Ep. 7: Bluegrass Fever


Nick and Marc discuss Nick’s recent sojourn to Kentucky to score AP US History exams.

“Methods Lab” – College Board Workshops

a) What sessions did Nick attend?

b) Is there anything worth implementing in the classroom? Sharing with colleagues?

c) Were there any administrators in attendance?

Listeners are welcome to ask a question, suggest a topic or share their thoughts: ask@stateofedpodcast.com

Subscribe to us on iTunes

Links related to this episode:

  1. EdWeek:Decision-Making Game

Ep. 6: A New Sheriff In Town


Nick and Marc discuss the recent appointment of Commissioner Elia. They also break down various commencement speeches and offer suggestions to the Class of 2015.

“Methods Lab” – Cooperative Learning

a) How can you make it work well?

b) When is it too much?

c) Why doesn’t it work all the time?

Listeners are welcome to ask a question, suggest a topic or share their thoughts: ask@stateofedpodcast.com

Links related to this episode:

  1. Washington Post announces Commissioner Elia
  2. Graduation Speeches – Excerpts from the NY Times
  3. Commencement Speech by David McCullough Jr.

Ep. 5: Digital Natives Meet The Digitally Naive


Nick and Marc discuss the social, emotional and academic damage caused by social media and offer suggestions to help children and parents navigate the dark waters of technology with greater success.

“Methods Lab” – Reading Aloud

a) When should a teacher read aloud in class? What about the students?

Listeners are welcome to ask a question, suggest a topic or share their thoughts: ask@stateofedpodcast.com

Links related to this episode:

BBC: Rescue Our Kids From the Digital World

NY Times: Diagnosing The Wrong Deficit

 

 

Ep. 4: Atlanta is Burning… Again


Nick and Marc celebrate 100 downloads! They also discuss Advanced Placement courses, debate merit pay and review the recent cheating scandal in Atlanta.

“Methods Lab” – Homework

a) How much is too much?

Listeners are welcome to ask a question, suggest a topic or share their thoughts: ask@stateofedpodcast.com

Subscribe to the podcast in the iTunes store.

Links related to this episode:

  1. The Daily Show segment: Fraud City
  2. CNN covers Atlanta Cheating Scandal
  3. Freakonomics’ take on Atlanta
  4. http://www.wsj.com/articles/cheating-in-atlanta-a-teachable-moment-1428521500
  5. http://www.businessinsider.com/how-was-the-atlanta-cheating-scandal-was-uncovered-2014-9

Ep. 3: Tenure Under Fire


Nick and Marc debate the need for tenure (for both teachers and administrators). They also discuss the impact of Vergara v. California and the educational reform agenda of New York’s Governor Cuomo.

“Methods Lab” – Testing

a) What should classroom assessments look like?

b) To review or not review?

 

Listeners are welcome to ask a question, suggest a topic or share their thoughts: ask@stateofedpodcast.com

Links related to this episode:

Time Magazine: A Brief History of Tenure

Opinion piece on tenure and the Vergara case in The Daily News

Education Reform in New York State

Details of Vergara v. California

Can you figure out Cheryl’s birthday?

Kristof’s column: Are You Smarter Than An 8th Grader?

Ep. 2: Rotten to the Core?

 

Nick and Marc debate the need for Common Core Learning Standards and how “core” has become a four-letter word, in every sense.

“Methods Lab” – Discipline

a) What role does it play in the learning process?

b) A review of both simple and complex strategies to “do discipline right.”

 

Listeners are welcome to ask a question or share their thoughts: ask@stateofedpodcast.com

 

Links related to this episode:

Big Mac Test

New Study Linking Education to Income

Opening Ceremonies in Beijing, 2008

Which states have adopted CCLS?

Sir Ken Robinson’s amazing video

The Inaugural Podcast

Nick and Marc launch the podcast. They discuss the “Opt Out” movement that is resulting in tens of thousands of students refusing to take the New York State assessments.

In the “Methods Lab” segment, Nick and Marc share their views on the importance of the Motivational Activity.

Listeners are welcome to ask a question or share their thoughts: ask@stateofedpodcast.com

Links to things discussed in the show:

Diane Ravitch’s blog post on Long Island as the epicenter of the Opt-Out Movement

Newsday piece on opting out

CNN piece on opting out

How Do I Motivate My Students? by Mekiva Callahan