Mind the Gap: Making Education Work Across the Globe

In this special episode of the Mind the Gap audio podcast, you'll get a flavor of “On Our Minds," a popular segment from the video version of the show, in which co-hosts Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner share their insights on the most timely, pressing issues in education. In this episode, Tom and Emma give their thoughts on determining an approach to the new academic year. They describe ideas for creating a “normal” school environment, adapting to the unique experiences each student has had through the pandemic, setting the right tone for the school year, and more. Visit edCircuit.com to watch this episode. Mind the Gap is produced by MindRocket Media Group and presented by John Catt Educational, a leading independent publisher that has supported teachers and school leaders with research-based, easy to use professional development publications since 1959. Learn more about books from Tom, Emma, and many other world-class authors at us.johncattbookshop.com (US) or johncattbookshop.com (International). About the participants: Tom Sherrington is a co-host of Mind the Gap: Making Education Work Across the Globe. He has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specializing in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. Through his consultancy – teacherhead consulting – he is interested in working with educators to explore and implement contemporary educational ideas that deliver an excellent all-round education for young people. His books include Rosenshine’s Principles in Action and The Learning Rainforest Fieldbook.  Tom is a regular contributor to ResearchEd events and other conferences for teachers and policymakers. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on Twitter @teacherhead Emma Turner is a co-host of Mind the Gap: Making Education Work Across the Globe. After 20 years in primary teaching, Emma joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust where she is currently the Research and CPD lead, devising and writing training for staff at all career stages, but specializing in continuous professional development (CPD) for early career teachers. She is the founder of ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early career teachers’, a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help to retain teachers in post. Turner is author of Be More Toddler: A Leadership Education From Our Little Learners. She is an advocate of balance in leadership and family life and regularly speaks at events across the UK on how part-time leadership and flexible working can be a hugely successful model in organizations. Follow Emma on Twitter @emma_turner75

Sonia Thompson, Head Teacher of St. Matthew’s C of E Primary School, is the guest on this episode of Mind the Gap. She talks about the concept of “reading for empathy” and discusses Empathy Lab, an organization whose research demonstrates the benefits of empathy on the brain and learning. Sonia explains how empathy is a concept that can be taught to all students and reinforces that empathy is not about sympathizing; it’s about doing something with those emotions that we feel. She also talks about using challenging content, how students’ increasing skill influences their will, and more.  Visit edCircuit.com to watch this episode. Mind the Gap is produced by MindRocket Media Group and presented by John Catt Educational, a leading independent publisher that has supported teachers and school leaders with research-based, easy to use professional development publications since 1959. Learn more about books from Tom, Emma, and many other world-class authors at us.johncattbookshop.com (US) or johncattbookshop.com (International). Available to watch at edCircuit About the participants: Sonia Thompson is Head Teacher of St. Matthew's C of E Primary School in Birmingham, U.K., a vibrant, forward-looking and confident school which aims to meet the future needs of our young people and the world they inhabit. She is a contributor to The ResearchED Guide to the Curriculum: An Evidence-Informed Guide for Teachers. Follow Sonia on Twitter @son1bun Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specializing in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. Through his consultancy – teacherhead consulting – he is interested in working with educators to explore and implement contemporary educational ideas that deliver an excellent all-round education for young people. His books include Rosenshine’s Principles in Action and The Learning Rainforest Fieldbook.  Tom is a regular contributor to ResearchEd events and other conferences for teachers and policymakers. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on Twitter @teacherhead Emma Turner After 20 years in primary teaching, Emma joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust where she is currently the Research and CPD lead, devising and writing training for staff at all career stages, but specializing in continuous professional development (CPD) for early career teachers. She is the founder of ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early career teachers’, a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help to retain teachers in post. Turner is author of Be More Toddler: A Leadership Education From Our Little Learners. She is an advocate of balance in leadership and family life and regularly speaks at events across the UK on how part-time leadership and flexible working can be a hugely successful model in organizations. Follow Emma on Twitter @emma_turner75

Teacher, author and education reformer Starr Sackstein is the guest for this episode of Mind the Gap. She talks about the concept of “gradeless” teaching; what are the shortcomings of traditional grades and how must we change the way we assess student learning? A growing movement of teachers is digging into this question. Starr, Tom and Emma also talk about the important differences between formative and summative assessment and the appropriate uses of each. Starr describes how she prefers to “live in formative assessment” because it’s all about feedback. She also explains her strategies for developing strong, transparent relationships with students and much more. Visit edCircuit.com to watch this episode. Mind the Gap is produced by MindRocket Media Group and presented by John Catt Educational, a leading independent publisher that has supported teachers and school leaders with research-based, easy to use professional development publications since 1959. Learn more about books from Tom, Emma, and many other world-class authors at us.johncattbookshop.com (US) or johncattbookshop.com (International).  About the participants: Starr Sackstein is an education reformer focusing on the student experience of learning. She spent many years as a high school English and journalism teacher, is a certified Master Journalism Educator, and is the author of several books, including Hacking Assessment: 10 Ways to Go Gradeless in a Traditional Grades School (Hack Learning) and Teaching Students to Self-Assess: How Do I Help Students Grow as Learners? (ASCD). She has also done a TEDxTalk on giving up grades and hopes to be a part of the change that education needs to see. Follow Starr on Twitter @mssackstein Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specializing in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. Through his consultancy – teacherhead consulting – he is interested in working with educators to explore and implement contemporary educational ideas that deliver an excellent all-round education for young people. His books include Rosenshine’s Principles in Action and The Learning Rainforest Fieldbook.  Tom is a regular contributor to ResearchEd events and other conferences for teachers and policymakers. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on Twitter @teacherhead Emma Turner After 20 years in primary teaching, Emma joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust where she is currently the Research and CPD lead, devising and writing training for staff at all career stages, but specializing in continuous professional development (CPD) for early career teachers. She is the founder of ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early career teachers’, a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help to retain teachers in post. Turner is author of Be More Toddler: A Leadership Education From Our Little Learners. She is an advocate of balance in leadership and family life and regularly speaks at events across the UK on how part-time leadership and flexible working can be a hugely successful model in organizations. Follow Emma on Twitter @emma_turner75

Dr. Robyn Jackson, award-winning author and CEO of Mindsteps, Inc., is the guest for this episode of Mind the Gap: Making Education Work Across the Globe. She discusses the concept of “buildership,” which distinguishes a typical (or ineffective) leader from those who are effective at charting a course, walking the talk, and bringing people along with them. What are the strategies that spark action instead of “acting” and how do we clear the way to make our vision more likely? She also dives into some of the concepts explored in her best-selling books, Never Work Harder Than Your Students and Never Underestimate Your Teachers, which help teachers learn how to increase rigor, but then also demonstrate to leaders how they need to change approaches to make this possible. Jackson also discusses “context agnostic” teaching, a major topic in current times, and much more.  Visit edCircuit.com to watch this episode. Mind the Gap is produced by MindRocket Media Group and presented by John Catt Educational, a leading independent publisher that has supported teachers and school leaders with research-based, easy to use professional development publications since 1959. \ About the participants: Dr. Robyn Jackson believes that any teacher can become a master teacher with the right kind of support and practice. She is a former high school English teacher and middle school administrator and author of nine books including the best-selling Never Work Harder Than Your Students and the award-winning Never Underestimate Your Teachers. She is the founder and CEO of Mindsteps Inc., a professional development firm that helps educators understand the principles of effective teaching and instructional leadership. Follow here on Twitter @Robyn_Mindsteps Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specializing in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. Through his consultancy – teacherhead consulting – he is interested in working with educators to explore and implement contemporary educational ideas that deliver an excellent all-round education for young people. His books include Rosenshine’s Principles in Action and The Learning Rainforest Fieldbook.  Tom is a regular contributor to ResearchEd events and other conferences for teachers and policymakers. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on Twitter @teacherhead Emma Turner After 20 years in primary teaching, Emma joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust where she is currently the Research and CPD lead, devising and writing training for staff at all career stages, but specializing in continuous professional development (CPD) for early career teachers. She is the founder of ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early career teachers’, a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help to retain teachers in post. Turner is author of Be More Toddler: A Leadership Education From Our Little Learners. She is an advocate of balance in leadership and family life and regularly speaks at events across the UK on how part-time leadership and flexible working can be a hugely successful model in organizations. Follow Emma on Twitter @emma_turner75

Professor Dame Alison Peacock, Chief Executive of The Chartered College of Teaching, is the guest on this episode of Mind the Gap: Making Education Work Across the Globe. In the interview, Peacock chats with hosts Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner about the Chartered College’s aim to raise the status of teaching both in England and abroad, the differences between being part of the Chartered College to support one’s professional growth versus the role of a trade union membership, the challenges of getting teachers to join a professional association, what it means to “amplify the voice of the profession,” and much more.  Visit edCircuit.com to watch this episode. Mind the Gap is produced by MindRocket Media Group and presented by John Catt Educational, a leading independent publisher that has supported teachers and school leaders with research-based, easy to use professional development publications since 1959. Learn more about books from Tom, Emma, and many other world-class authors at us.johncattbookshop.com (US) or johncattbookshop.com (International). About the participants: Professor Dame Alison Peacock is CEO of the Chartered College of Teaching, the UK’s professional body for teachers. She was previously Executive Headteacher of The Wroxham School in Hertfordshire. Her career to date has spanned primary, secondary and advisory roles. In 2018, she became an Honorary Fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge, one of the first ever female Fellows admitted. She is also a member of the Royal Society’s Education Committee, and a Visiting Professor of both the University of Hertfordshire and Glyndwr University. Follow Peacock on Twitter @AlisonMPeacock. Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specializing in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. Through his consultancy he is interested in working with educators to explore and implement contemporary educational ideas that deliver an excellent all-round education for young people. His books include Rosenshine’s Principles in Action and The Learning Rainforest Fieldbook.  Tom is a regular contributor to ResearchEd events and other conferences for teachers and policymakers. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on Twitter @teacherhead Emma Turner After 20 years in primary teaching, Emma joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust where she is currently the Research and CPD lead, devising and writing training for staff at all career stages, but specializing in continuous professional development (CPD) for early career teachers. She is the founder of ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early career teachers’, a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help to retain teachers in post. Turner is author of Be More Toddler: A Leadership Education From Our Little Learners. She is an advocate of balance in leadership and family life and regularly speaks at events across the UK on how part-time leadership and flexible working can be a hugely successful model in organizations. Follow Emma on Twitter @emma_turner75

Author, blogger, speaker and consultant Peter DeWitt is the guest on this episode of Mind the Gap: Making Education Work Across the Globe. He discusses the differences between instructional leadership, collaborative leadership, and other models of leadership. He describes what he’s learned about different leadership styles over the course of his career, what he has observed from other leaders, and how his views have evolved.  Peter and co-hosts Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner also talk about education blogging, what educators are facing during the current “distance learning moment,” what ideas are resonating in the current conversation, and much more. Visit edCircuit.com to watch this episode. Follow along on Twitter @teacherhead and @emma_turner75. Make sure to tweet your questions using hashtag #askTomandEmma to have them considered for the video mailbag. Mind the Gap is presented by John Catt Educational, a leading independent publisher that has supported teachers and school leaders with research-based, easy to use professional development publications since 1959. Produced by Mind Rocket Media Group. About the participants: Peter DeWitt is a former K-5 teacher and principal who currently works as an independent consultant. He runs competency-based workshops and provides keynotes nationally and internationally focusing on school leadership and fostering inclusive school climates. He is author of numerous books on collaborative leadership, instructional leadership, and school climate. He is also author of the popular Education Week blog Finding Common Ground. Learn more at http://www.petermdewitt.com/ or connect with Peter on Twitter @PeterMDeWitt.  Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specializing in teacher development and curriculum; assessment planning. Through teacherhead consulting he is interested in working with educators to explore and implement contemporary educational ideas that deliver an excellent all-round education for young people. His books include Rosenshine’s Principles in Action and The Learning Rainforest Fieldbook. ;Tom is a contributor to ResearchEd events and other conferences for teachers and policymakers. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on Twitter @teacherhead Emma Turner After 20 years in primary teaching, Emma joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust where she is currently the Research and CPD lead, devising and writing training for staff at all career stages, but specializing in continuous professional development (CPD) for early career teachers. She is the founder of ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early career teachers’, a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help to retain teachers in post. Turner is author of Be More Toddler: A Leadership Education From Our Little Learners. She is an advocate of balance in leadership and family life and speaks at events across the UK on how part-time leadership and flexible working can be a hugely successful model in organizations. Follow Emma on Twitter @emma_turner75

In this debut episode, international keynoter and best-selling author Richard Gerver joins the show for the first-ever "Mind Share." During the discussion, Richard describes how educators have common challenges that feel unique, yet actually present opportunities to learn from one another, and explains how the challenges of the future demand that we prepare our students to become well-rounded individuals with "soft skills" and not only technical competencies. Tom, Emma, and Richard engage in a conversation about navigating the balance of teaching both skills and knowledge. What should, this look like in the global education system? Visit edCircuit.com to watch this episode. Follow on Twitter @teacherhead and @emma_turner75. Tweet your questions using hashtag #askTomandEmma to have them considered for the video mailbag. Mind the Gap is Presented by John Catt Educational, a leading independent publisher that has supported teachers and school leaders with research-based, easy-to-use professional development publications since 1959. Learn more about books from Tom, Emma, and many other world-class authors at us.johncattbookshop.com (US) or johncattbookshop.com (International). Produced by MindRocket Media Group. About the participants: Richard Gerver is a former teacher and school leader. He is an internationally recognized and celebrated speaker whose insights into change and leadership have seen him work with organizations including Google, Visa, Technicolor and Deloitte; and have given him the opportunity to keynote education conferences. Learn more at https://www.richardgerver.com/ Tom Sherrington is a co-host of Mind the Gap: Making Education Work Across the Globe. He has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specializing in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. Through his consultancy – teacherhead consulting – he is interested in working with educators to explore and implement contemporary educational ideas that deliver an excellent all-round education for young people. His books include Rosenshine’s Principles in Action and The Learning Rainforest Fieldbook.  Tom is a regular contributor to ResearchEd events and other conferences for teachers and policymakers. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world.  Emma Turner is a co-host of Mind the Gap: Making Education Work Across the Globe. After 20 years in primary teaching, Emma joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust where she is currently the Research and CPD lead, devising and writing training for staff at all career stages, but specializing in continuous professional development (CPD) for early career teachers. She is the founder of ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early career teachers’, a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help to retain teachers in post. Turner is author of Be More Toddler: A Leadership Education From Our Little Learners. She is an advocate of balance in leadership and family life and speaks at events across the UK on how part-time leadership and flexible working can be a hugely successful model in organizations.