K-12 Greatest Hits: Your shortcut to what works in education

Innovative educators are embracing ChatGPT as a transformative tool that can improve teaching and learning, make creating interactive lesson plans more accessible, and unleash a whole new level of student, parent, and community engagement. In this discussion, teachers, tech coaches, and a school superintendent share specific ways they use ChatGPT.

Follow our PLN on Twitter: @KtBkr4, @bryanrbeal,@Mrnavas @Handsoncoding @Latinosincoding

@ideasforteacher @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd

Kate Baker, M.Ed/MAIT, is an Edtech Specialist at BookWidgets, a 20+ year high school English teacher, a board member of the Flipped Learning Network, & contributing author of Flipping 2.0. Kate leads by example, sharing her authentic, classroom, edtech and SEL integration expertise with the global education community on Twitter and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ktbkr4/.

Marcos Navas has been an active member of the Ed Tech space for over two decades. As an advocate of student voice, Marcos is one of the original Flipgrid ambassadors and a Ted Ed Innovative Educator helping spread student Ted Talks via Ted Clubs. Within the coding and STEM space he is one of the original Raspberry Pi Certified Educators in the U.S. helping enable people of all ages to explore computing. Marcos completed a fellowship with the IDEO Teachers Guild making him one of ten educational experts trained in Design Thinking.

Bryan Beal leads the Solution Architecture organization globally for all Compute services at Amazon Web Services. The people on his team are the most-technical resources that work with customers in areas like AI and ML, High-Performance Computing, Visual Computing and the entire breadth of AWS Compute services. He has a 20+ year career in Software and Networking and an MBA and BS in Business.

Dr. Trent Bowers is a proud graduate of Worthington Schools. He has 27 years of experience in public education and has served students and families as a teacher, coach, dean of students, and the principal of three schools. In addition, he has worked as the Director of Human Resources and Assistant Superintendent for the district. Dr. Bowers is currently the Superintendent of Worthington Schools.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

19 Ways to Use ChatGPT in Your Classroom
ChatGPT—The Game-Changing App Every Teacher Should Know About
How teachers can harness ChatGPT for good
Using ChatGPT to Create a Lesson Plan

Innovative educators are embracing ChatGPT as a transformative tool that can improve teaching and learning, make creating interactive lesson plans more accessible, and unleash a whole new level of student, parent, and community engagement. In this discussion, teachers, tech coaches, and a school superintendent share specific ways they use ChatGPT.

Follow our PLN on Twitter: @KtBkr4, @bryanrbeal,@Mrnavas @Handsoncoding @Latinosincoding

@ideasforteacher @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd

Kate Baker, M.Ed/MAIT, is an Edtech Specialist at BookWidgets, a 20+ year high school English teacher, a board member of the Flipped Learning Network, & contributing author of Flipping 2.0. Kate leads by example, sharing her authentic, classroom, edtech and SEL integration expertise with the global education community on Twitter and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ktbkr4/.

Marcos Navas has been an active member of the Ed Tech space for over two decades. As an advocate of student voice, Marcos is one of the original Flipgrid ambassadors and a Ted Ed Innovative Educator helping spread student Ted Talks via Ted Clubs. Within the coding and STEM space he is one of the original Raspberry Pi Certified Educators in the U.S. helping enable people of all ages to explore computing. Marcos completed a fellowship with the IDEO Teachers Guild making him one of ten educational experts trained in Design Thinking.

Bryan Beal leads the Solution Architecture organization globally for all Compute services at Amazon Web Services. The people on his team are the most-technical resources that work with customers in areas like AI and ML, High-Performance Computing, Visual Computing and the entire breadth of AWS Compute services. He has a 20+ year career in Software and Networking and an MBA and BS in Business.

Dr. Trent Bowers is a proud graduate of Worthington Schools. He has 27 years of experience in public education and has served students and families as a teacher, coach, dean of students, and the principal of three schools. In addition, he has worked as the Director of Human Resources and Assistant Superintendent for the district. Dr. Bowers is currently the Superintendent of Worthington Schools.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

19 Ways to Use ChatGPT in Your Classroom
ChatGPT—The Game-Changing App Every Teacher Should Know About
How teachers can harness ChatGPT for good
Using ChatGPT to Create a Lesson Plan

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 Monte, California, with over 16 years of experience teaching high school students, mentoring teachers, and designing and facilitating professional learning. Jennifer’s passions include: building collective teacher efficacy, designing meaningful professional learning, and fostering emotional resilience among all educators. She is an Edsurge Voices of Change Writing Fellow and has written for Edsurge and The California Educator.

Sara Silber is an award-winning elementary school teacher and a lead mentor with 30 years of classroom experience. Sara has written two blogposts, for BehaviorFlip’s Blog-“Social Emotional Growth Maps” and “A Teacher’s Journey Through Hacking School Discipline.” More recently, she authored a chapter in the inspiring book Thank You, Teacher. Sara enjoys working with her students and helping them grow and become independent learners. When she is not teaching or planning she is finding ways to support her colleagues. She loves to share her expertise, funny stories and other things that happen in the life of a teacher.

Dan Tricarico has been a high school English teacher for over twenty years. He is author of The Zen Teacher: Creating Focus, Simplicity, and Tranquility in the Classroom (DBC, Inc. 2015) and You’re a Teacher…So Act Like One! Improving Your Stage Presence in the Classroom. In his spare time, he enjoys writing fiction, listening to classic rock, reading mystery novels, staring out of windows, and watching movies.

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 Education, and a Master of Education Degree.

Matt Wachel is an ASCD emerging leader and an elementary principal in the Gardner Edgerton School District in Gardner, KS. He is the co-author of the book, Having an impact on learning, the public relations professional and the principal.

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 Monte, California, with over 16 years of experience teaching high school students, mentoring teachers, and designing and facilitating professional learning. Jennifer’s passions include: building collective teacher efficacy, designing meaningful professional learning, and fostering emotional resilience among all educators. She is an Edsurge Voices of Change Writing Fellow and has written for Edsurge and The California Educator.

Sara Silber is an award-winning elementary school teacher and a lead mentor with 30 years of classroom experience. Sara has written two blogposts, for BehaviorFlip’s Blog-“Social Emotional Growth Maps” and “A Teacher’s Journey Through Hacking School Discipline.” More recently, she authored a chapter in the inspiring book Thank You, Teacher. Sara enjoys working with her students and helping them grow and become independent learners. When she is not teaching or planning she is finding ways to support her colleagues. She loves to share her expertise, funny stories and other things that happen in the life of a teacher.

Dan Tricarico has been a high school English teacher for over twenty years. He is author of The Zen Teacher: Creating Focus, Simplicity, and Tranquility in the Classroom (DBC, Inc. 2015) and You’re a Teacher…So Act Like One! Improving Your Stage Presence in the Classroom. In his spare time, he enjoys writing fiction, listening to classic rock, reading mystery novels, staring out of windows, and watching movies.

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 Education, and a Master of Education Degree.

Matt Wachel is an ASCD emerging leader and an elementary principal in the Gardner Edgerton School District in Gardner, KS. He is the co-author of the book, Having an impact on learning, the public relations professional and the principal.

We can help students surpass the barriers to unfinished learning if we acknowledge the challenges and think differently about how we approach teaching and learning.

Follow our PLN on Twitter: @SarahDSparks @playyay @d4griffin3 @ideasforteacher @poweroficu @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd
BreAnn Fennell is a 1st, 2nd, 3rd-grade looping teacher in Ashland, Ohio. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in education from Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio. She is a Training and Development Specialist for the Teach Better Team. BreAnn is the 2021 Ohio Teacher of the Year for District 5. She has served the state of Ohio as a Teacher Leader Liaison for two years and continues to serve as a Teacher Leader Ambassador for the years 2022- 2023. BreAnn serves on the board of directors for Discovery School and on the board of directors for Buckeye Book fair and is the author of the children’s books: Play? Yay!, Play? Yay! Baby Talk, and Choose Your Cheer. She is also a contributing author to the books Finding the Edu Balance, That One Kid, and The Labyrinth of Leadership. BreAnn has also been published in Principal Navigator Magazine.

Sarah D. Sparks is a reporter and data journalist for Education Week who has covered education research and the science of learning for more than 15 years. Sarah joined Education Week in 2010 and has published on education and other issues in Education Daily, the Republican-American, the Wall Street Journal, National Geographic Traveler, and others. A New Orleans native, she now calls Maryland home.

Dennis Griffin serves as the principal of Prairie Elementary School and is pursuing his doctoral studies in Educational Leadership at Cardinal Stritch University. Dennis is a servant leader that seeks to build collaborative cultures that enhance the future for ALL students, educators, and communities at large.

Danny Hill spent thirty-three years as a practitioner teaching science, economics, history, health and coaching football/basketball at the secondary level for ten years. Learning Master Teacher status. He spent four years as a high school assistant principal before becoming head principal of Southside, a large K-8 school, where he remained for twenty years. He is the author of three successful books, Power of ICU, Brick House and Grade Cleanse. He is also a nationally respected authority on student apathy and school culture. Danny has presented to thousands of educators in twenty-five states. www.poweroficu.com

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 piece about the topic in NCTE’s English Leadership Quarterly. Geary is also a poet/essayist (2020’s The Island) and hosts a podcast about pop culture (Hivemind).

Joe Ferraro is currently in his 24th year as an educator, teaching English 12, Public Speaking, and Creative Writing. In addition to his work in the classroom, he is the founder of DamnGoodConversations.com, a company whose mission is to teach you repeatable ways to have the best conversations in your life and work. His flagship service is the weekly personal growth podcast One Percent Better. Every Sunday, Joe releases conversations with fascinating people like Mitch Albom, Seth Godin, Daniel Pink, James Clear and Debbie Millman designed to help people leverage small changes in mindset, language, and behavior in order to get life-changing results.

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 continues to model the pursuit of lifelong learning as he serves to mentor new principals through the New Jersey Leaders to Leaders program. An NJPSA Stars recipient, he has been published in over 2 dozen articles in education journals and blogs, including eSchoolNews, NASSP, Edtech and ASCD Smartbrief, he has made the most-read section of ASCD Smartbrief numerous times. Mike had a book published in October, 2020 (Microstrategy Magic), and a second book published in September 2021 (Leading Schools Through Trauma).

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 piece about the topic in NCTE’s English Leadership Quarterly. Geary is also a poet/essayist (2020’s The Island) and hosts a podcast about pop culture (Hivemind).

Joe Ferraro is currently in his 24th year as an educator, teaching English 12, Public Speaking, and Creative Writing. In addition to his work in the classroom, he is the founder of DamnGoodConversations.com, a company whose mission is to teach you repeatable ways to have the best conversations in your life and work. His flagship service is the weekly personal growth podcast One Percent Better. Every Sunday, Joe releases conversations with fascinating people like Mitch Albom, Seth Godin, Daniel Pink, James Clear and Debbie Millman designed to help people leverage small changes in mindset, language, and behavior in order to get life-changing results.

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 continues to model the pursuit of lifelong learning as he serves to mentor new principals through the New Jersey Leaders to Leaders program. An NJPSA Stars recipient, he has been published in over 2 dozen articles in education journals and blogs, including eSchoolNews, NASSP, Edtech and ASCD Smartbrief, he has made the most-read section of ASCD Smartbrief numerous times. Mike had a book published in October, 2020 (Microstrategy Magic), and a second book published in September 2021 (Leading Schools Through Trauma).

It’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 effective use of classroom technology. Laura is a Google Certified Innovator, PBS Digital Innovator All-Star, National Board Certified Teacher and first place winner of the Henry Ford Teacher Innovator Award. She lives in Petaluma, California with her husband, who recently retired after 40 years teaching middle school math, science and P.E.

Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning and technology, as well as Project-Based Learning. He is the author of Flipped 3.0 Project Based Learning: An Insanely Simple Guide.

It’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 effective use of classroom technology. Laura is a Google Certified Innovator, PBS Digital Innovator All-Star, National Board Certified Teacher and first place winner of the Henry Ford Teacher Innovator Award. She lives in Petaluma, California with her husband, who recently retired after 40 years teaching middle school math, science and P.E.

Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning and technology, as well as Project-Based Learning. He is the author of Flipped 3.0 Project Based Learning: An Insanely Simple Guide.

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 Evolving Learner, a contributing author of Because of a Teacher, and her latest book, Evolving with Gratitude, was just released. An experienced teacher and district leader, she is dedicated to building learning communities and her areas of focus include learner-driven design, social-emotional learning, online/blended learning, and professional learning.

Shawn Thomas is in her 20th year of teaching in the largest county in Georgia. She has taught Kindergarten, Second and Third Grade, and ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) K-5.

Sara Silber is an award-winning elementary school teacher and a lead mentor with 30 years of classroom experience. Sara has written two blogposts, for BehaviorFlip’s Blog-“Social Emotional Growth Maps” and “A Teacher’s Journey Through Hacking School Discipline.” More recently, she authored a chapter in the inspiring book Thank You, Teacher. Sara enjoys working with her students and helping them grow and become independent learners. When she is not teaching or planning she is finding ways to support her colleagues. She loves to share her expertise, funny stories and other things that happen in the life of a teacher.

Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning and technology, as well as Project-Based Learning. He is the author of Flipped 3.0 Project Based Learning: An Insanely Simple Guide.

Kyle Hamstra is an Instructional facilitator at Westlake Middle school Apex, North Carolina.