The Extraordinary Educators Podcast
189 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago -Best practices, tips, and stories to help you be extraordinary in your classroom and beyond, featuring Curriculum Associates' Director of the Educator Community Sari Laberis.
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Episodes
Stretch Growth Stories with Jennifer McPartland
June 09, 2023 04:00 - 25 minutes - 19.8 MBIn this episode of the miniseries, Stretch Growth Stories, Ty Holmes is joined by Jennifer McPartland, a K-12 Curriculum Facilitator from Massachusetts. Jennifer starts by sharing when the calling to become a teacher came to her – starting all the way back in 1st grade as she helped reteach other students. Jennifer then goes on to discuss specific teacher and administrator moves that have been utilized to help students reach Stretch Growth, especially focusing on the power of student goal se...
Empowering Education with Peggy Brookins
June 07, 2023 04:00 - 16 minutes - 13.7 MBPeggy Brookins, President and CEO of the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, joins this episode to talk all about her experiences in the world of education. Peggy starts off by sharing her story – beginning with when she first started teaching, to how she ended up in her current role. Peggy then goes on to discuss how education has changed since she first started teaching, especially in terms of how she fostered that change at the Engineering and Manufacturing Institute of Tec...
Stretch Growth Stories with Suzanne Pettifer
June 02, 2023 04:00 - 10 minutes - 9.84 MBOn this episode of the miniseries, Stretch Growth Stories, Ty Holmes is joined by Suzanne Pettifer, the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Greece Central School District in New York. Suzanne begins by talking about what specific teacher and leader moves were used to help students meet stretch growth. She then goes on to discuss data chats, specifically looking at how her district adopted and introduced them. Suzanne wraps up by providing some tips for success, ranging from ...
Beyond the Classroom with Amanda Staton
June 01, 2023 04:00 - 6 minutes - 4.41 MBAmanda Staton, a reading interventionist in Missouri, joins this follow-up episode to share all about her life beyond the classroom. Amanda begins by talking about one of her hobbies - flipping houses! She goes on to share her love for the outdoors during the summer, especially when it comes to spending time with her son. Amanda wraps up this episode by talking about her favorite teacher supply, her go-to pump up song, and some great advice for fellow teachers! Visit CurriculumAssociates.c...
Utilizing the Science of Reading with Amanda Staton
May 31, 2023 04:00 - 9 minutes - 6.51 MBAmanda Staton, a reading interventionist in Missouri, joins this episode to talk about how she uses the Science of Reading with her students. Amanda starts by explaining how she first was exposed to the Science of Reading, starting from the beginning of her teaching career to now. She then goes on to explain what exactly the Science of Reading involves – ranging from how you’re mapping information in your brain, to building fluency through different components of reading. Amanda wraps up by ...
Stretch Growth Stories with Janel Coles
May 26, 2023 04:00 - 20 minutes - 16.6 MBOn this episode of the miniseries, Stretch Growth Stories, Ty Holmes is joined by Janel Coles, an Assistant Principal from New York. Janel begins by talking about how she knew that she wanted to be a teacher, and what keeps her commitment to the profession holding strong. She then goes on to share about how special her school district is – ranging from the feeling that they are all family, to how supportive leadership is across the board. Janel continues with talking about the importance of ...
Keeping Students Motivated with Jasmine Lane
May 24, 2023 04:00 - 7 minutes - 5.46 MBJasmine Lane, an elementary school teacher in Florida, joins this episode to talk about how she is keeping students motivated and focused as the end of the year approaches. Jasmine starts out by explaining two strategies that have been working well for her – one being a countdown on the board, and the other being lunch groups. Jasmine then goes on to explain what “morning slides” are, and how she incorporates the countdown into them. She wraps up by giving more details about her lunch groups...
Stretch Growth Stories with Allison Giresi
May 19, 2023 04:00 - 18 minutes - 15.2 MBOn this episode of the mini-series, Stretch Growth Stories, Ty Holmes, Chief Inclusion Officer at Curriculum Associates, is joined by Allison Giresi, an RTI interventionist. Allison begins by talking about why she loves teaching, and what keeps bringing her back. Allison then dives in to share about how her school has achieved some stellar stretch growth, especially using an RTI system. She also explains the importance of data chats and buy-in from students. Allison wraps up by sharing how s...
Prioritizing Rest with Danielle and Sari
May 17, 2023 04:00 - 7 minutes - 5.01 MBOn this episode of The Extraordinary Educators Podcast, Danielle and Sari focus on what exactly rest looks like – especially beyond the idea of sleep. Danielle shares some great tips for how to give your brain a break, ranging from purposeful tech timeouts to quick breathing breaks. Danielle and Sari wrap up by explaining that what recharges one person may be different than what recharges another… it’s more important to just figure out what works best for you! Curriculum Associates' Blog ...
Teacher Appreciation with Rob Waldron
May 08, 2023 04:00 - 9 minutes - 6.46 MBRob Waldron, CEO of Curriculum Associates, joins this episode in celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week! Rob starts off by explaining how he puts himself first by purposefully setting aside time to rest. He goes on to share about the incredible work that educators do, comparing teachers to athletes - both mentally and physically. Rob wraps up by explaining the importance of teachers to also be purposeful about their time to rest, as it will help them achieve peak performance. Curriculum ...
Achieving Growth with LeAnne Gregg
May 03, 2023 04:00 - 11 minutes - 7.93 MBLeAnne Gregg, Director of Curriculum and Instruction in Columbia County, Georgia, joins this episode to share all about actionable ways to achieve student growth. LeAnne starts by explaining how and why students and staff have experienced immense growth over the last couple of years – ranging from utilizing resources to strategic support from principals and instructional specialists. She goes on to discuss how their data analysis practices can be replicated. LeAnne explains that collaboratio...
Using Improv in the Classroom with Danielle and Sari
April 26, 2023 04:00 - 8 minutes - 6.1 MBOn this episode of the Extraordinary Educators podcast, Danielle and Sari discuss how improv can improve connections in the classroom. Danielle explains the three improv games she’s been sharing with educators in her travels. These games not only help build relationships, but they also flip the switch on how we typically feel about mistakes – simply by celebrating and encouraging them. This episode wraps up by explaining how these three games can be used in classrooms, especially if students...
Beyond the Classroom with Monique Ross
April 21, 2023 04:00 - 8 minutes - 5.89 MBMonique Ross, an interventionist in California, joins this follow-up episode to share about her life outside of the classroom. Monique starts off by explaining how she spends her free time – ranging from time with family to reading with her daughter. She also talks about her family dance parties and the importance behind them. Monique wraps up by sharing her must-have teacher supply, as well as her favorite pump-up songs. Curriculum Associates' Blog Twitter Instagram Email: Extraordinary...
The Importance of a School Community with Monique Ross
April 19, 2023 04:00 - 12 minutes - 8.35 MBMonique Ross, an interventionist in California, joins this episode to talk about her approach to instruction and the importance of a school community. Monique begins by sharing some details about her current role and school population. She then dives in to how she works with her students, including details about the math groups that she pulls for intervention. Monique wraps up by talking about the strength of her school community and some best practices that keep that strength going. Curric...
Tips for Teacher Wellness with Jennifer Seitz
April 12, 2023 04:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MBJennifer Seitz, a special education teacher from New Jersey, joins this episode to talk about what teachers can do to support themselves inside and outside of school. Jennifer starts out by explaining the mentorship program at her school, which focuses on guiding new teachers. She goes on to share five great tips about supporting your well-being as a teacher, ranging from finding people that uplift you to giving yourself grace. Each of Jennifer’s tips is full of examples and scenarios that e...
Channeling Emotions to Support Older Readers with Brooklin Trover
April 05, 2023 04:00 - 10 minutes - 7.12 MBBrooklin Trover, National Director of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates, joins this episode to discuss her new paper about how teachers can leverage their emotions to support older, striving readers. Brooklin starts off by explaining why she wanted to write this, ranging from her own teaching experience to what she has been seeing in classrooms across the country. She goes on to share how important it is to not only validate emotions, but also to then transform those emotio...
Beyond the Classroom with Taylor Wheatley
March 31, 2023 04:00 - 5 minutes - 3.8 MBTaylor Wheatley, a fourth grade teacher, joins this follow-up episode to share about what he likes to do outside the classroom. Taylor begins by sharing his favorite hobbies, ranging from spending time outside to playing with his dog. He then goes on to talk about the path that led him to become a teacher, including why he shifted from originally wanting to teach high school calculus to now working in an elementary school setting. Taylor closes out by sharing his number one teaching supply t...
Connecting Through Music with Taylor Wheatley
March 29, 2023 04:00 - 9 minutes - 6.28 MBTaylor Wheatley, a fourth grade teacher in Kentucky, joins this episode to talk about how he helps his students feel connected through building consistent relationships. Taylor starts out by sharing how he purposefully starts his day with his students in, what he calls, a “Bluejay Bonding Moment.” He then goes on to share how any teacher could implement this in their own classroom, focusing on how teachers can make it their own. Taylor wraps up by sharing how he focuses on changing the minds...
Beyond the Classroom with Jonathan Kryk
March 24, 2023 04:00 - 5 minutes - 4.01 MBJonathan Kryk, a fifth grade teacher in Florida, joins this follow-up episode to share about his life outside of the classroom. He begins by sharing some of his favorite things to do – from hanging out with friends to playing fetch with his Goldendoodle after school. Jonathan also shares about his love of traveling, including specifics about his recent trips to Italy and Greece. Jonathan wraps up by talking about his teacher supply must-haves and his love for Taylor Swift. Curriculum Assoc...
Building Strong Relationships with Jonathan Kryk
March 22, 2023 04:00 - 11 minutes - 8.02 MBJonathan Kryk, a fifth grade teacher, joins this episode to share about best practices and what he finds important in his classroom. Jonathan begins by explaining the importance of building relationships with students. He goes on to share how strong relationships carry over to the rest of his teaching – ranging from goal setting to incorporating social-emotional learning in his daily morning circles. Jonathan wraps up by sharing a few examples of activities he uses during his morning circles...
Podcasts and Pop Culture with Charlie Giannone
March 15, 2023 04:00 - 9 minutes - 6.76 MBCharlie, a second grade teacher in Long Island, New York, joins this episode to talk about his love for pop culture and podcasts – and how that plays into his teaching. Charlie begins by discussing his own podcast, the Fandalorian, including how it came to be and some topics that are covered. He goes on to talk about his love for books in all forms, ranging from books related to education to historical fiction. Charlie closes out by sharing how his hobbies outside of the classroom have evolv...
Beyond the Classroom with Kimberly Robinson
March 10, 2023 05:00 - 6 minutes - 4.71 MBWelcome to our new series: Beyond the Classroom! Kimberly Robinson, a high school teacher, joins us for a follow-up episode to share more about her life outside of teaching. She begins by discussing her love for research and how she incorporates that into her day-to-day – ranging from listening to podcasts while hiking to sharing her thoughts on her own podcast and Instagram account. Kimberly wraps up the episode by talking about how her passion for research empowers her own teaching, both i...
Mindfulness in High School with Kimberly Robinson
March 08, 2023 05:00 - 11 minutes - 7.81 MBKimberly Robinson, a high school teacher, joins this episode to talk about practicing mindfulness both inside and outside of the classroom. Having recently transitioned from elementary to high school, Kimberly explains how she’s adapted to her new role. She goes on to share how she incorporates mindfulness with her high school students to ensure they all feel seen, heard, and validated. Kimberly closes out by touching on how what she practices in her own classroom has transferred to her pers...
Connecting Assessment and Instruction with Ashleigh Crabtree
March 01, 2023 05:00 - 8 minutes - 6 MBAshleigh Crabtree, Director of Assessment Implementation at Curriculum Associates, joins this episode to talk about the crucial relationship between assessment and instruction. Ashleigh begins by explaining how assessment and instruction are linked, and the benefits associated with connecting the two. She then goes on to explain the differences between criterion-referenced and norm-referenced assessments. Ashleigh closes out by sharing why criterion-referenced assessments are so effective, a...
Stretch Growth Stories Teaser with Ty Holmes
February 22, 2023 05:00 - 6 minutes - 4.84 MBTy Holmes, Chief Inclusion Officer at Curriculum Associates, joins this episode to share about an upcoming featured mini-series on The Extraordinary Educators Podcast: Stretch Growth Stories! Ty dives into what exactly stretch growth is, and how it differs from scores received from most assessment systems. He goes on to share how stretch growth plays into future episodes of this mini-series, ranging from educator interviews to sharing replicable best practices to meet stretch growth goals in...
Math Intervention and Extension with Jeannette Milburn
February 15, 2023 05:00 - 10 minutes - 7.16 MBJeannette Milburn, 6th grade teacher in Maryland, joins this episode to talk about how she uses “Math Labs” for both intervention and extension with students. Jeannette shares how she uses pre-requisite data and information about future units to decide student groupings. This information helps her support the students that need extra instruction, as well as students that need something more challenging. She wraps up by explaining what teachers can do if they want to start their own Math Lab,...
Vertical Planning with Nellie Pagan
February 08, 2023 05:00 - 11 minutes - 8.16 MBNellie Pagan, Vice Principal in New York, joins this episode to talk about how she has used vertical teams to strengthen close reading techniques across all grade bands. Nellie shares how a new three-day close reading protocol was planned, and what each day looks like for students, teachers, and administrators. She closes out by explaining what she looks for when deciding on a new literacy program for the school – ranging all the way from data to teacher feedback. Curriculum Associates' Blo...
Our Classroom with Presley Seal
February 01, 2023 05:00 - 8 minutes - 5.74 MBPresley Seal, teacher in Mississippi joins this episode to discuss engaging students, building relationships, and forming a classroom community with her first graders. She explains the importance of having a foundation of trust, and provides ways she gets to know her students. From attending out-of-school events, to singing with her students, Presley shares what makes her community special! Curriculum Associates' Blog Twitter Instagram Email: [email protected]
Mindfulness with Monica Maxey
January 25, 2023 05:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBMonica Maxey, Special Educator at Summersville Grade School in Illinois, joins this episode to talk about mindfulness in her classroom. Monica dives into how she uses mindfulness, yoga, and bilateral stimulation with her students, especially during transitional times. She explains how she uses music to cue the transition, and how her students can now name the strategies she uses in her classroom. Curriculum Associates' Blog Twitter Instagram Email: [email protected]
Tech in the Math Classroom with Dr. Janie Brown
January 18, 2023 05:00 - 14 minutes - 10.3 MBDr. Janie Brown, teacher in Mississippi joins this episode to discuss tech in the math classroom. She speaks about using i-Ready with middle schoolers, and how to include the interactive piece to the introduction lesson. Dr. Brown also shares best practices around engaging students and how to encourage discussion between students. Building community in the math classroom resources and tips Prerequisite report reference sheet Curriculum Associates' Blog Twitter Instagram Email: Extraor...
Goal Setting with David Cisneros
January 11, 2023 05:00 - 12 minutes - 8.51 MBDavid Cisneros, National Director of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates, joins this episode to discuss goal setting as we head back into the swing of things in the new year. He discusses revisiting goal setting and how to motivate, instruct, monitor, and intervene with students. He stresses the importance of checking in with students, and communicating goals with students. David also explains how you can make learning a team effort and celebrate both progress and completion ...
Engaging Students with Georgianna Castellano
January 04, 2023 05:00 - 9 minutes - 6.63 MBGeorgianna Castellano, teacher in Florida joins this episode to discuss engaging students. Georgianna shares best practices for getting to know your students and connect with them to build relationships. Georgianna's Twitter Curriculum Associates' Blog Twitter Instagram Email: [email protected]
STEM with Jillian Johnson
December 21, 2022 05:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBJillian D. Johnson, teacher at Andover Elementary School in Florida, joins this episode to talk about making her dreams become a reality! Jillian has always been interested in STEM, and she's been able to create a STEM room and program for the students at her school. Jillian discusses why it has been successful, how she got buy-in from her community, and how she secured funding. She closes out by answering a question about becoming a teacher leader. Jillian's Instagram Jillian's Twitter C...
Building Relationships with Megan Geise
December 14, 2022 05:00 - 13 minutes - 9.1 MBMegan Geise, second grade teacher in Pennsylvania, joins Danielle and Sari to discuss building relationships with students. This has always been a top priority to Megan throughout her twenty two years of teaching. Megan talks about small actions that can go a long way such as mailing letters to students, speaking with students one-on-one, and really getting to know her students on a personal level. Megan also shares a system she uses in her classroom called "Morning Bins," and how this helps...
A Diamond Under Pressure with Brianna Lugibihl
December 07, 2022 05:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MBBrianna Lugibihl, fifth grade teacher in Ohio, joins this episode to talk about how challenging this year has been, and how her students are allowing her to become a better teacher just like a diamond under pressure. Brianna shares how she is now a mentor, and why this has forced her to develop a true growth mindset. Brianna also discusses imposter syndrome, and how she continues to battle this daily. She closes out answering a question about showing up for ourselves before we show up for ot...
Building Math Community with Jessica Medley
November 30, 2022 05:00 - 11 minutes - 8.27 MBJessica Medley joins the episode to discuss building math community with her middle schoolers. She shares best practices and fun systems used to engage students and create a positive classroom culture, such as number talks and purposely planning seating arrangements. Jessica also gives advice about instructional signage. Jessica's Twitter Curriculum Associates' Blog Twitter Instagram Email: [email protected]
Engaging Students with Tracy Senf
November 23, 2022 05:00 - 11 minutes - 7.95 MBTracy Senf, second grade teacher at Outley Elementary School in Texas joins Danielle and Sari to talk about engaging students. This is Tracy's thirtieth year of teaching, and the first year she's created a podcast with her students. Tracy discusses family communication, the benefits of creating a podcast, and how to ensure you don't feel stuck when you've been teaching for a while. She explains why trying something new this year also benefited her! Curriculum Associates' Blog Twitter Inst...
Giving Students Their Wings with Shane Twamley
November 16, 2022 05:00 - 11 minutes - 7.83 MBShane Twamley joins this episode to discuss building relationships with middle schoolers. Throughout his 40 years of teaching, Shane found different strategies to build and maintain relationships with students. He shares these best practices as they relate to unfinished learning, and how you can make your students' classroom theirs. He ends the episode with sharing the book he is currently reading! Shane's Instagram Curriculum Associates' Blog Twitter Instagram Email: ExtraordinaryEduc...
Giving Students Their Wings with Shane Twamley
November 16, 2022 05:00 - 11 minutes - 7.83 MBShane Twamley joins this episode to discuss building relationships with middle schoolers. Throughout his 40 years of teaching, Shane found different strategies to build and maintain relationships with students. He shares these best practices as they relate to unfinished learning, and how you can make your students' classroom theirs. He ends the episode with sharing the book he is currently reading! Shane's Instagram Curriculum Associates' Blog Twitter Instagram Email: ExtraordinaryEduc...
Balance with Sarah Zeller
November 09, 2022 05:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MBSarah Zeller, teacher in New Hampshire, joins this episode to discuss balance. She shares why it's important for you to think about other ways you identify yourself outside of being a teacher. Sarah explains how to plan your week, focus on creating a routine, and how to block out time. She also discusses mindset around to-do lists, and what to do when you don't get everything done. Sarah closes the episode with answering a question about self-care. 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Self-Care Whi...
Wearing a Million Hats with Amanda Kipnis
November 02, 2022 04:00 - 12 minutes - 8.32 MBAmanda Jane Kipnis, Specialized Academic Instruction Teacher at San Altos Elementary School in California, joins this episode to discuss juggling the many responsibilities of an educator. She talks about why it's critical to build relationships first, and how she makes her classroom a place her students want to be. Amanda also shares why it's so important to get to know students' families and learn about students' interests. She closes out by sharing resources she's found helpful for teacher...
Leadership Capacity with Jamilah Hud-Kirk
October 26, 2022 04:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBJamilah Hud-Kirk, Principal at Clayton County Public Schools, joins this episode to discuss building leadership capacity. Having differentiated PD for her teachers, surveying her staff at the beginning of the year, and creating a positive culture first are a few tips and best practices Jamilah provides. She also shares why building culture at your school is just like growing a plant: The soil needs to be great for anything to grow. Jamilah provides best practices for hiring, and what to ta...
Oral Fluency with Glendaliz Martinez
October 19, 2022 04:00 - 19 minutes - 13.5 MBGlendaliz Martinez, National Director of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates joins this episode to discuss literacy. Glendaliz dives into oral fluency, and how to support students while they are reading out loud. She explains best practices for giving students feedback, and tools you can use to support oral fluency. She also provides research about what happens when we overcorrect students, and what implications this has for their confidence and willingness to take risks. Gl...
Data Chats with Naneka Brathwaite
October 12, 2022 04:00 - 12 minutes - 8.75 MBNaneka Brathwaite, National Director of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates joins this episode to discuss data chats. Naneka shares best practices in giving students voice, and how to talk to students about their data. From how to encourage students to accept additional support, to how middle school teachers can have small-group conversations with students, Naneka provides strategies you can use in your classroom. Naneka also gives advice to teachers whose students are strugg...
Building Community with Sarah English
October 05, 2022 04:00 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MBSarah English, Extraordinary Educator and teacher in Utah, joins this episode to talk about how to build community with your students this year. Sarah provides tips you can use tomorrow in your classroom to strengthen the relationships you have with your students and build a classroom community with trust and respect. She explains why consistency and patience are so important, and shares two stories from her teaching. Sarah enjoys learning about how the brain works, and she explains how she ...
Making Math Magical with Liz Peyser
September 28, 2022 04:00 - 12 minutes - 8.57 MBLiz Peyser, "America's Math Teacher" and National Director of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates, joins this episode. She provides research-based tips for encouraging students to think in new ways and love math such as using fingers to count, exploring manipulatives, color coding, and drawing visuals. Liz provides resources for you to stay up-to-date on the latest research, and how to take the shame out of math. Liz shares advice to those who hear others say "I am not a math...
Goal Setting with Andrea Baney
September 21, 2022 04:00 - 12 minutes - 8.61 MBAndrea Baney, Extraordinary Educator and fourth grade teacher in Pennsylvania, joins this episode to discuss goal setting with students. She walks through how to successfully set goals with your students this fall, beginning with examining their previous year's data, identifying strengths and areas for growth, having data chats with students, and planning next steps. She shares why individual conferences with students have worked for her in the past, and why it's crucial to bring the studen...
Putting the "Response" Back in Response to Intervention with Brooklin Trover
September 14, 2022 04:00 - 10 minutes - 7.45 MBBrooklin Trover, National Director at Curriculum Associates, joins Danielle and Sari to discuss Response to Intervention (RTI). After defining RTI, Brooklin shares how to get started with your students this fall, and what to do next after you learn about the range of learners in your classroom. She also explains how to see your students as humans, and strategically begin at domain-level data. Hear tips for shifting your mindset to ensure you provide all students with grade-level instruction,...
Returning to School with Danielle and Sari
September 07, 2022 04:00 - 6 minutes - 4.7 MBWelcome to Season 4 of the Extraordinary Educators podcast! In this episode, Danielle and Sari provide tips and best practices for returning to school this fall. They also share ways to learn more about your students. Student interest survey Self-care paper Twitter Instagram Email: [email protected]
81 Closing Out Season 3
May 11, 2022 04:00 - 3 minutes - 2.74 MBThank you for being here this season! In this episode, Danielle and Sari close out the season and share their biggest takeaways from speaking with educators. We'll see you in the fall for Season 4! Twitter Instagram Email: [email protected]