Real Practical Teaching

Collaboration is harder than it sounds. Whether it is weak leadership, differing perspectives on education or resistance from colleagues, it is difficult to create professional learning communities. Is there a way for schools to unify in their efforts to create an effective learning environment? This podcast focuses on the framework for Professional Learning Communities and how they can be implemented in schools. Our conversation is with Aaron Willette, international school principal, on his approach to implementing PLC's in his school. If you have any questions about this topic, if you would like to share your experiences or if you have suggestions for future topics let me know on Twitter at #RealPracticalTeaching or at the Real Practical Teaching blog on Tumblr.

In the podcast's first panel discussion, Sarah Muller, Nathan Walker, Trey Craig, Scott Muller, Casey Grove and Islen Craig respond to a student survey asking students to complete the sentence, "Why do teachers _____?" The discussion focuses on tests, homework, student grouping and why teachers have "favorite students". If you have any questions about this topic, if you would like to share your experiences or if you have suggestions for future topics let me know on Twitter at #RealPracticalTeaching or at the Real Practical Teaching blog on Tumblr.

Differentiation is a term that is often used but explained little in education. With the need for teachers to provide one year of learning for each student differentiation must be employed. But what does differentiation look like in today's classroom? This podcast first focuses on the "Look Fors" of differentiation and their practical application in the classroom (0:00-17:00). I will be speaking with Tif Mulally, technology coordinator at Wilkes Univeristy, about the benefits of using technology to differentiate instruction (17:01-23:57) as well as how technology can be used to create an inviting classroom atmosphere(23:58-26:52), high quality curriculum (26:53-37:39), feedback on formative assessment (37:40-40:10), purposeful grouping (40:11-42:29)and authentic performance tasks (42:30-47:55). If you have any questions about this topic, if you would like to share your experiences or if you have suggestions for future topics let me know on Twitter at #RealPracticalTeaching or at the Real Practical Teaching blog on Tumblr.

A 21st Century teacher is tasked with preparing students for the challenges of the future. Unfortunately, many of the tests students take do not meet this challenge. Traditional paper and pencil tests are not only outdated, but are usually not used to assist students in the future. Ideally assessments should be used to guide instruction, but this requires teachers to shift their mindset towards backwards design. This podcast focuses on the backwards design process and using assessment to guide instruction. The process of this method is outlined, as well as how I use this process in my class (0:00-12:24). I will be speaking with Dr. Scott Dennison about the rationale for backwards design, how an Understanding By Design unit plan is crafted (13:20-24:41), how to align summative assessments and performance tasks with standards (24:42-31:55), how to reflect on formative assessments and day-to-day instructional plans (31:56-38:28), and how a new teacher can create a backwards-design unit plan (38:29-42:35). This podcast will be referencing Wiggins and McTighe's Understanding By Design template. You can view an adapted copy of this template using the link below. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CA64GmZV0j3KBZwlGVO_ujmbZLE4uWnobCFegehygFE/edit?usp=sharing If you have any questions about this topic, if you would like to share your experiences or if you have suggestions for future topics let me know on Twitter at #RealPracticalTeaching or at the Real Practical Teaching blog on Tumblr.