Shows
Listen Learn Lead12: Student-Centered, Future-Focused LearningWe had the chance to sit down and chat with three amazing educators at Southeast Junior High in the Iowa City Community School District. Scott Stimmel, Michele Kopecky and Mike Keller-Wilson are three teachers pioneering a new program called CASL which stands for Cross-Curricular Approach to Student-Driven Learning. Michele teaches global studies, Scott teaches science and Mike teaches language arts. This new program is currently offered to 7th graders, but Southeast Junior High is looking to expand it to 8th grade at the start of the 2018-2019 school year.2018-05-0125 minListen Learn Lead11: Song and Dance to Celebrate Cultural DiversityDuring this episode we had a chance to catch up with Melanie Hester who teaches 5th grade at Alexander Elementary in the Iowa City Community School District. Melanie shared the strategies she uses to incorporate song and dance into her instruction to celebrate cultural diversity.2018-04-1214 minListen Learn Lead10: Tech Infused PE
SHOW NOTES
During Episode 10, we got the chance to interview Lisa Hildebrand. She is the PE teacher at Van Allen Elementary in North Liberty, IA. During our conversation she shares some of the innovative ways she has infused tech into PE.
KEY POINTS
Twitter
Provides a peak into everyone's classroom
Sworkit:
Kids do an exercise for a certain amount of time, then rest and move onto the next exercise.
Many kids were even doing this at home.
Tabata Apps:
Can be projected
Keeps kids moving2018-02-0621 minListen Learn Lead09: Kid Centered Learning Environments
SHOW NOTES
Episode 9 was recorded live at ITEC in Des Moines, Iowa. Guests Laura Burchett and Kourtney Janss share about kid centered learning environments.
KEY POINTS
Makerspace Challenges
Morning choice times
Some short and some long
Thematic
mobile cart with resources for rotating through classes
makerspace kits--teachers can check out from library
Intentional planning as well as open ended exploration
fun, collaborative, excitement, healthy competition
Flexible Seating
Pinterest for ideas
Sitting and standing options
Sensory options
Consider including some traditional seating...2017-12-1321 minListen Learn Lead08: Personalized learning with Canvas
SHOW NOTES
During Episode 08, we had the pleasure of chatting with Travis Henderson at Iowa City West High School in Iowa City, IA. Travis teaches AP Psychology and also teaches American Studies to language learners. This is his fourth year at West High. Iowa City West has gone 1:1 with Chromebooks and Travis shares some of his insights on this transition.
KEY POINTS
Blended Learning takeaways for Travis:
1) Allowing kids more autonomy in class
2) Less demands of homework outside of class
3) More respectful tasks for students
4) Made class time more engaging
5) Gives stu...2017-11-0619 minListen Learn Lead07: Level Up Your Google Drive
SHOW NOTES
We had the opportunity to chat with Jen Giffen. Jen is a friend from Canada that shared some great tips and tricks on leveling up your game with Google Drive. Jen is a Digital Literacy Resource Teacher for the York Region District School Board. In addition, she is a Google Certified Innovator, Trainer and Flipgrid Ambassador. Check her out on Twitteror her blog.
KEY POINTS
Les McBeth: She is the director of PD at Future Design Schools in Toronto and helped facilitate Design Thinking with the #WDC17cohort in D.C.
Google...2017-10-2024 minListen Learn Lead06: Dads as Principals
SHOW NOTES
We had the chance to chat with Nick Proud, principal at Garner Elementary, and Eric Ewald, principal at Van Allen Elementary. During our conversation, we had a chance to chat about a recent change that was sparked by the National Principals Conference. In addition, we were able to discuss some of the amazing changes that are currently taking place in the Iowa City School District.
KEY POINTS
Relationships: Conversations and connections that are made at conferences can trump the content.
Dads as Principals: We’re Dads. And as Dads we wear lots of dif...2017-10-0215 minListen Learn Lead05: HS Teachers as Students
SHOW NOTES
Our two guests are Melissa Nies and Jon Bach. When this episode was recorded, Melissa and Jon both worked at West High School in Iowa City. They reflect on their experience of shadowing students for a day.
Key Points
Relationships: Developing and fostering relationships with our students are critical to ensuring learning experiences that meet the needs and styles of the diverse learners we interact with on a daily basis.
Effective/Efficient Instruction: It is important that we utilize formative assessments to continually refine and adapt instru...2017-09-0125 minListen Learn Lead04: Jr. High Teacher as Student
SHOW NOTES
Mary Morrison is a personal development teacher at Southeast Junior High for 7th and 8th grade students. Southeast Junior High is part of the Iowa City Community School District in Iowa City, Iowa.
DEPOSITS IN THE BANK
Making connections and building relationships with students is a critical component of teaching. As George Corous stated in the Innovator's Mindset, "Innovation will never happen in education if we do not first focus on relationships."
Deposits in the Bank
Positive interactions with students
Allow for withdrawals2017-06-0120 minListen Learn Lead03: Jr. High Principal as Student
Michelle Cook who is the principal at Southeast Junior High in Iowa City, IA shared her experience of shadowing a student for a day.
3 QUESTIONS TO ASK
Many teachers don't have the luxury of time to shadow a student for a day. However, there are many ways to solicit feedback from students to get a perspective of their learning. Whether using a Google Form or sticky notes, try asking these three questions:
1) What should I stop doing?
2) What should I keep doing?
3) What should I start doing?
2017-05-1621 minListen Learn Lead02: Elementary Principal As Student
Eric Ewald who is a principal at Van Allen Elementary in North Liberty, IA, shared his experience of shadowing a student for a day.
Alice Keeler Quote
"If your complaining about your students, change your lesson plans."
Eric's Top 3 Twitter Recommendations
Adam Welcome
Pernille Ripp
George Couros
Eric's Top 3ish Book Recommendations
Hacking Leadership by 2017-05-0223 minListen Learn Lead01: Teacher as Elementary Student
With teachers wearing so many hats, it can be easy to lose sight of what life might be like as a student. Spending the day as a student is a great way to provide authentic insight into what elements bring joy to learning and which might provide some challenges. We were able to catch up with Patrick Snyder at Garner Elementary in North Liberty, IA. Patrick serves as an Instructional Design Strategist for Garner, but had the opportunity to become a first grade student for a day.
NEXT EPISODE:
Episode 02 will feature Eri...2017-04-1413 min