Impacting the Classroom

By Teachstone Inc.Education

Impacting the Classroom episodes

May 14, 2024Teach for America Returns
In today’s episode, we reconnect with Grant Van Eaton and Robin Greatrex from Teach for America, shining a spotlight on their dedicated efforts to advance teacher development and promote an equitable education system. In our discussion, Grant and Robin unpack the significant strides taken since their last visit, sharing the triumphs of their CLASS system in enhancing teacher observations and coaching.
This episode takes you behind the scenes of Teach for America's adoption of the CLASS observation tool, offering a candid look at the challenges and victories encountered along the way. Our guests highlight how the incorporation of this system into everyday practice has sparked a cultural shift, emphasizing data fluency and a unified approach to teaching quality. We explore the transformative journey led by administrators who, by becoming certified first, set a powerful example for their teams.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:00:37] Grant and Robin’s roles at Teach for America
[00:01:55] What Teach for America does
[00:03:47] What the organization has been up to since Grant and Robin’s last episode and how the implementation of CLASS has been going
[00:07:49] How they generated buzz and that buy-in to get people invested in a changing system
[00:12:23] Building supports by having the people who manage coaches take the training first
[00:17:22] Results from the first observation cycles with CLASS
[00:24:02] Ways to support educators as they make shifts after observations
[00:28:22] Next steps for Teach for America
[00:32:46] What age groups are included in Secondary and what that covers
[00:36:03] How Teach for America bridges gaps such as disadvantaged students getting less experienced teachers
[00:41:30] The draw of Second Edition CLASS
[00:43:00] Advice Grant and Robin would give other programs as they begin implementing CLASS
Resources
Marnetta Larrimer
Grant Van Eaton
Robin Greatrex
48 min
April 30, 2024CLASS® Goes to Norway
Norway has long been recognized for its progressive approach to early childhood education. The country places a significant emphasis on creating nurturing environments for its youngest citizens, offering a glimpse into a system where the well-being and development of children are of utmost importance. In this episode, we invite Ståle Gerhard of FUS Kindergartens to shed light on the pioneering strategies Norway employs in their kindergartens.
In our conversation today, Ståle shares his expertise on CLASS and its remarkable impact on Norwegian kindergartens. We also examine the impact of CLASS on teacher-student interactions, the cultivation of young minds, and the overall quality of early learning experiences that are shaping the future of education in Norway.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:00:58] Ståle Gerhard and the work he does
[00:01:36] Norway’s stat and private groups of kindergartens
[00:02:04] The age range for kindergartens in Norway
[00:02:35] The values that guide Ståle’s work and whether they’re typical for Norway
[00:03:40] The implementation of CLASS in Ståle’s program
[00:06:40] Who has the responsibility for collecting data
[00:08:16] How 18 implementation teams were formed
[00:09:47] Communicating with educators in the weeks leading up to observations
[00:10:42] The process after the observation
[00:12:06] The coaching and ongoing support that’s available for educators
[00:14:53] How the educators Ståle works with feel about CLASS
[00:17:27] How parents feel about CLASS and how they’re impacted
[00:19:57] What the age group ratio looks like in Norway’s kindergarten classrooms
[00:21:18] Barriers to adapting CLASS for Norway kindergartens
[00:23:03] How CLASS helps support values
[00:27:19] Challenges faced by the workforce in Norway
[00:31:38] Ongoing supports that address stress and burnout from
[00:33:27] How CLASS-informed data influenced specific decisions in Norway
[00:37:32] Final takeaways from Ståle’s work using CLASS at FUS
Resources
Marnetta Larrimer
Ståle Gerhard
41 min
April 16, 2024So Much to Say About CLASS®
In today’s episode, we are joined by Aven Ford from the Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana. We discuss CLASS® and its influence on teaching practices. Aven shares the strategic implementation of CLASS observations, the crucial use of the Early Childhood Portal, and the instrumental role of retired educators. We explore effective methods for securing stakeholder buy-in and discuss the importance of performance profiles and personalized coaching in improving childcare quality, especially in rural communities.
The episode also underscores the criticality of data in shaping educational strategies, with a special focus on the excitement and precision that data collection brings to classroom enhancements. Professional development strategies, such as CLASS Group Coaching (MMCI) training, are highlighted for their ability to reinforce teacher skills and enhance student outcomes. With a focus on stakeholder engagement, data-driven decision-making, and professional development, today’s conversation unveils practical insights and visionary approaches to nurturing young minds.
[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:00:24] Aven Ford explains where the Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana is located and who they serve
[00:01:15] Aven’s first impression of CLASS
[00:02:40] Aven’s implementation team and how it was formed
[00:06:45] How Aven communicates with educators in the weeks leading up to their class observations
[00:09:44] Aven’s most effective methods in investing all the stakeholders in the CLASS system
[00:12:14] Trainings for educators
[00:15:21] The cadence of one-to-one visits and coaching sessions
[00:17:15] The process for educators that come mid-year
[00:19:10] Who has responsibility for planning how to collect the class data
[00:23:40] What different types of professional development look like
[00:27:01] Aligning curriculum and ages and stages with CLASS to enhance classroom interactions
[00:28:18] Strategies that the coaches use to help educators adopt new practices
[00:31:38] How Aven’s beliefs about CLASS have changed
[00:33:52] Lessons Aven wants to share with the listeners
[00:34:56] Recommendations for other programs that want to implement CLASS
Resources
Marnetta Larrimer
Aven Ford – Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana
38 min
April 02, 2024 We Need to Talk About these Overlooked Educational Trends with Bridget Hamre
Welcome to a new season of Impacting the Classroom. In today’s season opener, we're joined by Bridget Hamre, Teachstone CEO and CLASS author, who sheds light on how educators can enrich their teaching practices to foster whole student development.
Throughout this episode, we will uncover the critical yet often overlooked connection between a student's emotional well-being and their learning achievements, the role of professional development in bridging the gap between theory and practice, and the importance of nurturing teacher empowerment for creating independent learners.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:01:42] What we should be talking about in addition to EdTech
[00:03:18] Why we don’t talk about students’ mental health as much as we should
[00:06:16] Why educators can’t wait for system reform to come
[00:11:33] Whether professional development correlates with student achievement
[00:15:18] The goals of professional development and giving teachers what they need
[00:18:13] What Bridget is hopeful about
[00:19:52] How to spend limited dollars on professional development
[00:25:55] Why accountability systems are important and what they should account for.
[00:31:36] The problem with standardized testing
[00:33:50] The things tests don’t evaluate
[00:36:24] The issue of teacher well-being
Resources
Marnetta Larrimer
Bridget Hamre
44 min
November 14, 2023The ROI of High Quality Child Care with Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center
In today’s episode, we continue our discussion with Anna Kresse and Mackenzie Whipps from the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center. This time, we go beyond the cost of quality childcare and examine the incredible returns on investment it can provide. The science behind the development of children shows us the profound impact of having the right people and settings around them.
In our conversation, we also consider the role of CLASS® in the Virginia project and its connection to the return on investment in the quality of childcare. Anna and Mackenzie clearly show how inadequate access to childcare for kids, infants, and toddlers costs the nation about $122 billion every year and how childcare plays an important role in the economy. We also look closer at the value of states conducting high-quality, rigorous evaluations to understand the impact of the large influx of resources from pandemic-era funding and childcare.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
[00:00:42] Introducing Anna and Mackenzie and their work at the Prenatal to 3 Policy Impact Center
[00:03:03] How we know that investments in childcare are worth it
[00:10:14] The role that CLASS plays in the return on investment of the childcare work Anna and Mackenzie have been doing.
[00:13:43] A good starting point for an evaluation process
[00:18:00] The reforms New Mexico has been working on and what their outcomes have been
[00:26:35] Virginia’s reforms and outcomes
[00:35:15] The meaning of theories of change
[00:39:35] Important takeaways from Anna and Mackenzie
Resources
Marnetta Larrimer
Anna Kresse
Mackenzie Whipps
Report: Articulating the Value of Early Childhood Investments in Virginia
Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center
44 min
November 07, 2023The Cost of High-Quality Childcare
In today’s episode, we explore the intricacies of the childcare system with distinguished guests, Jen Huffman and Anna Kresse from the Prenatal-to 3-Policy Impact Center at Vanderbilt University.
Focusing on the enormous ripple effects of investing in affordable, high-quality childcare, our guests highlight the far-reaching benefits of such investments, including enabling thousands of mothers to return to work, lifting children out of poverty, and feeding millions of dollars back into the economy. The discussion explores the difficulties of providing quality childcare at an affordable rate, the need for sustainable funding sources, and the transformative changes implemented by some states to improve their childcare systems.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
[00:01:13] Introducing Jen and Anna
[00:02:50] The value and impacts of investments in early childhood in Virginia
[00:06:15] Leaning into making early childhood care a reality for Virginia families
[00:09:42] The reasons why childcare is so expensive
[00:13:54] Raising the eligibility for childcare subsidies and making them more affordable
[00:20:01] Opportunities for states to leverage more money for childcare
[00:23:37] How states can make the most of the money they have available
[00:28:12] Streamlining the childcare subsidy system to make it less complicated
[00:32:57] Why investing in childcare is worthwhile
[00:33:47] The crucial value of state efforts in funding childcare
Resources
Marnetta Larrimer
Jenn Huffman
Anna Kresse
Report: Articulating the Value of Early Childhood Investments in Virginia
Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center
36 min
September 12, 2023Intersectionality in Advocating for Children with Disabilities
This episode deeply delves into the complexities of special education and intersectionality with Cheryl Poe. Cheryl Poe is the founder and Executive Director of Advocating 4 Kids, Inc., a Special Education Advocacy organization that provides resources, information, and workshops to parents and professionals with a special focus on addressing the needs of Black and Brown children with disabilities.
Cheryl shares her inspiring journey as she transitioned from being a mother battling racism within the educational system to becoming a tireless advocate for her son and other children. Throughout this episode, listeners are invited to explore the intricacies of special education advocacy, shedding light on the pressing need for systemic change.
Cheryl shares valuable insights about parental rights, the long-term support required for neurodivergent children, and the importance of creating safe spaces for neurodivergent students and breaking down barriers to ensure inclusive learning environments.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
[00:00:56] What an advocate is and what they do
[00:02:49] How Cheryl got to where she is today
[00:12:55] What Cheryl wishes more people knew about the system
[00:18:41] Supporting people in making sure they have the right diagnosis
[00:21:57] Helping families where parents have language or educational barriers
[00:26:04] How advocacy intersects with a lack of inclusiveness in the classroom
[00:27:41] Cheryl’s advice for school leaders
[00:30:33] How the system needs to be addressed at the higher education level
[00:33:58] How the system can help parents find a safe welcome place for their children
[00:36:41] The first advice Cheryl would give to parents of Black or brown children
[00:39:54] The importance of early intervention
[00:41:03] Encouragement for parents to advocate for their child
Resources
Marnetta Larrimer
Cheryl Poe
43 min
August 08, 2023Engaging with Families While Accounting for Trauma
How can educators use trauma-informed strategies as they work to engage with the families of their students? In today’s episode of our podcast, we dive deep into the transformation of family engagement in education amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic. Today’s guest is Sean M. Bryant, Director of Professional Development and Adult Learning with the Child Lab at Yale University.
With Sean's expert guidance, we unpack the major shifts in early learning settings caused by the pandemic and how educators should be thinking about different facets of family engagement going forward. Listen to the episode to learn more about what trauma-informed engagement means, how suspensions and expulsions cause trauma within the family, and how to engage more fathers in their children’s education.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
[00:00:51] Introducing Shawn and his background
[00:02:40] How family engagement has changed since the pandemic
[00:11:36] New ideas for engaging families
[00:14:30] What trauma-informed family engagement really means
[00:24:38] Three states of the brain
[00:28:02] How movement and memory work together
[00:29:28] Discussion of trauma in the book My Grandmother's Hands and how that relates to workplace trauma
[00:32:15] How things like expulsions and suspensions affect the family unit and create trauma
[00:36:32] How schools should think about discipline
[00:41:57] What it looks like for schools to engage fathers
[00:48:13] The importance of female guardians acting as gateways instead of gatekeepers
[00:50:39] Encouraging more men to enter the early childhood education workforce
Resources
Marnetta Larrimer
Shawn M. Bryant
56 min
July 25, 2023Teaching with Children, Not at Them
What does social-emotional learning really mean, and why is it so important? In today’s episode, we explore the transformative power of social-emotional learning (SEL) with renowned experts Dr. Bridget Hamre and Erin Gruwell. Join us as we delve into the true meaning of SEL, its impact, and some critiques.
Erin shares her experiences, including her story portrayed in the Freedom Writers movie. We discuss the role of personal narratives in shaping curriculum and the importance of building intentional relationships with students. We also tackle fear, vulnerability, and healing in education. The episode concludes with a look at an innovative video-based coaching model, and how SEL can revolutionize teaching.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
[00:00:58] Introducing Bridget and Erin
[00:02:15] What it was like for Erin to be portrayed by Hillary Swank in the movie about her story with Freedom Writers
[00:06:20] The definition of social-emotional learning
[00:10:19] How Erin thinks about social-emotional learning as separate from or integrated into the daily work of teaching
[00:13:39] Making content relevant to students instead of just curriculum-driven
[00:16:13] Three important fears in the classroom
[00:22:00] The difficulty of supporting students when co-workers turn them away
[00:26:16] What social-emotional learning looks like in the classroom
[00:29:57] How social-emotional interactions play out
[00:34:19] Why interventions don’t always have to be big and complicated
[00:36:55] Having a language and lens for observations
[00:39:31] Supporting social-emotional learning in post-COVID settings
[00:43:30] Preparing students for success outside the classroom
Resources
Marnetta Larrimer
Dr. Bridget Hamre
Erin Gruwell
45 min
July 18, 2023Ensuring Teacher Quality during a Teacher Shortage
In this episode, we explore Teach for America's strategies for addressing the national teacher shortage with Grant Van Eaton and Robin Greatrex. Grant, a Senior Research Scientist, and Robin, a Senior Managing Director of Teacher Leadership, share their combined research and data insights in supporting and retaining educators.

The episode delves into Teach for America's unique recruitment model, financial incentives, advocacy for systemic changes in teacher housing, pay, and student loan debt, and the use of the CLASS tool in training teachers. We also discuss the organization's ambitious 2030 goal and efforts to improve equity in education.

Topics Discussed in This Episode
[00:01:30] Grant’s background and role at Teach for America
[00:03:37] Robin’s background and role at Teach for America
[00:05:32] How Teach for America is supporting the education workforce
[00:09:46] How Teach for America invites people to join
[00:12:28] How Teach for America handles financial compensation
[00:14:17] Teach for America’s advocacy work in the education industry
[00:16:22] The Teach for America coaching model
[00:21:04] The partnership between Teach for America and CLASS
[00:27:08] Retention through the onboarding and training program
[00:30:31] Making progress with quality through CLASS
[00:34:01] The impact on students to look for through the partnership
[00:37:30] Broader student outcomes beyond academic
[00:40:04] Teach for America’s 2030 goal and where they are on it
[00:43:58] Whether the partnership with CLASS will help them achieve their goal sooner

Resources

Marnetta Larrimer
Grant Van Eaton
Robin Greatrex
50 min

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Impacting the Classroom episodes

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