Making Your Masterpiece

This episode is part three of a three part interview with standards based grading guru Rick Wormeli. Ep 8 Topical Breakdown College Admissions adapting to Standards Based Grading Pitfalls of all forms of grading General advice from Rick Wormeli on education

This episode is part two of a three part interview with standards based grading guru Rick Wormeli. Ep 7 Topical Breakdown Advice for implementing Standards Based Grading Demanding learning in the classroom Vital importance of formative assessments Examples of formative assessments Start developing your course with Backwards Design Collaboration with other teachers Universal application of Standards Based Grading

This episode is part one of a three part interview with standards based grading guru Rick Wormeli. Ep 6 Topical Breakdown The need for observing other teachers Teachers need to learn from their students The need for Standards Based Grading Overcoming your preconceived opinions on grading

In this episode I discuss some of the fallacies commonly believe about grades as well as discuss some of the cognitive bias that may prevent our students from having a growth mindset. I end the episode with practical tips to improving your assessing of student learning.

This is part 3 of 3 of my interview with history teacher Roy Olson. In this last portion of the interview we discuss that we as teachers project our inward soul onto our students whether we know it or not. What we care about projects onto our students and it is truly impossible to be "neutral" as a teacher. We also get into practicals of how to implement discussion within your own classroom. Ep 4 Topical Breakdown -The humanity of teaching -Inspiring students to be agents of change -Neutrality as a teacher models apathy -Practical tips for implementing discourse and discussion in the classroom -How to respond to classroom “failures”

This episode continues my interview with history teacher Roy Olson as we discuss how we use controversy to facilitate discourse and discussion in the classroom. Many teachers avoid controversy like the plague, however, in this episode we explain how controversy plays an integral role in our classroom and why it should in yours too. Ep 3 Topical Breakdown -Using controversy to drive discussion -It's impossible to be neutral in the classroom -Teaching students to be aware of their cognitive bias -Critical pedagogy vs bankings pedagogy -Student preparation for debates -Having high expectations for students

This is part 1 of a 3 part series of me interviewing history teacher, Roy Olson. Part 1 discusses the need for discussion in the classroom and provides practical advice for how Roy implements them in his classroom. Ep 2 Topical Breakdown -Importance of teachers being scholars of their craft -Importance of the humanities in education -Why discourse and discussion spurs on student critical thinking -Teaching with your mouth shut, letting students drive discussions

Howard Zinn's book "you can't be neutral on a moving train" articulates the need to develop educated and informed opinions so that we aren't easily swayed back and forth by the prevailing wisdom of the world. His title encapsulates the focus of my first episode in which I introduce the need for teaching students vital skills for discussion and discourse in the class and ultimately in life. This podcast will set the stage for my first interview with history teacher Roy Olson.

Teaching is an incredibly difficult yet rewarding profession. It is an art in which every teacher has their personal style and approach to creating their own masterpiece in the classroom. There is no one size fits all approach to teaching, however, I will share many discussions, approaches, and techniques which can enhance your effectiveness as a teacher.