KindlED | The Prenda Podcast

We explore how clear promises to families can reshape a district and spark a statewide network of microschools. George shares the roadmap from listening to homeschoolers to opening a K–12 site at a campground, plus the courage and imposter syndrome that come with big dreams.

• four promises as the foundation for culture and decisions
• replacing compliance‑driven teacher evaluation with growth
• enrollment insights...

We rethink “behavior problems” with Dr. Stuart Ablon, showing why kids struggle when skills lag and how collaboration—not control—creates durable change. We walk through Plan B step-by-step, with a classroom role play that turns disruption into progress.

• kids do well if they can as core mindset
• relationship quality as strongest predictor of change
• plans A, B, C defined with pros and cons
• plan B three st...

We explore why reading scores have fallen, what the Science of Reading actually demands in classrooms, and how AI can scale productive practice without replacing human connection. Vivek Ramakrishnan shares data, bright spots from states like Mississippi, and a grounded look at tutoring tech that helps kids decode for real.

• national reading trends and why they predate the pandemic
• foundations beneath fourth-grade co...

Andrew Pudewa, founder of the Institute for Excellence in Writing, joins us to unpack how skill-first teaching unlocks motivation, builds real confidence, and quite literally reshapes the brain for better thinking. We trace the invisible steps the mind takes to write a single sentence, then show how to lower the cognitive load with structure, small wins, and a steady climb: easy plus one.

• the true goal of writing as expr...

We explore how Education Savings Accounts move accountability to families, why universal eligibility builds durable coalitions, and what it takes to grow small pilots into statewide “oaks” that actually meet demand. Matt Ladner shares lessons from Arizona, Texas, Florida, and West Virginia on funding design, flexibility, and political strategy.

• ESA as flexible, multi‑use accounts beyond vouchers
• Texas milestone and...

Dr. Jo Boaler shares her groundbreaking work in mathematics education, exploring how beliefs shape learning and how we can transform math instruction to help every student succeed.

• Starting her career in London schools where she discovered anyone can learn math with the right opportunities
• Joining Stanford and later collaborating with Carol Dweck to spread growth mindset ideas through YouCubed.org
• Explaining ...

Elle Rowley shares her transformative journey from struggling high school student to successful entrepreneur and educational innovator creating alternative learning environments for children in her community. Through personal experience and experimentation, she's developed a thriving microschool model that prioritizes curiosity, community, and child-led learning.

• Finding educational approaches that honor different l...

Chad Carlson shares how One Stone Lab School uses human-centered design to transform education by treating students as end users rather than products. He describes their unique approach that removes traditional grades, subjects, and bells in favor of personalized growth frameworks that prepare students for the real world.

• One Stone's origin story as an innovative school designed alongside students to make learning r...

Dr. Yong Zhao challenges us to keep children at the center of education by acknowledging their uniqueness and building learning systems around that core idea. His approach aims to give kids the skills they need for meaningful future work instead of the synthetic tasks often imposed throughout traditional K-12 education.

•  Education should build on student strengths, not force mastery of every weak spot
•  Meritocracy ...

The rapidly accelerating capabilities of artificial intelligence are creating an urgent need to rethink how we prepare young people for a world where machines will soon outperform humans in many cognitive tasks.

• Schools train students in what ChatGPT already does best
• AI power doubles yearly, reshaping the workforce
• The “school-to-career” escalator model is collapsing
• Content delivery dominates, but agency and va...

Matt Eicheldinger, NYT bestselling author and educator, shares his journey of persistence and the power of meaningful connections with young people. He centers on building trust and creating space for kids to develop confidence, curiosity, and resilience.

• Becoming a teacher because he enjoyed kids and had parents who modeled empathy
 • Writing his first book for struggling readers, facing 600+ rejections before succeeding
...

Education is undergoing a seismic shift as families and educators seek alternatives to traditional schooling, with microschools emerging as a powerful option for personalized learning in supportive communities.

• 48% of parents feel education is heading in the wrong direction
• 17.5% of kids are now outside traditional schools (up from 11.8% in 2018)
• The one-size-fits-all classroom approach leaves many students e...

Adriane Thompson, founder of Raising Kids With Purpose, shares her transformative journey from controlling parenting to creating an environment that meets children's developmental needs through intentional family culture.

• Shifting from viewing parenting as controlling children to understanding and meeting their developmental needs
• Creating strong family culture through shared values, family meetings, and consi...

Karen Glass discusses the power of narration in education, sharing her journey from homeschooling mom to Charlotte Mason education expert and author of "Know and Tell: The Art of Narration."

• Narration is simply telling back what you've learned, a natural human activity we use to build relationships
• Charlotte Mason's educational philosophy centers on two key principles: "children are born pe...

Alex Shevrin Venet shares how educators can build unconditional positive regard that helps children feel valued regardless of behavior, improving their ability to regulate emotions and engage in learning.

• Trauma affects behavior by triggering stress responses that appear as choices but aren't really choices
• Co-regulation (calm adults helping dysregulated children) precedes self-regulation
• Restraint coll...

Brock Murphy, co-founder of Parent ProTech, shares critical insights about helping families navigate the challenging digital landscape that's targeting our children. He draws on his unique background spanning government work and SpaceX to offer practical strategies for protecting kids while building healthy relationships with technology. In this episode, we cover...

• Building on relationships as the foundation for di...

Engaging students in meaningful thinking and learning is essential for effective education. We explore the principles of creating a thinking classroom with Dr. Peter Liljeddahl, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, purposeful tasks, and a supportive learning environment.

What we'll cover...
- Discussion of non-thinking behaviors observed in traditional classrooms  
- Introduction to the 14 key practices for buil...

Ever feel lost when a child erupts in frustration? You’re not alone! In this episode, we dive deep into understanding childhood anger, why it happens, and—most importantly—how to guide kids toward healthy emotional regulation.

Our guest, Samantha Snowden, an expert in emotional intelligence and child development, shares powerful tools for parents, educators, and caregivers to help children manage big emotions with compassion and con...

Discover how homeschooling can revolutionize your child’s education and fit seamlessly into your family’s lifestyle. This episode features Elan Page, the founder of Homeschool Our Way, who shares her inspiring journey from a lifelong learner to a trailblazer empowering families, especially families of color, to embrace homeschooling with confidence. Whether you’re new to homeschooling or looking to refine your approach, this episod...