powerED Up

Mark has experience as a teacher, building administrator, and central office. This experience has given him the perspective always to do his best for students. Working in a district office can help elevate teaching by constantly analyzing curriculum, technology, and best teaching practices. Evaluating the integration of technology starts with the “why”.  What is the instructional impact? The second is planning professional development.  The professional development needs to be thorough and ongoing. Professional development should spiral into building the confidence and competency of teachers. The third is selecting the device. Technology started as an excellent tool, but now we must evaluate its use and how it impacts teaching and learning. Never pull the staff together for a meeting when the topic could be covered through an email. Twitter: @MarkHess98 Help us out! Please help us reach new listeners on iTunes by leaving us a rating and review! It takes just 30 seconds, and instructions can be found here. Thanks! We appreciate it! Apple Podcast Review

Dr. Danny Brassell is America’s leading reading ambassador and is passionate about getting every child to love reading. The more we get kids excited about reading, the more they will love reading, and the more they will learn reading. If we spend so much time teaching students how to read, shouldn’t we teach them to love reading first? Develop a love for reading, so they can read to learn. A great book recommendation from Danny, Teacher Man by Frank McCourt It’s important to get to know our students so we know how to connect with them We can be the light or the darkness for a student each day.  Both take just as much effort, we just need to pay attention to our interactions. It’s important we evaluate and understand where students are coming from and what home life looks like so we approach teaching and learning with empathy. Create opportunities for students to experience the value of books without reading the entire book. Spark the interest in the content through the conversations and experiences of the classroom. Website: www.dannybrassell.com/ Twitter: @DannyBrassell www.Freegiftfromdanny.com Help us out! Help us reach new listeners on iTunes by leaving us a rating and review! It takes just 30 seconds and instructions can be found here. Thanks! We really appreciate it! Apple Podcast Review

Kelly Shrein is the 2022 Alaska Teacher of the Year. She has embraced her community in Anchorage, Alaska to create a more meaningful, authentic, and engaging curriculum. Students are constantly engaged in learning objectives that can have a direct impact on the local community.  The authenticity of learning expands into her classroom conversations.  The third-grade students are well-versed and able to participate in mature discussions. The community and culture of Anchorage, Alaska, create a unique teaching and learning experience for Kelly and her students. The seasonal shifts of the sun in the winter and summer have a significant impact on the mental health of students and it’s something teachers have to consider and help with students. Creating opportunities for safe failure and helping build resilience.  When a level of trust is established, it creates a foundation of relationships. She is involving the community in hands-on experiences, such as dissecting salmon. Creating opportunities for students to engage in conversations with each other. It’s essential for them to learn from each other and establish their own positive relationships. Purposefully plan your lessons to incorporate student experiences and communication. Model the listening and respect skills we teach to our students. Connect with other students from around the country on Facebook,  “Mrs. Letcher’s Postcard Exchange”, “teachers ask teachers”, and teachers searching for other teachers. Twitter: @KellyShrein

A last-minute guest cancellation led to Ken and Matt pivoting on the spot with a new idea.  It turned into a part 2 of 2 episodes with each host in the hot corner.  In this show, Matt reflects on his frustrations with assessments. In This Episode: The value of assessments Involving students into the conversation Formative versus summative

A last-minute guest cancellation led to Ken and Matt pivoting on the spot with a new idea.  It turned into a part 1 of 2 episodes with each host in the hot corner.  In this show, Ken reflects on his experiences as a teacher and a new perspective as a young parent. In This Episode: Effective parent communication from the parent's perspective Strategies for maximizing contact with families Back to school night The teacher-parent partnership Join us back from 110 to hear Matt's take on the hot corner.

Jackie Wynkoop is a fantastic educator. She is passionate and fired up whenever she can talk about teaching, learning, and instruction.  She is solely focused on supporting teachers to feel confident, empowered, and impactful. She is incredibly passionate about professional learning, so much so that she started her own podcast the PL Playbook. Jackie has had an amazing journey in her career through many positions including fourth grade, fifth grade, instructional coach, director of gifted, vice principal, and back to instructional coach. Creating trust in the classroom is essential, without this, everything else will be more challenging. Using hexagonal thinking to facilitate creative brainstorming. Empower teachers to facilitate professional learning to support their colleagues. Reach out to teachers in other districts and at events to make connections to help support you in the future. Teaching can not just be a job, it has to be something you love. Destination Imagination is a fantastic program to incorporate STEM into your school community. Website: https://t.co/f37ngGWvzm Twitter: @LitCoachJackieW Help us out! Help us reach new listeners on iTunes by leaving us a rating and review! It takes just 30 seconds and instructions can be found here. Thanks! We really appreciate it! Apple Podcast Review

Don Berg brought a new perspective to the podcast and we are so grateful for his time and this episode. We broke the script with educator guests and talked with a psychologist.  We dive deep into student motivation and how we can best foster that learning environment for students.  The harsh reality is, we cannot motivate a person.  We need to create opportunities for students to create their own motivation. Don Berg is a certified psychologist and has focused on student motivation. Dive into the science of motivation and engagement as it relates to classrooms. The harsh reality is that students only learn what they want to learn. If they don’t want to, they won’t. You cannot motivate someone, they can only motivate themselves. We can create opportunities to tap into the three necessary components of motivation: Autonomy Relatedness Competency It’s not just about the relationships between one student to the teacher, but students as a whole.  Those relationships across the classroom are key to supporting successful learning. Collective illusions are a disparity between the individual opinion and the perceived opinion of society as a whole. There is a notion that our society demands results from standardized tests, and yet everyone on a personal level agrees people do not value standardized tests. Creating classroom autonomy is key, and cannot just be based on giving choices.

Ken and Matt can sit down without a guest and have no preparation for the recording.  Due to a last-minute conflict with a guest, they were left to devise a recording idea.  They decided to go with a rapid-fire question format.  Each host asked a question that the other did not prepare for.  The questions included: Teaching superstition Best lesson Worst moment teaching What is your classroom "thing" The time you saved a student The cafeteria food you look forward to and the one you will avoid at all costs Funniest recess moment Best last day of school memory Will Ken ever go back into the classroom?

Joe Sanfelippo is the ultimate leader. He is the current superintendent of the Fall Creek Wisconsin School District, #GoCrickets. He drives his district, administrators, teachers, and students to think outside of the box and explore what they are most passionate about.  He has created an environment where everyone can lead, and is empowered to do so. His leadership style is most evident in the professional development practices and hiring techniques they have put into place. Finding your own leadership style and how you can best thrive. Recognizing where we begin to know where we are going. Fueling professional development with self-guided passion projects and concluding the work with a teacher-led street fair. Empowering teachers to recognize students for who they are and support them on an individual level. How to best tell the stories of your classroom, school, and district.

The success of a student requires a community effort.  We need to help and best support our youngest learners, and sometimes, schools do not have all the resources they need. Reading Partners is an organization that can help support our young readers in partnership with the schools. Teach for America in middle school science for four years, and then taught in Mexico to teach English as a second language 3rd - 6th for eleven years. Teach for America is a challenging experience because you don’t have full education training before starting. It is also incredibly rewarding to work in new communities and support children in education. Reading Partners: National Non-profit with a mission to make students life-long learners. Provide one on one tutoring in the community. Visit readingpartners.org to see the areas where they service with virtual tutoring options available. Explicit instruction of phonics to teach the foundations of reading. Most of the schools are Title 1, and the leadership shows interest. While still focusing on phonics, read grade-level texts to the students so they can focus on comprehension. Website: www.readingpartners.org

This show has it all and our guest Wendy Turner, 2017 Delaware Teacher of the Year, brings the fire! She is passion from the get go of the conversation up until the last minute.  She is all in on students, teachers, and social and emotional learning.  She clearly defines the how and the why of SEL in classrooms. Starting career outside of education first brings life perspective.  Wendy gained so many experiences that created confidence to solve any problem. If second graders are going to be successful learners, we have to teach them to be successful humans first. Every student shares something nice about the birthday student, even if it is the first day of school. Specific programs were put in place to help support social and emotional learning in the classroom. Cassel website, including the frameworks for SEL, and the 3 signatures practices Foster curiosity and competence in SEL. You have to teach it explicitly, but you have to engrain it into the academics. Wendy shares about her professional moves and changes in her career to best serve students and social and emotional learning Sustainable and systematic plans to implement true SEL practices into classrooms The “Unless Project” from the Philadelphia Zoo Skype a Scientist The innovative teachers are the ones that don’t won’t to get bored either Connect with Wendy: Twitter: @MrsWendyMTurner Wendy’s Facebook Page wendymturner@gmail.com Wendy’s Wakelet 

Debbie Tannenbaum 23rd year in teaching and 5th year as a technology coach.  She brings a consistent, realistic, and authentic light into the world of instructional technology.  Her approach has a single target: improve learning experiences for students.  Technology is a tool to help us facilitate a learning environment that will encourage students to be creators, not consumers. The shift from COVID was a forced innovation. Teachers are now much more welcoming to the idea of coaches and technology. Technology can help facilitate a Universal Design for Learning philosophy of teaching. It provides students multiple ways to access the same content and skills. Digital natives versus digital literacy.  Our students are not digitally literate if we do not teach them. We need to teach students icons and skills to navigate devices independently. As the teacher, start using the phrase “activities are for you or for me.  If it’s for you, I can’t promise I will provide you feedback.  If it’s for me, I will. However, you can always ask for my feedback.” It doesn’t need to look perfect, sounds perfect, or be perfect.  Especially when students are making videos. Real authentic paths and experiential learning: choice boards, webquest, student-centered. Project Zero from Harvard: Thinking routines, scaffolds to help reveal student thinking Become a connected educator, leverage social media and different organizations like www.teachbetter.com. Connect with Debbie Tannenbaum www.tannenbaumtech.com @Tannenbaumtech  Transform Techy Notes to Make Learning Sticky Amplifying Instructional Design

Returning from the winter break marks the unofficial half-way mark of the school year.  Ken and Matt talk about the best strategies and ideas to think about as you return from the coveted winter break. There is so much we want to accomplish with students in such a short amount of time. This episode gets a little emotional when Ken and Matt start sharing about the journey they are on with their students how how much they hope to accomplish. The value of attending a conference and how to best find ways to attend Reset classroom management strategies, rules, and what you expect from students on a daily basis State testing is looming in the future and we can't ignore it. This is a great time to facilitate goal setting activities with your students. A school year is a 180-day journey, we can't expect to solve every problem on day one.  Now is the time of year to really start attacking goals. The difficult for semester teachers to "start over" with a new class in January when not many other colleagues are in the same mindset.

Norah is a well-rounded, experienced educator.  She has taught in special education, led buildings as an assistant and lead principal, and now services the entire district as special education and curriculum supervisor.   Norah is using her background to create systems and transform school cultures to create the most successful environments for students. When you feel burnt out in education, seek a purposeful change and fuel your own fire. We have to help equip regular education teachers to best service all students and help special education teachers best support all. Students should not need a label to get personalized support. As a building leader, creating systems to be more preventative and less reactive. SEL has empowered our teachers to better support students from a proactive stand point and providing concrete ways to approach what students need most. It is important to create quantifiable measures to evaluate our own success of servicing students. If you want to shift a culture in a school, you first need to evaluate where you are currently at. What is the current culture? We have to pay attention to the whole child and allow it to impact our instructional strategies.

Dr. Nancy Miles is a grounded, authentic, passionate educator always setting forth to do best by students.  She has a diverse experience in teaching almost every elementary grade-level and her seasoned approach is apparent in this episode.  She is all in on relationships and student-centered learning.  She showcases how we can focus on the behavioral expectations of choice and allow that to transition into the academic expectations of choice-based learning. Nancy started a career in marketing, and after having children went back to education to become a teacher. She started in a multi-age classroom and learned she needs to meet children where they are. Relationships matter in marketing in sales, and that is completely transferable to the classroom and how teachers interact with students. Take the time for relationships with former students to nurture and thrive.  It will impact your relationships with current students. Student-centered learning doesn’t happen over night.  It is a dedicated, committed, systematic approach from the teacher constantly relinquishing control. If you are trying to create a more student-centered environment, just start with giving them simple choices. When you want to control your classroom, giving students these choices can be extremely difficult. Strategies for scaffolding  towards a choice-based classroom. Using phenomena to teach concepts first and follow-up with vocabulary second. Twitter: @milesnawmiles Help us out! Help us reach new listeners on iTunes by leaving us a rating and review! It takes just 30 seconds and instructions can be found here. Thanks! We really appreciate it! Apple Podcast Review

It is amazing to sit down and talk with Dr. Winston Sakurai.  He has a diverse, impressive, vast experience in education.  Through all his positions, he has always had a clear sight set on doing what is best for students.  He champions their leadership and supports teachers in every way possible. Winston had an amazing start to his career, working on the state board of education side to support and push education in a positive way. His first teaching experience was as a long-term substitute where he learned the ropes of teaching As a building leader, Winston encouraged teachers to allow students to be the leaders.  At assemblies, graduations, and leadership classes. They created leadership classes which changed the mindset around student leadership. Providing students with true ownership, including the budget for a project, to allow them to learn through the experiences and attach emotions to remember it forever. Creating opportunities for students to obtain ownership in the classroom with specific lessons. Winston questions Ken and Matt to see how the pandemic has shifted education for us in Pennsylvania. Twitter: @winstonsakurai

Greg Bagby is a humble, experienced, knowledgeable leader. HIs passions as a teacher have transcend his ability to support teachers as a building leader and district leader.  In our conversation we discuss the best ways to work as a reflective teacher and how that can directly impact your students' performance. Learning is a process.  Performance based doesn't mean it has to be perfect, but a process to reach our goals. Shielding teachers from unnecessary communication from district office to encourage better teaching Encouraging teachers to take risks and try new strategies in lessons Reflective practice as a teacher is key to improve our practices and pedagogy Take a risk and film yourself.  It is the best feedback you can give yourself to adjust your teaching and find areas to improve. Using Edtech for a purpose, it doesn’t need to be the center focus of the lesson Enhance the lessons with technology, move from consumption towards creativity Podcast: BookswithBagby Podcast: Education Soapbox Twitter: @Gregbagby

As a coach, Brett has learned it is okay to fail and he brings that into the classroom.  He also loves the team atmosphere to the classroom. Patience Creating service learning projects where the entire class can band together and become a part of the team Teaching specific standards and objectives through service learning projects Reflecting on past practices and looking at how to improve our classroom for the future Don’t be afraid to start small, mess up, and take risks Give our best to our students everyday, the best we can offer each and every day. Take a risk

We recorded LIVE at the Teach Better Conference 2022 in Akron, Ohio.  This conference is affiliated with our podcast network.  Ken had an amazing experience attending the conference, meeting teachers, networking with presenters, and finding inspiration for keynote speakers.  This episode is part two of two where Ken sat down to talk with three amazing educators.

We recorded LIVE at the Teach Better Conference 2022 in Akron, Ohio.  This conference is affiliated with our podcast network.  Ken had an amazing experience attending the conference, meeting teachers, networking with presenters, and finding inspiration for keynote speakers.  This episode is part one of two where Ken sat down to talk with three amazing educators.   Featured In This Episode: Steve  Eric Guise of the gotteched.com podcast follow him at @GuiseGotTechEd Mike

Ramon Benavides is a dedicated father, husband, and educator.  He is committed to providing opportunities to students who normally wouldn’t see them.  Most of all, he is dedicated to showing his students, who see themselves in him, that they too can dream.  Ramon brings an approach to his biology classes that pushes the standards forward, while focusing on the experiences of students. In This Episode We Cover Utilizing relationships to build rapport, connecting with their personal lives.  Sports, family businesses, mutual respect Teaching beyond the test Ramon was hooked on biology to switch majors because his professor provided real world experiences. Focus on the learning experiences and sprinkle in some small test prep lessons to ensure the success of your students. Create experiences for students that start in the classroom and extend beyond. 25 minutes great sound bite The challenges of living and teaching on the border Creating collaborative work experiences to build relationships for students peer to peer Recognizing student backgrounds and incorporating that into the classroom

Matthew Tatur is an educator committed to making his students feel scene, heard, and welcomed in his middle school classroom.  His trajectory towards teaching middle school history is one that didn't start the way you would think.  His entrance into education shaped his mindset about what classrooms should be and how teachers can best serve students. In This Episode We Cover: Strategies to establish meaningful connections with students. Creative ways to engage students with whole group instruction. Using TikTok to create classroom community

Cory Henwood is an experience, well versed, passionate educator focusing on empowering learners. Cory is out there providing practical strategies, great content. He is focused on creating personalized learning experiences for students and replicating those experiences for teachers. Cory provides thoughtful ideas, systematic approaches, and goals for every educator to aspire towards. In This Episode We Cover Creating environments that are as student-centered as possible.  Teachers want to do it, they just don't know where to start. Strategies for handling situations where we as teachers are forced to following scripted programs and how we can be slightly more innovative in our approach. Creating experiences for students to process the content and emotions to reach new learning targets. It is okay to be a risk-taker in our instructional approach.  It's also okay to not be and need to see the results from some trusted colleagues first. Lessons can flop, and if it's a traditional approach there are no positive gains.  If we take a creative risk and the content flops, students still gained so many more positive qualities.

Time with Anthony Swann, is time well spent.  He is incredibly knowledgeable in the field of best teaching, and leads with an open heart. He is passionate about giving up control and giving ownership to the students. It requires us to trust them whole-heartedly. Anthony unapologetically will always do what is best for students.  He teaches from the heart and trusts his students to perform. In This Episode We Cover When students transition from learning school to learning content. The idea of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs before Bloom's Taxonomy. Trusting student's to handle themselves in their basic levels of needs. To be a great teacher, sometimes you have to be a habitual disrupter. Evaluate your classroom structure and decide how much the students feel trusted.

He's BACK! We had the opportunity to have Anthony Wiggins, Matt's student teacher, back on the show to talk about his first few weeks of experience in the classroom. Anthony is coming into his own as a teacher.  Learning through experience, wisdom of others, and making his own mistakes. Anthony is more reflective, more confident, and brings a new energy.  He also asks thought provoking questions to Matt and Ken to learn more. In This Episode We Cover Get involved in the school community so students who don't have you know you. Establish consistent, clear, concise routines and expectations in the beginning of the year. Be very explicit in your directions and relationships with students. Anthony shares aspects of the classroom he sees with Matt that he wants to emulate, and aspects he wants to change. Anthony questions Ken on small group instruction and how it can be most effective. Advice on classroom management and how to have clear expectations while maintaining individual relationships and treating each individual on a case by case basis. Advice for graduating pre-service teachers for pursuing and finding a job.

Mike Azzalina is a centered, calm, and inspirational leader for teachers to learn from and grow with. Mike is all in on growing the teachers in his building, empowering them as instructional leaders, and sharing the fire throughout his staff. Mike is always aligning systems to create opportunities for his teachers and his students. In This Episode We Cover Strategies to grow your own leadership and leadership opportunities in your own building, while you are still a teacher as you prepare to move into being an administrator. Strategies for developing teacher leaders and helping them find their passions. The development of a three-year new teacher program to support their professional growth. Five-minute PD sessions run by teachers for teachers. A story of him empowering a teacher to become a nation-wide restorative practices trainer. The place for SEL and how intentionality places a vital role in success. The value of being explicit with teachers and students in our goals and educational decisions. A brief definition of the restorative classroom.

Ken and Matt reconnect after a long break from recording together over the summer.  The journey of Ken's new studio continues with a twist! It is a new school year and a new opportunity to set professional goals for ourselves and our classrooms.  We need to create goals, to create purpose, to create action.  This is what can create change and growth in ourselves and our classrooms. In This Episode We Cover Matt's 2022-2023 goals for his students, and mentoring his student teacher. Involving students in the conversation of our own professional goals. When the students are aware of the teacher's goal, they can more actively work towards those expectations.  They are aware of why we have the expectations we have for their behavior and the structure of the classroom. Ken's 2022-2023 goals as an instructional coach and public keynote speaker. Strategies to evaluate the success of goals, when a large majority of it is anecdotal. Supporting teachers to creating empowering experiences. Matt's and Ken's podcast goals for the new school year.

Autumn Rivera is the Colorado 2022 Teacher of the Year and finalist for National Teacher of the Year.  She is a middle school science teacher and part-time adjunct educator.  She loves to create and engaging environment where students are hands on.  She empowers her students to see how they have the ability to make changes now and see those changes. In This Episode We Cover Creating hands-on real world experiences connected to the local community. Supporting her students to raise money for a local area to help preserve it as a natural park. Creating an environment where students feel comfortable to raise questions and pose ideas of change to a teacher. Using the standards as a guide to our curriculum and preparing to pivot and move with student interest while still teaching all of the standards. The value of strong routines and procedures in a classroom and how it impacts student-centered learning. Allowing students to fall, be wrong, and productively struggle. Reflection at the end of class is essential to allowing the students conceptualize learning. Practicing reflective strategies as a teacher with our students. Creating safe, cohesive environments for students.

Theresa Maughan is the New Jersey 2022 Teacher of the Year and a forty-year veteran.  The insight, wisdom, and guidance she shared is priceless for any educator. We learn how her experience teaching 6th grade prior to moving into high school had a large impact on her instructional practices today. She is a strong focus on how relationships in the classroom will have a direct impact on the content delivery of her classroom.    In This Episode We Cover:  Her first moment of standing in front of students, and how she almost panicked out of the position.  The process of building relationships and understanding them culturally to connect the content directly to them.  As a history teacher, we are story tellers.  We shouldn't be afraid to share how those stories connect to us personally. Theresa shares her story as an immigrant, the challenges she faced, and how her teachers helped her.  Providing students access to primary resources so they can form their own perspectives on a topic.  Structured academic controversy is a process Theresa uses to encourage students to evaluate topics with the use of primary resource documents.  When forming relationships with students, there is a line we can't cross.  However, it is important to push ourselves towards that line so we open up to students as much as possible.  How to differentiate with primary resources.  Teaching students sourcing and corroboration.  Learning how to evaluate a source and search for bias and did you find the information in more than one source.  ​

We had the pleasure of speaking with the 2022 Tennessee Teacher of the Year Morgan Rankin. She offers honest insight and reflects on her own upcoming transition from third grade to second grade. She creates an atmosphere where students feel empowered and encouraged to participate in valuable and effective conversations.  Her strategies for encouraging student voice are easy to follow and aspirational to achieve. In This Episode We Cover A comparison of self-contained versus departmentalized elementary classrooms.  There are instructional differences in the set-up of a lesson and challenges to accept in terms of building relationships. The use of reflective practice when we have the opportunity to teach a lesson multiple times per day. Evaluate the classroom management strategies you use.  If systems like team points, Class Dojo, and other programs don't work for you, don't use them.  Focus on student relationships and authenticity. Strategies for encouraging collaboration between students. Using student examples to dissect student thinking and promoting classroom discussions. The value of student conversations, how to facilitate effective conversations, and the power of talking less. Key questions and phrases to promote student conversations.

It was a pleasure to speak with Terry Wetzel in this show, with-in just a few weeks of Terry officially retiring from public education. Terry was a teacher, technology coordinator, and administrator.  The knowledge, wisdom, and authentic insight he offers is very special for our audience. We can have a direct impact on the way we view our experience as teachers a s well as a direct impact on our colleagues. In This Episode We Cover Students today are not any different than students twenty-eight years ago.  They need the same guidance, the same commitment, the same relationships.  However, they are very different, and they should be.  Society is different, we are different, we should embrace these changes. Our pursuit of innovation is needed, but we don’t have to overcomplicate it.  We should find ways to change the student experience. Being innovative in your space, providing students trust. In order for our students to operate at a high-level we need to treat them at a high-level. Move away from the rhetorical information that students can search, we should move towards experiences where they explore the curriculum. Advice for a second year teacher: relationships matter, relax but be dedicated, stay away from the negativity Strategies for feeding into the positive culture of the school. Administrators should hold teachers accountable when they are not pulling their weight.

Time to set our mindset in the right direction as we prepare for the launch of the 2022-2023 school year. We thought of no better guest than bringing back Christopher Albrecht to help us out. The beginning of the year we don't need to have a big song and dance. We should focus on the values of the classroom that we want to perpetuate throughout the year. It's important we listen to the students and adjust our approach based on the students we have in front of us.  It's our job to create an inspiring, appropriate, and empowering experience. In This Episode We Cover View the start of the school year like Christmas morning, we should be anxious and excited! A story of Christopher's student who started a crochet club just because he listened to his students. Observing your students in the beginning of the year to find their talents so you can empower them to help each other in the future. It is our responsibility to set a positive first impression, it's not just the on the students. Establishing effective lines of communication with parents via phone calls, emails, and social media. Advice on the first couple days of school, and actually keeping things simple. Set an appropriate pace, and set that pace based on the students. Take a risk on a student, because you never know where it will end up.

We have the special honor of adding to additional guest co-hosts two this show, Mike Creed and Lee Carlson.  They are both masters of developing positive relationships and classroom communities.  Mike has experience with teaching students K-5 and Lee has experience teaching middle school and high school. The insight they offer is incredible, and amazingly correlates between secondary and elementary.  It is a balancing act between our efforts in the community and pushing the students to make their efforts. In This Episode We Cover First day of school activities that highlight the value of each individual student while connecting it to all past students. Lee's strategy for good day/bad day and how the students have taken ownership over that activity. The value you in being different and how students buy into that mentality. Be explicit and intentional to design activities and conversations to constantly build the classroom culture in a positive direction. When we open ourselves up to our students it builds trust in the relationship, but also opens up opportunity for them to share with us. We should always be striving to move our students towards a feeling and space where they feel confident to share about themselves to us. It is not always going to be perfect, but we do our best everyday.  Sometimes, that is being tough and reminding them we need to hunker down and focus on our work.

Stacie Lawler is the 2020 Idaho Teacher of the Year and is dedicated to supporting students' and teachers' mental health. We have to take care of ourselves in order to take care of our students. We need to dedicate time to think about our values and build our life around it. Beyond mental health, we dive into the conversation of social and emotional learning and how that fits into the classroom. In This Episode We Cover: Self-care is much more than "getting a manicure".  It is creating sustainable opportunities for us to take care of our own physical and mental health. Be authentic and recognize why we are struggling and where we fall on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Reflect on your own values and be sure to intentionally dedicate time towards this. We need to have these conversations with students and get them to reflect themselves. When we have challenging conversations with students, you need to draw the line in the sand.  You can say "that's a good question, but as your teacher I can't answer it.  Please ask ______". Lean on your PLN for support and a listening ear.

When students are leading the learning community, they have to have a passion for learning.  We can fuel that passion through a high-quality culture of learning.  In this third and final part of the series Teach Like a CEO, we learn the frameworks and systems for developing a holistic approach to student centered learning.  Part three focuses on the O in the acronym, Operations for Classroom Management. This is the foundation of the CEO framework because it is what empowers students to become effective decision makers. In This Episode We Cover: Operations are more about systemizing the classic practices of classroom management so the teacher no longer has to turn the wheels him or herself. It is easy to overlook the operations because it's easier just to do it ourselves, but these operations set the foundation for a true student-centered classroom. Automate the opening transition of a classroom so you can engage with students as they enter the room. When we systemize transitions, we allow ourselves as the teacher to also successful move from subject to subject and class to class.  Transitions are very busy, and we need the time to mentally prepare for the next set of instruction. Simple tasks such as taking attendance, should be handled by students and systemized to completion.

When students are leading the learning community, they have to have a passion for learning.  We can fuel that passion through a high-quality culture of learning.  In this second of a three part series all about Teach Like a CEO, we learn the frameworks and systems for developing a holistic approach to student centered learning.  Part two focuses on the E in the acronym, "Empowering Experiences". As we develop structures for student-centered learning, the actual lessons have to be more engaging and more empowering for kids.   Ken showcases specific strategies you can embed into lessons and projects to create those lessons. In This Episode We Cover Sitting down and teaching a skill with a small group will come naturally, it is about everything happening around that which is a challenge. Commit to empowering your students on a daily basis to fuel the success of lessons. Screencasts allow us to multiply ourselves and differentiate learning at a higher-level. Empower students to be learners and teachers with peers.  Ken introduces his A-B system to allow students to efficiently find partners and teach each other. Develop strategies and expectations for how students should independently learn with the instructional styles you will execute. Evaluate if your students need to learn new content from you directly, or if they can learn through different resources and exploring it on their own. Data is a very important piece for us to create empowering learning experiences, and we should involve the students in the data analyzation process. Data Collection Tools: Socrative​ Google Forms Formative Ken goes through a specific lesson and how the entire classroom is structured to showcase differentiation and empowering independent experiences.​ Why MATH or READS workshop is a great starting point for teachers, but how we have to move beyond that to really provide students what they need.

When students are leading the learning community, they have to have a passion for learning.  We can fuel that passion through a high-quality culture of learning.  In this first of a three part series all about Teach Like a CEO, we learn the frameworks and systems for developing a holistic approach to student centered learning.  Part one focus on the C in the acronym, "Culture for Learning". If we want and expect students to navigate content independently, they have to become a part of a classroom culture that values learning.  Ken showcases specific strategies you can embed into lessons and projects that encourage this exact culture. In This Episode We Cover: Defining the C.E.O framework. Understanding what a culture for learning is and how it impacts student engagement. Analyzing the three levels of student led systems. Specific example of a project, applicable to K-12, that showcases how a teacher can implement systems to fuel student-centered learning while also creating a stronger culture for learning. Specific example of a simple system to embed into classrooms to motivate students to take a stronger ownership in the learning process. Reflections on how this will impact lessons.

Creating meaningful, real world experiences for students can be a huge undertaking. Our guest co-host Laura Boyd showcases amazing ways to facilitate these experiences involving the local community. We break down the strategies needed to start these experiences from the ground up. We also share the impact it can have on the way students approach learning in the classroom and the academic progress it promotes. In This Episode We Cover: Examples of experiences for students involving local community members and businesses. Strategies to prepare your students to actively engage and feel successful when interacting with local community members. Examples of activities to bring local into your own classroom. Ideas to look inside your own district for connections and collaborative experiences.

There is a whole world out there for students to learn from, and it is our job to break down the four walls of our classroom.  Dr. Rhett Oldham has amazing stories and resources for making all of this possible. It can seem like an overwhelming experience, but we can take small actionable steps to work towards grand goals of worldly connections. We can create memories that will last forever for students, and those connections can drill down directly to the standards.   In This Episode We Cover:  Create opportunities for students to connect with other students from around the world.  We should not always look for the experts.  Reach out to experts in the field that can showcase the content in the real world and students can ask questions.  Clear concrete steps to create opportunities for one to world connections.  Connect with local businesses to see who they are connected to, because now all businesses are global.  Even when the experiences aren't as great as we planned, students still had an opportunity to connect with people from around the world.  Comparing the use of these experiences as summative versus formative experiences.  We can culminate a unit with an expert but we can also engrain the experts into the instruction to make it more rich.  Creating real world experiences is always a positive gain for students.  Even if the lesson doesn't pan out as well as planned, the real world experiences will still provide the time well spent.   Visit www.powereduup.com/show75 for helpful resources.

Summer time is for rest, relaxation, and recharging our batteries at teachers.  However, summer is also a great time to reflect, set goals, and think outside the box.  Matt and Ken breakdown their goal setting strategies and how it has made major impacts on their teaching over the years.  It is the perfect time to think with a clear head and let the creative juices flow! In This Episode We Cover: Goal setting strategies for the summer. Appropriate ways to free yourself of all thoughts of teaching while still pushing forward to improve for the following year. The art of clearing your headspace and walking with a piece of paper. How to play offense instead of defense. Ken's previous summer goals and how it rolled out into a school year. 2022-23 goals from Matt and Ken

Summer is here and we couldn't be more excited! The show will continue and we are bringing a new product to our audience this year.  We can't wait to enjoy our summer vacations and launch our summer PD series.  We are bringing back amazing guests and diving deep into specific topics that will help teachers grow and set goals for the upcoming school year. In This Episode We Cover: Thank you's to our guests, our listeners, and ourselves. Reflect on the amazing conversations we've had. Reflect on the growth of the show during the 21-22 school year. Highlights from this school year and our own personal growth. Specific topics and conversations that have led to noticeable changes in our own classrooms. Professional and personal plans for the summer.

Justin Belt is a driven, compassionate, well-rounded educators dedicated to improving the student experience. His passions all circle back to maximizing the student experiences and relationships.  He isn't afraid to tell his stories about his past to impact his students for the future. In This Episode We Cover: Justin began his career in human resources and pulled away many learning experiences that impact his classroom on a daily basis. The feeling of tossing your curriculum to the side to provide students what they need in that moment. Creating classroom experiences that empower students to be themselves. Give them space.

Joshua Stamper is an assistant principal focused on creating a better experience for students in school after his own experiences as a child.   Josh was able to leverage his own personal experiences with trauma-informed training to become a better leader for students. Josh's leadership team and the teachers have created systems to facilitate more student ownership and agreements. He has partnered with his teachers to create systems to involve everyone in the relationship-building process with students. In This Episode We Cover: How experiences like subbing and working as a para-professional can have a positive impact on your teaching. Using the whole child approach to handle discipline as opposed to detention. Understanding the trauma influenced students and how that impacts their daily interactions in school. Strategies for embedding ownership into the classroom each and every day. They use a strategy called treatment agreements that they visit throughout the year. We need to stop expecting that students "should know" behavioral norms.  We need to directly teach SEL skills like we do decoding or math facts. Creating systems for student behavior to be addressed in the classroom with the teacher as opposed to sending them to the office. The truth and purpose of standards-based grading. The value of incorporating real-world experiences into content.

Rose Griffin is dedicated to supporting students in learning speech skills and language development. Her professionalism is shown through her work with students, her collaboration with colleagues, and her thriving business. Rose is committed to being an advocate for her students to find a path of confidence and success. Her programs and resources at ABA Speech are now impacting parents and children from all over that need the best support possible. In This Episode We Cover: Understanding what a pull-out speech small group lessons Students are receiving two main types of service: learning speech with particular sounds, and understanding language including directions. Replicating experiences that will help prepare them for the real world. Implementing specific systems to create collaboration amongst all teachers. As a speech pathologist, try to gain time speaking to the faculty as a whole to open up communication. The path for graduating students from speech and the best exit strategies. How to identify when a student needs more services and the legal ways to approach this discussion. Strategies for keeping data organized, relevant, and legally sound. The structure is key for supporting students in inclusive environments.

Lee Perez is the 2022 Nebraska Teacher of the Year, and he is the first-ever ESL teacher to win the award in his state.  Lee provides unbelievable information on EL students and strategies all teachers can use to support their success. It takes seven to ten years for a person to learn a language to fluency. Can you imagine going to another country and being expected to pass a standardized test two weeks later? Lee is using his newfound platform as Teacher of the Year to change what we think, believe, and know to be true about EL learners. Education will be better because of Lee's efforts. In This Episode We Cover There are two types of language: social and academic Support students' social language development by covering every aspect of your room with sticky notes.  "scissors" on scissors, and "handle" on door handles. The best way to learn a language is to be immersed in a social language experience. Lee reminds us we need to believe EL students can achieve. Students "shouldn't know" unless we teach them.  It is our job to set our students up for success in all capacities. EL students' parents want to learn English, they just don't know the resources that are available.

Jessica Saum is a passionate, empathetic, inspirational teacher.  It is quite obvious why she is the 2022 Arkansas Teacher of the Year. There is nothing typical about a typical day in her classroom. She is creating an environment where students will feel empowered, challenged, and supported to succeed. Jessica prioritizes providing her students the experience to participate in general education classrooms as well as real-world experiences. She shares what inclusion should truly look like, not just putting someone in the room. In This Episode We Cover Starting every day with a morning meeting, a song, and movement together.  Remember why we are at school and what to expect for the day. Navigating different learning modalities and designing best practices to support students. Creating real-world experiences to practice skills students are not able to enjoy outside of school. She vividly describes what inclusion is NOT and how we can best create environments to help students reach success. Stories of how raising the expectations for students can have a massive impact. Strategies for regular education students to successfully included special education students. Using key cards for each student to identify important information to help that student reach success. Setting realistic expectations of growth so we can gradually pull back support from students. Efforts to support our military families.

Jimmy Casas is an experienced, passionate, honest educator focused on making a difference in the culture of classrooms and schools.  After spending over 25 years as an administrator, he is now focused on coaching others. The culture of a school starts with every individual working towards a similar set of values and goals. The way he addresses individuals showcases why he does what he does.  He wants every person to live their excellence, and do it as best as they possibly can. The greatest gift we can give anyone is the gift of time. Jimmy walks us through why this is so important and how he lives this every day. In This Episode We Cover How to evaluate the culture of your classroom through the eyes of students with very intentional questions and systems. Developing systems in all layers of a district for a conversation around culture.  District office, down to building principal, down to classrooms. Transparency about our expectations, values, intentions, and explaining why. Follow up these high expectations with an incredibly high level of support. Investing time in relationships and learning the skills of all individuals to inspire them to be great. Creating cycles and systems to build up teachers to be the best versions of themselves. Undercurrents are anything that causes a negative impact on culture.  Leaders are the ones always causing the undercurrents.  We have to accept it to address it. We need to move away from perimeter leadership towards personal leadership. Why proper support in delegation is so important. Jimmy coaches Ken on how he potentially caused more undercurrents when trying to support teachers.

Bethany Petty is a passionate, energetic, dedicated educator focused on providing her students with experiences that will best serve them as learners. She was willing to freestyle rap at a moment's notice, and then translated that into rapping on TikTok. She creates an environment where students have to fulfill high expectations and engage in meaningful work. Even still, her actions and demeanor only add to the exciting learning environment.   In This Episode We Cover:  How to be "the" fun teacher, but also go much farther beyond that with meaningful instruction.  The raw emotion of a teacher approaching a flipped classroom for the first time.  The natural growth of a flipped teacher and how the progression can move towards creating more opportunities for conversations with students.  The dos and don'ts of creating a flipped lesson, keeping it simple, and embracing mistakes.  Defining a breakout EDU lesson, how to create it, and how to implement it.

JoAnn Nocera left her successful career on the foreign stock exchange and went into education.  She has never looked back and always had her eyes set on bringing out everyone's creativity.  She took the crayons out and let her students shine. An educator's ability to be fleixble in the moment can be the biggest key to a successful lesson. Creativity becomes a keys to a student's success. We need to stop setting restrictive expectations for students that prevent them from taking risks and trying to grow.  It is amazing what students can accomplish with one piece of tin foil! In This Episode We Cover An educator's work ethic, organization, and motivation truly do matter to creating a successful teacher. How to read students and know if you need to shift the direction of a lesson. How a bird feeder inspired an amazing experience for students and for JoAnn. Using manipulatives and kinesthetic learning to activate students' minds. Changing our approach to meet students where they are and unlock their fullest potential. Students learn from other students.

Candace Young is an incredible PE teacher passionate about inspiring movement and health.  She spends her entire day teaching five and six-year-olds the key habits for success in life.  Her classroom is dynamic, engaging, and organized.  Her positive attitude is palpable through the conversation and her passion for making a difference. She has really high expectations for students because she truly believes, they can accomplish anything they put their mind to. In This Episode We Cover Creating a foundation of movement and health at a young age with kindergartners. Creating safe opportunities for failures and successes. As adults, we can model good behavior and healthy habits. Key vocabulary words to use with young students related to movement and health. Creating expectations with structured play and free play. The structure of her classroom and the routines the students follow. Her efforts to support classroom instruction and encourage movement across all subjects.

Dr. Monica Burns was a very early adopter of a 1:1 environment utilizing iPads over ten years ago and has not looked back.  She is the founder of www.classtechtips.com. She demonstrates the value, purpose, and benefits of integrating technology into the classroom.  She helps us understand how to move students from being consumers to authentic creators. In This Episode We Cover Utilizing the camera on an iPad to maximize learning opportunities. Moving beyond the excitement of a new device and creating sustainable instructional practices to integrate technology. Utilize tools to maximize efficiency so teachers can reallocate their time to more meaningful activities. When evaluating new tools for the classroom, look for the open-ended tools we can use for multiple activities and projects. "Embrace your Place" means utilize the LMS you are being directed to use.  Don't fight it but maximize the potential of the LMS you have available. Now that technology is so heavily integrated into classrooms, what are the opportunities to put the technology to the side and get back to hands-on learning? Avoiding technology fatigue from the student and teacher perspective.

Chris Stuchko is an amazing high school special education teacher supporting students, teachers, and creating diverse experiences. He spends a great majority of his day supporting students. He brings a fantastic approach to co-teaching to help empower all students in the classroom. Chris also received a grant a few years ago to start a podcast.  He hosts the "9th Grade Experience" to capture what it means to be a 9th grader and support students starting that new journey. In This Episode We Cover The keys to a successful co-taught classroom. The necessary mindset and approach for a coteaching partnership to be successful. The value of multiple adults in the room for students to form authentic relationships and partnerships. Supporting students to realize what accommodations they have, what they actually need, and how they can leverage those options. Teaching students self-advocacy skills and the different ways to empower them. The value of teaching these skills to all students, especially the high flying students.

Melissa Lowry is a humble, honest, experienced, and amazing administrator. Her beliefs are strong and she feels she needs to serve her teachers.  She leads them with radical honesty. Teachers are the ones that make the biggest impact on students, so it's a principal's job to create a culture of success.  Leaders set the tone of the building, and they do it through their positive actions. In This Episode We Cover Understanding the role of every person in a school. Open her ears and listen to what teachers need, and what they want to vent. She is always leading with honesty, transparency, and open communication. Key steps to establishing a positive culture and the damage a negative culture can create. Leading with empathy will always lead to a place of success. Be honest, and admit when you have made mistakes. Bringing the practice of metacognitive reflection into the classroom.

The start of an educator's true journey begins during student teaching.  This is a time where future educators learn their chops, build their confidence, and confirm this is the career for them. We had the chance to sit down and talk with Matt's brand new student teacher Anthony Wiggins.  Anthony has only spent a few weeks in the classroom and has already learned so much about himself.  The enthusiasm and rawness in his conversation are palpable. In This Episode We Cover: The power of student teaching and different processes for students. Why Anthony decided to go into teaching as a career. How life experiences can help drive us toward education and create our "why" for teaching. Learning the roots and basics of classroom management while also connecting with students in an authentic manner. Establishing a strong set of classroom management strategies through lack of ambiguity, routines, and explicit modeling. Thoughts, feelings, and perspectives after the first experiences of teaching a full lesson. Goals for Anthony to work on during his first portion of student-teaching. Anthony's exit ticket question that we will get to hear now and observe change over time.

Stephanie Noll shares her amazing journey in education and relocating for specific jobs and growth.  After starting in the K-12 system, Stephanie became a full-time college professor, and then went BACK!  It was amazing to hear the growth she made in those transitions. In This Episode We Cover: Value of working for Teach for America to launch your career. Putting students and values above the content we teach. Reframing content to fit the goals we hope to accomplish with students and pursue those goals through curricular experiences. Rethinking the literature you use and the way you approach the classic literature in HS English classes. Sparking passion for students who do not enjoy reading.

Ken and Matt recorded LIVE and in-person together for the first time at the Pennsylvania Education Technology Expo and Conference.  They had a blast together and focused the conversation on attending conferences.  These experiences are extremely valuable for teachers to learn, grow, network, and step outside their comfort zone.  This podcast focuses on connecting educators and empowering everyone through voice.  Conferences provide that experience at the highest level. In This Episode We Cover Describe what can teachers expect when attending a conference. How to find conferences and the different types that are available. When a conference is not free, find opportunities to make it affordable and not use your own money. The power of hearing a good keynote. How the connections you make can create career-long networks.

Mike Kuczala came back to the powerED Up Podcast to be our first repeat guest.  We were thrilled to discuss his new book The Peak Performing Teacher. We are teaching in the most challenging time in the history of public education. The demand for teachers to navigate the pandemic and just the expanding responsibilities of a classroom teacher is putting us on the edge.  Mike shares five key habits for success. In This Episode We Cover Why teaching is so challenging right now.​ The realities of stress and stress management. Mike's stories of how the book was created. Stories of other teacher's habits of success. Mike's five key habits for success.

Our team sat down and had a great conversation with James Varlack.  He brought a really unique perspective coupling his experience and school district culture together.  Now working as a technology coach he shared insight into a framework to evaluate the technology.  He shared the lessons he learned throughout the years of teaching in the classroom.  We go through some heavy topics and how to approach them appropriately in the classroom. In This Episode We Cover Utilizing content expertise and blending that together with well-designed lessons. Recognizing and acknowledging cultural differences among your student population and how to approach classroom community and instruction. Creating a lesson is much different from teaching a concept, a masterful teacher knows how to blend the two together. Creating a framework to decide on what technology to use in the classroom, how to use it, and when to use it. Utilizing current events and local involvement to develop meaningful and real-world lessons. Tapping into your past work experiences to bring real-world applications to the classroom. Harnessing the skills we learn in school to make a daily impact on our own lives. Key strategies for providing background knowledge for students from diverse backgrounds.

When a teacher hits stride in the middle of the year, it can be one of the most challenging times of the year.  Instruction rises to the top of our radar, but we can't abandon the fundamentals. This is the most important time to re-establish routines, classroom management expectations, and have FUN!  Do not let the stress of the looming state tests create an environment that is rooted in pounding through instruction.  Be more creative, have fun with students, and keep the positive culture at the forefront. In This Episode We Cover A much too long debate over what is best: 2-hour delay, early dismissal, or a snow day. Re-establishing routines mid-year and how it is a much simpler process than the beginning of the year. Finding the balance of it all in a time of the year where pressure is high with state testing looming. How to tap into the strong relationships established with each student.  Utilize those relationships to push students to accomplish more. We have the power of words to make a life-long impact on students. There will be moments where we change the trajectory of a student's life, and we may not even remember the moment.

The burden of being an educator is heavy.  Whether we are new to the profession or seasoned veterans, there is a demand put on teachers to do so much more outside of the daily responsibilities.  As new teachers, we feel the need to do everything so we are noticed and hired.  As we continue down the path, it is our job to support the many communities of a school.  Students need clubs, sports, and events and schools need committees to grow.  Matt and Ken talk about checks and systems to evaluate how teachers can take on extra burdens but not burnout.    In this Episode We Cover:  Reflecting on the first few years, and how to manage it all.  Evaluating our own personal circumstances and how that impacts our decisions in taking on extra responsibilities.  The impact of seeing students outside of the classroom and how that helps our instructional approach.  Strategies to be more efficient in our positions are to have more time to volunteer for extra responsibilities.   The benefits and challenges of being an active school member.  Creating structures and systems for sustainable programs.

Dr. Matt Rhoads is an educator, coach, and leader well-grounded in the ed-tech space.  He supports teachers and leaders on a daily basis and has not lost a connection to what is realistic. The conversation covers many topics, but he dives deep into specific topics. When asked tough questions, he provides great answers.  No fluff.  Tune in and follow along with Matt's journey and learn how to integrate more data and more technology into your classroom. In This Episode We Cover: How to effectively utilize technology in the current state of education. Strategies for incorporating station rotation in a hybrid and blended teaching environment. How the necessity of education technology has gleaned light and tools that dramatically improve effective instructional strategies. Improving exit slips with digital formative assessments.

Eric Combs is a middle school band teacher coming off one of the greatest experiences of his career, visiting the White House as the 2020 Illinois Teacher of the Year. He has created an experience in a beginner-level band that is so unique, it has become copied worldwide. He is focused on student growth, student achievement, and student motivation. He worked diligently to create this program to a point where students drive the experience, and he is guiding them to true achievement. In This Episode We Cover: The importance of data and the impact on instruction. How to use flipped instruction to enhance classroom experiences. What it takes to provide students with an individualized instructional experience. Flipped instruction and self-paced structures improve student rapport and relationships with teachers. When you do not teach for mastery, students fall behind and never catch up. The positive impact on self-paced instruction has impacted the interest in band and retention in the program. The utilization of check-ins to track student progress and guide them towards their next targets.

Running a successful school district is a complete operation of multiple departments, some including adults who are not certified, educators. The role of IT is vital for teachers to run a successful classroom.  Teachers, students, and parents all depend on reliable and effective technology.  There is so much that goes into the infrastructure, applications, and devices we use day in and day out. It is important for teachers to communicate effectively with the IT department and work collaboratively. In This Episode We Cover Defining ed-tech and how all the components of IT work collaboratively together. Simple guidelines to decide whether or not to use an application in the classroom. Applications IT are used to support teachers. Developing tech literacy and setting goals for how to effectively instruct teachers and students.

Reaching Show 50 was a big milestone for us, and we wanted to take time to reflect on the experience.  We spent time saying thank you to our listeners and our guests. We reflected on some of the most impactful moments from the show and our favorite quotes from previous guests. We've had so much inspiration from amazing educators and we want to continue to make sure we bring those moments, stories, and principles to our audience. In This Episode We Cover What show 50 meant to each Matt and Ken. How our guests generated the same results, creating amazing classrooms, but accomplished it through so many different paths. The differentiated type of teachers we've had on our show. Matt and Ken share the lessons that stuck with them most and how it has impacted their day-to-day work with students and teachers. Taking a leap of faith in the classroom and picking up the pieces along the way.

Creating an atmosphere to inspire and foster student passion is a challenge every teacher faces.  Claire Clifford leads elementary through high school students in musical performances and class. Claire showcases her diverse expectations as a teacher transitioning from elementary music class, to high school vocal choir, to a community musical production, and preparing all of those students for a winter concert! She works tirelessly to create amazing productions, but the real beauty is in the daily learning that takes place each day in her classroom.   In This Episode We Cover:  The use of the Hungarian Kodaly (Ko-die) method.  Managing the multiple responsibilities of a music teacher and how that translates to the regular education classroom.  How to incorporate cross-curricular learning opportunities in music class.  Using teachable moments to develop background knowledge in other content areas.  Transitioning ownership from the teacher to student, and the challenges we see as teachers in those transitions.  Involving student choice in the curriculum and content of the classroom.

Planning creative lessons is a skill every teacher can develop. We dive deep into a conversation specifically on how to plan creative lessons. It starts with knowing your why, what do you hope to accomplish and what are the learning targets? There will be failures, and that is okay! Our students are providing us feedback whether they intend to or not; we just have to look for it.  Planning creative lessons can be time-intensive, but it doesn't need to be and we talk about exactly how. In This Episode We Cover: Step one in planning a creative lesson starts with key questions and keeping your sights set on the original instructional goal. Failures are commonplace, and we hear specific lessons that failed with Ken. Criteria for what "failure" actually is with creative lessons and how to determine if it failed or succeeded. Using colleagues and students to reflect on the success of a lesson. Planning creative lessons can be a simple tweak in the lesson, as well as, time-intensive.  We talk about both and when each is appropriate to use. Ken describes exactly how and where he gets his ideas for all of his creative lessons.  It might not be exactly what you would think or what you want to hear!​

The opportunity to spend an hour with Adam Welcome is a true inspiration! He makes you feel like it is okay to do what students deserve most.  As a former classroom teacher, principal, director of innovation, and now education influencer he provides details of the trenches and also a broad stroke view of how to approach instruction.  The positive energy is palpable through the microphone to power up the entire audience!  In the end, just try something different.  The kids don't care if you know what you are doing, they care you are taking a risk. In This Episode We Cover: Create a classroom where students will remember how special you made them feel. What #KidsDeserveIt and #TeachersDeserveIt mean and how it impacts the positivity of education. The expectations for utilizing creative lessons and how to involve students in the learning process. The process for moving students away from consumers and towards producers. When you want to change the look and feel of your class, don't overthink it.  Make small changes one step at a time. Step back and look at your classroom, pay attention to all of the things you do and ask yourself "can a student do this instead of me?"

Charles Williams is an inspirational, grounded, and motivated leader to creates change for students and teachers.  We discuss the challenges teachers face to give it all to students.  Charles shares his strategies for supporting teachers to create engaging environments for students and how to take risks from day one.  He shares the importance of equity and the value of facing difficult conversations.  It's not about what we want, but what our children need to be successful outside of the classroom. In This Episode We Cover: How teachers can volunteer for extra-curricular activities and the positive impact it has on management and instruction. The value of attending after-school activities to support your students and community. Creating norms for students to be genuinely engaged and learning: everyday students must produce and collaborate with peers. The five principal permissions were established on day one for teachers to feel comfortable taking risks. The use of data and how it impacts a classroom teacher and school initiatives. How to have challenging conversations in education to provide the best resources and experiences for ALL students.

Rebecca Richardson is a positive beam of light in the world of education.  She shares about her professional career prior to entering public education and how it impacted her teaching philosophies. She shares about her early journey and welcomes others into her room to help her grow as an educator.  She has taken that philosophy and built a model of community education in her building for constant collaboration. In This Episode We Cover The impact of a professional career prior to entering public education. Creating change amongst a team and department for the benefit of students. The benefit of being vulnerable with yourself and your teaching style is to grow as an educator. The benefits of observing colleagues and the challenges to make those experiences possible. Finding the small moments in lessons create great results. Growth grading, how it helps support students to grow and creates intrinsic motivation.

The journey of teaching a child and making a positive impact on their life involves much more than a teacher's effort.  It is a team approach and a team mission.  Parents/guardians are a key player in that team, and parent-teacher conferences are something we should always value as educators.  It can add extra stress, it can feel like one more thing, but it is a chance to align everyone to the goals of a child's growth.  Ken and Matt talk about their experiences with conferences and the strategies they used to get everyone on the same page. In This Episode We Cover: The best mindset to approach parent-teacher conferences. Strategies for starting the session. Data and other artifacts to bring to the conference. How to approach difficult conversations. Key strategies for everyone to leave the conference with to make an impact. Conversations to have with students the day after the conference.

The use of data in a classroom is a powerful, necessary, and meaningful tool to utilize as a classroom teacher.  Samantha has a great deal of experience supporting students with dropout prevention and teachers to create meaningful programs for students. She shares her unique experiences and how that best impacts education today. It is a tough conversation and one that requires a great deal of planning but it can have a big impact on students.   In This Episode We Cover:  Defining data, where it comes from, and how it plays a major impact on daily classroom instruction.  Strategies for collecting, using, analyzing, and implementing data-based instruction.  Using asynchronous instruction combined with small group targetted instruction to differentiate for students.  Helping your students develop a relationship with their own data to build more intrinsically motivated learners.  Strategies for creating positive rapport with students.

The journey of an educator is a challenge.  It is a demanding position that requires all of our physical and emotional energy.  Matthew Strine provides us honest feedback about his journey and how it has shaped his positive mindset on teaching today. We discuss key strategies and examples for incorporating real-world tasks in the classroom. Matthew shares the opportunities he is creating for students and how his high expectations create results they never dreamed to be true. In This Episode We Cover: The difference between a lesson that models real-world examples and is an actual real-world experience. Entering students into competitions and setting the bar high. Providing personalized learning experiences for students and systems to differentiate those lessons.

After facilitating a lesson, the time to think, reflect, and set action steps for the next attempt is key for growing as a teacher.  Matt and Ken discuss what best practices for reflecting on lessons look like and how it applies to all K-12 educators.  The process for a self-contained elementary teacher is much different that a middle school social studies teacher.  Ken just wrapped up facilitating a lesson with two teachers he helped design in his role as an instructional coach.  He reflects on the lesson and also shares adjustments that were made between attempts. In This Episode We Cover: Effective questions to facilitate self-reflection. How to create digital breakouts to enhance the quality of a lesson. How to combine creativity with higher-level thinking skills to boost the productivity of a lesson. How to make adjustments between lessons and what to look for during the action. When planning a new activity, sometimes less is more. Judging the quality of a lesson and what can be enhanced.

Professor Christopher P. Brown brings a calm, level-headed, realistic approach to what teaching and learning should look like for our youngest learners. The standards we set, the expectations we create, need to align to what students need to develop as young people, not the content policymakers feel are important. Chris shares key strategies for taking advantage of learning moments, explaining why, and being explicit with his instructional decisions. In This Episode We Cover The power of explaining why we are learning what we are learning. How to be overly explicit with students and the benefits it offers. Using centers, play, and exploration to learn concepts. Fueling student questions and exploring those concepts to generate more questions. Encouraging students to view themselves as learners. Balancing curricular expectations with the lessons that truly matter.

Events with parents and family members can be stressful, overwhelming, and a time that creates anxiety for teachers. Our host Matt Rogers just wrapped up his back-to-school night an hour before the recording.  We dove deep into the topic and heard honest, organic reflections from Matt coming right off of the event.  To quote Ken, "this is a crucial event" to help guide students towards success. In This Episode We Cover: How to establish a team atmosphere working towards the success of the child. Approaches to the information communicated during the evening event. How to handle parents not attending. The importance of consistent parent communication. Constructing a clear agenda for the event and evaluating what can be conveyed afterward to all parents, even those that do not attend.

Here is a show with twice the excitement for the price of one! Mario and Alberto, known as the ETwinz are two outstanding educators creating learning experiences for students like non-other.  They relocated from Spain 6 years ago, and began teaching in the United States without knowing how to speak English.  Their life experience blends with a student-centered teaching experience to inspire students to make mistakes, take risks, and solve problems.  They teach in a Spanish immersion school; the approach to learning language builds skills to tackle all other subjects with a growth mindset. In This Episode We Cover: A full immersion school and the learning experiences it creates. Taking personal risks and showcasing that courage to students. Social and emotional learning. Critical thinking skills. The connection between empathy and critical thinking is to be future-ready. Service-learning projects and community outreach.

Dr. Erik Youngman is a dedicated educator bringing his professional and personal life experiences together to provide a well-rounded approach to his district.  As the father of three daughters and husband to a speech pathologist, he is able to wear multiple hats in addition to his experience as a teacher, principal, and curriculum director. He encourages a holistic approach to teaching and constantly checking in with students to hear authentic feedback about how teaching and learning can improve.  His main passions align with changing the narrative of homework and integrating a growth mindset.   In This Episode We Cover:  The role of curriculum in the daily lessons.  Approaching scripted programs and allowing fortitude to professionals.  Implementing new programs and strategies.  Strategies. for differentiation and targeting students  The 12 Characteristics of Deliberate Homework  Realistic expectations for homework to keep it meaningful and effective.  How growth mindset fits into a daily lesson.

Jorge Rodriguez is a physical education teacher from Saudi Arabia, relocated from Houston Texas.  His calm presence, open mind, and willingness to take risks in is inspirational.  After sharing the experience of moving his family across the globe, Jorge jumps into his key instructional strategies to run a democratic classroom.  He provides specific examples of how his lessons are structured to create this type of learning environment.   In This Episode We Cover:  Taking life risks to expand yourself personally and professionally.  Adjusting your mindset around your students.  Learning and supporting a school's local community to improve the culture.  Creating meaningful physical education and how to encourage students to experience life through recognizing their interactions.  Encouraging student choice and classroom autonomy   Establishing meaningful, genuine, and long-lasting relationships with students.  Creating, facilitating, and maintaining a democratic classroom.

"I was able to align my head and my heart as a teacher." Those words of inspiration were one of many from Abby French, a middle school social studies teacher from Virginia. In our conversation with Abby, we learned how she works as a local advocate for her teachers and schools, creates passion and excitement in the classroom, and facilitates student-centered learning.  She finds ways to teach history through empathy and connect the past to the present.  Abby is an incredible teacher and her work goes well beyond the curricular standards.   In This Episode We Cover  How to act as a local advocate for the benefit of teachers and public education.  The responsibility of every individual teacher is to share their story and classroom with the public.  Practical steps to create a student-centered classroom.  What is truly involved in being a classroom facilitator.   How to strengthen a school and district through teacher retention.

Dr. Tracy Scott Kelly went through every effort to record this podcast, the passion and enthusiasm are palpable from the moment it began.  He is a dedicated, relentless educator always striving to do his best for students.  He has made a career out of special education, whether it is a five-student or 25 student caseload he does everything necessary to see the success of those students.  Tracy is inspirational to push for change, step out of our comfort zone, and make a positive influence on education.   In This Episode We Cover:  Explicit examples for how to best support special education students.  Strategies for inclusion as a regular education teacher.  Best practice for least restrictive environments.  The motivation behind passionate teaching.  How to be a positive light for students and families.

Christopher Albrecht is a humble, committed, passionate, and inspirational educator for everyone to look up to. For 24 years Christopher has impacted countless lives of students and is committed to the betterment of his community.  As a community member himself, he serves as a role model for all.  Christopher shares his insight on how to make new teachers more successful and to prevent burnout.  His approach to classroom management is powerful.  This podcast is a must-listen for educators in pre-service education all the way to teachers approaching retirement.   In This Episode We Cover:  How to immerse yourself in the teaching experience for the betterment of students.  Combining great teaching of standards with great teaching of life and taking advantage of teachable moments.  Defining success and greatness as a teacher.  Strategies for effective classroom management that will improve the quality of teaching and the community of the room.  The mindset is necessary to make every year a successful year.  Strategies for more effective lessons on writing.

Imagine walking into your child's fifth-grade classroom two days before the first day of school for an open house and seeing 30 desks and chairs in a pile. Ken Ehrmann's parents and children went through this very experience, and it was all by design.  Ken shares how he launched his year through a student-centered experience to completely immerse the students into the room.  The phrase "we share this room together" took on a whole new meaning.   In This Episode We Cover:  How to approach the first minute, the first hour, and the first day of school. What our top priorities should be for students and teachers.  First impressions are a two-way street.  Rethinking your classroom space and design.  Setting one simple goal for the first day of school: make sure every student is excited to come back for the second day.

Casey Jakubowski is a passionate advocate for teacher well-being and preventing burnout. His desire to support new and veterans teachers come from a place of experiencing burnout himself.  He is a former high school civics teacher and has worked many years in the pre-service training of teachers. He provides motivation to grow as a teacher and actionable steps to do so. In This Episode We Cover: Defining the difference between civics education and social studies. Creating simulation-based experiences to learn important concepts. The value of teaching a civics mindset and supporting our society. Defining teacher burnout and actionable steps to avoid it. How to surround yourself with mentors and colleagues to support your own well-being.

Cara Bowerman is teaching and coaching her passions and influencing young adults to pursue the same. As a high school art teacher, Cara has the unique experience to work with students passionate about the content and interested in growing their own skills.  She doesn't assume this will create instant buy-in.  Cara works hard to develop real respect from her students and to promote an environment of risk-taking.  Her students are supported and encouraged to do their own version of "best".   In This Episode we Cover:  Strategies for creating risk-taking environments and the power of "yes".  Leveraging real-world opportunities to create authentic audiences.  Methods for conducting peer reviews and critique sessions.  How to evaluate students without devaluing their effort, time, and passion.  Inspiration to believe in yourself and help others find something to believe in.  Keeping lessons relevant and exciting.

Linda Rost is the 2020 Montana Teacher of the Year.  From the moment the podcast begins it is evident as to why she has earned those accolades.  The learning experiences she creates are all designed around one goal, to improve student learning. She provides students with the opportunity to redesign a local lake, and challenge the decisions made by the Department of Interior on endangered species.  Her passion is palpable and the podcast will truly leave you feeling powerED Up!   In this episode, we cover:  Connecting the community to the classroom.  Creating inspiration in the community to reach for the stars.  Creating a culture of learning and cross-curricular experiences.  Starting with big ideas and how to strategically lesson plan.

Connecting with a large group of students year after year is a teacher's highest priority but also a major challenge.  Stacie Lawler uses an open, authentic, and honest approach to accomplish such a task.  As a Health and P.E. teacher, Stacie wears many hats and one she has added to her collection is the daunting task of mental health.  In 2014, Stacie was faced with her own challenges of mental health as a parent.  This translated into an endless mission to change the narrative in her school, state, and now the country.  Stacie shares great advice, practical strategies, and encouragement for approaching this topic with young adults.   In This Episode We Cover: How to approach mental health conversations with children and young adults.  Resources available to help support our own knowledge and understanding.  The importance of awareness and proper training on mental health.  The eight sources of strength support a healthy mindset.  How to approach administration to create change in your classroom and curriculum.

Creating lesson plans, how exciting! In pre-service education, most aspiring teachers will spend many classes and assignments designing lesson plans in different templates all to find out that every district has its own expectations for design and components.  If you are a ten-year teacher, do you even need to write lesson plans? Matt and Ken have very conflicting answers.  In this episode, the two co-hosts debate over the purpose, relevancy, and value of lesson plans.   In This Episode We Cover:  - The purpose of writing lesson plans.  - How a new teacher and veteran teacher should each approach lesson planning.  - Using your instructional style to guide the lesson plan format.  - How to keep your current students at the forefront of planning.

Creating an integrated wellness approach is so much more than "teaching gym class".  Bo Shappell shares the truth about physical education and the future of this class in public education.  Bo's approach is focused on improving the lives of his students and the way they think about themselves.  Bo shares how he is combining the curriculum of health with the movement of physical education to create his integrated wellness course. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is at the core of instruction. Additionally, how he and his students self-reflect is a strategy every teacher could incorporate into daily practice. In This Episode We Cover Defining Integrated Wellness. How to create lessons for students to self-reflect. Technology integration strategies. Defining Social and Emotional Learning. The five competencies of Social and Emotional Learning.

If it works for one, then it works for all.  Designing a learning space where students have real choices to fit their learning needs and modalities is a powerful environment to thrive.  Kyle Niemis shares how he combines Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Flipped Learning to create an amazing learning culture.  The four-step process to supporting students in a choice-based learning environment is a strategy all teachers can copy and use. He explains the pros and cons, the troubles and triumphs, and sets realistic explanations.  He also shares how he is supporting teachers with two innovative products, ClassroomQ and My Edtech Bundle. In This Episode We Cover Define Universal Design for Learning. Define Flipped Learning. Compare and Contrast a Flipped Classroom with Flipped Learning. Strategies for creating your own flipped lessons. Realistic expectations for creating and maintaining this learning environment. Creating meaningful check-ins with students and helping them navigate choice-based learning. Kyle's four-step process to a flipped learning and UDL classroom. Kyle's product ClassroomQ and My Edtech Bundle.

Nick Snyder is a South Carolina Teacher of the Year turned administrator.  Nick dives deep into the story of "Mr. Snyder" highlighting his passions as a classroom teacher and what students valued most about his classroom. He shares his experience in both middle school and high school English. He provides a great perspective discussing his switch into administration, serving as the assistant principal of his same school.  This show brings humility to teaching and a re-centered approach to the human factor of public education.  Finally, he shares his biggest passion related to keeping teacher's tanks full. In This Episode We Cover Establishing strong routines, procedures, and the keys to preparation for successful lessons. Establishing both classroom and school-wide relationships to set the stage for successful collaboration. What the "it" factor is for teachers and how we can recognize it in others. Effective strategies for teaching argumentative writing. Strategies to keep our own passions thriving and how to support a culture of teachers running on full tanks.

Summer break has finally arrived for all teachers around the country! This year tested the patience, willpower, and dedication of all teachers.  They stepped up and crushed it.  Summertime is about unplugging, relaxing, and recharging the batteries.  The summer of 2021 is going to be the most important time for teachers to do this.  Matt and Ken talk about their summer goals, strategies, and plans for the most effective rejuvenation. In This Episode We Cover Why summer is so important. Matt's summer vacation plans. Ken's summer family plans. Strategies for truly stepping away from teaching while still feeling like you accomplished something to prepare for the upcoming year. How to utilize summer for creativity.

Kyle Bragg, the SHAPE America 2021 National Teacher of the Year, brings amazing ideas to all teachers in all content areas. He is an inspiration to students, a role model for teachers, and a positive voice in education. As an elementary physical education teacher, he creates a classroom dynamic that is engaging, empowering, and safe for all students. He focuses on praising the characteristics and actions that all students can do, not just the athletically superior students. His specific strategies for praise, differentiation and modeling are something all teachers can strive to incorporate. In This Episode We Cover Effective strategies for providing praise including: being specific, proximity praising, and the sandwich. How to use GIFs to increase student independence and successful lessons. Strategies for empowering students to make decisions and encourage classmates. How to incorporate soft skills into classroom instruction. Specific examples of real-world learning experiences in physical education classes.

Maggie McHugh is a middle school teacher from Wisconsin focused on project-based learning.  For some, PBL is a special week or one unit.  Not for Maggie, it is her class all day, every day.  Maggie demystifies PBL and provides the listeners with actionable steps towards how to build your students and yourself towards the capacity for PBL.  At the beginning of the show, we dive deep into a very intense moment in her classroom related to student identity.  As Maggie says herself, "the best Maggie has yet to come."  She shows what it means to be a passionate, dedicated educator. In this episode we cover: Approaching student identity and LQBTQ topics Incorporating social justice into learning Whattup Wednesday Tackling challenging conversations with a class Examples of Project-Based Learning Building capacity for independent learning Teaching math with Tinkercad

Elisabeth Bostwick is a former elementary classroom teacher, instructional coach, educational consultant, and published author.  She has an amazing perspective on inspiring creative, student-centered learning.  She provides actionable steps to develop these learning experiences in any classroom.   Some specific topics include:  Design loop Empathy Student voice/choice Integrating STEM Student-centered learning Visible thinking routines See think wonder

Cathy Koenig is Director of Student Services for Pequea Valley School District.  She has a diverse background of teaching as she worked her way to a high-level administration position.  Her diverse experience has provided her with insight and advice applicable to all K-12 educators, both regular education and special education.  She provides the audience with excellent strategies to help meet the needs of all learners. In This Episode We Cover Defining and explaining Specially Designed Instruction (SDI). How to appropriately support and challenge learners. Create modifications and differentiation strategies for students.

As quoted by the host Ken Ehrmann, "effective classroom transition keep teachers hydrated".  When Matt and Ken sat down to tackle this conversation, it was supposed to be a quick brainstorm of what transitions look like and how they can best support effective teaching.  They weren't expecting it to go for 45 minutes, but the content is high-quality.  They discuss key strategies, ways to incorporate technology, and how to handle hybrid or fully virtual classes.  Ken's main message is to put more on the students to make it less stressful for teachers.   In This Episode We Cover:  Defining common elements of elementary transitions.  Defining common elements of secondary transitions.  Matt shares some of his favorite strategies for moving elementary students from subject to subject.  Ken discusses strategies to systemize and standardize transitions while still maintaining excitement and engagement.  Ken shares his approach to connecting a lesson's closure to the following days opening for the most effective transitions.

Zach has many unique perspectives through his educational journey translating into supportive and realistic expectations for teachers.  Zach moved from Ohio to South Carolina to teach South Carolina history! His strong work ethic and focus on relationships helped him build a strong foundation in the community as a teacher leader.  Zach transitioned into a role as a curriculum coach for his school.  We discuss strategies for capturing teachable moments and maintaining curricular pacing expectations.

Stephanie brings passion, insight, and practical lesson ideas from the first question! The energy of this podcast is off the charts, and the lessons provide an equal punch.  Stephanie is an elementary teacher and differentiation coach.  She shines a much-needed light on the gifted population of students.  She provides amazing strategies for improving differentiation for the benefit of all learners.  Any teacher, K-12, can come out of this interview with strategies for supporting and challenging students.  Get your pen and paper ready!

Ryan has the special opportunity and tough responsibility of teaching his middle school students "leadership".  This broad topic is focused on social and emotional learning, character development, relationships, and really understanding themselves.  Ryan makes it obvious why this is one of the most important classes and experiences his students have.  These topics are so often treated as "if we have time" in public education.  Ryan shares why this is THE topic everyone in public education needs to experience.

Cindy Soule is the 2021 Maine Teacher of the Year.  It is quite obvious, from beginning to end, why she has earned those accolades.  She is focused on developing hard-working students, that care for themselves and others, and are ready to tackle real-world problems with grit.  One of her favorite messages to convey to other teachers is that "every teacher's superpower is belief in students."  Real, genuine belief.    To top it off, Cindy dives deep into her strategies for inquiry-based learning and how they can impact a student's ability to learn to read.

Laura Boyd is an incredible Spanish teacher focused on creating the best experience for students.  She starts with a purposeful plan to establishing a positive rapport with each student and a welcoming community in her classroom.  It transitions into experiences where students are forced to use the language in restaurants and stores speaking only Spanish.  This is a must-listen for all teachers!

Lee Carlson will do anything to ensure his students, and all students in his district have a positive experience.  He will even drive the bus, seriously, he is driving the bus this year.  Lee is big on harnessing his own growth mindset and modeling it for students.  He shares specific lessons forcing students to harness a growth mindset to find success.

In this show, Matt and Ken compare their own personal approach to how they "train" their students on using technology tools in the classroom. Their personal approach could not be farther apart.  They both heavily utilize technology in the classroom.  Matt has a beginning of the year "boot camp" to whip his students into shape.  Ken has his trademarked "blended objectives" approach he integrates throughout the year.

Dr. Sam Fecich has flipped the switch on what it means to prepare the next generation of educators.  Her innovative undergraduate course on ed-tech is innovative and relevant.  She creates engaging lessons but more importantly the opportunity for authentic and real-world mentorship.  Additionally, she provides the listeners with staple ed-tech tools and amazing criteria to evaluate all other tools.

As educators, we have the opportunity to create a lasting impact on young peoples' lives.  Jessyca Mathews takes this responsibility and opportunity very seriously.  Her students are dedicated to advocating for positive change in their local communities.  She utilizes real-world instruction to engage the students with current and relevant topics.  Jessyca offers great inspiration for navigating heavy topics and doing so with grace.  She also shares some strategies for using alternative media in writing courses.

Kinesthetic learning is an instructional strategy much deeper and more important than brain breaks.  The author of the book The Kinesthetic Classroom, Mike Kuczala, tells the truth about this teaching style.  He provides actionable tips and specific lesson examples of what kinesthetic teaching looks like and how to best integrate it into any classroom.  This instructional style was a core component of Ken's classroom, and the conversation is rich with authentic reflections.  Mike shares the 6 core foundations of kinesthetic learning and provides specific examples for each pillar.

Ken and Matt go toe to toe in a "look at a lesson" smackdown! Watch and listen as they duke out one of their favorite experiences they provide for students! Okay, so there are no figure-four leg locks or chokeholds in this show, but Ken and Matt dive deep into what is becoming the most popular segment of the show, you know, the one that has a different name every episode.  Ken and Matt have thoroughly enjoyed exploring the lessons of the guests, so they run through the questions with each other.

In this show, we interview an outstanding and inspirational educator Amy Rehberg.  This 28-year veteran started her career as an English teacher and transitioned into becoming an ELL teacher.  She had one reason for this change; she saw a need to help this population of students.  She has made profound impacts on her school and district to help support these students and push them to thrive.  This episode will truly leave you feeling powerED Up!

Ken and Matt interview Susan Jachymiak, a third-year teacher from Illinois.  She brings authentic insight, raw discussions, and insightful reflections for such a young teacher.  We dive deep into her use of social media and how vulnerability has helped her grow.  This can serve as a guide for young teachers and a reminder to our veteran teachers of what is important to remember for a classroom.

In this show Wade dives deep into the strategies and programs in place to advocate for student success; especially in a struggling rural community.  Wade will provide the listeners with actionable steps to implement a more differentiated and personalized approach to instruction. He completes the interview by sharing his "dream lesson" he plans to implement with students.

In this episode, we interview Rhett Oldham, a secondary social studies teacher from Missouri.  Rhett provides the listeners with inspirational lessons and actionable takeaways for classroom instruction.  He thrives on creating an atmosphere where students are passionate to learn, excited to share, and encouraged to offer ideas.

We interview Mike Creed, an incredible elementary teacher.  We follow his unconventional journey into education while being inspired by his work ethic to launch his career.  Most of all, we learn about Mike's classroom culture, which he has branded as Creeds Crew.  Mike provides our listeners with actionable steps to raise the game in your lessons and how to focus on student development.  His differentiation strategies exemplify how we can support all students. All of the details from this episode can be found at www.powereduup.com/show2

Welcome to the powerED Up Podcast! Listen to this episode to meet your host Ken Ehrmann and his co-host Matt Rogers.  We will discuss our goals and vision for the podcast as well as provide some background information on our experience as classroom educators. Join us on our journey where we focus on talking to classroom teachers to find inspiration in their success to improve our craft as educators. All of the details shared in this episode can be found at www.powereduup.com/show1