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Kat Crawford, an Instructional Designer and Justice and Accessibility Advocate, specializes in designing innovative digital solutions, facilitating professional learning, and supporting the transformation of school systems to enhance student engagement. Kat never really left the stage—she traded the bright lights of theatre class for designing learning experiences that students actually want to eat up as the Lunch Lady. She spent over a decade disrupting the technology divide inside secure schools, fueled by her core belief: every student deserves a seat at the table—and a learning experience worth savoring.

Your WHY 

My work spans various roles, including directing and designing national curriculum initiatives, teaching graduate courses, and leading digital adoption for alternative and secure schools, all driven by my passion for student success and inclusion. All of my work is driven by my core belief that all students deserve a high-quality education.

I run on stories. On second chances. On the sacred mess of being human.

Background as an Educational Technology Leader

As an educational technology leader with over 20 years of experience, I specialize in designing innovative digital solutions, facilitating professional learning, and supporting the transformation of school systems to enhance student engagement. With expertise in curriculum design, technology integration, and instructional coaching, I have worked with school districts in 47 states to promote educational equity and impactful learning experiences. 

Executive Director of Digital Innovation

From 2020 to 2024, I was the Executive Director of Digital Innovation at the Schlechty Center. My responsibilities included:

• Managing school district clients nationwide from the classroom to the boardroom in designing work centered around engagement.
• Customizing district proposals to design innovative work in person and virtually through on-site workshops, meetings, and trainings.
• Driving adoption and implementation of technology in professional learning sessions using educational technology tools aimed at equity, accessibility, and collaboration for all students.
• Leveraging client relations from year to year to maintain proposal renewals and growth opportunities with new and existing districts.
• Working closely with cross-functional teams to support our work nationally.

The Lunch Lady

My alter ego, The Lunch Lady, is an apron-wearing, tray-slinging voice inside every educator, reminding us that meaningful learning isn’t prepackaged—it’s handcrafted, messy, and deliciously authentic. It’s lunchtime, and The Lunch Lady is cooking up something new for

the classroom. The way this came about is when I was asked to dress up like a chef for an ISTE playground. Everyone looked like a chef, but that wasn’t me. I remember Chris Farley as the lunch lady, and that was it.

https://lunchladyedu.com

The Secret Recipe for Student Agency is now Breakfast in Banter

Today’s special? A three-course meal filled with deeper learning, sprinkled with innovation, and stuffed with student agency – served piping hot! Your reservation is ready because every student deserves a seat at the table – and a learning experience worth savoring. Don’t start from scratch! It’s time to reveal the secret recipe for Mystery Meat: Learning experiences worth devouring. Step into the kitchen and start cooking meaningful learning – no more prepackaging or reheating. Let’s transform classrooms into cafeterias of curiosity, choice, and creativity. Come hungry – you’ll want seconds.

Figma and how it is aligned with your WHY

I am the Education Program Manager for Figma. We support K12 educators, schools, and districts in bringing collaboration and creativity to the classroom through FigJam and Figma. The current focus includes in-person training, community building, and scaling impact through virtual programming. 

Your Consulting Company: How Might We

We empower school districts to push beyond traditional boundaries by fostering innovative solutions that address complex challenges. We specialize in designing transformative systems and initiatives for educational institutions, with a strong focus on alternative schools. Our services include individual and team coaching, customized professional development, and dynamic workshops. We don’t just respond to existing needs—we inspire new possibilities, helping schools discover what could be and build toward what will be.

Kat Crawford’s Contact Information

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dramatickat/
X: https://x.com/dramatickat
LL (X): https://x.com/LunchLadyEDU 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dramatickat
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dramatickat/
LL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunchladyedu/
Lunch Lady Headshots: The Lunch Lady Plain Background

*****

I was looking forward to talking on my virtual porch with Kat Craford, the Lunch Lady. I didn’t know about Kat’s theatre background, but it makes sense. She is Dramatickat on social media and uses humor and her theater experience in her presentations. Her stories had me laughing. Knowing how she came up with the Lunch Lady was perfect. She watched Chris Farley and said, I can do that.  I just loved our conversation and hope you did, too. Please share the podcast and this post with your friends.

The post Learning Experiences Worth Savoring with Kat Crawford (EP184) appeared first on Barbara Bray.

By Barbara Bray and Stephanie Howell

Stephanie Howell and I decided to create a planning tool using the Design Thinking Process, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and AI. In deciding what resources you need based on the learners you have, you may first need to determine how your learners learn best, what lesson or activity you plan to focus on, how design thinking can support the process, and which AI tools you include in a lesson or activity. We updated a previous planning tool for AI that I co-created with Jackie Gerstein on makerspaces. [source]

There is no “average†brain

The assumption that metrics comparing us to an average—like GPAs, personality test results, and performance review ratings—reveal something meaningful about our potential is so ingrained in our consciousness that we don’t even question it. That assumption, says Harvard’s Dr. Todd Rose, is spectacular—and scientifically wrong. [Source]

“If we overcome the barriers of one-dimensional thinking and demand that social institutions value individuality over the average, then we will change the way we think about success– not in terms of our deviation from average, but on the terms we set for ourselves.â€

Dr. Todd Rose, author of The End of Average

From Todd Rose’s Project Variability, he states that “even though we have the most diverse population in the world, we are unable to exploit this natural advantage in human capital.†Four percent of dropouts in the US are intellectually gifted. That comes up to 50,000 minds each year who don’t fit in the average model. How much of this is bad design? We design learning environments for the average learner. We call our system age-appropriate, but it is not. Learners vary on many dimensions of learning.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Universal Design for Learning (UDL), developed by David Rose and Ann Meyers of the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST), was designed to reduce barriers to the curriculum and maximize learning. UDL provides a framework for all learners to help them become self-directed and independent expert learners. UDL has reordered the principles and guidelines, beginning with Multiple Means of Engagement, which complements the WHY of Learning and how the Design Thinking Process involves learners in identifying an authentic problem or challenge.

Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) 

• Multiple Means of Engagement is the affective network that explains how interest and purpose engage and motivate learners to want to learn. (The WHY of Learning) 
• Multiple Means of Representation is the recognition network for how content is represented and how learners process information. (The WHAT of Learning) 
• Multiple Means of Action and Expression refers to the strategic network that involves how learners monitor progress and demonstrate and reflect evidence of learning. (The How of Learning)

UDL is based on principles that empower everyone to have agency over their own learning. It enables educators and learners to establish clear goals, anticipate potential environmental barriers, create meaningful options, and fully embrace human diversity.

http://www.cast.org/our-work/about-udl.html 

The National Center on Universal Design for Learning refers to the alternate version of the UDL Guidelines found in the book UDL Theory and Practice by David Rose and Ann Meyers. Starting with the WHY of Learning, the UDL Guidelines take you on a deep dive into each of the principles, using checkpoints that provide resources, examples, and research. 

The Design Thinking Process

Design thinking is an approach to learning that includes considering real-world problems, researching, analyzing, conceiving original ideas, experimenting, and sometimes building things by hand. This process guides students to consider the needs of others, solve challenges, overcome setbacks, and stay motivated to learn. The process also teaches students to build on the ideas of others, vet sources, generate questions, deeply analyze topics, and think creatively and analytically. The Design Thinking Process includes five phases: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test.

https://dschool.stanford.edu          https://designthinking.ideo.com/

Design Thinking 1. Empathize + (UDL) Engagement

Design Thinking 1. Empathize + (UDL) Engagement

To create meaningful innovations or solutions, you need to know your audience and care about their lives.

The UDL connection to Engagement, the first phase of Empathy and Perspective Taking, involves learners having options for sustaining effort and persistence by fostering collaboration and community. This phase is where learners gain an understanding of the needs of specific people from their perspective

Design Thinking 2. Define + (UDL) Engagement/Representation

Framing the right problem is the only way to create the right solution.

Design Thinking Phase 2 and the UDL connection to engagement and representation involves defining the problem to address and establishing a point of view based on the needs prioritized in Phase 1.

Design Thinking 3. Ideate + (UDL) Representation/Action & Expression

It’s not about coming up with the ‘right’ idea, it’s about generating the broadest range of possibilities.â€

The Design Thinking Phase 3 and the UDL connection to Representation involves brainstorming and generating a solution to address the problem by highlighting relationships among the ideas. Aligning to Action & Expression, learners can use AI and other tools to communicate their ideas.

Design Thinking 4. Prototype + (UDL) Action & Expression

The prototype is the iterative generation of artifacts intended to answer questions to get you closer to your solution.

The Design Thinking Phase 5 and the UDL connection to Action and Expression have learners collaborating to transform the idea into a product, event, story, or another process, solving the problem. One product could be a story where they decide on a way to showcase it, such as a presentation, a performance, a book, or even a video. 

Design Thinking 5. Test + (UDL) Engagement/Representation

Testing is an opportunity to learn about your solution and your user and invite feedback.

The Design Thinking Phase 5 and the UDL Connection to Engagement and Representation foster collaboration by inviting feedback from the audience first interviewed in Phase 1. The audience reviews the final product and how it met the needs by solving the problems

Digital Tools in the Learning Backpack 

Review the AI programs, online tools, and Google Doc templates using any of the examples of activities mentioned above. Choose any of the apps or tools you believe will enhance your lessons and engage your learners to add to your Learning Backpack.

Figma Notebook LM   ChatGPT SchoolAI Gemini  PadletThinglink  Canva

Storyboard  Crazy 8’s Empathy Map Generate Sort Connect Elaborate Thinking Hat activityGripe JamWhy’sKWL

Below are two Google Docs using AI with detailed activities:

 Using AI to Strengthen Authenticity in PBL (Activities)

 From Feedback to Glows & Grows by Greta Sandler

Now it’s your turn!

Choose a lesson you plan to focus on, how UDL and design thinking can support the process with specific activities, possibly the UN SDGs, and which AI apps or tools you will include.

Design Thinking, UDL, and AI Planning Tool

Barbara Bray https://linktr.ee/barbarabray27
Stephanie Howell  https://linktr.ee/mrshowell24

The post Think. Design. Engage: Where AI Meets UDL and the Design Thinking Process appeared first on Barbara Bray.

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Hanna Kemble-Mick, school counselor, dean of elementary school counseling, Indian Hills Elementary School, Topeka, Kansas. Hanna is a 2025 School Counselor of the Year® finalist, Therapy Dog mom, and Tech/AI enthusiast. I met Hanna through her mom, Jerri Kemble, when they were presenting with firefly wings. Then I had a one-to-one conversation with Hanna, and that was it… she had to be a guest on my show.

Your WHY and What Brings You Joy

My “why†is building schools where students are truly seen, where creativity is valued, and where opportunity is not reserved for a lucky few. I root for the underdog, the underserved, and students in rural communities who deserve the same expansive possibilities as anyone else. What brings me joy is connection, continuous learning, dogs, polka dots, and the everyday magic of my students growing into who they are meant to be.

Your Background (what it was like in school, growing up, what you always wanted to be)

I grew up in a rural community with a big heart, where everyone knew each other and helping others was simply part of everyday life. My parents, Kurt and Jerri Kemble, modeled what it meant to show up for others, and that spirit carried through our town. All of my grandparents lived nearby, so my childhood was filled with time around their kitchen tables, lending a hand to neighbors, and taking part in community service.

When I was little, I dreamed of becoming a veterinarian because of my love for animals. I loved school and felt connected there until my senior year, when my mom became superintendent, and I transferred to the district where she worked. Suddenly, I felt out of place. In true teenage fashion, I joined the track team and filmed basketball games, volunteering for anything that would get me out of the building. Even then, I was learning how much belonging and environment shape a person’s experience. 

I am fortunate to have a loving family and live in Lawrence, Kansas, with my husband, Dalton, two dogs, and a cat.

Becoming a School Counselor: Describe what it meant to you when you figured out your calling.

I graduated from college with a degree in advertising and began a career I genuinely enjoyed. I loved my job and deeply respected my boss, but something within me kept whispering that the work was not fulfilling my soul. I knew I wanted to make a different impact, so I decided to return to school to become a counselor. My boss met that decision with incredible kindness, allowing me to continue working while attending graduate school full-time, a generosity I have never forgotten. 

When I first contacted the counseling program, the response felt uncertain and discouraging. There were questions about whether this path was truly right for me and how a background in marketing and advertising fit into the counseling world. 

While I understand their perspective now, at the time, it planted seeds of imposter syndrome and left me wondering if I truly belonged. Yet, as the program continued, so did my clarity of purpose. I discovered that the skills I brought with me, including communication, creativity, understanding people, and connecting messages to meaning, were not detours but strengths. Looking back, I would not change the path at all. It shaped my resilience, deepened my empathy, and affirmed that this calling was exactly where I was meant to be.

Junior Coaches Program

Junior Coaches began as a restorative program designed to support students who struggle with peer conflict and behavior by building problem-solving skills and confidence. The group included older students who practiced these skills together and then took them to recess, where they supported younger students in navigating conflicts and challenges. This felt more comfortable and natural for them than stepping into that role with their own classmates, and it gave them a meaningful way to lead.

Paws and Claws grew alongside it as a project-based learning group where students design, create, and donate pet products to a local animal shelter. I love both of these groups because they move beyond simply talking about skills and instead create depth through authentic skill-building. Students are not just learning what to do. They are practicing empathy, responsibility, collaboration, and problem-solving in real and meaningful ways.

School Counselor of the Year 2025 Finalist

Being named a 2025 School Counselor of the Year Finalist has been a wild and humbling ride. I still catch myself looking at photos from Capitol Hill and thinking, Did that really happen? It has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. 

https://videos.schoolcounselor.org/hanna-kemble-mick

For a moment, you feel fully seen, valued, and celebrated as an educator and as a school counselor, and I find myself wishing every person in education could experience that kind of affirmation. The connections, friendships, and shared purpose have been next level. This truly feels like the gift of a lifetime. 

Through this experience, I have built lasting relationships with educators across the country and have had the opportunity to share my message about elevating school counseling and keeping it future-focused through keynotes and presentations in districts and conferences nationwide. I am deeply grateful to ASCA for opening doors I never imagined, and for creating an experience I wish every school counselor could have.

Firefly Effect Presentations and more

I have had the meaningful opportunity to present alongside my mom through the Firefly Effect and the Life Hack Lab for Women Who Lead. These experiences focus less on quick fixes and more on intentional navigation, introspection, and reflection. Together, we invite participants to pause, examine their paths, and reconnect with their purpose while building the courage to lead with authenticity and resilience. Sharing this work with my mom has made it even more special, blending a personal story with professional insight in a way that resonates deeply with the women we serve.

AI Integration and what that means for Educators and School Counselors

When I present on AI integration for educators and school counselors, I emphasize intentional use and meaningful impact. Rather than using technology for its own sake, I encourage professionals to ask why they are using it and how it supports students and strengthens their work. We explore how AI can expand access to support, streamline tasks, and open new pathways for learning, while remaining grounded in ethical, safe, and student-centered practices. 

At the same time, I stress as technology becomes more present in our lives, human skills become even more essential. Skills, like empathy, communication, critical thinking, self-awareness, creativity, and ethical decision-making, empower students to use technology. wisely and to thrive in a rapidly changing world. The goal is not to replace the human element, but to amplify it, empowering counselors and educators to extend their reach, deepen relationships, and better support the growth and well-being of the students they serve.

Hanna’s Keynote in Mississippi

What’s next?

Speaking engagem

ents and presentations, writing a book, giving back to the profession, and continuing to be a champion for students! 

Hanna’s Contact Information

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannakemble/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hanna.kemble 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannamickedu/  
Email: hannamickedu@gmail.com

****

I was looking forward to my talk on my virtual porch with Hanna Kemble-Mick. I just loved it and hope you did, too.  I knew Hanna was a School Counselor Finalist and an amazing speaker, but I also know her as Jerri Kemble’s daughter. When I saw the two of them in their Firefly Wings, I just had to get to know Hanna better. You can see the joy in our selfie from the FETC conference.. Enjoy the post that Hanna created here. Then please share our conversation with your friends.

The post Unlock the Power of AI in School Counseling with Hanna Kemble-Mick (EP183) appeared first on Barbara Bray.

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Dr. Martha Umana, Founder of AIA (AI4Educator), author, and bilingual educator, is known as The Bridge. She helps parents and teachers thrive in the AI era by prioritizing human skills for future-ready kids.

For over two decades, Dr. Umama has worked at the intersection of school and home, guiding families and educators in raising children who are emotionally intelligent, cognitively strong, and future-ready.

Your Why

My WHY is the child and the adults around the child. I kept seeing students who could produce impressive work, but they could not explain it, verify it, or revise it. When the process is missing, the child is not protected: teachers cannot assess fairly, and parents cannot mentor confidently at home. I do this work to keep learning honest across school and family life, and to build the human skills that remain stable. no matter what AI becomes: judgment, self-regulation, empathy, and truth seeking.

Your Background

I was born and raised in Latin America. Because I have lived and worked across countries and languages, I am careful about what transfers and what does not. What I focus on is universal: children learn when adults stay connected, expectations are clear, and revision is safe.

Growing up, learning was a deeply social experience. Adults helped you improve without shaming you. That balance, accountability, and connection became central to how I work with teachers and families. I do not romanticize any system. I simply pay attention to what protects children: high expectations paired with dignity, and correction paired with care.

Early in my career, I held leadership roles in higher education, including Academic Affairs Director and University Professor. Later, I moved to the United States as an adult, built a business, and eventually returned to education in public schools. Looking back, that shift mattered because it gave me the three lenses I needed: system, workplace, and relationship.

AI Changed the Conditions of Learning, and Why This is Urgent

AI did not just add a tool. It changed the conditions of learning for children and for the adults guiding them. AI accelerates output, but it does not build the internal capacities a child needs to live well. It can generate language, answers, and even persuasive arguments, but it cannot build a child’s self-regulation, empathy, moral judgment, or ability to verify what is true.

Those skills are formed through guided practice and accountability. If we do not prioritize them now, we will confuse productivity with competence. We will raise students who can perform, but cannot explain, check, or revise under pressure. That is why I say that human skills are the stable line of support when the future is hard to predict.

From school safety to AI governance: why emotional and identity harms appear first.

The Role Shift for Teachers and Parents

Teachers are no longer competing as holders of information. Information is everywhere. What is scarce now is judgment, verification, and authorship. So the teacher’s role shifts. Teachers become accountable architects of thinking: they design what students must know and show independently, what can be supported, and what must be verified, so learning is not replaced by polished output.

Parents face a role shift, too. Parents have a new factor shaping childhood: algorithmic influence. It shapes what children see, what they repeat, what they normalize, what they desire, and sometimes what they fear. Parenting shifts from policing screens to mentoring attention, values, safety, and truth seeking.

The child is the only person who lives in both worlds every day. That is why home and school must be coherent: shared expectations for explanation, verification, and revision keep the child protected.

Coherence before capacity: Protecting teacher thinking in the age of AI

Coherence Before Capacity, and What I Built

My organizing principle is Coherence Before Capacity. It means we align roles, boundaries, and evidence of learning first, before we scale tools, training, or adoption. Capacity without coherence just scales confusion. Coherence is what protects meaning, protects dignity, and protects the child as an author of their own learning.

I founded AI4Educator to help teachers use AI in a way that protects teacher authority, student authorship, and feasibility. That is why I built two practical supports.

Question: When AI saturates STEM ecosystems, what protects the learning process?

For teachers, I developed an Epistemic Principle: a simple way to decide what must be independent, what may be supported but verified, and what artifacts make thinking visible. I built the agent to operationalize that in teacher planning, so those protections show up in lessons without adding workload.

For parents, I created The Bridge: a shared language that brings home and school together in the same direction through explanation, verification, and revision.

The Bridge Script, One Routine That Works at Home and School

During one of my parent education classes, a mom came in upset. Her fourth grader’s writing had been flagged as AI because it sounded too perfect. But when we slowed down, the real issue was epistemic. When the student was asked to explain the writing in their own words, the thinking was not visible.

The child was caught between two worlds. At school, the teacher needed evidence of learning. At home, the family needed homework done, and fast answers were everywhere. So I gave the mom one shared script that works at home and school.

• Show Me: Show me your process: plan, notes, draft, and what you changed.  
• Explain It: Tell me in your own words what you meant and why you chose it.  
• Check It: Verify one key claim or one step with a second source or method.  
• Change It: Update your work based on what the check revealed. Correct an error if needed. If you are right, strengthen your evidence and explanation so that your thinking is visible.

This simple routine helps both teachers and parents protect learning integrity without turning adults into AI police.

The Bridge is available on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-bridge-home-school-7378959523816009728/ 

Harnessing the Wind of Change:
From Digital Police to Digital Mentors

Book: How to Stay Calm While Raising Resilient Kids

By Dr. Martha Umana and Ioannis Anapliotis

Overwhelmed by endless parenting advice? Craving real‑world tools you can trust and use today?

How to Stay Calm While Raising Resilient Kids delivers precisely what the latest consumer research shows parents need:

Actionable, Science‑Backed Practices, no fluff or jargon, just bite‑sized scripts and routines grounded in developmental research.

Emotional Support & Reassurance, a warm, empathetic voice that reminds you you’re not alone in the chaos.

Modern, Holistic Solutions, from mindful screen‑time strategies to gentle discipline, work‑life harmony, and nutritional guidance.

Available at https://www.amazon.com/Stay-Calm-While-Raising-Resilient/dp/B0FG2LRKQN/ 

Books: ME Time (11 books)

The Me Time Series  By Dr. Martha Umana and Ioannis Anapliotis

Born from the heart of How to Stay Calm While Raising Resilient Kids, this 10-book series invites children and families into calm, connection, and creativity, one meaningful activity at a time.

Each book offers simple, open-ended prompts that spark imagination and emotional growth through hands-on experiences. These are not just activity books. They’re invitations—to slow down, to tune in, and to share time that feels nourishing for both child and adult. Created for real families with real lives, the Me Time Series helps you bring calm and creativity into your home, without pressure or overwhelm. Perfect for ages 4 to 9. No special supplies needed. Just time, presence, and a little space to explore together.

Book: Mindful Moments: A Beginner’s Guide to Practical Meditation for Daily Stress by Dr. Martha Umana

Unlock tranquility and balance with “Mindful Moments,†your essential guide to integrating meditation seamlessly into your bustling schedule.

Mindful Moments equips you with a practical toolkit that fits effortlessly into any lifestyle, ensuring that serenity is just a breath away, no matter how hectic your day may seem.

What’s next for AI in 2026 and beyond

In 2026 and beyond, I expect the conversations to grow in three visible ways.

First, systems will move from excitement about tools to clarity about boundaries: what must remain human, what can be supported, and what must be verified.

Second, the assessment will change. Schools will not be able to treat polished output as evidence of learning, so we will see more emphasis on process artifacts: drafts, reasoning, oral explanation, verification steps, and revision trails.

Third, the real differentiator will be human skills. AI will keep getting better at generating, but it will not build a child’s judgment, self-regulation, empathy, or truth-seeking. Those have to be deliberately practiced through routines at school and at home. That is why I focus on Coherence Before Capacity. If we get coherence right first, roles, evidence, and verification routines, then capacity, tools, and training can scale without damaging learning.

The next era is not tool adoption, it is learning integrity: making thinking visible, verification routine, and human skills non-negotiable.

The Future-Ready Classroom

 Featured on page 39 of the Eduverse Newsletter
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/693508ed2b.html#page/1 

Dr. Martha Umana’s Contact Information 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-martha-umana-4127a31b/

Email: dr.marthaumana@gmail.com 

******

I always learn so much from Dr. Martha Umana. Each time we talk, I find out something new about her and her background. This is why I love these conversations on my virtual porch. I appreciate all the work Martha did to create this blog post that complements the podcast. Enjoy, and please share it with your friends.

The post Building Future-Ready Schools and Families with Dr. Martha Umana (EP182) appeared first on Barbara Bray.

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Dr. Aditya Nagrath helps students overcome mathematics anxiety.  He is the creator and founder of Elephant Learning Mathematics Academy. With a PhD in Mathematics & Computer Sciences, he has spent over 30 years in industry as a software engineer, author, leader, speaker, and serial entrepreneur working on projects ranging from atomic clocks to iOS and Android apps to Amazon’s Kindle Fire. Dr. Nagrath shares how confidence and belief are essential in overcoming math anxiety and shaping a child’s success in mathematics.

Your WHY 

I help children and the adults who support them overcome mathematics anxiety and build real confidence with numbers. 

My mission is to empower children with mathematics. Right now, about 4 out of 5 students start kindergarten unprepared for the kindergarten math curriculum. Underneath that statistic is something very human: a language gap around quantities.

Children often don’t have a solid, intuitive grasp of what words like “three,†“ten,†or “five†really mean, and have not connected them with symbols on a page. When the language and ideas aren’t there yet, math can quickly feel like a foreign language. My “why†is closing that gap—so that every child has the conceptual language of quantity they need before they ever have a chance to say, “I’m just not a math person.â€

Your Background: What Math Was Like for You

Growing up, I was not always the kid who just “got†mathematics. It did not all come naturally. My mother played a huge role in changing that story for me. Every summer, she would gather the math books for the following year and have me study for a few hours a day so I could be ready when school started.

At the time, it sometimes felt tedious, but looking back, that steady, structured exposure is what gave me the understanding and confidence to persevere in math, instead of turning away from it. Early discipline and support are big reasons why I eventually earned my Ph.D. in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Denver.

Because I know firsthand what it’s like not to instantly understand math—and what a difference the right support can make—I’m passionate about giving other children the kind of foundation and encouragement that changed everything for me.

Elephant Learning 

Elephant Learning is my way of scaling that kind of support and structure to as many families as possible. The system focuses on the language and concepts of quantity first, then builds steadily toward more advanced ideas.

On average, students in our system learn about 1.5 years of mathematics in just ten weeks, using Elephant Learning for only 30 minutes per week. By meeting students at their true level and strengthening the underlying language of math, we help them move quickly and confidently—without the pressure and anxiety that so many of us grew up with.

My goal is simple: to make sure that the next generation doesn’t inherit the same fear of math that so many adults carry today, and instead experiences mathematics as a tool for thinking, problem‑solving, and empowerment.

Book: Rethinking Math Learning 

https://amzn.to/44bDN94

Book: Treating Mathematics Anxiety 

https://amzn.to/3KdZy1d

• Resources: Course and Videos
• 30 Second Math Hack and more tips

What’s next for you?

Writing a textbook on Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages. 

Dr. Nagrath’s Contact Information

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adityanagrath/ 
Website: https://www.elephantlearning.com 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anagrath/ 
Email:  anagrath@elephantheadsoft.com

*****

It was great to have Dr. Aditya Nagrath join me on my virtual porch. I was one of the students who was anxious about math. I even said, “I don’t do math,†because I struggled with it. Listening to the strategies he shared about making math relevant and real makes so much sense.  As a professional developer working with math teachers, I saw the power of math. I could see math everywhere. I understand the idea Dr. Nagrath mentioned about math being like a language we can learn if we practice it.  I hope you enjoyed our conversation as much as I did. Please share this post and podcast with your friends, and make sure you connect with Dr. Aditya Nagrath.

*****

The post Dismantling Math Anxiety with Dr. Aditya Nagrath (EP181) appeared first on Barbara Bray.

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Nell 3D (Derick DeBevoise Dewey) is a former frontline humanitarian turned leadership expert. She’s like a retired fighter pilot of purpose, someone who didn’t just talk about impact, but lived it. As a strategist to the World’s Strivers, she guides purpose-driven leaders to trade exhaustion for alignment and fulfillment. I’m glad Nell is on my virtual porch to share what actually works. 

Your WHY

What if the final mile of true success isn’t about doing more — but about doing what matters most?

I didn’t leave corporate to chase purpose. I chased purpose first—spending a decade on the frontlines of global development, following my 12-year-old self’s mission across four continents. I saw what real service looks like—and what happens when it drains you dry.

That paradox became the spark for my life’s work:

Helping other leaders build the life, team, and legacy they actually want.

I thrive by doing less, in three dimensions:

• ME — personal wellbeing and clarity
• WE — team alignment and performance
• WORLD — purpose, impact, and integrity

When these dimensions are connected, leaders don’t just feel better — they lead better. Because the moment we align our success with what actually matters, we don’t burn out. 

We light up. 

This 3D Roadmap is my WHY.  I help leaders reclaim their energy, their agency, and the work they actually want to be doing.

Your Background on Purpose

My work draws on two decades across humanitarian leadership, academia, global consulting, and entrepreneurial ventures — from refugee camps to boardrooms, from research labs to ranches. Whether I’m lighting up a boardroom, guiding retreats in Santa Fe, or coaching with horses (yes, really)—I blend clarity, compassion, and a hard-won understanding of what sustainable leadership really requires.

My insights have been featured in Forbes and at Fortune 100 companies, industry-leading organizations, world-class universities, and high-impact not-for-profit and public sector organizations worldwide.

The 6 Spheres of Impact Framework

The 6 Spheres of Impact framework guides leaders to recognize their full potential for impact, ensuring they make investments that serve both immediate needs and long-term goals. 

These six spheres—Self, Family and Friends, Job, Workplace, Money, and Community—offer a roadmap for maximizing impact while staying aligned with values. When leaders take responsibility for their full sphere of influence, they unlock new levels of innovation, collaboration, and purpose-driven success.

Stop – Drop – Roll for Purpose-Driven Success

The universal 3-step tool leaders use to reclaim energy, clarity, and integrity:

STOP — Get quiet enough to gather real data about your effort and impact

DROP — Release outdated habits, inherited shoulds, and unhelpful structures

ROLL — Find the structural “win-win-wins†where your effort advances more than one dimension of your life or leadership

Nell’s Keynote: The Missing 1%

Nell is a former frontline humanitarian and global activist who discovered—after years of doing the work most people leave corporate to pursue—that even world-changing impact isn’t enough if it costs your health, relationships, or joy. That was her missing 1%.

Subtract to Succeed Substack 

I write a weekly newsletter designed to help connect the dots of our lives, so that we can do more good, without doing more! Every Monday, I share a Subtraction Scenario, exploring the real-life opportunities – and challenges – of systematic subtraction. And on (most) Wednesdays, I publish Subtraction Sessions: a conversation with another 3D leader about their practice of subtraction – what impact it’s had, where it’s still a work in progress, and what has surprised them.

Here are a few excerpts from a recent edition, What if We Subtracted: Small Talk. I include these practical tools (and more!) every week so that you can make the practice your own – and share with colleagues, friends, family, and other helpers you care about. 

Example from Subtraction Practice on Purpose (aka: How to stop showing up small)

HOW — Reflection Questions

• What topics do you default to in social or professional settings—and do they actually matter to you?
• When was the last time you walked away from a conversation energized? What made it different?
• What’s one thing you’re genuinely thinking about right now that you haven’t mentioned to anyone today?
• What belief or fear keeps you in “small talk modeâ€? What might open up if you subtracted it?
• If an alien sat on your shoulder at your last networking event, what patterns would they notice in how you talk?
• What’s the difference between “real†and “raw†for you? Where’s your personal line for appropriate intimacy with new people?

WHEN — Calendar Prompt on Purpose

Before your next 2–3 social or networking events, set a 5-minute reminder titled:
“Big Talk.†On your way to the event, take a moment to:

• Remember the benefits of big talk — energy, connection, clarity, actual humanity.
• Jot down 2–3 things you’re genuinely thinking about or caring about right now.
• Bring those topics with you as conversational options.

And afterwards, spend 3 minutes noting:

• Did I show up small or big?
• How did I feel afterward?
• What felt easy? What felt hard?
• What might I try differently next time?

AI Prompts to Go Deeper on Purpose

Paste any of these prompts into your favorite AI thinking partner:

• I want to get better at “big talk†– sharing what is actually important to me instead of defaulting to small talk.
• Here’s what I tend to default to in social settings: [describe].
• Here’s what I’m actually interested in or thinking about: [describe].

• My hesitation about sharing the real stuff is: [fear of judgment, wanting to fit in, not knowing if others care, etc.].
• Help me brainstorm 5–7 ways I could answer common questions (weekend plans, what I do for work, recent travel) in ways that feel authentic but not overwhelming or inappropriate.

Tell me what comes back that’s actually useful (or hilariously hallucinated 🤪).

INVITE: RIP Resolutions! A Subtract to Succeed Salon with Nell3D

Wednesday, January 21, 12 pm ET on Substack Live

The Subtract to Succeed salon is a space to understand why it doesn’t work to keep doing MORE, and what to do instead. So we can head into the new year free of the pressure and overwhelm of resolutions we should have made, could have made, or have already broken!

We’ll cover the research and practice behind Systematic Subtraction, as well as my STOP-DROP-ROLL method, in a quick 20 minutes so you can get back to your day. OR stay and see the method in action so you’re sure you can bring it into your life. To do more GOOD, without DOING more.

*****

Nell’s Contact Information

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nell3d/ 
Website; nell3d.com
Substack: https://nell3d.substack.com/
Email: nell@nell3d.com

*****
I am so glad that Nell 3D joined me on my virtual porch. Our conversation was about why success is not about doing more; it is about doing what matters most. I loved that. I was excited to learn about her coaching with horses, and the method she shared about subtraction to succeed.  I was surprised when I saw the resources, Tedx Talk, and stories Nell shared on this post. Enjoy! Please share this post and podcast with your friends, and make sure you connect with Nell 3D.

*****

The post Stop, Drop, and Roll with Nell 3D (EP180) appeared first on Barbara Bray.

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With over 20 years as a listening expert and researcher, Dr. Laura Janusik empowers caregivers, leaders, and growth seekers to build stronger, more compassionate relationships. Transforming workplace communication through training and workshops, Laura guides caregivers navigating cognitive decline. Laura’s work is rooted in the science and practice of listening, helping people connect with clarity, patience, and understanding in every part of life.

Your WHY about Listening

I took my first listening course in my master’s level program because my mentor, Dr. Andrew Wolvin, was a listening scholar. I knew he’d be writing my letters of recommendation, so I figured that if I showed a little interesr of his passion, the letters might be better. Within 2 weeks of that class, my life had changed! I couldn’t believe what listening actually was, and how I had been the world’s worst listener for over 30 years!

When I realized that the quality of listening determines the quality of the relationship, I was hooked! 

I, too, became a listening scholar, and my passion has been to help people develop better personal and professional relationships through the power of listening. 

Most communication problems aren’t about what we say; they’re about how our brains listen.

I help business leaders, caregivers, and coaches strengthen their communication through neuroscience-based listening strategies. When you understand how the brain processes messages, you can create connections, reduce stress, and build trust in every conversation.

Listening to Change, LLC

http://listeningtochange.com/ 

Listening to Change helps Coaches, Leaders, Executive Leadership Teams, Sales Teams, Groups, and Individuals listen and speak with purpose to increase shared understanding, decrease time on projects, and build a positive company culture. Consulting, training, and coaching are customized for each client.

• Create Alignment
• Deepen Connections
• Grow through Action

Why Listening is an Important Skill

Listening takes intention, awareness, and practice, and it appears different depending on who you are and the challenges you face. It is also dependent on the context, including with whom you’re speaking, the purpose of the conversation, and your goal. 

Whether you’re leading a team, caring for a loved one, or seeking personal growth through coaching, the right strategies can help you listen more effectively, increase trust, and build stronger, more compassionate connections.

Most people don’t think of listening as being a part of communication. I like to use this equation: Communication = Sending Messages + Receiving Messages. And, most miscommunication occurs because of poor listening, not poor speaking. If we learn to listen even 10% better, our conversations and relationships will improve.

How Listening is Important in Business

Listening is important in business because it’s the best skill to create alignment. It is the skill that helps teams get on the same page and work towards the same goal. A business cannot exist without communication, so it seems counterintuitive to me when a business doesn’t invest in communication training.

Listening is the one skill that influences all of those primary business goals, such as getting projects completed on time, increasing sales, and achieving higher customer satisfaction.

There are two best ways someone can develop better listening in business. The first is through coaching, and the second through team training. I work in both areas. I use the ECHO Listening Profile™. as the foundation of either one, and I’m a certified coach for Listening Intelligence. The ECHO is special, as it’s a validated listening assessment that identifies your dominant listening habit and blind spot. I use this instrument because it’s a great way to show people what they are listening to and for, as well as what they are missing. It not only helps individuals; it also helps teams, because the group report is an excellent way to ‘see’ how team members are listening similarly and differently.

Aren’t Most Coaches Good Listeners?

Most coaches are better listeners than the average person, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t improve. As a coach myself, I know that it’s a great way to help clients build their confidence. I help coaches with tiny tweaks rooted in neuroscience so they can help their clients listen better to their inner wisdom.

How did you get involved with Caregivers and the focus on listening?

My Mom was diagnosed with cognitive decline about 10 years ago, and I promptly did what most children do…nothing! I figured she had dealt with and conquered all of her health ailments, and she would do the same with this one, too. Fast forward 5 years to when she got COVID, which really exacerbated her dementia. As the only surviving child, I knew I needed to step in. Communicating with her was frustrating because she didn’t understand what I was asking her, and she often repeated herself.

I realized that if a PhD in Communication couldn’t develop a good relationship with her Mom in dementia, then who could?

With communication theory and brain science, I created a workshop to help others reduce their frustration and increase their connection. It’s been a game-changer for everyone who has taken the workshop!

What are your two workshops around listening for Caregivers?

The first is for the child, spouse, or other who wants to support their loved one with cognitive decline: The Caregiver’s Starter Kit: A 3-Part Workshop to Learn What No One Tells You About Communication and Dementia.

The second is the family or group, and it’s called The Caregiver’s Village: A 90-minute workshop for caregivers and friends who want to help but aren’t sure how. The best way to learn more about when these workshops will be offered is to sign up for my email list. You can do that from the “Stay Connected†section of my website’s homepage.

Practical Tips for Listeners 

Many listening tips can be found on my YouTube channel, Listening to Change by Laura Janusik. However, please give me grace, as I began the channel without knowing what I was doing with that technology.

One of my favorites is When’s the Last Time Someone Said You Were a Good Listener? because I give you a challenge at the end of the video. Try it!

Here are some of my best tips…

Tips for Leaders on Listening: 

• Your direct reports and colleagues don’t know you’re listening unless you respond verbally. Learn the skill of confirming (paraphrasing + asking if you’re right) to increase trust.
• Following through is critical. Employees don’t expect you to make all of the changes they expect. Follow through later by letting them know where you took the suggestion and what was decided. I guarantee that employees who get follow-through continue to bring good ideas!
• Communication for Leaders: Fact or Myth? Test Your Knowledge! Sign up Leaders Mailing List.

Tips for Coaches on Listening:

• The most important listening strategy to use is silence. Silence allows your client time to think.
• No matter what you call it…summarizing, paraphrasing, confirming, or reflecting…when your client hears back what they just said, they have many a’has!
• Communication for Coaches: Fact or Myth? Test your Knowledge!  https://mailchi.mp/ff5ac1ab3c8c/95lzskl7mo

Tips for Caregivers on Listening:

• The 2-minute pause is a game-changer. It can take up to 2 minutes for someone with cognitive decline to respond to a question. When we re-ask the question, the clock begins again. Caregivers need to learn to practice silence about all else.
• Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s strategic. It’s sipping tea. It’s journaling. It’s taking a walk. Take care of yourself so you can take care of your loved one.
• Weekly Tips and Tricks for Caregivers: Mailing List

What’s Next

I’m currently writing a book loosely titled, How to Manage Conflict within the Context of Midwest Nice. Conflict avoidance and passive-aggressive behavior are huge in the Midwest, and being ‘nice’ gets in the way of honesty and real connection. I’m going to advocate not losing all of the nice, but focusing more on the kind.  Think about that. What’s the difference between someone who is ‘nice’ and someone who is ‘kind’ to you?

Laura’s Contact Information

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurajanusikphd/ 
Website: ListeningtoChange.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576655810327 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurajanusik/ 
Email: info@listeningtochange.com

****

I am so glad that Dr. Laura Janusik joined me on my virtual porch. Laura sat next to me during several sessions at the International Listening Association (ILA) Convention, August 2025. I connected with Laura right away and wanted to follow up with her. Several times, I realized that Laura had been a member of the ILA for a long time and been president of the organization. So I figured if I had questions about the conference, I’d ask her. She was really easy to talk to and helped me whenever I had questions. We connected after the conference several times, and then I checked out all the resources she shared with me. As a coach and in developing my listening skills, Laura opened doors for me that I wanted to share with you. I hope you enjoyed our conversation as much as I did. Please share this post and podcast with your friends, and make sure you connect with Dr. Laura Janusik.

*****

The post Listening to Change by Communicating with Purpose with Dr. Laura Janusik (EP179) appeared first on Barbara Bray.

Play brings joy and happiness to learning. Infusing play in schools prepares kids as future citizens.

When you play a game with your friends, how do you feel?

When you see children playing with other children, what do you notice?

Ask a child if they remember the worksheet they filled out last week.

Did they have fun?

Do they remember what they learned?

Let’s play more and discover how learning unfolds.

Schools can invest in more play through games, interactive experiences, and just making learning fun. Providing engaging activities through play creates learners who become critical thinkers, researchers, and designers.

A few thoughts about PLAY I wanted to share with you.

A Love of Learning Through Play

When I thought about PLAY, I remembered my conversation with Katherine Mengardon on Episode #117: Sparking Back a Love of Learning Through Play. Katherine shared her story as an author, innovator, illustrator, and designer. Katherine has written and illustrated multiple books, adventures, and hosts a new program called YourPlay.space, where PLAY is a universal human right. She believes that playfulness is key to re-igniting a love of learning and developing, not only for children, but for grown-ups too.

She welcomes you to the serious business of play.

Adventure Learning and PlaySpace Learning

Go to https://yourplay.space/home to find out more about PlaySpace Learning

Play Through Embodied Learning

The child is the social change maker.

I also remembered my conversation in Episode #109 with Tommaso Lana, who created Embodied Learning with PLAY as an experiential staff development program. He uses multiple sensory, motor, and imaginative experiences to support early childhood professionals in the wonder and meaning of learning. Team-building, parent-teacher communication, remote learning, SEL, STEM, and outdoor education are his forte.

Adults experience childhood physically and emotionally with Embodied Learning sensory constructions through play. This is where they understand how many learning experiences and life skills naturally happen during the first 5 years of life. I hope you check out what Tommaso is doing now.

Adults learn the importance of PLAY by experiencing how children play.

Ignite Joy, Creativity, and Purpose through Play

Learning should feel like an experience, not a checklist.

I recently had a fun conversation in Episode #172 with Michael Wesely, who shared that he had a blast learning how to become that teacher who brings joy, fun, and magic through play to the classroom. As an Instructional Technology Specialist, Michael is passionate about transforming classrooms into creative playgrounds where curiosity is sparked, innovation is fueled with PLAY, and a little fun is always part of the plan.

Michael learned how to turn anything into a game, even reading at home, to excite kids about it. Students were reading for hours at home each month simply by adding a reading punch card and some knight costumes. They were playing and enjoying the learning process.

Ignite Joy, Creativity, and Purpose in Teaching, Learning, and Life with Michael Wesely

Michael found it easy to create magic for them through play and games. It was a reward to see their JOY in the simplest things.

How can you not love seeing that exact moment when a kid has an AHA moment and you’re watching their face light up?

Play and the Playful Rebellion

Gary Ware is a Strategic Play Consultant, Improv Comedian, keynote speaker, coach, and founder of Breakthrough Play, whose passion is to help people become the best version of themselves they can be simply by having fun. He works with professionals to help them incorporate play into their lives and experience how it can improve every part of living, from confidence and energy to attitude and creativity.

Playful Rebellion is a must-read book to help you discover how to find joy and wonder in the mundane again and how to use the superpowers hidden within yourself. In this book, Gary Ware will show you that when you play, your life works better!

Thank you, Gary! I love this book and refer to it when I consider activities for workshops, webinars, and more.

A book about play written playfully! Gary reminds us of the importance of play, not because it’s a kid thing to do, but a human one. ~ Andrew Tarwin, CEO, Humor That Works!

Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through The Power of Play

These are just a few thoughts and resources I wanted to share with you to discover how PLAY can bring joy, wonder, and fun to your learning and life. I plan to share more ideas and resources in future posts on different themes.

*****

The post The Power of Play appeared first on Barbara Bray.

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Kymberly Dakin-Neal is a certified mindset coach, playback practitioner, and founder of Voice into Learning, LLC. Her specialty is team experience design, incorporating individual coaching programs and applied mediums such as improvisation, intentional listening, and focused creativity.

Her book, “Head Heart & Hands Listening in Coach Practice,†is an essential book for coaches, teachers, salespeople, parents, and, actually, anybody who listens for a living. Through Kym’s work and book, she demonstrates why listening is what the world needs more of. 

I met Kym at the International Listening Association Convention at the University of Maryland in August where we had a picture of us taken in the Listening Garden.

Your WHY 

As an introvert in an extroverted culture, I’ve always been curious about group dynamics and how listening is a strong, if underappreciated, superpower that introverts possess. They are often the ones who have valuable insights and ask powerful questions. Introverts often (not always) have highly refined listening skills.

Your Background and Overview

I do training based on my book, and I work with clients who are struggling with transitions, change, and interpersonal issues. I was a founding member of Portland Playback Theatre and won an international Audie award for book narration. I recorded audiobooks for the BBC, Brilliance Audio, and Audible. I taught at Bowdoin College, the University of Southern Maine, the University of New Hampshire, and the University of New England. I currently train physicians in productive listening and patient communication at Tufts/MaineHealth and Kaiser Permanente in the Washington, DC area.

Voice into Learning, LLC  

I do a fair amount of public speaking coaching, particularly with those who are transitioning into positions of greater visibility. Particularly for introverts, stepping into the spotlight can be challenging. As an introvert myself, I can help clients avoid the mental pitfalls of imposter syndrome and anxiety. The Positive Intelligence model is particularly effective in this kind of work.

Your mind can be your best friend or worst enemy. Most negative emotions and stress come from self-sabotage. The Positive Intelligence PQ® program offers proven tools to strengthen mental resilience and quiet internal saboteurs. This leads to a more positive mindset, greater resilience, and reduced stress, known as mental fitness.

I cannot recommend Kymberly enough! Once regarded with dread, my upcoming talk to an audience of 2500 should be a breeze. Kymberly meets you where you are, not engaging in cookie-cutter solutions.
I feel that I have been equipped by a “magical helper†to embark upon my own Hero’s Journey. Five stars, at least!

~ Jonathan Fisher Writer & Director of PBS Documentary on NYC Probation “In a Whole New Wayâ€

The Training Game Shift/POV

I developed the training game Shift/POV: From Conflict to Collaboration in One Hour through the Top Gun incubator program and created a bookmarking app called Nugget to eliminate the need for note-taking in online meetings.

URL to video:
https://youtu.be/W2pU31j63_k?si=m_zq3hnDmiLd44VB

Bookmarking App “Nuggetâ€

During the shutdown, when all of my in-person work evaporated, I was facilitating online meetings and noticed challenges. Challenges of trying to get participants engaged while taking notes, or coursing through videos to highlight the important points I wanted to share. “Nugget†lets users highlight the important things in real-time at the touch of a button and allows them to share those notes with the team. We sold Nugget in 2023 for a nice price!

Why is deep listening at the core of coaching? How do we build trust?

Listening is how we grasp another person’s story and build bridges to our own. It’s how we create relationships and build trust across differences in skillset, experience, background, race, age and gender. Effective listening gives us information beyond the actual words – once we know how to slow ourselves down long enough to pay attention to it.

When we feel deeply heard, something in us relaxes enough to feel that we just might be able to trust this person. That is how trusting, positive relationships are built.

Book, “Head, Heart & Hands Listening in Coach Practiceâ€

My book, Head Heart & Hands Listening in Coach Practice,  is an exploration of intentional listening as an essential skill for coaches. It introduces the Head, Heart, and Hands (3H) Listening model as a vital tool to amplify effective listening in coaching practice. This is essential reading for coaches in practice and in training, as well as organizational psychologists, HR professionals, salespeople, and those working within corporations.

Head, Heart, and Hands Listening in Coach Practice is about how we listen, what we listen for, why it matters, and how to do it better. The 3H  model provided in these pages is quickly grasped, easily applied, and could transform your next important conversation.

If you are a coach, a counselor, a therapist, a salesperson, or a teacher, you’re in a listening profession. This book is designed for YOU.

“Head Heart & Hands Listening in Coach Practice,†published by Routledge Publishers, won a 2023 North American Book Award and is used at the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute. 

Kym Dakin writes about listening, but more important are her listening skills. As a coach she listens, synthesizes and provides valuable feedback…often on the spot. I came away from my coaching sessions with her with clarity on issues that I’d been struggling with for a long time. I can highly recommend Kym as a coach if you are looking to sort things out and find a clear path forward in your life.

Sue Inches, Author, Educator, Environmental Advocate

What else would you like to share about the power of listening?

What do you pay attention to when listening? What do you often miss? I wrote my book and provide coaching support because I want to help others grasp primary and secondary listening tendencies and amplify the ones they need to expand their personal and professional effectiveness.

Just imagine a world driven by more curiosity, empathy, and understanding!

Kym’s Contact Information

Website: https://kymdakin.com/ 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kymdakin
X: @kymdakin
Substack: https://kymdakin.substack.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@kymberlydakin-neal7760
Email: kdakin56@gmail.com

*****

I appreciate that Kymberly Dakin-Neal joined me on my virtual porch. I believe it was destiny to meet Kym at the International Listening Association Convention. When we walked around the Listening Garden, she shared some stories that resonated with me. As a coach and author, I realized we had a lot in common. I needed to follow up with her, read her book, share my book, and invite her to be a guest on my podcast. I hope you enjoyed our conversation as much as I did. Please share this post and podcast with your friends and make sure you connect with Kym.

*****

The post Don’t Trust Your Ears! Head, Heart, and Hands Listening with Kymberly Dakin-Neal (EP178) appeared first on Barbara Bray.

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Michael Hernandez is changing the narrative as an award-winning educator, best-selling author, education consultant, and international speaker. He helps individuals and organizations adapt and thrive in a changing world. Michael is an Apple Distinguished Educator, PBS Digital Innovator, and National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow. Michael’s work focuses on authentic learning in the age of AI, digital and civic literacy, creativity, and innovation.

Your WHY about Changing the Narrative

This is a challenging moment in education. I’m doing my best to help teachers and education leaders navigate these challenges. Educators diagnose problems, such as academic integrity, in the age of AI. However, kids aren’t showing up to school, physically or intellectually. There has been too much focus on standardized test scores, the drill and kill mindset, and data-driven processes. Instead, we need to focus on human-centered experiences. But I don’t see many people offering solutions. That’s where I’ve decided to focus my energy.

Students can create nonfiction multimedia research projects as an alternative to tests and worksheets. It just builds on what teachers already do best and what they know to be good pedagogy. When students have agency, when they can work on projects they care about, and when all of the hard work we ask them to do has a point, they’ll put in the effort and get excited about learning.

They won’t want to cheat if the experience is rewarding and has an impact. Even kids as young as kindergarteners can have agency and impact their communities beyond the classroom.

My WHY is to help educators design assignments that maintain rigor and address standards, but in ways that are meaningful to students and help teachers make the case for why their curriculum matters.

How Changing the Narrative Affected You Growing Up

I come from a family of educators–both of my parents, two aunts, and my uncle were educators. My brother is a college professor and research scientist. I guess learning is in my blood. I grew up in Central California, the son of a migrant farm worker who was the first in his family to graduate from college, so I have the experience of understanding why a quality education is important. I was fortunate to have some incredible teachers growing up, from elementary through college, who shaped who I am and my teaching philosophy. In fact, many of them are in the acknowledgements section of my book. The main thread is that they were all creative and none of them stuck to the rules.

Even though they asked us to work hard, we had fun, and school was joyful. Fun and joy are the key pieces that have been sucked out of education in the U.S. ever since No Child Left Behind. The metric of success became a test score, not a tangible product or observable outcome. It’s not surprising that student engagement has been decreasing for years, long before the pandemic and cell phones. 

Your Story of Changing the Narrative as an Educator

As I said, both of my parents were educators, so I should have known better than to become one! I was finishing graduate school in film and realized that I had student loan debt. I was going to be a production assistant, hunting for jobs. I should have thought that career path through a little better!

Then I heard about a school district starting a film and journalism program, so I applied, and they hired me. It was a 5-year plan to pay off my student loans. I foolishly thought I could work on my own projects in all the spare time that teachers have!

I just completed year 26 of the five-year plan! I was able to share my passion for film, journalism, and storytelling with thousands of students–many of whom are working in the industry. It’s so rewarding to open eyes to new possibilities, and students found their “thing.†It wasn’t math, or history, or science. We can’t all be novelists or engineers. It’s crucial to honor everyone’s individuality and potential, and offer students experiences that empower them to discover their way.

Now that I’ve left the classroom, I’m focusing on helping schools and districts adapt and thrive in these challenging times by taking my knowledge of teaching and deep empathy for teachers to help others find success in meaningful ways. I support schools through keynote speaking, leading professional development experiences, and working alongside leadership teams. I’m still a teacher; however, I get to have more impact than if I stayed in my own classroom.

Book: Storytelling with Purpose:  Digital Projects To Ignite Student Curiosity

I published my book, “Storytelling with Purpose, through ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education). It is a practical handbook and guide to solving these problems by designing authentic learning experiences.

This has been my passion project for the past few years. I wanted to write a book that I wish I had when I started teaching or even mid-career. The title might be a little deceiving. Many educators don’t think they teach storytelling, especially if they teach math, history, or science. We always ask students to tell the story of their learning. We even say “show what you know†or “show your work,†and that’s exactly what the book helps teachers in every grade level and subject area accomplish.

We demonstrate how to use multimedia research projects as a scaffold for their curriculum. So instead of a worksheet, a test, or a report that all end up in the trash and are cheatable by design, we challenge students to create an explainer video, publish a digital book, or an infographic. All of these are one-of-a-kind products that let students have agency and voice, and can be published publicly, which empowers both impact and accountability. 

Link to Storytelling with Purpose:  https://www.amazon.com/Storytelling-Purpose-Digital-Projects-Curiosity/dp/1564849961/

It was important to me to make my book evergreen. There are many books about AI and specific tech tools, but I wanted this book to be device-agnostic and about pedagogy rather than a single tool. Apps come and go, but good teaching is forever.

A highly readable and hugely helpful guide for teachers!â€Â Â ~ Ken Burns

Many teachers around the world are using it for professional development training. I recently led a five-hour pre-conference workshop at ISTE/ASCD this summer with teachers from at least 10 different countries. I am fortunate to have endorsements for my book from Ken Burns and Seth Godin.

Just in time! This is a pedagogical and practical guide for teachers ready to take learning to a new level.   ~Seth Godin

Consultant and International Speaker on Changing the Narrative

I enjoy working with educators, learning from them, and sharing possibilities to spark new ideas in their learning spaces. I used to focus on edtech tools since that’s where I got my start speaking at CUE (now CALIE) and ISTE. I’ve expanded my workshops into areas like assessment, digital and civic literacy, innovative teaching, and learning practices.

I think that matches the evolution of technology, that it’s integrated into our lives. It seems almost artificial to focus on it in a silo, and out of the context of everything else we need to do in schools. Social-emotional wellness, assessment, inquiry, curiosity, creativity, and all of these are tied to our relationship with technology and how we as educators prepare students to be successful outside the classroom, not just on a test. 

One of the central ideas in my consulting work and writing is about reminding ourselves what school is for in the first place: to develop good citizens. No one takes tests or writes 5-paragraph essays. When our students are out in the world, when no one is looking, and there’s no grade on the line, can they vet a source of information so they know how to vote or what medicine to take?

Are they capable of giving and receiving constructive feedback?

These are the traits of good citizens in a democracy. It’s up to us as educators to help our students become intellectually agile and emotionally resilient. We can’t do that with tests and worksheets.

Your Podcast: Change the Narrative

This is a funny story. When I chose the idea for my book, I started researching how to publish it. One of the recommendations was to build an audience before you publish. So I started publishing my newsletter in 2018. A friend liked it a lot and suggested that I turn it into a podcast.

So I did! Then, two years later, I finally got around to working on the book. But it’s a fun series. I average one season per year, and the topics change depending on what interests me. The topics are like innovation, storytelling, book publishing, and reflections on my expedition to Antarctica as a Lindblad/National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow. I haven’t decided on my theme for 2026, so I’m open to any suggestions!

Podcast, Change the Narrative:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/change-the-narrative/id1455984465 

Fostering a Culture of Academic Integrity in the Age of AI 

AI is definitely top of mind for many educators, especially anyone who relies on writing as their primary means of assessment. Honestly, this affects everyone, from math teachers to science teachers, and even me as a photography, filmmaking, and journalism teacher. Students can literally generate high-quality images, video clips, and audio podcasts with just a prompt. It’s easy to see AI as a threat to our livelihoods and feel a sense of existential dread.

What does it mean to teach and learn anymore? 

I’m actually optimistic about it. I think AI is a gift. It has reminded us of what matters most in learning: originality, individuality, creativity, and having a purpose for our work. Artificial intelligence isn’t the problem; it’s artificial assessment.

Much of school is based on teaching mechanics, and because standardized tests focus on that, we don’t teach or learn for fun or create rewarding experiences. The latest statistics show that fewer people read, and most students in school don’t even complete an entire novel in their language arts classes.

We’ve drained humanness from school.

This is why I’m excited about AI. If a tool can do the mechanical and clerical work for us, we can then focus on ideas and purpose. It’s forcing us to focus on the “why,†not just the “how.â€

It’s really disheartening when I see schools revert to in-class hand-written essays or spend tens of thousands of dollars on cheat detection software that is ultimately flawed. What does that say to our kids about what we think of them? Policing students and creating an antagonistic culture is a surefire way to make kids unhappy, and they may not show up. And if they do show up, they are not putting their best effort into their work. 

Cheating has always existed, long before AI, Google, and cell phones. There are two main reasons why students cheat: by incentive and by design. If we remove the incentive to cheat, we’ve solved 90% of the problem. And if our assessments only have one right answer that everyone is supposed to share at the same time, we’ve set ourselves up for failure. 

Online Course: Uncheatable Assessments

In my online course, Uncheatable Assessments, I help teachers focus more on process and product rather than on memorization and compliance. And we learn to design assignments that result in original, one-of-a-kind artifacts that students want to complete

After I published my book, I heard that people were interested in the chapter on using multimedia research projects as a type of authentic assessment. There was a demand for this topic in my workshops.

So, I produced an asynchronous course that was flexible for busy educators. They didn’t need to fly to a city to attend a conference, and can fit in the modules when they have time, like during a prep period or after school. There are about 4 hours of video instruction, a 75-page downloadable workbook, and there’s even an option to earn three continuing education units from Loyola Marymount University for salary advancement or required professional development. There are volume discounts for school districts to make it more feasible for educators.

Link to course, Uncheatable Assessments https://storytelling-with-purpose-learning.thinkific.com/collections/courses-for-educators

Online Course: Slidefluence

Everything is moving to video right now. Teachers have lectures recorded, and businesses engage with customers and clients on websites and social media. Just look at TikTok and Instagram.  There’s really no way to learn how to do that well. I decided to create an affordable, all-in-one course to help folks learn to be effective video storytellers.

I’m really excited about it, and I’m in the middle of editing it right now. Essentially, the course will show you how to transform slide decks into dynamic videos that help you teach, persuade, and win people over. Entrepreneurs can pitch their product to funders, Businesses can create a library of content for customers, Sales teams can make the case for their results more clearly, and, of course, educators can create engaging direct instruction to help learners of all abilities and in multiple locations. I talk about finding focus for the story, writing a narration script, designing slides, and recording and publishing the videos. 

Online course, Slidefluence:
https://www.michael-hernandez.net/slidefluence.html

Michael’s Contact Information

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-hernandez-21a8195/
Personal Website: https://www.michael-hernandez.net/
Website: https://www.storytelling-with-purpose.com/ 
Instagram: @changing.the.narrative
Email: cinehead3@gmail.com

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I am grateful that Michael joined me on my virtual porch. I have known and followed Michael for a long time. We’re both from California, so I met him earlier at CUE and then again at SXSW EDU 2 years ago when he launched his book. It was fun to connect on Zoom and see Michael sharing how he’s so passionate about helping educators make learning meaningful and assessments uncheatable. I hope you connect and follow Michael. Please share this post and podcast with your friends.

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