What I Want to Know with Kevin P. Chavous

24/06/2025

“When school choice scales, the whole system improves.”

John Schilling explains why programs like Florida’s have lifted both private and public school outcomes—and why the debate deserves a closer look.

Listen to the full episode of What I Want to Know here; https://stridelearning.com/insights/the-tax-bill-that-could-change-american-education-with-john-schilling/?leadsource=text&vendor=facebook&utm_campaign=wiwtk179

16/06/2025

A lot of people assume math can’t be fun.
Rebecka Peterson would challenge that—and she’d be right.

In this extended clip from our conversation, she unpacks what most classrooms get wrong about math, how she brings curiosity and connection into her teaching, and why the real breakthrough doesn’t start with formulas—it starts with trust.

This isn’t about gimmicks or games. It’s about shifting how students see themselves. And that shift can change everything.

Watch the clip. Share it with a teacher. Then ask yourself: what would it take to make your subject feel like discovery?

A lot of people assume math can’t be fun.Rebecka Peterson would challenge that—and she’d be right.In this extended clip from our conversation, she unpacks wh...

09/06/2025

“It’s normal to say, ‘I’m not a math person.’ But you’d never hear someone say, ‘I can’t read.’" – Rebecka Peterson

As a culture, we’ve made it acceptable to opt out of math—and that mindset starts early. In this encore episode, 2023 National Teacher of the Year Rebecka Peterson joins Kevin P. Chavous to unpack how we change that narrative and why building trust with students comes before teaching content.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gJSDwPtVJ84
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05/06/2025

"I’m not a math person” has become socially acceptable—
but imagine someone saying, “I can’t read,” and everyone just nodding along.

Rebecka Peterson told Kevin:

“We’ve normalized innumeracy in a way we never would with illiteracy.”

In this episode, she shares how to make math fun—even for students who’ve already given up on it. The key isn’t test prep or tech. It starts with something much simpler:

Time. Trust. And treating math like a language every student can learn.

Full episode is here: https://youtu.be/gJSDwPtVJ8

04/06/2025

Did you know that the jobs most of today’s students will hold haven’t even been invented yet?

And yet, teachers are the ones preparing them for that unknown future—often while battling burnout, low pay, and public doubt.

That’s why we’re re-releasing this episode with 2023 National Teacher of the Year Rebecka Peterson . As a math teacher, she doesn’t just teach STEM—she makes students fall in love with it.

In this clip, she asks:

👉 Are we showing up with joy and purpose?
👉 Do we talk about teaching like it’s a gift—or a warning?
👉 Would a student watching us say, “I want to be a teacher”?

And maybe the most important question: Could you be one of the teachers who inspires the next generation to explore, build, and believe?

Full episode is back out today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJSDwPtVJ84

30/05/2025

Did you know some students lose up to 2–3 months of academic progress every summer?
It’s called the summer slide, and by the end of elementary school, that gap can leave lower-income kids nearly three years behind their peers.

The way kids spend summer matters more than most people think.

In this clip from an encore episode of What I Want to Know, Kevin P. Chavous talks with Aaron Dworkin of the National Summer Learning Association about what makes a summer program not just good—but transformational.

In this conversation, they unpack:
• Why real summer learning blends academics + enrichment
• How summer school’s image problem is holding us back
• Why relationships and belonging are the real engines of learning
• What it looks like when summer learning happens outside the classroom—at museums, hospitals, and even under trees

Watch the clip: https://youtu.be/QdO4W4qo3so

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Did you know some students lose up to 2–3 months of academic progress every summer?It’s called the summer slide, and by the end of elementary school, that ga...

27/05/2025

Summer school or summer camp? Why not both.

In this encore clip from What I Want to Know, Kevin talks with Aaron Dworkin about what makes a summer program actually great.

Watch the ecore episode chere: https://youtu.be/ZCWFcHKGkWQ
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26/05/2025

Did you know that over half of the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income students is caused by unequal summer learning opportunities?
It’s not just about what happens during the school year—it’s about what happens between them.

Of course kids deserve their summer break. But how do we make sure that well-earned rest doesn’t quietly become lost ground?

In this clip from our encore episode, I talk with Aaron Dworkin of the National Summer Learning Association about:
• What actually makes a summer program great
• Why enrichment matters as much as academics
• And how community, relationships, and choice can change everything

Watch the clip here:

This is an encore episode — and with good reason.As the school year winds down and summer approaches, the “summer slide” — the loss of academic progress over...

16/05/2025

Is GPA the most important thing on a resume?

Are scholarships only for top students?

Kevin and Allison play “True or Rethink” and unpack myths about scholarships, digital portfolios, GPA, and the many real (and undervalued) paths to success.

🔹 Main Topics
• Most scholarships aren’t just for top students
• A big-name degree isn’t always more valuable
• Digital portfolios can matter more than GPA
• There’s no single path to success—location, life stage, and passions all matter

Is GPA the most important thing on a resume?Are scholarships only for top students?Kevin and Allison play “True or Rethink” and unpack myths about scholarshi...

09/05/2025

Why is navigating college and careers so overwhelming for today’s students?
Kevin P. Chavous and Allison Danielsen unpack the outdated advice, the missing support, and how we can help teens make confident decisions—not pressured ones.

🔹 Main Topics
• High school counselors still using outdated guidance
• The myth of “one choice determines your future”
• Lack of awareness about modern career paths
• The emotional toll on teens and families

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Why is navigating college and careers so overwhelming for today’s students?Kevin P. Chavous and Allison Danielsen unpack the outdated advice, the missing sup...

08/05/2025

Tallo CEO Allison Danielsen joins Kevin P. Chavous to talk about why today’s students need flexibility, exploration, and tools that reflect the real world—not outdated playbooks.

Listen now and explore more: https://stridelearning.com/insights/how-to-help-your-teen-choose-the-right-career-path/?leadsource=text&vendor=facebook&utm_campaign=wiwtk178

01/05/2025

If you’re a parent considering virtual learning for your child with special needs—you probably have a lot of questions.

Can they still join clubs?
What if they struggle with tech?
How do IEPs work online?

In this clip from What I Want to Know, Jenny Kendall breaks down how virtual schools handle:
✔️ Socialization and extracurriculars
✔️ Tech challenges with assistive tools
✔️ Personalized learning through IEPs and daily routines

🎥 Watch the clip and get the full conversation here:
https://stridelearning.com/insights/jenny-kendall-on-how-to-build-ieps-that-truly-support-every-student/?leadsource=text&vendor=linkedin&utm_campaign=wiwtk177