Educational discussion with MyEdExpert founder Suzy Pepper Rollins

Making School a Nicer Place A Conversation with Jeff Kubiak Jeff Kubiak is out to make school a nicer, kinder place.  An elementary teacher-turned-principal, Jeff didn't just struggle in school - he hated the place.  One teacher turned him around...and he's still thanking her. What a pleasure this podcast guest is! He believes that school (and the world) can be changed by "random drops of kindness."  Jeff has written a children's book, aptly called, One Drop of Kindness.  Jeff has an inspiring story – from a kid who hated school to trying to make school the best place possible for all kids.  An inspiring guy; a refreshing podcast. • Follow Jeff on Twitter • His book on Amazon • Jeff's bio  

Stations in the Fast Lane!  By Suzy Pepper Rollins Stations can be one of the most impactful instructional frameworks for student-centered learning.  Student autonomy, creative thinking, vocabulary development, student engagement– the potential benefits can be almost awe-inspiring.  But stations can also be a bit misleading.  Students APPEAR to be digging in on the task, but are they really understanding what they are doing? How much are they relying on one another? Crafting truly successful station rotation lessons can be daunting.  This podcast spells out the benefits of station teaching, the biggest question to answer, and “Watch Outs!”  Plus, some tips on implementation issues that can develop, such as student accountability and classroom management tips.  If you teach social studies, here’s a free station rotation lesson ready to go on the branches of government.  This is for deep in the unit, close to assessment time.  This is one of the lessons Suzy uses to model stations during professional development. Includes: card game, error analysis, sort, and agree/disagree.     

What it Feels Like to Have ADHD A Conversation with Kevin J. Roberts What’s it like to have ADHD? Consider some of the traits: difficulty staying on task, distractibility, trouble sitting still, and poor organizational skills.  Now, let’s place these students in a school setting in which success largely depends on being able to: sit in a desk, pay attention, be organized, and stay on task.  Our podcast guest this week knows a lot about the topic.  Kevin J. Roberts has penned numerous books on ADHD and Cyber Addiction.  He also has ADHD and works as a coach for fellow ADHDers.  Next-day pointers for supporting this group of kids and the importance of seeing their strengths. (They are often budding entrepreneurs!) Urgent information for all of us, because this is a group in need of urgent TLC. Kevin talks about what’s highlighted across research: these students’ self-esteem can take a pounding over the school years. A charismatic guy who’s, well, super-smart, Kevin even breaks into song about the ADHD brain – don’t want to miss that!     • “Is ADHD A Gift?” Quick-read article by Kevin • Kevin’s website (You’ll see all of Kevin’s books there – his new one is Schindler’s Gift: How One Man Harnessed ADHD to Change the World) • Kevin’s ADHD Change the World Facebook Page    

The Teenage Brain & How a “Fist Bump” Might Just Help A Conversation with Terence Houlihan As a classroom teacher and school counselor, Terence Houlihan became fascinated with the teenage brain.  This unique time in their lives is one of great change – how can we help them survive…better yet, thrive during this time?  Terence shares some fascinating research, such as how the teenage brain often misreads facial expressions, resulting in defensiveness. Plus, some amazing science about what the sleep-deprived teenage brain looks like – yikes! From their heightened self-awareness to hormonal changes to brain differences, this information is so essential in working with teenagers.  But the most interesting:  there’s actually research on the “fist bump” …didn’t see that coming!    • Terence’s bio page • Follow Terence on Twitter • Terence’s website    

Got Stress? The Zen Teacher is On Call… A Conversation with Dan Tricarico A teacher for over 25 years, Dan Tricarico loves his work, even views his classroom as a sanctuary of sorts.  Teachers like Dan are passionate people.  He, like most of us, chose this career to positively impact the world.  Think about it.  All the students in our classrooms have their own “stories” as Dan calls them.  They’ve got their stuff to deal with – family drama, pressure from grades, hurt feelings from a friend. We have our stuff – the car needs tires, stacks of papers to mark. Now, pile on innumerable tests, pacing guides, meetings, and even school safety. Dan’s two books and his professional development arose from his own experiences with work-related stress.  This inspiring educator provides us with pragmatic strategies that help us stay relaxed, focused, and in the moment with our kids.  Because teachers need to take care of themselves in order to take care of students.  To keep the passion alive, a little self-care if needed…and Dan’s the perfect person to help us take a little weight off our shoulders.   Yippee!  Dan has just posted “Zen Teacher Activity Worksheets.” Self-Care is a Click Away: https://myedexpert.com/vendor/dtricarico/ • Dan’s Website / Blog / Books:  https://www.thezenteacher.com/ • Follow Dan on Twitter  

What Would Captain Kirk Do? Leadership Lessons from Star Trek A Conversation with Jon Wennstrom Jon Wennstrom is a talented, experienced school leader; in fact, he was the 2018 Michigan PTA Principal of the Year.  Wisdom, perspective, and a passion for the work is what he brings to the podcast this week.  As a kid, Jon watched Star Trek with his dad. He observed philosophies of leadership in Captain Kirk, and he uses some of those today in his presentations on effective school leadership. From letting experts do their jobs to getting out of your comfort zone to utilizing technology, Jon’s humble guidance has something for every leader and educator.  In addition, he takes on some of the myths of leadership, such as “It’s all about me.”  Watch for his surprising answer about what he worries about at night.  Plus, Jon brings next day strategies for creating a positive school culture…like “Bust-a-Move Contests.”  This is an inspiring 30 minutes that will lift your day!  • Jon’s website • Follow Jon on Twitter    

The G Word:  A New Film Project About What It’s Like to Be Gifted  A Conversation with Marc Smolowitz  Marc Smolowitz is an award-winning film maker with over 50 successful films in his portfolio.  His new project is called The G Word, which discusses the economic, cultural, and gender diversity of our nation’s gifted and talented population. Marc’s film highlights the educational challenges, as well as the social isolation and emotional sensitivities these children sometimes face. The project reveals a robust community of families and educators who are working hard to meet the needs of gifted children. The director highlights a very special school for profoundly gifted students who are twice exceptional - a must watch for every educator - so inspiring! Throughout his work, misconceptions of giftedness emerge, as well as the tremendous possibilities (and challenges) for this very special group of kids. • Reach Marc via his website • Marc would love for you to follow him on Twitter! Here are several tremendous short videos that you may use with your schools at the links below.  The two mentioned in the podcast:  • “Exceptional Minds” (Vimeo) This is an inspired look at a school for twice exceptional students called Big Minds. • “Who Gets to Be Gifted and Why?” (Vimeo) An interview with Van Jones of CNN in which he shares how many super smart people are incarcerated. • All of Marc's Videos    

Lessons Learned From a Turnaround Principal A Conversation with Dr. Scott Neil Dr. Scott Neil has a passion for struggling learners…because he was one.  His career morphed into being a top turnaround principal, and he’s uncovered some truths along the way.  A key point of our conversation is this: A high number of students being flagged for interventions may indicate the need to examine our core classroom practices.  His wisdom and pragmatism are refreshing! He takes schools on a journey to better align their curricula.  Scott explains what rigor, a word we may get tired of hearing about, really looks like!  Dr. Neil changes the world one school at a time.  His sage guidance and deep experience provides all us with some valuable take-aways for every school.    • Scott on Twitter • Scott’s Website    

Social Media and Student Communication: A Compelling Perspective  A Conversation with Angela Stockman Rather than viewing social media as an inhibitor to our teaching, Angela Stockman makes a compelling case for embracing this medium as a teaching tool.   Truly an innovative thought leader, her perspective on opening new “corridors of learning” for students by utilizing technology to nurture writing is inspiring.  Although she describes herself as a “hot mess” in high school, she clearly has it together as an educator/author!  Look for her guidance in teaching “cool” and “warm” feedback in the classroom. Another overriding theme of this session is a poignant reminder to not make assumptions about our learners’ interests. Angela has graciously shared the most amazing resources on MyEdExpert.  Link to those:   https://myedexpert.com/vendor/angelastockman/ Her Twitter: @angela stockman; Angela’s website:  http://www.angelastockman.com/ Note:  This podcast is purposely situated next to that of Ryan Schaaf’s, who is a digital gaming expert.  Their philosophies about technology in the classroom are quite thought-provoking.

Bringing the Wonder of Math to Students A Conversation with Jerry Burkhart Math is so much more than pacing guides and practice sheets. If that’s the world you have found yourself in, totally understandable… but here’s some first aid! Jerry Burkhart is about math adventure, creativity, and wonderment. He is a math treasure who works with districts to create tasks that move students to really think about math. A big talking point in the podcast: The balance between the speed of math learning and true depth. He is a true believer that we (yes, you!) often underestimate our math abilities. Jerry helps learners see the beauty in math. He also provides some pragmatic guidance for all educators and leaders about best practices in flexible grouping in the math classroom.   • Jerry’s very popular “Intrepid Math Problems” on our site – a whopping $5 to change the math world. • “10 Myths That Hold Bright Math Students Back” by Jerry • Jerry has a fabulous website with free resources for educators.  The one mentioned in the podcast: Creative Math Prompts – all grade levels. • Jerry is the author of Advanced Common Core Math Explorations by Prufrock Press.    

7 Strategies for Student Success By Suzy Pepper Rollins This podcast includes right now ways to create success in all students. From closing the rigor gap to moving every student to academic success, these 7 “Go To” strategies are tweaks, not overhauls. Let’s take a breath, step back, and reflect on some things that we can do today, right now, to make academic success attainable for all. The urgency we sometimes feel to push harder and race through might just be counterproductive. Listen up, take notes, and share with your team. What’s working? What’s not? And what can we ditch?   

Now That’s A Good Question!  A Conversation with Erik Francis Are questioning techniques one of the keys to getting students to go further and dig deeper into concepts? According to our guest, Erik Francis, YES! The author of Now That’s a Good Question! How to Promote Cognitive Rigor Through Classroom Questioning (ASCD) shares how his students used to robotically repeat information back to him…without even the courtesy of a citation. However, he discovered that when he posed a thought-provoking question, things changed.  Faces lit up, conversations were sparked…everything changed.  He is seriously a master of questioning and shares the tremendous outcomes from viewing questions not as assessment items, but as beautifully impactful instructional tools.   • Link to Erik’s website • Erik on Twitter • Erik’s article on projects vs PBL

Unwrapping the “Gifts” of ADHD A Conversation with Kevin Roberts Our podcast guest is extraordinary in many ways.  An author/expert on ADHD, Kevin Roberts also supports those with cyber addictions.  In fact, Kevin was featured in a fascinating 20/20 episode on gaming and screen addiction.  Kevin is both gifted intellectually, has ADHD, and was a former gaming addict – so he knows these topics thoroughly! A captivating speaker, Kevin offers help to educators and families in ways to support those with ADHD and cyber addiction – and he draws the connection between the two.  He’s penned two books on ADHD – another two combating cyber addictions.  So, get off those games and/or social media and listen up! This guy is AMAZING!  Oh, and read his short piece: “Is ADHD a Gift?” on our home page.   • Link to Kevin’s piece here. • Link to Kevin’s website.  

The Future of Education:  Are YOU Ready?  A Conversation with Dr. Ryan Schaaf   According to our podcast guest, the future will belong to students who can learn, unlearn, and relearn, …and adapt quickly.  Ryan Schaaf is the co-author of the new book, A Brief History of the Future of Education: Learning in the Age of Disruption.  The truth is, the job landscape is changing so rapidly that students need long-term skills in order to adapt to this incredibly fast-moving, disruptive time.  Jobs that were formerly the mainstays of the economy, such as bookkeeping, customer service, and even law, are now done largely digitally.  A new expectation for the future: frequent career changes for workers to move with the times. Some of the insights Ryan gained researching the book: balancing short-term and long-term skills, survival skills for students, and what teaching will look like in the future.   Executive summary for the book – quick read & GREAT! Plus, he just posted “Learning with Digital Games Guide". • Ryan on MyEdExpert • Ryan’s Twitter  

Keeping Kids Curious A Conversation with Gerald Aungst As students get older, they tend to ask less questions and are less likely to take learning risks.  Are they inherently less curious…or does curiosity fall victim to learning targets and pacing guides?  Guest Gerald Aungst shares fascinating research and insights into amplifying learners’ sense of wonderment.  This “Curiosity Engineer” is so enlightening in blending new research with pragmatic next-day steps to encourage curiosity in all learners.  So interesting to hear the difference between curiosity and engagement, and the five factors of curiosity.  In addition, he discusses the connection between the engineering design process, the maker movement, and PBL and curiosity.  This is a session you’ll want to take notes on!  Curious about Curiosity? Listen up!  • Gerald’s Bio and Curiously Cool Resources on MyEdExpert • Gerald’s website • Twitter for Gerald:  @GeraldAungst    

How to Think Big in an Incremental World By Suzy Pepper Rollins Quick! Think of a great idea that came from a small thinker... Still waiting… This is a Go Big, Swing for the Fences podcast.  So much of the world of education is incremental:  Get 3% more students to pass the math test or reduce referrals by 4%.  Big thinkers don’t want to just inch up a little.  We are world changers.  So, grab your ideas, listen up, and let’s get moving! 

Starting Over, Starting Fresh…or Getting Started A Conversation with Dr. Rick Jetter Ever thought, “Boy, I’d sure like to tell that superintendent a few things about the real world…The world inside the walls of my classroom.” Ever been a district leader and thought, “Hmmm…wonder what teachers are thinking about these policies we’ve cooked up?”   Dr. Rick Jetter can see both sides of things pretty clearly.  He used to be a superintendent.  Now he’s a classroom teacher.  He’s loving the experience, but boy, is he tired.  His world view from being in both worlds is a starting over story that brings wisdom, guidance, and laughs.  He shares advice to superintendents everywhere about NOT putting more on teachers’ plates.  And has some pearls for teachers about decluttering…let’s just say that Rick did not win the door decorating contest this school year.   This leadership author and expert on student voice is a straightforward treasure in our world with a lot of “stuff.”   • Rick’s AMAZING free resources on MyEdExpert • Rick’s website • Rick’s Twitter Page  

Full STEAM Ahead: What Would Leonardo daVinci Do? A Conversation with STEM Author Carolyn DeCristofano Wow – there’s a LOT going on in science education right now.  Next Generation Science Standards and new state standards can bring challenges, but also opportunities for wonderment and creativity.  The insightful and talented STEM author/consultant Carolyn DeCristofano makes this feel so DOABLE.  Carolyn herself used to think, “Hey, what’s art got to do with science?” Her mentor (and the subject of one of her books) for the “A” in STEAM? Leonardo daVinci.  Carolyn is simply masterful in her implantation of “cross-cutting content,” central to new standards.  The author of numerous STEM books, watch for the upcoming release of her new one, Running on Sunshine How Does Solar Energy Work?  • Carolyn has shared many open resources on our site: https://myedexpert.com/vendor/bhstemed/ • Her website: http://bhstemed.us/ • Carolyn also mentions “STEM Tuesday”

Bringing the Wonder of Math to Students A Conversation with Jerry Burkhart Math is so much more than pacing guides and practice sheets.  If that’s the world you have found yourself in, totally understandable… but here’s some first aid!   Jerry Burkhart is about math adventure, creativity, and wonderment.  He is a math treasure who works with districts to create tasks that move students to really think about math.  A big talking point in the podcast:  The balance between the speed of math learning and true depth.  He is a true believer that we (yes, you!) often underestimate our math abilities.  Jerry helps learners see the beauty in math.  He also provides some pragmatic guidance for all educators and leaders about best practices in flexible grouping in the math classroom.   • Jerry’s very popular “Intrepid Math Problems” on our site – a whopping $5 to change the math world. • “10 Myths That Hold Bright Math Students Back” by Jerry • Jerry has a fabulous website with free resources for educators.  The one mentioned in the podcast: Creative Math Prompts – all grade levels. • Jerry is the author of Advanced Common Core Math Explorations by Prufrock Press.    

Unwrapping the “Gifts” of ADHD A Conversation with Kevin Roberts Our podcast guest is extraordinary in many ways.  An author/expert on ADHD, Kevin Roberts also supports those with cyber addictions.  In fact, Kevin was featured in a fascinating 20/20 episode on gaming and screen addiction.  Kevin is both gifted intellectually, has ADHD, and was a former gaming addict – so he knows these topics thoroughly! A captivating speaker, Kevin offers help to educators and families in ways to support those with ADHD and cyber addiction – and he draws the connection between the two.  He’s penned two books on ADHD – another two combating cyber addictions.  So, get off those games and/or social media and listen up! This guy is AMAZING!  Oh, and read his short piece: “Is ADHD a Gift?” on our home page.   • Link to Kevin’s piece here. • Link to Kevin’s website.  

5 Truths (And Myths!) About Student-Centered Learning By Suzy Pepper Rollins Educators have been progressing toward more student-centered learning for a while now.  The intent of this podcast is to help with that trajectory.  The podcast outlines 5 big ideas to help continue our work in creating learning experiences that inspire deep student engagement, critical thinking, collaboration, and student accountability.  In addition to these big ideas, there are some myths and a few hurdles to tackle as well.   Just this week! Suzy Pepper Rollins has posted her Pie Chart Instructional Frameworks for everyone!     

Gifted Students Underachieving? A Conversation with Todd Stanley Is there such a thing as a “struggling” gifted learner? Yes!  A significant number of gifted learners fail to reach their potential.  In fact, 1 in 4 of high school dropouts are typically identified as gifted.  Some are bored.  Others have learned to play the game of school so well that they just punch the clock.  And some students bow to peer pressure and try to appear less intelligent to just fit in.   Join this fascinating conversation with expert/author Todd Stanley as we delve into the habits of underachievement and ways to help these kids reach their potential.  One of the most downloaded resources on our site has been his story, “The Unopened Gift.”  This tool sparks discussion with students about all the excuses kids may have for not utilizing their intellectual gifts.   • Link to Todd’s resources • Todd’s Twitter account • Todd's Website  

Stations in the Fast Lane!  By Suzy Pepper Rollins Stations can be one of the most impactful instructional frameworks for student-centered learning.  Student autonomy, creative thinking, vocabulary development, student engagement– the potential benefits can be almost awe-inspiring.  But stations can also be a bit misleading.  Students APPEAR to be digging in on the task, but are they really understanding what they are doing? How much are they relying on one another? Crafting truly successful station rotation lessons can be daunting.  This podcast spells out the benefits of station teaching, the biggest question to answer, and “Watch Outs!”  Plus, some tips on implementation issues that can develop, such as student accountability and classroom management tips.  If you teach social studies, here’s a free station rotation lesson ready to go on the branches of government.  This is for deep in the unit, close to assessment time.  This is one of the lessons Suzy uses to model stations during professional development. Includes: card game, error analysis, sort, and agree/disagree.     

Now That’s A Good Question!  A Conversation with Erik Francis Are questioning techniques one of the keys to getting students to go further and dig deeper into concepts? According to our guest, Erik Francis, YES! The author of Now That’s a Good Question! How to Promote Cognitive Rigor Through Classroom Questioning (ASCD) shares how his students used to robotically repeat information back to him…without even the courtesy of a citation. However, he discovered that when he posed a thought-provoking question, things changed.  Faces lit up, conversations were sparked…everything changed.  He is seriously a master of questioning and shares the tremendous outcomes from viewing questions not as assessment items, but as beautifully impactful instructional tools.   • Link to Erik’s website • Erik on Twitter • Erik’s article on projects vs PBL

How’s This School Thing Working for Our Kids? Let Them Speak:  A Conversation with Dr. Rick Jetter Get inspired by Dr. Rick Jetter’s approach to seeking out student voices about how school is working out for them.  This self-described “Boundary Pusher” talks about going out on their “turf” and asking students about just about everything, from programs to procedures at school.  He shares some surprising turns in his quest to hear his “customers” opinions.  Risky business, right? But its ok – Dr. Jetter makes the process seem SO doable.  Especially for the podcast:  Rick and his coauthor Rebecca Coda have created a FABULOUS open download to accompany their work and new book, Let Them Speak. It’s called “Let Them Speak:  A 100 Ideas for Activating Student Voice.”  Link to his bio and downloads: https://myedexpert.com/vendor/rjetter/ To reach Dr. Rick Jetter: Twitter @rickjetter  Website: www.rickjetter.com

What’s Wrong (Or Right) with These Kids?  New Ways to Teach the “Always On” Generation A Conversation with Ryan Schaaf  Turns out, technology use in the “Always On” generation HAS changed our kids’ brains.  Expert Ryan Schaaf shares research on how students today read differently, multi-task more, and handle instant gratification.  This fascinating conversation provides insights into how to teach this generation – a most unique group that has always had instant access to information.  Ryan blends research and pragmatism in this balanced approach to using technology in the classroom for real world learning.  Ryan has posted open downloads for you on MyEdExpert here:  https://myedexpert.com/vendor/rschaaf/ Ryan Schaaf’s contact info:  Twitter @RyanLSchaaf;  rschaaf@ndm.edu   Note:  Ryan’s session pairs beautifully with the next podcast with Angela Stockman.  Both are experts in utilizing technology for real-world learning in balanced classroom experiences.  

How are Those Essential Questions Working Out? Suzy Pepper Rollins Every day, students file off buses after seven hours of schooling to questioning parents, “What’d you learn at school today? Mumbled responses often sound like this: “I couldn’t tell you.”  Or worse: “Nothing.”   This podcast offers a solution that helps students not just organize this mass of information coming at them but helps them retain information:  standards walls.  Rather than isolated essential questions or “I Can” statements, standards walls are a visual depiction of learning targets in the form of a unit road map.  Because a student’s day can be just too much! They move from ELA and figurative language and sentence structure to math and angles to science and lungs and social studies and the Romans! It piles on and on.   This podcast offers some of the rationale for a different approach & steps to getting started.  BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE! A power point with just pictures of standards walls.  Yeah, you!  • Link to podcast • Link to PICTURES GALORE!       

What’s This Got to Do With ME? Good Question! A Conversation with Denis Sheeran All day long, more stuff just keeps coming at kids. Slope in one class, inertia in another, and someone killed a mockingbird in yet another. What in the world does any of this have to do with ANYTHING? Guest Denis Sheeran inspires us to discover those answers.  And guess what? Relevance is all around us.  From food shows to commercials to just about everywhere, this highly engaging author captivates learners to look around and see how relevant what we are learning in school today really is.   • Denis’s space on MyEdExpert & his fab Pi Day Bundle • Denis is big on Twitter! @MathDenisNJ • Denis’s contact: denis@denissheeran.com  • Instant Relevance Book Hack Learning book: https://amzn.to/2q6RGm3

Getting Students to “Fail Forward” & Think Like Engineers A Conversation with STEM Expert Ann Kaiser What a perspective STEM expert Ann Kaiser has about students thinking like engineers! For younger learners, she uses those famous civil engineers “The Three Pigs” to teach the engineering process.  And, rather than have an elaborately complex road map for the Engineering Design Process, she breaks it down into 3 simple steps that every learner (and teacher) can embrace.  This former engineer and Fulbright Distinguished Teacher shares pragmatic guidance on cultivating divergent thinkers and getting students to “Fail Forward” like engineers.  A WOW podcast for every educator and leader!  Ann has shared an open download “Using the Engineering Design Process in Your Classroom” and JUST POSTED “Engineering a Board Game.”   • Her bio & resources on MyEdExpert • Ann’s website • Ann's Twitter page

From Struggling to Successful: The Power of Acceleration A Tale of Hope from Suzy Pepper Rollins For years, the dominant method of support for students with gaps has been remediation, the reteaching of skills missed in past years.  The idea was “If we could just fix these kids and go back and reteach everything they missed, they’d be just fine.” Of course, as they are moving backwards in time, their peers are moving forward.  And then we scratch our heads and ponder how the gaps got bigger… It can feel pretty futile, for learners and educators.   This session is about a different approach, acceleration.  Acceleration is a tactical process in which we prepare students for success.  How? By strategically inserting prior knowledge, vocabulary, and just the prerequisite skills needed for this week…things they will be using right away.  Acceleration gets under the hood of what’s missing for a learner – prior knowledge – which is often listed by researchers as the single most important element to mastering new learning.   This session is with Suzy Pepper Rollins, who has been a leader in rethinking how we can turn struggling learners into successful ones – quickly!  She shares her steps and processes with acceleration.   As part of this session, Suzy has placed a power point on the site with tips and research on acceleration.   In addition, ASCD has her chapter on acceleration open.  Click here to read her chapter on acceleration.

Motivating ALL Students With Suzy Pepper Rollins What motivates one student to jump in and do his/her best…while another slumps over, seemingly unwilling to try?  This conversation gets under the hood of what makes some students authentically engage and persevere …while others withdraw from tasks.  Students want to be successful at school, so what’s wrong? After a brief discussion of the fundamentals of student motivation, Suzy offers 7 tips that work across the board for learners.  Got some demotivated kids? Listen up!     

Better Days at School: Can Mindfulness Help? A conversation with Daniel Rechtschaffen  School can be a stressful whirlwind of activity.  For teachers, rushing to get to meetings, worry about test scores, getting lessons ready and grades entered.  And that’s just us…What about students?  Trying to pay attention all day, complete tasks, and follow rules.  What if we all just paused for a few seconds?  Crazy, right?  Mindfulness expert/author/therapist Daniel Rechtschaffen discusses what mindfulness is and how it just might benefit teachers and students.  For students, evidence suggests a decline in office referrals and perhaps an increase in test scores.  This session will get you started on how pushing the pause button for a moment and welcoming students back into the present can bring better days at school. Daniel’s website:  mindfuleducation.com. Bio here at MyEdExpert: djrechtschaffen. His books are from Norton Publishing.  

Average to Awesome: Transforming Classroom Experiences A Conversation with Monica Genta Monica Genta almost left the profession, largely due to the weight of all the “stuff.”  Thank goodness she didn’t!  A middle school teacher, a motivator, and an author, her passion lies in creating “adventures in learning.” From her “quack attack” to her “pitch pipe” responder, she’s always tweaking her methods to find things that work. A believer in celebrating “little nuggets of awesome” every day, her teaching journal developed into one of her books.  Every educator will be motivated to see the world through Monica’s eyes…and mindset! Monica’s website:  www.monicagenta.com.  Monica’s downloads on MyEdExpert.

The Power of the Opening Minutes With Suzy Pepper Rollins The opening minutes hold tremendous power for learning.  Student motivation, reading comprehension, intellectual curiosity, and the value of a task all hinge on starting with something powerful! Unfortunately, these moments may have been "hijacked" along the way and turned into a "Do Now" classroom management moment.  Do this now while I take attendance, fill out some forms, rotate my tires, etc.  No More!  That's the subject of our short podcast this week.   But wait! Here are some amazing free resources by our fabulous authors to support make these opening minutes super strong!  • Kristina Smekens:  Free bundle of bell-ringers for ELA! • Angela Stockman:  Free Firestarters for writing! • Laurel Schmidt:  It say's "Banish Writer's Block" but this is a cool technique for other subjects - Students draw their heads for a brain dump & then sequence ideas. • Suzy Pepper Rollins:  Alpha brainstorming is for all subjects! From A -Z, everything you know about fractions, taxes, Africa, prices, etc.  

Using Improv in the Classroom A Conversation with Dr. Katie McKnight “It crazy works.” That’s how prolific literacy author Katie McKnight describes using improv in the classroom.  This high energy, passionate educator details some of the benefits this kinesthetic approach brings to kids, including a big chunk of what we teach in reading and writing. But there’s more! Improv teaches problem solving and encourages a sense of community, as students’ step into a role of making their classmates shine with the valued concept of “Mistakes are gifts.”  This approach can be used in all classrooms as a valued brain break as well.   Katie takes us through a couple of games, such as “Space Walk.”  This game would be FABULOUS for a faculty meeting.  The shared experience of this one game can enhance the community of adults in the building.   Wow!  Katie has shared some of her improv guidelines called “Yes…And for the Classroom” Grab here! • Katie on MyEdExpert • Katie's website • Katie on Twitter  

Tips for 1-1 Classrooms A Conversation with Dr. Monica Burns From the time she first opened her magical delivery of tablets for her own classroom, Monica Burns has discovered ways to lift students via technology.  A believer in “Tasks Before Apps,” her thoughtful, realistic approach has a focus of providing more opportunities for learners.  She provides pragmatic suggestions from room arrangements to ways to capture learning to managing student work. Listen for her suggestions on Spark Video and Flip Grid as ways to involve every learner.  This prolific ed tech author/presenter has posted a bundle of Spark Video graphic organizers for the podcast. Thanks, Monica! She’s got a great website and a new online course, so check those out!  • Link to Free Spark Video organizers • Monica’s website • Monica on Twitter  

Let Them Speak!  A Conversation with Rebecca Coda and Dr. Rick Jetter How was your flight? How was the chicken? What can we do differently? It seems like every time we frequent a business, we’re queried…sometimes hounded… for feedback. Why? Businesses have learned that to thrive and improve, they urgently need commentary from their clientele.  But how often do we ask our clients - our students - their opinions about their school experiences?  Rebecca Coda and Dr. Rick Jetter, coauthors of Let Them Speak! How Student Voice Can Transform Your School, are on a mission to change the conversational dynamic in schools.  The authors take us way beyond surveys.  They venture out onto students’ turf and gather vignettes about school experiences.  What they glean from kids is then used to engage the adults in the building to develop solutions and strengthen the school. Join in this inspired conversation that totally shifts the dynamic of the school house!  Seriously fabulous resources these two have posted:  • Rebecca: Grab those grab tags! • Rick: Get his 100 Ideas to Activate Student Voice • Link to their website • Rebecca’s Twitter • Rick’s Twitter  

Gifted Students Underachieving? A Conversation with Todd Stanley Is there such a thing as a “struggling” gifted learner? Yes!  A significant number of gifted learners fail to reach their potential.  In fact, 1 in 4 of high school dropouts are typically identified as gifted.  Some are bored.  Others have learned to play the game of school so well that they just punch the clock.  And some students bow to peer pressure and try to appear less intelligent to just fit in.   Join this fascinating conversation with expert/author Todd Stanley as we delve into the habits of underachievement and ways to help these kids reach their potential.  One of the most downloaded resources on our site has been his story, “The Unopened Gift.”  This tool sparks discussion with students about all the excuses kids may have for not utilizing their intellectual gifts.   • Link to Todd’s resources • Todd’s Twitter account • Todd's Website  

Encore Presentation:  Google Between Their Ears A Conversation with Laurel Schmidt “Let’s be curious together” is the approach this inquiry-based learning expert embraces.  Early in her teaching career, she realized that the weight of pacing guides – what she was expected to “cover” - was daunting.  This realization led her to the understanding that the most valuable thing that she could teach students was HOW to think.  The session begins with fascinating insights on the “caveman” brain and how we can use this knowledge to nurture deep, analytical thinkers.  Look for the tidbit on exactly how long educators can endure silence or wait time – wow! Also, the unintended role of the “designated learner,” the one or two students who answer most of the questions.  This is a session that is so inspired that educators can walk into class with new perspectives – armed with open-ended questions. • Laurel’s website:  www.artandinquiry.com Laurel has graciously posted an entire chapter on the inquiry approach to teaching called “Don’t Take No (Or Yes) For an Answer:  The Art of Inquiry” and other wonderful materials that are all open downloads here.

From Physics Teacher to Best-Selling Author A Conversation with Mark Cheverton Former physics teacher Mark Cheverton’s novels have been published in 31 countries and 19 languages; in fact, he’s a New York Times best-selling author.  He shares some of his insights about getting students excited about reading and writing. His books are Minecraft novels, and have intriguing titles like Invasion of the Overworld and Bones of Doom. He’s learned that kids often have a fear of writing, because they worry about making mistakes, or being wrong.  What’s he’s learned: when students are experts in a topic, the writing seems to flow…which is why students love to read and write about Minecraft.  The author has created mini-writing lessons for teachers and students – the “science” of writing.  These short, approachable videos feature Mark himself talking about things like character development, sentence structure, and authentic audience.  Listen for how he uses his writing to develop attributes that contribute to success…he began that practice as a path to instill life lessons in his son.  Cool listen. And thanks, Mark for adding some of your writing resources to our site!  • Mark’s bio and resources • Mark’s website • Mark on Twitter • Mark mentions National Novel Writing Month    

Lessons Learned From a Turnaround Principal A Conversation with Dr. Scott Neil Dr. Scott Neil has a passion for struggling learners…because he was one.  His career morphed into being a top turnaround principal, and he’s uncovered some truths along the way.  A key point of our conversation is this: A high number of students being flagged for interventions may indicate the need to examine our core classroom practices.  His wisdom and pragmatism are refreshing! He takes schools on a journey to better align their curricula.  Scott explains what rigor, a word we may get tired of hearing about, really looks like!  Dr. Neil changes the world one school at a time.  His sage guidance and deep experience provides all us with some valuable take-aways for every school.    • Scott on Twitter • Scott’s Website    

Henry Ford’s Not Hiring Anymore By Suzy Pepper Rollins In 1914, Henry Ford had applicants lined up for good paying jobs building the Model T.  What traits in potential employees were they seeking? Largely, the ability to perform a repetitive, specialized task all day long.  Boy, have things changed!  Companies today are seeking entirely different qualities in candidates:  independent thinking, problem solving, working well in a team, and communication skills.  How do we get there?  The great news is that the student-centered classroom can not only increase student achievement scores, but can also teach critical soft skills, such as leadership, team-work, and problem-solving.  This podcast outlines world-changing steps to take and some reflection about our current instructional frameworks and practices.  PLUS, a short power point accompanies this podcast, so that you can have the research cited…which is interesting stuff!   So, hey, unless a Model T factory is opening up in your town, listen up!  • Link to power point    

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About English Language Learners…But Were Afraid to Ask A Conversation with Beth Skelton Imagine what it would be like to take a physics class or math class in something other than your primary language.  Imagine going to lunch and not be able to understand all the conversations that surround you.  What’s it like to be in their shoes? How can we best support our English Language Learners academically and socially?  Author/Expert Beth Skelton provides illuminating answers, including the stages of language acquisition, the role of the ELL teacher, and guidance on flexible grouping situations for our learners.  Beth has graciously posted the stages of language acquisition & other resources here:  • Beth on MyEdExpert • Beth’s website • Beth on Twitter

Using Stations to Elevate Learning A Conversation with Dr. Katie McKnight Well-crafted learning stations can be a marvelous thing to behold! Our guest, Dr. Katie McKnight, is the perfect expert and author for this conversation!  Learner autonomy, collaborative learning, authentic engagement, leadership skills – these are just a few of the possibilities stations bring.  But there’s even more! We know how easily students’ brains wander through these long school days.  Stations offer novelty, different ways of demonstrating understandings, and choice.  Not crazy about this station – guess what? There’s something new just around the corner!     Katie is incredibly well versed in station teaching and literacy across content areas.  She’s written over 16 books, plus she works nonstop in schools alongside educators…that’s in addition to her vast classroom experience. So, get ready to get your stations going!  • Katie’s great resources and bio on MyEdExpert • Katie’s 2 websites:  https://engaginglearners.com/ and http://www.katherinemcknight.com/ • Her Twitter:  @LiteracyWorld    

Top 5 Instructional Habits to Kick: Can We Talk? by Suzy Pepper Rollins Slightly irreverent but good natured in intent, here’s the “Top 5” list of instructional habits we might just want to rethink.  Sure, the brain needs habits; otherwise, it may get overloaded.  But which of these habits are working for our kids…and which should get kicked to the curb?  Here’s the crazy part: we’ve all done these at one time or another…why? Because they are habits!  Suzy has also posted a short power point of these top five, with alternative ideas for these.  So, play along with your own list from your school and listen up! CAUTION: This podcast may gently step on some toes…but it’s meant in fun. Buckle up…or wear sturdy shoes…or both!  For added fun, Suzy has created a power of these five habits with alternatives… mostly pictures. Enjoy! • Link to power point • Suzy’s Twitter  @myedexpert • Suzy's Website    

From Struggling to Successful: The Power of Acceleration A Tale of Hope from Suzy Pepper Rollins For years, the dominant method of support for students with gaps has been remediation, the reteaching of skills missed in past years.  The idea was “If we could just fix these kids and go back and reteach everything they missed, they’d be just fine.” Of course, as they are moving backwards in time, their peers are moving forward.  And then we scratch our heads and ponder how the gaps got bigger… It can feel pretty futile, for learners and educators.   This session is about a different approach, acceleration.  Acceleration is a tactical process in which we prepare students for success.  How? By strategically inserting prior knowledge, vocabulary, and just the prerequisite skills needed for this week…things they will be using right away.  Acceleration gets under the hood of what’s missing for a learner – prior knowledge – which is often listed by researchers as the single most important element to mastering new learning.   This session is with Suzy Pepper Rollins, who has been a leader in rethinking how we can turn struggling learners into successful ones – quickly!  She shares her steps and processes with acceleration.   As part of this session, Suzy has placed a power point on the site with tips and research on acceleration.   In addition, ASCD has her chapter on acceleration open.  Click here to read her chapter on acceleration.

Making Learning Personal A Conversation with Kathleen McClaskey All of our students have stories to tell.  Learning more about our learners’ stories is the focus of our discussion with personalized learning expert Kathleen McClaskey.    What are their challenges? Their interests? Their dreams?  Kathleen shares the benefits of personalized learning and valuable tools of implementation, such as using learning profiles and gathering student voice.  Look for critical connections between Universal Design for Learning and personalized learning.  Kathleen brings next-day ideas to making learning personal.  Because, after all, it’s their learning, right?  Kathleen has graciously shared 2 urgently resourceful documents: One clarifies the differences between personalization, differentiation and individualization.  The other is stages of personalization.  Must haves and free downloads! Kathleen’s personal definition she uses in the podcast: “Personalized learning is not what is done to the learner or about tailoring the learning.  It is about helping each learner to identify and develop the skills they need to support and enhance their own learning so that agency and self-advocacy can be realized.”   • Kathleen’s website with valuable resources & contact • Twitter:  @khmmc    

Got Game? How Playing Games Can Change School Culture A Conversation with Susan Ragsdale and Ann Saylor  It’s all good news in this session with two guests who conduct workshops in building positive connections and leadership skills via games and service.  Got Game? You will after this podcast! Guests Ann and Susan call it “Playing with Purpose.” They use games to start conversations, tackle awkward issues, build trust, and even boost brain energy! Susan and Ann are change agents who see the possibilities in all students, teachers, and leaders.  They also reach beyond school walls and help create service learning projects.  Look for their wonderful attitude about changing negative student leaders into positive role models.   Got a story you’d like to share with them?  They are working on a new project and would love to hear from you. What difference makers these authors and presenters are!  • Their free service learning ebook & “Group Games Dice” • Write Creations on Facebook • Susan’s Contact:  Susan@writecreationsgroup.com  and on Twitter

Keeping Kids Curious A Conversation with Gerald Aungst As students get older, they tend to ask less questions and are less likely to take learning risks.  Are they inherently less curious…or does curiosity fall victim to learning targets and pacing guides?  Guest Gerald Aungst shares fascinating research and insights into amplifying learners’ sense of wonderment.  This “Curiosity Engineer” is so enlightening in blending new research with pragmatic next-day steps to encourage curiosity in all learners.  So interesting to hear the difference between curiosity and engagement, and the five factors of curiosity.  In addition, he discusses the connection between the engineering design process, the maker movement, and PBL and curiosity.  This is a session you’ll want to take notes on!  Curious about Curiosity? Listen up!  • Gerald’s Bio and Curiously Cool Resources on MyEdExpert • Gerald’s website • Twitter for Gerald:  @GeraldAungst    

What’s This Got to Do With ME? Good Question! A Conversation with Denis Sheeran All day long, more stuff just keeps coming at kids. Slope in one class, inertia in another, and someone killed a mockingbird in yet another. What in the world does any of this have to do with ANYTHING? Guest Denis Sheeran inspires us to discover those answers.  And guess what? Relevance is all around us.  From food shows to commercials to just about everywhere, this highly engaging author captivates learners to look around and see how relevant what we are learning in school today really is.   • Denis’s space on MyEdExpert & his fab Pi Day Bundle • Denis is big on Twitter! @MathDenisNJ • Denis’s contact: denis@denissheeran.com  • Instant Relevance Book Hack Learning book: https://amzn.to/2q6RGm3

Full STEAM Ahead: What Would Leonardo daVinci Do? A Conversation with STEM Author Carolyn DeCristofano Wow – there’s a LOT going on in science education right now.  Next Generation Science Standards and new state standards can bring challenges, but also opportunities for wonderment and creativity.  The insightful and talented STEM author/consultant Carolyn DeCristofano makes this feel so DOABLE.  Carolyn herself used to think, “Hey, what’s art got to do with science?” Her mentor (and the subject of one of her books) for the “A” in STEAM? Leonardo daVinci.  Carolyn is simply masterful in her implantation of “cross-cutting content,” central to new standards.  The author of numerous STEM books, watch for the upcoming release of her new one, Running on Sunshine How Does Solar Energy Work?  • Carolyn has shared many open resources on our site: https://myedexpert.com/vendor/bhstemed/ • Her website: http://bhstemed.us/ • Carolyn also mentions “STEM Tuesday”