#SMWay Podcast

by Daniel Bader South Milwaukee

We can all learn something, right? The #SMWay podcast addresses current issues in Education, celebrates students and staff in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and addresses what challenges are in front of us as educators and as a community and how we can address them.

Who should listen to this show? South Milwaukee residents, for sure, but also anyone who takes an interest in education - whether they live in Wisconsin or an ... 

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Podcast episodes

  • Season 2

  • The Science of Reading - ACT 20 in South Milwaukee

    The Science of Reading - ACT 20 in South Milwaukee

    Welcome to the SMWay Podcast, I’m your host, Daniel Bader. Today we’re touching on a hot-button topic in Wisconsin, reading legislation. Specifically, ACT 20, a law passed last summer states that all Wisconsin schools are required to provide science-based early literacy instruction in both universal and intervention settings. Today we’ll speak with Christie Gajewski, Director of Curriculum and Instruction about what ACT 20 is, what South Milwaukee is doing to follow the law in our schools, and what we can expect.

  • Instrumental Music Education

    Instrumental Music Education

    How do public schools teach students to play music? It's a process that starts as early as Kindergarten, but by high school can mean deep involvement in a world of musical opportunities. In this episode, we speak to instructors from elementary, middle, and high school about the process of learning and loving to play music as part of school.

  • Building Legally Blonde

    Building Legally Blonde

    A staple of schools across the nation is the spring high school musical. Our High School is performing the award-winning show Legally Blonde – a musical based on a book and a 2001 movie by the same name.  There are three components to a musical, the actors, the orchestra, and the stage crew. Today, you and I are going behind the scenes and talk to members of the crew who build the scenes that transform our theater into the world of Legally Blonde.

  • What About.... Your Referendum FAQs

    What About.... Your Referendum FAQs

    For several weeks now School Board members and District representatives have been out in the community with tables, like at the Bucyrus Club and various sporting events talking to residents about the 2 million dollar non-recurring operational referendum that’s on the ballot on April 2nd. We had a big information night at the high school and have two more planned out in the community.  Today’s podcast is a version of one of those sessions – I’ve invited administrators from each area affected by the referendum to tell us about what the additional dollars would be used for The referendum is called Safe, Supported, and Successful. We’ll start with student and staff safety, then student success, and then hear about how we’re supporting students and staff.  Then, at the end, I’ll take the questions we’ve gotten about the referendum and ask Business Services Director Dan Arnold to answer them. 

  • STEAM NIGHT: See Yourself as and Inventor

    STEAM NIGHT: See Yourself as and Inventor

     Today’s episode is going to be a little different in that it deviates from our regular format. STEAM night – a celebration of all the work in our schools through the lens of STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math – is one of the biggest events during the year and certainly the biggest one-day academic event outside of graduation.  Today we’re bringing you three audio postcards or snapshots from STEAM night, one from technology, one from engineering, and one from the arts.