What role do schools and administrators play in supporting teachers to engage students in discussions about civic issues? How can structured curricula and coaching help educators facilitate constructive dialogue across political and social differences? In this episode, Elizabeth Clay Roy, the CEO of Generation Citizen, shares her passion for fostering social justice and community engagement through project-based civics. We discuss the importance of civic education, experiential civics, and relationship building in democracy, and share simple, effective ways of integrating civics education across content areas and grade levels. 

Explore Generation Citizen's Navigating Social Issues: A Toolkit for Educators https://connect.generationcitizen.org/home 

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

Teaching Civics in Turbulent Times

Ever wonder why speaking your native language feels like putting on comfortable house clothes? This fascinating episode dives into the transformative power of affinity spaces - environments where people connect through shared language, culture, and experiences.  Dr. Marcelle Mentor and Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang discuss how these spaces serve as crucial safe havens, particularly for individuals navigating predominantly English-speaking institutions. Through powerful analogies and personal experiences, they illustrate how these spaces enable individuals to truly be themselves. Listen to this episode to understand why affinity spaces aren't just nice to have - they're essential for building stronger, more inclusive communities for all.

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

The Power of Affinity Spaces: Finding Home in Shared Experiences

In this episode, we discuss how the study of the brain can help us better support our students to learn. We are joined by Brooklin Williams, Katherine Elam, and Malik Bolden who share the importance of empathy and understanding in teaching and learning, the need to recognize and support students' emotional responses, rather than just managing their behaviors, and the crucial role teachers play in shaping students' ability to self-regulate.

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

Brain-Based Teaching: Learning from the Field of Neuroscience

In this episode, we dive into the art of creating captivating, immersive experiences that bring texts to life in any classroom setting—especially for multilingual learners!
Join our inspiring panel of educators: Adel Bruni Ashley, Gregory Petershack, Jen Gowers, Shenhao Bai. They reveal the behind-the-scenes magic of their groundbreaking workshop with students and teachers visiting from Shanghai, sharing practical strategies that will revolutionize your teaching approach. 

✨ Connect brain to body through energizing prereading activities
✨ Awaken the senses with multisensory engagement techniques
✨ Spark creativity by empowering participants to become creators. 

Listen to how this transformative methodology works in:
-Immersive all-day workshops
-Bite-sized sessions that build progressively
-Regular classroom routines woven throughout the school week

Visit https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/ to learn about the Literacy Unbound summer program and apply for our next session.

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

Transforming Texts into Immersive Experiences for Multilingual Classrooms

Teachers struggle to implement social justice pedagogy due to limited support, restrictive laws, and scarce training—all while trying to build student advocacy skills! In this episode, Maria Luisa Underwood unpacks findings from quantitative research with teachers based on their experience implementing the framework "Equipping Educators to Nurture Student Civic Advocates Through Social Justice Pedagogy.”  You’ll find Underwood’s chapter on the topic in NCTE/Routledge's "Practicing Civic Futures" (Vol. 3). 

Listen in to discover practical solutions to the pressing challenges facing educators today! 

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

Empowering Student Voice: Social Justice in the Classroom

Writing projects can feel like a distraction, unless we look at the ways in which projects increase learning for students, and the ways we can integrate them into our calendars without losing teaching time for skills or content that we need to cover.

Today, we revisit our conversation with participants from one of our Student Publication Initiative (SPI) projects last year: participants from all levels — Meg Davis, SPI coach; Vicky Beswick, NYC DOE teacher; and Juan Filan & Deylin Pena-Rodriguez — two 9th grade students who established their voices as student authors throughout the writing process.

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

Call Back Conversation: Amplifying Student Voices

In this episode, we continue our discussion focused on multilingual learners, diving deep into why linguistic mobility isn't just academic—it's the key to true community inclusion!  Maria Underwood, Senior Professional Development Advisor at CPET, and Vince Moua, CPET Professional Development Coach, and Teachers College Zankel Fellow, join Roberta to discuss:

-Why multilingual teaching creates explosive learning opportunities for ALL students
-How understanding language history can revolutionize your classroom
-Practical, ready-to-use strategies for celebrating language diversity
-The hidden social dynamics that make or break multilingual learners' success

This isn't just talk—it's a vital addition to your toolkit for creating a classroom where EVERY language is valued and EVERY student can thrive!

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

Breaking the Language Barrier: Linguistic Respect & Mobility

🌟 Join us for an inspiring conversation about creating inclusive classrooms where every voice can shine! In this episode, our guest Katherine Hamilton, Vice President of Programs at Ensemble Learning, joins us as we dive into the complex and rewarding world of supporting multilingual learners in the classroom. We celebrate the incredible value of multilingualism in our classrooms and explore how ALL teachers—not just language specialists—can embrace simple techniques to help English language learners thrive across every subject. 

Don't miss this uplifting and practical episode that will leave you energized and equipped with fresh ideas for your classroom. Subscribe now and be part of the conversation! 🎧✨

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html


The Language of Learning: Supporting MLLs and Newcomers

What can the iconic movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" teach us about student engagement? This episode explores the critical disconnect between students and educators, examining why students mentally and physically check out of their education.  Guests Colleen Keating-Crawford, Sydney Tweedley, and Izzy Fitzgerald from The Reinvention Lab at Teach For America share personal stories that reveal a startling truth: many students are physically present but mentally absent, highlighting a deeper crisis in our education system. Our conversation emphasizes that creating meaningful connections and relevant learning experiences is crucial for keeping students engaged. We also share practical strategies teachers can implement immediately to make a difference right where they are.  Learn more about the people and research they discuss att: https://www.reinventionlab.org/

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

When Students Check Out: Understanding the Real Story Behind Absenteeism

Too little curriculum or too much? Most teachers have experienced one extreme or the other. Dr. Jacqui Stolzer joins us to discuss her research on curriculum ideologies—four frameworks that help teachers identify the values embedded in their curriculum work, navigate professional tensions, and ask the critical question: What am I not seeing? A must-listen for anyone trying to bridge the gap between curriculum mandates and classroom reality.

We’re proud to make this content free and accessible to all. If you find value in our episodes, please consider donating to support and sustain our efforts: https://cpet.tc.columbia.edu/giving.html

Four Lenses for Seeing Your Curriculum Differently

Teaching Today is brought to you by The Center for Professional Education of Teachers (CPET) at Teachers College, Columbia University.

In conversation with teachers, researchers, and school leaders, we’re dedicated to breaking down the problems, policies, and promising practices that define teaching. Uniting theory and practice, CPET promotes rigorous and relevant scholarship, and is committed to making excellent education accessible worldwide.

New tracks tagged #teachingtoday