Grow Straight Up—With Systems Thinking

Systems thinking thought leader, author, and consultant Linda Booth Sweeney weighs in on K-12 education with a clear message: tomorrow’s leaders need systems thinking today. 

Hear the story of Tom Bray, a software engineer who’s using systems thinking to develop an ingenious, low-tech approach to urban gardening—Grow Straight Up.

When Dia Rabin tried on systems thinking as a brand new 5th grade teacher at Palms Elementary School, it was a perfect fit that defined her beginning practice.

Molly Temple returns to the podcast and shares how systems thinking provides a safe harbor as she navigates the shifting seas of literacy education in her 1st grade classroom.

Doing homework for fun? It happens with systems thinking. Sarah Simon, Assistant Elementary Director at Wildwood School in Los Angeles, shares how systems thinking captivates student interest.

NASA loves systems thinking. Teachers do too. Cornell University researchers Derek and Laura Cabrera talk about why systems thinking is also elementary, middle, and high school-friendly.

Noted educator and DEI practitioner Monique Marshall shares how systems thinking is a key to unlock the action steps that kids can take to recognize and disrupt unjust systems in our world.

Chapman University researchers, Dr. Margie Curwen and Dr. Amy Ardell, highlight the sea change systems thinking is bringing to education.

For Chicago Public Schools teacher Melitza Rodriguez, a Systems Thinking approach led to a 2020 Educator of the Year Award.

Dr. La Tanya Manuel, National Board Certified Teacher at Mid-City's Prescott School in Los Angeles shares her insights using literature as a launchpad for Systems Thinking and social change with her 5th grade students.