How We Teach This

Jamil Siddiqui, an inductee in the Class of 2020 to the National Teachers Hall of Fame shares stories about those that have made a significant difference in his life and inspires other teachers to show passion in their work to make a difference for the next generation. Siddiqui explains how his students came to know his previous math teacher as their Grand Teacher. 

Part 2 Panel Discussion about the KS Teacher Retention Initiative Listen as guests with different roles in education share how they have learned from the recent Kansas Teachers Retention Initiative Survey. These education professionals looked at the data and made decisions based on what they learned from their own district data. The panel also discusses the bigger picture of keeping quality teache...

Robert Fenster , a high school history teacher, explains strategies that he has found effective for increasing critical thinking with discussion and choice. Bob is recognized in The National Teachers Hall of Fame , class of 2022.

Listen as guests with different roles in education share how they have learned from the recent Kansas Teachers Retention Initiative Survey. These education professionals looked at the data and made decisions based on what they learned from their own district data. The panel also discusses the bigger picture of keeping quality teachers in the classroom. The following guests participated in the pane...

Jamil Siddiqui, inductee in the Class of 2020 to the National Teachers Hall of Fame shares strategies that he has learned to be effective for his advanced math classes. These strategies could easily be implemented in any subject matter. He teaches his students more than math; he teaches them to effectively communicate.

Melissa Gerleman, an instructor at Emporia State University, and Susan Severin , a School Psychologist, talk about their experience with Social Emotional Learning in an interview with a guest host, Clara Eldridge , a student in The Teachers College at Emporia State University. They discuss the benefits of training teachers with The Jason Foundation in suicide prevention and other challenges they'v...

Robert Fenster , a high school History teacher, shares his experiences in learning how to effectively teach and connect with students, especially those that are in underrepresented minority groups. Bob is recognized in The National Teachers Hall of Fame , class of 2022. He explains how teaching in New Jersey, which is supportive of Culturally Responsive Teachers, has impacted his ability to teach...

Diana Mendoza, Director of ESOL and Diversity, and Susanne Stevenson , ESOL Instructional Coach, both at Dodge City Public Schools, give examples of Biography Driven Instruction and explain why it is important to have a Culturally Relevant Classroom. Susanne Stevenson is also recognized as the 2022 Kansas Teacher of the Year . Listen to this episode to better understand how educators can help fami...

Dr. Jim Persinger , Professor of Psychology at Emporia State University, gives data to show that schools are actually safer now than they were in the 1980s. Instead of focusing on mass shootings, schools need to be implementing suicide prevention programs. Dr. Persinger gives hope in understanding that there are specific strategies that can be implemented with research showing they can make a diff...

Diana Mendoza, Director of ESOL and Diversity, and Susanne Stevenson, ESOL Instructional Coach. both at Dodge City Public Schools, share how they help students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds overcome the natural barriers that exist to getting a quality education. Susanne Stevenson is also recognized as the 2022 Kansas Teacher of the Year. Listen to this episode to better un...

Dr. Jim Persinger , Professor of Psychology at Emporia State University, explains how ideas that are commonly thought about school violence are often incorrect. One misconception is that school shootings come without warning. Dr. Persinger explains the data collected by the Secret Service regarding school violence and provides hope for educators that there are things we can control that make a dif...

Todd Roberts , Director of Kansas Future Teacher Academy (KFTA) shares the experience of 60+ high school students who participated in the summer of 2022. The participants toured a one-room school house and learned about many teaching strategies including best practices in project-based learning.

Dr. Stephen Sroka , Class of 1996 Inductee into the National Teachers Hall of Fame, shares strategies that guide teachers in ways they can have a positive impact on their school culture for no cost. Instead of investing in metal detectors and expensive systems, Dr. Sroka talks about the Four Things to Create a Safer Classroom, plus many more thoughts and ideas.

The National Teachers Hall of Fame 's mission is "to recognize and honor exceptional career teachers, encourage excellence in teaching, and preserve the rich heritage of the teaching profession in the United States." The class of 2022 inductees were on campus at Emporia State University in June 2022 for induction into NTHF, housed at Emporia State. In this podcast episode, these experienced teache...

Dr. Ken Weaver and Carol Strickland, leaders in education and professionals associated with the National Teachers Hall of Fame, the Fallen Educators Memorial, and The Teacher College at Emporia State University, share what they have learned from the stories behind the names of those listed on the National Memorial to Fallen Educators.

Be sure to subscribe to How We Teach This on your favorite podcast platform as our Season 5 explores the difficult topic of promoting school safety and preventing violence. The first episode in the mini-series will drop on August 31st, Wednesday.

Empowering students as creators through Open Educational Resources (OER) is discussed by Lee Miller and Josh Bolick , experts in OER, in OER in the latest episode of How We Teach This from The Teachers College at Emporia State University. They share how not only can professors in higher education but also teachers in K-12 can improve teaching and learning by utilizing the concept of open education...

Lee Miller and Josh Bolick , experts in OER, spend a lot of time helping others navigate the emerging strategy of OER for their classrooms. In this episode, they discuss the value students find in OER and the advantages instructors may discover using OER. Listen to learn about what the copyright symbols mean and get many resources to start your search.

Dr. Dustin Springer, Principal of Gray Hawk Elementary in USD 458 Basehor-Linwood in Kansas, inspires teachers to change their mindset from one of punishment to understanding children with behavior issues. He gives examples of amygdala reset stations and how creating connections with students creates a climate that improves behavior. He describes holding a student accountable for actions but not a...

Who is your teacher foremother or forefather? Your “grandteacher”? Teacher lineage was a topic introduced by the NTHF 2020 inductees as they discussed who was their inspiration and who they have inspired and hope to continue inspiring. Guests included: Andrew Beiter, a Springville (NY) Middle School eighth grade social studies teacher; Melissa Collins, a second grade teacher at John P. Freeman Opt...

Dr. Bret Church, assistant professor at Emporia State University and co-researcher of the Kansas Teacher Retention Initiative, shares the results from a survey of 50% of the educators in Kansas.  They were questioned on three key areas: satisfaction, engagement in the profession, and future intentions.  Districts can analyze their own data and overall stakeholders can lear...

Part 2 of the interview between student, Hailey Kisner, and Michael McKnight, author and special education expert, delves even deeper into the importance of creating connections with students. He shares about how having solid, positive relationships is powerful for teachers. Creating quality relationships is critical to having a successful outcome, especially for students exposed to trauma. He off...

Travis True, Curriculum & Technology Coordinator for Topeka Public Schools and Google Educator Certified Trainer, gives an overview of recent changes in technology in education and advice for teachers who want to become more efficient at using technology without spending a lot of time trying to learn new software or hardware.

Dr. Lori Desautels, author and education expert, explains how early trauma impacts a student's ability to regulate and learn. She has written several books about her experience working with students with challenging behaviors. She shares how addiction is a form of a learning disorder as a reaction to pain. Teachers and parents can look at the acronym "A SECRET" to identify the causes of behaviors...

Jordan Billings, Instructor for Olathe Public Schools, shares strategies and steps on how to get started for educators who are interested in adding elements of gamification into their classrooms. Gamification can improve engagement and add some fun back into the classroom.