Do you have a book inside you that’s dying to get out? With all the new tools and distribution avenues available it’s easier than ever to write, edit, and sell your new book. The book-publishing world is being disrupted and democratized. You don’t have to be accepted by a traditional publisher, guest Dave Burgess shares the numerous options to express yourself and get your book out into the world. The Edspiration Inbox Answers… “How can I start to write my book or blog and overcome things...

Professional development can be a blessing or a bane. Most educators are professional learners but feel constrained by traditional PD. Coaching has demonstrated the greatest impact on our growth. Guest Svetlana Sutic explains how to find your tribe, develop yourself, and leverage the resources that are around you right now.    The Edspiration Inbox Answers… “We are doing a lot of events for bullying prevention in our school. What do you see is missing in bullying prevention efforts that...

Adults struggle with how to help young people separated from a parent or loved one due to a death or a divorce. Discussions of spirituality or a higher power have to be handled delicately in education but they are important. Guest Karen Herrick shares her powerful story of an exchange with her own grandson who was worried about her dying and how you might navigate that discussion with your students or even your own child. The Edspiration Inbox Answers… “Please talk about how teachers can...

There are districts around the US that are reshaping learning and what it means to be prepared for the world upon graduation. Marion City Schools, with support from our guests Lori Vandeborne and Stephen Fujii, are reshaping education by creating “Next Generation Learning Environments” preparing students not just for graduation but empowering them to be equipped and contributing citizens.   Edspiration Inbox “Can you improve teacher turnover AND math scores at the same time? Yes and we talk...

We continue to celebrate our Edspiration anniversary this month. In gratitude to you and our guests, we share essential excerpts from some of this year’s popular interviews on the subject of technology and social media in education. Hear insights and tips in show highlights from Sean Gaillard, Brett Salakas, Lee Kolbert, Alec Couros & Katrina Keene. You’re going to love the valuable contributions shared by these guests and thank you for an amazing year. About today’s guest These are...

Too many students are disengaged in the classroom and not enough schools are engaged with their communities. But Marion City Schools are overcoming these challenges as innovators in creating personalized learning environments. Guest Gary Barber shares how schools can bring educators, businesses, and families together to help students feel more connected to learning and to their communities on their journey to graduation.   The Edspiration Inbox Answers… “I have a been in a number of Staff...

This week we celebrate the one-year anniversary of Edspiration. In appreciation, we share essential excerpts from some of this year’s popular interviews. Hear insights and tips in show highlights from Alfie Kohn, Jon Bergmann, Alec Couros, Eoin Lenihan, Allen Mendler, and Angela Maiers. You’re going to love these clips and thank you for an amazing year.   About today’s guest These are highlights from previous episodes but you can hear the interviews in their entirety and find all these...

Failure can be valuable and, yes, even enjoyable. When we do things that don’t work, we learn. So how do we foster risk taking and innovation in our students? We can create the freedom to “fail forward” and develop a climate where everyone learns through questions, experience, fun, and failure.  Guest Andrew Miller describes how adults can help young people grow and learn through constructive failures and proper feedback.  The Edspiration Inbox Answers… How you create your legacy every day...

Having cultural adventures can shape and color or our life in unexpected and fantastic ways. But developing multicultural awareness isn’t just about an isolated experience; it requires observation, reflection and feedback before, during and after the event. Whether you go across the ocean, across town or across your neighborhood, guest Sarah Behm explains how you can help students grow their intercultural skills to be more capable and courageous citizens of an ever-changing world. The...

Many schools do amazing things but don’t know how to share great news in engaging ways. Most schools use ineffective newsletters or other tools that get overlooked or even stuck in the bottom of a backpack. Author and guest Ryan McLane explains how schools can engage parents and the community by creatively sharing their positive student and school news in exciting ways.     The Edspiration Inbox Answers… “How to engage the ‘hard to reach’ or ‘tough’ student leaders in bullying, character...

Educators get breaks this time of year to put a spring back in their step and in their instruction. Are you taking full advantage of your time away from the school or classroom? In this special episode, we want you to get your REI to recuperate, educate and invigorate.  It critical that you take full advantage of your time away to refuel so you can continue to fuel others.   About today’s guest We take a break in our traditional show format this week as host John Linney shares some advice...

Are you carving out space for yourself somewhere in your busy life? If not, you need rethink the way you spend your time so you can refuel to educate others.  Sit down to dinner with guest Mark French, the principal who cooks, as he serves up a gourmet list of great ideas to create white space and reenergize yourself.  The Edspiration Inbox Answers… “Ways to get over feeling guilty about taking time for yourself.” About today’s guest Mark French has 34 years experience as an educator...

Most of us have seen an educator or presenter who wasn’t creative, interesting or fun. You may have even found yourself in a rut where you felt you weren’t tapping your own creativity and had even forgotten to have fun as you led a lesson or workshop. Award winning artist and educator Tim Needles outlines easy ways to put creativity and fun back into your class, your profession and your life.   The Edspiration Inbox Answers… “An opportunity to make new connections with an exciting...

Do you give everyone who walks into your school, class, or office a positive first impression? A positive or negative school environment is shaped by individual attitudes and attention to service. But being service focused is more than just meeting someone’s needs. In this special episode, learn about a powerful shift to help you, your school, and even your relationships reach a new level of connectedness, satisfaction, and productivity.   About today’s guest In today’s special episode we...

If students can watch a video of your class and learn a topic then they don’t need to be in a class. But now educators are flipping classrooms and meetings around the world. You can spend less time making students remember information and more time on creation, learning and evaluation. Listen to Jon Bergmann’s strategies to make teaching more engaging by flipping learning while strengthening relationships.   The Edspiration Inbox Answers… “An opportunity to make new connections with an...

You might view something as a big problem but there is probably a simple, quick fix you don’t know about. You don’t need a 5 year plan or more deep training. Best selling author and educator Mark Barnes shares some easy, practical education hacks you can use tomorrow to overcome common barriers educators face. The Edspiration Inbox Answers… “Assumptions adults make about student bullying issues that everyone must overcome.” About today’s guest Mark Barnes is a longtime teacher,...

We all create digital artifacts for others to discover but do students have a right to have their digital childhood forgotten? Students and adults are learning to navigate this new “nearly now society.” Digital citizenship requires a balanced mindset between electronic and face-to-face interactions. Alec Couros gives guidance and tips for connecting and creating an online identity and developing digital citizenship. The Edspiration Inbox Answers… “A simple mistake schools can avoid when...

How can educators & parents escape the culture of over-testing & overscheduling to create movements for meaningful teaching & learning? Learning is a process and right now many schools are too focused on the product. Award winning filmmaker & best selling author, Vicki Abeles shares research and strategies from courageous schools breaking free from that obsessive culture and making powerful changes.   The Edspiration Inbox Answers… “We are having a speaker come in for a...

Tips for finishing homework are common but few ask if we should even be assigning it in the first place. Kids are not vending machines to put homework in and get learning out. Renowned author and educator Alfie Kohn offers research and advice to escape the drill & skill approach. Reducing or eliminating homework can support education while creating less stress and more joy in learning for everyone. The Edspiration Inbox Answers… Some of the worst advice anyone can receive…How the CYA...

Do you create a thinking rich environment in your school, classroom or at home? Wall spaces are often overlooked but they can become a dynamic part of the learning if we know how to use them. In part 2 of this special two part interview, Eoin Lenihan explains practical & powerful things you can do to your classroom, home or other physical spaces. Doing so will improve student success while create an energizing teaching and learning environment.  The Edspiration Inbox Answers... I walked...

What would your ideal school look, feel, and sound like? Imagine how staff, administration and students would grow and interact. No Child Left Behind is no more. What takes its place and how should we prepare? Schools and policy makers can embrace this chance to shift away from a narrow definition of accountability. Host John Linney breaks from the usual show format to discuss this opportunity to focus on the whole school and the whole student to bring more joy into education. The...

Schools do not have enough resources to overcome all the barriers to learning students bring into classrooms. Alleviate unnecessary stress on teachers and school leaders by inviting community resources into the education setting with a community schools approach. In this special edition, get ideas from host John Linney to help students be ready to learn and help parents support learning by opening up to the resources surrounding your school. The Edspiration Inbox Answers… In this special...

You have to have a short memory when working with disengaged young people but you can get them motivated. Divorce, violence, negative peer influence, alcoholism, and difficult home environments can all be at the root of student apathy. Guest Mike Hicks lights a path for helping students escape their apathy and negative stories to write a new future. The Edspiration Inbox Answers… “How can help young people so they can effectively cope with their anger and negative emotions.” About today’s...

You don’t have to wait for a general professional development session or any school leader to give you what you need. You can be your own agent of change. There’s a learning revolution happening now with Personalized Professional Learning (PPL). Guest Brett Salakas powerfully advocates for this shift and discusses how you can get what you need to benefit you and your students. The Edspiration Inbox Answers… “I heard your show on PYD a couple weeks ago. You talked about the power of looking...

Students cannot calm their bodies until they learn to calm their brains. The power of mindfulness is being accessed by educators and parents to prime students for learning and to help young people manage their own behavior. Author Joree Rosenblatt explains how the growing practice of mindfulness helps adults and students reduce stress and experience deeper levels of gratitude and happiness. The Edspiration Inbox Answers… “Taking the word “but” out of conversations meant to acknowledge...