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WEP 0090: The Google Infused Classroom: An Interview with Holly Clark and Tanya Avrith

In this episode of the Wired Educator Podcast, Kelly interviews the authors of The Google Infused Classroom: A Guidebook to Making Thinking Visible and Amplifying Student Voice, Holly Clark and Tanya Avrith. This is fantastic interview with two amazing educators.
Holly Clark is an award-winning educator and speaker based in San Diego. She is both a National Board Certified Teacher and Google Certified Innovator. A long time teacher and administrator, Holly consults globally with schools to help them successfully and purposefully innovate instruction through the use of learning theory, technology integration and design thinking strategies. Holly holds an MA in Education from Columbia University, New York.
Tanya Avrith M.A. EdTech is a passionate educator; from Montreal Canada, now living in South Florida. She is a Google Certified Innovator and Apple Distinguished Educator. With deep roots as a teacher and pedagogue, Tanya consults with schools to help plan and execute large scale deployments and professional development plans for digital citizenship, technology integration initiative and organizational development in schools. Tanya is currently the Director of Educational Technology at Grandview Preparatory School in Boca Raton, Florida.
Mentioned in this podcast: 
Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salingrer
Google Home
Flipgrid
Adobe Spark
SeeSaw app
Apple Distinguished Educator
Google Certified Innovator
National Board Certified Teacher
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WEP 0089: Building Culture, An Interview with Tim Kight

In this episode, Kelly interviews Tim Kight, an expert in building culture within school districts.

Tim Kight is the founder and president of Focus 3, a firm whose mission is to help companies around the world align the power of leadership, culture, and behavior to achieve next level results.

A dynamic communicator, Tim focuses on the critical factors that distinguish great organizations from average organizations. He delivers a powerful message on the mindset & skills at the heart of individual & organizational performance.

Most recently, Tim has worked closely with Urban Meyer and the Ohio State football team as the Buckeyes’ leadership coach. His work with Ohio State has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Sports Illustrated, and ESPN.

Mr. Kight is the author of several high impact training programs: The R Factor, Lead Now, The Power of Culture, Winning, and Attitude Matters.

Mentioned in this podcast: 

Some of Tim’s favorite books:

Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership & Life from a Championship Program by Urban Meyer

Good to Great by Jim Collins

The Last Lecture by Dr. Randy Pausch

Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl

Tim’s website: www.focus3.com

Tim’s podcast: www.focus3.com/podcast

As mentioned in the interview: Tim loves his Apple Pencil.

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WEP 0088: The PE Geek, An Interview with Jarrod Robinson

In this episdoe, Kelly interviews Jarrod Robinson, aka The PE Geek. While much of Jarrod’s work began on the focus of the instruction of physical education, Jarrod has great insight and advice for every educator regardless of subject or grade level. This is a fantastic interview for all, and something special for those with that added entreprenuerial spirit.

Jarrod is a Physical Education teacher from Victoria, Australia, with a passion and enthusiasm for the role emerging technologies play within teaching and learning. He is known throughout the online community as “The PE Geek”, and authors a blog of the same name at www.thepegeek.com which has proved to be a pioneer for teachers seeking effective use of 21st century tools in PE. He has presented Nationally and Internationally for over 8 years, running workshops in over 40 countries. Jarrod is also the founder of ConnectedPE an online membership community for Physical Educators that empowers them to participate in professional development from the comforts of their homes.

Follow Jarrod on Twitter @MrRobbo

Jarrod’s websites: www.ThePEGeek.com and www.ConnectedPE.com

Mentioned in this podcast:

• Contact Kelly about starting a podcast for your school.

• Contact Kelly about hiring him for website design.

• Jarrod’s favorite book is Bold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the Wordy by Peter Diamandis

Favortie apps: Slack, Anchor.fm, Plickthe Iners

• Another favorite book of Jarrod’s is: The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces that Will Shape Our Future

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WEP 0087: Learning in Hand, an Interview with Tony Vincent

Tony Vincent used to teach fifth grade in Omaha, Nebraska. Today he is self-employed and does what he can to help teachers be even more awesome. He’s proud to have lead workshops and made presentations in almost all 50 states and internationally. His website is at learninginhand.com.

  • Using Google Classroom for professional learning
  • Instagram for teachers
  • Graphic design for teachers

Tony’s website… www.LearningInHand.com, is an educator’s resource for mobile and digital learning. It was started in 2002 as part of Tony Vincent’s classroom website. At first focusing on Palm handhelds, Learning in Hand now encompasses all kinds of digital and mobile learning.

The only thing Tony Vincent likes better than teaching is learning. He currently resides in Council Bluffs, Iowa, but he used to teach fifth grade in Nebraska. Since 1998 he’s been a pioneer in digital learning, having a classroom website before many classrooms even had internet access. In 2001 he had a 1:1 classroom full of Palm Pilots, and in 2005 he started one of the first podcasts from an elementary school. Tony experienced how empowering it was for students to be equipped with tools to help them be productive and creative. Later he became his school’s technology coach and helped his colleagues integrate technology.

Today Tony Vincent works as a self-employed consultant. He has traveled almost every state, Canada, Australia, England, and the Caribbean to facilitate workshops and to make presentations to K-12 educators and students. He has authored books, produced videos, developed an iPad app, and blogged about learning and technology. Tony believes that students learn best when they are engaged in authentic tasks—tasks that matter to them. He has many examples to show, advice to give, and technology to demonstrate.

Mentioned on this podcast:
Website:
Classy Graphics Fall 2017:
(Register by August 23rd and save $15)
Nuzzel newsletter:
Instagram for Teachers Guide
Instagram:
Twitter:
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WEP 086 Curriculum as Story, An Interview with Casey Cohen

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, Kelly interviews Apple Distinguished Educator Casey Cohen. This is an absolutely dynamite conversation about many topics in education that any educator or administrator can benefit. Kelly and Casey talk about: transitioning from educator to administrator, starting a new job, starting the new year, viewing curriculum as a story, backward design, The Apple Distinguished Educator Program and the ADE 2017 Academy, Casey’s amazing ADE Showcase spot-lighting an amazing Holocaust unit centered around becoming globally connected educators, using Apple’s Clips app for observations, and so much more. This is a great interview.

After having taught secondary school English in the city and suburbs of Philadelphia and Boston for ten years, Casey Cohen is entering a new position as Middle School Director of Hannah Senesh Community Day School. Casey received her B.A. at the University of Michigan where she studied English, history, and theater in Michigan’s Residential College. She received her Ed.M. at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, where she studied English and secondary education in HGSE’s Teacher Education Program. She received her Principal Certification at the University of Pennsylvania where she participated in the School Leadership Program. And, Casey is currently earning her Ed.D. in the Global Educational Leadership Program at Lamar University. She is a proud member of the Apple Distinguished Educator Class of 2015, and she is passionate about sharing her work. She presents at local, state, national, and international conferences on topics that include building school community, global collaboration, up-leveling literature circles, project-based learning in a 1:1 iPad learning environment, and course writing in iTunes U. Connect with Casey on Twitter: @cicohen.

Mentioned on this podcast: 

Apple Distinguished Educator Program

Clips

Adobe Sparks Suite

Casey’s most influential book: Night by Eli Wiesel

 

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WEP 0085: The Epic Classroom an Interview with Trevor Muir

Kelly interviews educator, author, and speaker, Trevor Muir. Trevor makes amazing inspirational videos and is the author of the book The Epic Classroom: How to Boost Engagment, Make Learning Memorable, and Transform Lives. Kelly and Trevor talk about how to make your classroom epic!

Trevor is a teacher, author, speaker, and project based learning expert. He is the author of The Epic Classroom, a book about using the power of story to make learning engaging and unforgettable. Trevor is a faculty member for the Buck Institute For Education, and travels across the country to work with educators on how to bring project based learning into their schools. He is the host and creator for the We Are Teachers show, Teacher Helpline Live, and his writing has been featured in the Huffington Post, The Creative Classroom, and EdWeek. He also gave a TEDx Talk titled, “School Should Take Place in the Real World,” at TEDxSanAntonio. Trevor’s work can be found on his Facebook page, on Epic Classroom and on his blog at www.trevormuir.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

Trevor’s book, The Epic Classroom: How to Boost Engagment, Make Learning Memorable, and Transform Lives.

The Buck Institute and Project Based Learning

Skype in the classroom. 

Seth Godin

Trevor recommends reading The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Stephen Pressfield.

 

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WEP 0084: Start. Right. Now. An Interview with Jimmy Casas

Update: Jimmy's New Book: CULTURIZE

Jimmy Casas served twenty-two years as an educational leader, including fourteen years as Principal at Bettendorf High School. Under his leadership, Bettendorf was named one of the Best High Schools in the country three times by Newsweek and US News & World Report.

Jimmy was named the 2012 Iowa Secondary Principal of the Year and was selected as one of three finalists for NASSP 2013 National Secondary Principal of the Year. In 2014, Jimmy was invited to the White House to speak on the Future Ready Schools pledge.  In 2015, he received the Bammy Award as the National Secondary Principal of the year. Jimmy is the Co-Founder of EdCamp Iowa and #IAedchat, Finally, Jimmy is the co-author of the book, “What Connected Educators Do Differently,” and “START.RIGHT.NOW.,” which he wrote with Todd Whitaker and Jeff Zoul.

 

Update: Jimmy has a BRAND NEW book out titled, CULTURIZE

Jimmy currently serves as a Senior Fellow for the International Center for Leadership in Education and also serves on the Professional Development Faculty for NASSP; the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Finally, he is the co-founder and CEO of ConnectEDD, an educational leadership company aimed at organizing world class professional learning conferences and professional development services for educators across the country.

Follow Jimmy on Twitter: Jimmy Casas (@casas_jimmy) | Twitter

Mentioned in this podcast:

Jimmy’s NEW BOOK: CULTURIZE

Jimmy’s book: Start. Right. Now. Teach and Lead for Excellence

International Center for Leadership in Education

Dr. Bill Daggit

Jimmy recommends the book: The Four Agreements by Don Michael Ruiz

Jimmy’s favorite app: Voxer

Jimmy’s favorite hashtags: #IowaEdChat #SatChat and #Tlap

Life Fit

Model Schools

Schools of Excellence

www.FutureReady.org

Jimmy’s website: http://www.jimmycasas.com

 

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WEP 0083: Book Snaps! An Interview with Tara Martin

In this episode, Kelly interviews, Tara Martin, the originator of #BookSnaps, a super-cool and relevant way to share what you are reading through social media. Tara used SnapChat to get intice young readers to engage meaningfully with books, and now BookSnaps! has become an incredibly popular movement and hashtag on SnapChat, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and more. Learn how Tara took what she thought was an annoying fad and turned it into an educational opportunity! You going to love this episode.

Tara Martin is an enthusiastic educator who thrives on change and refuses to settle for the status quo. Martin’s mission is to invigorate teachers, administrators, and staff members to apply instructional practices that foster creativity, personalize learning and prepare 21st-century learners for success. Check out her latest hashtag #BookSnaps on Twitter.

Mentioned in this episode: 
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WEP 0082: Disrupting Thinking, An Interview with Kylene Beers and Robert E. Probst

In this episode, Kelly interviews two of the most influential and most recognized names in the research and application of reading instruction, Kylene Beers and Robert E. Probst. The focus of this interview is an engaging conversation about their new book, Disrupting Thinking: Why How We Think Matters, and how to help students become better readers. This is a must-listen interview. 

About the Authors: Kylene Beers and Robert E. Probst are the coauthors of the best-selling books Notice and Note: Strategies for Close Reading and Reading Nonfiction: Stances, Signposts, and Strategies, as well as Adolescent Literacy: Turning Promise into Practice (with Linda Rief) and Disrupting Thinking: Why How We Read Matters. Beers, who also authored When Kids Can’t Read: What Teachers Can Do, began her teaching career at a middle school in the Houston area. Probst, who also authored Response and Analysis, began his career at the junior high and high school levels in the Baltimore area. Both have taught at the university level—Beers at the University of Houston and Probst at Georgia State University. Beers is a past president of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and Probst is a former member of the NCTE Commission on Reading. You can follow them on Twitter @kylenebeers and @bobprobst.

Book summary:

In their hit books Notice and Note and Reading Nonfiction, Kylene Beers and Bob Probst showed teachers how to help students become close readers. Now, in Disrupting Thinking they take teachers a step further and discuss an on-going problem: lack of engagement with reading. They explain that all too often, no matter the strategy shared with students, too many students remain disengaged and reluctant readers. The problem, they suggest, is that we have misrepresented to students why we read and how we ought to approach any text – fiction or nonfiction.

With their hallmark humor and their appreciated practicality, Beers and Probst present a vision of what reading and what education across all the grades could be. Hands-on-strategies make it applicable right away for the classroom teacher, and turn-and-talk discussion points make it a guidebook for school-wide conversations. In particular, they share new strategies and ideas for helping classroom teachers:

  • Create engagement and relevance
  • Encourage responsive and responsible reading
  • Deepen comprehension
  • Develop lifelong reading habits

“We think it’s time we finally do become a nation of readers, and we know it’s time students learn to tell fake news from real news. It’s time we help students understand why how they read is so important,” explain Beers and Probst. “Disrupting Thinking is, at its heart, an exploration of how we help students become the reader who does so much more than decode, recall, or choose the correct answer from a multiple-choice list. This book shows us how to help students become the critical thinkers our nation needs them to be.”

Mentioned in this interview:

Planbook is the best way to organize your lesson plans. Learn more at www.PlanBook.com <<< Free 30 Day Trial!

Kylene and Bob’s book: Disrupting Thinking: Why How We Read Matters <<<Order Now!

National Council of the Teachers of English <<< Join!

Interested in sponsoring an episode of The Wired Educator Podcast or advertising? <<< Learn More!

Join Kelly for a weekend retreat and learn how to publish, podcast, blog, speak, create course & more! <<< Learn More!

Bob and Kylene recommend the books: 


Telling Writing by Ken Macrorie <<<Order Now!

Literature as Exploration by Louise Rosenblatt <<<Order Now!

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WEP 0081: Table Talk Math: An Interview with John Stevens

Table Talk Math: A Practical Guide to Bringing math in Everyday Conversations.

Kelly interviews author and educator, John Stevens, about his new book, Table Talk Math: A Practical Guide to Bringing math in Everyday Conversations.

John Stevens is an educational technology coach for Chaffey Joint Union High School District who has also taught high school Geometry, Algebra 1, middle school Math, Service Learning, and Robotics, Engineering, and Design since 2006. As the co-author of “The Classroom Chef”, he has served as the go-to guy for trying new, crazy, and often untested ideas to see how well they will work.

He co-founded and moderates #CAedchat, the weekly teacher Twitter chat for the state of California. He also is the co-founder and organizer of EdCamp Palm Springs, the first in the area.

In his free time that doesn’t exist, he runs a site called Would You Rather? which is dedicated to getting students talking about math. He is an author of Flipping 2.0, a resource that helps teachers take the flipped classroom to the next level. During recent summers, John has had the honor of presenting at CUE Rockstar events in California and various technology and math conferences. John blogs at fishing4tech.com. His latest adventure has led him into the world of 3D-printing, designing lesson plans and curricula for AirWolf3D. Follow him @jstevens009 or email him at stevens009@gmail.com

Mentioned in this podcast:

Creation Crate: An awesome subscription service sending you new electronic projects each month! I love it and so do my kids!

How to Make a Freaking iPhone App Kickstarter by Nick Walter: This kickstarter project will become an awesome online course to help you make an app. Very cool.

John’s books:

Table Talk Math: A Practical Guide to Bringing math in Everyday Conversations

The Classroom Chef: Sharpen Your Lessons, Season Your Classes, and Make Math Meaningful.

Books I’m reading this summer and that I’ve seen poolside:
• Kids Deserve It! by Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome

• Instant Relevance by Denis Sheeran

• The Writing on the Classroom Wall by Steve Wyborney

Equipment I just ordered: 

• iPad Pro 12.9 inch: The greatest device I have ever owned. Wow!

• Apple Pencil: I love this. Wow!

• Logic hard shell case and backlit keyboard for iPad Pro: this is the best keyboard and case available for the iPad Pro.
• Omoton Leather sleeve for iPad Pro with document folder and Pencil holder: this is awesome and less the $15 bucks.

Another book: 

John’s favorite book is Outliers by Malcom Gladwell

App: Desmos graphing calculator

My book: Along Came a Leader: A Guide to Personal and Professional Leadership

My February 2018 Weekend Retreat for Educators: Click here to learn more!