Podcast
The Continuing Educator
Hosted by NWEA · ENGLISH
A math teacher and a professional learning pro bring a blast of fresh air to educators everywhere, every week!
Here's what makes this teaching podcast different: We have big ideas about education AND we know how to put them to work in your classroom AND we'll tell you funny stories about doing it. Every episode is packed with tips from your peers working in schools right now and strategies from the pros on the professional learning team at NWEA. Plus, our co-hosts Jacob Bruno (EVP of Learning & Improvement Services at NWEA) and Kailey Rhodes (middle school math teacher in Portland) guarantee that you will laugh at least 12.8 times per episode.
If you've got a comment about an episode or a funny story you want to tell, send us a voice memo at social.media@nwea.org and we might respond on air. AND! If you enjoy the podcast so much that you want to learn more about how NWEA professional learning delivers high-quality online, onsite, virtual, and blended learning experiences to help educators bring curriculum, instruction, and assessment into alignment to improve student outcomes, go here: https://www.nwea.org/professional-learning-overview
38episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Authentic spaces and resilient teachers, with Piper Nichols
Apr 16, 202400:27:57Tap to summarizeWhat are the habits we know that enable teachers to be effective no matter the environment? And how do we build and sustain professional and personal practices that help us rise to every challenge? NWEA Senior Account Manager Piper Nichols stops by to talk to Kailey and Jacob about her new book she co-authored, "Habits of Resilient Educators." Grab your copy here: https://us.corwin.com/books/habits-of-resilient-educators-285205
Transcribe →The Alaska Certified Facilitator Program, with Moon McCarley and Ashley Cruz
Mar 12, 202400:33:33Tap to summarizeToday, Jacob is joined by an Alaskan and a Texan: Moon McCarley, Principal at Nondalton School and District Testing Coordinator for The Lake and Peninsula School District, located on the Alaska Peninsula; and Ashley Cruz, State Professional Learning Consultant at NWEA. They discuss how NWEA partners with districts across Alaska to create high-impact professional learning opportunities to expand assessment literacy. Along the way, Moon shares her experience as a Certified Facilitator and talks about how it helped her grow as a leader.
Transcribe →Resilient teachers, now and for the future, with Robyn & Sarah Sturgeon
Mar 5, 202400:33:55Tap to summarizeRobyn & Sarah, a mother & daughter teaching duo, stop by to chat with Jacob about what each generation has learned from the other, what’s better about teaching today, and what’s more challenging. They also talk about Sarah’s alternative certification process and why Robyn left teaching—and then came back!
Transcribe →Secrets & strategies from high-growth classrooms, with Chase Nordengren
Dec 12, 202300:20:20Tap to summarizeFor this episode, we're once again joined by Dr. Chase Nordengren, principal research lead for Effective Instructional Strategies at NWEA to talk about teacher-led approaches to academic recovery.Chase works closely with leading scholars from around the globe to turn theory into actionable practices to drive instructional improvement. His latest study, High Growth for All, captured ways teachers in one Chicago-area district are leading the academic recovery effort and producing above average academic growth over multiple years for kids across the achievement spectrum Chase is also the author of Step into Student Goal Setting: A Path to Growth, Motivation, and Agency from Corwin Press.
Transcribe →Changing attitudes on assessment literacy, with Jacob Bruno
Dec 5, 202300:32:57Tap to summarize“Professional learning should be intensive, collaborative, job-embedded, and data-driven.” Jacob hops from the host’s chair to the hot seat as he sits down with Kailey to discuss his journey through the education world to become a leader in professional development for teachers. Starting with his time working with abused & neglected children, Jacob realized how much he would need to continue to grow to best serve his students. After time as a high school math teacher and coach for math educators, Jacob dedicated his career to serving teachers looking to improve their craft. Then, Kailey & Jacob get into the details of what kinds of professional learning teachers need more of now. They talk about why teachers aren’t taught about the assessment side of instructional practice and how new attitudes towards data literacy are changing that trend.
Transcribe →A more welcoming science classroom, with Megan Kuehl and Kim Baker
Oct 17, 202300:41:31Tap to summarizeKailey & Jacob are joined by two educators and NWEA content specialists who have thought a lot about how to improves student experiences in science. Kim Baker has been at NWEA for 13 years, and Megan Kuehl has been here for eight. We discuss challenging assumptions about the science classroom and unpack the notion that science is inherently impartial.
Transcribe →Middle School Madness! With Harper & Amelia
Aug 29, 202300:15:56Tap to summarizeGet ready for a blast of youthful energy and insight in this one-of-a-kind episode of The Continuing Educator! Join Kailey and Jacob as they dive into an engaging discussion with two bright young minds, Harper & Amelia, who are gearing up for their journey through middle school. These two students share their thoughts on how teachers can create a supportive classroom environment and explore ways kids can make a positive impact on their educator. They unravel goal-setting from a student's point of view and share a meaningful glimpse into the world of education through the eyes of those who experience it every day. Harper & Amelia also answer questions like, what back-to-school supply is the most exciting? And, why are people so afraid of math? It's a conversation that's as fun as it is enlightening as these four explore the dynamics that shape the middle school classroom.
Transcribe →Which back-to-school Barbie are you? With Shelby Coffin & Olivia Rocamora
Aug 22, 202300:44:02Tap to summarizeSend your back-to-school tips as a voice memo to social.media@nwea.org — we’ll play them on air. Lots of great teaching stories and tips in this one! Two teachers (and longtime friends) join Kailey to get the tea on getting back to school. They talk back-to-school routines, first week tips, introducing yourself to new families, hitting the wall, relationship-centered learning, and more. And of course: What’s on your back-to-school playlist? Thanks to our guests: Shelby Coffin, ELA teacher @ Decatur High School, and Olivia Rocamora, high school Spanish teacher @ the Weber School.
Transcribe →Comedy and the Classroom, with Nicholas Joe
Aug 15, 202300:35:08Tap to summarizeKailey chats with actor, comedian, and NWEA professional learning lead consultant Nicholas Joe about how, why, and when teachers get laughs in their classroom. Along the way they discuss strategies like how to pivot in the classroom with a “Yes, and…” mindset and how to utilize comedy in your lesson planning. And yes, Nick gets Kailey to do improv!
Transcribe →LIVE in Atlanta at NWEA Fusion, with Lindsay Deacon and Marelenise Phillips-Roberts
Aug 8, 202300:37:42Tap to summarizeWhat a great crowd for our first live show! After discussing their Georgia roots, Jacob and Kailey chat with their guests about choosing the best summer professional learning opportunities and what gets them motivated at a conference. Next, they turn to the new school year and discuss the biggest challenges ahead, including how to scale success across schools and districts. Kailey also asks a few of her signature lightning-round, light-hearted questions. Finally, stay tuned for the audience Q&A at the end of the show for your daily dose of teacher inspiration. There may have been some tears of joy in the room… Thanks to our guests, Lindsay Deacon (NWEA) and Marelenise Phillips-Roberts (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Director at Dallas Independent School District).
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