Episode 4 - Recess & Playworks
Between 2 Maples
Kit and Robin chat about recess at Maplewood, what Playworks is and how it helps to make recess at Maplewood even better. Contents 00:55 What do you see at recess? 02:05 What is a “great” recess? 02:50 How recess going last year? Why playworks? 04:25 Recess schedule at Maplewood 05:25 Mixing grade levels for recess 07:10 Do kids have enough recess? 08:25 Recess before lunch 09:10 What is playworks? 11:00 Junior coaches program 12:00 Difference between last year and this 12:25 Cost of playworks 13:35 How has recess culture changed? 15:05 What could be even better? 15:30...
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Episode 3 - A Day in the Life of a Principal
Between 2 Maples
Kit and Robin chat about what being the principal at Maplewood entails on a daily basis - all the stress, drama and joy it can bring. Contents: 01:00: What made you want to be a principal? 02:10 The most frustrating part of the job 02:55 Before school starts 03:45 Eight o’clock – school starts – morning rounds 05:45 Morning meetings 07:20 Dealing with interruptions 08:00 How do you prioritize? 09:55 Classroom evaluation 13:00 What is working well at Maplewood and what isn’t yet? 14:30 What else comes up during the day? Sticky note management 17:00 Planning ahead for...
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Episode 2 - Reading (Part 2)
Between 2 Maples
In this group of episodes we address "reading": How do children effectively learn how to read, what to do when they struggle and how can parents support at home. Part 2: 00:50 How I know if my child is struggling? 02:40 When do you inform parents about struggling children 03:15 How do parents react? 04:20 How to tell parents about struggle effectively 05:15 How can parents help with reading? 05:30 Don’t guess words, sound them out 06:15 Attendance 06:50 Advice by grade level 07:00 Before they know how to read 07:35 Positivity around reading, reading is everywhere...
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Episode 2 - Reading (Part 1)
Between 2 Maples
In this group of episodes we address "reading": How do children effectively learn how to read, what to do when they struggle and how can parents support at home. Part 1: 01:00 Lightening round questions 03:00 Reading levels at Maplewood 07:00 Introducing our guest, Jenni Heaton, Reading Specialist 09:00 Children doing reading exercises 09:50 Why is reading important? 11:50 Can children pick up reading naturally? 12:50 Scarborough’s Reading Rope 13:50 Phonics 14:20 Phonemic Awareness 15:30 How do oral word play and reading interact 17:30 Reading comprehension 18:30 Fluency 20:00 Putting it...
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Episode 1 - Homework (Part 2)
Between 2 Maples
On these first two episodes we talk about homework at Maplewood. Why did Maplewood move away from its “no homework policy”, why and how homework can be an important part of children’s learning process, how homework and equity interact, Principal Galloway answers questions under pressure in a lightening round and we discuss how families can support their children in their homework. Because of the length of the conversation, we split it into two episodes. We welcome any feedback and questions at [email protected] Episode 1: 00:40 Do Teachers enjoy...
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Episode 1 - Homework (Part 1)
Between 2 Maples
On these first two episodes we talk about homework at Maplewood. Why did Maplewood move away from its “no homework policy”, why and how homework can be an important part of children’s learning process, how homework and equity interact, Principal Galloway answers questions under pressure in a lightening round and we discuss how families can support their children in their homework. Because of the length of the conversation, we split it into two episodes. We welcome any feedback and questions at [email protected] Episode 1: 00:40 Do Teachers enjoy...
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Prologue
Between 2 Maples
Welcome to the Between 2 Maples podcast. On this podcast we will discuss all things Maplewood Elementary (Portland, OR) We will talk not just about what is happening at Maplewood but we will ask the even more important questions of why they are happening, what are we trying to achieve together for our children and how do we do it? Each episode will explore one topic, from the perspective of both the school – teachers and staff – and the perspective of families and discuss how we can bring the two together. How does what is happening at school relate to what is happening at home? We will...
info_outlineKit and Robin chat about what being the principal at Maplewood entails on a daily basis - all the stress, drama and joy it can bring.
Contents:
01:00: What made you want to be a principal?
02:10 The most frustrating part of the job
02:55 Before school starts
03:45 Eight o’clock – school starts – morning rounds
05:45 Morning meetings
07:20 Dealing with interruptions
08:00 How do you prioritize?
09:55 Classroom evaluation
13:00 What is working well at Maplewood and what isn’t yet?
14:30 What else comes up during the day? Sticky note management
17:00 Planning ahead for next year
17:50 Equity
19:15 What can and can’t you decide as principal?
21:45 Lunch?
23:00 It’s two fifteen and the bell rings
24:40 Student intervention meetings
27:40 When do you leave school?
28:20 How do you recharge?
29:15 Should parents leave the principal alone? No!
31:35 Who is in charge when you are not at school?
32:55 What surprised you about your job?
34:20 If you had one more hour in the day, what would you do?
36:40 Most exhausting day ever?
37:35 How can we as a community support you?
38:40 Silly questions on fictional principals - Abbott Elementary, Mathilda, Breakfast Club, Ted Lasso, and others
42:00 Closing remarks: What should people really know about Kit Galloway?
Further reading:
- Schedule: One day in the life of two elementary school principals: https://www.edweek.org/leadership/one-day-in-the-life-of-two-principals#howard-e-fields-iii
- Similar to above, one elementary, one high school: https://www.edweek.org/leadership/hour-by-busy-hour-what-a-principals-day-actually-looks-like/2022/06#manuela-haberers-schedule
- Another high school principal: https://www.ed.gov/content/day-life-principal
- Principal life during the pandemic (somewhat humorous): https://www.edsurge.com/news/2022-01-21-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-school-principal-two-years-into-this-pandemic
- follow up to it on NPR: https://www.marketplace.org/2022/02/07/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-pandemic-principal/
- 12 Times The Office Perfectly Described a Principal’s Day (also humorous) https://www.weareteachers.com/principals-day-the-office/
- Principals Reflect on the Best Parts of the Job: https://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin441_a.shtml
- ‘I Want a Job and a Life': How Principals Find Balance in All-Consuming Work https://www.edweek.org/leadership/i-want-a-job-and-a-life-how-principals-find-balance-in-all-consuming-work/2018/10
- How Do Principals Affect Students and Schools? A New Synthesis and Its Implications" https://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/Documents/Leadership-and-achievement-slides-Feb-12-partner-webinar.pdf