Podcast appearances and mentions of rick wormeli

This conversation explores the complexities of classroom censorship, the impact of educational policies on teacher autonomy, and the importance of fostering trust and transparency in education. Experts discuss the challenges teachers face in navigating restrictive guidelines while striving to engage students in meaningful discussions. The dialogue emphasizes the need for professionalism, objectivity, and skills development for constructive conversations in the classroom. Additionally, the panel shares resources and strategies to effectively support educators in addressing these challenges. Follow our PLN on Twitter:  @rickwormeli2 @rpondiscio @mellyteaches @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd @curriculumblog Dr. Steven Weber is an Assistant Principal at Rogers Heritage High School (AR).  He has spent over twenty five years in education, serving as a teacher, administrator, and adjunct professor.  His leadership experience includes serving as  Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning with Fayetteville Public Schools (AR), Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction with Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (NC), and Director of Secondary Instruction for Orange County Schools (NC). Weber was a social studies curriculum specialist with the Arkansas Department of Education and North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. In 2019, Weber was named the AACIA (Arkansas Association of Curriculum & Instruction Administrators) Administrator of the Year. Weber is the past president of Arkansas Association of Curriculum & Instruction Administrators, vice president of Arkansas ASCD, and has served on multiple state and national boards. Robert Pondiscio is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute where he focuses on K–12 education, curriculum, teaching, school choice, and charter schooling. He is also a former New York City public school teacher and the author of many books, including “How the Other Half Learns: Equality, Excellence, and the Battle over School Choice” (Avery, 2019), about Success Academy Charter Schools. Rick Wormeli is a long-time teacher, education leader, and teacher/principal trainer. He is the author of nine books, including The Collected Writings (So Far) of Rick Wormeli: Crazy, Good Stuff I Learned about Teaching Along the Way (AMLE), Fair Isn't Always Equal: Second Edition (Taylor & Francis), Metaphors & Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching any Subject (Taylor & Francis), and Summarization in any Subject: 60 Innovative, Tech-Infused Strategies for Deeper Student Learning, 2nd edition, co-authored with Dedra Stafford. He is currently working directly with schools and organizations in variety of education elements, including accurate/ethical grading, equity, motivation, cognitive psychology applications, teacher professionalism, literacy, and teacher leadership. Christina Andrade Melly, an English teacher at Ritenour High School in the Ritenour School District in St. Louis, Mo., was recently named the 2023 Missouri Teacher of the Year 2023.

Celebrating 300 Episodes and the New Era of Education with Rick Wormeli with Aspire to Lead Podcast hosted by Joshua Stamper. Teach Better Talk Podcast The ultimate must-listen for every teacher and educational leader, Teach Better Talk dives into the key questions that drive education today. Weekly interviews with experts from around the world, sharing cutting-edge science, groundbreaking research, and practical tools to help you master the art of teaching, efficiently manage a school, and reach every learner in your community. Catch the official podcast of the Teach Better Podcast Network every Tuesday through Thursday for fresh episodes to inspire, inform, and ignite your passion for education. ► Thanks for subscribing!

Many educators support the idea of allowing students to retake exams or redo submitted assignments. However, there are significant complexities and challenges involved when teachers have large and multiple classes. In this discussion, we explore the educational value of retakes, stressing the importance of structured learning processes over mere grade chasing. The consensus was that retakes when managed well, can greatly aid student learning but require clear policies to ensure they do not overwhelm teachers. Follow our PLN on Twitter: @SarahR_Morris @LisaPas220 @RickWormeli @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd @curriculumblog Related Resources: Retakes for Grading Equity – Edutopia | Redos and Retakes Done Right (ascd.org) | Blindsided by AI Lisa Leaheey has taught English at North Providence High School for the entirety of her 23-year career. A lifelong voracious reader and movie buff, she spends every day sharing her passion for stories with her students, and she continuously seeks out new ways to elevate her students' individual strengths and to support their individual needs. Lisa was recently named the 2023 Rhode Island Teacher of the Year. Rick Wormeli, a long-time classroom veteran, now award-winning author and teacher trainer, was one of the first Nationally Board Certified Teachers in America as well as Disney's Outstanding English Teacher of the Nation in 1996. Today, he trains teachers and principals in all 50 states and eight countries, writes for education journals and magazines, and is working on his 12th book. Sarah Ruth Morris is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas and a strategic data partner for the Northwest Arkansas school districts at the Office for Education Policy. She researches grading practices and the ninth-grade year. Dr. Steven Weber is an Assistant Principal at Rogers Heritage High School (AR). He has spent over twenty-five years in education, serving as a teacher, administrator, and adjunct professor. His leadership experience includes serving as Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning with Fayetteville Public Schools (AR), Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction with Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (NC), and Director of Secondary Instruction for Orange County Schools (NC). Weber was a social studies curriculum specialist with the Arkansas Department of Education and North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. In 2019, Weber was named the AACIA (Arkansas Association of Curriculum & Instruction Administrators) Administrator of the Year. Weber is the past president of the Arkansas Association of Curriculum & Instruction Administrators, vice president of Arkansas ASCD, and has served on multiple state and national boards.

Join us in this special 300th episode of Aspire to Lead as award-winning author, Rick Wormeli, shares about the evolving educational landscape as the post-pandemic practices have shifted. Rick shares his insights on the major challenges schools are currently facing and how he is actively supporting educators and administrators in overcoming these hurdles. We delve into the exciting potential of AI integration in schools, discussing practical strategies for incorporating AI to enhance learning experiences. Additionally, Rick provides valuable guidance on navigating tough discussions and fostering civil discourse within educational settings. Don't miss this opportunity to gain fresh perspectives from one of the most influential voices in education today! About Rick Wormeli: One of the first Nationally Board Certified teachers in America, Rick brings innovation, energy, validity and high standards to both his presentations and his instructional practice, which include 39 years teaching math, science, English, physical education, health, and history, as well as coaching teachers and principals. Rick's work has been reported in numerous media, including ABC's Good Morning America, Hardball with Chris Matthews, National Geographic and Good Housekeeping magazines, What Matters Most: Teaching for the 21st Century, and the Washington Post. He is a columnist for AMLE Magazine and a frequent contributor to ASCD's Education Leadership magazine. He is the author of the award-winning book Meet Me in the Middle as well as the best-selling books Day One and Beyond, Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom (Second Edition), Differentiation: From Planning to Practice and Metaphors & Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching any Subject, all five from Stenhouse Publishers, as well as Summarization in any Subject: 60 Innovative and Tech-Infused Strategies for Deeper Student Learning (releasing in fall 2018) published by ASCD.  His book, The Collected Writings (So Far) of Rick Wormeli: Crazy Good Stuff I Learned about Teaching Along the Way, is a collection of his published articles, guest blogs and more through 2013. His classroom practice is a showcase for ASCD's best-selling series, At Work in the Differentiated Classroom. Follow Rick Wormeli: Twitter: https://twitter.com/rickwormeli2 Website:

Rick Wormeli joins us to share his experience and expertise about the wild animal we call middle school. The middle is a unique, flexible, and yes, sometimes chaotic place to live. In this episode, Rick helps us navigate a clearer path and sheds light on some common issues facing both teachers and students.

In today's episode, we had the privilege of sitting down with author, speaker, educator, Rick Wormeli. Rick is a true trailblazer in the field of education, and he brought a wealth of wisdom and experience to our conversation.In this engaging discussion, Rick delved into some thought-provoking ideas that challenge conventional teaching practices in mathematics. He passionately emphasized why assigning a large number of problems might not be the most effective way to help students learn and why it's crucial to understand that the person doing the editing is the one truly engaging with the material. Rick also shared his insights on the power of intentional purpose in assignments, the importance of cultivating empathy for students new to math, and the interconnectedness of pedagogy and mathematics content.Furthermore, Rick introduced a bold notion—that teaching the same course year after year may not be the most effective approach for educators or students. His unique perspective on this topic invites us to reconsider the dynamics of teaching and its impact on student outcomes.Prepare to be inspired and challenged as Rick Wormeli takes us on a journey of rethinking math education. It's a conversation you won't want to miss, so let's dive right in!You'll Learn: Why assigning a large amount of problems is more of an endurance test instead of a learning activity;Why whomever is doing the editing of the work is doing the learning of the work; Why assigning less with more intentional purpose is more powerful than doing many of the same task repeatedly;Why educators must develop an empathy for first time eyes in math class;Why you cannot effectively be intimate with the repertoire or array of teaching pedagogies without being intimate with the mathematics content;Why it is better for effective teaching practices and student outcomes if a teacher does NOT teach the same course year to year;Resources: Illustrative MathematicsDistrict Math Leaders: How are you ensuring that you support those educators who need a nudge to spark a focus on growing their pedagogical-content knowledge? What about opportunities for those who are eager and willing to elevate their practice, but do not have the support? Book a call with our District Improvement Program Team to learn how we can not only help you craft, refine and implement your district math learning goals, but also provide all of the professional learning supports your educators need to grow at the speed of their learning. Book a short conversation with our team now. Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District.Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you'll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program.Take the assessment

Long time classroom teacher in both elementary and secondary levels, now author and teacher/principal trainer, author of Fair Isn't Always Equal, 2nd Edition, Summarization in any Subject, 2nd Edition, columnist, Differentiation: From Planning to Practice, among other titles, 'proudly a new Grandpa, and "chocolate pecan pie" fan club memberwww.twitter.com/rickwormeli2If you know someone who you would like to recommend as a guest for our show, complete this survey.

In Part 2 of this conversation from AMLE 22, Rick Wormeli, acclaimed educator, speaker, and author, takes a deep dive into the legitimacy and ethics of grading.   Follow Marc on Twitter @marcisseks or online: marcisseks.com Guest: Rick Wormeli Ways to find/contact Rick: Website Email

Marc is joined by the one-and-only Rick Wormeli, acclaimed educator, speaker, and author of nine books. In Part I of this conversation, Rick discusses strategies for schools to rethink homework and cease using it in ways that are punitive or dissuade student interest and engagement in learning.  Follow Marc on Twitter @marcisseks or online: marcisseks.com Guest: Rick Wormeli Ways to find/contact Rick: Website Email

Rick was first on my show back in 2017 and, in this initial conversation, we explored the work he had done up until that point training teachers around the areas of assessment, feedback, and differentiated instruction. Rick's work has received numerous media coverage over the years. Some examples include The Good Morning America Show, Hardball with Chris Matthews, The Washington Post, the National Geographic and Good Housekeeping magazines (among many other publications).In today's episode, Rick and I explore early days in his life and how this journey went on to shape who he became as an educator and ultimately the work he has done as a writer, presenter and trainer of teachers, principals, superintendents, school boards and business organizations. Rick shares deep insight into what it takes to be a great teacher and what the best leaders do to empower all stakeholders in their organizations to thrive and flourish within their roles. As well, he shares some valuable resources and ideas to help improve pedagogy and leadership practice. You are sure to enjoy this discussion with Rick. Connect With RickTwitter: https://twitter.com/rickwormeli2Website: https://www.rickwormeli.com/The 2017 episode I recorded with Rick can be found here.

Starting on the right foot On the first day or two of school, it can be tempting to want to lay the ground rules. You know, set the expectations about workload, go over the rules, and fill out the required forms. But Rick Wormeli wants to challenge educators to think differently. Wormeli, one of the first Nationally Board Certified Teachers in America, says that students want to know that you're going to transcend their current condition and help them aspire to something more than they are. “And when all they [students] get is more rules and regulations, they realize one more year where there's nothing here for me.” Wormeli recommends laying a foundation of meaningful relationships with students by mixing activities that allow you to get to know and understand where the students are coming from. Wormeli recently listed ways this can be accomplished in a recent article he penned for AMLE, and he elaborates on those ideas in Episode 224 of the Class Dismissed podcast. Wormeli's beginning of the year ideas “The Best Way for You to Learn” Cards Using index cards, teachers can ask students to describe how they best learn that particular subject. “Kids are candid,” says Wormeli. “They will say things like, look, if it's really important, write it on the board.” Or he says some students may ask you not to assign online assignments because their sibling always hogs the computer. “I've got a stack that I rubber band, and I look through that as I try to decide what I'm going to do next,” Wormeli says kids will say some really cool things and give him lots of examples. Letters to the Teacher from Students as their Parents When students write under a pseudonym, they feel freer to speak their mind, says Wormeli. “When I get what they say about themselves, and then I get what they think their parents would say about themselves, I'm getting a really fleshed version of the child,” says Wormeli. “When someone is fully dimensionalized, you really care a heck of a lot more. Six-Word Memoirs “I love six-word memoirs!” says Wormeli. They really make kids come out of their shells and say profound things. The brilliance of six-word memoirs is the brevity; teachers can use six-word memoirs as their students examine the content. “It really reveals a lot more about what the student is thinking.” Wormeli says he often has students continue to send six-word memoirs after class about sports or pop culture. To hear more from Rick Wormeli, listen to Episode 224 of the Class Dismissed Podcast on your favorite podcast app or iTunes. All Rights Reserved. Class Dismissed Podcast 2017-2022

We conclude our conversation with author and educator Rick Wormeli by discussing how teachers can implement best practices without burying themselves in work. After touching upon what ideas about grading we should carry with us in a post-pandemic world, we share our takeaways from our interview. Resources for WCPSS staff: Goodwin, B. & Rouleau, K. (2020, September 1). Research matters / grading to encourage re-rearning. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/grading-to-encourage-re-learning Wormeli. R. (2020, May 8). Descriptive feedback techniques - Part 1 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78y5Csm5N8g Wormeli. R. (2020, May 8). Descriptive feedback techniques - Part 2 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgpumwMOe4g Wormeli, R. (2018). Fair isn't always equal: Assessment and grading in the differentiated classroom. Stenhouse Publishers. Wormeli. R. (2011). Redos and retakes done right. Educational Leadership. https://www.newenglandssc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Redos-and-Retakes-Done-Right-Rick-Wormeli-1.pdf Wormeli. R. (n.d.). Re-learning and re-assessing: Practical tips. Association for Middle Level Education. https://www.amle.org/re-learning-and-re-assessing-practical-tips/ Wormeli. R. (n.d.). We have to prepare students for the next level, don't we? Association for Middle Level Education. https://www.amle.org/we-have-to-prepare-students-for-the-next-level-dont-we/ WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here. Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler Theme music provided by Cary High School's Logan Foster Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message

“Accountability is a mutual commitment to the others' success,” according to Yale Business School. We unpack this idea in the second part of our three-episode interview with author and educator Rick Wormeli. In doing so, we look into using grades as motivators, the difference between sense-making and meaning-making, as well as why we should be open to giving students second chances on assessments. Resources for WCPSS staff: Fair Isn't Always Equal, Rick Wormeli Re-learning and Re-assessing: Practical Tips by Rick Wormeli (AMLE) Redos and Retakes Done Right by Rick Wormeli, Educational Leadership (ASCD); Nov 2011, 69(3), pp 22-26 Descriptive Feedback Techniques -Part 1 video by Rick Wormeli Descriptive feedback Techniques - Part 2 video by Rick Wormeli We Have to Prepare Students for the Next Level, Don't We? by Rick Wormeli (AMLE) WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here. Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler Theme music provided by Cary High School's Logan Foster Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message

In this first segment of our three-part interview with educator and author Rick Wormeli, we dive into what is the purpose of grades, what should be included in a grading plan, and how we can balance effective grading policies with accountability mandates. References & Resources: Re-learning and Re-assessing: Practical Tips by Rick Wormeli (AMLE) Redos and Retakes Done Right by Rick Wormeli, Educational Leadership (ASCD); Nov 2011, 69(3), pp 22-26 Descriptive Feedback Techniques -Part 1 video by Rick Wormeli Descriptive feedback Techniques - Part 2 video by Rick Wormeli We Have to Prepare Students for the Next Level, Don't We? by Rick Wormeli (AMLE) WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here. Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler Theme music provided by Cary High School's Logan Foster Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message

Rick Wormeli is a National Board Certified Teacher, is an author of highly regarded books such as Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom (Second Edition) and Differentiation: From Planning to Practice, and has 39 years of experience teaching math, science, English, physical education, health, and history. . Connect with Rick: https://www.rickwormeli.com/ | Twitter: @rickwormeli2 . For more Ed Essentials content, click this link: https://linktr.ee/edessentials --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/edessentials/support

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, I have the privilege of interviewing one of my all-time educational heroes, Rick Wormeli. He's the Mick Jagger of Education. He tackles the big questions in education and explores every strategy and method and puts it to the test. He will make you laugh. He will make you think. He will challenge the way teach. He'll inspire you in so many ways! Rick isn't just a legend, he's one of the most authentic voices in education. We dive in so many areas including assessments, grading, rubrics, literacy, preparing for the new year, starting new initiatives and more.  I think think this may be the greatest interview with Rick ever recorded but I am biased. Buckle up. Click here to listen to this interview with Rick Wormeli on The Wired Educator Podcast.  One of the first Nationally Board Certified teachers in America, Rick brings innovation, energy, validity and high standards to both his presentations and his instructional practice, which include 39 years teaching math, science, English, physical education, health, and history, as well as coaching teachers and principals. Rick's work has been reported in numerous media, including ABC's Good Morning America, Hardball with Chris Matthews, National Geographic and Good Housekeeping magazines, What Matters Most: Teaching for the 21st Century, and the Washington Post. He is a columnist for AMLE Magazine and a frequent contributor to ASCD's Education Leadership magazine. He is the author of the award-winning book Meet Me in the Middle as well as the best-selling books Day One and Beyond, Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom (Second Edition), Differentiation: From Planning to Practice and Metaphors & Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching any Subject, all five from Stenhouse Publishers, as well as Summarization in any Subject: 60 Innovative and Tech-Infused Strategies for Deeper Student Learning (releasing in fall 2018) published by ASCD.  His book, The Collected Writings (So Far) of Rick Wormeli: Crazy Good Stuff I Learned about Teaching Along the Way, is collection of his published articles, guest blogs and more through 2013. His classroom practice is a showcase for ASCD's best-selling series, At Work in the Differentiated Classroom. With his substantive presentations, sense of humor and unconventional approaches, he has been asked to present to teachers and administrators in all 50 states, Canada, China, Europe, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Australia the Middle East, and at the White House. He is a seasoned veteran of many international webcasts, and he is Disney's American Teacher Awards 1996 Outstanding English Teacher of the Nation. He won the 2008 James P. Garvin award from the New England League of Middle Schools for Teaching Excellence, Service and Leadership, and he has been a consultant for National Public Radio, USA Today, Court TV and the Smithsonian Institution's Natural Partners Program and their search for the giant squid. Rick lives in Herndon, Virginia, with his wife, Kelly, and both are proud of recently launching the last of their children into adulthood. With the kids' college years now behind them, Rick and Kelly are now eagerly spending their childrens' inheritance while Rick works on his first young adult fiction novel and a new book on changing the culture of a school for ethical grading practices. Mentioned in this episode: Please support our sponsor: www.PlanBook.com Rick's website: www.rockwormeli.com Some of my favorite Rick Wormeli book: Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom The Collected Writings (so far): Crazy Good Stuff I've Learned About Teaching Along the Way of Rick Wormeli A Big Thank-You to our sponsor www.Planbook.com - Enter code "Wired" at sign-up Planbook has been the established leader in online lesson planning since 2010, offering collaborative lesson sharing, flexible administrator access, and even student view tools for just $15 a year. Using Planbook, educators can build customized school years, classes, and lessons 100% online, directly inputting class materials and up-to-date standards from all over the world. Enter code "Wired" at sign-up to join over 800,000 Planbook teachers today and get your first year for only $5! ------------------   Invite Kelly to be your opening day speaker at your school, lead a leadership workshop, or share his What Everyone Needs to Know About Bullying presentation here. www.kellycroy.com This link will take you to ALL of Kelly's social media: https://linktr.ee/kellycroy Sign-up for Kelly's newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you'd like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email.  Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with 206 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly's website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school's opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly's books, Along Came a Leaderand Unthink Before Bed: A Children's Book on Mindfulness for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram     

Rick Wormeli takes us back to school with his enlightening thoughts, innovative ideas, and motivational style....and surprise visitor! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In today's episode, we have a question from a listener! Anna asks about the challenges that come from giving students “redos” on their work. Specifically, she asks about the balance of some students needing multiple opportunities to succeed, while others take advantage of being able to do low-quality work on the first attempt, knowing they will have the opportunity to “fix it” later. We discuss the habits of mind needed to make redos work well, what it means to be people of both grace and truth, and our own experiences with making some learning activities lower stakes for our students by offering multiple attempts in learning. Along the way, Dave mentions and article by Rick Wormeli entitled “Redos and Retakes Done Right,” which you can access here: https://www.newenglandssc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Redos-and-Retakes-Done-Right-Rick-Wormeli-1.pdf 

For this next part of The Takeaway, part of the Pandemic Pass series, I bring in the incredible Rick Wormeli. This is Part 1 of 2 on this topic. Rick is the foremost voice on what it means to be an effective teacher, and my go to source for research and beliefs on grading and assessment. Rick takes us through what he hopes will be a major change to our school systems practices on grading and assessment, and what our schools will look like upon return.

Citizen of the world yet Québécois and Canadian at heart, Philippe Caron-Auget is an international educator who has worked in Switzerland, Czech Republic, Qatar, France, Gabon, Cameron, and Nigeria. Over the course of his seven years spent in Tunisia, he embarked on his leadership journey. Risk-taker, inquirer, and adept at vulnerability, he’s been inspired by Michael Fullan, Patrick Lencioni, Rick Wormeli, Elena Aguilar, and Benjamin Zander. In 2018, Philippe joined a world-class team of fierce and resilient Blue Terriers at the International School of Boston, where he now serves as Secondary School Director.   Show Highlights Trust comes with time Critical ways to disconnect from the intense demand of leadership each month leveraging compassion and empathy to influence leadership Detractors will become your strongest allies A sign of a strong leader and what you need to be exposed to early Sentences that really change the course of your life  Practice mindfulness to support your strategic strategies   “We cannot demand trust. It's not something that can be required or demanded. If you're going to stand in front of a group and say, I need you to trust me on this that cannot be done on the first day, the first week one could argue the first year when people see your patterns, if you are consistent in your approach and the way you communicate in the way you are present, visible and the way you handle difficult, difficult conversations, issues as they arise, then trust will come.”  -Philippe Caron-Audet   Full Transcript Philippe Caron-Audet Transcript   Philippe’sResources & Contact Info: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn   Looking for more? Read The Better Leaders Better Schools Roadmap Join “The Mastermind” Read the latest on the blog   Show Sponsors HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Transform how you lead to become a resilient and empowered change agent with Harvard’s online Certificate in School Management and Leadership. Grow your professional network with a global cohort of fellow school leaders as you collaborate in case studies bridging the fields of education and business. Apply today at http://hgse.me/leader. SMART TECHNOLOGIES The SMART Learning Suite Online allows teachers to create, store, and deliver lessons from anywhere – no SMART Board required – and your students can access and engage with your content from any web browser on any device. And it connects with tools you already use like Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams. The research-backed EdTeach Assessment Tool will help Ruckus Makers discover their strengths and best area of focus across 5 different modules, including leadership and remote learning. You’ll get a personalized report that shows where you stack up against other leaders, and maps some areas of focus that will have the greatest impact for you.    ORGANIZED BINDER Organized Binder is the missing piece in many classrooms. Many teachers are great with the main content of the lesson. Organized Binder helps with powerful introductions, savvy transitions, and memorable lesson closings. Your students will grow their executive functioning skills (and as a bonus), your teachers will become more organized too. Help your students and staff level up with Organized Binder.   Copyright © 2021 Twelve Practices LLC

In Don't @ Me (2:48) Tom asserts that now is the time for teachers to reclaim their professional judgment; however, to do so, he also asserts that teachers must be prepared for the responsibilities that come with it. Then, in the interview (15:14), Tom is joined by author, speaker, and consultant Rick Wormeli to discuss the events of January 6, as well as a number of different current (and future) educational topics. Finally, in Assessment Corner (1:15:23), Tom, part 1 of 2, details why "atypical assessment formats" must be embraced if teachers are going to remain relevant and culturally responsive.Follow Rick Wormeli on Twitter: @rickwormeli2Website: www.rickwormeli.com Email the Podcast: tomschimmerpod@gmail.comFollow the Podcast on Twitter: @TomSchimmerPodFollow Tom on Twitter: @TomSchimmerInstagram: tomschimmerpodcastFacebook: Schimmer Education

Dave Schmittou is the former 2018 College Educator of the Year, former 2014 Michigan Administrator of the Year, and is currently a professor of Educational Leadership at Central Michigan University. Dave is also a fellow podcaster, the host of The Lasting Learning Podcast. In this episode, we talk about: [00:01 – 01:26] Opening Segment I introduce our guest, Dave Schmittou I talk briefly about the valuable information you can take advantage of in this episode [01:27 – 10:35] GTKY Segment Dave and I take turns asking questions to get to know each other better [10:36 – 26:12] The Importance of Relationships in Schools Dave talks about his background and how his journey as an educator began Shares his thoughts on how relationships are made with students on different grade levels Dave talks about the importance of relationships in schools and how to build the foundation of good relationships Dave weighs in on the reason why relationships get lost [26:13 – 41:00] The Roadblocks in Building Relationships Dave talks about the roadblocks in building relationships in schools and what it takes to overcome them. The possibilities when putting relationships first. [41:01 – 50:42] Building Campus Connections Dave shares strategies in building adult-to-adult relationships within the campus The process of making connections [50:43 – 57:34] Closing Segment Dave talks about his podcast, https://schmittou.net/lasting-learning-lessons-from-those-who-know-what-matters-most/ (The Lasting Learning Podcast). Why you should be listening to his podcast Dave talks about his book https://amzn.to/2GTdUDG (Making Assessment Work for Educators Who Hate Data but LOVE Kids) Connect with Dave. See the links below Dave's recommendations: https://www.facebook.com/teachbetterteam/ (Teach Better Team) Final thoughts   Tweetable Quotes: “If you're simply building relationships so that you can get kids to jump through your hoops and perform your tricks and do all those things, you're manipulating kids. So, stop it.” – Dave Schmittou “Building relationships with people does take time.” – Dave Schmittou “You want your kids to learn. You want them to be connected to you. You want that trust. You want that relationship. Then yes, it's going to take time. It's going to take energy. It's gonna take investment.” – Dave Schmittou “Teachers have to understand that it is hard work. They have to understand that it is going to be difficult. It is gonna be uncomfortable. It's not just liking the nice kids. It is getting to know every single kid.” – Dave Schmittou   Resources Mentioned: https://twitter.com/TheTimMcGraw?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Tim McGraw) https://www.rickwormeli.com/ (Rick Wormeli)   You can connect with Dave onhttps://twitter.com/daveschmittou?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor ( Twitter),https://www.instagram.com/daveschmittou/?hl=en ( Instagram), or visit his websitehttps://schmittou.net/ ( https://schmittou.net/)     Visithttp://www.rclfirst.com/ ( www.Rclfirst.com) to join the Educator Circle Calls that happen three times a week!   Want a FREE download of 25 GTKY questions? Visithttp://www.rclfirst.com/ ( www.rclfirst.com) and sign up for our newsletter!

Rick Wormeli talks with me about assessment, the importance of using retakes & redo's, the power of summarization, why you should use metaphors & analogies, and grading practices that work. This is episode 320 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. One of the first Nationally Board Certified teachers in America, Rick brings innovation, energy, validity and high standards to both his presentations and his instructional practice, which include 39 years teaching math, science, English, physical education, health, and history, as well as coaching teachers and principals.  Rick's work has been reported in numerous media, including ABC's Good Morning America, Hardball with Chris Matthews, National Geographic and Good Housekeeping magazines, What Matters Most: Teaching for the 21st Century, and the Washington Post.  He is a columnist for AMLE Magazine and a frequent contributor to ASCD's Education Leadership magazine.  He is the author of the award-winning book Meet Me in the Middle as well as the best-selling books Day One and Beyond, Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom (Second Edition), Differentiation: From Planning to Practice, and Metaphors & Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching any Subject, all five from Stenhouse Publishers, as well as Summarization in any Subject: 60 Innovative and Tech-Infused Strategies for Deeper Student Learning and  The Collected Writings (So Far) of Rick Wormeli: Crazy Good Stuff I Learned about Teaching Along the Way, both published by ASCD. With his substantive presentations, sense of humor and unconventional approaches, he has been asked to present to teachers and administrators in all 50 states, Canada, China, Europe, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Australia, the Middle East, and at the White House.  He is a seasoned veteran of many international webcasts, and he is Disney's American Teacher Awards 1996 Outstanding English Teacher of the Nation.  He won the 2008 James P. Garvin award from the New England League of Middle Schools for Teaching Excellence, Service and Leadership, and he has been a consultant for National Public Radio, USA Today, Court TV and the Smithsonian Institution's Natural Partners Program and their search for the giant squid.  Rick lives in Herndon, Virginia, with his wife, Kelly, and both are proud of recently launching the last of their children into adulthood.  With the kids' college years now behind them, Rick and Kelly are now eagerly spending their childrens' inheritance while Rick works on his first young adult fiction novel and a new book on changing the culture of a school for ethical grading practices. Lots to learn today! Thanks for listening! Don't forget to share and subscribe! Enjoy! Connect and Learn More: https://www.rickwormeli.com/ Fair isn’t Always Equal, 2nd Ed Fair Isn’t Always Equal, 2nd Ed (Amazon) Summarization in Any Subject: 60 Innovative, Tech-Infused Strategies for Deeper Student Learning, 2nd Edition Differentiation: From Planning to Practice, Grades 6-12 Metaphors & Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching Any Subject rick@rickwormeli.onmicrosoft.com @rickwormeli2 - Twitter Length - 01:15:21

In this episode, Rick Wormeli, one of the first Nationally Board Certified teachers in America, discusses his 30-year career as a teacher and shares insights from his best-selling book, Fair Isn’t Always Equal: Assessment & Grading in the Differentiated Classroom. As an advocate for standards-based grading, Wormeli also talks about how personalized learning is the key to success for remote instruction and why defining mastery is essential for success when thinking about homework and assessment in K-12 classrooms. Twitter: @rickwormeli2. Website: www.rickwormeli.com. Meet Rick Wormeli One of the first Nationally Board Certified teachers in America, Rick Wormeli brings innovation, energy, validity and high standards to both his presentations, and his instructional practice, which includes almost 30 years teaching math, science, English, physical education, health, and history and coaching teachers. Rick's work has been reported in numerous media, including ABC's "Good Morning America," "Hardball" with Chris Matthews, National Geographic and Good Housekeeping magazines, What Matters Most: Teaching for the 21st Century, and the Washington Post. He is a columnist for the National Middle School Association's Middle Ground magazine, and he is the author of the award-winning book, Meet Me in the Middle: Becoming an Accomplished Middle Level Teacher, as well as the best-selling books, Day One and Beyond, Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom, Metaphors & Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching any Subject, and Differentiation: From Planning to Practice, Grades 6-12, all five from Stenhouse Publishers, as well as Summarization in any Subject, published by ASCD. With his substantive presentations, sense of humor, and unconventional approaches, he's been asked to present to teachers and administrators in all 50 states, Canada, China, Europe, Japan, the Bahamas, Vietnam, Korea, Australia, the Middle East, and at the White House. He is a seasoned veteran of many international Web casts, and he is Disney's American Teacher Awards 1996 Outstanding English Teacher of the Nation. He won the 2008 James P. Garvin award from the New England League of Middle Schools for Teaching Excellence, Service, and Leadership, and he has been a consultant for National Public Radio, USA Today, Court TV, and the Smithsonian Institution's Natural Partners Program and their search for the Giant Squid. About Dr. Greg Goins As the Founder/Host of the Reimagine Schools Podcast, Dr. Greg Goins has emerged as one of the nation's leading voices on visionary leadership and the path to transforming our schools. He currently serves as the Director of the Educational Leadership Program at Georgetown College (KY) and previously spent 15 years as a school district superintendent in Illinois. Dr. Goins is a passionate keynote speaker and is available to speak at your next education conference or school PD day. To book Dr. Goins, please send inquiries to drgreggoins@gmail.com. Twitter: @DrGregGoins. Website: www.reimagineschools.net. Support The Reimagine Schools Podcast You can now help keep the conversation going by supporting the Reimagine Schools Podcast with a small monthly donation to help sustain future episodes. Thanks for your support! https://anchor.fm/greg-goins/supportIn this episode, --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/greg-goins/support

Mike Szczepanik and Brian Arnot chat with us about finding ways to better meet the needs of out students, doing things you believe in, and providing more accurate feedback. More at www.teachbetter.com/podcast/mikeszczepanik-brianarnot. Mike and Brian's Recommendations EdTech Tool: Mike: Everything Google Brian: Seesaw Book: Mike: “Stop Talking and Start Influencing” Jared Cooney Horvath Brian: “Culturally Responsive Teaching & THE BRAIN” by Zaretta Hammond. Who to Follow on Instagram: Mike: Ken O’Connor @kenoc7, Rick Wormeli @rickwormeli2 Brian: Thomas Guskey @tguskey, Aaron Blackwelder @AaronSBlackwel1 YouTube/Podcast/Website/Blog: Mike: www.teachersgoinggradeless.com Brian: www.teachbetter.com Daily/Weekly/Monthly Routine: Mike: Video taping yourself. Brian: Connect to people that inspire and energize you. Best piece of advice you've ever received: Mike: Look at mistakes as an opportunity to grow. Brian: If it's good for kids and won't get us fired, do it. Links to Connect With Mike and Brian Website: medium.com/@mszczepanik Twitter: @MikeSzczepanik @brian_arnot Facebook Page: Mike Szczepanik. Brian Arnot. Instagram: michaelaszczepanik YouTube: Michael Szczepanik --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/teach-better-talk/message

Come learn with Rick for his Assessment series:  Aug 25, 2020: Assessment Principles – Getting Up to Speed and Looking at What Still Holds True While Students Work from Home Oct 01, 2020: Cultivating Teacher Creativity and Intellect Oct 28, 2020: Differentiated Instruction: Taking It to the Next Level Nov 17, 2020: What the Text is Summarization?! Why Should I Use It for Learning and Assessment? Dec 03, 2020: Descriptive Feedback: A Deeper Dive Rick Wormeli is an experienced classroom and building educator who now writes professional articles and education books while training teachers, principals, superintendents, business organizations, school boards, and parents in North America and around the world. Emphasizing up-to-date pedagogy, innovation, and professionalism, Rick's work often focuses on nine topics: assessment/feedback/grading, differentiated instruction, leadership, literacy, motivation, cognitive science/linguistics, teacher-student relationships, racism and creativity.

Starting on the right foot On the first day or two of school, it can be tempting to want to lay the ground rules. You know, set the expectations about workload, go over the rules, and fill out the required forms. But Rick Wormeli wants to challenge educators to think differently. Wormeli, who is one of the first Nationally Board Certified Teachers in America, says that students want to know that you’re going to transcend their current condition and help them aspire to something more than they are. “And when all they [students] get is more rules and regulations they realize one more year where there’s nothing here for me.” Wormeli recommends laying a foundation of meaningful relationships with students by mixing in activities that allow you to get to know and understand where the students are coming from. Wormeli recently listed ways this can be accomplished in a recent article he penned for AMLE, and he elaborates on those ideas in Episode 158 of the Class Dismissed podcast. Wormeli’s beginning of the year ideas “The Best Way for You to Learn” Cards Using index cards, teachers can ask students to describe how they best learn that particular subject. “Kids are candid,” says Wormeli. “They will say things like, look if it’s really important, write it on the board.” Or he says some students may ask you not to assign online assignments because their sibling always hogs the computer. “I’ve got a stack that I rubber band and I look through that as I try to decide what I’m going to do next,” Wormeli says kids will say some really cool things and give him lots of examples. Letters to the Teacher from Students as their Parents When students write under a pseudonym, they feel much more free to speak their mind, says Wormeli. “When I get what they say about themselves, and then I get what they think their parents would say about themselves, I’m getting a really fleshed version of the child,” says Wormeli. “When someone is fully dimensionalized, you really care a heck of a lot more. Six-Word Memoirs “I love six-word memoirs!” says Wormeli. They really make kids come out of their shell and say profound things. The brilliance of six-word memoirs is the brevity, teachers can use six-word memoirs as their students examine the content. “It really reveals a lot more about what the student is thinking.” Wormeli says he often has students continue to send six-word memoirs after class about sports or pop culture. To hear more from Rick Wormeli, listen to Episode 158 of the Class Dismissed Podcast on your favorite podcast app or iTunes. Other Show Notes Why a pediatric group is pushing to reopen schools this fall All Rights Reserved. Class Dismissed Podcast 2017-2020

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

If the playbook for grading and assessment went out the window a couple of weeks ago, what do we do in its place?  Rick Wormeli, National Board Certified Teacher and author of Fair Isn't Always Equal, talked with Stenhouse’s Faye LaCasse about what matters most in student assessment.  Several times throughout the conversation, Rick and Faye refer to his AMLE webinar "COVID 19: Assessment and Grading Concerns  During Remote Learning" which you can sign up for at https://www.amle.com .  Follow Rick at https://www.rickwormeli.com and @rickwormeli2.

Featured ContentWelcome to the first in an ongoing series we're calling “Why Podcast?” In this and future editions, we will be speaking to podcasters in and out of education about their podcasts. We will get into there why and talk about how they podcast.Our first guest in this series is Dan Kreiness, host of the Leader of Learning Podcast. Our conversation with Dan dives deep into his podcast's origins and where he believes his podcast is going.Dan Kreiness is an instructional leader, podcast host, and doctoral candidate who constantly searches for the most effective ways to advance education and produce high student achievement. Dan began his teaching career by spending nearly eight years in the New York City Department of Education as an eighth grade English language arts teacher, academic intervention specialist, and middle-level literacy coach, then spent nearly five years at Derby Middle School in Derby, Connecticut as a reading teacher and instructional coach. He is currently an ELA Instructional Coach in the Norwalk Public School District in Norwalk, Connecticut. Dan holds master's degrees in adolescent education and educational leadership and is currently a doctoral student in the field of educational leadership. His dissertation, “Transformational Leadership to Inspire Growth Mindset in Classroom Teachers,” will be defended in Spring, 2020. Dan was named to the 2017 class of ASCD Emerging Leaders. He is also a Google Certified Educator, Nearpod PioNear, Flipgrid Ambassador, and Wakelet Ambassador.What We're Listening ToAJ: Aspire: The Leadership Development Podcast Fair Isn't Always Equal: Rick Wormeli In education we talk about the power of differentiated learning, but what about differentiated grading? Rick Wormeli is an expert in differentiated assessments and grades. In this episode Josh and Rick discuss: Differentiated Grading, Fair Isn't Always Equal, Traditional Grading Scale and the impact it has on Learning, The role of Homework, Redos, and Retakes done right, Busting Myths about Differentiated Instruction, and the Impact of a Zero and GPA and the Future of Grading. @joshua__Stamper @RickWormeli2Chris: Art of Manliness #557 – Grow, Adapt, and Reinvent Yourself Through UltralearningMany of us want to learn a new skill or master a new area of expertise, either to further or change our career or simply for the sake of personal fulfillment. But going deep in a subject seems like it would take a long time, and even require going back to school, something most of us don't have the time, money, and desire to do.Scott Young and he's the author of Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition and Accelerate Your Career. We begin our conversation with Scott's successful experiment of doing all the course work for a computer science degree from MIT in less than a year and for free and how this opened Scott up to the idea of “ultralearning.”Stacey: Embedded – This is Not a Joke – When a student starts down the path towards racist extremism, there's no set plan for how a school should respond. But teachers and fellow students are often the first to spot the warning signs. So what can they do?Dan Kreiness: Brian Mendler The Brian Mendler Show -My Worst Student https://www.brianmendler.com/my-worst-student/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In education, we talk about the power of differentiated learning but what about differentiated grading? My guest today is an expert in differentiated assessments and grades and his views have been inspirational in my own growth as a leader. Rick Wormeli is an author of five best selling books and I’m so excited to share his story, while expanding on how Fair isn’t Always Equal.  Tweet This In this Episode, we discuss: Differentiated Grading Fair isn’t Always Equal Traditional Grading Scale and the Impact it has on Learning  The role of Homework The Impact of a Zero GPA and the Future of Grading About Rick Wormeli: One of the first Nationally Board Certified teachers in America, Rick brings innovation, energy, validity and high standards to both his presentations and his instructional practice, which include 39 years teaching math, science, English, physical education, health, and history, as well as coaching teachers and principals. Rick’s work has been reported in numerous media, including ABC’s Good Morning America, Hardball with Chris Matthews, National Geographic and Good Housekeeping magazines, What Matters Most: Teaching for the 21st Century, and the Washington Post. He is a columnist for AMLE Magazine and a frequent contributor to ASCD’s Education Leadership magazine. He is the author of the award-winning book Meet Me in the Middle as well as the best-selling books Day One and Beyond, Fair Isn’t Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom (Second Edition), Differentiation: From Planning to Practice and Metaphors & Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching any Subject, all five from Stenhouse Publishers, as well as Summarization in any Subject: 60 Innovative and Tech-Infused Strategies for Deeper Student Learning (releasing in fall 2018) published by ASCD.  His book, The Collected Writings (So Far) of Rick Wormeli: Crazy Good Stuff I Learned about Teaching Along the Way, is collection of his published articles, guest blogs and more through 2013. His classroom practice is a showcase for ASCD’s best-selling series, At Work in the Differentiated Classroom. Books by Rick Wormeli: Follow Rick Wormeli: Twitter: https://twitter.com/rickwormeli2 (https://twitter.com/rickwormeli2) Website: https://www.rickwormeli.com/ (https://www.rickwormeli.com/) Resources Discussed in the Podcast: http://www.amle.org/BrowsebyTopic/WhatsNew/WNDet.aspx?ArtMID=888&ArticleID=889 (Memorization Still Matters) http://www.amle.org/BrowsebyTopic/WhatsNew/WNDet.aspx?ArtMID=888&ArticleID=772 (We Have to Prepare Students for the Next Level, Don’t We?) https://www.math.arizona.edu/~vbohme/Redos%20and%20Retakes%20Done%20Right.pdf (Redos and Retakes Done Right) https://www.greatschoolspartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Busting-Myths-About-Differentiated-Instruction-1.pdf (Busting Myths about Differentiated Instruction) Let’s Work Together Contact: https://joshstamper.com/contact/ (https://joshstamper.com/contact/) Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Joshua__Stamper (www.twitter.com/Joshua__Stamper) Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/joshua__stamper (www.instagram.com/joshua__stamper) Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-stamper/ (www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-stamper) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AspirePodcast (https://www.facebook.com/AspirePodcast) Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aspire-the-leadership-development-podcast/id1384210762?mt=2 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aspire-the-leadership-development-podcast/id1384210762?mt=2) Go Community! https://joshstamper.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Go-Community.jpg ()Better Leaders Better Schools This community is one of my favorite one-stop-shop tools to engage with other amazing school leaders. I use this online resource to gain insight, gather resources, and develop my leadership capacity. The #1 Leadership Online community is generous...

Lay a foundation with your students on day one On the first day or two of school, it can be tempting to want to lay the ground rules. You know, set the expectations about workload, go over the rules, and fill out required forms. But Rick Wormeli wants to challenge educators to think differently this year. Wormeli, who is one of the first Nationally Board Certified Teachers in America, says that students want to know that you're going to transcend their current condition and help them aspire to something more than they are. "And when all they [students] get is more rules and regulations they realize one more year where there's nothing here for me." Wormeli recommends laying a foundation of meaningful relationships with students by mixing in activities that allow you to get to know and understand where the students are coming from. Wormeli recently listed ways this can be accomplished in a recent article he penned for AMLE, and he elaborates on those ideas in Episode 114 of the Class Dismissed podcast. Wormeli's beginning of the year ideas "The Best Way for You to Learn" Cards Using index cards, teachers can ask students to describe how they best learn that particular subject. "Kids are candid," says Wormeli. "They will say things like, look if it's really important, write it on the board." Or he says some students may ask you not to assign online assignments because their sibling always hogs the computer. "I've got a stack that I rubber band and I look through that as I try to decide what I'm going to do next," Wormeli says kids will say some really cool things and give him lots of examples. Letters to the Teacher from Students as their Parents When students write under a pseudonym, they feel much more free to speak their mind, says Wormeli. "When I get what they say about themselves, and then I get what they think their parents would say about themselves, I'm getting a really fleshed version of the child," says Wormeli. "When someone is fully dimensionalized, you really care a heck of a lot more. Six-Word Memoirs "I love six-word memoirs!" says Wormeli. They really make kids come out of their shell and say profound things. The brilliance of six word memoirs is the brevity, teachers can use six-word memoirs as their students examine the content. "It really reveals a lot more about what the student is thinking." Wormeli says he often has students continue to send six-word memoirs after class about sports or pop culture. To hear more from Rick Wormeli, listen to Episode 114 of the Class Dismissed Podcast on your favorite podcast app or iTunes.   All Rights Reserved. Class Dismissed Podcast 2017-2019

In our second encore episode, we interview Mr. Rick Wormeli, who is a national voice in standards based grading, differentiated instruction, and all things education. Rick Wormeli was one of the first Nationally Board Certified teachers in America, he brings 38 years of teaching experience in math, science, English, physical education, health, and history, and coaching teachers and principals. Rick’s work has been featured on Good Morning America, National Geographic Magazine, and the Washington Post. He is a frequent contributor to AMLE Magazine, and ASCD’s Education Leadership Magazine. Rick is the author of the award-winning book, Meet Me in the Middle, as well as the best-selling books Day One and Beyond, Fair Isn’t Always Equal, among others.

On today's episode we begin the year where we always do, the first day. The first day of school can be a struggle for students (and teachers) because it takes on the same format year after year and class after class. We discuss ways including a lesson called Teacher 2.0 to mix it up on the first day and make it more meaningful for everyone. First day of school the culmination of a long summer of relaxation and planning hoping to be the difference in the lives of all the brains in front of you. The students sit there, full of nerves and expectations that this will be the best year of their lives. We meet them that first day much like the other 6 new teachers they might have with the litany and monotony of the rules and expectations of the class. Do we have a seating chart? Can they handle the day without one? Can we expect that they know the rules and norms? Give them some credit that first day. Let them provide the first impression. Drop the old adage(wrong by the way) that you shouldn't smile until the second term. Change it up and build that relationship from the start. For this we use Teacher 2.0. Let the students gather in groups of 3 or 4. Provide strategic groupings by putting them in groups based on birthday, first hour class, favorite subject, etc. This gives you some control but empowers them with some choice. Then let them create their dream list of what makes the most ideal teacher by writing each individual idea on a single post-it note. When they have seem to exhaust their "wish list" in those groupings ask students to contribute. Rotate groups asking for 1 idea per group. If another group's idea is mentioned, they can crumple up that post-it. As you collect the notes, stick them to the board in groupings. We usually have that grouping of unreachable wishes. (i.e. free food everyday, no tests) We discuss these things as necessary components that are non-negotiable. There may also be a group of non-sense ones like "The Teacher will be oblivious." I address those with humor when they come up. Once the answers have been grouped, create a statement that starts with "Teacher will..." Some examples: Teacher will be open-minded and willing to accept feedback or input. OR Teacher will engaging and prepared. They change ever so slightly from class to class. Have the students record these in the first pages of a notebook or on an index card. Once this is complete, I have them cross off the "teacher will" part and replace it with "The student will." This is a great "aha" moment for them to see that we are here together with much of the same expectations. Our podcast aims to open a dialogue about ideas, current trends, researched new ideas, etc. We hope you enjoy and look forward to regularly publishing more content. Resources:Teacher 2.0 LessonSeating Chart Ideas from Rick Wormeli

We welcomed Rick Wormeli to the show for a conversation related to effective grading practices, powerful learning standards, differentiation, and best practices. Rick's passion and energy are contagious. You will not want to miss this conversation full of great thoughts.

Show Notes: During today's show, we discuss how the push for grit and growth mindset in schools could lead to deficit thinking in teachers and communities. We reference the article: "Grit and Growth Mindset: Deficit Thinking? Examining the cultural narrative around these ideologies" by Rick Wormeli: http://www.amle.org/BrowsebyTopic/DiversityandSocialEquity/DivDet/TabId/185/ArtMID/791/ArticleID/937/Grit-and-Growth-Mindset-Deficit-Thinking.aspx#.W2r3jf644kp.twitter And during our first ever Teacher Tips segment, Robby, Peter, and Casey share their "go to" tips for beginning the school year on the right foot.

Join me for the Transformative Leadership Summit Vision Mission Strategic Goals Strategic goals line up with the district’s strategic goals. Our vision for Tanana is “give people what they need, when they need it.” This vision applies to staff, students, parents, and other community members as needed.   Our vision for the future of Tanana is clear and has been reviewed throughout the year. Here is the updated 4 year plan. At two times this year, I have met with each teacher individually to discuss the vision for the school and ensure that we are able to make collaborative decisions about the future. Additionally, the Leadership Team Running Agenda reviews and gives information about the trajectory of our school, as well as our Faculty Meeting Running Agenda and our PLC Session Board.   Data for Informed Decision Making While academic success is surely one of our goals at Tanana, in this building year, there has not been a lot of focus on traditional school data. While we have certainly analyzed and reviewed MAP data, PEAKS data was essentially not useful, and we have focused more on other issues.   One of the major areas of concern related to attendance and tardies. We have systematically documented tardy issues and found that typically less than 5% of our students are tardy, which indicates it is a small problem, and not a widespread issue. We have identified 19 students who are consistently tardy and in the halls and have created a student contract for them. To enable us to identify the students who were the ones causing issues, we created hall passes for teachers to use to monitor student hallway use.   Additionally, we used informal qualitative data to determine next steps for our school this year, asking teachers the areas in which we needed to focus. A review of our progress will be completed at the conclusion of this school year.   Furthermore, at the beginning of the year, Dr. Orr and I met with each teacher to review MAP data and how it would impact their classrooms. We used the documents in this folder for our review with the teachers. Empowering Work Environment At Tanana Middle School, our success cannot be dependent on the principal’s ability to manage many different initiatives. That is a recipe for disaster. Teachers and other staff take a prominent role in ensuring that plans are successful.   One such area is our advisory options. Each teacher (and staff member that wants to) may submit a new advisory option every two weeks. This list shows all the different options that have been created this year. Each teacher takes responsibility for creating something of value for students. Many items on that list are also student-generated ideas that came from students wanting to have a bigger say in what we do.   Our school librarian was given the directive at the beginning of the year to make the library a “place where we learn and create” and has been given decision-making authority to accomplish that. Mrs. Martin redesigned the library, removed a wall, facilitated technology distribution, and created makerspaces in the library, that change nearly every single day.   Mr. Balash has adjusted his way of delivering instruction in the classroom to ensure all students are engaged in the process of learning and acting. The beginning of the year, end of the year, and many other activities throughout the year have been organized by teachers working in committee to make meaningful change to our school. Continuous Improvement One of my favorite ideas is that we are never done improving. It doesn’t matter how much we do or don’t do, we can always get better. There is always room for growth, no matter what we are doing. One small example is that our hall passes were not as effective as we wanted, and so we created a second hall pass that met the teachers’ needs. One group of teachers needed additional support, so they created their own processes for dealing with hall passes in their section of the hallway.   A good example of our belief in continuous improvement relates to the Leadership Team Running Agenda. On the April 25 agenda, we had this posted on our agenda: Reevaluate schedule B, please…comment from teacher ”Does Schedule B really help us grow into the schedule we want for the future?  Does it help train students to be ready to handle the freedom of an open schedule?”   Even when we make a decision, we know that we have a long way to go to be where we want to be. Nothing in our school is too sacred to talk about. Celebrating Success and Acknowledging Failures Each faculty meeting, we start with celebrations. There are many areas when I have failed at something this year. I usually refer to those on my podcast. One of the failures that we had this year was an attempt to roll out a school-wide service learning program. A couple teachers came to the leadership team with an idea, and we tried to roll it out to the staff. It was too soon, and I let the leadership team know that I had jumped the gun too much on that.   Another area where I failed this year related to collaborating with principals relating to personalized learning. I attempted to have weekly meetings with other principals around personalized learning. Nobody showed up, and so I waited “by the phone” each week. I’ve recently started doing a Fairbanks mastermind with four other principals in the district on Friday mornings. This has been a much better solution and much more powerful because there are just a few of us. Even so, we have only had a couple meetings, so we will see where it goes.   Personalized Learning Student Reflections - One of our teachers   Ideal Week Schedule Each week, I schedule out my week and plan to spend the morning with teachers. I used to think that I needed to be in classrooms observing teachers, but I’ve realized it’s much more powerful when I think of that time as coaching teachers. I might be in their room while they are teaching, or I might be talking with them during their prep, talking about how we can meet their goals. Other items that I time block include writing newsletters to parents, collaborating with my assistant principal, and making time for district-focused work each Tuesday afternoon.   Having time blocks has really helped me to be present in the moment so that I can devote attention to the things that are really important.       Systems Leadership One of my goals this year after reading “The One Thing” has been about being more proactive, and less reactive. We’ve established Key Responsibility Areas for our special education staff, office staff and a couple other positions. It is easy to float through life, reacting to every situation, but it is so much more valuable to be proactive and lead with vision for the future. A shining example of the focus on systems has been to create strategies for recruiting top talent to our school. A recent full time certified hire told me, “I wasn’t going to work here, but then I came and heard your vision for what the school could be, and I knew I had to stay.” Having a vision and sharing it with people is what makes them join the work. This one teacher who joined our staff will have a tremendous impact on our ability to reach our goals.   At the beginning of the year, we established new school rules. These rules are “Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible.” These school rules are clear, and easy to remember. They also allow teachers, students, staff, and anyone else in our building to support the rules by asking three questions about any student behavior:   Is it safe? Is it respectful? Is it responsible?   If the answer to any of these questions is, “No,” then we know the behavior needs to change. We have high expectations for students to always be safe, respectful, and responsible, but we also understand that it takes different students different amounts of time to be successful at the expectations.   Communication One area of communication for which I am especially grateful is managing conflict at our school among adults. Despite our best efforts, we adults can sometimes be the most challenging to communicate with. In my own experience, I come across and stern and strict many times, when that is really quite opposite from who I really am inside. Teachers and staff in the past have complained that it is difficult to talk with me. I’ve made great strides in being more approachable, but still have a ways to go. One of the strategies that I have used is called “Communication cards.” These cards hang on my door so that anyone who needs to have a difficult conversation with me can have a difficult conversation knowing that I am going to respond a certain way when the communication cards are used. This has really been beneficial to me to diffuse difficult situations. Thankfully, these cards have sat largely unused for most of the year. That means that I am getting better in my interpersonal communication skills because people don’t feel the need to use the cards to communicate.   Constant communication is important. I’d like to share some stats from our newly-created-this-year social media accounts. It is important for us to be everywhere for our families and support them in making sure they know what is going on at our school. We have a long way to go to be there for everyone, but we are heading in the right direction. Instagram This account has 95 posts as of 04/25/2018 and 88 followers. Most posts generate about 10-15 likes. Dr. Orr and I are the only ones who post to this account.   Facebook This account has 207 likes, and is climbing the charts in relation to the comparison schools. In three years in Kodiak, I got that page up to 700 likes, so we are making a good progression towards that. Our highest usage of our facebook page is between 4 and 8 pm and at noon. If we do any facebook live events, noon would probably be a pretty good time to do it. Our most popular posts average 10 reactions.   Twitter Our Tweets earned 5.3K impressions over the last 28 day period. We have 57 followers and 800 tweets so far. Our most popular tweet over the last month was related to a student mastering his math facts up to 14x14! That’s pretty positive. This account is mostly automatic tweets from facebook and instagram.   Mailchimp The fourth way we communicate with families is through our newsletter account in Mailchimp. Our emails usually get about 35-40% open rates. That’s pretty good.   Parent Feedback Around the middle of the year, I asked parents how much they were satisfied with their Tanana experience:   With a 10% response rate, we have about 73% of parents who are satisfied or strongly satisfied with the work done by Tanana staff with their student. That’s very positive. Those in the middle left some comments about improving communication, and one notable comment said, “Your personalized learning plan was a pretty sh*tty idea.” The Blog We started a blog for our school relating Volunteerism Perhaps the best outcome from all this parent and community communication has been the increase in parent involvement and community engagement. Nearly every week, we have had parents or community members in our classrooms working with our students. Our school is welcoming to many from outside who don’t typically have interactions with middle school students. A favorite story is from Nelda and Tom Nixon who are local watercolor artists who live close by. They came to our school and taught watercolor during advisory. This opportunity gave this retired couple an opportunity to see what is going on in schools today and be more engaged in the school process.   Our goal for volunteers was 500 in our school this year. At the semester break, we were at 250. As of today, we are at 384. Leadership For Learning If we aren’t moving forward in our efforts for helping kids learn, then all our efforts are pretty much wasted.   Our focus this year is on personalized learning and my expectations for staff have been very clear, and quite minimal. Each staff member needed to do one activity, lesson, or unit that incorporated personalized learning each quarter. This is not a high bar, but with a vision like we have, it makes it so much easier for them to be successful in implementing that. In fact, I’d say that nearly every teacher has done way more than just a 4 Personalized Learning activities this year. It has really been amazing to see how far so many have gone.   I believe that the reason we have been so successful is two fold. First, we have really great teachers who strive to go above and beyond. Second, we have a clear vision of where we want to go, and we know it is ok to not be there right this minute. As we converse about different ways to improve instruction, teachers take a little idea, and implement something amazing that they can do themselves.   For example, after our MAP meetings with teachers, Mrs. Garcia and Mrs. Chorley, and some other teachers found the MAP goal setting worksheets, and worked with students to make individual goals for where they could improve their learning.   Teachers who have been effective in implementing personalized learning have also been “visiting” the distinguished range of the Danielson framework much more often. It is really powerful to see them be so successful.   One area where we have a lot of work to do revolves around grading. Plain and simple: our grades don’t mean anything. In one class, grades mean something entirely different from another class. It is imperative that we work on getting on the same page with grading. The need to move to a competency-based system is enormous. This is a major area of growth for our school. When grades mean so many different things, it is very challenging to hold students to high standards. For example, an A in one class means that a student is compliant and does what the teacher asks. An A in another class means that a student did a bunch of work, but maybe didn’t learn anything. An A in another class could mean that a student has actually learned the content. An A in another class could mean that a student has just shown up every day, or even most days.   In the last few months, I have consistently been saying that an F means that the teacher has failed, while a D means the student has failed. We are having conversations about taking away 0 grades so as to not penalize students. This is a great podcast episode with Rick Wormeli about that very idea.   Professionalism Over the course of this school year, we have focused heavily on professional development for our staff. Each week, Dr. Orr and I curate articles, podcasts, TED talks, and other resources to help our staff have meaningful professional development on their own time. We have focused our Faculty Meetings and PLCs on providing value to our teachers. We have eliminated sit and get PD sessions and have made them personalized and interactive for all adult learners. We must model this for our teachers first, if we expect them to do it in their classrooms.   One of the major challenges we have faced this year relates to our suspensions of students of color. This is challenging because if we follow the district policies, we have to suspend students of color at a higher rate because their natural behavior is in conflict with our school district policies. Students of color are louder than their white counterparts as a whole, and that makes them easy targets for teachers or staff members when assigning blame for incidents they didn’t see themselves. Students of color are often accused or targeted because they are loud or animated. This is an area where we need to continually work to improve.   Outside of work, I have sought to improve my own professional growth by applying to present at the Alaska Principals conference, the National Principals Conference, ASTE, and the Personalized Learning Summit in San Francisco. For my podcast, since being in Fairbanks, I have interviewed  over 50 people for my podcast to learn how to be a transformative principal.  

Hello, and welcome to Episode 51 of the Planning Period Podcast, your #EdBreakroom. I’m your host, Brad Shreffler. This week on the show I am … Read More ›

How do you implement standards based grading within the constraints of the performance / letter-grade system? "Become totally evidentiary..." "Spend...time determining, what is excellent, almost excellent?" "Am I going to separate out behavior, from mastery?"

Show Notes: During today's show, we discuss the following topics during our first segment: From The Denver Post, we discuss the pros and cons of shortening the school week: "The four-day week, once a tool of rural districts, is coming to a Denver metro school district." Funding issues are causing school districts across the country to cut days from the school week. Achievement levels seem to stay at similar levels (in spite of the loss of an instructional day). In our second segment, we interview Mr. Rick Wormeli, who is a national voice in standards based grading, differentiated instruction, and all things education. Rick Wormeli was one of the first Nationally Board Certified teachers in America, he brings 38 years of teaching experience in math, science, English, physical education, health, and history, and coaching teachers and principals. Rick’s work has been featured on Good Morning America, National Geographic Magazine, and the Washington Post. He is a frequent contributor to AMLE Magazine, and ASCD’s Education Leadership Magazine. Rick is the author of the award-winning book, Meet Me in the Middle, as well as the best-selling books Day One and Beyond, Fair Isn’t Always Equal, among others. In our final segment, Casey leads us through a pop quiz on Higher Education!  Resources Mentioned/Referenced: Rick Wormeli's Website: "Let's Change Education Together" 4 Day School Week Coming to Suburban Denver Study Shows Math Gains in 4 day School Week AMLE.org

How do you recognize your limitations and work toward developing these areas? What transformative moments have shaped your journey in education? What role does service to others play in your personal and professional life? How do you open yourself up to being a lifelong learner? How can we empower our own narratives in order to live a more fulfilled existence? In today’s episode, Rick Wormeli shares his insight and wisdom based on nearly 40 years of experience in the field of education. As an educational leader, author, teacher, speaker, and presenter, Rick brings a multitude of different perspectives into today’s discussion that resulted in opening up the dialogue related to what it means to be an educator. Rick has put loads of time and energy into developing himself as an educator in order to better understand the keys to success in regards to helping students to achieve their very best. Although my original intention in this discussion was to dive into the work he has done on sharing best practice related to formative and summative assessment, the conversation channelled off into the areas of service to others, teacher empowerment, the importance of unlearning and relearning, and how to create the best conditions possible for young people to thrive in the classroom. There are sure to be many gems of insight that can be extracted from this discussion with Rick Wormeli that can be applied to your own teaching practice. Rick’s Bio: One of the first Nationally Board Certified teachers in America, Rick brings innovation, energy, validity and high standards to both his presentations, and his instructional practice, which includes 38 years teaching math, science, English, physical education, health, and history, and coaching teachers and principals.  Rick’s work has been reported in numerous media, including ABC’s “Good Morning America,” “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” National Geographic and Good Housekeeping magazines, What Matters Most: Teaching for the 21st Century, and the Washington Post.  He is a columnist for AMLE Magazine, and a frequent contributor to ASCD’s Education Leadership magazine.  He is the author of the award-winning book, Meet Me in the Middle, as well as the best-selling books, Day One and Beyond, Fair Isn’t Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom, Differentiation: From Planning to Practice, Metaphors & Analogies: Power Tools for Teaching any Subject, all five from Stenhouse Publishers, as well as Summarization in any Subject, published by ASCD.  His book, The Collected Writings (So Far) of Rick Wormeli: Crazy Good Stuff I Learned about Teaching Along the Way, is a collection of his published articles, guest bloggings, and more through 2013.  His classroom practice is a showcase for ASCD’s best-selling series, “At Work in the Differentiated Classroom.” With his substantive presentations, sense of humor, and unconventional approaches, he’s been asked to present to teachers and administrators in all 50 states, Canada, China, Europe, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Australia, the Middle East, and at the White House.   He is a seasoned veteran of many international Web casts, and he is Disney’s American Teacher Awards 1996 Outstanding English Teacher of the Nation.  He won the 2008 James P. Garvin award from the New England League of Middle Schools for Teaching Excellence, Service, and Leadership, and he has been a consultant for National Public Radio, USA Today, Court TV, and the Smithsonian Institution’s Natural Partners Program and their search for the Giant Squid. In June 2012, Rick was the graduation commencement speaker for the highest performing, public high school in the Washington, D.C. area.  He lives in Herndon, Virginia with his wife, and both of them are now celebrating the post-college launch of their two children into the adult, working world.  Rick is currently working on his first young adult fiction novel and a new book on leadership for ethica...

The confirmation of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos triggered a firestorm around the differences between proficiency and growth. Join us as we unpack why the difference matters to every educator, parent, and student. Follow: @gustafsonbrad, @benjamingilpin @RickWormeli @bamradionetwork Rick Wormeli, a long time classroom veteran, now award-winning author and teacher trainer, was one of the first Nationally Board Certified Teachers in America as well as Disney’s Outstanding English Teacher of the Nation in 1996. Today, he train teachers and principals in all 50 states and eight countries, writes for education journals and magazines, and is working on his 12th book. Dr. Brad Gustafson is the principal and lead learner at Greenwood Elementary in Minnesota and author of Renegade Leadership: Creating Innovative Schools for Digital Age Learners Ben Gilpin is the principal at Warner Elementary School in Spring Arbor.

I was so honored to chat with Todd Whitaker and Rick Wormeli after their keynote at the #nassp16 conference. This was a really fun conversation today. These two guys were so excited about what they were talking about they just kept going. It was awesome. Professional Development. Twitter chats (Comprehensive list of Twitter Chats) Twitter is the best free professional development there is. Exposed to newer research-based information How sad that we use research as an excuse to not do something. The teachers is a ceaseless researcher in their classroom. When there is a great teacher, there is no research, because it has never been done. How to help your great teachers fly. How to help struggling teachers.   Loading… Please take a moment to rate this podcast in iTunes or on Stitcher.  Ready for a Modern Web Site for your school? Simple School Sites is the place to go for high quality Wordpress sites specially designed for schools. Please follow me on Twitter: @jethrojones for the host and @TrnFrmPrincipal for the show. Buy Communication Cards Show notes on TransformativePrincipal.com Download Paperless Principal.   Sponsor: Sanebox Web Site Transformative Principal on Stitcher Refer A Principal Best Tools for Busy Administrators Survey

MSM 318:  Making coffee while you drive, History and more!   Jokes You Can Use: Eileen Award: Twitter: Aaron Grossman Advisory: When Do You Become an Adult http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/01/when-are-you-really-an-adult/422487/ 30 Vintage Inventions That Will Make You Shake Your Head http://twentytwowords.com/vintage-inventions-that-are-borderline-genius-and-crazy/ Why Creativity Is a Numbers Game http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautiful-minds/why-creativity-is-a-numbers-game/ Paper Airplane http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Simple-Paper-Airplane Middle School Science Minute by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com) MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-CLASSROOM COMMUNITIES ttp://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2016/1/20_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Classroom_Communities.html From the Twitterverse: Strategies: This graphic by Thomas Guskey Thomas Guskey is a fantastic challenge to whether we should be averaging grades — or honestly, if we shouldn’t just drop some BEFORE we average. http://www.coolcatteacher.com/photos/11157/ http://i1.wp.com/www.coolcatteacher.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/drop-grades.png?resize=760%2C645 Resources: Timelines http://timelines.tv/ Tom Richey http://www.tomrichey.net/ HipHughes History HipHughes History is an arsenal of over 300 Instructional Videos for students of the Social Studies, teachers looking to flip their class and life long learners. So whether you're looking for a pedagogical ally, a non-biased explanation of that new Supreme Court case or you're a kid who needs to study some good ole' history, HHH has your brain's back! http://hiphugheshistory.weebly.com/ US National Archives https://www.youtube.com/user/usnationalarchives Web Spotlight: Rick Wormeli A new web site for the wonderful Mr. Rick Wormeli. Check it out. If you haven’t seen the videos, these are an amazing resource for talking about education. http://www.rickwormeli.com/ 100,000 NYC School Children Face Airport-Style Security Screening Every Day https://www.propublica.org/article/nyc-school-children-face-airport-style-security-screening-every-day Random Thoughts . . .

Retakes, allowing for retakes on assessments, supports mastery learning and has always made sense to me. In this episode I learn about the philosophy behind reiteration, strategies for implementation and getting started techniques from Rick Wormeli. Rick is an internationally recognized educational consultant and author. I received his award winning book titled "Meet Me In The Middle" in my first year of teaching from the Assistant Superintendent. It made a huge impact on me and really helped to shape my career from very early on. Considering Retakes? Learn about the moral imperative behind allowing retakes. Discover how retakes help students learn. Gain strategies to implement in your classroom to help manage the workflow. Do we claim to have integrity, to be moral, to being doing the right thing by our students and if so then maybe some of the conventional practices really no longer serve if they serve at all?- Rick Wormeli One of the first national board certified teachers and also the recipient of Disney's American Teacher Awards 1996 Outstanding English Teacher of the Nation, Rick is always pursuing becoming a better educator. His video titled "Redos and Retakes and Do-Overs Part One" on YouTube revolutionized my classroom and experience for both myself and my students. Be sure to check out Rick on Twitter as @rickwormeli2. I recommend browsing through the collection of books he has written, you can find out more about the titles and topics on his publishers website Stenhouse.  

Presented in collaboration with the Association for Middle Level Education. Jokes You Can Use: Eileen Award: Advisory: Middle School Science Minute by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com) MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE MINUTE-SENSE OF PLACE http://k12science.net/Podcast/Podcast/Entries/2013/4/8_Middle_School_Science_Minute-Sense_of_Place.html From the Twitterverse: #mschat every Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. Resources: Sound Gator Looking for sounds for a presentation? http://www.soundgator.com/ Online Timers Cursive Writing . . . There’s an App for That! "Cursive Writing HD” is an useful application for all ages who are taking their first step into learning cursive writing. Web Spotlight: The Oyez Project 8 Amazing On-line Courses for Students The recent surge in free online courses, led by top universities such as MIT, has opened up a whole new level of distance learning to students all around the globe. As well as entire degree and university courses that can be pursued online, it’s also possible to find fantastic shorter courses on specific topics that can be ideal for use in the classroom, or for students to follow in their own time, whether researching a specific project, or as part of a flipped classroom model. Here are 8 of the best free online courses for students... http://www.fractuslearning.com/2013/04/26/free-online-courses-for-students/ Monolingual VS Bilingual infographic http://visual.ly/monolingual-vs-bilingual?utm_source=visually_embed Testing Examples http://www.ccsstoolbox.com/parcc/PARCCPrototype_main.html http://www.parcconline.org/samples/mathematics/grade-7-mathematics Listener Response: What are your thoughts on homework assignments? Read the Twitter chat (Storify version) with Ken O'Connor, Rick Wormeli, Nancy Blair, and many others. http://storify.com/thomascmurray/sbgchat-on-quality-assignments-4-10-13?utm_source=t.co&awesm=sfy.co_q4Sh&utm_campaign&utm_content=storify-pingback&utm_medium=sfy.co-twitter News: The Future is Uncertain. It's Time to Start Asking the Right Questions. Asking questions is essential to learning. That was an essential lesson from one of history's first great teachers, Socrates. Or, as the wise Rabbi Steven Greenberg puts it: "we train children at the Passover seder to ask why, because tyrants are undone and liberty is won with a good question." And yet, children are not asking questions nearly enough. In fact, data from the U.S. school systems tells us that the average high school student asks one question of substance per month in a classroom. http://bigthink.com/big-think-tv/the-future-is-uncertain-its-time-to-start-asking-the-right-questions iPad App/idea: Cursive Writing . . . There’s an App for That! "Cursive Writing HD” is an useful application for all ages who are taking their first step into learning cursive writing.

Jokes You Can Use: My cat started his writing career by authoring a feline-oriented soap opera; he titled that project, "Nine Lives to Live." My cat's writing a feline-oriented Christmas movie script. He has titled this project: "It's A Wonderful Nine Lives." On Our Mind: Holidays. Feedback. Facebook/Google+ Eileen Award: Eric Runyan - He followed our advice about Rick Wormeli and was greatly pleased. Eric Stockmeyer - me too! (to several of his points) SteveParkerZ: New Twitter follower Dr. Monte Tatom: Cyberbully article suggestion Advisory: Museum of Obsolete Objects http://www.youtube.com/mooojvm We are the Solution The Pledge to Stop Bullying (with video) http://wearethesolution.net/ Middle School Science Minute by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com) Dave is back with a podcast about Acrylic Nails in the Lab and the safety concerns that exist. Student safety - always a focus. From the Twitterverse: Don’t forget to join the conversation on MiddleTalk and Twitter at #midleved this Friday at 8:00 pm EST. News: What Kinds of Things DO Teachers Buy for Their Classrooms? By Bill Ferriter After swinging through Target and dropping another $10 bucks on supplies that I need for an upcoming science lab, I decided to pull out my envelope o' receipts and see how much I've spent on school purchases so far this year. http://transformed.teachingquality.org/blogs/tempered-radical/11-2011/what-kinds-things-do-teachers-buy-their-classrooms Teachers’ newest online worry: ‘cyberbaiting’ 11 percent of teachers know a friend who has been 'cyberbaited,' or taunted by a student hoping to record an outburst, according to a new survey. http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/11/27/teachers-newest-online-worry-cyberbaiting/ Resources: Using Wolfram|Alpha in the Classroom Wolfram|Alpha is a free online computational knowledge engine that generates answers to questions in real time by doing computations on its own vast internal knowledge base. Our long-term goal is to make all systematic knowledge immediately computable and accessible to everyone. This can be valuable to educators in many ways. http://www.wolframalpha.com/educators/ HistoryWorld Timelines http://www.historyworld.net/timesearch/default.asp?&keywords= Themeefy Create, Curate, Share http://www.themeefy.com/landing Web Spotlight: Join.Me Instant screen sharing. Instant Aha! Get everybody on the same page, when they're not in the same room, instantly. Review documents and designs. Train staff. Demo products or just show off. join.me is a ridiculously simple screen sharing tool for meetings on the fly. join.me free screen sharing 250 viewers share control multi-monitor chat send files viewer: iPad/iPhone or Android Events & Happenings: Calendar of Events: ISTE News: ISTE Eduverse Talks are the recorded sessions held on ISTE Island every week. Ohio Middle Level Association: The Ohio Middle Level Association will hold their annual conference. OMLA Registration Form OMLA Presentation Proposal Form AMLE Affiliate Conferences: The Michigan Association of Middle School Educators Annual Conference is coming up March 2012 in Warren Woods, MI. MAMSE Exhibitor Form MAMSE Registration Form MAMSE Presentation Form MAMSE Conference Program Book (2011) The North Carolina Middle School Association’s Annual Conference March 13-15, 2012 Conference Brochure Presenter’s Application Who They Are . . . This year’s sessions . . . Classroom 2.0’s Live Calendar. Classroom 2.0’s Ning Blog: Archived content is available. Second Life: Regular Tuesday meetings are scheduled. See the board on the ISTE Island for up to the minute details. Check frequently this week as the ISTE Annual Convention is this week. Video: Educational Uses of Second Life

Jokes You Can Use: Eileen Award: Allen D. for the web site recommendation. Middle School Science Minute by Dave Bydlowski (k12science or davidbydlowski@mac.com) Part 2 on the relationship between the core standards for ELA and literacy in Science. I look at the three reading standards that relate to science in grades 6 - 8 in the area of craft and structure. From the TwittervISTE: Don’t forget to join the conversation on MiddleTalk and Twitter at #midleved this Friday at 8:00 pm EST. News: The 7 Golden Rules of Using Technology in Schools http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/07/the-seven-golden-rules-of-using-technology-in-schools/ Resources: Be a Great Learner: Take Notes by Jeff Cobb Establishing a consistent habit of writing things down can be very powerful. A significant body of research supports the idea that simply writing something down contributes greatly to the process of moving it into long-term memory. http://www.missiontolearn.com/2011/06/note-taking/ Leveling the Playing Field: How to Make Standardized Test Preparation Accessible to All Students By Andrea Alexander http://www.edutopia.org/blog/how-to-make-standardized-test-prep-available-to-all-students Desmos http://desmos.com/calculator/ http://desmos.com/ One Teacher's Three-Tiered Intervention Strategy Jean Laurance and Michael Laurance I had no sooner returned from Rick Wormeli's seminar on differentiated assessment and grading than my administrator walked into my office. Her face showed apprehension and a bit of weariness. My class sizes would be pushed to a staggering 37 students! "We don't have enough students to run separate classes, so they will be mixed, but about 10 percent are repeating the class." Having the tools required for differentiated instruction is one thing, but here I was faced with the task of truly implementing it. More than that, I would need to adjust differentiation to my teaching style, a diverse group of students, and a bulging class size. I quickly realized that manageability would be just as important as the instruction itself. http://www.ascd.org/ascd-express/vol6/620-laurance.aspx Web Spotlight: What Does Successful Project Based Learning Looks Like? by Bob Lenz Project-Based Learning (PBL) is a teaching approach, a mindset, and a framework for teaching skills and content. (Both our working definition and criteria are derived from our own work, as well as the work of, Adria Steinberg’s 6 A’s of PBL, The Buck Institute for Education, and Expeditionary Learning.) http://www.edutopia.org/blog/project-based-learning-definition-bob-lenz Stencil: http://stencil.sourceforge.net/ Make games. No need to understand programming. Can make iPhone Apps from this program. Allegedly Angry Birds was made using this program. Summer Reading List: Troy: The Watchman’s Rattle ( just finished) by Rebecca D. Costa What the Dog Saw by Malcom Gladwell Shawn: Toys to Tools, Safe Practice for Life Online & Web 2.0 How to for teachers The Devil Dogs of Belleau Wood ✔ Our Listeners: @mthman: The Classroom of Choice, First Days of School (4th Ed), Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites, & Great Ways to Diff Math Instr (I & II), Leading & Managing a Diff Class, Learning to Love Math, PBL Starter Kit (via Buck Institute), UbD Guide 2 HQ Units #midleved: @Waukeestudent: I plan on reading @johntspencer 's new book and maybe his two older books two. http://www.missiontolearn.com/2011/06/recommended-reading/ Events & Happenings: Calendar of Events:

From the Twitterverse: * karlyb WOW! - 5th grade math resources by unit: http://www1.center.k12.mo.u... * karlyb Promethian giveaway contest at The Henry Ford: http://thehenryford.promo.e... * paulallison Download Troy Hicks and The Digital Writing Workshop, Part 2 of 3 - Exploring Author's Craft - TTT171- 10... http://bit.ly/1a4Zq0 * rmbyrne Free Technology for Teachers: Musopen - Free Recordings and Sheet Music http://ff.im/-9yQW0 or http://www.musopen.com/ * cliotech New blog post: Sharing Best Practices is OK! http://bit.ly/GtCzo * vtdeacon RT @DeborahMersino RT @russeltarr: Great 'classic' stories in comic form, awesome : http://tinyurl.com/okjoyc * Twilliamson15 @paulbogush we have more in common now...I'm quoted in Rick Wormeli's new book :) ...preview at http://snipurl.com/wormelibk * gardenglen Now available: CALL FOR BETA TESTERS OF NETS DRAFT RUBRIC http://url.ie/2m63 * vtdeacon this looks like a pretty cool lesson on using excel in math class- plus connection to halloween:) http://tinyurl.com/yl9susr * web20classroom RT @ejulez: by end of 2013, 70% of businesses will have behavior/dress code policies for employees online avatars. http://ow.ly/tEZV * schoolwise Children's Good Manners Month and Thank You Notes: http://EzineArticles.com/?i... * JoHart RT @coletteamber: Laughing at: "pencil metaphor - Leading a Digital School" ( http://bit.ly/EtSFT ) * ambermac OK, I'm moving to Sweden if this keeps up! RT @jeff_andersen Tune in to another invention by the Swedes: http://bit.ly/e8Eoe * web20classroom Good Advice for School Leaders- Decisions You Can Live With...http://is.gd/4765z On Our Mind: Technology: Project RED http://projectred.org/ Netbook News (from Twitter) Larry Ellison's take on Cloud Computer (think netbooks) Advisory: National Children's Good Manners Month: http://ezinearticles.com/?id=3016989 Middle School Advisory 101 http://middleschooladvisory101.blogspot.com/ Webspotlight: ClassTools: Classtools.net allows you to create free educational games, activities and diagrams in a Flash! Host them on your own blog, website or intranet! No signup, no passwords, no charge! http://classtools.net/ See an example: http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=78798&title=Classtools_net Timeline Creators: XTimeline xtimeline is a free web-based timeline. Easily create and share timelines with pictures and videos. http://www.xtimeline.com/ TimeGlider There is a time traveler in each of us. Whether you are a litigator or an 8th grader, TimeGlider can quickly enhance your experience of the past, present, and future. Once you’ve explored a TimeGlider timeline, you’ll wonder why you’ve never seen information organized like this before. http://timeglider.com/index.php Mind42.com - Mind Mapping software that fits in a browser: http://ow.ly/truL Seven Free software Apps (6 for Mac users): http://www.digmo.co.uk/news/software/7-free-apps-for-education/ News: More Time on Task: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20091006/OPINION01/910060315/Editorial++Give+kids+time+to+wrap+heads+around+learning Netbooks: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/?&i=61122

Podcast #79: The Rube Goldberg Show! Advisory! Advisory! Advisory! Tinker Toys...create exact same structure while seated back to back Machines...place name of machines on index cards, distribute to groups, have them act them out From the Twitterverse: * russeltarr PhotoPeach: Create movies from photos (simpler than Animoto - for younger students?): http://tinyurl.com/mn3zqm * vtdeacon Two of my students made this animoto of stuff we did this school year. Check it!: http://animoto.com/play/fKS... * russeltarr New iPhone App Lets You Write in Thin Air: http://tinyurl.com/lvkxcu * Educator Doing it wrong. "Teachers banned from Twitter after principal constantly criticises students" (Telegraph) http://ow.ly/dN9f * michelledoddRT @kjarrett: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive « http://bit.ly/10ESlj Shout Outs: Ric Wiltse, Executive Director-Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning- for accepting Troy's proposal for Shawn to present. 3:30 - 4:30pm Professional Learning Networks Shawn McGirr, Troy Patterson Content: M/SC/SS Level: GENERAL Room: W104 "Networking is a basic tenet of education. Come and learn how you can create your own Personal Learning Network. Learn which tools you can use to develop a network that meets YOUR needs. Learn the continuum of professional learning network development. Learn how to use podcasts, wikis, social networking (facebook, et. al.), social bookmarking (delicious, et. al), webinars, blogs, microblogs (Twitter), and more. This stuff isn't just for your students anymore." News: Schwarzenegger: Printed texts are old school Analysis: As a budget-cutting strategy, California's digital textbook initiative could have national implications In the state that gave the world Facebook, Google, and the iPod, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says forcing California's students to rely on printed textbooks is so yesterday. The governor recently launched an initiative to see if the state's 6 million public school students could use more online learning materials, including open courseware--perhaps saving millions of dollars a year in textbook purchases. The governor is starting with math and sciences and has asked providers to submit their online postings to state officials by next week. The materials that survive state review will be made available to school districts by Aug. 10. "We expect the first science and math books to be digital by this fall," Schwarzenegger said. "If we expand this to more textbooks, schools could save hundreds of millions of dollars a year, and that's hundreds of millions of dollars that could be used to hire more teachers and to reduce class sizes." http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=59180 Events & Happenings: 2. NMSA's Annual Conference: NMSA ‘08 Technology Focus Video. NMSA ‘09 Invitation Video: Indianapolis, IN Conference November 5-7, 2009. Individual Registration is now open. 3. ATTENTION Michigan Association of Middle School Educators & Friends: MAMSE is putting together a bus for the trip to the National Middle School Association’s Annual Conference in Indianapolis, IN this fall. 4. NMSA 09 Conference Connection: Stay connected before, during, and after the conference! Start your packing lists for the conference using packwhiz.com! 5. Keynote speakers for NMSA '09 have been announced: Daniel Pink (political connections) opens and Rick Wormeli closes. 6. NMSA has a new publication on the role of middle grades in drop-out prevention. You can download it as a pdf file. 7. Schools to Watch Conference June 25-27, Washington D.C. Conference registration info. 8. Educational Technology Leadership Conference, June 24th at Holt High School, Holt, MI. Register for the event. 10. The Michigan Association of Middle School Educators Annual Conference is coming up March 4-5, 2010 in Dexter, MI. MAMSE will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary!

Our new Twitter feed (MSMatters), we discuss events: # NMSA's Middle Level Essentials Conference April 23-24, 2009. Robert Balfanz will be keynoting. He has done a bunch of research on 6th grade transition factors that has been cited by NMSA. # NMSA ‘09 Invitation Video # Michigan Association of Middle School Educators Annual Conference March 12 & 13 at White Pine Middle School in Saginaw Township. Mr. Ron Clark will be keynoting. Approximately 20 days left for the early registration discount. # Ohio Middle School Association’s Annual Conference will be February 19-20 in Sandusky, OH. Keynote speakers this year include Mr. Mark McLeod and Mr. Ty Sells. # North Carolina Middle School Association's Annual Conference will be March 16-17 in Pinehurst, NC. Keynote speakers include Bill McBride and Rick Wormeli. Ron Williamson from Eastern Michigan University will also be speaking at the conference this year. # The National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform will be holding their annual conference in June. See the flyer at their website for details. # Teacher Preparation Symposium information at NMSA. # NMSA is accepting presentation proposals to their Annual Conference in Indianapolis next year. The deadline has been extended to February 8, 2009. Applications can be made online. # Interested in a Science Quiz show online and in a virtual game show environment? Try The Second Question. # NECC is coming this summer! Here's an excuse to travel to Washington D.C. # If Mr. Berckemeyer dawdles on getting us the Kindles, soon we'll want these from Plastic Logic. "Did you bring pencil, eraser, and epaper with you to class today?" # Classroom 2.0's Ning Blog: "The topic this Saturday (January 31) is "Classroom Blogging" with guest speaker Kathy Cassidy, author of blog "Primary Preoccupation". Kathy will discuss classroom blogging platforms, the pros/cons of blogging platforms and how she uses her classroom blog with her students. Our Newbie Question of the Week will be: "What is a blog and how do I find good blogs to read?" Information on how to watch or join in at http://live.classroom20.com. # Second Life notices: * 1/31 Basic Skills Workshop: Appearance (ISTE Island 3) * 2/3 ISTE Speaker Series (TBA) * Video: Educational Uses of Second Life Shout outs: 1. Paul Nichols, thanks for letting us know you're listening! 2. Ron Miller, thanks for the email. 3. Jenny McAvoy-Anteau, congrats on your SL presentation! Web spotlight: http://www.onceuponaschool.org/ News: Online Safety Technology and Learning Gates Foundation Listener Letter

A conversation revolving around Douglas Reeves and Rick Wormeli's work on grading and the effect of giving zeros for work not turned in. We also take a look at a couple of methods of addressing tardiness. Finally, we look at least one way to increase the amount of homework turned in.