Podcast appearances and mentions of kathy thomas

Kaylin George and Kathy Thomas from the West Virginia Chamber of Community on their upcoming Women's Summit, plus Fred Persinger with a girls state tournament preview and Tony Hodge.

On this episode, Tara sits down with Kathy Thomas, the Founder of Collective 615 in Nashville. They talk all things business, the moment Kathy wanted to go out on her own, and how she maintains a work/mom balance as an entrepreneur and workaholic - tune in! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Exodus | Pastor Kathy Thomas

Collective 615 is a diverse women's co-working community in Nashville designed by women, for women. The membership-based business is made up of passionate entrepreneurs (from small team startups to established solopreneurs) who are ready to connect, collaborate, and elevate their brands beyond expectation. Kathy Thomas dreamed of opening a women's co-working space that impacted other women and provided them an opportunity to own their work environment and welcome clients into professional space outside of coffee shops and home.  She also wanted a female-focused creative community that overflowed with support, idea sharing, and the drive to move to the next level. She soon discovered other female entrepreneurs were looking for the exact same thing. When Kathy found a large space in historic L&L Marketplace in West Nashville, Kathy knew something bigger was at play. This building she dreamed of working in, fueled a new dream—creating Nashville's first female-owned and operated coworking space. In addition to running Collective 615, Kathy has a thriving photography business. Kathy Thomas Photography is an internationally published brand, and Kathy travels the globe to photograph her clients and celebrities.Learn more about Collective 615 by visiting: https://www.collective615.comAbout Renaissance Marketing Group:Renaissance Marketing Group is a full-service social media marketing agency based in Nashville and Atlanta. The Renaissance team is made up of a talented group of passionate creatives and marketers, committed to the success of their clients and passionate about helping business owners succeed. Founded in December 2014, the female-founded company delivers proven social media marketing results. Their services include social media management, content creation, paid digital advertising, email and SMS Text marketing, influencer marketing, graphic design, branding, professional photography and videography, TikTok and Reels creation, marketing strategy, podcast production, and more. Renaissance is committed to influencing optimal revenue and online growth, while exceeding their client's expectations.In 2021, Renaissance announced the launch of their nonprofit, The Mona Lisa Foundation. The Mona Lisa Foundation was created from a love and passion for supporting women on their entrepreneurial journeys and focuses on offering mentorship, marketing, and business education, grant money, and community to Nashville-based female business owners.Learn more: www.renaissancemarketinggroup.com 

Plugged ducts, nipple pain, skin-to-skin contact. Discover positions to help alleviate pain from breastfeeding to make it a more comfortable, less stressful process. Celeste and Dave discuss the concept “fed is best” and examine their experience in mixing breastfeeding with bottle feeding their son. Lactation consultants, Kathy Thomas and Monica Bird, join Celeste in an educational conversation on removing the pressure to breastfeed, the progression of milk production post-birth, and the breakdown of breastmilk nutrition. SHOW NOTES: Indy Lactation Care Website Indy Lactation Care IG Celeste Busa IG Dave Hill IG THE SHOW: Please rate and review the show on iTunes. It helps the show grow and be discovered. Follow WEEK BY WEEK on Instagram, @weekbyweekpodcast Check out our playlist on YouTube Browse our blog at weekbyweekpodcast.com You can contact us at WeekByWeekShow@gmail.com © 2022 Gumption Pictures

Thanks for joining me for Episode 2 of the Tropical Winter Podcast. In this recording I sit down with Sonia Rivas to chat about her life of surfing. She has some fantastic insights and stories to tell. I was so inspired by her self belief and attitude to life and have taken away lots of little challenges for myself. I hope you enjoy the listen. Feel free to share this podcast and if you haven't already, go check out Episode 1 with Kathy Thomas.

Listen in as I chat to Kathy Thomas about her surfing journey. In this episode Kathy gives a great rundown of her recent trip to the Urbn Surf wave pool in Melbourne and offers some great advice for anyone planning to head there. Kathy talks about her surfing goals in a 'progression session' and we basically just have a great surf chat about some topics that I think lots of lady surfers will relate to. Apologies for any dodgy mic stuff, I'm learning on the go.  Enjoy, and feel free to leave your feedback, comments or suggestions about topics you would like us to cover in the future. 

This is part 2 of Kathy, Thomas and Stuart. Kathy continues to discuss the aftermath of Thomas's murder, the beauty and the beast of the Australian media and the chain of events that led to Stuart taking his own life. Kathy also shares her private maternal grief and insight into her life after the death of her boys. We advise you listen to Part 1 and Part 2 in sequence. Thanks to Kathy for sharing her boys to all of us. Thomas and Stuart two pure, gentle and loving souls- when we think of these boys we smile, we hope you do too. Importantly we hope you all remember to embed kindness into your thoughts, words and actions and help those ripples of kindness continue to spread and turn into waves xo Hosts: Rebecca Gallagher & Caitlin Epps Guest: Kathy Kelly To purchase Kathy & Ralphs book- Too Soon, Too Late - Too Soon, Too Late - Ralph and Kathy Kelly - 9781760632786 - Allen & Unwin - Australia (allenandunwin.com) kathykelly.com.au - to explore more about the Kelly's story or to get in touch with Kathy for inspirational speaking Stay Kind | Promoting kindness in everyday life- To join the Stay Kind movement and take the pledge to be kind and promote kindness in everyday life. To all our beautiful listeners .... Take Kare & Stay Kind xo

Kathy's family story may have touched many of our listeners lives already. Kathy and her husband Ralph Kelly together with their children (Madeline & Stuart) were thrust into the media after the tragic 'one punch' homicide of their eldest son and brother Thomas in 2012. After the death of Thomas, life unavoidably changed for the family. Sadly it then set off a chain of events that tragically led to Stuart (their youngest son) taking his own life 4 years later. Kathy and Ralph together have been the faces, the heart and the soul of the Stay Kind Foundation (formally known as the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation) and the Take Kare safe spaces. There have been so many incredible achievements made out of such tragedy that have and are continuing to make our country a better place for our children. Its been a selfless journey. Today though we are here to talk about Kathy Kelly the mum. The mother in a family of 5. The mum that has endured grief, trauma, heartbreak and pain - in the public eye- and continued to grow as mother and wife to her family. The mum that is shouldering the pain and wounds that society has inflicted on her. As you listen you too will understand how our society and culture let down and did not protect the Kelly boys. Importantly you will learn about Thomas and Stuart's life from their mum Kathy. Chatting with Kathy it is so clear that Thomas and Stuart are part of her and she lights up when she speaks about them. Two young boys that had been loved deeply were growing and developing into young men that held a lot of promise and had a lot to offer our world. While their opportunity in the physical world has been taken away their lives continue to make a big difference. This is the story of Kathy and her sons Thomas and Stuart. Part 2 coming Thursday 15th April Hosts: Rebecca Gallagher & Caitlin Epps The Loss Mothers | Facebook Instagram @thelossmothers Guest: Kathy Kelly To purchase Kathy & Ralphs book- Too Soon, Too Late - Too Soon, Too Late - Ralph and Kathy Kelly - 9781760632786 - Allen & Unwin - Australia (allenandunwin.com) kathykelly.com.au - to explore more about the Kelly's story or to get in touch with Kathy for inspirational speaking Stay Kind | Promoting kindness in everyday life- To join the Stay Kind movement and take the pledge to be kind and promote kindness in everyday life. To all our beautiful listeners .... Take Kare & Stay Kind xo

How does community really affect our business success? And where do we find it? Enter, Kathy Thomas! Kathy is the owner and founder of Collective615, a women's only co-working space right here in Nashville. Her heart for female business owners and providing a space that encourages collaboration over competition is so inspiring. Plus, her photography business is internationally published, and she's traveled around the world building relationships, making her a connection expert. Seriously, check out her website attached below, her photos will blow your mind! Today Kathy and I are digging deep into the importance of finding a community that builds you up as a business owner. We chat about how a global pandemic impacted her personally, and the steps she took to find blessing in the pause. We discuss the power of camaraderie in business, how "pivoting" is now the worst word, and why coffee shops may not be the best place to fuel connection. We'll also learn the history behind Collective 615 and how her personal experience helped Kathy see a need in the co-working industry, which, in my opinion, she filled in the most powerful way possible. So how did Kathy find her community and how did she overcome the fear throughout a global pandemic? How did she “pivot” her business in 2020 and keep a co-working space going? You are going to love her advice and little nuggets of wisdom for new business owners! Press play to listen to the full interview and hear more about building an intentional and life-changing community with the incredible Kathy Thomas. FULL SHOW NOTES: https://copperheartcreative.com/blog/the-power-of-community-in-your-business-with-kathy-thomas Connect with Kathy: Website: https://www.collective615.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collective615/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/collective615 Case Study: https://copperheartcreative.com/portfolio/collective615

Welcome to Her Time to Retire. We are dedicated to helping women gain the knowledge, confidence, and support they need to achieve financial success and emotional fulfillment when planning for retirement. Today Jonathan speaks with Kathy Thomas, founder of Collective615. They discuss: Setting boundaries as an entrepreneur The need for controlled environments while working Collaboration for women in shared workspaces Women are wired for community About Collective615 Collective615 is a diverse community designed by women, for women. No matter what we offer in the future or how we grow, we’ll always seek passionate entrepreneurs (from small team startups to established solopreneurs) who are ready to connect, collaborate, and elevate their brands beyond expectation. Learn more about Kathy Thomas at collective615.com.

Kathy Thomas never let lack of experience stop her from taking bold leaps to new career paths. After taking a fashion retail job to supplement her income, Kathy worked her way up through the industry to become a high-level operation and talent acquisition expert for Lucky Brand Jeans and Louis Vuitton. She then left that career path to start her own business as a completely self-taught photographer. Today, Kathy Thomas Photography is an internationally published brand, and Kathy has traveled all over the world to shoot weddings, corporate events and family portraits.   As a small business owner and a mom, Kathy realized early on that working from home made it difficult to establish a healthy work-life balance. After moving to Nashville and struggling to find the right coworking space for her business, Kathy decided to build her own. With Collective615, Kathy created the first coworking space for women in the state of Tennessee.  In her roles as a business owner and mentor, Kathy is often asked how she became so confident, but she believes her real motivator is actually fear. She joins Leah for a conversation about how she uses that fear as fuel that drives her to take calculated risks, and she shares some of the biggest lessons she’s learned throughout her unique career journey. In This Episode: Kathy explains how she’s learned to repeatedly take big leaps in her career, working in multiple industries to achieve her goals and do work she enjoys. She also describes her motivation behind creating Nashville’s first coworking space for women, and she explains how she’s empowering her daughter to believe she can reach her biggest dreams and goals.  Episode Highlights: Why working from home is difficult for women, and Kathy’s experience that inspired her to start Collective615  Kathy’s story of working her way up in fashion retail to become an executive at Louis Vuitton Turning fear into a motivational force and taking calculated risks How Kathy built a global brand as a self-taught photographer Building an office space to help women thrive Kathy’s passion for showing her daughter that she can achieve her dreams Non-Profit Spotlight: YWCA is one of the oldest and largest women’s organizations in the nation, serving over 2 million women, girls and their families. They’re on a mission to eliminate racism, stand up for social justice and empower women.  Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Insperity, an HR company that makes a difference. Insperity combines first class service and robust technology so you can focus on your people.

Kathy grew up the baby of 6 kids to an abusive father who controlled her mother’s very move. It shaped her into knowing she would never let herself rely on a man and would always be able to stand on “her own two feet.” That led her to climbing the ladder in the corporate world where she became very successful. But when her father passed she realized she wanted more for her life than just career and financial success. She wanted love and a family and a career that fueled her passion. So she quit corporate and started her photography business. She met Rob soon after and they had precious Stella. When they moved to Nashville for Rob’s job, Kathy quickly realized there was no co-workspace for women. She leveraged everything they had and opened Collective 615. Kathy shares with me how she walks through fear, choosing to stay and love your marriage, the important lessons she’s learned from parenthood, and why she has been blessed by quarantine. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

This week I sat down with Kathy Thomas of Kathy Thomas Photography and Collective 615. I have to admit…Kathy and I do run in similar circles in our area and we have worked together a few times but we’ve never really gotten to know each other personally so I was super excited to get to spend some dedicated time asking her about her story, how she got into the wedding industry and how she took the leap from her corporate job to starting her own photography business. The reason Kathy’s story intrigued me so much and I knew I had to have her on the podcast is because not only is she a fabulous, luxury photographer but she is the owner/creator of Collective 615….a female only co-working space in the heart of Music City! I’ve been watching her social media and have asked her a few times via private DMs about this project and I have just been enamored with the concept since it’s inception. Why female only? Why a co-working space at all?? Isn’t the market already so saturated with big box co-working spaces?? In this episode Kathy tells it all! How Collective got its name, their concept and why they’re different from what’s currently on the market, how she knew there was a hole in the market for this type of workspace and how a trusted advisor told her not to do it! This is a fun episode and I’m excited for you to hear it all!! Social Handles: Instagram:  @kathythomasphoto @collective615 Facebook:  Kathy Thomas Photography LLC Collective615 Show Notes:  http://brandeegaar.com/2020/02/15/building-a-femal…ith-kathy-thomas/ Website: www.shewhodarespodcast.com  

Kathy Thomas is the founder of Collective615, a new to Nashville co-working space designed by women, for women. The space is slated to open by fall of this year and will provide a feminine locale for solopreneurs, start-ups, small teams, and women working remotely. Located in West Nashville in a 1929 hosiery factory, Collective is giving a modern facelift to 20th century narrative: women work harder, smarter, and better together. Adorned with crushed velvet, stimulating color palettes, and floor-to-ceiling windows, they’re bringing the sexy back into successful. After leaving a lucrative, corporate sales position to start her own photography business, Kathy found the key element missing from public and co-working spaces was women! “I didn’t feel empowered by all the masculine designs, environments, and colleagues. The spaces never felt like my office space. They felt like someone else’s I was working in.” So she’s changing the game. When you walk into Collective, it will feel feminine, but it won’t feel like your living room. When you walk out, Kathy says, “you will feel like we have helped you gain vision, insight, education, energy, exposure, and revenue.” She calls it an ecosystem – a place where dedicated businesswomen can collaborate and work together, utilizing breakout rooms, key service providers, and essential resources. Collective enables women to work out of a place of empowerment and pride for the services we provide. Collective is taking the game out of coffee shops and home offices and into a space where we have the home field advantage. Check out a few of the many shrewd insights that led Kathy from competitive corporate success into the launch of her new working girl sanctuary:  “I have a believe it before you see it mentality.” “Take your idea and evolve it into a solid business model, don’t make it just a hobby.” “Hurry up and fail, because you won’t fail the same way again.” “Focus on what you are, not what you’re not.” “To be an entrepreneur is to stop serving yourself and serve others.” “Success for me has meant surrendering others’ expectations for the business and working to intentionally quiet the noise.” “This isn’t my project anymore. This is not about me. I am now the vessel [to serve my clients].”  “You become a real entrepreneur when you hunker down and do the things that are uncomfortable.” “I don’t believe in balance. I believe in living happily lopsided.”

Kathy Thomas is AWESOME. We love talking to photographers on the podcast and we've had a few episodes with guests that are professional wedding photographers. Kathy has great advice for hiring a wedding photographer - stuff we haven't heard before. She even surprised us with some of her tips and tricks - specifically for couples heading to their initial consultation with a photographer. You know, the meeting where you decide if you want to hire this photographer or not! It's important! We talk a lot about how this decision isn't just about budget. There's more to it, much more, and Kathy is showing us the way...she's wise. We loved having her on the podcast. Click HERE to become a premium subscriber and unlock all of the amazingness:       Ad-free, full length episodes      The TBWPP Wedding Planning Resource Center with  Access to 6 mini courses of The Big Wedding Planning Master Class  Wedding Planning Templates and Tools Big Takeaways A photographer's ‘ideal client' for weddings is a couple that trusts the photographer. Kathy knows she will be a great fit with the client when there is an immediate connection between her and the couple. You can't fake that connection. She takes the initial interview as a way to really get to know them. She is clear that a client (couple) has to let her in for the relationship to work, and the product to be what the client wants. An engagement session is important! It allows the photographer to get to know the couple. It helps to start with a cocktail! (She is not the first photographer that told us this.) But Kathy doesn't consider the engagement session totally necessary. But the face-time is what's really important. So if you aren't going to have an engagement session for some reason, make sure you at least get to have one face-to-face meeting with the photographer. You need this familiarity. Things you can ask your photographer (before you hire them!) And do a little research ahead of time so that you are prepared for different answers... What camera equipment does she use? How does she back up her files? Does she bring extra equipment and backup batteries etc on the wedding day? What's up with the assistant? Is the assistant a second shooter? Will Kathy review and oversee the assistant's photos after the event? Does the assistant have their own company? Can you see the assistant's work too? Do you edit the photos or outsource that service? How will the time be spent during the wedding day? (Like half and half with bride and groom each getting ready, for example) Will you create a wedding day timeline for us? The important thing is to be forthcoming and honest! Links we referenced http://www.kathythomasphotography.com/ https://www.instagram.com/kathythomasphoto/ Get In Touch:  The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is… Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez  Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics  On Instagram @thebigweddingplanningpodcast and be sure to use #planthatwedding when posting, so you can get our attention! Easy to get in touch with. Email us at hello@thebigweddingplanningpodcast.com or Call and leave a message at 415-723-1625 and you might hear your voice on an episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kathy Thomas is AWESOME. We love talking to photographers on the podcast and we've had a few episodes with guests that are professional wedding photographers. Kathy has great advice for hiring a wedding photographer - stuff we haven't heard before. She even surprised us with some of her tips and tricks - specifically for couples heading to their initial consultation with a photographer. You know, the meeting where you decide if you want to hire this photographer or not! It's important! We talk a lot about how this decision isn't just about budget. There's more to it, much more, and Kathy is showing us the way...she's wise. We loved having her on the podcast. Kathy Thomas Photography began 5.5 years ago after Kathy moved from NYC to Orlando. She has been named one of the Top 3 photographers in Nashville, and only wedding photographer by Nashville Scene while also having been nominated twice for RangeFinder Magazine 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography Worldwide 2 years in a row. Kathy's photography is influenced by 17 years in luxury fashion retail. She brings her love for fashion, beauty, architecture and the art of craftsmanship into her wedding style. Her goal is to never be trendy, yet timeless, modern, stylish and romantic. She has shot weddings in seven countries and over 14 states. Kathy also mentors a number of wedding professionals and believe in building other up and when we all win that is the real success of this industry. Big Takeaways A photographer's ‘ideal client' for weddings is a couple that trusts the photographer. Kathy knows she will be a great fit with the client when there is an immediate connection between her and the couple. You can't fake that connection. She takes the initial interview as a way to really get to know them. She is clear that a client (couple) has to let her in for the relationship to work, and the product to be what the client wants. Nashville is a cool mix for wedding styles - there are places that elicit pride for locals, or people raised in Nashville. There are historic venues, the music industry, high budget minimalistic wedding style, huge wedding parties and elaborate entertainment at weddings. You are HOSTING a wedding...implement the skills of your favorite hostess in life. How does a great party feel? How can you ensure that your wedding feels that way? In Nashville, the weddings are more traditional (and bigger) than other places in America...and a value is placed on the idea of ‘hosting' - people take pride in how a guest experiences the wedding weekend. Families are involved. Heirlooms and family traditions are present...and a photographer needs to know about these things so that they can make sure to shoot them! Pricing...we know it's vague with wedding vendors and we know that it's frustrating! Kathy has a starting price for packages that she is transparent about with clients upfront. Pricing can go up from there. In general, if a couple reaches out and the first thing they talk about is pricing, Kathy knows that they likely won't book her. Not a good fit. (Good rule of thumb...if the photographer you want is more than the event rental fee, you may not be able to afford that photographer.) An engagement session is important! It allows the photographer to get to know the couple. It helps to start with a cocktail! (She is not the first photographer that told us this.) But Kathy doesn't consider the engagement session totally necessary. But the face-time is what's really important. So if you aren't going to have an engagement session for some reason, make sure you at least get to have one face-to-face meeting with the photographer. You need this familiarity. Things you can ask your photographer (before you hire them!) And do a little research ahead of time so that you are prepared for different answers... * What camera equipment does she use? * How does she back up her files? * Does she bring extra equipment and backup batteries etc on the wedding day? * What's up with the assistant? Is the assistant a second shooter? Will Kathy review and oversee the assistant's photos after the event? Does the assistant have their own company? Can you see the assistant's work too? * Do you edit the photos or outsource that service? * How will the time be spent during the wedding day? (Like half and half with bride and groom each getting ready, for example) * Will you create a wedding day timeline for us? The important thing is to be forthcoming and honest! Links we referenced http://www.kathythomasphotography.com/ https://www.instagram.com/kathythomasphoto/ Quotes “We've been very efficient here in Nashville. We've been getting shit done.” - Michelle “We keep hearing that Nashville is the place to come for weddings!” - Christy “Millennials are into unique experiences and I am too. I don't blame them one bit. You do this once, you hope. You do it once... and this is that one big kabam to get everyone together to celebrate in a big way. And with everything going on in the world, it's becoming more and more important. My couples specifically care about the experience and they care about what the experience is like with my photography team. They want to entertain their guests. So everything tends to be a little over-the-top.” - Kathy Thomas, on priorities “I love the dynamic of a huge wedding party. I love it. I live vicariously through their weddings a little bit.” - Kathy doesn't want to shoot an intimate ceremony on a mountain top...she wants a huge ass wedding in a gorgeous church with lots and lots of bridesmaids! (I mean, she loves big weddings is the point.) “I have a pretty lengthy interview process. I either want to meet with them in person, or we'll have a good hour long talk on the phone. This is your opportunity to talk to me, and for me to talk to you. I tell them often that the imagery of mine that they see, I can't achieve that unless there is trust there.” - Kathy on booking clients. There has to be a connection. “If a couple doesn't really touch each other in the hour that they meet me, they probably aren't my people.” - Kathy, intuition! “Most of my weddings have a full planning planner and the planner and I are getting paid about the same.” - Kathy, as a reference point for budgeting Get In Touch EMAIL: thebigweddingplanningpodcast@gmail.com FACEBOOK: @TBWPpodcast INSTAGRAM: @thebigweddingplanningpodcast BE SURE TO USE THE HASHTAG: #planthatwedding TWITTER: @TBWPpodcast PHONE: (415) 723-1625 Leave us a message and you might hear your voice on the show! PATREON: www.patreon.com/thebigweddingplanningpodcast Special Guest: Kathy Thomas.

In this episode, Angela and Kathy Thomas discuss: *How the events industry is “Smoke and Mirrors” *Asking yourself “How do I want my clients to feel?” *Celebrating love *Owning your own time   Key Takeaways: *Opening the door for clients to make sure you are the right person for them *Sharing with your clients your knowledge so you can better understand their expectations *The “small” details truly matter *Hiring professionals really matter, especially when it comes to the finished product   “I feel your wedding images should be the piece of your wedding that doesn't get dated and go out-of-style, they should evoke emotion in you when viewing them.” - Kathy Thomas

Kathy found our she was pregnant before she married Mark, and, as a result their marriage was off to a rocky start. Kathy was trying to draw closer to Christ, but Mark was running the opposite direction and allowed lust to take root in his heart. Mark admitted his secret past of sin, and Kathy met him with grace. Together, they began a journey of forgiveness and being made new through the love of Christ.

Kathy found our she was pregnant before she married Mark, and, as a result their marriage was off to a rocky start. Kathy was trying to draw closer to Christ, but Mark was running the opposite direction and allowed lust to take root in his heart. Mark admitted his secret past of sin, and Kathy met him with grace. Together, they began a journey of forgiveness and being made new through the love of Christ.

Kathy found our she was pregnant before she married Mark, and, as a result their marriage was off to a rocky start. Kathy was trying to draw closer to Christ, but Mark was running the opposite direction and allowed lust to take root in his heart. Mark admitted his secret past of sin, and Kathy met him with grace. Together, they began a journey of forgiveness and being made new through the love of Christ.

Kathy Thomas  English teacher   Paradise High School (CA) Segment I – Background and Inspiration    Tell your story. Where are you from and how long have you been teaching? What   classes have you taught?    – Kathy went to Arizona State and was originally a business major but took a lot of language classes, especially French, and became a teacher of foreign languages for the first 12 years of her career. Who has helped you in your journey to become a master teacher?   – Not one specific person... a lot of people put her under their wing. Her math colleagues taught her organization and served as voices of comfort.      It is important for other teachers to know that we all have had setbacks in the classroom. Identify an instance in which you struggled as a teacher and explain what you learned from that experience.   – Early in a career, while doing a lesson on telling time, only one student was paying attention. The clock that she had, made of card stock, hit the one student that was paying attention. But she took away, years later, not to take things personally. The reality is that not every student will share the same level of enthusiasm but now she has learned to step back and assess why students may not be engaged.     Why teach English and the language arts?   – Kathy believes it is the most important subject because it is all about communication through writing, speaking, reading, and listening.      What is one thing that you love about the classroom?   –  The discussions that happen in the classroom. There is nothing more satisfying than engaging in a discussion with a teenager.  She draws out conversation though Socratic Seminars and turning over the power of the classroom to the students with structure so it is not just a discussion about feelings.     Segment II — Digging into the Teacher Bag of Goodies     What book do you recommend to a developing teacher?    – Reading Don't Fix No Chevys: Literacy in the Lives of Young Men. It addresses the male population in the classroom. The discovery was that boys were different in the way that they attacked reading.      What is one thing a teacher can do outside the classroom that can pay off inside the classroom?   – Kathy joined her local writing project (connect with your local a National Writing Project). It really changed who she was in the classroom.      Is there an internet resource that you can recommend which will help teachers grow professionally?   –  NCTE. She is also a Quizlet addict. She also recently discovered Pixton, a cartoon maker that she uses for alternative assessment.     What can a teacher can do to make students better writers?   – She believes in discussion once again. If a student can talk about a topic and make sense of it, the next progression is to put those ideas on paper.       What novel or poem do you love to teach and why?     – The Great Gatsby. As Francine Prose said, it is just gorgeous writing. The story is so rich and complicated and beautiful. As far as non-fiction goes, she really enjoys teaching Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers: The Story of Success.     The post #3 The Art of Communication with Kathy Thomas appeared first on Talks with Teachers.