Host Ana Torres is joined by Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, Ed.D., a linguist and speech pathologist known for her work with multilingual learners. In this episode, Elsa focuses on small changes that educators can make to create classrooms that are more inclusive and supportive of multilingual learners. She shares strategies for morphology instruction, learning useful information about students’ home languages, shifting away from a deficit mindset when it comes to multilingual learners, and more. She’ll also touch on why techniques like asking students to respond in full sentences and slowing down your rate of teaching can better serve students. Ana and Classroom Insider Eric Cross then reflect on Elsa's insights, and Eric shares a vulnerable moment that demonstrates his recognition of humility and openness to learning as a core teaching principle.

Show notes:

• Resources:
  • Book: Literacy Foundations for English Learners
  • Listen: Season 1, Episode 8: Teaching takes trust, starring Luz Selenia Muñoz
  • Listen: Temporada 1. Capítulo Especial: Para enseñar se necesita confianza, con Luz Selenia Muñoz
• Subscribe to Beyond My Years https://at.amplify.com/beyond-my-years
• Follow us on Instagram @amplify.education
• Connect with Eric Cross: https://www.ericcross.org/
• Connect with Ana Torres: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anayansi-ana-torres-m-ed-26a10654/
• Access free accompanying resources: https://amplify.com/beyond-my-years

Quotes:

“First come in with the attitude of ‘I'm a learner too: I want to learn about you, and you'll learn about me.’” —Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, Ed.D.

“I look at the faces of the students that are there and that motivates me. All the other noise doesn't matter because I'm there to help them reach their dreams.” —Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, Ed.D.

“You don't have to be an expert in every single language. You just need to know enough about that language to serve your students.” —Ana Torres

“I am an educator of all students; it doesn't matter who they are.” —Eric Cross

On this episode of Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres is joined by Dan Meyer, Ph.D., Vice President of User Growth at Amplify and former Chief Academic Officer at Desmos. Dan’s journey in education began much like that of many other teachers—with a love of his content area. But entering the classroom proved difficult as he struggled to engage students who didn’t share his interest in math. In this episode, Dan gives listeners insight into his secret for engaging students in anything. He provides models for grounding lessons in real life, giving students more opportunities to show off their personalities, and reframing mistakes and “wrong answers” as valuable answers to different questions. He also touches on technology use in the classroom and how to know when it's the right tool for the job. Ana and Classroom insider Eric Cross then reflect on Dan’s insights, and Eric shares his top takeaways for the classroom.

Show notes:

• Connect with Dan Meyer:
  • Subscribe to Dan’s Substack, Mathworlds.
• Resources:
  • Five Twelve Thirteen by Dylan Kane
• Subscribe to Beyond My Years https://amplify.com/beyond-my-years
• Follow us on Instagram @amplify.education
• Connect with Eric Cross: https://www.ericcross.org/
• Connect with Ana Torres: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anayansi-ana-torres-m-ed-26a10654/

Quotes:

“The posters are one thing, but the pedagogies are another.” —Dan Meyer, Ph.D.

“What I'm always thinking about is how to make math more like the humanities, how to allow students to be right in personal ways and wrong in smart ways.” —Dan Meyer, Ph.D.

“Kids like and learn from teachers who like and learn from them.”—Dan Meyer, Ph.D.

“As human beings, sometimes we can get binary with things like tech or analog. But in reality, it's a tool. If I use the proper tool for the right job, I can be much more precise and accurate and detailed and creative.” —Eric Cross

“Education is the kind of job that I love because I think I'll always feel, to some degree, like an amateur, like a learner in the work.”—Dan Meyer, Ph.D.

“Create spaces where every kid could come in and say, “Whatever I offer here, if it's personal and earnest, it's gonna be well received and valuable.” —Dan Meyer, Ph.D.

Host Ana Torres welcomes former NJDOE Chief Academic Officer Tracey Severns, Ed.D., to discuss not just how to bring more joy to the classroom but how joy and laughter can draw in even the most vulnerable students. Tracey outlines the current research on what humor can do in the classroom and shares her own observational research in a case study school on the power of increasing smiles. She shares tips and tricks for both classroom teachers and administrators for how to encourage a culture of joy. Finally, Ana and Classroom Insider Eric Cross reflect on Tracey’s insights, with Eric sharing his top three takeaways and what specifically he incorporated in his classroom after a trip to Disney.

Show notes:

• Connect with Tracey Severns:
  • Instagram: @tracey.severns
  • Linkedin
• Resources:
  • Read: “Mistakes, Missteps, Missed Opportunities: Lived Lessons from the Real World of Educational Leaders”
• Subscribe to Beyond My Years https://at.amplify.com/bmy
• Follow us on Instagram @amplify.education
• Connect with Eric Cross: https://www.ericcross.org/
• Connect with Ana Torres: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anayansi-ana-torres-m-ed-26a10654/

Quotes:

“We can do both rigor and relationships. We can address standards and smiles. We can do content and care.” —Tracey Severns, Ed.D.

“ When you have a joyous classroom, you have a learning classroom.” —Tracey Severns, Ed.D.

“There's research out there. I know some of us feel like we intuitively know that [smiling] is important, but the data shows how important that was.” —Ana Torres

“When we view students not as difficult, but as those who challenge us to be our best, we switch from frustration to growth.” —Eric Cross