Tag Archives: remote learning

Posted on

WEP 190: Much to Learn from a Student Teacher in a Pandemic, an Interview with Samantha Wheeler

An Interview with Samantha Wheeler

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast I Interview Samantha Wheeler. A typical Wired Educator Podcast guest is someone who’s written books, speaks from the stage, or earned multiple recognitions and awards for education, my guest today is wonderful and awesome, but for none of those reasons; Samantha is a senior in college rocking it as a student-teacher in one of the most challenging times in education. I wanted a fresh perspective on teaching and learning and Sami delivered. She is brilliant. I learned so much from this interview and you will too.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Samantha Wheeler, or Sami as she goes by, is a current senior in college at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ. She is pursuing a dual degree in secondary education and mathematics. So far, she has completed an educational technology certification as well as a Google Level 1 Educator certification.She is also a part of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program which seeks to place teachers with strong STEM content knowledge into high-need school districts upon graduation.

At Rider, Sami is extremely involved on campus and is a part of many different organizations such as the Student Education Association, Math Club and four different national honors societies! She has made herself known on campus through multiple leadership and mentoring roles such as working as an orientation leader, peer coaching new students, and leading seminars for first year education majors. Sami has just started her last semester of college and is currently student teaching in a local middle school in a 7th grade math class.

Once she graduates, Sami plans to teach math at the secondary level where she can’t wait to share her love of STEM with others! She hopes to someday earn her masters and even possibly her PhD in hopes to teach upper level mathematics at the collegiate level.

Mentioned in this episode: 

Follow Sami on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsWheeler11

Eschool News picks The Wired Educator Podcast as one of the top eight podcast to listen to for 2021: https://www.eschoolnews.com/2021/02/11/8-great-education-podcasts-to-try-this-year/?all

Educational Technology picks The Wired Educator Podcast as one of the top five podcasts for 2021: https://www.educatorstechnology.com/2021/01/top-5-educational-podcasts-for-teachers.html?fbclid=IwAR1F-PeqcO-0AcICEaQ9asyuxLOvtbxmDguL-moWWyeQsaqFt1Z29xc4oR8

Order a copy of Kelly’s books:

Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness

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

Sign-up for Kelly Croy’s Newsletter: Just click this link: https://chipper-teacher-8587.ck.page

Complete this form if you would like to receive a free FREE Wired Educator Podcast Sticker: https://forms.gle/RsEBuVwkapeGTc9D6

This link will take you to ALL of Kelly’s social media: https://linktr.ee/kellycroy

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast, The Future Focused Podcast, and subscribe to the more than 42 episodes to help you level-up your leadership and design a more dynamic life. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with over 190 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

Posted on

WEP 178: Teachers on Fire, an Interview with Tim Cavey

In this episode of the Wired Educator Podcast, I interview Tim Cavey. Tim is the host of an amazing podcast titled, Teachers on Fire. If you are a listener of my podcast, you will love Tim’s. It is awesome. Tim is an educator and educational leader from Vancouver Canada. The two of us have an amazing conversation about content creation, podcasting, the future of education, leadership, and instruction during this pandemic.

This episode is so much fun and has so many takeaways, you’re going to need an extra suitcase.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Tim Cavey is a husband, stepfather of two, 8th grade teacher, and assistant principal in Vancouver, Canada. In 2019, he completed a Master’s in Educational Leadership degree that re-ignited his fire for teaching and put him on a new path of growth, professional reflection, and content creation. Tim’s a firm believer in the growth mindset and advocates often for the kinds of informal professional learning that can be found on social media and in blogs, vlogs, or podcasts. When he’s not creating content or spending time with his family, you’ll find Tim hiking, flying his drone, or paddleboarding in the chilly waters of the Pacific northwest.

Mentioned in this Podcast: 
My new book: Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness, written and illustrated by Kelly Croy

Follow Tim on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire

Follow Tim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/

Connect with Tim on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/teachersonfire

Check Tim out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TeachersOnFire

Visit Tim’s Website: https://teachersonfire.net/

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast, The Future Focused Podcast, and subscribe to the more than 39 episodes to help you level-up your leadership and design a more dynamic life. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with over 178 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

 

Posted on

WEP 177: Changing Hearts, Minds, and Lives, an Interview with Traci Browder

Traci Browder is a Brilliant Educator, Podcast and Speaker

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, I interview Traci Browder. Traci is an amazing educator that can help all of us make the greatest impact on students’ lives through the challenges of teaching in a pandemic. She is an expert in remote instruction, creating and curating incredibly helpful content for teachers in this time of need. She was named teacher of the year her first year teaching, and once again in another district. She hosts the amazing Intelligogy Podcast. She leads important chats and discussions ranging from leadership, instruction, curriculum, and race. She produces content for educators six days a week. In short, Traci is amazing, and I am so proud to share her with you in this episode. She has helped me so much personally and professionally. This is a powerful episode. You will leave feeling awesome about yourself, your impact, and you will have a guide of where you need to go. I love this episode and you will too.

Click here to listen to our interview.

Traci Browder is a trailblazer in education inspiring and mentoring teachers and changing the lives of children for more than 16 years.  She was Teacher of the Year her very first year of teaching and was chosen as Teacher of the Year a few years later in her current district.

Mentoring new teachers, helps them understand the importance of building and sustaining relationships critical for student success. Veteran teachers who are perpetual learners also find Browder to be a vital asset while in pursuit of refining their craft.

Browder is known best for her innovative, out of the box teaching style with a mixture of Montessori, gifted/talented, and special services all rolled into one classroom environment.

Establishing a family in her classroom is the pillar of her classroom success and has been well-received by parents.  She finds focusing on social and emotional needs in the beginning and throughout the school year creates a safe and trusting environment.  Students feel comfortable and soon become eager to take risks.  She teaches children not just academics, she teaches them how to be successful and contributing members of society.

Her classroom is a live learning lab in which teachers in her school district have come to observe her unique style of teaching as well as teachers on her campus.  She has created a professional learning community in which all teachers on her grade level now go in and out of each other’s classrooms – with their students in tow.  Teachers teach side by side or are observing and dialoguing in real-time. This powerful method of sharing students and best practices is transforming the classroom experience for the students and teachers at her school.

Technology has been a central point of connecting her classroom to parents.  She initiated working closely with district tech support to use Twitter, a private YouTube channel, and a blog before they were commonplace in her district.  Through this partnership, parent consent forms were designed with approval from the district’s technology department.

The initiatives were so successful that she was invited to design a course to present at her school district’s curriculum conference under Alan November’s technology strand.  Mr. November invited her on stage after she initiated a conversation with him on a break during his speaking engagement to share what she had done during the school year and he told everyone this would be the session not to miss!

Browder possesses a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Dallas Baptist University and is a former reading specialist and instructional coach.  She has served as part of curriculum writing teams in each of the three districts in which she has worked.    She’s written ELA, Social Studies, and Math curriculum and has served on multiple textbook adoption committees.  Browder has a long list of trainings and professional development in each school district in which she’s worked.

Traci Browder is many things to many people.  Wife to her best friend, Quinton.  Mom to her amazing sons, Donovan & Quinton.  She enjoys reading, writing, painting, and spending time with her family.

Mentioned in this Podcast: 
Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness, written and illustrated by Kelly Croy

Traci Browder’s Blog & Website: https://tracibrowder.com/Traci Browder’s Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/intelligogy/id1493409417
Intelligogy The Podcast
An exciting weekly format giving listeners content ranging from COVID-19
considerations, remote learning, anti-racism, self care, deep thinking and
exploration, celebrating students, connecting with my own children, and
creativity and innovation in teaching. In partnership with VoicEd Radio.Antiracism Series – #LeadLAP Chat
https://leadlikeapirate.net/blog/page/2/https://leadlikeapirate.net/blog/

NBC Operation Teacher Relief
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/teacher-hopes-youtube-lessons-help-others-if-class-time-is-lost-over-coronavirus/2327512/?_osource=db_npd_nbc_kxas_eml_shrTexans Giving Back Documentary

https://twitter.com/castleviewatx/status/1250545088524148741?s=21

Fostering my son’s giftedness and servant’s heart
Teen Makes Wishes Come True for Family Who Lost Father
<https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/teen-makes-wishes-come-true-for-family-who-lost-father/2274161/>

Hurricane Harvey Christmas Buddy
Mansfield boy collecting donations for Hurricane Harvey victims | FOX 4
News Dallas-Fort Worth
<https://www.fox4news.com/news/mansfield-boy-collecting-donations-for-hurricane-harvey-victims>

MISD Link
https://www.facebook.com/285747135552/posts/10162977280985553?vh=e&d=n&sfns=moSchool Rubric
Write articles for School Rubric on current topics, passions and best
practices in education.https://www.schoolrubric.com/its-ok-to-not-be-ok/

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast, The Future Focused Podcast and subscribe to the more than 39 episodes to help you level-up your leadership and design a more dynamic life. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with over 177 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

Posted on

WEP 176 Leader of Learning, an interview with Dan Kreiness

In this 176th episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, I interview Dan Kreiness, host of the Leader of Learning podcast, an extraordinary educational leader and instructional coach in Connecticut. Dan just finished his doctorate in Educational Leadership with a focus on the topic of growth mindset. I enjoy Dan‘s podcast, and I’m excited to have him on the show. We talk about the return to school in all of the different models, growth mindset, remote learning, and instructional coaching.  Dan is a brilliant educational leader. This podcast will help you level-up to make a difference in the lives of students. Let’s go!

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Thank you for choosing this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast! You are awesome!

Dan and I talk about:

  • Dan’s SCOPE acronym for what makes coaching growth mindset
  • a medical doctor’s opinion on which learning model is best for students (an interesting discussion)
  • transformational leadership to inspire growth mindsets in teachers
  • maintaining a growth mindset around school reopening
  • instructional coaching and leading by coaching
  • differentiating and personalizing learning during hybrid/distance learning
  • and more!

Dr. Dan Kreiness is an instructional leader and podcast host who constantly searches for the most effective ways to advance education and produce high student achievement. Dan began his teaching career by spending nearly eight years in the New York City Department of Education as an eighth grade English language arts teacher, academic intervention specialist, and middle level literacy coach, then spent nearly five years at Derby Middle School in Derby, Connecticut as a reading teacher and instructional coach. He is currently an ELA Instructional Coach in the Norwalk Public School District in Norwalk, Connecticut. Dan holds master’s degrees in adolescent education and educational leadership and a doctorate in educational leadership. His dissertation and original research were titled, “Transformational Leadership to Inspire Growth Mindset in Classroom Teachers.” Dan was named to the 2017 class of ASCD Emerging Leaders. He is also a Google Certified Educator, Nearpod PioNear, Flipgrid Ambassador, and Wakelet Ambassador.

Dan hosts the popular Leader of Learning podcast which can be found on music streaming services such as Spotify, iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Google Play and Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, and TuneIn, or on any podcast catcher. Dan has been a recurring host and panelist on the EduMatch Tweet and Talk podcast series. He is also an author who features his writing the “Leader of Learning” blog and has contributed guest blogs to The EduCal Blog, Your Instructional Coach, and TeachBoost. In addition to blogging, he also has published works as a contributor to the Edumatch Snapshot in Education (2017) Volume 2: Professional Practice and The EduMatch Teacher’s Recipe Guide: Survive and Thrive in the Kitchen and Beyond.

Dan is emerging as an expert presenter at educational conferences, trainings, and EdCamps on topics including leadership, growth mindset, podcasting, student engagement, various instructional technologies, and using social media in education. Dan was the creator of the #growthmindsetEDU Twitter chat and Voxer group after his interest in growth mindset was sparked as he studied how to be an effective instructional coach. His specific educational interests include leadership, educational technology, and student engagement.

Mentioned in this podcast: 

Kelly’s new book: Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness

Dan’s website: https://leaderoflearning.com

Follow Dan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dr_kreiness

Follow Dan on Instagram: https://instagram.com/dr_kreiness

Follow Dan on his Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/leaderoflearning

One of Dan’s favortite reads is the book Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip Heath.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast, The Future Focused Podcast and subscribe. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with over 176 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for a school book study or your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

 

Posted on

WEP 175 Anything is Possible in a Remote Classroom, an Interview with Jon Jarc

WEP 175 Anything is Possible in a Remote Classroom, an Interview with Jon Jarc

In this episode of the Wired Educator Podcast, I have an amazing conversation with Apple Distinguished Educator and STEM/Art teacher, Jon Jarc about teaching in a remote environment. How can you teach an essential class with so many hands-on tools and supplies like STEM and Art while completely remote? Well, Jon did, and he did it amazingly well. He is an amazing educator. We go in many directions in this interview. You are going to love this episode. 

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Jon is an Apple Distinguished Educator. He is a teacher and technologist at St. Ignatius High School, the Jesuit preparatory school in Cleveland, Ohio. Jon works with teachers integrating technology to their classrooms. 

I interviewed Jon way back on episode 59 of this podcast. He inspires me. He is an amazingly caring human and a talented educator. In one of my darkest hours, Jon looked out for me in my family. During quarantine Jon 3D printed projects his students made and shipped them to his students, and he 3D printed medical supplies for hospitals. 

He supports student learning and faculty professional development across the curriculum. He works with both IT staff and school administration to offer sound technology advice on planning and integration projects throughout our camps as well as conducting ongoing professional development. 

With a wide range of IT experiences and a Masters Degree in Educational Technology, finding solutions to specific teachers’ needs is his specialty.

Jon is an amazing educator and friend and I am proud to share a small piece of his story and expertise with you in this interview 

Mentioned in this interview: 

Great Article with Jon Jarc: https://www.cleveland19.com/2020/04/13/st-ignatius-teacher-using-d-printer-help-make-medical-supplies-out-his-home-north-olmsted/

MakerGear 3D Printers

Here’s a link to my new children’s book, it’s the perfect back-to-school bedtime book:

Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness

Have a great school year. Please subscribe to my newsletter and podcast.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast, The Future Focused Podcast and subscribe. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with over 175 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for a school book study or your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

 

Posted on

WEP 173: Inquiry Mindset, an Interview with Trevor MacKenzie

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, I interview Trevor MacKenzie. Trevor is brilliant and has much to offer us as we prepare for this new school year. His knowledge and creative ideas on how to bring inquiry into any learning environment, whether it be remote, hybrid, or traditional is just the instructional practice we need.

Trevor MacKenzie is an award-winning English teacher at Oak Bay High School in Victoria, BC, Canada, who believes that it is a magical time to be an educator.  By increasing student agency over learning, weaving in strong pedagogy, transformative tech use, and sharing learning to a public audience, Trevor’s learners are ready to take on important roles in the 21st century.

Trevor is the author of Dive into Inquiry: Amplify Learning and Empower Student Voice as well as Inquiry Mindset: Nurturing the Dreams, Wonders and Curiosities of our Youngest Learners .

Follow Trevor on Twitter at: @trev_mackenzie

Visti Trevor’s website at: www.trevormackenzie.com and on Facebook.

Read Trevor’s books: Dive into Inquiry: Amplify Learning and Empower Student Voice as well as Inquiry Mindset: Nurturing the Dreams, Wonders and Curiosities of our Youngest Learners.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast, The Future Focused Podcast and subscribe. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with over 173 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for a school book study or your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

 

 

Posted on

WEP 170 Teach Better with Jeff Gargas

Thanks for Leveling-Up and Making a Difference in the Lives of Students!

This episode of The Wired Educator Podcast is an awesome interview with Jeff Gargas.

Jeff Gargas is the COO and Co-founder of the Teach Better Team and co-author of Teach Better. He works with educators to increase student engagement and improve student success. He also offers 1-on-1 coaching for teachers who have a product or idea they want to share with others to better education.

Jeff Gargas is the COO and Co-founder of the Teach Better Team (Creators of www.teachbetter.com, The Grid Method, and Teach Further) and co-author of the book, Teach Better. He works with educators to increase student engagement and improve student success. He also offers 1-on-1 coaching for teachers who have a product or idea they want to share with others to better education.

Prior to co-founding Teach Better, Jeff was the owner of ENI Multimedia, an online marketing firm, where he worked with entrepreneurs and small businesses, assisting them with web design, social media, content marketing, and brand awareness.

Prior to all of this, Jeff was an adjunctive professor at Kent State University and spent 10+ years in the music industry. He has spoken at conferences around the country, and has successfully promoted more than 500 events and launched 7 businesses in a variety of industries.

Jeff is passionate about music and enjoys spending time with his family as often as possible.

Here is a direct link to this podcast: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/wirededucator/WEP_170_Teach_Better_with_Jeff_Gargas.mp3

Mentioned in this episode: 

StartSole.org

The Marshall Memo

The Future Focused Podcast

Interested in having Kelly work with your district remotely or in-person: www.KellyCroy.com

Jeff’s links:

Social Media Handles:

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast, The Future Focused Podcast and subscribe. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with over 169 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for a school book study or your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

 

Posted on

WEP 169: Education is Over, an Interview with Bill Rankin

In this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast, I interview Bill Rankin. He is an amazing educator, and someone I deeply respect and admire. Dr. Rankin was the worldwide Director of Learning at Apple from 2013 through 2016. He is an academic with more than 25 years of classroom experience, and interviews with Rankin have appeared in Wired, The Guardian, The Times of London, Businessweek. He has recently written a fascinating article titled Education is Over. You are going to love it!

Dr. William Rankin is a learning-experience and learning-frameworks designer and educational theorist who served as worldwide Director of Learning at Apple from 2013 through 2016. An academic with more than 25 years of classroom experience, Rankin helped design the world’s first smartphone-based one-to-one learning program for higher education, for which he was named Campus Technology magazine’s Innovator of the Year for mobile learning in 2008. In 2009, he was named an Apple Distinguished Educator, and in 2010, he began a three-year tenure on the US Board of Apple’s Distinguished Educators program.

Interviews with Rankin have appeared in Wired, The Guardian, The Times of London, Businessweek, The New York Times and The Chronicle for Higher Education and at online sites including InsideHigherEd, Ars Technica, and Open Culture. Rankin has spoken at TEDxDubai and was a featured presenter at London’s Bett Show in 2018 and 2019. He has worked with schools, governments, and learning organizations in more than 30 countries to design, develop, and implement innovative learning and is an expert in mobile- and technology-enhanced learning and constructionism.

Mentioned in this episode: 

Bill’s article, “Education is Over.”

Willaim Rankin on TEDxDubai 2011

One of Bill’s choices for most influential book: End of Average by Todd Rose

Here is a link to this episode of The Wired Educator Podcast: http://traffic.libsyn.com/wirededucator/WEP_169_Education_is_Over_An_Interview_with_Bill_Rankin.mp3

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast, The Future Focused Podcast and subscribe. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with over 169 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for a school book study or your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram 

 

 

Posted on

Finding the Calm in the Chaos, Five Tips for Educators

A Guest Blog Post by Theresa Welch

Finding the Calm in the Chaos

My eight-year-old daughter asked me the other day, what “this” time is like in terms of other times in my life.  It was difficult to explain to her that it is unlike anything I’ve experienced in my lifetime or her grandparents have experienced in theirs.  These are truly new and can be for some, scary times.

Teachers are moving to remote or distance learning.  Parents are moving to work from home models.  Students are navigating a whole new world of learning without the proximity of their teachers and friends.  And all of us are coping with the physical separation from loved ones and friends.  It certainly makes for a stressful situation for all.

But we are teachers and we are flexible!  How many times have you had to pivot a lesson because it didn’t go as planned?  Well, think of this as the Guinness Book of World Records record holder for a pivot!  And here are some tips so help you handle that pivot like an NBA star:

1.) Set up hours.  We don’t teach twenty-four hours a day – why do we think that we need to be logged in/creating/doing for that amount of time?  Personally, I’m trying to create realistic hours and stick to them.  Once I clock out, I take walks with my family, crochet, or try to do something to help me recharge my batteries.  As the saying goes, “put on your oxygen mask first”.  If we don’t take care of ourselves, we risk burning out during this new endeavor.

2.) Be gentle with students, be gentle with yourself.  This is new to EVERYONE!  In my district, students and many teachers are learning a new platform during this chaotic time.  We are frantically trying to deploy devices and get everyone on board.  But, like I tell teachers – we are all in this together!  Be patient with students and their families who are just as worried as we are.  Be patient with colleagues that reach out to you for help.  And most of all, be patient with yourself.  This certainly isn’t where any of us planned to be in the school year, but we can’t change it, only deal with it.

3.) Enjoy the change of pace.  I don’t know if you’re like me, but I am usually rushing out the door after getting my daughter on the bus, coffee in my travel mug, and praying that there is no traffic!  All of a sudden, most of our commutes have been DRASTICALLY shortened.  Enjoy the coffee in a real mug!  Sit with your kids, dog, or even a good book at breakfast.  Maybe even use that extra time in the morning to get some exercise in (#wired2run anyone???)

4.) Enjoy the change of scenery.  In addition to having a change to the pace of our day, the scenery sure has changed too!  I never taught a library class looking out my front window as neighbors strolled by.  I never did a read aloud from my deck.  And I certainly never had the joy of my dog’s company as I taught.  Enjoy the fact that work truly has all the comforts of home for the time being!  

5.) Don’t forget to laugh.  I am a big fan of Jimmy Buffet and there is a line in one of his songs, “If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane.”  If there was ever a time where this is applicable, this is it!  Enjoy a meme, an episode of your favorite sitcom, or a cheesy joke with a friend.  One from my son to get you started (full disclosure – 13-year-old boy joke): What is the German word for constipation? Far-from-poopen!

I know that the uncertainty of this time makes us all uneasy.  But I am a firm believer in trying to find the good in the situation.  Try to find those moments of calm or laughter as you go throughout your day.  And don’t forget that we are all in this together!

Be safe, be well, you’ve got this!

Theresa Welch

Posted on

WEP 164: What I Learned About Remote Learning After Ten Weeks, an Interview with Stephanie Castle

In this episode of the Wired Educator podcast, I interview Stephanie Castle and share her amazing experience as an educator in Shanghai during the initial COVID-19 outbreak, her ability to adapt and innovate with remote learning, and her adventurous travel from location to location amidst this pandemic. We also discuss her successful return to China, where she was just released from a 14-day quarantine. She is healthy, happy and teaching! She has much to teach us about remote instruction and learning as well as the living of life. Stephanie and her colleagues have been instructing remotely longer than any other teachers. Buckle-up, this is the episode you are looking for! 

Stephanie Castle is a good friend of mine and a fellow Apple Distinguished Educator. I’ve had the good pleasure to travel with her to different parts of the world through the Apple Distinguished Educator Program. She’s a wonderful human and an incredible teacher. She is the first person from whom I ever heard of the term, coronavirus, back in January when she was unable to return to her school in China due to the virus. Stephanie shares her amazing story in this episode and she provides a great perspective and insight on remote instruction and remote learning as well. As I mentioned she is a brilliant educator, and she has a lot to offer. 

Stephanie Castle is an IB Biology teacher at Shanghai American School and an Apple Distinguished Educator. Originally from London, she has taught both High School Biology and Chemistry, previously working at the United Nations International School in New York. Stephanie has a passion for technology integration into the teaching and learning of Science, particularly in giving students opportunities to visualize their learning, explain complex scientific processes and engage in problem-solving. She is the creator of a YouTube channel for IB Biology and author of the published iBook “Creative Clips in Science – Stimulating Inquiry and Visualizing Learning”.  You can follow her work on Twitter @castlestephanie.

Sign-up for Kelly’s newsletter here. Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. If you’d like to learn more about Kelly or invite him to your school or conference to speak please send him an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast, The Future Focused Podcast and subscribe. • Subscribe to The Wired Educator Podcast with over 150 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Visit Kelly’s website at www.KellyCroy.com. • Looking for a dynamic speaker for your school’s opening day? • Consider Kelly Croy at www.KellyCroy.com • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for a school book study or your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram