Ever wondered how one person's advocacy can reshape educational policies and create lasting change for students and their families? Hear from Debbie Smith, Vice President of Government Relations at Curriculum Associates, as she shares her compelling journey of advocating for her son and how it sparked a broader movement for change within school dis…

Unlock the secrets to classroom engagement that go beyond academics, setting up students for real-world success! Join us for an enlightening conversation with Brian Benavides, National Director of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates, as he shares his experiences from diverse school districts. Together, we explore the power of teachi…

Unlock the secrets to transforming middle school math education with visual tools and manipulatives that truly make a difference. Liz Peyser, our esteemed guest and National Director of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates, joins us to reveal how visual thinking strategies can close understanding gaps for students facing limited inst…

Frances Frei, a distinguished professor at Harvard Business School, graces our podcast to unravel the secrets behind building trust in education. Her insights into the trust triangle—comprising authenticity, logic, and empathy—can transform how educators connect with students. Embrace the opportunity to learn how to enhance your teaching style, boo…

What if you could transform your classroom into a harmonious sanctuary with just the power of music? Join us on this episode of the Extraordinary Educators podcast as we welcome the inspiring Julene Jessel, an Education Technology Fellow and former educator, who passionately shares her insights on weaving music into the fabric of daily classroom ro…

Unlock the secrets to supporting older striving readers with Josh Hall, Senior National Director of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates. Join us as Josh shares his wealth of experience and insights into helping students in the upper grades tackle the challenge of decoding complex, multi-syllabic words. Whether you're teaching math, …

What if small group reading instruction is the missing puzzle piece in your classroom strategy? Join us as we sit down with the passionate and insightful Emily Castelli, a dedicated second-grade teacher from West Virginia, who will forever change the way you think about the science of reading. Emily unpacks common misconceptions and highlights the …

Unlock the secrets of engaging middle school math classrooms with Stacy Monsman, Curriculum Associates' Math Content and Pedagogy Specialist. This episode promises transformative strategies that will breathe life into your teaching practice. Stacy shares her wisdom on the unique dynamics of middle school environments, where educators juggle content…

Renea Arias transformed her daughter's literacy struggles into a groundbreaking educational journey, and you won't want to miss the insights she shares with us. From her successful career as a research scientist to becoming a passionate advocate for literacy, Renae's story is nothing short of inspiring. She unveils her systematic approach to litera…

What if a simple incentive could radically transform your students' motivation? Join us this week on The Extraordinary Educators Podcast as we sit down with Sandra Brown, a passionate school-based teacher leader from Philadelphia. Sandra's journey is nothing short of inspiring, as she shares how introducing small trophies, medals, and even homemade…

Ever wondered how to make the transition from elementary to middle school smoother for your students? Join us on the Extraordinary Educators podcast as we sit down with Naneka, National Director of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates. Naneka dispels common myths about middle school maturity and shares actionable strategies to help e…

Unlock the secrets to creating more engaging and effective learning environments through the power of high expectations and active listening. In our latest episode, we sit down with the esteemed education researcher, Professor John Hattie, who shares groundbreaking insights from his analysis of 20,000 hours of classroom instruction. Learn how to tr…

Unlock the secrets to supporting striving readers across upper elementary, middle, and high school grades with insights from the esteemed Dr. Anita Archer. In this episode, Dr. Archer shares powerful strategies for scaffolding in subjects like reading, science, and social studies. From essential pre-reading activities such as pronunciation and voca…

Ever wondered how you can humanize data to better understand and support your students? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Brooklin Trover, Senior National Director of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates, as she shares innovative strategies to transform raw data into meaningful insights. Brooklin delves into the importanc…

Ready to recharge and find joy this summer? Discover transformative self-care techniques that will leave you refreshed and inspired for the next school year. From completely disconnecting from work to indulging in hobbies, this episode is packed with actionable strategies tailored specifically for educators. Learn how to schedule time for your favo…

Unlock the secrets to effective literacy instruction with Angie Gates, our inspiring guest and dedicated Field Support Manager for Literacy Implementations with Curriculum Associates. Angie brings a treasure trove of knowledge about the science of reading and shares her practical wisdom on overcoming the challenges that educators face when adopting…

What if you could transform your classroom into an engaging, vibrant hub of learning, especially in the challenging post-COVID era? Our latest episode features Kim Brownell, a sixth-grade ELA and reading teacher, who shares her incredible journey from being a principal back to the classroom. Kim reveals her innovative student engagement strategies …

Discover how to create a classroom where every child feels seen and heard with insights from our guest, Extraordinary Educator, Nina Henderson. In this episode, we promise to equip you with practical strategies for culturally responsive teaching, all inspired by Zaretta Hammond's groundbreaking work, "Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain." …

Unlock the secrets to empowering your math students as Uloma, a math specialist, joins us to illuminate the transformative power of a positive math mindset. Delve into the essential role of productive struggle within the classroom and discover strategies that allow students, especially those from diverse backgrounds, to overcome challenges and thri…

Ever wondered how a middle school classroom can transform into a hub of engagement, where students are not just listeners but active participants? Join us as we sit down with Jasmine Applewhite, a dynamic STEAM teacher from Mississippi, who's revolutionizing middle school education by incorporating small group instruction with a STEAM twist. Her un…

Imagine stepping into a school where every face is familiar and every interaction is threaded with empathy and support. That's the reality second-grade teachers Kelly and Amber have created with their PAWS Time initiative, a program that's transforming their school community into an interconnected family. As this episode unfolds, you'll be captivat…

Discover the transformative power of appreciation and the heartwarming impact it has on educators far and wide, as we bring you a special Teacher Appreciation Week episode of the Extraordinary Educators Podcast. Rob Waldron, CEO of Curriculum Associates, joins this episode to celebrate the influence of teachers. We explore how simple acts of kindne…

Discover the magic of mathematics with a twist of flair as we chat with Pennsylvania's own Matthew Weimann, a math maven and business-savvy educator. This week's episode of the Extraordinary Educators Podcast brings you an invigorating conversation that will reshape your thoughts on math education. Matt takes us through his unique classroom, where …

Unlock the secrets to making math an exhilarating experience for students with the wisdom of Liz Peyser, National Director of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates. Discover how multisensory learning can revolutionize the way children understand and enjoy mathematics. In our conversation, we explore easy-to-implement classroom strateg…

What happens when young minds meet the roadblocks of complex problems? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Andrea Baney, a fourth-grade math and science teacher, who sheds light on the power of productive struggle in the classroom. Andrea shares her refreshing take on how she re-engages her students with fresh challenges and guides them t…

Discover the transformational power of data-driven decisions in education as we sit down with Monique Smalls, a visionary principal who turns struggling schools into bastions of excellence. Journey with us through Monique's candid recount of how practical approaches like the gradual release model and professional learning communities can ignite a c…

Ready to roll out the red carpet for your students? Join us as we delve into an extraordinary and inspiring conversation with Kat Perry, a remarkable reading specialist from Northeast ISD in San Antonio, Texas. Kat's unique approach to celebrating student growth and learning brings the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to the classroom in a district-w…

Ever wondered how to unlock the algebraic potential in young minds? Look no further, as we've tapped into the expertise of Rebecca Brenneman, a seasoned 7th-grade math teacher from Maryland, who's got the playbook for priming middle schoolers for the world of algebra. Rebecca's approach emphasizes a rock-solid number sense and the art of breaking d…

Ever feel overwhelmed by the idea of setting up learning centers in your classroom? Let's break down those barriers with Amy Haskell from Curriculum Associates as she joins us to debunk myths and simplify the concept. In our revealing conversation, she spills the beans on how to craft structured and effective learning environments with just a few c…

Unlock the mystery of math fact fluency with the enlightening guidance of Laurie Penney, a Math Content and Pedagogy Specialist from Curriculum Associates. In our latest conversation, Laurie sheds light on the vital components of math fluency—accuracy, efficiency, and flexibility—and how these elements intersect to build a robust foundation for lea…

Discover the transformative strategies that Dr. Martha Butler, a seasoned literacy coach, is using to revolutionize early literacy development in our schools, especially post-pandemic. This episode is a treasure trove for educators and parents alike, as Dr. Butler opens up about the all-encompassing approach her school takes to ensure foundational …

Ever wondered how a teacher can turn a classroom into a hub of excitement and learning that students can't get enough of? Da'Jhon Jett is that teacher, and he's sharing his playbook with us. He's not your average sixth-grade educator; Da'Jhon is a maestro of engagement, harmonizing music and the latest TikTok trends to reach students on their level…

Uncover the secrets to unlocking your students' full potential with Megan Robinson, Director of Content, Implementation, and Adoptions at Curriculum Associates, as she guides us through the revolutionary practice of educational acceleration. Get ready to transform your approach from remediation to the more dynamic strategy of acceleration, a method…

Unlock the secrets of transformative math instruction with our insightful guest, Jesse Lewis, a Regional Math Consultant with Curriculum Associates who brings to light the urgency for change in the post-pandemic classroom. In a landscape where catch-up tactics have leaned heavily on memorization and procedural drills, Jesse advocates for a richer, …

Discover the critical insights shedding light on how the pandemic has shaped the educational landscape, as we sit down with the brilliant Kelsey Young, Senior Research Scientist at Curriculum Associates. Through our conversation, Kelsey provides a deep dive into Curriculum Associates' latest research findings, which signal a warning for educators e…

Ever wondered how to effectively lift your middle school students out of the literacy crisis they're facing? Look no further for answers as we sit with Christine Zimmermann, Senior Manager of Product Marketing on our ELA team, who brings her expertise on reading intervention strategies that will transform your approach to teaching. In our enlighten…

Ever been perplexed by the intricate dance of teaching reading? Let the wisdom of Elizabeth Bassford, Vice President of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates, be your guide on this educational odyssey. As we unpack her vision for revitalizing literacy education, you'll feel the urge to re-enter the classroom with strategies to elevate…

Discover the secret sauce to sparking a fervor for learning as we chat with Josh Hall, National Director, Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates. Freshly inspired after the winter break doldrums, educators often scratch their heads wondering how to reignite that classroom dynamism. Josh lays it all out for us, dissecting the trinity of…

Looking to start the 2024 year strong within your classroom? Discover how a simple yet powerful exercise can transform your mindset and boost morale in our latest episode of the Extraordinary Educator podcast. We, Danielle and Sari, reflect on the past year, discussing the challenges educators have faced and emphasizing the paramount importance of …

Want to unlock the superhero within you as an educator? This episode is a treasure trove of insights, strategies, and heart, as we engage in an insightful conversation with Tom Murphy, the founder of Sweethearts and Heroes. This conversation uncovers the profound influence teachers hold in moulding young minds. Tom offers his unique perspective on …

Join us on an enlightening journey as we host the Extraordinary Educator, Dr. Janie Brown. Dr. Brown imparts her valuable wisdom on nurturing a sense of community in the classroom. Get insights on how to truly connect with your students, foster an environment of inclusivity, and tailor your instruction to what truly motivates your class. Dr. Brown …

Ever wished you could inspire success in every student that walks into your classroom? You're in the right place! This enlightening episode is a masterclass in igniting student success, with our esteemed guest, Glendaliz Almonte, National Director of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates. We delve into the art of teaching reading, nur…

Transform your teaching approach with the unique insights of Laura Bryant, a seasoned dual language teacher hailing from Arizona, who firmly believes in the power of language as the cornerstone of all instruction. Prepare to be enlightened by her rich experiences and understand the profound impact of overlooking language in the classroom, especiall…

Does your classroom feel like a nurturing space, where each student feels seen, heard, and embraced? Join us as we welcome the inspiring educator Nick Alfred from Rhode Island, who has brilliantly transformed his classroom into an 'environment of care'. He explains how prioritizing the well-being of students, both emotionally and physically, create…

Ever wonder how educators can harness the power of student data to better shape their teaching methods? This episode promises to provide an insightful dialogue on this very topic. We're joined by Joe Cuprak, National Director at Curriculum Associates, as he shares his extensive knowledge and experience in the field of education. Listen as Joe impar…

Do you remember the days as a new teacher, worried about family phone calls? Emily, an Extraordinary Educator and current fourth grade teacher, certainly does. In this episode, she walks us through her fascinating journey, from being a 22-year-old new educator who was worried while making phone calls, to a seasoned professional adept at creating an…

Our special guest today, Josh Hall, National Director of Content and Implementation at Curriculum Associates, brings his wealth of knowledge to the table. We're going to blow the lid off the subject of discourse in the reading classroom. This isn't about simple student chit-chat, but the methodical and intent sharing of thoughts that promote divers…

Are you ready to redefine your classroom with technology? Tap into the genius of Charlie Giannone, a groundbreaking New York educator and podcast host, as we explore his innovative approach to teaching. You're in for a thrilling ride as he recounts his experience of creating a weekly TV show with his fourth-grade students, and how it transformed th…

Picture navigating your workspace or classroom with a profound sense of connection and mutual respect, where everyone's unique needs are understood and catered to. How much more could we achieve? How much more progress could we make? This episode guides you through this journey with Brooklin Trover, National Director of Curriculum Instruction at Cu…

Ever wonder how to get the most out of your time when it comes to education? Mara Rodriguez, Senior Director of Educator Success at Curriculum Associates, joins us to share her insights on how acceleration in education is all about maximizing minutes and crafting creative schedules. We explore ways to balance student learning and level content as w…