The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast

Chris Lesniak, a secondary math teacher and creator of DebateMath, brings structured debate into math classrooms. He explains turning problems into opinion prompts, using routines like claim-warrant, and starting with short warmups. The conversation covers boosting participation, easing math anxiety, and building students' habit of justifying solutions.

Dr. Wendy Amato, researcher and educator focused on relationship-driven instruction, and Marcy Harris, longtime teacher and VP of academics who builds equity-centered teacher resources. They define warm demander pedagogy and its roots. They discuss balancing care with high expectations. They outline routines, structures, and strategies to promote student agency and productive struggle.

Nashwa Elkoshairi, an English teacher and researcher who studied inquiry-based freewriting for her doctoral work, explains how she uses structured freewrites around essential questions. She describes prompts, logistics with digital tools, and how entry and exit freewrites reveal growth. Conversations cover building classroom safety, integrating freewriting into units, and adapting prompts across subjects.

Marnie Diem, a lead technology specialist and K–8 coordinator, shares her insights on innovative ed tech tools. They discuss six must-try resources for the upcoming year, including Makers Making Change, an initiative for 3D printing assistive devices, and BandLab, a web-based audio studio ideal for classroom projects. Marnie highlights Brilliant for interactive STEM lessons, Napkin for creating infographics, and Short Answer for gamified writing, alongside RetroReport's engaging documentaries that bridge past and present.

Noah Bopp, founder of the School for Ethics and Global Leadership, shares insights on navigating tough conversations in the classroom through the growth discourse framework. He emphasizes the importance of creating a sense of belonging for diverse students and engaging with differing perspectives to avoid echo chambers. Bopp introduces the STAR critical thinking model, guiding students to observe, analyze, and reflect on complex issues, like the Emancipation Memorial. He advocates for institutional support and fairness in addressing discomfort, urging teachers to foster growth through dialogue.

In this enlightening discussion, Emily Kircher-Morris, a licensed professional counselor and neurodiversity advocate, explores how schools can better support neurodivergent teachers. She shares insights on the unique strengths these educators bring, like creativity and empathy, as well as the challenges they face within traditional systems. Topics include the emotional impacts of sensory overload, strategies for self-support, and the importance of systemic change to foster an inclusive environment. Emily advocates for normalizing neurodiversity and encouraging self-advocacy among staff.

Zaretta Hammond, an education consultant and author of 'Rebuilding Students' Learning Power,' shares insights on fostering student independence. She discusses five essential 'learn-to-learn' skills that promote cognitive growth. These include breaking down tasks, activating prior knowledge, and encouraging productive struggle through grappling with content. Zaretta also emphasizes the importance of deliberate practice and consolidation techniques to make learning stick. Teachers are guided on how to implement these strategies effectively for enhanced student engagement.

Susan Barber, a high school English teacher in Atlanta, and Brian Sztabnik from Long Island, co-authors of "100% Engagement," dive into innovative strategies to revive student interest in texts. They share engaging methods like 'Cutting Up Poetry,' where students reconstruct poems to spark discussions, and the 'Inferential Timeline' activity that encourages deeper understanding through peer summaries. They also explore 'Text Rendering,' helping students break down passages for clearer insights, all designed to make learning dynamic and collaborative.

Dr. Kripa Sundar and Dr. Pooja Agarwal delve into the power of concept maps as essential tools for learning. Kripa explains how these graphic organizers enhance retrieval and deepen understanding. They discuss how to begin using concept maps effectively in the classroom, emphasizing the importance of guiding questions and explicit connections. The duo also explores the nuances of collaborative mapping and the balance between effort and preparation. Listeners will gain practical insights into transforming student learning with these low-tech strategies.

Shane Safir, an education consultant, joins classroom educator Sawsan Jaber, culturally responsive math expert Crystal M. Watson, and teacher leader Marlo Bagsik. They discuss empowering students through practices like identity mandalas and math autobiographies. The group emphasizes creating belonging in classrooms through methods like 'circling up' and promoting inquiry-based learning. They share tools like Monday intentions and Friday reflections to boost student efficacy and engagement, highlighting the urgent need for student voice and agency in education today.