Teach Me, Teacher

Hello everyone! Writing. It can cause stress for the teacher and the student. We push and we push and we push, and we end up not wanting to read final products and the kids don't want to write them. So... What do we do? Malyn Bannister (one of my favorite teachers of all time) is here to help us and teach us what she has been doing to transform her class into a class of writers and creators. In this episode, we hit on recent training she has received that changed how she saw her class, how she has used it, and what simple, yet effective, steps she has taken to get her writing class going. Enjoy!

Hello everyone! We took last week off due to scheduling issues, but we are back with a great episode. We are talking flexible seating (alternative seating) in the classroom. We hit on why you should consider changing your class seating, giving up control of certain things, practical ideas for your class, and a personal look at Jennifer Moreau's experience with changing her class, and how she pulled off such a big task. Jennifer is a fantastic teacher, and this episode is packed full of ideas, musings, and great teaching advice that is sure to help you somehow. Enjoy! Click here for a helpful blog post from Edutopia on the topic of flexible seating. PS -- Check out her room!

Hello everyone! This week's episode is all about having structure in the classroom and using structures to better the interactions and academic success of your students! Kecia Dennis of RMS is here to share her insight into what structure means for her, how she uses it to create a safe classroom environment, and how she uses structures specifically in her class to boost academic achievement. Kecia is brilliant in more ways than I can list here, and has filled this episode with so much useful advice that it's impossible not to learn something new you can use in your room. As a side note, we mention Kagan several times in this episode. This podcast isn't sponsored by them in any way or connected, other than finding the tools they provide invaluable for the classroom. Click HERE to visit their website and learn more. Enjoy!

Hello everyone! I am pumped for this episode. Today we are talking about how to better serve our English Language Learner populations and our Newcomers ! America has always been a home for families all over the world. Today, teachers are being asked to better serve these families more than ever, and we plan on helping you guys out in this episode. Cindy brings her expertise, passion, and insight to the table and offers everyone who listens some great and practical advice that can be used TOMORROW. Enjoy!

Hello everyone! Boy, do we have a great episode for you this week. We are talking about EXCELLENCE, and how to achieve it in your classroom, both academically and behaviorally. I sat down with one of my good friends and colleagues, Chris Alegria, of Richland Middle School, to discuss the "secret" to his successes in his class. Shocking, it's something that we can all do today. Some of us probably do. Many of us might not. In any case, his advice and passion (and humor) are not to be missed or disregarded. Everyone can learn from him. Chris was teacher of the year at RMS two years ago and has an astonishing number of commended students on his state exams. Listen to the episode for more details! Enjoy!

Hello everyone! In episode 6, we are talking about balancing coaching, teaching, and how a passionate educator can use both mediums to build great relationships with their students. The intro to this episode is hilarious to me because of how I stutter. Not sure what was the cause, but it makes me laugh each time. Also, this episode's intro isn't exactly what the conversation ended up being about. The goal was to talk about balancing coaching and teaching solely, but we ended up discussing relationship building far more. Perhaps, that's a sign of which is more important to a successful school year? In any case, this is a great episode, with one of my dearest friends, Mrs. Ha. You'll learn a lot from her during this hour. Her compassion and dedication is evident in every word she speaks. Enjoy!

Hello everyone! School has begun! This means that we are all thinking about how to make our lesson plans better. To do this, we have to think about each student and group, and what their needs are. A group that is commonly misunderstood and worried over is our GT group. Lucky for us, John Bolles, the GT coordinator at RMS, is here to help us understand and serve these students to the best of our ability! This week's episode is all about GT students, how to approach them, and dispelling common myths surrounding these gifted individuals. Have trouble with differentiation? Don't really know what GT means for you, the teacher? This is your episode! Plus, John is a genius. Plenty of nuggets of truth embedded in our conversation. Enjoy!

Hello everyone! In episode 4, we are talking educational leadership. This is a special episode for many reasons, but first and foremost, it is special because of its message. Principal James Whitfield of Richland Middle School (Go Rams!) has a voice and a vision that, at its core, rises from a servant's heart. His passion comes through with every word and his great attitude is infectious. Want to be a leader? Have anxiety when your principal comes into your room? Don't know how to approach your administration with an idea? We cover it all, and more, in this episode. Enjoy! PS: Stay tuned until the end of the episode for a special message from Whitfield to his team at Richland Middle School!

Hello everyone! Ever wish you could still your mind or the minds of your students? Ever feel like you are just missing everything around you because of all the tasks that need to get done in the class? For episode 3, we are taking on the BIG topic of MINDFULNESS. To do so, we are sitting down with Staci Hammer, a vice-principal (and one of my dearest friends in the world) who has committed to a "year in mindfulness" over on her blog. Inspiring, thoughtful, and funny, her blog and this episode are two things you do not want to miss! New to mindfulness? No problem. We cover everything from clarifying definitions and explaining the practice, to applying it in the class, with staff, and even how the science of it all supports the practice. In the show, we reference a few things that I would like to link to below. Feel free to check them out now, after you listen, or as they show up during our discussion. Enjoy! LINKS: Scholarly article on the success of mindfulness in prisons Mindfulness in the classroom hub Further research on mindfulness

Hello everyone! For episode 2 of Teach Me, Teacher, we are diving deep into technology in the classroom. Melinda Bolles (Melbo) was one of my first mentors as a teacher and I was always amazed at how she implemented technology in her class on a daily basis. In this episode we talk about how technology can hurt and help engagement, discuss whether it is the solution for everything (SPOILER: it isn't), and how you can go about using technology in your class. We also discuss a few helpful tools for getting started with tech if you're a newbie, and if you're a seasoned vet. Enjoy! PS: Hate grading? You NEED to hear Melinda's advice on the matter!