3ps In A Pod

How familiar are you with the kindness movement known as Ben’s Bells? In this week’s episode you will have a chance to learn more about the visible and emotional work of the Ben’s Bells movement in Tucson, AZ from the organization’s Director of Education, Laura Groenwald, PhD.  Ben’s Bells was founded by Jeannette Maré as an incredible tribute to her son that has continued through moments of kindness. In this week’s podcast, we hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to learn about micro moments of connection, how small forms of kindness help to sustain us and connect us as humans, and how we can be intentional about the ways we build self awareness.  To continue your learning about Ben’s Bells Kind Campus and how you can get involved, visit the Ben’s Bells website at bensbells.org.

Stephanie Parra, a first-generation American citizen,  who was born and raised in Yuma, AZ has cultivated her passion for student success in many ways throughout her career. From Stephanie’s experiences, we hope you will learn more about what contributes to post-secondary success and how we can all work together to prepare students for life after their PK-12 experiences. On this week’s podcast, you will learn what brought Parra to the Phoenix Union School Board, how she began her work with the Arizona Education Association, and why she decided to stay in Arizona to “be a part of the change”. We end this week’s podcast with a call to action and to “stay in it”. What ways will you “stay in it?”

As our task lists lengthen and personal time seems less available than ever before, we often forget the importance of self-care. This week we are going back into the vault from the first season of 3Ps in a Pod for a powerful interview with Marian Mellen. Marian is a professional coach and speaker devoted to teaching others ways to bring self-love, personal care, and mindfulness to daily living. Donnie and Danielle start today’s conversation highlighting ways they have been consciously applying their own learning from Marian after their first conversation with her last fall. Listen in to discover ways you can feel empowered to maximize the time you have and to bring more balance into your life.

This week’s episode is not only informative, but you will have an opportunity to get to know Chris Kotterman of the Arizona School Boards Association on a personal level. Listen in to find out about his hobbies like band and scuba diving! Donnie and Angelia have an in depth conversation with Mr. Kotterman about the impact of extra curricular activities in schools and how they are funded at local levels. This week we also explore what is currently happening at the Arizona State Legislature around English language instruction, school funding, and teacher evaluations. Join us to stay up to date on legislative issues that impact today’s Arizona educators and students.

Did you know that the concept of digital citizenship is evolving? LeeAnn Lindsey, from EdVolve, joins Danielle and Mary as they discuss the history of digital citizenship and where it is headed in relationship to student learning and access. Check out LeeAnn’s recent blog post on this topic titled, The Evolution of Digital Citizenship. LeeAnn also shares the connection between digital citizenship and the role it plays in creating equitable outcomes for all students in our school communities. Learning around digital citizenship doesn't end with this podcast. Join us this June at the Fourteenth Annual Teacher Leadership Institute where LeeAnn will share more about the cross-section between equity and digital citizenship. Listen in to hear more about the impact of digital citizenship and its connection to students’ daily lives, beyond our classrooms. Links Mentioned: The Evolution of Digital Citizenship by LeeAnn Lindsey International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

Elama Dzanic joins Angelia and Mary to continue the conversation around school safety. Elma champions the idea that the level of connectedness our students feel to our school communities,  both emotionally and socially, is just as important as a student’s academic success. She emphasizes that it is the the authentic relationships created among and between students and adults in a school community that develops safety and security. Elma calls upon us to assess our own biases and to hold space for challenging topics in our classrooms. Listen in to hear some of Elma’s experiences as she provides us knowledge and expertise on how to bring about the dialogue that every child needs to feel safe and secure within their school community. Links Mentioned: Threat Assessment in Schools: A Guide to Managing Threatening Situations and to Creating Safe School Climates Consciousness | Healing | Relationships by Elma Dzanic Don’t Say Nothing: Silence speaks volumes. Our Students are listening by Jamilah Pitts Discussin

Mary Field and guest host, Elma Dzanic, discuss the topic of school safety with Dr. Carl Hermanns. Dr. Hermanns has vast experience in and across education organizations serving as an educator, principal, assistant superintendent, and now professor at Mary Lou Fulton in the division of educational leadership and innovation. On this episode, we explore school safety data and a historical timeline of the federal government's response in an attempt to mitigate active school shooters post Columbine. Dr. Hermanns challenges us to develop authentic relationships leading to conditions where students feel a sense of belonging and connection with a school community. He emphasizes the critical role teachers play in developing authentic human relationships on and across school communities as preventative to harm and hurt caused by school violence. The conversation is not over this week. Join us again next week for School Safety Part 2 where Angelia and Mary continue the conversation with Dzanic by discussing how we brin

Welcome back to our Spring Semester! Today, we highlight a previous interview we had with Jaime Casap at the end of our third season. Danielle and Mary emphasize that the messages Casap provides are more timely than ever at this point in the school year. Casap, 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. He brings to the surface the analogy of a teacher as a coach and a coaches role in ensuring students have a pathway towards success in life. Casap preaches, “There is no more passionate workforce than teachers.” Thanks for joining us for #3PsinaPod as we kickoff our Spring Semester 2019!  

Season four concludes with an invigorating conversation featuring Columbia University lead staff developer, Cornelius Minor. The Brooklyn educator joins Mary and Danielle to talk about equity and his educational journey that includes hip hop, video games, and so much more. The self-proclaimed “warrior-nerd for the cause of beautiful learning” shares insights from his recent book, We Got This. We’re thrilled to announce Minor will join us at the Fourteenth Annual Teacher Leadership Institute (TLI) in Tucson, Arizona, June 18-20. If you like what you hear, check out the free excerpt from his book and register for TLI 2019. We hope to see you there!

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s our privilege to reintroduce to you the 2019 Arizona Teacher of the Year, Kareem Neal. The self-contained special education teacher from Maryvale High School in the Phoenix Union High School District is no stranger to #3PsinaPod; check out S4 Episode 8: Supporting Students with Special Needs Across Environments for a refresher. Today, Neal tells Danielle and Angelia about his journey as a teacher leader. Since receiving the title, the New Jersey native has been swarmed with public speaking and social media requests, but one thing is for certain — he’s not going to let the hype and busyness keep him from using the platform to spotlight his niche group of students and peers in the profession. Listen to learn more about his story and you’ll discover he’s in his 22nd year of teaching. Be sure to watch the Arizona Educational Foundation video to get an insider’s peek into his classroom.

Do you have trouble sitting still for a two-hour training? Imagine how your students feel during the school day! Flexible seating doesn’t have to be complex, but it surely can impact classroom climate. By changing the physical space for students, we can prompt them to take ownership of their personal behavior and learning. This episode of #3PsinaPod showcases Yolanda Everett’s best practices and tips for success with flexible seating. The fourth-grade teacher from Sierra Vista Unified School District says after 10 years in the field, she needed a change — more than a paint job or a grade-level swap. Instead, the teaching veteran, National Board candidate, and mother of three, wanted to see what might help her students learn best. Listen as Danielle and Mary hear how swapping out desks for tire chairs and exercise balls has turned Everett’s classroom upside for the better!

Math changes things! Today, Dr. Virginia Bastable, the former associate director of the Mathematics Leadership Programs at Mount Holyoke College, joins Donnie and Mary to discuss the importance of cultivating student curiosity. The #3PsinaPod hosts recall math challenges with their own students, which are further affirmed by Dr. Bastable’s point that when we ask kids to explain how they arrived at an answer, they think we want only words. The reality is that students need to be able to manipulate numbers, operations, and variables to better grasp concepts. Join us Jan. 23-24 for a two-day learning opportunity with Dr. Bastable. If you would like to enter to win a complimentary registration, please answer this question: How could the Math Arguments in the Elementary Classroom training benefit your practice and your students? Post your response on Twitter with this hashtag, #azk12learns.

In education, what calls us to step up and speak out? As a teacher, how can you show up for the profession and your students? Today on #3PsinaPod, Nancy Flanagan shares what we need to do if we want policy leaders to hear us — it’s more than writing in our journals. The 45-year teaching veteran and published author chats with Donnie and Danielle about why blogging in today’s world can be so powerful.

Zaretta Hammond’s book, Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain, is shifting the way we think about classroom instruction. On today’s episode of #3PsinaPod, Mary and Danielle chat with the author to see why we must refrain from trying to drive our students’ learning, and in turn, allow them to take the wheel. Hammond encourages teachers to “interrupt inequity by design.” Don’t miss the chance to learn from the educator in-person in Phoenix on Nov. 8. Register now to reserve your seat. If you haven’t already, please subscribe, rate, and review “3Ps in a Pod” on iTunes to help expand our reach to professionals in education across the globe.

You’re listening to a bonus episode of #3PsinaPod. Today, we’re interviewing the Republican and Democratic candidates for Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction. Frank Riggs and Kathy Hoffman talk with National Board Certified Teachers Donnie Dicus and Beth Maloney about what motivated them to run for office. Individually, each candidate shares their hopes and plans for action, if elected on Nov. 6.

The scientific process can be daunting. How do you balance fun and content-based instruction? As 21st-century educators, we have to find a way to marry the two. This week on #3PsinaPod, Dr. John Almarode shares practical strategies and best practices for visible learning in the area of science. The author and distinguished teacher-researcher recommends modeling productive behavior for our students by deliberately weaving newly acquired knowledge into our daily lives. With that in mind, what instructional decisions around visible learning would you make? Think about the conditions that enable your students to learn best. Look at your learners and determine what engages them. And, be sure to listen if you want to find out what Almarode and his colleagues means by the “Kenny Rogers strategy.”

Special education is a pivotal arm of our learning communities. As educators, are we truly aware of all that goes into individualized education programs (IEPs)? Whether we think about it daily or not, laws have been put in place for all students, including those with special needs. This week on #3PsinaPod, we talk pedagogy, policy, and best practices with two Arizona special education teachers, Hannah Jones and Kareem Neal. Mary and Donnie kick off the episode with a fun and inquisitive game. Listen to play (and learn) alongside us. Be sure to download the supplemental resource for this week’s episode that can be used in your context and community to extend individuals’ learning.

Although allies in education might seem few and far between, there are notable groups who rally for the cause. This week on #3PsinaPod, Angelia and Donnie speak with the CEO and President of Expect More Arizona, Christine Thompson. The longtime education and policy loyalist shares the organization’s mission and current commitments to making the state better for all. Thompson states the group is about “advocacy without the colors. We all want to do what’s right by our kids, strengthening our state and economy.” While she’s only led the group for a year, Expect More AZ has been active for nearly a decade. The nonpartisan, nonprofit emphasizes the importance of P-20 education and aims to make stakeholders aware of policy issues impacting education. Thompson encourages listeners to get involved by using the many resources on the organization's website, in preparation for upcoming elections. “Regardless of political flavor or background, getting people engaged is priority,” she says.

If you’re in need of a professional pep talk, we’ve got a dose for you. This week, Donnie and Angelia talk to three experienced teachers to hear what fuels their passion and practice. Beth Maloney, Sara Wyffels, and Anthony Perez discuss their paths toward education and the importance of having an enduring, positive professional disposition. The trio tells us how to boost peer and personal morale, even on the worst (and best) days. When challenges occur, together, we have to address negativity, rather than ignore it. As teachers, we need to get past the place of stuckness and press on with positivity. Vulnerability and collaboration help create a safe space for collegial relationships. Attitude can spark like wildfire, so don’t be ashamed to show your uncontainable enthusiasm for teaching. Join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #3PsinaPod for a chance to win the book that inspired this talk, HEART!: Fully Forming Your Professional Life as a Teacher and Leader, by Timothy Kanold. The first thre

With elections around the corner, today’s #3PsinaPod guests share the importance of civic engagement. Angelia and Donnie discuss what it means to be an informed and active citizen with Nancie Lindblom, a teaching veteran from Mesa Public Schools, and Christie Megura, a National Board Certified Teacher from Arizona State University Preparatory Academy. All four share the importance of respectful discourse and agency to promote accountability. Don’t miss this week’s supplemental resource, which you can download to use within your educational community.