In a thought-provoking discussion on work-life balance, our guests delve into the evolving challenges educators face in harmonizing their professional and personal lives. They discuss the varying approaches to work-life balance and even challenge the narrative of the need for it. Follow on Twitter: @Rdene915 @mrs_frommert @Jonharper70bd @bamradionetwork The OnBeing podcast is a nice resource as well for living more fully with both contentment and purpose: The Huffington Post Well-being...

Multiple sources report that the number of students challenged with emotional regulation has grown exponentially. Our guests highlight the importance of creating a safe, structured, and predictable environment for children. We identify ways to maintain our composure and provide clear, assertive instructions. We also cover strategies to help students identify their emotions and offer proven methods to manage them. Follow on Twitter: @letyenconciencia @brukner_lauren @LoriWebber9...

What are the most effective ways to restore a class that's spinning out of control? We discovered that the answer depends on the grade level.  An Edutopia survey identified the top 34 strategies to quiet a rowdy classroom.  We review the findings with an elementary school teacher, a middle school math teacher, and an assistant principal. Follow on Twitter: @dalorleon @mrs_frommert @EmilyAPaschall @Mr100Teacher  @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Related Edutopia Article: 34 Ways to Quiet a...

Some call it a calming station,  calming corner,  or pause place.  Whatever the name, it's a helpful tool for helping students regulate emotions. Our guests explain how the stations work,  how to set one up, and the essential key to using them effectively. Follow on Twitter: @jenorr @SELtreasures @Jonharper70bd @bamradionetwork Mary Karapetian Alvord, Ph.D., is a psychologist and director of Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC, located in Rockville and Silver Spring, Maryland. She...

The stories we tell ourselves impact students and our relationships with them. In this discussion, we explore some of those stories and identify ways to improve students’ experiences by modifying the stories we tell. Follow Twitter: @KacLLL @Upeguijara @Jonharper70bd @bamradionetwork Self-compassion.org/category/exercises/ | GGIA.berkeley.edu/mindfulness | Edutopia article: How to Shift Your Mindset and Feel Present| Other book from author(s) David Upegui, PhD, serves as a science...

We often face challenges between Halloween and Thanksgiving, marked by decreasing student engagement and increasing fatigue. This discussion highlights the heightened energy and focus issues observed in students across various grades and the impact on teaching. The conversation explores creative methods to maintain a positive and energetic classroom atmosphere, including thematic activities and non-content-related interactions. Key themes include the importance of creativity to navigate this...

A 2022 study from the University of Essex and the University of Reading found that tone shifts significantly impact classroom health and student behavior. In this session, we discuss how to cultivate a warm, confident, firm tone that can minimize student misbehavior and create a conducive climate for learning. Follow Twitter: @YoukiTerada @parrishlearning @AnnettePonnock @Jonharper70bd @bamradionetwork Youki Terada is the Research Editor at Edutopia, a division of the George Lucas...

Student engagement remains high on the priority list this school term. Recent studies suggest keenly listening to students’ needs can make a significant difference. In this session, we explore what students really need us to hear and how we can improve our ability to hear what matters most to each of them. Follow our PLN on Twitter: @brandihalverson @LisaPas220 @5Silber @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd @curriculumblog Related Resources: Orchestrating the Move to Student-Driven Learning |...

Many of you have been working hard to reconnect with students since the pandemic subsided. A recent student survey suggests a few areas that need special attention as we return to school this term. What are the factors affecting student teacher trust and how do we maintain and restore the trust needed to teach in our post-pandemic classrooms? Follow on Twitter: @MJBowerman @Doug_Lemov @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Rachel Palumbo is a 24-year-old passionate educator in her second year of...

Many of us routinely park our emotions at the classroom door by compartmentalizing our stress and anxiety. It turns out that putting on a chronic happy face is harmful. The impact of this practice is well-known among mental health professionals. We invited a panel to explore productive, proven alternatives. Follow Twitter: @5Silber @froehlichm @Jonharper70bd @bamradionetwork #mentalhealthawareness Dr. James L. Floman is an Associate Research Scientist at the Yale Center for Emotional...

As always, we’ve given all we have this school year, and now many of us are beyond teacher tired. So what can we do? I’ve invited a group of colleagues to talk about practical ways to manage our emotional and physical energy over the final stretch of the school year. Follow Twitter: @AnnettePonnock @Jane Kise @Kakraeger @GaskellMGaskell @Jonharper70bd @bamradionetwork Dr Jane Kise is an education consultant and author of over 25 books. She works with schools and leaders around the...

Most of us are so committed to our students, colleagues, and schools that we are hesitant to take time off even when we really need it. Who will cover my class? What impact will my absence have on my students? Join us as we talk candidly about why many teachers feel guilty taking time off, why feeling comfortable taking off is essential, and explore ways to help make hitting pause more acceptable when needed. Follow our PLN on Twitter: @FerraroOnAir @Ben_Educating @LisaPas220...

As educators, we have to balance increasing demands with fewer resources everyday. One potential solution is reducing teacher expectations, but this is difficult due to teacher shortages and the need to support students. As a result, we are often forced to make difficult choices about where to focus our time and energy. In this discussion, we identify practical strategies to manage this challenge. Follow on Twitter: @nireyal @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Nir Eyal writes,...

From elementary classrooms to high schools, getting students back to learning after the winter break requires additional attention, intention, and skill.   In this discussion, I asked educators to share the most effective strategies they've found to reenergize their classrooms and get students back on task after the holidays. Follow on Twitter: @JYooBrannon  @5Silber @thezenteacher @mattwachel , @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Jennifer Yoo-Brannon is a teacher and instructional coach in El...

Our guests agree there are better ways to think about and help our students accelerate learning in the wake of the COVID Pandemic. They share their stories about using the one percent better principle, combined with celebrating small wins to reduce stress and increase learning. Follow our PLN on Twitter: @FerraroOnAir @GaskellMGaskell @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd. Erin Geary teaches high school English in New York. She researches the power of non-carceral classrooms and has an upcoming...

By December, most of us are ready for the long holiday break. What’s fascinating though is how some of us can fully disconnect and leave school behind for the holidays while others struggle to turn off our school brain. I invited a few educators to talk about making the most of the holiday break — what works for them and what doesn’t? Follow our PLN on Twitter: @FerraroOnAir @bkulak11@LisaPas220@bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd. Ashley Stephens, Ed.D. is the creator of the weekly Family...

This week millions of teachers and school leaders will turn our attention to gratitude. In the spirit of the season, I’ve invited a group of educators to talk with me about what silver linings they see in education today that make them feel grateful. Follow on Twitter: @LainieRowell @sgthomas1973 @5Silber @ideasforteacher @kylehamstra @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Lainie Rowell is an educator, international consultant, writer, podcaster, and TEDx speaker. She is the lead author of...

We all agree that in teaching, relationships are everything. So how do we restore relationships with students when they become strained for any reason? Our guests share their experiences, what they’ve discovered works, and what doesn’t. Follow our PLN on Twitter: @brandihalverson @LisaPas220@bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd. Brandi Halverson is a mental health professional currently working as a School Counselor. She has 25 years of experience in education ranging from elementary to high...

Some days being fully present with students is more challenging than others. Today, we share our best strategies for consistently giving students our full attention and backup plans for those quirky days when those strategies aren’t working. Follow on Twitter: @DrKpsychologist, @LisaAImel @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Breanna Taylor is licensed to teach K-12 Special Education. She graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello with a Bachelor of Arts P-4 Early Childhood...

This panel discussion echoes the findings of recent EducationWeek Research Center surveys.  Supporting teachers requires more vigilance and a more personalized approach this school year. Our panel explores three options gaining support in school districts. Follow our PLN on Twitter: @hohrein_jean @jon_wennstrom @brandihalverson @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Jean Hohrein is entering her 29th year in education and has been in her current district for 27 years, 22 of which had been at the...

A calm classroom with students on task is what we all want. In this discussion, two teachers, two psychologists, and a school superintendent unanimously agree that current events outside of the classroom are impacting our ability to reach and teach our students. What follows is a refreshingly honest and insightful discussion about what it takes to create a calm climate for learning during exceptionally stressful times. The result is a practical guide for every educator and school...

We’re all gearing up to bring our best selves to school so we can bring out the best in our students. In this episode, we talk about balancing relentless positivity with the need to respond authentically and realistically to those challenging and frustrating moments. Follow Twitter: @AnnettePonnock @Glennr1809@5Silber@Jonharper70bd @bamradionetwork Annette Ponnock, PhD is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Yale Center Emotional Intelligence. Dr. Ponnock’s research focuses on teacher...

The four-day school week is not new, but the speed at which schools are adopting the model is breathtaking. Largely driven by the difficulty in attracting and retaining teachers, school districts are making the leap at increasingly rapid rates. In this episode we ask, what do teachers and school leaders need to consider ahead of time to be prepared? Follow on Twitter: @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd @DocSig @askpang Dr. Robert Sigrist currently serves as the Assistant...

The emerging emotional science is clear, we often oversimplify how we discuss the emotional experience of teaching and the emotional inner life of teachers. In this episode, we explore two models that reframe what we often simplistically label as burnout and offer a new lens for discussing what those of us who teach are experiencing right now and what we need as we look to the school year ahead. Follow on Twitter: @JYooBrannon @kevinleichtman @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Dr. James L....