Want to do your professional reading on the go (in the car, at the gym, etc.)?
Now, in addition to writing 8-page summaries of education and leadership books, Jenn has also started recording podcast conversations with Mike Doughty about each month’s books. Listen and learn below!
School conflict is inevitable, but school leaders can do something about it. Author Rob Feirsen shares ideas with Jenn for how to use the 5 steps of the design-thinking process to address major conflicts in your school.
Listen Now: From Conflict to Collaboration
Kim Marshall is the mini-observation guru. In this conversation he shares his secrets for how to ensure these observations impact teaching and learning. And then he goes further to show how leaders can (and should!) supervise learning and planning as well as teaching.
Listen Now: Rethinking Teacher Supervision & Evaluation
This podcast gives a brief overview of the book and how smartphones have impacted our kids but the gem of the conversation is when Superintendent Dave Blanchard shares how he banned phones and the incredible benefits it has led to from student engagement to teacher retention.
Listen Now: The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
Students need to learn more than academic content. They need to learn the skills to be organized, set goals, self regulate, manage their work, and much more. This book introduces classroom routines to help students develop those skills.
Listen Now: Executive Functions for Every Classroom
Students today are disengaged and belonging is something they desperately need. Listen to an interview with the author of Belonging in School as he shares the importance of schools focusing on belonging and concrete steps we can take to build it.
Listen Now: Belonging in School: Creating a Place Where Kids Want to Learn and Teachers Want to Stay
Mike and Jenn discuss a key element to help students read, and read well — enjoyment of reading. Research shows that lack of enjoyment undermines reading achievement. Learn five ways to improve the joy of reading: time, access, choice, response, and community.
Listen Now: The Joy of Reading
“If you’re not reading by the end of third grade, there’s a 70% chance you won’t become a proficient reader.” That’s what Karen Gazith told us as we talked about her most recent book. She shares how neuroscience and decades of research have provided a clear understanding of how children learn to read and we need to use that in our reading instruction.
Listen Now: The Power of Effective Reading Instruction: How Neuroscience Informs Instruction Across All Grades and Disciplines
In this episode, we shine a light on a pressing issue in the educational landscape: teacher burnout and attrition. With schools across the nation feeling the impact, we turn to expert Chase Mielke, for insights and solutions from his latest book.
Listen Now: Illuminate the Way: The School Leader’s Guide to Addressing and Preventing Teacher Burnout
This quote captures the power of Ruchika Tulshyan’s latest book — “Diversity is being invited to the party: inclusion is being asked to dance,” —Verna Myers. Leaders want staff to feel they belong, but don’t know the steps to get there. Tulshyan shows leaders how.
Listen Now: Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work
Many of us as educators have assumed that the kids with strong grades and strong test scores were set up for success, but that’s not the case. Listen to Jenn’s conversation with Dr. Borba to learn the character skills our students really need to thrive.
Listen Now: Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine
Listen as Mike and I discuss Adam Grant’s latest work: the 3 character skills we should be teaching our students to propel them forward and the scaffolds and systems needed for our schools to support this character development.
Listen Now: Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things
Educators of color are leaving schools. Luckily there are a number of things you as the leader can do to stem this tide. Listen to Dr. Gabbadon describe 6 things you can do.
Listen Now: Support and Retain Teachers of Color
A number of schools are experiencing a downturn in their culture. With so much stress and change, the norms of civility are being dropped. You need to nip that in the bud now — learn how.
Listen Now: Trust Your Canary: Every Leader’s Guide to Taking Workplace Incivility
Right now what schools need more than anything is organizational health. Although it is not a new book, The Advantage clearly and powerfully explains what your school or district needs to do to become healthy: 1) Build a cohesive leadership team, 2) Create clarity, 3) Overcommunicate clarity, and 4) Reinforce clarity.
Listen Now: The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business
We need to stop teaching our students to mimic math procedures and instead teach them to think and persevere! Listen to how Peter Liljedahl researched what is wrong in our math classes and found practices that truly put students on the path to thinking and learning.
Listen Now: Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics (K-12)
School leaders don’t need a degree in special education to lead their school toward a more inclusive place for students with disabilities. Learn the law, the ways to support staff, and the steps to make this a reality now.
Listen Now: Watch, Listen, Ask, Learn: How School Leaders Can Create an Inclusive Environment for Students with Disabilities
You don’t need to go to the gym at 4am to be healthy and pain-free. The health and exercise experts who wrote this book say you just need to MOVE throughout the day — something busy principals CAN do. Listen and learn how!
Listen Now: Built to Move: The 10 Essential Habits to Help You Move Freely and Live Fully
Tired of teacher supervision going nowhere? The authors and Jenn talked about their new approach to improving teaching through supervision. The key? You need to EXPAND your supervisory practices beyond the typical 1-1 observation and feedback we all do.
Listen Now: Differentiated Supervision: Growing Teachers and Getting Results
It’s time to find joy (in teaching!) We chat with author Berit Gordon about ways to support new and veteran teachers in strengthening all aspects of teaching from class management to building relationships.
Listen Now: The Joyful Teacher
If you want some concrete strategies you can implement TOMORROW to improve school culture, instructional practices, student engagement, and community partnerships, this book is for you.
Listen Now: The Instructional Change Agent
You can’t lead well if you don’t feel organized. Mike and I share overviews of 4 fantastic books that can absolutely help: Atomic Habits, The Power of Habit, Getting Things Done, and The Together Leader.
Listen Now: 4 Must-Read books on GETTING ORGANIZED AND PRODUCTIVE
There’s nothing more important for a school leader than knowing how to conduct effective conversations. Learn what’s essential from the coaching guru himself, Jim Knight.
Listen Now: Better Conversations: Coaching Ourselves and Each Other to Be More Credible, Caring, and Connected
Low on bandwidth, burnt out, and struggling? Listen to the authors of Educator Bandwidth as we discuss what is hurting educator bandwidth these days and what we can do to manage it.
Listen Now: Educator Bandwidth: How to Reclaim Your Energy, Passion, and Time
Your teachers aren’t counselors, but students often come to them with their mental health issues. Listen to the authors of this book share important tips for all educators to keep in mind when supporting those students.
Listen Now: Supporting Student Mental Heath: Essentials for Teachers
Author Bill Sommers chats with Jenn and Mike about his book Responding to Resistance. Bill is a seasoned leader with a ton of experience and the sense of humor to match. His no-nonsense, straightforward approach to conflict is something we can all learn from.
Listen Now: Responding to Resistance: 30 Strategies to Manage Conflict in Your School
Mike & Jenn discuss how regret doesn’t have to be bad — it can propel you to make needed changes in your life and your job. School leaders can conduct a simple PD to help their staff members use regret to plan for a more hopeful 2023.
Listen Now: The Power of Regret
Author Joe Feldman shares how our current grading system — which is so central to our work as educators — was designed for schools a few centuries ago! He explains how some of our practices are outdated and inequitable and what we might do instead.
Listen Now: Grading for Equity: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How It Can Transform Schools and Classrooms
Mike & Jenn interview Elena Aguilar as she shares the secrets behind planning and leading truly transformational PD. With the tips and suggestions from her new book, this is something all school leaders CAN learn to do even if they have never led a PD session before.
Listen Now: The PD Book: 7 Habits That Transform Professional Development
Listen to this podcast with the authors to learn how trauma affects learning and what you can do, as a school leader, to build a culture that supports the emotional well-being and learning of all.
Listen Now: Trauma-Sensitive Leadership: Creating a Safe and Predictable School Environment
Imagine being able to transform all of the gatherings we have in schools — from PD & faculty meetings to everyday classes — to deeply impact those who attend. Find out how in this conversation with Mike & Jenn.
Listen Now: The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters
Student behavior has become increasingly difficult since the pandemic. Listen to this hysterically funny behavior guru as he describes ideas and strategies to better understand and address this problem.
Listen Now: Running the Room: The Teacher’s Guide to Behaviour
In this podcast, Mike & Jenn discuss a new approach to school transformation (Listen-Uncover-Reimagine-Move) that focuses on gathering “street data” (qualitative data) from those whose voices have traditionally been marginalized.
Listen Now: Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation
In this mini-sode #2, Jenn & Mike discuss 4 must-read books on the topic of INTERPERSONAL SKILLS FOR SCHOOL LEADERS in just 20 minutes.
Listen Now: 4 must-read books on INTERPERSONAL SKILLS FOR SCHOOL LEADERS: The Listening Leader, Thanks for the Feedback, Working with Difficult and Resistant Staff, & Trust Matters
In this special mini-sode (mini-episode), Jenn & Mike discuss 3 must-read books on the topic of LEADERSHIP RESILIENCE in just 15 minutes.
Listen Now: 3 must-read books on LEADERSHIP RESILIENCE: Onward, From Burnt Out to Fired Up, and The Mindful School Leader
Listen to the author share how academic conversations help students build their thinking, content knowledge, and interpersonal skills. Consider a school-wide focus on academic conversations K-12 and all subjects!
Listen Now: Next Steps with Academic Conversations
Burnout is real; here’s how to beat it. Listen to Jenn and Mike interview author Morgane MIchael about research-backed strategies for helping your staff bounce back from their burnout.
Listen Now: From Burnt Out to Fired Up
Teaching and learning can’t improve unless leaders give teachers candid feedback. Listen to Jenn and Mike’s interview with Joe and TJ who share why honest feedback is so important and how to give it.
Listen Now: Candid and Compassionate Feedback
Jenn & Mike interview the authors to discuss ways school leaders can forge a path toward racial equity in their schools. Now is the time!
Listen Now: Principal Leadership for Racial Equity
Without trust, teacher observations fail. To learn ways to develop trust in your teacher observations, listen to Jenn & Mike interview the author of this book.
Listen Now: Trust-Based Observations
We need to prepare kids for the future! Mike interviews an author of this book to discuss ways to move toward 21st century learning in our schools.
Listen Now: Deep Learning
Mike and Jenn interview the book’s authors to learn key practical strategies to navigate the challenges of the principalship.
Listen Now: Principaled
Mike interviews Doug Fisher and Dominique Smith to discuss “must-dos” for leaders to open schools given the pandemic.
Listen Now: Leading the Rebound
Jenn & Mike interview Cornelius Minor about all things equity, especially how to improve schools for all kids.
Listen Now: We Got This
Jenn and Mike discuss tips for handling complex change from The Influential School Leader.
Listen Now: The Influential School Leader
Learn strategies for saving on the price of college in this podcast conversation with Jenn, Mike, and Jenn’s husband, Tim! A good one to share with families and school counselors.
Listen Now: The Price You Pay for College
Jenn and Mike discuss the best strategies for making distance learning engaging and effective from The Distance Learning Playbook — Part 1 (self care, the 1st days of school, relationships, & teacher credibility).
Listen Now: The Distance Learning Playbook – Part 1
Jenn and Mike discuss the best strategies for making distance learning engaging and effective from The Distance Learning Playbook — Part 2 (teacher clarity, student engagement, quality instruction, and feedback & assessment)
Listen Now: The Distance Learning Playbook – Part 2
School leaders must now be skilled in PR, too! Jenn and Mike interview author Will Parker about ways for school leaders to improve their communication and messaging.
Listen Now: Messaging Matters
Nothing matters in schools if students aren’t engaged. Mike & Jenn discuss concrete strategies for engaging students in this book by Doug Fisher and colleagues.
Listen Now: Engagement by Design
Educators have the toughest job in the world. Listen to Jenn and Elena Aguilar discuss ways to prevent burnout and build resilience in educators.
Listen Now: Onward
Listen to Jenn and Mike interview author Grant Lichtman about where the world of education will be heading in the future.
Listen Now: Moving the Rock
Jenn and Mike were math teachers and this is definitely the book they wish they had! Listen to them nerd out about how teachers SHOULD be teaching math.
Listen Now: Becoming the Math Teacher You Wish You’d Had
What if you observed teachers DAILY? Listen as Jenn and Mike interview author Justin Baeder who will tell you exactly how you can do this to truly impact teaching and learning.
Listen Now: Now We’re Talking
If school leaders could improve just one interpersonal skill, I would vote for LISTENING. Mike & Jenn discuss how leaders can develop the mindset and skills to improve their listening so students, staff, and families feel they belong.
Listen Now: The Listening Leader
Mike and Jenn interview New York Times bestselling author Jessica Lahey about why it’s crucial to let children fail so they can persevere and learn. We discuss motivation, executive functioning, and what school leaders can do to change mindsets about failure.
Listen Now: The Gift of Failure
Mike and Jenn discuss practical strategies for working with and improving all of the teams you work with. The Art of Coaching Teams by Elena Aguilar is one of the best resources for those who work with teams!
Listen Now: The Art of Coaching Teams
School leaders can’t focus on teaching and learning if they don’t know how to be efficient with their time. Mike and Jenn discuss systems and strategies for helping the busy school leader get organized from The New York Times bestselling classic, Getting Things Done by David Allen.
Listen Now: Getting Things Done
Paul Bambrick-Santoyo helps school leaders develop teachers more in one year than many do in 20 years. Mike and Jenn discuss his strategies for doing this in his book Get Better Faster.
Listen Now: Get Better Faster
Between Mike and Jenn, we have 4 teenage girls so together with Jenn’s husband Tim David-Lang we had a great discussion about understanding girls’ development and strategies to better engage with them. This is a great one to share with counselors and deans or even with parents.
Listen Now: Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood
This book will change how you view feedback forever. Mike and Jenn discuss why giving and receiving feedback can be so difficult and how to get better at both — great insights from Thanks for the Feedback.
Listen Now: Thanks for the Feedback
If you’re a school leader who doesn’t have time for mindfulness practices, you may need them more than anyone. Given that leaders lead complex and unpredictable organizations, listen to Mike and Jenn as they discuss simple mindfulness strategies to better deal with stress, make better decisions, and lead more effectively.
Listen Now: The Mindful School Leader
