3ps In A Pod

Two words: teacher retention. If there was a fairy godmother or magic genie in the world of Arizona education, this might be the first wish we’d want granted. Today, Danielle and Angelia talk about the supports that have kept them in the profession. The #3PsinaPod hosts hear from Arizona State University’s Senior Policy Analyst at the Morrison Institute for Public Policy, Dan Hunting. The principal author of “Finding and Keeping Educators for Arizona’s Classrooms” explains the outcomes of the report, including several elements that impact teacher retention. Be it matchmaking, community building, or teacher pay, one thing is for sure — ridding educator turnover will take more than assigning mentors at the beginning of the school year. Hunting offers his recommendations and advocates for formalized support programs. Even more, he rallies for a sharp cultural shift that would reclaim education as an “esteemed, high-status profession.”

Settle in because we have a very special guest on #3PsinaPod today. Angelia and Mary chat with professor, researcher, and expert Dr. John Hattie about the truths behind visible learning. Teachers’ own willingness to grow is pivotal to student success and professional disposition is crucial. Dr. Hattie recommends pondering what it means to be a learner in our contexts, so we can prompt students to become more than creatures of compliance. As educators, how can we get students to become their own teachers? We guarantee you’ll love this episode — if you do, be sure to register for the one-day professional development opportunity with Dr. Hattie on Feb. 5, 2019 where we’ll dive deep into his research and mindframes for visible learning.

We’re settling into the school year, which means our classroom management skills must be sharper than ever. Today, the author of Real Talk about Classroom Management, Serena Pariser, joins us to talk about her favorite techniques for student engagement. She’s a wealth of knowledge and her advice is sound (and simple). Join in on the conversation with Danielle and Angelia to learn ways to captivate student attention all year long. You might be surprised to hear it’s as simple as the way you start learning students’ names. Plus, bonus points for participation; three listeners will have the chance to win a copy of Serana’s book. Check Twitter to respond to the prompt to be entered to win. #3PsinaPod

School is back in session and so is “3Psin a Pod.” We kickstart our latest season with a show all about new teachers. Even if you’re not a novice educator, keep listening — our guests share what you can do to help those newest to the profession. Angelina Cook, a kindergarten teacher from the Paradise Valley Unified School District, and James King, a freshman English teacher from the Glendale Union High School District, talk about trials and triumphs from their first years in the classroom. We’re certain anyone, anywhere on the teaching continuum will benefit from this episode. Plus, visit the Arizona K12 Center blog, Homeroom, for supplemental resources you can use in conjunction with this show. Also, don’t miss the chance to win a free registration for Sharpen Your Skills: Beginning Teacher Series. We will have prompt on Twitter for you to respond to, so look for hashtag #3PsinaPod. The first 10 responses will be entered into a drawing. We will announce the winner on Monday, Aug. 20 through a Twitter post.

What better time to talk about the power of teachers than during Teacher Appreciation Week 2018? Today, Jaime Casap, the Chief Education Evangelist at Google, chats with Danielle and Mary about what it was like being raised as a first-generation American in Hell’s Kitchen, New York. The Arizona resident and father of three says education has the ability to disrupt poverty and change a family’s destiny. Casap preaches, “There is no more passionate workforce than teachers.” Thanks for joining us for #3PsinaPod. We look forward to learning more with you in season four.

In education, the words “testing, evaluations, and budgets” might cause you to shudder. Fortunately, Chris Kotterman schools us on what each looks like in the context of Arizona’s K-12 education system. Listen, as our hosts, Angelia and Donnie, reflect on their experiences with teacher evaluations and discuss current events at the Legislature. In his own words, the Director of Governmental Relations for the Arizona School Boards Association says, “K-12 education is full of unique and caring individuals… K-12 education has been run over many times by other people’s priorities over the past decade. They can’t ignore schools anymore. Teachers have made that impossible.” Please note: This episode was recorded prior to the events on April 25 and May 1.

Arizona educators are organizing and mobilizing. The Grand Canyon state is now known for having the lowest teacher pay in the nation and questionable public-school funding. Save Our Schools (SOS) Arizona is an organization created to communicate the impact of education on the future of our state. Today, Angelia and Mary chat with “3Ps in a Pod” guest, Beth Lewis. The Tempe educator shares why she and a group of bold individuals banded together to create SOS. What first began as a movement to fight school vouchers has become a community for those looking to take a stand for the teaching profession. Listen to learn more about education policy in Arizona and how you can do your part to make a difference.

Are your students giving high fives and fist pumping after solving a word problem? They should be! As teachers, can we make math more engaging. Dr. Mike Flynn is with us on “3Ps in a Pod” to share how we can help students see a real-life situation and mathematize it. Also, he reminds us there’s an important balance to strike between making tasks fun and intentional. Let’s see if we can’t get our students to go home and brag about what they did in math class. Even better, let’s create memorable moments that get kids out of bed in the morning.

School choice is hot topic, especially in Arizona. Today, Mary and Donnie talk about students’ diverse needs and learning styles, and how that relates to equity. Mary reminds us that individuals don’t need to travel to an entirely different school to receive a different learning experience — teachers can customize learning environments to mold the students they serve. Today, the co-host duo chats with Yolanda Wheelington, a Montessori teacher from the Phoenix Elementary School District. The first- through third-grade educator talks differentiation, class restoration, social-emotional intelligence, and so much more. If you like what you hear, register on our website to attend the 2018 Teacher Leadership Institute which focuses on enhancing equity in our field.

Playful and dirty probably aren’t adjectives that come to mind when you say math out loud. However, today’s “3Ps in a Pod” guest, John San Giovanni, says we need to freshen up the way students approach the subject. Regardless of who you are and where you go, math principles don’t change, but the understanding, access, and application will. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to solve problems and even more ways to teach math. Listen, as Donnie and Danielle chat with the math guru about how we can respond to the actions of our learners in the moment to adjust our methods. Let’s rethink how we assess and analyze, making math both formal and informal. Spoiler alert: Playing and getting dirty during math tasks can make individuals more inclined to the subject than ever before.

The effort put forth by teachers to make educational equity a reality for students can be seen in actions, both big and small. Jesse Delgado is a special education mentor in the Tolleson Union High School District where he trains and coaches teachers on five campuses. At the heart of his mission toward equity is inclusivity. The Arizona native breathes life into opportunities for students that make them feel equal and valued, regardless of circumstance. Through his work with the nonprofit, Best Buddies, he’s opened doors for students to grow as individuals, in ways that will serve them for a lifetime. Learn his tips for a balanced life and the best practices for co-teaching, as well as steps for starting a Best Buddies chapter of your own. If you want to hear more from Delgado and his peers being honored for their excellence in educational equity, register to attend the 2018 Teacher Leadership Institute at www.azk12.org.

Welcome to season three of “3Ps in a Pod!” Today’s hosts, Donnie and Mary, discuss a fiery topic—teacher salary. Educator pay pushes beyond classroom walls and barrels into teachers’ personal lives. Whether there is a comma on your paystub or not, it’s no secret that teachers (everywhere) are undercompensated. Currently, Arizona rounds out the ranks for teacher pay, notably 50th in the nation for elementary and 49th for high school. Ninive Calegari, founder of the Teacher Salary Project, hears (and feels) the uproar of what’s happening in the state. Although she mourns the teacher shortage and hopes her work will make a difference, the filmmaker and education evangelist asks listeners to ponder what they can do to be catalysts for change. #3PsinaPod

You’ve been there, right? You’re sitting, fully engaged, in an extraordinary professional learning opportunity. You feel the teacher high and are linking concepts to your current classroom practices. The synapses in your brain are connecting at lightning speed and you feel ready to hit the ground running. Next thing you know, you’re sitting behind your desk without any notion of how to put what you’ve learned into action. Today’s hosts, Angelia and Mary, debrief a recent learning experience with Drs. Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey. Both relish in the masterful modeling of best practices that took place and are curious to see how the newly acquired knowledge is unfolding in the field. Kathleen Paulsen, an instructional coach from the Balsz School District, shares ways she and her colleagues are using the framework, intentional, and targeted practices shared by Fisher and Frey. And before we dismiss for a brief brain break, we’d like to thank you for joining us for season two. We’ll be back later this month for ric

Do you feel like staying up-to-date on policy in the profession is similar to drinking from a fire hose? Today’s hosts, Angelia and Danielle, admit that while life is so much about the hustle, it’s important to find the time to be informed educators. Fortunately, Chris Kotterman is back with an update on Arizona’s current legislative session. The Arizona School Boards Association’s Director of Governmental Affairs not only informs us about current events, but also gives us tips and tricks to better understand and swim in the political waters. Tune in next week for our final episode of the season when we chat with Kathleen Paulsen about the impact of a recent professional learning opportunity with education greats, Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey.  

The term “master teacher” can mean a multitude of things to a variety of people. Today, Danielle and Mary define the term according the standards of the Arizona K12 Center. The duo hears from Ellen Moir, the Chief Executive Officer of the New Teacher Center (NTC), a national organization dedicated to improving student learning by accelerating the effectiveness of new teachers and school leaders. At its core, new teacher induction and mentoring is a foundational piece made strong by relationships. When novice educators are led by relatable, understanding, and admirable peers, the opportunities are endless. Come back next week when Chris Kotterman returns to give an update on Arizona’s current legislative session.

Have you ever encountered a person with an aversion toward mathematics? Get ready to rewrite your math autobiography with the Director of Teaching and Learning from the Buckeye Elementary School District and past Chief Learning Officer for the Rodel Charitable Foundation of Arizona. Dr. Kim Rimbey will help you realize it’s time we twist the negative narrative because the subject isn’t going anywhere. As educators, we must relearn math and redefine what it means in our classrooms. Donnie and Danielle discuss the importance of thinking and learning, rather than just chalking out procedures. Listen along as the three National Board Certified Teachers make the case for math. Join us next week as we learn from the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of New Teacher Center, Ellen Moir.

If technology gets you in a tizzy, you’ll come to admire (and maybe envy) our guest. Tony Vincent has been a friend of the Arizona K12 Center for nearly 15 years, and his self-proclaimed, geeky obsession with technology and immeasurable expertise began long before we met him— he will tell you that growing up he requested birthday cakes decorated with computers. But in a society so dependent upon online learning and accessibility, we asked the Nebraska native to weigh in on what works and what doesn’t. Together, Mary and Donnie reflect on their personal experiences with technology integration in the classroom. Tune in next week for an all-about-math conversation with Dr. Kim Rimbey.    

Today, we dive into the policy behind English learners in the state. The Arizona Department of Education’s Deputy Associate Superintendent for the Office of English Language Acquisition Services (OELAS), Kate Wright, talks about the importance being intentional and structured when working with this specific student population. As educators, we have to help English learners realize they are becoming bilingual, which is an asset — not a deficit. Let’s change the mindset, fellow educators. Listen, as Wright chats waivers, policies, propositions, statutes, updates to English Language Proficiency Standards, and so much more with Mary and Angelia. Most importantly, our hosts remind listeners to tap into the invaluable resources offered by OELAS. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review “3Ps in a Pod” on iTunes. We’ll see you next week when we hear from technology guru and go-getter, Tony Vincent.

Although you’re only a few weeks into the semester, you might feel like you’ve been at it again for months. Stop going through the motions and rekindle your purpose in the classroom with focus and intentionality. Today’s “3Ps in a Pod” guest wears many hats, simultaneously. Not only is Sarah Brown Wessling an educator, but also a parent, the 2010 National Teacher of the Year, a National Board Certified Teacher, an advocate for education, a constant learner, an expert questioner, a speaker, and so much more. The Iowa educator talks with Angelia and Donnie about how she came to be a teacher, the mindset that drives her daily work, and the elements that have advanced her career in the field. We’re sure you’ll feel ready to handle any challenging situation or student after listening to her story.

“3Ps in a Pod” is back in session! Thanks for joining us for the start season two. Today, Angelia and Donnie chat with Amber Parker from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. This week, the National Board honors 5,470 new and 3,957 renewed National Board Certified Teachers. There are now more than 118,000 Board-certified teachers in the United States. These numbers are significant because the National Board spent the last three years redesigning the process to make it more affordable and accessible for teachers. As the Director of Assessment Operations, Parker tells us more about the organization’s history and how the process has been revised, with you, the teacher in mind. You’ve got homework: Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review “3Ps in Pod” on iTunes!