K-12 Greatest Hits: Your shortcut to what works in education

It's generally agreed that the system of teacher evaluation is broken. The question is how do we develop a new system which provides a valid means for evaluating teachers, allows for and supports improvement and includes a quick, but fair mechanism for removing teachers who don't perform. In this segment the head of the school superintendents association and head of the American Federation of Teachers discuss a joint initiative to design a framework for creating an effective system.

The new trend in student drug abuse is more insidious because it often goes undetected by parents, teachers and school nurses. The abuse of legal over the counter drugs like cough medicine can produce major health issue that confound school nurses who don't know what to look for and what questions to ask. Find out what you need to know.

Shelley Schneiderman Ducker is Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA)'s Director of Communications and Outreach. A former reporter with pharmaceutical business newsletter The Pink Sheet, Shelley has covered a broad range of issues ranging from FDA policy and enforcement, drug advertising and FDA reform and more. Peggy McKibbin has nearly 15 years' experience as a school nurse and currently works at Polytech High School in Woodside, Delaware. Peggy, a mother of two, is also a member of the Five Moms: Stopping Cough Medicine Abuse initiative, part of the Stop Medicine Abuse prevention campaign..

Join us as our guest talks about her decision to let her students design her classroom layout.

Follow: @coolcatteacher @TeachStanley @bamradionetwork

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Catherine Stanley is a sixth grade English Language Arts and Social Studies teacher who is passionate about fostering an inclusive learning environment that is shaped and led by students. A former NC Teaching Fellow, Catherine enjoys reflecting on pedagogy through blogging, as well as serving on her school's Advisory and PBIS Committee.

Join us to learn how the principles of "games" can fire up your lesson plans and drive passionate student engagement.

Follow: @dad2ella @joncassie @ASCD @bamradionetwork

Jonathan Cassie is author of Level Up Your Classroom: The Quest to Gamify Your Lessons and Engage Your Students (ASCD). He is head of the senior school at Sewickley Academy, just outside Pittsburgh, PA with host Brian Smith, ASCD Emerging Leader and RtI/PD Facilitator for Newton-Conover City Schools

Our guest explains why digital citizenship is everyone's responsibility and how teachers can be great role models.

Follow: @coolcatteacher @s_bearden @netsmartz @bamradionetwork

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Susan M. Bearden is the comoderator of #edtechchat, cohost of edTechChat Radio and creater of @tweechmeApp. She is the author of Digital Citzenship: A Community-Based Approach., a speaker, frequent guest blogger, and a contributing author to the Huffington Post, she was ranked number nine on their list of “The 50 Most Social CIOs on Twitter.

Our guest believes that a certain amount of self-confidence is required to lead great schools and create great classrooms. Education leaders and teachers have to bring their best selves and principal Kafele explains how you can.

Follow: @mjanatovich@PrincipalKafel @ASCD @bamradionetwork

Award-winning educator Baruti Kafele is a leading keynote speaker and best-selling author. His books include Motivating Black Males to Succeed in School and in Life, The Principal 50: Critical Leadership Questions for Inspiring Schoolwide Excellence, and The Teacher 50: Critical Questions for Inspiring Classroom Excellence. Host Mike Janatovich is the assistant principal of Harmon Middle School in Aurora, OH, and an ASCD Emerging Leader.

Some people like to learn from the mistakes of others. Some prefer trial, error, and reflection. Perhaps how we learn from mistakes is not important, as long as we learn.

Follow: @mssackstein @Jonharper70bd @bamradionetwork

Starr Sackstein teaches writing and journalism in New York City. She is a National Board-certified teacher and the New York director for the Journalism Education Association. Sackstein is also the author of the book Teaching Mythology.

Some people like to learn from the mistakes of others. Some prefer trial, error, and reflection. Perhaps how we learn from mistakes is not important, as long as we learn.

Follow: @mssackstein @Jonharper70bd @bamradionetwork

Starr Sackstein teaches writing and journalism in New York City. She is a National Board-certified teacher and the New York director for the Journalism Education Association. Sackstein is also the author of the book Teaching Mythology.

Our guests tell us that the concept of differentiated instruction is often misunderstood and misapplied. Join us as we talk about differentiation dos and don'ts.

Follow: @Lawhon @kjdoubet @DIY_Diff @ASCD @bamradionetwork

Kristina Doubet is an associate professor at James Madison University and Jessica Hockett is an education consultant. Doubet and Hockett are ASCD Faculty members and authors of Differentiation in Middle and High School: Strategies to Engage All Learners. ASCD Emerging Leader and host Amanda Koonlaba, Ed.S., NBCT, is a teacher, artist, and writer.

Our guest is on a mission to transform his classroom from regimented rows and columns of desks to a room that looks more like a cozy coffee shop. Join us as we follow one teacher's quest to Starbucks his classroom.

Follow: @coolcatteacher @focus2achieve @CDPub @bamradionetwork

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Oskar Cymerman is a Chemistry and Principles of Engineering Teacher at Woodbury

High School in the Twin Cities Metro Area, MN. He is interested in and frequently blogs about brain-based approaches to learning and classroom design. In addition to starting the "Starbucks My Classroom Project" and #StarbucksMyRoom, he is currently writing a book titled "Crush School: Every Student's Guide To Killing It In The Classroom."