Teachers Aid

When negativity and toxic behavior infect a school it can have a profound impact in the classroom and beyond. Our guests today tackle this real-world issue of handling difficult, negative or toxic peers in school settings. Todd Whitaker is a professor of educational leadership and author of Dealing With Difficult Teachers. Elizabeth Holloway is a full professor at Antioch University's doctoral program in Leadership and Change and has written Toxic Workplace! Managing Toxic Personalities and their Systems of Power. Lisa Dabbs spent 19 years as a school administrator. Nancy Blair is an experienced school administrator and currently a school improvement consultant.

Student bodies have changed in dramatic ways. There are more differences in your classroom than ever, but many of these differences are below the surface. Children of divorced parents, children of single parents, children in blended families, children with LGBT parents, children from homeless families and military families all bring a different set of issues into your classroom. What do you need to know to manage these new classroom dynamics? Eileen Kugler is author of Innovative Voices in Education: What It Takes to Engage Diverse Communities. Lisa King is co-author of "Today's Families: Who Are We & Why Does it Matter?" (Exchange magazine). Heather Wolpert-Gawron is an award-winning middle school teacher. Peter DeWitt (Ed.D.)a principal in Upstate, NY and is the author of Dignity for All: Safeguarding LGBT Students.

In the wake of the Newtown tragedy school teachers and administrators are showing heightened concerns about violence of all sorts. But is imaginary gun play among young kids really a threat? Some schools are responding by with new zero tolerance policies on violent play. Should toy guns and gun play be banned in schools? Nancy Carlsson-Paige is a professor of education at Lesley University and a co-founder of Lesley's masters degree program in conflict resolution and peaceable schools, as well as co-author, The War Play Dilemma. Jane Katch is a teacher who has explored children's violent fantasies and aggressive behavior. She is the author of Under Deadman's Skin: Discovering the Meaning of Children's Violent Play. Peter DeWitt Ed.D has been a principal in Upstate, NY since 2006. He blogs at Finding Common Ground for Education Week and is the author of Dignity for All. Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed., over 20 years in the field of early childhood education.

In this segment our guests explain how personal learning networks are empowering teachers to reform education from the inside out and how the growth of these networks is empowering teachers in unprecedented ways. Will Richardson is author of Personal Learning Networks: Using the Power of Connections to Transform Education. Lynne Schrum, PhD, is co-author of Leading 21st-Century Schools. Jason Flom is the Director of Learning Platforms at Q.E.D. Foundation where he works to cultivate, inspire and build learning communities dedicated to transformational learning practices.

The debate about homework is heating up again, much of it driven by connected educators through social media. The growing consensus is that the notion of homework has passed its expiration date, but has it? Are you still assigning homework? Should you? Etta Kralovec, co-author of The End of Homework, is an Associate Professor of Teacher Education, University of Arizona, South. Janine Bempechat is a professor of psychology and human development at Wheelock College in Boston, MA. Josh Stumpenhorst, is an award winning teacher and a junior high Language Arts and Social Science teacher. Brian Nichols is currently the Executive Director of School Leadership for Newport News Public Schools, located in Newport News, Virginia.

Integrating technology into project-based learning can take your teaching to a whole new level. The challenge is knowing what technologies to embrace, how to use them and where to draw the line. Our guests offer some sound guidance. Dr. William Bender has published 26 books including Project Based Learning: Differentiation for the 21st Century, and Cool Tech Tools for Lower Tech Teachers. Suzie Boss is author of Bringing Innovation to School and Reinventing Project-Based Learning. Anthony Cody worked in the high poverty schools in Oakland for 24 years. He writes the popular Education Week blog, Living in Dialogue. Vicki Davis is a classroom technology teacher and author of the book Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds.

Interest in project based learning continues to accelerate. However this approach to teaching has its share of skeptics and detractors. In this segment our guests do a wonderful job of laying out the benefits of Project based learning and dispelling the concerns, doubts and objections. Check it out! John Larmer is Director of Product Development at the Buck Institute for Education. Nikhil Goyal is a 17-year-old author of One Size Does Not Fit All: A Student's Assessment of School. Lisa Nielsen, author of the book Teaching Generation Text, is a long time public school educator. Nicholas "Nick" Provenzano is a high school English teacher and writes thoughts on education at TheNerdyTeacher.com.

A new generation of young teachers, combined with more casual trends in dress, has raised some prickly questions about what is appropriate attire for teachers. Teachers with tattoos, piercings and provocative clothing are acceptable to some and strictly off-limits to others. In this segment our guests tackle the issue in what became a surprisingly spirited discussion. Eve Michaels, author of Dress Code: Ending Fashion Anarchy, believes that Americans suffer from a pandemic of fashion anarchy. Beth Winfrey Freeburg, Ph.D. is Professor and Chair in the Department of Workforce Education and Development at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. David Bloomfield is Professor of Education Leadership, Law, and Policy at Brooklyn College and the City University. Amanda Dykes M.Ed, is a sixth grade teacher who is passionate about technology integration.

According to our guests there are many factors driving the increase in angry parents: fewer stay-at-home moms to deal with student issues, increased expectations that schools should solve problems and fix kids, and growing external pressures. Dealing with angry parents can be a teacher's worst nightmare. Our guests offer some tips, tools and tactics to help. Jim West is a counselor and author of the StressLess Series. Neill Gibson is co-author of the book What's Making You Angry? Dr. Jann Gumbiner is a licensed psychologist specializing in child and adolescent psychology. Beginning as a Head Start preschool teacher and ultimately moved to higher education, author of Adolescent Assessment, and writes a blog for Psychology Today titled The Teenage Mind. Deven Black is a school librarian and father of an 18-year-old.

The rate at which new education technologies are being developed and diffused is accelerating at a mind-numbing pace. How can teachers, especially matures teachers who are not digital natives, discern what technologies they need to embrace and master. Neil Charness, author of Designing Telehealth for an Aging Population: A Human Factors Perspective. Dr. Kathy King is a professor of education, and chair of the Department of Adult, Career and Higher Education at the University of South Florida. Maria Knee is an award winning, educator whose kindergarten students use a personal and a classroom blog, twitter and skype. Vicki Davis is a classroom technology teacher and author of Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds.

We are shocked, deeply saddened and angered when senseless violence occurs in schools, hurting children and teachers. What are the best ways to respond? What should you do individually? What is the path forward? Where do we find comfort? What should we do as a community? George A. Bonanno is a professor of clinical psychology at Columbia University, Teachers College and author of, "The Other Side of Sadness: What the New Science of Bereavement Tells Us About Life After a Loss." Dr. Joyce Valenza is the teacher-librarian at Springfield Township High School. Marilyn Anderson Rhames is a science teacher and Education Week blogger. Nicholas "Nick" Provenzano is a high school English teacher and education commentator.

Where administrator observation is typically viewed as an evaluation, peer observation is more generally seen as an approach to professional development and improvement of personal skills. In this segment we look at the keys to making peer observation work. Elena Silva, PhD in education, is a senior associate at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, where she researches and writes on a range of K-12 and higher education issues. Lisa Dabbs spent 19 years as an education administrator. Ariel Sacks teaches eighth grade English at a middle school in Brooklyn, NY. She has published articles about her work in Edweek Teacher Magazine and is a co-author of the new book Teaching 2030.

Now that we teach in a wired world anyone and everyone can get hold of you 24/7. Teachers are increasingly reporting that interruptions are on the rise. Even during class, parents are texting and calling and expecting an immediate response. In this session our guest talk about where the new boundaries need to be placed in a wired world and how to set them. Maureen Moriarty, helps leaders and managers improve leadership and team performance and author of "Setting & Keeping Boundaries." Dr. Jane Bluestein is a former classroom teacher and author of article "The Challenge of Setting Boundaries." Patrick Riccards, CEO of ConnCAN, has more than 20 years of communications strategy under his belt. Vicki Davis is a classroom technology teacher and author of the book Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds.

Between the increasing mandate for academic outcomes, expanding class sizes and the daily litany of demands by students, parents and administrators, teaching can drain even the most energetic of educators. In this segment our guests share thoughts and strategies to keep your energy high and your stress low. Dr. Jack Singer, is a Clinical Psychologist and author of "The Teacher's Ultimate Stress Mastery Guide." Carol Bergmann Corporate Coach, Consultant, and DiSC-Certified Facilitator Shelly Sanchez Terrell is a teacher trainer, the author of The 30 Goals Challenge for Educators. She has also founded various acclaimed educational projects and trained teachers face to face and online in 100 countries. Joan Young is a 4th-grade teacher and a clinical psychologist;

The holidays are coming and with them comes the challenge of celebrating the holidays while being sensitive to an increasingly culturally diverse student population. Add to the mix widely varying school policies and guidelines, and the holidays can quickly become a stress-inducing balancing act. What's an educator to do? Our guests offer some sage advice and practical tips. Maurice J. Elias, Ph.D. is Professor and Director of Clinical Training, Psychology Department, Rutgers University. Julie is the director of Epiphany Early Learning Preschool in Seattle Washington and is the author of "Celebrate! An Anti-Bias Guide to Enjoying Holidays in Early Childhood Programs." Lee Kolbert is a educator and blogger. She has been with Palm Beach County Schools for over 27 years.