Hack Learning

156: Educators fear they won't make it through this year

21 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We're in an education crisis, and many teachers fear they won't make it through this year. Some are begging for help; some are preaching self-care. Ot...

155: Note to angry, litigious, anti-mask parents and their friends

07 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Angry, litigious, anti-mask parents are suing schools in Ohio, and Mark Barnes has Hacks you can share to stop this madness and solve one of education...

154: How to Hack Teacher Burnout

18 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes teacher burnout is due to shame and blame and avoiding the problems. Mark shares some quick hacks from Hacking Teacher Burnout author Amber ...

153: Preparing for Change in Education

14 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mark is joined by two national distinguished principals, Tony Sinanis, an administrator in New York and co-author of Hacking Leadership, and Jessica C...

152: Tips and tools to identify anxiety and help students cope

27 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this brief excerpt from the Times 10 Roundtable, Mark Barnes talks with anxiety experts Christine Ravesi-Weinstein and Connie Hamilton about anxiou...

151: Hacking Distance Learning in a Pandemic World and Beyond

17 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Barnes shares an excerpt of the Times 10 Roundtable Webinar--Hacking Distance Learning: How to Deliver Impactful Instruction When Teaching from H...

150: Spare the rod, SAVE the child

24 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

A school district in Texas is bringing back the paddle, because some parents okayed teachers hitting their children. Mark Barnes compares this to 1950...

149: How you can LEARN to be a Modern Mentor

10 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The focus and goal of mentoring is not to point out weak performance, but rather to shape a career and develop potential. Before you can be a mentor, ...

148: How to connect with introverts

14 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

James had what appeared to be some major problems. How did his teacher connect with this introverted student? You'll be amazed at how simple it was.Fo...

147 - Understanding your quiet kids

07 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Teacher, author, keynote speaker Chrissy Romano Arrabito was the student who always raised her hand first, always had the answer, was eager to share, ...

146: The Lead Forward Mission

08 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Encourage, evolve, empower. Mentor, move, motivate. Create, innovate, elevate. Always be listening. Always be learning.These are the qualities of some...

145: Impactful leadership and the backwards bicycle

10 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Why is impactful leadership like riding a backwards bicycle? It's actually quite simple, says award-winning school principal, presenter, and author of...

144: How to be a pinball wizard and spark mind-blowing conversation

20 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Want amazing, even mind-blowing, conversation in your classroom? Throw out your ping pong questions, and become a pinball wizard. Mark shares--and SIN...

143: Coping with the criminals in your classroom - Uncut

08 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Disruptive students are criminals who must be put out of your classroom. So says one educator, who Mark Barnes is taking to task, in this uncut episod...

142: It's time to kick the IDK bucket

22 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this excerpt from Hacking Questions, we learn how to set ourselves up to kick the IDK bucket by identifying the root cause for the “I don’t kno...

141: If you can't teach empathy, you can't teach anything -- Hack Learning Uncut

18 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

People said they don't have time to teach empathy, compassion, and self-awareness. Mark Barnes responds, and you may be surprised at what he says. At ...

140: Take a breath, change your behavior, and model empathy for kids

15 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Hack Learning host Mark Barnes lost his temper recently. If only he had taken his own advice, which he shares in this episode, things might have been ...

139: Are Teachers Doing Enough for Generation Alpha?

08 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Are you teaching Generation Alpha with Baby Boomer content? Educators are faced with new challenges from the generation that may live into the 22nd ce...

138: How one restorative practice turned a troublemaker into a school leader

01 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mark shares a story from Hacking School Discipline, about Amarra, a troublemaker that many teachers might have given up on. Instead of quitting on her...

137: Throw out your office referral; circle up instead

26 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Handing out office referrals like candy to students who misbehave is like sending kids away from learning for a brief holiday, and Mark Barnes says, "...

136: How teachers and runners chase greatness

27 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Running a marathon seems crazy to Mark Barnes. Teaching is often crazier. But being both marathon runner and teacher is unfathomable. Still, these uni...

135: The Best and Brightest Teachers

12 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Florida is considering bonus pay for the "best and brightest teachers," but who are they? According to one plan, they are the teachers whose students ...

134: How Social Media Perception May Forever Impact Our Kids

05 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Barnes is Uncut again, and he's wondering if teachers and parents hurt kids by NOT teaching them about perception, when it comes to social media....

133: It's time to allow the F Word in your classroom

15 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When someone asks how your day was, do you say, “It was very satisfying?” Do you exit a roller coaster and exclaim, “That was a very satisfying ...

132: Hacking School Policies That Harm Kids

08 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Barnes shares a story about a school district that makes students wear color-coded badges that label them as potential failures. We need better l...

131: The questions all teachers should ask themselves - Uncut

04 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Barnes shares some tough questions that, he says, all teachers should ask themselves. Are you ready to answer them?Browse the Hack Learning libra...

130: How to Create Mental Velcro in Your Classroom

29 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Barnes shares Hack 7 from the new Hacking Instructional Design, in which the authors explain how to use mental velcro--must one of 33 extraordin...

129: How Experiential Learning Inspires Compassionate Learners

13 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Teachers and school leaders want compassion in their classrooms and schools. Mark Barnes explains how Experiential Learning inspires compassion in stu...

128: Why do kids hate school and what can we do about it? Hack Learning Uncut

26 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A concerned educator and parent writes: "My kids tell me that [their classes are] basically -- take notes, do worksheets, take tests. They don't reall...

127: How to easily build good habits and break bad ones, with James Clear

16 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Popular author and speaker James Clear says, "Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement." That is, the effects of your habits multiply, whe...

126: How Teachers Can Find Balance

05 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Veteran teacher, author, and presenter Chuck Poole believes that one of the keys to becoming an unforgettable teacher is to find your balance. In his ...

125: Leave your gender bias at the door - Hack Learning Uncut

11 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A tennis match was interrupted by, of all things, coaching and, possibly, a little gender bias, and Mark Barnes has some simple hacks to put a stop to...

124: Transform your school library

06 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Instead of de-funding school libraries, it's time to transform them into the revolutionary space that can inspire all education shareholders to view t...

123: Changing the conversation with parents

07 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Is it time to reconsider parents' role in teaching and learning in your space? Parent and family involvement in education can now be so much more than...

122: How can we teach kids to stand up for the oppressed? Hack Learning Uncut

02 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

When celebrities stand by and protect bullies, without punishment, how can adults teach kids to stand up? Mark uses a high-profile example of a celebr...

121: Turn Your Students into a Focus Group - Hack Learning Uncut

18 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In another uncut edition of the show, Mark Barnes challenges you to take a chance and ask students to rate your in-class presentations or lessons. Cha...

120: Separating Evaluation and Feedback

25 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mark shares a story from author/consultant Angela Stockman about a student who asked for feedback from her teacher, only to be given judgement and cri...

What if You Knew Every Student's Quit Point?

14 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What if educators knew their students so well, they could predict exactly when kids would quit? Imagine how easily you could propel learners forward, ...

118: When Teachers Bash Teachers, Education Suffers

31 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

And educator commented on a tweet, which ignited what someone called a "mob mentality." This Twitter conversation inspired Mark Barnes to share a scen...

117: What if teachers could extinguish shame?

08 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Shame permeates our schools and classrooms. Kids shame their peers and, sometimes, unwittingly, teachers shame their students.Compassionate classrooms...

116: The Stupidest School Policy Ever - Hack Learning Uncut

24 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Barnes says he used to penalize kids for insignificant things like using a pencil or putting their names in the wrong spot (a bad practice he now...

115: The worst thing you can do to your students - Hack Learning Uncut

16 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mark shares the worst thing he did to his students and how you may be doing the same thing right now. Then, he provides one simple hack to avoid doing...

114: The Power of Unanswerable Questions

03 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

EduHacker Mark Barnes admits that math has always eluded him, until he stumbled upon the Unanswerable Questions hack in Hacking Mathematics, by Denis ...

113: No, Mr. President, We Will NOT Arm our Teachers!

25 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Barnes is angry and Uncut, as he unabashedly says No to the president's plan to arm teachers, in an attempt to stop school shootings. Not only do...

112: My son hates school but you can help

07 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mark shared this on social channels, and something amazing happened: "A model student his whole life, my son, a freshman, suddenly hates school. He sa...

111: Homework mandates and politicians are undermining teachers and learners: Hack Learning Uncut

28 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Mississippi State legislature wants to mandate nightly homework, including spelling, across the state. Mark Barnes explains why any homework manda...

110: Why grading and evaluating are not parts of effective assessment

18 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A reader pushed back hard against Mark Barnes' article about going gradeless in Education Week's 10 Big Ideas Special Report. As you may have expected...

109: Stop making the principal the bad guy

08 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mark discusses changing the narrative about school leaders. With a little help from principals Dan McCabe and Tracy R. Taylor, Mark says, it’s time ...

108: How to be the teacher they make movies about, with Mike Roberts

14 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Mark interviews Utah English Teacher of the Year Mike Roberts, author of Hacking Classroom Management: 10 Ideas To Help You Become the Type of Teacher...

107: Why Google hates the GPA and the SAT - Hack Learning Uncut

08 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Mark cites a Psychology Today Blog post, in which the author references an interview with a Google executive who says the search engine giant does not...

106: That's the Way We've Always Done it! -- Hack Learning Uncut

30 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Mark posted this on social channels: "No, I won’t lecture, assign homework, punish, or grade my students, just because that’s the way we’ve alwa...

105: The World Really Is Different - Hack Learning Uncut

17 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

For parents and teachers, the old, "Back-in-my-day" mentality no longer works, because, as Kimberley Moran writes in Hacking Parenthood, The World Rea...

104: Teach Kids to Debate, not to Diss

26 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Love him or hate him President Donald Trump isn't the best example for kids, when it comes to debating issues on social media. In this non-political e...

103: When teachers ask for the finger - Hack Learning Uncut

10 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

EduHacker Mark Barnes explains the problem with rewards, gestures, and asking kids to give you the finger, when attempting to effectively "manage" stu...

102: How Mission-Minded Learning Makes the World a Better Place

28 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Mark talks about the power of mission-minded learning with NAPW Woman of the Year, renowned EdTech presenter, and author of Hacking Digital Learning S...

101: Teacher Dress Unraveled - Hack Learning Uncut

18 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

A recent #HackLearning chat sparked some hot debate about appropriate teacher dress and engaging with students outside of class. Mark has opinions, an...

100: Hacking the Why - Hack Learning Uncut

14 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In Episode 100, Mark reflects on century's worth of podcasts, asking Why he produces the show. Find out the "Why" and ask yourself why you do what you...

99: How Mantras reduce the stress of parenting

07 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Hacking Parenthood author Kimberley Moran explains how mantras were created thousands of years ago by people in ancient India who understood that soun...

98: What is your inspirational story?

31 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

With so much tragedy in the world, we need inspirational stories to ease the stress. Mark shares his favorite inspirational teaching story and puts a ...

97: Working 40 hours, semantics, and other rants - Hack Learning Uncut

22 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

A blog post suggesting that teachers should work less draws Mark's ire, and he sounds off in another Uncut version of the podcast. Mark says teachers...

96: Forget Politics and Teach Tolerance

17 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What happened in Charlottesville, Virginia should not be politicized, says Hack Learning creator Mark Barnes. Many people have made this despicable ev...

95: Damn right, your students should like you - Hack Learning Uncut

01 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

@markbarnes19 is Uncut again, and swearing, literally, that students need to like their teachers in order to learn from them. Mark references a blog p...

94: Better presenting for teachers and students with James Sturtevant

26 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Engagement guru James Alan Sturtevant joins Mark to discuss better presenting for teachers and students and his latest book, Hacking Engagement Again:...

93: Hacking your thin skin - Hack Learning Uncut

10 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Barnes is unedited and Uncut again, discussing how he used to be the most thin-skinned SOB you'd ever meet. Mark provides 3 simple hacks that he ...

92: The Glass Classroom and Happy Birthday Hacking Education

06 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We teach behind walls, and it's time to leverage todays technology to create transparency in education. In episode 92, Mark shares some right-now solu...

91: Throw out old-school EdTech -- Hack Learning Uncut

29 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this edition of Uncut, Mark riffs on teachers using technology, just to say that they are integrating technology in their classrooms. Telling kids ...

90: Toni's Template for Engaging Reluctant Learners

14 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In Episode 90 of the Hack Learning Podcast, Mark shares Toni's Template for engaging reluctant learners, taken from the forthcoming Hacking Engagement...

89: How Teachers Can Break Up With Nightly Homework

07 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

As summer break begins, Mark gives a homework assignment to all teachers: Break up with nightly homework this coming school year. Learn how to change ...

88: Sifting Through Internet Noise with Google Alerts

17 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Are you tired of alerts? Fed up with one bell or buzz after another on your Smartphone or tablet? Now, you can sift through all the Internet noise wit...

87: #DraftEDU - With the Number 1 Pick Hack Learning Selects

26 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

With sports fans abuzz over the NFL draft, Mark Barnes got to thinking, What if educators held their own draft? What positions would they fill. Mark s...

86: Three Simple Ways to Stop Bullying

05 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 42 percent of students who are bullied report that it happens in school hallways and stairw...

85: How to Teach Kids to Police Themselves on Social Media

22 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

After an intense debate on Facebook, which led to some heated comments, Mark explains how to both model and teach kids best practices on social media....

84: How Jurassic Park Made Hackers Heroic

03 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Asked by a book translator if people would consider the word "Hacking" negative, Hack Learning creator and your host Mark Barnes explained that "hacke...

83: How Moving Is Giving Our Kids a Real-World Learning Experience

15 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Worksheets and workbooks do not provide real-world learning opportunities. The best real-world teaching and learning comes from, where else, the real ...

82: How to Improve Reading with the 80/20 Analysis

03 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Hacking Literacy author Gerard Dawson wonders, Why are required texts often so inaccessible? These texts are often not modern. They may take place in ...

81: How to be the Best Teacher Every Day

26 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In Episode 81 of the Hack Learning Podcast, Mark Barnes shares a heartfelt story from author James Sturtevant about being the best teacher you can be,...

80: Hacking Powerful People: Inspiration from Meryl Streep

11 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Meryl Streep, the three-time Oscar-winning actress, condemned the actions of a man she chose not to name and who shall remain nameless here on the Hac...

79: Nail Your New Year's Resolution: Learn how to write a book

04 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Connie Hamilton wrote a book. What's the big deal? Like most would-be writers, Connie wondered if she could do it. In Episode 79 of the Hack Learning ...

78: How to Eliminate Both Homework and Grades with Starr Sackstein

27 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Starr Sackstein believes in change, and sometimes change in education means cutting out archaic practices like traditional homework and grades.Author ...

77: How to Overcome PBL Paralysis with authors Ross Cooper and Erin Murphy

21 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

PBL paralysis. That's a scary phrase that makes many teachers run as far as possible away from project-based learning.Hacking Project Based Learning a...

76: It's your turn. What do you want?

07 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It's your turn. Let's hack your professional growth. You tell us what you need, and we'll give it to you. Visit http://hacklearning.org/survey. Answer...

75: How to Tell Kids Their Teacher Has Cancer with Justin Birckbichler

22 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Justin Birckbichler is 25 years old. He teaches fourth graders in Virginia, and he recently learned that he has cancer.What is he doing about this hor...

74: Hacking Passion Projects for Educators

16 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It's time to bring a little passion into school and into professional growth, according to school leaders and Hack Learning authors Joe Sanfelippo and...

73: Hacking Whole Child Education and Student Advocacy with Valerie Lewis

09 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Whole child education is often missing from our classrooms. Schools and teachers work in isolation, sometimes overlooking the impact other stakeholder...

72: Hack Learning Uncut – Hacking Independent Learning with Author/Educator Connie Hamilton

04 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Well-known connected educator Connie Hamilton says the most critical component of kids becoming independent learners is to be clear about what they sh...

71: Education Technology and the 4 Cs with Stephanie Budhai and Laura Taddei

01 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Many districts/schools are implementing technology programs that offer opportunities for 24/7 learning, but teachers need more support and ideas when ...

70: Hack Learning Uncut: Shift the Mindset and Throw Out Homework

28 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Hack Learning Podcast host Mark Barnes is uncut, as he vilifies traditional homework and the idea that it has any real value to learners. Hack Learnin...

69: How to Easily Uncover Your Biases

25 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A Teacher Disposition Assessment (TDA) measures bias. Student experts, who consume your presentations daily, generate critical information. The TDA is...

68: Hack Learning Uncut - How to do projects right

21 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Hack Learning "Uncut"--the unedited, unbridled, under-eight-minute edition of the Hack Learning Podcast--Mark Barnes explains how t...

67: How to Teach Core Values with Casey Ewy

18 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

When Kansas middle school teacher Casey Ewy realized that kids will become independent, enthusiastic learners if they are part of a non-threatening co...

66: Hack Learning Uncut - Riffing on Rigor in Education

14 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Hack Learning "Uncut"--the unedited, occasionally-interrupted, under-eight-minute edition of the Hack Learning Podcast, Mark Barnes...

65: How to Discuss Politics and Other Sensitive Issues in School

11 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

During a presidential debate, a citizen asked Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump if they are appropriate for kids. In this episode, Mark Barnes expands ...

64: Three Keys to Unlock the Door to Student Engagement with James Sturtevant

04 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

James Alan Sturtevant calls student engagement the "whole ballgame", and who would know this better than the 32-year veteran teacher, rapidly becoming...

63: Hacking School Discipline: How to Throw Out Detention and Other Lame Punishments

27 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Barnes explains how one Baltimore school repurposed and rebranded its detention room, turning it into a Mindful Moment Room, dramatically impacti...

62: Three Hacky Ways to Remember Things with Brad Zupp

20 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Renowned author, presenter, and memory expert Brad Zupp rarely forgets things. Since 2009, Zupp has been dedicated to testing the limits of his own me...

61: Hacking Teacher Mistakes with My Bad Host Jon Harper

13 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Jon Harper admits that in more than a decade in education, he's made plenty of mistakes. Some might call Harper a mistakes guru. He interviews experie...

60: How to Lighten the 20.2-Pound Backpack and Reimagine Homework

07 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

When Hack Learning creator Mark Barnes realized his daughter's school backpack weighed in at a portly 20.2 pounds, he decided to tell the world that i...

59: 3 Ways to Turn Failure into Success with Bestselling Author Jessica Lahey

31 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

New York Times bestselling author Jessica Lahey explains the struggles that parents and teachers have with allowing kids to fail. Author of The Gift o...

Hacking Master Teachers: 3 Habits of the Greats

24 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Why do students love some classes and hate others? What makes a certain teacher every kid's favorite? How do master teachers become so great? The answ...

Hacking Relevance in Education with Denis Sheeran EP.57

17 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

When learning is relevant, students become enthusiastic and engaged. Denis Sheeran, math teacher and author of Instant Relevance, explains how he uses...