IDRA Classnotes

Classnotes Podcast (September 27, 2021). The digital divide affects millions of Texas households that cannot get broadband Internet access. When schools moved instruction online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this country’s simmering digital divide reached a boiling point. Millions of students were unable to access schoolwork or their teachers.

In this episode, Christina Quintanilla-Muñoz, M.Ed., IDRA research analyst, and Thomas Marshall III, IDRA policy communications strategist, discuss the issue of digital inclusion and their work as IDRA Education Policy Fellows to advocate broadband access during the Texas Legislative session. They also highlight other advocates and organizations who partnered to secure affordable, dependable Internet connection for families. Christina and Thomas were interviewed by Michelle Martínez Vega, IDRA chief technology strategist.

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Show length: 20:50 min.

Digital Destination – Texas Needs Broadband Connectivity for All Students & Families, by Thomas Marshall III & Christina Quintanilla-Muñoz, M.Ed. (Ver versión en español)

Plugged in, Tuned Out – A First Examination of Student Engagement Patterns in Texas Public Schools During COVID-19, by Christina Quintanilla-Muñoz, M.Ed.

Texas Legislature Takes Some Steps Toward Addressing the Digital Divide, by Thomas Marshall, IDRA Newsletter, June-July 2021

FCC to Launch $7.17 Billion Connectivity Fund Program New Program Provides Funding to Schools and Libraries Critical to Closing the Homework Gap, May 10, 2021

Worst Connected Cities 2017. American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table B28002, National Digital Inclusion Alliance

IDRA Education Policy Fellows Program

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We welcome your comments and questions to the podcast. Send an e-mail to [email protected].

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The post Digital Inclusion is Vital for Students and Families – Podcast Episode 212 appeared first on IDRA.

Classnotes Podcast (May 18, 2021). In exploring the role of teachers in bringing about academic success for students of color, three terms are often used interchangeably: culturally responsive, culturally relevant, and culturally sustaining. But understanding the differences in these terms can deepen how educators work with their students in their diverse classrooms.

In this episode, Dr. Altheria Caldera, IDRA Education Policy Fellow, is joined by her co-author, Dr. Alexandra (Ale) Babino, Assistant Professor, Director of Bilingual/ESL Programs, Texas A&M Commerce. They describe the development of the three terms, the great minds behind them and what they mean for educational practice.

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Show length: 16:02 min.

Subtractive Schooling: U.S.-Mexican Youth and the Politics of Caring, by Angela Valenzuela

The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children, by Gloria Ladson-Billings

Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies: Teaching and Learning for Justice in a Changing World, by D. Paris & H.S. Alim, 2017

Fostering Culturally Diverse Learning Environments, by Dr. Paula Johnson, IDRA Newsletter, August 2016

Positive School Climates and Diverse Populations, by Dr. Kristin Grayson, IDRA Newsletter, August 2016

Teaching Must be Culturally Relevant to be Quality, by Bradley Scott, Ph.D., IDRA Newsletter, May 2009

Creating Culturally Responsive Parent Engagement – Principal Shares Strategies for Success, by Dr. Rosana G. Rodríguez, Dr. Rogelio López del Bosque, and Dr. Abelardo Villarreal, IDRA Newsletter, November-December 2008

Your feedback

We welcome your comments and questions to the podcast. Send an e-mail to [email protected].

To ensure you don’t miss a single episode of IDRA Classnotes, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, (download iTunes free if you don’t have it) or sign up to receive an e-mail alert as soon as a new show is published.

The post Teaching that is Culturally-Relevant -Responsive and -Sustaining – Podcast Episode 211 appeared first on IDRA.

Classnotes Podcast (April 26, 2021). Often, people talk about restorative practice as an approach to student discipline. It is true that restorative practices include a reactive component designed to restore relationships by repairing harm. But that is not the best place to start implementing restorative practices in a school.

In this episode, Dr. Paula Johnson, director, IDRA EAC-South, and Terrence Wilson, J.D., IDRA regional policy and community engagement director, describe how restorative practice is proactive in developing community by building relationships and positive school climates that value all students. They describe a range of ways educators can start using restorative practices to create an environment where students want to engage.

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Show length: 23:31 min.

Restorative Practices Campus Team Training and Coaching Support Services by IDRA

Restorative Practices – Informal and Formal Processes for Addressing Behavior, by Paula N. Johnson, Ph.D., April 8, 2019

How Using Restorative Practices Can Prevent Exclusionary Discipline Issues, by Kristin Grayson, Ph.D., & Paula Johnson, M.A., January 31, 2018

Your feedback

We welcome your comments and questions to the podcast. Send an e-mail to [email protected].

To ensure you don’t miss a single episode of IDRA Classnotes, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, (download iTunes free if you don’t have it) or sign up to receive an e-mail alert as soon as a new show is published.

The post A Culture of Student Engagement Through Schoolwide Restorative Practices – Podcast Episode 210 appeared first on IDRA.

Classnotes Podcast (April 6, 2021). At the core of IDRA’s philosophy is the recognition that each student is a unique and whole human being and should be treated as such. Our guest for this episode is Annabel Saenz Cruz who teaches ninth-grade biology at Palmview High School in La Joya ISD.

She joins Classnotes to discuss the most valuable tool in keeping students engaged in participation and learning: establishing personal connection with them as unique human beings. She also discusses practical strategies in teaching difficult concepts through virtual learning, especially with English learners, as well as the necessity of technological literacy. Annabel was interviewed by Aurelio Montemayor, M.Ed., Family Engagement Coordinator.

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Show length: 28:33 min.

Teachers Share Best Practices for Virtual Instruction in the Age of COVID-19, IDRA Newsletter

Chief Science Officer Teens Get Creative to Promote STEM While Navigating School Closure,  IDRA Learning Goes On

Science Comes Alive By Generating Interest and Promoting Inquiry-Based Learning, IDRA Learning Goes On

Teaching Science in Virtual Learning Environments, IDRA Webinar

Chief Science Officer Students Determined to Promote STEM Despite School Closures, n IDRA Webinar

Student Perspectives on a Changing School Climate, IDRA webinar

Equitable Practices for Teaching Online, IDRA webinar

College Bound and Determined

Your feedback

We welcome your comments and questions to the podcast. Send an e-mail to [email protected].

To ensure you don’t miss a single episode of IDRA Classnotes, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, (download iTunes free if you don’t have it) or sign up to receive an e-mail alert as soon as a new show is published.

The post Connecting with Students in the Virtual Biology Classroom – Podcast Episode 209 appeared first on IDRA.

Classnotes Podcast (February 8, 2021). Math is proving to be the subject that is experiencing the greatest distance learning challenges for students at all age levels. Numerous studies are showing the effects of the disruptions of COVID-19 on student learning leading to students being significantly behind in math. No doubt, schools will adjust to help students get back on track. But what about students who are close to graduating and those taking higher-level math courses?

We welcome on our podcast high school educator, Jennifer Schulze-Aguirre, M.A., who teaches Algebra 1 through AP Calculus BC at Brandeis High School in Northside ISD. She has a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a math emphasis and has been teaching teenagers for 14 years. In this episode, she discusses the challenges that are unique to math through distance learning. And she describes the creative ways she is addressing them and how she will transfer those strategies to her classroom after the pandemic. Jennifer is interviewed by Aurelio Montemayor, M.Ed., Family Engagement Coordinator, and Christie Goodman, APR, IDRA director of communication.

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Show length: 18:46 min.

The Organic Chemistry Tutor has great resource for math videos!

Education Week – Teaching and Learning Mathematics, great ideas for teachers

Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, See research articles for math education

Facilitating Online Math Sessions, IDRA webinar

At Home During COVID-19 – Making Math Connections, IDRA Learning Goes On (also in Spanish)

Student Perspectives on a Changing School Climate, IDRA webinar

Equitable Practices for Teaching Online, IDRA webinar

College Bound and Determined

Your feedback

We welcome your comments and questions to the podcast. Send an e-mail to [email protected].

To ensure you don’t miss a single episode of IDRA Classnotes, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, (download iTunes free if you don’t have it) or sign up to receive an e-mail alert as soon as a new show is published.

The post Teaching High Level Math through Distance Learning – Podcast Episode 208 appeared first on IDRA.

Classnotes Podcast (November 16, 2020). IDRA’s change model, the Quality Schools Action Framework, helps people focus on what’s needed in their local school context to truly ensure access to high quality education for all students. As the need for universal college and career preparation continues to grow, we can see how the framework comes alive in how school districts structure themselves to meet this need.

In this episode, Hector Bojorquez, IDRA director of operations and educational practice, talks with Andy Wilson, provost of Roscoe Collegiate ISD in Texas, about how the district has been innovating for a decade to meet its goal of having all students be career- and college-ready. Andy outlines the district’s blended model of early college high school and STEM academy, its schoolwide AVID program, its partnerships with colleges in the area, and its teacher support systems to identify and support students in all grades when they are struggling.

Andy states: “Nobody gets a pass on college classes, nobody gets a pass on STEM classes and credentialing… We just feel like attaining that level of education, bachelor’s degree being the baseline, will set our students up for success in their future. We have a high majority of low socioeconomic and first-generation college-goers, and so we’re really looking at changing lives and really stopping generational poverty.”

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Show length: 18:49 min.

Quality Schools Action Framework,

Courage to Connect: A Quality Schools Action Framework

College Bound and Determined

Your feedback

We welcome your comments and questions to the podcast. Send an e-mail to [email protected].

To ensure you don’t miss a single episode of IDRA Classnotes, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, (download iTunes free if you don’t have it) or sign up to receive an e-mail alert as soon as a new show is published.

The post How a Rural School District Makes its All-Students Attitude Real – Podcast Episode 207 appeared first on IDRA.

Classnotes Podcast (October 28, 2020). COVID-19 has forced a re-imagining of instruction to promote learning and engagement in virtual lessons. Dr. Martina McGhee saw this as an opportunity to help elementary students extend their academic learning with their everyday lives at home.

In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Garcia, IDRA STEM and gender equity education specialist, talks with Auburn University’s clinical professor, Dr. Martina McGhee, about her new project entitled, Home Works. In response to COVID-19 and the increased need for quality distance learning resources, Dr. McGhee and her undergraduate students created meaningful learning experiences for elementary students. Listen to this episode to learn more about the Home Works learning model and how to leverage their free resources for educators and families.

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Show length: 13:58 min.

Home Works – Elementary Education Distance Learning Curriculum

Auburn University College of Education launching ‘Home Works’ program to help students, families, press release

IDRA EAC-South

Learning Goes On – A COVID-19 Resource for Education – webpage serves as a hub for materials, webinars, and other information and resources for educators and policymakers

Your feedback

We welcome your comments and questions to the podcast. Send an e-mail to [email protected].

To ensure you don’t miss a single episode of IDRA Classnotes, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, (download iTunes free if you don’t have it) or sign up to receive an e-mail alert as soon as a new show is published.

The post Bridging Academic and Home Knowledge with Home Works Lessons – Podcast Episode 206 appeared first on IDRA.

Classnotes Podcast (September 15, 2020). Across the country, 2.7 million grandparents have assumed full- or part-time responsibility for their grandchildren. They face a number of challenges navigating the school system and finding community support. Mercedes Bristol directs the Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren non-profit. In this episode, Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed., talks with Mercedes about her experience as a single grandmother raising five adopted grandchildren as she tried to register them for school without the required paperwork and just understanding how schools work nowadays. She describes what schools can do to support “grand families.” Aurelio is IDRA’s family engagement coordinator.

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Show length: 17:36

Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Education Rights of Grandchildren, event slides by Mercedes Bristol

HelpGuide.org

Liderazgo Familiar Intergeneracional: Intergenerational Family Leadership as a New Paradigm of Family Engagement,

Your feedback

We welcome your comments and questions to the podcast. Send an e-mail to [email protected].

To ensure you don’t miss a single episode of IDRA Classnotes, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, (download iTunes free if you don’t have it) or sign up to receive an e-mail alert as soon as a new show is published.

The post School Supports for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren – Podcast Episode 205 appeared first on IDRA.

Classnotes Podcast (July 31, 2020). Colonialism influences why our schools teach certain topics and not others, why students of color are not represented in the curricula, how assessment and rubric design is not culturally or contextually responsive, and how we prepare teachers. In this second of a two-part set of episodes, Dr. Stephanie Garcia and Dr. Bricio Vasquez continue their conversation with guests Dr. Alexa Proffitt and Dr. Liz Tinoco about research and anti-colonial approaches in education.

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Show length: 15:58

Using Equity Audits to Assess and Address Opportunity Gaps Across Education, by Paula N. Johnson, Ph.D.

Ensuring Equity in Online Learning – Considerations in Response to COVID-19’s Impact on Schooling

Equity Audits – Assessing Equity Across Education, IDRA Visiting Scholar Webinar Series

IDRA Six Goals of Educational Equity

Your feedback

We welcome your comments and questions to the podcast. Send an e-mail to [email protected].

To ensure you don’t miss a single episode of IDRA Classnotes, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, (download iTunes free if you don’t have it) or sign up to receive an e-mail alert as soon as a new show is published.

The post Challenging Colonialism in the Classroom – Part 2 – Podcast Episode 204 appeared first on IDRA.

Classnotes Podcast (July 15, 2020). Educators across the country are working to make classrooms and instruction culturally responsive and relevant to their students and communities. The task is deeper than a checklist of inclusive terminology and activities. The foundations of settler colonialization have impacted the creation of all of our institutions. And in education, it infiltrates our pedagogy, curricula and policies.

In this first of a two-part set of episodes, Dr. Stephanie Garcia and Dr. Bricio Vasquez talk with guests Dr. Alexa Proffitt and Dr. Lizbet Tinoco about the concepts framing anti-colonial work in K12 and higher education classrooms.

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Show length: 14:58

Using Equity Audits to Assess and Address Opportunity Gaps Across Education, by Paula N. Johnson, Ph.D.

Ensuring Equity in Online Learning – Considerations in Response to COVID-19’s Impact on Schooling

Equity Audits – Assessing Equity Across Education, IDRA Visiting Scholar Webinar Series

IDRA Six Goals of Educational Equity

Your feedback

We welcome your comments and questions to the podcast. Send an e-mail to [email protected].

To ensure you don’t miss a single episode of IDRA Classnotes, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, (download iTunes free if you don’t have it) or sign up to receive an e-mail alert as soon as a new show is published.

The post Challenging Colonialism in the Classroom – Part 1 – Podcast Episode 203 appeared first on IDRA.