Top Tenn Teaching

Hello and welcome to Top Tenn Teaching. We are your hosts, Derrick Crabtree and Kelsey Cansler, and this is the podcast where we discuss all things teaching.  As we promised in the last episode, we are now coming at you with weekly episodes and cannot wait to share some awesome new content with all of you. Be sure you are subscribed to the show so that you can get first dibs on downloading the new episodes each and every Friday. Today in honor of the new year, we are sitting down to talk about our goals for the year. Some are personal, some are professional, and some are somewhere in between, but we hope that this episode will get you inspired to set your own big goals for this year both in and out of the classroom. 

Top Tenn Teacher Tips

• Derrick: Screencast videos - (Screencast = recording video of your screen with audio from a microphone to create a video presentation.) Use a screencasting tool. Screencastify’s Chrome extension works well. Students can create a presentation in Google Slides and then record themselves presenting it. Screencastify uploads the video directly to their Google Drive and YouTube accounts, so the video can be shared with a link or embedded on a website.
• Kelsey: Rock, Paper, Scissors for end of day dismissal.

If you are loving the show, be sure to leave us a rating and review on whatever podcasting app you listen from. Those reviews help keep the show going and help others find us each week.  Send us a screenshot of your review, and we will send you one of our awesome stickers!!!!  Trust me when I say, our stickers are super awesome. 

Recommendations

• Derrick: Instinctive Influencers podcast. Podcast by two military men who discuss what it means to be a person of influence and leadership. Episodes are available. First two are amazing. Great conversation. Good content for anyone. 
• Kelsey: First Chapter Friday-I’m starting this this week

Quote: “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” - Mother Teresa

In this episode, we sit down to discuss our top five favorite Christmas films and how they relate to teaching. We didn’t share our lists before the show so this episode is completely unscripted. What you hear is what you get...consider it an early Christmas present from your Top Tenn Teaching family.

In this episode, we are talking to Dr. Chad Smith. Dr. Smith is a high school principal as well as a professor for a graduate program here in East Tennessee. We sat down with Dr. Smith to discuss the value of continuing your education as an educator. So many teachers are going back to school to get a Master’s, EdS, or even doctorate degree for different reasons such as a pay raise, having the education needed to pursue administration, or even just for personal development to be the best teacher possible.

In our conversation, we talk about how Dr. Smith encourages his staff to further their education through not only graduate programs, but specific professional developments as well. We also get down to the nitty gritty of graduate programs and what you should look for if wanting to pursue an advanced degree.

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Ask a Manager Podcast
• Maniacs in the Middle

In today’s episode, we are listing the top ten things that we wish we knew before becoming teachers. I have been teaching for 9 years and Kelsey has been teaching for 4, but there are definitely things that we wish we had known prior to entering the education field.  None of these things would have changed our decision to become educators, but they are things that would have made our experiences less challenging.

Mentioned in the Show:

• 101 Ways to Ditch That Textbook with G Suite
• Newspaper Generator

WE'RE BAAAAACK!!! We have a brand new season with brand new episodes! We even have a brand new surprise waiting for you at the end of this episode. 

In this episode, we interview Kelsey Cansler. Kelsey is a middle school language arts teacher who is passionate about education, running, and podcasting. In this interview we talk to Kelsey about her educational experience at every level, what she enjoys about teaching, and what we can expect from her moving forward!

Resources in this Episode:

• EDU in 90
• Calm

 Connect with Us:

• Twitter
• Instagram

In this episode, I interview the textbook ditcher himself, Matt Miller. Matt Miller is a teacher, blogger and presenter from Indiana. He has infused technology and innovative teaching methods in his classes for more than 10 years. He is the author of the book Ditch That Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your Classroom and writes at the Ditch That Textbook blog about using technology and creative ideas in teaching.

Connect with Matt Miller

• Twitter
• Blog

Resources Mentioned in the Show

Recommendations & Tips

• Shake Up Learning by Kasey Bell
• PodcastPD: #Trypod 30 Days of Stacey
• Alice Keeler Tweet about Collaborative Slides

Blogs

• http://www.spencerauthor.com/
• http://www.coolcatteacher.com/ 
• https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/

More...

• Google Teacher Tribe: Episode 24
• TEDTalk by Seth Godin: The Tribes We Lead
• Anchor App
• Ditch Summitt
• How to Fix the Future by Andrew Keen
• Teach Like a PIRATE by Dave Burgess

In this episode, I interview one of my #eduheroes: Todd Nesloney. Todd is a principal, author, speaker, and much more. In this interview, we discuss the importance of getting connected and sharing your story. Todd Nesloney is the Principal at a PreK-5 school in Texas. He is an award winning author for his work in co-authoring “Kids Deserve It!” and “Flipping 2.0: Practical Strategies for Flipping Your Class” and his brand new release “Stories from Webb”. Todd is passionate about education and innovation. Todd was a classroom teacher for 7 years before taking the leap straight from classroom teacher to campus principal in Navasota, Texas. The one thing that is clear about Todd when you hear him speak or talk is his immense love for doing what’s best for kids despite limitations. Todd also hosts a iTunes Top Rated podcast series called “Kids Deserve It” with Adam Welcome and “Sparks in the Dark” with Travis Crowder as they interview inspiring educators and allow them to share their stories. Todd actively blogs and share his stories through many different social media avenues, especially Twitter.

Top Tenn Tech Tip: End the school year with Epic Review Olympics (free templates!) by Matt Miller

Todd Nesloney

• Twitter
• Kids Deserve It!
• Stories From Webb
• Sparks in the Dark 

Feedback

• Twitter: @toptennteaching or @mrcrabtreeces
• Email: [email protected]
• Website
• Flipgrid
• Padlet

  In this episode, I discuss my journey into podcasts, podcasting, and some of my favorite podcasts. #Trypod is a social media movement to get more people listening and involved in the podcast universe. 

Top Tenn Tech Tip: Screencastify

#Trypod Recommendations:

1. Google Teacher Tribe
2. House of #EDtech
3. Podcast PD
4. Cult of Pedagogy
5. Teaching Keating

Podcasters to Connect With:

• Matt Miller & Kasey Bell
• Chris Nesi
• Stacy Lindes & AJ Bianco
• Jennifer Gonzalez
• Wes Kieschnick

Feedback

• Twitter: @toptennteaching or @crabtreehms
• Email: [email protected]
• Website
• Flipgrid
• Padlet

In this episode, I interview Melissa Crabtree. We discuss the importance and value of career exploration and CTE in secondary education. This is some amazing content from and amazing educator!

Top Tenn Tech Tip

• Quizlet
• Quizlet Live
• Students playing Quizlet Live... and in action!

Content

• Career and Technical Education (CTE)
• Career Exploration
• TN Promise

Contact

• Melissa Crabtree - [email protected]
• Derrick Crabtree 
  • Twitter - @crabtreehms & @toptennteaching
  • Facebook - Top Tenn Teaching
  • Instagram - @toptennteaching

Feedback

• Flipgrid
• Padlet
• Email

In this episode, I interview my sister, Katie Miller. Katie is a Recruiting Coordinator for Clayton Home Building Group in Maryville, Tennessee. Katie has a unique perspective to offer growing up, and currently living in, an educators' family. Katie has had a unique learning experience in education and there are many students out there today like her. Katie is a prime example of the value of a growth mindset and flexible learning environments for all. 

• Katie Miller 
• Top Tenn Tech Tip via Alice Keeler
• To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee