Why Books in Bedrooms Matter More Than You Think!
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
12/19/22
•32m
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Join bestselling author and nationally syndicated advice columnist Amy Dickinson as she shares her powerful "Put a Book on Every Bed" Christmas tradition that's transforming family literacy across America. In this inspiring conversation, Amy reveals how a simple wrapped book can revolutionize student engagement, student motivation, and create lasting home-school connections.
Discover evidence-based education strategies that teachers, parents, and homeschoolers can implement immediately to boost student participation and foster a love of reading. Amy's journey from a struggling late reader to NYT bestselling author offers hope and practical teaching tips for supporting difficult students and inspiring students of all backgrounds.
This episode is perfect for empowered educators seeking innovative teaching approaches, parents wanting to strengthen family partnerships, and anyone committed to education transformation. Learn how Amy's advocacy for fine-free libraries removes barriers to student success and creates more inclusive classrooms.
Whether you're dealing with low engagement, seeking professional development ideas, or looking for ways to support the whole child, this conversation provides actionable strategies for thriving students and inspired teaching.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to Amy Dickinson
1:54 Inspiring Educators: Mrs. Jones Story
4:15 The Power of Reading Aloud to Older Children
5:54 Put a Book on Every Bed Christmas Tradition
9:01 Growing Up with a Reader: Basketball Game Story
11:22 Library Advocacy and Book Bundles During COVID
12:07 Giving Books to Families in Need
14:19 Selecting Age-Appropriate Books
17:43 Visiting Elder Communities and Assisted Living
18:30 Working with Schools and Organizations
22:44 Connecting with Young Readers and Authors
26:36 Fine-Free Libraries: Removing Barriers to Literacy
29:55 Call to Action: Supporting the Book on Every Bed Movement
Episode Mentions:
- Amy's Books
- Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!
- Brigid Hubberman - Children's Reading Connection
- Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
- Apple Fest - Ithaca, NY
- David McCullough
- Scholastic Biographies
- Buffalo Street Books - Lisa Swayze
- Tompkins County Public Library
- A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
- Freeville Elementary School
- John Simon & Cal Walker
- Libraries are getting rid of late fees. Here’s why that’s a good thing
- Seinfeld - The Library Cop
- Horatio Alger Association
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Previous Episode
Build Stronger Teacher Teams with Bite-Sized Coaching
December 12, 2022
•46m
Tired of overwhelming your teachers with endless professional development? Discover the game-changing "Coaching à la Carte" approach that's transforming how instructional coaches support educators!
In this episode of Schoolutions, instructional coaches and Two Writing Teachers Blog authors Amy Ellerman and Morgan Davis share revolutionary strategies for building stronger teacher teams through bite-sized professional development and innovative learning labs. If you're struggling with teacher burnout, low engagement in PD, or need effective coaching strategies that actually work, this conversation is for you.
What You'll Learn:
✅ How to implement "Coaching à la Carte" for busy, depleted teachers
✅ The power of learning labs to transform teacher collaboration
✅ Why turning teachers into "risk-takers" (not experts) creates better outcomes
✅ Practical strategies for instructional coaching that drive student success
✅ How to build collective efficacy through parallel practices
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to Amy Ellerman & Morgan Davis
2:04 Inspiring Educators: Katie Wood Ray & Sam Bennett
4:33 The Shift in Teacher Capacity for Professional Learning
5:43 What is "Coaching à la Carte"?
7:21 Teacher Teams & Risk-Taking in Learning Labs
9:50 Understanding Learning Labs Structure
11:06 Pre-Unit Planning: Building Clarity Together
12:55 Teacher as Writer: Living the Experience
15:28 Pre-Brief: Setting Up Learning Lab Success
20:46 Mid-Unit Collaboration & Feedback Palooza
24:20 Observation: Growing Teacher Learning
27:00 The Critical Debrief Process
30:12 Finishing Units Strong: Reflection & Celebration
35:07 Commitment & Follow-Up in Learning Labs
39:33 Call to Action: Building Collective Efficacy
42:11 Getting Started: Breaking Down Big Work
45:09 Closing & Two Writing Teachers Blog
Episode Mentions:
- Coaching à la Carte: Stronger Together Blog Series by Amy Ellerman (10/31/22)
- Teacher Teams: Stronger Together Blog Series by Morgan Davis (11/5/22)
- Katie Wood Ray
- Sam Bennett
- Learning Lab Structure
- Professional Learning Community (PLC)
- Vicki Collet’s 2022 CCIRA session based on her book, Collaborative Lesson Study: ReVisioning Teacher Professional Development (2019)
Other Recent Blog Posts by Amy & Morgan:
- Conferring Notes: The Key to Unit Planning
- Joy and Agency: An Origin Story
- It's not Magic (but it IS): The Power of Being a Teacher who Writes
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Next Episode
23 Students Share What Makes Teachers Unforgettable
December 26, 2022
•8m
What Students REALLY Want from Teachers (23 Kids Reveal the Truth)
Discover what truly matters to students through authentic voices from kindergarten to 12th grade! In this powerful episode of Schoolutions podcast, 23 students share heartfelt messages about the teachers who make the biggest impact in their lives.
What You'll Learn:
➡️Real student perspectives on effective teaching and student engagement
➡️How simple acts of kindness transform classroom culture and student motivation
➡️The power of humor, patience, and respect in managing students and classroom behavior
➡️Why choice and autonomy boost student participation and active learning
➡️How teachers create inclusive classrooms that make every student feel valued
Perfect For:
Teachers, education coaches, school administrators, parents, homeschoolers, teacher mentors, instructional leaders, school counselors, and anyone passionate about inspiring students and education transformation.
From students who love teachers that "don't get mad the first time" to those who appreciate fresh-baked bread and morning Wordle games, these authentic voices reveal the teaching strategies that truly work. Whether you're focused on classroom management, student discipline, or simply want to improve your teacher impact, these insights will inspire your approach to education.
Key Themes: Student success, thriving students, empowered educators, inspired teaching, pro-kid mindset, whole child approach, culturally responsive teaching, equity in education, inclusive teaching, teacher support, and building strong home-school connections.
Chapters
0:00 - Welcome to Schoolutions Podcast
1:30 - The Mission: Finding Solutions in Education
2:45 - Student Messages Begin (Grades K-12)
8:20 - What Students Really Value in Teachers
10:15 - The Power of Kindness & Humor in Teaching
12:30 - Choice, Respect & Inclusion Matter Most
14:45 - Parker Palmer's Wisdom for Educators
16:00 - Moving Forward: Sharing Stories for Solutions
#Teachers #Education #StudentVoices #ClassroomManagement #TeachingTips #StudentEngagement #EducationPodcast #TeacherSupport #StudentMotivation #InclusiveTeaching #TeacherImpact #SchoolCulture #EducationStrategies #InspiredTeaching #StudentSuccess #ProfessionalDevelopment #EducationTransformation #TeacherMentors #ClassroomBehavior #EffectiveTeaching
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When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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