The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast

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Does the communication in your classroom or school promote dignity? This is a problem that that the organization UNITE is working to solve. In this episode Karren Minalga discusses the Dignity Index and shares how educators can create a classroom climate that promotes dignity and helps build a classroom culture that promotes belonging, connection, and achievement. 

Links:

Dignity Index

Dr. Donna Hicks (mentioned in episode)

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Policy researcher Weade' James shares research that she and her colleagues at the Center for American Progress conducted regarding new teacher induction programs. In this episode we discuss the findings of her research and what supports new and experienced teachers should receive from induction programs.

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Cheryl Randle is an instructional specialist helping teachers and administrators support students. In this conversation she shares how she approaches finding the clues to help teachers motivate students.

Cheryl's website

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No student ever was successful without developing self-regulation skills, which is harder than ever for students to develop. In this conversation, Danielle Larsen shares how she teaches yoga in the classroom specifically to promote and develop self-regulation within students. We discuss how she approaches her work and Danielle shares some tips for teachers.

Rise Yoga-Danielle Larsen's website

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In the second part of our series on building communities of practice around social emotional learning through the Social Emotional Learning Alliance, we share a conversation with Megan Lyons and Beth Rice. Megan and Beth joined with a group of educators in North Carolina to form the Social Emotional Learning Alliance for North Carolina or SEL 4NC. In this episode they share the work that the Alliance is conducting in North Carolina, telling how they got started in 2023 to their current (and future) work.

Links:

SEL4NC website

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Jim Vetter the executive director of the Social Emotional Learning Alliance for the United States-SEL4US- shares how this collection of state alliances supports classroom teachers and schools to develop and promote strong social emotional learning initiatives. This is the first of a two part series featuring the work of educators within SEL 4US.

Links

https://sel4us.org/ Social Emotional Learning Alliance for the US website

https://sel4us.org/in-your-state/ State alliance websites

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Does your school's detention program do little to teach students how to make better choices in the future? Many do because detention is not used as a learning opportunity. In this episode Leslie Trundy shares how talking students on a hike as an alternative to after school detention actually works as a teaching opportunity and changes detention from punishment to community building. 

Links

Outdoor Skills Leadership class mentioned in episode

Maine Public Media story about detention hikes

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Aspen Institute Senior Fellow Laura Schifter shares about her work at This Is Planet Ed-part of the Aspen Institute's Energy and Environment Program. This Is Planet Ed an initiative to unlock the power of education as a force for climate solutions to empower the rising generation to lead a sustainable and resilient future. In this conversation we discuss why learning about climate action should be part of the content in all classes and we'll share some actionable ideas for classrooms and schools. 

Links:

This Is Planet Ed

Laura Schifter, Ed.D. 

Subject to Climate - teacher resources

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It's happened to all of us we have to teach grammar and our teeth clench because we hate it. Almost all teachers have some writing instruction, but the grammar lessons remind us of all the red ink on our own papers when we were in school-so we find work arounds and avoid. In this episode Patty McGee, co-author of the new book Not Your Granny's Grammar, shares that it doesn't have to be like that.

Links

Patty’s website

Not Your Granny’s Grammar book from Corwin Press

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School-based nature educator Kyra Stephenson shares how she developed the nature-based learning program at her school in New York and shares stories about how this program promotes learning with her students. 

Links from episode

Children & Nature Network Resources for Schools

Nature Mind Solutions website

Rochester Ecology Partners website-partner organization mentioned in episode