Stories from the Classroom

Thom Gibson
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Stories of teachers that are creating meaningful and memorable experiences for their students and how you can do the same. Created and hosted by Thom Gibson; a two-time Teacher of the Year educator, podcaster, YouTuber, and lifelong learner.

  1. UPDATE | What I've Been Working on & Pushing Pause on the Podcast

    09/07/2020

    UPDATE | What I've Been Working on & Pushing Pause on the Podcast

    I realized that it's pretty difficult to schedule podcast interviews when you have a new baby in the house with a somewhat unpredictable nap schedule, and I decided I wasn't going to cut into family time. COURSES FOR TEACHERS I'VE BEEN CREATING During the times the little one napped, I decided to create a new course called Create Successful Videos for Distance Learning.   It's a 1-hour self-paced course to help teachers who need to create video lessons but aren't sure where to start. Additionally, I spent time making changes to my classroom economy.  Since our school is completely remote until at least mid-October, I had to come up with  a whole new list of classroom jobsways that students could spend their classroom moneyways they could earn supplemental money.I've added all of those resources to my course How to Teach Kids About Money. That two-hour course was originally created with a normal classroom environment in mind, but many of the things still apply to a virtual classroom economy. PLACES I'M PUTTING OUT THE MOST CONTENT Once I completed the courses, I decided to focus my efforts on my Instagram and YouTube channels. On my Instagram channel, I've been posting stories each school day about how I'm approaching that day of distance learning, often sharing tech tips along the way. On my YouTube channel, I've been creating videos all about distance learning technology and lesson ideas. PUSHING PAUSE ON THE PODCAST With all of that going on, something had to give so I decided to pause the podcast until further notice. CONNECT WITH ME I'd love to hear how things are going with you and how I could help; what kind of content would be beneficial for you right now? Email | thom@thomgibson.comInstagram | @gibsoneducationYouTube | /gibsoneduTwitter | @gibsoneduWebsite | thomgibson.com'Create Successful Videos for Distance Learning' course | thomgibson.com/distancelearning'How to Teach Kids About Money' course | thomgibson.com/classroomeconomyTeamEdu Newsletter | thomgibson.com/newsletter

    10 min
  2. 6 Teacher Wellness Tips for a Quarantined Summer

    06/12/2020

    6 Teacher Wellness Tips for a Quarantined Summer

    I walk through six tips on how to ensure your summer is a time to recharge, including: strategies to wean yourself off of social media a bitwhat to think through when developing your evening routine to get more sleephow to start small when it comes to exercising each weekwhere to start when it comes to preparing for the fall semesterpractical advice on how to structure your own professional development this summerideas on creating connection with others, from those in your household, to your family and friends, to your extended networkAlso, this will be my last podcast for the summer! I'll be back in August with more episodes to help you middle-school STEM teachers create meaningful and memorable experiences for your students! RESOURCES Minecraft EDUMinecraft EDU podcastRoboCo robotics building gameMarcoPolo video messaging appCONNECT WITH THOM Twitter | @gibsoneduYouTube |/gibsoneduInstagram | @gibsoneducationLinkedIn | /thomgibsonWebsite | thomgibson.comEmail | thom@thomgibson.comSUPPORT THE PODCAST Enroll in the How to Teach Kids About Money course for educatorsSign up for the TeamEdu newsletterLeave a podcast rating & review

    29 min
  3. 3 Remote Teaching STEM Projects; TikTok, Minecraft, & eBay

    05/29/2020

    3 Remote Teaching STEM Projects; TikTok, Minecraft, & eBay

    I got all these ideas from other educators on social media.  In this episode, I take time to reflect on these three projects.  I talk specifically about: how I had students create a TikTok as their final math summative grademy rubric for the TikTok projectreflections on what I would do differently with the TikTok project if I did it againhow I introduced the Rube Goldberg project for my robotics classhow I incorporated Minecraft in the planning process for their Rube Goldberg projecthow we utilized our Zoom class time during the week they were working on the Rube Goldberg machinehow I structured the financial literacy project where students sold items on eBayhow one student made over $300 when he did the eBay projecta bonus 'virtual yearbook' project I did with my advisory studentsRESOURCES: Esther Burnat (where I got the TikTok idea) on Instagram - @estherbrunatDr. Valerie Camille Jones (also did the TikTok project) on Instagram - @dr_vcjonesMy TikTok intro slides & rubric - TikTok ProjectMr. Aguirre (where I got the Rube Goldberg idea) on Instagram - @jacksonmstechMy Rube Goldberg intro slide show and grading criteria -  Rube Goldberg ProjectPiskel (pixel art animator) - Piskel AppMike Yates (eBay project idea) - FlipLife ArticleMy eBay project slides, videos, and assessment criteria - eBay ProjectMy virtual yearbook details - starting virtual yearbook templateCONNECT WITH THOM Twitter | @gibsoneduYouTube |/gibsoneduInstagram | @gibsoneducationLinkedIn | /thomgibsonWebsite | thomgibson.comEmail | thom@thomgibson.comSUPPORT THE PODCAST Enroll in the How to Teach Kids About Money course for educatorsSign up for the TeamEdu newsletterLeave a podcast rating & review

    45 min
  4. How COVID-19 Will Change Education

    05/15/2020

    How COVID-19 Will Change Education

    I wanted to chat with someone about everything I had been reading online and seeing from schools around the world, some of which are beginning to open up after 3 months of remote learning.  Carl Hooker was the first person to come to mind. Carl Hooker has been in education for 20+ years and is an Apple Distinguished educator, has served as a classroom teacher, instructional technologist, virtualization coordinator, director of innovation & digital learning, and founder of iPadpalooza, an educational technology conference in central Texas. In today's episode, Carl and I chat about what the future of education may look like not only in this upcoming school year but what it may look like beyond Covid19. the transition from 'emergency remote learning' to 'how to do remote learning well'two best practices that have emerged so far in remote learningwhat some school schedules around the world are already doingwhat type of schools will thrive in this environmentimpacts of the current extended 'summer slide'psychological impacts on student of prolonged social distancinghow schools in China are currently following santization & social distancing protocolswhat blended part in-class, part virtual-class could look likeapproaches of independent / private schools vs public schoolswhat a 'delayed start' could look likeschools that are already planning for a fully remote Fall 2020emerging possibilities for teachers & students who prefer remote learningchanges to testing and assessmentopportunities to differentiate in virtual learningoptimal ratio of synchronous vs asynchronous timehow to build community in the virtual classroomwhat a post COVID-19 classroom may look likeequity and access; leveling the playing field for all studentswords of hope for educators who are worried, scared, and anxious about the future of educationRESOURCES: '25 Strategies to Engage Students on Your Next Zoom Meeting' by Carl Hooker'The Coronavirus Pandemic Has Unleashed A Revolution In Education: From Now On, Blended Learning Will Be The Benchmark' by Enrique DansTexas Education Agency on Adjusting School Calendars'9 Ways Schools Will Look Different When (And If) They Reopen' by NPRCONNECT WITH CARL HOOKER Website | carlhooker.comBlog | hookedoninnovation.com Twitter | @mrhookerIG | @hookertechYT | Carl HookerFB | Carl Hooker Fan PageLearning Unleased Podcast (ISTE) hosted by Carl HookerTech & Learning | Articles by Carl HookerCONNECT WITH THOM Twitter | @gibsoneduYouTube |/gibsoneduInstagram | @gibsoneducationWebsite | thomgibson.comEmail | thom@thomgibson.comSUPPORT THE PODCAST Enroll in the How to Teach Kids About Money course for educatorsSign up for the TeamEdu newsletterLeave a podcast rating & review

    53 min
  5. Create Immersive Learning Experiences with Augmented Reality (without fancy equipment)

    05/01/2020

    Create Immersive Learning Experiences with Augmented Reality (without fancy equipment)

    My guest today is a teacher-of-the-year recipient and educator of 20 years.  Carolina Carner has been utilizing augmented reality in her classroom for several years in her middle school classroom.  Additionally she's worked with Google for Edu as a product expert in Google Expeditions, AR, VR, and Tour Creator.  She's THE AR/VR person to talk to when it comes to implementation in the classroom. It was a fun conversation as she walked me through a litany of augmented reality apps, showing me their classroom application.  You hear me experiencing them in real time. We explore: using AR for math manipulatives like fraction stripshow to fill your classroom up with a solar systemusing AR to study wild animals up closehow AR can build community and give students voiceexploration of cells up closeusing AR to HOLD A BEATING HEART IN YOUR HAND!common mistakes teachers make when starting to use ARhow to use AR with one device or manystrategies for getting more devices in your classroomRESOURCES: #arvrinedu on Twitter for all things AR & VR in the classroomGoogle Expeditions (Carolina’s favorite app and resource for AR)CoSpaces (STEM, coding, social sciences, literature, languages, and maker space applications)Hologo (the math fraction strips)Eureca AR (the solar system research)Flipgrid AR (the video introduction application)Quivervision (the colored-cell-brought-to-life)Mergecube (holding the skull and beating heart)Mergecube Remote Learning ResourcesBBC CivilisationsTime AR (Landing on the moon & Amazon forest)@JaimeDonally on Twitter for more AR & Vr in the classroom@GoogleARVR on TwitterCONNECT WITH CAROLINA CARNER Twitter | @carnercarolinaYouTube | Nerdy Teacher Tech TalkCONNECT WITH THOM Twitter | @gibsoneduYouTube |/gibsoneduInstagram | @gibsoneducationWebsite | thomgibson.comEmail | thom@thomgibson.comSUPPORT THE PODCAST Enroll in the How to Teach Kids About Money course for educatorsSign up for the TeamEdu newsletterLeave a podcast rating & review

    55 min
  6. How to Boost Engagement During Remote Learning (Without Using Zoom)

    04/17/2020

    How to Boost Engagement During Remote Learning (Without Using Zoom)

    I reached out to a handful of people on Twitter who had done distance learning for at least a couple of weeks already.  Student engagement is one of the biggest challenges in distance learning. While I originally just asked for their best tip, I love that thoughts and guidance on how to increase student engagement was a part of each of their answers. In the episode, my guests are: Andrew Chiu | Hong Kong Middle-School Digital Design Teacher *just finished his 10th week of distance learning* CJ Reynolds | New Jersey High-School Literature & History of Hip Hop Teacher Mark Rogers | Texas 1st Grade Teacher Sam Kary | California 6th Grade Humanities Teacher They share the following: the simplify, simplify, simplify approach Andrew takespractical tips in communication, organization, and video conferencing from 10-weeks of trial and errorhow CJ hooks his students right at the beginning of the lessonhow Mark keeps his 1st graders connected to one another without video conferencinghow Sam structures engaging at-home projects that are differentiated and support students each step of the way  RESOURCES MENTIONED Some of CJ's green screen lesson hook videosHyperdocs resources that Sam referenced  CONNECT WITH THESE EDUCATORS Andrew Chiu Twitter | @chew_edCJ Reynolds Get his new book 'Teach Your Class Off'Hear a previous episode of the podcast CJ was on where he talked about how he uses social media in the classroom.YouTube | /realrapwiththereynoldsInstagram | @realrapwithreynoldsFacebook | /realrapwithreynoldsTwitter | @realrapreynoldsMark Rogers Hear about the looping project Mark is doing with his students in a previous episode of the podcastTwitter | @rogersmarkdSam Kary Check out one of the resources Sam created that I contributed to | Student-podcasting project for remote learning.Twitter | @newedtechclassFacebook | /newedtechclassroomYouTube | /newedtechclassroomWebsite | newedtechclassroom.com  CONNECT WITH THOM Twitter | @gibsoneduYouTube |/gibsoneduInstagram | @gibsoneducationWebsite | thomgibson.comEmail | thom@thomgibson.com  SUPPORT THE PODCAST Enroll in the How to Teach Kids About Money course for educatorsSign up for the TeamEdu newsletterLeave a podcast rating & review

    45 min
  7. A Better Way To Teach Math

    04/03/2020

    A Better Way To Teach Math

    My guest today is a passionate math educator who has sought to teach learners in this exploratory manner and in a way that the students feel they are capable of understanding mathematical concepts deeply. In my conversation with Kevin Moore, we explore: how one teacher helped him begin to view himself as a mathematicianhis journey from traditional education to the micro-school modelhow the physical space can foster the learning he hopes to seehow it's MORE than just the physical space that helps foster the learning he hopes to seewhat our roles is and is not as math educatorshow to redirect incorrect work without just giving away the answerKevin's favorite questions to ask studentsand much more.RESOURCES MENTIONED Cathy Fosnot - Amazon books for various grade levelsJo Baoler - Mathematical MindsetsYouCubed - youcubed.orgCONNECT WITH KEVIN MOORE & LONG-VIEW MICRO-SCHOOL Website | long-view.comMath PD | The Number Lab Co-Lab - thenumberlab.com/co-labTwitter | Long View Micro School - @long_view_atxInstagram | Long View Micro School - @long_view_atxTwitter | The Number Lab - @thenumberlabCONNECT WITH THOM Twitter | @gibsoneduYouTube | /gibsoneduInstagram | @gibsoneducationEmail | thom@thomgibson.comSUPPORT THE PODCAST Enroll in the How to Teach Kids About Money course for educatorsSign up for the TeamEdu newsletterLeave a podcast rating & review

    56 min
  8. UPDATE: New Baby, COVID-19, and Life at Home

    03/19/2020

    UPDATE: New Baby, COVID-19, and Life at Home

    Watch the video of this podcast - https://youtu.be/BpSlAy2nPd0 TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Life with a newborn6:11 - Daily schedule during quarantine10:03 - Future podcasts12:28 - Distance learning in the country15:38 - New content for teachers (livestreams, courses)18:42 - My distance learning plan so far20:24 - Tips for making the most of self-quarantine timeCONNECT W/ ME ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING thom@thomgibson.comTwitter | @gibsoneduYouTube | /gibsonedu

    25 min
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Stories of teachers that are creating meaningful and memorable experiences for their students and how you can do the same. Created and hosted by Thom Gibson; a two-time Teacher of the Year educator, podcaster, YouTuber, and lifelong learner.

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