• Episode 36: Andi McNair

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    Andi McNair is a keynote speaker and blogger specializing in edtech, genius hour, and innovation in education. She is also the co-founder of #makeithappenEDU and the author of Genius Hour: Passion Projects that Ignite Innovation and Student Inquiry. See more of her content at http://www.andimcnair.com.

    In this conversation, Andi describes the low moment in her classroom that changed it all for her – when she realized her learners were completely disengaged and she knew she needed to reimagine her practice. Thanks to some inspiring education leaders, she began a journey of passion-based learning and has never looked back. Andi also tells us why it’s a great time to be an educator and shares some great recommendations for books to read, Twitter accounts to follow, and more.

    Check out Genius Hour: Passion Projects that Ignite Innovation and Student Inquiry on Amazon!

    Follow Andi on the web at http://www.andimcnair.com/ and on Twitter @McNairan3.

    Find the highlights from our conversation at the timestamps below:

    • 1:00 – Andi describes her past and current roles in education.
    • 1:52 – Reality check: when Andi noticed her students had become completely disengaged, she knew she had to either leave the profession or completely reinvent herself and redefine her practice. She chose the latter.
    • 3:53 – We discuss the heart of Andi’s book, Genius Hour: Passion Projects that Ignite Innovation and Student Inquiry. She describes how Genius Hour advocates like Don Wettrick, Gallit Zvi, Denise Krebs, Joy Kirr, and introduced her to the idea of passion-based learning. In the book, Andi maps out the 6 Ps of Genius Hour, a process that has worked well in her context give teachers and learners a clear path to the finish line: passion, pitch, plan, project, product, and presentation.
    • 7:52 – Andi tells us why it’s such a great time to be in education: because of the power to connect our learners with each other, with other classes, with outside experts, etc. and help students understand the WHY behind their learning through authentic products.
    • 10:07 – One of Andi’s personal passions is one that she enjoys with her family: watching and learning more about the great game of baseball.
    • 11:33 – A personal habit that contributes to her success: journaling every single day – not just remembering (what I did and how) but reflecting (what I learned and why). Some of her reflections happen collaboratively on Voxer!
    • 13:55 – Her Twitter account suggestion is @DonWettrick, international speaker and presenter, host of the StartEdUp podcast, and author of Pure Genius: Building a Culture of Innovation.
    • 14:26 – Andi gives us two edtech recommendations. The first is Nepris, which connects industry professionals with classrooms (@NeprisApp on Twitter). The second is Thrively, which helps learners discover their strengths, interests, and aspirations (@Thrively on Twitter).
    • 15:25 – Her book recommendations start with a classic for any teacher looking for more passion, motivation, or imagination: Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess (@BurgessDave on Twitter). She also recommends a book we’ve recommended here recently: Shift This by Joy Kirr (@JoyKirr on Twitter).
    • 16:42 – On Netflix, Andi’s enjoying When Calls the Heart, a show built around a woman who teaches in a small Canadian mining town in the early 1900s. Add it to your list!
    • 17:02 – Andi signs off and gives us the best ways to follow her content online: and at her website (http://www.andimcnair.com/) on Twitter @McNairan3, and on http://voxer.com/ @AndiMcNair.

    SUBSCRIBE to the podcast on your MOBILE DEVICE: iTunes | Google Podcasts | YouTube

    FOLLOW the podcast on TWITTER @TeachersOnFire and on INSTAGRAM @TeachersOnFire

    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 35 – Joy Kirr

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    Joy Kirr is a 7th Grade ELA teacher and Genius Hour advocate in Elk Grove, Illinois. She writes at GeniusHour.blogspot.com and in 2017 published Shift This!: How to Implement Gradual Changes for MASSIVE Impact in Your Classroom.

    In this conversation, Joy takes us to a moment when a parent criticized her publicly with “Genius Hour is crazy – and all the parents think so!” She shares what she learned from that experience and how it has changed her communication going forward. Joy describes the heart and main message of her book, Shift This, which puts the focus on student-directed learning opportunities. She also points us toward a Twitter account to follow, a book to check out, an edtech tool that she is learning about, and more.

    Follow Joy online:

    Find the highlights from our conversation at the timestamps below:

    • 1:02 – Joy describes her current teaching context (7th grade ELA teacher and big advocate for genius hour in Elk Grove, Illinois).
    • 1:22 – She recalls the challenge of hearing “Genius Hour is crazy – and all the parents think so!” from an upset parent, and explains how she learned and grew from this experience.
    • 5:32 – Joy talks about what excites her in education today: being challenged by parents, thinking deeply about her practices.
    • 10:29 – When it comes to personal passions and experiences, Joy likes to ask “Why not?” instead of “Why?” She likes to soak up life experiences for all they’re worth, investing in relationships, getting outside, and taking great pictures along the way.
    • 12:36 – On Twitter, Joy recommends we follow Vicki Davis @CoolCatTeacher
    • 13:13 – For an edtech tool, Joy suggests we try creating our own .gifs by converting our Google Slides using Tall Tweets. Try it!
    • 15:03 – Joy’s pick in books is Choice Words by Peter H. Johnston. Earlier in our conversation, she also recommended The Human Side of School Change: Reform, Resistance, and the Real-Life Problems of Innovation by Robert Evans.
    • 16:06 – No Netflix or movies for this educator … it’s all about reading!
    • 16:52 – Joy tells us how to follow her online and where to get more of her content. See above!

    SUBSCRIBE to the podcast on your MOBILE DEVICE: iTunes | Google Podcasts| YouTube

    FOLLOW the podcast on TWITTER @TeachersOnFire and on INSTAGRAM @TeachersOnFire

    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 34 – Sarah Johnson

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    SARAH JOHNSON is an author, speaker, and consultant in the areas of instructional leadership and personal-professional balance. With experience as an English teacher and principal, she likes to laugh, sing, and makes a habit of running every day. She is a co-author of Balance Like a Pirate: Going Beyond Work-Life Balance to Ignite Passion and Thrive as an Educator. Her mission? Helping educators thrive at work, home, and life.

    In this conversation, Sarah describes the main message and heart of her book, which describes her experience and the lessons she’s learned from living out of balance as a school principal. She talks about the personal passions and practices that support her self-care and growth today, and offers some great recommendations for books to read, Twitter accounts to follow, and more.

    Follow Sarah on these great platforms:

    Find the highlights from our conversation at the timestamps below.

    • 1:17 – Sarah describes her current context in education: speaker, consultant, and author living in NW Wisconsin after a career in education as a teacher and principal.
    • 3:02 – The heart and message to educators in Balance Like a Pirate. Instead of the popular 50-50 work-life concept, Sarah urges educators to think of balance in four quadrants: personal, professional, positional, and passions.
    • 6:03 – Sarah recalls a particularly low moment in her education career, and explains how she was able to move through this experience.
    • 9:13 – What really excites Sarah about education today: the incredible opportunities for authentic collaboration and creation (for students and educators).
    • 11:15 – Rise: Sarah’s ongoing personal commitment to learn how to live the most purpose-driven life possible (in part, by listening and journaling every day). Another serious passion is education around mental health and suicide awareness.
    • 13:23 – A personal habit that contributes to her success is running every single day. She has not missed a day since July 11, 2014!
    • 15:47 – Sarah’s recommendation for educators on Twitter is @BethHill2829 (Bethany Hill of #JoyfulLeaders fame).
    • 16:42 – It’s been around for a while, but Sarah’s favorite edtech tool is still Google Docs. She even used Google Docs to collaborate with her co-authors on Balance Like a Pirate!
    • 17:23 – Her book recommendation is When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (@ParsOpercularis) and of course anything written by Brene Brown (@BreneBrown).
    • 18:39 – Favorite podcast? For the Love by Jen Hatmaker (@JenHatmaker)
    • 19:17 – We review the best ways to follow Sarah online and receive more of her content. See above for details!

    SUBSCRIBE to the podcast on your MOBILE DEVICE: iTunes | Google Podcasts | YouTube

    FOLLOW the podcast on TWITTER @TeachersOnFire and on INSTAGRAM @TeachersOnFire

    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 33 – Bryon Carpenter

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    BRYON CARPENTER is a high school teacher at the Abbotsford Virtual School in Abbotsford, BC, Canada. As a trained scientist, passionate creator, and lifelong learner, Bryon serves in the spaces of library, math, science, and ADST (Applied Design and Skills Technologies).

    Bryon’s passion? Seeing teachers utilize new technologies to advance student learning and help them represent their learning in new and creative ways. Outside of education, Bryon is passionate about fishing and woodworking, and he credits daily journaling as a key to his personal and professional success. Bryon also points us toward a Twitter account to follow, a podcast to check out, a title to add to our book lists, and much more.

    Follow Bryon on Twitter @BryonCar, on Instagram @Bryon.Carpenter, and visit his blog at http://bryoncarpenter.com/.

    Find the highlights from our conversation at the timestamps below.

    • 0:48 – Bryon describes his current context in education at the Abbotsford Virtual School.
    • 2:04 – He shares about the practical challenges he faced around contract uncertainty early in his career.
    • 10:20 – What really excites him about education today: seeing teachers help students learn and represent their learning in new ways using technology.
    • 16:16 – His personal passions and learning outside of the classroom: fishing and woodworking.
    • 20:02 – A regular habit that contributes to his success: daily journaling about his learning and teaching. He posted vlog entries for all 195 days of teaching last school year!
    • 24:45 – An account to follow on Twitter: @EricCurts of CtrlAltAchieve.com
    • 26:27 – Bryon’s edtech tool recommendations: Google Keep & Adobe Spark (@AdobeSpark)
    • 29:04 – A book every educator must read: The Innovator’s Mindset by George Couros (@GCouros)
    • 30:34 – A podcast to subscribe to: This Week in Google (by @TWiT)
    • 33:07 – Bryon’s YouTube channel recommendations: This Week in Google & Sport Fishing on the Fly (@OntheFlyTVShows)
    • 33:56 – What Bryon’s been enjoying on Netflix: Downton Abbey, The Last King, Frontiers, Riverdale, Tales by Light
    • 35:46 – The best ways to follow Bryon’s content: on Twitter @BryonCar, on Instagram @Bryon.Carpenter, and on the web at http://bryoncarpenter.com/.

    SUBSCRIBE to the Teachers on Fire podcast on your mobile device: iTunes | Google Podcasts | YouTube

    FOLLOW Teachers on Fire on Twitter: @TeachersOnFire

    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 32 – Jeff Bradbury

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    JEFF BRADBURY has been recognized as an ASCD Emerging Leader, Google Certified Teacher and Trainer, and digital innovator. The founder of TeacherCast.net, Jeff has spoken at TEDx and other conferences, provides training and consulting for educators across the United States, and currently produces ten regular educational podcasts. Simply put, there aren’t many figures in the world producing more resources for educators than Jeff.

    In this episode, Jeff talks podcasting, ISTE, funding models for content creators, the Twitter algorithm, how to build a PLN, learning management systems, personal branding, and more. When it comes to creating education content, Jeff advises, make it from a place of personal passion and you’ll never get bored.

    Follow Jeff on Twitter @TeacherCast, visit TeacherCast.net to access all of Jeff’s podcasts and instructional resources, and subscribe to Jeff’s Youtube channel.

    Find the highlights from our conversation at the timestamps below.

    • 0:55 – Jeff tells the story of how he got started with the TeacherCast network seven years ago.
      2:06 – The three areas of focus for TeacherCast: instructional technology, STEM education, and leadership.
      3:40 – I ask Jeff to give us a quick tour of his ten education podcasts.
      5:59 – When it comes to high-powered edtech conferences like ISTE, how do we separate glitter from substance?
      7:32 – Jeff shares about his passion for instructional coaching.
      9:17 – Instead of charging up front for his educational content, Jeff enjoys sharing as much as possible for free and then walking through doors that open for him as a result.
      12:27 – Where should teachers go to start building a PLN? How does Twitter serve educators differently than it did five years ago? Jeff also points new educators to conferences, EdCamps, and TeachMeets as other places to network.
      14:28 – We dive deeper into Twitter’s algorithm and talk about the user experience it creates.
      19:49 – Areas of passion and learning for Jeff this summer: questions around Learning Management Systems, Student Information Systems, and observing his children as they learn to read.
      23:40 – Talking LMSs: Schoology, Google Classroom, FreshGrade, Seesaw, Canvas, etc.
      26:10 – Jeff on building a personal brand and producing online content: make it for yourself and you’ll never get bored. Follow your own passions and questions.
      33:14 – The best ways to follow Jeff and find more of his great content for educators: visit TeacherCast.net and follow him on Twitter @TeacherCast.

    SUBSCRIBE to the Teachers on Fire podcast on your mobile device: iTunes | Google Podcasts | YouTube

    FOLLOW Teachers on Fire on Twitter: @TeachersOnFire

    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!