Classroom Q and A

Music can be a powerful medium for reaching and teaching students. Join us as we look at good reasons and great ways to connect music to learning objectives. Follow on Twitter: @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork @Edufacey @saramlev @Rachelle Dene Poth @Jenschwanke @alycia_owen Denise Fawcett Facey was a classroom teacher for more than two decades and now writes on education issues. Among her books, T...

Many teachers have now been engaged in remote learning from three to six weeks. What have we learned so far? What, if anything, would we do differently? Follow on Twitter: @elvisepps @MrsLeonENL @ashlm_12 @barberchicago @jonHarper70bd@larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork Ashley McCall serves as a 3rd grade bilingual English/Language Arts teacher at César Chávez Multicultural Arts Center on the southwest...

The data is clear, movement supports learning. Yet, "sit-and-get" teaching and learning continue to dominate our traditional and virtual classrooms. Follow on Twitter: @ValentinaESL @JennyVo15 @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork Valentina Gonzalez is a Professional Development Specialist for ELLs in Katy, Texas and taught multiple grades as well as serving K-5 as an ESL specialty teacher and district...

Many teachers have now been engaged in remote learning from three to six weeks.  What have we learned so far? What, if anything, would we do differently? Follow on Twitter: @elvisepps @MrsLeonENL @ashlm_12 @barberchicago @ @larryferlazzo @Ashley McCall serves as a 3rd grade bilingual English/Language Arts teacher at César Chávez Multicultural Arts Center on the southwest side of Chicago and serves...

How does background knowledge make learning stick? How do we connect our learning objectives to what students already know, care about, and grasp? How can we activate background knowledge when teaching remotely? Follow on Twitter: @larryferlazzo @ReadDRjwilhelm @adamfachler@Elizabe93434127 @cherylabla At McREL International, Cheryl Abla, MA, trains and coaches K–12 teachers and school leaders on e...

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 fo...

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 Wis...

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...

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...

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...

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 cu...

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 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...

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 wel...

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...

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 deca...

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 Po...

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...

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 o...

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...

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 Uta...

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 Schoo...

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 (JCP...

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...

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, an...