Classroom Q and A

Our guests share with us some of the powerful possibilities in small learning communities. We also discuss what works and what doesn't when embracing the model. Follow: @WilliamHimmele @cultofpedagogy @PersidaHimmele @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwor #edchat #teachers #edtech ReLeah Cosette-Lent is, a former secondary teacher, is now an education writer and consultant. She is the author of 10 books, her most recent titled Overcoming Textbook Fatigue published by ASCD and Common Core CPR published by Corwin. Her new book, out in September, is on the topic of disciplinary literacy. Ted Appel is Principal of Luther Burbank High School for the past 11 years. Prior worked trained new high school teachers for the district.

For English language learners, speaking English is one challenge, speaking mathematics is another. In this segment we explore instructional strategies for teaching math to ELLs that align with the Common Core Standards. Follow: @BenSpielberg @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork Dr. Gladis Kersaint is a Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of South Florida. A Teach For America alum, Ben Spielberg has taught middle school math and science, worked as a math instructional coach for middle and high school teachers, and served on the Executive Board of the San Jose Teachers Association. Blogs 34justice. Denisse R. Thompson is Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of South Florida. @BenSpielberg #edchat #teachers #edtech

In this segment we look at the difference between student participation and student engagement and why it matters. We close with specific strategies to achieve maximum student involvement. Follow: @WilliamHimmele @cultofpedagogy @PersidaHimmele @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork #edchat #teachers #edtech Jennifer Gonzalez, NBCT, is a former middle-school language arts teacher who has also taught pre-service teachers at the university level. On her website, Cult of Pedagogy, she shares good ideas, curates fantastic resources, and gently prods teachers into making their work more effective and fun. Husband-and-wife team Bill and Pérsida Himmele are associate professors at Millersville University. They are the authors of 3 ASCD books: Total Participation Techniques, The Language-Rich Classroom, and Total Literacy Techniques.

The confluence of the growing popularity of education technology and the adoption of the Common Core Standards has created new challenges for teachers. In this segment we explore strategies for successfully marrying both. Follow: @cheryldobbertin @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork Michael Fisher is an author and educational consultant working with schools around the country to upgrade current curricula, design new curricula, and modernize instruction with immersive technology. He is the author of Digital Learning Strategies: How do I assign and assess 21st Century Work? and the co-author of Upgrade Your Curriculum: Practical Ways to Transform Units and Engage Students. Andrew Miller is an educational consultant who is on the faculty for ASCD and the Buck Institute for Education. He is also a regular blogger for Edutopia and ASCD.

In this segment we go searching for specific reading lessons that align with the Common Core Standards for complex text. Follow: @cheryldobbertin @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork Cheryl Dobbertin, a former secondary English teacher and administrator, is the author of Common Core Unit by Unit . Her work has also been published in ASCD's Differentiation in Practice: 9-12, Rachel Billmeyer's Strategic Reading in the Content Areas, ASCD's Education Leadership and EdWeek. She is also the program director for Expeditionary Learning's Teacher Potential Project, which supports novice teachers with Common Core implementation.

Doing projects and doing project-based learning are not the same. In this segment our guests identify the elements that distinguish each of these teaching strategies. Follow: @ReadDRjwilhelm @suzieboss @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork #edchat #teachers #ellchat A classroom teacher for 15 years, Jeff Wilhelm is currently Distinguished Professor of English Education at Boise State, director of the Boise State Writing Project and teaches middle schoolers each spring. He has authored 32 texts about literacy teaching including: the NCTE Promising Research Award for You Gotta BE the Book. Suzie Boss, education writer and consultant, is the author of several books, including Reinventing Project-Based Learning and Bringing Innovation to School. She is a regular contributor to Edutopia and the Stanford Social Innovation Review, and a member of the Buck Institute for Education National Faculty.

Many schools now agree with students that literature in not so important. How can we bring literature alive to students in the age of common core standards? Follow: @Mr_McComb @persidahimmele @williamhimmele @nsteineke @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork #edchat #teachers #ellchat Nancy Steineke consults nationally as a keynote speaker, workshop presenter, and literacy coach for middle and high school teachers. Sean McComb is the 2014 National Teacher of the Year, where he teaches at Baltimore's Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts and was honored at the White House. Husband-and-wife team Bill and Pérsida Himmele are associate professors at Millersville University.

The number of English language learners is growing each year. This is creating an array of challenges for teachers and school districts. In this segment we look at several teaching strategies that are very effective with ELLs. Follow: @judiehaynes @mazehr @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork #edchat #teachers #ellchat Judie Haynes taught elementary ESL for 28 years. She is the author & coauthor of 7 books including The Essential Guide for Educating Beginning English Learners. She currently writes a blog for TESOL and is co-founder of #ELLCHAT, a Twitter chat for teachers of ELLs. Mary Ann Zehr is in her 4th year as a teacher of history to English-language learners at Wilson High School in the District of Columbia. Previously, she reported on English-language learners for Education Week, a national newspaper about schools.

Teaching vocabulary is integral to all content areas. In this segment we ask our guest to share their best strategies for teaching vocabulary. Follow: @MarileeSprenger @kdcanonbrown @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork #edchat #teachers Katie Brown is an ELL Specialist, Instructional Coach, and the 2014 Washington State Teacher of the Year. She has been teaching middle school for 11 years, and currently works with students, teachers, and families to best meet the needs of language learners. Marilee Sprenger is a national and international presenter and author whose passion is the brain and learning. She has written 11 books including her latest bestseller, Teaching the Critical Vocabulary of the Common Core.

The maker movement, DIY and 3D printers are hot in education today. In this segment we define each and explore their real value in preparing kids for the future. Follow: @lblanken @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork Laura Blankenship is chair of the Computer Science department at the Baldwin School, an all girls' pre-K-12 school in the suburbs of Philadelphia. She's been teaching computing, technology and making for almost 10 years, and she is also the co-moderator of the #makered Twitter chat.

If you are an educator who feels that you have a book inside of you waiting to get published, this segment offers some sage advice from educators who understand the process well. Follow: @alansitomer @JBEducation @MCUSDSupe @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork Marjorie McAneny has fifteen years of experience in the publishing industry, where she has focused on rights, licensing, and editorial for the technology, business, and education markets. PJ Caposey is an award-winning educator, author of two books (Teach Smart and Building a Culture of Support), speaker and an education consultant. PJ currently serves as the Superintendent of Schools for Meridian CUSD 223 in Northwest Illinois. Alan Sitomer is a California Teacher of the Year Award winner who has written 17 books to date with publishers such as Disney, Scholastic, and Penguin-Putnam.

Some use the term differentiated instruction, others prefer responsive teaching. In this segment we seek clarification and practical understanding of what it really takes to reach all students. Follow: @LRobbTeacher @regieroutman @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork Laura Robb has taught grades 4 to 8 more than 40 years and written more than 25 books for teachers on literacy. Presently, Robb coaches teachers, returns to the classroom in the winter months, trains teachers in the U.S. and Canada, and speaks at national conferences. Regie Routman works with students, teachers, and administrators in underperforming schools to accelerate reading and writing achievement. She is the author of many books for educators, most recently Read, Write, Lead: Breakthrough Strategies for Schoolwide Literacy Success (ASCD, 2014).

Classroom management is one of the biggest challenges teachers face. In this segement two experienced teachers share their best dos and don'ts. Follow: @PernilleRipp @larryferlazzo @bamradionetwork Pernille Ripp is a 5th grade teacher in Middleton, Wisconsin, USA, and creator of the Global Read Aloud Project, Co-founder of EdCamp MadWI. Dr. Bryan Harris is the Director of Professional Development & Public Relations for the Casa Grande (Arizona) Elementary School District. He is the author of 3 highly-acclaimed books from Routledge and a popular keynote speaker and workshop leader who focuses on the topics of student engagement, classroom management, and brain-based learning.

There is no mention of caring in the common core standards and some are wondering if the social and emotional elements of teaching/learning are precluded by Common Core. Follow: @larryferlazzo @SeanTSlade @bamradionetwork Mai Xi Lee, Director of Social Emotional Learning for Sacramento City Unified School District, has been a strong advocate for the relevance and importance of relationships as the key foundation for both parent and student engagement. Sean Slade, director of Whole Child Programs at ASCD, has more than two decades in education,--writing on topics related to the whole child and health and well-being.

In 2014 the student population tipped and students of color now make up the majority. However the ranks of teachers of color has barely increased. Does it matter? Do we really need more teachers of color? If so, how can we attract and retain more non-white teachers. Follow: @larryferlazzo @gjladson @bamradionetwork Gloria Ladson-Billings is the Kellner Family Chair of Urban Education in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction and Faculty Affiliate in the Departments of Educational Policy Studies, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, and Afro-American Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.