Classroom Q And A

Our guests explore strategies to encourage kids to embrace the process of revising and refining their writing. Follow on Twitter: @jeremybballer @JennyVo15 @MBethNicklaus @butler__melissa @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork, @Jonharper70bd Melissa A. Butler is a writer, speaker, and educator living in Pittsburgh, PA. She was a classroom teacher for 23 years and now consults to help people slow down to notice more. Much of her work focuses on trust, intrinsic motivation, curiosity, and notice-to-wonder practices. Mary Beth Nicklaus is a language arts teacher and reading specialist for Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle School in Wisconsin. Jenny Vo has spent all her 23 years in education working with English Learners and currently serves as an ESL ISST in Katy ISD in Katy, Texas. Jeremy Hyler is a middle school English and science teacher at Fulton Middle School in Middleton, Michigan. He is a teacher consultant for the Chippewa River Writing Project, a Community Ambassador for NCTE, and a Medial Literacy Innovator

As our student ranks become increasingly diverse around culture and language, culturally responsive teaching is becoming more important. Here are some practical approaches to consider. Follow on Twitter: @LifeSetters @teachanTravel1@EwingLearning @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork, @Jonharper70bd Chiquita Jenkins has been an educator for over 10 years. She teaches 2nd grade in New York and is finishing up her last year in her doctoral studies at St John's University. She is also the CEO of Life Setters which is a motivational blog dedicated to sharing and inspiring individuals through interviews and stories. Autumn Kelley is a professional educator here in the Washington, DC metro area. and has 20 years of experience in the field of education and absolutely love what I do. She has experience as a teacher, school administrator, author, curriculum development and publication, speaking engagements at national conferences and consultation for executive boards at private schools. Dr. Jim Ewing is an associate prof

Hosting asynchronous online discussions is a well-established teaching strategy. In this episode, we look at the dos and don’ts of creating effective online discussions. Follow on Twitter: @EducatedAce @capra_theresa @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork, @Jonharper70bd Dr. Taurean Branch is an instructional coach supporting math instruction with Baltimore City Schools. His mission is to empower teachers with tips, tools, and techniques that improve student outcomes. He is the host of the podcast show Copy Jams where he shares ideas and inspiration that drives his mission. Dr. Theresa Capra is a professor at a community college focusing on the social sciences while helping students prepare for a career in education. She also supervises teacher candidates at the baccalaureate level in their clinical placements. Dr. Capra is the founder Ed Tapas, a research blog dedicated to trends, technology, and teaching tips for educators at all levels.

Creating the conditions that develop an intrinsic interest in reading is a longstanding challenge that is exacerbated by distance learning. In this episode, we explore ways to encourage students to read in traditional and online classes. Follow on Twitter: @SJEducate @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork, @butler__melissa @jenorr @Dr_Katie_AlanizDr. Sawsan Jaber, a global educator of twenty years in the U.S. and abroad, currently serves as a High School English teacher in Illinois. She is an Our Voice Academy Board Director, the founder of Education Unfiltered Consulting, and a founding member of the Arab American Education Network. Sawsan is a proud Palestinian American. Melissa A. Butler is a writer, speaker, and educator living in Pittsburgh, PA. She was a classroom teacher for 23 years and now consults to help people slow down to notice more. Much of her work focuses on trust, intrinsic motivation, curiosity, and notice-to-wonder practices. Jennifer Orr is a kindergarten teacher in a Title 1 school in the subu

Today, the elephant in every classroom is politics: How are you managing the thorny issues that are present in your classroom, whether you discuss them or not?  Four educators share their approaches. Follow on Twitter @2WardEquity @klrembert  @rpdelcastillo @HolSpinny @larryferlazzo  @jonHarper70bd  @bamradionetwork Dr. Angela M. Ward is a public-school administrator with over 20 years of experience. She is focused on creating identity-safe schools and workplaces and strives daily to nurture equity-centered schooling. Follow Dr. Ward http://2wardequity.com/blog/  Holly Spinelli is a students' rights activist with specific focuses in alternative, strengths-based pedagogical approaches where students' voices serve as the catalyst for their education. She is a New York public high school teacher, an adjunct instructor at SUNY Orange County Community College, and an active member of the NCTE's Committee Against Racism and Bias in the Teaching of English. Keisha Rembert is a passionate learner and fierce equity

In the episode, we cover practical tips for avoiding the most common mistakes we often make when teaching English Language Learners. We look at both typical classroom examples and examples when teaching ELLs virtually. Follow on Twitter: @delgadong94 @HarrisLeads @mrodz308 @MrsSaid17 @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Altagracia (Grace) H. Delgado has been in field education for 26 years. She has worked as a bilingual teacher, literacy coach, and school administrator. In addition, she has written curriculum for Spanish Language Arts and English Language Development and is currently the Executive Director of Multilingual Services at Aldine ISD. Dr. Denita Harris is a Curriculum Coordinator for the MSD of Wayne Township, Indianapolis, Indiana.  She has over twenty years of experience as a teacher, assistant principal, and district-level administrator. She is the recipient of the 2019 INTESOL (Indiana Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages) Best of the Best in K-12 Education. Marina Ro

The number of Arab speaking ELL students has grown by 75 percent over the past eight years. Join us for a discussion on the evolving face and needs of English language learners and what every teacher needs to know. Follow on Twitter: @SJEducate @DrNinaShoman @shinram1 @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork @effortfuleduktr @klrembert @dlshrum65 @jonHarper70bd Dr. Sawsan Jaber, a global educator of twenty years in the U.S. and abroad, currently serves as a High School English teacher in Illinois. She is an Our Voice Academy Board Director, the founder of Education Unfiltered Consulting, and a founding member of the Arab American Education Network. Sawsan is a proud Palestinian American. Dr. Nina Shoman-Dajani is Assistant Dean of Learning Enrichment and College Readiness at Moraine Valley Community College in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. She also currently teaches Middle Eastern Studies at Saint Xavier University. She holds a doctorate in Higher Education and Organizational Change and her research focuses

Now that students can quickly Google the wealth of data we used to keep stored in our heads, what is the use of memorization in the classroom? Follow on Twitter: @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork @effortfuleduktr @klrembert @dlshrum65 Keisha Rembert is a passionate learner and fierce equity advocate. She was an award-winning middle school ELA and United States History teacher who now instructs preservice teachers. She hopes to change our world one student at a time. Donna L. Shrum is an educator, researcher, and freelance writer in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Blake Harvard teaches AP Psychology at James Clemens High School in Madison, Alabama. He has been teaching for 14 years and received a B. S. And M. Ed. from the University of Montevallo. He has a particular affinity for all things cognition and psychology; especially when those areas are paired with education and learning. Blog www.effortfuleducator.com.

In this episode, we talk about viable ways to make teaching in “the new normal” simpler, easier and more effective whether on-site or online. Follow on Twitter: @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork @SerenaPariser @jenorr @lmeduconsulting Serena Pariser has twelve years of experience teaching in public schools, including charter schools from kindergarten through twelfth grade. She was named Gompers Preparatory Academy Teacher of the Year. She served as Assistant Director of Field Experiences at University of San Diego and also served as adjunct faculty. Serena is the bestselling author of Real Talk About Classroom Management: 50 Best Practices That Work And Show You Believe In Your Students and Real Talk About Time Management: 35 Best Practices for Educators. Jennifer Orr is a kindergarten teacher in a Title 1 school in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. Previously she has taught 5th, 4th, and 1st graders, as well as her own two daughters. Laurie Manville is an ELD teacher and Instructional Coach at Brookhurst Junio

What makes a great teacher’s aide or paraprofessional and how can we work more with them more effectively during remote teaching? Follow on Twitter: @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork @MicheleTMorgan1 @ritaplatt Michele Morgan works for Granite School District in Salt Lake City, UT, where she was a resource teacher for 12 years. She currently works as the District New Teacher Specialist for Elementary Special Education. In 2013 she earned her National Board Certification as an Exceptional Needs Specialist, and in 2015 she earned the Excel Teacher Award. Rita Platt is the author of Working Hard, Working Happy: Cultivating a Climate of Effort and Joy in the Classroom and is a principal in the St. Croix Falls, SD in Wisconsin.

Music can be a powerful medium for reaching and teaching students. Join us as we look at good reasons and great ways to connect music to learning objectives. Follow on Twitter: @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork @Edufacey @saramlev @Rachelle Dene Poth @Jenschwanke @alycia_owen Denise Fawcett Facey was a classroom teacher for more than two decades and now writes on education issues. Among her books, The Social Studies Helper offers activities and projects that make social studies more vibrant and engaging for secondary-level students. Alycia Owen is an international educator and workshop presenter. She currently teaches in China where she is EAL Department Head at the American International School of Guangzhou. Jennifer Schwanke has been an educator for 20 years, teaching or leading at all levels. She is the author of You're the Principal! Now What? Strategies and Solutions for New School Leaders. In addition to on her blog, she publishes frequently on the Choice Literacy and Lead Literacy websites as well as

The data is clear, movement supports learning. Yet, "sit-and-get" teaching and learning continue to dominate our traditional and virtual classrooms. Follow on Twitter: @ValentinaESL @JennyVo15 @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork Valentina Gonzalez is a Professional Development Specialist for ELLs in Katy, Texas and taught multiple grades as well as serving K-5 as an ESL specialty teacher and district program facilitator.  Jenny Vo has spent all her 23 years in education working with English Learners and currently serves as an ESL ISST in Katy ISD in Katy, Texas.

Many teachers have now been engaged in remote learning from three to six weeks.  What have we learned so far? What, if anything, would we do differently? Follow on Twitter: @elvisepps @MrsLeonENL @ashlm_12 @barberchicago @ @larryferlazzo @Ashley McCall serves as a 3rd grade bilingual English/Language Arts teacher at César Chávez Multicultural Arts Center on the southwest side of Chicago and serves as a teacher representative on the Chávez Local School Council. She works to incorporate social justice/civic engagement experiences and elevate student voice throughout the year as evidenced by her students’ recent culminating activism unit project “Say it Loud/Dilo Fuerte” which seeks to rewrite students’ neighborhood narrative. Lorie Barber is a 5th-grade teacher in Illinois and a National Board Certification candidate. She works through an anti-oppressive lens and believes in getting high quality, relatable books into the hands of all of her students. Dr. Elvis Epps serves as the Principal at Lake Worth Commun

How does background knowledge make learning stick? How do we connect our learning objectives to what students already know, care about, and grasp? How can we activate background knowledge when teaching remotely? Follow on Twitter: @larryferlazzo @ReadDRjwilhelm @adamfachler@Elizabe93434127 @cherylabla At McREL International, Cheryl Abla, MA, trains and coaches K–12 teachers and school leaders on effective instructional strategies, problem-based learning, classroom technology, teacher coaching, English-language-learner supports and creating engaging school cultures and climates. She has authored several articles for McREL’s Changing Schools magazine and is a co-author of Tools for Classroom Instruction that Works. Elizabeth Villanueva is a passionate and committed teacher at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, CA where she teaches 9th-12th grade Spanish. She leads an after-school leadership program called New-Age Latinas. Adam Fachler is a learning strategist who helps education leaders develop thei

Inspiring students to read is always a priority in education.  How can we maintain our commitment to supporting reading while teaching online? Follow on Twitter: @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork  @jenorr @MrsSaid17 Sarah Said has spent years overseeing ELL programming in schools in Illinois.  In addition to her current role as a Director of Language and Equity programs, she is also a contributor for ELL Confianza. She is also a course writer for English Learner portal.  Sarah Kirby-Gonzalez is a National Board Certified fifth-grade teacher in the Folsom Cordova School District. She was a participant in the Teaching American History Grant, Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Summer Institute, and a recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities grant. Jennifer Orr is a kindergarten teacher in a Title 1 school in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. Previously she has taught 5th, 4th, and 1st graders, as well as her own two daughters. Margo Gottlieb, Ph.D., is co-founder and lead developer for WIDA at the Wisconsi

Many of us struggle to grade the performance of ELLs in a mainstream classroom. How can we separate content knowledge from language skills and assess ELLs in ways that are fair, appropriate, and relevant? Follow on Twitter: @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork @BeckyCorrCO Margo Gottlieb, Ph.D., is co-founder and lead developer for WIDA at the Wisconsin Center for Education Research, University of Wisconsin- Madison. She has devoted her professional career to the education of multilingual learners, having published extensively and presented worldwide; her latest books include Assessing English language learners: Bridges to equity, Assessing multilingual learners: A month-by-month guide (2017, ASCD), and Language power: Key uses for accessing content. Kristin Spears is an ESOL coach and teacher in Spartanburg, South Carolina District 6 where she helps plan and conduct ESOL professional development and collaborates with elementary teachers on how to best serve ELs in their classrooms.  In her teaching career, she

Covid-19 has disrupted the best-laid district plans, school plans, and lesson plans of educators worldwide. As more schools, teachers, and students are upended by the rapid transition to online learning, what should our priorities be? Follow on Twitter: @barberchicago @CathleenBeachbd @AmyRoediger @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork County, Va. Her book, 10 Keys to Student Empowerment, features tools to unlock student potential and develop courage in learners to face challenges head-on. Amy Roediger has been teaching science for 28 years and was recently recognized as a PAEMST award winner for Ohio. Amy blogs about the things she tries in her classroom at aleverandaplacetostand.blogspot.com. David Sherrin is the father (and temporary educator) of three young children, a social studies teacher at Scarsdale High School, author of Authentic Assessment in Social Studies: A Guide to Keeping it Real, and recipient of the 2014 Robert H Jackson Center National Award for Teaching Justice. He maintains the teaching websi

In this episode, we look at examples of ways to make learning more relevant, engaging, and impactful by giving your students real-world problems to solve. Follow on Twitter: @larryferlazzo @mrsdkrebs @mrsmieliwocki @bamradionetwork Denise Krebs was previously the chief learner in her middle school classes at a small Catholic school in rural Iowa. She currently is the chief learner with her English language learning grade 5 students in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. Rebecca Mieliwocki is a 21-year veteran middle school English teacher in Burbank, CA, who adores trying new things with her wild, wonderful, and wooly 7th graders.

In this episode, we take a look for what qualities might make a great teacher by asking teachers about their favorite teachers. Follow on Twitter: @larryferlazzo @Elizabe93434187 @JennyVo15 @bamradionetwork @SCTechJess @mrsbcardenas Elizabeth Villanueva is a passionate and committed teacher at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, CA where she teaches 9th-12th grade Spanish. She leads an after-school leadership program called New-Age Latinas. Betty Cárdenas, born and raised in Brownsville, TX to Mexican immigrants, attended the TX public school system as a bilingual student. She was a bilingual teacher at the elementary level for seven years. Jessica Levine is an Innovative Learning Coordinator where she supports educators with implementing innovative practices and instructional technology into the curriculum. Jenny Vo has spent all her 23 years in education working with English Learners and currently serves as an ESL ISST in Katy ISD in Katy, Texas.

Join us as we ask our guests to clarify the meaning of culturally responsive instruction and provide their best strategies for making culturally responsive instruction work in your classroom. Follow on Twitter:@ ValentinaESL @jAPMcDizzle @EngageReaders @rpdelcastillo @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork Lisa Stringfellow has taught middle school English for over 24 years. In her work, she focuses on culturally responsive literacy and issues of equity and social justice in the classroom. She currently teaches 5th and 6th grade English at The Winsor School in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Rocio del Castillo began her career as a school psychologist in Peru and has dedicated her professional career to being an advocate for educational equity and social justice. She currently serves as Assistant Superintendent for Special Services in Huntley Community School District 158 and as an adjunct professor. Maurice McDavid is serving as assistant principal at Cortland Elementary School, one of the bilingual schools in the DeK