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It’s grading season and we took a dive into the rationale for including or excluding formative assessments in our students’ grades. Follow on Twitter: @HarveyAlvy1 @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Ed Chat Archive: http://edchat.pbworks.com/ Harvey Alvy has served as a teacher, principal, and university professor, and was honored to be a National Distinguished Principal. He is the author of Fighting for Change in Your School: How to Avoid Fads and Focus on Substance, and co-author of Learning From Lincoln: Leadership Practices for School Success.

Barring another surprise, it’s beginning to look like pandemic teaching and learning is behind us. As the memory of what we did fades, let’s remember what worked very well for some students. Follow on Twitter: @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @HarveyAlvy1 @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Ed Chat Archive: http://edchat.pbworks.com/ Thomas D. Whitby is co-author of The Relevant Educator: How Connectedness Empowers Learning. Tom retired from public education after serving 34 years as a secondary English teacher and spent an additional six years as an adjunct professor at St Joseph’s College in NY. He is a co-creator of #Edchat, an award-winning education discussion group on Twitter, blogger of My Island View: Educational, Disconnected Utterances, and recipient of the ISTE “Making IT Happen Award.” He hosts the weekly EdChat Radio. Shawn Thomas is in her 23rd year of teaching in the largest county in Georgia. She has taught Kindergarten, Second and Third Grade, and ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) K-5.

School leaders have spent the year working to provide the support teachers need to navigate another demanding school year. In this episode, we explore why many teachers still feel insufficiently supported and what we need in the moment. Follow on Twitter: @HarveyAlvy1 @danacoledare @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Ed Chat Archive: http://edchat.pbworks.com Dana Cole teaches language arts at a high school in northwest Georgia, just across the state line from Chattanooga, Tennessee. On evenings, weekends, and holidays, she divides her time between her family, the theater, the library, and the internet. Harvey Alvy has served as a teacher, principal, and university professor, and was honored to be a National Distinguished Principal. He is the author of Fighting for Change in Your School: How to Avoid Fads and Focus on Substance, and co-author of Learning From Lincoln: Leadership Practices for School Success.

What happens to teachers and students when our commitment to teaching facts and higher-order thinking becomes unpopular and even unnecessary to succeed in our world? Follow on Twitter: @shiftparadigm @HarveyAlvy1 @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Ed Chat Archive: http://edchat.pbworks.com/ Mark Weston Ph.D. has worked at all levels of the educational system — classroom, school, congress, US Dept of education, technology companies and universities. He’s currently an Associate Dean at Georgia Tech. Harvey Alvy has served as a teacher, principal, and university professor, and was honored to be a National Distinguished Principal. He is the author of Fighting for Change in Your School: How to Avoid Fads and Focus on Substance, and co-author of Learning From Lincoln: Leadership Practices for School Success.

There is a quiet, narrative out there that it’s the lame, whiny teachers — who should be fired anyway — who are leaving teaching. In fact, some of our most passionate, committed, talented colleagues are hitting the ejector button and bailing out of a field they love. What is the message in the walkout, and are the right people listening? Follow on Twitter: @danacoledare @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Ed Chat Archive: http://edchat.pbworks.com/ Dana Cole teaches language arts at a high school in northwest Georgia, just across the state line from Chattanooga, Tennessee. On evenings, weekends, and holidays, she divides her time between her family, the theater, the library, and the internet.

Virtually everyone is talking about Ukraine which makes it a bit curious that we’re even asking whether we should talk about the Russian – Soviet conflict in our classroom. This week we posed the question on #Edchat. Follow on Twitter: @shiftparadigm @HarveyAlvy1 @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Ed Chat Archive: http://edchat.pbworks.com/ Mark Weston Ph.D. has worked at all levels of the educational system — classroom, school, congress, US Dept of education, technology companies and universities. He’s currently an Associate Dean at Georgia Tech. Harvey Alvy has served as a teacher, principal, and university professor, and was honored to be a National Distinguished Principal. He is the author of Fighting for Change in Your School: How to Avoid Fads and Focus on Substance, and co-author of Learning From Lincoln: Leadership Practices for School Success.

As the list of new laws rains down on our classrooms, we pause to look at a campaign to put video cameras in the classroom that’s gaining momentum. Is there any good rationale for this? Are there any benefits to students and teachers? Are these policies about improving education? Follow on Twitter: @shiftparadigm @HarveyAlvy1 @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Ed Chat Archive: http://edchat.pbworks.com/ Mark Weston Ph.D. has worked at all levels of the educational system — classroom, school, congress, US Dept of education, technology companies and universities. He’s currently an Associate Dean at Georgia Tech. Harvey Alvy has served as a teacher, principal, and university professor, and was honored to be a National Distinguished Principal. He is the author of Fighting for Change in Your School: How to Avoid Fads and Focus on Substance, and co-author of Learning From Lincoln: Leadership Practices for School Success.

In this episode, we explore our teaching philosophies, our favorite teaching strategies, and how we know when they are effective. Follow on Twitter: @HarveyAlvy1 @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Ed Chat Archive: http://edchat.pbworks.com/ Harvey Alvy has served as a teacher, principal, and university professor, and was honored to be a National Distinguished Principal. He is the author of Fighting for Change in Your School: How to Avoid Fads and Focus on Substance, and co-author of Learning From Lincoln: Leadership Practices for School Success.

Relentlessly, committed, collegial, and compliant, many of us are increasingly feeling like pawns caught between the whims of parents, principals, and politicians. Now there are signs that some teachers are ready to speak up and push back, courageously voicing thoughts that were rarely discussed openly. Follow on Twitter: @HarveyAlvy1 @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Harvey Alvy has served as a teacher, principal, and university professor, and was honored to be a National Distinguished Principal. He is the author of Fighting for Change in Your School: How to Avoid Fads and Focus on Substance, and co-author of Learning From Lincoln: Leadership Practices for School Success.

The boundaries of what we teach and what is important to teach are shifting quickly. In this episode, we explore the reasons why academic freedom is in flux and what teachers will need to consider going forward. Follow on Twitter: @danacoledares @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Ed Chat Archive: http://edchat.pbworks.com/ Dana Cole teaches language arts at a high school in northwest Georgia, just across the state line from Chattanooga, Tennessee. On evenings, weekends, and holidays, she divides her time between her family, the theater, the library, and the internet

Parents have a right to speak up about what we’re teaching their kids. Teachers have an obligation to teach content accurately. These two positions are increasingly irreconcilable. How should educators respond? Follow on Twitter: @HarveyAlvy1 @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Harvey Alvy has served as a teacher, principal, and university professor, and was honored to be a National Distinguished Principal. He is the author of Fighting for Change in Your School: How to Avoid Fads and Focus on Substance, and co-author of Learning From Lincoln: Leadership Practices for School Success.

In this episode, we take a closer look at the rationale for AP courses and their practical impact on the students who take them. Follow on Twitter: @HarveyAlvy1 @MsWreads90 @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Ed Chat Archive: http://edchat.pbworks.com/ Amanda Whigham is a High School Science/ESOL teacher in her ninth year of teaching. She loves teaching high school students and helping them making science come alive and connect to their real lives and treasures the chance to influence young people into learning more about themselves as well.

Schools and school districts are scrambling to deal with a shortage of substitute teachers. In this episode, we explore innovative ways schools can approach the role of substitute teachers through a different lens. Follow on Twitter: @danacoledares @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Dana Cole teaches language arts at a high school in northwest Georgia, just across the state line from Chattanooga, Tennessee. On evenings, weekends, and holidays, she divides her time between her family, the theater, the library, and the internet.

Lesson planning and preparing for multiple classes take time. How can we get the time we need when pandemic teaching demands have increased, teacher support staff have decreased, and spare time is in even shorter supply? Here are some ideas. Follow on Twitter: @danacoledares @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Dana Cole teaches language arts at a high school in northwest Georgia, just across the state line from Chattanooga, Tennessee. On evenings, weekends, and holidays, she divides her time between her family, the theater, the library, and the internet.

We’ve been pursuing inclusivity in education for decades, yet in 2021 an authentically inclusive view of American history still eludes us. What will it take to reconcile the American history we teach with the history that actually transpired? Follow on Twitter: @Oldbay84 @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonharper70bd Robin Hicks is an English Language Arts /Special Education teacher of students in detained spaces.

Four states have passed laws placing limits on how history can be taught in K12 classrooms.  Will these laws make teaching history more accurate or more distorted? What is the practical impact on teachers? Follow on Twitter: @HarveyAlvy1 @RitaWirtz @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Rita Wirtz holds a BA in English and Speech, a master’s degree in reading from Arizona State University (ASU), and an administrative services credential (K–12) through California State University–Sacramento (CSUS). She was a California language arts and reading specialist who has instructed at all levels including K-12 classrooms, labs, and clinics. She has written a number of reading instruction books for parents and teachers including Reading Champs: Teaching Reading Made Easy and her memoir, Stories From a Teacher’s Heart: Memories of Love, Life and Family and Reading Champions! Second Edition, Teaching Reading Made Easy.

In the episode, we pause to consider all the things we’re expected to do as teachers. What are the things that matter most, what matters least, and how can we spend more time on what really matters in our classrooms? Follow on Twitter: @MsSackstein @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @HarveyAlvy1 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Ed Chat Archive: http://edchat.pbworks.com Starr Sackstein is the COO of the Mastery Portfolio where they help schools, teachers, and systems more easily implement standards-based grading. She was a high school English and Journalism teacher for 16 years and a Humanities curriculum leader for 2 years. Starr is also the author of many education books specifically about progressive assessment practices.

Over the last 18 months, we've experienced a lot and learned a lot about what's possible in education. In this episode, we discuss a shortlist of the most promising ways to update how we educate the next generation of students. Follow on Twitter: @HarveyAlvy1 @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Harvey Alvy has served as a teacher, principal, and university professor, and was honored to be a National Distinguished Principal. He is the author of Fighting for Change in Your School: How to Avoid Fads and Focus on Substance, and co-author of Learning From Lincoln: Leadership Practices for School Success.

As many of us returned to school last week, 94,000 kids contracted COVID-19. Even as the infection rate grows to rival peak numbers, many school districts are under a no-mask-mandate policy. Others have gone a step further by limiting the ability to confirm whether students are vaccinated and eliminating the virtual learning options. How can teachers respond to these policies? Follow on Twitter: @Hahne_Elyse @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Ed Chat Archive: http://edchat.pbworks.com Elyse Hahne is a K-5 Life Skills Teacher in Grapevine, Texas and focuses on Social Emotional practices in her classroom and school setting. Elyse believes in supporting teachers and students to the best of her ability and believes everyone needs a champion. She loves to see the lightbulb moments and successes each and every day. Elyse is an ASCD Emerging Leader, Google Certified Educator (Level 1&2), and collaborator for success.

In this episode, we consider the good reasons to support year-round school and why many of us are ambivalent. Follow on Twitter: @MsSackstein @tomwhitby @sgthomas1973 @HarveyAlvy1 @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Ed Chat Archive: http://edchat.pbworks.com Starr Sackstein is the COO of the Mastery Portfolio where they help schools, teachers, and systems more easily implement standards-based grading. She was a high school English and Journalism teacher for 16 years and a Humanities curriculum leader for 2 years. Starr is also the author of many education books specifically about progressive assessment practices.