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How can we help students reduce test anxiety and improve how they perform on tests? We searched for strategies and discoverd some effective approaches. We reviewed 12 strategies and discussed why they work. Follow on Twitter: @juliacookonline @AggieAshley @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd. Julia Cook, a former teacher and school counselor, has presented in over 3,000 schools worldwide. She regularly delivers keynote addresses at national and international education and counseling conferences, speaks to corporate audiences, and has 139 published children’s books. The goal behind all of Julia’s books and efforts is to actively involve young people in her fun and creative stories and teach them to become lifelong problem solvers. Inspirations for her books come from working with children and carefully listening to parents and teachers. Ashley Eberhart is in her 11th year of teaching as a Spanish Teacher at Round Rock High School in Round Rock, Texas. She serves as the Vice President for the Texas Foreign Language Association and the Austin Area Chairperson for the Texas A&M Hispanic Network. Ashley has presented from the campus level all the way to the national level on various topics such as SEL classroom strategies, building relationships in the virtual space, and implementing authentic resources for World Languages to advance interpretive proficiency. When she’s not in teacher mode, she spends time with her husband and teenage son and enjoys cooking, baking, traveling, blogging, and helping in the Texas BBQ Community.

In this episode, we return to the topic of what new teachers wished they knew when they first had a mentor and became one later on. We discuss the challenges and experiences of new teachers highlighting the unexpected responsibilities such as curriculum planning, parent communication, and professional development. The discussion provides practical advice for new teachers and those who mentor and are being mentored. Follow on Twitter: @MentorinAction @sgthomas1973@bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Carol Pelletier Radford is the founder of Mentoring in Action, an organization dedicated to supporting beginning teachers and their mentors. She is an experienced teacher, university administrator, and certified yoga instructor. She believes the best form of professional learning is when teachers share their craft knowledge and wisdom with each other. She is the author of When I Started Teaching, I Wish I Had Known, Rachel Palumbo is a 24-year-old passionate educator in her second year of teaching, dedicated to nurturing young minds as a 4th-grade teacher. Her approach revolves around child-centered teaching and a strong emphasis on childhood literacy, aiming to empower all students to reach their fullest potential. She firmly believes in the power of inclusion, diversity, and unlocking each student’s creative potential to create a supportive and thriving learning environment.

We invited two second-year teachers to talk about what they learned during year one and what they wished they had known to prepare them for year two. Follow on Twitter: @sgthomas1973@bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Nivene Hutchins is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University and has become licensed to teach preschool through fifth grade here in Ohio. She is in her second year as a third-grade teacher! She has a true passion for grades 3-5 and has been loving every minute she has spent at school this year. She lives for those lightbulb moments students have when they figure out something they have been struggling with. Ashley Wix is a second-year 3rd grade teacher in Gwinnett County! She attended the University of Georgia where she received her Bachelors and Masters in Elementary Education. When she’s not teaching, she loves to read, go to concerts, spend time with her dog, Milo, and be with family!

As we head back to school, we pause for a quick mindset audit to identify the attitudes we want to build on and those we want to tweak for the new school year. Follow on Twitter: @Angela Watson @sgthomas1973 @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork. Angela Watson is a National Board Certified Teacher with a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She has 11 years of classroom experience and over a decade of experience as an instructional coach. Angela created a website in 2003 to share practical classroom ideas and help other educators build a positive mindset to truly enjoy their work. Angela has written five books and her site now impacts over 8 million educators annually and rereleased book AWAKENED CHANGE YOUR MINDSET TO TRANSFORM YOUR TEACHING (Second Edition).

Many of us were consumed with teaching when ChatGPT entered the scene last year, so we had little available attention to give it.  The impact of this tool and other forms of generative AI has grown since then, and now it's essential to know the basics before we head back to school this term. Follow on Twitter: @Angela_Watson  @sgthomas1973 @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Angela Watson is a National Board Certified Teacher with a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She has 11 years of classroom experience and over a decade of experience as an instructional coach. Angela created a website in 2003 to share practical classroom ideas and help other educators build a positive mindset to truly enjoy their work.  Angela has written five books and her site now impacts over 8 million educators annually.

Many students see math as confusing, frustrating, or irrelevant, making the subject difficult to learn and teach. This problem is even more challenging in early grades. Our guests share how they are using ChatGPT to create more relatable math stories that engage students, help them learn the language of math, and provide personalized support for struggling students. Follow on Twitter: @bobsonwong @leveragingAIedu @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Deborah Cleveland is an instructional designer from Des Moines, Iowa. As a middle school teacher, she loved leveraging innovative ideas into her classroom to enhance student experiences. She has taken that passion and is now working to design timely and relevant learning opportunities for educators that are focused on leveling up classroom experiences. Recently, she has been been working scaling the Agile mindset and the scrum framework across educational systems, learning about AI, and studying the role that neuroplasticity can have in the classroom. Bobson Wong has taught high school math in New York City public schools since 2005. He is the co-author of The Math Teacher’s Toolbox and Practical Algebra: A Self-Teaching Guide and was the 2022 winner of the Math for America Muller Award for Professional Influence in Education.

There are two times during the school year when managing student behavior is more challenging; the last month is one of them.  What have we learned about helping and guiding students through the last month of school that we can carry forward to next term? Follow on Twitter: @copingkids @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Janine Halloran is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who has been working with children, teens, and their families for 20 years. She has been helping children and teens build their coping skills throughout her career in a variety of settings, including schools, mental health clinics, and in her private practice. She founded Coping Skills for Kids to help children and teens learn healthy and safe ways to manage big feelings. She has written several books, including the bestselling Coping Skills for Kids Workbook, the Coping Skills for Teens Workbook, and the Social Skills for Kids Workbook. She is also the host of the Calm & Connected Podcast. Her work has been featured in the Boston Globe, CNN, Huffington Post, and The Skimm® Newsletter. Janine lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two children. Nivene Hutchins is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University and has become licensed to teach preschool through fifth grade here in Ohio. She is a brand new third-grade teacher! She has a true passion for grades 3-5 and has been loving every minute she has spent at school this year. She lives for those lightbulb moments students have when they figure out something they have been struggling with.

The full potential of ChatGPT and generative AI is available to those who know how to communicate with these tools effectively. What must we understand to teach these new skills to students with learning disabilities? Follow on Twitter: @sgthomas1973 @fromrooma212 @profsjohnson@attipscast @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Susan D. Johnson, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Special Education at Mercyhurst University and Director of Undergraduate Education. Dr. Johnson specializes in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders, emotional and behavioral disorders of children, and function-based interventions in natural environments. Her scholarly interests coalesce around instructional design and development of pedagogical best practices for students with severe disabilities, in addition to analyzing the link between delinquency and disability in the juvenile justice system. Her national and international level presentations have addressed using diverse clinical experiences to transform teacher education and literacy instruction for students with severe disabilities. Christopher Bugaj is a founding member of the Assistive Technology Team for Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia. He hosts “The A.T.TIPSCAST,” a multiple award-winning podcast featuring strategies to design educational experiences. He also co-hosts the “Talking With Tech” podcast that features conversations about augmentative and alternative communication. Bugaj is the creator of ATEval2Go, an iPad app that helps education professionals perform technology assessments for students. He co-produces and co-authors the “Night Light Stories” podcast that features original stories for children. A frequent presenter, he has delivered over 300 live or digital sessions at local, regional national and international events. He has designed and taught online ISTE courses on assistive technology and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). He has also co-written or written multiple ISTE books, including The Practical (and Fun) Guide to Assistive Technology in Public Schools and The New Assistive Tech. Ann Stiltner is a high school special education teacher. She received a master’s degree in special education from the University of Hartford and a certificate of advanced studies in literacy from Sacred Heart University. She writes the blog from Room A212 (annstiltner.com/blog).

Special education teachers have used AI to instruct students with disabilities for many years. However, generative AI adds new possibilities and new challenges. This discussion explores what we’re learning about using ChatGPT with students who learn differently. Follow on Twitter: @sgthomas1973 @fromrooma212 @profsjohnson@attipscast @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Susan D. Johnson, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Special Education at Mercyhurst University and Director of Undergraduate Education. Dr. Johnson specializes in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders, emotional and behavioral disorders of children, and function-based interventions in natural environments. Her scholarly interests coalesce around instructional design and development of pedagogical best practices for students with severe disabilities, in addition to analyzing the link between delinquency and disability in the juvenile justice system. Her national and international level presentations have addressed using diverse clinical experiences to transform teacher education and literacy instruction for students with severe disabilities. Christopher Bugaj is a founding member of the Assistive Technology Team for Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia. He hosts “The A.T.TIPSCAST,” a multiple award-winning podcast featuring strategies to design educational experiences. He also co-hosts the “Talking With Tech” podcast that features conversations about augmentative and alternative communication. Bugaj is the creator of ATEval2Go, an iPad app that helps education professionals perform technology assessments for students. He co-produces and co-authors the “Night Light Stories” podcast that features original stories for children. A frequent presenter, he has delivered over 300 live or digital sessions at local, regional national and international events. He has designed and taught online ISTE courses on assistive technology and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). He has also co-written or written multiple ISTE books, including The Practical (and Fun) Guide to Assistive Technology in Public Schools and The New Assistive Tech. Ann Stiltner is a high school special education teacher. She received a master’s degree in special education from the University of Hartford and a certificate of advanced studies in literacy from Sacred Heart University. She writes the blog from Room A212 (annstiltner.com/blog).

Teaching English as a second language has its unique joys and challenges. But when a teacher has to teach ESL students English and other subjects, their job requires more. We’ve asked two educators who have spent a lot of time figuring out the best ways to teach English and other subjects who are learning English to share what they’ve learned — the most significant difficulties and the most successful methods. Follow on Twitter: @DebbieZacarian @VMSimmons10 @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Debbie Zacarian provides professional development and policy analyses for educators of culturally and linguistically diverse populations. An expert consultant for school districts, universities, and organizations, she served the Massachusetts Parent Information Resource Center and Federation for Children with Special Needs. With advanced degrees in clinical psychology and educational policy and research, she’s written over 100 publications including Transforming Schools for Multilingual Learners: A comprehensive Guide for Educators. Vivian Micolta Simmons was born in Cali, Colombia, but relocated to the United States in 2013. Vivian is an English as a Second Language and Dual Immersion Lead Teacher for Iredell-Statesville Schools in NC. She holds a Master’s degree in TESOL from Greensboro College and currently finishing her Masters in School Administration with UNC Charlotte.

Every break in the school year requires us to wind our students back up and re-engage them in the learning routines. In this discussion, we exchange practical and proven ways to help students get back into the swing of learning — including real-life examples of what works. It’s all about moving students from chill mode to school mode so they can finish the year well. Follow on Twitter: @bluestein_dr @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Nivene Hutchins is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University and has become licensed to teach preschool through fifth grade here in Ohio. She is a brand new third-grade teacher! She has a true passion for grades 3-5 and has been loving every minute she has spent at school this year. She lives for those lightbulb moments students have when they figure out something they have been struggling with. Dr. Jane Bluestein is an award-winning author whose books include The Win-Win Classroom; The Beginning Teacher’s Survival Guide (formerly Becoming a Win-Win Teacher); Managing 21st Century Classrooms; Creating Emotionally Safe Schools; High School’s Not Forever; Parents, Teens, & Boundaries; The Parent’s Little Book of Lists: Do’s and Don’ts of Effective Parenting; Mentors, Masters, and Mrs. McGregor: Stories of Teachers Making a Difference; and Magic, Miracles & Synchronicity : A Journal of Gratitude and Awareness. Dr. Bluestein’s latest book is The Perfection Deception: Why Trying to Be Perfect is Sabotaging Your Relationships, Making You Sick, and Holding Your Happiness Hostage. Formerly a classroom teacher (in inner-city Pittsburgh, PA), crisis-intervention counselor, teacher training program coordinator, and volunteer with high-risk teens at a local Day Treatment Program.

Many school librarians are exploring how they can use ChatGPT and generative AI to support teaching, learning, research, and creativity.  We invited three librarians to share their early discoveries and some innovative ways they are using this rapidly expanding technology. Follow on Twitter: @joycevalenza @aelissmalespina@lucasjmaxwell @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Joyce Valenza is Associate Professor, at Rutgers University, SC&I and wrote the NeverendingSearch Blog for School Library Journal (now on hiatus), and contributes to several other library and tech publications. She speaks globally about the thoughtful use of technology in learning and the power of librarians to lead. Joyce was honored with the American Association of School Librarians' Distinguished Service Award and named an AASL Social Media Leadership Luminary. She is a Milken Educator and an American Memory Fellow. Joyce earned her doctorate in information science from the University of North Texas. Lucas Maxwell has been working with youth in libraries for fifteen years. He currently works as a school librarian in South London, UK. In 2017 he was named the UK's School Librarian of the Year, and in 2022, he was called the UK's Reading for Pleasure Champion by the UK's Literacy Association. Elissa Malespina is the librarian at Union High School in Union, NJ, and serves as a Board of Education Member for the South Orange - Maplewood School District, where she has been instrumental in helping to pass policies that strengthen the district's commitment to have diverse resources and materials available to all students. Elissa is at the forefront of using Web 2.0 resources and tools like Augmented Reality to make the experience in my library more interactive. Her work has been featured in NPR, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and the PBS Documentary Film School Sleuth: The Case of The Wired Classroom. *The views expressed by Malespina do not represent her employer.