Classroom Conversations

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Classroom Conversations is the place for teachers to share and learn. Presented by the Georgia Department of Education and Georgia Public Broadcasting, each episode features Georgia educators who are teaching and reaching students in innovative and impact

Georgia Public Broadcasting


    • May 21, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 95 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Classroom Conversations

    Episode 609: Health Barriers to Learning Series: What is an Asthma-friendly School?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 37:33


    More than 12% of Georgia's school-age children are affected by asthma. In the continuation of our Health Barriers to Learning series, we explore this often overlooked problem in our schools and learn how the creation of asthma-friendly spaces can improve student learning. Join us in conversation with Dr. Maisha Otway, principal at College Park Elementary, and Daija Norwood, fifth-grade teacher at High Point Elementary, to learn more about asthma-friendly practices.

    Episode 608: Teach in the Peach: Making Georgia the #1 State for Teachers to Teach

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 40:50


    As Georgia kicks off its new “Teach in the Peach” campaign, we're celebrating the passion and purpose behind the profession with stories from the classroom, campus, and beyond. Join us in conversation with 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year, Christy Todd, along with Jay Lovett and Jonathan Feicht. Whether you're a veteran, a newbie, or just curious—this episode is for you. Let's talk recruitment, retention, and the future of teaching in Georgia.

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    Episode 607: A Top Issue to Watch in Schools: The Importance of Showing Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 39:21


    Be present and accounted for in learning the strategies that address chronic absenteeism. Hear Dr. Duke Bradley III (superintendent, Newton County Schools) and Dr. Dana Rickman (president and CEO, GPEE) as they discuss how to improve student attendance.

    ceo schools showing up hear dr newton county schools
    Episode 606: Inspiring Student Innovation: The Modern Day Science Fair

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 35:34


    Put STEM theory into practice with the modern day science fair! Join us in conversation with Shelley Kozowski, Science Fair Coordinator at Whitewater High School and Laura Brewer, the program director of the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair.

    Episode 309: Music In Our Schools: Building A Collaborative Community

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 27:10


    To celebrate Arts in Education month, we're rerunning one of our favorite arts episodes! Join us in conversation with music teachers, Melissa Delman and Michael Kobito to learn how music can develop a greater sense of community and collaboration in our classrooms.

    Episode 313: Mathematics Throughout the Building: Empowering Students

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 20:06


    In honor of Pi Day, we're rerunning this special episode with tips on getting students excited about numbers in math class and beyond! Join us in conversation with Seticia Smith of Oak Hill Middle School to learn more.

    Episode 605: Health Barriers to Learning Series: Removing Barriers to Primary Healthcare through Local Partnerships

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 26:42


    In this installment of our Health Barriers to Learning series, we offer an uplifting tale of local healthcare partnerships providing resources that help student health and learning flourish. Join us in conversations with Dr. Katina Cooper of Grady County Schools to learn more.

    Episode 604: Health Barriers to Learning Series: A Whole Child, Collaborative Approach to Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2025 46:06


    When students are struggling with health conditions, educators can respond with multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) to help their students succeed under difficult circumstances. Join us for the continuation of our Health Barriers to Learning series with guests Ashley Pitts and Emily McCracken of the Colquitt County School District.

    Episode 603: Health Barriers to Learning Series: The Impact of a School-based Health Center in Rural Georgia

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 28:35


    A school nurse and a teacher work together to overcome a major barrier to learning: access to health services. Join us for the kickoff of our special series of episodes on Health Barriers to Learning with guests Amanda Dubreuiel and Shannon Bynum of Ben Hill County Middle School. 

    Episode 602: The Rise of Student Innovation: Teaching Students to Design and Protect Their Original Works

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 40:46


    Want to encourage student innovation? Foster the spirit of invention! Join us in conversation with Scott Frank, Roxanne Moore, and Julia Varnedoe to learn more about student invention and intellectual property's role in protecting student ideas.

    Episode 601: 2025 Georgia Teacher of the Year: You Matter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 35:39


    2025 Georgia Teacher of the Year Holly Witcher has 23 years in education. In our season 6 premiere, Witcher reflects on her journey as a special education teacher at Tesnatee Gap Elementary, her love for overcoming challenges, and the joy of celebrating student growth. Tune in for a heartwarming conversation with one of Georgia's most beloved educators!

    Episode 515: Computer Science Leadership: Incorporating AI

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 31:23


    Looking to bring AI into your classroom with confidence? Join us with Amber Jones, a certified computer science educator and co-designer of AI for Georgia, to explore accessible tools, ethical considerations, and hands-on strategies for teaching AI to students.

    Episode 514: Making Beats with Code: Algorithm of Action

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 31:07


    Tech and creativity join forces in this episode of Classroom Conversations! Join us in our conversation with Tiffany Jones to learn how she and her students make beats with code.

    Episode 513: Robot Friends: Tools to Solve Problems

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 33:59


    Robots are revolutionizing K-12 classrooms—enhancing STEM learning, automating tasks, and sparking innovation! Join us in conversation with Robert Kraushaar and Tyler Kinner to learn more.

    Episode 512: Integrated Curriculum in a Shared Environment: It's All-Inclusive

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2024 30:59


    Looking to make STEM accessible for all students? Join us in conversation with Abbie Hudson and Lindsey Cook of Harris County School District to learn how!

    Episode 212: Assume The Best: Tips From A Veteran-Turned-Teacher

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 30:56


    Happy Veterans Day! How does teacher military experience feed classroom community? Find out in this special rerun episode with Josh Adee of Columbia County Alternative School.

    Episode 511: Digital Creativity: Allow Space to Create

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 32:02


    Looking to encourage student creativity with technology, but not sure where to start? Join us in conversation with Mike Afdahl to learn practical tips that will get your students excited about sharing their ideas!

    Episode 510: Let's Talk Vaping: Partnerships That Promote Healing

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2024 31:32


    We are facing a serious problem in our schools: underage vaping. Join us for this week's Red Ribbon episode of Classroom Conversations with Drew Hayes of Forsyth County Schools.

    Episode 509: School Social Workers: Teachers' and Students' First Line of Defense

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2024 39:35


    When it comes to student learning, we need to assess the full picture. School social workers are an integral part of this whole child approach. Join us in conversation with Dr. Abifee Thomas and Caitlin Tripp of Atlanta Public Schools to learn more!

    Episode 508: Cybersecurity Education: Be Discerning and Open to Learning

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2024 29:52


    Technology-use in education is on the rise, so how can we keep our students safe from cyber attacks? Join us in conversation with cybersecurity expert Lakecia Gray of Gwinnett County Public Schools to learn more.

    Episode 507: Computer Science Leadership: Tech in Everyday Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2024 23:21


    Technology should help rather than hinder student learning. How can we encourage positive technology use? Join us in conversation with Saundra Watts of Cobb County to learn more!

    Episode 506: Effective Questioning: Getting Students Thinking Deeper

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 28:30


    Can we ask you a question? Are you interested in strategies to get your students to think critically? Join us in conversation with Dr. Misty Givens of Henry County to learn how effective questioning can get your students to think about subjects on a deeper level.

    Episode 307: Read-Alouds For All Grades: Building Confidence And Growing Vocabulary

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 25:00


    What can the simple art of reading aloud do for student comprehension? Join us in conversation with Jordan Motsinger of Cobb County Schools for this special rerun episode of Classroom Conversations.

    Episode 505: Collaborative Learning: Providing a Safe Space to Think

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2024 27:24


    Take learning to the next level by encouraging students to work together! Join us in conversation with Stephanie Sisk of Fayette County Public Schools to learn more about collaborative learning.

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    Episode 504: Mathematics Storytelling: Connecting Math to Students' Lives

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2024 27:28


    Unlock understanding in mathematics with the power of storytelling! Join us in conversation with Jabal Moss of the Richmond County School System to learn how.

    Episode 503: Visual Literacy: Strategies to Use Across Content Areas

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2024 35:22


    Visual literacy practices can help our students in all subject areas. Join us in conversation with Anne Aurand, an art educator for North Paulding High School to learn more!

    Episode 502: Dialogue Circles: Listening to Understand

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2024 28:28


    Looking to improve communication with your students? Join us in conversation with Ashleigh Wright of Southeast Bulloch County High School to learn how dialogue circles can make a difference in your classroom!

    Episode 501: Self-Regulation Strategies: Calming the Storm Within

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2024 30:06


    Calm your students by teaching them these practical self-regulation strategies. Join us in conversation with Amy Beasley and Mary Simmons in our very special Season 5 premiere!

    Episode 424: 2024 Georgia Teacher Of The Year: Connecting Students To Their Creative Superpower

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2024 38:23


    Join us in conversation with the 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year, Christy Todd, for our very special Season 4 finale! Tune in to hear her insights on the power of student creativity in the classroom!

    Episode 423: Good Vibes Only: Authentic Teaching for Student Well-being

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024 27:42


    Improving student well-being improves their educational experience! Join us in conversation with Seth Winstead of Rome High School to learn more.

    Episode 422: Literacy Leadership: Instructional Materials

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2024 24:47


    Students are getting excited about reading at Randolph County Elementary School! Join us in conversation with Principal Heather Melton to learn more.

    Episode 421: Literacy Leadership: Interventions in Grades 4th-12th

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2024 36:35


    Want to help your students to love reading? Enter literacy interventions! Join us in conversation with Amanda Phelps, Assistant Principal of Wayne County High School, to learn more!

    Episode 420: Literacy Leadership: Community Engagement

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2024 41:26


    How can we maximize the impact of our literacy efforts in our schools and communities? Learn how in our conversations with Ronda Hightower and Ronda Walker of Laurens County Schools.

    Episode 419: Leadership Series: School Safety

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2024 33:51


    Support learning by supporting school safety! Join us in conversation with Dr. Grant Rivera and Chuck Gardner of Marietta City Schools to learn more.

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    Episode 418: Family Engagement: Essential for Student Success

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 34:14


    How can we build connections between families and schools that benefit our students? Join us in conversation with Laura Bucio and Nikki Huckaby of Rome City Schools to learn more!

    Episode 417: Gamifying the Classroom: Level Up!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2023 39:52


    ​​​​​​​Add an element of fun to get your students interested in classroom standards! Join us in conversation with Autumn Sutton of the University of North Georgia and Brandon Murry of Fayette County Public Schools to learn how to gamify learning in your classroom.

    Episode 416: Literacy Leadership: Georgia Council on Literacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2023 24:39


    Hey teachers! Join us in conversation with Katie Seymour of the Georgia Council on Literacy and Putnam County Primary School for another extra special episode on literacy leadership!

    Episode 415: Operation Graduation: Planning for the Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2023 35:34


    Hey teachers! You know the journey to graduation starts well before students cross the stage. To learn more about what graduation coaches are doing to improve graduation rates, join us in conversation with Shaniqua Caldwell and Amanda Campbell of Peach County High School.

    Episode 414: Literacy Leadership: Screeners and Interventions

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 27:38


    Looking to improve reading skills in your classroom? Join us in conversation with Beth Herod, Early Learning and Elementary Curriculum Director for Gordon County Schools to learn how to implement skill checks and interventions to improve student literacy!

    Episode 413: Building A School Community: Feeling Connected To A Home Away From Home

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2023 33:45


    Want to create a vibrant school community to help your students engage in learning? Join us in conversation with Jacob Runyon and Marcella Baker of Paulding County to learn more!

    Episode 412: Starting Middle And High School: Encouraging Students To Blaze Their Own Paths

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2023 40:22


    How can we better support our students starting middle and high school? Join us in conversation with Newton County's Laura Lambert and Muscogee County's Vanessa Ellis to get some transformative tips!

    Episode 411: Leadership Series: Building Leadership Capacity And Improving Staff Retention

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 24:55


    How can we get ahead of teacher burnout and retain staff in our schools? Join us in conversation with Principal Jeff Cher of Eastside High School to learn the secrets of building leadership capacity.

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