We Just Want to TEACH
32 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingAs teachers, the demands on us continue to expand. From active shooter drills to hybrid learning, and making sure masks are worn (or not worn) depending on the school district and which way the wind is blowing that day. Those who aim to inspire us to press on are fond of saying, "remember your why?" On this podcast our why is very simple, "We Just Want to Teach." Listen in as we search for practical teaching strategies, to help us manage our classrooms and guide our students through these extraordinary times.
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Episodes
12 Ways to Help Students Prepare for Tests, Reduce Anxiety, and Improve Outcomes
February 15, 2024 23:23 - 13 minutesHow can we help students reduce test anxiety and improve how they perform on tests? We searched for strategies and discoverd some effective approaches. We reviewed 12 strategies and discussed why they work. Follow on Twitter: @juliacookonline @AggieAshley @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd. Julia Cook, a former teacher and school counselor, has presented in over 3,000 schools worldwide. She regularly delivers keynote addresses at national and international edu...
When I Started Teaching I Wish I Had Known…
January 04, 2024 21:57 - 12 minutesIn this episode, we return to the topic of what new teachers wished they knew when they first had a mentor and became one later on. We discuss the challenges and experiences of new teachers highlighting the unexpected responsibilities such as curriculum planning, parent communication, and professional development. The discussion provides practical advice for new teachers and those who mentor and are being mentored. Follow on Twitter: @MentorinAction @sgthomas1973@bamradionetwork @jonharper...
Second-Year Teachers: The Most Helpful Guidance We Received From Our Mentors and What We Wish Was Included
November 16, 2023 17:57 - 13 minutesWe invited two second-year teachers to talk about what they learned during year one and what they wished they had known to prepare them for year two. Follow on Twitter: @sgthomas1973@bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Nivene Hutchins is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University and has become licensed to teach preschool through fifth grade here in Ohio. She is in her second year as a third-grade teacher! She has a true passion for grades 3-5 and has been loving every minute she has spent...
Three Helpful Mental Tweaks for the New School Year
November 16, 2023 17:55 - 13 minutesAs we head back to school, we pause for a quick mindset audit to identify the attitudes we want to build on and those we want to tweak for the new school year. Follow on Twitter: @Angela Watson @sgthomas1973 @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork. Angela Watson is a National Board Certified Teacher with a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She has 11 years of classroom experience and over a decade of experience as an instructional coach. Angela created a website in 2003 to share prac...
Five Things We All Need to Know About ChatGPT Before Heading Back to School
August 06, 2023 11:13 - 12 minutesMany of us were consumed with teaching when ChatGPT entered the scene last year, so we had little available attention to give it. The impact of this tool and other forms of generative AI has grown since then, and now it's essential to know the basics before we head back to school this term. Follow on Twitter: @Angela_Watson @sgthomas1973 @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Angela Watson is a National Board Certified Teacher with a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She has 11 yea...
5 Creative Ways to Make Math More Relatable and Relevant to Any Student, In Any Grade with ChatGPT
July 28, 2023 18:05 - 12 minutesMany students see math as confusing, frustrating, or irrelevant, making the subject difficult to learn and teach. This problem is even more challenging in early grades. Our guests share how they are using ChatGPT to create more relatable math stories that engage students, help them learn the language of math, and provide personalized support for struggling students. Follow on Twitter: @bobsonwong @leveragingAIedu @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Deborah Cleveland is an in...
Lessons Learned: Managing Student Behavior During the Last Month of School, What Works
June 06, 2023 13:47 - 14 minutesThere are two times during the school year when managing student behavior is more challenging; the last month is one of them. What have we learned about helping and guiding students through the last month of school that we can carry forward to next term? Follow on Twitter: @copingkids @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Janine Halloran is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who has been working with children, teens, and their families for 20 years. She has been helping children a...
What Do We Need to Know to Help Students With Disabilities Use ChatGPT Effectively?
May 08, 2023 22:19 - 10 minutesThe full potential of ChatGPT and generative AI is available to those who know how to communicate with these tools effectively. What must we understand to teach these new skills to students with learning disabilities? Follow on Twitter: @sgthomas1973 @fromrooma212 @profsjohnson@attipscast @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Susan D. Johnson, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Special Education at Mercyhurst University and Director of Undergraduate Education. Dr. Johnson specializes in the treatme...
Yes, We Can Support Students With Disabilities Using ChatGPT, Here’s How
April 26, 2023 00:37 - 21 minutesSpecial education teachers have used AI to instruct students with disabilities for many years. However, generative AI adds new possibilities and new challenges. This discussion explores what we’re learning about using ChatGPT with students who learn differently. Follow on Twitter: @sgthomas1973 @fromrooma212 @profsjohnson@attipscast @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Susan D. Johnson, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Special Education at Mercyhurst University and Director of Undergraduate Educ...
What Works: Teaching English and Subject Content to ELL’s
April 18, 2023 23:27 - 9 minutesTeaching English as a second language has its unique joys and challenges. But when a teacher has to teach ESL students English and other subjects, their job requires more. We’ve asked two educators who have spent a lot of time figuring out the best ways to teach English and other subjects who are learning English to share what they’ve learned — the most significant difficulties and the most successful methods. Follow on Twitter: @DebbieZacarian @VMSimmons10 @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @j...
Spring Forward: Re-engaging Students and Jumpstarting Learning After Spring Break
March 28, 2023 03:36 - 14 minutesEvery break in the school year requires us to wind our students back up and re-engage them in the learning routines. In this discussion, we exchange practical and proven ways to help students get back into the swing of learning — including real-life examples of what works. It’s all about moving students from chill mode to school mode so they can finish the year well. Follow on Twitter: @bluestein_dr @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Nivene Hutchins is a recent graduate of The...
How School Librarians Use ChatGPT To Support Teaching, Learning, Research, and More
March 06, 2023 23:39Many school librarians are exploring how they can use ChatGPT and generative AI to support teaching, learning, research, and creativity. We invited three librarians to share their early discoveries and some innovative ways they are using this rapidly expanding technology. Follow on Twitter: @joycevalenza @aelissmalespina@lucasjmaxwell @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Joyce Valenza is Associate Professor, at Rutgers University, SC&I and wrote the NeverendingSearch Blog for Sch...
Teaching English: How Supporting Multilingual Students Is Getting Easier
February 23, 2023 23:54 - 15 minutesTeaching multilingual students is full of joy and challenges. We invited three educators to explore how teachers can use ChatGPT to support students who speak English as a second or third language. Follow on Twitter: @cahnmann @michelleshory @irina_mcgrath @bamradionetwork, @Jonharper70bd Irina McGrath is an ESL expert and English Language Learner herself. She serves Jefferson County Public Schools as an Education Recovery Specialist. She is a co-director of the Louisville Writing Project ...
Is ChatGPT the New Teacher’s Aide? | 8 Ways It Can Save Time And Reduce Our Workload
January 30, 2023 06:43 - 15 minutesTeaching almost always involves having lots to do and not enough time. But what if we could all save time and significantly reduce our workload? Listen in as we explore whether ChatGPT is an effective teacher’s aid that can free educators from some of the time-consuming teacher tasks. Follow on Twitter: @madeline_will @susangbarber @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Susan Barber teaches at Midtown High School in Atlanta, Georgia and serves as the College Board Advisor for AP L...
Finding Alternatives to Teaching Strategies That Work for Some Students, but Not Others
January 10, 2023 00:56 - 9 minutesFinding the right teaching strategies for a student is often a process of trial and error. How do you respond when a popular teaching strategy, technique, or practice falls short with your students? Join us to discuss smart ways to find more effective alternatives when needed. Follow @Angela_Watson @sgthomas1973 @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Angela Watson is a National Board Certified Teacher with a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She has 11 years of classroom experience...
Holiday Buzz, Holiday Break: Balancing School Work and Holiday Traditions for All Students
December 09, 2022 23:49 - 14 minutesIt’s that time of the school year when we have to balance the excitement of the holiday season, the various traditions of all our students, and the schoolwork we still need to get done. Follow on Twitter: @LAMBradley @ideasforteacher @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd. Laura Bradley: After 30 years teaching middle school English, Design Lab and Broadcast Media, Lauara is now an Educational Technology Teacher on Special Assignment, supporting K-12 students and teachers in effect...
12 Quick Ways to Help Students Decrease Test Anxiety and Increase Test Performance
December 09, 2022 23:46 - 14 minutesAs we enter midterm test season, we searched for strategies to help students reduce test stress and get better results. We reviewed 12 strategies and discuss why they work. Follow on Twitter: @juliacookonline @AggieAshley @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd. Julia Cook – a former teacher and school counselor, has presented in over 3000 schools throughout the world. She regularly delivers keynote addresses at national and international education and counseling c...
19 Encouraging Words of Feedback: Celebrating Small Wins
December 02, 2022 01:21 - 14 minutesWe’re talking about 19 simple words that can significantly improve how students respond to our feedback and the results our comments produce. We close with a practice that can change the mindset of our students toward doing hard things. Follow on Twitter: @GaskellMGaskell @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Dr. Michael Gaskell is Principal at Hammarskjold Middle School in East Brunswick, NJ. following experience as a special educator and assistant principal in Paramus, NJ. He con...
Resetting Setting Classroom Boundaries and Norms: What Works
November 05, 2022 17:48 - 18 minutesWe know setting boundaries is essential to creating a productive classroom and school environment. In this episode, we talk about how to set (reset) effective boundaries while avoiding power struggles. Follow on Twitter: @janebluestein @MsRandazzo @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Karen Randazzo is an enthusiastic chemistry teacher in New Jersey. She believes that every student has the power to learn anything, even chemistry. Chemistry teacher by day, teacher-author by night,...
Three Things We Learned Last Year That Are Working Very Well for Us This School Year
October 20, 2022 21:52 - 16 minutesThis school year is off to a more normal start and some of what we learned last year is making this school term easier. In this episode, we share our top three most useful and effective lessons learned. Follow on Twitter: @LisaPas220 @larryferlazzo @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Larry Ferlazzo is an award-winning teacher at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, California. He writes a popular education blog and a teacher advice column for Education Week Teacher. He is al...
What Works: Teaching (Reteaching) Students the ABCs of Engaging in Class
September 20, 2022 19:56 - 10 minutesIf you feel the need to teach or reteach your students how to engage in your classroom, you're not alone. In this discussion, we unpack why teaching students the ABCs of engaging in class is needed now, and how to do it effectively. Follow on Twitter: @DianeE_teacher @dfishersdsu @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Dianne Eliott is entering her second year as Social Emotional Learning Facilitator for Garden City (Kansas) Public Schools. Prior to that, she was a special education ...
Managing Your Mindset When the Back-to-School Honeymoon Ends: Do This, Not That
September 14, 2022 15:18 - 12 minutesBy now, we’re all back to school, appreciating our students, and the joy of the moment. Eventually, we’ll get into the grove of the school year, and maintaining that energy and joy takes a little something extra. In this segment, we talk about ways to manage our mindset when the back-to-school honeymoon ends. Follow on Twitter: @paul_emerich @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Dr. Suzanna Windon is an Assistant Professor of Youth and Adult Leadership, including Volunteer Management at the Dep...
First Things First: Setting Priorities in the First Few Weeks of School, 27 Tips for First-Year Teachers
August 24, 2022 00:48 - 11 minutesIf this is your first year in the classroom, congratulations and welcome. In this episode, we bring together two veteran teachers and a newly minted teacher to talk about what matters most as you set priorities for the first few weeks of the new school year. Share this episode with all new teachers in your school. They will thank you. Follow on Twitter: @bethpando @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Nivene Hutchins is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University and has bec...
What Matters Most in the First Few Weeks of School: Setting the Stage for the School Year We Want
August 15, 2022 23:19 - 11 minutesAs we kick off a new school year we pause to consider and align our priorities. In this episode, I chat with teachers who have seen many new school years come and go about what matters most in the first few weeks of school. Follow on Twitter: @lanierowell @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Lainie Rowell is an educator, international consultant, writer, podcaster, and TEDx speaker. She is the lead author of Evolving Learner, a contributing author of Because of a Teacher, and her...
Finishing Strong: Setting Students Up to Minimize Summer Slide
June 11, 2022 01:49 - 10 minutesBefore the final days of school fade into the rearview mirror, we look at how we can encourage students to read over the summer and minimize the summer slide. Follow on Twitter: @sgthomas1973 @ZincLearning @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork After graduating from Princeton University, Matt Bardin worked as a New York City secondary-school English teacher. The challenges facing his students stayed with him long after he left the classroom and prompted him to found Zinc Learning Labs. Bardin lau...
Closing Strong: What Matters Most As We Close the School Year? — Part1
June 06, 2022 15:17 - 10 minutesMany of us are down to the last few days and weeks of the school year. In this episode, we talk about what matters most as we wrap up and aim to close strong. Follow on Twitter: @sgthomas1973 @fromrooma212 @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Ann Stiltner is a high school special education teacher. She received a master’s degree in special education from the University of Hartford and a certificate of advanced studies in literacy from Sacred Heart University. She writes the blog from Room A21...
How We Manage the Challenges and Pet Peeves That Come at the End of Every School Year
May 26, 2022 16:41 - 14 minutesThe school year is not quite over for many schools, but many students have checked out for the duration. Join us as we run down some practical strategies for managing the year-end challenges and annoyances that routinely arise in the final weeks and days. Follow on Twitter: @ideasforteacher @HolSpinny @sgthomas1973 @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Holly Spinelli is a students’ rights activist with specific focuses in alternative, strengths-based pedagogical approaches where students’ voice...
The Five Things You’ll Absolutely Want to Consider If You’re Thinking About Leaving Your School or Resigning From Teaching
May 21, 2022 16:02 - 12 minutesAs many of us contemplate whether it’s time for us to leave our schools or maybe the teaching profession altogether, we invited a few educators who have wrestled with and made the decision to share the key points to consider before resigning. Follow on Twitter: @ideasforteacher @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork @Chelsea_Lee0615 Chelsea Lee is an educator, military spouse, and she and her husband have a 10 month old son. She has taught 2nd though 5th grade students over a period of 6 years i...
If You Are Teaching for the First Time This Year, PUH-Leeze Be Willing to Ask for Help — Here’s how
November 18, 2021 23:35 - 8 minutesIf this is your first year of teaching, welcome to the most demanding and unpredictable school term most seasoned veterans have experienced. The most important thing you can do to maximize your effectiveness is to be willing to ask for help — here’s how. Follow on Twitter: @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Rachel Taylor is a first year fourth-grade teacher in Gwinnett County, GA. She is a first-year teacher during concurrent learning. She loves hiking, camping, creating, and r...
Embracing the Teaching Skill That Can Make 2021/22 A Great School Year
November 18, 2021 23:32 - 16 minutesThis term many of us will walk into classrooms where we will be expected to teach students who have the most diverse academic and social-emotional needs in recent history. The need for more individualized teaching has moved from desirable to critical this school year. So what practical teaching strategies can we use to meet each of our students where they are? In this episode, we talk with four teachers who have deep experience with differentiating instruction in classrooms with 20, 30 kids...
Seven Practical Strategies to Help ELLs Move From One Disrupted School Year to Another
October 03, 2021 09:47 - 12 minutesCOVID-19 surprised us again with another uncertain school term. As we turn on a dime to meet the evolving needs of our students, those who teach English language learners have some unique hurdles to surmount. In this episode, we invite two ELL teachers to share the game plan and practical strategies for another year of pandemic teaching and learning. Follow on Twitter: @AggieAshley @Larryferlazzo @sgthomas1973 @ @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Larry Ferlazzo teaches English, Social Studie...
Learning Recovery? Ignore the Label, Close Your Classroom Door, and Do What's Best for Kids
August 22, 2021 16:28 - 10 minutesWe don't like the term "learning loss," and we see learning recovery as a pig with lipstick. But we know learning recovery mandates are coming our way. In this premiere episode of We Just Want to Teach, we begin our search for practical strategies for teaching a classroom full of students with widely different subject knowledge and unique emotional needs. Follow on Twitter: @heymrsbond @RitaWirtz @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Chanea Bond is a North Texas English and literac...