Today, our guest on our podcast is Merve Lapus, Western Regional Education Director of Common Sense Media (commonsensemedia.org). I got to know Merve a few years ago, as my school was implementing a digital citizenship program. CSM, goes way beyond from just being a program, to become a trusted resource for schools and parents on all things digital resources and media in education.
Merve and I chat about his rise from humble, but amazing, beginnings to being a director of CSM where he connects with schools all over with digital resources and getting the mindset of being an upstanding (digital) citizen.
Today, our special guest is Kristin Monfredini. Kristin is the K-8 Spiritual L.I.F.E. Director
Liturgy, Interiority, Faith, Engagement at Convent & Stuart Hall, Schools of the Sacred Heart in San Francisco
Kristin shares her story from working at Tiffany & Company and her experience rising from being a teacher associate, stay at home mom and becoming part of the Campus Ministry program which focus on reinforcing and celebrating the curricular learning happening in the religion classes.
We go over her “ah-ha” and “ta da” moments that include one of her passion projects, Drama. Join in and let’s discover Kristin’s story and make sure you share with others!
My former colleague, Caroline Zoba, is our guest on this episode. She and I chat about her teaching journey from public school, private school, single sex classrooms to co-ed classroom. An avid runner, Caroline also shares her experience teaching in Ghana, Africa for a summer.
Join us to get Caroline’s amazing insights and valuable tips on how to be a great teacher.
We’re excited to feature Alicia Tapia in this week’s episode! Teacher, Librarian and Pop-Up Library/Cyclist (so cool!) extraordinaire of bibliobicicleta.com
We chat about the importance of connecting with your students, her passion project calledBIBLIOBICICLETA and how her “Ta-Da” moment inspires her. She then shares that one of her “Ta-da” moments with students include helping her students create digital portfolios.
Teaching in the heart of San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, we dissect how her students are succeeding in a challenging environment.
You’ll come away being inspired as we dive deep in the magical moments she sees when people interact with her pop-up library and other people.
You can follow Alicia peddling away on Twitter, Instagram on Facebook,
[UPDATE: Kellie Mullin is now a Head of School in the Bay Area]
Kellie Mullin is our guest today and she teaches 7th and 8th grade science. She does an amazing class project called the 20% Project. The students find a real-world problem and develop possible solutions using the Design Thinking process.
We talk about the challenge of teaching Empathy as part of Design Thinking process with middle school students–in particular the 7th and 8th grade girls.
Kellie shares her best tech tips and advice that helps develop the creative confidence and growth mindset of teachers.
Share and like this episode and let us know what you think!
Corinne Corrigan is a fourth-grade teacher who has a unique experience where she started in the classroom and moved to the computer lab, started her family, came back and established our maker space studio, and is now back in the classroom–in a new grade. Whew! She has a wealth of teaching resources and tips for everyone.
I learned everything about teaching from Corinne (and Zoe Ley) when I was her teaching assistant way back. She continues to be a mentor and friend who has always given great advice and tips professionally and personally ;).
Come listen as we chat about her experience and get valuable tips to use in your own teaching and find out what she means by telling teachers to “just don’t do it!”
Books Mentioned (Affiliate Links – at no extra cost to you!)
Music by: JukeDeck
I interview a dear friend, who happens to be an ex-roomate who also happens to be an Associate Dean and Director of Academic Development and Technological Innovation at the University of San Francisco, Dr. Charlene Lobo Soriano.
Charlene shares with us so much valuable ideas and stories that it was a mind blowing experience.
We go over her story of being finite to infinite.
I learned that its important for students and teachers t "embrace the cactus," and what "adulting" is!
We then explore what it means to be a lawnmower parent vs. a helicopter parent.
And so much more!
We had the wonderful opportunity to interview Stef: our dear friend, former teacher, godparents to our boys, stay at home mom, awesome chef and knitter! Talk about talented! Fred met her in college and we become godparents to her two girls. She recommended me to her principal and I got the job I currently have at my school, what a blessing! We watched each other's kids grow up while living next door to each other- we are family.
Stefanie's a-ha moment that inspired her to teach was listening to her first grade cousin read to her. She was so amazed that she wanted to be a teacher! She spent most of her teaching career as a 5th grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher and made her no regrets decision to be a stay at home mom to her two girls. Now 8 years removed from teaching, you can hear her passion for education and how it has helped her when it comes to homework time with her girls.
Follow Stefanie on her blog: woolycakesandwoodenspoons.com and check our her knitting projects on www.ravelry.com (you must already be a Ravelry member to access). Enjoy!
Music from Jukedeck - create your own at jukedeck.com
We reflect on our first year of podcasting. We go over the technical challenges and expectations of trying to produce a valuable resource for our fellow teachers.
We then go over our 2016 goals and expectations so that we can be accountable so that we can deliver good stuff.
Sharon and Fred discuss how limited technology resources in the classroom can be extremely frustrating.
We share a few strategies and project ideas that can help your students be engaged and develop their skills with only one iPad in you classroom.
Join us and let's discover some simple, yet powerful ways to use technology in your tech strapped classroom!
In this episode, we give an overview of the survey results they have gotten the past couple weeks. We've identified (and confirmed our suspicions) the problems teachers face using technology in their classrooms
Sharon talks about her incredible experience at the first inauguaral Better Together Teachers Summit. She shares what made it so inspiring and something all teachers need to look out for!
Join us as we share a lot of good insights and what we are plans are.
Get our 19 Tech Skills Every Teacher Must Develop here.
Music by:
"Presenterator" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
This is part 2 with Fred and you can find part 1 (episode 18) with Sharon here. Wecatch up with what went on during our haitus. Then, we share our goals and plans with you and we do an end of year review of this school year.
On episode 20, we continue breaking down our popular "19 Tech Skills Every Teacher Must Develop." Make sure you listen to episode 19 first and to download the free PDF!
This episode, we breakdown our hugely popular FREE giveaway, 19 Tech Skills Every Teacher Must Develop This Summer.
There has been a lot of questions and Sharon and I clarify and add a lot of info to each of the points. Get the download and follow us along as we go beyond the list.
We're back and we catch up with what went on during our haitus. Then, we share our goals and plans with you and we do an end of year review of this school year. This is part 1 with Sharon.
This is our first interview! In this episode, we ge together with our good friend and teacher, Elena. She shares some great insights that can help our listeners take their teaching to the next level. Join us and check it out!
As Sharon has been in the public school system, she found out about one of the best resources to get funding for classroom and teaching materials every teacher should explore--DonorsChoose.org!
Its a great organization where any public school teacher can create a proposal for classroom furniture, technology tools, teaching materials - anything related to teaching and learning.
Spring Break! It was such a long awaited and so very welcome time to take time off from teaching. This year, Sharon and Fred had their breaks coincide perfectly. In years past, their respective schools had different weeks for Spring Break.
This year, they took their young family to Hawaii. This is Fred's first time there and he shares his wide-eyed view of his first visit. Let's just say, he wants to go again.
Fred and Sharon share some tips traveling with young children and what to consider logistically. One lesson, travel later when kids are older! Just kidding.
They also share some learning tips when visiting Pearl Harbor and during the airplane ride and how you can use those times to spark teaching ideas.
Aloha!