Teachers Aid

The rules and expectations in today's schools creates a climate that many believe conflicts with encouraging creativity. What's a teacher to do? Our guests offer some ideas and practical strategies. Follow: @AngelaMaiers@kylepace @edrethink @wmchamberlain @bamradionetwork Robert J. Sternberg is Provost, Senior Vice President, and Regents Professor of Psychology and Education at Oklahoma State University. Angela Maiers is a teacher educator, author and advocate. Kyle Pace is an Instructional Technology Specialist in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. William Chamberlain is a husband, father, and an educator. John Spencer is currently a sixth grade ELL teacher in a low-income urban school in Phoenix, Arizona.

Apparently the jury is still out on whether creativity can or cannot be taught in schools. In this segment we bring together a cadre of educators to see if we can get a definitive verdict. Follow: @AngelaMaiers@kylepace @johntspencer @wmchamberlain @bamradionetwork Robert J. Sternberg is Provost, Senior Vice President, and Regents Professor of Psychology and Education at Oklahoma State University. Angela Maiers is a teacher educator, author and advocate. Kyle Pace is an Instructional Technology Specialist in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. William Chamberlain is a husband, father, and an educator. John Spencer is currently a sixth grade ELL teacher in a low-income urban school in Phoenix, Arizona.

The school year is over and summertime is here. Our guests weigh in on how to make the most of the hiatus. Follow: @artofcoaching1 @coolcatteacher @bamradionetwork Elena Aguilar, education coach & author of article, How to Make Planning for Next Year Fun. Suzie Boss is author of Edutopia's Summer Rejuvenation Guide. Vicki Davis is a classroom technology teacher and author of the Cool Cat Teacher Blog and the book Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds and co-founder of the award winning Flat Classroom projects. She is also host of Education Matters on BAM Radio Network.

A series of new studies is pointing to the importance of relationships between teachers and students and academic success. It's a fine line that requires some second thoughts. Where are the new boundaries? Our guests offer guidance. Follow: @blairteach @peterMdewitt @bamradionetwork.com Dr. Sara Rimm-Kaufman trained as a developmental psychologist and received her Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1996. She is the Director of the Educational Psychology-Applied Developmental Science Program. Dr. Rita F. Pierson is an educational trainer and consultant, motivational speaker/teacher, author and human resource developer. Peter DeWitt (Ed.D.) has been a principal in Upstate, NY since 2006. Before becoming a principal he taught elementary school for eleven years. He blogs at Finding Common Ground for Education Week Nancy Blair is a school improvement consultant who frequently worked with the High Schools That Work.

This is a fascinating discussion between two education advocates about why some teachers are able to stay motivated in the face of a dysfunctional education culture while others aren't. Eavesdrop on their exchange and see if their assessment, conclusions and prescriptions are valid. Follow: @valeriestrauss @bamradionetwork.com Valerie Strauss is an education writer at The Washington Post. She currently writes The Answer Sheet Blog after covering various education systems and reform efforts for more than a decade, and she created the Post's education ideas page with Jay Mathews. Robert(Rob) L. Fried Executive Director Upper Valley Educators Institute and author of The Passionate Teacher.

In the face of relentless scrutiny and criticism, vacillating school policies, low pay and increasing demands, many teachers are discouraged and defeated. But not all. In fact some are wildly energized and optimistic. In this segment we explore why many teachers are bailing out while others are kicking in the afterburners and enjoying being a teacher more than ever. Follow: @shannonmmiller@bamradionetwork.com Robert L. Fried Executive Director Upper Valley Educators Institute and author of The Passionate Teacher. Michelle Malvey, NASP andcontributing author of paper, Ability to Teach in Stressful Times. Michelle Malvey has been an educator for 26 years as a teacher, school psychologist and currently as an elementary principal. She serves on the executive council for the National Association of School Psychologists. Shannon McClintock Miller is the district teacher librarian at Van Meter Community School in Van Meter, Iowa. Shannon blogs at Van Meter Library Voice and can be found on Twitter at @shannonmmiller

When the subject turns to classroom management, using carrots and sticks has been the prevailing strategy for getting compliance. But research and an emerging cadre of voices are asserting that engagement trumps compliance. So is there a place in the enlightened teacher's classroom for rewards and punishments? Follow: Follow: @danielpink@@Teach_Preschool @stumpteacher@LarryFerlazzo @bamradionetwork.com Dan Pink is the author of 5 best-selling books about business, work, and management, including Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us. Larry Ferlazzo, author of Helping Students Motivate Themselves and Self Driven to Learn, is a high school teacher. Josh Stumpenhorst, award winning teacher, is a junior high Language Arts and Social Science teacher. Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed. has over 20 years experience in the field of early childhood education and is the Executive Educational Director over three childcare campuses.

There is a huge chasm between how much sleep students need and how much students typically get. Moreover, the litany of problems that sleep deprivation can cause in a classroom is astounding. Our guests open our eyes to the problem and offer practical insights and guidance. Follow:@flourishingkids@cybraryman1 @bamradionetwork.com @bamradionetwork.com Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, Ed.D is the author of Sleepless in America. Dr. James B. Maas, author of Sleep to Win and Sleep for Success, is a leading authority and international consultant on sleep and performance.Joan Young is a 4th-grade teacher and a clinical psychologist. Jerry Blumengarten taught for 32 years at inner city NY school (one of the worst neighborhoods), grades 6-9.

When it comes to using technology in the classroom, our guests say there is much for teachers to consider and learn to develop higher-order teaching skills. The data provided suggests that in the absence of these higher-order teaching skills, technology has either no effect on learning or may actually hinder learning. @techsavvyed @web20classroom @sonnymagana @bamradionetwork.com The Director of Marzano Research Laboratory's Educational Technology Division, Anthony J. "Sonny" Magaña is the co-author of Enhancing the Art and Science of Teaching with Technology (2013). Ben Rimes works closely with teachers infusing their instruction with technology in his school district. Steve Anderson is an educator, #Edchat Co-Creator, ASCD Emerging Leader and one the Top 50 Innovators in Education..

Our guests tell us that teaching gifted kids requires special skills and insights that many teachers have simply not been taught. In this segment we offer some basic dos and don'ts along with key insights into how to bring out the best in the really advanced students in your classroom. Susan Winebinebrenner is a consultant and author who works with school districts to help them translate current educational research into classroom practice. Susan is president of Education Consulting Service, Inc., a speakers' bureau for educational topics. Ann Gadzikowski, with 20+ years of experience as a teacher and director of early childhood programs, is the author of several publications, including Challenging Exceptionally Bright Children in Early Childhood Classrooms. Nancy Blair, School improvement consultant (middle grades) and former middle school teacher/middle school administrator.

There are many fascinating attractions vying for your student s' attention. How are teachers to engage students in the face of such compelling competition for their attention? Many feel forced to entertain. In this segment we explore this question with our guests. Pat Hensley is a former public school Special Education teacher for 30 years who taught all grade levels. Mike Muir is the Multiple Pathways Leader for the Auburn School Department (Auburn, ME). Lee Kolbert is a blogger, educator, and self-proclaimed geek. She has been with Palm Beach County Schools for over 27 years. Lisa Nielsen, author of the book Teaching Generation Text, is a long time public school educator. Award-winning blog, The Innovative Educator.

New thinking and new approaches to professional development are gaining popularity among educators. Creating a Personal Learning Network (PLN) is one of these new ways to do PD. In this segment we explore the pros and cons (mostly pros) of developing a PLN for professional development. George Siemens is an educator and researcher on learning, technology, networks, analytics, and openness in education. Sheryl Nussbaum Beach is co-founder, of Powerful Learning Practice (http://plpnetwork.com/)and author of, The Connected Educator. Lynn Hilt is an Elementary school principal, K-6 technology integration coach and author of "The Principal's Post" blog.

There's something wrong when teachers are qualifying for food stamps, forced to work second jobs to make ends meet, and foregoing vacations. Surviving on a teachers salary is tough, but our guests say you can actually live well on what teachers earn. Find out how. Danny Kofke is currently a special education teacher in Georgia. He's written personal finance books, including, "How To Survive (and perhaps thrive) On A Teacher's Salary." Judy Lawrence, MS Ed. is a Financial Counselor, Money Coach and author of the best-selling book, The Budget Kit: Common Cents Money Management Workbook. Joan Young is a 4th grade teacher, a clinical psychologist, and blogger "Finding Ways for All Kids to Flourish". Susan Ochshorn, with more than 15 years of experience, at the local, state, and national levels, is the founder of ECE PolicyWorks, a consulting firm specializing in early care and education policy research, program development, and project management.

Teachers can find grading students' tests and papers time-consuming, painful and stressful. The prospect of your grades being challenged by students and parents adds to the angst. Today our guests talk openly about the perils and challenges of grading and how to reduce the stress and better manage the process. Ken O'Connor is an independent consultant on assessment, grading and reporting; a staff development presenter and facilitator in 45 states in the USA, 9 provinces in Canada, in 15 countries; and author of The School Leaders Guide to Grading, Solution Tree. John Tierney was a professor of American government for almost twenty-five years, most of that time at Boston College (retired). He later taught American government and American history at an independent high school for girls (Boston area). Josh Stumpenhorst is a junior high Language Arts and Social Science teacher as well as an active blogger (stumpteacher.blogspot.com) and tweeter (@stumpteacher)(2012 Illinois Teacher of the Year). Jerry Blumengarten taught for 32 years at inner city NY school (one of the worst neighborhoods), grades 6-9.

The national discussion of standardized testing was ratcheted up a notch when five schools in Seattle voted to boycott a standard test. In this segment we interview one of the leaders of the boycott and get some views on what impact, if any, this strategy will likely have on the practice of testing. Jesse Hagopian teaches history at Garfield High School, the site of the historic boycott of the MAP test in 2013. He was recipient of the 2012 Abe Keller Foundation award for “excellence and innovation in peace education.” Celine Coggins is the founder and CEO of Teach Plus, a former teacher and current Mind Trust Education Entrepreneur Fellow. Patrick Riccards, CEO of ConnCAN, has more than 20 years of communications political strategy under his belt.