Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

Dr Diane Jackson Schnoor

Are you ready for an adventure in learning? Need some STEMspiration in your life? Each episode brings a new adventure as we talk with fascinating guests about connecting real world experiences, multicultural children's literature, and engaged STEM/STEAM learning -- with a little joy sprinkled in for good measure! Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor travels the world in search of the coolest authors, illustrators, educators, adventurers, and STEM thought leaders to share their stories and inspire the WOW for early childhood and elementary educators, librarians, and families!
Have an idea for a podcast episode? Share it with [email protected]
Links to the books featured in the weekly podcast can be found here: https://bookshop.org/shop/drdianeadventures
Full show notes can be found at: https://www.drdianeadventures.com/blog
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Top 10 Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Trudy Ludwig -- Making a Difference in Kids' Lives, One Book at a Time!

Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

09/21/22 • 39 min

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Meet beloved children's book author Trudy Ludwig, who truly lives up to the motto on her website: “Making a difference in kids’ lives, one book at a time.” Educators, parents, families, and children will recognize such beloved titles as The Invisible Boy; Quiet Please, Owen McPhee; The Power of One: Every Act of Kindness Counts; Just Kidding, and Sorry. This year has been a big year for Trudy, as she has two books coming out: Brave Every Day, which was released this summer, and Calling the Wind, which is coming out in October.

*Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

[02:23] Check out the full show notes for details about the origins of Calling the Wind, a picture book about grief, loss, and hope illustrated by Kathryn Otoshi.

We wanted the wind to actually be a character in the story representing grief, personified by the intensity of the wind. It ebbs and flows, comes and goes, and it's always there with you. I felt that kids really needed to have a story to help them understand grief and the grieving process, because in our Western culture, we really don't do a good job addressing grief. And I thought this would be a beautiful vehicle..to show the power of human connection and the process of healing in our grief.

[08:31] "Making a difference in kids’ lives: one book at a time." shapes the way she approaches writing for kids -- and the adults in their lives.

[09:31] Books have power to help kids navigate their social world on a daily basis and to serve as windows, mirrors and sliding glass doors.

[10:57] Neuroscience supports reading well written literature can boost empathy in readers.

[12:09] Kindness is an action verb.

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Putting the A in STEAM -- Actor and Activist Gavin Lodge's Adventures in Learning

Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

11/02/22 • 38 min

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Gavin Lodge -- Broadway actor, small business entrepreneur, TikTok influencer, and Executive Director of the American Alliance of Artists and Audiences -- dishes on the importance of the arts, activism, and education. He also shares some of his favorite diverse LGBTQ friendly picture books that speak to the power of identity and family love.
Gavin and I go way back (we were practically kids) when we performed together in TriArts Sharon Playhouse's production of The Music Man. He was the dynamic Harold Hill and I picked a little and talked a lot. Backstage, we became friends in the kind of friendship that endures. Over the years, we've talked politics, literature, raising kids. And it's been so much fun to be a part of his journey from the Broadway stage to launching his own business, to become a social media influencer, and now, most recently the Executive Director of 4A, the American Alliance of Artists and Audiences. In the conversation that follows, we explore the importance of the arts as part of STEAM education and as an important aspect of American society. We also delve deeply into picture books that help foster positive images of LGBTQ families and children. And there's a lot of laughter as well.

[01:37] What is 4A Arts, the American Alliance of Artists and Audiences?

[05:36] Connecting the A in STEAM (That's Arts)

[07:32] Adventures in Learning: Gavin's Journey from Broadway to 4A Arts Executive Director

[11:02] Gavin has established a successful social media presence on TikTok and has created an entertaining and thought provoking parenting blog, which I highly recommend. In addition, he launched the ECKnox brand. He's been sharing very openly his adventures as a dad since Ellison was born. I asked him to share a little more about the business and the other side of his artistic life.

[17:18] Force Feeding Culture? Or Strategies for Promoting Playful Learning

[20:07] Diverse LGBTQ-Friendly Picture Books That Speak to the Power of Identity and Family Love. Seriously check this section out. There is a lot of power and goodness embedded here.

[32:40] Advice for Our Kids: Applying Our Adventures In Learning
For pictures, book recommendations, and more, check out the full show notes.

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A Beginner's Guide to Being Human: Adventures in Learning with Matt Forrest Esenwine

Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

10/12/22 • 43 min

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Matt Forrest Esenwine joins Dr. Diane to talk about A Beginner's Guide to Being Human. Matt is a radio host, voiceover artist, poet, and picture book author, whose works include Once Upon Another Time, Flashlight Night, and I Am Today, as well as anthologies like Lee Bennett Hopkins’ Night Wishes and Construction People. Along the way, we talk poetry, inspiration, and fun ways to connect poetry into the curriculum. Plus we discover what rainbow eucalyptus is. Follow the show notes for a chance to win a copy of Matt's latest book. Entries must be received by 10/26/22.

[00:50] A Beginner's Guide to Being Human. What makes this book so special? What is creative nonfiction? And how does the book introduce kids to emotions, feelings, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and opposable thumbs?

[04:48] An excerpt from A Beginner's Guide to Being Human and a conversation about the book's impact for kids and their adults (grown ups apologize!). Click to view the video excerpt and see the pages shared.

[11:30] Inspiration Calls! Coming soon, Everybody Counts and The Thing to Remember about Stargazing,

[13:13] How did Matt go from radio to children's books?

If you're given an opportunity, even if it's something that you're not sure that you've ever done before, you're not sure you're going to be able to do, say yes. Use the opportunity and figure out a way to do it.

[18:33] Poetry as the "Stepchild of Children's Literature" (thank you, J. Patrick Lewis) We discuss ways to inspire teachers and students to fall in love with poetry, to play with poetry, and to build connections with poetry across the curriculum.

[27:00] Ever heard of a rainbow eucalyptus? Me either, but you're about to know what it is as Matt shares the process and the short free verse poem he wrote for the National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry

[33:45] School Visit Questions -- How Long Does It Take To Write a Poem?

[37:10] More sources of inspiration!

[40:06] Hope for the future. It's the source

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Polar Adventures with Ocean Youth Academy's Gaby Pilson

Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

03/01/23 • 30 min

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On today's Adventure in Learning podcast, we meet Gaby Pilson, a guide and outdoor educator with a passion for introducing people to the world’s most beautiful and unique places. Gaby is also a founder and board secretary of Ocean Youth Academy, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a sustainable model of education that connects youth with the ocean and the wonders of our natural world.
Gaby holds undergraduate degrees in Philosophy and Environmental Studies, with a focus on Meteorology and Glaciology, and a master’s degree in Outdoor Education from the University of Edinburgh.

When not working in the polar regions, you can find Gaby working as a mountaineering and climbing guide in Alaska, teaching wilderness medicine, freelance writing, traveling, or leading students on remote wilderness expeditions around the world. She is a keen hiker, climber, paddler, and skier and has travelled extensively in search of the next great adventure.
I was fortunate to meet Gaby on my trip to Antarctica in December. On today's podcast, we talk glaciers, penguins, and taking action on climate change. We also talk about what a day in the life of a guide looks like, what brings her hope, and her next great adventure.
00:29: Describe your adventures in learning.
03:28: Reflecting on the past season in Antarctica.
05:33: What drew you to wanting to work in Antarctica?
06:04: A quick lesson in glaciers -- why they matter and why you should care, even if you live nowhere near a glacier.
07:49: What's changed in Antarctica over the last five years?
09:04: What is the Ocean Youth Academy?
12:35: Sponsor Ad
13:54: Polar Bears, Climate Change, and Taking Positive Action
16:34: What's it like being a guide in the Polar Regions?
20:22: Do you ever get used to the Drake Passage?
21:51: Are there any adventures you still want to do?
23:49: When you were a little girl, did you know you wanted to enter a STEM field like this?
28:23: What brings you hope?

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Giving Voice to Joy, Beauty, and Anxiety: Adventures with Award-Winning Author Hena Khan

Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

02/22/24 • 31 min

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In today's society, childhood anxiety is increasingly visible, as more young people and their families find themselves grappling with these silent battles. On this week's episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, award-winning author Hena Khan discusses her latest book, Drawing Deena.
In Drawing Deena, Hena addresses the subtle onset of anxiety that is often overlooked by adults. We talk about the necessity of proper support systems within schools and how cultural stigmas can prevent access to these vital resources. Her portrayal of Deena is not just about the internal turmoil of anxiety but also about the external factors such as family dynamics, creativity, and the unique challenges faced by children of immigrants.
One of the topics we explore is the impact of social media on today's youth. We talk about the intricacies of managing an online presence and the emotional toll it can take on us. Hena shares a poignant passage from Drawing Deena, depicting the character's surprise at the positive reception of her artwork online, highlighting the double-edged sword of social media validation.
One of the many things I love about Hena Khan is the way she centers Muslim characters in many genres, allowing them to be proud of their cultures and identities while experiencing relatable middle grade pressures and struggles. A sampling of her work includes Amina's Voice, Amina's Song, More to the Story, Zara's Rules for Living Your Best Life, One Sun and Countless Stars, Zain's Super Friday, Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets, Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns, Under My Hijab, Like the Moon Loves the Sky, and Unicorn Rescue Society: Secret of the Himalayas. Her transition from picture books to middle-grade novels reflects the growth of her own children and the feedback from her readers.
In addition to Drawing Deena, Hena's upcoming projects are showcased, including Like a Boss, The Door is Open, We Are Big Time, and B

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Lights in the Darkness: Adventures with Legacy Award-Winning Author and Illustrator Grace Lin

Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

10/19/22 • 45 min

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Children's picture books are one of our greatest treasures! Grace Lin won the American Library Association's Legacy Award this year and has been a persistent advocate for diversity and representation on children's book shelves, in libraries and classrooms, and even in museum exhibits. Her beautiful books draw on her Asian American heritage to reweave myths and folk literature, to share stories of families engaged in every day life, and to lift and inspire children and adults everywhere. Join us as we talk about the importance of diverse picture books, Grace's Legacy Award speech, fighting book banning, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, and the joy of creating and building connections.

Follow the show notes for a chance to win an autographed poster of Grace's One Hundred Years of the Newbery Award print. Entries must be received by 11/9/22.
[00:56] In Grace's 2016 TEDx Talk she recounted how it felt to grow up to never see yourself reflected in a book.
[02:41] How Grace's The Seven Chinese Sisters provided a window for one of my college students: “When I looked at this book, I started to cry.”
[6:58] Past Person, Present Person, Or Future Person? What Inspires Writing?
[08:16] A sneak peek at Chinese Menu (fall 2023).
[10:25] Where the Mountain Meets the Moon[12:54] The Wizard of Oz, Olive Lake, and how folk tales adapt and change.
[17:10] Winning the ALA Legacy Award "We are the lights that the world needs when everything has gone dark."
[24:02] Keeping the Lights On Amidst a Climate of Book Banning
[26:05] Pen America town hall strategies for combating book banning challenges [32:47] Taking Action Through Art -- the process behind the Newbery Centennial Horn Book Cover and its after-life as a print benefitting everylibrary.org[37:01] Beard licking, book signings, and curating special exhibits at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art[38:23] Asians, Everyday
[41:09] Once Upon a Book (co-written with Kate Messner)
[44:17] Book Friends Forever

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Falling In Love With Science -- Adventures in Learning with Science Editor in Chief H. Holden Thorp

Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

02/15/23 • 28 min

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Why is science so important in our lives? And how can we do a better job of preparing young children to love science and to embrace the wide range of STEM careers available to them? We discuss all this and more with Holden Thorp, Editor-In-Chief of the Science family of journals.
I've known Holden since we were kids growing up in Fayetteville, NC, and he was one of my first role models for someone who seamlessly blended a love of science with a love of the arts. H. Holden Thorp is the Rita Levi-Montalcini Distinguished University Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, holding appointments in both chemistry and medicine.
Holden previously served as Washington University’s provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and as the chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also served as Morehead Planetarium's director and was instrumental in the establishment of the North Carolina Science Festival, the first statewide celebration of its kind in the nation. He earned his Ph.D in inorganic chemistry at the California Institute of Technology, and completed postdoctoral work at Yale University.
Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed, general science journal in the world. The Science family of journals includes Science, Science Translational Medicine, Science Signaling, Science Robotics, Science Immunology, and the open-access journal, Science Advances.
To follow Holden's thoughts and blogs, check out Twitter @hholdenthorp, LinkedIn, mastodon, blog posts, substack, and more.

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Meet Polar Change Maker Kimberly Aiken

Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

10/18/23 • 87 min

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What does it take to encourage young women and people of color to enter polar careers? On this episode of the Adventures in Learning Podcast, we meet Kimberly Aiken, a PhD student at the University of Tasmania, Australia, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies. Kimberly is currently undertaking a research project focused on building more diverse, equitable, and inclusive extreme and remote workforce environments. She has contributed to several outreach and advocacy platforms and currently co-leads the Diversity and Inclusion Community Practice Group with the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC). In this episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, we explore challenges and joys of being a person of color in polar STEM, skills and ideas necessary for engaging students, classrooms, and families in the polar regions, strategies for holding up diverse role models for children interested in STEM careers, and, of course, the mighty krill.

1:30: Kimberly's untraditional pathway into Polar STEM/STEAM
22:43: Carrying the weight of being a person of color in the polar world
24:34 Covid and new directions
27:33 Antarctic/Southern Ocean Coalition
31:00 PhD work
37:52 Intersectionality and polar work
41:45: Impact of mental health and well-being on research
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46:16: Preparing children, teachers, and families for jobs that don't exist yet in a world of climate change
54:35: Building strong 21st century learning skills
56:32: Polar STEAM program and other resources for educators
1:01:04: Real world examples of building Polar connections in classrooms
1:05:01: Intersectionality and offering kids diverse role models in polar jobs
1:08:48: Strategies and ideas to help educators and families get started in polar protection and climate change learning
1:16:01: Coolest polar experience to date
1:18:20: Hope in a changing world
1:23:01: Tale of the mighty krill

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STEM Superstar Covey Denton shares strategies for funding your classroom dreams!

Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

08/23/23 • 39 min

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Covey Denton is a rock star STEM educator. We met through Steve Spangler, when we were both presenting workshops at Science in the Rockies. Check out her strategies for helping you get your science classroom funded.,

[01:26] - Covey's Journey

Covey explains her diverse career path, starting from biomedical engineering, and transitioning into teaching through unconventional pathways.

[04:04] - Contribution to Kesler Science Escape Rooms

Covey shares how she pitched the idea of writing escape rooms to Chris Kesler at a conference, as well as their effectiveness in formative assessments.

[06:24] - Perspective on STEM Education

Covey discusses STEM as a departure from traditional teaching, fostering problem-solving and diverse solutions as students are empowered to collaborate for creative solutions.

[08:25] - Applying STEM For Learning at ALL Grade Levels

The applicability of STEM across age groups is discussed, using The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind as an example.

[12:13] - Getting Started with STEM and Grant Writing

Covey shares her experience of teaching with a limited budget, the importance of wise spending on reusable materials, and how to request assistance from local businesses.

[17:11] - Grant Writing and Success Stories

Covey dives into her journey of grant writing, highlighting a seminar she attended that helped her write her first grants.
Initial struggles with grant rejections and how she turned it into a learning opportunity with great success.

[19:38] - Building Relationships and Telling Stories

Covey emphasizes the importance of storytelling and shares strategies for building relationships in grant writing.

[24:17] - Practical Grant Writing Tips

Key tips include obtaining administrator support, starting with small grants to build confidence, setting aside dedicated time for grant writing, and expressing genuine excitement in grant applications.

[25:53] - Challenges and Joys of STEM Education

Covey discusses the challenge of storage for ongoing STEM projects and shares her strategy of using non-consumables and recyclables.
Joy of witnessing students who aren't necessarily top academic performers excelling in hands-on problem-solving and showing resilience in the face of failure.

[29:48] - Picture Books for STEM Connections

Some of Covey's go-to picks include The Most Magnificent Thing and the Ada Twist, Scientist series for their relatability and diversity of characters.

[34:25] - Opportunities and Challenges for the Upcoming School Year

Covey shares opportunities she sees in STEM education, particularly through invention/STEM competitions like ExploraVision.
The impact of recognition on students' confidence and belief in their ability to make a difference.

[36:49] - What Brings

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Curiosity Creates STEM Connections -- Adventures in Learning with Brad Herring

Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

11/16/22 • 36 min

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How can we harness curiosity to engage learners in STEM and in the world around them? Swift Creek Media CEO Brad Herring shares thoughts on storytelling, building STEM connections, and approaching the world from a new perspective. Plus, learn about the NISENetwork and its many STEM resources.

While Brad’s career began by serving overseas in Panama with the United States Peace Corps, his passion for filmmaking began with the birth of his daughter. What started as a hobby, quickly grew into his job and eventually led him to start his own production company, Swift Creek Media. He has over 17 years of experience in project management, creating and producing over 150 videos for one of the largest science museum networks in the United States. Brad previously worked at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, NC and led NISE Network online workshops while serving as NISENet's Earth & Space project-based professional learning community leader and as the Southeast regional hub leader.

I first met Brad when we were both deeply ensconced in the museum world. Through our collaboration together, I learned how to tap into STEM resources and community professionals to enhance the wow factor of the STEAM Night programs I developed for the children's museum where I was working at the time. I also gained access to the creative collaborative energy of a nationwide network of informal educators seeking to get the public excited about science and hands-on learning.

[00:40] Wonder, curiosity, connection -- building engaging STEM/STEAM programs

[5:13] The challenges of grabbing and keeping attention when building engaging programs.

[10:06] What is NISE Network (National Informal STEM Education Network) and how can it help build engaged learning?

[14:17] Taking Curiosity On The Road: Brad shares details about his recent summer trip of a lifetime and the perspective it gave him.

[21:25] How do we tell the stories? Filmmaking as storytelling through Swift Creek Media

[27:25] Strategies for connecting storytelling and engaged STEM/STEAM learning? Horton Senses Something Small, Breakfast Moon, Moonbear’s Shadow, Hide and Seek Moon, Frankenstein

[33:17] What Brings You Hope?

It (camping) really gave me hope that there are good people out there and we just need to get outside of our own walls and travel more and experi

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FAQ

How many episodes does Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning have?

Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning currently has 109 episodes available.

What topics does Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning cover?

The podcast is about Education For Kids, Learning, Kids & Family, Joy, Early Childhood, Podcasts, Books, Education, Science, Arts and Travel.

What is the most popular episode on Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning?

The episode title 'Books as a Force for Change: Author Christy Mihaly's Adventures in Learning' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning?

The average episode length on Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning is 37 minutes.

How often are episodes of Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning released?

Episodes of Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning?

The first episode of Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning was released on Aug 3, 2022.

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Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

Dr Diane Jackson Schnoor

Top 10 Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning have?

What topics does Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning cover?

What is the most popular episode on Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning?

What is the average episode length on Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning?

How often are episodes of Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning released?

When was the first episode of Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning?

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