Cultivating Connection with KG Education

Devon is a PhD Candidate at the University of Victoria. In this episode, she shares her journey as a PhD student. Hear about the challenges she has overcome and the skills she has developed as she tackles each step of her program.

With the substitute teacher shortage and lack of funding in education, leaving your school and travelling to a conference can be difficult. That's why we're bringing the conference to you! In this episode, we share our top takeaways from one of our favourite ed tech conferences--Riding the Wave in Gimli, Manitoba. From the dynamic keynote to informative sessions, you’ll hear about the big ideas and useful tools that made this conference so worthwhile. We'll share about the importance of creativity and how to cultivate it as well as e-sports and broadcasting your school announcements--there's something for everyone in this new episode of Cultivating Connection.

While driving to a conference, Devon and Leah spend some time talking about one of their favourite topics--books. In this episode, they share some of their favourite books across a variety of genres and why they think you'd like them too. Tune in, open your Goodreads app, and add these titles to your "to read" shelf--there are some great recommendations in this fast and fun episode!

Follow the Kenton girls on Goodreads:

The BYTE (Build Your Teaching Experience) Conference is an annual, all-day event that features multiple break-out sessions following a keynote speaker. Held on February 17, 2023, in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, the conference has a strong educational technology focus and attracts K-12 educators from around the province. Devon and Leah have attended and presented for many years, and love the great variety of sessions and opportunities to connect with friends and colleagues.

The theme for 2023 was BYTE-Size Technology Infusion, inspired by the idea that EVERYONE is able to make small, daily learning gains in a busy educational environment. Take a few minutes to listen to the Kenton girls' biggest takeaways from BYTE 2023. You’ll hear about some new tools and ideas as well as some great educators to connect with on social media.

Tools to check out:

Emily Thomas is a Technology Integrator and Trainer for Northeast Metro Intermediate School District 916 in Minnesota. Her most recent project is an accessible STEAM Mobile Makerspace that provides differentiated activities for students from pre-K through post-high school. Tune in to this episode to find out how Emily is bringing accessible makerspace activities to the learners in her school district.

Dear Teacher, you’re wonderful just the way you are. But we’ve come up with three creative ways to help you be an even better teacher in 2023….and they might not be the kind of things that immediately come to mind. We’re not talking about boosting literacy scores or strengthening your classroom management, but we are confident that these three suggestions will make the new year a great one.

In this episode, Leah shares 3 things you need to know about coding and computational thinking.  What is coding?  What is computational thinking?  Why might you want to integrate them in your classroom?  Leah will address these questions and share her experiences with teaching coding and computational thinking.  

In this episode, we share why classroom connections are important and the simple and accessible tools you can use to connect your classroom. We also discuss some of our favourite projects to provide you with inspiration and ideas for connecting with other classrooms, organizations, and experts for powerful and authentic learning. 

Welcome to the third season of Cultivating Connection!

There are many benefits to integrating yoga into your early years classroom. It’s the perfect movement break, it’s non-competitive, and can be practiced without any equipment. Research has demonstrated that yoga enhances children’s ability to self-regulate and sustain attention, and it can be useful for managing anxiety. Wondering how to get started with yoga in the classroom? Tune in to this new episode of Cultivating Connection for the all ideas and tips!

As we wrap up the current school year, our thoughts turn to summer holidays and a very well-deserved break. However, a small (or big) part of our mind is already thinking about the upcoming school year and what we can do to make it better or different. This podcast episode is for all the educators teaching early years next year who are wondering how to start off next fall in the best possible way. Keep listening...we've got four practices to save your sanity and set you up for success!

Katie and Megan are teachers and best friends from Edmonton, Alberta. They're also planner designers and business owners who have developed an amazing line of planners and accessories based on their own experiences of what busy teachers and moms need to stay organized. In this episode of Cultivating Connection, Katie and Megan tell us all about how their business got started and how they got their name (it's a good story), their favourite features that make their planners unique and super useful, and their best tips for keeping it all together and living their best lives. 

This teacher-entrepreneur duo shares how they do everything locally in their business and how much their ever-growing community means to them and it's nothing short of inspiring. 

You can find Katie and Megan on social media at @twoplannerbabes and online at twoplannerbabes.com. 

Are you thinking about pursuing a graduate degree? Does the huge amount of information about different programs seem overwhelming and confusing? Not sure if graduate studies are for you? Tune in to a new episode of Cultivating Connection as Leah and Devon share their experiences with different graduate programs at the M.Ed. and PhD levels. You'll learn more about:

-important considerations before beginning

-finding the right program for you 

-the difference between post-baccalaureate/graduate diplomas, Master of Education programs, as well as EdD and PhD studies 

-tips for managing work and university responsibilities

-Devon and Leah's favourite tech tools for writing papers and researching 

Jeff Bradbury is an ISTE Award Winning (2021) and globally-recognized educator, educational broadcaster, public speaker, and entrepreneur whose powerful message has inspired thousands of educators through the TeacherCast Educational Network.

Jeff works as a Technology Integration Specialist for Norwalk Norwalk Public Schools in Connecticut.  In this episode, he shares how he builds connections with colleagues and students while working in many different classrooms as an instructional coach. He offers tips for technology-integration and shares some of the recent projects he's worked on with teachers.

Virtual and in-person museum visits can really enhance teaching and learning in a variety of subject areas. Museum hacking is a pedagogical approach that goes beyond passive viewing to actively engaging with museum exhibits to question, critique, and disrupt. Learn more about the museum hack in the latest episode of KG Education’s Cultivating Connection podcast.

We know how busy teacher life can get—and November offers some extra challenges with the demands of assessment and reporting. It’s more important than ever to squeeze in some wellness, so in this episode, we share our favourite practices and how to fit them into your hectic day. Learn more about how breathwork, mindfulness, movement, and meditation support your mental and physical health to keep you healthy and happy during this busy season.

Imagine if you could set yourself up for a great school year by implementing three new strategies in your life. In this episode of Cultivating Connection, Leah and Devon share three practices that have made a big difference for them, why they work, and how you can customize them to work for you.

Devon and Leah reflect on two years of working with teachers to offer their unique blend of professional learning and wellness. They share their favourite moments, lessons learned, and their plans for the upcoming year.

Jennifer Casa-Todd is a well-known Canadian teacher-librarian and author of KG Education's first-ever book club selection, Social LEADia: Moving Students from Digital Citizenship to Digital Leadership. Devon and Leah chat with Jennifer about her teaching practice, her favourite books (she's all about young adult fiction these days), how she takes care of herself (hint: it's not about disconnecting), and her go-to tech tools. Listen all the way to the end for a discount code to join KG Education's book club which launches on Februrary 22!