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Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
Do you need innovative strategies to strengthen your school culture and spark student growth? This podcast is your go-to resource for coaches, teachers, administrators, and families seeking to create dynamic and engaging learning environments.
In each episode, you'll discover how to unite educators and caregivers to support students, tackle common classroom challenges, and cultivate an atmosphere where every learner can thrive.
With over 25 years of experience as a teacher and coach, host Olivia Wahl curates episodes with insights from more than 150 expert interviews, offering practical tips that bridge the gap between school and home.
Tune in every Monday and Friday for actionable strategies and inspirational stories that can transform your approach and make a real impact on learning.
Start with a fan-favorite episode today (S5E1: Inside the Secret Moves of Expert Teachers with John Hattie) and take the first step towards transforming your educational environment!
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
Students Don't Need Motivation for Civics: They Need Confidence
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Part one of my S5E33 Schoolutions conversation, Colleen O'Brien, Ed.D., discusses the critical role of civic education in fostering informed citizens. She argues that providing students with real civic experiences, not just textbook definitions, can shift their engagement from passive observation to active participation.
Some Episode Mentions:
- Dr. Diana Owen, Georgetown University
- Civic Education Research Lab (CERL)
- Justice Anthony Kennedy
- Center for Civic Education
- Common Cause
- Civics for Colorado (formerly C3LE)
- Colorado Youth Advisory Council (COYAC)
- iCivics
- National School Reform Faculty (student work protocol)
- We the People
- Project Citizen
- Citizen Nation
- 90% of students say it's important to know how government works
- More Information & Upcoming Events from Colleen
⏱️ CHAPTERS
0:00 – Introduction: Anxiety vs. Apathy in Civics
1:00 – Meet Colleen O'Brien
2:00 – The Research: 90% of Students Want Civic Education
4:30 – Core Beliefs of Civics for Colorado
5:45 – The Voting Booth Moment: A Story About Student Confidence
8:30 – Why Civics Education Is Uneven Across Colorado
11:30 – The Cost of Low Civic Literacy on Society
14:00 – The Three-Legged Stool: Knowledge, Skills & Action
17:00 – What Justice Kennedy Said About Student Discussion
18:30 – Confidence vs. Arrogance in Civic Participation
19:30 – We the People Program Explained
23:00 – Project Citizen: Student-Led Community Change
26:30 – Civics Starts at the Elementary Level
28:30 – Lightning Round with Colleen O'Brien
29:45 – Wrap-Up & Preview of Part 2
Join our community of educators committed to cultivating student success, inspired teaching, and creating inclusive classrooms with a pro-kid mindset focused on the whole child.
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
