Teaching Learning Leading K-12

  I have a unique opportunity right now. I am overseeing the repurposing of an elementary school that was originally built in the 60's. It is now becoming an education training center. The other day, I peered into one of the old classrooms and it was empty- completely empty. No desks, tables, chairs, closets, bookcases, bulletin boards, whiteboards, shades, blinds, cabinets, or sinks. Nothing. Bare walls. No carpeting. Nothing. Seeing the empty space it made me think...what would I want to put in this physical space. It was overwhelming at first but then my brain started working. Today the show is about what you would put in the physical space. By the way, I ask you to forget technology right now and just focus on the furniture. So what would be important to you if a magic genie came along and gave you three wishes to fill this room to get ready to work with the kids?  What would you wish for? Thanks for listening. Checkout Episode 144 for my talk about 11 Wants for My Ideal Classroom Length: 13:58

With all of the focus on superheroes, I thought that I would reflect on those individuals who made a difference in my life. They are my superheroes. They all had something in common. They ... 1. Believed in me 2. Encouraged me 3. Pushed me. So how about you? Do you have superheroes in your life? Do you have those people who believed in you, encouraged you, and pushed you? They made a difference in your life, right? Let's take it to the next level,  can you promise to take that step this school year and believe, encourage, and push? Promise. Take the challenge. Do it and you will make a difference in someone else. Thanks for listening.   Length: 29:15

3 Ways to Stay in Contact with Parents: 1. Postcards 2. Your Own YouTube Channel 3. Use Google Voice Today, I'm talking about making a promise to use your summer to learn and use a new way to stay in contact with the parents of your students. What do you think? Could you be better at contacting parents and if so could postcards, YouTube, or Google Voice help you? Check out the links below for some help. For More Information: The Frugal Filmaker How to make Videos with Your Phone YouTube Help US Post Office   Length: 18:35

  Apex Fun Run offers the opportunity to fund raise for schools without depending upon traditional "product-based" programs. I don't know about you but as a kid I sold my share of Turtles (the candy not the critter), candy bars like Snickers and Milky Way as well as M&Ms. On top of those items I also sold wrapping paper, Christmas trees, candles, and popcorn. Who knows what else. As a parent, I have experienced these same types of opportunities for my kids to become traveling candy salesmen.    On today's show, I am talking with Jeremy Barnhart, the Co-Owner, VP for Franchise Development, and CFO of Apex Fun Run. This company partners with schools to raise money for equipment and other campus needs. This unique method for raising funds incorporates leadership, character building, and encourages physical fitness.  Another unique aspect of Apex Fun Run is that it offers the opportunity for you to own your own business. Jeremy talks about how "they changed the game of fund raising for schools." He notes that something that makes them so different from product-based fund raising is that in traditional programs "the schools keep somewhere between 20% - 30% of the collected money whereas with Apex Fun Run the schools retain from 52% to 77% of the money." Thanks for listening and make sure that you visit the special page that Jeremy set-up for Teaching Learning Leading K12 listeners. Connect with Jeremy to learn more by going to:  http://apexfunrun.com/tll   Length: 28:35  

Last episode I talked about creating a 9th Grade Transition Program for Kids. This week I am focused on creating a 9th Grade Transition Program for Parents. Today, I'm sharing my 16 ideas for a parent transition program. Do you have one? What would you or do you include? Too often the 9th Grade Transition Program is focused only on the kids, yet the parents need to know how to do things. We always talk about creating a welcoming culture for parents, well make them more comfortable with their kids' school if you bring them in and show them how their child will use the school. But not only that, let them experience the areas of the school that they will need to be familiar with like the attendance office, the bus ramp, and the counselor's office. Think about what you would include with your 9th grade transition program for the parents. Well, what do you think? Are you ready to welcome your 9th grade parents as well as the kids? Length: 20:20

  Do you have a 9th grade transition program for your rising 9th graders? If you don't, you should. If you do, do you have kids help run it? If you don't, you should. Kids don't have all of the answers but they do know what they like and don't like. Many of them will tell you whether the 9th grade program you have is boring, too long, and/or next to useless.   9th grade transition programs should be gameified as much as possible and student led. Now this doesn't mean that there are not adults involved. Oh, no! It simply means that you are going to have a team of adults and kids that work to put the kids in front of the new kids. Not only in front of them but also have them help you design what will happen.   Now remember you are still going to want the media specilaist, 9th grade counselor, and 9th grade teachers involved but you also want the kids to tell you what kids want to know more about coming to the high school for the first time.    For example, have it end at lunch where you feed the kids (maybe pizza), and give them a school t-shirt or goody bag. Make sure that the tour shows them where the lockers are and how to use them. It is great if they can get their locker during this visit. It will increase your numbers attending if you make it known that they will get their lockers. Take the kids to the drop off/pick-up areas. Also make sure that you show them the cafeteria and explain the lines as well as how you get there. Listen to my talk today to get other ideas. Just know that you should create an opportunity for the kids to learn from other, older kids about their new school. It will help create success for your rising 9th graders.   Length: 21:25

  Field trips are important. There is nothing like experiencing something first hand or putting your hands on whatever the content is. Virtual trips are nice for those trips that would be too expensive, but nothing takes the place of being front and center in the content. If you want to know what it is like in a swamp, you need to be there. If you want to get the feel for the power of the large engines that drive a naval battle ship you need to be in that engine room. If you want to feel the past you want to visit an historical or archaelogical site. Field trips are important, but to make them work you have to plan the trip. (Check out episodes 141 and 142 for more information about field trips.)   You have to be organized and plan the trip down to the smallest detail. Afterall, you are responsible for someone else's children.  Today's episode is completely focused on making the trip a success by "sweating the small stuff." Here are my 3 Ideas for Making a Field Trip a Success 1. Be choosey. 2. Design the trip. 3. Keep track of the kids. Field trips are awesome ways of engaging kids and creating better understanding, but you have to address challenges.  Thanks for listening. Happy field trip planning. Check out episodes 141 and 142 for more information about field trips. Length: 27:23

40 Years of Star Wars and School! Wow! Were you there in line on May 25th, 1977? Do you have any favorite memories of any of the Star Wars movies? How about favorite characters or scenes? Let's think about school? Any special memories as a kid or teacher that are connected with school and Star Wars? Looking back at 40 Years of Star Wars and School. Thanks for listening and joining me on this trip down memory lane. By the way, check out the Star Wars related links below.  http://www.starwars.com/ http://www.paletteswapninja.com/music/# (Princess Leia's Stolen Death Star Plans) Muppets' Pigs in Space with Luke Skywalker Donny and Marie Star Wars Episode  What can you get a Wookie for Christmas when he already owns a comb Opening Scene of Star Wars Meco's Star Wars music Length: 21:08

Have you figured out that to help you with the classroom you need to buy stuff that will help you?  Don't get me wrong the school often will have supplies that will help, but to really get a leg up on working with the kids you need to buy stuff. Well, since this is the case the best places to get this stuff is where you will find it for cheaper than at department or retail stores. You know what I am talking about right? Oh, yea... You need to make visiting flea markets. garage sales, yard sales, church sales, thrift stores, and estate sales a habit. They can be your best friend.   Here are my 3 Reasons Why Fleamarkets, Yard Sales, Thirft Stores, and Estate Sales Are Your Best Friend 1. Organizational Stuff 2. Teaching Stuff 3. Cool Stuff     So what are you waiting for? Start this weekend! Seek out those things that will help you work with your kids. Time to uncover treasure. Start this weekend! Length: 24:52

  Today, I'm talking about my 11 wants for what I consider my perfect classroom. Have you ever thought about this? You know, if money was not an issue what would you like to have? What changes would you make to your current classroom or if you haven't started teaching yet what would you like your first classroom to look and be like? Here are my 11 Wants for My Perfect Classroom 1. Tables and chairs, not desks. 2. Permission to decorate and/or paint the walls. 3. Space 4. Interactive Board/Projector that makes a wall interactive. 5. Tablets, laptops, chromebooks, etc. 6. Access to social media. 7. Microphones and money for hosting a class audio podcast. 8. A rug. 9. Outside space. 10. Funds to build up a classroom library. 11. Access to a closet or drawers.   So what about you? What would you like for your perfect classroom?  What 11 things would you really want for your classroom?   Length: 19:04

  You may remember Suzy from a couple of earlier interviews: Episode 2 where we talked about her instructional program called Math in the Fast Lane and on Episode 43 we talked about her book Learning in the Fast Lane. She is a national presenter, life-long educator, founder of Math in the Fast Lane ( a resource for helping teachers in grades 3-8 help kids with better understanding math), and now the author of two books published by ASCD- Learning in the Fast Lane and Teaching in the Fast Lane. Suzy is energetic and passionate about helping teachers help their kids become academically successful. She has a nack for writing books that are easy to read and put to use in the classroom. Her research-based approach shares the research but gets to the practical immediately. No translators are needed here. Today we talk about why she likes helping teachers and we dig into several parts of Teaching in the Fast Lane. You will hear her talk about the active classroom and what that requires. By the way, I love the way each chapter ends with a list of Questions to Ponder as well as her thoughts about stations and standards walls. You are going to love Teaching in the Fast Lane and don't forget to check out her first book, Learning in the Fast Lane.    Suzy also has taken on a new venture called myedexpert.com. You will hear us talk about this exciting way for teachers to get help from colleagues. Thanks for listening! Enjoy! Connect with Suzy at: suzyprollins@gmail.com or go to myedexpert.com and learn more about - Teaching in the Fast Lane: How to Create Active Learning Experiences MyEdExpert.com Learning in the Fast Lane: 8 Ways tp Put All Students on the Road to Academic Success www.mathinfastlane.com   Length: 30:14 

In episode 141, I explain four reasons why field trips are important.  Yes, technology has made it possible to take virtual trips but there is still nothing like being there. Nothing replaces getting your hands dirty or learning first hand in the environment of whatever the activity or event is.   4 Reasons Why Field Trips Are Important: 1. Experience 2. Questions 3. Connection with Real-Life and Others 4. Future Thinking Listen to episode 141 to hear me explain these reasons. Today, I'm sharing some thoughts about great field trips to introduce to your kids and classes. I hope that you will recognize the important role that field trips can play in getting the kids engaged in your subject area. Don't make excuses. Look at the standards, identify an excellent unit, and identify what field trip you will take to get the kids engaged and wanting to know more.  What ideas do you have for awesome field trips? Length - 25:36

  Field trips are important. There I said it. Too often the experience of good interaction with the real world get axed in the name of ..."not enough time." This is so not right. Kids get excited to learn more by experiencing those activities, events, or things that make their brains go, "I have got to know more." Today I am talking about my... 4 Reasons Why Field Trips Are Important.   1. Experience 2. Question 3. Connections with Real-Life 4. Future Thinking    I hope that you will look at your standards and start making plans to insert that awesome field experience. Make room for it. You will discover that if you handle it right you will inspire kids to want to know more. Enjoy! Start planning now. Length: 21:57

Did you ever feel like saying, "No one ever told me about this?" Come on you know what I'm talking about. One day, while thinking about this issue or challenge you are facing, your mind says to you, "You know you asked to be an administrator."   You suck in a whole bunch of air, put your hands in your pockets and then say to yourself, "Yea, but there are so many things that no one told me about...." Today I am explaining my list of 12 Things No One Ever Told Me About Being an Administrator. Do you have days like this? Do you have your list of things that you wish someone would have told you about? Hmmm? Maybe you just wish that there was a book that let you look through those ideas about dealing with.... (you fill in the blank.) Many of these experiences changed my way of doing things and created lessons for life and leadership. So what's on your list? Length: 24:31  

  Did you listen to my last episode? What? If you did not I hope that you will go back and check it out...follow this link 138. In that episode I spoke about the need to be a lifelong learner. Matter of fact, I had a list of 14 ways to follow this pledge- I am an educator. I am a lifelong learner.  Today, I am focused on the 12th point on the list from episode 138 - Join Professional Organizations; Expand Your Network. In this episode, I focus on what a network is, how it can help you, why you want to expand your network, and how to expand your network.       Whether you are an administrator or classroom teacher you need to create a network and work on expanding it. You need to seek out a professional organization that suits you and get involved. You get out of them what you put in...remember that. If you don't get involved you really won't get the most out of these organizations. Start today. Expand that network... Thanks for listening! Here are Some Links to Help You Connect with Professional Educator Organizations- Math English Social Studies Science Principals/Administrators 6-12 (National) Principals/Administrators 6-12 (Georgia) Principals/Administrators 6-8 (Georgia) Principals/Administrators K-5 (National) Principals/Administrators K-5 (Georgia) Georgia Curriculum and Instruction Georgia Association of Educational Leaders Superintendents/ Other Administrators (National) Superintendents/ Other Administrators (Georgia)   Length: 13:42