WEP 239: Publishing Students Through Creative Collaborations an Interview with Donnie Sorah

This is the Wired Educator podcast Episode 239, my interview with Donnie, Sorah titled “Publishing Students Through Creative Collaborations.”

Donnie is a  musician, educator, composer, and an associate professor of music at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise. He’s amazing and he’s going to share his story as well as inspire us all to publish students’ work in powerful and unique ways to enhance their voice, build connection and provide the best learning experience possible. This episode is perfect for teachers in any content are, teaching any age, educational leaders and YOU!

Click here to listen to Kelly’s interview with Donnie.

Dr. Donald Sorah, Associate Professor of Music at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, boasts a diverse teaching portfolio encompassing applied high brass, conducting, music technology, composition, orchestration, and various other courses. As an Apple Distinguished Educator and recipient of the Outstanding Use of Technology in the Classroom Award (May 2022), Dr. Sorah actively supports students and colleagues as an Apple Learning Coach at UVA Wise, an Apple Distinguished School.

Under his guidance, the college achieved initial accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Music in 2019. Beyond UVA Wise, Dr. Sorah has served as Associate Adjunct Instructor at Mountain Empire Community College since 1999 and previously taught at J.J. Kelly High School and L.F. Addington Middle School in Wise, Virginia.

As the Associate Director of the Spirit of America National Honor Band, he conducted and performed as a trumpet soloist across Europe. He co-founded the Guayaquil Summer Music Academy in Ecuador, where he engaged in performances, lectures, and trumpet instruction. Recent teaching and research ventures have taken him to Chile and Spain.

Sorah is a member of the Symphony of the Mountains and the Johnson City Symphony. In 2006, he founded the Winds of the Mountain Empire, a regional wind ensemble comprised mainly of music educators and is a champion for new works, presenting numerous premieres and commissions.

As a prolific composer, Dr. Sorah has crafted works for various ensembles, including piano, organ, chamber groups, wind ensemble, and orchestra. His compositions have been performed by The University of Louisville Symphonic Band, University of Florida Symphonic Band, Nicholls State University Symphonic Band, and Madison Concert Band. Most recently, his orchestral work Rhapsody on In the Bleak Midwinter was featured at the 2023 Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois.

As an advocate for proving free high-quality educational resources for his students he has published four books on Apple Books including Composing with Found Sounds in GarageBand, Everyone Can Create Music With iPad Curriculum Guide, Book of Rhythms and Melodies Vol. 1, and Book of Rhythms and Melodies Vol. 2. Under his leadership, students in his music appreciation course published five introductory books covering eras of classical music.

Dr. Sorah earned his Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Music Education from The Florida State University and holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Morehead State University (KY). He resides in Wise, Virginia, with his wife Kelly, son Brennan, and dog Roamer.

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Mentioned in this Episode: 

Book Kelly to Speak at Your School!

Kelly

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Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

Do you like what you heard? Invite Kelly to speak at your school.
Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

 

WEP 238: Storytelling with Purpose an Interview with Michael Hernandez

Digital Projects to Ignite Student Curiosity

This is the Wired Educator Podcast Episode 238 my interview with Michael Hernandez, Apple Distinguished Educator, and author of the new education bestseller Storytelling with Purpose: Digital Projects to Ignite Student Curiosity.

Click here to listen to my interview with Michael.

Acclaimed documentary film director Ken Burns says this about Michael’s book, “Teaching is the most important profession in any democracy. Michael Hernandez has written a wonderful book that anchors storytelling in the classroom and provides a highly readable and hugely helpful guide for teachers, who each day are taking students on an intellectual journey that is critical to the well-being of our country.”

Wow! Now, that’s a book endorsement! In this episode, Michael and I will talk about how storytelling is perfect for your classroom despite what grade you teach and what content you teach. Storytelling is for all classrooms! You’re going to love this episode!

Michael Hernandez is an international speaker, author, curriculum designer, and award-winning educator who helps individuals and organizations discover and share authentic stories that matter. I’ve been featured in Forbes, Edutopia, PBS, NPR, and #SXSWEDU.

As a trusted consultant and community manager, he helps tech startups, non-profits, and corporations develop their brand and engage their stakeholders. Clients include Apple, Adobe, Google, and National Geographic. His monthly newsletter, Change The Narrative, shares resources and inspiration around innovation, tech, education, and leadership.

Michael is an Apple Distinguished Educator, Adobe Education Leader, PBS Digital Innovator, and Lindblad/National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow.

We talk about how his book helps with: 

  • Uncheatable Assessments
  • How to use storytelling projects for assessment
  • How digital story projects support literacy, civics
  • How non-fiction storytelling projects are like science and design thinking.
  • How story projects leverage student passion and curiosity to increase engagement

Award-winning educator and speaker Michael Hernandez brings together over 20 years of in-the-classroom experience to help solve some of our most existential challenges in education today: artificial intelligence, steep declines in student engagement, and the need for authentic learning experiences. The solution: digital storytelling as a framework for learning.

Rather than viewing storytelling as a nice-to-have reward for students after their ‘real work’ has been completed, this book shows educators how to use story projects–from data visualizations to social media posts, to podcasts and video documentaries– as the scaffold upon which we can position our curricular skills and knowledge. The process helps students make interdisciplinary connections, activates higher level thinking and critical analysis skills, and provides multimodal learning opportunities for all students.

This book is perfect for learning coaches, classroom teachers, and education leaders seeking practical ways to elevate teaching and learning in every grade level and subject area. The book focuses on student-centered, project-based learning experiences that use digital tools to:

  • Create uncheatable, authentic assessments
  • Leverage curiosity as the engine for learning
  • Provide purpose for the skills and knowledge central to our curriculum
  • Develop a mindset of collaboration, mental agility and resilience
  • Cultivate digital literacy skills and ethical mindsets
  • Bring purpose and joy back to learning

With practical advice, case studies, and examples of how to plan, create, publish and assess student stories, this book offers a fresh approach to digital storytelling. And it includes guidance on how to provide students with the tools and structure they need to develop a mindset of curiosity, agency and purpose.

More than a practical edtech guide, this book explores the why behind digital storytelling as much as the how. Educators will learn how to help students explore cultural and historical context, develop social emotional resiliency, and develop the skills they need to become engaged global citizens.

Originally determined to become a filmmaker, Michael quickly realized the power that narrative has to change minds, and the potential it has to make a positive impact on the world. Right out of film school, he took a job teaching journalism and film production, making it his five year plan before he returned to a ‘real job’ in filmmaking. He quickly fell in love with teaching, and embraced the noble work of helping young people find their voice to tell stories that make a difference.

Since taking the leap into education, Michael has become an award-winning teacher, international speaker, author, and curriculum designer who helps individuals and organizations discover and share authentic stories that matter. He has been featured in Forbes, Edutopia, PBS, NPR, and SXSW EDU. Some of his most memorable teaching experiences include moderating conversations with Ken Burns, Dolores Huerta, and teaching his daughter Maya, who was one of his high school journalism students.

As a trusted expert, he has worked with schools, tech startups, non-profits, and corporations to develop their brand and engage their stakeholders. Clients include Apple, Adobe, Google, and National Geographic. His podcast and monthly newsletter, Change The Narrative, has a global audience of thousands.

Michael is an Apple Distinguished Educator, PBS Digital Innovator, and National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow. Follow him on these social platforms:

Mentioned in this Episode:

Kelly’s two books:

Michael’s book: Storytelling with Purpose: Digital Projects to Ignite Student Curiosity

Follow Michael on: 

Instagram: @Changing.The.Narrative

Change The Narrative Newsletter

www.michael-hernandez.net

Twitter: @cinehead 

Linked In: https://bit.ly/MichaelHernandezLinkedIn

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day and week to listen to the Wired Educator podcast to level up and make a difference in the lives of others.

Always forward,

Kelly

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Do you like what you heard? Invite Kelly to speak at your school.
Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEP 236: Legacy of Learning, an Interview with Meghan Lawson

Learn About Meghan's New Book and Hear Joe Miller, Ohio TOY Finalist, Joins Me as Co-Host

The Wired Educator Podcast kicks off 2024 with an interview with Meghan Lawson, author of the new EDU best seller, Legacy of Learning: Teaching for Lasting Impact.

My colleague at Port Clinton City Schools, Joe Miller, an amazing high school English teacher and Ohio
Teacher of the Year Finalist, joins me on this episode as cohost.

We talk with Megan about her book, social, emotional learning, strategies for making a lasting impact, and creating awesome spaces to teach and learn. You’re going to love this episode.

Click here to listen to my interview with Meghan.

Meghan is a thought leader who studies and implements the conditions and systems needed for transformational change. She is the author of Legacy of Learning: Teaching for Lasting Impact. A lover of learning who believes in the goodness of people, Meghan works to cultivate spaces that honor the humanity of all people. She promotes storytelling, the exchange of ideas, and risk-taking. She is passionate about disrupting the status quo and creating kinder, forward-thinking communities of action. Meghan is also intensely curious about how to enhance the customer experience in schools. Meghan began her career in the English Language Arts classroom. So, inevitably, her mantra is “Words matter”. She has worked in all levels of K–12 education as a teacher, school administrator, district administrator, and educational consultant.

Mentioned in this episode: 

Meghan Lawson’s website: https://meghanlawson.com/

Order a copy of Meghan’s book: Legacy of Learning: Teaching for Lasting Impact.

Joe Miller, finalist for Ohio Teacher of the Year. Read about Joe’s accomplishment here: https://hs.pccsd.net/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC_ID=860338&id=0

Check out last week’s Wired Educator Episode 235: My Reflection and Review of My Personal and Professional Goals for 2023. This was my last episode where I hold myself accountable on how I did in 2023. Now, I will soon be publishing an episode on the goals I am setting for 2023. I hope you will check it out and set some goals of your own.

I was on George Couros’s Podcast: Watch it on YouTube.Listen to it on Apple Podcasts. • Listen to it on Spotify. I made it on his highlights of 2023 episode too! Very cool. Thank you, George.

Find Your Joy! Thinking of asking my youngest, Jillyan to assemble a BIG Lego set like this one or a big car or something like it in 2024. Anyone know anything about Lego kits like this? Give me your expert opinion. Having some stick shock to be honest. I am trying to find a project with her that we can get lost in and have some fun.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day and week to listen to the Wired Educator podcast to level up and make a difference in the lives of others.

Always forward,

Kelly

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Do you like what you heard? Invite Kelly to speak at your school.
Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

Leveraging the Holiday Season to Empower Educators with Technology

Guest Post by Jason Kathman

The holiday season isn’t just a time for festive cheer and joyful celebrations.  It’s also a great opportunity for educators to infuse their classrooms with the magic of technology. As teachers, embracing this seasonal spirit can pave the way for innovative and engaging teaching practices, ultimately benefiting educators and students.

The holiday season presents an opportunity for educators to embrace technology in the classroom, fostering innovation, engagement, and collaboration. By leveraging the spirit of the holidays, teachers can not only enrich their teaching practices but also empower students with valuable digital skills and a love for learning that transcends the festive season.

As an instructional coach for technology, I am always looking for opportunities to get students to create with technology.  In Jamestown, we are 1:1 with iPad so the options to be creative are limitless.  Occasionally, as in any district, some educators are apprehensive about leveraging technology for learning.  “It takes too much time,” “I don’t have the time to learn how the tech works so I can’t use it with my students,” and “Kids are too distracted on the iPad for learning to happen” are phrases that I hear from fellow educators.  If I can get those teachers to have students use tech in ways that don’t deal directly with their content, then more times than not, they can see how engaged and excited students are when asked to be creative with technology.

Below are a few holiday resources that I use with educators in my district to get them to use iPads in creative ways in their classrooms.  Most resources are iPad-specific but all can be adjusted for any device.  

  1. 12 Projects for the Holidays:  My colleague and fellow Tech Integrator, Jeff Kresge and I built this website.  It asks students to create different holiday-themed products.  Students follow video tutorials to help them along the way.
  2. Susan Maynor’s Imaginarium:  Susan is an extremely creative educator and her monthly Imaginariums show that creativity.  Her December Imaginarium is a 30-page Pages (or pdf) document that is beautifully designed.  Each page represents a task for students to show off their creative genius.
  3. 12 Days of Creativity Series:  This four-volume series is packed full of ideas and resources!!  The genius educators who authored these books give you everything you (and your students) need to complete each task.  This is such a valuable resource!

As educators, let’s unwrap the gift of technology this holiday season and embark on a journey toward a tech-infused, dynamic learning experience for all!

Happy holidays and tech-filled teaching adventures!

 

Join Our Chat: Helping Teachers After the School Day Has Ended

Join Us Wednesday for a 30-Minute EDU X-Chat, November 8, 2023, 9PM EST

Hey awesome educators and EDU leaders.

Join the Wired Educator Squad, Wednesday, November 8th at 9PM EST for a 30-minute EDU X-Chat. (You know… Twitter.)

Our hosts are Apple Distinguished Educators, Leah LaCrosse and Kelly Croy.

Our topic is: “After the School Day: Helping Teachers After School Hours”.

Below is all the info you need to join in to learn and share:

Wired Wednesday EDU X-Chat: Reflection and Goal Setting for Students

September 27 #WiredWednesday Twitter Chat with hosts Theresa Welch and Jason Kathman 9:00 PM Eastern

Join us Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 9PM Eastern for a #WiredWednesday EDU X-Chat (You know X, the app formerly known as Twitter) on the topic of “Reflection and Goal Setting for Students.”

This is a 30 minute chat. Just follow the hashtag #WiredWednesday.

Our hosts Theresa Welch and Jason Kathman are wonderful educators and will each be sharing two questions with you and interacting with all. In fact, our whole Wired Educator Squad will be there with educators around the world.

Come to learn and share and have fun.

Follow @TeacherTheresa and @JKathman on X (Twitter) and get ready to learn, share and have fun.

Bring a friend.

Our questions for Wednesday are: 

Introduce yourself. Favorite Fall Flavor?

Q1: How often do you have students reflect on their learning and what strategies/tools do you use?

Q2: Do your students set goals from their reflections and how often do they set goals?

Q3: How do your students record/track their goals?

Q4: Who should students share their goals with and how should they share them?


 

A New School Year Means: A New Season of Wired Educator

Podcasts, Chats, Blog Posts, Resources, and More for You This Year!

Our Wired Educator Squad Has Been Hard at Work!

Welcome Back!

I hope your new school year is off to a great year. This is going to be our best year in education. Thank you for saying YES! Thank you for returning to education. I still believe education is the noblest and most worthwhile professions to pursue. You are part of an elite group of difference-makers. Thank you. We hope to help you with a variety of resources:

The Wired Educator Podcast

The Wired Educator Podcast returns this week with a brand new season with episode 233, an interview with Apple Distinguished Educator, Kristen Brooks. Podcast host, Kelly Croy, discusses how Kristen Brooks is able to help teachers rock iPad use in any classroom. Their conversation includes a lot about the Apple Distinguished Educator program and other areas of education. What a fun pair and conversation. Loaded with takeaways. Look for that episode this week.

#WiredWednesday Chats

I don’t know if you still call it Twitter or ‘X’ but we are hosting the acclaimed #wiredwednesday Twitter Chats every other Wednesday for 30 minutes. This Wednesday, September 13th at 9PM is our first Twitter Chat of the year! It is being hosted by Jason Kathman and Julie Willcott. The topic is: Social Media’s Impact on Teaching and Learning. We would love for you to join us.

Guest Blog Posts

Wired Educator website is the publishing platform for guest posts from our Wired Educator Squad and other influential teachers and leaders from around the world. This past week Leah LaCrosse kicked off our guest blog post for this new school year with an insightful and passionate look at technology classroom considerations. Check it out here. Look for more blog posts from our Squad and educators around the world. Send us your ideas. We are looking for guest posts.

Squad Meetings

Our Wired Educator Squad gained a new member, Julie Willcott. She is amazing and we will be announcing her addition soon. Our squad consists of Julie Willcott, Leah LaCrosse, Theresa Welch, Jason Kathman, Keven Rinaman, Mat Pullen, Ryan Orilio, and Kelly Croy. We have met several times to organize content ideas and plan.

Newsletter

We are going to pump out a newsletter this year with guest writers. We think it is going to be great. We will have a sign-up link posted soon.

More!

We want to do some video. We want to create some awesome resources. We want to do a meet the team night! We want to grow our team and our reach. We hope you will help us.

Now Hiring Two Interns!

Wired Educator is looking for two interns to help us grow. First, we are looking for an intern with a unique set of skills using GarageBand editing, and a great understanding of quality sound to use auphonic.com, Libsyn and some other tools to help take Kelly’s recordings and publish them. A person of the highest integrity to handle these important resources. Second, we are looking for a social media intern to keep all of our creations in the eyes of educators and leaders. Someone to share out old episodes and new. Someone to infiltrate other edu circles and share with them the great work of Wired Educator. Interested? Contact Kelly.

WEP 232: Recalibrate Your Culture, An Interview with Jimmy Casas


Focus: Building a Positive School Culture: Insights from Jimmy Casas’ New Book

As the Wired Educator podcast reaches its 232nd episode, host Kelly Croy welcomes a special guest, Jimmy Casas, a renowned educator, speaker, and author of the newly-released book, Recalibrate the Culture. In their conversation, Jimmy discusses the importance of school culture in shaping the success of both students and staff and shares practical strategies for building a positive culture in any school setting.

If you’re a school leader or educator who wants to create a positive school culture and improve your leadership skills, be sure to listen to Kelly Croy’s interview of Jimmy Casas on The Wired Educator Podcast. You’ll be inspired by Casas’s passion and wisdom, and you’ll come away with practical strategies that you can use to make a difference in your school.

Creating a positive school culture is more important than ever in today’s educational climate, and Jimmy’s book is a valuable resource for educators looking to cultivate a welcoming and inclusive environment for their students. He emphasizes the critical role of leadership in establishing and nurturing a positive culture, as well as the impact of technology on shaping school culture.

In addition to the insightful conversation with Jimmy, Kelly also announces that the Wired Educator Squad is looking for new members to join their team. If you’re an educator passionate about technology in education, this is a great opportunity to get involved and contribute to the community. The squad is looking for individuals who can help host the #WiredWednesday chat on Twitter, write blog posts for the website, and assist with producing the podcast using GarageBand.

Speaking of speaking, Kelly shares his recent experiences as a keynote speaker at the NJECC conference and the World Education Summit, and his upcoming speaking engagement at the COSSBA Educational Conference. If you’re interested in having Kelly speak at your school district, you can reach out to him directly.

Before wrapping up, Kelly reminds listeners about the #WiredWednesday Twitter chats, which take place every Wednesday night at 9PM Eastern. It’s an excellent opportunity for educators to connect and share ideas about technology in education.

In conclusion, the Wired Educator podcast continues to provide valuable insights and resources for educators looking to improve their teaching practice. Jimmy Casas’ new book, Recalibrate the Culture, is a must-read for anyone looking to build a positive school culture, and the Wired Educator Squad is an excellent way to get involved and contribute to the community. Thanks for tuning in, and let’s get wired!

Keywords: education, school culture, positive culture, leadership, technology, #WiredWednesday, podcast, Jimmy Casas, Recalibrate the Culture, NJECC conference, World Education Summit, COSSBA Educational Conference.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Casas has authored several books on school leadership and culture, including:

Connect with Jimmy: 

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Do you like what you heard? Invite Kelly to speak at your school.
Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?

Join our #WiredWednesday 30-Minute Twitter chats on Wednesdays at 9PM Eastern. They are awesome and fun.

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

WEP 228: Leading with a Humble Heart, an interview with Zac Bauermaster

Educational Leadership by Putting People First

This is Episode 228 of The Wired Educator Podcast. I interview Zac Bauermaster about leadership, serving in every level of education, and his new book, Leading with a Humble Heart. This is a great interview for all. Enjoy

Click here to listen to Episode 228 of The Wired Educator Podcast.

Zac Bauermaster is an educational leader and author passionate about people. Zac’s mission field is public education. One of his main tag lines is, “It’s all about people.” His leadership style exemplifies a people-first approach as he seeks to glorify God in all he does. Zac has gained humble confidence through his daily pattern of prayer and reading scripture that he aims to share with others to advance God’s kingdom. Zac released a devotional leadership book in July of 2022 titled, Leading with a Humble Heart: A 40 Day Devotional for Leaders. 

Zac currently serves as principal at Kissel Hill Elementary School, located in the Warwick School District in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Zac has the tremendous opportunity to lead teachers, support staff, families, and most importantly, the next generation daily. His greatest joy in education is seeing adults leverage their God-given talents and abilities through inspiring kids to find and use their gifts. Before becoming a principal, Zac served public education in various K-12 roles such as assistant principal, administrator of online learning, teacher, and coach. These experiences have grown Zac’s sphere of influence and allowed him the opportunity to develop and maintain lifelong relationships.

Zac received his undergraduate degree from Millersville University in secondary education and completed his Master’s Degree in Educational Technology from Pennsylvania State University. Zac returned to Penn State, where he earned his Principal Certification. Most recently, Zac earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Superintendent Letter of Eligibility from Drexel University. He is a lifelong learner, always looking to learn and grow. His family jokes that he went to school in Kindergarten and hasn’t ever stopped.

Zac continues to grow his leadership influence and share encouragement and positivity, along with the good news of Christ through various social media platforms, magazine publications, and speaking events.

Most importantly, Zac is a husband to his wife Carly, and father to three young kids, Olivia, Eliot, and Isaac. Zac is a firm believer in leading his family first. The family resides in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Connect with Zac at www.zacbauermaster.com or  on Twitter and Instagram @ZBauermaster

Mentioned in this episode:

Order a copy of Zac’s book: Leading With a Humble Heart

Connect with Zac at www.zacbauermaster.com or  on Twitter and Instagram @ZBauermaster

One of Zac’s favorite’s is a Five Year Journal

Kelly’s favorite journal.

Thanks for listening.

Kelly

Two things to share: I just finished reading this book by one of my favorite authors; don’t let the title shock you, and I just added this to about everything of value to me, including my dog. Add to cart!

(We’re proud affiliates for some of these tools, meaning if you click a link for a tool and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Our recommendations are based on deep experience with and knowledge of these companies and their products, and we recommend them because they are genuinely helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we may receive. Please don’t spend any money on
these products unless you believe they will help you achieve your goals.) Have a great week.

————————————————————

Do you like what you heard? Invite Kelly to speak at your school.
Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?

Join our #WiredWednesday 30-Minute Twitter chats on Wednesdays at 9PM Eastern. They are awesome and fun.

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.

 

WEP 227: Make Your Class Relevant and Engaging an Interview with Dominic Helmstetter

In this episode of the Wired Educator Podcast I interview Dominic Helmstetter. He shares how he connects with students, makes his class relevant and engaging, and how EduProtocols helps him to make a difference as educator.

This is a fun episode. You can hear and feel Dominic’s passion for teaching. You will also leave with actionable takeaways you could put to use immediately in your classroom.

Click here to listen to episode 227.

Dominic Helmstetter has taught Middle and High School for 16 years.  He holds a BA in Integrated Social Studies, an MA in Curriculum and Instruction as well as an MED in Education Leadership.  He began his teaching career in a diverse high needs community before later serving as Dean of Students and Principal.  He later returned to the classroom to teach Junior High before being hired to teach at Perrysburg High School, where he is part of a teaching team that regularly helps students earn among the highest passing rates in Ohio state testing.  His instruction focuses on providing hands-on learning experiences centered around promoting engaging and active learning opportunities for students.  In addition to teaching, Dominic enjoys serving on various district wide leadership teams and speaking at educational conferences designed to help boost student engagement and build classroom culture.

You can follow Dominic on Twitter at @DHelmEDU

He is a leading expert on 

  1. Building Story / Theme into your classroom
  2. Knowing what motivates your students.
  3. EduProtocols
  4. Game Based Learning
  5. He just presented at MassCUE and will be presenting at  NorthPoint ESC soon

Mentioned in this episode:

The EduProtocol Field Guide: 16 Student-Centered Lesson Frames for Infinite Learning Possibilities

The EduProtocol Field Guide Social Studies Edition: 13 Student-Centered Lesson Frames for AP and College Prep

Deploying EduProtocols: A Guide for Educational Change Leaders

Kelly

Two things to share: I just finished reading this book by one of my favorite authors; don’t let the title shock you, and I just added this to about everything of value to me, including my dog. Add to cart!

(We’re proud affiliates for some of these tools, meaning if you click a link for a tool and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Our recommendations are based on deep experience with and knowledge of these companies and their products, and we recommend them because they are genuinely helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we may receive. Please don’t spend any money on
these products unless you believe they will help you achieve your goals.) Have a great week.

————————————————————

Do you like what you heard? Invite Kelly to speak at your school.
Interested in booking Kelly for your Next Event?

Join our #WiredWednesday 30-Minute Twitter chats on Wednesdays at 9PM Eastern. They are awesome and fun.

Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.

Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
Instagram: @kcroy
Website: kellycroy.com and wirededucator.com
Podcast: The Wired Educator Podcast
and of course: Facebook.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here.