Top of the Class

Latest Episodes:

Top of the Class Episode 22- Helping Students with Autism: Virginia Murray Dec 17, 2019

Show notes

This is Part II in our Autism Awareness series. Please be sure to check out Part I from earlier this month! Our episode today is all about serving our students with autism. As diagnoses of autism continue to rise, we want to make sure that we, as teachers, are on the cutting-edge with the best practices and methods for supporting these students. So, we have brought in another amazing educator and expert, Virginia Murray, to help us chat about this important topic and help us help YOU all in the classroom by providing some ideas, strategies, and more to best help our students.

We LOVE your feedback, so tweet us any thoughts or ideas on Twitter @GCU_TOTC. GO LOPES!

https://gcutopoftheclass.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/24-helping-students-with-autism.mp3

Top of the Class Episode 23- TIE It Up: Trauma Informed Education (TIES) with Dr. Joe Roselle and Dr. Stephanie Nilsen Dec 02, 2019

Show notes

Today’s episode is one that we know weighs on many educators’ hearts and is a topic you all, our listeners, have asked us to explore. How do help students who’ve faced trauma in their lives? We are really looking forward to chatting with our two guests today. We know that trauma can be a very triggering subject for some of us, so we are going to do our best to handle this conversation with all the sensitivity it deserves and we have no doubt that our incredibly informed guests with a wealth of knowledge in the area of Trauma Informed Education, Dr. Joe Roselle and Dr. Stephanie Nilsen, will help us do just that!

Also, we LOVE your feedback, so tweet us any thoughts or ideas on Twitter @GCU_TOTC. GO LOPES!

https://gcutopoftheclass.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/21-trauma-in-the-classroom.mp3

Top of the Class Episode 21- Seeing the Whole Spectrum: Autism Awareness with Dr. Christopher Smith Nov 20, 2019

Show notes

Today’s episode is a special one and is Part I in a very special series. Today we are going to chat about autism awareness and we feel really honored to have our guest in the studio, Dr. Christopher J. Smith, who has decades of experience researching, evaluating, and supporting students with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD. This is such an informative and powerful episode, so we hope this conversation helps to spread the word on such an important topic like ASD.

We LOVE your feedback, so tweet us any thoughts or ideas on Twitter @GCU_TOTC. GO LOPES!

https://gcutopoftheclass.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/22-seeing-the-whole-spectrum.mp3

Top of the Class Episode 20-Trends in STEM: Cori Araza and Marni Landry Nov 04, 2019

Show notes

This is Part II of our STEM series! Be sure to check out Part I, Dissecting STEM. In this episode, we are getting the scoop on trends in the field of STEM, Science-Technology-Engineering-and Math. As STEM continues to become a major player in our schools, we want to make sure we’re on the cutting edge of all the latest developments in the field. And, bonus…We’ve chatted about with our special guests here on the podcast before, Cori Arraza, GCU Director of K12 STEM Outreach at GCU, and Marni Landry, Manager of K12 STEM Outreach. So, we have some pros to help us chat about this topic! These two experts were so highly requested by you all that we thought we would bring them back in again for more awesome insight into the field!

We LOVE your feedback, so tweet us any thoughts or ideas on Twitter @GCU_TOTC. GO LOPES!

https://gcutopoftheclass.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/20-trends-in-stem.mp3

Top of the Class Episode 19-Dissecting STEM: Cori Araza and Marni Landry Oct 07, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, we are taking a deeper dive into STEM education. We want to break down S, T, E, and M to get a closer look into what it looks like in the classroom and how we can make it work for us. This is a topic that we both find super interesting because it’s not in our wheelhouse. We have plenty of expertise in education, but STEM is definitely not in our comfort zone, but we’re super intrigued by it and know that it is an essential area in the field for so many reasons! So, we brought back two super knowledgeable guests, Cori Araza and Marni Landry.

https://gcutopoftheclass.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/19-dissecting-stem.mp3

Top of the Class-Extra Credit-Six Teacher Websites to Have on your Favorites List Oct 01, 2019

Show notes

In this Extra Credit episode, we share six teacher websites that we just can’t do without. We rely on these websites every day to help find ways to better reach certain students or just to generally grow in our knowledge of the field. If you’re not growing, you’re dying. There’s no neutral for educators, as Dean of the College of Ed Dr. LaPrade likes to say. We just feel like there’s so much to know about being a great teacher, and we have these websites to thank for helping us get one step closer. Also, see the links to the sites in our session below:

Edutopia.org

https://www.youtube.com/user/crashcourse

https://www.colorincolorado.org/

http://readwritethink.org/

https://www.tolerance.org/

https://www.understood.org/en

https://gcutopoftheclass.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/extra-credit-episode-7-six-teacher-websites.mp3

Top of the Class-Extra Credit-Teaching with Love: Bringing LOVE Into the Classroom Oct 01, 2019

Show notes

In this Extra Credit episode, we share what it takes to build a classroom based on love. We both really feel that the world needs a lot more love and empathy right now and a lot less combativeness and discord. Love isn’t always the easy route either. Kumbaya doesn’t come easy. It takes time, a lot of energy, and a stick-tuitiveness that other approaches don’t require. But, a classroom founded on love really is more fulfilling for the teacher and students, it’s a safer space for students who may or may not feel safe outside of the classroom, and it allows students to learn more effectively because they feel supported and heard. So, let’s get listening and share the love!

https://gcutopoftheclass.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/extra-credit-episode-6-teaching-with-love.mp3

Top of the Class Episode 18-Pod-Crossover…When Podcasts Collide: Joshua Sugata and Mark Trollinger Sep 03, 2019

Show notes

Today’s episode is one we have been waiting for! It is our big cross-over event! When we began this crazy podcasting journey, we were not 100% sure as to where we needed to start. Meredith and I did endless research…and Google searching. However, our biggest help was to actually talk things out with fellow podcasters. That is when we were able to connect with today’s guests. Today’s guests come to us as experts in teaching and learning, and happen to host another fabulous GCU podcast. This podcast is for our incredible GCU faculty around the world focused on teaching tips, and it just so happens to be called Teaching Tips!

We LOVE your feedback, so tweet us any thoughts or ideas on Twitter @GCU_TOTC. GO LOPES!

https://gcutopoftheclass.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/17-pod-crossover-when-podcasts-collide.mp3

Top of the Class Episode 17-Fun and Games in the Classroom: Kimber Underdown and Crystal McCabe Aug 07, 2019

Show notes

Today’s episode is a FUN one. Not only because Meredith and I like to have a good time on this show, and in life in general, but also because our topic today is all about fun. There’s something really special when a teacher knows the content but has also figured out how to deliver the content in a way that makes students want to be there and eager to learn. Meredith and I both know there is so much power in having laughter in our classrooms. So, today, our guests our going to help us learn all about making the classroom FUN!

We LOVE your feedback, so tweet us any thoughts or ideas on Twitter @GCU_TOTC. GO LOPES!

Also, below are some mentioned texts and sites in our session:

Explore Like a Pirate by Michael Matera: https://www.mrmatera.com/

Ditch that Textbook by Matt Miller: http://ditchthattextbook.com/tag/gamification/

Digital Badges: https://info.credly.com/

https://gcutopoftheclass.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/18-fun-and-games-in-the-classroom.mp3

Top of the Class Episode 16-Gifting the Gifted Learner: Lupita Hightower Jul 15, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, we are going to chat about gifted learners. Gifted learners are a special population in our schools representing about 10% of our brightest students. Giftedness can show up for children in a few different ways. It can be like intellectual, creative, artistic, leadership oriented, or in a specific academic areas like the language arts, mathematics, or science. So, we just really want to know more. To help us with this, we’ve invited one of the most esteemed educators in the entire Valley. Dr. Lupita Hightower comes to us with more experience and wisdom than we know what to do with! Let’s take a listen!

Also, we always LOVE your feedback, so please tweet us any thoughts or ideas on Twitter using our handle @GCU_TOTC. GO LOPES!

https://gcutopoftheclass.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/16-gifting-the-gifted-learning.mp3

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected