In this episode, we're bringing learning to life through drama! From tableaus to role plays to monologues or even full-length plays, I'll share how drama can transform your classroom. Discover how drama fits in with what you are already doing and helps students become more fluent readers, boosts confidence, deepens comprehension, and makes learning stick long after the lesson ends. I share some great resources that the site Drama Notebook has compiled that you can use in your classroom to make learning come to life.

Major Choice is a career mentorship program for students with and without disabilities. The program emphasizes personalized mentorship, self-exploration, and career exploration, aiming to help students find fulfilling careers. Educators and professionals are encouraged to become mentors or volunteers. https://www.majorchoice.com/home-page5pdqllzu62926234

Check out Drama Notebook: https://www.dramanotebook.com/

Chris Mukiibi, a high school chemistry teacher, discusses his approach to classroom behavior management through a nervous system perspective. He emphasizes the importance of evoking growth emotions (curiosity, safety, play) over survival emotions (fear, rage, panic) to foster a cooperative learning environment. Mukiibi shares strategies for managing behavior, such as using visuals and faster feedback loops. He also highlights the significance of understanding the emotional states of students (safety, stress, survival) and tailoring responses accordingly. 

Major Choice is a career mentorship program for students with and without disabilities. The program emphasizes personalized mentorship, self-exploration, and career exploration, aiming to help students find fulfilling careers. Educators and professionals are encouraged to become mentors or volunteers. https://www.majorchoice.com/home-page5pdqllzu62926234

Check out Drama Notebook: https://www.dramanotebook.com/

Melissa Milner and Andrea discuss their recent activities and upcoming plans. Andrea shared her experience serving on a grand jury in Bristol County, which involved hearing cases for three months. She also took a cruise with MSC Cruises, highlighting the ship's unique features like mozzarella cheese making. Melissa visited the Grand Canyon, Iceland, and Paris integrating her travel experiences into her teaching. They also discussed the Massachusetts Computer Using Educators (MassCUE) fall conference at Gillette Stadium on October 14-15, 2026, and a mini-conference on August 4, 2026, focusing on learner variability in AI. Andrea also talked about her many years working with interns. 

Major Choice is a career mentorship program for students with and without disabilities. The program emphasizes personalized mentorship, self-exploration, and career exploration, aiming to help students find fulfilling careers. Educators and professionals are encouraged to become mentors or volunteers. https://www.majorchoice.com/home-page5pdqllzu62926234

Check out Drama Notebook: https://www.dramanotebook.com/

Guest Phaea Crede, a neurodiverse picture book author, discusses her journey from struggling in school due to social discomfort and learning challenges to finding success in writing. She emphasizes the importance of embracing one's uniqueness and shares her writing process, which includes extensive research and list-making. Crede also highlights the challenges of balancing writing with a full-time job and the need for supportive feedback in nurturing young writers. The conversation highlights the benefits of diverse story generating methods, including improv and scripting, and the challenges of overcoming self-doubt in writing.  

Major Choice is a career mentorship program for students with and without disabilities. The program emphasizes personalized mentorship, self-exploration, and career exploration, aiming to help students find fulfilling careers. Educators and professionals are encouraged to become mentors or volunteers. https://www.majorchoice.com/home-page5pdqllzu62926234

Check out Drama Notebook: https://www.dramanotebook.com/

Debbie Hattery, a substitute teacher in Massachusetts, shared her journey from working in higher education policy to becoming a substitute teacher. She emphasized the importance of starting as a substitute para to understand classroom dynamics and recommended arriving early to prepare. Debbie highlighted the need for detailed sub plans, including student names and classroom routines, and suggested using a sub bag with essential items. She also discussed her role as a sub coordinator, focusing on improving the sub community through training, communication, and support. Debbie stressed the value of subbing for personal and professional growth. 

Major Choice is a career mentorship program for students with and without disabilities. The program emphasizes personalized mentorship, self-exploration, and career exploration, aiming to help students find fulfilling careers. Educators and professionals are encouraged to become mentors or volunteers. https://www.majorchoice.com/home-page5pdqllzu62926234

Check out Drama Notebook: https://www.dramanotebook.com/

Faye Bankler Cassell, a certified academic language therapist and dyslexia therapist, discusses her work with parents and children through her website and YouTube channel. She highlights the literacy crisis in the U.S., noting that only 1 in 5 children with dyslexia are labeled and receive services. Faye emphasizes the importance of early intervention and multi-sensory learning. She also discusses the challenges of dyslexia diagnosis and the need for systematic, cumulative, and repetitious instruction to help children decode with fluency. 

Major Choice is a career mentorship program for students with and without disabilities. The program emphasizes personalized mentorship, self-exploration, and career exploration, aiming to help students find fulfilling careers. Educators and professionals are encouraged to become mentors or volunteers. https://www.majorchoice.com/home-page5pdqllzu62926234

Check out Drama Notebook: https://www.dramanotebook.com/

Melissa chats with Leah Crawford who discusses the "Think in English" program, a cognitive acceleration initiative developed at King's College, London. The program, which has been adapted for English language teaching, aims to enhance children's critical thinking and schema development through engaging lessons. Crawford explains the program's origins, its focus on Piagetian and Vygotskian theories, and its application in teaching children to classify texts and understand allegory. The discussion includes practical examples and the importance of collaborative learning in fostering intellectual growth.

Major Choice is a career mentorship program for students with and without disabilities. The program emphasizes personalized mentorship, self-exploration, and career exploration, aiming to help students find fulfilling careers. Educators and professionals are encouraged to become mentors or volunteers. https://www.majorchoice.com/home-page5pdqllzu62926234

Check out Drama Notebook: https://www.dramanotebook.com/

Chris Papst, an investigative reporter from Fox 45 News, discusses his eight-year investigation into Baltimore City Public Schools. Despite being one of the most funded school systems, it ranks among the lowest performing. Papst's book, "Failure Factory," reveals systemic issues, including grade-changing practices that led to 12,542 failing grades being changed to passing over four years. He highlights a 30% funding increase over eight years without hiring additional teachers. Papst emphasizes the need for accountability, better educational policies, and community involvement to address these systemic failures.

Major Choice is a career mentorship program for students with and without disabilities. The program emphasizes personalized mentorship, self-exploration, and career exploration, aiming to help students find fulfilling careers. Educators and professionals are encouraged to become mentors or volunteers. https://www.majorchoice.com/home-page5pdqllzu62926234

Check out Drama Notebook: https://www.dramanotebook.com/

Jessica Werner, founder and CEO of North Shore Learning, discusses her journey from teaching to helping teachers avoid burnout. She highlights the need for universal classroom management systems and the value of self-reflection and teacher well-being. Her company, North Shore Learning, offers free resources, webinars, and on-demand courses to support educators.

Major Choice is a career mentorship program for students with and without disabilities. The program emphasizes personalized mentorship, self-exploration, and career exploration, aiming to help students find fulfilling careers. Educators and professionals are encouraged to become mentors or volunteers. https://www.majorchoice.com/home-page5pdqllzu62926234

Check out Drama Notebook: https://www.dramanotebook.com/

Dr. Matt Zakreski, a clinical psychologist specializing in neurodivergent kids, discusses his work with ADHD, autism, giftedness, OCD, and dyslexia. He emphasizes the importance of awareness and accommodations for neurodivergent individuals, highlighting the need for universal design in education. Dr. Matt shares strategies for managing anxiety, such as praising behaviors and adapting environments. Dr. Matt's approach focuses on strengths rather than deficits and aims to support both students and educators.

Major Choice is a career mentorship program for students with and without disabilities. The program emphasizes personalized mentorship, self-exploration, and career exploration, aiming to help students find fulfilling careers. Educators and professionals are encouraged to become mentors or volunteers. https://www.majorchoice.com/home-page5pdqllzu62926234

Check out Drama Notebook: https://www.dramanotebook.com/