The Balance, by Dr. Catlin Tucker

Dr. Shaun Woodly

Catlin talks with Dr. Shaun Woodly about his personal experience teaching in urban schools with culturally diverse students. Catlin and Shaun discuss the need to consider, “What learning really looks like?” and whether teachers are creating spaces to foster authentic learning experiences for kids. Listen to Shaun and Catlin as they discuss the four elements of urban education-–awareness, achievement, alliance, and artistry–and encourage teachers to consider which areas they can develop in their work with students to achieve balance.

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Jason Green

Catlin Tucker talks with Jason Green, a School Transformation Expert and Co-founder of LINC (Learning Innovation Catalyst), about leading innovative change that is scalable, building culture on school campuses, and shifting from performing to being present in the classroom. 

When looking at a school culture, Jason cautions that school leaders may get sucked into the urgency of what is happening at the moment. Instead, he urges them to step back and ask, What is important? What is urgent? Does this lead to student learning or build a better school culture? Do our teachers feel they have the agency to innovate?

Don’t miss Catlin and Jason’s conversation about how leaders and educators can collaborate to advance culture and innovation. And, they also remind us not to forget about the importance of our own continuous learning and to be compassionate with ourselves!!!

Travis Lape

Catlin Tucker talks with Travis Lape (@travislape) an Innovative Programs Director entering his 7th year with the Harrisburg School District in Pennsylvania. Travis is passionate about creating learning environments that leverage the best instructional practices that get the largest effect on learning. Catlin talks with Travis Lape about school and classroom design, and student agency, with a reminder to listeners to maintain their own balance.

Lisa Highfill

Catlin Tucker talks with Lisa Highfill (@lhighfill), a technology integration coach and a classroom teacher for over twenty years, about balance in the classroom and beyond! Lisa weighs in on how teachers can shift their roles from being the disseminator of information to true architects of learning experiences for their classroom and how to stop stealing the "Ah-ha!" moments from their students. Learn more about Lisa at the Hyperdoc website https://hyperdocs.co.

 

The Balance is presented by StudySync. Visit studysync.com/blog for details. Learn more about SyncBlasts at www.studysync.com/products/syncBlast. 

Adam Welcome

Catlin Tucker converses with Adam Welcome, a former educator, principal, and director of innovation, now EdTech consultant about balance in the classroom! Adam advises teachers to focus on what is sustainable for their classroom and to consider letting students be the experts on a variety of topics. Facilitate learning for your students. Create lesson plans that don't have your students just sitting, listening, and consuming. Shift some of the responsibility to students so you can focus on things in your job that bring you joy!

Tiffany Wycoff

In this episode of The Balance, I talk with Tiffany Wycoff, a mother, an educator, and an entrepreneur. We explore issues related to the balance or, more accurately, the imbalance of power and responsibility in classrooms. We question the current role many students occupy as passive consumers. We discuss the need to model a growth mindset for our students and what is needed to cultivate classrooms where we celebrate experimentation, risk-taking, and failing forward. We talk about the potential of technology to connect learners as opposed to isolating them. As advocates of blended learning, Tiffany and I explore both the pitfalls and potential of integrating technology into classrooms. Presented by StudySync.