Oskar Cymerman teaches high school Chemistry and Principles of Engineering and is author of Crush School: Every Student’s Guide To Killing It In The Classroom a book that promotes brain based learning to help students become better learners. His professional interests are brain based learning, flexible seating in high school, social-emotional learning, social justice, and using technology to enhance learning.

 

Oskar was born in Poland, and didn’t move to America with his family until he was high school age, which has given him a unique perspective on education (2:35)

Oskar has a degree in Environmental Science, but after working in the field for a few years, decided he really wanted to try his hand at teaching school, and became a teacher via an alternative route to certification (5:37)

His first teaching job (with no student teaching experience) was in a tough inner city school on the South Side of Chicago (7:24)

Even in a very difficult school environment, there are always positives (10:28)

You’ve got to give yourself permission to be yourself, and to figure out the teaching methods and approaches that work best for you (15:34)

Oskar’s book, Crush School, is about learning to be a learner (25:08)

Most students really don’t know how to learn (29:26)

Some teachers think not all students are learners, but with the right approach, all students can be learners (33:14)

Helping teachers move to a collaborative mindset (36:25)

Teachers are leaders by definition, and they’re changing the world every day (45:00)

Seeing each student as a whole person is critical to good teaching (49:58)

Oskar’s top book recommendation for listeners (50:37)

We say it, but we don’t really mean it, but it really is OK to try, and fail (51:37)

If Oskar had a time machine, here’s the advice he would go back and give his younger self when he was just starting out in administration (53:43)

 

Books mentioned in this episode

Crush School: Every Student’s Guide To Killing It In The Classroom (And Teachers Dig It Too) by Oskar Cymerman

The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy

 

Connect with Oskar Cymerman

@focus2achieve

Focus 2 Achieve

 

 

About EducatorsLead:

Educators Lead is a podcast created to help launch educators into the next level of leadership. This show is for you if you are interested in educational leadership as an assistant principal, principal, superintendent, teacher or someone who hopes to be a school leader one day. Educators Lead offers inspiration and practical advice to help you lead more effectively. Jay Willis interviews school leaders weekly to discuss why and when these educators made the decision to move into school leadership, challenges along the journey, and stories that made it all worthwhile. Educators Lead is a great resource for any educator looking to make a greater impact.

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