Lessons Learned

What is some of the best teacher advice you've received? 

In this of Lessons Learned, BetterLesson Director of Solution Design Romain Bertrand sits down with Jaime Speed, an educator in Oregon with over 24 years experience. During their conversation they discuss blended learning, the Scottish Storyline method, and how sometimes, the best way to form relationships with your students is to just be yourself.

You can also tune in on Apple or Spotify.

If you like what you hear, please like, subscribe, or share! And consider subscribing to our monthly newsletter, The Learning Curve.

-----

ABOUT OUR GUEST, Jaime Speed

Jaime Speed, MEd,  is an enthusiastic and committed teacher with 24 years experience.  She earned her BA from Portland State University and her Masters of Education from Eastern Oregon University.  Jaime is constantly driven to be innovative in her in-class instruction, as well as the professional development and coaching she provides to other professionals. Jaime worked with a team of three to turn a regular public education elementary school into a technology magnet school that has since become a level 5 on the Oregon State Report Card and has been given the distinction of being given the Apple Distinguished Program Award.   Jaime has also received the Apple Distinguished Educator Award along with other prestigious awards.  Jaime is passionate about connecting educators with their students by focusing on relationships, high expectations, and a lot of fun.

Discussed during the episode:

• The Scottish Storyline method of teaching
• Code.org

• Gaga Ball

Can family engagement lead to greater educational outcomes—and less teacher turnover?

In the latest episode of Lessons Learned, BetterLesson CEO Matt Kennard sits down with Vidya Sundaram, CEO and Co-Founder of Family Engagement Lab for a conversation about creating a better environment for learning through meaningful connections. Hear about how increased family engagement impacts student achievement and well-being, and learn some strategies for schools or districts looking to make engagement a priority this upcoming school year. 

If you like what you hear, please like, subscribe, or share! And consider subscribing to our monthly newsletter, The Learning Curve.

-----

ABOUT OUR GUEST, Vidya Sundaram:

Vidya Sundaram, CEO and co-founder of Family Engagement Lab, is a transformational education leader, having built diverse teams in nonprofit education and technology. Vidya has an extensive background in business leadership and program strategy, and most recently led GreatSchools' market research and social impact assessments for services used by more than half of US families. Prior to GreatSchools, she drove new investment opportunities in Internet media. Vidya has led software development at both consumer and enterprise Internet start-ups, pioneering the development of Internet postage applications and the first print-at-home boarding pass system for a major airline. She holds a degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University, a Master in Public Policy from UCLA and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Family Engagement Resources:

• Family Engagement Lab Website
• FASTalk
• Dual Capacity-Building Framework
• NAFSCE
• Multilingual learner toolkit
• FEL Action Planning Tool

Discussed during the episode:

• EdWeek: Merrimack College Teachers Survey 2023

"Teacher Talk" helps us learn from other educators by hearing about their favorite classroom strategies and methodologies.

In this episode, BetterLesson's Director of Solution Design Romain Bertrand has a conversation with Afrika Afeni Mills. During their conversation, they talk about building a classroom library, how to keep learning (and the power in *admitting* that you are still learning) and the best strategies to have fun during instructional time.

Thanks for tuning in. We hope you enjoy!

If you like what you hear, please like, subscribe, or share! And consider subscribing to our monthly newsletter, The Learning Curve.

-----

ABOUT OUR GUEST, AFRIKA AFENI MILLS:

Afrika Afeni Mills, MEd, is the Founder and CEO of Continental Drift, LLC, an author, Education Consultant, and Adjunct Professor at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education and Human Development. She has been an educator since 1999 with a background as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, teacher developer, and school administrator.

Afrika works with teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators to develop and sustain culturally responsive and sustaining, antibias, anti-racist, pro-human instructional practices. Afrika has been featured on podcasts, blogs, delivered keynote addresses, and facilitated sessions at conferences across the United States.

Afrika is the author of Open Windows, Open Minds: Developing Antiracist, Pro-Human Students, as well as the viral blog post, A Letter to White Teachers of My Black Children. Her TED-Ed Talk, Four Ways to Have Healthy Conversations About Race was released in Spring 2023. Her talk has over 1 million views and over 32K likes. Afrika was chosen as one of Brightbeam’s Top 22 Education Influencers of 2022, inducted into Who’s Who in Black Charlotte in 2023,  and is a member of Learning Forward.

Afrika has an M.Ed. in Elementary Teaching from Boston College’s Lynch School of Education and Human Development, where she graduated first in her class.

You can find her on LinkedIn.

Teaching Strategies Discussed in the Podcast:

- Windows and Mirrors

- "I Am From" Identity Project

- I Wish My Teacher Knew

AI in education may be the topic du jour, but rightfully so. Whether you are embracing–or rejecting–the onslaught of these new technologies, there’s simply no way to ignore them anymore. So what are we doing to address and manage ai in our schools? And are we utilizing its power and capabilities to our advantage?

In this episode of Lessons Learned, BetterLesson CEO Matt Kennard sits down with Anna Edwards, Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-Founder, Whiteboard Advisors, and Erin Mote, CEO and Founder of Innovate EDU. Together they discuss the current policies in place, and explore solutions to harness the power of AI and technology in education and beyond.

Thanks for tuning in. We hope you enjoy!

If you like what you hear, please like, subscribe, or share! And consider subscribing to our monthly newsletter, The Learning Curve.

ABOUT OUR GUESTS:

Erin Mote - CEO and Founder, InnovateEDU

Erin Mote is the CEO and Founder of InnovateEDU. In this role, Erin leads the organization and its major projects including technology product development, work on data interoperability and data systems, and an urban education Fellowship for new educators. She leads the organization’s work on creating uncommon alliances to create systems change - in special education, talent development, and data modernization. An enterprise architect, she created, alongside her team, two of InnovateEDU’s signature technology products - Cortex, a next-generation personalized learning platform, and Landing Zone - a cutting-edge infrastructure as a service data product.

Erin is also the co-founder of Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School with her husband Dr. Eric Tucker. She is a recognized leader in technology, mobile, and broadband and has spent much of her career focused on expanding access to technology in the US and abroad. She has led ground-breaking initiatives, including scaling wireless communications to the developing world, developing global and national strategic technology plans, and work with the country’s leading technology companies. Erin has served in an advisory capacity to the White House/OSTP’s US Ignite Initiative, the Obama Administration’s Global Development Innovation Policy, the State Department’s TechCamp program, and the Obama Administration’s intra-agency process for Rio 2.0 and Rio+20. Erin served as the founding Chief of Party for the USAID Global Broadband and Innovations Alliance – a $19.5 million global technology expansion project.

Erin has served in senior positions with CHF International and Coulter Companies after starting her career as the Director of External and Strategic Relations for Arizona State University. A recognized leader in alliance building, Erin serves in an advisory capacity for several leading international organizations including Digital Promise, SXSWedu Launch, XPrize, and the Barbara Bush Foundation. She is an Aspen Institute Socrates scholar and a proud alumnus of the University of Michigan.

Anna Edwards - Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-Founder, Whiteboard Advisors

For nearly two decades Anna has helped to architect change-making campaigns, and advised the leaders of the nation’s most impactful businesses and nonprofits on national policy and advocacy initiatives.

A product of the Atlanta Public School system and honors graduate of Yale University, Anna is regarded as trusted confidante and partner by both federal policymakers and state and local leaders alike on K-12, higher education and workforce policy.

A student of the policy and market dynamics that impact preK-postsecondary education, Anna is a frequent speaker and advisor to education donors and investors. She is also Whiteboard Advisors’ most frequent flyer, working with governors’ offices, state departments of education, higher education and workforce leaders, and school districts across the country.

Anna currently serves as a Senior Advisor to New Markets Venture partners and was the founding vice-chair of the national nonprofit mindSpark Learning, an initiative of the Morgridge Family Foundation.

In Washington, DC, Anna has served as an advisor to the National Cherry Blossom Festival, where she co-chaired the festival’s primary fundraising event, and Jumpstart, an early childhood organization.

Anna began her career working in CNN’s D.C. Bureau for National Correspondent Bob Franken and CNN Productions.

Math instruction is difficult… but what if we rethink how we teach it?

In our latest episode of Lessons Learned, we were joined by Kiddom to discuss innovative approaches to make math education more engaging, relatable, and enjoyable for both students and educators. Learn how to go beyond the traditional math pedagogy of rote memorization to foster a deeper understanding and aptitude for the subject.

Thanks for tuning in. We hope you enjoy!

If you like what you hear, please like, subscribe, or share! And consider subscribing to our monthly newsletter, The Learning Curve.

About our guests:

Ryan de la Garza, Instructional Designer, Mathematics, Kiddom

Ryan de la Garza is an educator with a passion for integrating technology into math education. Having taught math in grades 6-8, he consistently advocated for the use of technology to enhance student understanding. His expertise led him to the district-level role where he supported teachers in the development of best practices for both math education and technology integration. For the past six years, Ryan has been working on the development of digital curriculum and digital tools for K-12, focusing on innovative ways for students to engage with math. His work is dedicated to transforming how students experience and interact with mathematical concepts.

Romain Bertrand, Director of Solution Design, BetterLesson

Romain Bertrand is a personalized learning leader, blogger, consultant, coach, and practitioner. During his 20 years in education, he has led numerous education innovations including coaching and blended and personalized learning programs, supporting hundreds of teachers and in-school coaches across the US to use personalized learning as a tool for equity.

Veronica Freeman, Learning Architect, Mathematics, BetterLesson

Veronica Freeman is a seasoned educator with 17 years of experience in elementary and high school math, instructional coaching, professional development, and curriculum design. Her dedication to equitable mathematics education drives her to champion student-centered learning experiences that prioritize both rigor and joy in the pursuit of mathematical understanding.

Episode notes:

Resources related to this topic or discussed in the episode.

Books & Publications

• Study: Principles for the Design of Mathematics Curricula: Promoting Language and Content Development
• Book: 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions
• Paper: Mathematical Routines
• Book: Becoming the Math Teacher You Wish You Had by Tracy Zager

Math Games & Teacher Resources

• Teacher Strategies: Bring real-life examples into the classroom with these Master Teacher strategies by Shakiyya Bland, Ed.D.
• Math Game: Yummy Math provides engaging online math games for all grade levels and topics.
• Math Game: Would You Rather Math is an online game that helps with discourse and reasoning.
• Math Tools: GeoGebra online math resources and tools for students and teachers.

Having quality, dedicated teachers in our building is the first step towards creating successful classrooms filled with happy, thriving students. But with the ongoing teacher shortage, that feels practically impossible.

Join Chandler Unified School District Human Resources Administrator Abby Druck and BetterLesson Instructional Coach Melissa Linton for a conversation endorsed by ASA (Arizona School Administrators). You'll hear about how to tackle the unique challenges of the teacher shortage—teacher retention and turnover, supporting new teachers, training alternative pathways or foreign teachers—all while maintaining a positive campus climate to prevent burnout.

Key Takeaways:

• How personalized professional learning can help with retention.
• Supporting teachers who have joined via alternative pathways or from another country. What do these teachers need to know before entering the classroom?
• What does formal, ongoing training of our veteran teachers and leaders look like?
• Addressing teacher AND leader burnout

Thanks for tuning in. We hope you enjoy!

If you like what you hear, please like, subscribe, or share! And consider subscribing to our monthly newsletter, The Learning Curve.

About our guests:

Melissa Linton joins us from Alaska and has been an instructional coach and facilitator for BetterLesson for 3 years, but before that, Melissa was in education for over 30 years, in all roles from teacher to district administrator. She is passionate about professional learning.

Abby Druck has been working for Chandler Unified School District for over 20 years.  She started her career as an elementary school teacher and has served as a Dean of Students, Principal, and now Director of Human Resources for Professional Pathways.   Her favorite part of her current position is having opportunities to collaborate with educators in and out of CUSD to support best practices for staff that in turn provide optimal outcomes for students!

Join BetterLesson Director of Solution Design for a “Teacher Talk” with 2016 Montana Teacher of the Year, Dr. Jessi Anderson. In this episode, they talk about the importance of science education, using AI like ChatGPT in the classroom, and strategies for perking yourself up when you're having a bad teaching day. (You might want to create your own "Why Folder" after listening!)

Thanks for tuning in. We hope you enjoy!

If you like what you hear, please like, subscribe, or share! And consider subscribing to our monthly newsletter, The Learning Curve.

Episode Notes:

About our guest: Dr. Jessi Anderson is the 2016 Montana Teacher of the Year, and a BetterLesson Master Teacher, contributing strategies for bringing Blended Learning into the classroom. Jessi started blending her Earth Science classes as her students became more technologically savvy and interested in challenging the traditional aspects of the curriculum, including lectures and worksheets. It was at this point that she knew that she needed to move to a more inquiry-based and student-directed classroom. After a year of hauling mobile labs to her classroom, her school went 1:1 with iPads which made the leap into blended easier. This shift has been a game changer in her practice and for the students she loves to teach.

Explore Jessi's strategies for blended learning

In this episode of Lessons Learned, join Matt Kennard (BetterLesson CEO), Anna Edwards (Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-Founder, Whiteboard Advisors), and Jenna Keaney (BetterLesson SVP of Professional Learning) as they discuss:

• The teacher shortage and legislation popping up around the country to help alleviate this problem.
• How to ensure schools and districts are still delivering quality education to students despite staffing challenges.
• What is the ideal path forward?

Thanks for listening, and enjoy!

If you like what you hear, please like, subscribe, or share! And consider subscribing to our monthly newsletter, The Learning Curve.

Episode Notes:

About our guest, Anna Edwards: For nearly two decades Anna has helped to architect change-making campaigns, and advised the leaders of the nation’s most impactful businesses and nonprofits on national policy and advocacy initiatives. A product of the Atlanta Public School system and honors graduate of Yale University, Anna is regarded as a trusted confidante and partner by both federal policymakers and state and local leaders alike on K-12, higher education, and workforce policy. A student of the policy and market dynamics that impact preK-postsecondary education, Anna is a frequent speaker and advisor to education donors and investors. She is also Whiteboard Advisors’ most frequent flyer, working with governors’ offices, state departments of education, higher education and workforce leaders, and school districts across the country. Anna currently serves as a Senior Advisor to New Markets Venture Partners and was the founding vice-chair of the national nonprofit MindSpark Learning, an initiative of the Morgridge Family Foundation. In Washington, DC, Anna has served as an advisor to the National Cherry Blossom Festival, where she co-chaired the festival’s primary fundraising event, and Jumpstart, an early childhood organization. Anna began her career working in CNN’s D.C. Bureau for National Correspondent Bob Franken and CNN Productions.

Join BetterLesson Director of Solution Design for a "Teacher Talk" with 2014 Texas Teacher of the Year and 2023 National Teacher Hall of Fame Inductee Monica Washington. In this episode, they talk about the best (and worst) advice they received as teachers, what the first day of teaching felt like, as well as favorite strategies to use on those low-energy days.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy!

If you like what you hear, please like, subscribe, or share! And consider subscribing to our monthly newsletter, The Learning Curve.

Episode Notes:

About our guest Monica Washington: Monica Washington is the founder of M.U.S.E. Education, and through her work, helps educators create meaningful, uplifting student experiences. A decorated educator of over twenty-five years, Monica has received honors and awards from a wide variety of organizations for her leadership, advocacy, and classroom instruction. She is a 2015 Milken Unsung Hero Fellow and a 2015 NEA Foundation Global Fellow. Through M.U.S.E., Monica supports educators through workshops, speaking engagements, and blogging. In 2021, Brightbeam named Monica one of the top twenty-one rising women in the country for her equity and advocacy work. Monica is passionate about educational equity, and she serves as an Ambassador for Equity for the Education Civil Rights Alliance. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors for the National Education Association Foundation and The National Network of State Teachers of the Year. Monica is the 2014 Texas Teacher of the Year and a 2023 inductee into the National Teachers Hall of Fame.