Teaching Learning Leading K-12

118: David Voss & Communications Consulting

David Voss is the president of Voss and Associates. 

They specialize in Communications Consulting, Media Campaigns and Training.

Voss and Associates has been communicating education since 1999. They represent school districts, education associations, non-profit organizations and for profit companies.

David has been the Director for Communications for three large agencies of the Florida state government. He was the press secretary for Governor and Senator Bob Graham and for the Florida Commissioner of Education and University of South Florida President Betty Castor.

David also was a marketing executive for Apple Computers in education.

David and his team assist educators and many others with their training, in person consulting and on-line classes. As he explains their many services, David talks about specific skills that his students develop. From bridging to thinking like a journalist, he describes training that anyone who talks in public needs to have now. He mentions that probably one of the biggest mistakes that educators make is that they don't take time to personally connect with the news media.  

I so wish that I had had David's training back when I was first a principal it would have saved me from myself and many major headaches.

Do you have a need to better learn these skills?

Learn more at:

http://vossandassociates.net/

http://www.communicatingeducation.net/ 

Remember that you can also call David at 941-650-4614.

Enjoy!

Length: 26:15

117: Casey M. Bethel - 2017 Georgia Teacher of the Year

Casey M. Bethel is a science teacher in Douglasville, Georgia at New Manchester High School. 

He is also the 2017 Georgia Teacher of the Year!!!! 

Wait until you hear his passion for teaching and working with kids!

You will be inspired.

Casey loves teaching! He enjoys working with kids! 

He didn't start out to be a teacher. 

He was always told that he should be a doctor and he focused on that career field first. 

It didn't keep his attention. 

The medical pathway didn't seem to be fulfilling.

His search led him to science which led him to teach science in a high school.

Mr. Bethel loves learning. He is a role model for constantly seeking to understand and know more.

During the summer he works in the Georgia Tech GIFT program. 

You will love listening to him describe his experiences!

Casey is an amazing educator who will win you over with his passion and his warm and caring heart!

I thoroughly enjoyed talking with Mr. Bethel and I know you will be inspired by his thoughts and words.

Enjoy!

Stay in touch with Casey:

Twitter @2017GATOTY

and

Instagram @2017GATOTY

Facebook- GATeacher

Email Casey at 2017GATOTY@gmail.com

Call Casey at (404)-697-5417

Check out more information about the GIFT program at Georgia Tech.

https://www.ceismc.gatech.edu/gift

Here is Casey's school.

New Manchester HS

http://www.newmanchesterhigh.ga.dch.schoolinsites.com/

Length: 34:16

116: Contacting Parents - 3 Reasons Why You Should Contact Them Now

You don’t understand. You don’t have kids!

I will never forget these words.

A frustrated parent who was angry at a member of our team of teachers.

She blasted me with these words. Even though I have forgotten the reasons for the meeting and its outcome, I have never forgotten these words. It is now more than 20 years ago.

I have had kids now.

And now I do understand.

What I have learned the most is that you want someone to care enough about your child that they reach out and connect with you, the parent.

The older the kids get the more distance that starts developing.

It is easy for a teacher to put off or not contact a parent.

But...don’t listen to that voice.

It is important that you contact as soon as possible.

Not only that, be proactive. Call for good, not just bad.

Call because you want to inform.

Send home information just because you thought it was a great idea.

The more contact the better.

Today’s show is focused on the

3 Reasons Why You Should Contact As Soon As Possible

and the

3 Reasons to Call and Not Use Email.

Thoughts from someone who has been there and made the mistakes.

So what are you waiting for...contact ...contact...contact.

Length: 18:02

115: Classroom Management- Top 5 Classroom Procedures You Should Have in Place Now

Kids want and need to know how you do things.

You. The classroom teacher.

That is just one of the reasons why you should have procedures ready to explain to your kids on the first day of class. That way they know how you do things and what you expect.

Today I am talking about -

The Top 5 Procedures You Need to Have in Place in Your Classroom Now.

1. How you start and end class

2. How to transition between activities

3. If they need to use the restroom while in class what do they do?

4. If I am absent how do I know what I missed?

5. How do I turn in classwork or homework?

Often when a teacher struggles with classroom management it is actually a lack of procedures that stops the teacher from being successful.

As Harry Wong says, "The number one problem in the classroom is not discipline; it is the lack of procedures and routines."

When you have determined your procedures you have just begun because now you have to:

• Tell the kids your procedures.
• Practice the procedures.
• Review the Procedures.
• Practice Again.

It is tempting when creating procedures to confuse them with rules. Procedures are how you do things.

Here are some additional thoughts about creating your classroom procedures-

Keep them short.

Do not have too many.

Consistently observe your procedures.

It is a two way street. You must also follow your procedures.

Post the procedures where the kids can see them.

There are always other procedures that you may need to add, but determine what the most necessary ones that are needed in the beginning and put them in action.

Here are five procedures that I believe you need to put into action first:

• How you start and end class.
• How to transition between activities.
• How to get permission to go to the restroom during class.
• If I am absent how do I know what I missed?
• How do I turn in classwork and homework? 

Take a look today and put them in action this coming Monday...Make Monday your do-over day!

Length: 18:18

114: Classroom Management - Starting Class

One of the greatest favors you can do for yourself as a classroom teacher is to learn to get the kids’ attention.

Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it?

Most definitely.

Unfortunately, it is not that easy and too often this is where the adult takes a short cut.

You risk being run over by a freight train.

Quite simply once many kids realize that you don’t have a real way of starting class...your honeymoon is over.

Once they realize that you don’t have a way of getting their attention...you are soon going to find yourself talking over or above the kids' voices when you shouldn’t.

You have to have a way to start class and getting the kids’ attention. This is not a time to reason, plead or wish they would do what you say. You have to make getting their attention something that you always do.

In today’s episode, I am focused on the importance of getting the kids’ attention.

Here are my 5 Steps to Starting Class Right

1. Know what you are going to do.

2. Explain it to them

3. Practice it

4. Do it again

5. Revisit

Here is an example of what that special piece of carpeting might look like.

Listen to Episode 42 and my talk with first-year teacher Melanie Knight to hear her talk about the carpet and other things. (She is now a 3rd-year teacher)

Enjoy working with the kids.

Thanks for listening.

Check out my interview with Ms Hair an elementary teacher who talks about deer antlers.

Episode 24: Teaching First Grade with Tonya Hair.

Check out info from Dr. Harry Wong on Gimme Five and other ways of getting the attention of your class.

http://blog.maketaketeach.com/the-importance-of-teaching-procedures-in-the-classroom/

Here is a Gimme Five Poster

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Whole-Body-Listening-Give-Me-Five-Posters-Back-to-School-Beginning-of-the-Year-1282549

Here are some thoughts about Call Backs

http://herdingkats.blogspot.com/2015/03/using-call-backs-after-spring-break.html

Also...Call Backs here.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Whole-Brain-Teaching-Attention-Please-Attention-Getters-FREE-1779054

Length - 17:24