ClassCast Podcast Ep.034 features Catina Franklin Sweedy, an unschooling advocate and leader at the Embark Center for Self-Directed Education in Leesburg, Virginia, discussing unschooling, student choice, mentorship, intellectual freedom, and innovation in public education with host Ryan Tibbens.  As COVID-19 pressures mount on public schools, students, parents, teachers, and other institutions, many families are unsure of what schooling decisions to make this fall and beyond; this discussion will not only present them with innovative options in the short term but with visions of change and progress to carry our students and schools into a new educational paradigm. 

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In this highlight clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.034, self-directed education expert Catina Franklin Sweedy explains the concept of unschooling and how it (and other alternatives) provide families with educational options, both during the pandemic and beyond. In addition to unschooling her own children, Catina has worked at the Embark Center for Self-Directed Education, an unschooling center in Leesburg, Virginia, for over a decade. Her insights into the benefits of freedom, choice, and student efficacy are essential listening for anyone involved in education -- schooling, unschooling, or otherwise.

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In this highlight clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.034, self-directed education leader Catina Franklin Sweedy and host Ryan Tibbens discuss the value of choice in education -- from homeschooling, unschooling, and traditional schooling to class and content choice, from libertarianism to curiosity.  Increasing students "voice and choice" has been trendy in formal education for the last few years, but education leaders always frame it as a surface-level choice, not as a choice between school formats, content areas, and specializations.  In this clip, we explore what real choice looks like. 

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In this highlight clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.034, Catina Franklin Sweedy describes her own schooling; she and host Ryan Tibbens then discuss the value of mentorship and making personal connections with teachers and advisors. Catina's career has been two-fold -- a highly sought-after clarinetist and teacher AND a self-directed education leader -- and this clip illuminates the path that led her to both musical success and educational innovation. Host Ryan Tibbens also shares his experiences working with students and offering mentorship to young people in public schools. 

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In this clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.034, unschooling expert Catina Franklin Sweedy shares her ideas about improving schools (and "unschools") in great detail -- ending compulsory attendance, moving to an interdisciplinary model, enhancing student choice, creating more labs and open facilities, improving the architecture, and more. Host Ryan Tibbens shares many of her visions and adds in one of his own goals -- using vacant commercial real estate for future school facilities. If you are interested in changing and improving the public school model, you can't miss this clip.

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In this highlight clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.034, unschooling advocate Catina Franklin Sweedy and host Ryan Tibbens discuss the importance of literacy and numeracy but disagree somewhat over how to support young people in developing those skills. Still friendly and productive, this is one of the only disagreements in the entire discussion -- Catina advocates full self-direction, and Ryan prefers compulsory direct instruction for literacy and numeracy skills.  This leads to discussions of how to implement more choice in schools, how to scale a hybrid plan, and how culture shapes our ideas about what skills are essential.  Though it comes from the end of the episode, almost an afterthought, this is one of the most entertaining sections of the discussion.

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​ClassCast Podcast Ep.029 features Kaplan's Entrepreneur in Residence Megan O'Connor speaking with host Ryan Tibbens about the new Boost Year program, entrepreneurship in education, and how formal education might change after COVID-19 pressures. Ms. O'Connor shares her own educational and professional background, including her work at education tech firms, and her beliefs about how college will change to better prepare students for careers. Her current project, Kaplan's Boost Year, is an alternative to the traditional gap year experience, designed to improve students' career readiness prior to entering college. 

Anyone interested in gap years, career preparation, or entrepreneurship in the field of education will find immense value in this episode.  Be sure to like, follow, share, and comment to let us know what you think!

ClassCast Podcast Clip 029.1 features Megan O'Connor, a successful entrepreneur in the education field, talking with host Ryan Tibbens about her role and responsibilities as Kaplan's Entrepreneur in Residence. If you are interested in entrepreneurship, innovating in the education space, or a career in business, Ms. O'Connor shares useful insights in this quick clip.  Be sure to like, follow, share, and comment to let us know what you think! 

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ClassCast Podcast Clip 029.2 features Kaplan Entrepreneur in Residence Megan O'Connor describing the new Boost Year program, how it works, and what if offers students who are looking for a different educational experience before college.  Students who are considering a gap year or alternate path between high school and college might consider what a Boost Year offers in terms of career insights and readiness. Be sure to life, follow, share, and comment to let us know what you think! 

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Episode 026 features the amazing Megan Moffett, a talented teacher, education consultant, future administrator, and parent. She shares advice for parents struggling to "home school" their children, tips to improve school cultures, ideas about what the best early elementary education should include (reading and play!), school division organization, and much, much more. For more information, educational activities, and advice, follow Ms. Moffett's Facebook page for her education consulting business, Littles Love Learning (https://www.facebook.com/mylittleslovelearning/). She's also on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mylittleslovelearning/. 

The full episode PLUS six highlight clips are all available below. The ClassCast Podcast also streams on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and most other major podcast platforms. All highlight clips are also available on YouTube. Please comment and respond to let us know what you think about Ms. Moffett's ideas as well as what you want to hear in future episodes! 

Please subscribe/follow the ClassCast Podcast on your preferred streaming platform, 'Like' our videos on YouTube, and follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ClassCastPodcast), Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/ClassCastPod), and Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/classcastpodcast)! 

ClassCast Podcast Ep.026 features early elementary education expert Megan Moffett and host Ryan Tibbens discussing a wide variety of topics related to early childhood education, school at home, learning through playing, school climate, testing, teacher preparation, and much, much more. Ms. Moffett shares advice and tips to help parents educate their children at home, to help principals improve school culture, and to help us all achieve a better, more purposeful public education system.  

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In this clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.026, early childhood education expert and teacher Megan Moffett talks with host Ryan Tibbens about the essential elements of education for preschool and early elementary students in hopes of helping parents navigate "homeschooling" and COVID-19 school closures. Ms. Moffett focuses on the benefits of purposeful play, guided practice, flexibility, stress-reduction, and -- above all -- reading. Several ClassCast listeners have requested an early-childhood episode just like this in recent weeks; this discussion should address the needs so many of us are experiencing. If you or someone you know is struggling with (or stressed about) helping young children to keep learning while staying at home, this highlight clip contains essential advice, research, and grace for parents. 

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In this clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.026, early elementary education expert Megan Moffett describes her "ideal" school. A standard ClassCast question, Ms. Moffett responds with enthusiasm and a clear vision -- an elementary school that focuses on play, collaboration, social-emotional learning, age-appropriate skills, and reading.  Her goals are lofty, but what makes them truly great is that they are practical and attainable -- nothing except stubborn stakeholders, cautious administrators, and dusty legislation prevent us from reinvigorating elementary education as Ms. Moffett envisions in this 6-minute clip. Let us know what you think!

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In this clip from ClassCast Pocast Ep.026, elementary education expert Megan Moffett and host Ryan Tibbens discuss the trend of splitting elementary schools, clustering grade levels, and other organizational creativity that can potentially save tax dollars and increase collaboration, though they also risk increasing transitions, anxiety, and homogeneity in the school. From "Kindergarten Academies" to upper/lower elementary schools and beyond, school divisions across the country are getting creative with how they organize and facilitate different groups and ages of students. Listen in to learn more, and let us know what you think!

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In this clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.026, early elementary education expert and future administrator Megan Moffett talks with host Ryan Tibbens about the important roles school administrators play and how they can create, change, and maintain school cultures that promote student well-being and that foster growth for faculty and students alike. If you have an interest in school improvement, administration, or culture, this clip is for you.  Let us know what you think!

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In this clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.026, elementary education expert Megan Moffett and host Ryan Tibbens discuss teacher preparation, including their own college and student teaching experiences, course requirements, and what future teachers may need to be successful. One of the most important (and obvious) ways to improve the quality of instruction in public schools is to increase the quality of teacher preparation programs; that's a topic that could fill volumes, but this clip is a great place to start. If you are a teacher or administrator, or if you are considering becoming a teacher in the future, this clip is for you!  

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In this clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.026, early elementary education expert Megan Moffett and host Ryan Tibbens discuss benefits, drawbacks, and trends related to project-based learning, standardized testing, and data collection during COVID-19 school closures. So much school legislation and policy revolve around assessment, and so much school discussion revolves around assessment, that sometimes it all starts to sound alike.  This clip is honest, direct, and refreshing -- why assessments are necessary, and why we can still do better. Let us know what you think!

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