165: GoFundMe book campaign for children is live
The education system is broken and many young people are disillusioned with school. However, it is still an important part of our children’s future. So, how do we support them to be creative, inspired and passionate about learning so they can fulfil their potential?
School is important because you need qualifications to access higher education and jobs. BUT, it is only part of the learning tapestry.
Some other key areas that support learning and growth include understanding:
– Mentorship
– Masterminds
– Empathy, Kindness & Gratitude
– Being of service to people
– Communities
– Expert advice
– Recommended resources
– Online learning
– Your family & friends
As I watched our 3 children progress through school, I wanted to help change the dialogue about the essence of learning. I created the Education on Fire Podcast and started interviewing people about their educational experience, what important advice they had been given, what advice they would give their younger self, and what resources had opened their eyes to a world of possibilities.
The stories of how these people are living life on their terms is fascinating. There seem to be common threads based around being yourself and following your passion and intuition, alongside an awareness of how to utilise the key areas of understanding mentioned above.
I have now interviewed over 250 people on my podcast, and I would like to compile some of these stories and the wealth of information shared, to create a book for children aged 11+.
I believe it has the power to change lives and children’s perspective about learning. I want to demonstrate that we all have more control of our lives than we think, and once we have this knowledge, the world is our oyster.
So let us join together as parents and educators to give our children what they need to thrive, be happy, successful and self assured.
Change the disillusionment to excitement, clarity and positive intention!
To create this book I need to cover these costs:
– Transcriptions – £2500
– Editor – £3100
– Designer – £1200
– Formating – £1250
– Media/marketing – £2750
Total – £10,800
Timeline
I would like to start creating this book as soon as possible. I would like to make it available for teachers to give to their pupils as an end of year gift in July 2021.
I believe this goal is achievable if I have all the funds in place by December 31st 2020.
I wish more of this type of learning was taught in schools, and I believe in a child focused education. I believe in it so much that I am vice chair of National Association for Primary Education. The political wheels turn slowly however, and our children need support and encouragement NOW!
My Story
I was lucky enough to find my passion at an early age. I am now a professional percussionist and music educator, having attended Trinity College of Music, and had the opportunity to perform with many world class orchestras and organisations. English National Ballet, Royal Shakespeare Company and Productions in London’s West End to name just a few.
I have experienced first hand how the ‘learning tapestry’ created opportunities for me, and showed me the next step to take in both my life and career.
Examples of guest expertise to be included in the book.
– Student Breakthrough Coaching
– Kids Coding
– Online music tuition
– Power of Positive Transformation
– Software entrepreneur
– Executive Function
– Mentoring
– Selling/marketing
– Yoga
– Speed Reading and memory skills
– Teachers & Educators
– Authors
– Speakers
– Financial Education
– Wellbeing & Mental Health
Case Study
Guest – Vondale Eugene Singleton Sr. was born on the Southside of Chicago. After overcoming the death of his mother due to crack-cocaine, an incarcerated father throughout high-school, and the negative influences of the Ida B. Wells Housing projects he beat the odds becoming a first-generation college student earning his Bachelors of Science Degree in Elementary Education and his Master’s Degree in Marital and Family Therapy from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK.
Vondale is a teacher, educator and creator of www.champsmentoring.com
C.H.A.M.P.S. Male Mentoring Program is a Mentor Illinois Gold Star Award Program based in Chicago, IL. We offer a culturally relevant approach to developing the mindsets of African-American and Latinx young men ages 12 and up. C.H.A.M.P.S. stand for Culturally Helping And Making Positive Success. We focus on the 3E’s; Education, Empowerment, and Exposure.
How did Vondale create his life given his experiences as a child?
He credits his mentor, Steven Robertson as the person who invested sacrificially his time and resources to help him become the man he is today.
The best advice Vondale was given was by his mentor – ‘The same thing I did for you do the same for somebody else. Eg Pay it forward
What advice would he give his younger self?
Not to allow the tragedies of your past to make your future seem unattainable.
What resources would you recommend?
The Bible
Believe to Achieve by Howard H White
Eric Thomas – Podcast
You can listen to the whole podcast here. It explains how even given the most desperate of situations you can become anything you desire – a force for good. Working with a mentor, studying hard, immersing yourself in learning materials of all forms can change your life. But you need to understand the mindset, hear the life stories and commit to YOU.
This is only the beginning. Imagine a world where children were not turned off from education, but constantly surprised and excited about what they could experience. Imagine a child’s life being transformed by receiving this book when life seems unclear. Imagine a selection of resources from podcasts, YouTube videos, books and a community of people able to mentor, support and guide young people as they become adults.
Every journey starts with the first step. So please join me in creating this book as the next step to support the next generation to fulfil their potential.
‘Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.’
William Butler Yeats
Podcast Reviews
”Education on Fire is an incredibly important podcast exploring the breadth of voices in the education space today. Enlightening, thought-provoking and expansive, Mark Taylor is a consummate host who brings the heart of the matter to the fore.” – Jeanie Davies author of The Trust Revolution in Schools
“Inspiring, Uplifting and Practical
I love this podcast- Mark does a brilliant job of gently challenging the education status quo, and in so doing he reveals some of the most innovative, creative and inspiring approaches to education.” – Lisa Avery
”Makes me a better mother –
I’m not a teacher in traditional senses, but I am a mother of 2 children who I am called to raise and train up in this world. I’m a firm believer that I am also their teacher, but without knowledge/training would get frustrated trying to teach my kids. I came to this podcast to get help and to better teach my children and I’ve been seeing amazing results using these strategies. Thank you so much for making me a better mom, will continue to listen!” – Noelbrianna
To donate and share please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/education-on-fire-book-fundraiser
164: GoFundMe book launch countdown
Mark sets the scene for how Education on Fire is collating the inspiring content from three and a half years of podcasting to create a book for youngsters.
Just one week before the GoFundMe page goes live Mark shares his thoughts and passion for the project and invites you to join him on this mission to support every child to be their best self.
The stories, advice and resources shared on the podcast are gold. When it is put in context and explored one step at time children will have a clear idea of how schooling is only part of the tapestry to learning.
The education system is broken and many young people are disillusioned with school. However it is still an important part of our children’s future. So how do we support them to be creative, inspired and passionate about learning so they can fulfil their potential?
School is important because you need qualifications to access higher education and jobs. BUT it is only part of the learning tapestry.
Some other key areas that support learning and growth include understanding:
– Mentorship
– Masterminds
– Empathy, Kindness & Gratitude
– Being of service to people
– Communities
– Expert advice
– Recommended resources
– Online learning
– Your family & friends
Find out more at www.educationonfire.com/book-launch/
163: ClearMinds Education with Tana Macpherson-Smith
Tana Macpherson-Smith founded ClearMinds Education in 2015 to combat the rise in mental health issues in children and teenagers. She has created an educational programme, Monkey Wisdom, which draws on her skills as a teacher, coach, storyteller and therapist to help children and adults alike, to easily understand how and why children are developing emotional and mental health issues that can last a lifetime.
Monkey Wisdom teaches children and teenagers the power of their thoughts to hold them in pain and negativity and provides simple, highly effective tools to help them take control of their thinking, get a grip on their mind-monkeys and step out of their emotional issues and into bright futures.
Tana has worked as a teacher and senior leader in secondary schools, as a boarding school housemistress, school governor, marketing director and creator of life-changing events for young people. She is also a Child, Adolescent and Parent Coach; a Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA) trainer; a Psy-Tap, EFT and NLP Practitioner.
Tana has herself experienced serious mental health illness. An unexpected breakdown in 2013 resulted in a six month spell in a London psychiatric hospital, ended her career as a teacher and led her to fulfilling what she now recognises as her true purpose: to prevent the development of emotional and mental health issues in children and thus reduce the impact of mental health illness on future adult generations.
www.clearminds.org/our-mission
Resources Mentioned
Show Sponsor
The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. Get their FREE professional journal at nape.org.uk/journal
162: Money and financial education with Pockets Change
Pockets Change is a hybrid organization (s-corp and non-profit 501c3) working with K-12 and college communities across the country. They provide workshops, curriculum, and ongoing support where students, parents, and educators develop an understanding of their personal relationship with money, new ways of thinking and talking about money, and the skills to take action and advocate for themselves and others.
It all happens through Hip Hop pedagogy, which focuses on understanding self-identity in relation to the whole. By connecting Hip Hop and Finance, we develop an understanding of ourselves and our relationship with money. We build financial habits that resonate with our personal identity. We discover how we process information and how to effectively communicate & collaborate. Pockets Change curriculum and programming empowers youth, their families, and their educators to see money as a tool and financial decision-making as a personal path that they can navigate.
Together we are working to address systemic issues of educational equity and the racial wealth divide. Their program supports youth in taking agency in their personal financial decisions through peer conversations, unpacking systems, developing habits, identifying personal values, and advocating for what they want now and in the future. By starting with self-care and personal agency we build our individual capacity to take part in social justice efforts where youth-led problem solving and professional relationship building for social impact can happen.
ANDREA FERRERO
CO-FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Andrea Ferrero became an educator over a decade ago to be part of changing the world. Teaching on the Navajo and Hopi reservation where she grew up, Andrea saw how even the brightest students faltered when money moved from math class to practical application. Looking for tools to address issues of educational equity, Andrea stepped into the world of financial literacy and ed-tech.
She brings over a decade of experience in teaching and learning, curriculum and program development, and community capacity building together to design award winning educational programs and digital products. Andrea holds a teaching credential in PreK-12th grade multiple subjects and two Master’s in Educational Leadership and Curriculum & Instruction with Multicultural Contexts.
Leading Pockets Change, Andrea works with schools, organizations, and businesses to make finance fun through innovative educational approaches and meaningful ed-tech tools. She has served as a delegate to the World Innovation Summit in Qatar, the ASCD Supervision and Curriculum Development Delegation in China, the Multi-Age Learning Institute in New Zealand, and the Mozilla Open Leaders in England. Andrea is also a board member of the California Jump$tart Coalition.
She is always happy to share coffee and a conversation about changing the world through the development of financial capability.
Social media
@PocketsChange
Resource mentioned
Savage Inequities – Jonathan Kozol
Show Sponsor
The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom.
161: Satchel – Online Teaching & learning tools for staff, students and parents
ABOUT NAIMISH GOHIL
Naimish is an award-winning entrepreneur and in 2018 was named one of the Edtech 50 – a group of individuals recognised as the best of the UK’s edtech industry leaders. His passion and dedication to the education technology sector is also demonstrated by the range of industry talks and events he is invited to speak at, where he can be seen sharing his learnings and experiences
ABOUT SATCHEL
Satchel began in the classroom, built by then Assistant Headteacher and now CEO, Naimish Gohil. Driven by the desire to reduce teacher workload and bring together teachers, students and parents Naimish started building tools that unlock teachers’ superpowers and unite all parties in the teaching & learning process. Today, over 1600 schools use Satchel products, with a third of all UK secondary schools using Satchel One to access flagship software, Show My Homework.Their team, based near the Olympic Park in London, are on a mission to help teachers and students realise their potential through the use of edtech software designed to meet their exact needs, solving a real problem, never replacing the skills and talent they already possess.
Twitter – @Team_Satchel
Resources Mentioned
How to win friends and influence people – Dale Carnegie
Show Sponsor
The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. This includes parents, teachers, governors and all those interested in primary education. NAPE is a non-political charity and works tirelessly to support teachers in the classroom.