Educator's Playbook

In this timely episode of the Educator's Playbook, we confront the pervasive issue of gun violence and its reverberating effects across K-12 education. With an alarming 44,367 gun violence deaths reported in the US last year, of which 1,686 were children and teens, the weight of this crisis is palpable in classrooms across the nation. As educators and students grapple with the grief and trauma stemming from these tragedies, the question arises: How does the education community navigate such turbulent waters? Joining the conversation is Jasmine Marshall-Butler, who shares insights from her Ph.D. research on the profound effect that losing students to gun violence has on educators. Also sharing her story is documentary filmmaker Shameka Sawyer, founder of the 5 Shorts Project. She shares her perspective on the broader implications for the school environment and community. This episode serves as a poignant reflection on a pressing societal issue, emphasizing the need for support, understanding and proactive measures in our schools. We realize it's an activating topic, so please be careful when listening. We've included some additional resources below.

FEATURING:

• Jasmine Marshall-Butler, Associate Director of the Urban Teaching Apprenticeship Program (UTAP), University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
• Shameka Sawyer, Founder & Executive Director, 5 Shorts Project

NEWSLETTER:

• Subscribe to the Educator's Playbook newsletter for ongoing resources and content

RELATED PLAYBOOKS:

• No. 58: How teachers can talk about violence at the Capitol (01-07-21)
• No. 40: Bringing Restorative Justice into Your Classroom (02-06-20)
• No. 31: How parents can help adolescents struggling with anxiety (11-08-19)
• No. 21: Creating meaningful classroom discussions (03-17-17)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• The Victim Connect Resource Center: a referral helpline where crime victims can learn about their rights and options confidentially and compassionately. Check out their interactive VictimConnect Resource Map online for additional resources or contact the VictimConnect Resource Center by phone or text at 1-855-4-VICTIM for more information or assistance in locating services that can help after you lose a loved one or are experiencing grief
• National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children
• The National Alliance For Children's Grief: provides information on supporting children through grief, including a national database of in-person grief support programs, camps and community resources

Let's delve into the ever-evolving world of technology in K-12 education. New generative AI tools like ChatGPT seemingly hit our classrooms overnight. And as it becomes ever more present, educators are finding themselves in a dynamic landscape, forced to adapt and adopt on-the-fly. By May of last year, nearly 60 percent of students aged 12-18 had interacted with ChatGPT, according to one study, with many favoring it over traditional search engines for their academic pursuits. Yet, with these advancements come both challenges and opportunities. To explore this technological shift, Kimberly is joined by Penn GSE professor Ryan Baker, an expert in online learning and how data and emerging technologies can enhance the educational experience. Also weighing in on the topic is principal, author and McGraw Prize winner Chris Lehmann, adding depth to the conversation about what it truly means to integrate new tools into schools. Tune in as we explore the merits and pitfalls of ed tech in today's classrooms.

FEATURING:

• Ryan Baker, Professor, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
• Chris Lehmann, Founding Principal and CEO, Science Leadership Academies

NEWSLETTER:

• Subscribe to the Educator's Playbook newsletter for ongoing resources and content

RELATED PLAYBOOKS:

• No. 71: Five ways teachers can integrate ChatGPT into their classrooms today (02-02-23)
• No. 68: Virtual learning 2.0: 6 takeaways from two years of online learning (02-22-22)

OTHER RESOURCES:

• What should come next for learning engineering? (07-19-21)
• Learning technologies aren’t making a difference in classrooms. To change that, focus on how they are used. (06-30-21)

Hosted by seasoned educator Kimberly McGlonn, this episode takes a deep dive into the widening ideological and cultural divides impacting K-12 education. As schools find themselves at the epicenter of debates surrounding issues like race, gender and sexual orientation, educators must grapple with the challenges of a rapidly politicized classroom environment. We're joined by leading education historian and Penn GSE professor Jonathan Zimmerman, author of "Whose America?: Culture Wars in the Public Classroom." He provides valuable insights into the shifting ideological landscape since the book's first publication in 2002 and gives us some historical context for censorship, politicization and polarization. Then, professor of practice and former superintendent Andrea Kane sheds further light on the real-life implications of these culture wars for educators, students and communities, sharing some of her experiences on the front lines over the years. Tune in for a candid discussion on navigating these complex issues in today's educational setting.

FEATURING:

• Jonathan Zimmerman, Professor, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
• Andrea Kane, Professor of Practice, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education

NEWSLETTER:

• Subscribe to the Educator's Playbook newsletter for ongoing resources and content

RELATED PLAYBOOKS:

• No. 69: Explaining war to children: 6 tips from a Penn GSE expert (02-25-22)
• No. 64: How to be a good parent and a good ally (06-10-21)
• No. 63: How to get even better at supporting your LGBTQ+ students (06-08-21)
• No. 58: How teachers can talk about violence at the Capitol (01-07-21)
• No. 39: Putting Black history lessons into action (02-05-20)
• No. 17: How to confront hate speech at school (11-17-16)
• No. 7: Responding to anti-Muslim rhetoric (02-04-16)
• No. 5: Treating racial competence as a skill to be learned (02-03-16)

OTHER RESOURCES:

• New books from Penn GSE professors focus on free speech on campus (02-15-23)
• School censorship is not democratic. Speaking up is the solution from the Philadelphia Inquirer (05-30-23)
• Jonathan Zimmerman: Do we really want discussion in our schools? Book censorship indicates otherwise from the Chicago Tribune (05-15-23)
• Penn GSE alumni event focuses on free speech in education (12-13-22)

Chronic absenteeism and truancy are on the rise, hindering student success. In our debut episode of the Educator’s Playbook podcast, host Kimberly McGlonn speaks with two experts on the issue, exploring the sudden increase in attendance issues as well as ways to get students back into the classroom – and help keep them there. First, she’s joined by education economist and Penn GSE professor Michael Gottfried to learn why students are missing more school, how the pandemic accelerated trends, and insight into some easy, proven ways schools can improve student attendance. Then, Kimberly chats with fellow professor Ericka Weathers about her research on state truancy policies, and how in the face of social inequalities, punitive policies actually prevent schools from addressing the root causes of student absences. Listen in as we explore the underlying reasons for absenteeism and truancy, and the ripple effects both have on academic achievement, teacher morale and classroom dynamics.

FEATURING:

• Michael Gottfried, Professor, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
• Ericka Weathers, Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education

NEWSLETTER:

• Subscribe to the Educator's Playbook newsletter for ongoing resources and content

RELATED PLAYBOOKS:

• No. 72: Back to School: How to encourage student attendance (09-13-23)
• No. 70: Keeping students present: 4 ways to address absenteeism (04-13-22)

OTHER RESOURCES:

• Educational inequities? Follow the numbers, says Ericka Weathers (04-04-23)
• Perspective: Common sense approaches to address bus driver shortages from EdNC (12-16-22)
• These 6 strategies can help schools tackle chronic absenteeism from K-12 Dive (11-04-22)

Join us this fall for an all-new podcast series made by educators for educators!

Subscribe now and don't miss a single episode as we examine some of the biggest issues facing K-12 today and share practical, easy-to-implement advice geared toward teachers, administrators and counselors.

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The Educator's Playbook podcast is produced in Philadelphia with partner RADIOKISMET.