Let's K12 Better

What does it mean to be “good” with technology? What are the 5 hidden habits of tech-savvy teens? How can educators and parents support technology learning habits in young people? In this episode, we sat down with Cassidy Puckett, assistant professor of sociology at Emory University. Cassidy is the author of REDEFINING GEEK: Bias and the Five Hidden Habits of Tech-Savvy Teens. Cassidy brings us research findings on digital equity; tangible tips for supporting young people of all backgrounds as they navigate (and build) technology; and suggestions on how we adults can reframe our understanding of what is the root cause of the STEM pipeline issue. Connect on Social Media: @CassidyCody#RedefiningGeek@redefining.geekCassidy PuckettCheck out Cassidy Puckett’s research, books, and more on her website! Additional Resources: As colleges and universities drop admission tests, what’s the impact on enrollment?Redefining Geek Bias and the Five Hidden Habits of Tech-Savvy TeensUse the code UCPSOC for 20% off the book. A portion of the proceeds goes to Urban Promise Academy in Oakland, CA! Send us your community letters! Are you saddled with a troubling situation? Curious to hear what we think about a certain issue? Send us your questions! Your query may end up on the Let’s K12 Better podcast in our community letters section. Send your celebrations and questions to this form or email us: LetsK12Better@gmail.com! Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! *Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! Music written and produced by Garvey Mortley. The Let’s K12Better podcast is written and produced by Amber Coleman-Mortley, Garvey Mortley, Naima Mortley, and Sofia Mortley. Support the Show.

“Social Studies is the curriculum of how we live our life.” YES! In this episode, we sat down with veteran educators Joe Schmidt and Nichelle Pinkney, co-authors of Civil Discourse Classroom Conversations for Stronger Communities. How do we leverage intellectual discomfort to grow and challenge ourselves and each other? What is the role of civil discourse in the social studies classroom and in other important spaces? Joe and Nichelle discuss how we work together to be better and why we need to build the skills to courageously engage in challenging and transformative conversations. Connect on Social Media: @madisonteacher@msnikki_pPurchase the book or get professional development: Civil Discourse Classroom Conversations for Stronger Communitiesresources for classrooms and communitiesprofessional development website Send us your community letters! Are you saddled with a troubling situation? Curious to hear what we think about a certain issue? Send us your questions! Your query may end up on the Let’s K12 Better podcast in our community letters section. Send your celebrations and questions to this form or email us: LetsK12Better@gmail.com! Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! *Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! Music written and produced by Garvey Mortley The Let’s K12Better podcast is written and produced by Amber Coleman-Mortley, Garvey Mortley, Naima Mortley, and Sofia Mortley. Support the Show.

Social media isn’t going anywhere. And neither is technology. So how do we help kids learn leadership skills and interpersonal skills so they can have successful social media experiences In this episode, we sat down with Jennifer Casa-Todd teacher-librarian, author, and co-founder of the Global Education Student Chat to discuss how parents and educators can support young people as they explore the digital space. Connect on Social Media: @JCasaTodd@GlobalEdSsChat#GlobalEdSsChat@raisingdigitalleadersCheck out Jennifer Casa-Todd’s books and other publications on her website or via her linktr.ee! Learn more about student voice and how to support student leadership on social media on the #GlobalEdSsChat website: https://globaledsschat.com/ Send us your community letters! Are you saddled with a troubling situation? Curious to hear what we think about a certain issue? Send us your questions! Your query may end up on the Let’s K12 Better podcast in our community letters section. Send your celebrations and questions to this form or email us: LetsK12Better@gmail.com! Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! *Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! Music written and produced by Garvey Mortley The Let’s K12Better podcast is written and produced by Amber Coleman-Mortley, Garvey Mortley, Naima Mortley, and Sofia Mortley. Support the Show.

How does chronic stress impact the brain? How does play support pro-social behavior in kids? What are misnomers about Title 1 schools? How can we better equip new teachers working in high-challenge schools so they can meet the needs of the students in their communities? How do we tell the difference between poverty stressors and brain function and learning disabilities or ADD, ADHD? Grab a pen and get ready to take notes! In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Karyn Allee, veteran educator and Assistant Professor of Education at Mercer University to discuss education equity, increasing play in schools, and shifting our mindset around how we help schools in communities that are experiencing more challenges. Connect on Social Media: @karynallee#PlayInSchoolIsAnEquityIssue@KarynAlleeKaryn Allee, PhDCheck out Dr. Karyn Allee’s publications on ORCID or her Google Scholar Page! Resources mentioned in the episode: https://families.naeyc.org/find-quality-child-careThe Brain ArchitectsResource Library Send us your community letters! Are you saddled with a troubling situation? Curious to hear what we think about a certain issue? Send us your questions! Your query may end up on the Let’s K12 Better podcast in our community letters section. Send your celebrations and questions to this form or email us: LetsK12Better@gmail.com! Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! Music written and produced by Garvey Mortley The Let’s K12Better podcast is written and produced by Amber Coleman-Mortley, Garvey Mortley, Naima Mortley, and Sofia Mortley. Support the Show.

What is action civics? Why is student voice so important, especially right now? How can we use informed civics and action civics more efficiently together? How can we expand our understanding of what equity in civics could mean? So many questions! Civic education plays an important role in building a more inclusive, participatory, and equitable democracy. In this episode, we sat down with Elizabeth Clay Roy, CEO of Generation Citizen, a national nonprofit committed to providing youth with the knowledge and skills they need to actively participate in our democracy. Connect with Generation Citizen on Social Media: Twitter: @GenCitizen Instagram: @GenerationCitizen LinkedIn: Generation Citizen Facebook: Generation Citizen Get resources to support your young civic participants! Democracy Doesn't PauseGeneration CitizenToo much money in politics, and not enough in democracySend us your community letters! Are you saddled with a troubling situation? Curious to hear what we think about a certain issue? Send us your questions! Your query may end up on the Let’s K12 Better podcast in our community letters section. Send your celebrations and questions to this form or email us: LetsK12Better@gmail.com! Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! *Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! The Let’s K12Better podcast is written and produced by Amber Coleman-Mortley, Garvey Mortley, Naima Mortley, and Sofia Mortley. Music written and produced by Garvey Mortley Support the Show.

What makes current events so important? Where does news intersect with history? How do we find resources to support important civic conversations? What should parents understand about the importance of social studies and civic education, current events, or media literacy? In this episode, we sat down with David Olson, the Director of Education at Retro Report, a non-profit media company dedicated to connecting history to today’s news. Learn more about this wonderful resource and what David has to say about social studies, current events, and media literacy! “What’s On Your Mind?” Are you saddled with a troubling situation? Curious to hear what we think about a certain issue? Send us your questions! Your query may end up on the Let’s K12 Better podcast in our community letters section. Send your celebrations and questions to this form or email us: LetsK12Better@gmail.com! We mentioned the following resources: American ReckoningRetro Report Education“Tools for Teaching Immigration and Migration” bit.ly/TeachingImmigration Connect on Social Media: @davidjohnolson@RetroReport Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! *Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! Music written and produced by Garvey Mortley. The Let’s K12Better podcast is written and produced by Amber Coleman-Mortley, Garvey Mortley, Naima Mortley, and Sofia Mortley. Support the Show.

We started our podcast to discuss K12 education as a project and a response to COVID-19 with our first episode, “Schooling Through An Apocalypse.” What’s changed in education since lockdown happened in March 2020? Lots! In this episode, we discuss Virtual Academy, how schooling has evolved over the last two years, and more. Mom gets feedback on her parenting during the pandemic… and there is a bird by our window looking for love. (Shoutout to the Vernal Equinox! What, whaaat!!!) Are you saddled with a troubling situation? Curious to hear what we think about a particular issue? Send us your questions! Tell us “What’s On Your Mind?” your query may end up on the Let’s K12 Better podcast in our community letters section. Send your celebrations and questions to this form or email us: LetsK12Better@gmail.com! Listen to the episode that started it all, Season 1, Episode 1! Schooling Through An Apocalypse. Our community question touched upon education and Black students and educators. Here's what Amber's reading that she mentioned in the episode... Fugitive Pedagogy: Carter G. Woodson and the Art of Black Teaching by Jarvis R. Givens The Education oF Blacks in the South 1860-1935 by James D. Anderson Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! Subscribe to our newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! Music written and produced by Garvey Mortley The Let’s K12Better podcast is written and produced by Amber Coleman-Mortley, Garvey Mortley, Naima Mortley, and Sofia Mortley. Support the Show.

Welcome to season 3 and Happy Black History Month! We open up the season with a discussion on current events, books we’re reading, and how we plan to set the tone for this upcoming season. FYI… we are working on a new sound setup. We haven’t learned it all yet and appreciate your patience. We are attempting to capture all the nuances of the conversation by recording the whole table. Don’t forget to tell us “What’s On Your Mind?” Are you saddled with a troubling situation? Curious to hear what we think about a certain issue? Send us your questions! Your query may end up on the Let’s K12 Better podcast in our community letters section. Send your celebrations and questions to this form or email us: LetsK12Better@gmail.com! We mentioned the following articles: AirTag stalking: Alleged victims speak out as privacy concerns mount over new Apple tracking productPolice arrest protesters who remained at US-Canada bridge5 Ways Young People are Using DiscordWe are reading the following books: Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning BookPushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in SchoolsFeminist AF: A Guide to Crushing GirlhoodFugitive Pedagogy: Carter G. Woodson and the Art of Black TeachingThe Education oF Blacks in the South 1860-1935We discussed the criminalization of Black girls. Please read this article to learn more: The Criminalization of Black Women Starts Early More on news and media literacy: iCivics NewsFeed DefendersNational Association for Media Literacy Education Music written and produced by Garvey Mortley The Let’s K12Better podcast is written and produced by Amber Coleman-Mortley, Garvey Mortley, Naima Mortley, and Sofia Mortley. Support the Show.

Financial literacy and financial freedom are interconnected. As we think ahead to the upcoming year, setting goals is always a great way to establish solid footing. Setting financial goals… that’s boss level! How do we bring our young people along as we learn more about financial planning and financial literacy? What can parents and educators do to support good financial habits in kids? How can we adults shift how we see financial freedom? In this episode, we sat down with Managing Director, Certified Financial Planner®, Cristina Briboneria. THIS ISN’T FINANCIAL ADVICE, but it’s a pretty dope conversation and we hope this inspires you to think about your financial goals for 2022. Follow on Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbriboneria/@cristina23b@CristinaBribscbriboneria@oxygenfinancial.net Find resources and more: http://cristinabriboneria.com/https://www.investopedia.com/ Our podcast returns for season 3 early next year! Subscribe so that you can get the alerts when we’re live! Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! *Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! Support the Show.

Many discussions on equity often fail to center the needs of special education students. In this episode, we sat down with Ashley Tucker, special educator, Dean, social-emotional learning enthusiast, and Ed Leadership student at Teachers College. On her Instagram she shares anti-racist, trauma-informed resources. We discuss a variety of techniques and strategies parents and educators can use as they learn emotionally alongside their students. Follow on Social Media: @teacherspayblackteachers@ashleytuck Find books, resources, and more: https://linktr.ee/teacherspayblackteachershttps://www.6seconds.org/2020/10/09/sel-covid/https://www.tc.columbia.edu/organization-and-leadership/spa-nyc/students/2020-cohort/ Looking for more ways to understand and use person-centered language? https://disabilitycenter.colostate.edu/inclusive-language/https://www.communityhealthmagazine.com/mind_and_body/social_health/how-to-be-more-inclusive-when-it-comes-to-developmental-disabilities/article_45088c98-70f5-11e9-a1b7-8745d90d6bab.html We also share our thoughts on the South Dakota icerink competition that had teachers foraging for $1 bills, Time Person of the Year, and bell hooks and her impact on intersectional feminism. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! *Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! Support the Show.

Do history, civics, and empathy work together? YES… yes, they work together! And if we allow them to work together, our students gain an appreciation for the act of “doing” social studies and history. We can make history come alive when students have the opportunity to explore cultural, gendered, and racial perspectives within the context of a historical period as part of their own understanding of civic agency. In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Katie Perrotta, Assistant Professor of Middle Grades and Secondary Education with an emphasis on social studies education in the Mercer University College of Education. In our conversation, we cover how to make history come alive for students because kids should experience a vibrant, inclusive, truthful history paired with engaging civic experiences that solve real-world problems. Follow on Social Media: Dr. Katie Perrotta on Twitter: @DrKAPerrotta Find books, resources, and more: The Elizabeth Jennings Project: https://elizabethjenningsproject.wordpress.com/ Dr. Katie Perrotta at Mercer University: https://education.mercer.edu/faculty-and-staff/katherine-perrotta/ *In this episode, we mentioned the Texas legislature Senate Bill 3 and how it goes against best practices and stifles agency and creativity in history, social studies, and civics classrooms. Learn more about that bill here (but also read the actual bill and see if you agree or not for yourself): https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/872/billtext/pdf/SB00003F.pdf#navpanes=0 https://www.chron.com/politics/article/Texas-critical-race-theory-law-schools-16678700.php https://www.texastribune.org/2021/12/02/texas-critical-race-theory-law/ *UPDATE: we fixed a small audio error. Thanks so much for being patient and for sticking with us as we learn! --- Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! Support the Show.

Games are not only fun pastime activities, they’re great vehicles for learning. How can we use games to teach civics skills, social-emotional learning, and digital citizenship? How might we use games to teach us how to be together? In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Kat Schrier, Director of Games/Associate Professor at Marist College. She is also the Founder/CEO of PlatyPlay, LLC, which specializes in designing and researching games for learning and inclusion. Follow on Social Media: @drgamermom@drgamermomDr. Kat Schrier Find books, resources, and more: https://www.amazon.com/We-Gamers-Games-Ethics-Civics/dp/0190926112www.GamesForCivics.comwww.GamesForGrowing.com In our discussion, we mentioned John Hunter’s World Peace Game. Learn more about that here: https://worldpeacegame.org/ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! *Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! Support the Show.

When executed well, early childhood education (preschool and nursery school) establishes a solid foundation with long-lasting impact on a child's social-emotional and educational journey. However, many parents (and even educators) do not understand how critical the 0 to 5 years are for establishing long-term success. How do we best connect the care and learning happening in preschool to the care and learning in K12 classrooms? What should parents look out for when selecting learning environments for their kids? How can educators evolve their practices to ensure they have the tools and skills necessary for supporting the growth and development of every child in their classroom? In this episode, we sat down with Annette Serwanga M.A.Ed of Serwanga Consulting where she assists parents, early childhood educators, and learning facilities with strategies to teach and support the whole child during the formidable years of birth to 5 years old. Follow Annette on Social Media: @swangcnsults2@eceguruAnnette Serwanga M.A.Ed. Serwanga Consulting Website: https://serwangaconsulting.com/ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! *Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! Support the Show.

There are increased benefits for all students, but specifically for Black students, when there are Black teachers in the classroom. How do we build pipelines that increase the number of Black educators in our schools? How can programming and networks support best teaching practices for Black educators as they support their Black students? In this episode, we sat down with Hiewet Senghor Founder and CEO of the Black Teacher Collaborative - a social entrepreneurship venture, provides an opportunity to engage in the development of strategies and tools that build the mindsets, skills, and knowledge needed to actualize a new model for Black teacher impact and efficacy. Follow on Social Media: @BlkTeachCollab@blackteachercollab/blackteachercollaborative@BTCHiewetBlack Teacher Collaborative Website: https://blackteachercollaborative.org/ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! *Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! Our podcast music was created and produced by Garvey Mortley. Support the Show.

Technology is a tool for innovation, a medium for self-expression, and an opportunity for us to push the boundary of what we know. Technology and the internet hold the potential to be leveraged for immense good, as well as, extreme ill intent. Often parents and educators are worried about the ways in which young people will use technology negatively. Instead, we should model positive tech habits for our kids, discuss our expectations for them when they're online, and get a lot more curious and excited about kids' lived experiences with technology. How do we respect our kids’ privacy and digital footprint? How can parents become more aware of the challenges kids face while growing up in the digital era? How do we prepare kids to have the skills, awareness, and empathy they need to thrive in a digital world? In this episode, we sat down with digital parenting guru, Dr. Devorah Heitner, author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World and the founder of Raising Digital Natives. Our favorite takeaway from this episode... remember that there's a person on the other side of the screen receiving your communications. Follow Dr. Devorah Heitner on Social Media: @RaisingDigitalNatives@DevorahHeitner/RaisingDigitalNatives Raising Digital Natives Website: https://www.raisingdigitalnatives.com/screenwise/ The Challenges of Raising a Digital Native | Devorah Heitner, Ph.D. | TEDxNaperville: https://youtu.be/eRQdAOrqvGg Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! *Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! Support the Show.

Every parent could use more support and more joy. Did you know that you could be a catalyst for support and for joy not only in your own life but in the lives of others? What are you pouring into the communities you’re part of? How are you sharing your expertise and wisdom with others? How do community members support each other and learn from one another? In this episode, we sat down with Camille Robinson (Camille Joy), mother of five, host of the Moments of Joy podcast, and founder of The Real Moms Club on Clubhouse. Camille brings joy to her parenting, her entrepreneurship, her podcasting, and her community. We learned a lot about balance, being grounded in your faith, and taking time for self-care. We named Camille the fairy godmother of podcasting because she shares her knowledge with others aspiring to podcast and bring their message to the world. Follow on Social Media: @MomentsOfJoyPodcast@MomentsOfJoyPod/MomentsOfJoyPodcast@MomentsOfJoyPod Camille Robinson’s Podcast and Website: https://www.mojpodcast.com/meet-camille The Real Moms Club on Clubhouse: https://www.clubhouse.com/club/TheREALMomClub Resources available at the Center for Parent and Teen Communication, Culturally Responsive Parenting resources: https://parentandteen.com/category/culturally-responsive-parenting/ Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! *Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! Support the Show.

Does your school have a full-time school librarian? Are you aware of what your school library can do for your students? It’s more than just passing out books and supporting language arts. Our school libraries are at the heart of all subjects and learning at schools… including math and science. How can schools better leverage the knowledge and expertise that school librarians bring? And what can school librarians do to build bridges and a deeper understanding of what they can provide? In this episode, we sit down with K.C. Boyd, school library activist, public speaker, social influencer, to learn about the central role school librarians can (and should) play in the school community. K.C. Boyd’s Website: http://www.kcboyd.com/ Follow K.C. Boyd on Social Media: @Boss_Librarian@Boss_Librarian/BossLibrarian@Boss_Librarian Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! *Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! Support the Show.

How can we use stories to bring together people of differing opinions, experiences, and perspectives to create a more nuanced understanding of the human condition? Stories have the power to build bridges, foster community, facilitate understanding, and strengthen bonds. Stories can heal communities. Stories can help us discover collective joy or understand shared traumas. But what we choose to do after hearing another person’s story is what’s most powerful. In this episode, we sit down with Lee Keylock, Director of Global Programs and Training at Narrative4 to learn about how to intentionally foster empathy and impact through storytelling. Follow on Social Media: @leeroykeylockhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-keylock-328061b3/ @narrative4@narrative4/narrative4 Journal of Care and Caring: Inviting the Human, by Lee Keylock https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/tpp/ijcc/2018/00000002/00000003/art00010 Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! *Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! (We found that there was a bit of a hiss on the kids' mics in this episode. It's a learning journey and we're working on it! Thanks for understanding.) Support the Show.

How can we live history, right now, today? History comes to life when we can connect legislation, Supreme Court rulings, and major historic events to real people. When we understand the impact of historic events and decisions on people’s lives, we gain the humility and empathy to dissolve barriers that prevent us from connecting with others and learning from past mistakes. In this episode, we sit down with filmmakers, podcasters, and content creators, Larissa Lam and Baldwin Chiu to learn about their film Far East Deep South and how their family journey opened up so many epiphanies about what it means to be an American. Feeling inspired? Check out our Collective History Family Discussion Questions and Activities: https://www.momofallcapes.com/blog/reclaiming-our-collective-history Connect with Larissa, Baldwin, and watch the Film: Far East Deep Southhttps://fareastdeepsouth.com/http://newday.com Follow on Social Media: @fareastdeepsouth@fareastdeepso@larissalammusic@larissalam@onlywonmc@onlywon More Larissa and Baldwin Awesomeness: https://fareastdeepsouth.com/podcast/https://youtu.be/Vl_0qdAPUGs ---------- Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! *Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! Support the Show.

School should be a place where kids love to go, not a place where kids have to go. But what can educators (and even parents) do to engage students in learning that truly speaks to their interests? How can we bring in outside content experts to expand our lessons beyond the textbook and create lasting memories for our young people? We sat down with The Expert Effect co-authors Grayson McKinney - a fifth grade teacher, technology facilitator, educational writer, speaker, and Zach Rondot - a fourth grade teacher, presenter, and Oakland County Elementary Teacher of the year. Follow Grayson and Zach on Social Media: www.Innovation4Education.WordPress.com@ExpertEffectEduTwitterwww.ZachRondot.com@ZachRondot@MrRondot Check out the book The Expert Effect: A Three-Part System to Break Down the Walls of Your Classroom and Connect Your Students to the World: AmazonBarnes & Noble.com Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: https://bit.ly/LetsK12BetterMail! *Love our podcast? Rate. Review. Share! Support the Show.