Teach Better Talk

Teach Better Talk

By Teach Better TeamEducation
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Teach Better Talk episodes

  • AUDIO BLOG - Breaking Down Why District Initiatives Break Down

    This is an audio version of the blog post, "Breaking Down Why District Initiatives Break Down" Written by Chad Ostrowski (@chadostrowski). Read by Rae Hughart (@raehughart)

    Read the post at www.teachbetter.com/blog/breaking-down-why-district-initiatives-break-down/

    In This Post:
    • The sad truth is, most district initiatives fail.
    • There are common mistakes that are typically to blame for district initiatives failing, and they can be avoided.
    • Start small, plan long-term, involve all stakeholders, provide follow-up, and choose the right provider, and you'll be off to a better start, with your initiative much more likely to succeed.
      • 8 min
    • 90: Rethink Everything - Stefanie Crawford chats about gamification, knowing you're good enough, and rethinking everything about education.

      Stefanie Crawford chats with us about gamification, knowing that you're good enough, and being okay with asking for help.

      Stefanie discusses the importance of building a PLN and actually utilizing it, how your role is bigger than your title, and why she is excited for the rethinking of the traditional school model.

      More at www.teachbetter.com/podcast/stefaniecrawford

      Episode Highlights
      • 1:51 - Highlighting podcasts you can use to declutter your head as the new school year  approaches
        • Ask Adam and Ryan Show - Adam Welcome and Ryan Sheehy
          • Teachers on Fire - Tim Cavey
          • TeacherCast - Jeff Bradbury
          • Educational Duct Tape Podcast - Jake Miller
          • Wired Educator - Kelly Croy
          • Teach Me, Teacher - Jacob Chastain
          • In AWE Podcast - Sarah Johnson
          • Aspire - Joshua Stamper 
          • OnEducation - Mike Washburn and Glen Irvin
          • The EdTech Guys - David Henderson and Jeff Madlock
          • Easy EdTech - Monica  Burns
          • 5:55 - Previewing the episode with Stefanie Crawford
          • 8:49 - Stefanie introduces herself.
          • 11:33  - Stefanie's failure: Not getting the instructional coach job two times before getting it.
          • 18:40 - Stefanie's success: Students that say hi in the halls, or connect with you after they've graduated. Gamifying her district's professional development.
          • 25:00 - What's got Stefanie excited about education right now: People rethinking the idea that we have to sit and listen in order to learn. Rethinking the traditional school model.  The stronger focus on restorative justice.
          • 28:15 - Stefanie's advice to teachers: Remember a few things:
            • You are truly not alone. Seek out a good PLN.
            • You are good enough. Don't compare yourself to others. Be you.
            • It's okay to ask for help.
            • 33:08 - 6 questions answered in 15 seconds or less.
            • 36:19 - A bunch of nonsense about coffee.
            • 40:20 - How to connect with Stefanie.
              • 44 min
            • 89: Just Learning Every Day- Rachelle Dene Poth shares her love of learning, and why she feels like her job is relaxing

              Teacher, author, consultant, and ISTE Making IT Happen Award winner, Rachelle Dene Poth, chats with us about exploring AR/VR, why she feels like her job is relaxing, and how she sees Artificial Intelligence potentially impacting education.

              Rachelle shares her love of learning, the reason she gets excited about every new day, and why you do not need to teach whatever it is you think you need to teach on the first day of school.

              More at www.teachbetter.com/podcast/rachelledenepoth


              Episode Highlights
              • 0:44 - Discussing Rae's favorite word: quixotic
              • 5:30 - Previewing the episode with Rachelle Dene Poth
                • Come see Rachelle at the Teach Better Conference! Use the discount code "PodcastTalk" and save $50 on either of the 2-Day Registrations.
                • 12:32 - Rachelle introduces herself.
                • 14:48 - Rachelle's failure: Failing an exam in law school that she had worked extremely hard preparing for.
                • 18:06 - Rachelle's success:
                • 20:24 - Celebrating Rachelle's ISTE "Making IT Happen" Award (Because she is too humble to say anything about it.)
                •  24:34 - What's got Rachelle excited about education right now: The AR/VR movement. Artificial Intelligence in education.
                • 26:25 - Rachelle's advice to teachers looking to explore AR/VR and/or Artificial Intelligence: Check out Jaime Donally and ARVRinEDU.com
                • 28:46 - 6 questions answered in 15 seconds or less.
                • 32:31 - A new tool Rachelle discovered at ISTE19: A couple EdTech startups using AI to filter appropriate content and ads on YouTube videos to protect kids. Also, MyTapTrack
                • 34:15 - How to connect with Rachelle.
                  • 37 min
                • 88: A Work in Progress - Lori McEwen chats with us about focusing on best practices for all students, bringing everything back to deep and joyful learning for kids.

                  Dr. Lori McEwen chats with us about focusing on best practices for all students, bringing everything back to deep and joyful learning for kids, and how we're all just works in progress, learning every day.

                  Lori chats about her excitement around mastery learning, how we can approach student-centered learning, and why we need to celebrate all wins.

                  More at www.teachbetter.com/podcast/lorimcewen


                  Episode Highlights
                  • 0:46 - Chatting about mastery learning.
                  • 6:26 - Sharing some awesome data from one of our amazing school districts.
                  • 9:04 - Previewing the episode with Lori McEwen
                  • 12:26 - Lori introduces herself.
                  • 13:47 - Lori's failures: All my failures come from the times I forget to plan properly and communicate clearly.
                  • 17:01 - Lori's success: Launching two mastery-based schools, and the impact their students (scholars) felt. Building up those schools, and getting others to come along with her.
                  • 24:18 - What's got Lori  excited about education right now:
                  • 28:14 - Lori's advice to teachers trying to have a student-focused classroom: Ask for feedback. Lots of feedback. Invite people into your room.
                  • 31:46 - 6 questions answered in 15 seconds or less.
                  • 34:40 - How to connect with Lori.
                    • Lori's Recommendations
                    • EdTech Tool: Google docs
                    • Book: "In Search of Deeper Learning: the Quest to Remake the American High School" by Jal Mehta and Sarah Fine
                    • Who to Follow:
                      1. Jen Gonzalez @cultofpedagogy
                      2. Catlin Tucker @Catlin_Tucker
                      3. Thomas Guskey @tguskey
                        • YouTube/Podcast/Website/Blog: TED
                        • Daily/Weekly/Monthly Routine:
                          1. Breathe, visualize your day, meditate, plan
                          2. Do a weekly review and visit another teacher’s classroom
                          3. Celebrate wins
                          4. Best piece of advice you've ever received:
                            1. Seek first to understand, then to be understood (Covey)
                            2. Remember that all parents love their children the best way they know how. (Gene Connolly)
                              3. Links to Connect With Lori
                              • Website: lorimcewen.com
                              • Twitter: @lorimcewen
                                • 37 min
                              • AUDIO BLOG - Getting The Most Out Of Collaboration Time - Audio Blog

                                This is an audio version of the blog post, "Getting The Most Out Of Collaboration Time." Written by Bryan Zwemke (@BryanZwemke). Read by Rae Hughart (@raehughart)

                                Read the post at www.teachbetter.com/blog/getting-the-most-out-of-collaboration-time

                                In This Post:
                                • Time to collaborate with colleagues is limited. We need to take advantage of it.
                                • Working together towards a common goal takes flexibility, dedication, vision, a good sense of humor, and a positive mindset.
                                • Collaboration time and meetings are not a single event on a single random day.
                                • Meetings need to have a plan and protocols.
                                • If you have it, work together with your teams to flex your time.
                                • When teams are absolutely fried from the daily grind, don’t meet.
                                  • About Bryan Zwemke

                                  Bryan Zwemke is a middle school principal in Illinois. He is the Vice President of the Association of Illinois Middle Schools (AIMS) and the co-founder of the #aimsnetwork Twitter chat. Bryan is currently in a doctoral program for Education Leadership. As a veteran of middle level education, Bryan has developed a passion for the necessary change toward the #ModernMiddleSchool – a ecosystem dedicated to student growth, collaborative spaces and practices, and research supported techniques to long term success. You can connect with Bryan on Twitter @bryanzwemke or via email at [email protected].


                                  6 min
                                • 87: Principal On A Skateboard – Michael Earnshaw chats with us about getting back the real you, the importance of modeling what you expect from others, and why he doesn't care about test scores.

                                  The Principal on a Skateboard, Michael Earnshaw, chats with us about getting back the real you, the importance of modeling what you expect from others, and why he doesn't care about test scores.

                                  Michale shares why we need to get out of our comfort  zones, how you can use "speed dating" with your staff, and why if you know in your heart that what you want to do is right for kids, you need to just try it.

                                  More at www.teachbetter.com/podcast/michaelearnshaw

                                  43 min
                                • 86: Let Them Own It - Maryanne Cullinan and Ellen Kidd chat about giving students ownership, the power of building community, and why we sometimes need to get out of the way.

                                  Our dynamic duo, Maryanne Cullinan and Ellen Kidd, chat about giving students ownership, the power of building community, and why we sometimes need to get out of the way.

                                  Ellen and Maryanne share how we can work to give kids the capacity to solve their own problems, why we need to build relationships to help others take risks, and the power of productive struggle.

                                  More at www.teachbetter.com/podcast/maryannecullinan-ellenkidd

                                  36 min
                                • 85: Change Their Mood - Jeremy Rinkel chats with us about being student focused and allowing student creativity to grow, and why we sometimes need to do whatever it takes to "change their mood."

                                  High school English teacher, Jeremy Rinkel, chats with us about being student focused and allowing student creativity to grow, and why we sometimes need to do whatever it takes to "change their mood."

                                  Jeremy shares the power of sharing what you're doing in your classroom, his return to focusing on relationships, and why  reflection is so important.

                                  More at www.teachbetter.com/podcast/jeremyrinkel

                                  36 min
                                • 84: Hello Mrs. Harwick - Haylee Harwick chats with us about investing the things that will actually help your students, utilizing a failure to fuel success, and why she is obsessed with podcasts.

                                  5th grade teacher, Haylee Harwick, chats with us about investing the things that will actually help your students, utilizing a failure to fuel success, and why she is obsessed with podcasts in her classroom.

                                  Haylee shares what it's like being from a family of teachers, the importance of valuing the relationships you build on social media, and why you should be yourself, be interactive, and make a true effort to engage with others.

                                  More at www.teachbetter.com/podcast/hayleeharwick

                                  38 min

                                About Teach Better Talk

                                From the publisher's feed

                                The ultimate must-listen for every teacher and educational leader, Teach Better Talk dives into the key questions that drive education today.