About Teaching from an Ethical Center: an Inquiry Among Friends
Join Professor Cara Furman, acclaimed author of Teaching from and Ethical Center: Practical Wisdom for Daily Instruction, as she explores important, foundational questions with gifted, practicing educators. What does it mean to teach from an ethical center? How can we benefit from this inquiry? Why does the concept of “doing what’s right” feel as if it’s more important now than ever? Discover the triumphs (and the challenges) that are shared throughout these meaningful, heartfelt – yet thought-provoking conversations.
Publisher
Cara Furman with Production, Editing, and Sound Design by Jennifer McCord
Balancing Children's Interests and Needs with External Demands
How do teachers balance the needs of children with external demands? What helps a teacher to move beyond their comfort zone? What is the role of extended child-directed work within a more structured school day? In this episode Malik Torres shares how holding space for sustained child-directed work during the school day helps him create a classroom full of joy, learning, and academic challenge.
3 Mar 2026
On Boundaries, Containers, and Creative Inquiry
How do we create spaces for creativity and inquiry for the youngest children? How can boundaries and containers take learning and exploration to new places. In this week's episode Mary Biggs addresses these questions and so much more as she talks about creating curriculum with infants and toddlers.
11 Nov 2025
Co-Creating Meaning with Children
What does it mean to listen closely to children's ways of making sense? How can we create curriculum that is rich, rigorous, and full of meaning? In this week's episode, Jessica dives into the intricacies of finding meaning in mathematics, children's thinking, and the teaching profession. Enjoy.
12 Sept 2025
Responding to Children with Emergent Curriculum
What happened? What might it mean? What do I do next? How do we stop to reflect as teachers in order to be more responsive to children? What does teaching look like when its guided by a commitment to asking big questions with children and working through these questions through arts, science, literature, our bodies and so much more. In this week's episode Rafa gives a rich and textured view into into Reggio inspired teaching in español. Join us.
1 Jul 2025
Democracy, Care, Going Outside, and Learning
Educator Cara explores how outdoor activities teach math, civics, and collaboration to Becky's fifth-grade students, fostering a deeper understanding of democracy and care in this interview.
19 Apr 2025
Teaching with Joy: An Inquiry Among Friends
What does it mean to teach from an Ethical Center? What are the benefits of inquiring into this work among friends? In this season experienced and gifted teachers continue to reflect with a focus on curriculum! Each episode will zoom in on one teacher to share how they teach for joy, meaning, and from wisdom in daily actions and how they navigate the current educational terrain!
6 Feb 2025
Acting in the Best Interest of the Child
What does it mean to act in the best interest of the child? How can that commitment inform instruction? How do teachers resist when practices are not in a child's best interest. Step outside the four walls of the classroom as Kristen talks with Cara about teaching children how to assess risks and hazards, getting children out to the woods, and making sure children's basic needs are met at school.
27 Sept 2024
Teaching with Integrity: Teaching Responsively for Equity
This week I sat down with experienced educator Jia Lee to hear more about her special capacity to connect with all children. Jia described in detail her capacity to adapt curriculum and even mid lesson to honor and engage with students. She described her journey to embrace the whole child. Her capacity to name challenges and forge ways forward with enthusiasm, joy, and humor, inspired me and I'm sure will inspire you too!
15 Jul 2024
Honoring Young People
Hear long-term facilitator and co-director of Natural Creativity Krystal Dillard describe how she works alongside young people as they pursue their own problems and projects.
18 Jun 2024
Welcoming with Care
Hear elementary special education teacher Vanessa share how she helps build communities that welcome the whole child by making space for how they learn, who and where they come from, and what they need on a given day!
8 May 2024
Close Looking, Storytelling, and Fourthlandia with Hillary
Hear Hillary tell about how she attends to students, classes, and content as she weaves her values through close looking, storytelling, and the creation of imaginary worlds with students!
For more about close looking check out these resources:
https://cdi.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/ProspectDescriptiveProcessesRevEd.pdf
https://www.tcpress.com/descriptive-inquiry-in-teacher-practice-9780807764862
https://www.tcpress.com/jenny-s-story-9780807750513
https://www.tcpress.com/from-another-angle-9780807739310
30 Apr 2024
Teaching from an Ethical Center: An Inquiry Among Friends
What does it mean to teach from an Ethical Center? What are the benefits of inquiring into this work among friends? Here experienced and gifted teachers begin to reflect! Each episode will zoom in on one teacher to share how their wisdom manifests in daily actions and how they navigate the current educational terrain!
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