Episode 023: Imagine! Brain Science in Education! with Julia Skolnik
02/13/24 • 26 min
Are you ready to revolutionize the way you think about education? Tune in as we sit down with Julia Skolnick, the brain-science whizz and founder of Professional Learning Partnerships. She fervently advocates for integrating brain science into our teaching and leadership methods to revolutionize K-12 education. Julia’s mission to bridge the gap between research and practice in education is truly eye-opening. She highlights the adverse effects of standardized tests on students, teachers, and parents and how the 'less is more' philosophy can positively influence teaching and learning.
Sit tight as we flip the script, discussing the often ignored systems and processes in education. We take a critical look at the idea of specialization for teachers and how overwhelming administrative tasks can obstruct their main roles. An interesting chat on the significance of values and learner profiles in schools ensues, emphasizing their role as a guiding framework for decision-making, rather than just an accessory. Our experiences as educators in International Baccalaureate (IB) schools, incorporating the learner profile into our teaching and planning processes, offer practical insights into this approach. This episode prompts educators to constantly rethink and assess their systems and priorities to create a more impactful and meaningful learning experience for students. So gear up for this knowledge-packed episode that promises to leave you with much to ponder.
Julia Skolnik, MSEd is the CEO & Founder of Professional Learning Partnerships (PLP), which is an organization dedicated to transforming learning and leadership using brain science through long-term partnerships with K-12 school districts. Building upon over 20 years of experience working in schools, research laboratories, and museums, Julia founded PLP to empower educators and leaders to leverage brain science as a tool for meaningfully transforming learning, leadership, and culture in K-12 schools. As CEO & Founder, she creates the overarching vision for PLP, designs innovative and research-based professional learning programs, and cultivates sustained partnerships with a growing network of school districts across the U.S.
Julia wrote a guest blog post on our website: Less is More
Buy The Minimalist Teacher book from ASCD+ISTE.
Follow on Instagram @PlanZEducation and @minimalist_ed_podcast.
The Minimalist Educator Podcast is a Plan Z Education Services adventure.
Are you ready to revolutionize the way you think about education? Tune in as we sit down with Julia Skolnick, the brain-science whizz and founder of Professional Learning Partnerships. She fervently advocates for integrating brain science into our teaching and leadership methods to revolutionize K-12 education. Julia’s mission to bridge the gap between research and practice in education is truly eye-opening. She highlights the adverse effects of standardized tests on students, teachers, and parents and how the 'less is more' philosophy can positively influence teaching and learning.
Sit tight as we flip the script, discussing the often ignored systems and processes in education. We take a critical look at the idea of specialization for teachers and how overwhelming administrative tasks can obstruct their main roles. An interesting chat on the significance of values and learner profiles in schools ensues, emphasizing their role as a guiding framework for decision-making, rather than just an accessory. Our experiences as educators in International Baccalaureate (IB) schools, incorporating the learner profile into our teaching and planning processes, offer practical insights into this approach. This episode prompts educators to constantly rethink and assess their systems and priorities to create a more impactful and meaningful learning experience for students. So gear up for this knowledge-packed episode that promises to leave you with much to ponder.
Julia Skolnik, MSEd is the CEO & Founder of Professional Learning Partnerships (PLP), which is an organization dedicated to transforming learning and leadership using brain science through long-term partnerships with K-12 school districts. Building upon over 20 years of experience working in schools, research laboratories, and museums, Julia founded PLP to empower educators and leaders to leverage brain science as a tool for meaningfully transforming learning, leadership, and culture in K-12 schools. As CEO & Founder, she creates the overarching vision for PLP, designs innovative and research-based professional learning programs, and cultivates sustained partnerships with a growing network of school districts across the U.S.
Julia wrote a guest blog post on our website: Less is More
Buy The Minimalist Teacher book from ASCD+ISTE.
Follow on Instagram @PlanZEducation and @minimalist_ed_podcast.
The Minimalist Educator Podcast is a Plan Z Education Services adventure.
Previous Episode
Episode 022: Empowering Girls in Sports and Physical Education with Janelle Meisenheimer
Ever pondered why fewer girls are involved in sports compared to boys? Ever wondered how we can bridge this gap? On this episode of the Minimalist Educator Podcast, we have an answer to these questions and more as we sit down with Janelle Meisenheimer, an experienced sports coach and PE teacher. Janelle pours out her heart about her journey starting with her passion for sports as a young girl, to her revelation about the significant play gap between boys and girls. We dissect the root issues, from lack of facilities to improper language use in sports, that create an unwelcoming environment for girls and women. But, it's not all gloom. We also chat about how we can make sports more appealing and accessible to all girls and women, empowering them to make physical activity a priority.
We then shift gears to a seldom-discussed, yet crucial topic: body literacy and inclusion in education. Menstruation and body changes are natural, but the stigma surrounding them often creates barriers for girls in sports. With Janelle's insightful guidance, we advocate for a paradigm shift in physical education, where body literacy is the norm, not the exception. We brainstorm effective ways that teachers can establish a non-judgmental and understanding classroom environment, helping ease the stress that girls face during puberty.
Finally, we zero in on the pivotal role of educators in redefining physical education. Janelle offers practical advice on fostering student-centered physical education and creating an inclusive environment. We dig into how educators can establish a culture of body literacy and offer girls a say in their PE uniforms. To cap it all, we tackle a subject that's often avoided – menstruation. Janelle courageously shares her personal experiences and walks us through how she's working to break down the stigma around menstruation in sports. So, join us for an episode brimming with compelling insights and pragmatic tips on how we can make sports and physical education more inclusive for every girl and woman out there.
Janelle is currently the Lower School PE Head of Department, Elementary PE and Health teacher, and Soccer Coach at the International School of Brussels. She has also worked at Cap Cana Heritage School in the Dominican Republic and Raha International School in the United Arab Emirates. Many people before us have worked hard for the space girls and women have in the sports world. There are more steps to create a safer, inclusive space for many people, and her research in menstruation, injury prevention, participation issues, and more with people who will, do, or did menstruate in sports is part of that pathway forward. When she doesn't have all of these hats on, she plays different sports, prioritizes social time, and snuggles up with my cat with a good book or show.
Epsiode Resources:
- Girls, Gender and Physical Education: An Activist Approach by Kimberly L. Oliver, David Kirk
- Period Power by Maisie Hill
- The Female Body Bible by Emma Ross, Baz Moffat, Bella Smith
- The Well HQ: https://www.thewell-hq.com/
- My slides from a presentation: https://docs.google.com/p
Buy The Minimalist Teacher book from ASCD+ISTE.
Follow on Instagram @PlanZEducation and @minimalist_ed_podcast.
The Minimalist Educator Podcast is a Plan Z Education Services adventure.
Next Episode
Episode 024: Effective Team Meetings with Team Awesome (Tammy, Christine, Gemma Cass and Megan Kemp)
Are your team meetings more of a time-suck than a productive gathering? Ever wondered how to turn them into fruitful sessions that not only get more done but also foster better relationships? You're not alone, and thankfully, we've got you covered. Joined by our dear friends and former colleagues, Gemma Kass and Megan Kemp, we delve into the world of effective planning meetings - the strategies to keep them focused, the art of debriefing, and the undervalued power of check-ins. As we fondly recall our teaching journey together in Singapore, we're excited to share the lessons we've learned to make team meetings a success.
But that's not all. We also take on the often daunting terrain of collaboration in these meetings. How do you maintain the delicate balance between tasks and professional dialogue? How do you navigate the varied comfort levels of team members while fostering a culture of mutual respect? And most importantly, how do you build relationships that enhance collaboration and meeting effectiveness? We share our thoughts, experiences, and some helpful tips, all the while reinforcing the importance of being prepared and modeling good meeting behavior. Because we believe, if we can get this right as adults, we could positively influence how our students learn to collaborate. So, come join us as we turn the spotlight on relationship-building and being prepared in our meetings.
Today's episode was brought to you by Plan Z Professional Learning Services, Forward Thinking Educator Support. Find out more at www.PlanZPLServices.com. Follow us @PlanZPLS on X and Instagram.
Buy The Minimalist Teacher book from ASCD+ISTE.
Follow on Instagram @PlanZEducation and @minimalist_ed_podcast.
The Minimalist Educator Podcast is a Plan Z Education Services adventure.
The Minimalist Educator Podcast - Episode 023: Imagine! Brain Science in Education! with Julia Skolnik
Transcript
Welcome to the Minimalist Educator Podcast , a podcast about paring down to refocus on the purpose and priorities in our roles with co-hosts and co-authors of the Minimalist Teacher Book , Tammy Musiowsky-Borneman and Christine Arnold .
Speaker 2Today we speak with Julia Skolnick about how we can translate brain science into our practice as educators
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