In this episode you will hear from educators around the world- in the United Kingdom, Japan, The Netherlands, Israel, Denmark, South Africa and Canada – telling us what’s happening in their part of the world. These global educators share not only how they are coping, but also how they are growing, inspiring us with wisdom and hope.

Today I speak with Liz Vogel from Facing History and Ourselves who gives us a snapshot of how to use history to strengthen our students and help them become true up-standers. As this episode comes out on April 19th, 2020, most of us have been hunkered down in our homes, dealing with distance learning and lots of other issues right now.  One thing that is always a problem whenever troubling times arise whether it’s a health crisis or a financial crisis – or in this case both – is the rise of hate – racism, Jew-hatred, xenophobia and so on.  It’s been rising to scary levels even before the Covid 19 pandemic, and now we are seeing it grow so much worse.  And when the extent of the financial repercussions become clear, we are at risk for seeing an even more intense rise in identity-based hate speech and hate crimes.  So, how do we as educators and parents help our students and kids make great choices and combat any potential problems?  Listen and find out!

In this powerful episode, 12 educators in the trenches share their challenges, tips, tools and words of inspiration during this challenging time of a shut-down schools and distance learning. This is a double-sized episode that is filled with not-to-be-missed dispatches from all over the US (and one from Canada) representing all different communities and the difficulties they are facing along with the creative approaches these passionate educators are using. The Best part is that this episode can be viewed as well at OverthrowingEducation.com. And I highly recommend watching because you can see the people who spoke with me. It’s amazing to see them as they tell their stories. And here’s the thing – just as there is a huge technological disparity that impacts how our students are able to access their learning right now, the video portion of this episodes shows the challenges of various WiFi connections, devices and so forth because some are clearer and smoother than others. I’m usually really picky when I edit my episodes, but this episode is very raw and real.   And I added some bonuses as well.  I’m bringing back some of my favorite fauxmercials, one of which I fully animated.  Also, I’m doing something a little different for the The 5-minute Game Show.  Instead of playing a game with my guest, because I had so many special guests today, this game show is strictly for you, the audience.  So play along, and then submit your answers to join@overthrowingeducation.com

In this incredibly challenging time of new realities every day, I have put together a special episode with Educational Tech expert Dr. Monica Burns and long-time awesome home school mom Kelila Sicilano who started OURSandYRS: Our Online Village They each bring lots of sage advice, tools, tips and strategies for helping educators and parents figure this out and try to make it work. Please share this episode with everyone you know! And go to www.overthrowingeducation.com for tons of great resources.

Two of my previous guests, Jesse Stommel and Sean Michael Morris and I discuss digital pedagogy, bettering education, and why teachers will not be replaced by robots.  However, In the Trenches, we have my 14-year old computer wiz son explaining why they just might be. Jesse and Sean play a super fun The 5-Minute Game Show after their interview. And I do want to give a shout out to all the great educators on twitter who inspired my Robo-Helper commercial by answering my question: What are school-related tasks you resent that take you away from actual teaching?

If you want a quick taste of what's in store for you on Overthrowing Education, here it is!

Author and Blended Learning specialist Catlin Tucker makes a second appearance on this episode discussing her new book, “Balance with Blended Learning” and great ways to engage students in their learning process while helping teachers bring balance to their lives.  Then we play a challenging and fun round of The 5-Minute Game Show.  In the Trenches, an Arete Preparatory Academy senior explains Symposium, a unique approach to “finals”. 

Nick Covington and Chris McNutt are fun, passionate advocators for great education.  We discuss the importance of human centered learning and what they are doing with The Human Restoration Project, a fantastic free resource for educators.  Then they compete with each other in a nerdy throw-down during The 5-Minute Game Show.  And on In the Trenches today, we have a mystery guest! Our fauxmercial stars this week are Barbara Heller, Elliot Schiff, Jill Moray and Yossie Frankel.

Melissa Tomlinson a public education advocate leader in BATS –the Badass Teachers Association and I discuss the problems with standardized testing and other important issues. Then on In the Trenches, Christi Gambil tells how Arete Preparatory Academy found a great alternative to traditional standardized testing.  Lastly, Teacher2Teacher prompted a follow up to our previous “Be the Match” episode with practical ideas for teachers to help their fellow teachers take on new techniques or innovative approaches. 

Mark Taylor, host of the podcast Education on Fire, among others, discusses how all of us can make a positive impact on education. As Mark demonstrates, it only takes one match to light up a dark room, so today we are focusing on how to be that match.  Because Mark  is from the UK.  The 5-Minute Game Show is totally UK based.  Then on In the Trenches we hear from two parents and a student sharing strategies that students and parents can do to be the match. Our "sponsor" today in our fauxmercial is "Teachers' Helper"