Classroom Caffeine

Tiffany Boyd is known for her work in the area of climate action. Inspired by Greta Thunberg in 2019, Tiffany started Classrooms for Climate Action to connect teachers and students with local climate action. After growing up in Boulder, Colorado Tiffany taught in the Boulder Valley School District for 27 years and understands the unique challenges facing educators today. Throughout her teaching career, she has been passionate about getting students civically engaged and has focused that attention on climate. Some of Classrooms for Climate Action’s units of study have focused on: Decarbonization, Electric school buses, Soil health, Protecting Pollinators, Flood mitigation, Fire mitigation, CO animals and migration, Tree planting, Plastic reduction, and raising money for an Anti-racism and Climate Justice mural. Tiffany Boyd is the Executive Director of  Classrooms for Climate Action which is located in Boulder County, Colorado. You can connect with Tiffany at https://classroomsforclimateaction.org/. You can find C4CA's public documents here.  To cite this episode: Persohn, L. (Host). (2024, Apr 9). A conversation with Tiffany Boyd (Season 4, No. 10) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/F6FB-67D9-0477-A54E-B522-7Connect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dr. Amélie Lemieux talks to us about authenticity and vulnerability, posthumanism, and the broad scope of literacies. Dr. Lemieux’s research interests include Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility policies as it relates to reading research, literature teaching, and multimodality, all informed by phenomenological and posthumanist perspectives.  Her most recent project includes investigating adolescents’ digital literacy practices as ways to leverage social justice. I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Lemieux speak at the University of South Florida’s David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching Speaker Series in Tampa, Florida. At her invited talk, Amélie shared her ongoing InstaPoetry project, sharing insights from project development to preliminary results. Our conversation for this episode was recorded the day after her talk. Dr. Amélie Lemieux is an Assistant Professor at the University of Montreal’s Faculty of Education in the department of didactics (teaching and learning). To cite this episode: Persohn, L. (Host). (2024, Mar 12). A conversation with Amélie Lemieux (Season 4, No. 9) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/1984-8530-6AAF-904B-12BE-QConnect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dr. Bradley Robinson talks to us about artificial intelligence technologies, including how we can critically approach possibilities for teaching and learning with AI, and the deeply human nature of the ways AI tools were built. Brad is known for his work focusing on the creative and critical capacities of digital technologies in literacy education. Specifically, he has examined topics like novice video game design, digital platforms in and out of education, and artificial intelligence, all with a commitment to mindful, authentic, and just implementations of digital technologies. Dr. Bradley Robinson is an Assistant Professor of Educational Technology and Secondary Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Texas State University. You can connect with Brad via email (bradrobinson@txstate.edu) or on Twitter (@Prof_Brad_TxSt). Resources mentioned in this episode: https://tech.ed.gov/ai-future-of-teaching-and-learning/ To cite this episode:Persohn, L. (Host). (2024, Feb 13). A conversation with Brad Robinson (Season 4, No. 8) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/1974-7A05-2E9B-7B45-C029-7Connect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dr. Hiller Spires talks to us about the PBI global framework, creating to learn, and how we can support students with a global village. Dr. Spires is known for her work in the areas of digital and disciplinary literacies and project-based inquiry (PBI) global for diverse learners. Hiller has conducted extensive research, teaching and engagement with teachers in China for which she received NC State’s Jackson A. Rigney International Service Award. She led 10 delegations to China, partnered with Beijing Royal School since 2010, and co-created Suzhou North America High School, where she continues to serve as their Honorary Principal. Dr. Hiller Spires is executive director of the William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation and professor emerita at North Carolina State University. She is also founding director of Margiesbooks.org.To cite this episode: Persohn, L. (Host). (2024, Jan 9). A conversation with Hiller Spires (Season 4, No. 7) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/C461-C0F5-B173-B4AB-75E4-2Connect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dr. Michael Spikes talks to us about reliability, credibility, and relevance of news media, fundamentals of communication, and staying curious in a wide world of media. Dr. Spikes is known for his work in media literacy education, news media literacy, and youth media. He has more than a decade experience as a practitioner and scholar of news media literacy in previous positions with Stony Brook University, Washington DC Public Schools, and the Newseum. Dr. Michael A. Spikes is a lecturer and a project director in the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University.To cite this episode: Persohn, L. (Host). (2023, Dec 12). A conversation with Michael Spikes (Season 4, No. 6) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/AABF-F2D5-71AE-0E7D-6506-N Connect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

In this episode, Dr. Elena Forzani talks to us about reading as meaning making, multiple modes of communication, and literacy assessment. Dr. Forzani is known for her work centering on using multiple and mixed methods to understand and support digital literacies practices across the elementary and secondary levels. In particular, her work investigates the cognitive, metacognitive, and motivational dimensions of online reading, and especially how readers evaluate the credibility of online information. Elena Forzani is an assistant professor in Literacy Education at Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education & Human Development.To cite this episode: Persohn, L. (Host). (2023, Nov 14). A conversation with Elena E. Forzani (Season 4, No. 5) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/0140-D0AD-2E0C-666F-42D2-LConnect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dr. Pamela Mason is known for her work studying the role of culturally sustaining pedagogy in promoting literacy achievement, the interaction of text complexity and background knowledge, qualitative and quantitative literacy assessment, and the efficacy of the roles of Reading Specialists and Literacy Coaches. Dr. Mason collaborates with colleagues nationally and globally on preparing reading specialist teachers and literacy coaches, developing the capacity of school leaders as literacy advocates, and evaluating school-wide literacy programs. Dr. Pamela A. Mason is a senior lecturer on education, a Co-Chair of the Literacy and Languages concentration, and director of the Jeanne Chall Reading Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.To cite this episode: Persohn, L. (Host). (2023, Oct 10). A conversation with Pamela Mason (Season 4, No. 4) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/6ABE-99B5-0CD4-14EA-290B-KConnect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dr. Compton-Lilly is known for her work in the areas of early reading and writing, Reading Recovery, and family literacy practices in local and global contexts, particularly with families from underserved communities. Her current interests include examining how time operates as a contextual factor in children’s lives as they progress through school and construct their identities as students and readers. She is engaged in longitudinal studies around these topics, several of which she has collected data for over a decade. Dr. Compton-Lilly holds emerita status at the University of Wisconsin Madison. She twice served as an Honorary Visiting Professor at National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan and recently completed a Fulbright Research and Teaching Fellowship in Taiwan. Dr. Catherine Compton-Lilly is the John C. Hungerpiller Professor at the University of South Carolina.To cite this episode: Persohn, L. (Host). (2023, Sep 12). A conversation with Catherine Compton-Lilly (Season 4, No. 3) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/7733-70C8-75AC-88C1-BC42-K Connect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dr. Robert Petrone talks to us about reconsidering structures of schools, valuing the expertise of young people, and how he learned about these ideas in a seemingly unlikely place, the skatepark. Dr. Petrone is known for his interdisciplinary work, particularly as he examines the cultural production of ideas of “age,” “youth” and “adolescence,” explores youth cultural, learning, and literacy practices beyond school contexts, and collaborates with educators to build curricula that repositions youth as educational experts. Dr. Robert Petrone is Associate Professor in the Department of Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum at the University of Missouri. For more information about our guest, stay tuned to the end of this episode. To cite this episode: Persohn, L. (Host). (2023, Aug 8). A conversation with Robert Petone (Season 4, No. 2) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/767A-06CA-FC45-6FB5-20E8-NConnect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dr. Stephanie Lemley talks to us about agriculture literacies and connecting with our communities. Stephanie is known for her work in the areas of disciplinary literacies and specifically agricultural education. Dr. Lemley recently served as a Mississippi Education Policy Fellow. She is an Associate Professor of Literacy Education at Mississippi State University.Resources from this episode:Mississippi Blues Trail Curriculum: https://arts.ms.gov/programs/education-initiatives/mississippi-blues-trail-curriculum/Mississippi Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom: https://msfb.org/ag-in-the-classroom/National Ag in the Classroom: https://agclassroom.org/matrix/American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture: https://www.agfoundation.org/ag-lit-catalogTo cite this episode: Persohn, L. (Host). (2023, July 11). A conversation with Stephanie Lemley (Season 4, No. 1) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI:10.5240/0731-D2F6-B040-7F75-8B2C-TConnect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Bethlene Ferdinand is known for her work in the areas of educational leadership and health and wellness. Ms. Ferdinand is from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, an island west of Barbados. She holds a BA in Linguistics, a Postgraduate Diploma in the Teaching of English and a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill. Bethlene has worked for eight years as a secondary school Educator and was the Head of the Modern Languages Department of a secondary school in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for six of those years before joining the team at the Caribbean Educational Research Centre.  Bethlene aspires to complete a PhD in the field of Education Policy and the characteristics surrounding teaching and learning in St. Vincent, the Grenadines, and the Caribbean. Bethlene is a Research Assistant in the Caribbean Educational Research Centre at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill. To cite this episode:Persohn, L. (Host). (2023, May. 30). A conversation with Bethlene Ferdinand: RISE Caribbean Special Series (Season 3, No. 27) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/6A29-4A11-11B9-8236-7938-DConnect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dr. Erin Mahon and Judy-Ann Allison Auld talk to us about special education in the Caribbean context, the prime positioning of the Eastern Caribbean islands for growth in inclusive teaching practices, and research collaboration with teachers and school leaders. Erin is known for her work investigating special education and inclusive practices in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. Judy-Ann is best known for her work in the areas of inclusive education. Erin and Judy-Ann are both involved in planning and presentations at the 2023 RISE Caribbean Conference hosted at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Dr Erin Mahon is a Research Fellow in the Caribbean Educational Research Centre at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill. Judy-Ann Auld is in the final year of her PhD program at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, in the Faculty of Humanities and Education. Erin can be contacted at erin.mahon@cavehill.uwi.edu and Judy-Ann can be contacted at ch-jauld@cavehill.uwi.edu.To cite this episode: Persohn, L. (Host). (2023, May. 23). A conversation with Erin Mahon and Judy-Ann Allison Auld: RISE Caribbean Special Series (Season 3, No. 26) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/7601-725C-B2EA-8348-68E4-9Connect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dr. Leacock is known for her work in the areas of literacy and numeracy, including the teaching and learning of mathematics, student achievement, technology use in education, democratizing classrooms, and literacy across the curriculum. Dr. Leacock is the Project Coordinator for the RISE Caribbean research team and a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics Education and Research Methods in the School of Education at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill. You can reach CJ and the Caribbean Educational Research Center at cercentre@cavehill.uwi.edu.To cite this episode: Persohn, L. (Host). (2023, May. 16). A conversation with Coreen “CJ” Leacockt: RISE Caribbean Special Series (Season 3, No. 25) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI:10.5240/C73E-151E-1B3F-FA84-B86F-3Connect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dr. Skerrett is known for her work in the areas of secondary English and literacy education in urban contexts, including among transnational youth. Dr. Skerrett’s book, Teaching Transnational Youth: Literacy and Education in a Changing World published by Teachers College Press in 2015, is the first to examine the educational opportunities and challenges arising from increasing numbers of students living and attending school across different countries. Her new book, Teaching Literacy in Troubled Times: Identity, Inquiry and Social Action at the Heart of Instruction, co-authored with past Classroom Caffeine guest Peter Smaroginsky and published by Corwin Press in 2022 showcases teachers and students engaged in developing critical literacies and taking social action to create more just worlds. She is the keynote speaker for the 2023 RISE Caribbean Conference hosted at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. Allison Skerrett is Professor of Curriculum and Instruction and Director of Teacher Education in the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin.To cite this episode: Persohn, L. (Host). (2023, May. 9). A conversation with Allison Skerrett: RISE Caribbean Special Series (Season 3, No. 24) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/9D8C-84C1-8FB6-1C92-61E0-6Connect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dr. Dana Robertson talks to us about connections between conversation and music, the power of motivation and engagement, and opportunities for creating meaningful contexts for learning in schools. Dana is known for his work focused on classroom discussion and teachers’ talk, reading and writing challenges, and literacy professional learning through coaching and whole school literacy improvement. Through each of these projects, he has sought ways to provide equitable and inclusive literacy opportunities to teachers and school-age children in ways that are humanizing, agentive, and sustainable. He has received numerous awards for his research and teaching. Dr. Dana A. Robertson is an Associate Professor of Reading and Literacy in the School of Education at Virginia Tech.To cite this episode:Persohn, L. (Host). (2023, Apr. 25). A conversation with Dana Robertson (Season 3, No. 23) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/BF18-C3BC-F7F2-4DB0-A875-LConnect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Drs. Amy Vetter and Melissa Schieble talk to us about teacher agency, community, and critical conversations. A third scholar, Kahdeidra Monét Martin, is also involved in their recent research. Amy is known for her work in understanding how classroom interactions impact developing reader and writer identities as well as teacher identities, the role of critical conversations in educational settings, and the impotence of learning from the writing identities of young people. Melissa is known for her work on analyses of power, privilege and oppression in fiction for youth and in classroom discourse. Together, with Kahdeidra, they have published multiple research articles on the topic of critical classroom conversations as well as the book Classroom Talk for Social Change: Critical Conversations in English Language Arts, published in 2020 by Teachers College Press.Resources mentioned in this episode: NCTE Intellectual Freedom CenterTo cite this episode: Persohn, L. (Host). (2023, Apr. 11). A conversation with Amy Vetter and Melissa Schieble (Season 3, No. 22) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/26D8-D7C3-D4B1-E9FF-DB33-RConnect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dr. Shea Kerkhoff talks to us about literacies in the disciplines, an inquiry stance, and authentic learning. She is known for her work in disciplinary literacies, adolescent literacy instruction, and literacies in global contexts. She utilizes mixed methods to investigate critical, digital, and global literacies. Her research centers on integrating inquiry-based global learning with adolescent literacy instruction. She is co-author of Read, write, inquire: Disciplinary literacy in grades 6-12 with Drs. Hiller Spires and Casey Medlock Paul. Her forthcoming book, Critical perspectives on global literacies: Bridging research and practice, co-authored with Dr. Spires is currently in press with Routledge Publishers. Dr. Kerkhoff serves as Going Global, Inc.'s Education Director and affiliated faculty with the Show Me Literacies Collaborative. Dr. Shea Kerkhoff is an Assistant Professor of literacy and secondary education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. You can connect with Shea at https://sheakerkhoff.weebly.com/.To cite this episode: Persohn, L. (Host). (2023, Mar. 28). A conversation with Shea Kerkhoff. (Season 3, No. 21) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/1E5D-51BF-BA59-2A4B-DDE1-SConnect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dr. Lakeya Afolalu talks to us about freedom, identity as an outcome of language and literacy, and arts as a key to communicating and expression. Dr. Afolalu is known for her work that explores the role of language and literacies in Black African immigrant youth identity constructions and negotiations across school, community, and digital spaces. As an artist and advocate, as well as a former middle school teacher, Lakeya pays particular attention to the intersection of racialization and socialization processes that influence identities. Dr. Afolalu is a Scholars of Color Transitioning into Academic Research Institutions (or STAR) Fellow with the Literacy Research Association and her work won the American Educational Research Association Bilingual Education Research Special Interest Group’s Outstanding Dissertation Award. Dr. Lakeya Afolalu is currently an Assistant Professor of Language, Literacy, and Culture at the University of Washington. To cite this episode: Persohn, L. (Host). (2023, Mar. 14). A conversation with Lakeya Afolalu. (Season 3, No. 20) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/F003-DA43-E669-98CB-E29E-NConnect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dr. Jerome Harste talks to us about writing in early childhood, the inherent social risks in writing, Sketch to Stretch writing, arts-based ways of communicating, kids as curricular informants, teachers as intellectuals and philosophers, and schools as spaces of possibility. Dr. Harste is best known for his work exploring young children’s written language literacy learning, connecting arts and literacies, and critical literacies. As a literacy educator his expanded view of what it meant to be literate went far beyond traditional notions of reading and writing to include visual literacy and more generally semiotics. Jerry is also a celebrated artist, working mainly in watercolors. He has published over 200 articles in refereed journals and won many awards for his research and teaching. Notably, he was inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame, given the James Squire “Paradigm Shifters'' Award (National Council of Teachers of English), the Oscar Causey Reading Research Award (Literacy Research Association) and the David Russell Research Award for his work in the Language Arts (NCTE). He also earned the coveted Gorman Teaching Award from the School of Education and the Frederick Bachman Teaching Award from Indiana University. Before retirement, he was an elementary teacher in Monticello, Minnesota and the Peace Corps, a college professor for nearly 50 years at Indiana University, and an educational researcher. Dr. Jerome C. Harste retired from Indiana University as a Distinguished Professor where he held the Armstrong Chair in Teacher Education. He currently teaches graduate courses at Mount Saint Vincent University in Canada. You can connect with Jerry on Facebook at “Harste as Artist”or online at jeromeharste.com.Resource PPT to accompany this episode: Harste Podcast PPTTo cite this episode: Persohn, L. (Host). (2023, Feb. 28). A conversation with Jerome “Jerry” C. Harste. (Season 3, No. 19) [Audio podcast episode]. In Classroom Caffeine Podcast series. https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/guests. DOI: 10.5240/DD6E-8C6E-272E-1073-EB2E-UConnect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dr. Karen Harris talks to us about Self-Regulated Strategy Development, elements of and strategies for writing instruction, and how social inequities can influence learning. Dr. Harris is best known for developing the Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) model of strategies instruction. Her research, which has primarily been conducted in under-served schools, focuses on effective instruction for complex learning areas. Karen has conducted research on the SRSD model of instruction for learning to write, as well as close reading to learn followed by writing to inform or persuade among students in inclusive classrooms. Self-Regulated Strategy Development has been deemed an evidence-based practice by the Institute of Education Sciences’ What Works Clearing House and there are now over 200 studies of SRSD for writing across several countries. Dr. Karen R. Harris is Regents Professor Emeritus and Research Professor at the Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University.Resource list mentioned in this episode: https://www.classroomcaffeine.com/s/SRSD-resourcesinfo-list-11823.docxConnect with Classroom Caffeine at www.classroomcaffeine.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.