MindShift Podcast

David Yeager is a professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and an expert in behavioral science. He just published a book titled “10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People.” He joins KQED's Ki Sung in conversation to share strategies adults can use to get into the best mindset for helping adolescents be their best selves.

Hanif Abduraqqib. Sarah Kay. Elizabeth Acevedo. Clint Smith. Do any of these names sound familiar? How about Amanda Gorman? All of these writers are part of America’s thriving contemporary poetry scene. But you won’t find them in many text books, because high school poetry units tend to focus on dead poets, like Robert Frost, Walt Whitman and Edgar Allen Poe. North Carolina teacher Melissa Smith is working to change that. For the last seven years, she’s been diversifying the canon in her classroom, and encouraging other teachers to do the same with the hashtag #teachlivingpoets. The shift has inspired teachers across the country to get creative with how they teach students things like tone, rhythm and structure in poetry. And it’s inspired students to connect with and see reflections of themselves in the poets they study.

If you think of social studies as a dry, dusty march of names and dates to memorize, think again. In the last two decades, as historical records have been digitized and made accessible to the public, teachers have begun using primary sources as portals for students to connect with the real people and places that came before them. At Rockingham County Public Schools in Virginia, fourth graders learn about the Civil Rights Movement by studying photos of segregated schools in Virginia and reading diary entries of a local Black high schooler who became one of the plaintiffs in the Brown vs. the Board of Education case. In the process, these young students not only learn the facts and figures of the fight for school integration, they develop critical thinking skills that they can apply to other subjects of the past, present and future.

From book bans to chronic absenteeism to phone distractions, it’s a hard time to be a teacher. But amidst all the challenges, there’s something surprising happening among math teachers. Some of them say they’re more excited to go to work than ever before. Why? Because of a new approach to teaching math called “thinking classrooms” that has students up out of their seats and engaged in problem-solving. In this episode, MindShift listeners will hear a thinking classroom in action and reflections from the teacher and her students. Listeners also will learn about this model from the researcher who developed it, Peter Liljedahl.

MindShift revisits the pioneering initiatives of the Black Panthers, who used a community school approach when they opened a first-of-its-kind school in East Oakland in 1973. Then we focus on Oakland Unified School District's ambitious journey to become a community school district. We’ll take a closer look at Oakland International High School (OIHS), a public high school established in 2007 that serves 100% English language learners and how they’ve successfully used the community school model to support their students.

This podcast episode explores Monarch School, a public school in San Diego County dedicated to serving unhoused students and their families. Highlighting the growing issue of homelessness among students and its adverse impact on education, we showcase Monarch School's community school model. By providing holistic support, including professionals and services co-located on the school grounds, this model has the capacity to disrupt patterns of homelessness. From addressing basic needs to offering specialized academic programs, Monarch School exemplifies the transformative power of community-driven approaches to education, offering hope and opportunity to vulnerable students.

Not all students returned to school after the pandemic. Research shows that chronic absenteeism surged around the country. Niki Espinoza, a community school coordinator at Maple Elementary, discovered a strategy informed by Harvard research that centered collaboration with families. Using mail-based “nudges” and a social media campaign caused chronic absenteeism to decline. This episode presents an exploration of community schools, emphasizing the significance of partnerships with parents and detailing Maple Elementary's journey in overcoming attendance challenges.

MindShift returns with Season 9! Discover solutions for raising our kids in the modern era. Hear from educators and experts creating pathways for students to flourish. Subscribe to receive new episodes starting July 16.

We're sharing an episode from our friends at the Adult ISH podcast. In light of the latest number of attempted book bans as tracked by the American Library Association (ALA), Adult ISH hosts Nyge Turner and Dominique “Dom” French speak to Traci Thomas, host of “The Stacks” podcast, and Scott Stuart, author of “My Shadow is Purple,” about how removing access to books can cause harm. Want more great ideas about teaching and learning? Subscribe to the MindShift newsletter https://www.kqed.org/newsletters/mindshift

We love hearing from you, our listeners, and learning how you’re putting the insights that we share into your teaching and your parenting. We like to see the way that we deliver value to your lives. If you appreciate the work that we do on Mindshift, please visit https://donate.kqed.org/podcasts to support us.

We're sharing an episode from our friends at the Bay Curious podcast. California has fewer school buses than in other parts of the country. A survey conducted by the Federal Highway Administration found that nationally, almost 40% of school-aged kids ride a school bus. In California, that number is only 8%. KQED's Katrina Schwartz tracks down the reason why that number is so low. Want more great ideas about teaching and learning? Subscribe to the MindShift newsletter. https://www.kqed.org/newsletters/mindshift

Education journalist, Jill Barshay of the Hechinger Report, writes a weekly column about education research called “Proof Points.” She joins KQED's Ki Sung to discuss her latest piece about phonemic awareness and why this important skill, that's at the root of learning how to read, is so hotly debated.

Educator, Tricia Ebarvia advocates for a more complete way of seeing ourselves, one another and curricula. She just published a book titled “Get Free: Antibias Literacy Instruction for Stronger Readers, Writers, and Thinkers." She joins KQED's Ki Sung in conversation to unpack bias, which is all around us, and to share tips on how teachers can enable students to improve their reading and writing skills.

In "Punished for Dreaming," Bettina Love reflects on a 'glorious' era in Black education, unraveling historical nuances and consequences of policy decisions that led to its decline. Through insightful analysis, she navigates the challenges faced by Black students and educators, offering solutions for a more equitable educational future.

Miriam Plotinsky, an instructional coach, author, and former high school English teacher, discusses her latest book, Writing Their Future Selves: Instructional Strategies to Affirm Student Identity. It contains a wealth of tools for classroom teachers including journal prompts, discussion formats and some of Plotinsky's favorite writing games.

Matthew R. Kay and Jennifer Orr discuss how they turn simple conversations about students’ names into opportunities for connection and self-discovery.

Phyllis Fagell, Psychotherapist and author of the new book “Middle School Superpowers: Raising Resilient Tweens in Turbulent Times," talks about why middle school is the last best chance to impress social skills and values upon kids; plus she’ll share some developmentally appropriate tools parents and educators can use to better understand their tweens, cultivate a sense of belonging and help them when they get into trouble.

MindShift spotlights a teacher who encourages students to name their feelings and share their past experiences – the highs and the lows – by writing letters to math. This activity launches a yearlong process of building a classroom culture where all students feel confident to share their ideas and problem-solving strategies. The episode features excerpts from “Dear Math” letters, insights from math education experts, and reflections from two alumni about how the class shaped their mathematical identities.

Most people are familiar with snow and rain as reasons to cancel recess. But what about canceling recess because it’s too sunny? Playgrounds in California are heating up. And with asphalt blacktops and metal monkey bars, kids are forced to skip outdoor activities to avoid getting burned on school yards that can reach up to 140 degrees. One solution to this problem is to green schoolyards by adding trees, gardens, and other vegetation. Green schoolyards not only help reduce heat island effects but also provide a wealth of educational opportunities. By using the schoolyard as a 3D textbook, students can learn about climate change, sustainability, and other academic topics through hands-on experiences. For example, students can learn about water conservation by monitoring rain gardens or composting food waste in the school garden. Additionally, green schoolyards can provide a safe and stimulating environment for students to learn, play, and connect with nature, promoting mental and physical health.

We all know how it feels to get a bad apology. “I’m sorry if,” “I’m sorry but,” and other ways people skirt real acknowledgement of wrongdoing. Effective apologies require empathy, perspective-taking, honesty and courage, and making amends is an important habit for healthy school communities. In this episode, MindShift talks with two authors who analyze apologies in the news for a website called SorryWatch. Then we meet a fifth-grade teacher who teaches her students a seven-step formula for apologies through role-playing and class discussions. Her students not only learn to recognize and enact good apologies – they also share that knowledge on the playground and with their families at the dinner table.