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Send us Fan Mail Does the communication in your classroom or school promote dignity? This is a problem that that the organization UNITE is working to solve. In this episode Karren Minalga discusses the Dignity Index and shares how educators can create a classroom climate that promotes dignity and helps build a classroom culture that promotes belonging, connection, and achievement.  Links: Dignity Index Dr. Donna Hicks (mentioned in episode)

Send us Fan Mail Policy researcher Weade' James shares research that she and her colleagues at the Center for American Progress conducted regarding new teacher induction programs. In this episode we discuss the findings of her research and what supports new and experienced teachers should receive from induction programs.

Send us Fan Mail Cheryl Randle is an instructional specialist helping teachers and administrators support students. In this conversation she shares how she approaches finding the clues to help teachers motivate students. Cheryl's website

Send us Fan Mail No student ever was successful without developing self-regulation skills, which is harder than ever for students to develop. In this conversation, Danielle Larsen shares how she teaches yoga in the classroom specifically to promote and develop self-regulation within students. We discuss how she approaches her work and Danielle shares some tips for teachers. Rise Yoga-Danielle Larsen's website

Send us Fan Mail In the second part of our series on building communities of practice around social emotional learning through the Social Emotional Learning Alliance, we share a conversation with Megan Lyons and Beth Rice. Megan and Beth joined with a group of educators in North Carolina to form the Social Emotional Learning Alliance for North Carolina or SEL 4NC. In this episode they share the work that the Alliance is conducting in North Carolina, telling how they got started in 2023 to their current (and future) work. Links: SEL4NC website

Send us Fan Mail Jim Vetter the executive director of the Social Emotional Learning Alliance for the United States-SEL4US- shares how this collection of state alliances supports classroom teachers and schools to develop and promote strong social emotional learning initiatives. This is the first of a two part series featuring the work of educators within SEL 4US. Links https://sel4us.org/ Social Emotional Learning Alliance for the US website https://sel4us.org/in-your-state/ State alliance websites

Send us Fan Mail Does your school's detention program do little to teach students how to make better choices in the future? Many do because detention is not used as a learning opportunity. In this episode Leslie Trundy shares how talking students on a hike as an alternative to after school detention actually works as a teaching opportunity and changes detention from punishment to community building.  Links Outdoor Skills Leadership class mentioned in episode Maine Public Media story about detention hikes

Send us Fan Mail Aspen Institute Senior Fellow Laura Schifter shares about her work at This Is Planet Ed-part of the Aspen Institute's Energy and Environment Program. This Is Planet Ed an initiative to unlock the power of education as a force for climate solutions to empower the rising generation to lead a sustainable and resilient future. In this conversation we discuss why learning about climate action should be part of the content in all classes and we'll share some actionable ideas for classrooms and schools.  Links: This Is Planet Ed Laura Schifter, Ed.D.  Subject to Climate - teacher resources

Send us Fan Mail It's happened to all of us we have to teach grammar and our teeth clench because we hate it. Almost all teachers have some writing instruction, but the grammar lessons remind us of all the red ink on our own papers when we were in school-so we find work arounds and avoid. In this episode Patty McGee, co-author of the new book Not Your Granny's Grammar, shares that it doesn't have to be like that. Links Patty’s website Not Your Granny’s Grammar book from Corwin Press

Send us Fan Mail School-based nature educator Kyra Stephenson shares how she developed the nature-based learning program at her school in New York and shares stories about how this program promotes learning with her students.  Links from episode Children & Nature Network Resources for Schools Nature Mind Solutions website Rochester Ecology Partners website-partner organization mentioned in episode

Send us Fan Mail Christina Cipriano led a research team that studied over 250 social emotional learning programs worldwide again demonstrating that SEL is effective and essential to promote positive outcomes for all students. In this conversation we discuss why SEL is so important and how your school should approach developing daily, quality SEL interventions for students and why every teacher must intentionally work to promote SEL with all students. Links  Christina Cipriano’s website Yale Child Study Center Yale Education Collaboratory - site for ongoing SEL data updates and additional research

Send us Fan Mail Anne Podolsky of the Learning Policy Institute shares the latest research trends in effective teacher professional learning. Some of the findings-particularly on learning environments for experienced teachers may be surprising. What is not surprising is that the collegial professional learning environment of a school has a huge effect on student academic and social emotional learning.  Links discussed in conversation Think Again: Do the Returns on Teacher Experience Fizzle Out? research brief by Anne Podolsky and Linda Darling-Hammond published by The Fordham Institute  Learning Policy Institute blog

Send us Fan Mail National Teacher of the Year for 2024-2025 Missy Testerman uses her position to advocate for the teaching profession. In this conversation, she shares how even in times of stress and upheaval there is great joy and positivity in the education profession. Links RAND study on teacher stress Earlier Rand study on teacher stress Neurolaunch editorial on professional stress

Send us Fan Mail She taught, she founded schools, she was published widely, she demonstrated that women and girls could achieve academically at the same levels as men and boys. She became one of the most famous women of her time in the 19th century. Yet, almost none of us have ever heard of Catharine Beecher (even those who know of her famous younger sister). In this episode biographer R. Lee Wilson shares the story of one of the most influential educators that you have never heard of and why he believes you should know how Catharine Beecher changed American education for the better. Links Lee Wilson’s website Lee Wilson author page on Goodreads Catharine Beecher background at PBS

Send us Fan Mail At both the local and national levels PBS stations are facing serious challenges. Yet, they keep providing some of the most helpful and robust resources for educators. In this conversation local PBS educator Robyn Stringfellow shares how PBS stations support the work of teachers-and will continue to do so in the future! Links WTCI TV Chattanooga-the local PBS station we discuss PBS Kids website  PBS Learning Media website-specific for Tennessee teachers, may need to change for your location PBS Supporting Teachers-informational website