You've heard of "gamification," now meet its close relative, "storification." We share advice from a cognitive scientist on how to take advantage of the "privileged status of story" when designing lessons for maximum engagement and retention. (1:45) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (4:25) We discuss the "why" behind storification and compare its use to gamification. (8:50) We explain the "four Cs of story structure." (13:30) We several tips about how to "storify" more in the classroom. (26:55) Takeaways.
We discuss a blog post by a high school ELA teacher and her three tips for boosting student engagement. (1:00) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (2:00) Tip #1: Find out what's trending. (9:00) Tip #2: Get to know your students. (12:15) Tip #3: Give students choices as often as you can. (14:30) Takeaways. Tools we talk about: Ana Perez's blog post, Get to Know You Student Survey
We discuss how to apply a few of the strategies shared by Scott Ervin, "The Kid Whisperer," who achieved astonishing feats of classroom management as a teacher and then became nationally recognized for his adaptations of Love & Logic. (4:10) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (5:45) Nic shares some of the prefaces about the tips that he got to hear Scott share live + he shares some perspective on behavior strategy jargon. (9:50) Tip #1: The Confused Eye. (10:55) Tip #2: Contraband Tap. (14:25) Tip #3: The Assumption of Intelligence. (16:15) Tip #4: Statement of Fact. (17:45) Bonus Tip: "The Perfect Intervention" AKA an "Indirect Prompt". (20:00) Tip #5: Quick question - ‘What should you be doing?’ (23:10) Takeaways. Tools we talk about: Scott Ervin's article for ASCD
How can we help students to identify and live by positive values like respect, responsibility, compassion, determination, and integrity? (0:45) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (2:00) We talk about the overlap between "collective values" and the 3-5 shared behavior expectations that each of our schools have established. (4:50) We share examples of embedded questions that guide students to reflect on values during ELA or social studies. (5:30) We discuss the difference between that integrated discussion about values vs. dedicating time to this discussion during explicit SEL instruction. (8:30) We talk about the importance of providing students with examples of values in order to build vocabulary. (11:30) We talk about how values related to the five SEL competencies. (15:45) Takeaways. Tools we talk about: Values Card Deck
Praise is a classroom management fundamental, but that doesn't make it easy. Listeners will leave this episode more self-aware of their current style and all of the options at their disposal. Self-awareness = adaptability = less of that "I'm stuck" icky feeling. (3:45) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (7:45) Choice #1: How obvious the praise is. (10:15) Choice #2: How descriptive the praise is. (14:30) Choice #3: How targeted the praise is. (16:05) Choice #4: How discrete the praise is. (18:00) Choice #5: What I'm choosing to praise. (20:30) Whether or not I'm pairing an incentive with my praise. (22:00) Takeaways.
Students are struggling emotionally, and several of our schools are scaling up the practice of emotion check-in rituals. In this episode, we highlight a phone-based tool ideal for middle- and high-school students + share all the tips and tricks that will help schools avoid potential pitfalls. (2:55) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (4:45) We describe some Mood Meter check-in practices that may be familiar, such as the GIF Mood Meters. (8:05) We describe how our new phone-based interactive Mood Meter works and how it originated from collaboration with one of our high schools. (12:50) We begin sharing tips, tricks, and potential pitfalls regarding the digital Mood Meter. (15:00) We share a great tip from one of our elementary schools. (18:15) We share more tips and tricks re: the digital Mood Meter. (24:00) We chat briefly about how this digital Mood Meter can be used in ELA or social studies classes while teaching content. (25:30) Takeaways. Tools we talk about: Digital Interactive Mood Meter
Students are more likely to engage when they can see the connection between learning content and their interests, goals, and passions. But how do we make that happen? This week, we're talking about a worksheet activity that is an excellent starting point. (3:05) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (6:15) We describe the contents and structure of the worksheet. (9:15) We talk about when and how often to facilitate this activity. (10:30) We talk about the usefulness of the pre-completed examples for each core content area, and we also share advice about the benefits of showing students examples from previous years and/or completing the activity yourself and sharing it with students. (17:25) Takeaways. Tools we talk about: Build Connections Activity
Peer feedback can save teachers time, promote engagement and belonging, and better prepare students for the workforce. This week, we talk about the crème de la crème of tips and tricks that teachers have generously shared. (1:45) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (3:30) What does peer feedback have to do with the Beatles, the workforce, and the coach of the New England Patriots? (8:00) What benefits can teachers expect from well-constructed peer feedback rituals? (9:10) Tip #1: Setting ground rules and holding students accountable. (11:45) Tip #2: Assign feedback partners. (14:10) Tip #3: Offer choices and sentence starters. (16:15) Tip #4: Model what quality feedback looks like. (18:10) Tip #5: Aim for reflection, not correction, and begin with low-stakes work. (21:10) Takeaways. Tools we talk about: Teaching Kids to Give and Receive Quality Peer Feedback (Edutopia), Developing Students' Ability to Give and Take Effective Feedback (KQED), Teaching Students To Give Effective Peer Feedback (Science Lessons That Rock)
We're back! In our first episode of the 2021-22 school year, we're talking about how teachers can integrate social emotional learning into all content areas by asking questions with intention. (2:05) What's filling our buckets? (4:45) We give a few examples of the types of questions we're discussing + Angela reviews the 5 SEL competencies. (8:20) Why is SEL integration into academics so crucial to actually achieving results? How does the overlap between the 5 SEL competencies and the 16 habits of mind help teachers to become more intentional with their questions? (13:30) We chat about a series of example questions, sharing ideas about what SEL competencies they're promoting. (28:00) Takeaways. Tools we talk about: Habits of Mind poster, Article we pulled example questions from, Snuggle Buddies from Generation Mindful
In our final episode of the 2020-21 school year, we revisit the topic of integrated SEL instruction—weaving SEL into academic instruction—but with a twist! This time, Nic gets to quiz Ry and Court about what SEL standard a specific academic activity is supporting. Who will come out on top?! (2:15) What's filling our buckets? (4:15) We dive into the quiz game and play until Courtney or Ry reach 10 points. (27:30) Takeaways. Tools we talk about: MN SEL Standards
This week, we're talking about the relationship between SEL and PBIS, but we're also addressing initiative fatigue and sharing about what we're doing to try to make it ancient history. (4:00) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (5:30) Nic shares a personal story about what he’s learned in his career about initiative fatigue with behavior efforts. (13:30) We dig deep: What are the main pieces of PBIS and how do they overlap with SEL? (30:30) We share a bit about the pieces of SEL that don’t fit into the more narrow scope of PBIS. (33:30) Takeaways.
This week, we're covering a highly-requested training topic for the three of us: verbal de-escalation techniques. (2:00) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (3:45) We introduce our topic and talk about situations where verbal de-escalation is useful. (7:45) We share a bit about our experiences using verbal de-escalation strategies. (10:15) We talk about things that can make-or-break your success with verbal de-escalation: your non-verbals and your relationship with the student. (13:15) Praise or empathy statements. (17:15) Reality statements. (18:45) Coupling statements. (23:15) Choice statements. (24:45) Offering a calm down break. (26:15) Takeaways. Tools we talk about: Lanyard badges
This week, Courtney gets to share about her experiences with class meetings as a high school teacher. This is a great approach for collaboratively solving problems and keeping your class climate positive. (1:00) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (3:30) We introduce our topic and compare class meetings to family meetings. (5:30) We interview Courtney about her experiences with class meetings and the why/how/when of class meetings. (27:45) Takeaways. Tools we talk about: Decision making windows + Consensus ladder
Need some easy, fun, flexible, and repeatable games and activities that you can pepper into your SEL instruction? This week, we walk through five go-to options that Nic developed and refined over a two year period. (2:45) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (5:30) We offer a bit of context about these activities, such as where they can fit in the MTSS framework and how they can work with different SEL curriculums. (8:45) #1 - Matching Game — AKA "Apples to Apples for SEL." (17:20) #2 - Decision Making Scenarios. (24:45) #3 - SEL Skill Projects. (31:00) #4 - Comic Strip Worksheet. (35:30) #5 - Movie/TV Show Scavenger Hunt. (38:15) Takeaways. Tools we talk about: Games and activities we discuss
This week, we were lucky enough to be joined by David Jackson, School Social Worker, to talk about Motivational Interviewing (MI) and his experience using MI during Truancy Prevention Meetings. (2:00) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (4:00) David shares about who he is, what he does, and his first exposure to MI. (8:30) We talk about why, when, and by whom MI is used in schools. (11:15) David shared about the main ingredients of MI and the spirit of the practice. (14:00) We talk through the main tools of MI: the OARS. (23:30) David explains what "change talk" is and how we evoke it using MI. (26:30) David walks us through a Truancy Prevention Meeting protocol from Pine City that involves MI. (30:30) We talk about the relationship between MI and Restorative Practices. (33:00) David shares advice about potential pitfalls with MI and how to handle them. (38:30) We talk about the pre-meeting and follow-up aspects of a successful Truancy Prevention Meeting. (43:15) Takeaways. Tools we talk about: Demo Video and Outline of Truancy Prevention Meeting Using MI
This week, join us for a buffet of tips put together by teacher Elizabeth Mulvahill! (1:00) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (2:35) We dig into the 25 tips. (26:15) Takeaways. Tools we talk about: Source Article from We Are Teachers
Corrective/restorative/informal chats help us to get a student back on track and to avoid vicious cycles of ill will and repeated misbehavior. But how do you go about having one of these chats? (1:00) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (3:15) Nic shares a story about his first experience having a corrective chat with a student. (6:15) We explain where these chats fit in the context of our other tools for responding to student misbehavior. (9:15) We talk about where these chats happen in the classroom and how to make space for them when we're also responsible for the rest of our class. (14:30) We walk through four steps for having a successful corrective chat. (23:15) How can these chats look when we are having them after a discipline referral and we're trying to "clear the air" before the student returns to class? (31:30) Takeaways.
This week, we're talking about the buzzword "mindfulness." What the heck is it? Is it any good? How do you do it? (1:30) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (2:30) We answer the question: "What the heck is mindfulness?" (7:30) We chat briefly about the research on mindfulness practices. (9:45) We explain how to do a few mindfulness techniques, such as body scans, anchoring to your breath, and the STOP technique. (13:45) Takeaways. Tools we talk about: University of Minnesota Article: "What is Mindfulness?", Mindful STOP Poster
This week we're explaining the features/similarities/differences of several tools that schools use to foster emotional intelligence (e.g., Yale's Mood Meter, the Zones of Regulation, the 5 Point Scale, the emotions wheel). (1:15) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (2:30) We talk about why emotional intelligence is critical to student success. (5:40) Simple lists of emotional vocabulary words. (6:45) Yale University's Mood Meter. (10:45) The Zones of Regulation. (14:00) The 5 Point Scale. (15:45) The emotions wheel. (18:30) We share about how these tools are used in schools day-to-day: embedded into academic learning, ritual mood check-ins, and de-escalation. (25:10) Takeaways. Tools we talk about: Emotion Visuals
This week we're sharing 10 time/energy management tips from former teacher/current instructional coach Elena Aguilar. (1:00) "What's filling our buckets?" segment. (1:50) We briefly introduce the topic and share Elena's six tips for time management. (10:00) We share Elena's four tips for managing energy. (14:55) Takeaways.