A lot of hard work goes into >>>planning<<< most PD opportunities. What happens when those efforts don’t go as planned? For this episode, we crowdsourced PD planning ideas from you, our listeners! Thank you to our listeners who contributed their perspective.

• Amy Arbogash (via Twitter) @amyarbogash
• Elissa Kingsley (via IG) @kingsleypartyofthree
• Jess Groff (via IG) @jess_groff
• Rich Hayzler (via Twitter) @RichHayzler

• AJ: Vrain Waves: Teacher Conversations with Minds Shaping Education – Ep. 21: Catlin Tucker on Blended Learning.
• Chris: In the No Parts 1-2-3 – Mature audiences only. NSFW, Not safe for students
• Stacey: Hidden Brain-BS Jobs

Randall Black (the Randall Black Show) – As a former social studies teacher, I really enjoyed this one! (episode 38)

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Thematic Instruction in Social Studies has been a topic of discussion between Chris and AJ for over a year. During the 2017-18 school year, Chris changed his instruction to follow the 10 Themes of Social Studies. He eliminated traditional tests/quizzes, homework, and notetaking in favor of a project-based, student-centered classroom. While Chris does get pushback from some administrators on this approach his students’ enjoyment of the class and increased levels of engagement are all the proof he needed to continue and to help AJ bring this approach to his class as well.

• What is thematic teaching?
• What are the 10 themes in history?
• CULTURE
• TIME, CONTINUITY, AND CHANGE
• PEOPLE, PLACES, AND ENVIRONMENTS
• INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT AND IDENTITY
• INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, AND INSTITUTIONS
• POWER, AUTHORITY, AND GOVERNANCE
• PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND CONSUMPTION
• SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY
• GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
• CIVIC IDEALS AND PRACTICES
• How does PBL fit into the learning?
• How has thematic teaching enhanced student learning?
• What is student feedback like?
• What about grades?
• What has feedback from admin been? How are they liking thematic teaching?
• What’s the end goal for your classes this year?

• https://www.socialstudies.org/standards/introduction

• AJ: Focus 3 Podcast – Episode 40: Four Questions for Leaders
• Chris: 5 AM Miracle – episode 257 – How to Launch Your Own Personal Brand, Step-by-Step
• Stacey: What Should I Read Next? I currently have 6 audiobooks checked out!

• Hey guys! I love this most recent episode of Podcast PD. So much of it resounds with me. I moved to [a new] School District…this year. You guys are in Jersey and I’m sure are at least vaguely familiar with happenings in the regional urban districts. It’s crazy. I’ve been thinking this all year. The new district is all about data and rules. There is close to zero human element in regard to the teachers and students. Chris mentioned the idea of teachers only referring to one another as Mr. and Mrs. I TOTALLY FEEL YOU THERE. I encourage people to call me [name redacted]! People don’t even say the Mr. or Mrs. You are addressed by your last name when it comes from the P or many other colleagues. While this is not the intention, but I totally feel like the human element is stripped when you can’t address someone by their first name. I love your “action items” at the end of the episode. I’m going to try to pick something up for my grade partner and her resident teacher. Great idea! Thanks for all you all do. Y’all are an inspiration!
• Jen Duda (via Voxer) @DynamicDuda338 – OK. Just listened to the latest podcast regarding Human Element in Ed. and I thought it was awesome!!! Especially since I learned about “Wow in the World” from you guys and it is a little high for my students (my biological kids love it- they are 7. Anyway, I would like to incorporate a podcast/listening/writing/discussion lesson at the end of each day. I will look at the scholastic podcast. Thank you so much for the recommendation!!!
• Tina Monteleone (Twitter) @tinamonte – Enjoyed my ride this morning with @PodcastPD @mrnesi @AJBianco @iruntech #njed

Visit podcastpd.com/feedback where you can send us a voice message right from your computer.

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The Human Element

• The human element – what is it?
• the interaction between a human and any other human
• The importance of meeting the needs of people
• Needs of Students?
• Needs of Teachers?
• Needs of Admin?
• Effective communication
• the exchange of ideas, information, and knowledge between individuals
• the recognition, interpretation and correct reaction to people, incidents or situations, which are open to misunderstanding
• The effects of technology
• Training
• Communication

• AJ: Suggestion by Stacey – Wow In the World and Highlights Hangout
• Chris: Go out and review a podcast you enjoy listening to! Email the hosts of some of your favorite podcasts and let them know you appreciate the time and energy they put into the content you find value in.
• Stacey: Listening to books (all the time), Katie Couric

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We continue our conversation from Episode 35, as we discuss the finer details of lesson planning: grabbing student attention and reflecting on the lesson.

Grab & Maintain Student Attention

• Use random selection in calling upon students (pop sticks, give warning)
• Vary who you call on and how you call on them (plan for who you will call on, fertilize the conversation)
• Ask questions before calling on a student; wait at least five seconds for a response, allow for second wait time
• Be animated; show enthusiasm and interest (vegas lounge act, humor)
• Vary instructional methods
• Provide work of appropriate difficulty
• Demonstrate and model the types of responses or tasks you want students to perform
• Provide guided practice for students; monitor responses and deliver immediate corrective feedback

Reflection on Your Lesson

• Summarize the lesson and focus on positive gains made by students; use surprise reinforcers as a direct result of their good behavior
• Determine if the lesson was successful; were goals accomplished? How do you know?
• What would/could you do differently?

Information we discussed was sourced from: http://www.kean.edu/~tpc/Classroom%20Management/EFFECTIVE%20LESSON%20PLANNING%20&%20Classroom%20Mgmt.htm

• AJ: Partial Credit
• Chris: Serial Season 3
• Stacey: Hysteria

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Some of you love them. Some of you hate them. No matter how you feel you have to create them. Today, we’re talking lesson planning.

From Wikipedia…

But… planning involves so much more! Today we will be exploring the classroom environment and developing positive teacher/student relationships.

Establish a positive classroom environment

• Make the classroom a pleasant, friendly place
• Accept individual differences
• Learning activities should be cooperative and supportive
• Create a non-threatening learning environment
• Organize physical space; eliminate situations that may be dangerous or disruptive
• Establish classroom rules and procedures and consistently reinforce them

Develop positive teacher/student relationships

• Set a good example; be a positive role model
• Create an exciting learning environment for all students
• Reward good behavior; create special activities that children will enjoy doing
• Correct misbehaviors; have consequences of disruptive behavior; communicate them to children
• Handling disruptions
• Keep it short and simple (KISS)
• Use a warning system
• Defer disruptive behavior proactively (eye contact, close space between you and student, use head/hand gestures)
• Help students be successful
• Use planned ignoring (and teach other students to also ignore)

Information we discussed was sourced from: http://www.kean.edu/~tpc/Classroom%20Management/EFFECTIVE%20LESSON%20PLANNING%20&%20Classroom%20Mgmt.htm

• AJ: Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast – Episode 160 – Everyday Instructional Coaching
• Get Nathan’s Book
• Chris: Looking fwd to commuting to work again and getting back into my regular podcast listening groove!
• Stacey: The Daily Refresh with John Lee Dumas 1724

Thanks, @STEMroundtable for your feedback!

• You guys are great! I had a very fulfilling experience with my student teacher and still are friends with him today. You will figure it out as you go what they are like and where you can be a help to them. Appreciate all the good podcasting. Would I be able to get into the Voxer group by chance? Thank you and keep up the good work!

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During the Fall 2018 semester, Chris and AJ will both have student teachers working with them. Neither has ever had a student teacher before and both are excited for the opportunity to work with one.

Some of the questions discussed include:

• How does a student teacher impact the evaluation process?
• What does the ideal classroom look like when a student teacher is present?
• How much do you expose a student teacher to the world of the connected educator?

Prior to this conversation, Chris began researching the topic and referenced the following articles:

• Ten Tips for Mentoring a Student Teacher (ASCD)
• How to Mentor a Student Teacher (TeachHub.com)
• 9 Tips for Supervising Student Teachers (Edutopia)

Help us crowdsource the best tips for coaching a student teacher.

CLICK TO TWEET

• AJ
• Chris
• Stacey

In ep 33 we talked about how to engage Ss during the first days of school and get them hooked. Well, ASCD published a blog post in between when we recorded and when we released the episode. The post was titled, “6 Questions To Ask Your Students On Day One.” Here are the 6 questions:

1. What are you passionate about?
2. How do you want to be recognized?
3. What do you see as your greatest strength?
4. What name do you want used when calling on you in class?
5. What will a successful school year look and feel like at the end of the year?
6. What are the characteristics or attributes you want in a teacher?

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The beginning of another school is upon many of us and some teachers do amazing things on the first few days while others either don’t know how or can’t or think they can’t make the first few days of school engaging and less about the rules and regulations.

In this episode, we discuss and explore a number of ideas you can implement at the beginning of the school year. Our conversation was inspired by an episode of StartED Up with Don Wettrick.

• The Toilet Paper Game
• Rock, Paper, Scissors
• 30 Circles

We also speak to special guest, Robbie Lindes about his own experiences on the first days of school from a student’s perspective.

Rather than recommend additional episodes and podcasts, these are the podcast episodes we’ve used so far in our Summer Podcast Listening Group:

• Cult of Pedagogy, episode 90 – OMG Becky. PD is Getting SO MUCH BETTER.
• Future Focused Podcast, episode 2 – Goal Setting Workshop: How to Set Goals to Change Your Life
• The 5 AM Miracle, episode 27 – Service and Selflessness at Work: An Interview with August Turak
• StartED Up – Promise Me You will NOT Start Your School Year Off with This
• Mindshift – Be the Change You Want to See
• Focus 3 Podcast, episode 39 – A Turning Point in Education

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This episode is the second part of our conversation about George Couros’ published an article on his blog titled, ‘4 Reflection Questions for the End of the School Year’. In this conversation, we address questions three and four.

This Episodes Questions:

• What things will I challenge myself with next year?
• How will all of these answers impact the learners I serve?

• Chris: Hidden Brain – When Everything Clicks
• AJ: Better Leaders Better Schools – Leading w/o Labels, Finding Your Culture of Compassion
• Stacey: Great Women of Business – E1: Coco Chanel and E2: Julia Child 

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Recently, George Couros published an article on his blog titled, ‘3 Reminders for the End of the School Year.’ In his call to action, he had readers share their suggestions. He ran with one person’s suggestion about the value of reflection, in his next post, ‘4 Reflection Questions for the End of the School Year’.

Four Reflection Questions:

• What did I do well this year?
• Where do I need to grow?
• What things will I challenge myself with next year?
• How will all of these answers impact the learners I serve?

• Chris: ESPN 30 for 30 – Bickram
• AJ: Live Like A Mother
• Stacey: Making Obama

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