Teachers on Fire

Have you ever made statements like this? I’m not an artist. I’m just not a tech person. I’m not really a writer. Most of us have. But a closer look at what these statements imply should make us think twice. Welcome to SPARKS: mini-segments intended to spark your thinking and ignite your practice. These short episodes are based on my written reflections, which you can find on the Teachers on Fire M...

KELLIE BAHRI is a 5th grade teacher who is is committed to making a difference. She’s a supporter of the Sustainable Development Goals, a member of Nohea Kindreds, an Agent 4 Agency, and a co-founder of the @CrazyPLN. She’s also the cohost of the EDU Exchange Pod podcast. Follow Kellie … On Twitter @KBahri5 ( https://twitter.com/Kbahri5 ) On Instagram @KBahri6 ( https://www.instagram.com/kbahri6/...

Here’s what happens when we treat grades as wages: 1️⃣ Teachers try to grade EVERYTHING 2️⃣ Teachers feel compelled to give marks for effort 3️⃣ Teachers put zeroes in gradebooks 4️⃣ Quantity > quality 5️⃣ Bonus marks distort the assessment picture Welcome to SPARKS: mini-segments intended to spark your thinking and ignite your practice. These short episodes are based on my written reflections,...

WENDY TURNER is a 2nd grade teacher and the 2017 Delaware Teacher of the Year. She is interested in trauma-informed practices, global education, social-emotional learning, and works to spark empathy in education. Follow Wendy … On Twitter @MrsWendyTurner ( @MrsWendyMTurner ) On Facebook @2017DETOY ( https://www.facebook.com/2017DETOY ) On LinkedIn at Wendy Turner ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/wend...

When parents make the decision to take their children on family vacation during school days, should they ask their children's teachers for homework for the road? In this episode, you'll hear my five reasons why I think vacation homework is a bad idea. Welcome to SPARKS: mini-segments intended to spark your thinking and ignite your practice. These short episodes are based on my written reflections,...

JULIA FLISS is a 6th grade ELA teacher, activist, world changer, Sustainable Development Goals Ambassador, lifelong learner, creative, and yogi. She’s an encourager, amplifier, networker, lifelong learner, and she’s passionate about leveraging education to make the planet a better place for learners of all ages. Follow Julia … On Twitter @JuliaFliss ( https://twitter.com/JuliaFliss ) On Instagram...

Do you ever sit with your students? How does it affect the learning environment? Welcome to SPARKS: mini-segments intended to spark your thinking and ignite your practice. These short episodes are based on my written reflections, which you can find on the Teachers on Fire Magazine at Medium.com. Read the blog post featured in this episode at https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire/why-we-should-sit-wi...

ANDREW CANLE is an Assistant Principal at Shaw Avenue School in Valley Stream, New York. He’s a three-time champion coach NBA Math Hoops, a program that engages students in math and social-emotional learning through the game of basketball. And most recently, he’s the creator of the #EDUCanle podcast! Follow Andrew … On Twitter @AJCanle ( https://twitter.com/AJCanle ) On his podcast at https://anch...

Welcome to SPARKS: mini-segments intended to spark your thinking and ignite your practice. These short episodes are based on my written reflections, which you can find on the Teachers on Fire Magazine at Medium.com. Read the blog post featured in this episode at https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire/assessment-should-be-a-conversation-6de77e710c9d . My name is Tim Cavey, and I’m proud to contribute...

CHANEL JOHNSON is a STEMinist, an ASCD Emerging Leader, published author, K-12 Math and Science Program Specialist, instructional tech coach, and keynote presenter based in Atlanta, Georgia. Follow Chanel … On Twitter @DC_STEMtastic ( https://twitter.com/DC_STEMtastic ) On Instagram @DC_STEMtastic ( https://www.instagram.com/dc_stemtastic/ ) Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes...

Welcome to SPARKS: mini-segments intended to spark your thinking and ignite your practice. These short episodes are based on my written reflections, which you can find on the Teachers on Fire Magazine at Medium.com. Read the blog post featured in this episode at https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire/shipped-is-better-than-perfect-5f0e4bd03f0c?source=friends_link&sk=c55d462a5ba96e67133581d77ab858...

MARISA THOMPSON is a mom, wife, HS English teacher, professional development facilitator, instructor at the University of San Diego, traveler, and a liver of life! Marisa has done a lot of work on something called the TQE Method, a process that leads students through the generation of Thoughts, Questions, and Epiphanies gleaned from their reading of texts and is followed by organic engagement and...

Welcome to SPARKS: mini-segments intended to spark your thinking and ignite your practice. These short episodes are based on my written reflections, which you can find on the Teachers on Fire Magazine at Medium.com. Read the blog post featured in this episode at https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire/12-google-classroom-hacks-to-start-using-today-d9c067fac4fb . Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at h...

CHRISTINE YOUNGHUSBAND is passionate about teaching and learning and the role of leadership in enhancing the student learning experience in K-12 and in higher education. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2017 from Simon Fraser University (SFU) and is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) in the B.Ed. Teacher Education Program and...

Welcome to SPARKS: mini-segments intended to spark your thinking and ignite your practice. These short episodes are based on my written reflections which you can find on the Teachers on Fire Magazine at Medium.com. Read the blog post featured in this episode at https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire/model-that-metacognition-5a527be679dd . Get the Seesaw activity mentioned here at https://bit.ly/30qH0...

KRISTIN MERRILL is a fourth grade teacher in Florida who specializes in language arts and strives to make lessons interactive through engagement and the use of ed tech. She and her husband make a dynamic duo in primary education and recently published a book, The Interactive Class: Using Technology to Make Learning More Relevant and Engaging in the Elementary Classroom ( https://amzn.to/3a1VTN6 )....

Welcome to SPARKS: mini-segments intended to spark your thinking and ignite your practice. These short episodes are based on my written reflections which you can find on the Teachers on Fire Magazine at Medium.com. Read the blog post at https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire/my-one-word-for-2020-write-e42db52639a6 . Song Track Credits: Sunrise Drive by South London Hifi Species by Diamond Ortiz Jane...

CAITLIN KRAUSE is a learning and design specialist, education leader, keynote speaker, and an authority on VR, AR, and AI. She is also the author of Mindful by Design: A Practical Guide for Cultivating Aware, Advancing, and Authentic Learning Experiences ( https://amzn.to/2O051ry ). Follow Caitlin on Twitter @MindWise_CK ( https://twitter.com/MindWise_CK ), on Instagram @mindwise_ck ( https://www....

JONATHAN ALSHEIMER is a family man, 7th grade teacher, keynote speaker, and the author of #NextLevelTeaching: Empowering Students and Transforming School Culture. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @Mr_Alsheimer ( https://twitter.com/mr_Alsheimer ) and on Instagram @Mr_Alsheimer ( https://www.instagram.com/mr_alsheimer/ ). Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episod...

JULIANNE ROSS-KLEINMANN is passionate about instructional technology to support teaching and learning, sharing what she’s learned with others, and community service -- her focus for over 30 years as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Inc. Julianne formally started teaching technology and became an ISTE member in the 1990s. She’s a frequent presenter at conferences and schools on topics including techno...

DR. JENNIFER PIERATT is an educator, mom, speaker, coach, and project-based learning nerd. She offers tips, tools, and inspiration for Project Based Learning and is the author of three books, including Keep It Real With PBL, Secondary: A Practical Guide for Planning Project-Based Learning . You can connect with Jenny ... On Twitter @crafted_jennyp  ( https://twitter.com/crafted_jennyp ) On In...

DANIEL BAUER is on a mission to unlock the potential of global school leaders. He’s a speaker and the host of the Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast. He’s also the author of The Better Leaders Better Schools Roadmap: Small Ideas that Lead to Big Impact, published in 2018. In our conversation, Daniel describes the challenges leaders can face when trying to initiate organizational changes. He sha...

ABIGAIL FRENCH is a mother of four, a teacher of sixth graders, an advocate of public education, and an explorer of the natural world in Woodstock, VA. In our conversation, Abby recalls the how and why behind the jaw-dropping snake capture video pinned to the top of her Twitter feed. She describes the challenges she experienced when she returned to the classroom after a long hiatus, and discusses...

Dr. DOUGLAS FISHER is a Professor of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High & Middle College. He is a member of the California Reading Hall of Fame and is the recipient of an International Reading Association Celebrate Literacy Award, the Farmer award for excellence in writing from the National Council of Teachers of English, and the C...

VERNON WRIGHT is an education leader, administrator, speaker, host, editor, coach, and consultant. He’s a voice for the people, he pours into relationships, and he lives to serve, motivate, and inspire others in authentic ways. In our conversation, Vernon recalls a delicate situation of having to coach an administrator above him who was simply not visible and not a leader of action. He defines the...