Are our schools TOO SAFE? Embracing risky play with Dr. Mariana Brussoni and Dr. Megan Zeni

→ How do traditional grading systems quietly undermine deep learning?→ How can teachers shift assessment paradigms without burning out?→ What steps can administrative teams take to genuinely support their staff?About Danielle PaloposkiDanielle is an educator and former school administrator with extensive experience as a classroom teacher and middle level leader, specializing in standards aligned, competency based assessment. A contributing author to the British Columbia K–12 Reporting Policy, she has led system wide shifts from traditional grading to competency focused approaches grounded in feedback, professional judgment, and evidence of learning over time. Danielle now partners with the Canadian Assessment Centre to support schools in building coherent, humane, and sustainable assessment systems that cultivate transferable skills and self regulated learners.You can connect with DanielleOn Facebook, LinkedIn, On Instagram @dpalo_ed, and On her website at https://danielle-paloposki.mykajabi.com/Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - How traditional assessment undermines learning4:15 - Why Danielle founded the Competency Code Collective9:52 - How to support teachers in assessment transitions16:10 - Are learning targets just for administrators?18:59 - From evaluator to learning coach23:39 - Ensuring our assessment language is consistent31:08 - How to use AI to design better assessment35:49 - Assessment resources from DanielleVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

→ Which foundational money concepts do our students struggle with the most?→ Why do states and districts continue to downplay the importance of financial literacy in our curricular standards?→ What is one practical way for teachers to build financial literacy in their classrooms on Monday morning?Welcome back to the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.Today’s Teacher on Fire is Debra Kierstead. Deb is an elementary teacher and financial literacy coach who helps educators bring real-world money skills into the classroom. Her hands-on approach makes budgeting, saving, and spending feel simple and fun - for students and teachers alike.You can connect with DebraOn Facebook, On Instagram @kierstead.deb, andAt her website, liveskillsmoney.com.Take advantage of Deb's free starter class: www.liveskillsmoney.com/free-starter-class (not sponsored)

→ How can we build literacy skills and environmental stewardship at the same time?→ What is the Everglades Foundation Literacy Program, and what resources do they offer classroom teachers?→ What is Everglades Ecoquest, and how can educators use this web-based platform to bring interactive, gamified learning to their students?Welcome back to the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.Today’s Teacher on Fire is Jennifer Diaz. Jennifer Diaz is the Vice President of Education at The Everglades Foundation, where she has dedicated the past 12 years to building and leading Florida’s only comprehensive, statewide Everglades environmental education program. Since joining the Foundation in 2014, she has guided the growth of the Everglades Literacy Program into a national model for place-based environmental learning, now adopted by 31 school districts and reaching more than 300,000 students and families annually.You can connect with the Everglades Foundation …On X @EvergFoundation,On Instagram @evergladesfoundation,On Facebook and LinkedIn, andAt their website, evergladesfoundation.org.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Welcome to Jennifer Diaz, VP of Education at the Everglades Foundation0:16 - The mission and vision of the Everglades Foundation1:07 - Everglades Foundation literacy resources are free to anyone2:02 - Building environmental stewardship through literacy skills4:13 - The Teacher Toolkit 41 lesson plans are curriculum-aligned6:03 - Resources for Spanish and Haitian Creole learners7:41 - What is Everglades Ecoquest and what does it offer students?10:35 - Hands-on learning experiences related to the Everglades12:59 - The Champion Schools program builds environmental leadership15:54 - A first step to take to build environmental literacy17:11 - How to connect with the Everglades FoundationVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

How can teachers challenge their gifted learners without burning out?How we spot high-ability learners who might be masking their abilities in the classroom?How can we make sure our choice boards don’t just become busywork?Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.Today’s Teacher on Fire is Dr. Alicia Schroeder-Schock (pronounced Shrader-Shook). Alicia is an educator, consultant, and founder of Elementary Elevated, where she helps teachers design engaging, rigorous learning experiences for advanced elementary learners. With an Ed.D. in Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership and a master’s in Educational Psychology, Alicia presents nationally on gifted curriculum and  differentiation and serves on the board of the North Dakota Association for Gifted Children.Connect with AliciaOn her blog at elementaryelevated.comTimestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Welcome to Dr. Alicia Schroeder-Schock1:31 - What are high-ability learners?2:16 - How can we spot them?3:44 - What does elevating standards look like?5:53 - How AI can help to elevate standards6:53 - How to design choice boards8:36 - From objectives to outcomes10:51 - What is curriculum compacting?14:57 - Elevating the student writing process19:13 - How to differentiate for high-ability learners20:41 - Social and emotional challenges25:05 - What's keeping you on fire?28:58 - How and where to connect with Dr. Alicia Schroeder-Schock onlineVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

→ What are executive functions, and why do they matter?→ What are the differences between core and higher order executive functions?→ How can we tweak the physical and acoustic environment of our classrooms to support all learners?Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.Today’s Teachers on Fire are Sarah Oberle and Mitch Weathers, authors of Executive Functions for Every K-3 Classroom: Promoting Self-Regulation for a Strong Start.Mitch Weathers is an educator, author, and nationally and internationally recognized expert on executive functioning in the classroom, known for translating brain science into practical strategies that work in real schools. His work centers on strengthening students’ skills in organization, task initiation, self-regulation, and follow-through through intentional systems that support learning without increasing teachers’ workloads. Through his writing, speaking, and consulting, he challenges educators to reconsider why students struggle and equips them with a shared language and concrete tools to unlock student potential.Sarah Oberle is an educator, writer, and professional learning designer with 18 years of experience as a primary classroom teacher. Her work centers on helping educators understand how learning happens and how that understanding shapes daily instructional decisions.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Mitch Weathers and Sarah Oberle are veteran educators and authors2:37 - What are executive functions?4:29 - Why executive functions matter in primary grades6:59 - Designing tier one environments that support all learners10:10 - Confusing behaviors with executive functions14:13 - Core vs higher order executive functions16:45 - How to reduce cognitive load and improve working memory20:51 - Two ways to reduce cognitive load in the primary classroom25:22 - How to tweak the physical and acoustic learning environments31:15 - Why starting the whole class together makes a difference36:07 - How Sarah uses voice recorders in her first grade classroom38:45 - A first step to take for the overwhelmed educator45:38 - How and where to connect with Mitch and Sarah onlineVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

→ How can an education podcast impact personal growth and professional practice?→ Is there still room for more education content creators today?→ How do two veteran educators view today’s educational landscape?About These GuestsToday’s Teachers on Fire are Martin Stuible and Roy Hunt, hosts of the After the Bell podcast. Martin Stuible is deep into his third chapter of life with his creative company, Creative Moments on 11th. Roy Hunt is a geologist, world traveller, master teacher, and podcaster.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Martin Stuible and Roy Hunt are the hosts of the After the Bell podcast1:28 - How Martin and Roy connected4:45 - How the After the Bell podcast was born9:24 - How the podcast has impacted personal growth13:46 - Is there still room for more education podcasts20:21 - Practical habits of self-compassion for overwhelmed educators24:26 - Thoughts on AI in education today31:08 - Thoughts on the thesis of the Digital Delusion40:20 - How to connect with the After the Bell podcastVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.

→ How can educators model healthy skepticism while also being brokers of hope regarding AI tools?→ What practical boundaries can we set so our students don't outsource their critical thinking to algorithms?→ With all that is going on in education and politics, how can we preserve cultures of joy in today's classrooms?About This GuestDean Shareski is a Senior Partnership Consultant with Advanced Learning Partnerships, bringing decades of experience at the intersection of education, leadership, and innovation. He works closely with school systems to translate big ideas—especially around learning design, leadership development, and emerging technologies—into practical, scalable strategies. Known for his clear thinking and candid approach, Dean helps leaders move from aspiration to action.Connect with Dean ShareskiOn X @shareski,On Instagram @dshareski, On his podcast at The Canadian_Ed Leadership Show, andOn his blog at http://ideasandthoughts.org or http://shareski.ca.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Dean Shareski is an author, speaker, writer, and K-12 education consultant1:50 - Educators as "brokers of hope"4:53 - How to model healthy skepticism with AI tools7:38 - Losing students' productive struggle to AI13:38 - Leverage digital tools to amplify and transform student learning17:26 - How to protect the wonder and joy of our classrooms20:59 - Building school teams like the Blue Jays of 202524:42 - Sports gambling creeping into schools28:31 - What gives Dean hope for the future31:48 - What keeps Dean's fire for learning burning bright34:33 - How and where to connect with Dean Shareski onlineVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

→ What does recess look like if it is as safe as necessary but not as safe as possible?→ What are the links between the decline of independent, risky play and the rise in student anxiety?→ How do we distinguish between healthy 'rough-and-tumble’ play and actual aggression?Today’s Teachers on Fire are Dr. Mariana Brussoni and Dr. Megan Zeni, the authors of the recently published Embracing Risky Play at School: Getting Kids Outdoors to Explore, Learn, and Grow. Dr. Mariana Brussoni is a Professor within the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine and a scientist with British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, where she leads the Outside Play Lab. Her research reimagines how outdoor and risky play can be integrated into everyday life to help children thrive.Dr. Megan Zeni is a teacher consultant and researcher in the province of British Columbia. She has 3 decades of professional K-7 teaching experience in classrooms, outdoor classrooms, and school gardens. Megan supports just about anyone interested in building capacity for effective and sustainable implementation of risky play, school gardens, and outdoor classrooms in elementary schools. Learn more and follow her work at meganzeni.com.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Welcoming Dr. Mariana Brussoni and Dr. Megan Zeni 2:00 - Distinguishing between RISKS and HAZARDS in the school environment5:24 - As safe as necessary but not as safe as possible7:14 - Surplus safety as a barrier to development10:06 - The 17-second pause before intervening12:42 - Links between the decline of risky play and the rise in student anxiety18:35 - Creating 'Yes spaces' in our schools27:02 - Healthy rough-and-tumble play vs actual aggression30:19 - Items to add to a playground35:22 - Going outdoors consistently beats occasional trips38:16 - How and where to connect with the authors onlineVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

→ Is it still possible to engage productively as a teacher on social media?→ What do our students risk losing when they lean into AI tools and strategies?→ What can be gained by bringing student writing to authentic audiences?Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.About This Guest, David CutlerDavid is a dad, husband, and writer. He’s also a veteran US history, government, and journalism teacher who is exploring AI in education with caution.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - David Cutler is a high school history and journalism teacher in Massachusetts1:30 - "ChatGPT has no place in my classoom!"2:41 - Don't let AI climb the hill for our kids6:01 - Too much help from AI tools7:49 - Is there a contradiction in belief when teachers use AI tools?12:01 - How teachers can use social media productively17:38 - Teaching students to identify fake news20:53 - Using comic books in the social studies classroom22:40 - The value of frequent, low-stakes assessments24:49 - Sharing student writing with authentic audiences27:31 - Why David writes about education on Medium30:10 - How and where to connect with David Cutler onlineConnect with David Cutleron LinkedIn,on X @spinedu,on Instagram @teachercutler,on Medium at medium.com/@spincutler, and on his website, dcutler.pressfolios.com.Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

→ How can education leaders help staff move from AI anxiety to AI optimism and fluency?→ How can we make sure that pedagogy always trumps technology in our classrooms?→ How can we promote the kind of disruptive thinking necessary to future-proof our learners for an unpredictable world?Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.About This Guest, Eric SheningerEric works with schools throughout the world, helping educators meet and exceed their potential to improve outcomes for learners. He is the founder and CEO of Aspire Change EDU, a collaborative consultancy designed to provide personalized support to all educational systems. Prior to this, he was a teacher and an award-winning Principal at New Milford High School.Timestamps from This Episode0:00:00 - Eric Sheninger is an award-winning principal, author, and speaker.2:01 - About his book, Personalize: Meeting the Needs of All Learners 3:47 - Leveraging technology and personalized learning frameworks7:56 - How to use AI as a force multiplier as education leaders12:57 - Which AI tools Eric uses for which purposes16:22 - How to move from AI anxiety to AI optimism and fluency21:16 - Pedagogy trumps technology - and that includes AI24:59 - The disruptive thinking necessary to future-proof our learners28:02 - Words for the innovative educator who feels alone34:06 - How and where to connect with Eric online34:54 - Eric's current work on a next bookConnect with Ericon LinkedIn,on X @E_Sheninger,on Instagram @esheninger, on YouTube @EricSheninger, andon his website at https://ericsheninger.com/.Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.