Nick and Marc welcome Karen Bronson, former teacher and principal, who currently serves as a staff developer for SAANYS.

"Methods Lab" - Professional Development

• Why does PD get such a bad wrap?
• What are the keys to providing quality PD?

Listeners are welcome to ask a question, suggest a topic or share their thoughts: [email protected]

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Nick and Marc discuss Arne Duncan's exit and the arrival of John B. King as U.S. Secretary of Education.

"Methods Lab" - The First Progress Report

• How optimistic should the first one be?
• To what extent does student behavior change around this time?

Listeners are welcome to ask a question, suggest a topic or share their thoughts: [email protected]

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Links related to this episode:

1. Arne Duncan is leaving

Nick and Marc welcome Dr. Christina Sapienza to the show. They discuss the impact that gender bias is having on young girls and the role schools can play in ending this unfair practice."Methods Lab" - Teacher TrainingAre new teachers adequately trained to enter the classroom?Listeners are welcome to ask a question, suggest a topic or share their thoughts: [email protected] to us on iTunesLinks related to this episode:Teacher Training piece in NY TimesThe Threat of Stereotype by Joshua AronsonAronson’s research - Women and mathDr. Sapienza’s links on gender biasseejane.orgBechdel test

Nick and Marc discuss some changes to A.P.P.R. in New York State, an ongoing legal action by a teacher in Great Neck and a valedictorian's appeal for greater college affordability.

"Methods Lab" - The First Days of School

• How can you turn a traditionally rote, boring day into one that fosters excitement and interest?

Listeners are welcome to ask a question, suggest a topic or share their thoughts: [email protected]

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Links related to this episode:

1. Great Neck teacher’s trial
2. Kacie Candela’s Newsday piece
3. Victor Fleischer’s indictment of Yale
4. First Five Days
5. Twitter Hashtag on First Days

Nick and Marc welcome Barry Isseks, former Technology Coordinator of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, to discuss the infrastructure and software that has driven unprecedented change in education over the past two decades.

"Methods Lab" - Distance Learning

• To what extent is this transforming learning?
• Can we ever truly replace a three-dimensional learning environment?

Listeners are welcome to ask a question, suggest a topic or share their thoughts: [email protected]

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Links related to this episode:

1. 1. NY Times: Disconnecting From Our Digital Lives

Nick and Marc discuss social-emotional learning (a.k.a. character education) and how it can create improved learning environments in schools.

"Methods Lab" - Vocabulary

• How can we improve students' vocabulary skills?
• Is a dictionary better than dictionary.com?

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Links related to this episode:

1. Overcoming Obstacles
2. NY Times: Teaching Social Skills

Nick and Marc welcome their first guest, Mary Craig, to the show. They discuss the ousting of Pearson, the Value Added Model and the incredible efforts of librarians and teachers in Charlottesville, Virginia to bring books to underprivileged children.

"Methods Lab" - Summer Assignments

• What does a quality assignment consist of?

Listeners are welcome to ask a question, suggest a topic or share their thoughts: [email protected]

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Links related to this episode:

1. Carole Burris’s Blog Post
2. Pearson Is Out in NYS
3. Link to the Books on Bikes program
4. Books on Bikes on Facebook
5. David Brooks’ column on attention span

Nick and Marc discuss personnel changes at the New York State DoE and debate whether or not cell phones should be permitted in class.

"Methods Lab" - Attire

• The case for and against school uniforms
• Should there be a dress code for professional educators?

Listeners are welcome to ask a question, suggest a topic or share their thoughts: [email protected]

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Links related to this episode:

1. NY Times article on Screen Addiction
2. The Science of “Inside Out”
3. School Uniform Debate

Nick and Marc discuss the educational impact of the Supreme Court's ruling on gay marriage, "scrubbing" in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and Pixar's latest film, "Inside Out."

"Methods Lab" - Differences in teaching preadolescents and teens

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Links related to this episode:

Common Core Documentary

NY Post Article on Scrubbing

Nick and Marc discuss a recent article in the Washington Post regarding teacher burnout and high turnover rates.

"Methods Lab" - The Drain

a) How can teachers leave at the end of the day with more energy than the students?

Listeners are welcome to ask a question, suggest a topic or share their thoughts: [email protected]

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Links related to this episode:

1. Washington Post: Why So Many Teachers Want To Leave - And How To Get Them To Stay
2. Joe Nocera's NYT column: How To Grade A Teacher