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

According to our guests there are many factors driving the increase in angry parents: fewer stay-at-home moms to deal with student issues, increased expectations that schools should solve problems and fix kids, and growing external pressures. Dealing with angry parents can be a teacher's worst nightmare. Our guests offer some tips, tools and tactics to help.

Jim West is a counselor and author of the StressLess Series. Neill Gibson is co-author of the book What's Making You Angry? Dr. Jann Gumbiner is a licensed psychologist specializing in child and adolescent psychology. Beginning as a Head Start preschool teacher and ultimately moved to higher education, author of Adolescent Assessment, and writes a blog for Psychology Today titled The Teenage Mind. Deven Black is a school librarian and father of an 18-year-old.

Special Report: Perhaps what's most crazy about the notion of arming teachers is how most discussions on this important issue are mostly devoid of sober, thoughtful, factual examination. On one extreme, we hear rabid gun supporters encouraging schools to enter an arms race. On the other we see a visceral rejection of the idea so strong that facts are irrelevant. We asked some educators and school security experts to really stop and think about this issue and were surprised by what we found. We think you will be too.

Gregory Thomas is former director of security of New York City Schools. Michael Dorn has worked in the field of school safety for 33 years and has published 26 books on school safety. Dr. Wm. E “Rob” Roberts, former (retired) Superintendent of the largest geographical school district in the contiguous U.S. Angela Maiers is an advocate, teacher educator, author and consultant. Steven Anderson is the Director of Instructional Technology for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Tom Whitby is founder of #Edchat, and NYSCATE Network, Nancy Blair is a school improvement consultant . a former teacher and middle school administrator. Jerry Blumengarten taught in the NYC public schools for 32 years.

Welcome to the 12/18 episode of EdChat Radio. The typical classroom has not changed much in 100 years. However, through technology, learning has moved beyond the classroom. Students are engaging with information in new ways, driving a need to rethink the classroom and the role of teachers in the learning process. How will the classroom adapt? What will be the role of teachers in the new learning environment?

Follow:@blairteach,@web20classroom,

@tomwhitby @bamradionetwork

Tom Whitby

is Contributing Editor at SmartBrief, founder of #Edchat,Twitter-Using Educators, NYSCATE Network, St. Joseph's College NY group. Nancy Blair is a school improvement consultant who frequently worked with the High Schools That Work and Making Middle Grades Work initiatives of the Southern Regional Education Board. Steve Anderson is an educator, #Edchat Co-Creator, ASCD Emerging Leader and one the Top 50 Innovators in Education.

In the wake of the tragic shootings at Newtown, conducting school safety reviews can be challenging. Pressure to respond quickly and decisively can lead imprudent, costly, ineffective and unnecessary measures. We have assembled an "A -team" of leading school safety experts to help principals make smart decisions, avoid routine mistakes and determine what's over the top and what's not when making school security decisions.

Michael Dorn has worked in the field of school safety for 33 years, has published 26 books on school safety. Dr. Melissa Reeves is a school psychologist and chair of our PREPaRE School Crisis Prevention and Intervention Workgroup. Gregory Thomas is former director of security of New York City Schools. Dr. Gary Mathews is Superintendent of the Newton County Schools in Covington, Georgia. Dr. Nancy Flatt Meador is the Principal of Madison Middle School.

More often than not a crisis is unexpected and leaves little time for planning. This is why developing a crisis communications plan in advance is critical. In this segment we discuss the basics you need to know to plan ahead and be prepared and cool during a school crisis.

As a former Emmy Award-winning Reporter, Anchor, Executive Producer, and Paris Correspondent for the United Stations Radio Network, Candace Belair is an expert in presentation skills training, media skills and crisis communications

Welcome to 12/4 episode of EdChat Radio. In this segment we recap this week's, shall we say, "spirited" discussion on report cards, the meaning of letter grades (or lack there of) and punishing student behavior by deducting grade points. Your EdChat hosts provided insightful analysis, personal commentary and fresh donuts from last year's Christmas party.

Follow:@blairteach,@web20classroom,

@tomwhitby @bamradionetwork

Tom Whitby

is Contributing Editor at SmartBrief, founder of #Edchat,Twitter-Using Educators, NYSCATE Network, St. Joseph's College NY group. Nancy Blair is a school improvement consultant who frequently worked with the High Schools That Work and Making Middle Grades Work initiatives of the Southern Regional Education Board. Steve Anderson is an educator, #Edchat Co-Creator, ASCD Emerging Leader and one the Top 50 Innovators in Education.

Highlights and commentary on last week's Edchat about dealing with peers who are using outdated approaches to teaching and handling behavior issues with students..

Tom Whitby is Contributing Editor at SmartBrief, Founder of #Edchat,Twitter-Using Educators, NYSCATE Network, St. Joseph's College NY group. Jerry Swiatek is an Instructional Technology Specialist for the Citrus County School District in Citrus County. Nancy Blair is a school improvement consultant who frequently worked with the High Schools That Work and Making Middle Grades Work initiatives of the Southern Regional Education Board.

Where administrator observation is typically viewed as an evaluation, peer observation is more generally seen as an approach to professional development and improvement of personal skills. In this segment we look at the keys to making peer observation work.

Elena Silva, PhD in education, is a senior associate at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, where she researches and writes on a range of K-12 and higher education issues.

Lisa Dabbs spent 19 years as an education administrator. Ariel Sacks teaches eighth grade English at a middle school in Brooklyn, NY. She has published articles about her work in Edweek Teacher Magazine and is a co-author of the new book Teaching 2030.

Decades of telling children that they are special has engendered a generation of students who feel entitled to good grades and special treatment without being encumbered by the need to earn them. The fall out creates many challenges for teachers who must deal with this sense of entitlement is their classrooms. Our guests offer, perspective, practical insights and solutions.

Robert J. MacKenzie, Ed.D., is an educational psychologist and founder of the Setting Limits program. Jean M. Twenge is Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University and the author of Generation Me, The Narcissism Epidemic. Steve Reifman is a National Board Certified elementary school teacher and author of Eight Essentials for Empowered Teaching and Learning, K-8. Jon has been a public school teacher for the past 15 years and has taught grades 3rd-8th.

Now that we teach in a wired world anyone and everyone can get hold of you 24/7. Teachers are increasingly reporting that interruptions are on the rise. Even during class, parents are texting and calling and expecting an immediate response. In this session our guest talk about where the new boundaries need to be placed in a wired world and how to set them.

Maureen Moriarty, helps leaders and managers improve leadership and team performance and author of "Setting & Keeping Boundaries." Dr. Jane Bluestein is a former classroom teacher and author of article "The Challenge of Setting Boundaries." Patrick Riccards, CEO of ConnCAN, has more than 20 years of

communications strategy under his belt. Vicki Davis is a classroom technology teacher and author of the book Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds.