Catholic Teachers' Lounge: Recent Episodes
Colleen and Jill
Each episode of Catholic Teacher’s Lounge features ideas for your classroom that we gather from all over the country.
Use the summer to prepare kids to comfortably start the year together. Offering some short, easy connection opportunities, like popsicles in the park, is good for teachers, parents, and students.
Trying to make big changes all at once can result in undesirable outcomes. Making changes, personally or professionally, can be a slow and steady process. Whether talking about personal fitness, redesigning your classroom, or getting kids to participate in silent sustained reading for 25 minutes, moderation and slow build will get you there.
The vagus nerve connects the brain to all bodily organs and is therefor affected by almost every internal and external stimulus. In this episode, Colleen and Jill discuss the importance of knowing some basics of neuroscience to help kids with self regulation and stimuli that affect classroom performance and behavior.
Seeing and hearing an unborn baby impacts pro-life beliefs and advocacy. Jill shares a story about an elementary school having live ultrasounds for the student body to experience life in the womb.
Interviews can be used as a flexible teaching, learning, and assessment tool in many classes and at any grade level. This episode highlights ways to integrate interviews to create perspective, teach critical thinking, and more.
The methods of qualitative research apply to grading papers, too. When grading a stack of papers, how do you categorize them by what you notice? Using codes to create different learning paths based on how students responded to particular quiz questions will help to improve your instruction for the next year. Connections to standardized test data is also discussed.
Learning to write is a long process with milestones at each grade level. In this episode Colleen and Jill discuss the fundamentals of learning to write in the lower grades using graphic organizers and having realistic expectations for idea development and grammatical and structural skills.
Which is better, Advanced Placement or Dual Credit? This episode debates the merit of offering these types of courses in high schools.
It’s important for teachers to remember that student behaviors are not personal. This episode reveals 5 reasons why students misbehave and detach in school.
In this episode, Colleen and Jill discuss ways to get kids to read over the summer, specifically through trickery.
A recent study has shown a drastic drop in risk taking behaviors among teens. This episode unpacks why this is NOT a good thing for kids, and how risk taking in the classroom is still important.
After experiencing “Italian for Survivors” in a high school in Perugia, Italy, Jill realizes that our students back here in the US do not have much exposure to other languages. Even students who study Spanish for their whole lives have not had enough language hours to have conversational Spanish when abroad. We discuss passion for language and the desire for language to expand our moments of ministry in the global Church.
In many schools data walls are used to show student progress and achievement. In this episode Colleen and Jill explore the idea of using data walls to show alignment of curriculum standards to help teachers plan instruction. Also discussed is the importance of connecting topics taught in different subject areas for depth of learning and remembering information.
Have you ever been surprised by a saint? In this episode we discuss St. Anthony of Padua and Blessed Carlo. Those who pray for their intercessions drop them notes in Churches. Teachers can do the same, dropping letters in the mail to these places of worship.
Motivation, resources, and inspiration come to life with whatever you place on the walls of the classroom. The same goes for teachers’ lounge and the school in general. Bring your mission to life on the walls of the school.
Regular rules go out the window in the month of May for behavior rules and classroom management policies, but that doesn’t mean we can’t plan accordingly. How to make the most of the final weeks together to finish the year strong.
Keeping kids engaged during spring fever with the end of the year in sight is especially challenging. Explore several fun and easy suggestions from creative teachers.
There is no such thing as parent norms. Every family and home situation is unique, making it complicated to assume what every student should or shouldn’t do. How to work together to focus on the child’s success instead of parents’ failures and challenges.
Scavenger hunts can be fun learning tools for students, staff and even parents. It integrates movement, purpose, and a sense of adventure to share ideas and concepts in a very practical sense.
Mid-year conversations open up all sorts of new ideas and tips — especially talking to teachers who taught your students last year and teachers who will teach your kids next year. It naturally creates a two way conversation about realities and expectations.
Middle school students buddy up with younger grades all the time for prayer and camaraderie, but teachers are experimenting with literature connections as well — developing modified flip books to share stories.
Our greatest resource is also our biggest crutch. The final result of extended screen time is yet to be determined, but everyone recognizes the challenge at hand — mental health challenges, shorter attention spans, inability to work well with others, etc. Awareness is step number one.
At this stage of the year, everyone can use a refresh. This is a perfect time of year to redecorate classroom walls, declutter desks and shelves and rotate classroom resources to keep the kids interested and surprised. Lean into peers and what they learned at spring PD for new ideas.
Every school is challenged with too much to do and not enough time to do it so delegation and shared knowledge is challenge we all face. We lean in on one person to own a progect, program or process all by themselves — which works great until that person leaves or retires. Learn more about building a system that cross pollinates while documenting processes so everything lives beyond any one person.
Movie producers know the impact of environment when telling a compelling story, but rarely do we think about the sensory impact of our classroom setting to optimize learning and engagement. Hear more from a creative math and economics teacher.
The day after the eclipse, take a moment to look at what you do and how you do it with a new set of eyes. It’s easy to stick to your routine with trusted resources, but we can’t afford not to keep trying new things or re-envisioning old things.
Making memories with the unique and historic eclipse before, during or after the 8th with art, science and study projects.
Bring lessons to life with engaging activities that incorporate movement into learning, understanding and memorization.
Managing the post spring break Easter energy level is an annual challenge for teachers as schools head into the end of year homestretch.
Lent is not about being perfect. It's normal to fall short. This powerful lesson provides an opportunity to learn from shortcomings in all aspects of our life as we adjust on the fly. From humility stems gratitude.
The temptations students face don't stop after Lent. Recognizing and supporting students in their journey of faith is an opportunity and responsibility for all teachers to make a difference.
Temptation impacts everyone -- students and teachers alike. Lent is a wonderful opportunity to reassess and evaluate our own lives, personally and professionally.
Bringing Math to life takes more than numbers -- whether you are using shaving cream as a home made white board or tackling word problems using reading techniques.
When do you stop the teaching train to make sure a student understands a key concept vs. just moving on to the next concept and assume the student will do enough to pass the class? What's the best technique to ensure the student's foundation is solid before moving on?
Teacher Elizabeth D'Aurora asks for feedback on her practice of hearing every 3rd grade student recite memorized prayers -- including non-Catholic students. It is a logistical challenge as well as an evangelization opportunity.
What is the role and value of tactile learning in the classroom? Whether it is a science experiment or simply practicing handwriting, fine motor skills play a role in brain development. How does that compare to the emphasis on technology in the classroom?
Technology has always been a double edge sword. Strategically minimizing screen time while maximizing engagement with digital tools is an ongoing conversation and experiment. Join the dialogue!
Tough talk on the reality of partnering with parents when it comes to school policies and missing classroom time. Are we empowering bad behavior or we effectively collaborating with families? Who suffers the consequences of parent decisions and whose responsibility is it to solve?
Making time for connecting with kids (and their families) outside the classroom at sporting events, school performances and other activities take relationships to a new level as you show interest in the kids representing themselves and their school.
Breaking up grade levels with the creation of house communities for students to grow and connect in new and different ways with other students at different ages and stages. Can be themed by saints or other topics with extra service, competitions, and events.
Peer editing is ripe for difficulty, but one teacher cracked the code of peer feedback with groups of four to effectively navigate the process of constructive criticism, using reading papers and ideas aloud for maximum clarity.
It's important for students to see teachers as real people with real talents beyond being subject matter experts. Learn about the possibilities surrounding a Day of Engagement where teachers put away the books and allow students to pick and choose talent demonstrations from teachers and staff.
Student engagement has to be deeper than simply a desire to please the teacher. When the stakes are higher, we see students perform better and with more effort. Opportunities abound with online publication of writing or art -- or even the tried and true science fair with outside judges. It can be a lot of work, but the spotlight of real life applications can help every student shine.
In addition to presenting content to students, there are many flexible ways to allow students to present the content back to the teacher. Opening the door to adaptive technology and adaptive measurements can be a game changer for many smart kids who struggle with the typical process.
Universal Design is not a methodology, but instead it is a mindset or awareness. Many teachers are practicing it in some forms. Representation is a great example, as teachers consider how a variety of students will perceive content differently -- whether it is the lesson itself, the homework or basic instruction.
Student engagement is the holy grail of every classroom. Historically, differentiation was identified as the path to successfully connecting with every child, but this is not sustainable for even the best teachers. Instead, focusing on elements of universal design for learning can bring great habits and tactics to every topic.
"This shouldn't be so hard." "This shouldn't take so long." But it's never really about the homework. Stress, feeling tired and overwhelmed, clunky technology or whatever the real reason, calls for special grace for all involved.
Engaging kids in mock trials of real issues to explore empathy, understanding and facts is a great way to bring the classroom to life. Hear more about one theology teacher's mock trial for those responsible for Jesus' murder.
Teaching the youngest of our schools can bring out the best and worst of all of us, but it serves as a microcosm of teaching at any grade. Hear more about the long term impact of a science teacher's ability to bring out the wow for pre-schoolers. Transformation prior to knowledge is always a winning combination!
The Ball of Red String is a delightfully easy read for young kids, but as we enter the Lenten journey, it can lead to many deeper insights and questions for every child and family member. Jill and Colleen follow the string…Find out more about The Ball of Red String (along with activities for the book).
How to share your excitement about a new idea, thought, book or approach without it being dismissed as the "flavor of the week" because everyone is busy and overworked? What role do you play -- the idea generator, the wet blanket, the listener or the collaborator?
Jill and Colleen go all in on CSI-like tips and technique thanks to a creative teacher who made her own murder board to break down characters and plot twists in middle school novels.
With a heart for teaching, Mary Pat Donoghue has run the gamut of supporting Catholic schools as a teacher, administrator and consultant. Now, she serves as the Executive Director of the Secretariat of Catholic Education for the USCCB -- acting as the bridge between the bishops and the schools.
How wonderful that a former middle school teacher is now forming and inspiring future school principals? This is what the Catholic Teachers Lounge is all about with special guest Kevin Baxter, Director of the Remick Leadership Program at University of Notre Dame.
School choice is changing the landscape of Catholic school enrollment and who better to talk about the positives and negatives than a former teacher, coach, and principal. Hear more from Bruce Hermie, National Director of School Partnerships for the American Federation for Children.
Every school has a trusted teacher that everyone looks up to no matter what grade they teach. Today's guest, Elizabeth D'Aurora, a 3rd grade teacher from Parnell Michigan, is one of those teachers for her school as well as listeners of the Catholic Teachers Lounge podcast thanks to her regular contributions!
Taking a stroll down memory lane with special guest Dr. Debbie Sullivan from the Greeley Center for Catholic Education at Loyola Chicago to savor all the wonderful traditions of Catholic Schools Week.
Welcoming home schoolers into a community is what Catholic schools are all about. Students can embrace new friends and teachers can see education and learning methods with a fresh perspective. But sensitivity is also required as the transition can be challenging for both sides.
Many teachers also coach, but how many coaches also teach? Bringing a coach mentality to the classroom can significantly improve skill development and application across disciplines. It can embrace failure in the learning process as well.
How do we know students are grasping the lessons of the day -- especially if they are working independently or across multiple ages and stages of learning? It is imperative we find the right questions to end a lesson or class that confirms comprehension while also providing helpful feedback to teachers as they adjust their daily lessons accordingly.
We love to do field trips and other immersive teaching opportunities, but when there is so much to see, do and experience, we risk information overload for students with different learning norms. This makes pre and post experiences a critical part of the process so students retain the main elements that fit perfectly into your lesson plans.
By its nature, substitute teaching is usually unplanned, but the preparation doesn't have to be -- by the teacher AND school. An annual substitute orientation session for new and old subs can cover the foundational elements of scheduling, philosophy, policies and culture while helping them feel important and part of the team.
Jennifer Wallace's new book Never Enough opens our eyes to the pressure on kids and parents to achieve, achieve, achieve and the unintended consequence of teaching our young people that the world revolves around them. As teac hers, how can we help return to balance?
In our culture of achievement, we are seeing the impact of overscheduling on our students. Is it the responsibility of the teacher to give less (or no) homework or are there bigger issues at play for parents, coaches, and teachers to all work together? What better time than Advent to consider the value of patience and prayer to find inner peace?
Building on the tension filled dialogue episode, how to recognize a-ha moments of discovery and connection vs. students simply looking to de-rail the conversation? And then how does this impact future behavior and teaching?
Real discussion requires tension and varied perspectives -- but it can be stressful and scary to not be able to control the dialogue. How do we trust the process and each other to facilitate this important transfer of knowledge where brains have an opportunity to grow.
Evaluating and remembering the past can help us improve for the future. It's also helpful to take time to connect with others and acknowledge gratitude for our time together.
We do our best to stay focused on the real reason for the season, but the reality is teachers are the ones who have to juggle the challenges of excited students, overwhelming schedules, extra events and stressed out parents and families. Special shout out to teachers who make it all happen and still keep their faith!
Combining pop culture with our Catholic faith by mixing popular music with prayers or scripture -- "Weird Al" Yankovic style! It brings creativity, fun and a deeper understanding or words and language together in a unique and special way.
So much happens at a teacher convention! In this episode Colleen shares ideas from teachers at the Indiana Nonpublic Education Association Convention. Teachers talked about their best classroom practices and also enjoyed giveaways from vendors.
Professional learning is an expectation at most schools, but sometimes teachers are required to participate in professional development without any choice in what they are going to learn about. Jill and Colleen reflect on what it feels like on both sides of the table--as the participant in the professional development day and the person delivering the content to a group of teachers.
As Catholics, our rituals are a wonderful way to grow in faith, but unscripted, group prayer can also be an intentional community builder for any classroom as we share concerns, hopes, dreams and understanding. The benefits of class connections are a testament to investing the time in each other.
Another Loyola Press advent lesson is referenced, Advent cards. We encourage students to consider what they say YES to, from a kindergartner thanking Mary for her YES, to high school seniors considering which vocational YES God is asking of them.
Colleen asks what's happening in schools as we begin Advent. It's a time of preparation, and the prayer of the moment is that even those are secularly preparing for Christmas are awaiting something even much bigger: the coming of Christ.
Consider adding an Advent Wreath to your classroom, beginning the season with an advent wreath blessing. We discuss the Loyola Press lesson on blessing an Advent wreath.
What if students had five minutes to talk about the test between handing it out and starting to answer questions? How do we help students reduce tension and settle their thoughts so they can regulate themselves before sharing what they know?
Public prayer can be intimidating for some teachers -- especially when doing so one on one with parents instead of leading children in memorized prayers -- but mandated faith behavior comes across as forced. How to work through fears to encourage and support fellow teachers to do hard things.
E-Sports is gaining traction from college down to grade school. Strategy, teamwork, and communication can boost camaraderie and life experience for students, but it also increases screen time and encourages potentially addictive games. How to unpack a challenging opportunity that brings both benefits and threats.
When we open our minds and hearts, there is much to learn from the students we serve. We believe in their growth and can be pleasantly surprised by their amazing examples of grace, wisdom, forgiveness, and faith. There is much to be thankful for when engaging with young people.
Prayer can be a unifying experience for teachers and staff when facilitated in a personal and flexible fashion because teachers have challenges too. Prayer can help bridge gaps and provide support for those in need when they need it.
Over communication is critical, but maintaining a sense of privacy for the child is important as well. When it comes to juggling mental health challenges, what does success look like and does student health or achieving learning standards become most important priority?
Exploring the reach of parents as primary educator of the child when parents excuse their kids from school for vacation. Whose responsibility is it to keep the students up to speed while they are gone?
Artificial Intelligence can create classroom havoc or magic solutions. On the positive side, it can feed the planning process with ideas and suggestions. But as with any new technology, it requires conversation and discernment for teachers and students.
What does the Catechism of the Catholic Church say about patriotism? How can we best honor veterans in our Catholic schools? This episode honors the stance of the Church on duty to country as well as prayer ideas for those who serve.
Fundraising is a necessity for Catholic high schools, but the duties of fundraising can be shared among staff and students. In this episode, Jill shares a recent fundraising victory when she challenged the students to take charge and raised the bar on expectations.
Applying for colleges today is so different than when we went to college! This episode shares insights from a college counselor on the current reality of applying for colleges as a high school senior.
Everything you learned about teaching, you learned in Kindergarten. Explicit instructions, patience, manners and more. Channel your inner Kindergartner and bring your teaching to the next level.
Arriving early, leaving late -- what is your preparation routine to make the most of classroom instructional time while maintaining a reasonable personal balance of work and home life?
From handshakes to interview questions and communications skills to leadership opportunities, there are many ways to prepare students for the real world, no matter the grade level. How to connect the classroom to the world.
It's easy to blame the pandemic for every current classroom challenge, but the reality is most of these challenges have been present for a long time. Becoming more deliberate in helping students improve their working memory with consistency, multi-sensory cues, and other techniques can go a long way to make the classroom "normal" again.
As the adult in the room and subject matter experts, it's easy to make teaching all about the teacher, but students surprise us every day with their insights, gifts and talents. Finding ways to connect with every student -- even the tough ones -- can open the door to not only inspiration, but lifelong impact through recognition and strength-based learning.
Every teacher has a unique, go-to lesson or activity to capture the imagination of their students and many times it can involve animals or insects. Tapping into God's creations can be a powerful lesson about life, death and the environment we all need to share, but it can also lead to funny and unpredictable experiences for all!
Practice makes perfect, but so does self and peer review. How to effectively use peer to peer reviews of student writing to help everyone improve.
Assigning group work can be a recipe for disaster no matter the age of the kids. However, disciplined assignment of roles and responsibilities can successfully help students navigate this critical, real world skill set.
In a world dominated by social media and electronic communication, facilitating classroom discussion that includes peer to peer eye contact, active listening, and mutual respect can be a significant challenge as you bridge the socratic method of yesteryear with the digital habits of today.
Electives and specials can be few and far between for some Catholic schools, but there is a concerted effort to make specials a bigger priority to help elevate kids in new ways by doing new things outside traditional academics.
This eternal question can be equally frustrating for teachers, students and parents alike as everyone has an opinion and perspective. Practice and repetition can certainly be helpful, but if you don't know how to do it, you don't know how to do it. Bring purpose and planning to your instructional efforts!
Reinforcing positive behavior is an exercise in creativity across ages and stages in every school. How to balance the standbys of food or prize rewards against the higher potential of motivating through recognition or extra freedoms.
Fear of the unknown can be a helpful mechanism to proceed with caution in some areas. It can also hold us back from future discovery. But the reality is we can't go back to the pre-AI world and everything will look different because of it. Include the students in the conversation as you prepare them for the world they have to live in.
AI is not going away. In fact, it can be an extremely helpful tool for students, teachers and administrators when used the right way. How can it be helpful in some situations and avoided in other situations as we help students maintain their voice and appreciate who they have been created to be.
Defining the scope of procedures and policies surrounding the use of AI in a school setting can not only be overwhelming, but impossible due to the constantly changing reality. Instead, focus on how to connect universal themes of integrity and ethics to student and teacher decision making as it relates to AI.
Navigating normal anxiety and feelings of imposter syndrome are hard enough without teachers also bearing the brunt of society's blame game when it comes to what students learn (or not) in the classroom. It's time to reject the lie that I am not enough. Shout out for doing the work!
Celebrating the evolution of the anxiety inducing physical education classes of yesteryear to the life skills that can be learned learned through exercise science. PE teachers can also lead the way with creative solutions around accommodations and inclusion efforts for all students.
Learning can come to life in a memorable way when you transition outside the classroom. Laugh and learn with memories and suggestions surrounding class field trips for all ages.
Engagement ramps up when students can work through learning lessons in front of the class, but challenges abound making room for all kids at the board at the same time, let alone easing student stage fright. Explore ideas and options for 360-degree teaching!
Collective teacher efficacy is the technical term for how to get farther, faster by working together, supporting each other, and believing in common outcomes. The strength of the teaching team through shared experience, communication and trust makes all the difference.
Teaching is isolating by design, but research shows one of the strongest indicators of effective learning is a teacher's self-confidence. This expands exponentially when a teaching staff collectively believes they are doing it well. Lean in and grow together!
When was the last time you asked others for advice when facing a tough challenge? It's hard enough to admit you have a problem and even harder to seek advice, but have you considered what happens when you get vulnerable and gather input?
Whether teaching religion or navigating a dinner table discussion, engaging kids to share their thoughts and feelings is a challenge for everyone. The universal game of Roses and Thorns is uniquely suited to open minds and hearts and give all teacher insights and ideas on who needs extra love and support.
Making personal connections with students is a natural and powerful aspect of Catholic education. Hear more about how one teacher made a spiritual connection as well by matching specific saints to each individual student based on their unique gifts and personality, along with a commitment to pray for them through that saint.
Classroom size can wreak havoc on classroom design — not to mention how to incorporate individual learning vs. lectures vs. small groups and everything in between. But structure and creativity can make all the difference as students know what they are doing, when they are doing it and what tools they have to do it — even if their desk happens to be a bean bag or a make-shift lectern.
Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name *
Email *
Website
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Δ
The 8th grade class in a school from Dallas, Texas took their reigns of their destiny by self-identifying what they think an ideal 8th grade student should look like and how they should behave. This student led, backward design moment was made possible by an evironment of trust and empowerment for the students to step up on their own.
Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name *
Email *
Website
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Δ
Teachers already know the benefits of data and measurements, but empowering students of all ages on the benefits of executive functions is a lifelong skill. Hear what a principal did with a custom made daily planner to help students track sleep, mood, stress, water consumption, movement and much more to help them own their daily success potential.
Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name *
Email *
Website
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Δ
Building on outcomes and evidence of learning, now you can start mapping out instruction time and lesson plans. Like little clocks, kids love patterns of consistent and predictable learning systems.
Measuring outcomes in the classroom is certainly no game, but just like the Rubik’s Cube, classroom rubrics demand creativity. Setting clear rubrics healps you and the students as it reduces anxiety and confusion around what’s expected.
Curriculum Mapping embraces the concept of backward design as you set your teaching strategy around the outcomes you want to achieve by the end of the school year.
Whether it's line leader, lunch monitor, or clean up patrol, delegating student responsibility and involvement drives engagement, leadership skills and community pride.
Sharing authority and responsibility with students can be scary, but the right level of accessibility and ownership can exponentially change the tone of classroom behavior at all ages.
We trained to meet and greet new students, but how do we lean in to new staff members to help them feel welcome, connected and engaged in the community?
Staff retreats can be game changers for motivation and inspiration. Whether on campus or off, finding different environments and natural spaces bring new perspectives.
Books change lives -- for our students, parents and ourselves. It helps us see beyond ourselves and our immediate challenges while opening our hearts and minds to new ideas.
Kick off the new year with the universal themes of love and forgiveness in mind as exemplified by the devotional, Forgive Everyone Everything.
Jill and Colleen toss a topic out to facebook friends for feedback and insights on the issue of summer reading, summer homework and summer challenges.
Join in on the fun on Facebook!
Going beyond the norm for anxiety challenged students to ease the transition to a new year. How to remove the barriers with storytelling, one on one support, and extra tours and introductions to ensure every student is ready to learn.
As you prep for the start of school, explore the intersection of classroom set-up and lesson planning. What comes first? How can one serve the other? What resources are available to maximize the space and opportunities for engagement?
Parent-teacher communication is more important than ever, but one-way digital communication like newsletters to parents can be way too easy to ignore or miss. How to create a more consistent and effective two way communication method that is relevant and effective.
As seen in the classic movie, bonding and personal growth will happen no matter the extent of challenges and chaos experienced during class trips. Whether it is a nature trip, a pilgrimage, a service trip or even a weekend adventure, there is a real benefit for young people when they are literally removed from their comfort zone.
Preventing summer learning loss is an annual challenge, made more critical coming off COVID learning loss. What's doable, helpful, and impactful.
Running into students and school families while out and about during summer activities can be a surprise for all involved. Bringing a dose of humility and humanity can open everyone's eyes to life on the other side of the teacher's desk!
How does a teacher feel after the last day of school? Why do we feel so tired. It's OK. You gave the school year your all.
Graduation is in the air and there is no better time to embrace the results of our hard work than to help the graduating class celebrate their accomplishment and leap into the next stage of their life.
The annual ritual of what to purge and what to keep as you wrap up for the summer doesn't have to be driven by your personality. There are many great ways to share, remember and archive all the hard work compiled over the school year.
Great culture is the best recruitment tool for Catholic schools. Share the joy and extend the fun as God prepares the person being called to fill open teacher slots at your school.
Seventeen minutes is the average amount of time where most students can stay focused. How does your instruction reflect this reality with something interactive or engaging along the way no matter the age?
Student communication and behavior has changed so much a new term has evolved. How are we adapting as we continuously model and teach effective communication skills across grade levels and topics?
Pre-school teachers bring a special creativity that every grade level can learn from in regard to engaging classrooms with multi-sensory approaches. Give yourself permission to be playful!
Year 1 is memorable for all sorts of reasons for new teachers. Parent engagement, lesson plans, classroom management, and everything in between creates both good and bad memories for the ages!
Embracing the unique and fun aspects of the time tested opportunity to celebrate school year progress!
Many teachers are intuitive by nature, but sometimes our greatest skill can be our biggest blindspot. Leaning into data can be the perfect compliment to help our students excel.
When done well, sharing tips and hints about students from teacher to teacher as they move from grade to grade can be a game changer for helping students succeed and thrive.
There is a new openness to animals engaging and expanding the learning experience with their general presence as an interventionist or as an actual part of the lesson.
80’s, 90’s and now. How relationships and culture changed as seen through school dances and social events.
Teachers don’t get days off, but emergencies still happen and it pays to be prepared with timeless tools and exercises. Specific to Language Arts class, hear more about writing prompts, journaling and fun, Mad Lib type grammar exercises.
Teachers don’t get days off, but emergencies still happen and it pays to be prepared with timeless tools and exercises. Specific to math class, hear more about fun thinking plans surrounding daily life with fresh tools like www.whenmathhappens.com.
Teachers don’t get days off, but emergencies still happen and it pays to be prepared with timeless tools and exercises. Specific to science class, hear more about easy conversation starters surrounding Catholic social teaching and pre-selected science articles or storybooks.
The magic sauce of any school culture is based on connections with parents. Hear ideas for making schools a place of comfort and support for parents as well as a great new idea for honoring moms on Mother’s Day.
The teachers lounge is a place to celebrate each other and build a culture of camaraderie among teacher peers at the school.
Character development is a priority for every school at every grade. Hear a creative, expandable solution for focusing it through a Catholic lens so it has a lifelong, faith-filled impact: Saints in the Making!
Shifting from education to application to keep students engaged between spring break and the end of the school year. Make learning about the student while helping them find God everywhere and in everything.
Drama, drama, drama. Harnessing and inspiring student energy and passion through theatre and the arts in elementary school.
High energy, “teacher on the street” conversations with engaging practitioners on the exhibit floor of NCEA 2023. Hear from a principal about school culture and one teacher’s creative teaching techniques around film and literature.
How to make the most of speakers, workshops and conferences. Best strategies for maximizing the learning and camaraderie at teacher gatherings.
Space matters when it comes to learning. It can be fun to create the ultimate Pinterest worthy classroom, but magic happens when the environment is perfectly suited to the topic you are teaching.
It can be scary to give up control in the classroom, but we also know the ideal teaching methodology is giving students the opportunity to teach themselves and each other.
The pressures of school sports can be legendary, especially with the rise in club sports and specialization, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Building community while maintaining reasonable priorities can be the new normal.
Conversation and participation can be a challenge for any classroom, but Ashley Schoeller uses the concept of a fishbowl to create robust, yet controlled interaction and engagement.
When given the chance, students can thrive when allowed to participate in their learning environment. What if you challenged your class to “Choose a seat where you can learn best today.”
Show and tell takes on a new spin with fellow student trying to guess the special item using their inquiry skills.
Catholic Teachers’ Lounge hosts Jill Annable and Colleen McCoy-Cejka welcome curriculum expert and Mr. Roger’s protégé, Joellyn Cicciarelli, to the lounge for a special deep dive discussion. Mixed with personal stories, practical examples and plenty of empathy for teachers navigating current challenges, the three experts provide creative solutions for making learning really rich, exciting and active.
Keeping the focus on Easter Joy during the busy, hectic and anxiety driven whirlwind countdown toward the end of the school year.
Art can transform student understanding and appreciation of not just faith, but a multitude of topics, including science, history and reason.
Experiences with nuns can run the gamut between eccentric, interesting and demanding, but their dedication and faith is always unmatched. What has been your experience with sisters?
Traditions of the church can bring structure and comfort throughout the year. This is especially true for Palm Sunday and Holy Week.
Catholic schools uniquely provide opportunities for public engagement, whether it is participation at Mass, presentations in class, or even activities in front of the whole school for various functions.
By design, it can be helpful to embrace our differences as teammates as well as teachers to play to our strengths across curriculum and grades.
Reinforcing good behavior is the key to child development. Explore the long term impact of currency or other rewards on motivating students.
The pandemic forced us to rethink the process of teaching and we have a great opportunity to continue experimenting with new models. What needs to be hands on and what doesn’t?
How does your school culture reflect radical welcoming? Do you have an official onboarding plan? Are students and families welcomed naturally by all?
Testing for student progress can take many forms, but a great tool for assessing skill development over the course of the year is portfolio assessments. Learn how to make the transition.
Rocket science development is driven by failure — but our culture says perfection is a must. Science teacher Isaac Forquor exemplifies training students on the benefits of effort over perfection.
Fear of doing it wrong gets in the way of effective inclusion efforts for neurodivergent students. How to embrace the beauty of belonging for all kids.
What is the academic impact of students’ choices and behavior? Is the class grade measuring knowledge or the students’ ability to follow directions, or both? If not in the grade, how do we measure behavior?
Discipline is a necessary part of every teacher’s classroom experience, but there are ways to ease the process — even when parents and administration need to get involved.
Replicate these memorable Saturday morning teaching tools through song in your classroom. Let it trigger memories, discussion and conversation across a variety of topics and ages.
Helping learners of all ages remember the key points of content across science, history and theology, can be enhanced with a fun and interesting experiment in poetry.
Academic leadership comes in many forms and from many different sources. How do the new realities of Catholic education impact the next generation of leadership?
Books and movies change lives by introducing new ideas, expanding knowledge, and creating empathy for others. Hear more about how one teacher creates a fun book tasting event for her students.
Ideas flow on helping teachers help their students to hold themselves accountable through empowerment, accompaniment, and the patience to let them learn through their mistakes.
Controversy and conversation revolves around the topic of teaching students cursive. Join the discussion as we explore the positives and negatives and what’s unique about Catholic school’s approach.
Ash Wednesday can be an overwhelming day for kids as well as adults when considering the full scope and meaning. Help ease students of all ages and backgrounds into the day by using social stories to set expectations and open their minds for real understanding and transformation.
| Any change of season brings an opportunity for learning and growth and the beginning of Lent is no exception. Fat Tuesday can be a great day for celebration and preparation leveraging traditions from all backgrounds. |
Danielle Iannelli brings out the funk and fun of grammar with an annual Adjective Fashion Show starring her 4th graders who create their own vivid description of their fashionista creations. Grammar doesn’t have to be dry and boring and language, activities and creative writing brings it to life.
Navigating best practices for helping kids concentrate in the classroom is a tough assignment. The development of new fidget tools often blur the lines of what is a toy and what is a tool. Hear more about the fidget rules that can guide the way.
Go beyond classroom learning with connections across generations as noted by principal Adrianne Van Norman and her Grandbuddy Pen pals for grades 4-6. This concept can extend from Kindergarten through high school as both students and grandparents enjoy the sharing of wisdom, time and experience.
Leaning on multiple intelligence research, Karl Sieglaff creates lesson plans to engage his students using visual, tactile, naturalist, interpersonal, and intrapersonal tactics — breaking the model of teaching to our own learning styles or teaching as we were taught.
Where does the love of reading come from and how is it impacted by technology and the lack of physical books in schools and classrooms? When reading to learn, how to balance simple Google searches with in-depth primary sources?
Exploring brain research in the area of consuming and retaining content digitally vs. in print. What is the best way to engage and connect with content while still embracing the reality and convenience of technology?
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
The lounge is ground zero of school culture. We discussed keeping the lounge a place of culture in accord with Catholic virtue and acknowledged the times we’ve experience the lounge to be a negative space in the school. We encouraged all to “be the light” in the teachers’ lounge as we round out Catholic Schools Week.
Prayerful discernment is at the core of any vocation assessment process — religious or otherwise — as we embrace the fact each of us is uniquely unrepeatable in the eyes of God.
What happens in a classroom doesn’t have to stay in the classroom. Local, state and national funding, policy making, and research depends on awareness of teacher, student and classroom activity. Invite your representatives for a visit and conversation.
Classroom management tips are as much about maximizing learning time as it is about controlling behaviors, and purposeful call back techniques can reinforce your underlying goals.
Whether it’s Catholic Schools week or not, extend the reach of students and school with creative community service projects and the natural conversation connections that come with them.
It’s empowering to know when classroom experiences get replicated at home, especially when related to faith. Classroom prayer tables are a great example of an idea that finds its way to students’ homes — in bedrooms, living rooms or any special place for kids and parents to grow in faith together.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
While the benefits of learning through rotating stations in the classroom can be exponential, getting the students to perfectly implement the necessary coreographed movements can be a signifcant challenge. Learn from the experts on managing transitions with clues and cues.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Catholic worship can come in many shapes and sizes — especially across age groups of school kids. Teacher Michelle Hurley worked with her pastor to creatively approach adoration with her littles by fusing praise and worship music with the Real Presence.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
School routines can support student development across grade levels when the right data is available and schedule blocks align. Notre Dame academy in Park Hills, KY created a universal remediation schedule for all students to improve their math skills.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Catholic schools are unique in their ability to build common connections through faith. Traditions and prayer experiences allow students (and teachers!) to share in vulnerability, hope and values, bringing everyone together in our faith routines.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Teachers spend all day every day mentoring and supporting students, but what about your needs? Whether or not a formal mentoring process exists at your school, there are many ways to find — and be — people of influence.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Innovative electives, such as gardening class, bring a skillset to students through curriculum they wouldn’t otherwise experience. Shout out to school leaders who let teachers take on these creative ideas.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Especially in rural areas, everyone wins with collaboration and conversations across the community and other schools to celebrate everything from the holidays to service to inclusion.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Creating an environment where learning across topics and skill levels happens best is like leading an exercise class. Denisse McKinley masterfully manipulates location, focus and engagement in a way that facilitates whole class instruction.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Mark Ninmer shares the growing interest in his 8th grade class’ popular YouTube saint competion using the bracket format of March Madness. It brings fun and creativity to a new level.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
As Catholic schools celebrate the inclusion of more non-Catholics, are we focused on teaching our reality or learning more of theirs? Jennifer Ferrand finds value in everyone learning about each other.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Teachers aren’t the only ones who need dedicated time to refuel and engage our imagination. Ashley Ezell reminds us that students of all ages can benefit from brain bins and dream labs to explore new possibilities.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Surviving the last week before Christmas break while making plans for rest, relaxation and rehab during the much-appreciated time away. Merry Christmas!!
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Principal Camile DeLano uses the Jesse tree to engage her students in a personal connection to our faith history and tradition. Our Catholic lineage reminds us that we all come from somewhere and we are all going somewhere.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Understanding the stories of our faith community is a key aspect of connection and inclusion. Saints can be the catalyst for a new and deeper awareness and amazement. Hear how Joe Marble brings Our Lady of Guadalupe to life on her feast day.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Initiate a fun and faithful journey to Christmas using Mary and Joseph as the creative centerpiece that your students won’t soon forget!
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Customize your classroom environment with deliberate learning structures that keep kids moving and thinking like a well trained orchestra — thanks to Rachel Gavin’s experience.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Speaking up for one’s needs is a critical lifeskill. Explore ways to help our most vulnerable students turn their challenges into strengths with examples from Jennifer Kohl.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Catholic Teachers Lounge ideas are making their way into new classrooms as concepts are shared and multiplied. Check out some of the fun success stories from early sharing.The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Leveraging the concepts of Universal Design in test design, homework assignments and general classroom communication.The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Advent is the perfect season to wax nostalgia in the classroom while embracing the simple, guiding themes of new life and family love. What are you favorite books and memories?The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Teaching is rewarding, but comes with plenty of frustrations. Embracing the every day little things can bring much needed bursts of joy and gratitude.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Collaboration and cooperation is key to success in every school environment. Who deserves a special thank you in this season of gratitude?
Faith development is never a linear experience. Art, Spanish and religion teacher Kim Paton prompted creative and innovative thoughts with her unique art challenge to students: What if the Holy Spirit was a fruit farmer?
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Everyone's past feeds their present and Karen Poulos leveraged her previous experiences as a personal trainer to inspire new ideas as a middle school religion teacher. How does your past inform your present?
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Nothing is more stressful than the potential wildcard moments of parent/ teacher conferences. But led by advice from principal Jim White, Jill and Colleen explore ways to build new bridges with parents.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Don Zengel challenges his confirmation class around these concepts with a simple, but universal teaching methodology that inspires conversation, introspection and deep thought.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
What is the magic mix of baring your soul to be relatable for your students and keeping a distance as you maintain classroom control? Are you a free range teacher or a master of control?
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Everyone has a memory of a favorite teacher who made it fun to learn -- Thanks to the suggestion of Andrea Bergener, we can all be that teacher with the aid of creative manipulatives across any age or subject.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
The creativity and fun of theme days doesn't have to end with annual Catholic Schools week or hiomecoming. Mary Peach uses a daily theme to keep her classroom motivated and engaged as she kicks off each day of the week.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
We've all experienced failures in life but how do we empower our students to embrace the normalcy of life's emotional roller coaster -- especially our littles? Take a lesson from Tricia's Richardson's kindergarten class and apply it all the way through college visits.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
A deeper dive into the power of vulnerability and personal failure stories to bridge faith connections. Hear from Nicole Rewerts from Mobile, AL.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Explore a wide range of tips and tricks for classroom specific or school wide acknowledgment of Halloween and/or All Souls Day -- all with a sense of purpose that matches the culture of your environment.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
God grants every person a unique set of gifts and talents. How do we create space in our curriculum for all of those gifts to bloom fully? Hear more from the experience of CEO turned teacher, Jake Luhn, as Jill and Colleen break down training and teaching options.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Break up routines and expectations with small group instruction and team building exercises across interests and grades. Teacher Elaine Wagner instigates many new and different learning outcomes with a unique approach to teams.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
It's scary to lead controversial topics with no clear answers, but hear how it can lead to robust student engagement at all levels with additional research, thought and ideas. Sr. Elizabeth challenges her students with mysteries of the faith.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Connect the dots with prayer and practice across all subject matters while experiencing personal growth as well. Find out how Hilary Russell does it at Saint Mary’s Catholic School in Woodstock, Illinois.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
As teachers, we can hyper focus on the act of teaching, but for the young people in our classrooms, learning is just one aspect of their complicated lives. Starting with Sue Alper’s experience, let’s talk about the transformative impact on kids when we make room for the Holy Spirit in our classroom.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
What do movies, books and the Bible have in common and how can we learn our faith through contemporary stories? Hear how 5th grade teacher Jill Embry from Griffith, IN learns something new every year from her students’ observations.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Creating lasting connections with how God speaks to us at Mass while helping students engage with their peers. Learn from teacher Jaymie Perry how her students apply what they hear and learn.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.
Open the door to faith through arts and sciences while expanding personal horizons by partnering with a cross curriculum co-teacher. Learn from Theology teacher Charles Miller’s experience in Collegeville, MN.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com
Creating community with deliberate modeling across grades builds trust, faith and family. Explore how fourth grade teacher, Noel Aquirre from Saint Mary’s Catholic School in Griffith, Indiana creates this reality.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com
Books change lives. No matter the grade, the title or the student, great stories inspire discussion and inspiration. Christy Wissman’s power of suggestion taps into the reading passions of Jill and Colleen for a robust discussion of possibilities.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com
Building community by applying English writing prompts to prayer experiences. Listen to the stories of transformation teacher Jennifer Liniewski witnessed from student led prayer.
The Catholic Teachers’ Lounge podcast is sponsored by Loyola Press. Visit us at www.loyolapress.com.