My Favorite Videos - The Educators Room

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About Linda Darcy

Linda left the classroom after 16 years as a secondary World Language Teacher in the Hartford region. She has served in several leadership positions, always with a focus on teacher professional learning. Through an eclectic selection of professional experience and trainings, Linda has honed her skills as an instructional coach, curriculum writer and national presenter. Her areas of expertise include Curriculum and Instructional Design, Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Social-Emotional Learning, Instructional Coaching, Adult Learning and Language Acquisition Pedagogy. She has presented at national conferences such as the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages, Phi Delta Kappa’s Conference for Future Educators, and the Learning Forward National Conference on the topics of professional learning systems, teacher retention and motivating learners. She is currently studying for her doctorate in educational leadership at the University of Connecticut. Her primary areas of research include culturally relevant pedagogy, teacher retention and urban education.

Is Miguel Cardona The Anti-Betsy DeVos? - December 23, 2020
Let the Pandemic be the Mother of Innovation in Schools - May 25, 2020
TED Talks All Students Should See - March 23, 2020
Consider the Word 'Respect' - January 7, 2018
Watch from the Balcony, Lead on the Floor - April 10, 2017
38 Days a Teacher: Leadership, Followership, and Fellowship - April 3, 2017
Watch from the Balcony, Lead on the Floor - March 23, 2017
OMG - My Feet are Killing Me! Back to the Classroom - December 14, 2016
Back in School: Pre-Game - November 30, 2016
Who Will Care for the Teachers? - April 21, 2016

A couple of years ago, I learned how to ‘rip’ videos from the internet and embed them in a powerpoint. That was the beginning of an era. I have wiled away many an hour on youtube, TED talks and other internet sites watching videos . . . one video leads to another and another and another. I often find myself presenting on exceptionally dry topics (teacher evaluation procedures), heavy topics (serving the underserved) or topics governed by minutiae (being compliant with state policies regarding *fill in the blank*). I use the following videos to bring participants out of the fog of paperwork and trivia and back to the amazing vocation we have chosen.

Presentation: Mentoring Beginning Teachers – State Induction Program
Video: Taylor Mali – What Teachers Make

Why: It’s easy to get lost in the picayune details of our state teacher induction program and lose sight of the emotional mentoring our beginning teachers need. This video gets a lot of play in teacher circles, but no one minds seeing it a second or fourth time and every teacher needs to see it at least once. If you like this one, check out his poem entitled, “Undivided Attention”

Presentation: Common Core

Video: Why We Need the Common Core: “I choose C.”

Why: This is a great tongue-in-cheek homage to the Common Core. In general, I am not a fan of the animated, robot voices, but this one cracks me up.

Presentation: Don’t Argue! (Avoiding escalating student behaviors)
Video: Little Kids Arguing

Why: These three year olds are hysterical. They are fun and funny, but more importantly, argue like a teacher and student. I have heard teachers say everything that little girl says. Notice how she argues herself into self-contradiction!

Presentation: What Teachers Can Learn from Video Games
Video: Extra Credits: Gamifying Education

Why: This video provides an overview of the concept of gamification and explains that it can be done without technology . . . it’s ‘game theory’ that lies at the heart of gamification, not technology.

Presentation: Any presentation to teachers who serve urban students
Video: D.L. Hughley Cries During Black America

Why: Watch the video. No explanation necessary. I still tear up when I watch it.

What is your favorite video to share with teachers?