The Counter Narrative: Changing the Way We Talk (and think) About Education

.

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An educator for 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, and an educational consultant. -- Hey listeners! Before we jump into the show I wanted to tell you about The EQuip to Achieve EQ and Remote Learning Summit, which will be held from April 8th through the 11th. This is a can’t-miss opportunity for those seeking strategies, information, and inspiration on everything from parenting and teaching in the digital age, to addressing social isolation through the lenses of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)—and you don’t have to leave your house to attend. We weren’t prepared for the impacts of COVID-19 on our education system, but this virtual event promises to bridge the gaps and equip and empower attendees with the knowledge and skills to do better in 2021 and beyond. Now here’s the best part. Registration for this four-day event will normally cost you over $200. But if you use the link found below, you can get full access to this entire conference for only $100. That’s over 50% off! So be sure to register today by using the link in the show notes or on any of my other sites. -- In this episode, I chat with Michael Weingarth, a biological parent, a foster parent, and an educator who founded the first neuropsychological tutoring and test prep company in 2009. Most of Michael's research and work is about addressing learning challenges faced by bright students, specifically in math, writing, reading, science, and test prep with or without diagnosed learning disabilities.  You can find more of his work at pillarsoflearning.com or read him tweeting into the void at @LearningPillars on twitter. Now, I’m going to warn you before we get started. This episode is heavy. Essential … but heavy. During our conversation, Michael talks about his journey with Twice Exceptional Learners and how he quickly realized that since all of our students are unique they present unique challenges and that we should avoid the prescriptive approaches so often presented as we attempt to incorporate SEL, Mindfulness, and other holistic educational initiatives into our curriculum. Instead, he argues, that context should drive content and we must be wary about teaching students to simply acknowledge and accept the situations in which they are in. Michael takes a deep dive into brain’s processing and points out that this information should be streamlined but due to various reasons, it is overly complicated and thus not readily accessible by all educators. Be sure to check out the show notes to link with all of the resources he shares throughout the discussion. Ready? Let’s go.. -- I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like and subscribe. The show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and several of your other favorite platforms. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with the host and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group. Take care. -- Links & Resources Follow Michael on Twitter Check out his website denasimmons.com Behave by Robert Sapolsky Executive Function & Child Development by Marcie Yeager

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An educator for 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, and an educational consultant. -- Hey listeners! Before we jump into the show I wanted to tell you about The EQuip to Achieve EQ and Remote Learning Summit, which will be held from April 8th through the 11th. This is a can’t-miss opportunity for those seeking strategies, information, and inspiration on everything from parenting and teaching in the digital age, to addressing social isolation through the lenses of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)—and you don’t have to leave your house to attend. We weren’t prepared for the impacts of COVID-19 on our education system, but this virtual event promises to bridge the gaps and equip and empower attendees with the knowledge and skills to do better in 2021 and beyond. Now here’s the best part. Registration for this four-day event will normally cost you over $200. But if you use the link found below, you can get full access to this entire conference for only $100. That’s over 50% off! So be sure to register today by using the link in the show notes or on any of my other sites. Click here to register for the EQuip to Achieve Virtual Summit Registration. -- This episode is a pause to ponder segment. These biweekly sessions will allow me to share with you my personal thoughts and reflections on a wide spectrum of topics as they relate to education. It is my hope that you will be able to take something from these segments and apply it in a meaningful way as you continue to do amazing work. Remember, while we all have different roles, we all have a single job, educating our students. -- I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like and subscribe. The show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and several of your other favorite platforms. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with the host and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group.

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An educator for 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, and an educational consultant. -- Livia Chan is an educator who is passionate about community, teaching, leading, and lifelong learning. She truly believes in the power of connection and thoroughly enjoys building relationships by reaching out with kindness and gratitude. Livia lives by the belief that it is through every interaction that we have the opportunity to appreciate and uplift others to help make their day a brighter one. Her other passions include family and ringette as a volunteer coach, Executive member, referee, and player. For over 20 years, Livia has continued to experience the joy of teaching in the Greater Vancouver area in BC, Canada and loves her role as a Head Teacher and classroom teacher. Previously, she served on the District Staff Development Team in Learning Technologies supporting K-12 educators. Currently, Livia is honored to be the Digital Content Editor and Ambassador for the Teach Better Team and loves being a part of this family! Her motto is “Working together to better ourselves, each other, and the world around us.” Let’s get better. -- I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like and subscribe. The show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and several of your other favorite platforms. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with the host and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group. Take care. -- Find Livia here Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/liviachanl/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/LiviaChanL Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/liviachanl/ Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/liviachanl/ Voxer - https://web.voxer.com/u/liviachanl Other - https://livchan.com/

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An educator for 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, and an educational consultant. Let’s get started. -- This episode is a pause to ponder segment. These biweekly sessions will allow me to share with you my personal thoughts and reflections on a wide spectrum of topics as they relate to education. It is my hope that you will be able to take something from these segments and apply it in a meaningful way as you continue to do amazing work. Remember, while we all have different roles, we all have a single job, educating our students. -- Hey listeners! Before we jump into the show I wanted to tell you about The EQuip to Achieve EQ and Remote Learning Summit, which will be held from April 8th through the 11th. This is a can’t-miss opportunity for those seeking strategies, information, and inspiration on everything from parenting and teaching in the digital age, to addressing social isolation through the lenses of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)—and you don’t have to leave your house to attend. We weren’t prepared for the impacts of COVID-19 on our education system, but this virtual event promises to bridge the gaps and equip and empower attendees with the knowledge and skills to do better in 2021 and beyond. Now here’s the best part. Registration for this four-day event will normally cost you over $200. But if you use this link you can get full access to this entire conference for only $100. That’s over 50% off! So be sure to register today by using the link in the show notes or on any of my other sites. -- Welcome to the Women's History Month episode. Instead of trying to mansplain women's history month, I wanted to instead dedicate this episode to the amazing women in my family. Join me as I highlight the achievements and lessons that I have learned from my grandmother, mother, wife, and five daughters.  I would also encourage you take some time to recognize and appreciate the women in your life and, if you happen to be a woman, yourself as well. You deserve it.  -- I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like and subscribe. The show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and several of your other favorite platforms. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with the host and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group. Take care.

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An educator for 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, and an educational consultant. -- Hey listeners! Before we jump into the show I wanted to tell you about The EQuip to Achieve EQ and Remote Learning Summit, which will be held from April 8th through the 11th. This is a can’t-miss opportunity for those seeking strategies, information, and inspiration on everything from parenting and teaching in the digital age, to addressing social isolation through the lenses of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)—and you don’t have to leave your house to attend. We weren’t prepared for the impacts of COVID-19 on our education system, but this virtual event promises to bridge the gaps and equip and empower attendees with the knowledge and skills to do better in 2021 and beyond. Now here’s the best part. Registration for this four-day event will normally cost you over $200. But if you use this link, you can get full access to this entire conference for only $100. That’s over 50% off! So be sure to register today by using the link in the show notes or on any of my other sites. -- In this episode, I chat with Clement Townsend, a Sports Journalist who has spent close to two decades in front of the camera on local news, cable, and the internet.  His career took him to several markets including San Angelo, Texas; Mobile, Alabama; Lynchburg, Virginia; and Chicago, Illinois.  Clement has covered numerous big events throughout his career such as the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Game, and multiple college football National Championships.  Clement is the author of “How to Become a Broadcasting Star” and the founder of Broadcasting Career Mentor (BCM).  BCM provides media training for youth across the country and offers in person training and virtual media training through the Video Journalism Pro Online Course. During our conversation, we discussed ways to use media as a platform in which students can blend various academic skills and apply them in a real world setting. He challenges that such programs should not be considered as extras but instead should be essential. As we push our students to higher order thinking skills, he urges educators to transform students into not just consumers of information but creators. Clement recognizes that teachers may be hesitant to incorporate multimedia into their lessons citing that some lack the skills while others lack the support necessary to take such risks. Despite this, he insists that educators start small and allow students to flourish. As educators, it is not our job to know everything but instead we need to facilitate our students’ learning and sometimes that means growing together. -- I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like and subscribe. The show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and several of your other favorite platforms. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with the host and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group. Take care.

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An educator for 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, and an educational consultant. Let’s get started. Hey listeners! Before we jump into the show I wanted to tell you about The EQuip to Achieve EQ and Remote Learning Summit, which will be held from April 8th through the 11th. This is a can’t-miss opportunity for those seeking strategies, information, and inspiration on everything from parenting and teaching in the digital age, to addressing social isolation through the lenses of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)—and you don’t have to leave your house to attend. We weren’t prepared for the impacts of COVID-19 on our education system, but this virtual event promises to bridge the gaps and equip and empower attendees with the knowledge and skills to do better in 2021 and beyond. Now here’s the best part. Registration for this four-day event will normally cost you over $200. But if you use the link found in the show notes, you can get full access to this entire conference for only $100. That’s over 50% off! So be sure to register today by using this link. This episode is a pause to ponder segment. These biweekly sessions will allow me to share with you my personal thoughts and reflections on a wide spectrum of topics as they relate to education. It is my hope that you will be able to take something from these segments and apply it in a meaningful way as you continue to do amazing work. Remember, while we all have different roles, we all have a single job, educating our students. Black History Month may seem like a decades old celebration that is deeply rooted in our past but the reality is that it has only existed formally for less than 40 years. That may be surprising considering the extensive struggles that African-Americans have had in this country. As we become more aware of that troubling history, however, more and more people are beginning to question whether or not we need a Black History Month or if its presence does little more that contribute the marginalization of black history.  During this episode, I explore the history behind Black History Month and question its role in our educational system today. I acknowledge the pushback by those who stress the need to move beyond a singular month and offer a suggestion for expanding our teaching of black history throughout the year. And I conclude with my hopes for how Black History Month may in fact evolve into something greater.  I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like and subscribe. The show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and several of your other favorite platforms. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with the host and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group. Take care.

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An educator for 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, and an educational consultant. Let’s get started. In this episode, I chat with Katie Kinder who has been an educator since 2006. She believes that life is fun, and learning should most definitely be fun. As a teacher of the year, top five district finalist, OKC Rotary Teacher of the Month, a guest on the Oklahoma State Department's EdTalk series, and a top 100 educator in Oklahoma on Twitter, Katie has learned a trick or two in the classroom, so be sure to check her out, have some fun, and hook your students from day one! During our conversation, we discussed the importance of allowing students to see themselves in their work. While Katie is a huge fan of Edgar Allen Poe, she also knew that her students should be exposed to poets such as Maya Angelou especially when so many of her students didn’t even recognize this prolific author. Like so many others, she pushes back on the idea of doing things the same way simply because and even challenges those using the current pandemic as an excuse for not making needed change. Katie puts actions behinds her words of “don’t expect your kids to do what you aren’t willing to do yourself” by trying to develop a new district-wide approach to PD - one that would turn her classroom into a living workshop where teachers could witness the implementation of strategies in real-time. I guarantee this episode will have you hooked. Enjoy! I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like and subscribe. The show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and several of your other favorite platforms. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with the host and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group. Click here to register for the EQuip to Achieve Virtual Summit Registration

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An educator for 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, and an educational consultant. Let’s get started. This episode is a pause to ponder segment. These biweekly sessions will allow me to share with you my personal thoughts and reflections on a wide spectrum of topics as they relate to education. It is my hope that you will be able to take something from these segments and apply it in a meaningful way as you continue to do amazing work. Remember, while we all have different roles, we all have a single job, educating our students. In this episode, I explore the meaning behind names and the perceptions some apply to them. Some names like Amari, Jabari, Latrice, and Malek are founded in ancient African languages yet conjure negative and stereotypical images of the people to whom they refer. I share a story in which I pushed back against parents stamping their children with names that would almost undoubtedly make them a target for racial profiling and the colleague who gave me something to think about. The conversation turns towards cultural assimilation and the practice of conforming to a dominant culture, one often rooted in eurocentric beliefs and customs, in order to be accepted. We end with a proclamation to claim and to love our names and either their rich, ancient histories or the uniquely crafted names that give the opportunity to develop their own meanings and legacies.  I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like and subscribe. The show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and several of your other favorite platforms. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with the host and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group.

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations. I’m your host, Charles Williams. An educator for 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, and an educational consultant. Let’s get started. - In this episode, I chat with Cait O’Connor, a 9th & 12th grade English teacher in upstate New York. Cait is also a mental health peer and fierce advocate who is heavily passionate about social justice, antiracism, and anti-ableism. She also believes in combating weight bias and promoting size diversity and representation in the classroom and beyond. She can also identify all 50 capitals. During our conversation, we dive into the very uncomfortable topic of mental wellness but Cait is quick to remind us that our discomfort is someone else’s life. She points out that medical conditions have been commodified and that we are quick to use, or should I say misuse, commonly accepted labels but actively avoid addressing these very real situations. In fact, Cait pushes back on widely accepted practices because they focus on the wellness aspect but do not consider the illness behind the behaviors. Most of us approach wellness with a limited set of tools despite there existing a myriad of truths and experiences. Why don’t we, she asks, embrace the same idea of differentiation for addressing wellness as we do with instruction. Cait insists that we need an overhaul and to really examine the educational settings and instructional practices that do not promote a safe environment for all students. We have done a lot of listening around this topic, when will we start acting on it? - I want to thank you for listening to The Counter Narrative Podcast. If you like what you are hearing, please be sure to like and subscribe. The show can be found on Anchor, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and several of your other favorite platforms. This podcast is also featured on SchoolRubric.com, where you can find educational articles, videos, and interviews with educators from around the globe. Be sure to connect with the host and other listeners by following the show on Twitter at @theCNpodcast and joining the show’s Facebook Group. Take care.