Teachers Aid

When it comes to using technology in the classroom, our guests say there is much for teachers to consider and learn to develop higher-order teaching skills. The data provided suggests that in the absence of these higher-order teaching skills, technology has either no effect on learning or may actually hinder learning.

@techsavvyed @web20classroom

@sonnymagana

@bamradionetwork.com

The Director of Marzano Research Laboratory's Educational Technology Division, Anthony J. "Sonny" Magaña is the co-author of Enhancing the Art and Science of Teaching with Technology (2013). Ben Rimes works closely with teachers infusing their instruction with technology in his school district. Steve Anderson is an educator, #Edchat Co-Creator, ASCD Emerging Leader and one the Top 50 Innovators in Education..

Our guests tell us that teaching gifted kids requires special skills and insights that many teachers have simply not been taught. In this segment we offer some basic dos and don'ts along with key insights into how to bring out the best in the really advanced students in your classroom.

Susan Winebinebrenner is a consultant and author who

works with school districts to help them translate current educational research into classroom practice. Susan is president of Education Consulting Service, Inc., a speakers' bureau for educational topics. Ann Gadzikowski, with 20+ years of experience as a teacher and director of early childhood programs, is the author of several publications, including Challenging Exceptionally Bright Children in Early Childhood Classrooms. Nancy Blair, School improvement consultant (middle grades) and former middle school teacher/middle school administrator.

There are many fascinating attractions vying for your student s' attention. How are teachers to engage students in the face of such compelling competition for their attention? Many feel forced to entertain. In this segment we explore this question with our guests.

Pat Hensley is a former public school Special Education teacher for 30 years who taught all grade levels. Mike Muir is the Multiple Pathways Leader for the Auburn School Department (Auburn, ME). Lee Kolbert is a blogger, educator, and self-proclaimed geek. She has been with Palm Beach County Schools for over 27 years. Lisa Nielsen, author of the book Teaching Generation Text, is a long time public school educator. Award-winning blog, The Innovative Educator.

New thinking and new approaches to professional development are gaining popularity among educators. Creating a Personal Learning Network (PLN) is one of these new ways to do PD. In this segment we explore the pros and cons (mostly pros) of developing a PLN for professional development.

George Siemens is an educator and researcher on learning, technology, networks, analytics, and openness in education. Sheryl Nussbaum Beach is co-founder, of Powerful Learning Practice (http://plpnetwork.com/)and author of, The Connected Educator. Lynn Hilt is an Elementary school principal, K-6 technology integration coach and author of "The Principal's Post" blog.

There's something wrong when teachers are qualifying for food stamps, forced to work second jobs to make ends meet, and foregoing vacations. Surviving on a teachers salary is tough, but our guests say you can actually live well on what teachers earn. Find out how.

Danny Kofke is currently a special education teacher in Georgia. He's written personal finance books, including, "How To Survive (and perhaps thrive) On A Teacher's Salary." Judy Lawrence, MS Ed. is a Financial Counselor, Money Coach and author of the best-selling book, The Budget Kit: Common Cents Money Management Workbook. Joan Young is a 4th grade teacher, a clinical psychologist, and blogger "Finding Ways for All Kids to Flourish". Susan Ochshorn, with more than 15 years of experience, at the local, state, and national levels, is the founder of ECE PolicyWorks, a consulting firm specializing in early care and education policy research, program development, and project management.

Teachers can find grading students' tests and papers time-consuming, painful and stressful. The prospect of your grades being challenged by students and parents adds to the angst. Today our guests talk openly about the perils and challenges of grading and how to reduce the stress and better manage the process.

Ken O'Connor is an independent consultant on assessment, grading and reporting; a staff development presenter and facilitator in 45 states in the USA, 9 provinces in Canada, in 15 countries; and author of The School Leaders Guide to Grading, Solution Tree. John Tierney was a professor of American government for almost twenty-five years, most of that time at Boston College (retired). He later taught American government and American history at an independent high school for girls (Boston area). Josh Stumpenhorst is a junior high Language Arts and Social Science teacher as well as an active blogger (stumpteacher.blogspot.com) and tweeter (@stumpteacher)(2012 Illinois Teacher of the Year). Jerry Blumengarten taught for 32 years at inner city NY school (one of the worst neighborhoods), grades 6-9.

The national discussion of standardized testing was ratcheted up a notch when five schools in Seattle voted to boycott a standard test. In this segment we interview one of the leaders of the boycott and get some views on what impact, if any, this strategy will likely have on the practice of testing.

Jesse Hagopian teaches history at Garfield High School, the site of the historic boycott of the MAP test in 2013. He was recipient of the 2012 Abe Keller Foundation award for “excellence and innovation in peace education.” Celine Coggins is the founder and CEO of Teach Plus, a former teacher and current Mind Trust Education Entrepreneur Fellow. Patrick Riccards, CEO of ConnCAN, has more than 20 years of communications political strategy under his belt.

Student bodies have changed in dramatic ways. There are more differences in your classroom than ever, but many of these differences are below the surface. Children of divorced parents, children of single parents, children in blended families, children with LGBT parents, children from homeless families and military families all bring a different set of issues into your classroom. What do you need to know to manage these new classroom dynamics?

Eileen Kugler is author of Innovative Voices in Education: What It Takes to Engage Diverse Communities. Lisa King is co-author of "Today's Families: Who Are We & Why Does it Matter?" (Exchange magazine). Heather Wolpert-Gawron is an award-winning middle school teacher. Peter DeWitt (Ed.D.)a principal in Upstate, NY and is the author of Dignity for All: Safeguarding LGBT Students.

In the wake of the Newtown tragedy school teachers and administrators are showing heightened concerns about violence of all sorts. But is imaginary gun play among young kids really a threat? Some schools are responding by with new zero tolerance policies on violent play. Should toy guns and gun play be banned in schools?.

Nancy Carlsson-Paige is a professor of education at Lesley University and a co-founder of Lesley's masters degree program in conflict resolution and peaceable schools, as well as co-author, The War Play Dilemma. Jane Katch is a teacher who has explored children's violent fantasies and aggressive behavior. She is the author of Under Deadman's Skin: Discovering the Meaning of Children's Violent Play. Peter DeWitt Ed.D has been a principal in Upstate, NY since 2006. He blogs at Finding Common Ground for Education Week and is the author of Dignity for All. Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed., over 20 years in the field of early childhood education.

In this segment our guests explain how personal learning networks are empowering teachers to reform education from the inside out and how the growth of these networks is empowering teachers in unprecedented ways.

Will Richardson is author of Personal Learning Networks: Using the Power of Connections to Transform Education. Lynne Schrum, PhD, is co-author of Leading 21st-Century Schools. Jason Flom is the Director of Learning Platforms at Q.E.D. Foundation where he works to cultivate, inspire and build learning communities dedicated to transformational learning practices.