Classroom Q And A

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reading and writing are synergistic when taught in tandem. Join us as we discuss instructional strategies for pairing the two. Follow on Twitter: @irina_mcgrath @michelleshory @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork Author and Teacher, Laura Robb has written more than 25 books on literacy. She returns to the classroom for 3 to 4 months each year and has been awarded the 2016 Richard W. Halle Award by NCTE-- for outstanding Middle Level Educator. Irina V. McGrath, Ph.D. is a District Instructional Coach and Google Certified Trainer in Jefferson County Public School (JCPS), KY. She is also a co-director of the Louisville Writing Project (LWP) and the University of Louisville adjunct who teaches Literacy and ESL methods courses. Michelle Shory, Ed.S. is a District Instructional Coach and Google Certified Trainer in Jefferson County Public Schools, Louisville, KY. She is passionate about literacy and helped establish Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Louisville.

For years we were encouraged to be colorblind. As it turns out if we don’t see race we miss a whole constellation of things that are vital to teaching students. Follow on Twitter: @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork @CindyGarciaTX @ashlm_12 Ashley McCall serves as a 3rd grade bilingual English/Language Arts teacher at César Chávez Multicultural Arts Center on the south west side of Chicago and serves as a teacher representative on the Chávez Local School Council. She works to incorporate social justice/civic engagement experiences and elevate student voice throughout the year as evidenced by her students’ recent culminating activism unit project “Say it Loud/Dilo Fuerte” which seeks to rewrite students’ neighborhood narrative. Cindy Garcia is a bilingual educator & Bil/ESL Math PK-6 District Instructional Specialist. Makeda Brome is an Assistant Principal at Fort Pierce Westwood Academy in Fort Pierce, Florida. This year is her first year as an Assistant Principal. Previously she was an Instructional Coach

Our guests say that connecting our classroom lessons to current events makes learning more relevant, engaging, and meaningful to students. Join us as we look at the dos and don’t s for effectively teaching with current events. Follow on Twitter: @Mrs_Koppers @suzieboss @bamradionetwork Kristen Koppers, NBCT, MA is a blogger, presenter, author, self-published author, and high school educator as well as an adjunct professor at a local junior college. She has been teaching for more than seventeen years and is currently teaching high school English in Illinois. She is a National Board Certified Teacher with a Master’s degree in English and a second Master’s degree in Education Administration. Kristen wrote the book Differentiated Instruction in the Teacher Profession. Suzie Boss, education writer and consultant, is the author of several books, including Reinventing Project-Based Learning and Bringing Innovation to School. She is a regular contributor to Edutopia and the Stanford Social Innovation Review, and a

Who are long term English language learners?  What contributes to their extend classification as ELLs? What unique needs do these students have and what strategies can we use to support them? Antoinette Perez has more than ten years of experience working with English Language Learners of all levels, including extensive experience with international and adult learners. She has worked in California and Georgia at schools with high percentages of ELs, which motivated her to obtain TEFL certification. Aubrey Yeh is the Coordinator of Language Arts & Humanities in the East Network, overseeing art, music, theatre, dance, PE, health, world languages, social studies, and language arts for K-12 students in the Boulder Valley School District in Boulder, Colorado. Prior to this, she served as an Education Technology Specialist, Tabitha Pacheco is a National Board Certified Teacher in Exceptional Needs. She has ten years of classroom experience in public, charter, and digital education settings as a Teacher, Instruct

What are restorative practices? How do they differ from traditional school discipline? What is required to do restorative practices effectively? Follow on Twitter: @larryferlazzo @Wilson1Sheila @TimothyHiltonCG @jAPMcDizzle Dr. Sheila Wilson is a passionate educator who has been privileged to work with every level of learner: elementary, secondary, undergraduate, and graduate during her three decades in education. A native of New Orleans, she has served in private and public education settings in Louisiana and Virginia. Maurice McDavid is serving as assistant principal at Cortland Elementary School, one of the bilingual schools in the DeKalb, IL school district. As a former middle school Spanish and social studies teacher, he worked with diverse groups of students on diverse curriculum. Timothy Hilton is a Climate and Culture Specialist with Fresno Unified School District where he coaches teachers on classroom management and class climate. Timothy has over 10 years of classroom teaching experience at eve

Writing and reading are interconnected.  In this episode, we explore teaching strategies that mutually support reading and writing instruction. Follow on Twitter: @MBethNicklaus @SLC_Literacy @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork Mary K. Tedrow, an award-winning high school English teacher, now serves as the Director of the Shenandoah Valley Writing Project. Her book, Write, Think, Learn: Tapping the Power of Daily Student Writing Across the Content Area is available through Routledge. Tony Zani is a literacy coach in the Salt Lake City School District.  He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Instructional Leadership. Tony is a National Board Certified Teacher with a specialization in Early Childhood Education. Mary Beth Nicklaus is a language arts teacher and reading specialist for Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle School in Wisconsin.

What makes a math lesson exceptional? What are the inputs and markers of a good outcome? In the episode, we ask teachers to share their best math lessons and unpack what made them so good. Follow on Twitter: @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork  @bkobett @AveryZachery1 Avery M. Zachery graduated from Georgia State University with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education in 2009.  In 2015, she graduated from Georgia State University with an M.Ed. in Reading Language and Literacy and holds endorsements in Mathematics, Reading, ESOL (English Speakers of other Languages) and Gifted. Beth McCord Kobett, EdD, is an associate professor in the School of Education at Stevenson University, where she works with preservice teachers and leads professional learning efforts in mathematics education both regionally and nationally. Jill Henry teaches Problem-Based Algebra II and is the head coach of the Girls Cross Country Program at Flintridge Preparatory School in the Los Angeles area.

How does teaching and learning change when we shift our attention from student deficits to student assets?  What are the challenges? How do we surmount them? Follow on Twitter @larryferlazzo @cjnguyen10 @DrYemiS @LarryWalker2 @bamradionetwork  Carmen Nguyen is currently a Professional Development Specialist for ELs. Her passion for advocating for English learners and their families stems from my own experience as an immigrant and language learner. She supports educators by providing professional development that is founded on research-based instructional strategies to help ensure educational equity for all students. Adeyemi Stembridge, Ph.D. is an educational consultant specializing in equity-focused school-improvement. He is a coach and thought-partner to teachers and administrators with an interest in the design of culturally responsive systems and learning experiences for students. Dr. Larry J. Walker is an Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Leadership and Higher Education, University of Cent

Instructional coaching can be a big asset or a stressful experience for teachers and coaches.  In this episode we look at how to make instructional coaching work  for teachers and coaches Follow on Twitter: @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork @MathCarrie @SydneyChaffee @CindyGarciaTX Carrie Johnson is a mathematics coach at Rose Park Elementary in Salt Lake City School District.  She began teaching in Salt Lake City School District in 2008 with a passion to support high levels of learning in urban Title One schools.  Carrie has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Utah. Go Utes! Sydney Chaffee teaches 9th grade Humanities at Codman Academy in Boston, MA, and is the 2017 National Teacher of the Year.

We've all taught good lessons and we've all taught bad lessons. What Makes a Good Social Studies Lesson? In this episode, we look at how to create a compelling and effective social studies lesson and offer some tips and strategies. Follow on Twitter: @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork @Edufacey @DeborahGatrell1 @WordsmithMark  @mrswhiteside_ Deborah Gatrell is National Board Certified Teacher and Utah Teacher Fellow alumni in Granite School District. She serves as the Social Studies department chair and a Mentor for new teachers in her building. Deborah teaches 9th grade World Geography and 10th grade AP European History. Denise Fawcett Facey was a classroom teacher for more than two decades and now writes on education issues. Among her books, The Social Studies Helper offers activities and projects that make social studies more vibrant and engaging for secondary-level students. Throughout his 35 years as an educator in the Bloomfield Hills School District, Carina Whiteside is an educator that is passionate ab

Join us as we try to better understand the difference between treating students fairly and treating students equally through practical examples of each. Follow on Twitter: @HolSpinny84 @ViaEdConsulting @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork Dr. Julia Cloat is President of Via Educational Consulting and an Adjunct Professor at Northern Illinois University. Julia spent over 25 years serving in Public School Districts in roles including Literacy Specialist, Instructional Coach, RtI/MTSS Coordinator, and Curriculum Director. Holly Spinelli is a students' rights activist with specific focuses in alternative, strengths-based pedagogical approaches where students' voices serve as the catalyst for their education. She is a New York public high school teacher, an adjunct instructor at SUNY Orange County Community College, and an active member of the NCTE's Committee Against Racism and Bias in the Teaching of English. Her teaching is centered in anti-racist, anti-bias, and anti-oppression facilitation.

Education technology can be both an asset and a liability in the same classroom. In this segment, we ask teachers how they determine when to use education technology and when to pass. Follow on Twitter: @Ajay460 @irina_mcgrath @michelleshory @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork Irina V. McGrath, Ph.D. is a District Instructional Coach and Google Certified Trainer in Jefferson County Public School (JCPS), KY. She is also a co-director of the Louisville Writing Project (LWP) and the University of Louisville adjunct who teaches Literacy and ESL methods courses. Michelle Shory, Ed.S. is a District Instructional Coach and Google Certified Trainer in Jefferson County Public Schools, Louisville, KY. She is passionate about literacy and helped establish Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Louisville. Anne Jenks is the principal of a TK - 5 elementary school in Oxnard, California. She is a Leading Edge Certified teacher and the 2015 CUE Site Leader of the Year.

How can we refine the way we think about grading and implement grading with our students? Our guest offers a strategy that aligns the grading with the way students naturally learn. @educatoral @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork Al Gonzalez is a 6th grade Science Teacher working at Chimacum Middle School. He is an Early Adolescent Generalist National Board Certified Teacher who has been teaching kids in grades 4 through 8 for the past 25 years.

What are the indicators and markers of authentic effective student engagement? Join us as we go down the list. How many are present in your classroom? Follow on Twitter: @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork @Scortez7178 @cathypetreebeck @kdyer13 Cathy Beck is currently the Superintendent of Cheatham County Schools in Middle Tennessee. She is the author of Easy and Effective Professional Development, and Leading Learning for ELL Students. Kathy Dyer is Manager of Innovation and Learning for the Professional Learning team at NWEA. She has more than 25 years of experience in education, many spent designing and facilitating learning opportunities for educators. Coaching teachers and school leadership on getting better at what they do is her passion. Sarah Said is the Director of English Learning at Chicago Ridge School District. Sarah manages three different bilingual programs in Arabic, Spanish, and Polish and she has been a teacher, Dean of Curriculum and EL Director. Sarah Said has spent years overseeing EL