Category: Surrey

Episode 22 – Diana Williams

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22 - Diana Williams

DIANA WILLIAMS is an elementary teacher at Bayridge Elementary School in Surrey, BC, Canada. She is also a speaker, a consultant for her school district, a student of PBL, award winner, and constant innovator.

In our conversation, Diana speaks candidly about the challenges teachers face during labor disruptions and shares some frank advice for up-and-coming teachers. She talks about some of the initiatives that really excite her about education today, describes some key habits that contribute to her success, and offers some awesome recommendations regarding books to read, Twitter personalities to follow, YouTube channels to subscribe to, and more.

Follow Diana on Twitter @TeacherDiana1 and on her blog at teacherdiana.com.

In this episode, Diana discusses …

Song Track Credits

Intro: Relax (by Simon More)
Outtro: Starley – Call on Me Remix (by DJ Zhorik)

LISTEN to this episode on YouTube and SUBSCRIBE for more episodes!

Episode 19: Gallit Zvi

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19 - Gallit Zvi2In this episode of the Teachers on Fire podcast we speak with Gallit Zvi. Gallit is currently a principal intern in Surrey, BC, Canada, and a co-author of The Genius Hour Guidebook.

In this conversation Gallit describes how she overcame the challenges of transitioning into a new grade level earlier in her teaching career. She talks about the things that really ignite her passion in education today, including the magic of Genius Hour and how it supports the shift toward inquiry-based learning. Gallit also shares about an area of interest outside of education and gives us some great recommendations for Twitter personalities to follow, a book to read, a funny YouTube channel to subscribe to, and more.

Follow Gallit on Twitter @Gallit_Z and check out her blog at GallitZvi.com.

In this episode, Gallit discusses …

  • 0:49 – her current education situation
  • 1:38 – how she navigated the challenge of transitioning to a new grade level
  • 4:07 – her passions in education: new curriculum, inquiry, the 4 Cs, genius hour
  • 6:08 – an area of interest and learning outside of education: travelling the world
  • 7:13 – a habit that contributes to her success: learning, reading, researching
  • 8:28 – amazing educators to follow on Twitter: Denise Krebs, Joy Kirr, and Hugh MacDonald
  • 9:25 – her edtech tool recommendations: iMovie, Explain Everything, Puppet Pals
  • 10:12 – a book recommendation: Drive by Daniel Pink
  • 10:50 – a fun YouTube channel to subscribe to: Simon’s Cat
  • 11:32 – what she’s watching on Netflix right now: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
  • 12:09 – the best way to follow her: @Gallit_Z

Song Track Credits

Intro: Relax (by Simon More)
Outtro: Starley – Call on Me Remix (by DJ Zhorik)

LISTEN to this episode on YouTube and SUBSCRIBE for more episodes!

Episode 19 – Gallit Zvi

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19 - Gallit Zvi.png

GALLIT ZVI is currently a principal intern in Surrey, BC, Canada, and a co-author of The Genius Hour Guidebook.

In this conversation Gallit describes how she overcame the challenges of transitioning into a new grade level earlier in her teaching career. She talks about the things that really ignite her passion in education today, including the magic of Genius Hour and how it supports the shift toward inquiry-based learning. Gallit also shares about an area of interest outside of education and gives us some great recommendations for Twitter personalities to follow, a book to read, a funny YouTube channel to subscribe to, and more.

Follow Gallit on Twitter @Gallit_Z and check out her blog at GallitZvi.com.

In this episode, Gallit discusses …

  • 0:49 – her current education situation
  • 1:38 – how she navigated the challenge of transitioning to a new grade level
  • 4:07 – her passions in education: new curriculum, inquiry, the 4 Cs, genius hour
  • 6:08 – an area of interest and learning outside of education: travelling the world
  • 7:13 – a habit that contributes to her success: learning, reading, researching
  • 8:28 – amazing educators to follow on Twitter: Denise Krebs, Joy Kirr, and Hugh MacDonald
  • 9:25 – her edtech tool recommendations: iMovie, Explain Everything, Puppet Pals
  • 10:12 – a book recommendation: Drive by Daniel Pink
  • 10:50 – a fun YouTube channel to subscribe to: Simon’s Cat
  • 11:32 – what she’s watching on Netflix right now: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
  • 12:09 – the best way to follow her: @Gallit_Z

Song Track Credits

Intro: Relax (by Simon More)
Outtro: Starley – Call on Me Remix (by DJ Zhorik)

LISTEN to this episode on YouTube and SUBSCRIBE for more episodes!

Episode 14: Antonio Vendramin

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LISTEN to this episode on iTunes and SUBSCRIBE to the podcast!

14 - Antonio VendraminIn this episode of the Teachers on Fire podcast we speak with Antonio Vendramin. Antonio is the District Principal of Communicating Student Learning in the Surrey School District of BC, Canada.

In this conversation, Antonio discusses the exciting opportunities made possible by the recent shift toward a competency-based curriculum in British Columbia. He describes the power of good digital storytelling, and explains how the habit of running has transformed his mental and physical health in recent years. He also shares a number of great recommendations for books to read, edtech tools to consider using in the classroom, hashtags to follow on Twitter, and more.

Some highlights and takeaways from this interview:

  • Whatever your passion is, spend a lot of time living there because that passion will rub off on your students.
  • The most successful learners are the ones who know how to learn.
  • At the end of the day our job is not to teach curricular content. Our job is to teach children and build the competencies that we know they will need today and in the future.
  • Transformative uses of technology do not include using technology to replicate things that could be done without technology. Transformative technology creates unique learning experiences that could not happen without technology.

Follow Antonio on Twitter @Vendram1n and visit his blog at https://abvendramin.com/.

In this episode, Antonio discusses …

  • 1:07 – his current context in education
  • 2:50 – a challenging year he experienced early in his teaching career
  • 6:38 – why he’s excited about the new BC curriculum
  • 9:14 – an area of passion and learning: digital storytelling
  • 11:14 – a personal habit that contributes to his success: running
  • 13:52 – hashtags he recommends following on Twitter (#SD36 and #SD36Learn)
  • 16:08 – edtech tools to consider using in your teaching practice (Skype or other video conferencing applications)
  • 18:40 – book recommendations: The Invisible Classroom by Kirke Olson, Mindset by Carol Dweck, and The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
  • 21:05 – a podcast recommendation: Radiolab
  • 22:05 – a YouTube channel recommendation: Poke My Heart
  • 23:22 – what he’s currently watching on Netflix: Riverdale, Peaky Blinders
  • 25:04 – the best ways to follow him online: @Vendram1n and https://abvendramin.com/.

Song Track Credits

  • Intro: Relax (by Simon More)
  • Outtro: Starley – Call on Me Remix (by DJ Zhorik)

LISTEN to this episode on YouTube and SUBSCRIBE for more episodes!

Episode 14 – Antonio Vendramin

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14 - Antonio Vendramin.png

ANTONIO VENDRAMIN is the District Principal of Communicating Student Learning in the Surrey School District of BC, Canada.

In this conversation, Antonio discusses the exciting opportunities made possible by the recent shift toward a competency-based curriculum in British Columbia. He describes the power of good digital storytelling, and explains how the habit of running has transformed his mental and physical health in recent years. He also shares a number of great recommendations for books to read, edtech tools to consider using in the classroom, hashtags to follow on Twitter, and more.

Some highlights and takeaways from this interview:

  • Whatever your passion is, spend a lot of time living there because that passion will rub off on your students.
  • The most successful learners are the ones who know how to learn.
  • At the end of the day our job is not to teach curricular content. Our job is to teach children and build the competencies that we know they will need today and in the future.
  • Transformative uses of technology do not include using technology to replicate things that could be done without technology. Transformative technology creates unique learning experiences that could not happen without technology.

Follow Antonio on Twitter @Vendram1n and visit his blog at https://abvendramin.com/.

In this episode, Antonio discusses …

  • 1:07 – his current context in education
  • 2:50 – a challenging year he experienced early in his teaching career
  • 6:38 – why he’s excited about the new BC curriculum
  • 9:14 – an area of passion and learning: digital storytelling
  • 11:14 – a personal habit that contributes to his success: running
  • 13:52 – hashtags he recommends following on Twitter (#SD36 and #SD36Learn)
  • 16:08 – edtech tools to consider using in your teaching practice (Skype or other video conferencing applications)
  • 18:40 – book recommendations: The Invisible Classroom by Kirke Olson, Mindset by Carol Dweck, and The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
  • 21:05 – a podcast recommendation: Radiolab
  • 22:05 – a YouTube channel recommendation: Poke My Heart
  • 23:22 – what he’s currently watching on Netflix: Riverdale, Peaky Blinders
  • 25:04 – the best ways to follow him online: @Vendram1n and https://abvendramin.com/.

Song Track Credits

  • Intro: Relax (by Simon More)
  • Outtro: Starley – Call on Me Remix (by DJ Zhorik)

LISTEN to this episode on YouTube and SUBSCRIBE for more episodes!