Teaching Channel Talks

In this episode of Teaching Channel Talks, Dr. Wendy Amato welcomes Rebecca Kling and Vanessa Ford, authors of the "Advocate Educators Handbook: Creating Schools Where Transgender Students Thrive." Drawing from their personal journeys in advocacy and education, this conversation focuses on the urgent need to support transgender and non-binary students. Learn about their four-pillar approach: educate, affirm, include, and disrupt, and gain valuable insights and practical tips for fostering an inclusive and affirming school environment in this inspiring and informative discussion.

Get the Book: This episode focuses on the pillars discussed in Rebecca and Vanessa's book, Advocate Educators Handbook: Creating Schools Where Transgender Students Thrive, available wherever books are sold.

New Course Offering: Teaching Channel is proud to offer course 5344: Understanding and Affirming Transgender and Non-binary Students which uses the Advocate Educators Handbook along with additional resources and strategies for supporting trans and nonbinary students.

Handbook Extra: Inside the Advocate Educator's Handbook, Rebecca and Vanessa have curated a comprehensive list of additional resources for further exploration.

Know Your Policies: Unsure about the laws and policies in your state? Check out this detailed map from the Movement Advancement Project to stay informed.

In this episode of Teaching Channel Talks, Dr. Wendy Amato welcomes Nathan Estel, Managing Director of Passage Preparation, to discuss the high standards in teacher certification tests and how Passage Preparation is helping educators meet them. Discover how their innovative approach, including diagnostic assessments, customizable study plans, comprehensive study guides, and personalized coaching, ensures teachers are well-equipped for certification and classroom success. Nathan shares insights from his extensive background in education, highlighting the program's unique strategies designed to enhance teaching skills, boost confidence, and ensure classroom readiness. Join us for an essential conversation on supporting educators in meeting certification standards and improving teaching quality across the country.

Resources for Continued Learning

Connect with Nathan Estel on LinkedIn.

Connect with Passage Preparation on Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Teaching Channel is proud to partner with Passage Preparation in supporting continuous professional development for new teachers. Learn more about the teacher certification prep courses available for your state and get ready to conquer your next test!

In this episode of Teaching Channel Talks, host Dr. Wendy Amato discusses teacher burnout with Dr. Jen Johnson, including the THRIV model—a practical burnout management strategy for educators. Dr. Johnson shares the importance of detachment, setting boundaries, and the significance of honoring one's humanness to prevent burnout. Additionally, she highlights strategies such as mindful self-compassion and the importance of community to support educators in managing and preventing burnout.

Resources for Continued Learning

This conversation focuses on the strategies for burnout prevention and recovery included in Dr. Johnson's book, THRIVing After Burnout: A Teacher's Compassionate Guide.

In this discussion, Wendy and Dr. Johnson talk about the Teacher Care Network (TCN) and the THRIV community, learn more and join this free, supportive group of educators on the TCN website.

In this episode of Teaching Channel Talks, host Dr. Wendy Amato welcomes Kristen DiCerbo, Ph.D., Chief Learning Officer at Khan Academy, for an engaging discussion about Khanmigo, the AI-powered tutor and teaching assistant. Discover how this AI tool leverages large language models to help students get unstuck and assist teachers with administrative tasks and lesson planning. In this conversation, Dr. DiCerbo explains the science behind Khanmigo, emphasizing its role in activating prior knowledge and sparking curiosity in students while supporting teachers with customizable lesson hooks and plans.

Resources for Continued Learning

Khanmigo is currently free for teacher use, learn more about this AI-powered digital tool and explore how Khanmigo can be your ultimate teaching assistant!

Learn more about how the AI behind Khanmigo was developed in Kristen's article: How We Built AI Tutoring Tools

In this episode, Kristen talks about using prompt engineering to craft high-quality lesson plans using Khanmigo. Learn more about how Kristen and her team trained Khanmigo's AI to understand key pedagogical principles, curriculum standards, and the diverse needs of learners in her article: Prompt Engineering a Lesson Plan: Harnessing AI for Effective Lesson Planning

During the episode, Kristen and Wendy talk about Khanmigo's integration with iteach's teacher preparation program. Learn more about how these organizations are ensuring new teachers with how to use AI ethically and effectively in their classroom from day one by visiting iteach.

Join host Dr. Wendy Amato in this episode of Teaching Channel Talks as she welcomes Desiree Brown, an early career elementary teacher and the reigning Miss Tobyhanna 2024. This conversation explores Desiree's teaching career, the need to support early career educators, and ways to foster a love of learning in students. Desiree also shares the impact her involvement in pageantry has had in her career, her advocacy for teacher self-care, and her current children's book project.

Resources for Continued Learning

Desiree uses her social platform, "With Love Teaching" to share her teaching experiences but that's not her only endeavor! You can also connect with her on Instagram to learn more about Desiree's pageantry and platform, or check out her website for more teacher resources.

In this episode of Teaching Channel Talks, Laura Balliett, creator of Cool School Comics, joins our host Dr. Wendy Amato to share her journey in making science learning accessible and captivating for every learner. Together, they delve into how these one-page science cartoons engage students and enhance their understanding of scientific concepts. This conversation highlights how Cool School Comics aligns with educational standards, supports flexible learning environments, and meets the diverse needs of educators and learners.

Resources for Continued Learning

Cool School Comics is more than just a comic; it’s a powerful learning tool designed to make scientific concepts accessible to all students. These one-page infographics, accompanied by worksheets, guided notes, and interactive activities, are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and presented in a format that students find engaging. Laura has provided a Free Earth Day Comic for our K12 Hub audience, or you can shop all available Cool School Comics.

In this episode, Laura mentions that Cool School Comics started out as Cool School Rap. Now you can check out Laura's original Order of Operations Rap that started it all!

In this episode of Teaching Channel Talks, Dr. Elizabeth Wilkins, alongside our host Dr. Wendy Amato, discusses the impact of book bans. Wendy and Elizabeth explore how these bans hinder authentic learning by omitting essential themes like violence, mental health, and race. Emphasizing the need for inclusive reading materials, they urge educators to involve students and parents in book selection and foster open discussions despite challenges.

In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Wilkins references book ban data from Pen America, you can learn more about the trend of banning books in America and see the full data here.

Check out the book Dreamland Burning, by Jennifer Latham, which Dr. Wilkins lists as one of the banned books she has used in class.

For our Teaching Channel listeners, Dr. Wilkins has provided downloadable "Banned Bookmarks" for you to print and share with other teachers or your students.

This episode of Teaching Channel Talks features a conversation between Dr. Wendy Amato and Dr. Greg King, the Director of Research from Mindprint Learning, discussing how different cognitive skills in students impact how they process information. They delve into the importance of leveraging cognitive skills for personalized learning, the impact of Mindprint assessments on student growth, and the practical application of data in educational settings to empower students and improve teaching strategies.

If you enjoyed this episode, you can learn more about how MindPrint Learning’s cognitive assessment is helping students identify their strengths and reach their highest potential by visiting their website.

Teaching Channel is proud to partner with MindPrint Learning with a new course that helps teachers who have access to the MindPrint Learning Assessment engage every learner in their classroom. If you’re a part of the MindPrint community, you can check out course 5298: Science of Learning: A Practical Approach to Engaging Every Learner.

In this episode of Teaching Channel Talks, our host, Dr. Wendy Amato, welcomes Dr. Walter Lee, Assistant Professor of Middle/Secondary Education at the University of South Carolina Upstate, to discuss educator mindsets and the importance of positive self-concept. In this conversation, Dr. Lee shares his equity-focused approach for preparing the next generation of educators for the classroom, ensuring they are properly equipped to handle everything thrown at them—including parent-teacher conferences!

If you enjoyed this episode, you can learn more from Dr. Lee on his YouTube channel where he posts more information about the Call Me MiSTER program and tips for improving your mindset and wellbeing.

Dr. Lee is a board member of the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE), an international organization specifically for middle school educators. As the go-to middle school resource for research, best practices, and professional development, AMLE is a community of over 350,000 middle-level educators connecting and supporting each other.

Learn more and join the community!

This episode focuses on self-concept and equity, learn more about the important role these factors play in education in Dr. Lee’s article, Rising Tides, Sinking Boats – A Focus on Equitable Practices.

In this compelling episode of Teaching Channel Talks, Dr. Wendy Amato hosts Dr. Howard Fields III, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and adjunct professor of education at Harris-Stowe State University. In this eye-opening exploration, Howard and Wendy examine challenges in educational equity, unravel the complexities of DEI efforts, and shed light on why a consensus that prioritizes comfort is a disservice to our students.

If you enjoyed this episode, you can learn more from Dr. Fields by visiting his website or listening to his mini-podcast, How to Achieve Educational Equity. He has also provided an Educational Equity Professional Learning Plan for our listeners working toward educational equity within their schools or organizations. In addition, Dr. Fields has authored two books focused on educational equity that are mentioned in this episode:

• Transfers & Open Enrollment: The Denigration of Black School Communities
• How to Achieve Educational Equity

In this episode, Wendy and Howard discuss his work developing and training an Educational Equity GPT. Watch a video to see this AI tool in action or test it for yourself.