Teachers on Fire

Dr. DOUGLAS FISHER is a Professor of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High & Middle College. He is a member of the California Reading Hall of Fame and is the recipient of an International Reading Association Celebrate Literacy Award, the Farmer award for excellence in writing from the National Council of Teachers of English, and the Christa McAuliffe award for excellence in teacher education.  He has published numerous articles on improving student achievement as well as books, such as Text-Complexity: Raising Rigor in Reading (with Nancy Frey and Diane Lapp), Checking for Understanding (with Nancy Frey) and Common Core English Language Arts in a PLC at Work (with Nancy Frey). He is a board member of the International Reading Association and a past board member of the Literacy Research Association. In our conversation, Dr. Fisher recalls a time in his teaching career when he genuinely struggled to connect with his learners. He talks about his latest work in the area of balanced literacy, and explains how educators will be pushed to think about literacy in his workshop. He explains why he’s been giving the matter of teacher credibility more attention, and discusses the personal passions and productivity strategies that make him tick. As we close, he also shares some of the voices and resources that continue to shape his thinking and inspire his professional practice today. You can connect with Dr. Douglas Fisher ... On Twitter @DFisherSDSU On his website at https://www.fisherandfrey.com/ Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org)

VERNON WRIGHT is an education leader, administrator, speaker, host, editor, coach, and consultant. He’s a voice for the people, he pours into relationships, and he lives to serve, motivate, and inspire others in authentic ways. In our conversation, Vernon recalls a delicate situation of having to coach an administrator above him who was simply not visible and not a leader of action. He defines the #ZeroApologyZone movement, and explains the reasoning behind the “Believe. Study. Hustle. Manifest. Repeat.” t-shirts we see around eduTwitter these days. He explains why connection and scale are so critical in order to make a lasting impact and leave a legacy, and he reminds us that we’re not truly leading unless we’re mentoring. As we close, Vernon shouts out some of the voices and resources that shape his thinking and inspire his practice today. You can connect with Vernon ... On Twitter @TheWrightLeader On Instagram @TheWrightLeader On his website at TheWrightLeader.com Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org)

DEANNA LOUGH is an English teacher, aspiring leader, kid Mom, puppy Mom, Mrs, theater lover, and lover of all things inspiring and positive. In our conversation, Deanna recalls a period in her career when she was pushed to the brink by the weight of her work. She talks about her passion for equity and inclusion and explains why it fuels her commitment to rethink assessment. She identifies a professional goal, describes how she stays productive, and shouts out some of the voices and resources that inspire her thinking and shape her practice. You can connect with Deanna ... On Twitter @Hessteacherest On Instagram @Deanna.Hess Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org)

TREVOR MACKENZIE is a learner, teacher, speaker, consultant, and outdoor enthusiast. He is regarded by many as the preeminent voice on inquiry-based learning today, authoring Dive into Inquiry: Amplify Learning and Empower Student Voice (https://amzn.to/33fGvZE) and co-authoring Inquiry Mindset: Nurturing the Dreams, Wonders, and Curiosities of Our Youngest Learners (https://amzn.to/2JNgjhs). In our conversation, Trevor recalls the challenges of his first years in the profession. He defines inquiry-based learning, describes how educators can take their first steps into the inquiry swimming pool, and answers the questions many educators have around assessment in an inquiry model. Trevor goes on to talk about what else is setting him on fire in education today, his next big professional goal, a productivity hack that he holds dear, and a personal passion completely outside of education. As we close, he also shouts out some of the voices and resources that shape his thinking and inspire his professional practice. You can connect with Trevor ... On Twitter @Trev_MacKenzie On Instagram @TNTMacKenzie At his website: https://www.trevormackenzie.com/ Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org)

ANDREW AREVALO is an educator, speaker, innovator, and game designer with passions for blended learning, design thinking, and gamification. Andrew has his Master’s degree in education and has been recognized as a CUE Emerging Teacher. In our conversation, Andrew recalls the dilemma he faced when he realized that an exciting speaking opportunity would cost him a day’s pay. Looking back now on that fateful decision, he says that making the sacrifice was easily worth it. Andrew talks about what a tremendous influence his dad’s career as an educator has been in his own life, and describes the life-changing experience that followed a lost pitch event in the summer. He tells us how his fourth graders are preparing for the future, updates us on his first book project, lets us in on one of his favorite mobile games, and explains why he wants to make reflection a bigger part of his professional life. As we close, he also shouts out some of the voices and resources that inspire his thinking and shape his professional practice today. You can connect with Andrew ... On Twitter @GameBoyDrew At his website: http://www.gameboydrew.com/ Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org)

TIFFANY OTT is a high school Math teacher, a Director of Curriculum Development with the Teach Better Team, and the founder of #MasteryChat. She’s also a co-author of the recently published book Teach Better, and she’ll be playing a big role to play in the upcoming Teach Better Conference! In our conversation, Tiffany recounts a time when she launched a teaching unit on mental health, only to find that parents felt insufficiently informed and suspicious of her intentions. The drama that followed cost her a permanent teaching position, putting stress on her young family and teaching her the critical importance of obtaining parent buy-in. Tiffany shares about the joys and benefits of her weekly #MasteryChat on Twitter, describes why she’s so certain her new book will impact educators, and explains why this is such an incredible time to be in education. She also speaks to a professional growth goal for this year, personal passions outside of education, the secret to her productivity, and the voices and resources that inspire her thinking and shape her professional practice today. You can connect with Tiffany ... On Twitter @TechieTeachOtt On Instagram @TiffanyOtt1 On Facebook @Teach Better Team At the Teach Better Team website: https://www.teachbetter.com/ At her book: https://amzn.to/2P7HSW7 Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org)

DR. WILL DEYAMPORT III is an edtech specialist, documentary producer, and the producer and host of the Dr. Will Show, a podcast for educators looking to improve their impact and increase their quality of life. In our conversation, Dr. Will describes a time when district budget cuts led him to believe that he would likely lose his job. He describes the mission of The Dr. Will Show, explains why educators need to move from free-free-free to a little more fee-fee-fee, and makes the case that every educator should be about the business of building their brand and defining what they are all about. Dr. Will also speaks about what is setting him on fire in education today and shares the voices and resources that shape his thinking and inspire his professional practice and entrepreneurial work. You can connect with Dr. Will ... On Twitter @iamDrWill: https://twitter.com/iamDrWill On Instagram @iamDrWill: https://www.instagram.com/iamdrwill/ On his website at https://thedrwillshowpodcast.simplecast.com/ At his documentary on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/edupreneur/323268793 Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org)

LISA JOHNSON is an educator by day, blogger by night, and the author of Creatively Productive: Essential Skills for Tackling Time Wasters, Clearing the Clutter, and Succeeding in School—and Life! In our conversation, Lisa recalls the time she was challenged for curating education and technology resources on a personal blog. She unpacks the mission and vision of Creatively Productive, and she explains why and how learners can organize their work more efficiently. She also describes her writer’s notebooks and passion planner before sharing the voices and resources that shape her thinking and inspire her practice today. You can connect with Lisa ... On Twitter @TechChef4U: https://twitter.com/TechChef4u On Instagram @NoteChef4U: https://www.instagram.com/notechef4u/ On her website at https://techchef4u.com/ At her latest book, Creatively Productive: https://amzn.to/2LQYOOK Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org)

DR. JACIE MASLYK is an educator, speaker, and author at ISTE, SolutionTree, and Steam-makers.com. She’s an Assistant Superintendent for the Hopewell Area School District in Aliquippa, PA, with a passion for #STEM education, makerspaces, literacy, leadership, and creativity in education. Dr. Jacie Maslyk is the author of several books, including ... STEAM Makers: Fostering Creativity and Innovation in the Elementary Classroom (2016) Connect to Lead: Power Up Your Learning Network to Move Your School Forward Remaking Literacy: Innovative Instructional Strategies for Maker Learning, Grades K-5 (Classroom Maker Projects for Elementary Literacy Education). Unlock Creativity: Opening a World of Imagination With Your Students She is also the co-author of Makers in Schools: Entering the Fourth Industrial Revolution In our conversation, Dr. Jacie recalls being stonewalled by a veteran teacher during her earliest days in administration. She talks about the heart and mission of Unlock Creativity: Opening a World of Imagination With Your Students, and urges educators to lead the charge by modeling learning and creativity in front of our learners. Jacie also shares her personal passions, a productivity hack, and some of the voices and resources that are shaping her thinking and inspiring her practice today. You can connect with Dr. Jacie ... On Twitter @DrJacieMaslyk: https://twitter.com/DrJacieMaslyk On her website at http://jaciemaslyk.blogspot.com/ Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org)

NANCY FREY is a Professor of Educational Leadership and Literacy at San Diego State University and an instructor at Health Sciences High and Middle College. She has also authored or co-authored a number of books, including PLC+: Better Decisions and Greater Impact by Design. Nancy’s areas of expertise include common core implementation, the role of coaching in instructional improvement, text-dependent questions, close reading, writing from sources, and discipline-specific literacies. In our conversation, Nancy described how a massive Florida hurricane shaped her first year of teaching. She describes the mission and vision of her latest book, PLC+: Better Decisions and Greater Impact by Design, and explains how a careful consideration of impact must examine the issue of equity for all learners. She shares some of her most recent thoughts on literacy, and explores the roles of technology in the learning process. Finally, Nancy shares some of the voices and resources that are shaping her thinking and inspiring her practice today. You can connect with Nancy ... On Twitter @NancyFrey: https://twitter.com/NancyFrey On her website at https://www.fisherandfrey.com/ Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! Connect with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/ On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFDPjkAn7lZb-rahyVDttKA Song Track Credits Intro: Easy (by Mike Cosmo -- license purchased at https://taketones.com/) Outtro: Bluntedsesh4 (by Tha Silent Partner, courtesy of FreeMusicArchive.org)