In some schools, curriculum is prescribed. In other places, teachers put together their own learning materials. In either case, how do we know that what we are providing students, in terms of materials and content, will promote learning acquisition, extend thinking, and foster creativity? How do we know that it…
Too often, at best, students are compliant with school directives and, at worst, actively defiant much like inmates in a minimum security prison. So says, today's guest, Aaron Hansen - author of the book "Heroes Within" - on this episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast. In this episode,…
Effective coteaching has so many benefits for students, particularly in terms of inclusion for students with special needs and for bilingual learners. So say today's guests on the podcast - Belinda Karge and Matt Rhoads - who are the authors of the book "Co-Teaching Evolved". Listen here to our conversation…
While oral language development is a process that occurs naturally, over time, the written word is a complex human produced system that, therefore, requires a systematic approach to decipher - or read. So says this week's guest on the podcast, Steve Underwood. In this episode, Underwood, former senior director of…
Parents should always have the right to decide what books their student can read. But school system wide book bans are bad for children. So says our next guest on the Have a Life Teaching Podcast, former ALA librarian of the year Amanda Jones. In this episode, Jones - author…
How to Teach Using Play Based Learning In this episode, we chat with Bo Stjerne Thomsen - Director of Education for LEGO Education and former VP with the LEGO Foundation - about how teachers can integrate physical objects (manipulatives) and play-based learning across all content areas. We also discuss: What…
How to Teach Using Play Based Learning In this episode, we chat with Bo Stjerne Thomsen - Director of Education for LEGO Education and former VP with the LEGO Foundation - about how teachers can integrate physical objects (manipulatives) and play-based learning across all content areas. We also discuss: What…
In this episoode of the Have a Life Teaching podcast, Adam Andre - museum participation facilitator at the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool - and I discuss how and why we should not shy away from teaching students about historical slavery nor its ongoing impact on our world today. https://www.podpage.com/have-a-life-teaching/how-to-teach-students-about-slavery-adam-andre/…
In this episode, Anjana and Anya, two high school students from New Jersey, discuss their program 'Connected' aimed at promoting awareness of the mental health struggles that often accompany the academic pressures that high achieving secondary students sometimes feel. Anjana and Anya share their experiences and insights on creating this…
Listen Here - https://www.podpage.com/have-a-life-teaching/how-to-bring-design-thinking-into-schools-justin-reich/ Most innovation in school fails. Why? Often, innovation fails because it is imposed upon teachers rather than being designed by teachers themselves. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Justin Reich, Executive Director of the Teaching Systems Lab at MIT about how teachers can create positive…
Listen Here - https://www.podpage.com/have-a-life-teaching/how-to-support-your-lgbtq-students-tricia-friedman/ LGBTQ+ students (and staff) are part of our school communities and if we are truly concerned with providing a safe learning environment, which most educators would agree is part a school's mission, then this means for all students including LGBTQ+ youth. So says guest Tricia Friedman,…
Listen here - https://www.podpage.com/have-a-life-teaching/how-to-use-guest-speakers-in-student-learning-samantha-shane/ Having guest speakers can really make learning come alive for students. However, to maximize the benefits that can come from these living community resources, guest speaker engagements need to be well planned. Join Samantha Shane, ELA teacher in Northern New Jersey, and I as we discuss…
Listen here - https://www.podpage.com/have-a-life-teaching/how-to-use-technology-in-class-jeff-utecht/ Are you preparing your students for your past or their future? If you are banning the use of technology in the classroom then it is your past that you are prioritizing. Listen in to Jeff Utecht and I as we discuss how to use technology in…
Listen here - https://www.podpage.com/have-a-life-teaching/how-knowing-our-students-dna-can-help-us-succeed-as-educators-tom-hierckalex-kajitani/ New teachers coming into the profession often struggle in knowing what to do/learn first. Indeed, as my next guests say, for most new teachers, the goal is simply surviving day to day and to make it into their second yearof teaching. Join me and my guests,…
Listen here - https://www.podpage.com/have-a-life-teaching/how-to-prioritize-dei-in-schools-part-ii-roxie-j-patton/ In this episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast, Roxie Patton, Founder of RJ Consulting and Coaching, and I continue our conversation on the importance of having educators who understand the students and families they serve. Since many educators no longer live in the communites…
Listen here - https://www.podpage.com/have-a-life-teaching/how-to-ensure-educator-wellbeing-part-i-sybil-hall/ There are a wealth of things we can do to reduce the stress and anxiety that we feel as educators. In this episode, weath and wellbeing consultant, teacher, and author Sybil Hall (Burn Bright Not Out) takes us through some simple ways we can make our…
Listen here - https://www.podpage.com/have-a-life-teaching/how-to-make-assessment-engaging-starr-sackstein/ Yes, summative assessmemt at the end of each unit/year is important. However, formative assessment that measures student growth during the year so that teachers can pivot/target instruction to meet the needs of specific students is just as important. Join Starr and I as we discuss not…
Listen here - https://www.podpage.com/have-a-life-teaching/how-to-design-a-21st-century-school-prakash-nair/ Many teachers are teaching 21st Century students in buildings designed in the 19th and/or early 20th Centuries. Join my next guest, Prakash Nair, CEO of Education Design International, and I as we discuss in this episode what school communities are doing around the world to design…
Listen here - https://www.podpage.com/have-a-life-teaching/how-to-crush-teaching-from-the-start-matthew-rhoads/ New teachers are often overwhelmed by the volume of procedures and practices they must learn while having a classroom full of students at the same time. In this conversation, Dr. Matthew Rhoads and I discuss some of the top teaching hacks that new teachers (really, any)…
Listen Here - https://www.podpage.com/have-a-life-teaching/how-to-improve-student-presentations-and-public-speaking-robyn-brinks-lockwood/ When we teach students how to write, we often do so by teaching certain writing "moves" - introducing a topic, expanding on it, and summation, etc. We also should be teaching the communication moves that go along with public speaking and presentation. So says my guest…
Listen here - https://www.podpage.com/have-a-life-teaching/how-to-tutor-for-impact-jesse-roselin/ It will not come as a surprise to educators that, post COVID, many of our students are not where they should be academically. In response, many school districts have been using ESSER funding to provide supplemental tutoring services to students. In this episode, Jesse Roselin -…
Listen Here - https://www.podpage.com/have-a-life-teaching/how-to-develop-resiliency-in-students-nicola-s-morgan/ Join me and my guest Nicola S. Morgan - Founder/CEO of NSM Training and Consultancy - as we discuss strategies for developing resiliency in the students we teach. Nicola also is one of a select few to successfully swim across the English channel and uses this…
Listen here - No one needs to be told that many teachers are leaving the profession these days for a variety of reasons. However, there are ways to make teaching more sustainable. Join my guest Paul Emerich France and I as we discuss how to grade less but still assess…
Listen here - https://www.podpage.com/have-a-life-teaching/how-to-create-thinking-classrooms-in-mathematics-peter-liljedahlnorman-eng/ In an earlier episode, we spoke with Alice Vigors about her work in creating cross-content thinking classrooms. In this episiode, we speak with Professor Peter Liljedahl, of Simon Fraser University, about how to create thinking classrooms in Mathematics - primarily K-6 - where students are doing…