De Facto Leaders: Using Recess to Build Social Skills and Help Students Discover their Leadership Potential with Elizabeth Cushing of Playworks
Recess is often thought of as an “extra” activity in the school day. Sometimes it’s even taken away from students as a punishment. In this episode recorded for De Facto Leaders (https://defactoleaders.com/), host Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan talks to Elizabeth Cushing, CEO of Playworks, to understand why recess is actually an integral part of the school day. In fact, it can help students feel connected and reduce chronic absenteeism.
The conversation covers:
Simple ways educators can set expectations and rules to create structure and a sense of safety around recess
How to use play as a reset and a preventative measure, instead of something that’s taken away from kids as a punishment
How training kids as peer coaches can help decrease disruptive behaviors and help kids discover their own leadership potential
Learn more about Playworks on their website at: https://www.playworks.org/
Resources mentioned in this interview include:
Comprehensive Game Guide that Outlines Games Across Grade Levels: https://www.playworks.org/indiana/game-guide/
The sister website for Playworks with tools for assessing the health of your school’s recess: https://www.recesslab.org/
We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.
Learn more about Renaissance:
As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com (https://www.renaissance.com/).
IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:
Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments
🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE (http://ixl.com/BE) today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.
13 Jul 2025
The Importance of Literacy with Erin Bailey
In this episode, Jethro Jones hosts Erin Bailey, Vice President of Literacy Programs and Research at Reading is Fundamental, to discuss the importance of reading in children's development. They delve into how reading fosters connections, the impact of screen time on reading habits, and effective strategies for schools and families to encourage reading. The episode also touches on the role of AI in literacy and mental health education through books.
How To Help Families Find Joy In Reading with Dr. Erin Bailey Transformative Principal 586 (https://transformativeprincipal.org/s12/586)
Focused on language components - material and affective component.
Sitting side-by-side and face-to-face with a child.
When kids want to read the books a hundred times in a row!
Gen Z Parents Not Reading to their Kids (https://www.newsweek.com/gen-z-parents-children-reading-literacy-crisis-2081875?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1749285040)
Quick attention. Training your brain to only be able to pay attention
Missing out on opportunities to bond with children when reading.
Reading can take you places, and you can escape.
Family education
Meet families where they are at.
Schools cutting back on read-aloud time.
Accessible guides.
Teaching in Hong Kong
Cognitive Debt Research (http://arxiv.org/pdf/2506.08872)
How to Train Your Amygdala (https://www.rif.org/literacy-central/book/how-train-your-amygdala)
We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.
IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:
Simplify and streamline technology
Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments
🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE (http://ixl.com/BE) today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.
9 Jul 2025
Early Mental Health Intervention with Barb Solish
Host Jethro Jones interviews Barb Solish, National Director of Innovation for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, about early mental health intervention, the importance of mental health awareness, and building connections through reading to improve outcomes for young people in this interview.
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