Shows
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudPlan for Playfulness, Connection, and FlowPlanning for the start of a new school year, we should intentionally design for playfulness, connection, and flow—the elements that are core to fun and joy. It’s not just about better lessons— but better experiences. Experiences that students will remember, that teachers will find energizing, and that build both engagement and joy. Whether it’s a surprise horse outside a classroom window or a red-carpet moment for staff, fun has the power to transform not just how we feel—but how we learn, connect, and grow.
Watch Catherine Price’s TED talk here.
Hear the entire...2025-07-2416 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudCoaching Conversations that Promote Coachability"Coachability is a crucial mindset that builds individual and teacher efficacy and thus student success. Coaching conversations should have a human connectedness built on hope, trust, gratitude, strength, and purpose." (Jennifer Fraser, 2025, Leading with Hope and Kindness)
Listen for human connections in a sample coaching pre-conference.
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Read the article, "Leading With Hope and Kindness: 5 Ways to Be a Better Leader" here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to...2025-07-1711 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudPreparing Students for Their FutureListen as an experienced post -secondary professor and Dean of Computing and Data Science shares her insights as she assumes the position of the Head of School at a 7-12 independent school, the New England Innovation Academy. Dr. Durga Suresh-Menon provides a definition of innovation and discusses the need for curriculum and instruction to be continuously relevant. How do students prepare for what comes next? How do staff engage in the learning that supports their work with student?
Email Dr. Suresh-Menon: durga.suresh-menon@neiacademy.org
Learn more about the New England Innovation Academy here.
2025-07-1025 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudInstructional Systems Feedback: A “Moneyball” ApproachPatrick Mongrain, an experienced teacher and teacher coach, shares a message comparing the use of data to drive smarter decisions in the movie Moneyball to providing teachers with data to analyze their instructional classroom moves. He describes the role of 8 high level strategies such as building community and relationships, providing opportunities to respond, and positive and corrective feedback. Too often clearly defined instructional skills that are key to instructional strategies are not identified or coached.
Email Patrick: pmongrain65@comcast.net
Watch "The Why of the 8 practices" here.
Learn about the EdChanger Pro App h...2025-07-0331 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudCoaching, Leading, and Learning From Gen-Z TeachersDr. Meagan Booth, the Supervisor of Employee Relations at Knox County Schools in Tennessee, explores our need to learn about and from our Gen-Z teachers. She suggests the need to move from “just trust me” leadership to “here’s what you can expect” leadership providing consistency and transparency that build trust and respect for Gen Z. How do we make mental health “a way of being” to create systems that promote a switched focus from surviving to thriving?
Read Meagan's article, "Gen Z Isn’t Lazy: Let’s Rethink What We Expect Of New Teachers" here.
Email Meagan - ...2025-07-0126 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudLearning Through Listening and Creating: Podcasts in the ClassroomTeachers looking for a strategy to increase students’ engagement in learning and instructional coaches looking to support those teachers can find ideas and encouragement from Katie Brooks. She shares her experiences that led her to say:
"By making podcasting a part of my ELA curriculum, I’ve seen students finally comprehend complex materials, have a blast learning and using their creativity, and take ownership of their learning in a way that traditional assignments don’t always allow. Students who struggle with traditional tasks have become more invested in their learning when given the opportunity to express themselves throug...2025-06-1218 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudA Path to Standards-Based GradingHear a principal’s firsthand experience in facilitating a staff’s implementation of standards-based grading. Explore some of the “bumps” and how they worked through them.
“There were bumps everywhere. We shifted the ground between kids and families’ feet. Most of us go through school with the same grading systems our parents did. This was no different. We had to explain what, why, and how. We also had to share that we weren’t demeaning the education or grading expectations that adults had as kids. We were simply trying to evolve.”
The goal - authentic mastery.
2025-06-0532 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudPlanning for Impact: Why Goals Alone Won’t Do The JobIts that time of year when many school administrators and teacher leaders are engaged in setting school improvement goals focused on increasing student learning. But goals alone aren’t enough. Real change happens when we identify and support the behaviors that lead to those goals: the consistent learning behaviors students will need to be engaged in, the teacher actions that are most likely to generate those student learning production behaviors, and the leadership actions that will support teachers in implementing those actions.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to...2025-06-0320 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudTrust-Based ObservationsMost school leaders and teachers give a rather low rating to the value of teacher observations regarding increasing teacher effectiveness and thus student learning. Many find the process actual interfering with building a trusting learning culture in a school. Craig Randall, the author of "Trust-Based Observations: Maximizing Teaching and Learning Growth," has developed a transformative model of teacher observation that focuses on strengths and building differentiated trusting relationships with each teacher; creating work environments where teachers feel safe, embrace taking risks, and experimenting with new practices. The result is a schoolwide culture of trust and care extending throughout the...2025-05-2232 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudWhy Focus on Deeper Learning for All StudentsWhat is deeper learning and how does it meaningfully engage students, preparing them for success beyond the classroom? How can teachers incorporate deeper learning into their classrooms? Dr. David Reese, from Defined Learning, explores these topics and identifies the six critical competencies that are important to all students’ for success. These competencies are often framed within the context of future-ready skills, which also include creativity, citizenship, and character.
Find David's blog post, "Why Deeper Learning? 6 Competencies EVERY Student Needs to Succeed" here.
Email David: david_reese@definedlearning.com
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Pon...2025-05-1529 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudProfessional Development That Impacts Teacher Learning and Student SuccessWhat should teachers expect from school leadership in the support of teacher growth? What expectations should school leaders have of teachers in their investment in professional growth? Katherine Hamilton, vice president of programs for Ensemble Learning explores these questions with Steve. Designing for teachers as professionals is key to generating educator learning that impact student success.
Visit the Ensemble Learning LinkedIn page here.
Visit the Ensemble Learning website here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2025-05-0837 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudCoaching Teachers to Fail SuccessfullyJust as students benefit from developing a positive, growth-oriented approach to failure, teachers thrive when they are supported in the same way. Instructional coaches and administrators can play a critical role in fostering this mindset. Teachers need opportunities to embrace challenges, experiment with new ideas, and persist through setbacks, in a safe environment. Too often, professional learning focuses on delivering strategies and best practices without acknowledging the discomfort and vulnerability that come with trying something new. Explore seven keys to “successful failure.”
"A Moment of Perspective," Christina (Kiki) Peterson
"Why Failing Well is the Key to S...2025-05-0114 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudTeacher Leaders in PLCsChad Dumas, the author of, The Teacher Leader Handbook: Simple Habits to Transform Collaboration in a PLC at Work, explores the mindsets, skills and strategies that generate team collaboration. Chad describes the important mindsets of “Seeing in others what they don’t yet see in themselves,” Being humble with a posture of learning, and "Spreading the contagion of joy." How should school leaders support teacher PLC leaders?
Find "The Teacher Leader Handbook: Simple Habits to Transform Collaboration in a PLC at Work" here.
Find the free downloadable reproducibles here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkle...2025-04-3033 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudCoaching to Leverage HardinessHow do coaches assist teachers in reframing stress from something to be managed to a catalyst for growth and improvement? How can understanding the roles of commitment, control, and challenge build teachers’ hardiness? Highly experienced coaches, Lana Cecil and Angela Buckingham, share the application of Stein’s and Bartone’s work in Making Stress Work for You to Achieve Your Life Goals to the work of instructional leaders and coaches.
Contact Angela: angela.buckingham@esc13.txed.net
Contact Lana: lana.cecil@esc13.txed.net
Find the Coaching Strategies and Coaching Questions for Hardiness here.2025-04-1733 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudA District’s Focus on Inspiring and Creating Joyful ExperiencesWhat happens when a school system makes four promises as their mission: joy, connection, growth, and success and consider joy as the lead to the others happening? "If we want people to be present, engaged, and thriving, joy can’t be an afterthought. It must be a priority." (George Philhower, Superintendent Eastern Hancock Schools in Indiana) Hear about their summer Joy Jam conference for educators.
Visit the Eastern Hancock Schools website here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2025-04-1023 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudBuilding Coachability for Myself and Others“Coachability is not just teachability. It’s not just a willingness to learn. It’s a willingness to unlearn and change. Coachability is a moral capacity that allows a person to accept feedback, acknowledge faults, limitations, and deficiencies, and to act on that new information.” (Timothy Clark)
As instructional coaches and school leaders, we can play a big role in shaping culture of coachability. We do it through the way we listen, the questions we ask, and the tone we set when offering feedback.
Find Timothy Clark's article, "Are You Coachable?" here.
Subscribe to the Ste...2025-04-0313 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudSituating Responsibility With Students: Enhancing LearningBarbara Smith, the editor of Urgent Care for Schools: Situating Responsibility as an Engaging Way for Students to Transform School Cultures, explores providing meaningful, memorable, and fulfilling learning experiences by situating responsibilities with learners.
From her experiences in public, independent, charter, and international schools, Barbara explores expanding the student identity to include that of becoming service providers, injustice responders, action researchers, designers, apprentices and teachers.
Visit the ZPD website and connect with Barbara here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!2025-04-0129 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudRadical Listening in CoachingHow can coaches’ use of radical listening generate teachers’ reflection and increase a sense of teachers’ empowerment? Examine some of the obstacles to and strategies for radical listening from the work of Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener and Christian Van Nieuwerburgh authors of Radical Listening: The Art of True Connection. As coaches, when we resist the urge to jump in with comparisons, advice, or quick fixes—and instead, lean into radical listening—we communicate trust, respect, and belief in the teacher’s capacity.
Listen to the Podcast, "Mastering Coaching and Leadership | Robert Biswas-Diener | Craig Dowden, PhD" here.
Subscribe to...2025-03-2715 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudA Thriving School Culture Through a Path of Student and Teacher ResponsibilityFrom her career as a teacher and school leader in public, independent, and international schools and having opened three new schools, Barbara Smith proposes the importance of situating responsibility with students and teachers. She describes why change is urgent and needs to be transformative. Just as teachers need to be facilitators of student responsibility to create their learning, school leaders need to be facilitators of teachers’ responsibility. Time and space for teacher collaboration and learning is a key.
Connect with Barbara & visit the ZPD website here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on i...2025-03-2028 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudCoaches Listen to Guide Self DiscoveryWhat skills do coaches practice to communicate being fully present in coaching conversations? How do those conversations support a growth-oriented environment where teachers feel valued, heard, and empowered to take ownership of their professional learning? Consider your use of questions and paraphrases in coaching.
Find "The Leader's Guide to Coaching in Schools: Creating Conditions for Effective Learning, by John Campbell and Christian Van Nieuwerburgh here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2025-03-1318 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudBuilding Coaching Skills and a Coaching CultureRory Courlander, IFC Certified Coach, high school administrator, and experience learning and teaching coach, explores building a coaching culture from no coaching to an embedded collaborative coaching culture. He and Steve discuss coaching skills and coachability.
Find Rory’s Coaching Culture Continuum and connect with him on LinkedIn here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2025-03-0635 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudSupporting Teachers in Supporting Students’ High PerformanceHow do instructional coaches and instruction leaders support teachers in maximizing students’ high performance? How should we be preparing teachers to identify possible indicators of high talent and to create opportunities for talent and giftedness to flourish? Steve Arnold, the Head of Gifted and Talented at GEMS Education explores these questions and identifies the importance of adaptive teaching verses siloed differentiation. What should teachers know about the neuroscience of learning?
Email Steve: steve.arnold@gemseducation.com
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2025-02-2727 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudSharing the Listening Path with StudentsListening is a crucial skill for students to develop for school and life success, yet we rarely purposefully approach a plan for students to learn the skills. Christine Miles, the creator of The Listening Path highlights the why and how for teachers to provide students the tools and practice to develop their listening capabilities. Consider the impact of a listing culture on classroom dynamics and student engagement.
Visit The Listening Path website here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2025-02-2519 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudWhy Invest in PLCsTime spent in PLCs should produce increased student learning. Listen in on thoughts from several experienced school leaders who have interacted with Steve and shared indicators that suggest your PLCs are on the right track or might need modifications to increase their impact on student learning.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2025-02-2018 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudBuilding a Co-Constructed SchoolHow can a focus on teacher agency, strategic planning, and professional growth transform a school into a thriving ecosystem where leaders, teachers, parents, and students create dynamic, inclusive, and purpose-driven learning communities? School leader and the author of The Co-Constructed School, Ann Lautrette, shares her experiences, research, and case studies that demonstrate the processes and rewards of building a community of empowered collaborators.
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Listen to the previous podcast "Guiding Teachers to Build Co-constructed Classrooms" here.
2025-02-1328 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudSeeking and Building Students’ High-Level TalentWhat role do teachers play in generating opportunities for the key elements of high performance: deliberate practice, motivation/inspiration, and master coaching? Steve Arnold, the Head of Gifted and Talented at GEMS Education illustrates teachers’ roles. He identifies the impact of the "required curriculum" and teachers’ options like the use of disruptive questions.
Contact Steve Arnold: steve.arnold@gemseducation.com
Visit the GEMS Education website here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2025-02-1126 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudPushing Through: Embracing Growth Through Discomfort"I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that’s how you grow. When there’s that moment of ‘Wow, I’m not really sure I can do this,’ and you push through those moments, that’s when you have a breakthrough.” (Marissa Mayer)
How do administrators, instructional coaches, and teacher leaders foster such a mindset?
Research on psychological safety underscores the importance of creating an environment where individuals feel secure enough to take risks, make mistakes, and reflect without fear of judgment or blame. In education, this principle is vital for f...2025-02-0619 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudCreating Joyful Transformational ExperiencesFor young children, curiosity and questions abound. Adults are often interested in learning connected to their lives, jobs, and hobbies. Somehow though in between those times the joy of learning may be lost as curiosity is replaced with isolation. Dr. Jennifer Gallagher, superintendent of Long Beach School District, NY, explores how to focus on nurturing more joy in learning in our schools. What is the necessary core knowledge for students and how quickly is it changing? How do we bring relevance to required curricula? What should we be exploring and creating as post-secondary options?
Email Jennifer: jgallagher...2025-01-3026 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudTeachers Building Purposeful ConnectionsThe author of "Purposeful Educator Connections," Marcela Andrés, explores strategies to deepen relationships with students, stay connected to your educator purpose, and improve classroom culture. She provides 5 Key Principles that empower teachers to build trust, inspire learning, and transform classroom environments.
Find Marcela's book, "Purposeful Educator Connection" here.
Visit the designEDegagement website here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2025-01-2821 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudListening: The Power of Understanding to Connect, Influence, and SolveChristine Miles, the author of, "What’s it Costing You to Not Listen," shares insights on how as coaches and school leaders we need to move beyond active listening. Listening to understand is critical in building relationships and trust with those we coach. Christine identifies how our listening and questions assist a coachee in telling their story which increases our understanding.
Connect with Christine and visit her website here.
Find Christine's book, "What Is It Costing You Not to Listen: The Power of Understanding to Connect, Influence, Solve & Sell" here.
Subscribe to the St...2025-01-2323 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudWhile Coaching Others, We Learn"Managers who coach their employees report that they grow personally by becoming more vulnerable, self-aware, and empathetic. They learn to trust their employees, solicit feedback to improve their management, and in doing so improve job satisfaction and joy in their work."
Dr. Nina Morel, Executive Director of Coaching and Leadership Development at Lipscomb University explores how leaders grow from coaching. She illustrates the necessary mindset and skills for effective coaching.
Visit & Connect with Dr. Morel on her website.
Read "Six principles of Leadership Coaching" (Center for Creative Leadership) here.
Subscribe to the...2025-01-1625 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudStrategic Steps to Accelerate Student Learning"The field of education has more research than ever before, yet teachers do not have the time to filter through that research to determine which strategies have the greatest impact,” - Sherry St. Claire.
That thought initiated St. Claire’s work featured in Intentional Instructional Moves: Strategic Steps to Accelerate Student Learning. She sifted through the research to uncover the most impactful classroom strategies and broke them into intentional steps so teachers can move efficiently from theory to practice. She and Steve explore three of many areas addressed in the book: classroom management, differentiation, and assessment.
Vi...2025-01-1421 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudShould I Make a Suggestion?Deciding if or when to make a suggestion to a teacher during coaching conferences is a question that as coaches we continually ponder. I consider it a question to be answered during the coaching conference. The key is TIMING. Is the teacher ready (interested in) considering a suggestion. How can a coach read timing and increase the likelihood of the right timing?
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2025-01-0917 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudAI for Student-Centered Learning: Customizing Learning Pathways For Every StudentJosh Ecker and Erin Cummings, from the Ed Tech and Learning Design Team at Chester County Intermediate Unit in Pennsylvania, explore AI’s current and future potential for the personalization of students pathways to success. They explore ways that school leaders and instructional coaches support teachers’ AI learning through PD, modeling, and policy. Student AI Literacy is all discussed.
Visit Chester County’s AI Support site here.
Email Josh Ecker: joshe@cciu.org
Email Erin Cummings: erinc@cciu.org
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit B...2025-01-0224 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudSchools That Build RelationshipsMarcela Andres, the CEO of designEDegagement and author of a post titled, "Moving Beyond Compliance: Building Relationships in Education," joined the podcast to share her experiences and recommendations for building connections with students. "Educators need to see students as individuals with unique backgrounds, dreams, and potential- despite challenges they may be facing. When we know students that way they can amaze us by starting to take charge of their own education.” Marcela explores her work generating relationships within the school, with parents, and among the greater school community.
Visit the designEDegagement website here.
Subscribe to the...2024-12-1920 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudCoaching With Intention for Instructional GrowthSherry St. Clair, the author of Intentional Instructional Moves: Strategic Steps to Accelerate Student Learning, shares her work identifying the research behind instructional strategies with the potential to elevate student learning and save teachers time. Sherry breaks the strategies into intentional steps so teachers can move efficiently from theory to practice. Instructional coaches and school leaders will find her work helpful in supporting the educators that you coach.
Visit Sherry's website here.
Email Sherry: Sherry@reflecttolearn.com
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to f...2024-12-1222 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudAI-Powered Assessment: Moving Beyond Traditional TestingIn what ways can AI be a teacher’s assistant? How do you keep a "human touch" in the AI assessment process? How can AI empower students as they request assessment feedback? Josh Ecker and Erin Cummings from the Ed Tech and Learning Design Team at Chester County Intermediate Unit in Pennsylvania examine these and additional questions with Steve.
Visit Chester County’s AI Support site here.
Email Josh Ecker: joshe@cciu.org
Email Erin Cummings: erinc@cciu.org
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visi...2024-12-1023 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudLeading From the Middle: Principals and Teacher LeadersBoth principals and teacher leaders lead from the middle, feeling pressure and demands from a system level and a classroom and community level. Dr. Katie Pekel, the director of Educational Leadership at the University of Minnesota, joins Steve to explore instructional leadership. They examine the need for administrators to guide the evaluation, supervision, mentoring and coaching of teachers. The role of instructional coaches and their work with school leaders is discussed.
Read the article, Rochester Public Schools Aims to Remake Principals From Managers Into ‘Head Teachers’ here.
Email Dr. Katie Pekel: kpekel@umn.edu
Subscribe t...2024-12-0526 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudBuilding Real Student EngagementHow do teachers shift the focus from passive learning to active exploration, challenging students to think critically, solve complex problems, and apply their knowledge in authentic contexts. Experienced educator and CEO of WhyMaker, Liz Gallo, explores promoting deeper understanding by immersing students in meaningful tasks that mirror the challenges they’ll face outside the classroom, ultimately leading to stronger academic outcomes and skill development. Project based and career ready strategies are explored.
Visit the WhyMaker website here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new ep...2024-11-2621 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudExploring Depth of Knowledge Teaching and LearningThe author of Deconstructing Depth of Knowledge: A Method and Model for Deeper Teaching and Learning, Erik Francis, joins Steve to examine what teaching and learning for depth of knowledge (DOK) looks like. Francis describes ways to support staff with ways to use DOK for differentiating based on the demands of standards and building upon the strengths and successes of students.
Visit the Maverik Education site here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-11-2139 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudLeaders Responding to Staff Social and Emotional NeedsDr. Maggie Broderick who serves as a faculty lead for Social Emotional Learning at National University converses with Steve around the need to develop schools where staff and students build emotional well-being and develop interpersonal skills. What teacher dispositions are crucial? What roles do instructional coaches and leaders play in creating learning environments that are equitable, inclusive and emphasize student social-emotional well-being?
Email Dr. Maggie Broderick: mbroderick@ncu.edu
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-11-1822 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudProviding Effective Professional DevelopmentLiz Gallo, the CEO of WhyMaker, joins the podcast to explore the planning, delivery, and follow up of effective professional learning. Often, the knowing doing gap is caused by insufficient support for teachers as they experience the learning dip during the implementation of new instructional practices.
Visit the WhyMaker website here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-11-1421 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudPosing Good Questions to Promote Student Inquiry"Phrasing and posing a good question can be just as complex and difficult as the process of answering. It involves critical, creative, and reflective thinking from both students and educators."(Erik Francis)
As the author of Inquiring Minds Want to Learn: Posing GoodQuestions to Promote StudentInquiry, Francis explores strategies for how questions can set the stage for student engagement and learning. He shares the power of the questioning stems, "How do you_________? How can you _________? And How could you__________?"
Visit the Maverik Education site here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud po...2024-11-0540 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudBuilding Coaching with a Student FocusWhether you are exploring the value (return on investment) of instructional coaching from the school board, central office, school principal or teacher perspective, an increase in student success must be central . Steve shares insights from his experiences with each of these perspectives with Kim Coffino on the @coachbetter podcast.
Listen to the entire CoachBetter podcast here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-10-3115 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudEncouraging Teaching in TeamsWhile teaching in a team has always had benefits, today it is a requirement. The complexity of desired outcomes we are looking to produce can no longer be accomplished with the skills and resources of an individual. Almost all other industries and professions have recognized how employees and customers are best served by teams while schools have continued placing individual teachers in classrooms with sole responsibility for student success. Consider why instructional coaches and school leaders should be working to build and support teaching teams.
Watch "Teaching in Teams (What Schools Could Be)" here.
Subscribe...2024-10-2411 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudTeachers Responding to Students’ Human NeedsWhat do students need their teacher to know and be able to do to address social and emotional learning? Dr. Maggie Broderick, the faculty lead for Social Emotional Learning at National University explores this question and others with Steve. She explores the issue that “where a teacher lives and works”, impacts the approach to social emotional teaching. What’s possible in a school that doesn’t have SEL curriculum or resources?
Email Dr. Maggie Broderick: mbroderick@ncu.edu
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new epis...2024-10-2218 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudProfessional Learning Communities at WorkTwo authors of Learning by Doing (Fourth Edition), Mike Mattos and Anthony Muhammad, discuss the powerful impact of PLCs. They define a PLC as an ongoing process in which educators work collaboratively in recurring cycles of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for the students they serve. The discussion explores shifts in the fundamental purpose of PLCs, the use of assessment, responses when students don’t learn, teachers’ work, focus, school culture, and professional development. It offers an insightful dialogue.
Contact Anthony: newfrontier21@comcast.net
Contact Mike: mikemattos@me.com
Subs...2024-10-1743 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudLeadership Planning for Teams to FormWhile teams naturally build cohesion and effectiveness over time, it is possible to accelerate the team-building process. Research suggests that deliberate interventions, such as setting clear goals, establishing trust, and providing structured opportunities for collaboration, can help teams move through the stages of team process faster and reach the “performing” stage more quickly. Consider intentional strategies that focus on establishing trust, clarity, and alignment early on, to speed up the development of high-functioning teams.
Watch Patrick Lencioni's video here.
Find Mitchel Resnick's "Projects, Peers, Passion, Play" here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud...2024-10-1014 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudBuilding Professional Growth Plans That Increase Learning ImpactListen in on a conversation as a school leader shares his experiences working with colleagues to continually increase teacher learning for student learning though professional growth plans. The process continually developed from year to year as insights were gained, and hypotheses were formed and implemented.
Follow up with James Penstone on LinkedIn here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-10-0327 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudThe Purpose When Teachers Meet?Understanding the desired outcome of a meeting is key to teachers knowing the participatory behaviors that are most productive. Everything being called a PLC interferes with participants being able to focus on the educator learning in true PLCs that leads to increased student success. In professional learning communities, purposeful teacher learning around how to increase student achievement is the focus. Teachers are collaboratively asking, "What do the students need us to learn?"
Listen to the podcast on PLCs with Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey here.
Find Chris Jensen's guest blog, "Teaming and Workflow" here.
...2024-09-2618 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudA Strategy for Increasing Student Thinking: Visually Random GroupsClassrooms with less monologue and more dialogue are key to increasing student thinking and student learning. Peter Liljedahl recommends teachers using a strategy that publicly, randomly groups students.
The students visually seeing the groups form is an important element. When having these random groups work at easy erase vertical boards, engagement and thinking increases. Students seeing each other’s work and the teacher seeing and hearing student thinking around the room all add opportunities for increased engagement in problem solving.
Mindshift: How to Get Kids Thinking Instead of Mimicking in Math Class
Find Lau...2024-09-2410 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudPLCs as Achievement TeamsSteve Ventura, co-author of "Achievement Teams: How a Better Approach to PLCs Can Improve Student Outcomes and Teacher Efficacy," identifies Achievement Teams as a structured, collaborative model that helps educators improve teaching practices and student outcomes through data-driven decision-making. Collective Teacher Efficacy supports that working together can have a greater impact on student achievement than working individually. The role of instructional coaches and principals in support of Achievement Teams is also explored.
Visit Steve's website here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!2024-09-1930 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudTeacher Leaders Building TrustIf teachers in PLCs are to function as teams, taking shared responsibility for student success, vulnerability is critical. A teacher needs to place his students’ work and his instructional practices on display for colleagues to share in structuring a plan to increase student success. Teaching needs to be a public act for the trust of teams to be developed. Peer coaching among PLC members can provide the opportunity for vulnerability and trust building to occur.
Read "Can You have Trust Without Being Vulnerable?" here.
Read "The Connection Between Vulnerability and Trust in Teams" here.
...2024-09-1207 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudTeachers Teaming - Sharing WorkflowTeaming and sharing workflow allow teachers to leverage each other's strengths, reduce redundancy, and build a supportive community, all of which contribute to lower stress levels. Teaming can increase a sense autonomy by providing teachers with a collaborative environment that supports shared decision-making, allows for flexibility in implementation, and fosters professional growth.
Find Dr. Chris Jensen's book, "Triage Your School: A Physician’s Guide to Preventing Burnout" here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-09-1010 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudCoaches Supporting Teachers’ Focus on GoalsWhether you are an instructional coach, administrator, or teacher leader planning and supporting the growth of colleagues or designing your own personal improvement plan consider how to maintain momentum and push through the learning dips with implementation intentions, connections to beliefs and values, and a network of colleagues who provide reminders
Visit John Cambell's website & find his book, "3 Ways to Help Sustain Commitment Towards Goals" here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-09-0610 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudCoaching New TeachersHow do instructional coaches address the mentoring concerns and needs of new teachers? Joellen Killion, senior advisor to LearningForward and international consultant to educational leaders addressing professional learning for student success, joins Steve to explore the mentoring elements of instructional coaching. They examine how instructional coaches and administrators can plan for novice teachers’ transitions from learning the “ways of the school through mentoring” to seeking “personal growth for increased student success” through coaching.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-08-2927 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudMessages You Want Students to Hear Early & Have Reinforced Throughout the YearTeacher messages are foundational to building strong, positive relationships with students. These relationships are critical for creating an environment where students feel supported, motivated, and capable of achieving success. When students trust and feel connected to their teachers, they are more likely to engage deeply in their learning, take academic risks, and ultimately achieve success.
Read Moments of Genuine Connection (MGCs) – DSJR Student Motivation Guide from Dave Stuart here.
Watch Dave's video, "What are Moments of Genuine Connection?" here.
Read Daniel Yeager's "Wise Critiques Help Students Succeed" here.
Subscribe to the Steve...2024-08-2712 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudGuiding Through Change: Yourself, Teachers, and TeamsDr. Kim Richardson describes that change is inevitable and manageable. As coaches and school leaders we need to be competent in guiding ourselves and others during change. Kim describes the need for emotional intelligence and resilient leadership. Knowing people are unpredictable requires coaches to observe and communicate. Change is a process not an event.
Contact Kim https://drkimleadership.com/
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-08-2235 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudConsistency in Classroom Management Could Imply That One Size Fits All"While teachers use interventions to allow students to catch up with their learning results and use differentiation to make sure that learning tasks are appropriate, when it comes to behavior we often default to consistency as a panacea." -(Dave Whitaker)
Consistency is built when students sense the teacher’s usual, expected teacher behavior. Flexibility emerges when the teacher changes from that approach in response to a situation or individual student’s needs. Explore verbal structures teachers can use across a continuum of giving, sharing, or keeping the decision-making voice in a classroom.
Read "Consistency – or may...2024-08-1321 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudAn AI Summit for Schools and CommunitySt. Cloud School Superintendent, Laurie Putnam and director of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment, Donna Roper, share their experience hosting an AI Summit that included about 200 local and national educators, business leaders, community partners and state legislators. They considered how we should respond to make our education systems relevant to the workforce and future needs and how a cross-section of stakeholders together can improve education policy.
Read the article on the Summit here.
Connect with Laurie and Donna here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to...2024-08-0822 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudHelping Teachers See Hope and Possibilities With Their StudentsFormer classroom teacher, school administrator, and district-level leader, Angie Freese, works with educators as a facilitator, coach, practitioner, and mentor. She empowers educators’ efforts to interrupt antiquated and ineffective practices that only work for some to generate sustainable growth and performance for all. Angie is the founder of the Meant for More Collaborative, an organizational network committed to rejuvenating school systems by igniting creativity, inspiring hope, and investing in the power of human connection. Being a "meant for more leader" requires being grounded in the ideas of authenticity, bravery, and dignity.
Find Angie's book, "Meant for More" he...2024-08-0129 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudWhat Do You Want Students to Learn Through Your Classroom Management Approach?As the start of a new school year approaches, it’s a great time for teachers to consider how their approach to classroom management not only impacts their classroom environment for content learning but also what students learn from being part of that classroom management plan. Questions to consider as you reflect on your classroom plan are included. "Every move we make in classroom management is a lesson. Kids are watching us and they’re learning.” -Dr. Carla Shalaby
Watch Dr. Shalaby’s Presentation here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or...2024-07-3016 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudLeaders Modeling the Use of FeedbackZak Cohen, a highly experienced school leader with a strong belief in "leading by example," shares his process for collecting feedback from teachers regarding his leadership competency and supportiveness. He turns that feedback into a hypothesis for improvement and requests feedback on his hypothesis. In this process Zak models the curiosity and vulnerability that teachers need as they look to grow from student feedback.
Read Zak’s article, "Leading By Example as a School Leader" here.
Visit Zak's website here.
Find Zak on Twitter & LinkedIn.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out L...2024-07-2531 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudAn Educator’s Hippocratic OathRobert Landau, education futurist and strategist, discusses establishing a hippocratic oath for the educators. Such a pledge would bind us to ethical, equitable, and progressive educational practices that place students' growth and welfare at the core of everything we do. "The traditional Hippocratic Oath is a pledge taken by physicians to uphold specific ethical standards and prioritize the wellbeing of their patients. Similarly, applying an oath to education emphasizes the importance of ethical behavior, responsibility, and a commitment to the wellbeing of students and relationships with all learners built on trust.”
Visit the Two Roads Education website he...2024-07-1827 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudClassrooms Built on Dignity, Authenticity, and ConnectionAngie Freese, author of Meant for More: Real Talk About Classrooms Built on Dignity, Authenticity, and Connection, explores her belief in educators’ potential. She supports educators to create classrooms where students can be brave, assured, and confident in their learning pathway. In this podcast she highlights authenticity, connection, curiosity, voice, resilience, and grace.
Find Angie's book, Meant for More here.
Email Angie: angie@meantformorementum.com
Connect with Angie on LinkedIn.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-07-1626 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudBuilding Teacher Growth Plans That Impact Student SuccessTammy Jochinke, The Director of Teaching, Learning and Innovation, at the Dubai American Academy, created a process for 240 teachers to design professional growth plans based on a hypothesis from asking the question, "What do my students need me to learn?” Tammy shares the importance of focusing on student success with teacher autonomy and curiosity. Teachers were supported in PLC groups and a colleague who served an impact partner.
Contact Tammy: t.jochinke_daa@gemsedu.com
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-07-1129 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudStudents Setting Goals and Developing PlansStudents’ abilities to set goals, plan for success, and systematically collect feedback are critical to school and life success.
Starting the school year teaching these processes (at all grade levels) can set the stage for increased student success throughout the year and beyond. This podcast shares important elements to build into your plans for effective goal setting and identifies how a middle school team collaborated with a physical education teacher in teaching and coaching goal-setting and planning for success.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to fi...2024-07-0211 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudCoaching From the School Improvement PlanDr. Karen Johannesen, a highly experienced school leader, writer, and organizational change consultant explores the role of professional development and coaching in school improvement plans that positively impact student success. She believes that when schools support teachers with well-designed and rich professional learning, those teachers create the same type of rigorous and engaging opportunities for students. Her book, "Coaching for Multilingual Student Success" brings the work of school-based and district based coaches to life.
Find Karen's book, "Coaching for Multilingual Student Success" here.
Visit Karen's website here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Ou...2024-06-2730 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudMaking Magical Ripples Towards a Coaching CultureTo what extent should building coaching into the culture of the school be a desired outcome of instructional coaches’ and administrators’ responsibilities?
How can an instructional coach plan for and assess progress even when administrator support or system expectations are not present? Many schools experience ongoing changes in staff and teams, which can seem overwhelming for coaches who feel they lack the time, stability, or support to create real change. In these cases, I suggest that coaches focus on creating a ripple effect by enhancing individual teachers’ coaching experiences and increasing coachability.
Watch Simon Sinek's video...2024-06-2116 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudAssessment as a Verb for PLCsExplore how teachers working in PLCs can use a verb approach to assessment and error analysis to collaboratively focus on shared accountability for ALL students’ success. This process of assessment as a verb, combined with collegial exploration of the information the assessing produced, aligns with my favorite PLC question: "What do the students need us to learn…..?" Teacher learning is key to increased student learning. That collegial learning builds teacher collective efficacy.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-06-1814 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudLeading Schools That Move Students From Access to SuccessExperienced teacher, head of school and the author of "The Landscape Model of Learning," Jennifer D. Klein, describes how schools build learning communities where students belong and thrive because they are supported for their experiences, gifts, and challenges. How do coaches with school leaders guide teachers to explore understanding learners as fully as we can, supporting learners’ aspirations and goal setting with multiple pathways of learning? How do leaders model for teachers similar learning communities that we desire for students.
Connect with Jennifer to learn more: blogs, videos, books here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Pon...2024-06-1334 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudConfidentiality in CoachingConfidentiality in a coaching program can be complicated. For many teachers, knowing that coaching conversations are confidential makes it easier for them to explore what really matters. At the same time, school leaders want to build an environment of trust where the issue of confidentiality becomes increasingly less important. Teachers and leaders becoming teams focused on the common goal of students’ success created a sense of MY results are OUR results. How do coaches work with the complexity of confidentiality?
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find ne...2024-06-0616 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudStudents Documenting LearningExplore how teachers and students can be empowered with the implementation of student documented learning. Jennifer D. Klein, teacher, administrator, and author of "The Landscape Model of Learning: Designing Student-Centered Experiences for Cognitive and Cultural Inclusion," provides examples across grade levels. Her concrete examples illustrate the how as well as the “why” benefits. When students take accountability for documenting their learning, motivation often increases, and important life skills are practiced.
Connect with Jennifer to learn more and find her blogs, videos & books here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit...2024-06-0429 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudBuilding and Earning Trust as a CoachAs teachers’ relationships with those providing coaching grow from a foundation of trust, teacher vulnerability and risk-taking increase which positively impacts teacher growth. I had an earlier opportunity to explore earning trust and building trust with Jonathan Mueller, an experienced international school leader. He shares that when you can build rapport through unconditional positive regard with somebody, it helps build and continues to earn trust with people. Here are questions teacher have of a coach: Do you appreciate and value me? Can you help me? Can I trust you? Unconditional positive regard for people as human beings is an exc...2024-05-3019 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudAddressing Educator Burnout: Self Care in Not EnoughIn his book, "Triage Your School: A Physician’s Guide to Preventing Burnout," Dr. Chris Jenson provides specific actions school leaders and coaches can take to address the elements of chronic stress for teachers and themselves. Combining his years as a doctor in an emergency room with his years teaching high school science, Dr. Jenson has a unique understanding. Chris states, “Like health care, triage prioritizes educators actions and provides a healthier perspective toward overflowing work demands...one that removes guilt and emotion from incomplete tasks.
Find Chris's Book, "Triage Your School" here.
Visit Chris's websi...2024-05-2319 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudTeachers Building Students' SEL SkillsThe author of "Teaching With The Heart in Mind," Dr. Lorea Martínez, who was a special education teacher and school administrator and worked with children and adults internationally, provides reinforcement for the value of purposefully planning for embedding SEL skills in the classroom, beyond teaching the SEL curriculum. She guides educators to provide the necessary resources and structures to support teachers’ social and emotional capacity; and go beyond the SEL curriculum to include the conditions that make learning and growth possible for all students.
Read "3 Misconceptions about SEL" here.
Contact Lorea and find her resou...2024-05-2123 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudFocusing on AccountabilityAccountability is a broader concept than responsibility - it’s something you do to yourself, not something that someone does to you. A focus on responsibility can create attitudes where people justify the ways they think and act to "cover their tails" which pulls in the opposite direction of achieving organizational or team results. With accountability, people not only take accountability for the results they need to achieve individually but for results that they are not 100% in control of. How might your leadership or coaching practices encourage accountability.
Read the Culture Partners post, "Responsibility vs Accountability" here.
2024-05-1609 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudCoaching Teachers Building Agile ClassroomsAgile education coach and the founder of The Agile Mind, Jessica Cavallaro, describes why students and teachers benefit from working with Agile teaching and learning processes. Jessica shares how she works with teachers and administrators to integrate agile principles and the rewards that everyone can experience.
E-mail Jessica: jessica@the-agile-mind.com
Find Jessica's website and resources here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-05-0923 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudAddressing Chronic, Overwhelming Work-related Stress...BurnoutDr. Chris Jenson combines his experiences as an ER physician followed by ten years as a high school science teacher to provide a unique look at work-related stress and burnout. He identifies that while self-care is good, it is insufficient. In his book, "Triage Your School," Chris states that educators gave health providers the problem-solving skills they needed and that now, health care providers can share strategies and solutions from their workflow findings with educators.
Find Chris's Book, "Triage Your School" here.
Visit Chris's website here.
Find Chris's LinkedIn here.
Subscribe t...2024-05-0723 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudLeading With Empathy and InclusivityListen as Dr. Lorea Martinez, Columbia University Teachers College faculty member, founder of HEART in Mind, and author of "Teaching With the Heart in Mind," provides guidelines for supporting teachers in building students’ social emotional learning skills. Identify how developing your own SEL skills supports your leadership and instructional coaching with staff.
Honor Your Emotions
Elect Your Responses
Apply Empathy
Reignite Your Relationships
Transform with Purpose
Read Lorea's article, "Leading From the Heart" here.
Visit Lorea's website and find her resources here.
Find Lore...2024-05-0226 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudAgile Classrooms for Student and Teacher EmpowermentAgile Classrooms provide for student-centered learning, collaboration, iteration, continuous feedback, and adaptability. Experienced teacher and Agile coach, Jessica Cavallaro, describes how Agile revolutionized her teaching practice and shares how teachers can create classrooms where students are active participants, planning alongside teachers, making informed decisions about their learning tasks. Agile classrooms foster independent learning where students tackle problems with creativity and critical thinking.
E-mail Jessica: jessica@the-agile-mind.com
Find Jessica's resources here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-04-2328 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudAnother Look At Educator Beliefs and Behaviors"Stop Saying These Kids Don’t Care About School." That’s the title of an op-ed piece written by podcast guest Laurie Putnam, superintendent in St Cloud, MN. Laurie identifies how this sentence buries the real challenges and daily struggles that many of her students’ face. That belief undermines our collective responsibilities to nurture future generations. Hear examples of some strategies that St Cloud has implemented that have positively impacted student engagement. Consider how you create an environment for educators to safely explore beliefs that are often unconscious.
Read "Stop Saying ‘These Kids Don’t Care About School’" he...2024-04-1824 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudPodcasting for LearningThanks to staff at PLS3rdLearning and scores of educators and authors, we are celebrating our 500th podcast! We took a few minutes to share our experiences with you. It has been exciting to have my learning extended as we created an opportunity to ponder about teaching and learning with guests and listeners.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-04-1117 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudExploring Student Learning With TeachersLiz Keable, a specialist in guiding increased student leaning through metacognition practices, provides insights and suggestions for supporting and coaching teachers. "If we want to have a real impact on the next generation, there is one thing vastly more important than our teaching, and that is their learning.” You’ll find “look fors” and questions to build into your coaching practices.
Contact Liz: success@lizkeable.com
Visit Liz's website here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-04-0428 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudEducators’ Beliefs Drive Educators’ BehaviorsKyle Coppes, a secondary principal, shares the thinking behind an opinion piece he wrote titled, "Student Laziness Is a Myth. Here’s Why" - "The belief that laziness exists will limit the behavior of any teacher who encounters it, and that is harmful. Essentially, it is a teacher’s get-out-of-jail-free card: If a student does not complete a task on time, and if laziness is the culprit, then giving a zero or assigning detention is the right tool for the job.” How do you explore teachers’ beliefs and generate reflection upon those beliefs as part of coaching?
Read Kyle...2024-04-0221 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudTech Tools and Student EngagementHeather Lyon, the author of, "Engagement is Not a Unicorn, It’s a Narwahl" and "The Big Book of Engagement Strategies," shares her insights on student engagement and teacher strategies from her new book, "50 Ways to Engage Students with Google Apps." Teachers' knowledge and understanding of pedagogical choices is key to tech tools tapping student engagement.
Find Heather’s many resources here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-03-2822 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudCommunicating Interest and Positiveness in CoachingJust as teachers use a focus on communicating interest and positiveness to inspire, motivate, and foster a positive learning classroom environment, coaches need to communicate the same with their coachees. Interest and positiveness can impact an individual's self-esteem, motivation, and performance. Communicating interest and positiveness is not just about what you say but also how you say it. The effectiveness of your communication lies in your ability to make the other person feel seen, heard, and valued.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-03-2108 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudSupporting Your Child as LearnerWith many years of experience as a Success Coach supporting the needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged students, Liz Keable provides concrete "do and don’t do" guidance for parents and caretakers. Learn ways to build students’ understanding of their own role in the learning process, their belief in their capability as a learner, and the internal motivation to face challenges.
To receive a free copy of 'The A-Z of Supporting Learner Achievement," e-mail Liz at: success@lizkeable.com
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new e...2024-03-1922 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudCoaching Post ConferencingHow do coaches increase teacher voice and reflection in post conferencing? Too often the coach’s voice can sound more like a report being given (similar to supervision conferences) rather than a conversation. You’ll gain some mindsets, strategies, and questions in this podcast.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-03-1412 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudHonoring the Art and Science of TeachingWhat happens when the marathon of teaching - the long rewarding journey with its share of challenges becomes an unending obstacle course laden with ever-changing rules and unseen hurdles? Jason McKenna, an experienced teacher, author and current VP at VEX Robotics explores this question.
Read Jason's article, "Embracing the Teaching Marathon with Joy and Well-being" here.
Contact Jason McKenna or subscribe to his newsletter here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-03-0721 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudWhat’s in Your Grade Book?What do you want grades to communicate? What do you want to be sure that your grading doesn’t do? When grades are used to teach life lessons, such as responsibility, or punctuality, the intrinsic value of learning for its own sake can be diminished. Does the lack of consistency among teachers’ use of grading create a grade fog because we are asking a single letter grade to communicate too much disparate information?
Read, "The Problem With Grading" here.
Listen to the podcast with Sarah Morris here.
Read Tom Schimmer's article here.
Subscrib...2024-03-0515 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudLeading With Curiosity, Questions, and Deep ListeningAccording to a Harvard Business Review article, "curiosity helps employees engage more deeply in their work, generate new ideas, and share those ideas with others." Certainly, these are all benefits we would want for staff in our schools. The questions that leaders and coaches use can support tapping into curiosity. Find out why "what" is a good start for your questions.
Listen to the podcast with Tanya Sheckly and Tom Willis here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes!
2024-02-2912 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudEvidence Feedback to Promote Educator LearningWhen we are engaged in growing and learning as educators to reach a student success goal, reflecting on evidence gathered along the way is key both to the goal’s success and to educator learning. Evidence that shows changes in teacher actions and in student learning production behaviors should appear before changes in learning outcomes. With school leadership team goals, changes in leaders’ behaviors should be some of the first evidence that’s observed. Coaching is a great tool for gathering and reflecting upon evidence.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit B...2024-02-2210 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudReinvigorating Passion and Joy at the Heart of TeachingJason McKenna explores five strategies that can assist teachers in focusing on the joy and passion in teaching: creating a not to do list, embracing periods of unproductivity, redefining success metrics, prioritizing dialogue over data, and protecting personal time diligently.
Read Jason's article, "Embracing the Teaching Marathon with Joy and Well-being" here.
Contact Jason & subscribe to his newsletter here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes! 2024-02-2020 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudEngaging in Physical Activities for Life (Physical Literacy)How important is physical literacy, the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life?
Anthony DeGiorgio reminds us that the relationship students develop with movement and physical activity often sets the tone for their future. Physical literacy is an element of life long learning.
Read Anthony's article on physical literacy here.
Listen to the Podcast, "What Do We Know About Recess" here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes! 2024-02-1524 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudYou've Got to Believe and They Need to Know That You DoResearch reinforces that teachers providing feedback to students that demonstrates the teacher's belief in the students' abilities (high expectations) can generate student learning behaviors that positively impact student's success. Additional teacher actions such as active listening, knowing them individually, celebrating, and being accessible are additional teacher actions that support high expectations. In many ways those coaching teachers need to communicate very similar beliefs and teachers need to know that the coach believes in the teacher's abilities.
Visit Larry Ferlazzo's blog here.
Read Jo Boaler's article here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com...2024-02-0813 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudCoaching Questions for Finding Out, Reflection, and Exploring Future ActionsWhen coaches are conscious of the purposes of the questions they ask in coaching sessions, their questions are clearer and they can better focus on listening. That listening allows the coach to follow the teacher because the next questions emerge from that listening. Finding out questions provide the coach with an understanding behind the teacher’s planning and actions. Reflection questions generate teachers’ exploration of learning that arises from their experiences. Exploring Future Action questions guide teachers’ implementation of insights and learning to increase student success.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or vis...2024-02-0109 min
Steve Barkley Ponders Out LoudHow Much Thinking Are Students Doing?Thinkers are characterized by their curiosity, willingness to explore different approaches, and the ability to think critically about a task. Thinking generates learning. The question for us as teachers is "How much thinking are our students doing?” Students who succeed in school by mimicking may get acceptable grades but are often set up for future, often unexpected, failure.
Read the blog on Visibly Random Groups here.
Listen to the EdSurge Podcast with Peter Liljedhal here.
Visit Alexis Wiggin’s Blog here.
Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit B...2024-01-2314 min
Community Association Car ChatEp 124 with Christina Barkley, National Director of Client Development at Compliance View 360Discovering Compliance View 360 with Christina Barkley, Director of Client Development. We explore the software's multi-faceted features that enhance operational efficiency and empower management companies. Ideal for property managers seeking streamlined operations, Compliance View 360 simplifies workloads and frees up time for busy professionals. Christina shares positive customer feedback, highlighting seamless software integration and efficient handling of violations. We also learn how Compliance View 360 aids management companies in expanding their reach. Join us in understanding how technology fuels growth and boosts efficiency in this episode of Car Chat! #CarChatLive #Insura...2023-06-1916 min
Read by ExamplePodcast: A Conversation with Steve BarkleyI spoke with Steve Barkley, educational consultant and coach, for his podcast Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud (found here).We discussed:* The importance of instructional leadership,* Balancing evaluation with professional learning, and* The five strategies from my book Leading Like a C.O.A.C.H. (Corwin, 2022).Thank you for listening!PODCAST TRANSCRIPTSteve [Intro]: 00:00 Hello, and welcome to the teacher edition of the Steve Barkley Ponders Out loud podcast. The complexity of teaching is both challenging and rewarding. And my curiosity is peaked whenever...2022-04-1728 min