ClassCast Podcast Ep.078 features Kohila Sivas, the founder and lead coach at MathCodes, an innovative program designed to help students build their math skills, personal confidence, and executive functions. Kohila's amazing work builds on the idea that most students need more than just content help, so adults must be more than just tutors or teachers; instead, Kohila recommends serving as a "coach," one who works with the student, on the same team, to achieve mutual goals. In addition to her 22+ years in private tutoring and coaching, Kohila has worked as an advocate, teacher's assistant, teacher, and parent. Recently, she launched the MathCodes Certified Coach program to help other tutors and teachers around the world to better serve their students by demystifying math and helping the whole student. She's also the author of the upcoming book Escape the Tutoring Trap: Be an Agent of Change.  If you are a tutor or teacher looking for some great ideas about serving all students or improving your practices, or if you are a parent interested in tutoring and coaching support (from Sivas, host Ryan Tibbens, or elsewhere), this episode is rich in great ideas and sound advice. 

Interested in learning more? You can find Kohila and MathCodes on Facebook and LinkedIn. 

Table of Contents (*highlights)

1. 0:00-9:03 -- Intro to Kohila Sivas & Math Codes
2. 9:03-14:23 -- Are You a "Math Person"? (They Don't Exist.) *
3. 14:23-22:30 -- The Importance of Purpose & the Purpose of Education According to Kohila 
4. 22:30-37:30 -- Kohila's Ideal School: Universal IEPs, Coaches, & Serving Individual Students **
5. 37:30-47:42 -- "Learning Loss," the Pandemic Tutoring Boom, & MathCodes Certification *
6. 47:42-56:15 -- The Power of Confidence in Education
7. 56:15-1:03:43 -- Kohila's Education & Preparation for Teaching & Coaching
8. 1:03:43-1:07:47 -- How Schools Limit Teacher Creativity & Enthusiasm *
9. 1:07:47-1:17:49 -- For Parents: Homework Help vs Tutoring vs Coaching **
10. 1:17:49-1:25:20 -- Kohila's Book/Movie Recs. & Wrap-Up​ 

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​​The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment wherever you listen.  Leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have any questions!

Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)! 
​Donations -- large and small -- help keep this podcast independent!

ClassCast Podcast Ep.077 features Grant Schafer, the Supervisor of Community Connections for Loudoun County Public Schools. Working closely with Career & Technical Education, Computer Science Experiential Learning, and a few other specialized programs in the school system, Grant strives to connect community resources with individual teachers, students, and classrooms to make school-based learning as authentic as possible. His hard work, power skills (soft skills), and ever-growing rolodex make him an asset to the whole community because he fosters relationships between local businesses, non-profits, and schools. Host Ryan Tibbens met Grant, a fellow JMU Duke, at the 2021 Loudoun 40 Under 40 celebration where he was being recognized for his amazing work connecting public schools with community resources. (Ashley Tibbens -- Ep.021 -- was also among the honorees this year!)  If you are interested in project-based learning, making school more "authentic," getting involved in public education without becoming a teacher, or understanding how community members can work together to improve education, this discussion is for you.  You can learn more about Grant's work by following @LCPSpartner and @CommunityLCPS on Twitter. 

Table of Contents (*highlights)

1. 0:00-5:38 -- Intro to Grant Schafer & Community Connections
2. 5:38-13:31 -- Project-Based Learning, "Authenticity," & Grant's Rolodex **
3. 13:31-20:53 -- Loudoun 40 Under 40, Networking, & Community Buy-In *
4. 20:53-28:26 -- Grant's Education: James Madison University & Outreach Services
5. 28:26-37:48 -- The Future of Community Connections in Schools **
6. 37:48-47:25 -- The Purpose of School According to Grant
7. 47:25-50:44 -- Equity & Social-Emotional Learning as Job Skills *
8. 50:44-57:04 -- Grant's Ideal School
9. 57:04-1:07:06 -- The Inflexibility of Education Bureaucracy **
10. 1:07:06-1:14:58 -- Grant's Book Recommendations & Wrap-Up​ 

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​​The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment wherever you listen.  Leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have any questions!

Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)! Donations -- large and small -- help keep this podcast independent!

ClassCast Podcast Ep.076 features Simon Tang, a former student of host Ryan Tibbens, sharing his thoughts on school improvement, student choice, dual enrollment programs, post-high school plans, Dick Wolf TV shows, and much, much more. Throughout his public school career, Simon distinguished himself from most students by serving as a technology support specialist/paraprofessional in the school, forming close bonds with faculty members, challenging the status quo, earning top grades and thousands of dollars in scholarships, and wearing a totally awesome pocket protector. Simon shares his student (and semi-staff) views on school improvement, joining the US Navy, and how COVID affected his education, post-high school plans, and personal outlook. If you're interested in serious student perspectives, challenges to tradition, or people with the quirks and confidence to change the world, don't miss Episode 076 and Mr. Simon Tang! 

Table of Contents (*highlights)

1. 0:00-11:03 -- Meet Simon Tang *
2. 11:03-17:00 -- Dual Enrollment, Rigorous Classes, & Scholarships **
3. 17:00-25:58 -- Simon'ns Start in the United States Navy
4. 25:58-30:02 -- The Purpose of School: Indoctrination or Self-Improvement? **
5. 30:02-35:13 -- I.T., Specialization, & Access to Education
6. 35:13-39:22 -- What's the Deal with Textbooks?
7. 39:22-53:50 -- The Importance of Student Choice & Engagement *
8. 53:50-58:01 -- The GED, Graduation, and Opportunity
9. 58:01-1:12:00 -- Simon's Ideal School: Choice & Specialization **
10. 1:12:00-1:17:00 -- Would You Send Your Kids to These Schools?
11. 1:17:00-1:27:24 -- Standardized Testing, Project-Based Learning, & Power Skills **
12. 1:27:24-1:32:00 -- Hot Topics, Hot Seat
13. 1:32:00-1:52:32 -- Simon's Book, Movie, & TV Recommendations; Final Thoughts; & Wrap-Up 

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​​The ClassCast Podcast streams on all major platforms, including iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Stitcher, and more.  You can also find us on YouTube and at www.ClassCastPodcast.com.  Be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, and comment wherever you listen.  Leave a comment below to let us know what you think of the discussion and if you have any questions!

Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)! Donations -- large and small -- help keep this podcast independent!