Later start times for secondary education can force an earlier start for elementary students. There is evidence to suggest that later start times for secondary education can have a positive impact on students. Studies have shown that teenagers have a natural sleep pattern that leads them to stay up late and wake up later in the morning. This is known as the "sleep phase delay." As a result, many teenagers may struggle to fall asleep early enough to wake up for a traditional school start...

A Princeton student created an app to tell whether ChatGPT wrote an essay. Not long after ChatGPT was revealed to the world in late 2022, a computer science major at Princeton University built an app to detect whether AI wrote an essay. Edward Tian created GPTZero, which he says can "quickly and efficiently" decipher whether a human or ChatGPT authored an essay. He's explicitly soliciting educators to test his new tool. We decided to have some fun and ask ChatGPT if there's a...

The fantastic new tool, ChatGPT, is taking the tech world by storm, but it also could become a significant headache for English teachers throughout the country. ChatGPT software is built on the architecture of GPT-3, with some ~175 billion parameters, but what separates ChatGPT relative to other AI breakthroughs is that it's super easy to use. You type something, and it spits something back to you. "Tell me a joke," "write a recipe for pecan pie in the style of a pirate," and "explain long...

A good global citizen is someone who is aware of the world and their place in it and who takes an active role in promoting the well-being of the global community. This can involve being informed about global issues and events, supporting causes that benefit people and the planet, and treating people with respect and compassion, regardless of their background. Good global citizens also recognize that their actions can impact the world around them, and they strive to make positive choices that...

As educators, we sometimes need a spark. One great place to find that inspiration is in movies. In Episode 234 of Class Dismissed, we highlight some of the most inspirational movie scenes for teachers. The movie scenes that made our list include… Stand and Deliver (Rotten Tomatoes Score 82%) Los Angeles high school teacher Jaime Escalante (Edward James Olmos) is being hassled by tough students like Angel Guzman (Lou Diamond Phillips). But Jaime is also pressured by his bosses, who want...

For more than 15 years, Johnny Tiersma brought humor into his classroom. He does this, be he feels it builds trust with his students. "You know when you're all in on the same joke, and you're all laughing together," it creates a bond Tiersma says.  The sixth-grade teacher serves in the Cardiff School District in San Diego, and bringing humor to his classroom has always come naturally. For example, he names objects in his room, the projector's name is Barbara, and he talks sweetly to...

There’s little doubt that students will learn more when they engage in classroom discussions. So for many teachers, finding ways to motivate students to participate in class makes complete sense.  For years, Jim Lang (Assumption College) did this with a class participation grade. The English professor says he tried to keep track of each student’s class participation to boost a grade (for example, a B to a B+) but not penalize students. However, Lang is now advocating against the idea of...

Educators always want their students to thrive and succeed in life. Often, that path for students runs through college. But for many students, that's not the case.  Our guest in Episode 231 offers tips on how teachers can best support students who choose an alternative post-high-school path. Stephanie Haynes is a licensed education coach and consultant who works specifically with school administrations, teachers, and the parents of students to reimagine the culture of success in...

A well-run, fun classroom is pivotal to the way students learn. But for some educators, meaningful classroom management can be a challenge. Gamifiying a classroom is one strategy educators use to improve this. In Episode 230 of Class Dismissed, we chatted with Shawn Young, the Co-Founder, and CEO of Classcraft, a platform that helps educators motivate their students using the mechanics of games. Young says classroom management is core to a teacher's job, but ironically, there are few...

The state of civics education in the United States The push for impactful STEM education over the past decade has made a positive difference in preparing our youth. But have other areas suffered? Civics, for example?   Our guest in today's bright idea segment is here to offer us some perspective on the state of civics education here in the United States.  Holly Korby is a Journalist, Speaker, and Author of "Building Better Citizens," and when asked to grade the nation on the state of...

Not long after the start of each school year, an important topic comes up, September 11th. For some teachers, it can be challenging to figure out how to discuss such a tragic day in American history with students.   In Episode 228, we invited Jan Helson to give us some guidance. Helson is the Co-founder and Board Chair of Global Game Changers, a 501(c)3 organization that provides social-emotional learning, character, and leadership development programs.  Furthermore, Global Game...

In early 2022 NEFE and AmeriSpeak surveyed U.S. adults on high school financial education graduation requirements. 88% surveyed said their state should require a semester- or year-long financial education course for graduation. Remarkably, only 14 states require personal finance education before graduation.  Our guest on Episode 227, Jessica Pelletier, is the Executive Director of FitMoney. FitMoney is a philanthropic nonprofit that provides free financial literacy programs to help K-12...

Does blended learning make teaching easier or harder? Catlin Tucker has been a thought leader in the world of blended learning. But many educators' Tucker would interact with perceived blended learning as more work for teachers. "I couldn't understand why that was," says Tucker. So, as Tucker started visiting classrooms, she realized teachers were still doing the lion's share of the work in the classrooms even when they were trying a blended classroom. Tucker noticed that workflows...

Many students feel overwhelmed with homework, and it's taking a toll on their mental health. It’s the million billion dollar question. How did we get to a point where some teens are so hyper-competitive that giving them a “B” on a paper or quiz is like giving them an “F”? Why do some teens now overload themselves with advanced placement courses and extracurriculars, just to stay up past midnight cramming in homework? Dr. Cathy Vatterott is an education professor at the University of...

Starting on the right foot On the first day or two of school, it can be tempting to want to lay the ground rules. You know, set the expectations about workload, go over the rules, and fill out the required forms. But Rick Wormeli wants to challenge educators to think differently. Wormeli, one of the first Nationally Board Certified Teachers in America, says that students want to know that you’re going to transcend their current condition and help them aspire to something more than they...

Do we often pay attention to the conversations we're having with children? Or is it just automatic? Rebecca Rolland, a speech pathologist, affiliated with Children's Hospital Boston, has put together a guide to achieving what she calls "rich talk." It is a deeper conversation that can transform your relationships with children. The science of conversation has been around for centuries, but in the 21st century, it's more important than ever. A great chat can boost your students' learning...

How to start with learner-led conferences For many educators, the idea of letting a student lead a parent-teacher conference is unsettling. However, if done correctly, a learner-led conference opens an opportunity for self-evaluation, which can lead to figuring out the next steps in learning. Our guest in Episode 222 has spent years practicing learner-led conferences. Paul Emerich France is a National Board-certified teacher, consultant, and author of Reclaiming Personalized Learning: A...

The number of emerging companies in the EdTech space can be overwhelming for school districts. The fast growth of new K-12 software companies is due, in part, to COVID 19 and a subsequent surge in ESSER funds. Our guest in Episode 221 is an expert in parsing through the EdTech space. Doug Roberts is the Founder and CEO of the Institute for Education Innovation. The institute acts as a liaison between EdTech companies and Superintendents to help create the best products for school...

It's no secret that mental health care can be expensive and difficult to access, especially for young people. This can be a huge problem for students, who often face significant stressors. Bridging the gap in student access to mental health care can alleviate some of these stressors. Dr. Travis Gayles, a recent recipient of the AMA Award for Outstanding Service for his leadership during the pandemic, is an expert on child health access, especially as it relates to what kids have been up...

Tools for facing adversity When teachers at Robert W. Coleman Elementary in Baltimore are struggling with a student’s behavior, the educators have an alternative to detention. Instead, they can refer the student to meditation. The Holistic Life Foundation keeps three staff members in a “mindful moment room” ready to help a frustrated student with a 15-minute active listening, breathing exercises, or meditation session. Andres Gonzalez is the Director of Marketing and Communications for...

In Episode 218 of the Class Dismissed Podcast, we caught up with Minnesota principal and author Jessica Cabeen. Cabeen, who is the author of “Lead with Grace: Leaning into the Soft Skills of Leadership,” shared tips on handling professional confrontations. Cabeen says one of the biggest mistakes school leaders can make is to “lead with their title.” Not sure if that’s you? Cabeen says that you may be leading with your title if you’re in your office more than you’re in the halls. Or if...

The HELPER Act In Episode 217 of Class Dismissed, we talk with Sam Royer, the architect of the HELPER Act, a bipartisan bill with broad support in the U.S. House, with a companion bill recently introduced on the other end of Capitol Hill by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) & Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA). The legislation would eliminate a down payment requirement and provide 100% up-front financing for teachers, police officers, firefighters, EMTs & other frontline heroes while also eliminating a...

For the past few years, the world has consumed podcasts at blistering speeds. Consequently, a lot of listeners can choose from a variety of content. It's estimated that more than 2 million podcast shows are available. However, most of those shows target adults and teens. Very few podcast creators have taken the time to make shows aimed at 6-10-year-olds.  When Jerry Kolber contemplated making educational podcasts for young kids, he didn't see many existing options. "It's a very...

Managing Up In this week's Episode of Class Dismissed, we focused on some tips about managing up. The term "managing up" refers to an employee taking steps to improve their boss's efficiency and efficacy.  For some, steering their supervisor in any direction may bring anxiety, but there is a way to do it without coming across as pushy. We go over a few pointers to keep managing up from becoming a sticky situation. Professional Development Reimagined Our guest in today's bright idea...

Combatting Burnout Let's face it. Being an educator can be an incredibly daunting task. There's constantly a demand to "do more" with fewer resources, and COVID has only compounded the stressful work environment in the classroom.  In this episode of Class Dismissed, a former teacher turned burnout coach, Gabby Lubin, discusses mindfulness and exercise techniques that may help prevent or at least mitigate educator burnout.  Lubin believes it's helpful to have mindfulness and exercise...