The Cutting Ed Podcast

Leah Juelke is an English Learner teacher at Fargo South, the same school she graduated from in 2001. But things have changed in terms of population and demographics in the area in the last seventeen years. Juelke says South has a much more diverse student population then when she school there and she believes its made South a better school.Juelke took an indirect path to teaching. After attending NDSU, she joined the Army National Guard and served as a medic. She hoped to become a nurse. But after training soldiers in the medical field, she realized she loved teaching. Couple with visiting around two dozen countries, she has a unique and appreciation for differing cultures.Juelke teaches immigrant and refugee students that are learning basic English all the way up to students in English 4 ready to transition to mainstream classrooms. She says her main objective is to develop skills they can use in real life. She explains why she focuses on personalized learning, projects and teamwork, and the confidence her students gain by sharing their personal stories.Resources:http://www.ndplaylist.orghttp://www.ndunited.org/thecuttingedhttps://ellfargosouth.weebly.com/Twitter:@thecuttinged@NDDPI@tdintersmith@bistom@PrairiePublicEd@ndtoy2018

Leah Juelke is an English Learner teacher at Fargo South, the same school she graduated from in 2001. But things have changed in terms of population and demographics in the area in the last seventeen years. Juelke says South has a much more diverse student population then when she school there and she believes its made South a better school.Juelke took an indirect path to teaching. After attending NDSU, she joined the Army National Guard and served as a medic. She hoped to become a nurse. But after training soldiers in the medical field, she realized she loved teaching. Couple with visiting around two dozen countries, she has a unique and appreciation for differing cultures.Juelke teaches immigrant and refugee students that are learning basic English all the way up to students in English 4 ready to transition to mainstream classrooms. She says her main objective is to develop skills they can use in real life. She explains why she focuses on personalized learning, projects and teamwork, and the confidence her students gain by sharing their personal stories.Resources:http://www.ndplaylist.orghttp://www.ndunited.org/thecuttingedhttps://ellfargosouth.weebly.com/Twitter:@thecuttinged@NDDPI@tdintersmith@bistom@PrairiePublicEd@ndtoy2018

Heidi Demars began her career as an occupational therapist working in schools. However, her career path changed one day when she recognized a boy who was struggling in class. Demars said she knew something had happened to him and could see he wasn’t wiling to share about it. She decided to use a calming practice with him—and he opened up. She says that moment she realized teachers are at the forefront of dealing with social and emotional issues daily.Demars now works with teachers and schools across the state as part of her Mindful You, Mindful Me practice. In this episode, Heidi explains how mindfulness can positively impact social and emotional health and shares tips and resources for implementing mindfulness in the classroom.Resources:http://www.ndplaylist.orghttp://www.ndunited.org/thecuttingedGrowing Up Mindful by Christopher WillardMindfulness for Teachers by Patricia A. JenningsCultivating Mindfulness in the Classroom by Jeanie M. IberlinTwitter:@thecuttinged@NDDPI@tdintersmith@bistom@PrairiePublicEd

Heidi Demars began her career as an occupational therapist working in schools. However, her career path changed one day when she recognized a boy who was struggling in class. Demars said she knew something had happened to him and could see he wasn’t wiling to share about it. She decided to use a calming practice with him—and he opened up. She says that moment she realized teachers are at the forefront of dealing with social and emotional issues daily.Demars now works with teachers and schools across the state as part of her Mindful You, Mindful Me practice. In this episode, Heidi explains how mindfulness can positively impact social and emotional health and shares tips and resources for implementing mindfulness in the classroom.Resources:http://www.ndplaylist.orghttp://www.ndunited.org/thecuttingedGrowing Up Mindful by Christopher WillardMindfulness for Teachers by Patricia A. JenningsCultivating Mindfulness in the Classroom by Jeanie M. IberlinTwitter:@thecuttinged@NDDPI@tdintersmith@bistom@PrairiePublicEd

The Alexander Public School District made a bold decision this spring (after much investigation and consideration) to move to a 4-day school week beginning in the fall of 2018.In this episode of The Cutting Ed podcast, we’ll hear about the decision through the lens of a kindergarten teacher.Deb Hankins started her teaching career as a paraprofessional in special education in Oregon. Following a stop in Utah, she and her husband moved to North Dakota where she has taught for five years beginning in Watford City and now in Alexander as a kindergarten teacher.Hankins says the idea for the 4-day school week came from students in an innovations class. They pitched the idea to Superintendent Leslie Bieber in 2017. She liked the idea enough that administrators and students visited other schools with 4-day school weeks. Next, a presentation was given to the School Board which provided consent to take the next step, which included a parent survey and public meetings. The School Board approved the application in February and NDDPI approved the application in early March.The school staff have been trained over the last two years in Project Based Learning. This is so totally my style of learning and wished back in the day when I was in school I had this. I love hands on projects that bring the real world experiences to life in the classroom. Almost everything we do is connected to more then one subject and can be connected to real experiences. I take the fantasy world Kinders come with and try to move them into real experiences.I believe that a child educations is like a triangle. The two points at the base represent the teacher and the parents supporting the top point the student. Some times a student come to us with a missing base point but that doesn't matter. The end goal is the top point the student. I will use all resources I have to build their base so they will be successful. Relationships are the key in education, I a child feel needed, loved and a safe place they can learn anything the world has to offer them.Resources:http://www.ndplaylist.orghttp://www.ndunited.org/thecuttinged@thecuttinged@NDDPI@kirstenbaesler@tdintersmith@bistom@PrairiePublicEd@ndunited

The Alexander Public School District made a bold decision this spring (after much investigation and consideration) to move to a 4-day school week beginning in the fall of 2018.In this episode of The Cutting Ed podcast, we’ll hear about the decision through the lens of a kindergarten teacher.Deb Hankins started her teaching career as a paraprofessional in special education in Oregon. Following a stop in Utah, she and her husband moved to North Dakota where she has taught for five years beginning in Watford City and now in Alexander as a kindergarten teacher.Hankins says the idea for the 4-day school week came from students in an innovations class. They pitched the idea to Superintendent Leslie Bieber in 2017. She liked the idea enough that administrators and students visited other schools with 4-day school weeks. Next, a presentation was given to the School Board which provided consent to take the next step, which included a parent survey and public meetings. The School Board approved the application in February and NDDPI approved the application in early March.The school staff have been trained over the last two years in Project Based Learning. This is so totally my style of learning and wished back in the day when I was in school I had this. I love hands on projects that bring the real world experiences to life in the classroom. Almost everything we do is connected to more then one subject and can be connected to real experiences. I take the fantasy world Kinders come with and try to move them into real experiences.I believe that a child educations is like a triangle. The two points at the base represent the teacher and the parents supporting the top point the student. Some times a student come to us with a missing base point but that doesn't matter. The end goal is the top point the student. I will use all resources I have to build their base so they will be successful. Relationships are the key in education, I a child feel needed, loved and a safe place they can learn anything the world has to offer them.Resources:http://www.ndplaylist.orghttp://www.ndunited.org/thecuttinged@thecuttinged@NDDPI@kirstenbaesler@tdintersmith@bistom@PrairiePublicEd@ndunited

Tioga High Science Teacher Sarah Klug says she originally wanted to be a doctor. While attending Minot State, she says she didn’t have the passion for the medical field and decided to take an intro to teaching class with a friend and ended up loving it.Klug, now in her fourth year of teaching, says it was her student teaching experience with Mary Sandbo at Des Lacs High School that introduced her to an alternative classroom setting. She said that style of teaching, using hands-on applied concepts, was exactly how she wanted to teach. She wanted kids to realize that science isn’t just notes and memorization but can be applied to everyday life.In this episode, well learn how Klug integrates technology into her classroom using things like drones, 3-D printers and a forensics lesson which allows students to evaluate mock crime scenes. She has also started a wildly popular STEM club and believes there is a lot to be learned by trial and error as she works to help prepare students for the real world by giving them real world problems to solve.Resources:http://www.ndplaylist.orghttp://www.ndunited.org/thecuttingedTioga High School on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiogapirates/@thecuttinged@NDDPI@kirstenbaesler@tdintersmith@bistom@PrairiePublicEd@ndunited

Tioga High Science Teacher Sarah Klug says she originally wanted to be a doctor. While attending Minot State, she says she didn’t have the passion for the medical field and decided to take an intro to teaching class with a friend and ended up loving it.Klug, now in her fourth year of teaching, says it was her student teaching experience with Mary Sandbo at Des Lacs High School that introduced her to an alternative classroom setting. She said that style of teaching, using hands-on applied concepts, was exactly how she wanted to teach. She wanted kids to realize that science isn’t just notes and memorization but can be applied to everyday life.In this episode, well learn how Klug integrates technology into her classroom using things like drones, 3-D printers and a forensics lesson which allows students to evaluate mock crime scenes. She has also started a wildly popular STEM club and believes there is a lot to be learned by trial and error as she works to help prepare students for the real world by giving them real world problems to solve.Resources:http://www.ndplaylist.orghttp://www.ndunited.org/thecuttingedTioga High School on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiogapirates/@thecuttinged@NDDPI@kirstenbaesler@tdintersmith@bistom@PrairiePublicEd@ndunited

Eileen Zygarlicke says Grand Forks Community School is the best kept secret in Grand Forks. Her pride in the school and passion for teaching are evident the minute you meet her.Mrs. Z, as the students call her, has been teaching at Grand Forks Community School for around 16 years. She works with at risk students, but is quick to point out that at risk sometimes simply means the students don’t fit into a traditional classroom setting.Zygarlicke teaches English and uses student choice project based learning to personalize learning for her students. She says four of the seven children in her family are English teachers, and while her plan was to become a writer (she freelanced for awhile) the classroom called her back and she’s been teaching ever since.In this episode Zygarlicke explains how she teachers her students to think, and how student choice has lead to better results.We will also hear from one of her students. Austin Moen says he was active in high school but struggled with school after his brother died in an snowmobile accident. He says he decided to attend Grand Forks Community School and things have been going great since he made the switch.Resources:http://www.ndplaylist.orghttp://www.ndunited.org/thecuttingedhttps://www.grandforksherald.com/opinion/letters/3887765-letter-teacher-thank-you-grand-forks@thecuttinged@NDDPI@kirstenbaesler@tdintersmith@bistom@PrairiePublicEd@ndunited

Eileen Zygarlicke says Grand Forks Community School is the best kept secret in Grand Forks. Her pride in the school and passion for teaching are evident the minute you meet her.Mrs. Z, as the students call her, has been teaching at Grand Forks Community School for around 16 years. She works with at risk students, but is quick to point out that at risk sometimes simply means the students don’t fit into a traditional classroom setting.Zygarlicke teaches English and uses student choice project based learning to personalize learning for her students. She says four of the seven children in her family are English teachers, and while her plan was to become a writer (she freelanced for awhile) the classroom called her back and she’s been teaching ever since.In this episode Zygarlicke explains how she teachers her students to think, and how student choice has lead to better results.We will also hear from one of her students. Austin Moen says he was active in high school but struggled with school after his brother died in an snowmobile accident. He says he decided to attend Grand Forks Community School and things have been going great since he made the switch.Resources:http://www.ndplaylist.orghttp://www.ndunited.org/thecuttingedhttps://www.grandforksherald.com/opinion/letters/3887765-letter-teacher-thank-you-grand-forks@thecuttinged@NDDPI@kirstenbaesler@tdintersmith@bistom@PrairiePublicEd@ndunited

In her four years as a grade school teacher in Bismarck, Olivia Becker says she has done a 180 in terms of her teaching philosophy.Becker says she entered the profession with a traditional approach, but soon found herself overwhelmed by curriculum, teaching to standards and student behaviors. Becker says she came to understand that she wasn’t happy and that her students weren’t particularly enjoying their time, either. So she decided to reinvent her teaching style which now focuses on student choice, an open concept classroom with flexible seating and practicing yoga and mindfulness.In this episode, you’ll learn how she says those changes have transformed students in terms of educational and behavioral outcomes.Resources:http://www.ndplaylist.orghttp://www.ndunited.org/thecuttingedLeaders of Their Own Learning by Ron BergerMindsets and Moves by Gravity GoldbergTeaching with Intention by Debbie MillerWho’s Doing the Work by Jan Burkins and Kim YarisMindfulness:Growing Up Mindful – Christopher WillardMindUp CurriculumPodcast: Sounds True: Insights at the Edge – Goldie Hawn – Mindfulness episode Reading with Meaning by Debbie MillerFeedback – Austin’s butterfly video – on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqh1MRWZjms Podcasts: TED Radio HourPrincipal Center RadioKids Deserve ItMindful Games Activity Cards @thecuttinged@NDDPI@kirstenbaesler@tdintersmith@bistom@PrairiePublicEd@ndunited

In her four years as a grade school teacher in Bismarck, Olivia Becker says she has done a 180 in terms of her teaching philosophy.Becker says she entered the profession with a traditional approach, but soon found herself overwhelmed by curriculum, teaching to standards and student behaviors. Becker says she came to understand that she wasn’t happy and that her students weren’t particularly enjoying their time, either. So she decided to reinvent her teaching style which now focuses on student choice, an open concept classroom with flexible seating and practicing yoga and mindfulness.In this episode, you’ll learn how she says those changes have transformed students in terms of educational and behavioral outcomes.Resources:http://www.ndplaylist.orghttp://www.ndunited.org/thecuttingedLeaders of Their Own Learning by Ron BergerMindsets and Moves by Gravity GoldbergTeaching with Intention by Debbie MillerWho’s Doing the Work by Jan Burkins and Kim YarisMindfulness:Growing Up Mindful – Christopher WillardMindUp CurriculumPodcast: Sounds True: Insights at the Edge – Goldie Hawn – Mindfulness episode Reading with Meaning by Debbie MillerFeedback – Austin’s butterfly video – on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqh1MRWZjms Podcasts: TED Radio HourPrincipal Center RadioKids Deserve ItMindful Games Activity Cards @thecuttinged@NDDPI@kirstenbaesler@tdintersmith@bistom@PrairiePublicEd@ndunited

Jackson Holm is a senior at Grand Forks Red River High School. He’s a National Merit Scholar finalist who enjoys computer science, theatre and takes an innovations class from teacher Eric Sanders (Sanders was featured on Episode 21).Sanders says of Holm, “He has designed video games, designed and launched a high-altitude balloon (near-space balloon) in 9th grade, and trained a neural network of artificial intelligence. He did these outside of school, in spite of school. He is also a National Merit Scholar finalist. He also nearly left school last semester to move to Portland and open a vegan buffalo wing food truck. He has views about how education needs to change to applying knowledge through projects and collaboration.”Sanders said he asked Jackson what he thought about education, and he replied, "There is almost nothing that is done alone anymore. Education is focused on single-person learning." He is hopeful that education is changing in a good way.Resources:TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFGU1MPd14A&t=1s http://www.ndplaylist.orghttp://www.ndunited.org/thecuttingedTwitter@thecuttinged@NDDPI@kirstenbaesler@tdintersmith@bistom@PrairiePublicEd@ndunited

Jackson Holm is a senior at Grand Forks Red River High School. He’s a National Merit Scholar finalist who enjoys computer science, theatre and takes an innovations class from teacher Eric Sanders (Sanders was featured on Episode 21).Sanders says of Holm, “He has designed video games, designed and launched a high-altitude balloon (near-space balloon) in 9th grade, and trained a neural network of artificial intelligence. He did these outside of school, in spite of school. He is also a National Merit Scholar finalist. He also nearly left school last semester to move to Portland and open a vegan buffalo wing food truck. He has views about how education needs to change to applying knowledge through projects and collaboration.”Sanders said he asked Jackson what he thought about education, and he replied, "There is almost nothing that is done alone anymore. Education is focused on single-person learning." He is hopeful that education is changing in a good way.Resources:TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFGU1MPd14A&t=1s http://www.ndplaylist.orghttp://www.ndunited.org/thecuttingedTwitter@thecuttinged@NDDPI@kirstenbaesler@tdintersmith@bistom@PrairiePublicEd@ndunited

Eric Sanders says he started thinking about innovative education during a Creating Innovators book study. He says he was amazed at the incredible work students were doing; sometimes because of school, but often times in spite of school. Sanders says that’s when he began thinking about how he could create authentic learning experiences in his classroom. An early experience trying Google’s Genius Hour ended in failure. Sanders says his students didn’t have enough time to work on passion projects, but he says he learned from failure that students need opportunities to fail and to not be afraid of it. He finds school is all about passing and succeeding and that learning from failure is not often an option.That experience led Sanders to start an innovations class at Grand Forks Red River. Students work on concepts of things they can do for North Dakota by identifying a problem, brainstorming solutions, proposing and carrying out projects and finally reflecting upon the outcomes.He’s also uses project-based learning in his junior English classes where students have done things like create a human rights museum centered around novels like Huck Finn.Sanders has also asked his students how they could positively impact the public perception of Red River. That’s resulted in vetted projects, one which raised $6,000 for cancer research. Another developed a culture fair to bring a diverse student body together. Sanders says Governor Burgum’s Innovation Summit was a game changer. He says he began to think about how much of school curriculum is test prep. He says he he believes a culture shift in school and at home. Instead of asking about grades, Sanders thinks we need to focus on skills like critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and communication.Finally, he says Ted Dintersmith’s film Most Likely to Succeed completely changed his views on education. Ultimately, he says it all boils down to “seeing students do amazing things, things that they didn't think they could ever accomplish, then giving them the audience that their work deserves.” Resources:https://www.ndplaylist.orghttps://www.ndunited.org/thecuttingedhttps://sandersspeaks.wordpress.com/ Cancer Walk video from project-based learning: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-HEEn8mFE48RHREWVhyNjJUdzQ/view?usp=sharing Sexual assault video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn1GIFmflW4Twitter:@EricSanders3@thecuttinged@NDDPI@kirstenbaesler@tdintersmith@bistom@PrairiePublicEd@ndunited