Your lesson, should you choose to accept it, is to listen to interviews with educators who are on the forefront of innovative pedagogy, with your host Aviva Levin. Check out www.lesssonimpossible.com for podcast info and blog.
Episodes
Monday Mar 29, 2021
Monday Mar 29, 2021
🎙 Your lesson, should you choose to accept it, is to incorporate virtual reality👾 into your classroom👨🏻🏫🧑🏽🏫 to enhance student learning🎓. The special agent🕵️♂️ assigned to help you with this task is Craig Frehlich of the Canadian International School in Singapore.
In our conversation we discuss:
1️⃣ Why VR is a great choice for enriching the curriculum, and current programs that Craig recommends for classroom use
2️⃣ Staying CRISP: VR applications should connect to a concept and to real life, they should be integrative, linked to standards, and carefully planned
3️⃣ How to set up VR in the classroom for a safe, meaningful experience (and some future ethical concerns)
Click here for more details about our conversation, links to programs and books mentioned in the episode, and more information about the podcast.
Please consider rating or reviewing Lesson: Impossible on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Castbox, or your preferred podcast platform.
Monday Mar 15, 2021
Monday Mar 15, 2021
🎙Your lesson, should you choose to accept it, is to help primary students👧🏻👦🏾🧒🏼 find success in a difficult time🦠 through engaging lessons💻 and responding to their needs🚑. The special agent🕵🏻♀️ assigned to help you with this task is Adrienne Barber of Milpitas, California☀️.
In our conversation we discuss:
1️⃣ Strategies for teaching young learners, incorporating physical activity while online, and some helpful apps
2️⃣ Creating strong connections with families and taking inspiration from her students
3️⃣ The exhaustion of putting on a Zoom ‘one-woman show’ and some silver linings to online learning
Click here for more details about our conversation, links mentioned in the episode, and more information about the podcast.
Monday Mar 01, 2021
Monday Mar 01, 2021
🎙Your lesson, should you choose to accept it, is to create observant👀 critical thinkers🧠and creative film-makers🎥 through a film studies🎬 program. The special agent🕵️♂️ assigned to help you with this task is Shane Lawrence of Edmonton, Alberta.
In our conversation we discuss:
1️⃣ How students grow as critical viewers and thinkers over five years of film studies
2️⃣ Choosing the right films to show (and some horror stories of what happens when you don’t!)
3️⃣ Equipping (literally and figuratively) students to make their own films
Click here for more details about our conversation, links to films mentioned in the episode, and more information about the podcast.
Monday Dec 21, 2020
Monday Dec 21, 2020
Often, the relationship between teachers and school leaders is framed as adversarial. However, your lesson, should you choose to accept it, is to build strong🦾 relationships between administrators🧑🏾💻👨💻 and teachers👩🏼🏫🧑🏽🏫through empathy🧘🏽♂️, transparency🧊 and vulnerability👀. The special agent🕵🏽♀️ assigned to help you with this task is high school teacher Lorraine Connell.
In this episode we discuss:
1️⃣ Why mistakes need to be celebrated
2️⃣ The value of empathy, transparency, and vulnerability
3️⃣ Understanding expectations and modeling self-care
Click here for more details about our conversation, links to resources mentioned in the episode, and more information about the podcast.
Monday Dec 14, 2020
Monday Dec 14, 2020
Your lesson, should you choose to accept it, is to lead through a global pandemic by adapting your routines, supporting your staff, and focusing on self-care. The special agent assigned to help you with this task is Charles Williams, Principal of Plato Learning Academy in Chicago and host of the Counter Narrative Podcast.
In our conversation, Charles discusses:
1️⃣ Parent perspectives on the pandemic and how Covid has changed how he does his job
2️⃣ Extending grace to students, teachers, and himself during this time
3️⃣ His S.M.A.R.T. approach to leadership
Click here for more details about our conversation, links mentioned in the episode, and more information about the podcast.
Monday Dec 07, 2020
Monday Dec 07, 2020
Your lesson, should you choose to accept it, is to create powerful and sustainable professional development for your colleagues. The special agent assigned to help you with this task is Joyce Matthews.
In our conversation, Joyce discusses:
1️⃣ The differences between andragogy (teaching adults) and pedagogy (teaching children)
2️⃣ Why good professional development needs to be self-sustaining
3️⃣ How facilitation allows learners to find their own pathways to their professional development goals by focusing on skills and feedback
Click here for links and resources mentioned in the episode or more information about the podcast. Click here for Lesson: Impossible’s blog for modern languages/ELL teachers.
Thursday Nov 26, 2020
Thursday Nov 26, 2020
Your lesson, should you choose to accept it, is to consider a new resource: Video Journalism Pro, an online mentoring program that allows students to develop, produce and distribute their own stories. The resource specialist assigned to help you with this task is Clement Townsend, founder of Broadcasting Career Mentor.
In our conversation, Clement discusses:
1️⃣ Building a media program, and school brand, with technology students already have access to
2️⃣ The impact of having an expert with professional experience share his perspective and strategies
3️⃣ Learning important skills: speaking, writing, creativity, media literacy, research
Click here for more details about our conversation, links mentioned in the episode, and information about the podcast.
Monday Nov 23, 2020
Monday Nov 23, 2020
Your lesson, should you choose to accept it, is to face unexpected challenges with a positive mindset, transparency, and humor. The special agent assigned to help you with this task is Merlyna Valentine of Louisiana.
In our conversation, Merlyna discusses:
1️⃣ Leading by building relationships, being transparent, exuding positive energy, and using humor
2️⃣ Being willing to talk about the elephant in the room, whether it is trauma, illness, physical limitations, or teacher burn-out
3️⃣ “Dancing back in” to new opportunities and never looking back!
Click here for more details about our conversation, links mentioned in the episode, and more information about the podcast.
Monday Nov 16, 2020
Monday Nov 16, 2020
Your lesson, should you choose to accept it, is to use Trust-Based Observations to create relationships with teachers, celebrate their strengths, and encourage innovation. The special agent assigned to help you with this task is author and administrator Craig Randall.
In our conversation, Craig discusses:
1️⃣ How current evaluation models aren’t working and the evolution of the trust-based model to what it is today
2️⃣ Creating authentic, teacher-centered observations that build trust and celebrate strengths
3️⃣ Encouraging risk-taking, collaboration, empathy and a growth-mindset through observation and reflection
Click here for links and resources mentioned in the episode or more information about the podcast. Click here for Lesson: Impossible’s blog for modern languages/ELL teachers.
Lesson: Impossible is proud to be one of the many amazing School Rubric podcasts.
Monday Nov 09, 2020
Monday Nov 09, 2020
Your lesson, should you choose to accept it, is to cultivate relationships, collegial collaboration, and a positive school culture in your role as school administrator. The special agent assigned to help you with this task is Anthony Tyrkala, principal of ACES in Adventura, Florida
In our conversation, Anthony discusses:
1️⃣ How he defines his job as an administrator, building relationships with students and staff, the move from teaching to school leadership
2️⃣ Trying to stay positive, creating open communication and collaboration, dealing with behavioral issues
3️⃣ How the Army has shaped his perspective, advice for those considering a career change to administration, honoring a life-work balance
Click here for more details about our conversation, links to resources mentioned in the episode, and more information about the podcast.