To celebrate this second season of Beyond My Years, Ana is joined by Mike Flynn, nationally recognized expert in mathematics education and online learning. He explains how "disorienting dilemmas" can bolster our productive beliefs and lead to transformative change in our teaching. Mike and Ana also discuss the importance of teacher advocacy, the power of collective voice, and ways to overcome barriers to change. Our favorite Classroom Insider, Eric Cross, joins Ana to discuss how important it is to challenge our assumptions as we continue to grow and change.

Show notes:

• Connect with Mike Flynn on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Flynn Education: https://flynneducation.com/
• Subscribe to Advice for the Math Classroom on Amplify’s YouTube channel: amplify.com/mathclassroomadvice
• Subscribe to Advice for the Literacy Classroom on Amplify’s YouTube channel: amplify.com/literacyclassroomadvice
• Follow us on Instagram
• Subscribe to Beyond My Year.
• Connect with Ana Torres
• Connect with Eric Cross

Quotes:

"Leadership comes in a lot of different formats, but anyone interested in influencing change can orchestrate experiences to disrupt unproductive beliefs." —Mike Flynn

"Don't be afraid of your own teacher voice and exercising that. Advocacy is one of the best things you can do." —Mike Flynn

"Sometimes it gets really hard before it gets better. It just always reminds me to remember the long game." —Mike Flynn

"As a learner, you have to have humility. Otherwise you won't grow." —Eric Cross

"Change really behinds when you look at the unintended consequences of our practice." —Eric Cross

Ana is joined by Daniela Anello, CEO of DC Bilingual Public Charter School, to discuss how educators can create environments in which they can be their whole selves. Daniela tells her own story of identifying her values as a teacher and claiming the sense of purpose she wanted to bring into her own classroom; and then lays out how she works to incorporate them on a day-to-day basis. She also explains why its important for teachers to take chances, make mistakes, and try again—behaviors should be modeled for students. Ana is then joined by our Classroom Insider, middle school science teacher, Eric Cross, who delves into the importance of "being yourself on purpose" when. you teach.

Show notes:

• Connect with Daniela Anello on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about Daniela’s work at DC Bilingual.
• Check out the Marshall Memo.
• Follow us on Instagram.
• Subscribe to Beyond My Years.
• Connect with Ana Torres.
• Connect with Eric Cross.

Quotes:

"I needed to be in a place where I could be my full self, demonstrating all of the identities that make me who I am." —Daniela Anello

"The first step is recognizing your own identity and your own values and the aspects of you that you want to see reflected in the place that you're going to pour your love and heart into." —Daniela Anello

"Change and improvement happen over time." —Daniela Anello

"Go where you're going to grow." —Eric Cross

"If I'm in an environment where I can't be my authentic self, and I know what that is and I know what I value, then it might be time for me to go somewhere where I can flourish." —Eric Cross

"A system is not a person. If you build something on a person, then when that person leaves or gets burned out, your system falls apart." —Eric Cross

Host Ana Torres is joined by nationally recognized educational consultant and thought leader Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D., to discuss what critical thinkng is and how to help students develop it. In addition to explaining why critical thinking is crucial for long-term academic success, Mitchell also gives educators four clear steps that they can implement to effectively develop critical thinking skills in their classrooms. Ana is then joined by Classroom Insider extraordinaire Eric Cross, who discusses how he encourages his students to hone their critical thinking skills in his classroom.

Show notes:

• Visit Mitchell Brookins' website: https://brookinsconsulting.org/
• Connect with Mitchell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchell-brookins-ph-d-6a7259274
• Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amplify.education/
• Subscribe to Beyond My Years: https://amplify.com/beyond-my-years
• Connect with Ana Torres: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anayansi-ana-torres-m-ed-26a10654/
• Connect with Eric Cross: https://www.ericcross.org/

Quotes:

"When you're a school administrator, you can't be confusd as to what your identity is. People expect you to step in with voice, with passion, with vision, and direct the path," —Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D.

"[Critical thinking] is actually cognitive support. It's a mental act of process in which you acquire knowledge and understanding." —Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D.

"When I see questioning that probes, that's how I know I'm in a classroom where a teacher honors students' thinking. It is an honor to hear what children have to think." —Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D.

"That's how you know your in a classroom with critical thinking: We're not rushing the conversation. We're enjoying it." —Mitchell Brookins, Ph.D.

"There's an art and a science to teaching, and I think that they're two different things." —Eric Cross

"The importance of modeling can't be overstated." —Ana Torres