How might we integrate whole class lessons, small group work, and individual conferences to support students’ growth as readers and writers? Listen in as literacy leaders, Ellin O. Keene and Dan Feigelson join the Phenomenal Teaching Podcast to discuss ways to enhance student engagement and agency by integrating reading and writing. When teachers m…

Listen in as Dr. Marlee Bunch and Brittany Collins join PEBC’s Phenomenal Teaching Podcast with Michelle Morris Jones to discuss planning for ABAR and SEL pedagogy. Both Marlee and Brittany value the importance of telling and understanding one’s own story as well as the stories of others. Oftentimes the stories of history and our own students’ stor…

What happens when we focus on assets rather than deficits? Listen in as Julie Wright shares strategies for “growing the good” with Michelle Morris Jones on PEBC's Phenomenal Teaching Podcast. Identifying and leveraging student and teacher assets allows us to, "Size up what students CAN do and use that to lift their learning." This episode of the Ph…

Nicole Tucker-Smith joins Michelle Morris Jones on PEBC’s Phenomenal Teaching Podcast to share ways teachers and school leaders can cultivate spaces that promote agency, equity and connection for all learners. Nicole encourages us to confront how and why school spaces encourage assimilation, compliance, and conformity and to envision how we might t…

Lily Howard Scott joins Michelle Morris Jones on PEBC's Phenomenal Teaching Podcast to discuss how a focus on social and emotional learning (SEL) isn’t simply a nice-to-have, a perk, but a need-to-have, a prerequisite for meaningful learning. How children feel in the classroom is inextricably linked to how they do in the classroom. Emotionally lite…

Gita Varadarajan joins Michelle Morris Jones on the Phenomenal Teaching Podcast to talk about the ways in which diverse texts allow students to develop empathy for others, explore challenging topics, find joy and deepen their comprehension skills. Gita brings years of classroom experience to spark conversation and scaffold opportunities that guide …

Listen in as Crystal Hughes shares how she developed scaffolds to support her 8th graders shift from passive online learners to engaged historians and writers on PEBC's Phenomenal Teaching Podcast with Michelle Morris Jones. When school began last year, Crystal’s students were quite reluctant to engage in writing, yet Crystal knew that her students…

Marlee Bunch and Brittany Collins join the Phenomenal Teaching Podcast to discuss the intersection of Grief-Responsive Teaching and Anti-Bias/Anti-Racist (ABAR) Teaching with Michelle Morris Jones. Developing our collective understanding of how to support students who have experienced trauma and loss increases our ability to develop classroom and s…

How might we support vibrant, diverse, passionate individuals to become teachers? Listen in as John Kearney, Director of Recruitment and Alumni Engagement for the PEBC Teacher Residency Program, shares the ways in which a career teaching is more accessible than ever before, and recent graduates, Nicole Herrera & Char Brock share their stories of th…

We can’t give what we don’t have! Educators more often than not play the role of advocate on behalf of their students, and this work can be equally rewarding and exhausting. Listen in as Dr. Kimberly Muñoz and Michelle Morris Jones dive into the realities of equitable education advocacy and suggestions for sustainable advocacy. Dr. Muñoz shares her…

Our students are the problem solvers of the future! Unfortunately, by 3rd grade 50% of kids have already decided if they are confident STEM learners or not. Let's disrupt this trend by creating learning experiences that shift mindsets from, "I don't like..." or "I've never been very good at..." to productive and positive STEM identities that foster…

Kids helping other kids get unstuck! After recognizing that the “old ways” weren’t working for kids or teachers, the leadership team at Cherokee Trail High School embarked on developing an MTSS structure that was more about meeting the needs of kids and less about being convenient for adults. When asked, students reported that they wanted a place t…

Striving to increase student engagement, wondering what community resources exist to bring content to life, needing time to recharge with art, science or history? Listen in as Ellen Spangler, Museum Educator and Consultant, shares all the ways in which museums, art centers, and nonprofit organizations can provide unique and engaging learning opport…

The “Conditions of Learning” work synergistically to support student engagement and understanding. But what happens when systems are stressed? What happens when deficit based language and practices start to creep into our work with children? What happens when teachers are not able to be responsive to the students before them? In this episode of the…

At PEBC we believe that each and every student deserves a great teacher! In many of today’s classrooms and schools, leaders are struggling to fill vacancies with high quality teachers who are well prepared for the rigorous yet rewarding work of teaching. We are also well aware of the shortage of substitute teachers and other school based profession…

Do you find yourself wondering how you will ever grade that giant stack of papers? Wondering if there might be other ways to support your students’ progress or monitor their understanding? What would happen if we eliminated the points for compliance exchange, students advocated for their own grades, and grade books essentially became “point-less”? …

We don't want kids to leave school each day without reading 67 minutes or hating to read! So how do we get texts back into kids' hands, hearts, and minds? Cris Tovani joins the Phenomenal Teaching Podcast to discuss her latest book, Why Do I Have to Read This? Literacy Strategies to Engage Our Most Reluctant Readers, and research based strategies t…

If we want to create learning experiences that are worthy of students’ time and attention, we must be planful! PEBC Lab Host and 6th grade Advisor at Jefferson County Open School, Gabrielle Hovinen, joins Michelle Morris Jones on PEBC’s Phenomenal Teaching Podcast to share her process for cultivating a community of reflective, self-directed, and in…

Educators and students have been weathering the storm for quite some time now, and while the waves of uncertainty, stress and trauma are diminishing for many, the after effects of the storm are still present. Dr. Andra Brill joins PEBC's Phenomenal Teaching Podcast to talk about strategies teachers can implement to support students as they learn ho…

Brooke O”Drobinak and Beth Kelley join PEBC’s Phenomenal Teaching Podcast with Michelle Morris Jones to share perspectives and practices to help educators 'make it to Monday” during this incredibly challenging time. First and foremost, it is important to recognize that we are in the midst of a “mental health tsunami” and all of our feelings, reacti…

School leadership takes on many forms from those who serve in formal leadership roles to those who stand before students each and every day. In order to step boldly into true service and leadership we must first know ourselves, our values, our why, and the habits and ways of thinking that hold us back. Maggie Riley, a certified Integrative Holistic…

Jailyn Jenkins believes that each and every learner deserves life-worthy conversations that promote community and deepen content understanding. Jailyn joined Michelle Morris Jones on the Phenomenal Teaching Podcast to unpack the PEBC Teaching Framework and specific ways in which teachers can promote student discourse that is meaningful, culturally …

As we strive to create schools that are more phenomenal than ever before Michelle Morris Jones sits down with Sam Bennett to discuss Humanizing Leadership. Sam clearly spells out some of the ways in which schools systematically dehumanize teachers and students, and she suggests actions leaders can take to create schools that support the humanity of…

As we head into summer vacation, students Estella and Killian and their Virtual Advisor Karen Goodman share their reflections on their experiences as learners in their virtually connected classroom with Michelle Morris Jones on the Phenomenal Teaching Podcast. It is informative and joyful to listen in on all the successes, challenges, and favorite …

By centering humanity we can plan for cultural sustainability and implement equitable practices that are not bandaid solutions or simply performative activities. Nawal Q. Casiano of NQC Literacy joins Michelle Morris Jones on the Phenomenal Teaching Podcast and shares her beliefs and practical ideas for teaching literacy for agency, equity and unde…

Teaching first grade for the first time is tricky! And teaching first grade virtually for the first time is even trickier!! Listen in as PEBC Lab Host Kirsten Myers Blake shares how she got “unstuck” when times got tough by leaning into her beliefs, determining importance, and loving hard. As a fierce believer in the workshop model Kirsten knew she…

In this episode Katherine Bomer and Michelle Morris Jones discuss the importance of asset based assessment practices and the ways in which adopting an appreciative mindset leads to student growth, efficacy and joy as Katherine's work aligns closely with the Assessment strand of the PEBC Teaching Framework as illustrated in Phenomenal Teaching by We…

In this episode Kelly Boswell joins Michelle Morris Jones on the Phenomenal Teaching Podcast to discuss how to plan and implement lifeworthy writer’s workshops. In the PEBC Teaching Framework, "lifeworthy learning" means engaging with classroom content in a way that has meaning beyond the classroom. Lifeworthy learning sees and supports students as…

In this episode, PEBC Lab Hosts Jenn Brauner and Jennifer Engbretsen join Michelle Morris Jones on the Phenomenal Teaching Podcast to discuss the ways in which hybrid learning is playing out for them and their students. We dive into how the various strands of the PEBC Teaching Framework support student community and learning. Intentional planning a…

In this episode of the PEBC Phenomenal Teaching Podcast Michelle Morris Jones dives into the art of argument writing and the craft of teaching argumentation with PEBC Staff Developers Annie Patterson & Stevi Quate, along with PEBC Lab Host Alisa Wills-Keely. This trio brings a wealth of experience to their work with students and adults. Their conve…

In this episode PEBC Lab Host Jana Durbin and Michelle Morris Jones unpack the fear of “learning loss” and how joy, inquiry, and community come together to create opportunities for supporting student wellness and academic achievement. In the fall when Jana’s students returned to the classroom she quickly realized the importance of helping her stude…

Listen in as Lorena Germán, co-founder of #DistruptTexts, joins Michelle Morris Jones on the Phenomenal Teaching Podcast to unpack the Heart, Head, and Hands of Anti-Bias and Anti-Racist (ABAR) Teaching. At the heart of ABAR teaching lies Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (Paris & Alim, 2017) and the importance of exploring one's own identity, implici…

Learners must be the “doers” of what they are learning! Being a doer is supported by engagement, immersion, demonstration, employment, expectation, approximation, responsibility and response ~ these conditions are commonly known as the “Conditions of Learning” or “Cambourne’s Conditions” and are an essential component of “Cambourne’s Model of Learn…

How can educators build practical self care practices that go beyond chocolate, walks, and bubble baths? Beth Kelley is a wellness consultant who works with educators, entrepreneurs, and organizations to build resiliency and to promote wellness practices that are achievable. She recently joined Michelle Morris Jones on PEBC's Phenomenal Teaching Po…

What if reading aloud was the front porch or the threshold that welcomed students into learning? As students, teachers and families prepare to return to their classrooms, Lester Laminack joins Michelle Morris Jones to unpack how reading aloud to students has the power to bring communities of learners back together with purpose and meaning. For all …

How can we be proactive in supporting positive student behavior? Student behavior is a form of communication that students use to tell us what they are feeling, experiencing, and need. Listen in as Brad Riley, Behavior Technician for Denver Public Schools, shares suggestions for teachers and school leaders to support positive student behavior as we…

Every teacher dreads the question, "Why do I have to read this?" Listen in as Cris Tovani shares her CYA ~ Curriculum You Anticipate ~ planning structure. When planning for student engagement we must consider how Topic, Tasks, Time, Targets, Texts, and Tending all come together to create authentic learning experiences for students and teachers. Cri…

In this episode PEBC Staff Developers Sathya Wandzek and Dr. Sarah Littmann-Berger join Michelle Morris Jones to talk about talk! The PEBC Teaching Framework highlights Discourse as an instructional strategy that supports student agency, equity, and understanding. John Hattie’s meta analyses indicate that student discourse has an effect size of .82…

Typically, Patrick Allen's classroom brims with over 3,000 children's books and his students pour over them tucked into nooks and crannies all around the room. This year Patrick is teaching remotely and most of his collection is in storage; yet he is still bringing the gift of high quality literature to his students each and every day by reading al…

Why is math important? Why do so many people hate math? How can we promote positive STEM identity for all learners? Wendy Ward Hoffer and Michelle Morris Jones dive into these questions and more as they discuss ways to "turn over the mathematical gymnastics to the students" by developing Math Workshops that value community, problem solving, and stu…

As school leaders grapple with the many challenges related to leading schools during this time, the need for staff meetings, PLC's, and professional learning remains constant. PEBC's Director of Leadership, Scott Murphy, joins us to talk about the importance of facilitation and crafting high quality virtual engagements that are rooted in purpose wh…

Educators are heart centered individuals who can be caught up in the “more is more” culture, however, at this time it is crucial to embrace a “less is more” attitude so that we can support students and colleagues who have experienced trauma. Trauma is like a wound and takes time and attention to heal; however, many individuals are currently experie…

When it comes to education policy, practicing educators need a voice at the table! Listen in as Evan Kennedy, PEBC Director of Strategic Initiatives and Policy, joins the Phenomenal Teaching podcast to share how PEBC works with local, state, and national leaders to inform the development of sound education policy. Policy work is all about people an…

PEBC Lab Hosts Patrick Allen, Jenn Brauner, and Carrie Halbasch get real in a round table conversation about the possibilities and pitfalls of virtual teaching. All three of these Phenomenal Teachers are experienced educators whose classrooms exemplify the strands of the PEBC Teaching Framework, so what happened when they shifted to virtual learnin…

Mary Korte is a PEBC Lab Host and primary teacher who has historically co-taught a multi-age primary class at the Jefferson County Open School. In years past Mary could be found sitting eye to eye with her young learners and discussing the ways in which words can create beautiful images for readers or how the natural world unfolds right before us e…

Ashlee Saddler and Michelle Morris Jones discuss how the definition of "multicultural education" has evolved beyond recognition and celebration of different cultures to deepening our collective understanding of critical multicultural education and the concept of hegemony. In order to serve each and every student we must build meaningful relationshi…

Michelle Morris Jones caught up with Scott Bain to unpack how he and his staff are taking on the challenges associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic and its impact on the "Open School." Scott, a PEBC Leadership Lab Host, is the principal of the Jefferson County Open School which is a P-12 progressive school of choice in Jefferson County, Colorado. Sup…

In this episode Dr. Andra Brill joins the Phenomenal Teaching Podcast for a follow-up conversation on tending to the well being of students, families, and educators as the COVID 19 Pandemic continues to impact our everyday lives. We are now faced with the impact of chronic stress and quarantine fatigue and there are some steps we can take to mitiga…

Each and every day Jennifer Engbretson, a PEBC Lab Host in Denver, Colorado crafts math workshops that prioritize student thinking and understanding while also considering the importance of assessment and feedback. In this episode Jennifer and Michelle Morris Jones discuss ways to monitor and support progress while teaching remotely that can be app…

What does it mean to be a pre-service teacher in the midst of a global pandemic? If you are PEBC Teacher Residency it means learning alongside mentor teachers from day one, establishing connections with colleagues, and deep study of the PEBC Teaching Framework just like you would in any year. In this episode Tyler Hansen shares his journey from cor…