What if you could channel your thoughts to help you build momentum for your vision? Could the thing that is holding you back, be you? Terre Short shows us how to harness the power of your thoughts and words to become the leader your building needs you to be. Since this is the fifth Wednesday of the month, we have a bonus Project Based Learning Leadership Guest episode. Terre Short is a leadership coach and author of the book: The Words We Choose, Your Guide to How and Why Words Matter. Terre’s "why " is about helping people communicate better. Terre talks about the idea of what she calls your ..read more

You are in for a real treat in this PBL Showcase episode because we have Brittany Tinkler from Perry Township School with us today. Brittany is a rockstar PBL Teacher and recent recipient of the prestigious Milican Award. Brittany shares her ‘why’ for education and the changes that she has made in her classroom. She talks about receiving the Milican Award and why she is excited for the opportunities this award brings. Brittany shares about starting Project Based Learning in your school. Ryan and Brittany also talk about 51/2051, when 51% of schools are doing Project Based Learning by 2051. In ..read more

This is the second part of our four-part series on moving Project Based Learning into your school. Today, Ryan talks about building a Project Based Learning culture in your school to sustain PBL. He has six different topics about culture building around your vision and driving your staff towards your vision. In this episode of the PBL Simplified Podcast, we have a Need to Know question: Should we start a school within a school? It’s a good question and Ryan shares his thoughts and ideas. For our Leadership Leap, Ryan talks about the book Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey. This book is about focusing ..read more

How do you handle good succession planning? In this episode, Jennifer Cox and Josh Rhodes talk all about school leadership, including their successful succession plan, school building, management, and much more. Jennifer and Josh share their ‘whys’ for education, Jennifer talks about her experience of finding and hiring a new assistant principal (Josh) and she shares her philosophy for finding new staff members while also giving some tips and ideas for finding your new hire. Josh shares his thoughts on going from Assistant Principal to Principal and talks about the differences between AP and ..read more

This main episode is the first in a four part series. This first part is about why you should ooch into Project Based Learning. This idea of ooching comes from the Heath Brothers and is when you make a small step to see if it is a good idea to make a bigger one as well as to encourage others to join you. This applies to you if you have some teachers who are unsure if they want to fully jump into Project Based Learning. Ryan talks about how to get your full staff to move closer to Project Based Learning. In this episode of the PBL Simplified Podcast, we have a Need to Know: Should I have a bank ..read more

In this episode of the PBL Simplified Podcast, Ryan answers the Need to Know “What is the research behind Project Based Learning? The research is out there! You can go back to past PBL Simplified episodes E88 and E90 to hear Ryan talk about this research or Ryan can send you the research. Just go to WhatisPBL.com and click on Ask Ryan. In our main episode, Ryan does a deep dive into the book Be Unstoppable by Alden M. Mills. Be Unstoppable is a parable style book that gives us a format for personal leadership. Tune in to the heart of this episode to get another high level leadership book for y ..read more

Are you looking for high quality Project Based Learning examples to share with your staff? If yes, then you have found the right episode! Haley Culp from Neosho, Missouri shares her PBL unit and offers some advice on what went well, and what she learned. In this episode of the PBL Simplified Podcast, Ryan answers the Need to Know “How do I get Project Based Learning to spread organically?” In the Leadership Leap Ryan talks about Eat, Move, and Sleep by Tom Rath. This book is backed up by research and filled with advice about how you should Eat, Move, and Sleep. Get your copy in the links below ..read more

Do you ever wonder how high achievers reach such a high level? Contrary to popular thought, they did not just suddenly rise to the top. It was all of the little things they did every day, compounding over years, that brought them up to where they are today. The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson captures this idea perfectly. What is the Slight Edge? In his book, Jeff Olson says “They are not big sweeping things that take huge effort. They are not heroic or dramatic. Mostly, they are just little things you do every day and nobody else will notice.” In this episode of the PBL Simplified Podcast, Ryan ans ..read more

Do you wonder what conversations other Project-Based Learning schools have? If you answered yes then you’re in for a treat because we have a special PBL Working Session with Haley Culp from Neosho, Missouri. In this working session, you get to listen in as Ryan works through some of the questions Haley has from her district. Haley has been a PBL teacher in the classroom and is now an Assistant Principal at a PBL-supportive district in Neosho, Missouri. Haley is also a PBL Certified Facilitator.  In this episode of the PBL Simplified Podcast, Ryan answers the Need to Know “When are my Lea ..read more

For this PBL Leadership Guest Episode we have Danny Brassell with us today. Danny is a speaker and author of 15 books including Leadership Starts With Motivation and Bringing Joy Back to the Classroom. Danny talks about different leadership ideas you can apply to your work today. You will definitely find several nuggets of advice in this episode. We will be talking about faculty meeting ideas. In this episode of the PBL Simplified Podcast, Ryan answers the Need to Know “I get that grouping is important, but it is also hard and awful! Help!” In the Leadership Leap, Ryan summarizes the book Eli ..read more