Ever wondered how one person's advocacy can reshape educational policies and create lasting change for students and their families? Hear from Debbie Smith, Vice President of Government Relations at Curriculum Associates, as she shares her compelling journey of advocating for her son and how it sparked a broader movement for change within school districts. Learn the strategies she employed, from leveraging research to engaging with key decision-makers, and discover how you, too, can become an effective advocate for improvement in your educational community.

Beyond individual advocacy, Debbie dives into the power of collaboration among educators, highlighting the importance of mutual support in professional development. Join us for an episode filled with practical advice and inspiring stories that illuminate the transformative power of dedicated advocacy and collaboration.

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Unlock the secrets to classroom engagement that go beyond academics, setting up students for real-world success! Join us for an enlightening conversation with Brian Benavides, National Director of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates, as he shares his experiences from diverse school districts. Together, we explore the power of teaching essential life skills like turn-taking and conversation extension, and the crucial practice of resetting social skills after breaks. These strategies not only energize classroom environments but also elevate students' communication skills, preparing them to thrive both in school and in life.

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Unlock the secrets to transforming middle school math education with visual tools and manipulatives that truly make a difference. Liz Peyser, our esteemed guest and National Director of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates, joins us to reveal how visual thinking strategies can close understanding gaps for students facing limited instruction time. Discover the power of algebra tiles and visual models in aiding the critical shift from concrete to abstract thought, essential for high school success. Liz shares actionable tips to seamlessly integrate these techniques into daily classroom routines, ensuring students build strong procedural fluency and comprehension without feeling like they're using "juvenile" tools.

Read Naneka Brathwaite's blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog/manipulatives-in-math
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Frances Frei, a distinguished professor at Harvard Business School, graces our podcast to unravel the secrets behind building trust in education. Her insights into the trust triangle—comprising authenticity, logic, and empathy—can transform how educators connect with students. Embrace the opportunity to learn how to enhance your teaching style, boost student engagement, and tackle those "wobbles" when trust falters. Frances shares her guidance on diagnosing and mending trust breaks to strengthen teacher-student relationships, ensuring that educators can maintain a nurturing and effective learning environment.

Watch Frances' Ted Talk: bit.ly/2rn9Yz0
Listen to Fixable: apple.co/4fteKSs
Read Curriculum Associates' blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog
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What if you could transform your classroom into a harmonious sanctuary with just the power of music? Join us on this episode of the Extraordinary Educators podcast as we welcome the inspiring Julene Jessel, an Education Technology Fellow and former educator, who passionately shares her insights on weaving music into the fabric of daily classroom routines. Julene reveals how music not only helps students manage their emotions but also fosters a sense of community, ensuring they leave school with a smile. From calming tunes to energizing morning affirmations with Snoop Dogg's children's music, Julene offers practical strategies to craft a positive and tranquil learning environment. She enriches our discussion with valuable tips on how music can inspire innovative educational practices. This conversation serves as a guide for educators eager to integrate music into their teaching methods.

Read Julene's blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog/music-in-the-classroom
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Unlock the secrets to supporting older striving readers with Josh Hall, Senior National Director of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates. Join us as Josh shares his wealth of experience and insights into helping students in the upper grades tackle the challenge of decoding complex, multi-syllabic words. Whether you're teaching math, science, or any subject, you’ll discover practical strategies that can be seamlessly integrated into any classroom to enhance students' reading abilities and overall learning experience.

Josh introduces high-leverage techniques from experts like Dr. Anita Archer and Dr. Devin Kearns, focusing on word attack strategies such as chunking and looping. Learn how vowel recognition can be a game-changer for students struggling with reading, and why understanding syllables is crucial. These methods are not just for reading teachers; they're essential tools for educators across all disciplines to ensure their students can read and comprehend the tasks at hand. Don't miss this opportunity to equip yourself with the skills needed to empower your students and transform their educational journey.

Read Curriculum Associates' blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog
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What if small group reading instruction is the missing puzzle piece in your classroom strategy? Join us as we sit down with the passionate and insightful Emily Castelli, a dedicated second-grade teacher from West Virginia, who will forever change the way you think about the science of reading. Emily unpacks common misconceptions and highlights the enduring importance of small group interventions, even as the educational landscape shifts towards structured literacy approaches. Her recommendations offer educators practical tools to ensure their teaching methods are research-based and effective.

Our conversation with Emily is a highlight of passion and expertise that promises to inspire educators everywhere. We delve into how small group strategies can seamlessly integrate into a multi-tiered system of support, enhancing tier one education for all students. As we wrap up, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Emily and invite our listeners to continue the conversation with us on social media. Your feedback, topic suggestions, and guest nominations are what fuel our community. Subscribe, leave us a review, and let's continue to explore the transformative world of education together.

Read Emily's blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog/reading-instruction-strategies
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Unlock the secrets of engaging middle school math classrooms with Stacy Monsman, Curriculum Associates' Math Content and Pedagogy Specialist. This episode promises transformative strategies that will breathe life into your teaching practice. Stacy shares her wisdom on the unique dynamics of middle school environments, where educators juggle content mastery and the nuances of adolescent growth. Discover how movement-based activities can elevate learning, encouraging students to engage with math concepts actively and meaningfully.

Prepare to be inspired as Stacy walks us through practical techniques like quick writes and interactive peer discussions. These strategies help activate prior knowledge and foster collaborative learning experiences that captivate students' attention. Stacy's innovative approaches, such as using journal prompts to drive student movement and conversation, are designed to keep learners invested in their educational journey. Don't miss out on these invaluable insights that offer creative and effective methods to transform middle school classrooms into hubs of higher-level thinking and engagement.

Read Stacy's blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog/math-for-middle-schoolers
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Renea Arias transformed her daughter's literacy struggles into a groundbreaking educational journey, and you won't want to miss the insights she shares with us. From her successful career as a research scientist to becoming a passionate advocate for literacy, Renae's story is nothing short of inspiring. She unveils her systematic approach to literacy that not only changed her daughter's academic fate, leading her to thrive in college, but also supported her son's success. Through Renea's lens, literacy emerges as a powerful tool for unlocking children's potential, and her journey emphasizes it as one of the greatest gifts a parent can offer.

In this episode, Renea also shares heartfelt and practical advice for new teachers, whether they're fresh out of college or transitioning from other careers. She stresses the importance of focusing on student happiness and well-being, essential elements for creating a positive and nurturing educational environment. By staying true to yourself and striving for excellence, you can enjoy a fulfilling teaching journey that benefits both you and your students.

Read Renea's blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog/teaching-second-career
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What if a simple incentive could radically transform your students' motivation? Join us this week on The Extraordinary Educators Podcast as we sit down with Sandra Brown, a passionate school-based teacher leader from Philadelphia. Sandra's journey is nothing short of inspiring, as she shares how introducing small trophies, medals, and even homemade spaghetti dramatically increased student engagement with their i-Ready lessons. Listen in to discover her innovative strategies and practical tips for monitoring progress and tailoring rewards to meet individual student needs.

But Sandra's story is just the beginning. This episode also dives into broader strategies for educators looking to implement effective motivational techniques in their own classrooms and schools. Connect with us on social media to share your experiences, gain more inspiration, and even suggest topics or volunteer to be a guest on future episodes. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and remember to stay extraordinary on your educational journey.

Read Sandra's blog: CurriculumAssociates.com/blog/how-to-empower-students
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