grow, and who we learn for. Most traditional schools,...
In part one of my S5E32 Schoolutions conversation, Dr. Benjamin Freud, Head of Upper School at Green School Bali, challenges conventional beliefs about education. This conversation explores the philosophy of education, questioning whether traditional approaches truly foster learning. We discuss the future of education, focusing on sustainable living and environmental education as pathways to deeper understanding and innovation. We cover: → Why "learning through doing" is not the same as lear...
This month, @schoolutionspodcast focuses on cultivating student confidence through insightful conversations. Dr. Benjamin Freud discusses the principles of regenerative agriculture, emphasizing that learning by doing is essential for true understanding. Following this, Colleen O'Brien, Ed.D., highlights the critical role of civic education in fostering informed citizens and strengthening democracy. Muriel Summers speaks to why we need to believe in children, even before they believe in them...
Part two of my @schoolutionspodcast conversation with Superintendent Fabiola Bagula, Ph.D., details the San Diego Unified School District's strategies for affordable housing and community building. Their initiative showcases a regional vision for urban planning that aims to tackle the housing crisis and drive social change. This discussion offers a glimpse into real estate and local news efforts to support educators. 💫Make sure to watch Part 1 & Some Episode Mentions: ➡️David Tat...
In this short, a visionary superintendent, Fabi Bagula, Ph.D., breaks down a bold, innovative approach to teacher retention and the housing crisis: repurposing district-owned land to develop affordable housing for employees, complete with on-site daycare and trade apprenticeships for students entering the workforce. This is what school leadership done right looks like: tackling the real barriers to teacher retention, strengthening school culture, and driving education transformation from the...
In part one of my S5E31 @schoolutionspodcast conversation, Dr. Fabi Bagula, Superintendent of San Diego Unified School District, discusses her authentic approach to leadership and its impact on education. She shares insights into critical teacher retention issues and the innovative, affordable housing solutions her team is implementing in San Diego, California. Fabi's commitment to equity and school improvement strategies is evident as she addresses the challenges and triumphs of leading with...
Part 2 of my @schoolutionspodcast conversation with Tonya Quinn from The Kindness Art Education details how her Portrait Pals program uses art to address critical attendance management issues. The initiative fosters a powerful kindness movement, helping to alleviate stress relief among students by connecting them through shared experiences. This approach significantly contributes to improving kids mental health and overall school engagement. 💫Make sure to check out Part 1 before this episo...
In this short, we discuss creating and painting portraits by focusing on three key areas: shape, light and shadow, and spirit. Tonya Quinn outlines how to paint a face by observing and interpreting human features, emphasizing that even simple shapes like parentheses can represent them. This approach provides valuable painting tips and painting techniques for artists of all levels. By teaching students to read a face, not just draw it, children develop the skills to notice how a classmate is ...
Part 1 of my S5E30 @schoolutionspodcast conversation, Tonya Quinn from The Kindness Art Education shares her journey, emphasizing the role of visual art and art for kids in shaping worldviews. This conversation highlights how art classes for beginners can ignite creativity and provide healing, even far from home. Tonya illuminates how personal hardship has fostered her powerful kindness movement. In this episode, you'll discover: → The 4 rules for being an artist (and why they work for...
In Part 2 of my @schoolutionspodcast conversation, Dr. Kris Nystrom (founder of Reading the World Inc.) connects the dots among global literacy rates, the world economy, and why what happens in a slum school in Nairobi has a profound economic impact. This discussion highlights the critical role of universal education in addressing poverty and fostering global awareness, underscoring the broader implications for finance and world news. Kris shares: 🌍 Why student success in Kenya is dire...
What does a child's birthplace have to do with their right to learn? Everything. And Dr. Kris Nystrom is doing something about it. This clip explores the philosophical foundation of "reading the world," asserting that a child's place of birth should not dictate their access to education for all. It underscores the critical role of academic success in fostering social justice. This perspective drives the daily work of educators committed to education reform, questioning why any child should b...
Part One of my S5E29 @schoolutionspodcast with Dr. Kris Nystrom highlights the critical need for education for all and how a dedicated "teacher" can drive education reform through direct action. It reframes our understanding of social justice in educational contexts and the profound impact of ensuring academic success globally. In Part 1 of this conversation, Kris shares: • How 10 years of global literacy research revealed a crisis hiding in plain sight • What the "four horsemen of education...
In Part 2 of my @schoolutionspodcast conversation, Erin Patterson from SchoolHouse Connection returns to detail legislative wins for families experiencing homelessness, showcasing how advocacy works amid federal budget cuts. In this episode, you'll learn: How $129 million in homeless education funding was zeroed out in the President's FY26 budget, and how SchoolHouse Connection got it restored through nonpartisan grassroots advocacyWhat the McKinney-Vento Act actually guarantees for ho...
This clip with Erin Patterson of SchoolHouse Connection explores the often-overlooked reality of childhood homelessness, particularly for families with children. We learn that many children experiencing homelessness are having to "double up" with others, making them part of the invisible people in our communities. These real-life stories shed light on how economic inequality contributes to the challenges faced by children experiencing homelessness. Housing instability is one of the bi...
In part 1 of this powerful S5E28 @schoolutionspodcast conversation, Erin Patterson, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at SchoolHouse Connection, pulls back the curtain on what homelessness in America truly looks like for children experiencing it. This conversation reveals how often the reality of a family experiencing homelessness is hidden, challenging common perceptions about critical social issues. In this episode, you'll learn: Why 80% of homeless students are "invisible" — ...
Welcome back to Part Two of my S5E27 @schoolutionspodcast conversation. The dreaming is over, and it's time to move from empathy to action. Dr. Chris Hass and I get into the hard stuff: scripted curricula, skeptical parents, time constraints, and how to do this work even when the system feels like it's working against you. Dr. Hass shares what research actually looks like from kindergarten through fifth grade, from K/1 students writing letters to restaurant managers about plastic straws, to ...
What does it really mean to be empathetic, and are we teaching kids the right kind? In this reel, Dr. Chris Hass breaks down the 3 Forms of Empathy every educator, parent, and school leader needs to understand and why most people stop at the first one. Whether you're focused on classroom belonging, student engagement, or building a stronger school culture, this short snip from our conversation will reshape how you think about connection in your classroom and community. We explore: - Emotion...
In Part One of our S5E27 @schoolutionspodcast conversation, Dr. Chris Hass challenges our understanding of empathy, suggesting that simply feeling emotions might not lead to substantive change. This conversation delves into emotional intelligence, highlighting how moving beyond mere feelings to tangible actions is vital for social justice in childhood. Chris is an assistant professor at James Madison University and co-author of From Empathy to Action with Katie Kelly and Lester Laminack. H...
This March, @schoolutionspodcast brings you 5 powerful conversations designed to inspire change in education, build hope, offer leadership skills, and transform how we show up for children, families, and communities. Whether you're an educator, school leader, or advocate, these discussions will meet you where you are. 🎙️ Here's what's coming this March: ✅ Dr. Chris Hass opens the month by exploring how empathy becomes action. This is a must-watch for anyone committed to student success and e...
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