During this episode you will learn different ways to start the new school year off strong - both personally and professionally!  Brooke Lawson, Director of Mental Health for Carmel Clay Schools, asks guests Christy Berger and Dr. Megan Kirk to share how they build relationships with staff and students as they return, tips for setting up classrooms to minimize student misbehavior, and information to share with parents and guardians. 

Episode Resources

Join Jeff Harker and special guest Dr. Peter Liljedahl, author of Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, as we head into our first Building Thinking Classrooms Conference, June 29-30, 2023, hosted by our partners at Franklin Community Schools.  They’ll be discussing Toolkit #4 and wrapping up our 4 part series.  Hear about the impact a thinking classroom can have on your students, their engagement, and their achievement.

Dr. Peter Liljedahl is the author of Building Thinking Classrooms, a Professor of Mathematics Education in the Faculty of Education, and an associate member in the Department of Mathematics at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada.

Dr. Liljedahl is a former high school mathematics teacher who has kept his research interest and activities close to the classroom. His research interests are creativity, insight, and discovery in mathematics teaching and learning; the role of the affective domain on the teaching and learning of mathematics; the professional growth of mathematics teachers; mathematical problem solving; numeracy; and engaging student thinking. He consults regularly with schools, school districts, and ministries of education on issues of teaching and learning, assessment, and numeracy.

Join Jeff Harker and guest Lam Nguyen to discuss Toolkit #3 of the Building Thinking Classrooms Framework.  You’ll gain clarity on implementation as well as insights about flow and consolidation.   

This is episode 3 of a 4 part series diving into Building Thinking Classrooms for Mathematics by Peter Liljedahl.  Join us here at Keep Indiana Learning for all 4 episodes leading up to our first Building Thinking Classrooms Conference, June 29-30, 2023, hosted by our partners at Franklin Community Schools.

Lam Nguyen is currently a Middle School Principal and mathematics educator in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He has worked in education for 15 years as a classroom teacher, divisional leader, and school administrator. Through his current work in a doctoral program focused on the intersection of mathematics education and diversity, equity, and inclusion, he works to support teachers in creating learning environments that are accessible and supportive of all learners. The Building Thinking Classroom framework has been instrumental in empowering students to see themselves as mathematical thinkers and learners.

Join Jeff Harker and guests Amanda Ray and Mandy Ramey as they discuss Toolkit #2 of the Building Thinking Classrooms Framework.  You’ve started using a few practices, now what?  You’ll gain insights about growing your own thinking classroom and get advice about what works.  

This is episode 2 of a 4 part series diving into Building Thinking Classrooms for Mathematics by Peter Liljedahl.  Join us here at Keep Indiana Learning for all 4 episodes leading up to our first Building Thinking Classrooms Conference, June 29-30, 2023, hosted by our partners at Franklin Community Schools.

Amanda Ramey graduated from IUPUC with a BA in Elementary Education and ESL dual license.  She’s taught mostly fifth grade for the last 13 years. The last seven years with a primary focus in math and social studies. “The Building Thinking Classrooms approach has transformed my teaching.  Students in my classroom are talking more about their thinking. They are working through that productive struggle and learning to rely on me less for validation of their work.  They are proving their work to me, which I absolutely love seeing day in and day out.”

Amanda Ray graduated from Franklin College with BA in Elementary Education.  She has taught 5th Grade for 20 years - every year teaching math, and sometimes an additional subject.  She is currently also teaching Social Studies.  “I do not consider myself a ‘math’ person, but have fallen head over heels in love with teaching math, especially using BTC practices.”

Join Jeff Harker and guests Stephanie Wicke, Meredith Kalbfleisch, and Mary Auger as they discuss Toolkit #1 of the Building Thinking Classrooms Framework.  If you’re asking where to start, this is the place!  You’ll gain insights about creating your own thinking classroom and get advice about how to create visibly random groups and use vertical non-permanent surfaces.  

This is episode 1 of a 4 part series diving into Building Thinking Classrooms for Mathematics by Peter Liljedahl.  Join us here at Keep Indiana Learning for all 4 episodes leading up to our first Building Thinking Classrooms Conference, June 29-30, 2023, hosted by our partners at Franklin Community Schools, Franklin, IN.

Meredith Kalbfleisch is a middle school Mathematics teacher currently in her fourth year teaching 7th grade. She has a bachelor’s in Management Information Systems from Virginia Tech and is a native Virginian. She currently holds a math license for teaching middle school math (grades 5-9).  Her interests include motivating students, reading, hiking, movies, and having fun with her two sons.

Stephanie Wicke has been teaching high school mathematics for 9 years.  She is currently an instructional coach and math/engineering teacher at Whiteland Community High School.  Her passion is creating lessons that get students actively involved in their learning, and helping other teachers grow in their practice.

Mary Auger is a veteran math teacher for Hamilton Southeastern Schools.  She graduated from Ball State University and holds a Master's Degree in Elementary Educations with a Gifted-Talented Endorsement and a Math license for teaching grades 7-9. She is the Math Department Chair at Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate/Jr. High where she teaches 7th and 8th grade math courses.  She is also the Indiana state MATH Bowl Coordinator and writer for IASP.  Mary's greatest passions are teaching math, cheering on the Cubbies, and being a mom to two wonderful boys. 

Keep Indiana Learning and Indiana State Literacy Association have partnered to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on April 29, 2023. Dr. Darolyn Jones, ISLA member-at-large, interviews Cat Cardwell from INDY Reads, and ISLA President Dr. Benjamin Boche shares his interview with Shirley Mullin,  owner of Kids Ink Children’s bookstore. 

Welcome Dr. Erin McNeill to the Keep Indiana Learning team and here how she has taken her experiences deepening her teaching practice in the science of reading with adolescent students into an expanding understanding of how the foundations of reading, writing, and literacy can stretch across grade levels, across content areas, and into the future of teaching and learning. She shares how the pivotal work by Peter Liljedahl, Building Thinking Classrooms, can be applied to language and literacy instruction!

Guest: Dr. Erin McNeill is a Professional Learning Specialist for Keep Indiana Learning, a department of Central Indiana Educational Service Center. Erin spent sixteen years in the classroom as an English Language Arts and English as a New language teacher and coordinator and two years as a member of the Literacy, Culture, and Language Education department at Indiana University, where she trained preservice teachers. Erin currently works with teachers, coaches, schools, and districts on:

As an education researcher, Erin focuses on asset-based strategies for emergent bilinguals and prioritizes relationships with diverse students. These studies led to her current research which studies how practitioners can use the information they learn about their students in literacy projects to build a culturally relevant curriculum based on students’ experiences and interests. 

Lena Darnay is the Director of Professional Learning for Keep Indiana Learning, a department of Central Indiana Educational Service Center. She supports Indiana educators by developing innovative and engaging professional learning opportunities in-person and as high-impact virtual experiences.  She is dedicated to developing and establishing powerful structures and inclusive environments for learning that build engaging, learner-centered, and authentic learning experiences.

Lena currently works with teachers, coaches, schools, and districts on

Lena has over 15 years of education experience as a school librarian & media specialist, career academy coordinator, district instructional technology specialist, and marketing coordinator. Lena has extensive experience co-planning, co-teaching, and coaching for a collaborative, inquiry-based, research driven instructional experience.

She has an extensive network of education and industry professionals spanning a wide breadth of knowledge and experiences. 

The Director of STEAM and the Imagination Lab at Richmond Community Schools, Steven Hensley, joins us to discuss building a brand new and innovative program from the ground up.

Steven Hensley serves as the Director of STEAM & Imagination Lab at Richmond Community Schools. His journey into education was not exactly linear, but he is so glad to have found his way here. Steven has been privileged as a classroom educator for the last six years, teaching anything from AP Computer Science to Biology 1, with the majority of his teaching experience at the 9th and 10th grade level and his beloved middle school kiddos. Steven works passionately to develop cross curricular units and weave in interdisciplinary techniques, all from an inquiry based instructional approach. He champions the best ideas and techniques for kids because at the end of the day, “if it doesn't work for kids, it doesn't work."

Moderated by Keep Indiana Learning Digital Learning Coach, Tim Arnold.

Tim Arnold is a District eLearning Specialist with Richmond Community schools in Richmond, IN. Prior to that he was a social studies teacher, coach, and educational leader at Nettle Creek Schools in Hagerstown,IN. Tim was selected as a Top Ten Educator in the State of Indiana in 2008, taught Social Studies methods in the Earlham College Master of Arts in Teaching program, and has presented at multiple local, state and national conferences (ICE, HECC, CanvasCon, InstructureCon, ISTE) on topics he is passionate about including blended learning, student engagement, Canvas, G Suite for Education, and EduProtocols. Additionally, Tim holds certifications in Technology Leadership (CIESC Cohort 8), Google (Level 1), FlipGrid, and Nearpod and collaborates with @RCSLearn colleagues to host a Twitter chat with over 130 episodes. Tim, a current HECC Board Member, joined Keep Indiana Learning as a Digital Learning Coach in the fall of 2021 and was recently selected for the Jacobs Educator Award from Indiana University. Tim and his wife Julie, a former “rock-star” 6th grade science teacher and current guidance counselor, are graduates of Indiana University (BS ‘90) and Ball State University (MA ‘97), and have two children, Kelsie, a UX Designer for Aloompa and Nick, a Plant Manager with Co-Alliance.Tim's mantra is to serve others with patient persistence.

Join Amanda Culhan, Counselor Connect Coordinator, as she welcomes Jon Acton, CEO of Broken Shells LLC, as they talk about educator wellness and school climate. As a former School Superintendent, USDOE National Blue Ribbon School Principal, Teacher, & Coach, Jon has a wealth of knowledge and experience in fostering a positive and healthy school climate, where relationships are critical, educators feel empowered, and students learn and grow. In this episode, Jon will share how to cultivate educator wellness beyond having a monthly hot cocoa cart (which we’re not denying we love!) and into more sustainable and meaningful wellness, leading to healthy and mindful educators and students, and a calmer school environment for all.

Episode Resources (links:

Moderator - Amanda Culhan, Counselor Connect Coordinator, Former State School Counseling Specialist and School Counselor

Guest - Jon Acton, CEO Broken Shells LLC, Speaker, Blogger & Author

Former School Superintendent, USDOE National Blue Ribbon School Principal, Teacher, Football Coach

Learn more about Jon & his work at: https://brokenshells.net/ and follow him on Twitter @BrokenShells3

Join Dr. Andrew Melin, Executive Director of CIESC, Ms. Flora Jones, director of student pathways for the Indiana Department of Education, and Mr. Allen Hill, the executive director of the Indiana School Counselors Association, as they discuss why it is important for today’s PK-12 counselors to enhance their career counseling skills.  In addition to discussing the why, several ideas and strategies will be provided.

Moderator Dr. Andrew Melin, Executive Director, CIESC

Bio

Headshot

Guest 1 - Flora Jones, Director of Student Pathways, Indiana Department of Education

Bio and Headshot

Ms. Jones is a Proud School Administrator and Professional School Counselor with over twenty years of experience in the field of education. She prides herself in being a servant leader who has devoted her life to helping students find their Passion and Purpose and develop a Plan for their future. Before joining the IDOE, she served as the Director of Post-Secondary Readiness for Indianapolis Public Schools where she oversaw college, career, and life readiness initiatives across the district. Prior to her time in IPS, she spent over twenty years in MSD of Wayne Township in various roles including School Counselor, District Equity Team Leader, Recruitment Chairperson, Home School Advisor, At Risk Counselor, and GCL New Teacher Trainer, along with many other roles and responsibilities. In her role as IDOE Director of Student Pathways, she is responsible for setting the direction of Pathway Opportunities for students as it relates to Graduation Pathways and Locally Created Pathways, Regional Work-Based Learning Opportunities and Support, Dual Credit Credentialing for School Staff to Increase Student Access to College Coursework, Postsecondary Credentialing for Students and Moving the Terminal End Point of High School Beyond the Graduation Stage. She is also responsible for the support and guidance in the area of High Abilities, Alternative Educational Programming, Homeless Children and Youth, and Homeschool Initiatives.

Guest 2 - Allen Hill, Executive Director, Indiana School Counselors Association

Allen Hill has served as a school counselor in urban and rural settings since receiving a master’s degree from Northern Arizona University-Yuma in 2002. Allen has been active on the Arizona School Counselor Association governing board since 2004 in roles including President, Secondary Vice President, and Advocacy Chair. I currently serving as Indiana School Counselor Association Executive Director, been at this position since 2016. Allen is an active volunteer with the American Red Cross where he works in the Service to Armed Forces division as a trainer and facilitator for Reconnection Workshops.