Do you have a class that you probably should get a little extra in the paycheck for coping with on a daily basis? Do you have students who dominate your thoughts…and not in a good way, when you’re away from school? Do you catch yourself having imaginary confrontations with certain kids? Do you have a class that causes you great anxiety as they roll through the door each morning? If you do, join the club.

I had such a class last semester. I was wondering, Do I still have it? So, I set to work bonding with these challenging kids. This episode will describe my approach. What I love about this episode, is that all my suggestions are totally in the teacher’s control. You’re not reliant on student compliance in order to implement these strategies. My hope is that over time your calm, consistent, and persistent efforts will be rewarded. Give my ideas a try. I have confidence in your success!

Here are my five hacks:

1. Work on Approachability
2. Anticipate Problems
3. Don’t Take the Bait
4. Build a Relationship
5. Practice Empathy

I promised this picture in the episode.

A PUG + a DACHSHUND = DUG STURTEVANT

Episode Template

The Problem:

Certain students can be total disruptors.

The Solution:

Apply the five hacks outlined in this episode.

What you can do Tomorrow:

• Make a list of students, or entire classes, that you need to forge a better relationship with.
• Systematically apply the five hacks outlined in this episode.
• Practice patience. Forging relationships with standoffish students takes time.
• Corral your ego. It can be a major obstacle to progress.

Bonding with challenging students could be magical for them. You could be the adult advocate that they desperately need!

Listen to “113- Five Hacks for Bonding with REALLY, REALLY Challenging Kids…or, a Cure for Teacher Insomnia” on Spreaker.

This past summer, I interviewed Michael Brilla about creating timelines on an amazing platform called Knight Lab. I had my students such create timelines this past September. It was a solid experience for all. The only issue we had with this application was that kids had to fill out a Google Spreadsheet and then submit that sheet to the Knight Lab platform. This one variable caused some frustration with my students. Imagine that!

What I love about StoryMaps is there are no spreadsheets involved. Your kids create the entire StoryMap right on the Knight Lab platform. It’s totally web-based…which is magical. When kids are done, they hit the share button and they have the link.

This is a perfect activity for any lesson that involves events taking place in various locations. I had my students create a StoryMap on the Mongols. Here’s a link to my prompt. Please copy it and then edit it to fit your class.

To help me tell this story is Max Muhlbaier and Matt Rease. These two articulate young students (primary sources) will describe utilizing this platform. Here’s a link to Matt’s StoryMap.

Max Muhlbaier and Matt Rease

Episode Template

The Problem:

Often, students lack context for your lesson.

The Solution:

Create instant understanding with StoryMaps.

What you can do Tomorrow:

• Go to Knight Lab and create your own StoryMap
• Consider an upcoming project that involves some geography
• Take my prompt an edit to fit your class

This platform puts learning into context, which makes your lesson relevant.

Listen to “112-You Simply Must Try StoryMaps from Knight Lab…Starring Max Muhlbaier and Matt Rease” on Spreaker.

2 Months ago, I prompted my students to draw. I was hoping to get some masterpieces. In fairness, I did get a few spectacular and inspiring submissions. Most kids, however, were ambivalent. Many commented, “I hate drawing!” Or, “I suck at drawing!” They put forth little or no effort and it showed. The entire episode left me wondering, How can I do this better next time? 

At this dramatic moment, Google Drawings boldly stepped on stage. I was unfamiliar with this tool, so I watched this brief and empowering tutorial. I use Google Docs and Google Slides and I was encouraged by how my experiences with those 2 tools inspired a rapid learning curve. I created a Google Drawing. As I explain in the program, I became obsessed with the process. I linked my drawing on the prompt I created to give my kids ideas.

My Google Drawing

I decided to unleash this tool on my students. It was a marvelous decision. In this program, 2 of my students, Morgan Schull and Lauren Speelman, will talk about their experiences utilizing Google Drawings. I love these 2 articulate young women. So will you.

Morgan Schull and Lauren Speelman

Here’s a link to my prompt on creating a Google Drawing about Buddhism’s Four Noble Truths. Consider this prompt a template that you can copy, alter, and then use over and over. Morgan and Lauren discuss the creation process and their products. Here’s a link to Morgan’s effort and a link to Lauren’s.

Morgan’s Google Drawing

Lauren’s Google Drawing

Episode Template

The Problem:

Many students do not want to express themselves through drawing.

The Solution:

Google Drawings is an easy was to empower and inspire reluctant artists.

What you can do Tomorrow:

• Watch this tutorial on Google Drawings.
• Create a Google Drawing of your own.
• Scan your current unit for possible topics.
• Morph my template into a prompt for your class.

Google Drawing could just bring the creative edge back to your kids. Listen to “111-A Google Drawing Prompt Template that you can use Over and Over Again…Starring Morgan Schull and Lauren Spellman” on Spreaker.

It’s so hard to entice someone to morph into the perspective of another. Unfortunately, it’s darned near impossible for adults and not that easy for kids, who hopefully are more open-minded.

I teach in a small town just outside Columbus, Ohio. We are just a couple of miles from the diversity of Columbus. However, our town is growing and diversity is coming. It’s my mission to help our kids appreciate different viewpoints. I was overjoyed when I found an online tool that helps greatly in the quest. Introducing the Belief-O-Matic. 

I challenged my kids to REALLY understand Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam via the Belief-O-Matic. The students were confronted with 20 questions that they tried to answer as a member of the faith we explored. Please give this a try! I guarantee the experience will be challenging and enlightening. To help me explain how to utilize this cool tool are 2 amazing primary sources. Sebastian Kirkpatrick and Graham Mackey are wonderful guys who are 11th graders at our school and they are articulate salesmen for this tool.

And finally, some educators may worry that this entire endeavor may be too controversial. Perhaps, you could share this link with your principal and then explain to her how you intend to use it.

Episode Template

The Problem:

It’s hard for kids to assume the perspective of another.

The Solution:

Please create a lesson where you can utilize the Belief-O-Matic. Challenge students to answer the questions as a member of the faith you’re exploring.

What you can do Tomorrow:

• Navigate to the Belief-O-Matic and try the 20 questions answering as your authentic self.
• Next, try answering as a member of a faith you’re not. See how close you can get to 100%.
• Scan your future lessons for an opportunity to use this tool.
• Check with your principal to make certain everything is kosher.

It’s tough to put oneself into the perspective of another. The Belief-O-Matic can help!

Listen to “110-TEMPORARILY Morph your Kids into Buddhist, Hindus, and Muslims via the Belief-O-Matic…Starring Sebastian Kirkpatrick and Graham Mackey” on Spreaker.

I remember 10th-grade Geometry. I was quite a distracted high schooler. And to accentuate this problem…I was a total humanities guy. Math class was more of a social opportunity as opposed to an academic endeavor. Consequently, I was totally lost. I had virtually no idea what was going on. Unfortunately, there are a lot of kids in Math classes today who resemble the 15-year-old me.

So at this juncture of our journey, Mark Robinson enters the fray.

Mark and his lovely wife Amy markrobinson@bwls.net

Mark is a fabulous Math teacher who embarked this fall on a Standards-Based Learning journey. Standards-Based Learning is a powerful wave that’s churning on education’s horizon. Mark stops into today to talk about what it is, how it works and evaluates its effectiveness. The 15-year-old James Sturtevant would have thrived with a teacher like Mark.

Unlike other episodes, there is not a What you can do Tomorrow section. I simply don’t know enough about this concept to create one. Instead, I’ll encourage you to approach your principal and plan a visit to watch it action!

Here is the Math hashtag that Mark promotes #MTBOS

Listen to “109-Adventures in Standards-Based Learning…Starring Mark Robinson” on Spreaker.

Recently, my buddy Michael Brilla shared information on how to utilize Google Drawings. He sent me a Padlet by Karly Moura. I was mesmerized by this Padlet. The info and the direction were solid…but I was also captivated by the Padlet itself. I immediately started scheming, How can I utilize a Padlet for my next lesson prompt? It was a short skull-session. My World Civ students were due for their research paper prompt. Writing a research paper, for many students, is a daunting task. I decided to deliver my prompt and ample instructions and encouragement via the Padlet that’s pictured above.

My efforts were fruitful! To back up this audacious claim, I commandeered two original sources. Ben Momeni and Cecilia Sutton are seniors at our school and students in my World Civ class.

Sutilia and the Balm

I permit them to migrate from study hall to my room during the last period of each day. Since I rescue them every 24 hours, they were happy to help me by appearing as guests. They’re wonderful, intelligent, and articulate young people. They’ll provide onsite reporting on what it’s like to have a prompt dropped on you via Padlet.

Episode Template

The Problem:

Students are often confused by lesson prompts.

The Solution:

Utilize Padlet to deliver an organized, visually appealing, encouraging, and resource-rich prompt.

What you can do Tomorrow:

• Check out my Padlet
• Allocate a future assignment that contains a lot of steps for your first Padlet-prompt
• Make a list of questions students may have about this assignment
• Create a Padlet and make each potential student question a post
• Place a link under each post that leads to explanation via a doc, site, or video
• Assign the prompt via your lesson delivery system

Never assume students know what they are supposed to accomplish. Add Padlet to your Arsenal of Understanding.

Listen to “108-Ben Momeni and Cecilia Sutton Want you to Deliver your Next Lesson Via Padlet” on Spreaker.

In Episode 68, I demonstrated a zero-tech method of including two classic board games into your instruction. In this episode, Stephanie Howell will take gamification to a whole new level.

@mrshowell24

Stephanie is an Instructional Technology Coordinator at the Pickerington Local School District in suburban Columbus, Ohio. Stephanie and I have interacted for a while and I wanted to interview her last year, but we kept searching for the perfect topic. We found it! She’s going to enlighten all of us about gamifying our next lesson. I’m certainly going to try this this fall. Stephanie promotes challenging students to solve a mystery by mimicking the classic board game Clue.

But here, dear listener, is the exciting part. Stephanie has done much of the work for us! After you’ve listened to the episode, watch this 17-minute step-by-step instructional video.  After you grasp the big picture, navigate to this Google Doc. This is your roadmap to an outstanding gamified lesson. Copy any or all of Stephanie’s docs and manipulate them to fit your class.

Episode Template

The Problem:

You need a fresh way to inspire learning.

The Solution:

Gamify your next lesson.

What you can do Tomorrow:

• Watch Stephanie’s instructional video.
• Make copies of Stephanie’s resources.
• Craft an irresistible hook.
• Create a suspect list.
• Build the game questions.
• Plan how you’re going to include student movement.
• Strategize how you’re going to prevent students from spilling the beans to friends who have your class later in the day.

Gamify your next lesson and introduce, collaboration, engagement, competition, and fun!

Please visit my Amazon Author’s Page.

Listen to “107-Gamify your Next Lesson…Starring Stephanie Howell” on Spreaker.

Jim Mahoney

Jim Mahoney is a fantastic public speaker. My original intention for this episode was to help teachers improve their presentations. Yes…this interview provides such direction, but as my convo with Jim evolved, it became apparent that teacher presentations was just one layer of onion skin. Jim’s been in the teaching biz for 47 years. He’s been a teacher, coach, principal, central office administrator, superintendent, the Executive Director of Battelle for Kids, and finally…he’s returned home to the classroom. Jim now enlightens future teachers as a professor at Ohio University.

In this episode Jim delves into hooks, transitions, lesson plans, evaluations, reading, presentation, public speaking, storytelling, student-led learning, and more. This is a man that has seen plenty of change and has embraced plenty of change. What shines through is fierce passion for kids and deep wisdom about how to foster learning. Please visit Jim’s website to learn more about him, sign-up for his book notes, or ask him a question. Consider this interview a pep-talk for the 2018-2019 school year!

Episode Template

The Problem: Lesson delivery can grow stale.

The Solution: Experiment with your first day presentation

What you can do Tomorrow:

• Decide what kids must master that first day.
• Evaluate how you’ve unveiled these ideas in the past.
• Craft a marvelous hook. Perhaps, in a subtle way, challenge students to determine the relevancy of your subject. For ideas on hooks, check out this episode. 
• Create a brief opening presentation which includes some biographical info and some broad course objectives. Encourage audience participation in this presentation. For ideas on how to include student participation in your presentations, check out this episode. 
• Plan how to challenge students with a problem. A marvelous activity would be for groups to peer-teach classroom procedures. For ideas on promoting classroom procedures, check out this episode.
• Incorporate a segment for debriefing.
• Consider how to utilize this template in future lessons.

Commandeer an idea from this episode and use it on Day 1. You may discover a wonderful template that facilitates profound learning.

Listen to “106-47 Years of Enticing Kids to Lean Forward…Starring Jim Mahoney” on Spreaker.

I loved being a student. Sometimes as a teacher, I’d like to trade places with my students. I enjoy learning. Well in this episode, I get to do just that! Michael Brilla is a fabulous middle school history teacher from Pottstown, Pa. Here’s Michael with his lovely family:

@Mr_Brilla

Michael is my teacher and I’m his student. He’s going to school me about digital storytelling.

I’m reading a fascinating book called Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo. Carmine evaluates the presentation styles of the most popular TED presenters. One common thread is powerful storytelling. Teachers have a responsibility to help kids evolve as storytellers. It’s an essential skill. Michael Brilla and I became acquainted on Twitter. He promoted the idea of digital storytelling. I was instantly intrigued. Michael’s platform of choice is Knight Lab.

Knight Lab is a free platform gifted to the world from a team of brilliant, talented, and creative faculty and students at Northwestern University. Job 1 when I return to school in one month is to master this powerful platform. I was thrilled to listen to Michael because he’s already utilized it extensively and successfully. In this episode, Michael highlights his student’s creation of Timelines and Story Maps. Please visit these links and marvel at what Michael’s kids created. Digital storytelling has great potential!

Episode Template

The Problem:

Students need to tell more stories.

The Solution:

Utilize Knight Lab and transform your kids into digital bards.

What you can do Tomorrow:

• Play around on the Knight Lab platform.
• Prompt students to illuminate an audience about the steps or stages of a process. It could be an epoch of history, the events in a story, the stages of the scientific process, a story problem in math, the process of completing a recipe or art project.
• Have student teams craft a story that describes each step along the journey.
• Prompt teams to then tell their stories utilizing the Knight Lab platform.

Storytelling is an essential skill. Knight Lab empowers kids to tell their stories in an ultra creative and engaging fashion!

Listen to “105 Knight Lab Transforms your Kids into Digital Bards…Starring Michael Brilla” on Spreaker.

Socratic Seminars are a big part of my class. The students circle-up and then dissect complex topics. These are highly engaging, collaborative, and provocative sessions. We do them a lot. However, even if you thoroughly enjoy something, like the taste of a Reese Cup (the relevance of which I’ll explain in the episode), if you do it too much…the magic is lost. I’m always looking for ways to improve engagement in class discussion. My kids are totally down with Philosophical Chairs, which I consider a highly successful experiment. A few months ago I ventured down a new a path, the Silent Socratic Seminar. Even as I read the last sentence, it seems absurd. How can you have a class discussion if no one says anything?

This episode will demonstrate how you can do just that. I utilized two platforms:

• Peergrade, which I highlight in Episode 74
• The Stanford History Education Group, which I highlight in Episode 40

The kids prepared for the seminar via the Stanford History Education Group and then collaborated, not verbally, but through writing via Peergrade. Peergrade is the 21st Century version of trade and grade, but this version is far superior to the days back in grade school when you evaluated your neighbor’s spelling quiz when prompted by your teacher. But unlike trade and grade, Peergrade is totally anonymous. My experience has been that anonymity equates to authenticity.

For our Silent Socratic Seminar, we explored the partition of India. Here were the directives I gave my kids. Students submitted their work to Peergrade, which then distributed it to peers randomly and anonymously. Kids then evaluated their peers based on the rubric I set up. Here’s a screenshot of mine for the Silent Socratic Seminar on Indian Partition.

What I observed in the silent circle was fascinating. It was incredibly silent. For fifteen minutes, students evaluated in a trance-like state. Then, once kids got their feedback, they leaned forward once again absorbed in what they were reading. Student engagement was evident. I highly recommend this tactic.

Episode Template

The Problem:

Even the best class discussion tactics grow stale.

The Solution:

Try a Silent Socratic Seminar.

What you can do Tomorrow:

• Secure great sources from the Stanford Education Group
• Investigate Peergrade
• Create a writing prompt for students to submit to Peergrade
• Create student rubrics they’ll apply to peer essays they receive via Peergrade
• Prompt kids for feedback at the conclusion

A Silent Socratic Seminar is a fresh approach to class discussions.

Listen to “104-Please try a SILENT Socratic Seminar…Compliments of Peergrade and the Stanford History Education Group” on Spreaker.