Education On Fire - Sharing creative and inspiring learning in our schools

Joshua Davidson is the creator and co‑founder of Night Zookeeper, an award-winning online learning program that helps children aged 6–12 fall in love with reading, writing, and creativity through games and storytelling.He’s also the author of the Night Zookeeper Adventure book series, which follows Night Zookeeper Will into the magical Night Zoo filled with fantastical creatures dreamed up by children. Josh is passionate about giving kids the confidence to see themselves as writers and creators, and he speaks regularly about the power of play, stories, and co‑created worlds in education.Takeaways:The Night Zookeeper program fosters creativity in children through engaging storytelling and character creation, allowing them to express their imagination freely.Joshua Davidson emphasizes the importance of play in education, arguing that children should be empowered to see themselves as creators rather than mere consumers.The integration of technology in the Night Zookeeper platform enhances learning experiences by making writing and creativity enjoyable and interactive for children.Through collaboration and feedback, the Night Zookeeper community facilitates a supportive environment where children can share their ideas and learn from one another.The approach of using project-based learning in the Night Zookeeper curriculum allows children to connect their creativity with educational outcomes, enhancing their overall engagement.By providing a platform where children's ideas shape the content, Night Zookeeper instills a sense of ownership and pride in their work, ultimately fostering a lifelong love of learning.Chapters:00:02 - Introducing Night Zookeeper and Its Impact on Children's Creativity05:44 - The Journey of Night Zookeeper: From Concept to Reality11:52 - The Importance of Engagement in Learning19:40 - The Importance of Creativity in Education24:15 - The Impact of Arts Education on Learning34:10 - Transitioning to Language Arts Curriculum37:37 - The Importance of Community in EducationGet a 7 day FREE trial and 50% of a subscription with my affiliate code:http://educationonfire.com/nightzookeeperhttps://www.instagram.com/nightzookeeper/https://www.facebook.com/NightZookeeperhttps://www.tiktok.com/@nightzookeeperofficialhttps://uk.pinterest.com/nightzookeeper/🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsors –National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/napeFrom idea to live show – hands-on sessions to help you launch, grow, and streamline your brand.https://creativeamplifiers.live/https://creativeamplifiers.substack.com/

Boundless Outdoors is a Worcestershire-based outdoor learning provider with centres in Malvern and Bell Heath, supporting schools, groups and young people through residentials, activity days, DofE, STEM programmes and tailored outdoor learning experiences.A key part of Boundless Outdoors' work is helping schools create inclusive, confidence-building experiences for all pupils, including those with SEND or additional needs. The team works closely with each school to understand its pupils, adapt activities as needed, and shape packages around the group's needs, abilities, and learning outcomes.With woodland settings, accessible facilities, experienced staff and a nurturing approach, Boundless Outdoors helps pupils build confidence, teamwork, communication, resilience and self-esteem in a safe, supportive environment. Safety is always a first priority, with an AALS licence and quality marks including Adventuremark, LOtC and AHOEC Gold.Takeaways:Outdoor education promotes essential life skills such as teamwork, communication, and resilience.Boundless Outdoors customizes educational experiences to meet the specific needs and abilities of students.The importance of allowing children to engage in risk assessment through outdoor activities cannot be overstated.Children today often lack the freedom to explore and engage with nature, resulting in a need for structured outdoor education.The concept of 'challenge by choice' empowers children to set their own personal success markers in outdoor activities.COVID-19 has highlighted the necessity of outdoor education as children become increasingly disconnected from nature.Chapters:00:19 - Creating Inclusive Outdoor Learning Experiences00:36 - The Importance of Outdoor Education13:11 - The Importance of Individual Achievement in Outdoor Education20:42 - The Importance of Outdoor Education Funding23:24 - Understanding the Importance of Outdoor Trips in Education33:27 - Understanding the Nature Deficit Disorder37:53 - Empowerment Through Outdoor Educationhttps://boundlessoutdoors.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/company/boundless-outdoors-malvern-bell-heath/https://www.instagram.com/boundlessoutdoorsuk/https://www.tiktok.com/@boundlessoutdoorsuk🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsors –National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/napeFrom idea to live show – hands-on sessions to help you launch, grow, and streamline your brand.https://creativeamplifiers.live/https://creativeamplifiers.substack.com/

Boris Walbaum is the founder and president of Forward College, an innovative higher education institution built for the AI era. Students study across Lisbon, Paris, and Berlin over three years, earning a University of London degree while never setting foot in London — all in a university with no lecture halls. Boris is also an AI and future skills expert, a former government advisor, and author of Excellent Isn't What You Think? A Book on Education and Parenting in the Age of AI.Boris explains why AI is a fundamentally different disruption than Covid — because it's an "imitation technology" designed to replicate what we do — and why that forces us to ask not just how we teach, but why we learn at all. We talk about the loss of curiosity in classrooms, the reproductive nature of education systems, nonviolent communication and feedback, and how the deepest driver of learning has always been human connection.Takeaways:Forward College offers a degree designed for the AI era, incorporating studies across three major European cities: Lisbon, Paris, and Berlin.The educational model emphasizes real-world skills and critical thinking, moving away from traditional industrial-era paradigms of learning.AI is viewed as a disruptive force in education, necessitating a reevaluation of what and how we teach to prepare future generations.The college promotes a relational pedagogy, focusing on small group learning and personal development rather than traditional lecture hall formats.Boris Walbaum, as the founder, advocates for education that fosters adaptability and emotional intelligence to meet future challenges.The emphasis on human connection in learning is viewed as essential for fostering curiosity, creativity, and engagement among students.Chapters:00:02 - Introducing Forward College and Its Unique Approach04:43 - The Impact of AI on Education11:15 - The Need for Educational Reform in the Age of AI17:41 - The Future of Education and Job Market Dynamics23:35 - Navigating Educational Experiences: From Regattas to Ocean Racing29:24 - The Importance of Personal Development in Education35:42 - The Role of AI in Education41:37 - The Importance of Environment in Learning46:04 - The Art of Feedback in Educationhttps://forward-college.eu/our-vision/Excellence Isn’t What You Think: Education and Parenting in the Age of AIhttps://www.facebook.com/ForwardCollegeOfficial🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsors –National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/napeFrom idea to live show – hands-on sessions to help you launch, grow, and streamline your brand.https://creativeamplifiers.live/https://creativeamplifiers.substack.com/

Today I'm chatting with Amanda Lee Falkenberg, an internationally acclaimed Australian composer, pianist and creator of The Moons Symphony — a groundbreaking orchestral work recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra under Marin Alsop, with choral forces recorded separately at Abbey Road Studios.Amanda's work bridges science, music and storytelling, developed in close collaboration with NASA planetary scientists and astronomers. She's also the founder of Lunar (Learning under New Artistic Regimes), an immersive educational platform blending planetary science, music and art to spark curiosity in learners of all ages.In this conversation we trace the whole journey: from stumbling across an article on the "ten weirdest moons," through a cold email to a NASA scientist that led to a presentation at JPL, to the pandemic-era twist that finally brought the LSO, Marin Alsop and Abbey Road into alignment. We talk about why she built Lunar as a course rather than a one-off concert, what she's learned from planetary scientists about resilience and the long game, and how a childhood love of John Williams became the unlikely throughline for a project rooted entirely in science fact.Key TakeawaysA cold email can change everything. Amanda's project only reached NASA because she sent an unsolicited message into what she calls "the black hole email" — with no expectation of a reply.Passion projects don't need permission to start. She began researching and composing years before she had a scientist, an orchestra, or a plan for education — the vision came first.Interdisciplinary learning resonates because real life isn't siloed. Music, science and storytelling aren't separate subjects to her — they're one experience, and that's exactly why Lunar works across age groups from teenagers to retirees.Resilience is the throughline of both music and science careers. Amanda draws a direct parallel between the decades-long timelines of NASA missions and the "10,000 hours" of a musician's path — both require staying in it for the long game.Setbacks can create the conditions for a breakthrough. Covid cancelled her original recording dates — and then, months later, cleared Marin Alsop's schedule enough to make the recording finally happen.You don't need a background in either subject to benefit. Lunar is designed so that participants need no prior knowledge of music or science — just curiosity.Chapters:00:02 - Exploring the Moon Symphony with Amanda Lee Falkenberg01:54 - The Journey of the Moon Symphony12:48 - Interdisciplinary Education: Bridging Science and Art15:15 - The Journey of the Lunar Program24:21 - The Journey to Collaborate with NASA29:21 - The Impact of COVID on the Project34:31 - The Journey of Passion Projects39:55 - The Long Game: Resilience in Music and Sciencehttps://www.moons-symphony.com/https://www.moons-symphony.com/gateway-to-lunar▶️ YouTube 👉 @moonssymphonywww.facebook.com/moonssymphony/📸 Instagram @amandafilmmusicwww.linkedin.com/in/moons-symphony🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsors –National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/napeFrom idea to live show – hands-on sessions to help you launch, grow, and streamline your brand.https://creativeamplifiers.live/https://creativeamplifiers.substack.com/

Elanie Ademokun, Programmes Director at Jigsaw Education Group, joins Mark Taylor to unpack one of the most pressing issues facing schools right now: the rise of the "manosphere" and its impact on misogyny, safeguarding, and school culture.Drawing on over 20 years in education — including 11 years teaching English and PSHE in secondary schools, teacher training with Teach First, and safeguarding work with Frontline — Elanie shares what she's hearing directly from schools: shifting attitudes among boys towards female teachers, misogynistic language creeping into corridors, and growing concern from primary schools too, not just secondary.Mark and Elanie explore why this is happening so fast, how algorithms and online "lifestyle coach" influencers exploit adolescent needs for belonging and self-esteem, and why a whole-school, framework-led approach — rather than a reactive one — is essential. They discuss the balance between universal preventative education and targeted, safeguarding-led intervention, why shame and punishment backfire, and how every child needs at least one trusted adult in their corner.This is a thoughtful, practical conversation for teachers, school leaders, and parents navigating a fast-moving cultural issue with real consequences for children's wellbeing.Takeaways:Elanie Ademokun emphasizes the significance of a whole school approach in addressing sensitive topics within the curriculum, particularly in the realms of personal, social, health education, and religious education.The pervasive influence of social media has dramatically shaped the behaviour and perceptions of students, necessitating a proactive response from educators to mitigate its adverse effects.It is vital to create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable discussing their experiences and questions regarding complex societal issues like misogyny and digital misinformation.Educators are encouraged to focus on building resilience and critical thinking skills in students, ensuring they are prepared to navigate the challenges posed by contemporary online influences.The importance of fostering strong relationships and communication between teachers and students is highlighted as essential for addressing the nuances of modern educational challenges.Awareness and proactive discussions around sensitive issues must begin early in a child's education to establish a foundation for healthy relationships and self-esteem.Chapters:00:02 - Introducing Elanie Adamokun01:12 - Understanding the Manosphere's Impact on School Culture19:03 - The Importance of Early Awareness and Mentoring in Youth Development23:20 - Navigating Conversations with Children about Social Media33:46 - Building Resilience and Empowerment in Educationhttps://jigsaweducationgroup.com/www.facebook.com/jigsaweducationgroup🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsors –National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/napeFrom idea to live show – hands-on sessions to help you launch, grow, and streamline your brand.https://creativeamplifiers.live/https://creativeamplifiers.substack.com/

Lisa Pinkerton is Head of Education at Widget, a symbols-based communication software company, and a former deputy headteacher, inclusion lead, and NPQ SENCO course facilitator with 26 years in primary education.Lisa makes the case for SENCOs sitting on the senior leadership team, not as a bolt-on role but as a strategic voice shaping decisions from the outset. With over 1.7 million pupils in England currently identified as having SEND, she argues inclusion has shifted from a specialist issue to a leadership one, and explains why designing environments for the child who needs the most support tends to benefit every child in the room.We talk through the shift from a medical to a social model of disability, the "curb-cut effect" as a way of thinking about universal design in classrooms, why visual scaffolds like Widget's symbols work best when they're everyday practice rather than reserved for a few pupils, and why real inclusion means being willing to let a sparkly pink pencil sit next to standard ones. Lisa also shares a powerful story of a pupil whose severe dyslexia had been masked as behavioural difficulty, and how embedding visual support into ordinary classroom life changed his trajectory.Takeaways:Inclusion must be embedded within the decision-making processes of educational institutions, not treated as an afterthought.The integration of symbols and visual aids can significantly enhance communication and comprehension for all students.Effective educational leadership requires the inclusion lead to have a strategic role within the senior leadership team.The approach to education should prioritize the individual learning journey of each student, fostering their unique strengths and needs.Chapters:00:03 - Introduction to Lisa Pinkerton and Widget04:17 - The Importance of Inclusion in Education20:40 - The Need for Flexibility in Educational Practices36:23 - The Curb Cut Effect in Education39:51 - Creating Accessible Classrooms: The Importance of Inclusionhttps://www.widgit.com/https://www.facebook.com/widgitsoftware26https://www.instagram.com/widgitsoftwarehttps://www.linkedin.com/company/widgit-software/🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsors –National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/napeFrom idea to live show – hands-on sessions to help you launch, grow, and streamline your brand.https://creativeamplifiers.live/https://creativeamplifiers.substack.com/

Danielle Vandehei is a world-schooling sailor mum who, with her husband and son, spent the last four years building a life around sailing, exploration and learning through experience.Danielle shares how a breaking point on land — a demanding job, a young child, and a longing for more intentional time together — pushed the family to sell their home, their farm animals, and nearly everything they owned to learn to sail from scratch. She's honest about the messy, non-linear reality behind that decision: budget overruns, a house that took a year to sell, a stint in a minivan through Mexico, and plenty of "we're not in alignment yet, that's okay" moments along the way.How does education actually works aboard their boat — starting not with a curriculum, but with deschooling themselves as parents first. Danielle explains how her son learns numbers through fishing, reading through his fish identification book, and social confidence through navigating world-school hubs full of kids of every age and language.Danielle has created Water World Micro Expeditions, the family's new venture inviting other families aboard to experience sailing, marine life, and reconnection with nature in San Blas, Panama — plus where their vision is headed next.Key TakeawaysDeschool the parent first. Before a child can learn differently, the adult often has to unlearn their own assumptions about what "proper" education looks like.Follow the interest, not the age bracket. Danielle's son learns to read through a fish identification book and does mental math through abacus — because those are his interests, not a set curriculum.Learning is 0 to 99, not 5 to 18. There's no finish line — removing the pressure of a deadline changes how both kids and adults relate to learning.Nothing about this life was linear. Selling a 40-acre property took eight months; the house took a year to sell; they went from camper to minivan to boat and back again. Alignment came in its own time.Resilience is the standout FIRE value here — the willingness to stay in motion through setbacks (a blown transmission, a slow house sale) rather than let fear shut the plan down.Social confidence grows through real exposure, not curriculum: Danielle's son now approaches kids and adults of any age or language unprompted, something she attributes directly to years of varied, real-world interaction.Community over content. Water World Micro Expeditions isn't about replicating school on a boat — it's about giving families a lived experience of sailing, marine life, and reconnecting with themselves and each other.Chapters:00:02 - Introduction to World Schooling04:15 - Transition to a New Way of Living09:51 - Transitioning to a New Lifestyle16:38 - Deschooling and Adapting to New Learning Environments27:47 - Nurturing Well-Being in Education34:22 - Connecting with Nature and Learning through Experience37:50 - Building a Vision for Water Worldhttps://waterworldmicroexpeditions.com/Facebook Danielle Marie VandeheiIG- Legacy_throughmotherhood🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsors –National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/napeFrom idea to live show – hands-on sessions to help you launch, grow, and streamline your brand.https://creativeamplifiers.live/https://creativeamplifiers.substack.com/

Zafra Lerman is a scientist, educator and humanitarian. She received a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel and conducted research on Isotope Effects at Cornell and Northwestern Universities in the U.S. and the ETH, Zurich, Switzerland. She developed an innovative approach of teaching science through art, music, drama, dance, and rap which was successful with underprivileged students around the globe.She worked on human rights cases in the former Soviet Union, Russia, China, Guatemala, Cuba, Peru, and South Africa and was successful in preventing executions, releasing prisoners from jail and bringing dissidents to freedom. She is the President of the Malta Conferences Foundation, which uses science diplomacy as a bridge to peace in the Middle East by bringing scientists from all countries in the Middle East together with Nobel Laureates.This five-day conference puts scientists under the same roof to develop collaborations and friendships that overcome the chasms of distrust and intolerance. She received over forty international awards, including the Presidential Award for Mentoring from President Clinton (1999), AAAS Award for Science Diplomacy (2015), American Physical Society Andrei Sakharov Prize for Human Rights (2016), Peace and Justice prize from the UN NOVUS summit (2016), Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering Award from the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (2017), and she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by a member of the US Congress and a member of the French Parliament (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2025).Her book “Human Rights and Peace: A Personal Odyssey” was published in August 2024. On March 6, 2025 she received in New York the International Advocate for Peace Award from the Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution. Previous awardees include Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Paul McCartney.Chapters:00:19 - Innovative Approaches to Teaching Science01:05 - The Journey into Education and Science20:49 - Innovative Teaching Methods in Chemistry36:46 - Human Rights and Science Education44:33 - Focusing on the Middle East: A New Directionhttps://zafralerman.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/zafralerman🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsors –National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/napeFrom idea to live show – hands-on sessions to help you launch, grow, and streamline your brand.https://creativeamplifiers.live/https://creativeamplifiers.substack.com/

Mark Taylor talks with Patrick van der Burght — business partner of Dr. Robert Cialdini and founder member of the Cialdini Institute — about the science of ethical persuasion and what it means for teachers, parents, and school leaders.Patrick explains why 90-95% of our decisions are made by the brain's fast, automatic "System 1" rather than deliberate reasoning, why human attention spans have now dropped below that of a goldfish, and how Cialdini's seven universal principles of persuasion (reciprocity, liking, unity, social proof, authority, consistency, and scarcity) can help educators build trust, motivate students, and lead more effectively — without ever resorting to manipulation.Along the way: a study that took student success rates from 14% to 86%, why asking for "advice" beats asking for "feedback," and why public commitment is a far stronger motivator than private commitment.Guest: Patrick van der Burght, co-author of How to Hear Yes More Often (2024) and host of Ethical Persuasion Unlocked.Chapters:00:03 - Introduction to Patrick Van der Burght05:08 - The Science of Decision Making11:24 - Understanding Decision-Making: System One vs System Two16:40 - The Impact of Attention Span on Decision Making26:52 - The Importance of Early Persuasion Skills31:19 - The Power of Compliments and Relationships41:14 - Principles of Influence and Authority48:59 - The Impact of Appearance on Perception56:12 - The Importance of Feedback, Inspiration, Resilience, and Empowermenthttps://ethicalpersuasion.com.au/https://ethicalpersuasion.com.au/free-influence-persuasion/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ethicalpersuasionLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-van-der-burght/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ethicalpersuasion/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethical_persuasion/Twitter: https://x.com/yesmoreoftenTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ethicalpersuasionBook: https://yesmoreoften.com/Profile: https://patrickvanderburght.com🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsors –National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/napeFrom idea to live show – hands-on sessions to help you launch, grow, and streamline your brand.https://creativeamplifiers.live/https://creativeamplifiers.substack.com/

Dr. Sophia Nicole Morgan is an educator, author, and entrepreneur whose work focuses on career literacy, academic advising, and helping students make intentional decisions about their futures. Her career spans Jamaica, the United States, and China.She is the founder of Explore Career Academy, a platform dedicated to helping schools integrate career exploration and college planning into everyday learning.Dr. Morgan is the author of several career development resources, including The High Schooler's Guide to College and Career Planning and Reflections: A College and Career Journal for Middle Schoolers. Her work equips students with the tools to reflect on their strengths, explore career possibilities, and plan meaningful academic pathways.Originally from Williamsfield, Westmoreland, Jamaica, Dr. Morgan is passionate about helping schools ensure that every student graduates with clarity, purpose, and direction.Takeaways:Dr. Sophia Morgan emphasizes the importance of career literacy in education, equipping students for their future.Explore Career Academy aims to provide tailored resources to ensure every student has a post-secondary plan.The podcast discusses the need for continuous career support for students beyond one-off career days.Dr. Morgan shares her journey from Jamaica to China, highlighting cultural differences and commonalities.The importance of involving parents, teachers, and administrators in supporting students' career paths is underscored.Career literacy should start early, integrating career awareness into learning from kindergarten through grade 12.Chapters:00:02 - Introducing Dr. Sophia Morgan00:31 - Navigating Cultural Transitions and Career Guidance20:25 - The Importance of Career Literacy in Early Education22:19 - Exploring Career Awareness in Education31:39 - Exploring Career Literacy and Global Opportunitieshttps://www.explorecareeracademy.com/www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sophia-morgan-1a784671🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsors –National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/napeFrom idea to live show - hands-on sessions to help you launch, grow, and streamline your brand.https://creativeamplifiers.live/https://creativeamplifiers.substack.com/

Adam Adler is a Charleston-based founder and investor focused on building technology that creates healthier, more sustainable systems — for families, communities, and the next generation.The idea for Wyzly didn't come from a pitch deck or a boardroom. It came from Adam's daughter, Isla. At seven years old, Isla proposed a simple idea that every parent instantly understands: what if kids could earn screen time by learning first?That moment sparked the creation of Wyzly — a learn-to-earn screen time platform designed to eliminate daily screen battles without punishment or restriction.Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in private equity, data-driven businesses, and systems design, Adam built Wyzly from the ground up. The platform uses AI to generate curriculum-aligned learning challenges tailored to each child's age, grade, and school district.Key TakeawaysIt's the only app with this level of iOS integration. Two years working with Apple let Wyzly act as a true gatekeeper for all apps — unlocking them only after kids answer curriculum-aligned questions.The AI adapts to each child. Questions adjust in difficulty based on performance and are tailored to age, grade, and school district.It interrupts "doom scrolling," not just screen time. Built-in breaks prompt learning moments during long stretches of passive use — his daughter's idea.Built with real experts, not guesswork. The team includes 14 in-house staff, teachers, a school principal, and a licensed child mental health counselor.His daughter helped design it firsthand. She tested features, flagged confusing questions, and shaped the UX from a kid's point of view.Currently U.S./iOS only, K–6. Android and more grades/countries are planned for next year.Chapters:00:13 - The Inspiration Behind Wyzly02:50 - The Birth of Wisely: A New Approach to Screen Time09:27 - Introducing the App and Its Unique Approach to Screen Time Management17:33 - The Importance of Sports in Education and Life22:26 - Navigating Technology and Parenting29:11 - Empowering Children: A New Approach to Parentinghttps://www.wyzly.apphttps://www.linkedin.com/in/adamadler-charleston🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFirehttps://creativeamplifiers.live/https://creativeamplifiers.substack.com/Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

Dyslexia, which affects an estimated 15 to 20% of learners, often leads to the frustrating advice of waiting and seeing from educational professionals. Russell Van Brocklen, a dyslexia researcher and advocate, challenges this complacency by presenting actionable solutions for parents and educators. His innovative approach, grounded in structured literacy methods, aims to transform the educational experience for dyslexic students, evidenced by his program that has successfully elevated students from middle school writing levels to college readiness in a remarkably short time. Multi-sensory routines surpass conventional worksheets, enabling observable progress before the next report card arrives.Takeaways:Dyslexia affects a significant portion of learners, often leading to delayed intervention and support.Russell Van Brocklen utilizes structured literacy methods to effectively assist dyslexic students.His innovative program has demonstrated remarkable improvements in writing skills for dyslexic teens in a short time.Understanding the neurological differences in dyslexia is crucial for effective teaching and learning strategies.A focus on multisensory routines can yield better results than traditional methods like worksheets.Engaging students in topics they are passionate about greatly enhances their learning outcomes.Chapters:00:07 - Introduction to Dyslexia and Its Challenges07:57 - The Journey of Overcoming Dyslexia23:31 - The Case of Casey: A Unique Learning Journey28:01 - Understanding Dyslexia and Effective Learning Strategies45:53 - Navigating the Future: Education and AIhttps://dyslexiaclasses.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-van-brocklen-2007ab87/https://www.instagram.com/dyslexiaclassesus/https://www.facebook.com/dyslexiaclasses/https://twitter.com/dyslexiaclasseshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_cqwfxn9FqFx1Idl0YbeHg🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFirehttps://creativeamplifiers.live/https://creativeamplifiers.substack.com/Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

Kevin Cripe was a teacher in Modesto City Schools for 27 years and during that time created an award winning after school chess program for students who came from socio-economically challenged backgrounds. He took students to 200+ tournaments and 14 national chess championships and watched as students used chess to become first generation college graduates. After retiring he moved to Central America, continued to teach chess and wrote a "Child Moral Development Trilogy" .Takeaways:Kevin Cripe dedicated 27 years to teaching and created an award-winning chess program for underprivileged students, demonstrating a profound commitment to educational equity.Through chess, Kevin facilitated the participation of his students in over 200 tournaments, resulting in numerous students becoming first-generation college graduates.After retiring, Kevin continued his passion for teaching chess in Central America and authored a trilogy focused on moral development for children.Kevin emphasizes the importance of celebrating every student's progress, not just those who achieve the highest scores, fostering a culture of encouragement and resilience.Kevin's approach to education revolves around providing emotional support and understanding that effort is as important as the results, helping students to feel valued beyond academic performance.We highlight the transformative power of exposure and opportunities, illustrating how students can aspire to greater futures when given the right support and encouragement.Chapters:00:03 - Kevin Cripe: Transforming Lives Through Chess01:30 - The Journey Begins: Inspiring Change Through Education21:04 - The Impact of Parental Support on Student Success29:20 - The Journey of Learning and Growth36:23 - The Impact of Caring in Educationhttps://kevincripemotivationalspeaker.com/🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources and be part of our season finale with Ger.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFirehttps://creativeamplifiers.live/https://creativeamplifiers.substack.com/Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

Jacob Adams is an education leader committed to transforming schools into places of joy, belonging, and critical thinking for Black and Brown youth. He coined the term “disconnection crisis” to describe how traditional education separates young people from their purpose, community, and creativity. In 2017, he founded STEM to the Future, now Inner Spark Learning Lab, which has reached over 40,000 young people and generated insights shaping the broader education field.Jacob began his career as a Teach For America corps member, teaching 1st and 2nd grade before serving as an instructional coach for three years. He holds a B.A. from Birmingham-Southern College and a master’s from Relay Graduate School of Education. He is also an alum of fellowships including the Simons Foundation’s inaugural Science Sandbox Fellowship, 4.0 Schools, LA Leads, and the Black Equity Collective Build Fellowship.Takeaways:The disconnection crisis in education highlights how traditional schooling alienates students from their true potential and creativity.Inner Spark Learning Lab aims to transform educational environments into nurturing spaces that foster joy and a sense of belonging.By engaging students in participatory action research, they learn to address community needs and develop critical thinking skills.The importance of feedback loops is emphasized, ensuring that the voices of students and families shape the educational experience.Empowerment in education is achieved when students feel their contributions are valued and their identities are recognized.The initiative aims to create a network of schools that adapt to the needs of their communities, fostering relevant and engaging learning experiences.Chapters:00:21 - The Disconnection Crisis in Education00:29 - The Birth of Inner Spark Learning Lab10:52 - Transitioning Educational Paradigms19:27 - Transforming Education: The Role of Dreamweavers35:15 - Navigating the Map of Life: Teaching Self-Awareness and Skills37:23 - The Importance of Feedback in Educationhttps://www.innersparklab.org/instagram.com/innersparklabhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobadams706/🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources and be part of our season finale with Ger.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

In this final episode of the Ger Graus Gets Gritty series, Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE and I wrap up our 10-episode journey through education from early years to higher education and beyond. We explore the difference between schooling and education, the role of universities in an AI-driven world, and whether lifelong learning could — or should — move beyond traditional institutions.Learning doesn't stop at 18, 45, or even 99. The future of education isn't about replacing what we have, but expanding the menu — so that every curious learner, at every stage of life, can find their own path. And no matter how education evolves, the people around us remain at the very heart of it.'Everyone can only aspire to what they know exists'Takeaways:The importance of continuous education beyond traditional schooling cannot be overstated, as it is essential for personal development throughout one's life.Our discussions highlighted the critical distinction between education and schooling, emphasizing that true education can occur at any age and in various contexts.The relationship between higher education institutions and students must be fundamentally redefined to prioritize student needs and outcomes over financial motivations.Lifelong learning is not limited to formal education; it encompasses all forms of personal growth, driven by individual curiosity and life experiences.The necessity for a nuanced understanding of educational pathways is paramount, as different individuals require different approaches to learning and development.In our exploration of higher education, we must recognize the evolving needs of society and the role of institutions in adapting to these changes.Chapters:00:04 - Introduction to Episode 1002:15 - Overview of Further Education and Lifelong Learning24:02 - The Complexity of Accountability in Education36:18 - The Role of Degrees in Professional Success39:37 - The Importance of Lifelong Learninghttps://www.gergraus.comGet the book – Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources and be part of our season finale with Ger.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

Joining Mark Taylor as part of this series with Prof Dr Ger Graus OBE is Rebecca Durose-Croft a Managing Director with over 20 years’ experience in educational publishing and the evolving world of edtech.Rebecca has built a reputation for bringing together editorial expertise, strategic thinking and a deep understanding of how learners engage with content - leading teams to create high-quality publications and programmes that truly make a difference.With a strong commitment to inclusion and accessibility, and a track record of working closely with educators, policymakers and partners across the sector, Rebecca is a thoughtful and influential voice in how education continues to adapt and innovate.Takeaways:We discusses the evolving nature of educational content and its impact on schooling.Rebecca Durose-Croft emphasizes the importance of tailoring educational material to individual learners' needs.National curriculum reforms prompt a reevaluation of educational practices and content delivery methods.The conversation highlights the necessity of incorporating real-world applications into learning experiences.Technology plays a crucial role in modern education, but it must be integrated thoughtfully to enhance learning.Collaboration between educators and content creators is essential for producing effective educational resources.Chapters:00:15 - Introducing Rebecca Durose-Croft01:58 - Exploring New Educational Curriculums16:16 - The Importance of Context in Language Learning23:27 - The Role of Technology in Modern Education31:20 - The Evolution of Educational Technology45:06 - The Role of Educators in Curriculum Development51:49 - The Importance of Trusting Teachers in Educationhttps://www.besa.org.uk/https://www.gergraus.comGet the book – Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources and be part of our season finale with Ger.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

Today we bring together Prof Dr Ger Graus OBE and Cristian Fabbi, Director of the Fondazione Reggio Children, for a deeply human and intellectually rich conversation about the future of early years education.Ger and Cristian share personal stories and the work of their friend and colleague Carla Rinaldi — one of the world's most influential educational thinkers. They explore what it truly means to place children at the heart of learning. From the rubble of post-war Italy to classrooms in Soweto, Nairobi, and Napoli, the Reggio Emilia approach has quietly transformed how educators around the world understand childhood, creativity, community, and the very purpose of school.This is a conversation full of warmth, courage, and genuine hope — a reminder that when we believe in children's potential, extraordinary things happen.Key Takeaways1. Start at the very beginning — literallyThe Reggio Emilia approach insists that quality education must begin from birth, not age 3, 5, or 7. Neuroscience has since confirmed what Carla Rinaldi and Loris Malaguzzi argued decades ago: the 0–3 years are the most critical window for brain development and should be treated as education, not just childcare.2. Children have 100 languages Every child is born with the capacity to express themselves through music, movement, clay, drawing, storytelling, and more. The role of early education is to keep all of these "languages" alive, rather than narrowing children down to reading, writing, and arithmetic alone.3. The environment is the third teacherAlongside the child and the educator, the physical environment plays a crucial pedagogical role. Spaces should be intentionally designed to provoke curiosity, creativity, and collaboration — a principle as relevant to theme parks and museums as it is to nurseries.4. Document processes, not just productsOne of Reggio Emilia's most powerful innovations is pedagogical documentation — capturing the how of children's learning through observation, photographs, and reflection. This shifts the focus from testing what children remember to understanding how they think, discover, and grow.5. Children are citizens from birthCarla Rinaldi's conviction was clear: children are not future citizens — they are citizens now, with rights and responsibilities from the moment they are born.6. Quality education is an antidote to social harmThe Fondazione Reggio Children works in communities facing criminality, poverty, and conflict — from Naples to Palermo to Soweto.7. We must shift from "I" to "We"A powerful reflection from Cristian: modern education has rightly championed individual development, but we've lost something vital at the community level. The next step is helping children develop their life projects together with others — rebuilding the communal bonds that hold society together.8. Invest in foundations, not just outcomesGer offers a striking metaphor: we build houses by investing heavily in their foundations. Yet in education, the earliest years — the true foundation — receive the least funding and attention.9. Research should be participatory and generousThe Fondazione's PhD programme is deliberately multidisciplinary — bringing together architects, biologists, poets, and musicians — with the goal of generating processes other educators can actually use, not just papers that gather dust on library shelves.10. The Reggio Emilia approach is a philosophy, not a formulaIt cannot simply be copied. A school inspired by Reggio Emilia in Indonesia will look entirely different from one in Nairobi — and that's by design. The approach adapts to local context, culture, and community, making it genuinely universal without being prescriptive.Chapters:00:06 - Exploring New Themes in Education01:09 - Introduction to the Reggio Emilia Approach16:18 - The Legacy of Carla: A Reflection on Education and Humanity19:02 - Introduction to the Reggio Emilia Approach30:03 - The Importance of Community in Education34:58 - The Importance of Documentation in Education44:17 - Exploring the Role of Play in Education55:28 - Investing in Quality Education57:41 - Community Perspectives on Education and Citizenshiphttps://www.frchildren.org/enhttps://www.reggiochildren.it/reggio-emilia-approach/https://www.gergraus.comGet the book – Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources and be part of our season finale with Ger.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

Today I'm delighted to chat with Matthew Kaufman from I Love Camp. He has spent more than three decades creating environments where children and staff thrive and he has done this as a camper, counselor, and now summer camp director.People learn, grow, and connect best in community settings where problem-solving, creativity, and play come first.Most workplaces, schools, and families stumble into community by accident, but camp builds it on purpose. It's a practice that can be learned and applied anywhere.Using these insights Matt has written a book called The Campfire Effect which explores the neuroscience behind what makes camp work. It examines five neurochemicals that drive human connection and shows how camp naturally creates the conditions for each one to flourish. Then it offers practical frameworks for applying these lessons to workplaces, classrooms, and homes.This isn't a book about summer camp. It's a book about belonging, using camp as the lens.5 Key Takeaways:Camp is school for relationships — The activities matter less than who you're doing them with. The real curriculum is learning how to be a good friend, teammate, and citizen.Stress + Support = Growth — Matt's core framework. Remove all struggle and kids become fragile; struggle without support leads to bullying. The sweet spot is challenge within a safe, supported environment.Camp levels the playing field — Unlike school, which has few "paths to dignity," camp offers dozens of ways to shine — chess, drama, sportsmanship, leadership — helping the invisible or left-out child find their place.The skills camp teaches are exactly what AI can't replace — Problem solving, interpersonal communication, genuine relationship-building — camp has been teaching these for decades, and they're now the most valuable skills in an AI world.Oxytocin is the secret ingredient — The Campfire Effect (Matt's book) explains the neuroscience: when kids feel emotionally and physically safe, oxytocin flows, trust builds, and real growth becomes possible. This isn't magic — it's science.Chapters:00:00 - The Importance of Relationships at Camp04:16 - Understanding the Role of Camp in Child Development13:06 - The Importance of Camp in Personal Development20:29 - The Campfire Effect: Understanding the Transformative Power of Camp25:22 - Understanding Camp Experiences28:42 - The Impact of Technology on Youth Development34:25 - The Impact of Social Media on Youthhttps://www.ilove.camphttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjkaufmanhttps://www.instagram.com/mattlovescamp🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/napehttp://creativeamplifiers.substack.com/

Joe Reed, founder of Pulse, discusses how his student support platform is transforming the way schools identify and respond to struggling students. Rather than relying solely on traditional metrics like grades and attendance, Pulse brings together teachers, parents, counsellors, and therapists around a shared, real-time picture of each student's wellbeing. Joe shares the story behind the platform — rooted in over 15 years of community resilience work across South Africa and the United States — and explains how Pulse is designed to reduce teacher burden while delivering faster, more targeted support to the students who need it most.Five TakeawaysLate data leads to late intervention. Grades and attendance are important, but they're lagging indicators. By the time they dip, a student may already be in crisis. Pulse aims to surface earlier, softer signals before problems escalate.Every student gets an individualised plan. Rather than one-size-fits-all reporting, Pulse builds a personalised plan for each student, with specific goals tracked by everyone involved in that child's support network.Voice reporting is a game-changer for teachers. Instead of filling out forms after a long school day, teachers can speak into their phone for 30 seconds — capturing richer context in a fraction of the time. This makes compliance feel less like a burden and more like a natural part of the day.Pulse connects with existing school systems. Rather than asking schools to start from scratch, Pulse is designed to integrate alongside the tools already in use — lowering the barrier to adoption and making the transition as smooth as possible.The "why" runs deeper than edtech. Joe's motivation stems from over 15 years of community resilience work, first in South Africa and then across the US. Pulse wasn't built to sell software — it was built to restore communities by empowering the frontline educators and support staff within them.Chapters:00:00 - A New Approach to Teaching06:00 - Challenges in Educational Reporting and Support08:51 - Integrating Technology in Education18:32 - Introduction to the Learning Management System22:32 - The Intersection of Education and Community Development28:55 - Empowerment in Educationhttps://www.pulseconnect.ushttps://www.linkedin.com/company/pulseconnectus/🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/napehttp://creativeamplifiers.substack.com/

Josh Dorfman is a climate entrepreneur, author, and media personality. He is the CEO and host of Supercool, a media company covering real-world climate solutions that cut carbon, increase profits, and enhance modern life. Josh was previously the co-founder and CEO of Plantd, a carbon-negative building materials manufacturer, which was named to Fast Company’s list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in 2024. He has founded two modern design sustainable furniture companies, directed Vine.com, an Amazon e-commerce business specializing in natural and organic products, and served as the CEO of The Collider, the nation’s first innovation center for climate resilience and adaptation. Additionally, Josh was previously known as The Lazy Environmentalist, a media brand he developed into an award-winning television series on Sundance Channel, a daily radio show on SiriusXM, and two popular books.His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, TechCrunch, Fast Company, and Reuters. Josh has also made regular appearances on national television and radio programs, including Morning Joe, Fox & Friends, and NPR’s All Things Considered, and is the only guest to ever ride a bike onto The Martha Stewart Show.Josh holds an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania.5 takeaways:Clean energy is bigger than AI. Global clean energy investment hit $2.3 trillion in 2025 — dwarfing AI spending — yet it barely makes the headlines.Talk solutions, not just problems. Research consistently shows that solution-focused storytelling is what gets people to genuinely care about climate.Systems beat individual action. The biggest impact comes from businesses embedding sustainability into infrastructure — making the right choice the default, not an effort.Any skill set has a place in the climate economy. Finance, law, marketing, design — the clean energy transition needs all of it. It's becoming the economy, full stop.Build resilience, not just inspiration. Young people need the tools to hold both problems and solutions in mind — and find real agency through their careers, not just their recycling bin.Chapters:00:00 - The Front Lines of Sustainability00:49 - The Journey into Climate Awareness13:48 - The Shift Towards Sustainable Business Practices25:51 - The Rise of Climate Innovation34:21 - The Importance of Empowerment in Educationhttps://getsuper.cool/Newsletter | https://supercool.beehiiv.com/subscribeYouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@getsupercoolClimate Adoption Playbook | https://getsuper.cool/playbook/LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/getsupercoolhttps://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

As we transition into the Easter break here in the UK, I will take the next couple weeks off to spend time with my family.But today I share the events and products produced by National Association of Primary Education. These include:Reading Conference with University of BedfordshireMaintaining Curiosity in the Curriculum - Christian Schiller Lecture - LondonPrimary First JournalBook release of 'John Coe - an Enlightened Voice for Primary Education'Links to more information below.Chapters:00:01 - Introduction to Education On Fire Podcast00:55 - Upcoming Educational Events01:51 - Upcoming Events and Lectures02:49 - Introduction to New Resources04:23 - Reflecting on the Past and Looking Forward04:51 - The Essence of Education🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire — grab your FREE pdf of 10 guest resources: 👉 https://www.educationonfire.com ☕ Support the show — Buy Me a Coffee, Merch & Sponsorship: 👉 https://www.educationonfire.com/support Show Sponsor — National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) 📖 Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape 🎤 2026 Conference Keynote: Reading for Pleasure — Dr Roger McDonald Workshops: Writing, TESOL, Oracy, Drama & Storytelling, Poetry 👉 https://educationonfire.com/reading📚 Maintaining Curiosity in the Curriculum - Christian Schiller Lecture with Claire Moloney-Banks https://www.nape.org.uk/the-schiller-lecture-2026

Cerys Griffiths is the Head of BBC Bitesize, the BBC's free, online learning resource for students aged 5 to 16, their teachers and parents. Bitesize also aims to support educating the whole child through it's Careers, Study Support and media literacy offer, Other Side of the Story, as well as special educational initiatives like the Bitesize Guide to AI.Cerys was, for many years, a journalist in the North West, a TV and newspaper reporter and then an editor of news programmes for both ITV and the BBC. She is on the board of the Micro:bit Education Foundation and is an advisory board member for the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester.Key TakeawaysTeen attitudes to AI are complex — BBC Bitesize's annual Teen Summit Survey found a third of teenagers are worried about AI's impact on their career prospects and the spread of misinformation, while 47% are already using AI tools for homework and revision.Confidence can be a blind spot — Many young people feel they already know enough about AI when in reality they don't fully understand its deeper implications. The challenge is helping them recognise what they don't yet know.Critical thinking is the core skill — Rather than focusing on specific tools (which change rapidly), BBC Bitesize's approach centres on equipping young people with the ability to assess, verify and question the information they encounter every day.AI as a collaborator, not a substitute — Cerys emphasises that AI works best as a companion tool. Young people still need to be thinkers, creators and developers alongside it — not passive users of it.A positive, empowering outlook — BBC Bitesize's Guide to AI uses real young people in real-world scenarios to show both the benefits and risks of AI, deliberately avoiding a fear-based approach.New resources to tackle misinformation — Solve the Story is a brand new episodic mini-drama for classroom use, where students must solve a fake news mystery across six episodes — a creative, engaging way to build media literacy skills.Trust is BBC Bitesize's superpower — All content is reviewed by practising teachers and education consultants, making it one of the most trusted sources of educational content in the UK.Chapters:00:03 - Introduction to BBC BiteSize06:08 - The Evolution of AI in Education09:35 - The Role of AI in Education and Misinformation18:55 - Introducing 'Solve the Story' - A New Educational Initiative23:20 - Educational Content Creation and Trust29:00 - Empowering Youth Through Educationhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesizeInstagram: @bbcbitesize🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape2026 ConferenceKeynote : Reading for Pleasure – Dr Roger McDonaldWorkshops focusing on National Year of Reading : Writing, TESOL, Oracy, Drama and Story Telling, Poetryhttps://educationonfire.com/reading

Ross W. Greene, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and the originator of the innovative, evidence-based approach called Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS), as described in his influential books The Explosive Child, Lost at School, Lost & Found, and Raising Human Beings.He developed and executive produced the award-winning documentary film The Kids We Lose. Dr. Greene was on the faculty at Harvard Medical School for over twenty years and is now founding director of the nonprofit Lives in the Balance. He is also currently adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech.Dr. Greene has worked with several thousand kids with concerning behaviors and their caregivers, and he and his colleagues have overseen implementation and evaluation of the CPS model in countless schools, inpatient psychiatry units, and residential and juvenile detention facilities, with dramatic effect: significant reductions in recidivism, discipline referrals, detentions, suspensions, and use of restraint and seclusion.Takeaways:Dr. Ross Greene emphasizes the necessity of adopting proactive strategies in education to better support children facing mental health challenges.We discusses the importance of meeting each child where they are developmentally, rather than enforcing a one-size-fits-all approach in education.Dr. Greene's approach advocates for understanding and addressing the underlying problems causing concerning behaviors rather than merely modifying the behaviours themselves.The conversation highlights the alarming increase in mental health issues among children, which necessitates a shift in educational practices and societal attitudes towards youth.A focus on developmental variability is crucial in education, as every child's needs and experiences are unique and deserve tailored support.Chapters:00:11 - Introduction to Dr. Ross Greene and Collaborative Solutions08:17 - Meeting Every Kid Where They're At10:54 - Understanding Developmental Variability in Education22:34 - Understanding Student Behavior and Systemic Issues32:54 - The Importance of Collaborative Change in Education38:22 - Empowering Change in Educationhttps://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Kids-Who-Arent-Okay/Ross-W-Greene/9781668203903🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape2026 ConferenceKeynote : Reading for Pleasure – Dr Roger McDonaldWorkshops focusing on National Year of Reading : Writing, TESOL, Oracy, Drama and Story Telling, Poetryhttps://educationonfire.com/reading

In this solo reflective episode, host Mark Taylor wraps up the first part of the Ger Graus Gets Gritty season by doing something personal — instead of a straightforward summary, he weaves the season's key themes through the story of his own life in music. From a secondary school wind band to 30 years as a professional musician and music educator, Mark explores how opportunity, community, practice, and personalised learning shaped his path. He draws on insights from his conversations with Ger Graus to reflect on what great education looks like — and what's at risk when funding, trust, and time are taken away. A heartfelt and thought-provoking listen for anyone who believes in the transformative power of education.1. Children can only aspire to what they know exists Exposure is everything. Mark's entire music career began because a school programme placed an instrument in his hands. Without that structured opportunity, he simply wouldn't have known it was possible. Educators and systems have a responsibility to show children what the world contains.2. The task is not to make the impossible possible — but to make the possible attainable Big dreams don't require giant leaps. What they require is a visible next step. Mark's path grew one rung at a time: junior band → senior band → county ensemble → music college → profession. Clear, accessible stepping stones are what turn potential into reality.3. Deep practice builds something you can rely on under pressure When Mark performed his first brass band drum solo, it went well not because of talent — but because he'd practised so thoroughly it was in his muscle memory. Real mastery means the skill holds even when nerves are high. This applies far beyond music.4. Community makes the individual possible Behind every successful learner is a network of people: a visionary head teacher, an encouraging music teacher, parents organising lifts, peers in an ensemble. Mark's journey wasn't a solo performance — it was a collective effort. Nurturing that ecosystem around a child matters as much as the teaching itself.5. Wellbeing isn't a bolt-on — it's what happens when children are fully themselves Rather than offering mindfulness classes as a fix for an overburdened curriculum, Mark argues that real wellbeing comes from giving children time to pursue what lights them up. Meaningful, deep engagement with something they love is the wellbeing strategy.🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources and be part of our season finale with Ger.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

This week I used AI to summarize the 7 episodes I have recorded with Prof Dr Ger Graus OBE about his book Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education. The aim was to give you a short (22 mins) overview of the themes we have discussed in a different way.I used the transcripts from all 7 episodes to create a summary document in Claude which I then imported to NotebookLM that in turn created a conversation between 2 AI voices.Link to the GGGG series audio playlist:https://player.captivate.fm/collection/54f98b13-e7b7-4c0e-bb3b-bc3b54a3c2aeLink to the GGGG series video playlist:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy3hA_bI5MImKV4GN5-ZyRCOa2PVe9ysU&si=1o78GkM1erluHakphttps://www.gergraus.comGet the book – Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources and be part of our season finale with Ger.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFire

Based on the final chapter of Prof Dr Ger Graus's book Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education (Routledge), this conversation asks the most honest question of the entire series: So what?Ger examines what 40-plus years of educational work has truly changed — and what it hasn't.At the heart of the episode is a sobering reckoning: Wythenshawe, the deprived area of Manchester where Ger dedicated much of his career, remains in the bottom 25% of England's most disadvantaged communities — just as it was in 1999. Yet rather than despair, Ger finds meaning in the individual lives transformed, the schools that finally began collaborating, and the quiet but lasting legacy of the Education Action Zone that brought 29 schools together for the first time.Joining the conversation are educators, researchers, and colleagues who offer their own reflections on the book's significance — including insights from OECD Education Director Andreas Schleicher's afterword, and a passionate endorsement from Russian education researcher Dr. Sergey Kosaretsky.Key QuotesGer Graus on systemic change:"Certain dials are too big to shift by one person or by one small organisation. It's a concerted effort — and in order to see the big picture, all pieces of the jigsaw need to fall into place."Ger Graus on political impatience:"It's taken you since the 1944 Education Act to keep getting it wrong. Whatever made you think that in five years we would solve all your problems?"Andreas Schleicher (OECD), quoted from the book's Afterword:"The task is not to make the impossible possible, but to make the possible attainable."Dr. Sergey Kosaretsky on the book's message:"Education is not only schools. Education is not only universities. Education is a lot of things that children do every day — with their friends, their parents, with themselves."Mark Sylvester on Ger's philosophy:"One of the things he would say is that he wants to teach children, but also to teach humans how to learn."Key Takeaways1. Structural poverty is stubborn — but individual impact still matters. Despite decades of effort, the communities Ger worked in remain among England's most deprived. He doesn't shy away from this, but argues that transforming individual lives — like the girl from Wythenshawe who played Juliet in Italy and re-engaged with school entirely — is proof that the work was never wasted.2. Change in education takes generational patience. Politicians want results in five-year cycles. Ger argues that meaningful educational reform operates on a far longer timeline, and that unrealistic expectations are one of the biggest barriers to real progress.3. Lived and informal experience is education too. Multiple contributors highlight that education extends well beyond school walls — into homes, exchanges, community experiences, and play. Ger's career has been defined by championing this broader definition.4. The book is a call to action, not just a memoir. Colleagues urge policymakers — especially those working on England's forthcoming schools white paper — to read Through a Different Lens and draw from its hard-won lessons. It's described as "a textbook for all teachers, educators, and parents."5. Asking "so what?" is an act of courage, not defeat. Ger's willingness to interrogate his own legacy — particularly in the shadow of a cancer diagnosis — models the kind of honest, reflective leadership that education urgently needs.Chapters:00:07 - Introduction to the Series02:54 - Reflecting on Impact and Change10:41 - Reflections on Education and Poverty15:40 - The Importance of Lived Experience in Education19:42 - The Importance of Education Beyond Schools24:27 - The Role of New Leaders in Educationhttps://www.gergraus.comGet the book – Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources and be part of our season finale with Ger.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape2026 ConferenceKeynote : Reading for Pleasure – Dr Roger McDonaldWorkshops focusing on National Year of Reading : Writing, TESOL, Oracy, Drama and Story Telling, Poetryhttps://educationonfire.com/readingTestimonials John Cosgrove - Retired Headteacher and Author, UKRichard Taylor - Former Head of English and Colleague of Ger, UKMark Sylvester - Executive Producer, TEDx, USAProfessor Sergey Kosaretsky - Vice Rector for Research, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education (MSUPE)

"More Than a School: Values, Measurement, and What Education Is Really For"In this episode of the Ger Graus Gets Gritty series, Mark Taylor sits down once again with Professor Dr. Ger Graus OBE to explore one of his most passionate themes — the idea that schools are, and must intentionally become, more than a school. Drawing on his own transformative work leading Education Action Zones in Wythenshawe, South Manchester, Ger makes a compelling case for community-rooted education that puts the whole child first, measures what truly matters, and trusts teachers as the professionals they are.Inspired by FC Barcelona's famous motto Més que un Club ("More than a Club"), Ger argues that schools — particularly primary schools embedded in their communities — have always carried responsibilities far beyond academic instruction. But rather than waiting for government to dictate how those responsibilities are fulfilled, he urges schools to seize the agenda, define their own values, and prove their impact on their own terms.From breakfast clubs to brokering local solutions within a network of 29 schools, from the dangers of league table dishonesty to the transformative power of professional trust. It's a rallying call to educators, parents, and policymakers alike."Schools invariably already are more than a school. But I think we need to become better at it and perhaps we need to become more deliberate at it.""If we want to do the 'more than a school' bit properly, I think we need to begin with the values of why are we doing this — and what is the impact, and how is that good for our children, our families, our communities?"Key Takeaways1. Schools must be deliberately "more than a school." The challenge is to make that broader role intentional, values-driven, and properly resourced, rather than reactive and underfunded. Schools should stop waiting for government permission and start leading the agenda themselves.2. Start with the whole child, not the average child. A child who is hungry, cold, or emotionally unsettled cannot learn. Ger champions breakfast clubs, pastoral support, and out-of-school activities not as "nice extras" but as the essential foundation for learning. The 10 A's identified in Cambridge University research on Children's University — including attendance, attainment, attitudes, adventure, agency, and advocacy — offer a far richer picture of school impact than narrow inspection frameworks.3. Measure progress, not just performance. League tables and one-size-fits-all inspection frameworks distort reality and incentivise dishonesty. Ger advocates for progress measures that reflect a school's specific community context — comparing a school against its own journey rather than against wealthier, more selective institutions. Meaningful accountability means schools defining and measuring their own impact transparently.4. Professional trust is the missing ingredient. The Wythenshawe Education Action Zone showed what's possible when teachers and headteachers are genuinely trusted: 29 schools that had never met collectively began collaborating, sharing expertise, and solving problems from within. No external consultants, no top-down directives — just professionals empowered to know their children, their families, and their communities.5. Respect and trust for teachers must be made visible — by everyone. Ger's closing call to action is personal and practical. To parents: engage with teachers as the professionals they are, rather than rushing to challenge or undermine them. To government: back up the rhetoric of "trusting teachers" with real autonomy. And to everyone: make trust visible in small, tangible acts — like a handwritten thank-you note after a difficult week. As Ger puts it, "We need to make trust and respect visible. We owe that to our teachers."Chapters:00:01 - Introduction to the Series01:13 - More Than a School: Understanding Community Impact29:20 - Building Community Trust in Education32:31 - Transforming Education: A New Approach42:20 - The Impact of Demographic Changes on Education01:02:07 - The Ongoing Journey of Educationhttps://www.gergraus.comGet the book – Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources and be part of our season finale with Ger.https://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape2026 ConferenceKeynote : Reading for Pleasure – Dr Roger McDonaldWorkshops focusing on National Year of Reading : Writing, TESOL, Oracy, Drama and Story Telling, Poetryhttps://educationonfire.com/reading

In this episode of the Ger Graus Gets Gritty series, Professor Dr. Ger Graus OBE tackles what he calls "the most underestimated aspect of a child's learning and growing up"—the role adults play as models in young people's lives. Through personal stories, including his daughter's early obsession with "Mrs. Poole" her nursery teacher, and insights from his global work with Kidzania, Ger reveals how children unconsciously absorb behaviours, values, and dreams from the adults around them, often in ways we never notice.This conversation goes beyond the surface of role modeling to question the fundamental structures of modern education. Ger and host Mark Taylor examine why schools still operate on an industrial-era framework—early start times that conflict with adolescent sleep patterns, restricted bathroom access, rushed lunch periods causing "collective indigestion"—and explore what education could look like if we redesigned it around how children actually learn and thrive rather than outdated factory models."If we want a world that is respectful and that is kind and considerate and that is inquisitive and curious, then we need to begin to lead by example. That is the most important part of our job description when it comes to our young people."Key Takeaways1. Adults are role models whether they realize it or not. Children absorb everything from the adults around them—teachers, parents, neighbours, and community members. This "copied behavior" is one of the most underestimated aspects of learning, and adults must become conscious of the example they set in values, kindness, curiosity, and respect.2. Lead by example, not just instruction. Children learn more from what we do than what we say. Schools that demonstrate values through everyday behaviour—greeting people warmly, showing kindness, opening doors—create cultures where children naturally adopt these behaviors, regardless of socioeconomic background.3. The industrial model of education is outdated and failing students. Current school structures—rigid schedules, minimal breaks, locked toilets, rushed lunches—are remnants of the Industrial Revolution designed to prepare workers for factories. This model no longer serves students' needs or prepares them for modern life.4. Schools should be community-owned "more than schools" Educational institutions need to transform into community hubs that serve broader purposes, with flexible hours (perhaps 8am-6pm), adequate meal times, and involvement from employers and community members. Schools should measure and value different outcomes beyond traditional academics.5. Careers education has failed generations and continues to fail. Adults consistently report that their careers education was either laughable or non-existent. Despite this universal acknowledgment, little has changed. Meaningful change requires creating experiential learning environments where young people can explore possibilities and develop authentic aspirations.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction to the Series01:18 - The Role We Play in Children's Lives13:20 - The Role of Teachers as Role Models21:39 - The Importance of Values in Education33:06 - The Role of Role Models in Education42:21 - The Impact of Role Models in Education55:40 - The Influence of Role Models on Youth01:08:30 - Rethinking Education: Beyond Traditional Modelshttps://www.gergraus.comGet the book – Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources and be part of our season finale with Ger.https://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape2026 ConferenceKeynote : Reading for Pleasure - Dr Roger McDonaldWorkshops focusing on National Year of Reading : Writing, TESOL, Oracy, Drama and Story Telling, Poetryhttps://educationonfire.com/reading

This is the fourth instalment of the "Ger Graus Gets Gritty" series. Based on Chapter 4 of his book Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education (published by Routledge), this episode tackles one of the most contentious topics in modern education: technology.Rather than focusing on the technical aspects of digital tools, Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE reframes the conversation around technology as fundamentally a discussion about human behaviour, courage, and trust. From fountain pens to AI, he traces the historical pattern of moral panic that accompanies each technological advancement, arguing that our concerns reveal more about ourselves than about the technology itself.The conversation challenges the current discourse around banning mobile phones in schools, advocates for student-centered approaches to technology integration, and explores how young people might actually serve as role models for adults when it comes to digital literacy. We discuss engaging students in creating their own codes of conduct and for recognising that technology's impact—positive or negative—ultimately comes down to how we choose to use it.Key QuoteOn the Mobile Phone Ban Debate:"The fact that we are actually talking about banning mobile phones from schools is unbelievable. It is literally turning around to your children and to mine and saying, now, for whatever, six, seven, eight hours a day, we're going to pretend that they don't exist."Key Takeaways1. Technology Panic is a Historical Pattern, Not a New PhenomenonEvery technological advancement in education—from fountain pens to ballpoint pens, calculators to the Internet, and now AI—has been met with moral panic about "dumbing down" and declining standards. This reveals that our anxieties are less about the technology itself and more about our discomfort with change and our ability to adapt.2. The Problem Isn't the Technology—It's Human BehaviorTechnology is neutral; its impact depends entirely on how humans choose to use it. Rather than banning tools like mobile phones, we need to focus on developing appropriate behaviors, codes of conduct, and digital citizenship. The phone sitting on the desk isn't harmful—it's how we interact with it that matters.3. Students Should Be Partners in Creating Technology PoliciesYoung people are conspicuously absent from public discussions about technology in schools, despite being the most affected stakeholders. Students are capable of creating sophisticated codes of conduct for technology use—often better than adults can create—and are more effective at self-policing when they've been part of the solution.4. We're Failing at Technology's Greatest Promise: Equity and DemocratizationThe Internet represents humanity's greatest democratizing invention, yet we've failed dismally at addressing equity issues both within countries and globally. The gaps in technology access and digital literacy are growing rather than shrinking, which represents a massive missed opportunity for education and society.5. Young People Are Our Role Models in Technology, Not the Other Way AroundThe traditional model of role modeling—where older generations guide younger ones—is reversed when it comes to technology. Adults need to approach young people with respect and humility, learning from their digital fluency and working collaboratively to understand and navigate the technological landscape together.Join the conversation using #educationonfire and share your stories.Chapters:00:01 - Introduction to the Series01:14 - The Impact of Technology on Education11:19 - The Role of Technology in Education15:02 - The Integration of AI in Education19:15 - The Impact of Technology on Education27:10 - The Role of Technology in Education35:02 - The Role of Technology in Education36:40 - Understanding the Role of Technology in Education46:31 - The Role We Play in Technologyhttps://www.gergraus.comGet the book – Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources and be part of our season finale with Ger.https://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

In this episode we explore the critical distinction between schooling and education—and why it matters more than ever. Drawing from his book Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education, Prof Dr Ger Graus OBE challenges us to rethink how we prepare children not just for exams, but for lifelong learning.From conversations with Reggio Emilia's Carla Rinaldi to insights on India's National Education Plan, this episode examines how different systems approach the fundamental question: is schooling enabling education, or limiting it? Ger and Mark discuss the narrowing of curricula, the disconnect between political agendas and educational best practice, and the untapped potential of museums, libraries, and cultural institutions as essential learning partners.With passionate calls for cross-party consensus on children's wellbeing and a reimagining of what it means to truly educate rather than simply school, this conversation is a rallying cry for parents, educators, and policymakers to refocus on what children actually need to thrive in the modern world—not the industrial revolution.Key Quotes"The better schooled you are, the better educated you can be if you wish to be.""We don't talk about wellbeing, we talk about not wellbeing. The entire conversation is never about, oh my God, I feel so great. The entire conversation is, I feel so lousy.""If you are going to study Shakespeare with children and young people...... they should either get the chance to see the play or to be in it...... you could not be in an outstanding school if you don't adhere to those things.""The bar in England in that sense is set unbelievably low. Please do not look to England as an example of best practice."Key TakeawaysSchooling ≠ Education - Schooling is a 10-15 year period within a lifetime of education (ages 0-99). In an ideal system, schooling should be an enabler that equips people to become lifelong learners, not just to pass exams or accumulate credentials.The Dutch Advantage - The Dutch language uses the same word for teaching and learning, conceptually removing the artificial separation. This linguistic integration reflects a more holistic approach where teaching and learning are seen as complementary parts of the same process.Cultural Institutions Are Underutilized - Museums, libraries, galleries, theatres, and music venues are crying out for audiences while schools struggle within narrow curricula. There's enormous untapped potential in creating systematic partnerships between schools and these cultural institutions to enrich both education and teaching.We Need Cross-Party Consensus - Educational policy suffers from constant reinvention with each new government. Creating a consensus on core priorities (wellbeing, music, physical education, etc.) that transcends political cycles would provide stability and allow genuine progress rather than perpetual wheel-reinventing.Shift from "Not Wellbeing" to "Wellbeing" - Current conversations focus on problems (obesity, knife crime, mental health issues) rather than positive wellbeing. Education policy should reframe the dialogue to proactively build wellbeing through entitlements like music, arts, and cultural participation—things that make us feel good, not just prevent us from feeling bad.Join the conversation using #educationonfire and share your stories.Chapters:00:10 - Celebrating Milestones03:29 - The Distinction Between Schooling and Education10:31 - The Role of Parents in Education20:01 - Rethinking Education: The Role of Parents in Homework27:05 - The Impact of Education on Society32:55 - The Role of Schools in Education and Parenting40:08 - Rethinking Education: Community and Personalization41:59 - The Role of Experience in Knowledge Acquisition54:39 - The Role of Communities and Schools in Student Well-being59:32 - The Need for a Collective Movement in Education01:06:10 - The Future of Education and Learninghttps://www.gergraus.comGet the book – Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources and be part of our season finale with Ger.https://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

This episode explores how children's aspirations are fundamentally shaped by their experiences and what they're exposed to. Drawing from Prof Dr Ger Graus's groundbreaking work with the Wythenshawe Education Action Zone and Manchester Airport, they unpack the reality that children from disadvantaged backgrounds often can't dream of careers they've never seen.The conversation moves from airports to universities, examining how partnership between education and industry can transform lives. Ger shares compelling research from KidZania revealing that stereotypes are set by age 4, and discusses the Children's University model that brought families into higher education spaces for the first time.Ger challenges listeners to think beyond traditional schooling, emphasizing the critical importance of out-of-school experiences, parental engagement, and creating purposeful learning that helps young people discover why education matters—not just what they must learn.Key Quotes"If you have a strong purpose in life, you don't have to be pushed. Your passion will drive you there." - Roy T. Bennett (quoted by Ger Graus)"Don't you know that people from Wythenshawe don't fly planes?" - 6-7 year old children to Ger GrausThis heartbreaking response reveals how aspirational lids are placed on children's jars from an early age, limiting what they believe is possible for themselves."We get hung up on schooling more than education...we're quite happy to alienate the parents. We actually don't want much to do with the parents." - Ger Graus"We need to draw the parents in, we must make them our co-educators...it takes a village to raise a child. Well, we need to remember that the village consists of different components and parents and grandparents are very important but we must engage them." - Ger Graus"Give me a confident learner and I'll bring you the grades." - Ger GrausThis powerful statement challenges the system's focus on test results over building confident, independent learners who can thrive in any context.Key TakeawaysChildren can only aspire to careers and opportunities they know exist—exposure mattersStereotypes about career choices are set by age 4, yet we don't discuss futures until age 14Partnerships between schools, businesses, and communities create win-win situationsOut-of-school experiences are not luxuries—they're essential for breaking cycles of disadvantageTrue education requires engaging parents as co-educators, not alienating themWe need futures awareness in primary schools, not just careers education in secondary schoolsJoin the conversation using #educationonfire and share your stories of expanding children's horizons.Chapters:00:10 - Celebrating Milestones in Education00:39 - Introduction to the Series: Gare Grouse Gets Gritty12:50 - Aspirations and Limitations: The Impact of Local Perceptions on Career Choices17:55 - The Importance of Experience in Learning21:57 - Engaging Parents in Education26:21 - Cultural Reflections on Education and Language32:09 - The Role of Technology in Language Learning40:09 - Aspirations and Education45:32 - Generational Aspirations and Education48:16 - The Importance of Role Models and Social Mobility55:53 - Intergenerational Learning: Bridging the Gap01:01:52 - The Concept and Impact of Children's University01:09:31 - The Importance of Partnerships in Education01:14:52 - Understanding the KidZania Experience: Research Insights01:16:58 - Exploring Stereotypes and Career Choices in Children01:26:34 - The Legacy of Education and Community Engagement01:30:47 - The Importance of Learning: Bridging Education and Experiencehttps://www.gergraus.comGet the book – Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources and be part of our season finale with Ger.https://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

In this first episode of a special 10-part series named Ger Graus Gets Gritty, Mark Taylor sits down with Professor Dr. Ger Graus OBE to launch an honest conversation about education and schooling.Following the release of Ger's book "Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education" this series uses each chapter as a springboard for examining what's working—and what isn't—in our education systems.In this episode Ger shares his personal journey from a difficult childhood in the Netherlands to becoming a passionate advocate for experience-based learning. He reflects on how one transformative teacher changed his trajectory, the crucial differences between primary and secondary education, and why putting children at the centre of learning must be more than just rhetoric.This episode tackles the benefit of hindsight, the importance of storytelling in education, and why courage is needed to swim against the current of compliance-driven schooling.Key Quotes"If you're a teacher, just realize that 50 years from now someone will say your name... That's your responsibility, whether to say good things or bad things, nice things or not so nice things. That's in your gift and that's in your hands.""The minute you touch on an abstract in your lesson, the next thing that should happen is, comma, for example, the two most important words in that lesson. Because what that means is that you exemplify, you tell a story effectively, you take these children in mind and heart, you take them on a short journey.""What we have become is accountable to the system and not accountable to the child.""I think we need to make education and schooling and the connection between the two much more of a societal dialogue.""Children can only aspire to what they know exists."Takeaways:The podcast marks a significant milestone, celebrating ten years and 500 episodes, highlighting the journey of Education on Fire.Professor Dr. Ger Graus OBE's engagement signifies a collaborative effort to address pressing educational issues through meaningful dialogue.The series titled 'Ger Graus Gets Gritty' aims to promote positive change in education, focusing on the welfare of children and supportive learning environments.Listeners are encouraged to participate in the conversation and share stories that advocate for the well-being of children in educational settings.The podcast emphasizes the importance of community involvement in education, asserting that collective action is essential for fostering supportive learning experiences.The discussion raises critical questions about the current educational system, advocating for reforms that prioritize children's needs over economic or political agendas.Chapters:00:08 - Celebrating Milestones in Education01:09 - The Importance of Community in Education23:31 - The Importance of Storytelling in Education33:03 - Reflections on Childhood and Education52:41 - The Need for Courage in Education Reform01:12:39 - The Importance of Personalization in Educationhttps://www.gergraus.comGet the book - Through a Different Lens: Lessons from a Life in Education🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire, get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources and be part of our season finale with Ger.https://www.educationonfire.com🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support#EducationOnFireShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

Samantha Gourd from Country Space explains the profound benefits and opportunities presented by connecting educational institutions with British farms. The initiative aims to provide immersive, hands-on learning experiences for students, facilitating a deeper understanding of agriculture and sustainability.By engaging children in activities such as growing vegetables and caring for animals, the program not only enhances educational curricula but also fosters a lifelong respect for nature. The conversation underscores the critical role of primary education in shaping future citizens who appreciate the origins of their food and the importance of environmental stewardship. This dialogue serves as a clarion call for schools to embrace experiential learning beyond the confines of the traditional classroom.Takeaways:The conversation with Samantha Gourd emphasizes the critical importance of connecting schools with British farms to foster experiential learning opportunities for children.Through immersive workshops, students gain hands-on experience in farming, which cultivates empathy and respect for nature and sustainability.Samantha's initiative aims to address the pressing challenges faced by British farming, thereby ensuring food security and sustainability for future generations.Early exposure to farming and food production significantly influences children's values and perceptions about agriculture as they grow into adulthood.Country Space serves as a vital intermediary between educational institutions and farms, facilitating safe and enriching experiences that benefit both parties.The podcast underscores the necessity of integrating real-world experiences into the educational system to inspire future generations about the origins of their food.Chapters:00:00 - Connecting Schools to British Farms05:30 - The Importance of Agricultural Education09:40 - Understanding Food Education in Schools11:49 - The Impact of Nature on Well-Being19:49 - The Impact of Farm Visits on Education22:34 - Inspiration and Engagement in Educationhttp://www.country-space.co.uk/Countryspaceuk - to connect on social mediaFor all primary schools looking to join workshops on their Kent and Sussex farms - mention Education on Fire to get 10% offShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://nape.org.uk/Find out more about their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire and get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources you can use to support learninghttps://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support

Dr. Cynthia Rapaido, a highly accomplished educator, holds an Ed.D. in International and Multicultural Education and an M.A. in Educational Administration from the University of San Francisco. She earned her B.S. in Applied Arts and Sciences Biology from San Diego State University. With over 30 years of experience in K–12 education, she has served as a high school principal, assistant principal, and teacher, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the educational landscape across various schools and districts in California.Dr. Rapaido’s dedication extends to higher education, where she has contributed significantly as a faculty lecturer, dissertation advisor, and university field supervisor at esteemed institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, University of San Francisco, and California State University, East Bay. Her passion for teaching, mentoring, and coaching educators is evident in her continuing role as an educational leadership coach and consultant. She also mentors graduate and doctoral students at her alma maters.Often actively engaged in research, Dr. Rapaido participates in academic peer review panels and presents her work at conferences, covering diverse topics within education and leadership. Her research interests include educational leadership, teacher education, school climate, diversity sensitivity, multicultural competency, social justice, emotional intelligence, and the impact of colonialism and imperialism.Dr. Rapaido was honored by the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) in 2011 as one of "100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the United States". She was commended by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) and received the "2013 California Secondary Co-Administrator of the Year" award. The following year, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) recognized her as a finalist for the prestigious "Assistant Principal of the Year" award for the State of California, highlighting her outstanding, active, and front-line leadership.In July 2024, Dr. Rapaido published her first book, "Step Up Your School Leadership Game ~ The New Administrators' Guide ~ Lessons to Navigate Big and Small Challenges with Confidence and Purpose".Takeaways:Dr. Cynthia Rapaido possesses over 30 years of experience in K12 education, contributing to various roles.Her extensive career includes positions as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal in California schools.In 2024, Dr. Rapaido authored her first book, which serves as a guide for aspiring school leaders.She emphasizes the importance of mentorship for new educators and administrators entering the field.Dr. Rapaido advocates for building relationships with both students and parents to enhance educational outcomes.The podcast discusses the critical transitions students face from elementary to high school, highlighting the need for support.Chapters:00:02 - Introducing Dr. Cynthia Rapaido06:10 - Transitions in Education16:50 - Transitioning from Education to Writing20:53 - Understanding Leadership in Education24:20 - Understanding Leadership Through Experience35:01 - Navigating the Transition from Teacher to Administratorwww.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-rapaido-ed-dShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://nape.org.uk/Find out more about their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire and get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources you can use to support learninghttps://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support

Marie-Claire Parsons is the project lead for Harry's Rainbow, a charity that support bereaved children in Milton Keynes. She has 30 years experience in schools culminating in founding a 6 school federation and being the executive headteacher. Marie-Claire has been a family liaison officer, education lead and beneficiary lead for the charity. She has just completed leading on an art project where 15 young people explored their grief through graffiti, entitled 'Grieffiti'! Harry's Rainbow offer activity based support groups to children bereaved of a parent or sibling, set up by Odette Mould MBE almost 15 years ago after the death of her son, Harry.Takeaways:Harry's Rainbow is a charity that provides vital support to bereaved children in Milton Keynes, having been established nearly 15 years ago following the tragic loss of a child.The charity organizes various support groups, which are activity-based, catering to children from ages 1 to 25, thereby fostering a sense of community among grieving families.Through collaborative artistic projects, bereaved children are encouraged to express their grief and emotions in creative ways, helping them to process their experiences.Understanding that grief is not linear is essential; people may experience a myriad of emotions simultaneously, which underscores the importance of having sensitive support structures in place.The role of educational institutions in recognizing and addressing bereavement among students is crucial, as ongoing support can significantly impact a child's ability to cope with loss.An urgent need exists for schools to implement bereavement policies and support systems that acknowledge the unique challenges faced by bereaved children and their families.Chapters:00:02 - Introduction to Harry's Rainbow08:09 - The Importance of Discussing Grief and Bereavement12:48 - The Importance of Support in Grief14:06 - Understanding Grief and Its Impact on Life24:54 - Understanding Bereavement in Schools34:13 - Supporting Children Through Grief and Loss44:31 - Understanding Grief and Support45:39 - The Stages of Grief: A Reassessmenthttps://harrysrainbow.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-harry-s-rainbow-charitable-trust/https://www.instagram.com/harrys_rainbow_/https://www.facebook.com/HarrysRainbow/Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://nape.org.uk/Find out more about their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire and get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources you can use to support learninghttps://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support

Jenna Udenberg is a lifelong resident from the Northshore of Minnesota and is a former music educator of 19 years. She has used a manual wheelchair since the age of 8 due to Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Jenna is a 2017 Blandin Foundation Community Leader, a 2020 Bush Fellow, and a 2025 Shannon Leadership Institute Fellow. Writing for the Lake County Press in her column, Local View from 4 foot 2, inspires vulnerability and the sharing of lived experiences from the seated perspective. Within My Spokes: A Tapestry of Pain, Growth & Freedom is Jenna’s published memoir which you can find on the A&BWU website, on Amazon or wherever you find your books. In her free time, you can find Jenna outdoors on paved trails or fishing with friends, playing board and card games, as well as coaching the Robo Dweebs, a LEGO robotics team. Jenna is the founder of the non-profit, Above & Beyond With U, which works to increase accessibility and inclusion in Minnesota and beyond.Takeaways:Jenna Udenberg emphasizes the importance of creating accessible and inclusive environments for all individuals.The principle of universal design plays a crucial role in ensuring equitable access to spaces and services.A significant aspect of Jenna's work is fostering conversations around disability and breaking down societal misconceptions.The sentiment that all humans have needs is central to Jenna's advocacy for kindness and understanding in community interactions.Jenna's experiences as a wheelchair user illuminate the barriers present in everyday environments and the need for thoughtful design.The phrase 'nothing for us without us' encapsulates the necessity of including disabled individuals in discussions about accessibility.Chapters:00:10 - Jenna Udenberg: A Journey of Resilience01:29 - Creating Inclusive Spaces: The Mission of Above and Beyond10:24 - Understanding Disability and Accessibility25:56 - Understanding Disability in Education32:51 - Reflections on Teaching and Growth Mindset37:18 - Empowerment and Resilience in Leadershiphttps://www.aboveandbeyondwithu.org/https://www.instagram.com/aboveandbeyondwithuhttps://www.facebook.com/people/Above-Beyond-With-U/100091881005060/https://www.linkedin.com/company/91173822Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://nape.org.uk/Find out more about their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire and get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources you can use to support learninghttps://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support

Victoria Lenormand is a former police detective turned holistic coach, Reiki master, and passionate advocate for alternative education and social justice. With a 28-year career in public service behind her, Victoria’s lens is both compassionate and sharp: she’s witnessed firsthand how institutions can sometimes fail those they claim to serve. Her journey took a transformative turn when her youngest son’s autism diagnosis revealed the flaws in rigid educational and medical systems. Choosing to home educate, she and her family embraced a life of flexibility, healing, and empowerment—living in a motorhome before settling in Scotland and exploring a more intuitive way of living. Her family’s transformation, sparked by a combination of diet, environment, and deep listening, revealed the healing power of choice and the cost of ignoring it.Today, through Gemini Directions, Victoria now works with families and individuals who feel stuck inside systems not made for them. Her work draws on training in wellness coaching, trauma-informed care, and energy work—but more than anything, it’s shaped by real-world experience: managing crisis with calm, asking better questions, making space when the default is to push through. Victoria speaks to parents at breaking point, professionals navigating burnout, and educators or policymakers open to doing things differently. Her conversations centre around those day-to-day quiet acts of courage: advocating for yourself, questioning “normal,” and moving toward something slower, more responsive, and often more effective.Takeaways:The value of a child is often revealed in the challenges they face, not just in their successes.When traditional education fails to meet a child's needs, parents must explore alternative educational paths.Creating a supportive community is essential for families navigating the complexities of education and special needs.Empowering children to take charge of their own learning fosters autonomy and encourages a love for education.Resilience is cultivated through overcoming challenges and learning to adapt in the face of adversity.The holistic approach to education recognizes the interconnectedness of emotional, physical, and academic well-being.Chapters:00:20 - Choosing to Withdraw: A New Direction06:20 - The Journey of Learning and Discovery08:23 - The Journey of Learning and Inclusion18:51 - Navigating Educational Change22:49 - Rethinking Education: Navigating New Possibilities28:20 - The Journey of Personalization in Learning34:45 - Navigating Educational Change and Personal Growth40:01 - The Importance of Community Support in Challenging Times42:38 - The Power of Resilience and Communityhttps://geminidirections.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geminidirections.co.ukFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/geminidirectionsShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://nape.org.uk/Find out more about their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire and get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources you can use to support learninghttps://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support/

David K Richards is the Founder & CEO of Changemaker Education, a national network of affiliate love-based microschools and an incubator for founders who want to usher in a new paradigm for the future of education. He is also the host of the Changemaker ED“U” podcast. Previously, he was Founder & CEO of Growth Public Schools, and a founding teacher and leader with Summit Public Schools where he launched several innovative schools. In addition he serves as a leadership and life coach. David has worked in education reform for over 25 years as a teacher, principal, executive, and board member. He lives in Sacramento, CA with his wife and his two children, and holds a BA from UC Berkeley and an MA from Stanford University.Takeaways: The traditional education system has remained largely unchanged, resembling a factory model that fails to meet the needs of modern learners. Microschools represent a transformative approach to education, empowering educators and communities to create personalized learning environments. The emergence of microschools arises from a growing desire for more intimate, love-based educational experiences that focus on social emotional learning. ChangeMaker Education aims to cultivate a network of microschools, emphasizing the importance of relationships and community involvement in fostering student success. In the face of societal shifts, such as the rise of the gig economy and the expansion of homeschooling, families are increasingly seeking alternative education options. There exists a significant demand for educational reform that prioritizes personalized learning and emotional development, particularly in light of ongoing advancements in technology and AI. Chapters:00:16 - Revolutionizing Education: The MicroSchool Movement01:04 - Introduction to Microschools and Educational Innovation13:50 - Transitioning from Educator to Entrepreneur16:30 - The Rise of Personalized Education22:59 - The Future of Education: Embracing Change and Choice31:18 - The Ripple Effect in Educationhttps://www.changemakereducation.com/Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://nape.org.uk/Find out more about their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire and get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources you can use to support learninghttps://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieseducationonfire.com/support

Dr. Robin Harwick is the founder and director of The Pearl Remote Democratic High School—an international, online school reimagining education for youth pushed out of mainstream systems. A lifelong educator, researcher, and creator of healing-centered programs, she combines lived experience with academic rigor to disrupt the status quo. Her work champions self-determination, culturally affirming curriculum, creativity, and shared power. Whether she’s launching new models or mentoring others to do the same, Dr. Harwick believes the future belongs to those bold enough to build it, and that education should be a tool for liberation, not control.Takeaways: Dr. Robin Harwick emphasizes the necessity of making education valuable both in the present and future, ensuring students find relevance in their learning today. The Pearl Remote Democratic High School serves students who have been marginalized by mainstream educational systems, focusing on personalized and supportive learning environments. Effective education requires fostering emotional well-being alongside academic success, recognizing that students often struggle when pressured to conform to traditional expectations. Students at the Pearl experience a collaborative and democratic learning process, empowering them to take ownership of their education and engage actively in their learning journey. Chapters:00:00 - The Value of Education02:21 - The Importance of Personalized Education08:16 - The Importance of Multicultural Education17:41 - Understanding Student Engagement and Mental Capacity23:10 - Transitioning to Online Education28:16 - Transitioning to Personalized Learning34:10 - Creating Safe Spaces for Students34:59 - Transforming Education: The Role of Democratic Classrooms44:20 - The Shift from Compliance to Personal Growth in Education47:54 - The Power of Resilience and Hopehttps://thepearlhighschool.org/https://www.instagram.com/the_pearl_high_school/https://www.facebook.com/ThePearlHighSchoolShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://nape.org.uk/Find out more about their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire and get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources you can use to support learninghttps://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieseducationonfire.com/support

Jez Alborough is the author and illustrator of over 45 books for children. His Eddy and the Bear trilogy (which began with the much loved WHERE’S MY TEDDY in 1992) has sold nearly four and a half million copies and was made into a Bafta award-winning animated television special and series.DUCK IN THE TRUCK (1999) heralded the start of another bestselling series, this time featuring the irrepressible Duck and his three friends - Frog, Goat and Sheep. There are nine books in the Duck series (1.3 million copies sold) including DUCK’S KEY WHERE CAN IT BE? which won the Child magazine Best of the Year Award.In 2000 Jez created HUG - a powerful and touching book of only three words about a baby chimpanzee called Bobo who loses his Mum. HUG was raved about by Oprah Winfrey on her show when she chose it for her recommended reading list while Richard Curtis (the writer and director of Four Weddings and a Funeral) selected HUG as one of his ‘Best Books’ calling it: ‘classic family drama which holds up well next to Jez’s other masterpieces.’ Bobo went on to star in three more classics; TALL (which along with HUG won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Book Award), YES and PLAY. The series has sold around 2 million copies. Jez’s other books include SOME DOGS DO (2004) and the NAT THE CAT series (2013).Takeaways: Smiling is a contagious act, capable of spreading joy across vast distances. The journey of creativity often begins with a single idea that evolves over time. The relationship between an author and a publisher is crucial for a book's success. Illustration and storytelling are intertwined, where images and text complement each other. Learning is a continuous process that requires both patience and resilience from the learner. Inspiration can strike unexpectedly, leading to the creation of impactful works of art. Chapters:00:08 - The Ripple Effect of a Smile00:34 - Introduction to the Education on Far Podcast13:21 - The Journey of Creation: From Idea to Publication29:32 - The Intersection of Creativity and Technical Skill44:15 - The Power of Inspirationhttps://jezalborough.com/https://jezalborough.com/numberwondersgame/Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://nape.org.uk/Find out more about their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire and get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources you can use to support learninghttps://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieseducationonfire.com/support

Kirsty Heap is an executive coach, keynote speaker, and neurodiversity advocate who helps individuals and organisations create environments where people can truly thrive. Drawing on her lived experience of dyslexia, she empowers business owners and leaders to understand their strengths, build confidence, and grow sustainably. Kirsty is also the author of Silent Snow, a picture book without words, designed to help you create your own stories with your children. Each page is filled with beautiful illustrations to spark your imagination, making storytime fun and personal. Whether reading has always felt tricky, or you just want to try something different, Silent Snow gives you the freedom to tell stories your own way.The idea for Silent Snow came from Kirsty's own experiences as a dyslexic parent. She used to find reading to her children difficult, and when she stumbled over words, she felt like she was letting them down. But instead of giving up, she started making up her own stories based on their lives and the little adventures they had. Bedtime soon became one of their favourite times of the day.Takeaways: The podcast emphasizes the importance of recognizing and nurturing the strengths associated with dyslexia, rather than merely focusing on the challenges. Kirsty Heap shares her personal journey as a dyslexic parent, highlighting her creative storytelling as a means of connecting with her children. There is a significant need for educational systems to adapt and provide personalized learning experiences for neurodivergent students. The discussion reveals how the implementation of technology, such as dictation software, can greatly enhance learning outcomes for individuals with dyslexia. Kirsty reflects on the profound effect of positive reinforcement and constructive feedback in fostering self-esteem among students with learning differences. The episode advocates for greater transparency and openness among educators regarding their own neurodivergent experiences to better support their students. Chapters:00:00 - Understanding the Weight of Expectations00:18 - Creating Stories from Imagination13:12 - Navigating Dyslexia: Challenges and Strategies in Education26:41 - The Importance of Personalized Learning39:55 - The Impact of Feedback in Coaching and Educationhttps://kirstyheap.com/https://kirstyheap.com/silentsnow/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstyheap/https://www.instagram.com/kirstyheapcoaching/Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://nape.org.uk/Find out more about their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire and get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources you can use to support learninghttps://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieseducationonfire.com/support

Mashood Ahmad is the CEO and founder of Gigabit IQ, an award-winning UK broadband provider dedicated to delivering safer, smarter, and faster internet through fully managed Wi-Fi and industry-leading online safety tools. A recognised voice in digital inclusion and child online protection, Mashood is a Council Member at ISPA UK and a vocal advocate for stronger ISP accountability in protecting families online.Under Mashood’s leadership, Gigabit IQ has pioneered services like FamilyGuard+, a network-level parental control solution designed to meet the real-world needs of modern families. He has spearheaded initiatives supporting vulnerable communities, including children in care, refugees, and low-income households, through fair access broadband and safety education.Mashood is the author of the white paper “Beyond the Act: The Hidden Layer of Online Harm No One’s Regulating”, which challenges current UK online safety legislation and proposes a new national ISP Safety Rating System, akin to NCAP for cars or Ofsted for schools.A frequent speaker on digital safety, Mashood is leading an Online Safety & ISP Accountability session at the UK Internet Parliament Conference with ISPA, and continues to work with regulators, MPs, and safety groups to shape a safer digital future for all.Takeaways: The introduction of digital safety measures is akin to implementing seat belts in cars, enhancing Internet safety. Gigabit IQ aims to provide parental controls that ensure children access only age-appropriate online content. The company's initiative, Parent Line, offers parents guidance on navigating online safety and concerns. Faster Internet speeds necessitate enhanced safety protocols to protect children from harmful online content. Gigabit IQ advocates for industry-wide parental controls, empowering parents to safeguard their children online. Digital inclusion is essential; broadband should be accessible to all communities, regardless of their location. Chapters:00:17 - Digital Safety in the Age of the Internet01:41 - The Launch of Parent Line13:47 - Advocating for Online Safety in Broadband Services21:12 - The Importance of Granular Parental Controls28:33 - Digital Inclusion and Accessibility39:24 - Empowering Parents for Online Safetyhttps://www.gigabitiq.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mashood-ahmad-gigabitiq/https://www.linkedin.com/company/gigabit-iqhttps://www.facebook.com/GigabitIQhttps://www.instagram.com/gigabit_iq/https://x.com/GigabitIQhttps://www.tiktok.com/@gigabitiqhttps://www.youtube.com/@GigabitIQhttps://bsky.app/profile/gigabitiq.bsky.socialhttps://mastodon.social/@GigabitIQhttps://www.parentline.ukShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://nape.org.uk/Find out more about their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire and get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources you can use to support learninghttps://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieseducationonfire.com/support

Aurora Orchestra’s creative learning programme supports teachers to bring rich musical education and experiences to all children. The Aurora Classroom programme encompasses:digital resources for primary and secondary schoolsflexible cross-curricular resources for SEND settingstraining for teachers from our team of expertsworld-class programme of live activity for children and young people.Music at the heart of your primary schoolBring Aurora Orchestra into your classroom using our free music resources, designed for music specialists and generalist teachers alike. Explore our fully planned 10-week units of work or build your own music lessons from our library of hundreds of activities and audio excerpts.Supporting your teaching at KS3, GCSE and A levelAurora Classroom for secondary schools focuses on bringing high quality resources, films and audio excerpts together in one place – without the adverts and for free! Explore our teaching support materials for each Key Stage – from an introduction to the orchestra for KS3, to detailed set work resource packs for GCSE and A level music specifications.Build your own unique SEND programme Aurora’s inclusive and adaptable resources for children with additional needs enable teachers to build bespoke units of work by selecting activities from a number of learning strands:Live events for schoolsAurora Orchestra is a pioneering orchestra that creates concert experiences beyond the ordinary, introducing children to music in an innovative and exciting way.Takeaways: The Aurora Orchestra has made its educational resources completely free to ensure maximum reach and impact. The organization emphasizes the importance of integrating music education into the curriculum amidst challenges such as funding and time constraints. Aurora Orchestra's live programs are designed to engage children interactively, allowing them to participate in music through body percussion and singing. The orchestra has developed a series of resources called Aurora Classroom, which provides high-quality materials tailored for different educational stages. The importance of fostering creativity among teachers, particularly in primary education, is highlighted, as many teachers lack confidence in teaching music. Aurora Orchestra aims to expand its touring networks to reach diverse audiences and ensure music education is accessible to all children. Chapters:00:33 - Innovations in Music Education07:26 - Introducing Aurora Classroom: Resources for Music Education13:20 - The Transformation of Music Education Resources14:31 - Funding Models for Educational Programs23:07 - Breaking Down Barriers in Classical Music31:58 - The Life of a Modern Musician37:07 - The Importance of Music in Educationhttps://www.auroraorchestra.com/https://www.instagram.com/auroraorchestra/https://www.facebook.com/auroraorchestra/https://www.youtube.com/user/AuroraOrchestrahttps://www.tiktok.com/@auroraorchestrahttps://bsky.app/profile/auroraorchestra.bsky.socialhttps://www.auroraorchestra.com/people/jane-mitchell/Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://nape.org.uk/Find out more about their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire and get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources you can use to support learninghttps://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support

Dr. Jennifer Berry doesn't just talk about STEM—she redefines how student see themselves in it. As a leading voice in inclusive STEM education, Dr. Berry champions a powerful idea: STEM identity is not something students are born with—it's something they build. As the CEO of SmartLab, she is dedicated to bridging the gap between today's classrooms and tomorrow's workforce.Takeaways: Engaging students in hands-on learning experiences fosters both problem-solving skills and resilience in the face of failure. The integration of community involvement in educational ecosystems significantly enhances students' learning experiences and future opportunities. STEM identity is developed through numerous 'aha moments' that help students connect concepts meaningfully and deepen their understanding. Creating customized learning environments is essential for effective project-based learning, catering to diverse student needs and maximizing their potential. Students must be encouraged to embrace mistakes as vital learning opportunities that contribute to their growth and adaptability. Empowerment and resilience are crucial qualities that educators should foster in students to prepare them for challenges in a rapidly changing world. Chapters:00:30 - The Importance of Hands-On Learning05:52 - Building STEM Identity Through Aha Moments12:42 - Creating Custom Learning Environments in STEM Education20:00 - Community Involvement in Education28:59 - The Importance of Critical Thinking in an AI-Driven World36:40 - The Importance of a Human-Centered Approach39:46 - The Importance of Resilience and Empowerment in Educationhttps://www.smartlablearning.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/creative-learning-systems/Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://nape.org.uk/Find out more about their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire and get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources you can use to support learning https://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show - Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunitieshttps://www.educationonfire.com/support

Ben Case is part of the Tapestry education team and a former primary and early years teacher. He works closely with settings to support their use of Tapestry and believes tech is only successful if you bring staff with you. As a teacher Ben regularly presented at TeachMeet Sussex and he now helps to host the Tapestry podcast, writes for education publications, and features in many of the Tapestry training videos to support users. He is keen to share actionable insights and foster a positive, confident approach to using technology effectively in early years settings across the UK.Tapestry's annual survey had some interesting findings around the use of AI in the early years; engaging with families; and supporting families with ideas for play at home.More info about the survey: https://tapestry.info/tapestry-early-years-education-survey-2025-what-we-learnt/Tapestry has teamed up with award-winning Playworker Amber – aka Amber Ogunsanya-William – to collaborate on a project championing children’s freedom to play. The animation shares Amber’s story, and highlights provocations for play at home.https://tapestry.info/let-play-lead-the-day/Takeaways: The importance of centering the child in educational processes cannot be overstated, as their home experiences significantly influence their learning in school. Tapestry facilitates effective two-way communication between educators and parents, enhancing the overall educational experience for children. As AI tools become increasingly prevalent, it is essential to teach children to critically assess the authenticity of the media they encounter. Engaging parents in their child's learning journey is vital, as it fosters a deeper understanding of child development beyond mere participation in school events. The integration of play in education is crucial, enabling children to develop problem-solving skills while maintaining engagement in their learning. AI can be a valuable resource in lesson planning and child activity suggestions, but it should support, rather than replace, the educator's role. https://tapestry.info/https://www.instagram.com/tapestry_fsf/https://www.facebook.com/TapestryLearningJournalhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/eyfsben/Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)https://nape.org.uk/Find out more about their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape🔥 Discover more about Education on Firehttps://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show with a One-Off Tiphttps://educationonfire.com/support🔥 Ecamm Free Trial – How I record and produce this show.https://educationonfire.com/ecamm🔥 Captivate.FM – My podcast hosthttps://educationonfire.com/captivate🔥 Descript – My Editing Toolhttps://educationonfire.com/descriptSome of the above are affiliate links, I may receive a small commission if you purchase via these but there is no cost increase to you. These links help support the channel so any clicks are greatly appreciated.

The AI maths tutor that gets pupils reasoning out loud.Third Space Learning believe an AI tutor should do more than just generate questions and mark answers.What if it could provide scaffolded support according to knowledge gaps, speaking to students and encouraging them to verbalise their reasoning as they go?What if every pupil who needs it could work through maths problems in this way for one fixed low cost?Meet Skye, the low-cost AI maths tutor built by expert maths teachersSkye mimics the behaviours of a pedagogically sound subject matter expert and prompts ensures responses are effective, adaptable, and focused on improving understanding and increasing confidence.Prompts are specified in detail for each slide, and use insights from thousands of maths tutoring sessions to teach concepts effectively, address common misconceptions and ensure Skye adapts the pitch and pace of the session and personalises the instruction to suit each learner.'Since 2013, over 4,100 schools have chosen Third Space Learning’s cost-effective one-to-one maths tutoring – giving them more time to focus on whole-class teaching and learning.We’ve used all the online tutoring insights we’ve gained in the last decade to create Skye, an AI maths tutor like no other.'Takeaways: The primary objective of our mission is to make effective tutoring accessible to underprivileged children, thereby assisting in closing the educational attainment gap. Utilizing artificial intelligence for tutoring can provide substantial scaling benefits while maintaining the essential requirements necessary for effective tutoring. Our tutoring programs are designed to be seamlessly integrated into school timetables, enhancing the overall learning experience and reinforcing classroom instruction. We have observed that the interaction between students and AI tutors fosters a low-stakes environment, encouraging children to engage more freely without the fear of judgment. Our approach focuses on high-impact tutoring, which necessitates a proactive and structured interaction rather than reactive responses to student inquiries. The transition from human to AI tutors is grounded in extensive research and data, ensuring that we continue to meet the needs of schools and students effectively. https://thirdspacelearning.com/maths-tutoring/ai-maths-tutor/https://thirdspacelearning.com/@thirdspacetweethttps://www.linkedin.com/company/third-space-learning/Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)https://nape.org.uk/🔥 Discover more about Education on Firehttps://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show with a One-Off Tiphttps://educationonfire.com/support🔥 Ecamm Free Trial – How I record and produce this show.https://educationonfire.com/ecamm🔥 Captivate.FM – My podcast hosthttps://educationonfire.com/captivate🔥 Descript – My Editing Toolhttps://educationonfire.com/descriptSome of the above are affiliate links, I may receive a small commission if you purchase via these but there is no cost increase to you. These links help support the channel so any clicks are greatly appreciated.

Matt Dalio dreams of a world in which every kid has the resources to shape their own technology instead of being shaped by it.In 2011, he founded Endless which aims to provide universal access to technology and equal opportunities to succeed in the digital world by tackling three key challenges.Endless is harnessing the power of modern games to introduce youth to 21st Century skills like coding and design. Second, it is addressing the internet gap by creating technology that enables youth anywhere to have access to basic educational resources. And lastly, Endless is building a “pay as you go” laptop program making it so that billions more people can afford a computer.Collectively these unlock educational opportunities that allow everyone to be a creatorTakeaways: The average child dedicates approximately 10,000 hours to playing video games by the time they complete their education, an astonishing figure that underscores the pervasiveness of gaming in youth culture. In the last fifteen years, a significant trend in the gaming industry has been the shift towards creation, with platforms like Minecraft, Roblox, and Fortnite leading the way in empowering users to engage in content generation. The concept of transforming players into creators is pivotal; through this transition, youths acquire essential software development skills tailored for an increasingly digital, knowledge-based economy. Endless Studios aims to provide scalable educational solutions that are both affordable and accessible, particularly in communities with limited access to qualified educators, thereby breaking down financial barriers to learning. Feedback, especially peer feedback, plays a critical role in the learning process by providing valuable insights and support without the traditional costs associated with formal education. The future workforce will largely consist of individuals who possess robust digital skills, which are essential for navigating the complexities of an AI-driven world, making it imperative to equip youth with these competencies. www.endlessstudios.comShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)https://nape.org.uk/🔥 Discover more about Education on Firehttps://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show with a One-Off Tiphttps://educationonfire.com/support🔥 Ecamm Free Trial – How I record and produce this show.https://educationonfire.com/ecamm🔥 Captivate.FM – My podcast hosthttps://educationonfire.com/captivate🔥 Descript – My Editing Toolhttps://educationonfire.com/descriptSome of the above are affiliate links, I may receive a small commission if you purchase via these but there is no cost increase to you. These links help support the channel so any clicks are greatly appreciated.

Professor Dr Ger Graus OBE will be joining me for a dedicated season based on his book - Through a Different Lens - Lessons from a Life in Education.We will discuss in more depth the 6 chapters:1. The benefit of hindsight and the lessons learned. This includes family influences, school experiences, teachers, being a teacher and being involved in The Children's University, Kidzania and travelling the world giving lectures, presentations and being a keynote speaker.2. Children can only aspire to what they know exists. I am a living example of this........I would not have been a professional musician and had the career I have had if not for my school experiences and opportunities.3. Thoughts about schooling and education - what is the difference? Education is 0-99 years.......how do we instil this understanding in our children? 4. Technology!!!!!!5. The role we play6. More than a school - measuring what we value not just subject exam results and league tables. We will then invite expert discussion about 3 key areas.Early Years - the current situation, what it can be, why it is important and views from around the globe.School - What is a school and why do children attend?Higher/Further education - How is this working today? What are the alternatives, is it fit for purpose, can they all survive the threat of closure from lack of funding.....does that matter? We will also have a LIVE show where you can get involved, ask questions and bring your views to the campfire. Be a fire lighter. Be part of the movement.Education on Fire - Feedback Inspiration Resilience EmpowermentWhy not listen to Ger's conversation with me on Ep 439 to get ready for the Ger Graus Gets Gritty Season.https://www.educationonfire.comhttps://www.gergraus.com

Today we highlight 10 previous episodes and the educational resources created or shared by my guests.These include:Reading Writing and Spelling with Jane ConsidineLet's Learn About Science with Dr. Stephanie RyanArtis Foundation - Integrating the arts throughout learningNurture Resilience, Empathy and Global Citizenship with LyftaSir Linkalot - Spelling AppWHO SMARTED? Hit children's podcast with Jerry KolberC.H.A.M.P.S Mentoring with Vondale SingletonSatchel - Online Teaching and Learning ToolMarvellousMe - Parent Engagement AppSteer Education - Whole School Mental Health PlatformYou can download the FREE pdf with links to all the websites at https://www.educationonfire.com/

In advance of our Ger Graus season which will be based on his book Through a Different Lens - Lessons from a Life in Education I have created a summary podcast of our previous conversation (Ep 439) using NotebookLM. This is as - described on it's website - 'the AI research tool and thinking partner that can analyze your sources, turn complexity into clarity and transform your content'.You will hear 2 AI voices discuss and summarise our conversation about Ger's book. Why do this? Partly as a quick recap before we start the Ger Graus season but also to help me understand what is currently possible with AI in advance of our Education on Fire LIVE Stream shows that will focus on AI in education.To keep up to date with everything we are doing and download our FREE top 10 resources pdf please visit https://www.educationonfire.com/