• Humanizing Our Parent-Teacher Conferences with Jeff Smith

    Humanizing Our Parent-Teacher Conferences with Jeff Smith

    Teachers should be more than customer service reps.

    🔥 How can we reimagine parent-teacher conferences?

    🔥 What are the issues most responsible for burning out teachers today?

    🔥 What are some rhythms and activities that can keep our fire for teaching alive?

    About Jeff Smith

    Jeff has taught in 12 schools over 32 years, with high school courses including mathematics (Pre-Algebra through AP Calculus), AP Comparative Government, Human Geography, and US History. He writes about teacher whitespace on Substack on Teachers’ Unmuted.

    Connect with Jeff

    In This Conversation

    • 0:00:00 – Jeff Smith is a high school teacher in Illinois
    • 1:46 – Are teachers just customer service representatives?
    • 4:18 – What Jeff means by “whitespace” – where teachers find agency
    • 6:52 – More about whitespace as a metaphor for freedom
    • 7:58 – Bringing one story, one question into our conferences
    • 10:28 – Jeff’s view: what causes teacher burnout?
    • 13:11 – What is the Teachers Unmuted blog on Substack all about?
    • 16:10 – Why Jeff writes about his professional practice
    • 20:08 – The hobbies and interests that keep Jeff on fire
    • 23:38 – Where to connect with Jeff Smith and Teachers Unmuted

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

  • How to Use Google Vids Storyboard to Create and Edit Videos in Seconds

    How to Use Google Vids Storyboard to Create and Edit Videos in Seconds
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    You’ve heard about Google Vids. Now it’s time to give it a try.

    In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to generate and edit a good video in Google Vids. It’s light, powerful, and only takes seconds to get started.

    Google Vids worked really well for me in this demonstration: it was light, quick, and agile. Something to note, however, is that I tested it here on a MacBook Pro with a LAN internet connection.

    How will Google Vids perform on a student Chromebook over wifi? We’ll have to wait and see.

    Looking for something in particular?

    • 0:00:00 – How to open Google Vids from Google Drive
    • 0:27 – How to create a storyboard
    • 0:33 – How to describe your video
    • 2:05 – Preview your video
    • 2:52 – Audio problems in scene transitions
    • 3:36 – Problems with videos looping within scenes
    • 4:30 – How to remove a soundtrack
    • 5:20 – How to replace videos in specific scenes
    • 7:06 – How to change the voice in your video
    • 7:35 – How to update all voiceovers
    • 8:01 – How to import media from Google Drive, Google Photos
    • 9:04 – My current hardware vs. student hardware performance

  • Supporting Student Learning Beyond the Classroom — with Scott Nunes

    Supporting Student Learning Beyond the Classroom — with Scott Nunes

    Join Tim Cavey and Scott Nunes for a conversation about professional learning networks, leaving the classroom for edtech, the rightful place of AI in education, and so much more.

    🔥 How can we bring back the golden age of Edu Twitter?

    🔥 What happens when we step out of the classroom and into edtech?

    🔥 How should schools and districts think about AI tools for teachers right now?

    About This Guest

    Scott Nunes is an international keynote speaker and award-winning education technology strategist. He leverages his network of AI researchers, Fortune-500 tech leaders, and workforce-development partners to share insights on the convergence of education, industry, and emerging technologies.

    Connect with Scott

    • on LinkedIn,
    • on X @mrnunesteach, 
    • on Instagram @iammredtech,
    • and on his website, scottnunes.com.

    In This Conversation

    • 0:00:00 – Scott Nunes is an entrepreneur and former teacher based in Texas
    • 1:47 – The golden age of Edu Twitter
    • 3:15 – How can we bring back Edu Twitter today?
    • 5:58 – Scott retraces his professional steps
    • 8:49 – How Scott’s PLN has produced professional mobility
    • 10:50 – How does the corporate life compare with the classroom?
    • 14:19 – Scott’s value proposition for edtech companies and school districts
    • 20:48 – Scott’s advice to schools and districts regarding AI tools
    • 27:28 – Is there still room for more new edtech companies?
    • 30:32 – Will AI replace teachers?
    • 34:57 – How Scott maintains his physical health
    • 40:00 – How and where to connect with Scott Nunes online

    Song Track Credit

    Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

  • The Settings I Recommend for Your Seesaw Classroom

    The Settings I Recommend for Your Seesaw Classroom

    Here are the best ways to set up your Seesaw classroom, especially in the middle years.

    Unlock the full power of this student learning journal by following my settings recommendations here.

  • Take the 3-Minute Leadership Reset with Sean Gaillard

    Take the 3-Minute Leadership Reset with Sean Gaillard
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    🔥 What happens when our doubts, mistakes, and questions start to take over?

    🔥 What is a quick, simple routine that we can follow to rekindle our fire?

    🔥 How can music build identity and belonging in a learning community?

    About This Guest

    Sean Gaillard is a school administrator in North Carolina, author of The Pepper Effect, and host of the Leadership Liner Notes podcast. He blogs about leadership, education, and inspiration for Leadership Liner Notes, and is currently writing a new book for Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. titled Leadership Riffs.

    Connect with Sean

    In This Conversation

    • 0:00:00 – Sean Gaillard is a principal and author in Lexington, North Carolina
    • 1:59 – The dark times that education leaders face
    • 6:37 – Reset Step 1: Take a breath
    • 8:49 – Reset Step 2: Anchor in gratitude
    • 12:02 – Reset Step 3: Affirm and reframe
    • 15:28 – Reset Step 4: Reconnect
    • 21:36 – One more thing: your presence matters
    • 24:10 – Revisiting our why, passions, dreams, and values
    • 27:22 – How can music build identity and belonging?
    • 30:00 – What to expect from Leadership Riffs
    • 31:36 – How to motivate teams with low morale
    • 34:01 – How and where to connect with Sean Gaillard online

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.