Podcasts
Zooming In on Music Education with Jon Ryan from Ball in the House
Melissa chats with Jon Ryan, founder of the acapella group Ball in the House. Ryan discusses the group's origins, evolution, and educational outreach. Ball in the House teaches K-12, emphasizing performance, songwriting, and music history.
The Teacher As Facilitator: Student Voice and Choice Part One
In this minisode, Melissa shares from one of her favorite articles about voice and choice. Choices for Children: Why and How to Let Students Decide by Alfie Kohn lays out the rationale for voice and choice as well as what it looks like in practice. In this minisode, Melissa highlights the rationale and she will highlight what it looks like in practice in her next minisode.
The Teacher As Film Editor: Student Accomodations
In this Teacher As Film Editor minisode, Melissa talks about Walter Murch’s philosophy that film editing is the “discovery of a path.” Melissa shares the parallels to teaching and specifically to accommodating for diverse learners.
Ep. 100: Zooming In on Poetry with Penelope Pelizzon
In the 100th episode of The Teacher As... Melissa chats with professor and poet Penelope Pelizzon. Penelope shared her genesis of becoming the successful poet that she is and her ideas about teaching poetry to all ages of students. They get into the weeds about rhyme and theme and Penelope talks about the process of writing a book of poetry like her latest creation.
Ep. 89: The Teacher As Filmmaker/Spike Lee Part One
This minisode focuses on Spike Lee's ideas about bringing out the best in his actors and the parallels to classroom teaching.
Ep. 88 Introduction to The Teacher As… Minisodes
This minisode explains Melissa's inspiration for sharing these short episodes that drop every other week. Melissa begins by focusing on The Teacher As Filmmaker. Each minisode is focused on a different teaching metaphor. Listen to the minisodes and get teaching inspiration from some of the most talented filmmakers in the business!
Episode 65 Zooming In on Experiential Learning with Luke Liddle
Teachers differentiate for their students in the classroom. Shouldn't they do the same for their students when going on a field trip/school travel? In this episode, Luke Liddle, Managing Director for Independent Schools Cultural Alliance, explains how he allows for student agency in his work with international student travel.
Episode 64: Top Ten Ways to Get Students Problem Solving with Dr. Nicki Newton and Ann Elise Record
Dr. Nicki Newton and Ann Elise Record are back! They each have their own lists of the best ways for students to practice problem solving and they collaborate to create one essential top ten list.
Episode 62: Zooming In on Academic Integrity with Eric Gibbs
In this episode, Melissa chats with Eric Gibbs, President of Ouriginal, a plagiarism software for K-12 and higher education. Eric shares how teachers can use the software as part of the writing process to help students learn how to create original work.
Episode 54: Zooming In on Voice and Speech with Ashleigh Reade
In this episode, Melissa interviews educator Ashleigh Reade, assistant professor of theater at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Ashleigh teaches voice and speech for both the musical theater and contemporary theater programs, as well as the Actor's Toolkit for first-year students. She shares her focus on expressivity, intention, and context when helping anyone with vocals or speech. Teachers can learn a lot from Ashleigh about helping their students become more confident public speakers.
Episode 51: Zooming In on the Writing Process with a Student Author
In this episode, I chat with Eva, a 15 year old high school sophomore who loves to write. Eva provides great insight for teachers about what students really hope for when learning how to be better writers. Eva shares what inspires her, as well as her writing process. She is able to publish her work, collaborate with other young authors, and get feedback with a site called Wattpad.
Episode 50: Zooming In on Research and the Writing Process with Geoff Edgers
In this episode, I zoom in on research and the writing process with author and Washington Post writer, Geoff Edgers. Geoff stresses the importance of in depth research and plenty of time to write and revise.
Episode 49: Top Ten Movie Quotes Related to Education with Grant Hightower and Craig Murray
In this third edition of the Top Ten episodes, Grant Hightower and Craig Murray collaborate to create one essential top ten list of movie quotes that are a metaphor for education. Grant and Craig are educational leaders and movie buffs.
Episode 48: Zooming In on Interviewing with Dave Malkoff
In Episode 48, I chat with investigative journalist Dave Malkoff about his work for the Weather Channel and beyond. He gives teachers his recommendations for improving students' interviewing skills and how they should focus on telling a story. This is a great follow up to my recent Podcasting with Students series.
Episode 47: Zooming In on Podcasting with Students-Part Three
What equipment and technology do I need to podcast with students and how do I share our podcast with the most listeners? In this episode, I share some affordable, realistic answers to these questions and reflect on what worked for The Birch Meadow Way Podcast this past Spring 2021.
Episode 46: Zooming In on Podcasting with Students-Part Two
In this second episode in the Podcasting with Students series, I share ideas for improving your students' vocal performance. I share clips from The Birch Meadow Way Podcast which my fourth grade colleagues and I started with our students this past Spring 2021. Pace, Emphasis, Diction, Tone, and Volume are discussed.
Episode 40: Zooming In on Art Therapy with Pamela Malkoff Hayes
In this episode, Melissa chats with Pamela Malkoff Hayes. Pamela is a licensed marriage/family therapist and a board certified art therapist. Pamela shares the thoughtful questions that she poses to her clients about their artwork and how teachers and school counselors can use art therapy techniques in their work with students.
Episode 39: Adventures in Coteaching
In this episode of Adventures in Coteaching, Melissa and Tricia chat with their fourth grade teammates, Patti Beckman and Arielle Mucha. They look back at the past school year and talk about supporting each other, collaborating, and taking on a big project together.
Episode 32: Zooming In on Literacy with Jan Rhein
In this episode, Melissa talks with friend and colleague Jan Rhein. Jan is a literacy coach/specialist who has the added perspective of having been a classroom teacher. Her lens on literacy can help all educators.
Episode 31: Zooming In on Grief and Loss with Dr. Paul Coleman
In this episode, Melissa returns to the podcast after losing her husband, Josh Milner. She talks to Dr. Paul Coleman about his book Finding Peace When Your Heart is in Pieces.