Teaching Channel Talks

This episode of Teaching Channel Talks features a conversation between Dr. Wendy Amato and Dr. Greg King, the Director of Research from Mindprint Learning, discussing how different cognitive skills in students impact how they process information. They delve into the importance of leveraging cognitive skills for personalized learning, the impact of Mindprint assessments on student growth, and the practical application of data in educational settings to empower students and improve teaching strategies. Resources for Continued Learning If you enjoyed this episode, you can learn more about how MindPrint Learning’s cognitive assessment is helping students identify their strengths and reach their highest potential by visiting their website. Teaching Channel is proud to partner with MindPrint Learning with a new course that helps teachers who have access to the MindPrint Learning Assessment engage every learner in their classroom. If you’re a part of the MindPrint community, you can check out course 5298: Science of Learning: A Practical Approach to Engaging Every Learner.

In this episode of Teaching Channel Talks, our host, Dr. Wendy Amato, welcomes Dr. Walter Lee, Assistant Professor of Middle/Secondary Education at the University of South Carolina Upstate, to discuss educator mindsets and the importance of positive self-concept. In this conversation, Dr. Lee shares his equity-focused approach for preparing the next generation of educators for the classroom, ensuring they are properly equipped to handle everything thrown at them—including parent-teacher conferences! Resources for Continued Learning If you enjoyed this episode, you can learn more from Dr. Lee on his YouTube channel where he posts more information about the Call Me MiSTER program and tips for improving your mindset and wellbeing. Dr. Lee is a board member of the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE), an international organization specifically for middle school educators. As the go-to middle school resource for research, best practices, and professional development, AMLE is a community of over 350,000 middle-level educators connecting and supporting each other. Learn more and join the community! This episode focuses on self-concept and equity, learn more about the important role these factors play in education in Dr. Lee’s article, Rising Tides, Sinking Boats – A Focus on Equitable Practices.

In this compelling episode of Teaching Channel Talks, Dr. Wendy Amato hosts Dr. Howard Fields III, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and adjunct professor of education at Harris-Stowe State University. In this eye-opening exploration, Howard and Wendy examine challenges in educational equity, unravel the complexities of DEI efforts, and shed light on why a consensus that prioritizes comfort is a disservice to our students. Resources for Continued Learning If you enjoyed this episode, you can learn more from Dr. Fields by visiting his website or listening to his mini-podcast, How to Achieve Educational Equity. He has also provided an Educational Equity Professional Learning Plan for our listeners working toward educational equity within their schools or organizations. In addition, Dr. Fields has authored two books focused on educational equity that are mentioned in this episode: Transfers & Open Enrollment: The Denigration of Black School CommunitiesHow to Achieve Educational Equity In this episode, Wendy and Howard discuss his work developing and training an Educational Equity GPT. Watch a video to see this AI tool in action or test it for yourself.

Junior High. Middle School. No matter what the name on the sign outside says, what's important is the work happening on the inside. In this episode, Wendy welcomes Jack Berckemeyer of the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) for a candid conversation about the big changes happening in how educators approach middle school. Jack stresses the importance of middle school teachers connecting with their students during this crucial time in their academic careers and how staying up-to-date on the fads, fashion, and slang of this age group can help in student success. Resources for Continued Learning The Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) is an international organization specifically for middle school educators. As the go-to resource for research, best practices, and professional development, AMLE is a community of over 350,000 middle level educators connecting and supporting each other. Learn more and join the community! Jack Berckemeyer is a successful author who has written several books focusing on middle level education. In this episode, Jack and Wendy talk about the following titles: Successful Middle School: This We BelieveSuccessful Middle Schools: TeamingManaging the Madness: A Practical Guide to Understanding Young Adolescents & Classroom ManagementDeliberate Optimism: Still Reclaiming the Joy in Education 2nd Ed

In this episode of Teaching Channel Talks, we’re taking a closer look at the middle grades with Jennifer Rose, the Director for Professional Programs at the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE). From the importance of differentiated professional development to understanding the complex changes students go through during this phase of adolescence, Jennifer and Wendy’s discussion centers around the niche of middle level education and how AMLE is working to support the teachers within it. Resources for Continued Learning The Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) is an international organization specifically for middle school educators. As the go-to resource for research, best practices, and professional development, AMLE is a community of over 350,000 middle level educators connecting and supporting each other. Learn more and join the community! During this episode, Jennifer mentions AMLE’s The Successful Middle School: This We Believe. Teaching Channel is proud to partner with the Association of Middle Level Education in upholding the 18 characteristics listed and offering professional development created specifically for middle school teachers. AMLE also offers several books focused on the education of young adolescents aged 10-15, which Jennifer mentions in the episode. AMLE members receive a 20% discount on all titles, but these texts are available to all educators.

In this episode of Teaching Channel Talks, Dr. Wendy Amato welcomes Dr. Patricia "Tish" Jennings, a professor of education at the University of Virginia and internationally recognized thought leader in social-emotional learning and mindfulness. Drawing on results from Dr. Jennings' Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education (CARE) program, a mindfulness-based professional development program for teachers, this discussion centers around reducing teacher stress, improving educators' emotional regulation, and how this attention to educator well-being shapes education and impacts student engagement, motivation, and even reading competence in classrooms. Resources for Continued Learning During this conversation, Drs. Amato and Jennings discuss the Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education (CARE) program, which has recently been awarded one of three $8 million grants through the Department of Education for expansion and further testing. Early results of SEL-based this professional development program reveal that taking care of teachers results in better student outcomes. Learn more about Dr. Jenning's study and the impact of the CARE program here. In this episode, Dr. Jennings mentions her curriculum, Flourish: The Compassionate School Project, which can be accessed by educators for free. Dr. Jennings is also the author and editor of several mindfulness books for teachers. Check out one of these titles for additional learning about educator well-being: Mindfulness for Teachers: Simple Skills for Peace and Productivity in the ClassroomThe Trauma-Sensitive Classroom: Building Resilience with Compassionate TeachingTeacher Burnout Turnaround: Strategies for Empowered EducatorsThe Mindful School: Transforming School Culture through Mindfulness and CompassionMindfulness in the PreK-5 Classroom: Helping Students Stress Less and Learn More

Join our host Dr. Wendy Amato and special guest, Katie Johnson, the principal of Belmont Ridge Middle School in Leesburg, Virginia, as they explore the nuances of middle school from a leadership lens. As a veteran middle-grade teacher now navigating the challenges of leadership, Katie's student-first approach has helped her create a thriving school culture and earned her school the recognition of AMLE as a School of Distinction. Resources for Continued Learning In this episode, Katie and Wendy talk about AMLE's Schools of Distinction, an award given to Belmont Ridge Middle School under Katie's leadership. Learn more about this program, connect with other recognized schools, or nominate your own middle school for this prestigious recognition here. During the episode, Katie talks about the importance of professional learning and a student-first focus in her school. To see how your school aligns with these best practices, Katie has provided a best practices slide deck used at Belmont Ridge Middle School to plan professional learning. Curious about how the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) works to support and improve middle schools across the country? Check out AMLE's National Policy Agenda for the Middle Grades.

Join our host Dr. Wendy Amato and special guest, Katie Powell from the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE), as they explore the unique landscape of middle school. Both former middle grade educators, Katie and Wendy share valuable insights on the nuances of teaching in the middle levels and discuss how AMLE is undertaking initiatives to support and empower middle school teachers to make a lasting impact in these pivotal years of student development. Resources for Continued Learning During this conversation, Wendy and Katie talk about the characteristics of a successful middle school. Download AMLE's Successful Middle School Summary to see how your school stacks up and identify places for potential improvement! If you're a middle grade educator ready to "find your people" and better support your students, join the Association for Middle Level Education! Becoming a member of AMLE means joining thousands of fellow middle school educators in a collective movement to elevate the middle school profession and achieve excellence in our schools and our careers. Check out AMLE's Successful Middle School Assessment and learn how you can use this data-driven tool to help middle school educators create meaningful improvement.

In this engaging episode of Teaching Channel Talks, we’re joined by Lisa Geary, an award-winning speech-language pathologist, to discuss the importance of collaboration between teachers and speech-language pathologists (SLPs). By exploring ways in which teachers can partner with SLPs, this conversation provides insight into practical approaches that educators can seamlessly integrate into their classrooms to enhance communication among students and support students with speech and language challenges. Using the strategies discussed, we can create more inclusive and effective learning environments for every student! Resources for Continued Learning Take what you've learned straight into the classroom! Lisa has provided several resources from Yorktown Therapy Services to help you support your students' language performance and speech sound production in class. Supporting Language Performance in the ClassroomSupporting Speech Sound Production in the Classroom

Every student learns differently, something that Nancy Weinstein knows a lot about! The co-founder and CEO was inspired to launch MindPrint Learning after experiencing the struggle of trying to understand how her daughter learned. Now on a mission to help every child reach their full potential by ensuring their strengths are accurately understood, we're excited to feature Nancy in this episode of Teaching Channel Talks, to discuss how MindPrint's cognitive assessment works and share strategies for engaging different types of learners. Resources for Continued Learning Teaching Channel is proud to partner with MindPrint Learning with a new course that helps teachers who have access to the MindPrint Learning Assessment engage every learner in their classroom. If you're a part of the MindPrint community, you can check out course 5298: Science of Learning: A Practical Approach to Engaging Every Learner. Not yet a part of the MindPrint Community? Learn more about how MindPrint Learning's cognitive assessment is helping students identify their strengths and reach their highest potential by visiting their website. During this episode, Nancy and Wendy reference End of Average by Todd Rose. Ready to help students develop the skills they need to take charge of their learning? Check out Nancy Weinstein and Mary-Vicki Algeri's workbook, The Empowered Student: A Guide to Self-Regulated Learning.

This week on Teaching Channel Talks, we are joined by Dr. Tim Schigur, a distinguished educator with a multifaceted career in school leadership. As a seasoned educational leader, Dr. Schigur brings a wealth of experience and insight to our discussion, centering on the intricate dynamics of school leadership, organizational strategies, and the nuanced decision-making processes that shape the educational landscape at the highest levels. Tune in as Dr. Schigur shares his wisdom and sheds light on the multifaceted challenges of educational leadership. Resources for Continued Learning Dr. Tim Schigur is the co-author of the book, Successful Middle School Instructional Technology, a companion guide to The Successful Middle School that provides a framework to develop a common language and approach to instructional technology in middle school. Dr. Schigur's book is one of the many resources offered by the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE). AMLE is an international organization for middle school educators offering a strong community of over 3500 educators, and high-level content and resources for teachers and leaders working with young adolescents. Teaching Channel is offering special discounts and offers for AMLE members, learn more and become a part of AMLE here.

By taking a heart-centered approach to teaching and embracing intuition as a part of learning, we can become better educators and help our students think outside of the box. Join Dr. Wendy Amato, Dr. Adrienne MacIain, and Regyna Curtis as they talk about how we can make subtle changes in our teaching approach to help boost the creativity of ourselves and our learners. From defining creative leadership to addressing the dangers of "creativity killers" this inspiring discussion will leave you with actionable ways to encourage your students with clarity and confidence. Resources for Continued Learning Dr. Adrienne MacIain is a bestselling author of the Creative Flow for All series. Learn more from Dr. MacIain in her new book, Spark Genius: Creative Flow, Unleashed. Adrienne also offers additional resources for you to learn to unlock your creativity, including a Free eBook. In this episode, Wendy and Regyna reference a previous episode of Teaching Channel Talks. Catch up with Dr. Wendy Amato and Regyna Curtis as they discuss ways to bring clarity and confidence into the classroom.

So much happens in our classrooms at any given moment, and as teachers, we often have to choose where to place our focus. Video gives us a chance to take a closer look with a different lens! In this episode of Teaching Channel Talks, we're joined by Dr. Miriam Sherin, professor and Associate Provost at Northwestern University, to talk about how she uses video to help both prospective and current educators improve their teaching and learning. In this conversation, Wendy and Miriam talk about how the use of video has changed over time, caution against its evaluative use, and explain why "learning to notice" can positively impact our teaching practice. In this episode, Dr. Sherin talks about some of the annotation tools she and her students use. One of these tools is the new Teaching Channel platform! Learn how we're harnessing the power of video to bring professional learning and support for educators all in one place. Miriam and Wendy also stress the importance of not using video as a "Gotcha" tool. Learn how to use video to build a growth-based evaluation system in From “Gotcha” to Growth: Teacher Evaluation Systems That Work, a free eBook from the K12 Hub.

We're all tired of hearing superficial self-care recommendations — take a bubble bath, put on a smile, just think happy thoughts! This week, Dr. Patricia Wright, Executive Director at Proof Positive, the Autism Wellbeing Alliance, joins the podcast to talk about real, evidence-based strategies to promote wellbeing. Dr. Wright and Dr. Amato's uplifting conversation focuses on positive psychology, the skills of happiness, and ways to build strong relationships to better support our autistic students. Resources for Continued Learning Learn more about Dr. Wright's work with Proof Positive and start working toward a better you, and a better community for your autistic students, by visiting their website and joining the Autism Wellbeing Alliance.

Are you looking at your students through a strength-based lens? This week on Teaching Channel Talks, Wendy is joined by Sarah Larison, from Northwestern University, to discuss her work in advancing teacher preparation, particularly through the use of video. While mathematical argumentation is at the focal point of this insightful conversation, Sarah's research helps educators of all content areas go beyond filing gaps in student learning and instead, notice student thinking. Resources for Continued Learning Looking to bring Mathematical Thinking into your own math classroom? Teaching Channel offers several graduate-level continuing education courses, including 5154: Deep Thinking Practices for the Math Classroom, to help you get started. Ready to start using video to improve your teaching? Explore the new Teaching Channel Video Platform!

Is professional development synonymous with professional learning? Jim Thompson, an instructional coach with five decades of experience in teaching and leadership positions, teamed up with Dr. Wendy Amato on the podcast to delve into the present state of professional learning in education and explore how video coaching can have a transformative impact on fostering teacher growth. Resources for Continued Learning Learn more from Jim in his book with Dr. Casey Kosiorek, A Quick Guide To Video Coaching. During the podcast, Jim references these resources related to professional learning and teacher growth: John Hattie: Collective Teacher EfficacyHarvard University’s Best Foot Forward ProjectBuilding Ratio: Training Students to Think and Learn for ThemselvesThe Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching: Seven Factors for SuccessYou're Not Listening

In this episode of Teaching Channel Talks, Dr. Wendy Amato sits down with Brendan Aylward, a passionate health and fitness professional on a mission to make fitness accessible for everyone, especially individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities. Join us in this empowering conversation as we explore the intersection of education, fitness, and inclusivity, and discover how Brendan Aylward is leading the charge towards a more inclusive fitness future for all. Resources for Continued Learning Learn more about AdaptX and Brendan's mission to educate others about adaptive and inclusive fitness by visiting AdaptX.org Brendan hosts a weekly podcast amplifying the voices and ideas of individuals who are building accessible businesses or products, advocating for inclusion, or excelling in adaptive sports. Listen to new episodes every Monday.

In this episode of Teaching Channel Talks, Dr. Wendy Amato is joined by Katie Silcott, a Grammy-nominated music educator whose passion for spreading joy is reflected in her teaching philosophy. In this inspiring and delightful conversation, Wendy and Katie discuss the impact of teaching junior high, Katie's experience being nominated for a Grammy, and share five key takeaways that both parents and teachers can use to support their middle schoolers. Resources for Continued Learning Connect with Katie Silcott through her website, or on her social media! In this episode, Katie Silcott talks about the Sunshine Ratio and shares five ways parents and educators can support their middle schoolers. Now, you can put the information into practice with this free downloadable! During this discussion, Katie references the Cult of Pedagogy article, "Find Your Marigold: The One Essential Rule for New Teachers," by Jennifer Gonzalez.

Scilla Andreen, accomplished film director and CEO of iMPACTFUL has returned for another episode of Teaching Channel Talks! The last time Scilla joined the podcast, she and Wendy focused on her journey as a filmmaker, exploring Scilla's experiences and the inspiration behind her films. This time, we're measuring the impact these films have had as schools and organizations across the country host screenings of Angst, Like, Race to be Human, and Upstanders, and address the destigmatization around mental health as a result. Resources for Continued Learning In this episode, Scilla and Wendy talk about iMPACTFUL’s mental health film collection and the accompanying resources designed to bring about deeper learning, engagement, and impact. These films are available for schools, businesses, and non-profits. Find out about how you can host your own screening of Angst, Like, Race to be Human, or The Upstanders here. Be sure to follow iMPACTFUL on social media to hear about their latest films and programs, and check out Teaching Channel’s free teacher resources to hear about our quarterly free screenings of IMPACTFUL films and accompanying panel discussions. iMPACTUL: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

This time on Teaching Channel Talks we're focusing on health! This week Wendy is joined by Chris Giesking, fitness professional and educator, to talk about how you can win the day, every day by following the Health Compass Method. In this powerful conversation, Chris debunks trends in the fitness industry while putting the focus back on balancing the 4 pillars of health: Nutrition, Exercise, Sleep, and Wellness. Resources for Continued Learning Chris's Win the Day System is applied with consistent results for both coaches and clients through his signature “WTD Health Compass” Using the 4 cardinal directions: N-Nutrition, S-Sleep, E-Exercise, and W-Wellness. Visit Chris on his website to learn more about how you can use the "WTD Health Compass" to improve your health and fitness. For additional fitness tips, be sure to follow Chris on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.