Teaching with CLASS®
Teachstone Inc.
Subscribe
Explore topics that are important to you while getting tactical strategies you can implement right away in your classroom! Each episode dives into a specific aspect of teaching and offers short, helpful strategies you can add to your practice.
Interested in learning more or have a suggestion? Email us at: podcasts@teachstone.com
Produced by Teachstone
Available episodes
Newest first
Oldest first
Sep 12, 2023
Transiciones y Formatos didácticos para el aprendizaje
En el episodio de hoy tenemos a Zaidaliz Beltrán e Iris García como invitadas, ambas iniciadas como maestras de preescolar en Head Start y actualmente consultoras en varios programas de Head Start en Puerto Rico y afiliadas CLASS Trainer - Pre-K. Iris y Zaidaliz han trabajado juntas por más de 20 años, les gusta viajar, entrenar y hacer largas caminatas.
En esta conversación escucharás la importancia de planificar transiciones entre las actividades a lo largo del día, cómo benefician estas transiciones al desarrollo de las funciones ejecutivas cuando son bien implementadas y algunos ejemplos de cómo hacerlo apropiadamente.
Tópicos discutidos en este episodio:
[02:12 - 06:46] ¿Cuántas transiciones se hacen en el día? Y ¿Cómo pueden manejarse esas transiciones?
[07:01 - 09:35] ¿Qué dice la evidencia sobre las transiciones y el tiempo que se invierte en ellas?
[09:38 - 13:13] ¿Cómo estructurar los momentos de transiciones?
[13:24 - 15:24] ¿Qué efecto tienen las transiciones en el aprendizaje?
[16:06 - 19:18] Una historia que ilustra estrategias para fomentar el interés y participación de los niños y niñas en el salón de clase.
[21:08 - 22:45] Estrategias que puedes implementar desde hoy.
[23:04 - 26:06] Curiosidad intelectual e ideas finales.
playlist_add
Aug 29, 2023
New School Year Reset: Embracing a Fresh Start
As educators, we are all familiar with the hustle and bustle of a new academic year. It's a time filled with excitement, anxiety, hope, and often, an overwhelming to-do list. But amidst the chaos, it's essential to take a moment to breathe, refocus, and reconnect with our passion for teaching.
In the latest episode of Teaching with Class, our host, Kate Cline, navigates us through the three Ws of teaching - the Why, the Who, and the What - offering actionable strategies to help educators reignite their passion and maintain their motivation throughout the academic year.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
* [00:00:52] Connecting to the opportunities of a new school year
* [00:01:40] Reconnecting with the present
* [00:02:08] The three Ws
* [00:02:34] Your educator why
* [00:03:22] Three whos: your students, your colleagues, and yourself
* [00:05:17] Finding a mentor as a new teacher
* [00:06:42] What you do each day in your classroom
Resources
Kate Cline
playlist_add
Aug 15, 2023
Creating a Culture of Belonging
In this podcast episode, we are introduced to the insightful Pamela Thompson, a director of teaching and learning at Neighborhood Villages in Boston. With a wealth of experience in early childhood education, Pamela shares her approach to fostering a sense of belonging in classrooms for children as young as 15 months.
She explores the concept of an 'always yes' environment to nurture curiosity and open-ended exploration among young learners. The episode dives deep into the power of language, family engagement, classroom dynamics, and the importance of diversity in early learning environments. Thompson's fresh perspectives on language development, trust-building, and celebrating diversity are sure to inspire listeners and offer practical tips for cultivating a greater sense of belonging in their own classrooms.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
* [00:00:50] Pamela’s background
* [00:03:24] What drove Pamela to stay in the classroom
* [00:04:42] Creating a strong partnership between parents and educators
* [00:09:14] Specific moments with parents and their children
* [00:13:44] How a sense of belonging helps children feel safe so that they can focus on learning
* [00:18:02] How teachers can facilitate a moment of learning
* [00:26:55] Takeaways from this episode that educators can put to use right away
Resources
Pamela Thompson
playlist_add
Aug 1, 2023
Supporting Strong-Willed Children
Understanding how best to support strong-willed children is an important question in education. In today’s episode, Megin Ruston, an adept educator and online course facilitation manager, delves into the challenges and strategies associated with teaching strong-willed children. With her expertise in early childhood education, Megin provides insightful explanations of how temperament impacts behavior and classroom dynamics.
The discussion encompasses strategies to identify rigid traits in toddlers and preschoolers, practicing flexibility and cooperation during calm moments, and fostering emotional literacy. She also addresses the importance of setting boundaries and behavior expectations in the classroom, handling challenging behaviors, and promoting self-regulation. The episode wraps up with Megin emphasizing the crucial role of positive reinforcement and acknowledgment in the classroom and the importance of practice for educators.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
* [00:01:38] The definition of a strong-willed child
* [00:03:13] What temperament means and how descriptions of temperament have changed
* [00:08:30] Why having a strong will is not necessarily a bad thing
* [00:09:43] The difference between a cooperative child and a compliant child
* [00:13:57] Thinking about what a child’s behavior means
* [00:15:38] Flexibility as a strategy for children with more rigid tendencies
* [00:21:05] Setting boundaries as a teacher
* [00:27:10] What happens when the student and teacher share a temperament
* [00:29:14] Acknowledging the importance of every teacher
Resources
Megin Ruston
playlist_add
Jul 18, 2023
Sumergirse en el Desarrollo de Conceptos
En este episodio tenemos a María Cristina Caro como invitada para visitar estrategias de desarrollo de conceptos en el salón de clases, una práctica que ayuda a construir un alto nivel de pensamiento.
El desarrollo de conceptos se basa en cuatro pilares fundamentales:
* Análisis y razonamiento, se logra preguntando el por qué y el cómo de las cosas, resolución de problemas, ejercicios de predicción y experimentación, y ejercicios de comparación y exploración.
* Creatividad, se basa en generar oportunidades para que los niños y niñas puedan expresar sus propias ideas.
* Integración, con otros conceptos y el conocimiento previo.
* Conexión con el mundo real, para entender las aplicaciones del conocimiento en la vida cotidiana.
En esta conversación se discuten los conceptos básicos, ejemplos prácticos y consideraciones especiales.
Tópicos discutidos en este episodio:
[00:45] Conociendo a Maria Cristina Caro
[03:26] ¿Qué es el desarrollo de conceptos?
[10:51] Expectativas al comenzar
[16:27] Ejemplos prácticos
[21:42] Consideraciones para aplicar las estrategias con niños y niñas con necesidades especiales
playlist_add
Jul 18, 2023
Diving into Concept Development
What does scuba diving have to do with concept development in early education? In today’s episode, we are joined by Maria Cristina Caro, a seasoned early childhood educator with decades of experience. Maria Cristina takes us on a deep dive into the world of concept development in early education, comparing the process to scuba diving.
She shares her innovative strategies for making learning accessible to all children and underlines the importance of preparation, observation, and quality feedback in teaching. Tune in to hear how Maria is thinking about teaching children the 'whys' and 'hows' behind concepts, strategies to make concept development accessible for all children, and the use of visuals, individualization, and inclusion as key components in concept development
Topics Discussed in This Episode
* [00:00:41] Maria Cristina, an experienced early childhood educator, and her background
* [00:02:09] What concept development is
* [00:04:48] How to go deep into concepts with children
* [00:10:08] When concept development happens
* [00:10:52] How to help children think about concepts indicator by indicator
* [00:13:19] Making connections within a larger concept
* [00:17:13] Concept development for children with special needs, different cultures, and who speak multiple languages.
* [00:17:34] How using visuals is helpful
* [00:17:50] Individualization and Inclusion in concept development
Resources
Maria Cristina Caro
playlist_add
Jul 5, 2023
Building Social Emotional Climate in the Classroom
Children need to be calm and able to manage their emotions if they’re going to learn, but they can’t do that without tools to help them handle their emotions – especially the kind of yucky emotions that can really disrupt a student’s day or even a teacher’s day.
In today’s episode, Jess Moorhead, a teacher from Memphis, TN, joins the podcast to explain some of the ways she helps her students develop socially and emotionally. Listen to the episode to learn about how Jess lays the groundwork for her students during the first two weeks of the year, then continues to set the tone every day to help her students develop the strategies they need to both verbalize and manage their feelings.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
* [00:00:40] Jessica’s background
* [00:01:55] Jess’s dogs
* [00:02:40] Strategies for social and emotional development in the classroom
* [00:04:45] How Jess handles the first two weeks of the year
* [00:06:33] What happens after investing the first couple of weeks in social skills
* [00:07:35] Setting the tone in the classroom daily
* [00:11:45] Where children’s yucky feelings can come from
* [00:15:16] Normalizing kids’ feelings and giving them strategies for managing them
* [00:17:14] Making those strategies work for students
* [00:19:07] A situation Jess had with a child doing group work
* [00:24:05] Moving from one strategy to another when the first one doesn’t work
* [00:25:25] Techniques to help kids calm down
* [00:29:23] Takeaways for teachers to help children work on their feelings
Resources
Jess Moorhead
playlist_add
Jun 20, 2023
The Magic of Music in the Classroom
How can you incorporate music into your classroom and what does that do for your students? What can it do for you? In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Mary Anderson, founder of My Music Starts Here and the creator and host of Songs and Stories on Virginia PBS. She has a lot of wonderful information to share about how sharing music with children impacts them.
Listen to the episode to learn about how music affects communication and literacy, what’s happening in their lives and in their brains when someone is singing and sharing music with them, and how teachers can share music just using their own bodies or things they have in their classrooms.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
* [00:01:37] Mary’s background
* [00:04:47] The impacts of sharing music with children
* [00:07:58] Why teachers should share music even if they’re insecure about their own singing
* [00:09:24] What happens in children’s brains when someone sings with them
* [00:13:00] The purpose of using music for communication
* [00:16:30] Connecting music to literacy
* [00:20:50] Making music with things in the classroom
* [00:25:04] Sharing music to build social skills
* [00:29:35] How music helps teachers
* [00:32:28] Takeaways that teachers can use with children right away
* [00:37:32] Incorporating different cultures into musical experiences for children
Resources
Mary Anderson
My Music Starts Here
playlist_add
Jun 6, 2023
Concept Development During Science and Beyond
Today’s episode of Teaching with CLASS is led by guest host Emily Simon. In today’s conversation, you’ll hear from Lexi Alexander, an applied developmental psychologist who specializes in early learning. She has extensive experience, both as a classroom teacher and mother herself as well as having co-led the Early Science Initiative, a system of professional learning and family engagement focused on using early science as a driver of high-quality teaching and learning, over the past 10 years.
Listen to the episode to learn more about concept development during science, and why it shouldn’t be confined just to science-specific blocks of the day. In this episode you’ll learn about the power of surrendering power and control over thinking to children, building on children’s innate curiosity, and implementing concept development across the day.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
* [00:00:21] Today’s guest host, Emily Simon, and guest Lexi Alexander
* [00:01:25] What teachers are already doing in class to support concept development
* [00:03:55] How to start giving children control
* [00:06:23] How teachers can leverage and build on innate curiosity for concept development
* [00:11:10] How to support science learning and concept development across the day, not just during specific times of the day
* [00:16:35] How to give children space to think and come up with answers themselves
* [00:19:12] Planning specific science blocks that are developmentally appropriate and encourage critical thinking
* [00:22:22] How it looks to your own power and control to children
* [00:26:30] Key takeaways from this episode: curiosity, shifting focus on how you view the world, embody what it means to be a scientist
Resources
Emily Simon
Lexi Alexander
playlist_add
May 23, 2023
Welcome to our CLASSy School
What does it look like for CLASS to be fully integrated into the curriculum? How can coaches get teachers excited about that, and what impact does it have on the lives of students? In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Lisa Howard and Britney Blackman from the New E3 School as they talk about their CLASS curriculum.
Listen to the episode to hear what Britney and Lisa have to say about how CLASS is helping and impacting their students, how teachers who have never encountered CLASS before are transformed by it, and how parents and families get involved in what the school is doing.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
* [00:01:07] Today’s episode is about supporting teachers with a curriculum designed with CLASS in mind, making friends with data, and how US coaches can support teachers
* [00:01:58] Introduction to Lisa and Britney and their roles
* [00:05:32] How CLASS is helping and impacting the students Britney and Lisa are working with today
* [00:09:28] The transformation period of a person who’s never worked with CLASS being exposed to the program
* [00:12:46] The impact Britney sees on the lives of the children
* [00:14:58] How children’s behaviors shift as a reaction to adult behaviors
* [00:19:51] How to get a teacher excited about CLASS
* [00:23:32] How to involve parents and families in the process
* [00:27:50] Understanding what teachers went through during COVID
* [00:31:50] The importance of taking a long view
* [00:33:05] Giving yourself grace and space to grow.
Resources
Britney Blackman
Lisa Howard
playlist_add
Dec 20, 2022
The Mid-School-Year Reset
Are you where you thought you’d be by the end of 2022? Is it where you wanted to be by this time? How are things going in your classroom? During this season, we’ve brought you conversations with people who offer their perspectives that may give you new ideas for things to try out in your classroom, ways to enrich yourself professionally, and inspiration to take care of yourself. In today’s episode, we’ll look back over the previous podcast episodes of the season and ahead to the coming year.
Listen in to take a walk down memory lane as we remember the things we learned talking to Mr. Chazz, Marnetta Larrimer, Jacob Stewart, and others!
Topics Discussed in This Episode
* [00:01:19] The season kick-off with Mr. Chazz
* [00:01:39] Deirdre Harris with team vision and planning
* [00:02:09] Managing thoughts and behaviors with Dr. Angela Searcy
* [00:02:37] Observation day with Marnetta Larrimer
* [00:03:25] Classroom setup with Alisha Saunders-Wilson
* [00:04:10] Le…
playlist_add
Nov 17, 2022
The Role & Responsibility of the Teacher Influencer
TikTok influencers come from a variety of backgrounds, but some of the popular influencers out there are teacher influencers. What are the responsibilities of teacher influencers, and what’s their role in the current conversations about education?
In today’s episode, we listen in as Marnetta Larrimer talks to Arielle, a teacher known on TikTok as Mrs. Frazzled, and Miss Redacted, a teacher influencer who left teaching. The two of them host a podcast together called Teacher Quit Talk. Listen to the episode to hear their thoughts about what’s controversial on TikTok – it’s not what you might expect – what the role of social media influencers is when it comes to their impact on diversity and equity, and what some of the inequities that occur in school are.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
* [00:00:22] Teacher influencers and their role in the conversation on education
* [00:00:54] Miss Redacted’s introduction
* [00:01:22] Arielle, aka Mrs. Frazzled’s introduct…
playlist_add
Oct 13, 2022
Respondiendo a Comportamientos Desafiantes: Rabietas, Crisis, Morder
Los comportamientos desafiantes son incidentes muy frecuentes, especialmente en niños muy pequeños. Es importante estar preparados para abordar estos incidentes de la manera apropiada para poder darle a los niños las herramientas que le permitan interactuar con su entorno, autorregularse y construir un autoconcepto positivo.
Para hablar de todos estos temas, tenemos a Sandra Ampudia. En este episodio, Sandra nos comparte algunos conceptos básicos sobre el comportamiento, el aprendizaje y algunas estrategias para abordar los incidentes dentro del salon de clases.
[01:10] Conociendo a Sandra
[03:04] Saber identificar los incidentes de conducta
[08:15] Como manejar un incidente de conducta
[15:22] Que hacer cuando un niño muerde a otro
[19:42] Guiar el comportamiento con frases positivas
[28:29] Los sentidos en el aprendizaje
[34:01] Resumen de la conversación
Recursos
Conecta con Sandra en LinkedIn
Conecta con Monica en LinkedIn
National Association for the Educatio…
playlist_add
Sep 29, 2022
Classroom Teams: Handling Sticky Situations with CLASS
To be an effective teacher and classroom presence, the adults have to work together as much as or more than the students do. Classrooms work best when co-teachers understand each other and work together. How can teachers ensure that they’re in sync with each other, and how can CLASS help?
In today’s episode, you’ll hear a fun conversation between Kate Cline and return guest Deirdre Harris. Learn about parallel processes for adult behavior, making a lesson plan with other team members, and how team agreements can be made to improve the way the classroom runs and ensure a shared vision.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
* [00:01:20] Thinking about sticky situations in the classroom
* [00:04:00] Parallel processes for adult/adult behavior
* [00:06:15] Planning a lesson plan with feedback from other team members
* [00:08:05] Making the lesson plan visible
* [00:09:20] Quality of feedback
* [00:11:43] How team vision can lead to team agreements
* [00:15:00] Doc…
playlist_add
Sep 8, 2022
Advocacy for Educators
As an educator, how are you using your voice? Not in the classroom but outside of it, to make a difference for the educational system, your students, your colleagues, and yourself as well. Advocacy plays an important role in bringing education into the spotlight and making sure that educational issues get the attention they deserve. And as an educator, you are in the primary position to know what you need in classrooms, schools, and districts, as well as for your own life and well-being, so your voice is an important one.
Today’s episode is about advocacy for educators and how educators can participate in it. You’ll hear from Jake Stewart, the Director of State Government Relations at the Early Care & Education Consortium. In today’s podcast, he discusses his journey from the classroom to his current position, what the starting points of advocacy are, and what topics teachers should be looking for.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
* [00:01:25] Introducing Jake Stewar…
playlist_add
Aug 11, 2022
Setting up your Classroom for Success
Setting up a classroom for a new school year can be exciting! It’s hard not to get excited at the prospect of a fresh start. But that doesn’t mean you always know what’s best to do. How do you set up the classroom to facilitate a successful year?
In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Alisha Saunders-Wilson, a Teachstone CLASS Specialist who has experience coaching other teachers in many things, including setting up classrooms. Listen in as she and Kate discuss classroom organization, behavior management, what materials to put out and when to rotate them, and what to do when materials are sparse.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
* [00:01:20] Introducing Alisha
* [00:02:14] What excites Alisha about setting up a new classroom in a new school year
* [00:02:46] How Alisha came to the ECE field and what she does with teachers these days
* [00:04:04] What to keep in mind when it comes to classroom organization
* [00:06:07] Questions teachers should ask themselve…
playlist_add
Jul 28, 2022
Integración del Aprendizaje en Programas Basados en el Juego
El aprendizaje por medio del juego es una herramienta que permite a los educadores facilitar el interes y la atención por parte de los niños. Obteniendo así mejores resultados en el contexto de un acercamiento flexible de la enseñanza.
En el episodio de hoy, tenemos con nosotros a Maria Cristina Caro, quien es consultora en el espacio educativo en edades temprana y quien además de tener una brillante trayectoria en el espacio de la educación tiene también una formación profesiona excepcional.
Escucharas la conmovedora experiencia de María Cristina Caro en el mundo de la educación desde una edad muy temprana, así como también muchos consejos sobre cómo y por qué utilizar el juego como vehículo del apredizaje.
[01:06] Introducción al juego como vehículo de aprendizaje.
[03:04] Conociendo a María Cristina Caro – Una historia realmente inspiradora
[07:00] Ideas para iniciar el aprendizaje por medio del juego
[08:53] El interes y la atención como fundamento de…
playlist_add
Jul 14, 2022
What to Expect When You're About to Be Observed?
The idea of being observed while performing a job can make anyone feel a little nervous. But understanding what CLASS observations are really about can help teachers relax and approach their classrooms with the same skill and attention they normally do.
Marnetta Larrimer is today’s guest. She’s an early education professional and trainer who is currently a Professional Services Manager for Teachstone. In her conversation with Kate today, she’s going to talk about what a CLASS observation is all about. Listen to the episode to hear what she has to say about what she would be doing while observing a classroom, who she’s paying attention to, and what happens after an observation. The answers you hear will help you feel more confident the next time you’re being observed.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
* [00:00:35] What a CLASS observation is all about
* [00:02:48] What a CLASS observation actually is
* [00:04:01] What to expect during a CLASS observation
* [0…
playlist_add
Jun 30, 2022
Replanteamiento del Comportamiento “Desafiante” y por qué es Importante Nuestra Respuesta
Guiar el comportamiento positivo es un proceso de aprendizaje para los niños pequeños en el que se desarrolla la regulación el comportamiento, las emociones y el control de los impulsos.
En este episodio, discutiremos tres pilares de reflexión que debemos tomar en cuenta para ayudar a los niños en el desarrollo del comportamiento positivo, evitar el comportamiento desafiante y fomentar la autorregulación. Para discutir estos temas, tenemos con nosotros a Michelle Galindo, especialista en primera infancia, quien ha estado brindando capacitaciones dentro de sus 20 años de experiencia. Se ha inspirado para trabajar en estrecha colaboración con los educadores que apoyan el comportamiento positivo de los niños y enseña cursos de orientación conductual a nivel universitario que orientan a los futuros educadores sobre el comportamiento infantil.
Puntos de discusión en este episodio:
[00:00] Conociendo a Michelle Galindo
[03:21] ¿Qué es un comportamiento desafiante y…
playlist_add
Jun 16, 2022
Self-Regulation Before Co-Regulation - Supporting the Children in your Classroom
When was the last time you experienced strong feelings in your classroom? Probably every day. Working with children is demanding and can bring up a lot of strong feelings.
Are you considering your own self-regulation needs as well as those of the children you’re working with? How can we process all of what we're feeling so we can move through challenging moments and make a difference for each child in our classrooms?
Dr. Angela Searcy is with us in this episode to talk about how to deal with your own self-regulation in challenging moments. Dr. Angela Searcy holds a Doctorate in Education. Her research revolves around brain-based learning assessed by CLASS and its correlation to aggressive behaviors in preschool children. Angela who began as an educator in 1990 has experience in all levels of education. Currently, Dr. Searcy is an adjunct faculty member at Erikson Institute, a professional development provider for teaching strategies, a CLASS Pre-K affiliate trainer for Teachsto…
playlist_add
Jun 2, 2022
Teaching Team Vision - Building Trust with Each Other
What would the perfect day look like in your classroom? When was the last time you spent time thinking about that? When was the last time you talked with your teaching team about creating a shared classroom vision? Those are big questions, and you may be wondering how to answer them. Today’s guest may be able to help.
Today you’ll hear from Deirdre Harris. Deirdre serves as an educational coach for the Pyramid Model Consortium. Deidre’s worked in the early childhood field for over 25 years and has a special focus on teaching teams. Listen in to hear what she has to say about how she began to focus on teaching teams, what to do when conflict happens, and why you should write down team agreements.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
* [00:01:13] Today’s guest, Deidre Harris
* [00:02:49] Why Deidre decided to focus on teaching teams
* [00:04:13] What makes a teaching team strong
* [00:05:15] How teaching teams can get started
* [00:09:24] Plotting your perfec…
playlist_add
May 19, 2022
Community in the Classroom with Mr. Chazz
Chazz Lewis is an educational specialist who “teaches teachers to teach” in a chain of child development centers. He works closely with schools, teachers, and children. He earned his master’s in executive leadership at American University. Mr. Chazz envisions a world where most people wake up every day, enjoying the process of becoming the best versions of themselves. He’s also well known on Tik Tok, Instagram, and his own podcast Get Vocal.
In today’s episode, Mr. Chazz explains how he got into teaching, why he decided to teach young children, and what kept him teaching. He also talks about building a community in the classroom and being the community you want to build.
Here are some tips that Mr. Chazz shared:
* A classroom is a community. It’s important to think seriously about what kind of community I want to create in my classroom, and model it consistently. It all starts with me.
* A sense of belonging is important in a community. I need to make sure all…
playlist_add
Dec 21, 2021
Teaching Children Empathy
What’s the best way to teach empathy to an infant, toddler, or preschool aged child?
Joanna Parker joins the podcast to answer that question. Joanna has spent her entire career in early care and education. She’s worked with Head Start, Early Head Start, child care, early intervention, public PreK, and home visitation programs at the local, community, state, and national levels.
Joanna explains that defining empathy in early childhood is all about understanding social-emotional development. Children will not display empathy the way adults do because they are still developing social-emotional skills. But educators can instill foundational skills for children to build upon as they mature.
Here are Joanna’s 3 strategies to foster empathy in the classroom:
* Positive climate: being in tune with children, respecting children’s emotions and needs, support friendship skills creating a sense of belonging and community
* Teacher sensitivity: being responsive to ch…
playlist_add
Dec 9, 2021
Combating Burnout
Burnout is at a whole new level within the last couple of years. Anyone who is a stakeholder feels certain levels of burnout, and there isn’t a magic cure or quick fix. On this week’s episode of Teaching with CLASS®, our guest Colleen Schmit returns to the podcast to help educators recognize and work through burnout.
Colleen shares these tips on combating burnout:
* Focus on your why: Write your why on a sticky note where you will see it, feel it, and remember it. If you didn’t love what you do, or have interest in what you do, you wouldn’t keep showing up, and this job is challenging! Physically, mentally, and emotionally, so being grounded in your why can really help get through the day-to-day.
* Find your people: find positive people who will support you! Surround yourself with positivity and people who will empathize with you. Be mindful of who you are interacting with and how you’re responding.
* Focus on joy and relationships: One of the biggest perks of…
playlist_add
Nov 23, 2021
Behavior is Communication: Understanding and Responding to Tantrums and Meltdowns
Meltdowns or tantrums in the classroom can be a frustrating experience for both the educator and the child. However, it's important for educators to support children through their development of essential social and emotional capabilities.
In this episode, we are joined by Megin Ruston. Megin has worn various hats in the ECE field, from student to professional to educator and advocate. She started her career as a teacher. During this time, she began working as a Home Visitor in a parenting program supporting families with children ages 5 and under. After that adventure, she provided social- emotional interventions for school aged children identified as having increased risk factors. And now we’re very lucky to have her at Teachstone. Listen as Megin helps educators understand why tantrums and meltdowns happen and how to respond to them.
Here are some tips that Megin shared:
* With infants and toddlers, meltdowns and the other behaviors like biting and spitting are deve…
playlist_add
Nov 11, 2021
Integrating Learning in Play-based Programs
One thing we have all heard is that children learn the best through play - but how can we fully integrate that into our classroom environments? In this episode, we speak with Devynn Thomas, owner/operator of Lakeside Friends Daycare, an at-home play-based daycare. She started her career in early childhood 10 years ago at a center-based child care center. Devynn is passionate about the connection between play and learning and how literacy, science and math can be explored through play. Listen along as we explore making the most of interactions during play and following the child’s lead in planning the curriculum.
Here are some tips that Devynn shared for teachers who want to do more child-led learning:
* Watch and observe, see what comes up naturally, and notice what questions they are asking, what are they drawing when they color, what do they get excited about?
* The only limit is your imagination, seek out inspiration by connecting with other educators, look on pinterest and…
playlist_add
Oct 28, 2021
Promoting Equity in Critical Thinking Skills
How can we shape innovators starting at a young age? Early childhood teachers have a big role in promoting confidence in problem solving.
Dr. Lourdes Norman-McKay joins us to explain how teachers can get students comfortable with shades of grey in the discovery process and with not knowing the right answer.
Dr. Lourdes Norman-McKay is a professor at Florida State College and the author of a globally marketed undergraduate microbiology textbook with Pearson. She earned her baccalaureate degree from the University of Florida and her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. For the past 18 years, Dr. Norman-McKay has been teaching allied health students at the collegiate level. She also serves as a speaker for the U.S. Department of State's International Information Programs––a diplomacy outreach bureau––to promote STEM education, innovation, and women in STEM.
This episode dives into Quality of Feedback and Conce…
playlist_add
Oct 13, 2021
Encouraging Voice and Choice in the Classroom
It's not uncommon for teachers in early education to need to strike a balance between following children's leads and sticking to the classroom schedule. We know that intentional teachers are aware of their responsibility to assess student progress, understand skill mastery, and plan accordingly to provide opportunities for children to grow. However, many times, as teachers begin a specific teacher-directed activity, it is unsettling when students begin to veer from the step-by-step plans the teacher has worked hard to implement.
Teacher and coach, Colleen Schmit, will share how teachers can strike the balance between following the lesson plans and giving children freedom of choice and flexibility in the classroom.
Learn more about regard for student's perspective on our blog:
* What Does Regard for Student Perspectives Look Like in a Teacher-Directed Activity?
* Regard for Student Perspectives: A Key Instructional Strategy for Improved Instructional Support
Jo…
playlist_add
Sep 29, 2021
Keeping Families Engaged in the Early Childhood Years
Many programs struggle with family engagement—particularly with engaging families in helping children with reading and homework at home. Educators may sometimes live in fear of complaints from caregivers and that can lead to a lack of trust between teachers and caregivers. In this episode, we’ll speak with Heather Sason, an early childhood professional who's been supporting families since she was 15. Now she has a child of her own and a community based playroom where families and children are invited to play and interact with other families. Heather is passionate about the topic of family engagement and will share some tips that educators can use to keep families involved in their children’s learning.
Here are some tips that Heather shared on how teachers can develop relationships and build trust with families, both in remote learning and in-person settings:
* Teachers should be themselves! Showing your true self as a teacher, will make parents/caregivers feel more at ease.…
playlist_add
Sep 29, 2021
Reframing "Challenging" Behavior and Why Our Response Matters
Guiding positive behavior is a learning process for young children as their brains are growing and developing the ability to regulate behavior, emotions and manage impulses. Creating safe, warm and supportive environments motivate children to learn and practice positive behaviors when adults are responsive and consistent. As a Specialist in Early Education with 6 years of experience as a CLASS coach, Michelle Galindo has supported many educators in classrooms with infants, toddlers and preschool children with positive behavior strategies. Here are three she shares in this episode:
Modeling Composure to support self regulation
* Being aware of Adult emotional triggers or strong emotions and practicing regulating and managing them by deep breathing and using positive self talk. Remaining calm yet intentional during interactions to respond to children’s needs vs. reacting by impulse or emotional trigger.
Creating a safe space to release strong emotions
* A physical space where…
playlist_add
Sep 28, 2021
We’re Back!
New episodes every other Thursday. Be sure to subscribe!
playlist_add
Feb 27, 2019
Teacher Sensitivity— Being Aware and Responsive to Students' Concerns
As a teacher, it can feel hard to be aware and responsive to all your students' needs. However, we know that classrooms with high Teacher Sensitivity improve student engagement and create more positive peer behavior. Listen to the experts offer tips for both teachers and CLASS observers.
playlist_add
Feb 1, 2019
From CLASS Observer to PreK Teacher
Meet Mary- After a PhD and fours years observing full-time she decided to go into the classroom as a preschool teacher for the first time. She offers good tips for new teachers as well as CLASS observers.
playlist_add
Jan 9, 2019
CLASS Group Coaching
Have you been wondering what CLASS Group Coaching or MMCI is? Listen as two educators share their experience from the perspective of a teacher and center director. I also reach out to one of the instructional designers to hear about some of the basics of the program.
playlist_add
Dec 11, 2018
CLASS and Montessori
Ever wonder how a CLASS assessment or coaching would look in a Montessori classroom? Learn more about the Montessori approach and what you would see as a CLASS observer.
playlist_add
Nov 7, 2018
Regard for Student Perspectives: Part 2
How do you emphasize students' interests, motivations, and point of view throughout the day? How can you encourage responsibility and autonomy with such young students? And how does that support the Pyramid Model of Social Emotional Learning? We attempt to answer all these questions in this episode!
playlist_add
Oct 9, 2018
Regard for Student Perspectives
Emphasizing children’s interests, motivations, and point of view while encouraging responsibility, independence, and autonomy can feel overwhelming. In this, part 1 of 2 on regard, we'll cover incorporating Regard for Student Perspectives in inclusive classrooms as well as during whole-group.
playlist_add
Sep 13, 2018
Ask the Author- An interview with Bridget Hamre
Co-author of the CLASS tool and our new Chief Impact Officer, Bridget Hamre, answers questions on her role, goals, and vision for the future.
playlist_add
Aug 31, 2018
Observing in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Classrooms
Start the conversation with us as we explore ways to ways to address and prevent bias while observing with the CLASS tool.
playlist_add
Aug 14, 2018
Back to School
Transitioning back to school is an exciting and exhausting time. Gina Gates offers some advice to help ease back in.
playlist_add
Jul 31, 2018
Instructional Support- A deeper look
We explore the importance of Emotional Support and Classroom Organization in raising Instructional Support learning outcomes. These strategies are geared toward teachers and coaches working with children from toddlers to high schoolers.
playlist_add
Jul 17, 2018
Scoring and Supporting Instructional Support
Promoting higher-order thinking skills in whole-group time, providing opportunities for creating, scoring repetition and extension, and when to focus coaching conversations on Instructional Support are all covered in this episode.
playlist_add
Jul 3, 2018
New to CLASS
What is CLASS? And your questions on certifying, your first live observation, and tips for new trainers.
playlist_add
Jun 25, 2018
Managing Challenging Behaviors
In our very first episode of Teaching with CLASS, I reach out to two CLASS experts to answer your questions about Behavior Management.
playlist_add
Jun 25, 2018
Behavior Management- Part 2
We had so many great questions about Behavior Management, we made two episodes! In part two we discuss strategies for students with behavior plans, supporting students on the autism spectrum, and how to find the cause of more severe behaviors.
playlist_add