Between 2 Maples
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 also always consider equity impacts. Hosted by: Maplewood Principal Dr. Kathryn – Kit – Galloway and parent Robin Roemer
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Episode 4 - Recess & Playworks
04/11/2023
Episode 4 - Recess & Playworks
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 Reaction from teachers 17:00 “Team Recess” 19:00 Indoor Recess 22:00 Structured vs unstructured play 23:10 Inclusiveness as key concept for Playworks 24:00 How is Playworks influencing classroom culture? 25:00 Kit’s favorite recess game 25:25 Most popular game at Maplewood 26:00 Issues with kickball 27:25 Kit’s favorite games as kid 28:00 Materials needed for recess 28:55 How can parents support recess culture? 31:15 Friday parent hangout 32:00 Get kids enough physical activity? 33:00 Recess and socializing 35:15 Best part about recess / Kit’s 4th grade recess experience 38:20 Kit’s message to students Further reading: Playworks at Maplewood CDC "Recess"
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Episode 3 - A Day in the Life of a Principal
02/20/2023
Episode 3 - A Day in the Life of a Principal
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 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: Similar to above, one elementary, one high school: Another high school principal: Principal life during the pandemic (somewhat humorous): follow up to it on NPR: 12 Times The Office Perfectly Described a Principal’s Day (also humorous) Principals Reflect on the Best Parts of the Job: And then a bit more serious/lengthy ‘I Want a Job and a Life': How Principals Find Balance in All-Consuming Work How Do Principals Affect Students and Schools? A New Synthesis and Its Implications" (Really) long version:
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Episode 2 - Reading (Part 2)
01/21/2023
Episode 2 - Reading (Part 2)
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 07:35 Talk with your kids, build oral language 08:45 Build background knowledge 09:10 Supporting in older grades 10:10 The more you read, the better you read 10:54 back to advice for kindergarteners 11:20 Reading finger 11:50 Reading culture 12:45 More resources will be coming home from school tailored to the curriculum 14:00 Resources outside of school – The public library and how to use it! 16:10 Online resources: Lexia, RazKids, Epic 17:35 Equity: Do reading materials reflect diversity? 18:00 Multi-sensory curriculum 19:20 Challenges with Wit&Wisdom curriculum 20:20 “Maplewood Reads” 21:35 Reading as a great equalizer 21:50 Reading is complicated 22:50 School and parents working on the same team 23:00 Conclusion: Top 3 things to know Further Reading (Part 2) Scholastic: :
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Episode 2 - Reading (Part 1)
01/05/2023
Episode 2 - Reading (Part 1)
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 all together 22:00 Reading as productive struggle Further Reading “Third graders struggling the most to recover in reading after the pandemic”, “If reading and writing become obsolete in the future, does this mean books will be MTV without noise?”, : “Reading Rope”,
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Episode 1 - Homework (Part 2)
12/02/2022
Episode 1 - Homework (Part 2)
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 assigning homework? 01:25 Why did Maplewood change its “no-homework” policy and is now assigning homework to students? 02:30-03:25 Quick digression: What is the BLT (Building Leadership Team)? 04:30-05:00 Quick digression: What are tier 1, tier 2, tier 3 students? 05:20 Were teachers excited about bringing back homework to Maplewood? What is the framework around homework at Maplewood? 07:10 Deepening the staff discussion after the experiences of the first quarter of the 2022/23 school year 09:00 How much homework should kids do every day? 10:50 Benefits of homework 12:30 Should homework be enjoyable or is it a chore? 14:20 What part of the curriculum is homework-friendly? 15:30 Discussion around homework at recent staff meeting 17:20 How do we know if the new homework policy is working? 18:45 Talk with your teacher if homework is a struggle Episode 2: 00:30 How do homework and equity interact? 03:30 Lightning Round Questions - 03:30 What is more difficult: Math assignments or writing assignments? - 04:15 Doing your homework: Well in advance or last minute? - 04:50 Finish this sentence: Grading student’s homework is … - 06:10 The best homework assignment ever given 07:50 How can families support? 12:35 What if homework is a struggle? 14:10 Creating life-long learners Further reading National Education Association: "" Education Next "" American Psychological Association "" Boston University "" Psychology Today ""
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Episode 1 - Homework (Part 1)
12/02/2022
Episode 1 - Homework (Part 1)
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 assigning homework? 01:25 Why did Maplewood change its “no-homework” policy and is now assigning homework to students? 02:30-03:25 Quick digression: What is the BLT (Building Leadership Team)? 04:30-05:00 Quick digression: What are tier 1, tier 2, tier 3 students? 05:20 Were teachers excited about bringing back homework to Maplewood? What is the framework around homework at Maplewood? 07:10 Deepening the staff discussion after the experiences of the first quarter of the 2022/23 school year 09:00 How much homework should kids do every day? 10:50 Benefits of homework 12:30 Should homework be enjoyable or is it a chore? 14:20 What part of the curriculum is homework-friendly? 15:30 Discussion around homework at recent staff meeting 17:20 How do we know if the new homework policy is working? 18:45 Talk with your teacher if homework is a struggle Episode 2: 00:30 How do homework and equity interact? 03:30 Lightning Round Questions - 03:30 What is more difficult: Math assignments or writing assignments? - 04:15 Doing your homework: Well in advance or last minute? - 04:50 Finish this sentence: Grading student’s homework is … - 06:10 The best homework assignment ever given 07:50 How can families support? 12:35 What if homework is a struggle? 14:10 Creating life-long learners Further reading National Education Association: "" Education Next "" American Psychological Association "" Boston University "" Psychology Today ""
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Prologue
11/28/2022
Prologue
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 also always consider equity impacts. For questions or feedback email us at: [email protected]
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