Tutor Portland Podcast

In this episode of the Tutor Portland Podcast as we sit down with Kevin Murphy, an innovative educator who has seamlessly integrated his theater background with his passion for mathematics.

Kevin discusses his unique teaching approach, which utilizes plays, rhythmic rhymes, and storytelling to transform how math is taught. Discover how these methods not only make learning more enjoyable but also enhance understanding and retention among students.

Tune in to learn about Kevin’s journey, his vision for future educational trends in Portland, and how parents and educators can get involved. Whether you’re an educator, parent, or simply a lifelong learner, this episode will inspire you to think creatively about education.

And check out more at TutorPortland.com!

Celebrate the Portland Youth Philharmonic’s 100th season with an exclusive interview with David Hattner, the music director of the Portland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra.

In this episode, David recounts the events that led to his career as a professional conductor while sharing his insights and observations as an educator and conductor regarding the development of the young musicians playing in the orchestra. Plus, David and I dive into the invaluable lessons that these developing musicians gain through their orchestra experience, and how it instills values that not only shape their musical careers but also their professional and academic pursuits.

David also shares the biggest musical skill that he recommends young musicians concentrate on to maximize the benefits of their musical studies while providing specific tips in order to tackle that subject.

To learn more about PYP, visit their website at portlandyouthphil.org

Get fired up with Ignite Tutoring founder, Robert McKay as we discuss hot topics about curriculums, civics, and controversies in classroom!
Robert has worked with students in middle school, high school, and beyond, including adult learners at Fortune 500 companies. His specialties include English, history, civics, and economics. His experiences working with public schools, private institutions, and his tutoring business give him unique insights into the differences between curriculums.
In our conversation, Robert and I dive into the different angles of the curriculum wars and how political agendas sometimes seep into classroom subjects. Robert also provides insights into his particular approach for rounding out potentially biased subject-matter through tutoring. This way, parents and educators can help students develop their own opinions, critical thoughts, and challenges to their understanding of the world around them.

Robert is no stranger to economics, civics, and history, and makes a point about how these subjects can be better represented in standardized school curriculums. He's also an expert in Waldorf education, providing insights to this alternative approach to education and why it can help break down some classroom biases.

Celebrate the great outdoors with Balance Soccer founder, Tyler Pagano as we discuss the importance of athletics, setting personal goals, and balancing life with time under the open sky in Portland, Oregon!

In this episode, Tyler and I place a special emphasis on personal development and experiencing the great outdoors, which definitely resonate with Portland families. Tyler provides insights to what students love most about outdoor camps and how lessons on the soccer field translate to success in the classroom. We also talk about which students are more inclined to respond to personal development goals, and why it's critical for children to recognize their problem areas without sugar-coating.

Tyler also reveals which area of personal development he's seen the most Portland students struggle with, and how his attitude at Balance Soccer helps to break it down and build it back up stronger than ever.

As a special treat, Tyler and I also chatted about his life-changing experiences outside of Portland during his work in Uganda and how Portland families can get involved in provided support for Ugandan children in need.

Catch the VIBE with Vibe of Portland Program Director, Dunja Marcum as we discuss equitable arts opportunities in Portland, Oregon!

Vibe of Portland has an amazing mission, to see "arts education fully integrated back into the school day for all students in Portland.” Our guest in this episode, Dunja Marcum, is passionate about this goal and explains how equitable art programs are all over Portland, but many parents and students don't know where to find them. Luckily, our interview breaks down the importance of arts education in a STEM-focused world, and teaches our Portland listeners where they can find amazing art programs. We also discuss why the arts are being phased out of standard education and what we can do push back.

Scott Clyburn is the founder of North Avenue Education, a tutoring company that focuses on unique approaches for each student.

Every student has their own strengths and weaknesses, but many tests are standardized. How can students overcome over-standardization and demonstrate their greatest skills? In this episode, we examine the individualized approach to tutoring and how it can benefit not only neurodiverse students, but neurotypical students. Expert Scott Clyburn helps us understand what "neurodiversity" means, what it can teach us about tutoring methods, and how any student can improve their test-taking skills.

In this episode, we sit down with Brian Baxter, the sports psychologist behind AMPlify Sports Psychology in Portland, Oregon.

Brian Baxter is an expert on the student-athlete experience, and he's here to break down how students behave on the field and in the classroom. In this interview, we discuss the school-sports balance and what to do if the scale tips too far to one side. We also talk about competitiveness on the field and how it translates to classroom. Brian Baxter also debunks misconceptions about misbehaving athletes and their extreme emotions, offering solutions for more positive mindsets.

In our first-ever episode of the Tutor Portland Podcast, host Brian Grant sits down with Dr. Amelia Wilcox, a fourth-generation Portlander, psychological clinician, and cognitive scientist to talk about the reality of anxiety in the classroom.

Dr. Amelia Wilcox is an accomplished psychologist who specializes in clinical work, neuroscience, and cognition––so she knows a thing or two about what's happening in the brain of a stressed-out student. In this episode, we review metacognition (thinking about thinking) and how it intersects with classroom anxieties. We also discuss clinical psychology and how it's more engaging, exciting, and educational than many give it credit. Plus, Amelia offers techniques to help break the cycle of stressful thinking, inside the classroom and beyond.