Teaching Learning Leading K-12

Barbara J. Smith - Urgent Care for Educators: Situating Responsibility as a Way to Transform School Cultures. This is episode 744 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Barbara Smith is a passionate educator who challenges the boundaries of "sameness" in schools. Smith's background includes over forty years in public, charter, independent and international schools.  Barbara has started three schools and has been a teacher, principal, consultant, trustee, and teacher educator at OISE, McGill and the University of Saskatchewan teaching faculties and graduate schools.  She has published books about school values and economies, teacher retention, assessment tools for learning, her charter school principal story and most recently with Hope Blecher, a book about engaging students as writers. Her next book is called: Students in Responsible Roles: A Powerful Way to Learn and Transform School Culture.  Barbara supports schools committed to improving engaging and purpose-based teaching and learning for a

NL Holmes - Flowers of Evil: Hani's Daughter Mystery Series Book 1. This is episode 743 of Teaching Learning Leading K12.  N.L. Holmes is an award-winning novelist embarking on another significant career phase. Prior to taking up the power of writing and using this pen name, she was an accomplished archaeologist and teacher for 25 years. Early in her career, she served as a nun for two decades. In between, she was an artist and antiques dealer. Yes, she has lived an interesting life and the sum of her experiences informs and inspires her writings today. Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, she attended The University of Texas in the honors program but dropped out midway to enter into the antiques business. Two years later, she entered the Discalced Carmelite convent in Texas. She left the convent 20 years later and returned to school to get her B.A. in Classical Studies. Holmes, who earned her doctorate in Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology from Bryn Mawr College despite an offer to attend Princeton, h

Michael McDowell - Rigor Redefined: Ten Teaching Habits for Surface, Deep, and Transfer Learning. This is episode 742 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Michael McDowell, EdD was a public-school educator for eighteen years serving in the roles of classroom teacher, academic and athletic coach, school principal, assistant superintendent of personnel and instruction, and superintendent.  During his tenure as a superintendent, his school district received state and national accolades including the National Blue-Ribbon Award which recognized their work for student performance and mental health and well-being in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic by the U.S. Department of Education.   Dr. McDowell serves on educational boards, served as a college professor, and has worked for non-profit organizations to enhance student learning around the world.  Over the course of his career, Dr. McDowell has authored bestselling books, created professional learning programs and workbooks, provided keynotes and

Self-Regulation: Controlling Your Behaviors, Part 2. This is episode 741 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. In the first episode on Self-Regulation, I shared some thoughts about what self-regulation means and how it appears in the classroom. (Episode 737). I use the term in referring to you the adult in the classroom keeping control of your behaviors. I also shared some thoughts about things that you can do to help keep you in control of you. Today, I am sharing a specific strategy. It sounds simple enough but at times we can get frustrated with behaviors that the kids have previously exhibited and so we always associate those behaviors with that particular kid. To overcome always affiliating the bad with those one or two students something that works really well is to post an image, drawing, or place an object in the room that you will see that is there to remind you of something that student does well, or to make you think about a calming/happy thought, or to think of some specific positiv

Patricia Erbe - Building Bonds with Learners: The Teacher-Student Relationship Model. This is episode 740 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Patricia Erbe, M.Ed., is an author and former educator in Pennsylvania's West Chester Area School District, where she taught for decades at the elementary and secondary levels while also serving as a team leader, curriculum developer, science advocate, early field and student teacher mentor and consultant to individuals and organizations for professional growth and practical teaching applications. In addition to these leadership experiences, she has bolstered her social-emotional focus by leading extracurricular activities and clubs for young learners and as a consistent informal mentor for colleagues.  Furthermore, Ms. Erbe has contributed to the community through her active involvement on the West Chester Area Education Foundation Board, a non-profit dedicated to mobilizing community resources for student benefit, and the Hopewell UMC Pre-School Advi

Organizing Your Paperwork, Part 2: Creating a System. This is episode 739 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. In part 1 of this series on organizing your paperwork I noted that to get rid of your piles of paper you have to: 1. Handle this now. 2. Set aside time. 3. Create a place to put your paper files. 4. Create a system to file your paper. In this episode - Organizing Your Paperwork, Part 2: Creating a System I share with you how to make it easy to get out from under your piles by creating a system for filing. I share that you need to get your supplies and locations to file. 1. Get hanging file folder cabinets or furniture that has hanging file drawers. 2. Get hanging file folders with plastic tabs. 3. Get regular file folders. 3. Get a label maker. 4. Decide how you will file using the alphabet. 5. Determine how you will write the name of what is in the file folder. 6. Start filing and get rid of those piles. Before you know it, you will be pile free and feel less stressed because now y

  Kourtney Hake & Paige Timmerman - Their Stories, Their Voices: Using Personal Narrative to Empower Student Writers, Grades 6-12. This is episode 738 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Kourtney Hake is an English teacher at Sparta Lincoln School in Sparta, Illinois. She is also a member of the National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE), the Illinois Reading Council (IRC), and the Illinois Association of Teachers of English (IATE) since 2014. Paige Timmerman is a high school English teacher at Salem Community High School in Salem, Illinois and a National Board-Certified Teacher member since 2019. She strives to provide authentic, real-world writing opportunities that meet her students’ skills and interests. Our focus today is Kourtney and Paige’s book - Their Stories, Their Voices: Using Personal Narrative to Empower Student Writers, Grades 6-12.  Lots to learn! Thanks for listening! Please share! Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not real

Self-Regulation: Controlling Your Behaviors. This is episode 737 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. On this episode I share my thoughts about self-regulation. Self-regulation is recognizing when you are not focused on controlling your behaviors. You could have had a bad morning, an interaction that made you angry, or just seem to always be out of sorts when that one kid or colleague come your way. You have to get control of you. I share a few thoughts about getting control of you before you end up apologizing for your actions.  Thanks for listening! Please share! Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee. This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be co

Organizing Your Paperwork: Get Rid of Your Piles. This is episode 736 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Do you make piles of paper and you swear that you can find whatever you need? The piles keep growing and growing and you start realizing that you really don't know where anything is located. That is if you are actually honest with yourself - you know that you are lying to you. On this episode I share my thoughts about getting out from under those piles. Afterall, I was one of those crazy pile builders and now I am very proud to share that I no longer create stacks of paper. Get rid of those piles. Thanks for listening! Please share! Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee. This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgra

Tom Hierck & Chris Weber - Positive Behaviors Start with Positive Mindsets: Twenty-Eight Actions to Motivate Students and Boost Achievement. This is episode 735 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.  Tom Hierck has been an educator since 1983 in a career that has spanned all grade levels and roles in public education. His experiences as a teacher, administrator, district leader, department of education project leader, and executive director have provided a unique context for his education philosophy. Chris Weber, EdD is the principal of Oak Creek Elementary School in Irvine Unified School District, California. He earned his EdD from the University of California, Los Angeles, and has written books on Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), Response to Intervention (RTI), behavior, and mathematics that have supported well over half a million educators. Our focus today is Tom & Chris’ book - Positive Behaviors Start with Positive Mindsets: Twenty-Eight Actions to Motivate Students &

Dr. Barbara Koltuska- Haskin - How My Brain Works: A Guide to Understanding It Better and Keeping Healthy. This is episode 734 of Teaching Learning Leading K-12, an audio podcast. Dr. Barbara Koltuska-Haskin is a Clinical Neuropsychologist in private practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has over 30 years of clinical experience. She also has a research and academic teaching background.  In addition to her doctorate in psychology/neuropsychology, she has a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology and Bachelor of Education degree (valedictorian).  She also completed 450 hours of academic coursework in psychopharmacology sponsored by the Southwestern Institute for the Advancement of Psychotherapy/New Mexico State University Collaborative. She is a blogger for www.PsychologyToday.com, where she has earned over 250,000 page views. Dr. Koltuska-Haskin is also the author of How My Brain Works, A Guide to Understanding it Better and Keeping it Healthy, which has yielded recognition by seven awards.  DeMod

Jason Edwards - Icebergs to Iguanas: Photographic Journeys Around the World. This is episode 733 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. National Geographic's Jason Edwards has been at the forefront of natural history photography for more than three decades. His image portfolio ranks among the largest of any photographer in the Society's long history. Based in Melbourne Australia, a passion for wildlife and the environment has been with him over his extensive career that began as a zookeeper at the Zoological Board of Victoria. Jason has since been recognized globally for his contributions to Science, the Environment, and the Arts.    Jason's accolades within the photographic industry stretch over 25 years and include among others; two times winner of the Eureka Prize for Science Photography, four times winner of Communications Art Photography Annual, two times winner of the ProMax Golden Muse, POYi Pictures of the Year International, and Travel Photographer of the Year. He was awarded the Austr

Marilyn Raichle - Don't Walk Away: A Care Partner's Journey. Enhancing the Lives of People Living with Dementia and their Care Partners. This is episode 732 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Marilyn Reichle, author of Don’t Walk Away, grew up in the shadow of Alzheimer's. Nearly everyone in her father’s family and many in her mother’s had developed the disease. But Raichle became transformed in her views towards those living with dementia, inspiring the launch of a book and several non-profits that helps — and celebrates — those living with the memory-robbing disease.  Raichle began her career in the theatre, founding the Seattle International Children's Festival. She served for 11 years at North America’s largest international festival for children, introducing children to world culture through the performing arts.   She then became the founding executive director of American Voices for nine years, building an informed, engaged, and good-humored community. In 2007, she received a Master

Monica Burns - EdTech Essentials: 12 Strategies for Every Classroom in the Age of AI, 2nd Ed. This is episode 731 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Dr. Monica Burns is an EdTech and Curriculum Consultant, author of EdTech Essentials: 12 Strategies for Every Classroom in the Age of AI, 2nd Edition (ASCD & ISTE, 2024) and former New York City public school teacher. She works with schools and organizations around the world to support PreK-20 educators with thoughtful technology integration. Monica’s website ClassTechTips.com and Easy EdTech Podcast help educators place “tasks before apps” by promoting deeper learning with technology. Our focus will be Monica’s book - EdTech Essentials: 12 Strategies for Every Classroom in the Age of AI, 2nd Edition, her podcast - Easy EdTech Podcast, and her website - ClassTechTips.com. Thanks for listening! Please share! Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the

Favorite Tech Gifts at Christmas with Will & Josh from the HiTech Podcast. This is episode 730 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Will and Josh of the HiTech Podcast are on Teaching Learning Leading K-12. This is our 2nd Annual Christmas show. We are focused on our favorite tech gifts. We had a blast! Will and Josh are always fun to talk with! I am so glad that I was invited to participate. After we introduce our favorite tech gifts, we then rate them. make sure that you go to their YouTube channel so that you can see what we are talking about. But do that after you have listened here. A little about the HiTech Podcast... The HiTech Podcast started because two friends couldn't shut up about their jobs and their wives were tired of listening to it on date night. So, we decided to bring our conversation to you, sharing our expertise and tomfoolery for all to hear. We exist to help you, and ourselves, process the best ways to harness technology in the traditional or virtual classroom. Her

Erik M. Francis - Deconstructing Depth of Knowledge: A Method and Model for Deeper Teaching and Learning. This is episode 729 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Erik M. Francis is an international author, educator, and presenter with 30 years of experience in education as a classroom teacher, site administrator, education program specialist at a state education agency, and staff development trainer. He is consistently ranked as one of the World Top 30 Education Professionals by the international research organization Global Gurus. Erik provides professional development on establishing rigorous learning environments and delivering educational experiences that challenge students to demonstrate different levels of thinking and discuss the depth and extent of their learning. His areas of expertise include good questioning and inquiry, teaching and learning for Depth of knowledge, tiered instruction, authentic learning, differentiated instruction, personalized learning, standards-driven learning

Suzy Pepper Rollins - Boys in the Back: The Downward Spiral of Boys in School. This is episode 728 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Suzy Pepper Rollins is the author of 3 Books: Learning in the Fast Lane, Teaching in the Fast Lane & Teaching Vulnerable Learners. She has produced her first short documentary entitled "Boys in the Back" in which 4 educators provide insights on the downward spiral of boys in school. Suzy notes - We are in the midst of an urgent national boy crisis.  Failing grades, low college admissions, high percent of office referrals. 2/3 of IEP’s are boys, 70% of D’s & F grades are boys…there are no silver linings in the research.  More than ever, boys dislike school and see it as a waste of time.   Our focus is Suzy’s film - Boys in the Back. Great conversation! So much to think about. Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmilett

Kathy Cobb: Teaching, Growing Readers, and Beekeeping. This is episode 727 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Kathy Cobb is a Growing Readers Design Team Specialist at North Georgia RESA, hailing from Ellijay, GA. With a rich background in education, Kathy dedicated 22 years to elementary teaching, including 17 years in 1st grade and 5 years in kindergarten. Her passion for education extended beyond the classroom as she served as a teacher leader, grade level lead, and Family Engagement coordinator. Transitioning to a role at RESA, Kathy leveraged her expertise in English/Language Arts before joining the Growing Readers team in 2018. Growing Readers, a statewide initiative since 2015, focuses on professional growth informed by cutting-edge research such as Scarborough’s Rope (2001) and The Active View of Reading (2021). Kathy’s role involves providing professional learning and onsite coaching to empower K-5 teachers in enhancing their reading instruction. Before discovering her true calling

Kathleen Bjork - My Mother is Losing Her Memory, and I am Losing My Mind: Parenting the Aging Parent. This is episode 726 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. My Mother is Losing Her Memory, and I Am Losing My Mind: Parenting the Aging Parent is the true story of a mother's journey through dementia that is told through the eyes of her caregiver daughter, Kathleen Bjork. Related with compassion and humor, it details the mother's fight to keep her independence and the family's decisions to keep her safe.  Loss of control of her finances as well as her car is met with anger, and a fall which results in a broken hip and rehabilitation confirms that she cannot live alone. A concession to let her return to live in her own home with a caregiver ends in disaster.  Our focus is Kathleen’s book My Mother is Losing Her Memory, and I Am Losing My Mind: Parenting the Aging Parent. Powerful talk. So much to learn. Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying

Robert "Buddy" Costley - CEO & Co-Founder of SchoolDog Solutions, Inc: Making Schools Safe. This is episode 725 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. A veteran of the US Navy, Robert “Buddy” Costley is a retired Georgia school superintendent after serving for 11 years in that role from 2008-2019. In November of 2023, he was listed by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of Georgia’s 500 Most Influential Leaders. In December of 2023, Buddy retired from public service after completing over four years leading through the pandemic and beyond as the Executive Director of the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL), the professional association for Georgia’s school and district public school administrators.  Today, he is the CEO and Co-Founder of SchoolDog Solutions, Inc., a software company built on the mission of making every K-12 school across the nation a safer and healthier place to learn and work. His inspiration and passion for school safety are his wife Kelly, a K-12 educator, and his