Teach Me, Teacher

#287 Misery Doesn't Need Company with Ms. Chyna (pt.1) Nov 28, 2022

Hello everyone! It is no secret that times are changing...and have changed. Kids seem different. Behavior is all over the place (regardless of the level you work at). There are pressures from seemingly every angle...

And yet, there is still joy to be found. Don't believe me? Well, no need. I brought back Ms. Chyna to the podcast to talk about all the things she is grateful for in this work, while also acknowledging the many difficulties all educators are facing.

Ms. Chyna is a behavioral special education teacher, otherwise known as @especiallysped on Instagram, and is insightful, relatable, and always helpful.

In part 1 of this discussion, we cover:

Why she is a special education teacher
How Covid has affected many parts of our jobs
Student behavior
The need to find the people who bring you joy (not misery!)

...and so much more!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, Whispering in the Wind: A Guide to Deeper Reading and Writing Through Poetry, by Linda Rief.

Do your students cringe when you teach a poetry unit? Do you? Whispering in the Wind is Linda Rief’s latest book and it’s a cure for poetry agony.

This book shows you how to launch a simple, self-directed student poetry project that will help your students read more poetry, respond to it authentically, and maybe even discover that they actually enjoy it.

Focusing on poetry really can make your students stronger readers and stronger writers.

And you’ll finally have a plan for teaching poetry that you’ll love too.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/Whispering.

#286 In Defense of Direct Teaching (Daniel Buck pt.2) Nov 21, 2022

Hello everyone! It has never been the goal of this podcast to push one side of the current issues education is facing. I value the complexities of what we do in schools, and as a consequence, value wide ranging opinions from people who care about education’s future.

Last week, I brought Daniel Buck to the show, who brings his expertise, willingness to dialogue, and unafraid opinions to discuss what he calls the biggest debate no one is talking about… the knowledge vs skills debate as it relates to pedagogy and schools.

This week, we dive into a plethora of topics (such as supporting families, school choice, keeping politics out of classrooms...), but the one that encompasses them all is Daniel's defense of direct teaching and how it can improve student learning.

For the uninitiated, Daniel has been featured in places such as the New York Post and Wall Street Journal, has a healthy Twitter following, and is the author of the upcoming book, What Is Wrong With Our Schools? The ideology impoverishing education in America and how we can do better for our student.

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, Whispering in the Wind: A Guide to Deeper Reading and Writing Through Poetry, by Linda Rief.

Do your students cringe when you teach a poetry unit? Do you? Whispering in the Wind is Linda Rief’s latest book and it’s a cure for poetry agony.

This book shows you how to launch a simple, self-directed student poetry project that will help your students read more poetry, respond to it authentically, and maybe even discover that they actually enjoy it.

Focusing on poetry really can make your students stronger readers and stronger writers.

And you’ll finally have a plan for teaching poetry that you’ll love too.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/Whispering.

#285 Knowledge vs Skills Debate with Daniel Buck (pt.1) Nov 14, 2022

Hello everyone! It has never been the goal of this podcast to push one side of the current issues education is facing. I value the complexities of what we do in schools, and as a consequence, value wide ranging opinions from people who care about education's future.

Today is a day where I get to model what it's like to speak with someone who I do not fully agree with, but value and respect their thinking nonetheless.

Daniel Buck comes to the show bringing his expertise, willingness to dialogue, and unafraid opinions to discuss what he calls the biggest debate no one is talking about... the knowledge vs skills debate as it relates to pedagogy and schools.

For the uninitiated, Daniel has been featured in places such as the New York Post and Wall Street Journal, has a healthy Twitter following, and is the author of the upcoming book, What Is Wrong With Our Schools? The ideology impoverishing education in America and how we can do better for our student.

#284 Embracing the Complexities of Multiple Literacies (Dr. Miah Daughtery pt.3) Nov 07, 2022

Hello everyone! After hosting this podcast for 7 years, running my second podcast Craft & Draft, and talking about the importance of authentic writing instruction, I have come to learn an unsettling fact… writing is so often overlooked in professional development and curriculum documents.

Too often, writing is pushed to the side or given a steady diet of drills, programs, or rules for kids to follow, rather than being a vehicle for self expression, discovery, and learning. It’s also, as we discuss in this episode, often not taught across all of the

If you missed part one or two of this discussion, please do yourself a favor and check those out before listening to this final episode of my discussion with the wonderful Dr. Miah Daughtery.

Miah Daughtery is the literacy director of content advocacy and design at NWEA. Prior to joining NWEA, she was a classroom reading and English teacher for almost 10 years, a district literacy specialist, the state literacy coordinator for the Tennessee Department of Education, the director of literacy for Achieve, and the executive director of professional learning for Odell Education.

In part three we discuss:

Multiple literacies and how schools can be more aligned to the real world
Choices we must make as educators around literacy
Thinking of literacy beyond the classroom

…and so much more!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, Whispering in the Wind: A Guide to Deeper Reading and Writing Through Poetry, by Linda Rief.

Do your students cringe when you teach a poetry unit? Do you? Whispering in the Wind is Linda Rief’s latest book and it’s a cure for poetry agony.

This book shows you how to launch a simple, self-directed student poetry project that will help your students read more poetry, respond to it authentically, and maybe even discover that they actually enjoy it.

Focusing on poetry really can make your students stronger readers and stronger writers.

And you’ll finally have a plan for teaching poetry that you’ll love too.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/Whispering.

#283 The Importance of Cross-Curricular Writing (Dr. Miah Daughtery pt.2) Oct 31, 2022

Hello everyone! After hosting this podcast for 7 years, running my second podcast Craft & Draft, and talking about the importance of authentic writing instruction, I have come to learn an unsettling fact… writing is so often overlooked in professional development and curriculum documents.

Too often, writing is pushed to the side or given a steady diet of drills, programs, or rules for kids to follow, rather than being a vehicle for self expression, discovery, and learning. It's also, as we discuss in this episode, often not taught across all of the

Joining me today to try and answer why this is, and why writing is so important to teach well, is Dr. Miah Daughtery. Miah Daughtery is the literacy director of content advocacy and design at NWEA. Prior to joining NWEA, she was a classroom reading and English teacher for almost 10 years, a district literacy specialist, the state literacy coordinator for the Tennessee Department of Education, the director of literacy for Achieve, and the executive director of professional learning for Odell Education.

In part two we discuss:

The power of writing
Meaning before form and how this supports writers
Cross-curricular writing and its importance

…and so much more!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, The First Five: A Love Letter to TeachersBy Patrick Harris II.

We all have stories. We all have experiences to share. A memoir with a call-to-action, The First Five affirms the humanity of all teachers. Patrick inspires you to dream big about what you want for yourself, our students, our schools, and our educational system.

In The First Five, Patrick brings to light the realities of teaching, especially in the first five years. He immerses you in his world with personal stories that lead to lessons, questions, and exercises to help you reflect on your own journey. Each chapter includes interviews with a diverse group of educators.

Creating change in our education system is a process. It will happen from the ground up and the inside out. If we want to make a long-lasting impact we need to know more than just what to do; we need to start sharing our stories, not just our strategies. The work we do together throughout this book and beyond will leave you feeling hopeful, empowered, and challenged. No matter where you start, know that this work is ongoing. Give yourself grace. We are in this together, for the long haul. Here’s to the next five years.

#282 Why is Writing Instruction Overlooked? with Dr. Miah Daughtery (pt.1) Oct 24, 2022

Hello everyone! After hosting this podcast for 7 years, running my second podcast Craft & Draft, and talking about the importance of authentic writing instruction, I have come to learn an unsettling fact... writing is so often overlooked in professional development and curriculum documents.

Too often, writing is pushed to the side or given a steady diet of drills, programs, or rules for kids to follow, rather than being a vehicle for self expression, discovery, and learning.

Joining me today to try and answer why this is, and why writing is so important to teach well, is Dr. Miah Daughtery. Miah Daughtery is the literacy director of content advocacy and design at NWEA. Prior to joining NWEA, she was a classroom reading and English teacher for almost 10 years, a district literacy specialist, the state literacy coordinator for the Tennessee Department of Education, the director of literacy for Achieve, and the executive director of professional learning for Odell Education.

In this episode we discuss:

The value of seeing the classroom in different professional roles
Scaling greatness in a classroom to other classrooms
Why writing is often ignored in PD and curriculum
What is writing and why is it important?

...and so much more!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, The First Five: A Love Letter to TeachersBy Patrick Harris II.

We all have stories. We all have experiences to share. A memoir with a call-to-action, The First Five affirms the humanity of all teachers. Patrick inspires you to dream big about what you want for yourself, our students, our schools, and our educational system.

In The First Five, Patrick brings to light the realities of teaching, especially in the first five years. He immerses you in his world with personal stories that lead to lessons, questions, and exercises to help you reflect on your own journey. Each chapter includes interviews with a diverse group of educators.

Creating change in our education system is a process. It will happen from the ground up and the inside out. If we want to make a long-lasting impact we need to know more than just what to do; we need to start sharing our stories, not just our strategies. The work we do together throughout this book and beyond will leave you feeling hopeful, empowered, and challenged. No matter where you start, know that this work is ongoing. Give yourself grace. We are in this together, for the long haul. Here’s to the next five years.

#281 Educators Need Trust and Support (Dr. Nadia Lopez pt.2) Oct 17, 2022

Hello everyone! Educators are some of the hardest working people on this earth. Few people outside of education understand what it truly takes to move kids, support families, and build schools to be powerful tools for all who enter them.

At times the demands of this job can take their toll, however, and when they do, consequences can be dire.

To discuss what it takes to build powerful educational environments and the cost that can be present with such work is the brilliant Dr. Nadia Lopez.

Dr. Nadia Lopez is an award-winning global educational thought leader, who became a viral sensation after the popular blog Humans of New York featured her as one of the most influential people of this life. Disrupting the school to prison pipeline, Dr. Lopez founded Mott Hall Bridges Academy, a STEAM-focused middle school in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, in 2010, and served as the principal for ten years. She was named Linkedin’s 2019 Top 10 Voices in Education and received the Black Girls Rock award–alongside Michelle Obama in 2015.

In 2020, Dr. Lopez ended her tenure as Mott Hall Bridges Academy’s principal as an act of self-preservation after developing a stress-related illness that threatened her life. The experience inspired her to develop a coaching program for women of color in educational leadership designed to build their capacity, with a focus on sustainability.

In part two we discuss:

What happened to Mott Hall Bridges when Dr. Lopez came back
The importance of supporting teachers and building trust
Where education is headed and how we can support a better tomorrow

…and so much more!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, The First Five: A Love Letter to TeachersBy Patrick Harris II.

We all have stories. We all have experiences to share. A memoir with a call-to-action, The First Five affirms the humanity of all teachers. Patrick inspires you to dream big about what you want for yourself, our students, our schools, and our educational system.

In The First Five, Patrick brings to light the realities of teaching, especially in the first five years. He immerses you in his world with personal stories that lead to lessons, questions, and exercises to help you reflect on your own journey. Each chapter includes interviews with a diverse group of educators.

Creating change in our education system is a process. It will happen from the ground up and the inside out. If we want to make a long-lasting impact we need to know more than just what to do; we need to start sharing our stories, not just our strategies. The work we do together throughout this book and beyond will leave you feeling hopeful, empowered, and challenged. No matter where you start, know that this work is ongoing. Give yourself grace. We are in this together, for the long haul. Here’s to the next five years.

#280 Mott Hall Bridges and the Toll of Educational Excellence with Dr. Nadia Lopez (pt.1) Oct 10, 2022

Hello everyone! Educators are some of the hardest working people on this earth. Few people outside of education understand what it truly takes to move kids, support families, and build schools to be powerful tools for all who enter them.

At times the demands of this job can take their toll, however, and when they do, consequences can be dire.

To discuss what it takes to build powerful educational environments and the cost that can be present with such work is the brilliant Dr. Nadia Lopez.

Dr. Nadia Lopez is an award-winning global educational thought leader, who became a viral sensation after the popular blog Humans of New York featured her as one of the most influential people of this life. Disrupting the school to prison pipeline, Dr. Lopez founded Mott Hall Bridges Academy, a STEAM-focused middle school in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, in 2010, and served as the principal for ten years. She was named Linkedin’s 2019 Top 10 Voices in Education and received the Black Girls Rock award–alongside Michelle Obama in 2015.

In 2020, Dr. Lopez ended her tenure as Mott Hall Bridges Academy’s principal as an act of self-preservation after developing a stress-related illness that threatened her life. The experience inspired her to develop a coaching program for women of color in educational leadership designed to build their capacity, with a focus on sustainability.

In this episode we discuss:

Building a school and a culture in a struggling area of New York
Focusing a school on the right things
Stress and the affects it has on the health of educators
Reimagining the work week

...and so much more!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, The First Five: A Love Letter to TeachersBy Patrick Harris II.

We all have stories. We all have experiences to share. A memoir with a call-to-action, The First Five affirms the humanity of all teachers. Patrick inspires you to dream big about what you want for yourself, our students, our schools, and our educational system.

In The First Five, Patrick brings to light the realities of teaching, especially in the first five years. He immerses you in his world with personal stories that lead to lessons, questions, and exercises to help you reflect on your own journey. Each chapter includes interviews with a diverse group of educators.

Creating change in our education system is a process. It will happen from the ground up and the inside out. If we want to make a long-lasting impact we need to know more than just what to do; we need to start sharing our stories, not just our strategies. The work we do together throughout this book and beyond will leave you feeling hopeful, empowered, and challenged. No matter where you start, know that this work is ongoing. Give yourself grace. We are in this together, for the long haul. Here’s to the next five years.

#279 From Bandages to Real Change in Schools (Rae Hughart pt.2) Oct 03, 2022

Hello everyone! The job of being an educator can be difficult. For a profession that has so many highs, like seeing the growth of young people, it can also have many lows. In such times, it can be hard to be alone or feel like you are. Having educators in your corner, whether that’s digitally on social media or in your building, can be career saving.

Last week, we talked about the value of finding your tribe with Rae Hughart, a Middle Level Math Educator in Illinois, and creator of the Teach Further Model.

This week, we are discussing moving forward in education and the need to stop putting bandages on everything, but rather, implement real change in our schools.

All of that and MORE on this episode.

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, The First Five: A Love Letter to TeachersBy Patrick Harris II.

We all have stories. We all have experiences to share. A memoir with a call-to-action, The First Five affirms the humanity of all teachers. Patrick inspires you to dream big about what you want for yourself, our students, our schools, and our educational system.

In The First Five, Patrick brings to light the realities of teaching, especially in the first five years. He immerses you in his world with personal stories that lead to lessons, questions, and exercises to help you reflect on your own journey. Each chapter includes interviews with a diverse group of educators.

Creating change in our education system is a process. It will happen from the ground up and the inside out. If we want to make a long-lasting impact we need to know more than just what to do; we need to start sharing our stories, not just our strategies. The work we do together throughout this book and beyond will leave you feeling hopeful, empowered, and challenged. No matter where you start, know that this work is ongoing. Give yourself grace. We are in this together, for the long haul. Here’s to the next five years.

#277 The Value of Your Tribe with Rae Hughart (pt.1) Sep 26, 2022

Hello everyone! The job of being an educator can be difficult. For a profession that has so many highs, like seeing the growth of young people, it can also have many lows. In such times, it can be hard to be alone or feel like you are. Having educators in your corner, whether that's digitally on social media or in your building, can be career saving.

To talk about this and how to build up your tribe, I have brought on Rae Hughart! Rae is a Middle Level Math Educator in Illinois, creator of the Teach Further Model, Instructional Assistant Professor at Illinois State University, and the Director of Training & Development for the Teach Better Team.

In this episode we discuss:

The value of talking with people you disagree with
The power of community
Finding your people
The creativity present in all educators

...and so much more!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Tuned-In Teaching: Centering Youth Culture for an Active and Just Classroom.

Ever feel like your classroom culture is stuck? Or that you’re a little out-of-tune with your students?

If so, Tuned-In Teaching is for you.

This book is the road map for creating a classroom that is transformative for your students and revitalizing for you. You’ll read about six practical ways to connect with your students and build a more active and engaging learning environment.

By tuning in to the lives and culture of your students, you’ll connect with them more meaningfully and teach them more effectively.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/TunedIn.

#276 Practical Health and Fitness for Teachers with Big Ron Jones Sep 19, 2022

Hello everyone! Teachers and administrators live busy lives. We make hundreds of decisions every single day and dedicate the majority of our time serving and supporting others. This often leads us making little time for ourselves, especially with health and fitness.

I am guilty of this just like many of you probably are. My health often sits on the back burner while I work to do my job to the best of my ability. And just like you, I know this is unsustainable and wrong minded.

To hopefully help you and myself focus on steps we can take to insure we get to serve students and families long into the future, I have brought on Big Ron Jones to give us practical, real world advice on health and fitness. Ron Jones is a health and wellness trainer who reaches tens of thousands of people with his videos and advice.

In this episode, we discuss:

What health is and how to define it
Setting realistic goals
Common myths in fitness
The basics of calories
Fad diets and predatory gyms

...and much more!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Tuned-In Teaching: Centering Youth Culture for an Active and Just Classroom.

Ever feel like your classroom culture is stuck? Or that you’re a little out-of-tune with your students?

If so, Tuned-In Teaching is for you.

This book is the road map for creating a classroom that is transformative for your students and revitalizing for you. You’ll read about six practical ways to connect with your students and build a more active and engaging learning environment.

By tuning in to the lives and culture of your students, you’ll connect with them more meaningfully and teach them more effectively.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/TunedIn.

#275 Poetry, Writing, and Choice (Linda Rief pt.2) Sep 12, 2022

Hello everyone! Teach Me, Teacher has been very fortunate to feature so many amazing educators—especially in the literacy space. Our Top 10 Literacy Podcasts list gets tens of thousands of hits every month and spans educators all over the United States and grade levels. It’s truly an honor to bring so many great talks to educators for free.

Today, we get to continue adding to this list of amazing people and giants in the world of literacy who’ve been on the show with part two of our talk with Linda Rief. Linda is the author of Whispering in the Wind: A Guide to Deeper Reading and Writing Through Poetry, The Quickwrite Handbook, and Read Write Teach, to name a few. In 2021 she was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from NCTE and in 2020 received the Kent Williamson Exemplary Leader Award from the Conference on English Leadership, in recognition of outstanding leadership in the English Language Arts.

Today we are discussing her latest book, Whispering in the Wind, engaging kids with poetry, improving schools, engaging kids through choice, creating Heartbooks, and so much more

On a connected note: check out Linda on the G2Great chat on Twitter this week!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Tuned-In Teaching: Centering Youth Culture for an Active and Just Classroom.

Ever feel like your classroom culture is stuck? Or that you’re a little out-of-tune with your students?

If so, Tuned-In Teaching is for you.

This book is the road map for creating a classroom that is transformative for your students and revitalizing for you. You’ll read about six practical ways to connect with your students and build a more active and engaging learning environment.

By tuning in to the lives and culture of your students, you’ll connect with them more meaningfully and teach them more effectively.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/TunedIn.

#274 A Guide to Deeper Reading & Writing Through Poetry with Linda Rief (pt.1) Sep 05, 2022

Hello everyone! Teach Me, Teacher has been very fortunate to feature so many amazing educators—especially in the literacy space. Our Top 10 Literacy Podcasts list gets tens of thousands of hits every month and spans educators all over the United States and grade levels. It's truly an honor to bring so many great talks to educators for free.

Today, we get to add to this list of amazing people and giants in the world of literacy who've been on the show with the wonderful Linda Rief. Linda is the author of Whispering in the Wind: A Guide to Deeper Reading and Writing Through Poetry, The Quickwrite Handbook, and Read Write Teach, to name a few. In 2021 she was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from NCTE and in 2020 received the Kent Williamson Exemplary Leader Award from the Conference on English Leadership, in recognition of outstanding leadership in the English Language Arts.

Today we are discussing her latest book, Whispering in the Wind, and how to guide and support students to deeper reading and writing through poetry.

We discuss choice, the power of the written word, and the importance of writing journals in this part of our talk.

Enjoy, and make sure to subscribe so you don't miss part 2 next week!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Tuned-In Teaching: Centering Youth Culture for an Active and Just Classroom.

Ever feel like your classroom culture is stuck? Or that you’re a little out-of-tune with your students?

If so, Tuned-In Teaching is for you.

This book is the road map for creating a classroom that is transformative for your students and revitalizing for you. You’ll read about six practical ways to connect with your students and build a more active and engaging learning environment.

By tuning in to the lives and culture of your students, you’ll connect with them more meaningfully and teach them more effectively.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/TunedIn.

#273 An Honest Talk About Mental Health (Todd Nesloney pt.2) Aug 29, 2022

Hello everyone! Many dedicated professionals ignore their mental health. They put it off, hide their struggles, and often suffer in silence. Todd Nesloney not only understands this, but has lived through it and came out on the other side.

In this episode, we touch on:

His new book, In This Season
The importance of mental health
The value of community

...and much more!

Todd Nesloney is the Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership for the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA). We previously spoke to Nesloney about the power of community and literacy, and we are happy for his return for this discussion.

Enjoy!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, Whispering in the Wind: A Guide to Deeper Reading and Writing Through Poetry, by Linda Rief.

Do your students cringe when you teach a poetry unit? Do you? Whispering in the Wind is Linda Rief’s latest book and it’s a cure for poetry agony.

This book shows you how to launch a simple, self-directed student poetry project that will help your students read more poetry, respond to it authentically, and maybe even discover that they actually enjoy it.

Focusing on poetry really can make your students stronger readers and stronger writers.

And you’ll finally have a plan for teaching poetry that you’ll love too.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/Whispering.

#272 Is the Future Bright for Education? with Todd Nesloney (pt.1) Aug 22, 2022

Hello everyone! As we head into another school year, many educators and administrators are asking themselves if we are on the right track. School boards, parents, and students are increasingly asking this as well. We all deeply believe in the power of a quality education, and yet many of us are concerned about the future in this regard.

To discuss this, and much more, is friend of the show Todd Nesloney. Nesloney is the Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership for the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA). We previously spoke to Nesloney about the power of community and literacy, and we are happy for his return for this discussion.

In this episode we touch on:

Changes to Nesloney's world
Mental health
The challenges facing teachers and admin
The hope for the future of education and educators

Enjoy!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, Whispering in the Wind: A Guide to Deeper Reading and Writing Through Poetry, by Linda Rief.

Do your students cringe when you teach a poetry unit? Do you? Whispering in the Wind is Linda Rief’s latest book and it’s a cure for poetry agony.

This book shows you how to launch a simple, self-directed student poetry project that will help your students read more poetry, respond to it authentically, and maybe even discover that they actually enjoy it.

Focusing on poetry really can make your students stronger readers and stronger writers.

And you’ll finally have a plan for teaching poetry that you’ll love too.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/Whispering.

#271 The First Five Years (Patrick Harris II pt.2) Aug 15, 2022

Hello everyone! Patrick Harris II, an educator and the author of The First Five: A Love Letter to Teachers, came on to the show last week to discuss the importance of teacher autonomy. This week, we are diving into the importance of the first five years of teaching and finding a school that fill your cup.

Patrick's journey to his dream school is a wild one, but if anything, it should inspire you if you are hoping your career takes a turn for the better!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, Whispering in the Wind: A Guide to Deeper Reading and Writing Through Poetry, by Linda Rief.

Do your students cringe when you teach a poetry unit? Do you? Whispering in the Wind is Linda Rief’s latest book and it’s a cure for poetry agony.

This book shows you how to launch a simple, self-directed student poetry project that will help your students read more poetry, respond to it authentically, and maybe even discover that they actually enjoy it.

Focusing on poetry really can make your students stronger readers and stronger writers.

And you’ll finally have a plan for teaching poetry that you’ll love too.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/Whispering.

#270 The Importance of Teacher Autonomy with Patrick Harris II (pt.1) Aug 08, 2022

Hello everyone! Many teachers work within districts and schools that value and understand the importance of teacher autonomy, yet this is not the case everywhere. With the pressure of accountability and an ever increasing eye on education in the political sphere, some districts and schools are opting for LESS teacher autonomy—often limiting teachers to just being program pushers or curriculum guide readers.

To discuss this and more, I have brought on Patrick Harris II, an educator and the author of The First Five: A Love Letter to Teachers.

In this discussion we talk about:

The world of middle school teachers
The importance of story-telling
Knowing our why
How teachers and students need room to be themselves to get the most out of education

...and so much more!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, Whispering in the Wind: A Guide to Deeper Reading and Writing Through Poetry, by Linda Rief.

Do your students cringe when you teach a poetry unit? Do you? Whispering in the Wind is Linda Rief’s latest book and it’s a cure for poetry agony.

This book shows you how to launch a simple, self-directed student poetry project that will help your students read more poetry, respond to it authentically, and maybe even discover that they actually enjoy it.

Focusing on poetry really can make your students stronger readers and stronger writers.

And you’ll finally have a plan for teaching poetry that you’ll love too.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/Whispering.

Education Can Bring Us Together — Season 7 Intro Aug 02, 2022

Hello everyone and welcome to season 7 of the Teach Me, Teacher podcast! If you are new to these intro episodes, I treat these as focuses for the season and update listeners on where I am at as the host and guide of the show.

Times are changing, the new school year is here, and I am moving on to new and exciting adventures.

Enjoy the show and WELCOME to yet another season of Teach Me, Teacher!

I want to let you know about a free, virtual, conference for “cool” science educators coming up on August 5th. Its the 9th ScIC Science is Cool unconference. But of course all science teachers are cool so that means everyone is invited!

It’s called an unconference because they are curated based on teacher feedback and they are actually fun! Produced by the team at PocketLab, these virtual events always have a great line up of amazing speakers to fill the day. At ScIC9 on August 5th, you will hear from Kari Byron of Mythbusters fame, the Biomimicry institute, The national lab for the International Space Station, OpenSciEd, and so many more. In the past 2 years, these “unconferences” have attracted nearly 100,000 teachers from over 200 countries around the world join. Every event is inspiring, engaging, and full of resources. To sign up for Science is Cool 9- visit thepocketlab.com/scic9 or click right here.

Your students (and maybe even you) might cringe at the word poetry. For many, poetry feels like finding the hidden meaning the poet worked so hard to hide from the reader. If poetry confuses your students, they’re likely to avoid it altogether.

In Whispering in the Wind, master educator Linda Rief provides a cure for poetry agony. She introduces “Heart Books,” a project inspired by the Heart Maps of Georgia Heard. Linda has used Heart Books throughout her teaching career to help students read more poetry, connect with it, and see how they, too, could write poetically.

Help students find (and respond to) poetry they'll love

Linda explains how to create and use Heart Books in any classroom by:

helping students discover poets who surprise and delight them
using Heart Books as a pathway to find poetry that rings true for each student
encouraging students to deepen their understanding of themselves, and others
teaching students to respond to poetry with an authentic voice

How do you squeeze one more unit into your curriculum? This is not a book about teaching a standalone poetry unit. Instead, you’ll learn how to use transition times for this learning—all those in-between times throughout the year, such as right before a new unit, and leading up to, or returning from, vacations or holidays.

Linda believes this is work worth doing in any classroom because “poetry is what ‘whispers in the wind,’ guiding us toward deeper reading and a heightened awareness of what makes compelling writing.”

Being Relentless in Education with Hamish Brewer — Off Season Day 4 Jul 25, 2022

Hello everyone! This is a re-run of our season 3 finale. Enjoy!

From the post:

I couldn’t be any more excited to bring you none other than Hamish Brewer !

If you don’t know who Hamish is, the relentless, tattooed, skateboarding principal in Northern Virginia isn’t your normal principal. Hamish is high octane, constantly calling on his students to “Be Relentless. Mr. Brewer has become known as an educational disrupter and game changer who transcends the status quo and typical educational norms.

He is known for working with some of the most at risk students in America and getting results, and that’s exactly what we discuss in this episode!

This is the perfect listen for starting the new school year, because those kids in our schools need us to be excited, they need us to be motivated, and they need us to be our best.

Hamish knows how to get it done, and he takes us along for the ride!

Enjoy!

I want to let you know about a free, virtual, conference for “cool” science educators coming up on August 5th. Its the 9th ScIC Science is Cool unconference. But of course all science teachers are cool so that means everyone is invited!

It’s called an unconference because they are curated based on teacher feedback and they are actually fun! Produced by the team at PocketLab, these virtual events always have a great line up of amazing speakers to fill the day. At ScIC9 on August 5th, you will hear from Kari Byron of Mythbusters fame, the Biomimicry institute, The national lab for the International Space Station, OpenSciEd, and so many more. In the past 2 years, these “unconferences” have attracted nearly 100,000 teachers from over 200 countries around the world join. Every event is inspiring, engaging, and full of resources. To sign up for Science is Cool 9- visit thepocketlab.com/scic9 or click right here.

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices by Lorena Escoto Germán.

With Culturally Sustaining Practice as its foundation, Textured Teaching helps secondary teachers stop wondering and guessing how to implement teaching and learning that leads to social justice. Lorena Germán shares her framework for creating a classroom environment that is highly rigorous and engaging, and that reflects the core traits of Textured Teaching: student-driven and community-centered, interdisciplinary, experiential, and flexible. The actionable strategies Lorena uses to bring Textured Teaching values to life illuminate what is possible when we welcome all types of texts, all types of voices, and all forms of expression into the classroom.

Learn more about how to become a culturally sustaining educator. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Textured Teaching.

What it Takes to Teach Today with Alfie Kohn — Off Season Day 3 Jul 18, 2022

Hello everyone! Today, I am re-releasing what I believe is the one of the most important podcasts in the history of the show. Not only is it filled with honest and real world talk, it is filled with research based advice and insight from one of the premier thinkers on education today.

In this episode, I sit down with Alfie Kohn and discuss a range of topics, such as why grading hurts more than it helps, why rewards do more harm than good, and why the testing obsession leads to bad teaching.

I consider these the three pillars of what holds up an outdated educational model, and Alfie Kohn is the main reason for that perspective. Without a doubt, Alfie has influenced my teaching in such fundamental ways, and I know his thinking, research, and expertise will encourage you to question some of the norms of our educational climate.

Alfie Kohn writes and speaks widely on human behavior, education, and parenting. The most recent of his 14 books are SCHOOLING BEYOND MEASURE…And Other Unorthodox Essays About Education (2015) and THE MYTH OF THE SPOILED CHILD: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom About Children and Parenting (2014). Of his earlier titles, the best known are PUNISHED BY REWARDS (1993), NO CONTEST: The Case Against Competition (1986), UNCONDITIONAL PARENTING (2005), and THE SCHOOLS OUR CHILDREN DESERVE (1999).

I want to let you know about a free, virtual, conference for "cool" science educators coming up on August 5th. Its the 9th ScIC Science is Cool unconference. But of course all science teachers are cool so that means everyone is invited!

It's called an unconference because they are curated based on teacher feedback and they are actually fun! Produced by the team at PocketLab, these virtual events always have a great line up of amazing speakers to fill the day. At ScIC9 on August 5th, you will hear from Kari Byron of Mythbusters fame, the Biomimicry institute, The national lab for the International Space Station, OpenSciEd, and so many more. In the past 2 years, these "unconferences" have attracted nearly 100,000 teachers from over 200 countries around the world join. Every event is inspiring, engaging, and full of resources. To sign up for Science is Cool 9- visit thepocketlab.com/scic9 or click right here.

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices by Lorena Escoto Germán.

With Culturally Sustaining Practice as its foundation, Textured Teaching helps secondary teachers stop wondering and guessing how to implement teaching and learning that leads to social justice. Lorena Germán shares her framework for creating a classroom environment that is highly rigorous and engaging, and that reflects the core traits of Textured Teaching: student-driven and community-centered, interdisciplinary, experiential, and flexible. The actionable strategies Lorena uses to bring Textured Teaching values to life illuminate what is possible when we welcome all types of texts, all types of voices, and all forms of expression into the classroom.

Learn more about how to become a culturally sustaining educator. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Textured Teaching.

The Importance of Scientific Literacy — Off Season Day 2 Jul 11, 2022

Hello everyone! Today I am joined by my friend David Bakker, PocketLab co-founder & Stanford teacher. In this episode we discuss the importance of scientific literacy, how to bring passion into the science classroom, and an amazing FREE conference any teacher involved with science should attend.

I loved this talk! Check out the FREE conference here. Here's what it's about:

ScIC "Science is Cool" invites STEM educators from around the world to a globally attended event dedicated to Open Educational Resources (OER). We will explore this and other free to low-cost tools and resources that empower you to shape lesson plans according to your teaching style and classroom needs.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022 — 9:00AM - 4:00PM PACIFIC TIME

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices by Lorena Escoto Germán.

With Culturally Sustaining Practice as its foundation, Textured Teaching helps secondary teachers stop wondering and guessing how to implement teaching and learning that leads to social justice. Lorena Germán shares her framework for creating a classroom environment that is highly rigorous and engaging, and that reflects the core traits of Textured Teaching: student-driven and community-centered, interdisciplinary, experiential, and flexible. The actionable strategies Lorena uses to bring Textured Teaching values to life illuminate what is possible when we welcome all types of texts, all types of voices, and all forms of expression into the classroom.

Learn more about how to become a culturally sustaining educator. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Textured Teaching.

Off Season Day One — Using Tech and Teaching Multiple Contents Jul 04, 2022

Hello everyone! As Teach Me, Teacher readies to enter it's seventh season, I wanted to take some time to let the summer breathe a bit with an "off season" mini-series of the show. Today you are listening to a Q&A episode from my second show, Craft & Draft, and next week we are going back in time to highlight some other episodes of the show you may have never heard or have forgotten about.

Below is the episode description!

Jacob and Pam love answering questions from their patrons! In this episode, they answer two separate questions:

How do you implement technology into the writing and reading workshop?
How do you use the Craft and Draft Books with GT fifth graders in a writing, reading, science, and social studies workshop?

Jacob and Pam share how they use technology while maintaining their Craft and Draft Books in their workshops.

They each follow-up with several ideas regarding how to use the Craft and Draft Books with gifted and talented students. Jacob shares how he would use the Books to help the students to explore a plethora of genres and disciplines. Pam shares ideas that she has used in the past that would bring in a multi-disciplinary thinking approach.

Join Jacob and Pam as they explore ideas while they do one of their favorite things–answering audience questions!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices by Lorena Escoto Germán.

With Culturally Sustaining Practice as its foundation, Textured Teaching helps secondary teachers stop wondering and guessing how to implement teaching and learning that leads to social justice. Lorena Germán shares her framework for creating a classroom environment that is highly rigorous and engaging, and that reflects the core traits of Textured Teaching: student-driven and community-centered, interdisciplinary, experiential, and flexible. The actionable strategies Lorena uses to bring Textured Teaching values to life illuminate what is possible when we welcome all types of texts, all types of voices, and all forms of expression into the classroom.

Learn more about how to become a culturally sustaining educator. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Textured Teaching.

#269 The Joy of Reading (Season Finale with Donalyn Miller pt.2) Jun 27, 2022

Hello everyone and welcome to part 2 of our season finale episode!If you missed part 1, check it out here.

If you have been a fan of this show for any amount of time, you know that I am a mega fan of Donalyn Miller. Not just because she is an amazing person and educator, but because her work changed how I taught.

In this episode we discuss:

The legacy of Teri Lesesne
The importance of having diverse books in schools
Fighting against programs and initiatives that are bad for readers
Reclaiming book joy for students and ourselves

You DO NOT want to mis the season finale to season 6 of Teach Me, Teacher.

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, The First Five: A Love Letter to TeachersBy Patrick Harris II.

We all have stories. We all have experiences to share. A memoir with a call-to-action, The First Five affirms the humanity of all teachers. Patrick inspires you to dream big about what you want for yourself, our students, our schools, and our educational system.

In The First Five, Patrick brings to light the realities of teaching, especially in the first five years. He immerses you in his world with personal stories that lead to lessons, questions, and exercises to help you reflect on your own journey. Each chapter includes interviews with a diverse group of educators.

Creating change in our education system is a process. It will happen from the ground up and the inside out. If we want to make a long-lasting impact we need to know more than just what to do; we need to start sharing our stories, not just our strategies. The work we do together throughout this book and beyond will leave you feeling hopeful, empowered, and challenged. No matter where you start, know that this work is ongoing. Give yourself grace. We are in this together, for the long haul. Here’s to the next five years.

#268 The Problem with Soft Censorship with Donalyn Miller (pt.1) Jun 20, 2022

Hello everyone and welcome to part 1 of our season finale episode! If you have been a fan of this show for any amount of time, you know that I am a mega fan of Donalyn Miller. Not just because she is an amazing person and educator, but because her work changed how I taught. FULL STOP.

So, it was an absolute pleasure to invite her back to the show to talk about all of her latest work and the soft censorship happening in schools right now that is getting in the way of book joy.

If you have never heard Donalyn Miller speak before, you are in for a treat. If you have, then you are still in for a treat because this episode is all about book love, choice, voice, and the problem with censorship today in schools.

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, The First Five: A Love Letter to TeachersBy Patrick Harris II.

We all have stories. We all have experiences to share. A memoir with a call-to-action, The First Five affirms the humanity of all teachers. Patrick inspires you to dream big about what you want for yourself, our students, our schools, and our educational system.

In The First Five, Patrick brings to light the realities of teaching, especially in the first five years. He immerses you in his world with personal stories that lead to lessons, questions, and exercises to help you reflect on your own journey. Each chapter includes interviews with a diverse group of educators.

Creating change in our education system is a process. It will happen from the ground up and the inside out. If we want to make a long-lasting impact we need to know more than just what to do; we need to start sharing our stories, not just our strategies. The work we do together throughout this book and beyond will leave you feeling hopeful, empowered, and challenged. No matter where you start, know that this work is ongoing. Give yourself grace. We are in this together, for the long haul. Here’s to the next five years.

#267 Nuanced Advice for New Teachers (Ciara Bennion (pt.2) Jun 13, 2022

Hello everyone! As the school year closes out and we begin to look to the future, many of us are taking the time to look back and offer advice for new teachers from our experiences. Ciara Bennion, otherwise known as @ciarak.beauty on Instagram has been doing just that!

I have been a fan of Ciara’s for awhile now, but what made me reach out to get her on the show was her video on what she would say to her first year self if she could. There were so many great pieces of advice in that video that I wanted to address them in a longer form on the podcast.

In this part, we continue our talk from last week and talk about some much needed nuanced advice for first year teachers.

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, The First Five: A Love Letter to TeachersBy Patrick Harris II.

We all have stories. We all have experiences to share. A memoir with a call-to-action, The First Five affirms the humanity of all teachers. Patrick inspires you to dream big about what you want for yourself, our students, our schools, and our educational system.

In The First Five, Patrick brings to light the realities of teaching, especially in the first five years. He immerses you in his world with personal stories that lead to lessons, questions, and exercises to help you reflect on your own journey. Each chapter includes interviews with a diverse group of educators.

Creating change in our education system is a process. It will happen from the ground up and the inside out. If we want to make a long-lasting impact we need to know more than just what to do; we need to start sharing our stories, not just our strategies. The work we do together throughout this book and beyond will leave you feeling hopeful, empowered, and challenged. No matter where you start, know that this work is ongoing. Give yourself grace. We are in this together, for the long haul. Here’s to the next five years.

#266 I Would Tell First Year Teacher Me... with Ciara Bennion (pt.1) Jun 06, 2022

Hello everyone! As the school year closes out and we begin to look to the future, many of us are taking the time to look back and offer advice for new teachers from our experiences. Ciara Bennion, otherwise known as @ciarak.beauty on Instagram has been doing just that!

I have been a fan of Ciara's for awhile now, but what made me reach out to get her on the show was her video on what she would say to her first year self if she could. There were so many great pieces of advice in that video that I wanted to address them in a longer form on the podcast.

In this episode we cover:

The best grades to teach (according to us)
Pitfalls with being young
Dealing with toxic adults in the workplace
Making a change of school if you need something better

...and so much more!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, The First Five: A Love Letter to TeachersBy Patrick Harris II.

We all have stories. We all have experiences to share. A memoir with a call-to-action, The First Five affirms the humanity of all teachers. Patrick inspires you to dream big about what you want for yourself, our students, our schools, and our educational system.

In The First Five, Patrick brings to light the realities of teaching, especially in the first five years. He immerses you in his world with personal stories that lead to lessons, questions, and exercises to help you reflect on your own journey. Each chapter includes interviews with a diverse group of educators.

Creating change in our education system is a process. It will happen from the ground up and the inside out. If we want to make a long-lasting impact we need to know more than just what to do; we need to start sharing our stories, not just our strategies. The work we do together throughout this book and beyond will leave you feeling hopeful, empowered, and challenged. No matter where you start, know that this work is ongoing. Give yourself grace. We are in this together, for the long haul. Here’s to the next five years.

#265 Getting Back to Our Purpose (Hal Bowman pt.2) Jun 03, 2022

Hello everyone! Between the constant attacks on education, toxic echo chambers on the internet, and the quiet majority, many people believe that schools are doing very little good. Of course, we know this isn’t true. We see the greatness happening everyday in the halls, our classrooms, and around school grounds.

Yet we have struggled to share the good news about education in many places. We have let the loud and negative minority win the discussion about what schools are and what they are accomplishing.

This, in turn, has made many move away from their purpose. Their why for being in the classroom. In this episode, we are hoping to shift the focus back to what truly matters... THE KIDS.

Hal Bowman, speaker, podcaster, and author of the latest book Dear Teacher, is back for part two to talk about the power of educators and why we should move forward with a reinvigorated focus on our purpose for being teachers.

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, The Joy of Reading by Donalyn Miller and Teri Lesesne.

What reading experiences have entertained you, provoked you, taught you, inspired you, helped you to see your own life more clearly, or connected you with others? As teachers, librarians, school administrators, and caregivers who love reading, we know what it feels like to fall into a book and let the world fall away. We have joyous reading memories, and we know how reading can sustain and inspire us.

Now consider: When talking with children about their reading lives at school, are you likely to hear about this transformative reading joy? Or are you more likely to hear about reading logs, book reports, and standardized tests? For too many young readers, reading is joyless. It is something that is required of them, but not something that they choose to do.

Here’s the truth: It is possible to teach children how to read well without killing their love for reading in the process.

The Joy of Reading is a guide for teachers, librarians, administrators, and families to create the conditions for joyful reading. Donalyn Miller and Teri Lesesne draw from their decades of work with students, teachers, and librarians, providing practices that nurture joy while identifying factors that destroy joy, all with a clear understanding of the realities of today’s classrooms and libraries.

There’s more to life than school and work. There’s more to reading than school-based value systems for it. We can aim higher than short-sighted measurements and, instead, become reading encouragers, supporters, and role models for lifelong, joyful reading.

#264 Share the Greatness Happening in Schools with Hal Bowman (pt.1) May 23, 2022

Hello everyone! Between the constant attacks on education, toxic echo chambers on the internet, and the quiet majority, many people believe that schools are doing very little good. Of course, we know this isn’t true. We see the greatness happening everyday in the halls, our classrooms, and around school grounds.

Yet we have struggled to share the good news about education in many places. We have let the loud and negative minority win the discussion about what schools are and what they are accomplishing.

Hal Bowman, speaker, podcaster, and author of the latest book Dear Teacher, is back on the podcast to discuss the greatness happening in schools, why we should be sharing our stories, and so much more.

It doesn’t feel like it, but it has been roughly 4 years since Hal Bowman came on the show last. Regardless, I loved having this talk with him and I think you all will as well.

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, The Joy of Reading by Donalyn Miller and Teri Lesesne.

What reading experiences have entertained you, provoked you, taught you, inspired you, helped you to see your own life more clearly, or connected you with others? As teachers, librarians, school administrators, and caregivers who love reading, we know what it feels like to fall into a book and let the world fall away. We have joyous reading memories, and we know how reading can sustain and inspire us.

Now consider: When talking with children about their reading lives at school, are you likely to hear about this transformative reading joy? Or are you more likely to hear about reading logs, book reports, and standardized tests? For too many young readers, reading is joyless. It is something that is required of them, but not something that they choose to do.

Here’s the truth: It is possible to teach children how to read well without killing their love for reading in the process.

The Joy of Reading is a guide for teachers, librarians, administrators, and families to create the conditions for joyful reading. Donalyn Miller and Teri Lesesne draw from their decades of work with students, teachers, and librarians, providing practices that nurture joy while identifying factors that destroy joy, all with a clear understanding of the realities of today’s classrooms and libraries.

There’s more to life than school and work. There’s more to reading than school-based value systems for it. We can aim higher than short-sighted measurements and, instead, become reading encouragers, supporters, and role models for lifelong, joyful reading.

#263 Writing Workshop as a Place of Creativity (Melanie Meehan pt.2) May 16, 2022

Hello everyone! I LOVE WRITING. It’s such powerful tool to learn through and teach with. Because of this, understanding writing is key to employing it well in the classroom.

While I talk about secondary focused writing often, I wanted to bring on someone who could give voice to the elementary perspective.

Today we are returning to my chat with Melanie Meehan, author of The Responsive Writing Teacher and her latest, Answers to your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Writing.If you missed part 1, check it out here.

In part 2 of our talk, we discuss:

The importance of writer identities and how they are shaped
Deadlines in school—the good and the bad
Creativity and using student writing in lessons
Celebrating students to encourage their writing lives

…and so much more! Can’t wait for you to hear this one!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, The Joy of Reading by Donalyn Miller and Teri Lesesne.

What reading experiences have entertained you, provoked you, taught you, inspired you, helped you to see your own life more clearly, or connected you with others? As teachers, librarians, school administrators, and caregivers who love reading, we know what it feels like to fall into a book and let the world fall away. We have joyous reading memories, and we know how reading can sustain and inspire us.

Now consider: When talking with children about their reading lives at school, are you likely to hear about this transformative reading joy? Or are you more likely to hear about reading logs, book reports, and standardized tests? For too many young readers, reading is joyless. It is something that is required of them, but not something that they choose to do.

Here’s the truth: It is possible to teach children how to read well without killing their love for reading in the process.

The Joy of Reading is a guide for teachers, librarians, administrators, and families to create the conditions for joyful reading. Donalyn Miller and Teri Lesesne draw from their decades of work with students, teachers, and librarians, providing practices that nurture joy while identifying factors that destroy joy, all with a clear understanding of the realities of today’s classrooms and libraries.

There’s more to life than school and work. There’s more to reading than school-based value systems for it. We can aim higher than short-sighted measurements and, instead, become reading encouragers, supporters, and role models for lifelong, joyful reading.

#262 Teaching Elementary Writing with Melanie Meehan (pt.1) May 09, 2022

Hello everyone! I LOVE WRITING. It’s such powerful tool to learn through and teach with. Because of this, understanding writing is key to employing it well in the classroom. For some educators, this comes naturally. For many others, we have to dedicate ourselves to understanding the craft to be able to teach it to young people. It also pays to know what the grades before you taught and how writing develops of years in individual students.

While I talk about secondary focused writing often, I wanted to bring on someone who could give voice to the elementary perspective.

Today we are chatting with Melanie Meehan, author of The Responsive Writing Teacher and her latest, Answers to your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Writing.

In this episode we dive into:

The importance of writer identities and how they are shaped
The core aspects of a writing workshop and her latest book
The nuance with deadlines

…and so much more! Can’t wait for you to hear this one!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, The Joy of Reading by Donalyn Miller and Teri Lesesne.

What reading experiences have entertained you, provoked you, taught you, inspired you, helped you to see your own life more clearly, or connected you with others? As teachers, librarians, school administrators, and caregivers who love reading, we know what it feels like to fall into a book and let the world fall away. We have joyous reading memories, and we know how reading can sustain and inspire us.

Now consider: When talking with children about their reading lives at school, are you likely to hear about this transformative reading joy? Or are you more likely to hear about reading logs, book reports, and standardized tests? For too many young readers, reading is joyless. It is something that is required of them, but not something that they choose to do.

Here’s the truth: It is possible to teach children how to read well without killing their love for reading in the process.

The Joy of Reading is a guide for teachers, librarians, administrators, and families to create the conditions for joyful reading. Donalyn Miller and Teri Lesesne draw from their decades of work with students, teachers, and librarians, providing practices that nurture joy while identifying factors that destroy joy, all with a clear understanding of the realities of today’s classrooms and libraries.

There’s more to life than school and work. There’s more to reading than school-based value systems for it. We can aim higher than short-sighted measurements and, instead, become reading encouragers, supporters, and role models for lifelong, joyful reading.

Secretary Miguel Cardona on Politics in Education and Hope for the Future May 04, 2022

Hello everyone! In honor of teacher appreciation week, the United States Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, has come to Teach Me, Teacher to discuss the politics continuing to shape education, as well as the hope and good news coming down from Washington.

It was an absolute honor to speak with Secretary Miguel Cardona for the time we had. Many feel as if teachers are just yelling into the void and no one is listening. We feel like little changes despite so much needing to be changed. I believe that Secretary Cardona addresses much of that in this discussion.

It’s my hope that this episode inspires hope in educators, but also inspires other leaders in and around education to come speak directly to teachers on this show. Tens of thousands of passionate educators listen every month to Teach Me, Teacher and we are constantly pushing for more understanding and support in what we do. We need more clear lines of communication to create the best schools possible for our communities and the people who work in them.

As I say at the end of this episode…this podcast is not an echo chamber. We talk to anyone who genuinely wants to see education be better, and we believe that people on many sides can contribute to making public school reach the promise it strives to honor.

Whether you are a new listener or a longtime fan of the show, I hope you enjoy this special episode.

#261 Leading Like a C.O.A.C.H (Matt Renwick pt.2) May 02, 2022

Hello everyone! Summer is on the way and that means many of you are eyeing new ways to serve as a leader in your district (and beyond.) But what does it mean to be a leader today? So much has changed over the past few years…is there even a guide anymore?

YES! Matt Renwick, author of the fantastic Leading Like a C.O.A.C.H, is on the show today to talk about his lessons in leadership and his view of principalship today.

In part one we looked at literacy through a LITERACY lens. In part two, we discuss:

Working with teachers from a “coach” mentality
Leading with the people in mind
What it takes to lead in today’s educational climate

…and much much more!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, The Joy of Reading by Donalyn Miller and Teri Lesesne.

What reading experiences have entertained you, provoked you, taught you, inspired you, helped you to see your own life more clearly, or connected you with others? As teachers, librarians, school administrators, and caregivers who love reading, we know what it feels like to fall into a book and let the world fall away. We have joyous reading memories, and we know how reading can sustain and inspire us.

Now consider: When talking with children about their reading lives at school, are you likely to hear about this transformative reading joy? Or are you more likely to hear about reading logs, book reports, and standardized tests? For too many young readers, reading is joyless. It is something that is required of them, but not something that they choose to do.

Here’s the truth: It is possible to teach children how to read well without killing their love for reading in the process.

The Joy of Reading is a guide for teachers, librarians, administrators, and families to create the conditions for joyful reading. Donalyn Miller and Teri Lesesne draw from their decades of work with students, teachers, and librarians, providing practices that nurture joy while identifying factors that destroy joy, all with a clear understanding of the realities of today’s classrooms and libraries.

There’s more to life than school and work. There’s more to reading than school-based value systems for it. We can aim higher than short-sighted measurements and, instead, become reading encouragers, supporters, and role models for lifelong, joyful reading.

#260 Leading Through Literacy with Matt Renwick (pt.1) Apr 25, 2022

Hello everyone! Summer is on the way and that means many of you are eyeing new ways to serve as a leader in your district (and beyond.) But what does it mean to be a leader today? So much has changed over the past few years…is there even a guide anymore?

YES! Matt Renwick, author of the fantastic Leading Like a C.O.A.C.H, is on the show today to talk about his lessons in leadership and his view of principalship today.

In this episode we discuss:

His history and his early days as a “siloed” principal
How he grew into a principal who was supportive rather than purely evaluative
How a focus on literacy has been at the core of his work

…and much much more!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new classroom resource, Math by the Book by Sue O’Connell and colleagues.

Math is everywhere—even in great children’s books! Teachers and students love a good story. But those stories can also help elementary students make sense of important mathematical concepts.

Math by the Book shows teachers how to use high-quality children’s books to teach grade-specific math skills and content. You’ll find activities, investigations, and teaching strategies…all paired with lists of carefully chosen K-5 literature.

So, if you’re looking for a fresh way to bring math teaching to life in your classroom, visit MathByTheBook.com to download a free sample or order a copy. That’s MathByTheBook.com.

#259 Compassionate Communication Boosts Academics (Josh Monroe pt.2) Apr 18, 2022

Hello everyone! One of the key aspects of being a teacher is being able to communicate well with many people. At times, especially in the classroom, it can feel like there just isn’t time to communicate well. We have lessons and tests to do. Papers to grade. Emails to send…

But this isn’t something that’s complicated. It’s not “rocket science.” It’s a basic need that our classes need to succeed.

Last week, I brought on my friend and educator Josh Monroe to discuss how communication is a form of care for our students. We touched on Josh’s growth in communication and how small tweaks in how we speak can bring huge results.

In this episode, we dive into how compassionate communication brings better results in student academics and supports them in a multitude of ways in the class.

And when you’re done with this episode, check out my talk on his podcast!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new classroom resource, Math by the Book by Sue O’Connell and colleagues.

Math is everywhere—even in great children’s books! Teachers and students love a good story. But those stories can also help elementary students make sense of important mathematical concepts.

Math by the Book shows teachers how to use high-quality children’s books to teach grade-specific math skills and content. You’ll find activities, investigations, and teaching strategies…all paired with lists of carefully chosen K-5 literature.

So, if you’re looking for a fresh way to bring math teaching to life in your classroom, visit MathByTheBook.com to download a free sample or order a copy. That’s MathByTheBook.com.

#258 Communication as a form of Care with Josh Monroe (pt.1) Apr 11, 2022

Hello everyone! One of the key aspects of being a teacher is being able to communicate well with many people. At times, especially in the classroom, it can feel like there just isn’t time to communicate well. We have lessons and tests to do. Papers to grade. Emails to send…

But this isn’t something that’s complicated. It’s not “rocket science.” It’s a basic need that our classes need to succeed.

To discuss this, I brought on my friend and educator Josh Monroe! Josh’s videos about communication have gained him over a million followers on TikTok and his passion for teaching has helped thousands of educators.

In this episode we discuss:

The importance of sharing our educator stories on social media
How Josh grew as an educator, especially with communication
The realization not everything has to be “flashy”
Why communication matter to students

…and so much more! And when you’re done with this episode, check out my talk on his podcast!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new classroom resource, Math by the Book by Sue O’Connell and colleagues.

Math is everywhere—even in great children’s books! Teachers and students love a good story. But those stories can also help elementary students make sense of important mathematical concepts.

Math by the Book shows teachers how to use high-quality children’s books to teach grade-specific math skills and content. You’ll find activities, investigations, and teaching strategies…all paired with lists of carefully chosen K-5 literature.

So, if you’re looking for a fresh way to bring math teaching to life in your classroom, visit MathByTheBook.com to download a free sample or order a copy. That’s MathByTheBook.com.

#257 Building an Empowered Writing Community (Erin Gruwell pt.2) Apr 04, 2022

Hello everyone! Welcome to part two of my talk with Erin Gruwell! Last week, we discussed the power of writing, stories, and teaching honestly.

In this episode, we dive into HOW to create a workshop that that is an empowering writing community and why this should be our goal.

Backstory: Over twenty years ago, the students in first-year teacher Erin Gruwell’s high school class in Long Beach, California, were labeled “unteachable”—but she saw past that. Instead of treating them as scores on a test, she understood that each of them had a unique story to tell. Inspired by books like Anne Frank’s diary, her students began writing their own diaries, eventually dubbing themselves the Freedom Writers. Together, they co-authored The Freedom Writers Diary.

In Dear Freedom Writer, the next generation of Freedom Writers shares its struggles with abuse, racism, discrimination, poverty, mental health, imposed borders, LGBTQIA+ identity, and police violence. Each story is answered with a letter of advice from an original Freedom Writer. With empathy and honesty, they address these young people not with the platitudes of a politician or a celebrity, but with the pragmatic advice of people who have dealt with these same issues and come out on the other side.

You do NOT want to miss this one.

Want to support the podcast and learn how to empower writers? Check out: WRITEFULLY EMPOWERED

Tap into the Transformative Potential of the Writing Workshop

The time has come to shift how we think about writing in our schools. In Writefully Empowered, Jacob Chastain calls on educators to embrace the deeply personal, powerful, and transformative potential of the writing workshop by pivoting toward a classroom that honors each student’s individual voice. As Chastain argues: “When we let-no, push-for students to use their voices for their own purposes, we give them what is rightfully theirs as human beings: the tools to shape the world in their image.” Writing through this lens is an exercise in agency, empowerment, and self-determination.

Chastain outlines key considerations for creating a writing workshop that centers freedom, equity, and equality of opportunity. He begins with what writers need, classroom routines, and how to catalyze creativity through mini-lessons, independent work time, and conferencing. He also addresses how to track growth, advocate for equitable practices, and navigate the trauma that sometimes emerges in student work. A clear-eyed call to action informed by Chastain’s years of classroom experience, Writefully Empowered will equip educators with all the tools they need to facilitate dynamic practices in their own spaces.

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new classroom resource, Math by the Book by Sue O’Connell and colleagues.

Math is everywhere—even in great children’s books! Teachers and students love a good story. But those stories can also help elementary students make sense of important mathematical concepts.

Math by the Book shows teachers how to use high-quality children’s books to teach grade-specific math skills and content. You’ll find activities, investigations, and teaching strategies…all paired with lists of carefully chosen K-5 literature.

So, if you’re looking for a fresh way to bring math teaching to life in your classroom, visit MathByTheBook.com to download a free sample or order a copy. That’s MathByTheBook.com.

#256 Dear Freedom Writer with Erin Gruwell (pt.1) Mar 28, 2022

Hello everyone! Over twenty years ago, the students in first-year teacher Erin Gruwell’s high school class in Long Beach, California, were labeled “unteachable”—but she saw past that. Instead of treating them as scores on a test, she understood that each of them had a unique story to tell. Inspired by books like Anne Frank’s diary, her students began writing their own diaries, eventually dubbing themselves the Freedom Writers. Together, they co-authored The Freedom Writers Diary. In Dear Freedom Writer, the next generation of Freedom Writers shares its struggles with abuse, racism, discrimination, poverty, mental health, imposed borders, LGBTQIA+ identity, and police violence. Each story is answered with a letter of advice from an original Freedom Writer. With empathy and honesty, they address these young people not with the platitudes of a politician or a celebrity, but with the pragmatic advice of people who have dealt with these same issues and come out on the other side. In this episode, we discuss the power of writing, stories, and teaching honestly. We discuss legacy. We discuss purpose. You do NOT want to miss this one. Want to support the podcast and learn how to empower writers? Check out: WRITEFULLY EMPOWERED Tap into the Transformative Potential of the Writing Workshop The time has come to shift how we think about writing in our schools. In Writefully Empowered, Jacob Chastain calls on educators to embrace the deeply personal, powerful, and transformative potential of the writing workshop by pivoting toward a classroom that honors each student's individual voice. As Chastain argues: "When we let-no, push-for students to use their voices for their own purposes, we give them what is rightfully theirs as human beings: the tools to shape the world in their image." Writing through this lens is an exercise in agency, empowerment, and self-determination. Chastain outlines key considerations for creating a writing workshop that centers freedom, equity, and equality of opportunity. He begins with what writers need, classroom routines, and how to catalyze creativity through mini-lessons, independent work time, and conferencing. He also addresses how to track growth, advocate for equitable practices, and navigate the trauma that sometimes emerges in student work. A clear-eyed call to action informed by Chastain's years of classroom experience, Writefully Empowered will equip educators with all the tools they need to facilitate dynamic practices in their own spaces. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Four Essential Studies: Beliefs and Practices to Reclaim Student Agency by Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher. Four Essential Studies is based on the belief that secondary students can only be prepared for life after high school when we purposefully shift the decision-making in our classrooms over to them. By reimagining how we teach essay, poetry, digital composition, and sustain talk in book clubs, we can ignite student curiosity, independence, and decision-making skills. Penny and Kelly share the strategies and activities they use in their own classrooms over the course of each unit, and show us what is possible when we expect more than compliance from our students. Learn more about how to transform students’ relationship with literacy. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Four Essential Studies.

#255 Building Back Trust in School (Dr. Zac Bauermaster pt.2) Mar 21, 2022

Hello everyone! It's no secret that the trust people have about schools, rightfully and wrongfully, has been harmed. Many of the relationships involved with well functioning schools are struggling. Some of this is caused by media hype, while others are rooted deeply in the culture wars occurring right now in and around education. In part one with Dr. Zac Bauermaster, we discussed how Zac leads with people in mind first. Even when things are hectic or struggling, he goes back to the people he serves. In this episode, we go deeper and discuss the complexities Covid, school board meetings, teacher burnout, and other factors have played into the damaging of trust in schools (from the inside out). Zac speaks honestly about the struggles schools face, and without blame, puts forth an outlook aimed at a better tomorrow. I really enjoyed this talk. I think you will too. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Four Essential Studies: Beliefs and Practices to Reclaim Student Agency by Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher. Four Essential Studies is based on the belief that secondary students can only be prepared for life after high school when we purposefully shift the decision-making in our classrooms over to them. By reimagining how we teach essay, poetry, digital composition, and sustain talk in book clubs, we can ignite student curiosity, independence, and decision-making skills. Penny and Kelly share the strategies and activities they use in their own classrooms over the course of each unit, and show us what is possible when we expect more than compliance from our students. Learn more about how to transform students’ relationship with literacy. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Four Essential Studies.

#254 Leadership Means People First with Dr. Zac Bauermaster (pt.1) Mar 14, 2022

Hello everyone! Over the years we have featured some of the top leaders in education, such as Todd Whitaker, Hamish Brewer, and Adam Dovico. Even though Teach Me, Teacher is a teacher centered show, I love talking with administrators from all over because I feel like it brings a lot of light into the teams we work with. By understanding one another's jobs and hardships, we can better serve one another. In this episode, we are talking with Dr. Zac Bauermaster, the principal of Kissel Hill Elementary. Together, we discuss: Why he got into administration His experiences from going from secondary to elementary Choosing what to focus on as a leader Putting people first, always ...and so much more! I really enjoyed this talk. I think you will too. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Four Essential Studies: Beliefs and Practices to Reclaim Student Agency by Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher. Four Essential Studies is based on the belief that secondary students can only be prepared for life after high school when we purposefully shift the decision-making in our classrooms over to them. By reimagining how we teach essay, poetry, digital composition, and sustain talk in book clubs, we can ignite student curiosity, independence, and decision-making skills. Penny and Kelly share the strategies and activities they use in their own classrooms over the course of each unit, and show us what is possible when we expect more than compliance from our students. Learn more about how to transform students’ relationship with literacy. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Four Essential Studies.

#253 What it Takes to Empower Young Writers Mar 07, 2022

Hello everyone! Writefully Empowered is HERE! It's my second book, all about creating a writing workshop that empowers young people to be their best and write pieces they care about. In this episode, I talk with my co-host of Craft & Draft (my second podcast) about her experience with reading the book, what her takeaways are, and what other educators might find useful in it too. You can get the book here — or if you want a signed copy by all of the students, message me here! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Four Essential Studies: Beliefs and Practices to Reclaim Student Agency by Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher. Four Essential Studies is based on the belief that secondary students can only be prepared for life after high school when we purposefully shift the decision-making in our classrooms over to them. By reimagining how we teach essay, poetry, digital composition, and sustain talk in book clubs, we can ignite student curiosity, independence, and decision-making skills. Penny and Kelly share the strategies and activities they use in their own classrooms over the course of each unit, and show us what is possible when we expect more than compliance from our students. Learn more about how to transform students’ relationship with literacy. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Four Essential Studies.

#252 Implementing Concept Based Instruction (Kass Haut pt.2) Feb 28, 2022

Hello everyone! Last week, we dove into how educator Kass Haut, otherwise known as @heymshaut on Instagram and TikTok, discovered and came to love concept based instruction. This week, we take this a step further and go into the dos and don'ts, common pitfalls with concept based instruction, grades, and even working with parents! You do not want to miss this one! Enjoy! Teaching our children to think and reason mathematically is a challenge, not because students can’t learn to think mathematically, but because we must change our own often deeply-rooted teaching habits. This is where instructional routines come in. Their predictable design and repeatable nature support both teachers and students to develop new habits. In Teaching for Thinking, Grace Kelemanik and Amy Lucenta pick up where their first book, Routines for Reasoning, left off. They draw on their years of experience in the classroom and as instructional coaches to examine how educators can make use of routines to make three fundamental shifts in teaching practice: Focus on thinking: Shift attention away from students’ answers and toward their thinking and reasoning Step out of the middle: Shift the balance from teacher-student interactions toward student-student interactions Support productive struggle: Help students do the hard thinking work that leads to real learning With three complete new routines, support for designing your own routine, and ideas for using routines in your professional learning as well as in your classroom teaching, Teaching for Thinking will help you build new teaching habits that will support all your students to become and see themselves as capable mathematicians.

#251 Discovering Concept Based Instruction with Kass Haut (pt.1) Feb 21, 2022

Hello everyone! Many teachers are always on the lookout for new ways of doing things. We want new ways to engage students in our content, new ways to plan, and new ways to assess. We want something that will take our class to the next level. If this is you, then concept based instruction just might be what you need to fire up your class work assessment, and planning! Kass Haut, otherwise known as @heymshaut on Instagram and TikTok, is here to tell us about how she discovered concept based instruction, what it is, and how it has changed her teaching. Personally... I'm excited to hear and learn more already! Enjoy! Teaching our children to think and reason mathematically is a challenge, not because students can’t learn to think mathematically, but because we must change our own often deeply-rooted teaching habits. This is where instructional routines come in. Their predictable design and repeatable nature support both teachers and students to develop new habits. In Teaching for Thinking, Grace Kelemanik and Amy Lucenta pick up where their first book, Routines for Reasoning, left off. They draw on their years of experience in the classroom and as instructional coaches to examine how educators can make use of routines to make three fundamental shifts in teaching practice: Focus on thinking: Shift attention away from students’ answers and toward their thinking and reasoning Step out of the middle: Shift the balance from teacher-student interactions toward student-student interactions Support productive struggle: Help students do the hard thinking work that leads to real learning With three complete new routines, support for designing your own routine, and ideas for using routines in your professional learning as well as in your classroom teaching, Teaching for Thinking will help you build new teaching habits that will support all your students to become and see themselves as capable mathematicians.

#250 Educational Gag Orders Explained with Jonathan Friedman Feb 14, 2022

Hello everyone! Education policy is changing. Politicians and board members are literally running on campaigns centered around what they believe should—and should not—happen in schools. Because of this, it is extremely important that we not only stay informed, but are knowledgable around laws, the history of educational movements, and why many restrictions are being pushed right now so hard. Among all of this, is the term gag order, which is detailed clearly in this episode. If you're unfamiliar with the term in education, like I was, you'll want to hear this episode. Joining me to help in unpacking this complex topic is Jonathan Friedman, the director of Free Expression and Education PEN America. In this episode, we discuss: The history of fringe involvement in educational policy The underlying politics behind content bans Analyzing precedence for today's bans by looking at the push for religious beliefs to be in public school Gag orders, what they are, and what they do How gag orders are seeking to control teacher speech around race, sex, gender, and politics Enjoy! Teaching our children to think and reason mathematically is a challenge, not because students can’t learn to think mathematically, but because we must change our own often deeply-rooted teaching habits. This is where instructional routines come in. Their predictable design and repeatable nature support both teachers and students to develop new habits. In Teaching for Thinking, Grace Kelemanik and Amy Lucenta pick up where their first book, Routines for Reasoning, left off. They draw on their years of experience in the classroom and as instructional coaches to examine how educators can make use of routines to make three fundamental shifts in teaching practice: Focus on thinking: Shift attention away from students’ answers and toward their thinking and reasoning Step out of the middle: Shift the balance from teacher-student interactions toward student-student interactions Support productive struggle: Help students do the hard thinking work that leads to real learning With three complete new routines, support for designing your own routine, and ideas for using routines in your professional learning as well as in your classroom teaching, Teaching for Thinking will help you build new teaching habits that will support all your students to become and see themselves as capable mathematicians.

#249 The Complexity of Book Bans (Ashley Hope Pérez pt.2) Feb 07, 2022

Hello everyone! Last week, I spoke with Ashley Hope Pérez about book bans and why she has been speaking up about them. As an educator, trauma survivor, and author, Ashley brought her unique perspective to this topic and challenged us to look at the complexity of, not just book bans, but the human beings being affected by them most…kids. In this episode, we continue this talk but dive into the nuance and complexity of book bans. What do they mean, why do they happen, and can we understand how many people can want a book banned are all a part of this talk...and much, much more. Enjoy! Teaching our children to think and reason mathematically is a challenge, not because students can’t learn to think mathematically, but because we must change our own often deeply-rooted teaching habits. This is where instructional routines come in. Their predictable design and repeatable nature support both teachers and students to develop new habits. In Teaching for Thinking, Grace Kelemanik and Amy Lucenta pick up where their first book, Routines for Reasoning, left off. They draw on their years of experience in the classroom and as instructional coaches to examine how educators can make use of routines to make three fundamental shifts in teaching practice: Focus on thinking: Shift attention away from students’ answers and toward their thinking and reasoning Step out of the middle: Shift the balance from teacher-student interactions toward student-student interactions Support productive struggle: Help students do the hard thinking work that leads to real learning With three complete new routines, support for designing your own routine, and ideas for using routines in your professional learning as well as in your classroom teaching, Teaching for Thinking will help you build new teaching habits that will support all your students to become and see themselves as capable mathematicians.

#248 Addressing Book Bans with Ashley Hope Pérez (pt.1) Jan 31, 2022

Hello everyone! It seems like any time you scroll through the news around education these days there are new reports of another book being banned. Authors of celebrated books are now being demonized, and more and more parents and special interest groups are raining their voices about books in schools. But why now? What caused the massive uproar? Why are certain books being attacked and others not? What does this tell us about our values in education and American society? To discuss these ideas and much more, I have brought on Ashley Hope Pérez, author of Out of Darkness—a book being targeted across the United States despite it being an award winning novel. As an educator, trauma survivor, and author, Ashley brings her unique perspective to this topic and challenges us to look at the complexity of, not just book bans, but the human beings being affected by them most...kids. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices by Lorena Escoto Germán. With Culturally Sustaining Practice as its foundation, Textured Teaching helps secondary teachers stop wondering and guessing how to implement teaching and learning that leads to social justice. Lorena Germán shares her framework for creating a classroom environment that is highly rigorous and engaging, and that reflects the core traits of Textured Teaching: student-driven and community-centered, interdisciplinary, experiential, and flexible. The actionable strategies Lorena uses to bring Textured Teaching values to life illuminate what is possible when we welcome all types of texts, all types of voices, and all forms of expression into the classroom. Learn more about how to become a culturally sustaining educator. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Textured Teaching.

#247 The Culture War in Education with Tony Kinnett Jan 24, 2022

Hello everyone! This podcast is many things to many people. It's where educators can gather and enjoy the good news and positivity of education. It's where educators can learn the latest approaches to fostering deep and meaningful literacy classrooms. And it's a place where we discuss complicated issues in and around education today. Today, and over the next few episodes, we will be diving into the culture war in education today. This war has taken many forms and many voices have chimed in (often not in education), and this has caused a dilution of clear messages and goals. Those who care about education and its future have found ourselves often talking around each other rather to one another, and have seemingly fallen down endless rabbit holes as we defend our stances or accuse others of causing more harm than good. As an independent podcast that has found a healthy audience, I view this podcast as a place for us to dialogue across the divides, come to understand one another (even if we do not agree), and become educated on the issues so that we can truly work together to create a better world of education than the one we have today. Much like my episode with PragerU's Jill Simonian, this is my attempt at creating bridges to one another, finding common ground, and setting the stage for us to move forward on the biggest issues we face as educators. To start this several episode mini-series, I have brought on the co-creator and owner of the Chalkboard Review, Tony Kinnett. Tony has recently made headlines because of his takes on CRT and recent fallout with his school district, as well as his work in education. In this hour long episode, we discuss numerous topics. We touch on: Critical Race Theory Book bans Curriculum Race Supporting marginalized communities Public schools vs Charter vs Private ...and much more! Strap in, this should be a good one for you. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices by Lorena Escoto Germán. With Culturally Sustaining Practice as its foundation, Textured Teaching helps secondary teachers stop wondering and guessing how to implement teaching and learning that leads to social justice. Lorena Germán shares her framework for creating a classroom environment that is highly rigorous and engaging, and that reflects the core traits of Textured Teaching: student-driven and community-centered, interdisciplinary, experiential, and flexible. The actionable strategies Lorena uses to bring Textured Teaching values to life illuminate what is possible when we welcome all types of texts, all types of voices, and all forms of expression into the classroom. Learn more about how to become a culturally sustaining educator. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Textured Teaching.

#246 Who’s Doing the Decision Making? (Kelly Gallagher pt.2) Jan 17, 2022

Hello everyone! Kelly Gallagher returns in part two of our discussion about engagement, the writing life, and his newest book with Penny Kittle (see our talk here), 4 Essential Studies. Last week, we talked about moving students beyond compliance and into actual engagement with content—reading and writing. If you missed it, check it out here. In this half of our talk, we touch on: Allowing students to enter the writing life Living the writing life as a teacher Giving yourself time in the workshop for students to latch on to it Writing with students to learn how to teach it better Assessing who is doing the decision making in the classroom...the teacher or the student? ...and so much more! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices by Lorena Escoto Germán. With Culturally Sustaining Practice as its foundation, Textured Teaching helps secondary teachers stop wondering and guessing how to implement teaching and learning that leads to social justice. Lorena Germán shares her framework for creating a classroom environment that is highly rigorous and engaging, and that reflects the core traits of Textured Teaching: student-driven and community-centered, interdisciplinary, experiential, and flexible. The actionable strategies Lorena uses to bring Textured Teaching values to life illuminate what is possible when we welcome all types of texts, all types of voices, and all forms of expression into the classroom. Learn more about how to become a culturally sustaining educator. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Textured Teaching.

#245 From Compliant to Engaged with Kelly Gallagher (pt.1) Jan 10, 2022

Hello everyone! When it comes to getting students to engage with content, we often focus on compliance. We want to see students doing the work as we say to do it and during the timeframes we determine are correct. This over emphasis on compliance, however, can actually work against us. Students may be "doing the work," but is it registering meaningfully in their minds? Is it enriching their lives for the better, or is it simply getting them a grade in a class? Or... more importantly, who is doing the work in a class where compliance is the primary goal? In this episode, Kelly Gallagher returns to the show to take us on a deep dive into these ideas and more. We discuss not only why we should focus on engagement, but why engagement will benefit students for far longer than simply "getting work done." Kelly explains the thinking behind his latest book, 4 Essential Studies, and how this has led to truly opening up genre studies to empower readers and writers. If you missed out on his first time on the show, you can check that out here. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices by Lorena Escoto Germán. With Culturally Sustaining Practice as its foundation, Textured Teaching helps secondary teachers stop wondering and guessing how to implement teaching and learning that leads to social justice. Lorena Germán shares her framework for creating a classroom environment that is highly rigorous and engaging, and that reflects the core traits of Textured Teaching: student-driven and community-centered, interdisciplinary, experiential, and flexible. The actionable strategies Lorena uses to bring Textured Teaching values to life illuminate what is possible when we welcome all types of texts, all types of voices, and all forms of expression into the classroom. Learn more about how to become a culturally sustaining educator. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Textured Teaching.

#244 2022 Resolutions for Teachers Jan 03, 2022

Hello everyone! For the last few years, I have made new year resolutions for teachers episodes. I find it a great way to reset, refocus, and share some ideas with you all, one to one. It helps me stay focused, and many of you have reached out to say you appreciate these as well. 2020 resolutions can be found here. 2021 resolutions can be found here. This year, it seems like we have all at once, much of the same and more chaos all at once. What's the solution to it? How do we manage so much of what we can't control with what we want and need to get done? What should we focus on as educators? I have some thoughts. Let me know if you agree or disagree. 2022 resolutions for teachers: Check fear at the door. We can no longer make decisions based on fear. Fear of Covid Fear of change Fear of failure Fear of judgment Fear of not fitting in Fear of Sundays Re-align with yourself and understand yourself. Humanize how you interact with others in your class, school, and community at large. Fight for what you believe is right, but do it within reason and evidence. BONUS: Check out our top 10 most downloaded episodes of 2021 here! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices by Lorena Escoto Germán. With Culturally Sustaining Practice as its foundation, Textured Teaching helps secondary teachers stop wondering and guessing how to implement teaching and learning that leads to social justice. Lorena Germán shares her framework for creating a classroom environment that is highly rigorous and engaging, and that reflects the core traits of Textured Teaching: student-driven and community-centered, interdisciplinary, experiential, and flexible. The actionable strategies Lorena uses to bring Textured Teaching values to life illuminate what is possible when we welcome all types of texts, all types of voices, and all forms of expression into the classroom. Learn more about how to become a culturally sustaining educator. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Textured Teaching.

#243 Understanding the Purpose Behind Avid with Dr. Lynn Kepp Dec 27, 2021

Hello everyone! Coming right off of the holiday, we head into a fantastic discussion with the Vice President of Avid Center all about deep learning and remembering the WHY behind our practices. I have come into contact with Avid teachers a few times in my career, and I'm always delighted by their practices and work they do with young people. I'm also, as listeners of the show know, wary of anything that is pushed or seen as a "program." Programs are often where good ideas go to die in public education. So why is Avid different than any other professional development? Is it their beliefs? Approach? Research? All of the above? I asked Dr. Kepp why good ideas and practices, such as the ones found in Avid, get turned into check boxes (programs) in many schools, and I loved her response. Not only do it give me a new perspective, but it also verified that Dr. Kepp's work, and the work of Avid as a whole, are doing great things for education. Dr. Lynn Kepp is the Vice President, Executive Communications and Project Management Office at AVID Center where she works closely with the CEO, COO, and Executive Team to enhance and improve internal communication, ensure accurate and timely Board communication and support special projects. She oversees the AVID Project Management Office that implements project management best practices for the benefit of the organization in a way that encourages collaboration, standardization, and overall improvement in project results across the organization. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, The Power of Teaching Vulnerably: How Risk-Taking Transforms Student Engagement by David Rockower. In The Power of Teaching Vulnerably, David Rockower illustrates the transformational impact on student learning that results when teachers lean into their own discomfort and share personal stories, write with their students, and navigate difficult classroom conversations. David unpacks three dimensions of what it means to teach with vulnerability (personal, relational, and dialogic), shows what each of these dimensions look like in the classroom, and offers action steps to get started. Learn more about how to transform student engagement in your classroom. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from The Power of Teaching Vulnerably.

#242 Tech Cannot Replace Teacher Expertise (Jon Corippo pt.2) Dec 20, 2021

Hello everyone! A few weeks ago, I woke up in a snarky mood. In this mood, I scrolled through Twitter and came across this video from Jon Corippo. I responded by saying something along the lines of "this has nearly 0 educational value..." or something like that. Well, Jon responded, we talked, and now he is on the show! And... I have to be honest, he changed my mind. Not all that glitters is gold, but some things are. In part two of our talk we discuss: How tech can be used to amplify workshop teaching Used to cover and review ground Why many programs are atrocious How teacher expertise is being undermined by bad programs and policy in schools ...and so much more! You do NOT want to miss this one! Jon had served a decade at the K-8 level, opened a 1-1, PBL, Google-based high school, served in two county offices, including as an Assistant Superintendent and It Director. Jon has been recognized a County Teacher of the Year, a 20 to Watch Educator by the NSBA, and was a finalist in the EdTech Digest Awards. Jon also holds the Apple Distinguished Educator, Google Certified Innovator, and Microsoft Innovative Educator badges. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, The Power of Teaching Vulnerably: How Risk-Taking Transforms Student Engagement by David Rockower. In The Power of Teaching Vulnerably, David Rockower illustrates the transformational impact on student learning that results when teachers lean into their own discomfort and share personal stories, write with their students, and navigate difficult classroom conversations. David unpacks three dimensions of what it means to teach with vulnerability (personal, relational, and dialogic), shows what each of these dimensions look like in the classroom, and offers action steps to get started. Learn more about how to transform student engagement in your classroom. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from The Power of Teaching Vulnerably.

#241 This Discussion Changed My Mind About Tech with Jon Corippo (pt.1) Dec 13, 2021

Hello everyone! A few weeks ago, I woke up in a snarky mood. In this mood, I scrolled through Twitter and came across this video from Jon Corippo. I responded by saying something along the lines of "this has nearly 0 educational value..." or something like that. Well, Jon responded, we talked, and now he is on the show! And... I have to be honest, he changed my mind. Sort of. Depending on the context, he definitely opened my eyes to better ways of understanding and using tech, but we also hit on why I, and many others, fear for students in a tech obsessed school or classroom. Not all that glitters is gold, but some things are. In this episode we discuss How tech can be used for low level tasks Tech can speed up processes How tech is being used incorrectly Why teacher expertise is still needed even with tech present ...and so much more! You do NOT want to miss this one! Jon had served a decade at the K-8 level, opened a 1-1, PBL, Google-based high school, served in two county offices, including as an Assistant Superintendent and It Director. Jon has been recognized a County Teacher of the Year, a 20 to Watch Educator by the NSBA, and was a finalist in the EdTech Digest Awards. Jon also holds the Apple Distinguished Educator, Google Certified Innovator, and Microsoft Innovative Educator badges. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, The Power of Teaching Vulnerably: How Risk-Taking Transforms Student Engagement by David Rockower. In The Power of Teaching Vulnerably, David Rockower illustrates the transformational impact on student learning that results when teachers lean into their own discomfort and share personal stories, write with their students, and navigate difficult classroom conversations. David unpacks three dimensions of what it means to teach with vulnerability (personal, relational, and dialogic), shows what each of these dimensions look like in the classroom, and offers action steps to get started. Learn more about how to transform student engagement in your classroom. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from The Power of Teaching Vulnerably.

#240 Diverse Libraries Instill a Love for Reading (Billy Allen pt.2) Dec 06, 2021

Hello everyone! We have talked a lot about the power of making learning relevant for students. It gets kids engaged and excited to be in class. But what happens when we look at ourselves? Are we staying relevant with the kids? Do we know that they like? Do we attempt to know their world and connect our lessons to what they are already engaged with? Billy Allen, founder of 3kingvisions, is here to help guide us to discover, not only why we should try to be relevant to the kids we serve, but also why being relevant included being diverse with what books we carry. In part two of this chat we discuss: The need for diversity Learning about other's experiences Letting passion drive your mission …and so much more! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, The Power of Teaching Vulnerably: How Risk-Taking Transforms Student Engagement by David Rockower. In The Power of Teaching Vulnerably, David Rockower illustrates the transformational impact on student learning that results when teachers lean into their own discomfort and share personal stories, write with their students, and navigate difficult classroom conversations. David unpacks three dimensions of what it means to teach with vulnerability (personal, relational, and dialogic), shows what each of these dimensions look like in the classroom, and offers action steps to get started. Learn more about how to transform student engagement in your classroom. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from The Power of Teaching Vulnerably.

#239 Relevancy Builds Literacy with Billy Allen (pt.1) Nov 29, 2021

Hello everyone! We have talked a lot about the power of making learning relevant for students. It gets kids engaged and excited to be in class. But what happens when we look at ourselves? Are we staying relevant with the kids? Do we know that they like? Do we attempt to know their world and connect our lessons to what they are already engaged with? Billy Allen, founder of 3kingvisions, is here to help guide us to discover, not only why we should try to be relevant to the kids we serve, but also understand that you don't have to be something you're not to do this. You just need to be AUTHENTIC. In this chat we discuss: Why Billy became a librarian How his career has changed over time Being a male teacher/librarian can be a difference maker The power of relevancy with young people ...and so much more! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Four Essential Studies: Beliefs and Practices to Reclaim Student Agency by Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher. Four Essential Studies is based on the belief that secondary students can only be prepared for life after high school when we purposefully shift the decision-making in our classrooms over to them. By reimagining how we teach essay, poetry, digital composition, and sustain talk in book clubs, we can ignite student curiosity, independence, and decision-making skills. Penny and Kelly share the strategies and activities they use in their own classrooms over the course of each unit, and show us what is possible when we expect more than compliance from our students. Learn more about how to transform students’ relationship with literacy. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Four Essential Studies.

#238 Parents are Concerned about Public School with Jill Simonian Nov 22, 2021

Hello everyone! Today, there is a special focus on schools. Across America, people are examining curriculum, going to board meetings and making their voices heard, and posting online about their worries about where schools are going. Many people dismiss these events by saying they are spurred by special interest groups (driven by money). They say the parents railing against Critical Race Theory or what they call inappropriate sex and race education, is all either a misunderstanding or ignorance. While this show has featured many educators who have outlined why race should be addressed in schools, how identity is a part of the real world, and how the cry from parents is misguided, I wanted to bring on the other side, so to speak. I wanted to speak to a parent about her concerns, and the concerns of others, in hopes of at minimum, coming to an understanding, and at best, bridging gaps between schools of thought. To do so, I have brought on Jill Simonian. Jill is the Director of Outreach for PragerU Kids, is the on-camera personality and 'spokesmom' for PragerU's new digital children's edu-tainment for Kindergarten through 12th grade. Jill is a former television host & media contributor, founder of TheFABMom blog and published author. Previously, Jill was best known for her straight-talking parenting segments on Los Angeles' KCBS, KCAL, KTLA, KTTV as well as HLN/CNN, The Doctors, Access LIVE, TODAY Show, E! News, Hallmark Channel and more (totaling over 500 family lifestyle segments and articles between 2011-2020). Connect with Jill via PragerU.com/kids and Instagram/Twitter @jillsimonian. As I say in the intro of this episode... you may not agree with everything said in this episode. I certainly do not. However, I believe that listening to one another, even when we disagree, is our best way to proceed forward. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Four Essential Studies: Beliefs and Practices to Reclaim Student Agency by Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher. Four Essential Studies is based on the belief that secondary students can only be prepared for life after high school when we purposefully shift the decision-making in our classrooms over to them. By reimagining how we teach essay, poetry, digital composition, and sustain talk in book clubs, we can ignite student curiosity, independence, and decision-making skills. Penny and Kelly share the strategies and activities they use in their own classrooms over the course of each unit, and show us what is possible when we expect more than compliance from our students. Learn more about how to transform students’ relationship with literacy. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Four Essential Studies.

#237 Listen to This to Empower Your Writing Workshop Nov 15, 2021

Hello everyone! Several months ago, I gave a virtual keynote for a workshop the wonderful Jen Jones was conducting. I talked all about empowering young writers, and how I began this work—struggles and all. I discussed the philosophy and big ideas of what an empowered workshop is, but I also talked about the nuts and bolts and growth I saw in my students over time. And now this keynote is available here! Whether you are new to workshop, thriving in your own workshop, or are wondering how to move it to the next level, this is my effort to bring the energy I feel every day to where you are. Enjoy, and remember WHY we do this work day in and day out. The kids deserve it! PS: If you'd like to be entered in to win a review copy (digital at first, then a physical copy once it is released), click here and fill out the form. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Four Essential Studies: Beliefs and Practices to Reclaim Student Agency by Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher. Four Essential Studies is based on the belief that secondary students can only be prepared for life after high school when we purposefully shift the decision-making in our classrooms over to them. By reimagining how we teach essay, poetry, digital composition, and sustain talk in book clubs, we can ignite student curiosity, independence, and decision-making skills. Penny and Kelly share the strategies and activities they use in their own classrooms over the course of each unit, and show us what is possible when we expect more than compliance from our students. Learn more about how to transform students’ relationship with literacy. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Four Essential Studies.

#236 Should Everything Be Taught from Both Sides? (Jessica Piper pt.2) Nov 08, 2021

Hello everyone! It seems like every single day there is another controversy about public schools. Whether it’s about banning books or the curriculum being taught, the media and pundits alike cannot get enough of the discussion. But why? Is it really a fear of what is happening in schools, or is there a different reason? Jessica Piper, a previous middle and high school English teacher and now candidate for Missouri state representative, believes there’s a far bigger agenda behind the outrage we are currently hearing about. In part one of our talk, we talk about her experience as an educator, how this has formed her beliefs around politics, and how privatization is a potential devastation for rural communities—a topic that is increasingly marginalized among more controversial issues. In this episode, we dive into the common claim that "everything should be taught from both sides." Is there two sides to every issue that should be taught in schools? Let's discuss! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Four Essential Studies: Beliefs and Practices to Reclaim Student Agency by Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher. Four Essential Studies is based on the belief that secondary students can only be prepared for life after high school when we purposefully shift the decision-making in our classrooms over to them. By reimagining how we teach essay, poetry, digital composition, and sustain talk in book clubs, we can ignite student curiosity, independence, and decision-making skills. Penny and Kelly share the strategies and activities they use in their own classrooms over the course of each unit, and show us what is possible when we expect more than compliance from our students. Learn more about how to transform students’ relationship with literacy. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Four Essential Studies.

#235 The Hidden Agenda of Privatization with Jessica Piper (pt.1) Nov 01, 2021

Hello everyone! It seems like every single day there is another controversy about public schools. Whether it's about banning books or the curriculum being taught, the media and pundits alike cannot get enough of the discussion. But why? Is it really a fear of what is happening in schools, or is there a different reason? Jessica Piper, a previous middle and high school English teacher and now candidate for Missouri state representative, believes there's a far bigger agenda behind the outrage we are currently hearing about. In this episode, we talk about her experience as an educator, how this has formed her beliefs around politics, and why she believes the cries around Critical Race Theory are much more about profit than the theory itself. We also touch on how privatization is a potential devastation for rural communities—a topic that is increasingly marginalized among more controversial issues. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Four Essential Studies: Beliefs and Practices to Reclaim Student Agency by Penny Kittle and Kelly Gallagher. Four Essential Studies is based on the belief that secondary students can only be prepared for life after high school when we purposefully shift the decision-making in our classrooms over to them. By reimagining how we teach essay, poetry, digital composition, and sustain talk in book clubs, we can ignite student curiosity, independence, and decision-making skills. Penny and Kelly share the strategies and activities they use in their own classrooms over the course of each unit, and show us what is possible when we expect more than compliance from our students. Learn more about how to transform students’ relationship with literacy. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Four Essential Studies.

#234 Well-Being Workshops (Monika Kuligowska pt.2) Oct 25, 2021

Hello everyone! Saying this year is difficult is an understatement. Administrators, teachers, students and parents are all trying to figure out how to balance their lives within constant disruption and uncertainty. For many, this problem is causing mental health concerns and quality of life struggles. Returning for part two of our discussion, Monika, otherwise known as @thecheerteacher on Instagram, is here to talk about the nuts and bolts of her well-being workshops! In this episode we touch on: How to set up a well-being workshop When to have them Involving parents and getting feedback Tips to start You do not want to miss this one! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new classroom resource, Math by the Book by Sue O’Connell and colleagues. Math is everywhere—even in great children’s books! Teachers and students love a good story. But those stories can also help elementary students make sense of important mathematical concepts. Math by the Book shows teachers how to use high-quality children’s books to teach grade-specific math skills and content. You’ll find activities, investigations, and teaching strategies…all paired with lists of carefully chosen K-5 literature. So, if you’re looking for a fresh way to bring math teaching to life in your classroom, visit MathByTheBook.com to download a free sample or order a copy. That’s MathByTheBook.com.

#233 Putting Mental Health First with Monika Kuligowska (pt.1) Oct 18, 2021

Hello everyone! Saying this year is difficult is an understatement. Administrators, teachers, students and parents are all trying to figure out how to balance their lives within constant disruption and uncertainty. For many, this problem is causing mental health concerns and quality of life struggles. In hopes that we can shed some light—and the importance of—managing mental health, I have brought on Monika, otherwise known as @thecheerteacher on Instagram, to discuss her path through mental health struggles, how she got out of her dark time, and how she is helping her students manage their own mental health for the better. In this episode we touch on: Teaching in a variety of grades The beginning of her work with a mental health focus in the classroom Monika's descent into hating her job because of putting on a "happy face" and her way out of this dark place Managing time to support student mental needs Modeling how to handle difficult emotions You do not want to miss this one! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new classroom resource, Math by the Book by Sue O’Connell and colleagues. Math is everywhere—even in great children’s books! Teachers and students love a good story. But those stories can also help elementary students make sense of important mathematical concepts. Math by the Book shows teachers how to use high-quality children’s books to teach grade-specific math skills and content. You’ll find activities, investigations, and teaching strategies…all paired with lists of carefully chosen K-5 literature. So, if you’re looking for a fresh way to bring math teaching to life in your classroom, visit MathByTheBook.com to download a free sample or order a copy. That’s MathByTheBook.com.

#232 Doing What It Takes (Alfred Shivy Brooks pt.2) Oct 11, 2021

Hello everyone! Today, educators are under more scrutiny than they have been in many years. Not only are people rallying together to fight what they feel like is Critical Race Theory, but they are also signing laws that prevent certain texts from being taught in schools. Yet, teachers are constantly being told that teaching isn’t political. In part one of our talk, Alfred Shivy Brooks asks, if what is taught is dictated by politicians, how could teaching NOT be political? If school boards are elected, how is teaching not political? In part two we look at what legislation is being passed today to silence educators, and which policies Shivy believes SHOULD be being passed. Shivy is a high school teacher in Atlanta Georgia, Instagram phenomenon, and is currently running for city council. We dive into these questions and more on this in depth, big idea episode of Teach Me, Teacher. Enjoy. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new classroom resource, Math by the Book by Sue O’Connell and colleagues. Math is everywhere—even in great children’s books! Teachers and students love a good story. But those stories can also help elementary students make sense of important mathematical concepts. Math by the Book shows teachers how to use high-quality children’s books to teach grade-specific math skills and content. You’ll find activities, investigations, and teaching strategies…all paired with lists of carefully chosen K-5 literature. So, if you’re looking for a fresh way to bring math teaching to life in your classroom, visit MathByTheBook.com to download a free sample or order a copy. That’s MathByTheBook.com.

#231 Just Shut Up and Teach? with Alfred Shivy Brooks (pt.1) Oct 04, 2021

Hello everyone! Today, educators are under more scrutiny than they have been in many years. Not only are people rallying together to fight what they feel like is Critical Race Theory, but they are also signing laws that prevent certain texts from being taught in schools. Yet, teachers are constantly being told that teaching isn't political. Alfred Shivy Brooks asks, if what is taught is dictated by politicians, how could teaching NOT be political? If school boards are elected, how is teaching not political? Shivy is a high school teacher in Atlanta Georgia, Instagram phenomenon, and is currently running for city council. We dive into these questions and more on this in depth, big idea episode of Teach Me, Teacher. Enjoy. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new classroom resource, Math by the Book by Sue O’Connell and colleagues. Math is everywhere—even in great children’s books! Teachers and students love a good story. But those stories can also help elementary students make sense of important mathematical concepts. Math by the Book shows teachers how to use high-quality children’s books to teach grade-specific math skills and content. You'll find activities, investigations, and teaching strategies…all paired with lists of carefully chosen K-5 literature. So, if you’re looking for a fresh way to bring math teaching to life in your classroom, visit MathByTheBook.com to download a free sample or order a copy. That’s MathByTheBook.com.

#230 ABAR in Practice (Liz Kleinrock pt.2) Sep 27, 2021

Hello everyone! The terms antibias and antiracist bring up a lot of opinions and feelings in people. Depending on who you are talking to, this work might be the most important work happening in schools, or the bane on public education as a whole. Never being shy of a large topic, I wanted to discuss this work with one of the leading (and humble) voices in the space and see what it was all about. Luckily, Liz Kleinrock agreed! In part one of our talk, we covered the WHY behind antiracist and antibias work. In this episode, we take a look at what this looks like in context, and how to sustain this work over time. Liz Kleinrock is an anti-bias anti-racist educator and consultant based in Washington, DC. A transracial adoptee, Liz was born in South Korea and grew up in DC before attending Washington University in St. Louis, MO. After spending a year student teaching a 5th grade class in Watts, Liz joined the founding faculty of a startup school in East Hollywood where she spent seven years teaching 1st through 4th grades. In addition to classroom teaching, Liz also works as an anti-bias anti-racist facilitator for schools, organizations, and companies across the country. Her work has gained national recognition through a documentary short produced by Fluid Film, and media outlets such as CNN, The Washington Post, NPR, and BBC. In 2018, Liz received Teaching Tolerance’s 2018 Award for Excellence in Teaching, and currently serves on the Teaching Tolerance Advisory Board. Liz is proud to share her 2019 TED Talk from “Education Everywhere” on building foundations of equity with young learners, and is working on her first book with Heinemann Publishing. Whether you are a supporter of antiracist and antibias work, or are wary of it, this talk is sure to add to your thinking on the matter. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices by Lorena Escoto Germán. With Culturally Sustaining Practice as its foundation, Textured Teaching helps secondary teachers stop wondering and guessing how to implement teaching and learning that leads to social justice. Lorena Germán shares her framework for creating a classroom environment that is highly rigorous and engaging, and that reflects the core traits of Textured Teaching: student-driven and community-centered, interdisciplinary, experiential, and flexible. The actionable strategies Lorena uses to bring Textured Teaching values to life illuminate what is possible when we welcome all types of texts, all types of voices, and all forms of expression into the classroom. Learn more about how to become a culturally sustaining educator. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Textured Teaching.

#229 Discussing Antibias and Antiracist Work with Liz Kleinrock (Pt.1) Sep 20, 2021

Hello everyone! The terms antibias and antiracist bring up a lot of opinions and feelings in people. Depending on who you are talking to, this work might be the most important work happening in schools, or the bane on public education as a whole. Never being shy of a large topic, I wanted to discuss this work with one of the leading (and humble) voices in the space and see what it was all about. Luckily, Liz Kleinrock agreed! Liz Kleinrock is an anti-bias anti-racist educator and consultant based in Washington, DC. A transracial adoptee, Liz was born in South Korea and grew up in DC before attending Washington University in St. Louis, MO. After spending a year student teaching a 5th grade class in Watts, Liz joined the founding faculty of a startup school in East Hollywood where she spent seven years teaching 1st through 4th grades. In addition to classroom teaching, Liz also works as an anti-bias anti-racist facilitator for schools, organizations, and companies across the country. Her work has gained national recognition through a documentary short produced by Fluid Film, and media outlets such as CNN, The Washington Post, NPR, and BBC. In 2018, Liz received Teaching Tolerance's 2018 Award for Excellence in Teaching, and currently serves on the Teaching Tolerance Advisory Board. Liz is proud to share her 2019 TED Talk from "Education Everywhere" on building foundations of equity with young learners, and is working on her first book with Heinemann Publishing. In part one of our talk, we cover the WHY behind antiracist and antibias work. We discuss common misconceptions, as well as address the concerns many have about having this work in schools. Liz details her perspective, and supports her take on why people shouldn't fear this work in the classroom. Whether you are a supporter of antiracist and antibias work, or are wary of it, this talk is sure to add to your thinking on the matter. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices by Lorena Escoto Germán. With Culturally Sustaining Practice as its foundation, Textured Teaching helps secondary teachers stop wondering and guessing how to implement teaching and learning that leads to social justice. Lorena Germán shares her framework for creating a classroom environment that is highly rigorous and engaging, and that reflects the core traits of Textured Teaching: student-driven and community-centered, interdisciplinary, experiential, and flexible. The actionable strategies Lorena uses to bring Textured Teaching values to life illuminate what is possible when we welcome all types of texts, all types of voices, and all forms of expression into the classroom. Learn more about how to become a culturally sustaining educator. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Textured Teaching.

#228 From Normal to Next (Selena Carrion pt.2) Sep 13, 2021

Hello everyone! In part 1 with Selena, we discussed how the war about what schools should look like in a world driven by Covid is still waging, and many have called for “a return to normal.” While this might seem wise on first glance, many educators are asking if returning to normal is what we should be striving for. They ask if normal was good enough. They wonder if we should be pushing for something greater, using the knowledge Covid has brought to us to change schools for the better—forever. In part 2, we dive even deeper into what normal really means, and how we can start to evolve into something better for the communities we serve. In this episode we discuss common core, traditional teaching, and how communities, when under-served for too long, have no choice but to pave their own way. Selena Carrion, a New York based educator, is a passionate supporter of educators everywhere. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices by Lorena Escoto Germán. With Culturally Sustaining Practice as its foundation, Textured Teaching helps secondary teachers stop wondering and guessing how to implement teaching and learning that leads to social justice. Lorena Germán shares her framework for creating a classroom environment that is highly rigorous and engaging, and that reflects the core traits of Textured Teaching: student-driven and community-centered, interdisciplinary, experiential, and flexible. The actionable strategies Lorena uses to bring Textured Teaching values to life illuminate what is possible when we welcome all types of texts, all types of voices, and all forms of expression into the classroom. Learn more about how to become a culturally sustaining educator. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Textured Teaching.

#227 What Does Return to Normal Really Mean? with Selena Carrion (pt.1) Sep 06, 2021

Hello everyone! The war about what schools should look like in a world driven by Covid is still waging, and many have called for "a return to normal." While this might seem wise on first glance, many educators are asking if returning to normal is what we should be striving for. They ask if normal was good enough. They wonder if we should be pushing for something greater, using the knowledge Covid has brought to us to change schools for the better—forever. Selena Carrion, a New York based educator, has a lot to say on the subject. In this episode, we discuss how Covid has changed schools, how the education system has failed to serve many students, and what returning to normal really means in public education. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices by Lorena Escoto Germán. With Culturally Sustaining Practice as its foundation, Textured Teaching helps secondary teachers stop wondering and guessing how to implement teaching and learning that leads to social justice. Lorena Germán shares her framework for creating a classroom environment that is highly rigorous and engaging, and that reflects the core traits of Textured Teaching: student-driven and community-centered, interdisciplinary, experiential, and flexible. The actionable strategies Lorena uses to bring Textured Teaching values to life illuminate what is possible when we welcome all types of texts, all types of voices, and all forms of expression into the classroom. Learn more about how to become a culturally sustaining educator. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Textured Teaching.

#226 Teaching High School Spanish with Laura Truebenbach Aug 30, 2021

Hello everyone! One of my any promises for season 6 of the podcast was to bring on teachers who teach subjects outside of the core bunch. Today, we are doing just that! Laura Truebenbach is a high school Spanish teacher in Texas, and has a lot of insights about how Covid changed how she taught, how she overcame those obstacles, and the importance of supporting students as they learn a new language. Regardless of if you are a second language teacher or not, there are so many nuggets of advice and insight into the world of teaching high school. I learned a lot, and I know you will too! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and by their new book Teaching Writing in Small Groups by Jennifer Serravallo. Everyone’s turning to groups in this unique school year so they can teach more efficiently and spread the learning further. Jen shows you how to make the most of small groups. She gives you seven different options that help meet any students’ needs. Like strategy groups, guided writing, writing clubs, and more. She provides writing progressions to help you decide which students to group and why. There’s even video that demonstrates Jen’s teaching in a variety of classrooms. If you don’t have Teaching Writing in Small Groups, head on over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter. Find out what you’re missing and order yourself a copy today. Planbook has been the established leader in online lesson planning since 2010, offering collaborative lesson sharing, flexible administrator access, and even student view tools for just $15 a year. Using Planbook, educators can build customized school years, classes, and lessons 100% online, directly inputting class materials and up-to-date standards from all over the world. Enter code “TeachMe” (one word, no space) at sign up to join over 800,000 Planbook teachers today and get your first year for only $5!

#225 Supporting Students Through Grief and Trauma with Krista St-Germain Aug 23, 2021

Hello everyone! As school doors re-open, close, and vacillate under the pressure of the pandemic, one inescapable fact is that our children are feeling anxiety, grief, and trauma on higher levels than we've seen, possibly in our lifetime. Because of this, it has never been more important for educators to be mindful of the lives students are currently living, and how we can help improve their mental states. To guide on in this act of compassion, I have brought on Krista St-Germain. She is a mom, grief expert, and life coach for widowed moms and host of the Widowed Moms Podcast. When her husband was killed by a drunk driver in 2016, Krista’s life was completely and unexpectedly flipped upside down. After therapy helped her unfurl from the fetal position, Krista discovered Life Coaching, Post Traumatic Growth and learned the tools she needed to move forward and create a future she could get excited about. Now she coaches and teaches other widows so they can love life again, too. In this episode we discuss: What grief is and how it manifests differently Nuances with trauma The role schools play in supporting students who are experiencing trauma or grief The myths around grief This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and by their new book Teaching Writing in Small Groups by Jennifer Serravallo. Everyone’s turning to groups in this unique school year so they can teach more efficiently and spread the learning further. Jen shows you how to make the most of small groups. She gives you seven different options that help meet any students’ needs. Like strategy groups, guided writing, writing clubs, and more. She provides writing progressions to help you decide which students to group and why. There’s even video that demonstrates Jen’s teaching in a variety of classrooms. If you don’t have Teaching Writing in Small Groups, head on over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter. Find out what you’re missing and order yourself a copy today. Planbook has been the established leader in online lesson planning since 2010, offering collaborative lesson sharing, flexible administrator access, and even student view tools for just $15 a year. Using Planbook, educators can build customized school years, classes, and lessons 100% online, directly inputting class materials and up-to-date standards from all over the world. Enter code “TeachMe” (one word, no space) at sign up to join over 800,000 Planbook teachers today and get your first year for only $5!

#224 Textured Teaching (Lorena Germán pt.2) Aug 16, 2021

Hello everyone! Today we are seeing more and more people discuss education. While this is good in many ways, it is also leading to multiple groups accidentally—and in some cases, purposefully—misusing terms embedded inside of quality pedagogy. Words and phrases such as equity and social emotional learning are now feared and demonized in many circles. Other circles simply want to know what it’s all about. If you missed part one of this talk, click here. Lorena Germán is the author of the upcoming book Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices. Lorena Germán is a Dominican American educator focused on anti-racist and antibias work in education. She’s a cofounder of the groups #DisruptTexts, and Multicultural Classroom. She is the director of pedagogy at EduColor and is also the chair of National Council of Teachers of English’s Committee Against Racism and Bias in the Teaching of English. In this discussion, we cover Social justice, and what it looks like in the classroom The power of narratives Facts about how education has and continues to fail many communities ENJOY! (PS: I believe the last 10 minutes of Lorena's closing thoughts are some of the best of the show. Don't miss it!) This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and by their new book Teaching Writing in Small Groups by Jennifer Serravallo. Everyone’s turning to groups in this unique school year so they can teach more efficiently and spread the learning further. Jen shows you how to make the most of small groups. She gives you seven different options that help meet any students’ needs. Like strategy groups, guided writing, writing clubs, and more. She provides writing progressions to help you decide which students to group and why. There’s even video that demonstrates Jen’s teaching in a variety of classrooms. If you don’t have Teaching Writing in Small Groups, head on over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter. Find out what you’re missing and order yourself a copy today. Planbook has been the established leader in online lesson planning since 2010, offering collaborative lesson sharing, flexible administrator access, and even student view tools for just $15 a year. Using Planbook, educators can build customized school years, classes, and lessons 100% online, directly inputting class materials and up-to-date standards from all over the world. Enter code “TeachMe” (one word, no space) at sign up to join over 800,000 Planbook teachers today and get your first year for only $5!

#223 Culturally Sustaining Practice with Lorena Germán (pt.1) Aug 09, 2021

Hello everyone! Welcome to season 6 of the podcast! Today we are seeing more and more people discuss education. While this is good in many ways, it is also leading to multiple groups accidentally—and in some cases, purposefully—misusing terms embedded inside of quality pedagogy. Words and phrases such as equity and social emotional learning are now feared and demonized in many circles. Other circles simply want to know what it's all about. Luckily, we are speaking with and diving in deep with none other than Lorena Germán, author of the upcoming book Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices. Lorena Germán is a Dominican American educator focused on anti-racist and antibias work in education. She's a cofounder of the groups #DisruptTexts, and Multicultural Classroom. She is the director of pedagogy at EduColor and is also the chair of National Council of Teachers of English's Committee Against Racism and Bias in the Teaching of English. In this discussion, we cover What culturally sustaining practice is The molasses of terms being thrown irresponsibly and methodically CRT and the misinformation around it The power of narratives and the disrupting of them ENJOY! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and by their new book Teaching Writing in Small Groups by Jennifer Serravallo. Everyone’s turning to groups in this unique school year so they can teach more efficiently and spread the learning further. Jen shows you how to make the most of small groups. She gives you seven different options that help meet any students’ needs. Like strategy groups, guided writing, writing clubs, and more. She provides writing progressions to help you decide which students to group and why. There’s even video that demonstrates Jen’s teaching in a variety of classrooms. If you don’t have Teaching Writing in Small Groups, head on over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter. Find out what you’re missing and order yourself a copy today. Planbook has been the established leader in online lesson planning since 2010, offering collaborative lesson sharing, flexible administrator access, and even student view tools for just $15 a year. Using Planbook, educators can build customized school years, classes, and lessons 100% online, directly inputting class materials and up-to-date standards from all over the world. Enter code “TeachMe” (one word, no space) at sign up to join over 800,000 Planbook teachers today and get your first year for only $5!

Moving Forward Together — Season 6 Intro Aug 02, 2021

Hello everyone! Welcome to the season 6 intro episode. Today, I'm going to discuss the new theme music (per tradition), and dive into some of the ideas that are shaping this season to be the biggest and most relevant yet. I touch on: Going back to the basics of the podcast, while at the same time pushing forward Bringing the community closer together Combating the war against public education And much, much more. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and by their new book Teaching Writing in Small Groups by Jennifer Serravallo. Everyone’s turning to groups in this unique school year so they can teach more efficiently and spread the learning further. Jen shows you how to make the most of small groups. She gives you seven different options that help meet any students’ needs. Like strategy groups, guided writing, writing clubs, and more. She provides writing progressions to help you decide which students to group and why. There’s even video that demonstrates Jen’s teaching in a variety of classrooms. If you don’t have Teaching Writing in Small Groups, head on over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter. Find out what you’re missing and order yourself a copy today. Planbook has been the established leader in online lesson planning since 2010, offering collaborative lesson sharing, flexible administrator access, and even student view tools for just $15 a year. Using Planbook, educators can build customized school years, classes, and lessons 100% online, directly inputting class materials and up-to-date standards from all over the world. Enter code "TeachMe" (one word, no space) at sign up to join over 800,000 Planbook teachers today and get your first year for only $5!

#222 How to Begin the Year in Reading and Writing Workshop — Craft & Draft Jul 26, 2021

Hello everyone! This episode is an introduction to my second podcast, Craft & Draft! This is pulled from episode 40 of that show (our most popular episode to date) all about starting the year in reading and writing workshop. If you are en English teacher and want more topics directly focused on reading and writing, go check out the show if you enjoy this one! Here is the blurb for the episode: It’s now time to think about next year. A huge question a — How should I set up my workshop? Pam explains the principles that she uses to set up her first day of workshop. She wants her students to read and write on the first day of school. She shares her first day’s lesson that will get her students excited about the year and models workshop expectations for her students. Jacob will have new students this next year, so he will change up how he begins the year. He shares how he likes to utilize texts that will elicit great responses from his students. He likes to get students into authentic writing as soon as possible using the Craft & Draft Books. Join Jacob and Pam as they respond to a request from a listener. If you have a question or a topic you want them to address, Jacob and Pam invites you to submit questions or topics on the Craft & Draft website. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann and their book, Leading Literate Lives. What stories make you who you are? How have your experiences shaped you as a learner? Who are you as a reader and writer? Exploring your history as a learner can help you reflect on your teaching practices and make instructional decisions that positively impact student learning. In Leading Literate Lives, Stephanie outlines a framework for reading and writing that makes a direct connection between reflection and classroom practice. In each chapter you will find concrete ideas, tools, and activities for reading and writing to help move you from teacher reflection to instruction. For every specific reflection Stephanie will show you how to put the same idea into practice in your classroom, with the goal of helping you and your students: build and cultivate habits that make reading and writing a priority make space and create opportunities in your lives and classrooms to do what real readers and writers do explore and embrace your reading and writing identities find and create thriving communities filled with inspiration and support, where the reading and writing lives of every member are shared and celebrated. Fueled with the understandings that come from leading a literate life, you can learn to embrace reflective practices that bring greater intention and joy to your classrooms and schools.

#221 Critical Race Talk with Calvin Robinson Jul 19, 2021

Hello everyone, and welcome to a special 2 part episode of Teach Me, Teacher. The intro you are hearing (reading) now is exactly the same on both episodes titled, Critical Race Talk. This is due to the nature and ties of the conversations you will hear, and also the reasoning behind why I am putting out this content at all on this podcast. To start, I believe in discourse and the dismantling of echo chambers. While anyone with time on their hands or a history with Teach Me, Teacher can verify my political and social leanings tend to be towards what Americans call “the left,” — I do not deny this— I do not subscribe to any one ideology or framework. As an educator and academic, I pride the search for truth above all else, even when such truth may challenge my own beliefs about the world and its institutions. Essentially, I consider myself politically homeless. I do not find my political identity within strict party lines, rather, I listen to as many good intentioned sides and sources as I can, and decide how I will act accordingly. With that said, Teach Me, Teacher is first and foremost a “best practices” podcast. It is designed from the ground up to be a no-nonsense approach to professional development for educators— and its success and reach, I believe, is because of my commitment to this vision of what PD can be for teachers and administrators. However, best practices cannot be achieved without addressing the larger issues surrounding education and our communities. Teaching does not happen in a vacuum. Indeed, it touches nearly every aspect of life—how many professions can say that? — and with such a burden, comes the responsibility to contend with more than just academics. The sterilization of teaching into just being about standards, mastery, and skills, ignores the vast amounts nuanced factors that make such important aspects of teaching possible in the first place. In other words, what we believe directly affects how we act and teach. To ignore the human aspect of teaching in this way is to ignore what teaching is entirely. The following podcast, and its counterpart, which are both named the same, minus the guest involved, primarily deal with the controversial topic of Critical Race Theory and its association with public schools. Both episodes touch on various other factors and examine the issue through different lenses, but I believe they both offer nuance to the discussion that simply isn’t happening in most circles today. These episodes are not meant to be set up as combatants, which is why they are separated. Rather, I am presenting them as different lenses on the same subject. As the interviewer, I tried to be as non-biased as possible. I tied similar questions to each interview, but I also allowed for each guest to bring their own unique expertise to the discussion. I constructed each discussion around each guests’ unique platform and what they talk about. Whether this is an effective way to address this issue, will ultimately be up to you, the listener. I’m sure there are faults I cannot see, and lines of questioning I did not capitalize on, but these discussions are real discussions between people who care about education. The only editing present are quality adjustments and deletions of technical problems caused by recording over Zoom. Everything else has been untouched. As a quick side note: the only edit I would like to add here is about the data I talked about with Robinson in terms of pass rates based on race. It can be easily misunderstood because of how I said it, so I want to clarify that when I discuss the differing percentages student groups in Texas must hit to be considered proficient, I am referring to their groups as a whole, not individual pass rates. Moving on, I was upfront to each guest about the nature of how I would release these, so there is no gotcha imbedded into the release of these episodes. I respect both Professor Jarvis Givens and Calvin Robinson greatly.

#220 Critical Race Talk with Professor Jarvis Givens Jul 19, 2021

Hello everyone, and welcome to a special 2 part episode of Teach Me, Teacher. The intro you are hearing (reading) now is exactly the same on both episodes titled, Critical Race Talk. This is due to the nature and ties of the conversations you will hear, and also the reasoning behind why I am putting out this content at all on this podcast. To start, I believe in discourse and the dismantling of echo chambers. While anyone with time on their hands or a history with Teach Me, Teacher can verify my political and social leanings tend to be towards what Americans call “the left,” — I do not deny this— I do not subscribe to any one ideology or framework. As an educator and academic, I pride the search for truth above all else, even when such truth may challenge my own beliefs about the world and its institutions. Essentially, I consider myself politically homeless. I do not find my political identity within strict party lines, rather, I listen to as many good intentioned sides and sources as I can, and decide how I will act accordingly. With that said, Teach Me, Teacher is first and foremost a “best practices” podcast. It is designed from the ground up to be a no-nonsense approach to professional development for educators— and its success and reach, I believe, is because of my commitment to this vision of what PD can be for teachers and administrators. However, best practices cannot be achieved without addressing the larger issues surrounding education and our communities. Teaching does not happen in a vacuum. Indeed, it touches nearly every aspect of life—how many professions can say that? — and with such a burden, comes the responsibility to contend with more than just academics. The sterilization of teaching into just being about standards, mastery, and skills, ignores the vast amounts nuanced factors that make such important aspects of teaching possible in the first place. In other words, what we believe directly affects how we act and teach. To ignore the human aspect of teaching in this way is to ignore what teaching is entirely. The following podcast, and its counterpart, which are both named the same, minus the guest involved, primarily deal with the controversial topic of Critical Race Theory and its association with public schools. Both episodes touch on various other factors and examine the issue through different lenses, but I believe they both offer nuance to the discussion that simply isn’t happening in most circles today. These episodes are not meant to be set up as combatants, which is why they are separated. Rather, I am presenting them as different lenses on the same subject. As the interviewer, I tried to be as non-biased as possible. I tied similar questions to each interview, but I also allowed for each guest to bring their own unique expertise to the discussion. I constructed each discussion around each guests’ unique platform and what they talk about. Whether this is an effective way to address this issue, will ultimately be up to you, the listener. I’m sure there are faults I cannot see, and lines of questioning I did not capitalize on, but these discussions are real discussions between people who care about education. The only editing present are quality adjustments and deletions of technical problems caused by recording over Zoom. Everything else has been untouched. As a quick side note: the only edit I would like to add here is about the data I talked about with Robinson in terms of pass rates based on race. It can be easily misunderstood because of how I said it, so I want to clarify that when I discuss the differing percentages student groups in Texas must hit to be considered proficient, I am referring to their groups as a whole, not individual pass rates. Moving on, I was upfront to each guest about the nature of how I would release these, so there is no gotcha imbedded into the release of these episodes. I respect both Professor Jarvis Givens and Calvin Robinson greatly.

#219 Reflecting on a Year of Covid-Era Teaching LIVE Jul 12, 2021

Hello everyone! On July 2nd, I hosted a LIVE discussion on the Teach Me, Teacher Facebook page, where we asked the question: What have we learned from a year of Covid-era teaching? To help answer this question, I took LIVE comments, questions, and topic elections from the audience and reflected with the community! Among other things discussed, we hit on: Grades Technology Parents Teacher appreciation Divides in the community Positive takeaways from Covid-era teaching If you missed this live, you can catch the video on the page. Make sure to LIKE the page, so you do not miss any of the upcoming live discussions and events! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann and their book, Leading Literate Lives. What stories make you who you are? How have your experiences shaped you as a learner? Who are you as a reader and writer? Exploring your history as a learner can help you reflect on your teaching practices and make instructional decisions that positively impact student learning. In Leading Literate Lives, Stephanie outlines a framework for reading and writing that makes a direct connection between reflection and classroom practice. In each chapter you will find concrete ideas, tools, and activities for reading and writing to help move you from teacher reflection to instruction. For every specific reflection Stephanie will show you how to put the same idea into practice in your classroom, with the goal of helping you and your students: build and cultivate habits that make reading and writing a priority make space and create opportunities in your lives and classrooms to do what real readers and writers do explore and embrace your reading and writing identities find and create thriving communities filled with inspiration and support, where the reading and writing lives of every member are shared and celebrated. Fueled with the understandings that come from leading a literate life, you can learn to embrace reflective practices that bring greater intention and joy to your classrooms and schools.

#218 Reading – Writing Workshop Q&A with Jacob Chastain Jul 05, 2021

Hello everyone! I cannot express how excited, pumped, and inspired I am right now for next year, and I want you to join me and my AMAZING guests in our quest to bring some positivity into the teaching world. …but today is a little different. Today, I AM THE GUEST OF THE SHOW! Yes, you read that correctly! A few weeks ago, I received an email from a listener of the podcast who asked me tons of questions about reading and writing workshop. I usually answer these in email, but I had the idea to record a Q&A with her instead, where I let her ask me questions for about TWO HOURS. Luckily, she agreed! If this all sounds familiar to you, it's because PART of this discussion was released last year as a SUMMER BLAST episode (7 and 8). However, what was never released was the last hour of our talk. Only Patreon supporters got part 2. So, if you have heard us discuss reading, you can skip to about the halfway point and listen to the rest. If you never heard the original episodes in the first place, then you have a whole 2 hour discussion around reading and writing workshop to listen to! Enjoy! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann and their book, Leading Literate Lives. What stories make you who you are? How have your experiences shaped you as a learner? Who are you as a reader and writer? Exploring your history as a learner can help you reflect on your teaching practices and make instructional decisions that positively impact student learning. In Leading Literate Lives, Stephanie outlines a framework for reading and writing that makes a direct connection between reflection and classroom practice. In each chapter you will find concrete ideas, tools, and activities for reading and writing to help move you from teacher reflection to instruction. For every specific reflection Stephanie will show you how to put the same idea into practice in your classroom, with the goal of helping you and your students: build and cultivate habits that make reading and writing a priority make space and create opportunities in your lives and classrooms to do what real readers and writers do explore and embrace your reading and writing identities find and create thriving communities filled with inspiration and support, where the reading and writing lives of every member are shared and celebrated. Fueled with the understandings that come from leading a literate life, you can learn to embrace reflective practices that bring greater intention and joy to your classrooms and schools.

#217 Unbreakable with Brittany Sinitch (Season 5 Finale) Jun 28, 2021

Hello everyone! It feels like yesterday I was hyping up the start of season 5 of the Teach Me, Teacher podcast, and now I'm here closing it out. Where did the time go!? We've featured some AMAZING minds this year, including (but not limited to), Eric Weinstein, Amen Rahh, Maddie Fairchild, Jen Jones, and Susan Barnes. It's hard to believe all the great talks we have had on the show this season, and over the last 5 years. And yet I am completely excited for today's guest—Brittany Sinitch, otherwise known as @fivefootoneteacher on Instagram. Brittany is an ex-high school teacher from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, who now teaches middle school, and is the founder of the Unbreakable organization. In this discussion, we discuss her Instagram life and how she manages the balance of being real on the platform, her insights into engaging students and her transition to middle school, and then how living with trauma is a constant battle between choosing light over darkness. You do not want to miss this closer to the podcast—I believe everyone needs to here Brittany's words as we close out a year unlike any other. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Start Here, Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community by Liz Kleinrock. Most of us want to help cultivate an antibias and antiracist classroom and school community, but we don’t know how or where to start. This book helps us set ourselves up for success and prepare for the mistakes we’ll make along the way. Start Here, Start Now addresses the challenges that educators committed to antibias and antiracism face every day. Liz provides concrete strategies to overcome some of the barriers that prevent us from engaging in this work and includes lessons and activities we can start using in our classrooms right away. This book will help break habits that hold us back from this work, as well as build positive, sustainable teaching for the future. Start Here, Start Now is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more and download a sample, visit Heinemann.com.

#216 Decolonizing the Creative Classroom (Felicia Rose Chavez pt.2) Jun 21, 2021

Hello everyone! If you have been paying attention to the news surrounding education at all, then you have probably heard people debate over terms like anti-racism, whiteness, decolonization, and white supremacy. As someone who is deeply invested in being better for my students, I feel like it's my duty to understand these highly contentious debates, the terms used, and why certain parties feel the way they do. In part 2 of my discussion with Felecia Rose Chavez about the Anti-Racist Writing Workshop, we dive into her personal experiences in the writing workshop, and open up the above terms in ways I believe truly help everyone involved learn why these terms are used, and what they actually mean in the context of our work in the classroom. Felicia Rose Chavez is an award-winning educator with an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the University of Iowa. She is author of The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop: How to Decolonize the Creative Classroom and co-editor of The BreakBeat Poets Volume 4: LatiNEXT with Willie Perdomo and Jose Olivarez. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, she currently serves as the Creativity and Innovation Scholar-in-Residence at Colorado College. You DO NOT want to miss this one. If you missed it last week, click here. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Start Here, Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community by Liz Kleinrock. Most of us want to help cultivate an antibias and antiracist classroom and school community, but we don’t know how or where to start. This book helps us set ourselves up for success and prepare for the mistakes we’ll make along the way. Start Here, Start Now addresses the challenges that educators committed to antibias and antiracism face every day. Liz provides concrete strategies to overcome some of the barriers that prevent us from engaging in this work and includes lessons and activities we can start using in our classrooms right away. This book will help break habits that hold us back from this work, as well as build positive, sustainable teaching for the future. Start Here, Start Now is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more and download a sample, visit Heinemann.com.

#215 The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop with Felicia Rose Chavez (pt.1) Jun 14, 2021

Hello everyone! If you have been following me on social media at all, then you have seen me gush about The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop book by Felicia Rose Chavez. After ten pages I was sold. After twenty I had nearly as many screenshots taken of key phrases and insights. By page thirty, I was certain I needed to bring Felicia's powerful voice onto the show. Luckily, she agreed, and I could not be more excited to bring this to you today. Felicia Rose Chavez is an award-winning educator with an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the University of Iowa. She is author of The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop: How to Decolonize the Creative Classroom and co-editor of The BreakBeat Poets Volume 4: LatiNEXT with Willie Perdomo and Jose Olivarez. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, she currently serves as the Creativity and Innovation Scholar-in-Residence at Colorado College. In this episode, we dive into her insight into how an anti-racist writing workshop differs from the traditional workshop model, why we need to alter how we view the teacher as "master," and how altering our practices can empower the future voices of this country. You DO NOT want to miss this one. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Start Here, Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community by Liz Kleinrock. Most of us want to help cultivate an antibias and antiracist classroom and school community, but we don’t know how or where to start. This book helps us set ourselves up for success and prepare for the mistakes we’ll make along the way. Start Here, Start Now addresses the challenges that educators committed to antibias and antiracism face every day. Liz provides concrete strategies to overcome some of the barriers that prevent us from engaging in this work and includes lessons and activities we can start using in our classrooms right away. This book will help break habits that hold us back from this work, as well as build positive, sustainable teaching for the future. Start Here, Start Now is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more and download a sample, visit Heinemann.com.

#214 A Talk on Race, Equity, and Advocacy in Schools (Peter Mishler pt.2) Jun 07, 2021

Hello everyone! Last week, Peter Mishler and I discussed his book, FOR ALL YOU DO (which you should buy). This week, we examined one of his beliefs—the belief that self-care for teachers also includes advocating for what is best for students. This inevitably led us into a discussion on Critical Race Theory, current legislation issues, and discussing why teaching is inherently a political act. I loved this discussion, because it wasn't planned. This was two teachers talking about advocacy and what that means in today's climate. Teach Me, Teacher has always faced the real world head on, and this episode is no different. I believe this episode will be one of many that mentions Critical Race Theory, as we all work through the facts before us, and what they mean for our schools. While this discussion covers hot button issues, I believe it is done in a way to invite teachers into a place of safety for thinking about Critical Race Theory, and any other contentious issue. Teach Me, Teacher is not a place that forces ideas down your throat, it is a place that allows us to think, question, advocate, and support the kids in our schools. Many of us have different views on how to do this, and we should be listening to each other as we navigate the changing landscape before us. Peter is a high school English teacher of thirteen years and has twice been named Teacher of the Year at schools in New York and Kansas. His first collection of poems, Fludde, published by Sarabande Books in 2018, won the prestigious Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry. Peter is also a regular contributor to Literary Hub, and the author of his latest book, For All You Do. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Start Here, Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community by Liz Kleinrock. Most of us want to help cultivate an antibias and antiracist classroom and school community, but we don’t know how or where to start. This book helps us set ourselves up for success and prepare for the mistakes we’ll make along the way. Start Here, Start Now addresses the challenges that educators committed to antibias and antiracism face every day. Liz provides concrete strategies to overcome some of the barriers that prevent us from engaging in this work and includes lessons and activities we can start using in our classrooms right away. This book will help break habits that hold us back from this work, as well as build positive, sustainable teaching for the future. Start Here, Start Now is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more and download a sample, visit Heinemann.com. Teachers, if you’re looking for new ways to elevate your classroom and accelerate learning – then listen up! RISE Math and ELA program bundles from McGraw Hill, are less than $30 a year for grades 3 through 8!That’s right – less than $30 a year. RISE identifies learning gaps and creates a unique learning sequence and pace for each child. Covering over a thousand key grade learning objectives in math and ELA, teachers get real-time feedback and progress.Plus, kids can access RISE offline too through the app. Teachers, check out RISE today for your students!Go to mheonline.com/rise1. RISE Math and ELA program bundles from McGraw Hill, are less than $30 a year for grades 3 through 8. That’s so affordable! Check out RISE today.

#213 For All You Do with Peter Mishler (pt.1) May 31, 2021

Hello everyone! As one of the hardest years is winding down, many of us are thinking about self-care. We're eyeing the beach turning off alarm clocks, and getting ready to have some serious R&R with our loved ones. But if you're like me, maybe that self-care looks different. Maybe taking on special projects rejuvenates you, or even (gasp), thinking about teaching and the changes you will make next year is how you recover during the summer months. Regardless of your perspective, I think my talk with Peter Mishler will enlighten you on your personal journey to self-care and recovery from the year that will be defined for all of us as the PANDEMIC year. Peter is a high school English teacher of thirteen years and has twice been named Teacher of the Year at schools in New York and Kansas. His first collection of poems, Fludde, published by Sarabande Books in 2018, won the prestigious Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry. Peter is also a regular contributor to Literary Hub, and the author of his latest book, For All You Do. In this episode, we dive into why he write the book—which isn't as obvious as it might seem, and then meander through various topics, such as receiving PD from people outside of teaching, the art of being a rebel vs a yes-man, and questioning traditional methods to self-care heaven. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Start Here, Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community by Liz Kleinrock. Most of us want to help cultivate an antibias and antiracist classroom and school community, but we don’t know how or where to start. This book helps us set ourselves up for success and prepare for the mistakes we’ll make along the way. Start Here, Start Now addresses the challenges that educators committed to antibias and antiracism face every day. Liz provides concrete strategies to overcome some of the barriers that prevent us from engaging in this work and includes lessons and activities we can start using in our classrooms right away. This book will help break habits that hold us back from this work, as well as build positive, sustainable teaching for the future. Start Here, Start Now is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more and download a sample, visit Heinemann.com. Teachers, if you’re looking for new ways to elevate your classroom and accelerate learning – then listen up! RISE Math and ELA program bundles from McGraw Hill, are less than $30 a year for grades 3 through 8!That’s right – less than $30 a year. RISE identifies learning gaps and creates a unique learning sequence and pace for each child. Covering over a thousand key grade learning objectives in math and ELA, teachers get real-time feedback and progress.Plus, kids can access RISE offline too through the app. Teachers, check out RISE today for your students!Go to mheonline.com/rise1. RISE Math and ELA program bundles from McGraw Hill, are less than $30 a year for grades 3 through 8. That’s so affordable! Check out RISE today.

#212 In Defense of the Literary Canon with Matthew Ryan (pt.2) May 24, 2021

Teach Me, Teacher has released a lot of episodes about literacy, books, choice, and fostering a love for reading in students. In several of those episodes, we have discussed the literary canon, and its role in modern classrooms. In general, those episodes do not put the canon in a positive light. Because I believe in diverse viewpoints and giving several sides to an issue, I wanted to change the one sided look at the literary canon on Teach Me, Teacher and bring on someone who not only defends it, but uses sound reasoning for doing so. In this episode, I am returning with Matthew Ryan — a high school teacher and host of #CanonChat on Twitter. Last week we discussed why he believes the canon should be taught, and in this episode, we look into how he teaches it... among many other things! If you missed part one, click here. If you are familiar with the canon debates, or are just passionate about books and how to use them in the classroom, this is a great discussion worth your time. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Writing Unbound: How Fiction Transforms Student Writers by Thomas Newkirk. Writing Unbound is about the value of writing fiction in secondary classrooms. Tom Newkirk asks a tough question: if reading fiction is the center of most English classrooms, why is writing fiction often ignored? Why do we separate fiction reading and fiction writing? Tom argues that when our writing curriculum is too analytical, students think of “writing” as impersonal, formulaic, and…well…boring. He says that opening a door to fiction writing can ignite students’ interest and convince them of the value of writing. He even argues that allowing kids to write fiction will improve their analytic writing. Learn more about how fiction can transform student writers. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Writing Unbound. Teachers, if you’re looking for new ways to elevate your classroom and accelerate learning – then listen up! RISE Math and ELA program bundles from McGraw Hill, are less than $30 a year for grades 3 through 8!That’s right – less than $30 a year. RISE identifies learning gaps and creates a unique learning sequence and pace for each child. Covering over a thousand key grade learning objectives in math and ELA, teachers get real-time feedback and progress.Plus, kids can access RISE offline too through the app. Teachers, check out RISE today for your students!Go to mheonline.com/rise1. RISE Math and ELA program bundles from McGraw Hill, are less than $30 a year for grades 3 through 8. That’s so affordable! Check out RISE today.

#211 In Defense of the Literary Canon with Matthew Ryan (pt.1) May 17, 2021

Teach Me, Teacher has released a lot of episodes about literacy, books, choice, and fostering a love for reading in students. In several of those episodes, we have discussed the literary canon, and its role in modern classrooms. In general, those episodes do not put the canon in a positive light. Because I believe in diverse viewpoints and giving several sides to an issue, I wanted to change the one sided look at the literary canon on Teach Me, Teacher and bring on someone who not only defends it, but uses sound reasoning for doing so. Matthew Ryan is a high school teacher and host of #CanonChat on Twitter. In this discussion, we start by examining why educators are casting out the canon and why he believes we shouldn't. From there, we examine how educators who support #DisruptTexts and educators like himself have a lot more in common than debates on Twitter might allow for teachers to realize. If you are familiar with the canon debates, or are just passionate about books and how to use them in the classroom, this is a great discussion worth your time. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Writing Unbound: How Fiction Transforms Student Writers by Thomas Newkirk. Writing Unbound is about the value of writing fiction in secondary classrooms. Tom Newkirk asks a tough question: if reading fiction is the center of most English classrooms, why is writing fiction often ignored? Why do we separate fiction reading and fiction writing? Tom argues that when our writing curriculum is too analytical, students think of “writing” as impersonal, formulaic, and…well…boring. He says that opening a door to fiction writing can ignite students’ interest and convince them of the value of writing. He even argues that allowing kids to write fiction will improve their analytic writing. Learn more about how fiction can transform student writers. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Writing Unbound. Teachers, if you’re looking for new ways to elevate your classroom and accelerate learning – then listen up! RISE Math and ELA program bundles from McGraw Hill, are less than $30 a year for grades 3 through 8!That’s right – less than $30 a year. RISE identifies learning gaps and creates a unique learning sequence and pace for each child. Covering over a thousand key grade learning objectives in math and ELA, teachers get real-time feedback and progress.Plus, kids can access RISE offline too through the app. Teachers, check out RISE today for your students!Go to mheonline.com/rise1. RISE Math and ELA program bundles from McGraw Hill, are less than $30 a year for grades 3 through 8. That’s so affordable! Check out RISE today.

#210 The Continued Loss of a Generation with Jennifer Sey May 10, 2021

When I released my 2 part episode with Brian Mendler saying SCHOOLS SHOULD BE OPEN, many were quick to react. While most of Teach Me, Teacher's listeners were positive and supportive of this episode, many came out of the woodwork to spout ad hominem attacks at myself and Brian. A select few of honest and passionate listeners offered valid criticisms and counter points, to which I quickly engaged with readily. I love quality discussions. Brian's episode was 5 months ago. People still email me with letters of thanks for speaking to the issues of schools being closed. This season of the podcast has been defined by Covid—understandably so—and yet I can't say I expected to see teachers, unions, and politicians questioning whether schools should be open this coming August. With many schools open and safe, vaccines rolling out in record numbers, and data to support school openings (including both Trump and Biden administrations), I figured all schools would be opening their doors again to the students and families who need them to be. But they aren't, and Jennifer Sey has a lot to say about it. Jennifer is the author of Chalked Up and is a proud parent and supporter of teachers and public schools. She has taken up the rough fight to advocate for schools to open, and for teachers and kids getting back in the classroom. In this talk, we examine the attacks she has faced in her advocacy for schools, why she left California, the political nature of school closures, and ultimately, why school doors should be open, especially this coming fall. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Writing Unbound: How Fiction Transforms Student Writers by Thomas Newkirk. Writing Unbound is about the value of writing fiction in secondary classrooms. Tom Newkirk asks a tough question: if reading fiction is the center of most English classrooms, why is writing fiction often ignored? Why do we separate fiction reading and fiction writing? Tom argues that when our writing curriculum is too analytical, students think of “writing” as impersonal, formulaic, and…well…boring. He says that opening a door to fiction writing can ignite students’ interest and convince them of the value of writing. He even argues that allowing kids to write fiction will improve their analytic writing. Learn more about how fiction can transform student writers. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Writing Unbound. Teachers, if you’re looking for new ways to elevate your classroom and accelerate learning – then listen up! RISE Math and ELA program bundles from McGraw Hill, are less than $30 a year for grades 3 through 8!That’s right – less than $30 a year. RISE identifies learning gaps and creates a unique learning sequence and pace for each child. Covering over a thousand key grade learning objectives in math and ELA, teachers get real-time feedback and progress.Plus, kids can access RISE offline too through the app. Teachers, check out RISE today for your students!Go to mheonline.com/rise1. RISE Math and ELA program bundles from McGraw Hill, are less than $30 a year for grades 3 through 8. That’s so affordable! Check out RISE today.

#209 Can You Hear Me Now? (Suzanne DeMallie pt.2) May 03, 2021

Hello everyone! If you have been following me AT ALL on social media, you know I talk about change a lot. Not just change I think should occur in the school system, but changes other people believe should occur as well. But one aspect I have struggled with is how to make change happen at all. Sometimes, it feels like the system of public education is too big to change in any meaningful way… And yet, Suzanne DeMallie made significant change by being an advocate and educator, and now she is pushing for us to continue talking about change and taking action to do so. Last week, we dove into the overview of what change can look like, and in this episode we dive into the steps it takes to make change happen at various levels. Suzanne DeMallie taught for seven years in the Baltimore County Public Schools system. Research into her own son’s learning difficulties led her to author the Classroom Auditory Learning Issues resolution, adopted by the National PTA in July 2007. Her work has appeared in Our Children Magazine, T.H.E. Journal, Towson Times, and The Baltimore Sun. She has presented at the National School Boards Association’s Annual Convention; to national, state, and local PTA groups, and to politicians. Suzanne was awarded the National PTA’s Life Achievement Award in May 2007, the highest honor from the nation’s largest child advocacy organization. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Writing Unbound: How Fiction Transforms Student Writers by Thomas Newkirk. Writing Unbound is about the value of writing fiction in secondary classrooms. Tom Newkirk asks a tough question: if reading fiction is the center of most English classrooms, why is writing fiction often ignored? Why do we separate fiction reading and fiction writing? Tom argues that when our writing curriculum is too analytical, students think of “writing” as impersonal, formulaic, and…well…boring. He says that opening a door to fiction writing can ignite students’ interest and convince them of the value of writing. He even argues that allowing kids to write fiction will improve their analytic writing. Learn more about how fiction can transform student writers. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Writing Unbound. Teachers, if you’re looking for new ways to elevate your classroom and accelerate learning – then listen up! RISE Math and ELA program bundles from McGraw Hill, are less than $30 a year for grades 3 through 8!That’s right – less than $30 a year. RISE identifies learning gaps and creates a unique learning sequence and pace for each child. Covering over a thousand key grade learning objectives in math and ELA, teachers get real-time feedback and progress.Plus, kids can access RISE offline too through the app. Teachers, check out RISE today for your students!Go to mheonline.com/rise1. RISE Math and ELA program bundles from McGraw Hill, are less than $30 a year for grades 3 through 8. That’s so affordable! Check out RISE today.

#208 Advocating for Change with Suzanne DeMallie (pt.1) Apr 26, 2021

Hello everyone! If you have been following me AT ALL on social media, you know I talk about change a lot. Not just change I think should occur in the school system, but changes other people believe should occur as well. But one aspect I have struggled with is how to make change happen at all. Sometimes, it feels like the system of public education is too big to change in any meaningful way... And yet, Suzanne DeMallie made significant change by being an advocate and educator, and now she is pushing for us to continue talking about change and taking action to do so. Suzanne DeMallie taught for seven years in the Baltimore County Public Schools system. Research into her own son’s learning difficulties led her to author the Classroom Auditory Learning Issues resolution, adopted by the National PTA in July 2007. Her work has appeared in Our Children Magazine, T.H.E. Journal, Towson Times, and The Baltimore Sun. She has presented at the National School Boards Association’s Annual Convention; to national, state, and local PTA groups, and to politicians. Suzanne was awarded the National PTA’s Life Achievement Award in May 2007, the highest honor from the nation’s largest child advocacy organization. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Writing Unbound: How Fiction Transforms Student Writers by Thomas Newkirk. Writing Unbound is about the value of writing fiction in secondary classrooms. Tom Newkirk asks a tough question: if reading fiction is the center of most English classrooms, why is writing fiction often ignored? Why do we separate fiction reading and fiction writing? Tom argues that when our writing curriculum is too analytical, students think of “writing” as impersonal, formulaic, and…well…boring. He says that opening a door to fiction writing can ignite students’ interest and convince them of the value of writing. He even argues that allowing kids to write fiction will improve their analytic writing. Learn more about how fiction can transform student writers. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Writing Unbound. Teachers, if you’re looking for new ways to elevate your classroom and accelerate learning – then listen up! RISE Math and ELA program bundles from McGraw Hill, are less than $30 a year for grades 3 through 8!That’s right – less than $30 a year. RISE identifies learning gaps and creates a unique learning sequence and pace for each child. Covering over a thousand key grade learning objectives in math and ELA, teachers get real-time feedback and progress.Plus, kids can access RISE offline too through the app. Teachers, check out RISE today for your students!Go to mheonline.com/rise1. RISE Math and ELA program bundles from McGraw Hill, are less than $30 a year for grades 3 through 8. That’s so affordable! Check out RISE today.

#207 Collective Belief with Dr. Jim Van Allan Apr 19, 2021

Hello everyone! These days, positivity is difficult to come by. It might be easier than this time last year, but I think most of us can agree that we aren't living in the best of times... because of this, many of us are struggling to create a positive school culture in our classrooms, and community at large. Jim Van Allen is here to help us realize we can change this trajectory, and work together to create spaces WE ALL want to be in, students and staff alike. Through the power of collective belief and teacher efficacy, we can all put in the effort to foster healthy school environments. Dr. Jim Van Allan is the Vice President of Schools for The Jon Gordon Companies. He leads The Energy Bus for Schools and The Power of Positive Schools groups. The mission is to help schools create a positive culture that creates positive results. The programs accomplish this by providing sustainable and ongoing professional development, coaching, and workshops for schools across the country. Jim has worked with international best-selling author Jon Gordon for 15 years. Additionally, Jim is a Professor of Communication Studies for Keiser University and teaches public speaking and interpersonal communication fully online. His Ph.D. research was on using 'The Energy Bus' curriculum to create a positive campus culture at a model school in Ohio. Jim lives with his wife and two boys, ages 6 and 4, in sunny South Florida. Energy Bus for Schools: https://energybusschools.com/ Power of Positive Schools: https://www.powerofpositiveschools.com/ Jim's Podcast: https://communicatetomotivate.libsyn.com/ This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Writing Unbound: How Fiction Transforms Student Writers by Thomas Newkirk. Writing Unbound is about the value of writing fiction in secondary classrooms. Tom Newkirk asks a tough question: if reading fiction is the center of most English classrooms, why is writing fiction often ignored? Why do we separate fiction reading and fiction writing? Tom argues that when our writing curriculum is too analytical, students think of “writing” as impersonal, formulaic, and…well…boring. He says that opening a door to fiction writing can ignite students’ interest and convince them of the value of writing. He even argues that allowing kids to write fiction will improve their analytic writing. Learn more about how fiction can transform student writers. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Writing Unbound.

#206 10 Ways to Nail Your Teacher Interview Apr 12, 2021

Hello everyone! Today I'm flying solo as I offer my best 10 tips for getting hired as a teacher. While this episode is geared to new teachers, I believe anyone can follow these tips. So if you are changing schools, positions, or moving, I think these 10 tips can increase your chances at nailing that interview. Each piece of advice in this episode is fueled by my experience with hiring teachers, and what I've heard and said behind closed doors as to why someone wasn't right for the job. If this episode helped you nail your interview, or you think it will help someone else, share it! We need to attract the best people to this profession—so if the best person you know needs help, direct them back here! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Writing Unbound: How Fiction Transforms Student Writers by Thomas Newkirk. Writing Unbound is about the value of writing fiction in secondary classrooms. Tom Newkirk asks a tough question: if reading fiction is the center of most English classrooms, why is writing fiction often ignored? Why do we separate fiction reading and fiction writing? Tom argues that when our writing curriculum is too analytical, students think of “writing” as impersonal, formulaic, and…well…boring. He says that opening a door to fiction writing can ignite students’ interest and convince them of the value of writing. He even argues that allowing kids to write fiction will improve their analytic writing. Learn more about how fiction can transform student writers. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Writing Unbound.

#205 Supporting Middle School Readers with Christina Hanson (pt.2) Apr 05, 2021

Hello everyone! It has been said that middle school is where the love of reading goes to die… but not if Christina Hanson has anything to say about it! Christina, otherwise known as @Hansonhallway on Instagram, has a lot to say about how to get kids engaged with books. Under her deeply engrained philosophy of letting students read what they want and often in class, is solid pedological practice that includes reading a picture book a day, and being a reader herself. In this episode we dive into the daily routine, independent practice, and even question the value of Lexile and screeners. If you feel like reading is dying in your class, or maybe on your campus. this is the episode for you. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Writing Unbound: How Fiction Transforms Student Writers by Thomas Newkirk. Writing Unbound is about the value of writing fiction in secondary classrooms. Tom Newkirk asks a tough question: if reading fiction is the center of most English classrooms, why is writing fiction often ignored? Why do we separate fiction reading and fiction writing? Tom argues that when our writing curriculum is too analytical, students think of “writing” as impersonal, formulaic, and…well…boring. He says that opening a door to fiction writing can ignite students’ interest and convince them of the value of writing. He even argues that allowing kids to write fiction will improve their analytic writing. Learn more about how fiction can transform student writers. Visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from Writing Unbound.

#204 Supporting Middle School Readers with Christina Hanson (pt.1) Mar 29, 2021

Hello everyone! It has been said that middle school is where the love of reading goes to die... but not if Christina Hanson has anything to say about it! Christina, otherwise known as @Hansonhallway on Instagram, has a lot to say about how to get kids engaged with books. Under her deeply engrained philosophy of letting students read what they want and often in class, is solid pedological practice that includes reading a picture book a day, and being a reader herself. If you feel like reading is dying in your class, or maybe on your campus. this is the episode for you. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, We Got This: Equity, Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be by Cornelius Minor. Powerful teaching is rooted in powerful listening. What we hear can spark action that allows us to make powerful moves toward equity by broadening access to learning for all children. In We Got This, Cornelius Minor identifies tools, attributes, and strategies that can augment our listening, empowering us to take the steps to start influencing the systems that govern our classrooms and schools. We do not teach for what is. We teach for what can be. Craft better heroes…not just for the students that you hope to teach, but for the world that you hope to build. We Got This is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#203 The Solution is in Our Buildings (Jimmy Casas pt.2) Mar 22, 2021

Hello everyone! As the world grapples with crisis after crisis, we have all turned our gaze to the leaders of our communities. Leadership is hard. It is a lonely profession. Yet, according to my guest Jimmy Casas, it is the single most vital piece to an effective institution. Last week, Jimmy detailed why ineffective leadership is so prevalent (poor systems), what the cost of ineffective leadership is (a poor culture), and how mentors can be the difference makers for leaders new and old to the profession. This week, he dives into what we can do about it. Whether you are looking to come out of a dark place in your career or position, or simply want to improve the campus you are on, this episode is for you. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, We Got This: Equity, Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be by Cornelius Minor. Powerful teaching is rooted in powerful listening. What we hear can spark action that allows us to make powerful moves toward equity by broadening access to learning for all children. In We Got This, Cornelius Minor identifies tools, attributes, and strategies that can augment our listening, empowering us to take the steps to start influencing the systems that govern our classrooms and schools. We do not teach for what is. We teach for what can be. Craft better heroes…not just for the students that you hope to teach, but for the world that you hope to build. We Got This is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#202 The Cost of Ineffective Leadership with Jimmy Casas (pt.1) Mar 15, 2021

Hello everyone! As the world grapples with crisis after crisis, we have all turned our gaze to the leaders of our communities. Leadership is hard. It is a lonely profession. Yet, according to my guest Jimmy Casas, it is the single most vital piece to an effective institution. In part one of our talk, Jimmy details why ineffective leadership is so prevalent (poor systems), what the cost of ineffective leadership is (a poor culture), and how mentors can be the difference makers for leaders new and old to the profession. Whether you are a parent, teacher, administrator, or some other vital piece to the educational puzzle, this episode is sure to inspire you to reach for new heights and serve with a deeper purpose. While you wait for part 2, check out my episode with Todd Whitaker on what great leaders do differently. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, We Got This: Equity, Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be by Cornelius Minor. Powerful teaching is rooted in powerful listening. What we hear can spark action that allows us to make powerful moves toward equity by broadening access to learning for all children. In We Got This, Cornelius Minor identifies tools, attributes, and strategies that can augment our listening, empowering us to take the steps to start influencing the systems that govern our classrooms and schools. We do not teach for what is. We teach for what can be. Craft better heroes…not just for the students that you hope to teach, but for the world that you hope to build. We Got This is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#201 Manage Behavior Better with Ms. Chyna Mar 08, 2021

Hello everyone! Coming off fresh from my 2 hour episode with Eric Weinstein, I wanted to talk about behavior and better ways we can respond as teachers. To do so, I brought on the amazing Ms. Chyna, a behavioral special education teacher, otherwise known as @especiallysped on Instagram. In this talk, we set the stage for how we should be thinking about behavioral issues in the class, and then move on to discuss ineffective and effective ways to deal with such problems. But most importantly, we discuss why humanizing our interactions with our most challenging students can be the real difference. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, We Got This: Equity, Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be by Cornelius Minor. Powerful teaching is rooted in powerful listening. What we hear can spark action that allows us to make powerful moves toward equity by broadening access to learning for all children. In We Got This, Cornelius Minor identifies tools, attributes, and strategies that can augment our listening, empowering us to take the steps to start influencing the systems that govern our classrooms and schools. We do not teach for what is. We teach for what can be. Craft better heroes...not just for the students that you hope to teach, but for the world that you hope to build. We Got This is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#200 Eric Weinstein on Edugenic Harm and Neurodiversity Mar 02, 2021

When I started Teach Me, Teacher in 2016, I did so with the goal to talk to great educators in my building. Season 1 of the podcast was entirely made up of the teachers I knew, and a cheap USB mic I plugged into my Mac. Today, we have featured some of the top minds in education, such as Donalyn Miller, Kelly Gallagher, Hamish Brewer, Todd Whitaker, and Kim Bearden (among others.) To add to this list in a major way, and to celebrate 200 episodes, I had the privilege of sitting down with Eric Weinstein—one of the major voices in the intellectual spaces of the internet. Eric Weinstein is an American commentator, the managing director of Thiel Capital, and host of The Portal podcast. His story, and his son's story, about being constantly overlooked, punished, and mentally abused by a system that is supposed to educate everyone, is powerful. It is a story we can all learn from, use to inform our own practices, and advocate for a better tomorrow in our schools. Drawing on the parallel between iatrogenic harm (the harm caused inadvertently by the process of treatment), and what happens when educators make wrong decisions that hurt students, Eric makes his case for looking at educational malpractice through a lens of edugenics (harm caused inadvertently in the process of teaching.) At the heart of this talk, is an honest look at what the brightest kids suffer through in school, and how many schools do not serve the neurodiverse in meaningful ways. This 2 hour discussion goes into both our histories, how they look similar and different, and how the many problems in education today may be the driving force for meaningful change from those who care the most... TEACHERS. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Risk. Fail. Rise. A Teacher’s Guide to Learning From Mistakes by Colleen Cruz. You’ve likely heard the adage, ‘Everyone makes mistakes.’ But knowing why we make mistakes can help us learn from them and improve situations once we’ve made them. In Risk. Fail. Rise. teachers will learn how to address their own teaching mistakes, model with their own mistake-making, and improve their responses to others’ mistakes. Colleen Cruz shares what research says on mistakes as part of learning and what that means for teaching. If we can create school cultures where we talk honestly about mistakes, then we can grow and create opportunities for children to grow in all the ways they deserve. And we deserve those opportunities too. Risk. Fail. Rise. is available as a book and ebook. Look for the audiobook in early 2021. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#199 E-Sports and the Future in VR ED (Jesse Lubinsky pt.2) Feb 22, 2021

Hello everyone! Last week, Jesse Lubinsky joined me to discuss tech and the revolution it is having in education. If you missed that, check it out here. If you're all caught up, I can't wait for you to hear part 2! For people that follow me on social media or have listened extensively to the show, you might have heard me discuss my love of video games. In this episode, I get to nerd out a bit about games and their significance in the lives of kids, and Jesse blows my mind with the future of virtual reality in education. He also drops some knowledge on how to start an E-Sports club at your school, so there is TONS to dive into on this one! Jesse Lubinsky is the co-author of Reality Bytes and The Esports Education Playbook. Jesse is currently the Chief Learning Officer for Ready Learner One LLC. He is an education technologist, teacher, and former school administrator based out of Westchester County in New York. Prior to entering the learning space, he was a technology consultant for Fortune 500 companies specializing in network engineering and software development projects. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Risk. Fail. Rise. A Teacher’s Guide to Learning From Mistakes by Colleen Cruz. You’ve likely heard the adage, ‘Everyone makes mistakes.’ But knowing why we make mistakes can help us learn from them and improve situations once we’ve made them. In Risk. Fail. Rise. teachers will learn how to address their own teaching mistakes, model with their own mistake-making, and improve their responses to others’ mistakes. Colleen Cruz shares what research says on mistakes as part of learning and what that means for teaching. If we can create school cultures where we talk honestly about mistakes, then we can grow and create opportunities for children to grow in all the ways they deserve. And we deserve those opportunities too. Risk. Fail. Rise. is available as a book and ebook. Look for the audiobook in early 2021. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#198 Is this the Digital Revolution? with Jesse Lubinsky (pt.1) Feb 15, 2021

Hello everyone! Covid has made sure we are all intimately familiar with how to set up Zooms, use Google services, and operate the various learning management systems our districts have purchased. Many of us have been forced to learn how to reach students digitally, and some of us were prepared for this sudden shift to the digital world. Whether you are happy using tech, have become proficient during the last several months, or are a tech geek and are just excited that everyone is finally (somewhat forced) to listen to you, one fact is certain... tech is here to stay! It is on us to be educated in what is available now, and what will be available in the future. To help us navigate this landscape, I have brought on Jesse Lubinsky, co-author of Reality Bytes and The Esports Education Playbook. Jesse is currently the Chief Learning Officer for Ready Learner One LLC. He is an education technologist, teacher, and former school administrator based out of Westchester County in New York. Prior to entering the learning space, he was a technology consultant for Fortune 500 companies specializing in network engineering and software development projects. In this episode, we set the landscape for what tech is doing today, and where it could be going. We ask if paper will be around in the next few year, and what roles should phone play...if any, in the class. We also touch on why professional development around tech is always kind of bad (my words). All of this and more! In part two we discuss VR and Esports, so make sure to subscribe so you do not miss it! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Risk. Fail. Rise. A Teacher’s Guide to Learning From Mistakes by Colleen Cruz. You’ve likely heard the adage, ‘Everyone makes mistakes.’ But knowing why we make mistakes can help us learn from them and improve situations once we’ve made them. In Risk. Fail. Rise. teachers will learn how to address their own teaching mistakes, model with their own mistake-making, and improve their responses to others’ mistakes. Colleen Cruz shares what research says on mistakes as part of learning and what that means for teaching. If we can create school cultures where we talk honestly about mistakes, then we can grow and create opportunities for children to grow in all the ways they deserve. And we deserve those opportunities too. Risk. Fail. Rise. is available as a book and ebook. Look for the audiobook in early 2021. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#197 Can We Accept This System? (Amen Rahh pt.2) Feb 08, 2021

Hello everyone! If you missed part 1 of my discussion with Amen Rahh, otherwise known as Principal Rahh on Instagram, you missed an amazing episode and need to check it out. In part 1, we took a hard look at equity and how it is at the root of many issues in education. In part 2, we dive deeper and even examine how the language we use to discuss our students and schools can be at the heart of why non-equitable systems and attitudes can persist in our communities. Amen Rahh is known as the Revolutionary Principal for how he has built and founded University Pathways Public Service Academy “The U” an urban public school in South Central Los Angeles. His passion and dedication to students is superb, and his vision is clear. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Risk. Fail. Rise. A Teacher’s Guide to Learning From Mistakes by Colleen Cruz. You’ve likely heard the adage, ‘Everyone makes mistakes.’ But knowing why we make mistakes can help us learn from them and improve situations once we’ve made them. In Risk. Fail. Rise. teachers will learn how to address their own teaching mistakes, model with their own mistake-making, and improve their responses to others’ mistakes. Colleen Cruz shares what research says on mistakes as part of learning and what that means for teaching. If we can create school cultures where we talk honestly about mistakes, then we can grow and create opportunities for children to grow in all the ways they deserve. And we deserve those opportunities too. Risk. Fail. Rise. is available as a book and ebook. Look for the audiobook in early 2021. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#196 Equitable Revolutionary Education with Amen Rahh (pt.1) Feb 01, 2021

Hello everyone! I don't know about you, but leadership has been on my mind a lot these past few weeks. It's as if there has been large events of some kind, putting the weight of leadership into perspective, but I can't quite figure out what... In any case! I am also feeling revolutionary and wanted to talk all things leadership and what it takes to make a difference, both as a principal and as a teacher. To do this, I brought on Amen Rahh, otherwise known as Principal Rahh on Instagram. Amen Rahh is known as the Revolutionary Principal for how he has built and founded University Pathways Public Service Academy “The U” an urban public school in South Central Los Angeles. His passion and dedication to students is superb, and his vision is clear. Today, we cover his history, and then move into how equity is at the center of creating a revolutionary school. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book Connecting with Students Online by Jennifer Serravallo. This book’s been getting a lot of buzz because finally someone is getting down to the nitty gritty details of effective online teaching during an unprecedented crisis. Jen Serravallo keeps the focus on what teachers do best: build relationships with students that drive learning and progress. And she shows how to do it remotely. She offers 55 streamlined instructional strategies we can use right away. Everything from conferring to small groups to communicating with a child’s parents or caregivers. Like everything Jen writes, Connecting with Students Online is accessible and respectful of teacher’s time. It’s filled with ready-to-use suggestions, and you don’t need a school technologist to implement them. You’ll find something here to help everyone in your classroom grow, even if you can’t be with them in person. Best of all, Jen will donate a portion of the proceeds from this book to organizations that help children directly impacted by COVID-19. If you don’t have Jennifer Serravallo’s Connecting with Students Online, head over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter and find out what you’re missing. Or order yourself a copy. You’ll help yourself, your kids, and children struggling because of this this pandemic.

#195 Mindfulness and Speech-Language Pathology with Rachel Musial Jan 25, 2021

Hello everyone! One of my goals of this podcast has been to reach out to as many areas of education as possible. I believe that the types of educators who spend their free time listening to a teacher podcast are the same types of educators who want to be informed on as many aspects of education as they can—especially if that knowledge will benefit their classroom. Today, we are looking at the deep work of one speech-language pathologist, her approach when working with kids in person and online, and how this might help us navigate the world of working with young minds who might need a little help with coping and communicating. Rachel Musial is a CCC-SLP, Instagramer, podcaster, and advocate for treating everyone with humanity and dignity. Her approach to working with children through their emotions and speech is inspiring, and filled with many helpful anecdotes that can directly improve how we communicate with kids in our schools. Make sure to check her out online after enjoying the show! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book Connecting with Students Online by Jennifer Serravallo. This book’s been getting a lot of buzz because finally someone is getting down to the nitty gritty details of effective online teaching during an unprecedented crisis. Jen Serravallo keeps the focus on what teachers do best: build relationships with students that drive learning and progress. And she shows how to do it remotely. She offers 55 streamlined instructional strategies we can use right away. Everything from conferring to small groups to communicating with a child’s parents or caregivers. Like everything Jen writes, Connecting with Students Online is accessible and respectful of teacher’s time. It’s filled with ready-to-use suggestions, and you don’t need a school technologist to implement them. You’ll find something here to help everyone in your classroom grow, even if you can’t be with them in person. Best of all, Jen will donate a portion of the proceeds from this book to organizations that help children directly impacted by COVID-19. If you don’t have Jennifer Serravallo’s Connecting with Students Online, head over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter and find out what you’re missing. Or order yourself a copy. You’ll help yourself, your kids, and children struggling because of this this pandemic.

#194 Go the Extra Mile (CJ Reynolds pt.2) Jan 18, 2021

Hello everyone! Educators DO A LOT to make sure kids get the content they need. They stay late to tutor. They craft lessons on the weekends and over breaks. They think and plan, and think and plan, and do it because it is all for the kids! One of my favorite educators modeling this right now is the wonderful CJ Reynolds, author of the fantastic book, Teach Your Class Off. In this episode we continue our talk about how CJ believes we should all be going the extra mile to build quality relationships with students, and meeting them where they are through their interests. We talk about why he loves pushing what is possible with students, and how doing something as simple as decorating your class to achieve a specific vibe might seem small, but could mean the world to your students. It's not enough to be good. We have to take the extra step to be great. It's for the kids! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book Connecting with Students Online by Jennifer Serravallo. This book’s been getting a lot of buzz because finally someone is getting down to the nitty gritty details of effective online teaching during an unprecedented crisis. Jen Serravallo keeps the focus on what teachers do best: build relationships with students that drive learning and progress. And she shows how to do it remotely. She offers 55 streamlined instructional strategies we can use right away. Everything from conferring to small groups to communicating with a child’s parents or caregivers. Like everything Jen writes, Connecting with Students Online is accessible and respectful of teacher’s time. It’s filled with ready-to-use suggestions, and you don’t need a school technologist to implement them. You’ll find something here to help everyone in your classroom grow, even if you can’t be with them in person. Best of all, Jen will donate a portion of the proceeds from this book to organizations that help children directly impacted by COVID-19. If you don’t have Jennifer Serravallo’s Connecting with Students Online, head over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter and find out what you’re missing. Or order yourself a copy. You’ll help yourself, your kids, and children struggling because of this this pandemic.

#193 Everything is for the Kids with CJ Reynolds (pt.1) Jan 11, 2021

Hello everyone! Educators DO A LOT to make sure kids get the content they need. They stay late to tutor. They craft lessons on the weekends and over breaks. They think and plan, and think and plan, and do it because it is all for the kids! One of my favorite educators modeling this right now is the wonderful CJ Reynolds, author of the fantastic book, Teach Your Class Off. In this episode we talk about how CJ believes we should all be going the extra mile to build quality relationships with students, and meeting them where they are through their interests. We talk about how this approach came about for him, and how his life led him to a career of being the teacher he needed as a kid. I loved this one! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book Connecting with Students Online by Jennifer Serravallo. This book’s been getting a lot of buzz because finally someone is getting down to the nitty gritty details of effective online teaching during an unprecedented crisis. Jen Serravallo keeps the focus on what teachers do best: build relationships with students that drive learning and progress. And she shows how to do it remotely. She offers 55 streamlined instructional strategies we can use right away. Everything from conferring to small groups to communicating with a child’s parents or caregivers. Like everything Jen writes, Connecting with Students Online is accessible and respectful of teacher’s time. It’s filled with ready-to-use suggestions, and you don’t need a school technologist to implement them. You’ll find something here to help everyone in your classroom grow, even if you can’t be with them in person. Best of all, Jen will donate a portion of the proceeds from this book to organizations that help children directly impacted by COVID-19. If you don’t have Jennifer Serravallo’s Connecting with Students Online, head over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter and find out what you’re missing. Or order yourself a copy. You’ll help yourself, your kids, and children struggling because of this this pandemic.

#192 Schools Should Be Open with Brian Mendler (pt.2) Jan 05, 2021

Hello everyone! Wait... didn't we already post an episode this week? YES WE DID... And you all let me know your thoughts on it. Lots of praise. Lots of criticism. Much more to discuss. Because I believe in the power of ideas and addressing them head on, I knew I couldn't just let the most contentious episode of the podcast go without part 2 for too long. A week felt like too much, especially when so much is said in this second half I believe many critics, and fans of part 1, need to hear. There are a lot of facts and emotional arguments to be made on this subject, but one thing is certain... we must keep the dialogue going. Many people like Brain are forced to be quiet about their passion for keeping schools open because they will get bashed into silence if they speak up. On a subject so divided, it is worth it to hear one another out. Echo chambers are thr antithesis to progress. Brian Mendler, a former self-contained SPED teacher turned staff developer, has a LOT to say on this topic. He believes schools should be open. They should offer online options for those that need them, and adjust to pandemic life, but still keep the doors open for the kids and families that need it most. He believes that schools are essential. Get ready for part 2! As educators, we owe it to ourselves to hear all sides, not just the side we agree with.

#191 Schools Should Be Open with Brian Mendler (pt.1) Jan 04, 2021

Hello everyone! Just this time a year ago, saying, "Schools should be open," and "Many kids are safest at school," would have gotten you retweets, likes, and applause. Today, however, it might get you flamed on social media or yelled at. Yes, we are in a pandemic. Yes, things are different because of this. But is the role of schools different? Are schools so non-essential we can just keep closing them down? Is the work we do with kids in our building so easily sacrificed? Brian Mendler, a former self-contained SPED teacher turned staff developer, has a LOT to say on this topic. He believes schools should be open. They should offer online options for those that need them, and adjust to pandemic life, but still keep the doors open for the kids and families that need it most. He believes that schools are essential. Disagree? Agree? Regardless, I hope you listen to this one. As educators, we owe it to ourselves to hear all sides, not just the side we agree with. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book Connecting with Students Online by Jennifer Serravallo. This book’s been getting a lot of buzz because finally someone is getting down to the nitty gritty details of effective online teaching during an unprecedented crisis. Jen Serravallo keeps the focus on what teachers do best: build relationships with students that drive learning and progress. And she shows how to do it remotely. She offers 55 streamlined instructional strategies we can use right away. Everything from conferring to small groups to communicating with a child’s parents or caregivers. Like everything Jen writes, Connecting with Students Online is accessible and respectful of teacher’s time. It’s filled with ready-to-use suggestions, and you don’t need a school technologist to implement them. You’ll find something here to help everyone in your classroom grow, even if you can’t be with them in person. Best of all, Jen will donate a portion of the proceeds from this book to organizations that help children directly impacted by COVID-19. If you don’t have Jennifer Serravallo’s Connecting with Students Online, head over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter and find out what you’re missing. Or order yourself a copy. You’ll help yourself, your kids, and children struggling because of this this pandemic.

#190 2021 Resolutions for Teachers Jan 01, 2021

Hello everyone! After the success of the Teach Me, Teacher resolutions for 2020, I knew I had to have a follow-up for this year. And as promised, this is a bonus episode, meaning you will still get the regular scheduled Monday episode in just a few days! In the meantime, let's discuss where our minds should be going into this next year. There are 4 resolutions detailed in this episode, and they are: Be a leader Don’t reinvent the wheel, improve it Play to your strengths, not the limitations and weaknesses of others Listen to people doing your job Thank you for listening to the podcast ALL THROUGHOUT the pandemic, and thank you for starting 2021 with the podcast! Enjoy!

#189 Laugh Away Quarantine with Gerry Dee Dec 28, 2020

Hello everyone! Describing 2020 as BLEAK is an understatement. Thankfully, we have people like Gerry Dee looking to make it a little brighter. Gerry Dee is the star of his sitcom, Mr. D, about a gym teacher going through his experiences as an educator, and all eight of its seasons are now available on Amazon Prime! Gerry joined me on the show to talk about his comedy, how his previous years as a teacher formed his work, and how he attempts to keep his comedy authentic to the real world of teaching. Whether you need a break during the holiday season, or just want to experience a conversation between a current public school teacher (me), and a popular comedian, this is the episode for you. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Risk. Fail. Rise. A Teacher’s Guide to Learning From Mistakes by Colleen Cruz. You’ve likely heard the adage, ‘Everyone makes mistakes.’ But knowing why we make mistakes can help us learn from them and improve situations once we’ve made them. In Risk. Fail. Rise. teachers will learn how to address their own teaching mistakes, model with their own mistake-making, and improve their responses to others’ mistakes. Colleen Cruz shares what research says on mistakes as part of learning and what that means for teaching. If we can create school cultures where we talk honestly about mistakes, then we can grow and create opportunities for children to grow in all the ways they deserve. And we deserve those opportunities too. Risk. Fail. Rise. is available as a book and ebook. Look for the audiobook in early 2021. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#188 Honesty For New Teachers with Maddie Fairchild (pt.2) Dec 21, 2020

Hello everyone! Last week we began talking about what new teachers could expect going into teaching this year, and in this episode, we dive even deeper and hit on some essential truths for ANYONE entering education. Maddie Fairchild, otherwise known as @Fairchildin5th on Instagram, joins me again to speak honestly about the challenges we face today, and ultimately, why it is all worth it. In this episode, we take a tour down what are the realities of teaching during Covid and what that could mean for new teachers. Ultimately, we recognize that this is such a wild time to begin teaching, but if you stick with it, you will be rewarded in so many different ways. If you are a new teacher or need some honest affirmation that THIS IS HARD, then you are in the right place. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Risk. Fail. Rise. A Teacher’s Guide to Learning From Mistakes by Colleen Cruz. You’ve likely heard the adage, ‘Everyone makes mistakes.’ But knowing why we make mistakes can help us learn from them and improve situations once we’ve made them. In Risk. Fail. Rise. teachers will learn how to address their own teaching mistakes, model with their own mistake-making, and improve their responses to others’ mistakes. Colleen Cruz shares what research says on mistakes as part of learning and what that means for teaching. If we can create school cultures where we talk honestly about mistakes, then we can grow and create opportunities for children to grow in all the ways they deserve. And we deserve those opportunities too. Risk. Fail. Rise. is available as a book and ebook. Look for the audiobook in early 2021. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#187 Honesty For New Teachers with Maddie Fairchild (pt.1) Dec 14, 2020

Hello everyone! It's about that time of year when new teachers start requesting episodes that deal with all starting out, and I have been hard at work gather the right people to talk about it with. First up is one of my favorite educators on Instagram, Maddie Fairchild, otherwise known as @Fairchildin5th on Instagram. Maddie is a 5th grade teacher who loves bonding with her students, letting them read, and being honest about the realities of teaching. In this episode, we take a tour down what are the realities of teaching during Covid and what that could mean for new teachers. Ultimately, we recognize that this is such a wild time to begin teaching, but if you stick with it, you will be rewarded in so many different ways. If you are a new teacher or need some honest affirmation that THIS IS HARD, then you are in the right place. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Risk. Fail. Rise. A Teacher’s Guide to Learning From Mistakes by Colleen Cruz. You’ve likely heard the adage, ‘Everyone makes mistakes.’ But knowing why we make mistakes can help us learn from them and improve situations once we’ve made them. In Risk. Fail. Rise. teachers will learn how to address their own teaching mistakes, model with their own mistake-making, and improve their responses to others’ mistakes. Colleen Cruz shares what research says on mistakes as part of learning and what that means for teaching. If we can create school cultures where we talk honestly about mistakes, then we can grow and create opportunities for children to grow in all the ways they deserve. And we deserve those opportunities too. Risk. Fail. Rise. is available as a book and ebook. Look for the audiobook in early 2021. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#186 The Responsive Writing Workshop (Ralph Fletcher pt.2) Dec 07, 2020

Hello everyone! Now more than ever, joy is something we, and our students, need. It seems like every time we turn around, there is more bad news, more terror, and more uncertainty in our world. So why not let the classroom be a joyous place? Why not let kids write for meaning, purpose, and fun, in our classrooms? Last week, we began our talk on the joyous writing workshop, but this week, we are diving into how responding to the readers in front of you is the key to a successful workshop for all involved. Ralph Fletcher has been a mentor to teachers and young writers everywhere. He has helped hundreds of thousands of teachers understand the importance of letting go and trusting their writers. Ralph’s professional books are part of this tradition. His newest book, Focus Lessons, helps teachers use the natural links between writing and photography to enhance their instruction. Another recent title, Joy Write, explores the value of giving students time and autonomy for the playful, low-stakes writing that leads to surprising, high-level growth. Pay attention to THE END of the podcast to find out how you can win a copy of Focus Lessons or Joy Write! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Risk. Fail. Rise. A Teacher’s Guide to Learning From Mistakes by Colleen Cruz. You’ve likely heard the adage, ‘Everyone makes mistakes.’ But knowing why we make mistakes can help us learn from them and improve situations once we’ve made them. In Risk. Fail. Rise. teachers will learn how to address their own teaching mistakes, model with their own mistake-making, and improve their responses to others’ mistakes. Colleen Cruz shares what research says on mistakes as part of learning and what that means for teaching. If we can create school cultures where we talk honestly about mistakes, then we can grow and create opportunities for children to grow in all the ways they deserve. And we deserve those opportunities too. Risk. Fail. Rise. is available as a book and ebook. Look for the audiobook in early 2021. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#185 The Joy of Writing with Ralph Fletcher (pt.1) Nov 30, 2020

Hello everyone! Now more than ever, joy is something we, and our students, need. It seems like every time we turn around, there is more bad news, more terror, and more uncertainty in our world. So why not let the classroom be a joyous place? Why not let kids write for meaning, purpose, and fun, in our classrooms? To tell us that this is not only possible, but necessary, is one of my teaching inspirations Ralph Fletcher. Ralph Fletcher has been a mentor to teachers and young writers everywhere. He has helped hundreds of thousands of teachers understand the importance of letting go and trusting their writers. Ralph's professional books are part of this tradition. His newest book, Focus Lessons, helps teachers use the natural links between writing and photography to enhance their instruction. Another recent title, Joy Write, explores the value of giving students time and autonomy for the playful, low-stakes writing that leads to surprising, high-level growth. Pay attention to THE END of the podcast to find out how you can win a copy of Focus Lessons or Joy Write! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Risk. Fail. Rise. A Teacher’s Guide to Learning From Mistakes by Colleen Cruz. You’ve likely heard the adage, ‘Everyone makes mistakes.’ But knowing why we make mistakes can help us learn from them and improve situations once we’ve made them. In Risk. Fail. Rise. teachers will learn how to address their own teaching mistakes, model with their own mistake-making, and improve their responses to others’ mistakes. Colleen Cruz shares what research says on mistakes as part of learning and what that means for teaching. If we can create school cultures where we talk honestly about mistakes, then we can grow and create opportunities for children to grow in all the ways they deserve. And we deserve those opportunities too. Risk. Fail. Rise. is available as a book and ebook. Look for the audiobook in early 2021. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#184 Empowering Inclusion with Melinda Arnost Nov 23, 2020

Hello everyone! If you have listened to the podcast for a significant amount of time, you have probably heard me talk about how my son is autistic. It has been a journey, for sure, but something that has been helpful along the way has been all of the great educators who have supported him and his needs. With that said, I couldn't be more excited to bring my talk with Melinda Arnost to you. She is the author of the upcoming book, Empowering Inclusion, and a passionate educator. Melinda is exactly the kind of educator we love to have on Teach Me, Teacher: passionate, innovative, and deeply in love with the work it takes to serve all students. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Risk. Fail. Rise. A Teacher’s Guide to Learning From Mistakes by Colleen Cruz. You’ve likely heard the adage, ‘Everyone makes mistakes.’ But knowing why we make mistakes can help us learn from them and improve situations once we’ve made them. In Risk. Fail. Rise. teachers will learn how to address their own teaching mistakes, model with their own mistake-making, and improve their responses to others’ mistakes. Colleen Cruz shares what research says on mistakes as part of learning and what that means for teaching. If we can create school cultures where we talk honestly about mistakes, then we can grow and create opportunities for children to grow in all the ways they deserve. And we deserve those opportunities too. Risk. Fail. Rise. is available as a book and ebook. Look for the audiobook in early 2021. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#183 Teaching Reading and Writing Together (Jen Jones pt.2) Nov 16, 2020

Hello everyone! Coming off the heels of releasing Teach Me, Teachers’ Top 10 Literacy Podcasts, here we are again with what is a 2 part episode destined to be added to the list! If you missed part 1, check it out here. Today I am joined by the Instagram phenomenon and professional development guru, Jen Jones (@hellojenjones), to discuss what young readers and writers really need to be successful in our classes (and out!) In this episode, we discuss and offer tips, practices, and ideas for how to merge teaching reading and writing. We both feel so passionately (and the research shows) that students do better when they are taught both simultaneously. In other words, not as separate acts! Reading fuels writing, writing fuels reading. We must allow this to happen in our classrooms, and Jen brings us along to help us with the why and how on this episode of the podcast. I learned so much from this talk, and I know you will too! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Risk. Fail. Rise. A Teacher’s Guide to Learning From Mistakes by Colleen Cruz. You’ve likely heard the adage, ‘Everyone makes mistakes.’ But knowing why we make mistakes can help us learn from them and improve situations once we’ve made them. In Risk. Fail. Rise. teachers will learn how to address their own teaching mistakes, model with their own mistake-making, and improve their responses to others’ mistakes. Colleen Cruz shares what research says on mistakes as part of learning and what that means for teaching. If we can create school cultures where we talk honestly about mistakes, then we can grow and create opportunities for children to grow in all the ways they deserve. And we deserve those opportunities too. Risk. Fail. Rise. is available as a book and ebook. Look for the audiobook in early 2021. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#182 What Young Readers and Writers Need with Jen Jones (pt.1) Nov 09, 2020

Hello everyone! Coming off the heels of releasing Teach Me, Teachers' Top 10 Literacy Podcasts, here we are again with what will be a 2 part episode destined to be added to the list! Today I am joined by the Instagram phenomenon and professional development guru, Jen Jones (@hellojenjones), to discuss what young readers and writers really need to be successful in our classes (and out!) In this episode, we dive into what meaningful professional development looks like, how American teachers are data rich but information poor, and how authentic reading and writing practices can take your reading-writing workshop to the next level. I learned so much from this talk, and I know you will too! Jen is an educator who believes in the power of reading and writing, and has the practices to teach us to make it happen in our schools. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Risk. Fail. Rise. A Teacher’s Guide to Learning From Mistakes by Colleen Cruz. You’ve likely heard the adage, ‘Everyone makes mistakes.’ But knowing why we make mistakes can help us learn from them and improve situations once we’ve made them. In Risk. Fail. Rise. teachers will learn how to address their own teaching mistakes, model with their own mistake-making, and improve their responses to others’ mistakes. Colleen Cruz shares what research says on mistakes as part of learning and what that means for teaching. If we can create school cultures where we talk honestly about mistakes, then we can grow and create opportunities for children to grow in all the ways they deserve. And we deserve those opportunities too. Risk. Fail. Rise. is available as a book and ebook. Look for the audiobook in early 2021. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#181 Why Do Teachers Get Fired for Asking Questions? (William Reusch pt.2) Nov 02, 2020

Hello everyone! I am so excited for you to hear this episode. Not just because it’s a great talk (and a deep one), but because it is a timely discussion about civil discourse, in a world where we can’t (with good conscience) even allow kids to watch a presidential debate. If you missed part one, grab it here. But if you are here for part two of this fantastic talk, then buckle up—we are getting heavy in this one. When I spoke to Dr. Manuel Rustin on episode #176 of the podcast a few weeks ago, he brought up how teachers have been fired for representing Black Lives Matter in some way. In this continued talk with Will today, he brings up how teachers message him weekly about having a fear of bring fired for questioning or even offering up a different point of view on authors who support critical race theory. So which is it? What are we not allowed to discuss as professionals and academics? Or perhaps a better questions is, why are we being punished at all for having thoughts about the real issues of today? To ask and probe through these questions, I have brought on William Reusch, a history teacher and podcast host in LA. This episode addresses big ideas, and is sure to make you think. I don’t know if we have ever done an episode quite like this one, but I think you will enjoy it! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Risk. Fail. Rise. A Teacher’s Guide to Learning From Mistakes by Colleen Cruz. You’ve likely heard the adage, ‘Everyone makes mistakes.’ But knowing why we make mistakes can help us learn from them and improve situations once we’ve made them. In Risk. Fail. Rise. teachers will learn how to address their own teaching mistakes, model with their own mistake-making, and improve their responses to others’ mistakes. Colleen Cruz shares what research says on mistakes as part of learning and what that means for teaching. If we can create school cultures where we talk honestly about mistakes, then we can grow and create opportunities for children to grow in all the ways they deserve. And we deserve those opportunities too. Risk. Fail. Rise. is available as a book and ebook. Look for the audiobook in early 2021. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#180 Modeling Civil Disagreement with William Reusch (pt.1) Oct 26, 2020

Hello everyone! I am so excited for you to hear this episode. Not just because it's a great talk (and a deep one), but because it is a timely discussion about civil discourse, in a world where we can't (with good conscience) even allow kids to watch a presidential debate. But if we want the future to be better, we must not just teach students how to understand each other (especially when they disagree), but also MODEL what that looks like. To do that, I have brought on William Reusch, a history teacher and podcast host in LA. This episode addresses big idea, and is sure to make you think. I don't know if we have ever done an episode quite like this one, but I think you will enjoy it! If you want more 'big topic' podcasts, check out episodes: #176 #174 #70 #81 This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book Connecting with Students Online by Jennifer Serravallo. This book’s been getting a lot of buzz because finally someone is getting down to the nitty gritty details of effective online teaching during an unprecedented crisis. Jen Serravallo keeps the focus on what teachers do best: build relationships with students that drive learning and progress. And she shows how to do it remotely. She offers 55 streamlined instructional strategies we can use right away. Everything from conferring to small groups to communicating with a child’s parents or caregivers. Like everything Jen writes, Connecting with Students Online is accessible and respectful of teacher’s time. It’s filled with ready-to-use suggestions, and you don’t need a school technologist to implement them. You’ll find something here to help everyone in your classroom grow, even if you can’t be with them in person. Best of all, Jen will donate a portion of the proceeds from this book to organizations that help children directly impacted by COVID-19. If you don’t have Jennifer Serravallo’s Connecting with Students Online, head over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter and find out what you’re missing. Or order yourself a copy. You’ll help yourself, your kids, and children struggling because of this this pandemic.

#179 Is That Program Good For Kids? (Audrey Boklage pt.2) Oct 19, 2020

Hello everyone! In the times of blended learning, distance learning, and just modern learning, technology is everywhere! Sometimes we are equipped to use it correctly, but often, the teachers are left to figure out the best way to use programs and devices in their classrooms on their own. If you missed part 1, you can listen here. To help with this thinking, I have brought on Audrey Boklage, PhD. Audrey’s extensive knowledge and research of the STEM student and educator experience positions her as a guide in curriculum development for MAYA’s client, and as one of MAYA’s resident higher education experts. Her first-hand experiences of teaching in classrooms and designing curriculum has informed her academic lens which is acutely focused on improving the STEM fields of various Texas school districts and within institutions of higher education. In this episode we look at using technology through the RAT model (Replacement, Amplification & Transformation), and analyze which programs might be causing equity issues with out learners (and what to do about it). This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book Connecting with Students Online by Jennifer Serravallo. This book’s been getting a lot of buzz because finally someone is getting down to the nitty gritty details of effective online teaching during an unprecedented crisis. Jen Serravallo keeps the focus on what teachers do best: build relationships with students that drive learning and progress. And she shows how to do it remotely. She offers 55 streamlined instructional strategies we can use right away. Everything from conferring to small groups to communicating with a child’s parents or caregivers. Like everything Jen writes, Connecting with Students Online is accessible and respectful of teacher’s time. It’s filled with ready-to-use suggestions, and you don’t need a school technologist to implement them. You’ll find something here to help everyone in your classroom grow, even if you can’t be with them in person. Best of all, Jen will donate a portion of the proceeds from this book to organizations that help children directly impacted by COVID-19. If you don’t have Jennifer Serravallo’s Connecting with Students Online, head over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter and find out what you’re missing. Or order yourself a copy. You’ll help yourself, your kids, and children struggling because of this this pandemic.

#178 Replacement, Amplification & Transformation with Audrey Boklage (pt.1) Oct 12, 2020

Hello everyone! In the times of blended learning, distance learning, and just modern learning, technology is everywhere! Sometimes we are equipped to use it correctly, but often, the teachers are left to figure out the best way to use programs and devices in their classrooms on their own. To help with this thinking, I have brought on Audrey Boklage, PhD. Audrey’s extensive knowledge and research of the STEM student and educator experience positions her as a guide in curriculum development for MAYA’s client, and as one of MAYA’s resident higher education experts. Her first-hand experiences of teaching in classrooms and designing curriculum has informed her academic lens which is acutely focused on improving the STEM fields of various Texas school districts and within institutions of higher education. In this episode we look at using technology through the RAT model (Replacement, Amplification & Transformation), and ask how we can use technology in a way that fosters equity for all learners. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book Connecting with Students Online by Jennifer Serravallo. This book’s been getting a lot of buzz because finally someone is getting down to the nitty gritty details of effective online teaching during an unprecedented crisis. Jen Serravallo keeps the focus on what teachers do best: build relationships with students that drive learning and progress. And she shows how to do it remotely. She offers 55 streamlined instructional strategies we can use right away. Everything from conferring to small groups to communicating with a child’s parents or caregivers. Like everything Jen writes, Connecting with Students Online is accessible and respectful of teacher’s time. It’s filled with ready-to-use suggestions, and you don’t need a school technologist to implement them. You’ll find something here to help everyone in your classroom grow, even if you can’t be with them in person. Best of all, Jen will donate a portion of the proceeds from this book to organizations that help children directly impacted by COVID-19. If you don’t have Jennifer Serravallo’s Connecting with Students Online, head over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter and find out what you’re missing. Or order yourself a copy. You’ll help yourself, your kids, and children struggling because of this this pandemic.

#177 Changes We Can Make For Black Lives (Dr. Manuel Rustin pt.2) Oct 05, 2020

Hello everyone! Today, we are tackling some big and important topics. We are discussing the lives of our students, the importance of having a curriculum that shows that black lives matter, and asking, what we can do as educators to support black lives in the classroom. To have this discussion, I have brought on an educator who is relatively new in my world, but is quickly becoming one of my top voices I listen to. Dr. Manuel Rustin is a veteran educator currently in his sixteenth year of teaching high school social science in California. A proud believer in the promise of public education, Dr. Rustin has spent all sixteen years of his career teaching marginalized populations in underserved public high schools. He currently teaches United States History, American Government, Economics, and a Hip Hop Studies course that he developed in 2012. Teach Me, Teacher has never shied away from big topics, because I believe they are important to have and to listen to. If we want to improve our world, we must listen, discuss, and most importantly, act on the change we say we want. This is an episode filled with ideas, hope, and needed perspective for ALL educators. You are sure to walk away with ideas you can use today to make meaningful change in you classroom. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book Connecting with Students Online by Jennifer Serravallo. This book’s been getting a lot of buzz because finally someone is getting down to the nitty gritty details of effective online teaching during an unprecedented crisis. Jen Serravallo keeps the focus on what teachers do best: build relationships with students that drive learning and progress. And she shows how to do it remotely. She offers 55 streamlined instructional strategies we can use right away. Everything from conferring to small groups to communicating with a child’s parents or caregivers. Like everything Jen writes, Connecting with Students Online is accessible and respectful of teacher’s time. It’s filled with ready-to-use suggestions, and you don’t need a school technologist to implement them. You’ll find something here to help everyone in your classroom grow, even if you can’t be with them in person. Best of all, Jen will donate a portion of the proceeds from this book to organizations that help children directly impacted by COVID-19. If you don’t have Jennifer Serravallo’s Connecting with Students Online, head over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter and find out what you’re missing. Or order yourself a copy. You’ll help yourself, your kids, and children struggling because of this this pandemic.

#176 Where’s the Change for Black Lives in Education? with Dr. Manuel Rustin (pt.1) Sep 28, 2020

Hello everyone! Today, we are tackling some big and important topics. We are discussing the lives of our students, the importance of having a curriculum that shows that black lives matter, and asking, what happened to the change so often touted by educators in the summer months? To have this discussion, I have brought on an educator who is relatively new in my world, but is quickly becoming one of my top voices I listen to. Dr. Manuel Rustin is a veteran educator currently in his sixteenth year of teaching high school social science in California. A proud believer in the promise of public education, Dr. Rustin has spent all sixteen years of his career teaching marginalized populations in underserved public high schools. He currently teaches United States History, American Government, Economics, and a Hip Hop Studies course that he developed in 2012. Teach Me, Teacher has never shied away from big topics, because I believe they are important to have and to listen to. If we want to improve our world, we must listen, discuss, and most importantly, act on the change we say we want. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, No More Teaching Without Positive Relationships by Jaleel Howard, Tanya Milner-McCall, and Tyrone Howard. Getting to know our students during the year has always been important. But this year is definitely going to throw us all some curveballs. We’ll also get some new opportunities for building connections with our classes. No More Teaching Without Positive Relationships looks at the importance of knowing all our students, being culturally responsive, and protecting kids’ self-esteem. And you also get useful strategies for teaching through those positive relationships as you develop them. So, if you’re looking for support for making your student relationships even stronger, visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from No More Teaching Without Positive Relationships or order your copy.

#175 Education Needs to Work for Our Kids (Susan Barnes pt.2) Sep 21, 2020

Hello everyone! Today, I am bringing you part 2 of one of the most powerful episodes in the history of Teach Me, Teacher, and it is with Ron Clark Academy’s very own, Susan Barnes! If you missed part 1, check it out here. Ms. Susan Barnes has taught language arts, creative writing, and literacy in Brooklyn and Harlem since 1996. She is a gifted staff development trainer, artist, singer and performance poet. Driven by the philosophy that ‘language is art,’ she uses her love of the arts to create language experiences that illustrate how skilled expression conveys, explores and documents the human condition. In this episode, we continue talking about teaching outside the curriculum, but then we dive into how education needs to work for our kids. This means, sometimes, that we have to close our doors and do what's right. This means, sometimes, that we have to be change agents for the sake of the lives of the kids we serve. Her story is inspiring, to say the least, and one that will immediately make you want to rise to the occasion and fight for what is right for our students. Susan has been doing this work for nearly thirty years, and we are all better for listening to her experience and expertise. I can’t express how much I love this talk, and I know you will get so much from it. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, No More Teaching Without Positive Relationships by Jaleel Howard, Tanya Milner-McCall, and Tyrone Howard. Getting to know our students during the year has always been important. But this year is definitely going to throw us all some curveballs. We’ll also get some new opportunities for building connections with our classes. No More Teaching Without Positive Relationships looks at the importance of knowing all our students, being culturally responsive, and protecting kids’ self-esteem. And you also get useful strategies for teaching through those positive relationships as you develop them. So, if you’re looking for support for making your student relationships even stronger, visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from No More Teaching Without Positive Relationships or order your copy.

#174 Teaching Outside the Curriculum with Susan Barnes (pt.1) Sep 14, 2020

Hello everyone! Today, I am bringing you one of the most powerful episodes in the history of Teach Me, Teacher, and it is with Ron Clark Academy's very own, Susan Barnes! Ms. Susan Barnes has taught language arts, creative writing, and literacy in Brooklyn and Harlem since 1996. She is a gifted staff development trainer, artist, singer and performance poet. Driven by the philosophy that ‘language is art,’ she uses her love of the arts to create language experiences that illustrate how skilled expression conveys, explores and documents the human condition. In this episode, we dive into Susan's past, her culture, her heritage, and her teaching career, to discuss why we can't just teach the curriculum. If we want to teach our students and empower their current and future lives, we cannot let outdated and problematic curriculum dictate what students hear about their own race, culture, and history. Her story is inspiring, to say the least, and one that will immediately make you want to rise to the occasion and fight for what is right for our students. Susan has been doing this work for nearly thirty years, and we are all better for listening to her experience and expertise. I can't express how much I love this talk, and I know you will get so much from it. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, No More Teaching Without Positive Relationships by Jaleel Howard, Tanya Milner-McCall, and Tyrone Howard. Getting to know our students during the year has always been important. But this year is definitely going to throw us all some curveballs. We’ll also get some new opportunities for building connections with our classes. No More Teaching Without Positive Relationships looks at the importance of knowing all our students, being culturally responsive, and protecting kids’ self-esteem. And you also get useful strategies for teaching through those positive relationships as you develop them. So, if you’re looking for support for making your student relationships even stronger, visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from No More Teaching Without Positive Relationships or order your copy.

#173 Powerful Literacy Practices During Covid Era Teaching with Jennifer Serravallo (pt.2) Sep 07, 2020

Hello everyone! Welcome to season 5 and part 2 of my talk with Jennifer Serravallo! If you missed part one, check it out here. I love starting every season off with a massive literacy focused episode. Season 2 began with my talk with Donalyn Miller. Season 3 started with my talk with Penny Kittle. Season 4 started with my talk with Kelly Gallagher. And for season 5, I have brought on yet another one of my teaching idols, Jennifer Serravallo, to discuss powerful literacy practices to focus on during covid era teaching! Jennifer Serravallo is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Reading Strategies Book as well as other popular Heinemann professional books: The Writing Strategies Book, Teaching Reading in Small Groups, and The Literacy Teacher’s Playbook, Grades K–2 & Grades 3–6. Her new book, Connecting with Students Online: Strategies for Remote Teaching & Learning is due out very soon! In this talk, we cover: Why the testing obsession in schools needs to end now Why programs that tout "predictability" in student performance needs to be questioned Why poetry writing is a skill we should foster in out classes Why we need to be focused on the kids are their individual needs All of that and MORE part one of this powerful conversation with Jennifer Serravallo. Enjoy! Want more workshop talk? I started a new podcast! It's called Craft & Draft, and I'd love for you to check it out! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, No More Teaching Without Positive Relationships by Jaleel Howard, Tanya Milner-McCall, and Tyrone Howard. Getting to know our students during the year has always been important. But this year is definitely going to throw us all some curveballs. We’ll also get some new opportunities for building connections with our classes. No More Teaching Without Positive Relationships looks at the importance of knowing all our students, being culturally responsive, and protecting kids’ self-esteem. And you also get useful strategies for teaching through those positive relationships as you develop them. So, if you’re looking for support for making your student relationships even stronger, visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from No More Teaching Without Positive Relationships or order your copy.

#172 Powerful Literacy Practices During Covid Era Teaching with Jennifer Serravallo (pt.1) Aug 31, 2020

Hello everyone! Welcome to season 5! I love starting every season off with a massive literacy focused episode. Season 2 began with my talk with Donalyn Miller. Season 3 started with my talk with Penny Kittle. Season 4 started with my talk with Kelly Gallagher. And for season 5, I have brought on yet another one of my teaching idols, Jennifer Serravallo, to discuss powerful literacy practices to focus on during covid era teaching! Jennifer Serravallo is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Reading Strategies Book as well as other popular Heinemann professional books: The Writing Strategies Book, Teaching Reading in Small Groups, and The Literacy Teacher's Playbook, Grades K–2 & Grades 3–6. Her new book, Connecting with Students Online: Strategies for Remote Teaching & Learning is due out very soon! In this talk, we cover: Why Jennifer believes workshop teaching is the best format for a literacy classroom Why digital teaching is tiring Why we should reexamine where our focus is when creating digital lessons Why one on one conferring is THE KEY to a successful and empowering class All of that and MORE part one of this powerful conversation with Jennifer Serravallo. Enjoy! Want more from Teach Me, Teacher? Consider supporting the show on Patreon to get bonus content and other great perks. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, No More Teaching Without Positive Relationships by Jaleel Howard, Tanya Milner-McCall, and Tyrone Howard. Getting to know our students during the year has always been important. But this year is definitely going to throw us all some curveballs. We’ll also get some new opportunities for building connections with our classes. No More Teaching Without Positive Relationships looks at the importance of knowing all our students, being culturally responsive, and protecting kids’ self-esteem. And you also get useful strategies for teaching through those positive relationships as you develop them. So, if you’re looking for support for making your student relationships even stronger, visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from No More Teaching Without Positive Relationships or order your copy.

Breathe — Season 5 Intro! Aug 24, 2020

Hello everyone! It is here! Hard to believe this podcast has been going since 2016, and it's even harder to believe just how many teachers keep finding and supporting the show. So first off, thank you! Without you, this show would not exist the way it does today. Second, welcome to the season 5 intro! If you're new here, I always like to set the tone of a season by offering an intro where I briefly talk about things to come, and offer a pep talk for the coming year. In this episode, I reveal the new theme song for the show (created by me), and talk about my perspective as I head into digital learning and what is sure to be a BONKERS years—good and bad. Come along with me, and enjoy the ride!

SUMMER BLAST FINALE – Out of the Comfort Zone with Kelli Sanders Aug 17, 2020

Hello everyone and welcome to Teach Me, Teacher’s SUMMER BLAST of inspiration! I cannot express how excited, pumped, and inspired I am right now for next year, and I want you to join me and my AMAZING guests in our quest to bring some positivity into the teaching world. And today is the finale of this experiment! I wasn't sure how everyone would react to a two episode a week BLAST, but you all have been listening in record numbers! So first... THANK YOU! And second... Here is my talk with the one and only Kelli Sanders! Kelli was on episode #98 of the podcast where she was helping me learn guided reading, and today she is talking about how she is pushing out of her comfort zone and reaching for new heights in her teaching and professional life! Such a timely episode. So much inspiration to get from this talk! But if you are in need of MORE inspiration, I want to invite you to the Teach Me, Teacher Facebook LIVESTREAM where we celebrate the 1,00,000th download of the podcast, and record the season 5 intro! The livestream will be on 8/22/20 at 9pm CST, so mark your calendar! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann and their book, Classroom management. After decades of teaching, Nancy Steineke passionately believes this much to be true: a collaborative classroom environment is essential for student learning, and for teachers’ well -being. In this guide for every teacher, Nancy makes a powerful argument that we can dramatically reduce the stress of classroom management and improve student achievement when we cultivate classroom communities built on student-centered collaboration. Laying out a plan for collaborative classroom management across a semester or a whole school year, Nancy offers teaching moves and student activities that: build strong relationships between students and teachers, and between each other help students develop, invest in, and uphold positive classroom norms show students the importance and real-life value of soft skills, including what those skills look and sound like in action. Nancy’s strategies can easily be integrated into your classes as you teach required content. “By threading community-building work through your schedule,” Nancy explains, “you show your students that they matter as individuals, and that social skills are intertwined with academic success.” If you’re wasting precious class time addressing classroom management issues and want to foster a more meaningful, productive place to learn, give Nancy’s time-tested moves and activities a try. There’s never been a more important time to create collaborative classroom communities where every student is seen, heard, and believed in. Get it now.

SUMMER BLAST #10 – Small Town Teaching with Haley Curfman Aug 13, 2020

Hello everyone and welcome to Teach Me, Teacher’s SUMMER BLAST of inspiration! I cannot express how excited, pumped, and inspired I am right now for next year, and I want you to join me and my AMAZING guests in our quest to bring some positivity into the teaching world. Today, I am talking with my good friend Haley Curfman, more commonly known as The Weary Teacher, and we hit on a lot in this thirty minutes! We discuss her experience with covid at her school, how small towns are reacting differently to the pandemic than big cities, and how we seem to never get answers to questions when it comes to going back in the fall! If you want to listen to my previous talk with Haley, you can do so here. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann and their book, Classroom management. After decades of teaching, Nancy Steineke passionately believes this much to be true: a collaborative classroom environment is essential for student learning, and for teachers’ well -being. In this guide for every teacher, Nancy makes a powerful argument that we can dramatically reduce the stress of classroom management and improve student achievement when we cultivate classroom communities built on student-centered collaboration. Laying out a plan for collaborative classroom management across a semester or a whole school year, Nancy offers teaching moves and student activities that: build strong relationships between students and teachers, and between each other help students develop, invest in, and uphold positive classroom norms show students the importance and real-life value of soft skills, including what those skills look and sound like in action. Nancy’s strategies can easily be integrated into your classes as you teach required content. “By threading community-building work through your schedule,” Nancy explains, “you show your students that they matter as individuals, and that social skills are intertwined with academic success.” If you’re wasting precious class time addressing classroom management issues and want to foster a more meaningful, productive place to learn, give Nancy’s time-tested moves and activities a try. There’s never been a more important time to create collaborative classroom communities where every student is seen, heard, and believed in. Get it now.

SUMMER BLAST #9 – Change, Passion, and Self-Care with Halee Sikorski Aug 10, 2020

Hello everyone and welcome to Teach Me, Teacher’s SUMMER BLAST of inspiration! I cannot express how excited, pumped, and inspired I am right now for next year, and I want you to join me and my AMAZING guests in our quest to bring some positivity into the teaching world. Today I am talking with my good friend and teacher extraordinaire, Halee Sikorski! In this episode, we discuss: how she is handling changes in her life with moving states, changing schools, and changing grade-levels how she is keeping her passion for teaching alive how she is focusing on self-care ...and much much more! Halee has the most appearances on this podcast for a reason, and this episode is no different! It is filled with honesty, insight, and a few laughs along the way. You can catch Halee on MORE episodes of Teach Me, Teacher too! Halee discusses going from year one to two here and here. We discuss Get Your Teach On here and here. If you love this episode, consider becoming a Patron of the show and get MORE episodes, exclusive to Patreon. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann and their book, Classroom management. After decades of teaching, Nancy Steineke passionately believes this much to be true: a collaborative classroom environment is essential for student learning, and for teachers’ well -being. In this guide for every teacher, Nancy makes a powerful argument that we can dramatically reduce the stress of classroom management and improve student achievement when we cultivate classroom communities built on student-centered collaboration. Laying out a plan for collaborative classroom management across a semester or a whole school year, Nancy offers teaching moves and student activities that: build strong relationships between students and teachers, and between each other help students develop, invest in, and uphold positive classroom norms show students the importance and real-life value of soft skills, including what those skills look and sound like in action. Nancy’s strategies can easily be integrated into your classes as you teach required content. “By threading community-building work through your schedule,” Nancy explains, “you show your students that they matter as individuals, and that social skills are intertwined with academic success.” If you’re wasting precious class time addressing classroom management issues and want to foster a more meaningful, productive place to learn, give Nancy’s time-tested moves and activities a try. There’s never been a more important time to create collaborative classroom communities where every student is seen, heard, and believed in. Get it now.

SUMMER BLAST #8 – Part Two of the Reading Workshop Q&A with Jacob Chastain Aug 06, 2020

Hello everyone and welcome to Teach Me, Teacher’s SUMMER BLAST of inspiration! I cannot express how excited, pumped, and inspired I am right now for next year, and I want you to join me and my AMAZING guests in our quest to bring some positivity into the teaching world. …but like last week, today is a little different. Today, I AM THE GUEST OF THE SHOW! Yes, you read that correctly! A few weeks ago, I received an email from a listener of the podcast who asked me tons of questions about reading and writing workshop. I usually answer these in email, but I had the idea to record a Q&A with her instead, where I let her ask me questions for about TWO HOURS. Luckily, she agreed! In this part of the discussion, we cover: Procedures Conferring My journal system Reading logs Authentic reading practice …plus MUCH MUCH MORE! The full two hour workshop Q&A is LIVE for Patrons of the podcast. If you want the full talk now, it is available on the Patreon page at the $5 tier and up. This includes the two parts you will get on the free podcast feed, and an extra hour of content. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann and their book, Classroom management. After decades of teaching, Nancy Steineke passionately believes this much to be true: a collaborative classroom environment is essential for student learning, and for teachers’ well -being. In this guide for every teacher, Nancy makes a powerful argument that we can dramatically reduce the stress of classroom management and improve student achievement when we cultivate classroom communities built on student-centered collaboration. Laying out a plan for collaborative classroom management across a semester or a whole school year, Nancy offers teaching moves and student activities that: build strong relationships between students and teachers, and between each other help students develop, invest in, and uphold positive classroom norms show students the importance and real-life value of soft skills, including what those skills look and sound like in action. Nancy’s strategies can easily be integrated into your classes as you teach required content. “By threading community-building work through your schedule,” Nancy explains, “you show your students that they matter as individuals, and that social skills are intertwined with academic success.” If you’re wasting precious class time addressing classroom management issues and want to foster a more meaningful, productive place to learn, give Nancy’s time-tested moves and activities a try. There’s never been a more important time to create collaborative classroom communities where every student is seen, heard, and believed in. Get it now.

SUMMER BLAST #7 – Reading Workshop Q&A with Jacob Chastain (pt.1) Aug 03, 2020

Hello everyone and welcome to Teach Me, Teacher’s SUMMER BLAST of inspiration! I cannot express how excited, pumped, and inspired I am right now for next year, and I want you to join me and my AMAZING guests in our quest to bring some positivity into the teaching world. ...but today is a little different. Today, I AM THE GUEST OF THE SHOW! Yes, you read that correctly! A few weeks ago, I received an email from a listener of the podcast who asked me tons of questions about reading and writing workshop. I usually answer these in email, but I had the idea to record a Q&A with her instead, where I let her ask me questions for about TWO HOURS. Luckily, she agreed! In this part of the discussion, we cover: How my workshop is setup Why I moved independent reading from the beginning of the class to the end How I use standards How I approach conferencing and guided reading ...plus MUCH MUCH MORE! The full two hour workshop Q&A will be live for Patrons tomorrow, August 3rd, and the first hour will be split across Monday and Thursday's episodes on the free podcast feed. If you want the full talk now, it is available on the Patreon page at the $5 tier and up. This includes the two parts you will get on the free podcast feed, and an extra hour of content. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann and their book, Classroom management. After decades of teaching, Nancy Steineke passionately believes this much to be true: a collaborative classroom environment is essential for student learning, and for teachers’ well -being. In this guide for every teacher, Nancy makes a powerful argument that we can dramatically reduce the stress of classroom management and improve student achievement when we cultivate classroom communities built on student-centered collaboration. Laying out a plan for collaborative classroom management across a semester or a whole school year, Nancy offers teaching moves and student activities that: build strong relationships between students and teachers, and between each other help students develop, invest in, and uphold positive classroom norms show students the importance and real-life value of soft skills, including what those skills look and sound like in action. Nancy’s strategies can easily be integrated into your classes as you teach required content. “By threading community-building work through your schedule,” Nancy explains, “you show your students that they matter as individuals, and that social skills are intertwined with academic success.” If you’re wasting precious class time addressing classroom management issues and want to foster a more meaningful, productive place to learn, give Nancy’s time-tested moves and activities a try. There’s never been a more important time to create collaborative classroom communities where every student is seen, heard, and believed in. Get it now.

SUMMER BLAST #6 – This Isn’t a Setback with Monica Genta Jul 30, 2020

Hello everyone and welcome to Teach Me, Teacher’s SUMMER BLAST of inspiration! I cannot express how excited, pumped, and inspired I am right now for next year, and I want you to join me and my AMAZING guests in our quest to bring some positivity into the teaching world. Today I have brought on one of the most inspiring people I know, Monica Genta, to explain why distance learning and covid-era teaching is not a setback, but a SETUP for something great. But look... usually next in my posts, I lists all the things we talk about, but I just need you to know one thing about this episode. It is full of inspiration and honesty. We talk about our struggles right now, but we also rise up and imagine what CAN BE if we push for it to happen. Do not miss this episode, especially if you need inspiration right now! Love the podcast? If you want bonus episodes EVERY SINGLE MONTH of the Teach Me, Teacher podcast, or episodes that cater directly to ELA, workshop and SEL, support the show at the $5 tier on Patreon here. You will not regret it! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension by Sara K. Ahmed. Topics such as race, gender, politics, religion, and sexuality are part of students’ lives, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to respond as teachers when these subjects come up at school. You probably have stories of your own about situations or conversations that caught you off guard or made you feel uncomfortable. Being the Change is based on the idea that people can develop skills and habits to help them in the comprehension of social issues. Sara provides clear lessons to help teach about important social comprehension concepts. You can create a socially minded classroom where you explore identity and diversity, build listening skills, understand and address bias, become better informed, and more… first with yourself and your peers, and then with students. Being the Change is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

SUMMER BLAST #5 – What Do We Want Students to Learn? with Marie Morris Jul 27, 2020

Hello everyone and welcome to Teach Me, Teacher’s SUMMER BLAST of inspiration! I cannot express how excited, pumped, and inspired I am right now for next year, and I want you to join me and my AMAZING guests in our quest to bring some positivity into the teaching world. Today I have brought on one of my favorite high school English teachers, Marie Morris, otherwise known as @thecaffinatedclass on Instagram, to discuss everything ENGLISH, but more importantly, what is it that we want students to learn? Just like the previous time Marie came on the podcast, we had a plan in place for the talk, and then quickly scrapped in favor of a genuine discussion on curriculum, resources for teachers, and teaching in the covid era. All of this and MORE on this fantastic episode. Enjoy! Loved this episode, or previous episodes? Now you can support the show and earn cool perks by doing so. Click the big orange box for details. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension by Sara K. Ahmed. Topics such as race, gender, politics, religion, and sexuality are part of students’ lives, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to respond as teachers when these subjects come up at school. You probably have stories of your own about situations or conversations that caught you off guard or made you feel uncomfortable. Being the Change is based on the idea that people can develop skills and habits to help them in the comprehension of social issues. Sara provides clear lessons to help teach about important social comprehension concepts. You can create a socially minded classroom where you explore identity and diversity, build listening skills, understand and address bias, become better informed, and more… first with yourself and your peers, and then with students. Being the Change is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

SUMMER BLAST #4 – Covid Teaching and a Baby on the Way with Haylee Harwick Jul 23, 2020

Hello everyone and welcome to Teach Me, Teacher’s SUMMER BLAST of inspiration! I cannot express how excited, pumped, and inspired I am right now for next year, and I want you to join me and my AMAZING guests in our quest to bring some positivity into the teaching world. Today I am talking with the TECH GURU herself, Haylee Harwick, all about teaching during covid and being due to have her baby in September! In this episode, we chat about: How her year went Some tech tips Creating creative digital lessons Being pregnant and due as the school year starts ...and much more! For more from Haylee, check out my previous episodes with her here. Enjoy! PS: SHARE THIS EPISODE (and tag me) and get entered in to win a copy of THE JOYFUL TEACHER!!! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension by Sara K. Ahmed. Topics such as race, gender, politics, religion, and sexuality are part of students’ lives, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to respond as teachers when these subjects come up at school. You probably have stories of your own about situations or conversations that caught you off guard or made you feel uncomfortable. Being the Change is based on the idea that people can develop skills and habits to help them in the comprehension of social issues. Sara provides clear lessons to help teach about important social comprehension concepts. You can create a socially minded classroom where you explore identity and diversity, build listening skills, understand and address bias, become better informed, and more… first with yourself and your peers, and then with students. Being the Change is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

SUMMER BLAST #3 – Changing Schools During Covid with Brianna Pound Jul 20, 2020

Hello everyone and welcome to Teach Me, Teacher’s SUMMER BLAST of inspiration! I cannot express how excited, pumped, and inspired I am right now for next year, and I want you to join me and my AMAZING guests in our quest to bring some positivity into the teaching world. Today I am talking with one of my favorite people, Brianna Pound (previously Brianna Johnson) about how she has handled covid as a teacher and how she is planning her move to a new campus! Brianna's Instagram is a source of all kinds of inspiration for myself and thousands of educators, and you will laugh with us on this one as we chat it up about teaching, school, and even chickens. Yes. Chickens. …and much much more! You will laugh and think a lot in this one. Nicole is a gift to the world with her kindness and support for the teacher community. Enjoy! PS: SHARE THIS EPISODE (and tag me) and get entered in to win a copy of THE JOYFUL TEACHER!!! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension by Sara K. Ahmed. Topics such as race, gender, politics, religion, and sexuality are part of students’ lives, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to respond as teachers when these subjects come up at school. You probably have stories of your own about situations or conversations that caught you off guard or made you feel uncomfortable. Being the Change is based on the idea that people can develop skills and habits to help them in the comprehension of social issues. Sara provides clear lessons to help teach about important social comprehension concepts. You can create a socially minded classroom where you explore identity and diversity, build listening skills, understand and address bias, become better informed, and more… first with yourself and your peers, and then with students. Being the Change is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

SUMMER BLAST #2 – It’s Time to Reflect with Nicole Marte Jul 16, 2020

Hello everyone and welcome to Teach Me, Teacher’s SUMMER BLAST of inspiration! I cannot express how excited, pumped, and inspired I am right now for next year, and I want you to join me and my AMAZING guests in our quest to bring some positivity into the teaching world. It is my absolute pleasure to bring you one of my favorite people in the world, Nicole Marte, otherwise known as @MarteintheMiddle on Instagram, and today we are having an honest reflection on Nicole's year in middle school. As we reflect with one another, we touch on: Classroom management The good and the bad about being "the cool teacher" Having great lessons What the future holds for Nicole in August ...and much much more! You will laugh and think a lot in this one. Nicole is a gift to the world with her kindness and support for the teacher community. Enjoy! PS: SHARE THIS EPISODE (and tag me) and get entered in to win a copy of THE JOYFUL TEACHER!!! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension by Sara K. Ahmed. Topics such as race, gender, politics, religion, and sexuality are part of students’ lives, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to respond as teachers when these subjects come up at school. You probably have stories of your own about situations or conversations that caught you off guard or made you feel uncomfortable. Being the Change is based on the idea that people can develop skills and habits to help them in the comprehension of social issues. Sara provides clear lessons to help teach about important social comprehension concepts. You can create a socially minded classroom where you explore identity and diversity, build listening skills, understand and address bias, become better informed, and more… first with yourself and your peers, and then with students. Being the Change is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

SUMMER BLAST #1 – The World Has Changed, What Now? with Shane Saeed Jul 13, 2020

Hello everyone and welcome to Teach Me, Teacher's SUMMER BLAST of inspiration! I cannot express how excited, pumped, and inspired I am right now for next year, and I want you to join me and my AMAZING guests in our quest to bring some positivity into the teaching world. Today, I have brought back one of my favorite people on earth, Shane Saeed (@fantasticallyfourth) to discuss how the world has changed, and what this means for her year coming up. Shane was previously featured on episodes 106 and 107 of the podcast where she discussed flexible seating, and today she is discussing the effects of Covid, the need for a more equitable curriculum, and the need to serve our students' social/emotional needs, regardless of if we are digital, in person, or something in between. Shane is one of the top tier teachers of Instagram, combining her eye for style and her grounding in deep, research based pedagogy. If you are in need of something positive or some inspiration, this episode with Shane Saeed and this summer series is for you! And better yet, we are releasing two episodes every week for the rest of the summer! Stay tuned and enjoy! PS: SHARE THIS EPISODE (and tag me) and get entered in to win a copy of THE JOYFUL TEACHER!!! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension by Sara K. Ahmed. Topics such as race, gender, politics, religion, and sexuality are part of students’ lives, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to respond as teachers when these subjects come up at school. You probably have stories of your own about situations or conversations that caught you off guard or made you feel uncomfortable. Being the Change is based on the idea that people can develop skills and habits to help them in the comprehension of social issues. Sara provides clear lessons to help teach about important social comprehension concepts. You can create a socially minded classroom where you explore identity and diversity, build listening skills, understand and address bias, become better informed, and more… first with yourself and your peers, and then with students. Being the Change is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#171 Free Kids to Learn SEASON FINALE! (Jacqueline Stallworth pt.2) Jul 06, 2020

Hello everyone! Welcome to part two of the season finale of Teach Me, Teacher SEASON FOUR! What!? My mind is blown. But not more blown than during my talk with the amazing Jacqueline Stallworth! If you missed part one, check it out here. I first met Jacqueline at an AP training at Texas Christian University, and was blown away by her clear and compassionate message about the literary canon and why we should free kids to read what interests them. In this episode we discuss: Choice reading Using student culture to drive learning Getting students to write better …and much much more! This episode will challenge you to think critically about the bastions of English, and I hope invite you to be a part of even more talks that improve our craft and purpose in the classroom. For more Teach Me, Teacher episodes on building quality literacy lives in our students, check out: Donalyn Miller Penny Kittle Kelly Gallagher Mary Howard Regie Routman Laura Robb This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension by Sara K. Ahmed. Topics such as race, gender, politics, religion, and sexuality are part of students’ lives, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to respond as teachers when these subjects come up at school. You probably have stories of your own about situations or conversations that caught you off guard or made you feel uncomfortable. Being the Change is based on the idea that people can develop skills and habits to help them in the comprehension of social issues. Sara provides clear lessons to help teach about important social comprehension concepts. You can create a socially minded classroom where you explore identity and diversity, build listening skills, understand and address bias, become better informed, and more… first with yourself and your peers, and then with students. Being the Change is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#170 Does the Literary Canon Normalize Whiteness? with Jacqueline Stallworth (pt.1) Jun 29, 2020

Hello everyone! Welcome to part one of the season finale of Teach Me, Teacher SEASON FOUR! What!? My mind is blown. But not more blown than during my talk with the amazing Jacqueline Stallworth! I first met Jacqueline at an AP training at Texas Christian University, and was blown away by her clear and compassionatemessage about the literary canon and why we should consider re-examining it again. It took awhile for our schedules to sync up to get her on the podcast, but we finally did it for the season finale! In this episode we discuss: The purpose of the literary canon Student choice in what they read Personal literary canons And asks if the literary canon normalizes whiteness ...and much much more. This episode will challenge you to think critically about the bastions of English, and I hope invite you to be a part of even more talks that improve our craft and purpose in the classroom. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and by their Reading Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo. I hear about this book all the time from teachers because it’s so accessible and so respectful of teacher’s time. Each page is a different strategy to share directly with a student—little nudges to make whatever skill they’re working become automatic. Jen Serravallo really knows what teachers need. Each strategy includes teaching language, prompts, and visuals you can also share with kids. There’s 300 strategies total, and they’re all organized by important reading goals like comprehension, vocabulary, writing about reading, and more. You’ll find something here to help every reader in your classroom grow. If you don’t have The Reading Strategies Book, head on over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter and find out what you’re missing or order yourself a copy.

#169 How Teachers Can Begin Fixing the System (Dr. Anindya Kundu pt.2) Jun 22, 2020

Hello everyone! Today I have a special episode for you. We are discussing systematic inequality in America, and what teachers SPECIFICALLY can do about it. If you missed part one, check it out here. To help us navigate these complex issues, I have brought on Dr. Anindya Kundu, a sociologist who currently serves as a Senior Fellow at The City University of New York (CUNY). Dr. Kundu brings his sharp insight to the podcast to discuss his unique work on the fallacy of grit, and how just telling people to “work harder” is ignoring one of the biggest factors that plays into a persons ability to succeed—the supports they receive actively or passively. In this talk we: Discuss the unique roles schools play in supporting students How teachers can begin fixing the systems of inequality in their classrooms Explain why the change has to happen now You do not want to miss this vastly important episode. I learned a lot, and you will too. And once you are done listening (or right now), check out Dr. Kundu’s latest book The Power of Student Agency: Looking Beyond Grit to Close the Achievement Gap, due out on July 10th. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and by their Reading Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo. I hear about this book all the time from teachers because it’s so accessible and so respectful of teacher’s time. Each page is a different strategy to share directly with a student—little nudges to make whatever skill they’re working become automatic. Jen Serravallo really knows what teachers need. Each strategy includes teaching language, prompts, and visuals you can also share with kids. There’s 300 strategies total, and they’re all organized by important reading goals like comprehension, vocabulary, writing about reading, and more. You’ll find something here to help every reader in your classroom grow. If you don’t have The Reading Strategies Book, head on over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter and find out what you’re missing or order yourself a copy.

#168 Systematic Inequality with Dr. Anindya Kundu (pt.1) Jun 15, 2020

Hello everyone! Today I have a special episode for you. We are discussing systematic inequality in America, and how it is not only affecting our communities and students, but what teachers SPECIFICALLY can do about it. To help us navigate these complex issues, I have brought on Dr. Anindya Kundu, a sociologist who currently serves as a Senior Fellow at The City University of New York (CUNY). Dr. Kundu brings his sharp insight to the podcast to discuss his unique work on the fallacy of grit, and how just telling people to "work harder" is ignoring one of the biggest factors that plays into a persons ability to succeed—the supports they receive actively or passively. In this talk we: Define systematic inequality and grit Examine underlying systems that fail students who struggle Begin unpacking the unique role teachers can play in fixing the issues plaguing our schools and communities You do not want to miss this vastly important episode. I learned a lot, and you will too. And once you are done listening (or right now), check out Dr. Kundu's latest book The Power of Student Agency: Looking Beyond Grit to Close the Achievement Gap, due out on July 10th. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and by their Reading Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo. I hear about this book all the time from teachers because it’s so accessible and so respectful of teacher’s time. Each page is a different strategy to share directly with a student—little nudges to make whatever skill they’re working become automatic. Jen Serravallo really knows what teachers need. Each strategy includes teaching language, prompts, and visuals you can also share with kids. There’s 300 strategies total, and they’re all organized by important reading goals like comprehension, vocabulary, writing about reading, and more. You’ll find something here to help every reader in your classroom grow. If you don’t have The Reading Strategies Book, head on over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter and find out what you’re missing or order yourself a copy.

#167 Reflective Readers with Travis Crowder (pt.2) Jun 08, 2020

Hello everyone! In light of the tragedies facing the world and America today, I found it timely to bring this talk to teachers. I don’t believe there has ever been a time in modern history when our students need to be doing what matters most—exploring their thoughts and reflecting on the ideas, experiences, and lives of others. With the murder of George Floyd giving rise to Black Lives Matter protests across the globe, and an unprecedented pandemic changing everything about modern life, we need to become better teachers NOW. To help give us the tools to empower students in such a way, I brought on my friend Travis Crowder to discuss his approach to reading workshop, and more specifically, his use of journals as tools for student reflection. If you missed part one, check it out here. If you’ve ever struggled with keeping a journal or binder neat (or useful), or wondered if there was a better way to get kids invested in their reading, this is the podcast for you. Travis Crowder is the co-author of Sparks in the Dark, and his latest book, Reflective Readers is out now (and it is FANTASTIC.) This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and by their Reading Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo. I hear about this book all the time from teachers because it’s so accessible and so respectful of teacher’s time. Each page is a different strategy to share directly with a student—little nudges to make whatever skill they’re working become automatic. Jen Serravallo really knows what teachers need. Each strategy includes teaching language, prompts, and visuals you can also share with kids. There’s 300 strategies total, and they’re all organized by important reading goals like comprehension, vocabulary, writing about reading, and more. You’ll find something here to help every reader in your classroom grow. If you don’t have The Reading Strategies Book, head on over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter and find out what you’re missing or order yourself a copy.

#166 Reflective Readers with Travis Crowder (pt.1) Jun 01, 2020

Hello everyone! In light of the tragedies facing the world and America today, I found it timely to bring this talk to teachers. I don't believe there has ever been a time in modern history when our students need to be doing what matters most—exploring their thoughts and reflecting on the ideas, experiences, and lives of others. To help give us the tools to empower students in such a way, I brought on my friend Travis Crowder to discuss his approach to reading workshop, and more specifically, his use of journals as tools for student reflection. If you've ever struggled with keeping a journal or binder neat (or useful), or wondered if there was a better way to get kids invested in their reading, this is the podcast for you. Travis Crowder is the co-author of Sparks in the Dark, and his latest book, Reflective Readers is out now (and it is FANTASTIC.) This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and by their Reading Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo. I hear about this book all the time from teachers because it’s so accessible and so respectful of teacher’s time. Each page is a different strategy to share directly with a student—little nudges to make whatever skill they’re working become automatic. Jen Serravallo really knows what teachers need. Each strategy includes teaching language, prompts, and visuals you can also share with kids. There’s 300 strategies total, and they’re all organized by important reading goals like comprehension, vocabulary, writing about reading, and more. You’ll find something here to help every reader in your classroom grow. If you don’t have The Reading Strategies Book, head on over to Heinemann.com to read a sample chapter and find out what you’re missing or order yourself a copy.

#165 Beyond Grades, Rewards, and Standardized Testing with Alfie Kohn May 25, 2020

Hello everyone! Today, I am releasing what I believe is the most important podcast in the history of the show. Not only is it filled with honest and real world talk, it is filled with research based advice and insight from one of the premier thinkers on education today. In this episode, I sit down with Alfie Kohn and discuss a range of topics, such as why grading hurts more than it helps, why rewards do more harm than good, and why the testing obsession leads to bad teaching. I consider these the three pillars of what holds up an outdated educational model, and Alfie Kohn is the main reason for that perspective. Without a doubt, Alfie has influenced my teaching in such fundamental ways, and I know his thinking, research, and expertise will encourage you to question some of the norms of our educational climate. Alfie Kohn writes and speaks widely on human behavior, education, and parenting. The most recent of his 14 books are SCHOOLING BEYOND MEASURE…And Other Unorthodox Essays About Education (2015) and THE MYTH OF THE SPOILED CHILD: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom About Children and Parenting (2014). Of his earlier titles, the best known are PUNISHED BY REWARDS (1993), NO CONTEST: The Case Against Competition (1986), UNCONDITIONAL PARENTING (2005), and THE SCHOOLS OUR CHILDREN DESERVE (1999). This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators. Heinemann knows that teachers make the difference every day for their students. That’s why they’re celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week for the entire month of May with a special discount. From now until May 31 , you can receive a special discount and free shipping on every Heinemann professional book and other select resources. Just use the coupon code MAYEDU during online checkout at Heinemann.com to receive this discount. There are some restrictions, so make sure you visit Heinemann.com or the Heinemann blog for all of the details. From everyone at Heinemann, thank you educators for everything you do.

#164 The Coffee Shop Mega Lesson with Lisa Toebben May 18, 2020

Hello everyone! There are a lot of great ideas out in the world. Many of them are fantastic projects, experiences, or just ideas on how to spice up a lesson in your class. Some of those are MEGA LESSONS—lessons that take student interest to heart and provides authentic learning experiences for EVERYONE involved, and that's exactly what I wanted to talk about on today's episode of Teach Me, Teacher! To do so, I have brought on Lisa Toebben, a high school special education teacher, who has created an amazing authentic experience for her students. I don't want to spoil it too much here, but it's a business learning experience unlike any other! YOU HAVE TO HEAR ABOUT THIS. I loved talking with Lisa about this lesson (and a lot more) because it's these lessons that students remember the most. The ones that are useful and involve the whole child in the learning. You are sure to get some ideas and positive vibes from this one! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators. Heinemann knows that teachers make the difference every day for their students. That’s why they’re celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week for the entire month of May with a special discount. From now until May 31 , you can receive a special discount and free shipping on every Heinemann professional book and other select resources. Just use the coupon code MAYEDU during online checkout at Heinemann.com to receive this discount. There are some restrictions, so make sure you visit Heinemann.com or the Heinemann blog for all of the details. From everyone at Heinemann, thank you educators for everything you do.

#163 Teachers Deserve It (Adam Welcome pt.2) May 11, 2020

Hello everyone! Last week, I talked with Adam Welcome about what it takes to lead in today's environment, and today we pivot the discussion a bit and discuss what teachers deserve, and how we should all raise our voices to tell the story of REAL education. Adam has been an elementary school teacher, Elementary Principal, Director of Innovation for a district with 35,000 students and enjoys pushing the envelope to always do what’s best for kids! Adam was Principal of the Year for his region, a 20 To Watch for the National School Board Association, guest blogger for EdWeek, NAESP magazine, and many other publications. Adam also consults and works with many education companies as a way to improve their product for others! In this episode, we discuss: Teachers Deserve It Motivation Burnout Raising our voices …and a WHOLE LOT MORE! Inspiration ABOUND in this one. You do NOT want to miss it. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators. Heinemann knows that teachers make the difference every day for their students. That’s why they’re celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week for the entire month of May with a special discount. From now until May 31 , you can receive a special discount and free shipping on every Heinemann professional book and other select resources. Just use the coupon code MAYEDU during online checkout at Heinemann.com to receive this discount. There are some restrictions, so make sure you visit Heinemann.com or the Heinemann blog for all of the details. From everyone at Heinemann, thank you educators for everything you do.

#162 What it Takes to Lead with Adam Welcome (pt.1) May 04, 2020

Hello everyone! During times of uncertainty, turmoil, and change, leadership is needed more than ever. To discuss what it takes to lead a school, I brought on Adam Welcome, one of the premier leaders of our current educational world. Adam has been an elementary school teacher, Elementary Principal, Director of Innovation for a district with 35,000 students and enjoys pushing the envelope to always do what's best for kids! Adam was Principal of the Year for his region, a 20 To Watch for the National School Board Association, guest blogger for EdWeek, NAESP magazine, and many other publications. Adam also consults and works with many education companies as a way to improve their product for others! In this episode, we discuss: Perspective during Covid-19 Doing what's hard Motivation Principal and teacher burnout Not wasting time on pointless tasks ...and a WHOLE LOT MORE! Inspiration ABOUND in this one. You do NOT want to miss it. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators. Heinemann knows that teachers make the difference every day for their students. That’s why they’re celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week for the entire month of May with a special discount. From now until May 31 , you can receive a special discount and free shipping on every Heinemann professional book and other select resources. Just use the coupon code MAYEDU during online checkout at Heinemann.com to receive this discount. There are some restrictions, so make sure you visit Heinemann.com or the Heinemann blog for all of the details. From everyone at Heinemann, thank you educators for everything you do.

#161 Grace Over Grades (Ashley Granados pt.2) Apr 27, 2020

Hello everyone! In this episode, I am continuing on delivering my promise to talk special education on the podcast with Ashley Granados, but in part two we dive into what serving our students looks like during remote learning. In this episode, we discuss what's really important right now with school, why compassion is needed now more than ever, and why it's ok to admit this all kind of suck (but there aren right sides!) Ashley’s insight into the lives of special needs students, what they need, and how schools are succeeding (and failing) at being advocated for them, is top tier. Plus, she’s just great to listen to. If you want to learn how to better advocate for kids (as a parent or teacher), feel vindicated in your frustrations with the system, or just listen to two teachers talk passionately about the craft of teaching, this episode is for you! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators. Obviously, this is a challenging time for every educator. Your taking care of yourself and your family, you’re thinking about friends and loved ones you can’t see in person. And you’re also adapting to trying to teach and care for your students virtually. Heinemann and their authors are providing free resources to support remote learning during this time. This page is being updated daily. So just go to Hein.pub/RemoteLearning to find all of the remote learning resources that are available for you to access for free.

#160 Advocating for Children with Special Needs with Ashley Granados (pt.1) Apr 20, 2020

Hello everyone! I have FINALLY delivered on my promise to talk about special education, and to do so, I brought on one of my FAVORITE special needs teachers, Ashley Granados. Ashley's insight into the lives of special needs students, what they need, and how schools are succeeding (and failing) at being advocated for them, is top tier. Plus, she's just great to listen to. If you want to learn how to better advocate for kids (as a parent or teacher), feel vindicated in your frustrations with the system, or just listen to two teachers talk passionately about the craft of teaching, this episode is for you! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators. Obviously, this is a challenging time for every educator. Your taking care of yourself and your family, you’re thinking about friends and loved ones you can’t see in person. And you’re also adapting to trying to teach and care for your students virtually. Heinemann and their authors are providing free resources to support remote learning during this time. This page is being updated daily. So just go to Hein.pub/RemoteLearning to find all of the remote learning resources that are available for you to access for free.

#159 Possibilities Over Proscriptions (Martin Brandt pt.2) Apr 13, 2020

Hello everyone! I hope all is well with you, and you're ready to discuss writing instruction! I have brought on one of my favorite educators in the literacy space, Martin Brandt, to discuss his book Between the Commas, and how to use writing instruction that WORKS! Last week, we discussed: That writing is more than just responses to questions and essays How to achieve sentence focus The power of writing instruction that frees students from artificial constraints And this week, we go deeper into the teaching of writing, specifically, we discuss how to evolve our approach from proscriptions to possibilities! You do NOT WANT TO MISS THIS ONE. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators. Obviously, this is a challenging time for every educator. Your taking care of yourself and your family, you’re thinking about friends and loved ones you can’t see in person. And you’re also adapting to trying to teach and care for your students virtually. Heinemann and their authors are providing free resources to support remote learning during this time. This page is being updated daily. So just go to Hein.pub/RemoteLearning to find all of the remote learning resources that are available for you to access for free.

#158 Between the Commas with Martin Brandt (pt.1) Apr 06, 2020

Hello everyone! I hope you are ready for some AMAZING content today, because I have brought on one of my favorite educators in the literacy space, Martin Brandt, to discuss his book Between the Commas, and how to use writing instruction that WORKS! In this talk, we discuss: That writing is more than just responses to questions and essays How to achieve sentence focus The power of writing instruction that frees students from artificial constraints ...and much more! I don't know about you, but I am a bit over everything in teacher land being about "the virus." For this episode, I just wanted a pure talk about teaching writing. And that's what it is! Enjoy! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators. Obviously, this is a challenging time for every educator. Your taking care of yourself and your family, you’re thinking about friends and loved ones you can’t see in person. And you’re also adapting to trying to teach and care for your students virtually. Heinemann and their authors are providing free resources to support remote learning during this time. This page is being updated daily. So just go to Hein.pub/RemoteLearning to find all of the remote learning resources that are available for you to access for free.

#157 Teaching Under Quarantine LIVE! Mar 30, 2020

Hello everyone! Last week, I recorded the first ever LIVE episode of Teach Me, Teacher! I gave away books, interacted with the audience, and talked about teaching while under quarantine. The live audience seemed to really enjoy coming together and being a part of the show, so I hope you enjoy this as a podcast. In this episode, you'll hear a lot about my perspective on how to approach certain aspects of teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic, and advice on how to think about our challenges we are facing as teachers and parents. If you missed this episode live, make sure to follow Teach Me, Teacher on Facebook. Twitter, and Instagram to get the announcement on the NEXT live episode (coming soon)! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Between the Commas: Sentence Instruction That Builds Confident Writers (and Writing Teachers) by Martin Brandt. A veteran English teacher at San Jose Independence high school, Marty Brandt was flat-out frustrated with the quality of his students’ writing, and doubting himself as a writing teacher. Realizing that part of the problem was the traditional, painful methods of grammar and sentence instruction he was using, Marty set out to reinvent writing in his classroom. Between the Commas shares the novel approach to grammar and sentence instruction he created for the students in front of him. Marty’s laugh-out-loud sense of humor and live-from-the trenches stories will engross you in one teacher’s journey out of the duldrums of old school grammar instruction and into the light of what’s possible as a writing teacher. To learn more, visit Heinemann.com to download a sample chapter.

#156 The Best Teacher PD Is … (Kevin Butler pt.2) Mar 23, 2020

Hello everyone! I am SO EXCITED about this week. Why? Because even in the face of great adversity, there are so many districts pushing to keep learning going, and so many teachers working to create a temporary "new normal" for their students. Hopefully, this episode keeps you inspired and keeps you pushing to be your best—and it should, because we are talking about what the best teacher professional development is! Wait, you don't know? And you think I'm going to spoil it in this post? NOPE! I want you to dive in and enjoy the talk. Let us know if you agree on Twitter, Instagram, or even in down below in the comments! If you missed last week's episode and the first part of my talk with Kevin Butler, go check it out! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Between the Commas: Sentence Instruction That Builds Confident Writers (and Writing Teachers) by Martin Brandt. A veteran English teacher at San Jose Independence high school, Marty Brandt was flat-out frustrated with the quality of his students’ writing, and doubting himself as a writing teacher. Realizing that part of the problem was the traditional, painful methods of grammar and sentence instruction he was using, Marty set out to reinvent writing in his classroom. Between the Commas shares the novel approach to grammar and sentence instruction he created for the students in front of him. Marty’s laugh-out-loud sense of humor and live-from-the trenches stories will engross you in one teacher’s journey out of the duldrums of old school grammar instruction and into the light of what’s possible as a writing teacher. To learn more, visit Heinemann.com to download a sample chapter.

#155 Why Can’t Public Schools Look Like That? with Kevin Butler (pt.1) Mar 16, 2020

Hello everyone! Today we are asking the question, Why Can't Public Schools Look Like That? with none other than the great Kevin Butler! If you don't know who Kevin is, you are missing out, because he is a wealth of inspiration for what schools CAN BE. In his work at an independent school, he continuously models ideas, lessons, and teaching practices, that are next level and completely inspiring. If you believe teaching is boring or feel like you are being limited by "the system," then this episode is for you! In this talk we touch on: His many roles as a teacher and director of curriculum What inspires us to push the boundaries of what teaching can be Why scripted curriculums are the bane of teaching How to overcome limitations put on you as a teacher And much more! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Between the Commas: Sentence Instruction That Builds Confident Writers (and Writing Teachers) by Martin Brandt. A veteran English teacher at San Jose Independence high school, Marty Brandt was flat-out frustrated with the quality of his students’ writing, and doubting himself as a writing teacher. Realizing that part of the problem was the traditional, painful methods of grammar and sentence instruction he was using, Marty set out to reinvent writing in his classroom. Between the Commas shares the novel approach to grammar and sentence instruction he created for the students in front of him. Marty’s laugh-out-loud sense of humor and live-from-the trenches stories will engross you in one teacher’s journey out of the duldrums of old school grammar instruction and into the light of what’s possible as a writing teacher. To learn more, visit Heinemann.com to download a sample chapter.

#154 Morning Meeting Crash Course (Megan Siclare pt.2) Mar 09, 2020

Hello everyone! I teased the "morning meeting" discussion last week, and it is here this week! If you want to spice yours up, learn what they are, or just listen to a great talk, this episode is for you! You might know Megan as @sparkles_and_pompoms on Instagram, where she is always smiling, dressing up as characters, or transforming her room into something amazing. In this episode, we talk about: What are morning meetings What book you should get to learn about them How to spice them up How to use content in your morning meetings And much more! I love this talk so much, and I know you’ll get so much out of listening to Megan’s advice. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Between the Commas: Sentence Instruction That Builds Confident Writers (and Writing Teachers) by Martin Brandt. A veteran English teacher at San Jose Independence high school, Marty Brandt was flat-out frustrated with the quality of his students’ writing, and doubting himself as a writing teacher. Realizing that part of the problem was the traditional, painful methods of grammar and sentence instruction he was using, Marty set out to reinvent writing in his classroom. Between the Commas shares the novel approach to grammar and sentence instruction he created for the students in front of him. Marty’s laugh-out-loud sense of humor and live-from-the trenches stories will engross you in one teacher’s journey out of the duldrums of old school grammar instruction and into the light of what’s possible as a writing teacher. To learn more, visit Heinemann.com to download a sample chapter.

#153 Try Something New with Megan Siclare (pt.1) Mar 02, 2020

Hello everyone! It is that time of year when everything can start feeling...dull. I mean, with testing, meetings, and everything else that pops up in February and March, our classes can start to feel a little less than exciting. But does it have to be that way? Not if Megan Siclare has anything to say about it! You might know Megan as @sparkles_and_pompoms on Instagram, where she is always smiling, dressing up as characters, or transforming her room into something amazing. (You might also know her as the "morning meetings queen," though you'll have to wait for part 2 of our talk for that genius advice!) Regardless! Today we are talking about trying something new in the classroom. Where do the ideas come from? What does it take? What does it cost? How do you overcome the fear of failure? And much more! I love this talk so much, and I know you'll get so much out of listening to Megan's advice. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Between the Commas: Sentence Instruction That Builds Confident Writers (and Writing Teachers) by Martin Brandt. A veteran English teacher at San Jose Independence high school, Marty Brandt was flat-out frustrated with the quality of his students’ writing, and doubting himself as a writing teacher. Realizing that part of the problem was the traditional, painful methods of grammar and sentence instruction he was using, Marty set out to reinvent writing in his classroom. Between the Commas shares the novel approach to grammar and sentence instruction he created for the students in front of him. Marty’s laugh-out-loud sense of humor and live-from-the trenches stories will engross you in one teacher’s journey out of the duldrums of old school grammar instruction and into the light of what’s possible as a writing teacher. To learn more, visit Heinemann.com to download a sample chapter.

#152 Next Level Teaching (Jonathan Alsheimer pt.2) Feb 24, 2020

Hello everyone! Today, I am continuing my talk with Jonathan Alsheimer, and his view on what NEXT LEVEL TEACHING is all about. This episode is filled with ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and stories that are guaranteed to get you fired up to do the work you do, and to reach to new levels in your classroom. Jonathan is hands down one of the educators to pay attention to in 2020 (and beyond). He is the unorthodox, energetic, and entertaining middle school teacher who refuses to live a life of limitations and works with UFC Fighters, Celebrities, and Clothing Brands. Jonathan is the author of “NEXT LEVEL TEACHING” soon to be released. You might also know Jonathan through his work and connection with the fantastic Hamish Brewer, and Fred Lynn Middle School. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension by Sara K. Ahmed. Topics such as race, gender, politics, religion, and sexuality are part of students’ lives, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to respond as teachers when these subjects come up at school. You probably have stories of your own about situations or conversations that caught you off guard or made you feel uncomfortable. Being the Change is based on the idea that people can develop skills and habits to help them in the comprehension of social issues. Sara provides clear lessons to help teach about important social comprehension concepts. You can create a socially minded classroom where you explore identity and diversity, build listening skills, understand and address bias, become better informed, and more… first with yourself and your peers, and then with students. Being the Change is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#151 Pure Inspiration with Jonathan Alsheimer (pt.1) Feb 17, 2020

Hello everyone! Today, we are going all out with PURE INSPIRATION for you with my friend Jonathan Alsheimer. Every bit of this episode is filled with ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and stories that are guaranteed to get you fired up to do the work you do. Jonathan is hands down one of the educators to pay attention to in 2020 (and beyond). He is the unorthodox, energetic, and entertaining middle school teacher who refuses to live a life of limitations and works with UFC Fighters, Celebrities, and Clothing Brands. Jonathan is the author of "NEXT LEVEL TEACHING" soon to be released. You might also know Jonathan through his work and connection with the fantastic Hamish Brewer, and Fred Lynn Middle School. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension by Sara K. Ahmed. Topics such as race, gender, politics, religion, and sexuality are part of students’ lives, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to respond as teachers when these subjects come up at school. You probably have stories of your own about situations or conversations that caught you off guard or made you feel uncomfortable. Being the Change is based on the idea that people can develop skills and habits to help them in the comprehension of social issues. Sara provides clear lessons to help teach about important social comprehension concepts. You can create a socially minded classroom where you explore identity and diversity, build listening skills, understand and address bias, become better informed, and more… first with yourself and your peers, and then with students. Being the Change is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#150 Scaffolding Isn’t Spoon-Feeding (Jenn Kleiber pt.2) Feb 10, 2020

Hello everyone! Today we are continuing our talk with the fantastic Jenn Kleiber about culturally responsive teaching, but we are diving DEEP into practices, professional learning, and even how to set and manage goals for students to learn and grow. Jenn Kleiber, is the author of Building a Bridge From “I Can’t” to “I DID!”: Creating Independent Learners Through Culturally Responsive Teaching, and speaks with such authenticity that it's hard not get inspired to work ever harder at what we do after listening to this talk. Jenn has so much to offer from her experience working with students of all backgrounds, and she enriches our practices in this podcast. In this talk, we hit on: How to not scaffold so much we are spoon-feeding Where to start with planning our teaching Why my teaching might look different than yours The importance of knowing and respecting our craft as a teacher Why giving everything pre-planned to a new teacher is the wrong thing to do This is a FANTASTIC talk, and is sure to illuminate some ideas and concepts for you to better serve your students! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension by Sara K. Ahmed. Topics such as race, gender, politics, religion, and sexuality are part of students’ lives, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to respond as teachers when these subjects come up at school. You probably have stories of your own about situations or conversations that caught you off guard or made you feel uncomfortable. Being the Change is based on the idea that people can develop skills and habits to help them in the comprehension of social issues. Sara provides clear lessons to help teach about important social comprehension concepts. You can create a socially minded classroom where you explore identity and diversity, build listening skills, understand and address bias, become better informed, and more… first with yourself and your peers, and then with students. Being the Change is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#149 Culturally Responsive Teaching with Jenn Kleiber (pt.1) Feb 03, 2020

Hello everyone! If you have been in teaching for a little while, you have probably heard the term "culturally responsive teaching," at least a dozen times. If you're like me, you probably leave trainings on the matter more confused than before. Because of this, I brought on one of my favorite people and colleagues, Jenn Kleiber, author of Building a Bridge From “I Can’t” to “I DID!”: Creating Independent Learners Through Culturally Responsive Teaching. Jenn has so much to offer from her experience working with students of all backgrounds, and she enriches our practices in this podcast. In this talk, we hit on several pieces of culturally responsive teaching, such as: What is culturally responsive teaching Why some people might be resistant to it What does it look like in the classroom Why deep culture matters This is a FANTASTIC talk, and is sure to illuminate some ideas and concepts for you to better serve your students. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension by Sara K. Ahmed. Topics such as race, gender, politics, religion, and sexuality are part of students’ lives, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to respond as teachers when these subjects come up at school. You probably have stories of your own about situations or conversations that caught you off guard or made you feel uncomfortable. Being the Change is based on the idea that people can develop skills and habits to help them in the comprehension of social issues. Sara provides clear lessons to help teach about important social comprehension concepts. You can create a socially minded classroom where you explore identity and diversity, build listening skills, understand and address bias, become better informed, and more… first with yourself and your peers, and then with students. Being the Change is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.

#148 End the Teacher Bashing (Chris Pombonyo pt.2) Jan 27, 2020

Hello everyone! Today, I am continuing my talk with Chris Pombonyo, and it is FILLED with ideas, inspiration, and perspective on why we should all stop bashing teachers for doing their jobs their way, when their way is working for them and their students. Other topics we discuss: Why watching other teachers teach is a practice we should all incorporate. Why counting down the days for break in front of students and the general public might be doing more harm than good. Why we should support each other. Apparently, Chris and I are related... ...wait what? Well, you'll have to listen to find out what's up! If you missed part one: Chris is a teacher, coach, the creative director of Get Your Teach On, and all around ball of inspiration. His dedication to his craft, and his drive to help teachers embrace their passions is phenomenal. This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, 180 Days: Two Teachers and the Quest to Engage and Empower Adolescents by Kelly Gallagher and Penny Kittle. 180 Days was inspired by a teacher’s question: “How do you fit it all in?” To answer that question, Kelly and Penny spent an entire school year planning, teaching, and reflecting together. Through their collaboration, they identified the most essential everyday practices for helping middle and high school students become more engaged readers and writers. 180 Days maps out a year of the most powerful, engaging literacy practices. It provides insights about time management, teaching strategies, and how to effectively use both whole class and independent work. You’ll also find a library of accompanying videos that support each chapter. So, if you want to make every moment matter in your classroom, and empower your students to live more literate lives, visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from 180 Days or order your copy.

#147 Let’s Be Awesome Together with Chris Pombonyo (pt.1) Jan 20, 2020

Hello everyone! I hope you're ready for an energy filled inspirational episode, because today Chris Pombonyo is on the podcast! Chris is a teacher, coach, the creative director of Get Your Teach On, and all around ball of inspiration. His dedication to his craft, and his drive to help teachers embrace their passions is phenomenal. In this episode, we discuss: Why doing so many different things inspires Chris How embracing what makes us happy as teachers will make students happy No teacher needs to look the same The power of working together to create something great and MUCH MORE! (including our opinions on coffee and fitness...) Enjoy! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, 180 Days: Two Teachers and the Quest to Engage and Empower Adolescents by Kelly Gallagher and Penny Kittle. 180 Days was inspired by a teacher’s question: “How do you fit it all in?” To answer that question, Kelly and Penny spent an entire school year planning, teaching, and reflecting together. Through their collaboration, they identified the most essential everyday practices for helping middle and high school students become more engaged readers and writers. 180 Days maps out a year of the most powerful, engaging literacy practices. It provides insights about time management, teaching strategies, and how to effectively use both whole class and independent work. You’ll also find a library of accompanying videos that support each chapter. So, if you want to make every moment matter in your classroom, and empower your students to live more literate lives, visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from 180 Days or order your copy.

#146 Reading Workshop, Ron Clark Academy Style, with Korey Collins (pt.2) Jan 13, 2020

Hello everyone! Last week, I sat down with the amazing Korey Collins and talked all about graphic novels, test prep, and the limits of BASAL reading programs. This week, I continue my talk with him and dive even deeper into what reading workshop looks like at the Ron Clark Academy! Korey Collins is a certified reading specialist and reading teacher at the Ron Clark Academy, and he brings the inspiration and heat for our discussion today. In this episode, we cover: Korey’s typical class and his view on engagement in a reading classroom The power of conferencing with readers The power of choice in reading Why teachers should want to be master's of their craft …and MUCH MUCH MORE! You do NOT want to miss this episode! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, 180 Days: Two Teachers and the Quest to Engage and Empower Adolescents by Kelly Gallagher and Penny Kittle. 180 Days was inspired by a teacher’s question: “How do you fit it all in?” To answer that question, Kelly and Penny spent an entire school year planning, teaching, and reflecting together. Through their collaboration, they identified the most essential everyday practices for helping middle and high school students become more engaged readers and writers. 180 Days maps out a year of the most powerful, engaging literacy practices. It provides insights about time management, teaching strategies, and how to effectively use both whole class and independent work. You’ll also find a library of accompanying videos that support each chapter. So, if you want to make every moment matter in your classroom, and empower your students to live more literate lives, visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from 180 Days or order your copy.

#145 Reading Workshop, Ron Clark Academy Style, with Korey Collins (pt.1) Jan 06, 2020

Hello everyone! You all know that I love talking reading workshop and Ron Clark Academy, and for this episode I got to do both! Korey Collins is a certified reading specialist and reading teacher at the Ron Clark Academy, and he brings the inspiration and heat for our discussion today. In this episode, we cover: Korey's evolution as a teacher How test prep is NOT backed by research Why BASAL reading programs were never meant to be the core reading in classes The power of graphic novels ...and MUCH MUCH MORE! You do NOT want to miss this episode! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, 180 Days: Two Teachers and the Quest to Engage and Empower Adolescents by Kelly Gallagher and Penny Kittle. 180 Days was inspired by a teacher’s question: “How do you fit it all in?” To answer that question, Kelly and Penny spent an entire school year planning, teaching, and reflecting together. Through their collaboration, they identified the most essential everyday practices for helping middle and high school students become more engaged readers and writers. 180 Days maps out a year of the most powerful, engaging literacy practices. It provides insights about time management, teaching strategies, and how to effectively use both whole class and independent work. You’ll also find a library of accompanying videos that support each chapter. So, if you want to make every moment matter in your classroom, and empower your students to live more literate lives, visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from 180 Days or order your copy.

#144 New Year’s Resolutions for Teachers Dec 30, 2019

Hello everyone! We did it... we made it to the last Monday of 2019, and it is kind of unreal. It's time to look ahead, plan for what we want to achieve, and begin the new decade with energy and positivity. Now, I don't know about you, but I love new beginnings. I love Sunday, because of what Monday has in store, and I love the end of the year because of what the new year has in store. There is just TOO MUCH possibility to NOT get excited. So with that, I set out to detail what I believe the most important resolutions for teachers will be in 2020. They are as follows: Find your own way. Think critically and question everything. Do not just accept what you hear. Try it, apply it, research it. Test it. Help others in a way that matters. Just giving others materials or strategies isn’t enough. Help by being a thinker, questioner, and encourager. Have the tough conversations. Teaching is hard and detailed work. None of us get better by catering to one another's biases or sensitivities. We have to be able to have critical discussions that lead with resect and end with results. Do not blame others—especially students or yourself—for the problems in your class. You are in charge of your room when that door closes, but that does not always mean you are 100% ready for your challenges. If you are struggling, either reach out for help, or keep analyzing your practice and classroom until you fix it. It is ON YOU. Blame wastes time, and it justifies having a class that isn’t amazing. Read professional books and research. You are a practitioner. If you want to be treated like a professional, you have to have the knowledge of one. Put in the work for the results you want. Do not feel guilty for taking breaks and having no work brought home, or no work weekends, or no work holidays…. IF you are getting the results you want in your classes. If you are comfortable, then enjoy. But if you are trying to push to the next level, if you are wanting more for your career, more for your students, and more for yourself, PUSH. Work-life balance isn’t about doing what EVERYONE is telling you to do. Work-life balance is about doing what balances YOU. Ignore the haters. As you push to get better, people will try to hold you back. They will tell you to stop. They will encourage you to take the easy way or the way everyone has always taken. The people that try to pull you down are the people who will not use themselves. People that cannot push themselves to get to the next level hate seeing others do it, and they will hold you down. Many times, this will be friends and family. Ignore them, and keep pushing. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE WORLD wants you to be average, because most people are. But I’m here to tell you to push, hold yourself to a higher standard, respect those who’ve done it before you and use them as mentors. Leave behind those who don’t want to see you succeed and find those who will push you to be better. The job of teaching is impossibly challenging, but you will get from it what you put in. If you’re fine with seeing teaching as just your job, and that make you happy, then I’m happy for you. But if you feel called to do more, to BE more for yourself, your students, and your community, then I hope you face 2020 with a drive to push. It will be difficult, and too many will try to stop you, but you can do it. You can be more for yourself and those around you. You can reach new heights. Let’s reach them together. Enjoy! A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#143 These Kids: Inside the Mind of an 8th Grader Dec 23, 2019

Hello everyone! Coming off the major release of my spoken word poem THESE KIDS, where I say the line, "I'm tired of hearing ABOUT these kids, I want to hear from them..." I decided to do just that on this episode of the Teach Me, Teacher podcast. I sat down with one of my school's top students and discussed with her what it was really like to be an 8th grader. Along with this, we covered: Do phones really cause that many problems? Should adults be worried about student stress/depression/sadness levels? What do teachers do to make you want to be in class? What do teachers do to make you not want to be in class? What was it like transitioning from elementary to middle school? And even how she has grown over her 2 and half years as a middle schooler. This was such a fun talk, and something I'd love to do again if you all enjoy it! Give it a listen and let me know what you think. Enjoy! A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#142 Joy in Learning is a Necessity (Equity with Regie Routman pt.3) Dec 16, 2019

Hello everyone! Literacy Essentials by Regie Routman (Stenhouse 2018) is by far one of the most influential books I’ve read in my teaching career. It’s a book I turn to weekly for advice, insight, and encouragement in my work to bring authentic literacy to my students. So when I was given a chance to talk to Regie herself, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. In part 1 of the podcast, we dove deep into the increasingly alarming practice of talking about students as if they are data points and not children. We discussed why we need to humanize our classrooms, and how to think about our school culture in a way that fosters equitable practices. In part 2, we took a look at some practices we are letting happen in our classes and schools that are hurting students, and what to do about them. And now in part 3, we are wrapping it all together in a discussion about why learning should be joyful—for teachers and students—and should drive us into the beauty and gift that is TEACHING. Do not miss it! Enjoy! To listen to my talks with other literacy giants, such as Kelly Gallagher, Donalyn Miller, Penny Kittle, Mary Howard and Laura Robb, click here. About Regie: REGIE ROUTMAN has more than forty-five years of experience working in diverse, under-performing schools across the U.S. and Canada as an educational leader, mentor teacher, literacy coach, classroom teacher, and teacher of students with learning differences. Her current work involves on-site demonstrations of highly effective literacy and leadership practices and side-by-side mentoring and coaching of principals, administrators, and lead teachers in order to improve reading and writing engagement, achievement, and enjoyment—across the curriculum–for all learners. Her many research-based books and resources have supported hundreds of thousands of teachers, principals, and educators at all levels to create and sustain trusting, intellectual school cultures where hearing all the voices and ongoing, professional learning are priorities. Regie’s most recent book is Literacy Essentials: Engagement, Excellence, and Equity for All Learners. (Stenhouse, 2018) To listen to “Literacy Essentials: The Stories”–personal and professional Stories integrated into the book—go to https://voiced.ca/project/literacy-essentials-the-stories-2/ or wherever you get your podcasts. For full information on Regie’s publications including her Transforming Our Teaching video-based, online literacy series, her PD offerings, and blogs, see www. regieroutman.org A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#141 What’s Wrong and How to Fix It (Equity with Regie Routman pt.2) Dec 09, 2019

Hello everyone! Literacy Essentials by Regie Routman (Stenhouse 2018) is by far one of the most influential books I’ve read in my teaching career. It’s a book I turn to weekly for advice, insight, and encouragement in my work to bring authentic literacy to my students. So when I was given a chance to talk to Regie herself, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. In part 1 of the podcast, we dove deep into the increasingly alarming practice of talking about students as if they are data points and not children. We discussed why we need to humanize our classrooms, and how to think about our school culture in a way that fosters equitable practices. Today, we take a look at some practices we are letting happen in our classes and schools that are hurting students, and what to do about them. Among other topics, we hit on: Why breaking everything into parts makes learning harder for students Why "training" is not professional learning How modeling can elevate your lessons What it takes to begin innovating as a teacher, and as a student Do not miss it! Enjoy! To listen to my talks with other literacy giants, such as Kelly Gallagher, Donalyn Miller, Penny Kittle, Mary Howard and Laura Robb, click here. About Regie: REGIE ROUTMAN has more than forty-five years of experience working in diverse, under-performing schools across the U.S. and Canada as an educational leader, mentor teacher, literacy coach, classroom teacher, and teacher of students with learning differences. Her current work involves on-site demonstrations of highly effective literacy and leadership practices and side-by-side mentoring and coaching of principals, administrators, and lead teachers in order to improve reading and writing engagement, achievement, and enjoyment—across the curriculum–for all learners. Her many research-based books and resources have supported hundreds of thousands of teachers, principals, and educators at all levels to create and sustain trusting, intellectual school cultures where hearing all the voices and ongoing, professional learning are priorities. Regie’s most recent book is Literacy Essentials: Engagement, Excellence, and Equity for All Learners. (Stenhouse, 2018) To listen to “Literacy Essentials: The Stories”--personal and professional Stories integrated into the book—go to https://voiced.ca/project/literacy-essentials-the-stories-2/ or wherever you get your podcasts. For full information on Regie’s publications including her Transforming Our Teaching video-based, online literacy series, her PD offerings, and blogs, see www. regieroutman.org A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#140 We Teach KIDS, Not Data Points! Talking Equity with Regie Routman (pt.1) Dec 02, 2019

Hello everyone! Literacy Essentials by Regie Routman is by far one of the most influential books I've read in my teaching career. It's a book I turn to weekly for advice, insight, and encouragement in my work to bring authentic literacy to my students. So when I was given a chance to talk to Regie herself, I knew I couldn't pass up the opportunity. To my delight, Regie is just as honest and passionate in person as she is in her many books. She doesn't waste time in our talk getting to the heart of the matter, which is that if we want to make an impact on kids in a positive way, we can't see them as numbers, or data points, or problems. If we want true equity in our schools and classrooms, we have to see them as PEOPLE first. We have to be energetic if we want them to care about the class. We have to get them to feel loved and comfortable in our spaces. We have to allow them to be themselves, in their writing, and in their reading. We have to humanize school, and use research supported practices to move them in meaningful ways. Together, we address these topics and many more in this 3 part discussion, so do not miss a minute of it! Enjoy! To listen to my talks with other literacy giants, such as Kelly Gallagher, Donalyn Miller, Penny Kittle, Mary Howard and Laura Robb, click here. About Regie: REGIE ROUTMAN has more than forty-five years of experience working in diverse, under-performing schools across the U.S. and Canada as an educational leader, mentor teacher, literacy coach, classroom teacher, and teacher of students with learning differences. Her current work involves on-site demonstrations of highly effective literacy and leadership practices and side-by-side mentoring and coaching of principals, administrators, and lead teachers in order to improve reading and writing engagement, achievement, and enjoyment—across the curriculum--for all learners. Her many research-based books and resources have supported hundreds of thousands of teachers, principals, and educators at all levels to create and sustain trusting, intellectual school cultures where hearing all the voices and ongoing, professional learning are priorities. Regie’s most recent book is Literacy Essentials: Engagement, Excellence, and Equity for All Learners. (Stenhouse, 2018) For full information on Regie’s publications including her Transforming Our Teaching video-based, online literacy series, her PD offerings, and blogs, see www. regieroutman.org A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#139 Moving Teaching Forward (@TeachingSavesLives pt.2) Nov 25, 2019

Hello everyone! It's time to talk about where we go now as educators. We live in a world of gun violence, quick fixes, and with communities that would rather see education fail than succeed. So, what do we do? We addressed some of this in part 1 of this series, but now we are going to talk about the rest. This is an honest conversation between Emily from @teachingsaveslives on Instagram, and myself, about how teachers can pave the way forward with a focus on mastery teaching, beginning to take back the conversation about educators FOR educators, and how remembering our why can keep us going when things get tough. I'm so thankful that this teaching community exists, and we have a platform to host such honest discussions. Enjoy! But before you go off and listen, consider supporting the podcast by grabbing a copy of Teach Me, Teacher, Life Lessons that Taught Me How to be a Better Teacher. Written in celebration of teachers and the power of education, Teach Me, Teacher affirms that you have the power to save a life. If you need to remember your why, or gain insight into the mind of a child who endured trauma at home, and how school saved him (me), this is the book for you. Check out the book here. — A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#138 GUNS ft. @TeachingSavesLives (pt.1) Nov 18, 2019

With the seemingly endless gun violence plaguing our schools in America, both physically and mentally, it's time we have an honest talk about the toll this is taking on teachers and students. This is not a political discussion. This is not a right versus left. This is not an episode where two teachers have a biased talk. This is an honest conversation between Emily from @teachingsaveslives on Instagram, and myself, about how gun violence is affecting our school cultures, our students minds, and the wellbeing of America as a whole. We welcome you to listen and provide your insight, but we do not welcome partisan and inflammatory language. This issue is bigger than any party or political ideology. This issue—this epidemic—is about our students and our communities. But before you go off and listen, consider supporting the podcast by grabbing a copy of Teach Me, Teacher, Life Lessons that Taught Me How to be a Better Teacher. Written in celebration of teachers and the power of education, Teach Me, Teacher affirms that you have the power to save a life. If you need to remember your why, or gain insight into the mind of a child who endured trauma at home, and how school saved him (me), this is the book for you. Check out the book here. — A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#137 Small Steps to Engage in Math with @MissCraftyMathTeacher! Nov 11, 2019

Hello everyone! I have been asked over and over again to get more math teachers on the podcast. So much so, I have been working diligently to make this happen. Knowing I couldn't just get anyone, I made sure to reach out to some top minds in the field, and today, I have brought on one of my favorites! Kathleen, otherwise known as @misscraftymathteacher on Instagram, is such a star on social media, and her ideas beam with honesty and energy. In this episode, we chat about how to make some small moves to get kids up and moving, and maybe even spice up those reviews in your class! Whether you're a math teacher, or just want to do something a little different this week, this episode is for you! Enjoy! But before you go off and listen, consider supporting the podcast by grabbing a copy of Teach Me, Teacher, Life Lessons that Taught Me How to be a Better Teacher. Written in celebration of teachers and the power of education, Teach Me, Teacher affirms that you have the power to save a life. If you need to remember your why, or gain insight into the mind of a child who endured trauma at home, and how school saved him (me), this is the book for you. Check out the book here. — A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#136 Using Podcasts in the Classroom (Haylee Harwick pt.2) Nov 04, 2019

Hello everyone! Today I have brought on one of my favorite Instagram friends, Haylee Harwick, to continue talking TECH, but more importantly, to discuss how we can all use podcasts in the classroom to extend and support learning! If you missed part 1, check it out here. Using podcasts in the classroom is something you'd think I would have done by now, considering my roots with Teach Me, Teacher, but believe it or not, I haven't made the jump yet. However, after this talk, I AM ALL IN! You can always tell when I get excited about an idea because the podcast becomes a brainstorming session, and that's exactly what happens in this one. Lots of ideas pop up as Haylee and I discuss podcasts, and you don't want to miss any of them! Have you used podcasts before? Let me know! Enjoy! But before you go off and listen, consider supporting the podcast by grabbing a copy of Teach Me, Teacher, Life Lessons that Taught Me How to be a Better Teacher. Written in celebration of teachers and the power of education, Teach Me, Teacher affirms that you have the power to save a life. If you need to remember your why, or gain insight into the mind of a child who endured trauma at home, and how school saved him (me), this is the book for you. Check out the book here. — A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#135 Roles of Technology in 5th Grade with Haylee Harwick (pt.1) Oct 28, 2019

Hello everyone! Today I have brought on one of my favorite Instagram friends, Haylee Harwick, to discuss her journey to using tech, and how she views the roles of technology in her 5th grade class! Haylee is such a fantastic resource for teachers and has some AMAZING ideas and advice for using tech in the classroom. This episode is a solid primer for anyone who is skeptical of the role of technology in the classroom, and how it could not only benefit student now, but far into the future. Major talking points in this episode are: Haylee's interest in tech How she handles technological issues when they happen Why she loves teaching it Why it is important to teach quality tech literacy in schools today ...and much much more! Don't miss this one! But before you go off and listen, consider supporting the podcast by grabbing a copy of Teach Me, Teacher, Life Lessons that Taught Me How to be a Better Teacher. Written in celebration of teachers and the power of education, Teach Me, Teacher affirms that you have the power to save a life. If you need to remember your why, or gain insight into the mind of a child who endured trauma at home, and how school saved him (me), this is the book for you. Check out the book here. — A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#134 Sharing Resources Supports Equity (Kayse Morris pt.2) Oct 21, 2019

Hello everyone! Today we are talking about how teachers can support teachers by sharing and creating resources with the amazing Kayse Morris, one of the thought leaders in “Teachers as CEOs” and a truly magnificent human. Her work with the Go-Getter’s Podcast is phenomenal, and a great resource for any teacher wanting to make money and run their own business. If you missed part one where we aired out and discussed issues and the wonders of Teachers Pay Teachers, check it out here! In any case! This turned out to be such an empowering episode. It's more than just sharing your resources. When you create, share, or inspire the cultivation of great resources online, you are helping equity spread to places where equity is not the norm. Many teachers do not have access to great curriculum or a district that can fund resources. By sharing yours, you are helping entire groups of communities. We cover a lot in this episode, and you don't want to miss it! Enjoy! For more episodes about using platforms to learn from and grow businesses with, check out my talk with Mr. D! But before you go off and listen, consider supporting the podcast by grabbing a copy of Teach Me, Teacher, Life Lessons that Taught Me How to be a Better Teacher. Written in celebration of teachers and the power of education, Teach Me, Teacher affirms that you have the power to save a life. If you need to remember your why, or gain insight into the mind of a child who endured trauma at home, and how school saved him (me), this is the book for you. Check out the book here. — A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#133 Teachers Pay Teachers, Friend or Foe? with Kayse Morris (pt.1) Oct 14, 2019

Hello everyone! I just realized that we have had "edgy" topics on the show for two weeks in a row now (here's last week's episode on phones shouldn't be banned from classrooms). Middle school attitudes must be affecting my judgement... In any case! I'm bringing a topic to the podcast I have wanted to for awhile now, and that is the BIG discussion of Teachers Pay Teachers, it's value to educators, the dangers it raises, and how teachers can potentially use it for good in their personal lives and the lives of others. To help me with this talk, I brought on the amazing Kayse Morris, one of the thought leaders in "Teachers as CEOs" and a truly magnificent human. Her work with the Go-Getter's Podcast is phenomenal, and a great resource for any teacher wanting to make money and run their own business. We cover a lot in this episode, but if you're curious about the Teachers Pay Teachers debate, or are wanting to start selling your resources online, this episode is the one for you! Enjoy! For more episodes about using platforms to learn from and grow businesses with, check out my talk with Mr. D! But before you go off and listen, consider supporting the podcast by grabbing a copy of Teach Me, Teacher, Life Lessons that Taught Me How to be a Better Teacher. Written in celebration of teachers and the power of education, Teach Me, Teacher affirms that you have the power to save a life. If you need to remember your why, or gain insight into the mind of a child who endured trauma at home, and how school saved him (me), this is the book for you. Check out the book here. — A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#132 It’s Time to Stop Banning Phones (Jessica Golz pt.2) Oct 07, 2019

Hello everyone! Today I'm super excited to bring you part two of my talk with the one and only Jessica Golz (@teachergolz)! If you missed part one, check it out here. In this episode, we continue our discussion about STEM, why it's important, and why we should all be embracing it in our schools. But we also hit on a special topic that I see floated around in the teacher sphere quite often... CELL PHONES in the classroom (gasp). Are they evil? Are they nothing but distractors? Do they hurt the learning in classrooms? Well, if you read the title of this episode, you might know how we feel, but what do you think? Listen to our talk, and then share your thoughts on the issue! I know you have some... Jessica is such a great force for good in education. She has her eyes on the horizon for what’s new, but she also has a healthy idea for quality literacy and what it means to meet students where their interests are. Don’t miss this episode. But before you go off and listen, consider supporting the podcast by grabbing a copy of Teach Me, Teacher, Life Lessons that Taught Me How to be a Better Teacher. Written in celebration of teachers and the power of education, Teach Me, Teacher affirms that you have the power to save a life. If you need to remember your why, or gain insight into the mind of a child who endured trauma at home, and how school saved him (me), this is the book for you. Check out the book here. — A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here. 0 Comments

#131 Start STEM Now with Jessica Golz (pt.1) Sep 30, 2019

Hello everyone! Today I couldn't be more excited to talk with Jessica Golz (@teachergolz) about STEM! In this episode, we discuss how Jessica got started in STEM, how she transitioned to being a librarian, and pretty much everything innovation and creation! Jessica is such a great force for good in education. She has her eyes on the horizon for what's new, but she also has a healthy idea for quality literacy and what it means to meet students where their interests are. Don't miss this episode! Enjoy! Support Teach Me, Teacher by checking my memoir for educators here. Check out Teach Me, Teacher Presents: Reading – Writing Workshop here. Like our the show’s music? Check out our theme music creator, Bryan Pascarella, here. A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#130 Our Biggest Takeaways from GYTO! (Halee Sikorski pt.2) Sep 23, 2019

Hello everyone! This past July, I went to the Get Your Teach On national conference, and it was absolutely astounding, to say the least. I knew I wanted to talk about my experience, but I needed someone special to help me, so I brought back friend of the show and fellow attendee of the conference, Halee Sikorski (otherwise known as @ALatteLearning on Instagram.) In part 1 of our talk, we took an overview of the experience, detailing what we saw from the beginning to end. In this episode, we dive deep into our takeaways, and explain the biggest pieces that are shaping our classes this year! A few mentioned in the episode are: - Using music more often - Using theater and acting for vocabulary - Re-examining our practices to better fit the needs of our students Plus, we talk about our favorite presenters and how they affected us for the positive! Enjoy! Support Teach Me, Teacher by checking my memoir for educators here. Check out Teach Me, Teacher Presents: Reading – Writing Workshop here. Like our the show’s music? Check out our theme music creator, Bryan Pascarella, here. A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#129 The Get Your Teach On Experience with Halee Sikorski (pt.1) Sep 16, 2019

Hello everyone! This past July, I went to the Get Your Teach On national conference, and it was absolutely astounding, to say the least. I knew I wanted to talk about my experience, but I needed someone special to help me, so I brought back friend of the show and fellow attendee of the conference, Halee Sikorski (otherwise known as @ALatteLearning on Instagram.) Together, we discuss our experience, all the way from funding Halee's trip, to our biggest takeaways from the many presentations we got to experience. Between the hype that DJ Earworm brought on night one and the next level energy the GYTO team brings every moment, we had SO MUCH to discuss. Enjoy! PS: Here's some pictures of me at the conference! Support Teach Me, Teacher by checking my memoir for educators here. Check out Teach Me, Teacher Presents: Reading – Writing Workshop here. Like our the show’s music? Check out our theme music creator, Bryan Pascarella, here. A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#128 Teachers Save Lives (Nicholas Ferroni pt.2) Sep 09, 2019

Hello everyone! Today on Teach Me, Teacher, I am continuing my talk with Nicholas Ferroni! Last week, we discussed why men in the classroom needs to be something seen more often, and this week we dive deep into what teaching is, how powerful it can be, and how we should all take part in making the messaging about teaching POSITIVE. I had the pleasure of hearing Nicholas speak at Get Your Teach On this year, and I KNEW I had to have him on the show to share his insight and perspective on education. Nicholas Ferroni is a nationally recognized educator and activist who educates, mentors and inspires students to reach their goals while driving a national dialogue about education reform. Named “Upstander of the Year” by the HRC (Human Rights Campaign) for his outspoken advocacy and support for LGBTQ youth, Nick was also noted as one of the “100 Making a Difference” and one of the “Most Influential Educators in America.” His expertise and strong opinions about education and revisionist History have made him a sought after expert on national platforms including ABC’s ‘The View,’ MSNBC, ABC, HLN and more. It’s hard to find someone as outspokenly POSITIVE about education than Nicholas, and I’m honored to have him on the show. Enjoy! Support Teach Me, Teacher by checking my memoir for educators here. Check out Teach Me, Teacher Presents: Reading – Writing Workshop here. Like our the show’s music? Check out our theme music creator, Bryan Pascarella, here. A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#127 Men in the Classroom with Nicholas Ferroni (pt.1) Sep 02, 2019

Hello everyone! Today on Teach Me, Teacher, we are talking about the power of men in the classroom with none other than Nicholas Ferroni. I had the pleasure of hearing Nicholas speak at Get Your Teach On this year, and I KNEW I had to have him on the show to share his insight and perspective on education. Nicholas Ferroni is a nationally recognized educator and activist who educates, mentors and inspires students to reach their goals while driving a national dialogue about education reform. Named "Upstander of the Year" by the HRC (Human Rights Campaign) for his outspoken advocacy and support for LGBTQ youth, Nick was also noted as one of the "100 Making a Difference" and one of the "Most Influential Educators in America." His expertise and strong opinions about education and revisionist History have made him a sought after expert on national platforms including ABC's 'The View,' MSNBC, ABC, HLN and more. It's hard to find someone as outspokenly POSITIVE about education than Nicholas, and I'm honored to have him on the show. Enjoy! Support Teach Me, Teacher by checking my memoir for educators here. Check out Teach Me, Teacher Presents: Reading – Writing Workshop here. Like our the show’s music? Check out our theme music creator, Bryan Pascarella, here. A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#126 Conferencing to Empower, Engage, and Teach! (Kelly Gallagher pt.2) Aug 26, 2019

Hello everyone! Welcome to part 2 with Kelly Gallagher! Today we are continuing our talk about authentic literacy, and we are diving DEEP into the practice of conferencing and why you should be doing it everyday. Since 1985, Kelly Gallagher has devoted himself to the teaching of reading, writing, listening and speaking—first and foremost, as a high school ELA teacher in Anaheim, California, and also as an author/consultant who works with educators around the world. Today, he is considered one of the leading voices in literacy education. He is the author of 180 Days, Readicide, and In the Best Interest of Students. How Kelly has grown over the years, conferencing, and more, all in this episode. I could not be any more excited than to bring this talk to you today. Enjoy! Support Teach Me, Teacher by checking my memoir for educators here. Check out Teach Me, Teacher Presents: Reading – Writing Workshop here. Like our the show’s music? Check out our theme music creator, Bryan Pascarella, here. A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#125 Authentic Reading and Writing with Kelly Gallagher (pt.1) Aug 19, 2019

Hello everyone! Welcome to season 4 of the Teach Me, Teacher Podcast! If you're new to the podcast, welcome! If you're returning, then you know how I like to start things off every season...WITH LITERACY. Season 2 started with the wonderful Donalyn Miller. Season 3 started with none other than the amazing Penny Kittle. And now season 4 is starting with Kelly Gallagher himself! Since 1985, Kelly Gallagher has devoted himself to the teaching of reading, writing, listening and speaking—first and foremost, as a high school ELA teacher in Anaheim, California, and also as an author/consultant who works with educators around the world. Today, he is considered one of the leading voices in literacy education. He is the author of 180 Days, Readicide, and In the Best Interest of Students. In this episode we talk about how to create authentic experiences both in reading and writing, and how not to kill the love for reading and writing. Books, equity, clubs, representation, and more, all in this episode. I could not be any more excited than to bring this talk to you today. Enjoy! Support Teach Me, Teacher by checking my memoir for educators here. Check out Teach Me, Teacher Presents: Reading - Writing Workshop here. Like our the show's music? Check out our theme music creator, Bryan Pascarella, here. A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

Why I left Literacy Coaching (Season 4 Intro!) Aug 12, 2019

Hello everyone! With the new school year upon us, I know you all are gearing up to make MAGIC happen in our classrooms! You're planning great experiences, sitting through PD, and trying to catch some sleep. To support you, I'm planning an AMAZING season of great podcasts coming for season 4, but I wanted to cover some key pieces first, as usual. In this intro, you'll hear about who is coming on the show for the season opener, how to win a FREE copy of my book, and why I left literacy coaching. (If you want to know why I went into literacy coaching, click here!) Thank you all for supporting the podcast and thank you for listening! Season 4 is going to be amazing! -Enjoy! A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#124 BRING THAT ENERGY with Hamish Brewer (Finale pt.2) Aug 05, 2019

Hello everyone! I couldn’t be any more excited to bring you none other than Hamish Brewer for part 2 of our close out to season 3 of the podcast! If you missed part 1, check it out here. If you don’t know who Hamish is... the relentless, tattooed, skateboarding principal in Northern Virginia isn’t your normal principal. Hamish is high octane, constantly calling on his students to “Be Relentless. Mr. Brewer has become known as an educational disrupter and game changer who transcends the status quo and typical educational norms. He is known for working with some of the most at risk students in America and getting results, and that’s exactly what we discuss in this episode! This is the perfect listen for starting the new school year, because those kids in our schools need us to be excited, they need us to be motivated, and they need us to be our best. Hamish knows how to get it done, and he takes us along for the ride! Enjoy! Support Hamish by checking out his book here. Support the podcast by checking out my new book, Teach Me, Teacher – Life Lessons that Taught Me How to Be a Better Teacher. A special thank you to Viewsonic for sponsoring this episode of the podcast! Please check out their amazing resources for teachers here.

#123 BRING THAT ENERGY with Hamish Brewer (Finale pt.1) Jul 29, 2019

Hello everyone! I couldn't be any more excited to bring you none other than Hamish Brewer to close out season 3 of the podcast! If you don't know who Hamish is, the relentless, tattooed, skateboarding principal in Northern Virginia isn’t your normal principal. Hamish is high octane, constantly calling on his students to “Be Relentless. Mr. Brewer has become known as an educational disrupter and game changer who transcends the status quo and typical educational norms. He is known for working with some of the most at risk students in America and getting results, and that's exactly what we discuss in this episode! This is the perfect listen for starting the new school year, because those kids in our schools need us to be excited, they need us to be motivated, and they need us to be our best. Hamish knows how to get it done, and he takes us along for the ride! Enjoy! Support Hamish by checking out his book here. Support the podcast by checking out my new book, Teach Me, Teacher – Life Lessons that Taught Me How to Be a Better Teacher.

#122 Myths About Teaching Middle School (Marte in the Middle pt.2) Jul 22, 2019

Hello everyone! It is my absolute pleasure to bring you one of my favorite people in the world, Nicole Marte, otherwise known as @MarteintheMiddle on Instagram to continue our discussion about the power of teaching middle school, why it's the best school, and debunking (and validating) myths about teaching middle schoolers. If you missed part 1, check it out here. A lot of personal anecdotes in this one, both from Nicole and I, and just a lot of pure fun. This is one of those great episodes of the podcast where we just talked and enjoyed our mutual love of teaching. Nicole is definitely one of the coolest teachers out there, and you owe it to yourself to be fueled by her kindness and honesty. Come and listen along and laugh with us! Enjoy! Support the podcast by checking out my new book, Teach Me, Teacher – Life Lessons that Taught Me How to Be a Better Teacher. For more science in middle school, check out my episode with Josie Bensko from @maniacsinthemiddle on Instagram here!

#121 Middle School is the BEST School with Marte in the Middle (pt.1) Jul 15, 2019

Hello everyone! It is my absolute pleasure to bring you one of my favorite people in the world, Nicole Marte, otherwise known as @MarteintheMiddle on Instagram. In this episode, we dive into why we both LOVE middle school so much, the magic of teaching 6th grade, and why relationships at this critical age are so extremely important. We also spend a healthy amount of time praising how teaching science is an amazing experience. A lot of personal anecdotes in this one, both from Nicole and I, and just a lot of pure fun. This is one of those great episodes of the podcast where we just talked and enjoyed our mutual love of teaching. Come and listen along and laugh with us! Enjoy! Support the podcast by checking out my new book, Teach Me, Teacher - Life Lessons that Taught Me How to Be a Better Teacher. For more science in middle school, check out my episode with Josie Bensko from @maniacsinthemiddle on Instagram here!

My Book is Now Available! Jul 12, 2019

Hello everyone! Today I have a special announcement: Teach Me, Teacher: Life Lessons That Taught Me How to be a Better Teacher is now available for purchase! To celebrate, I took some time to talk about the book, and read a few pages from the opening chapter. I hope that you'll take the time to listen and read the book. I wrote it for you. Buy on Amazon Buy on B&N ABOUT THE BOOK: Jacob Chastain grew up in an environment filled with drugs and violence. Inside the home that should have felt safe, fear and anxiety were the desperate norm. Stability and security eluded him as he was shuffled between family and friends that would take him in. But at school, things were different. There, day after day, year after year, Chastain’s teachers saved him. Teach Me, Teacher is the true story of a childhood marked by heartache—a story that may be similar to that of the children sitting in your classroom. It’s the story that shaped Jacob Chastain into the educator he is today. Lessons learned from his experiences as a child and as a growing educator offer reflections on the trials and triumphs facing teachers and students everywhere. From these lessons, we learn that one’s darkest moments can ultimately lead to a meaningful and fulfilling life when someone cares enough to step in and make a difference. Written in celebration of teachers and the power of education, Teach Me, Teacher affirms that you have the power to save a life. ———————————————— PRAISE FOR TEACH ME, TEACHER “Jacob Chastain pours his heart out on the pages of Teach Me, Teacher by sharing his personal journey through childhood trauma. His message that “action is the antidote to suffering” is a powerful reminder to us all to do more, be more, understand more, and care more for our students.” —Kim Bearden, co-founder and executive director, The Ron Clark Academy, author of Talk to Me “Teach Me, Teacher is one of the most courageous, heartbreaking, hopeful books I’ve ever read.” —Regie Routman, author of Literacy Essentials “Jacob Chastain’s raw honesty is something that we need more of in the education world.” —Halee Sikorski, A Latte Learning “Teach Me, Teacher is both an uplifting memoir and a message to all of us in education of the power we have to build relationships and make a difference for all of our students.” —Dr. Sue Szachowicz, senior fellow, Successful Practices Network “Jacob Chastain takes us on a transformational journey where past and present converge into possibility. His story of resilience and hope is a celebration of the impact each of us can have when professional purpose leads the way.” —Dr. Mary Howard, author of Good to Great Teaching “Everyone has their past, and Jacob’s had challenges. At times raw and emotional, this book allows you to experience Jacob’s journey towards understanding, acceptance, and redemption. Jacob shares example after example of how negatives in life can open doors, and his experiences can help the reader to better define a sense of purpose.” —Evan Robb, author of The Ten-Minute Principal and coauthor of TeamMakers “My heart bled for children of shattered and dysfunctional families when I read Jacob Chastain’s Teach Me, Teacher. Jacob has an insight many of us don’t inherently have as teachers. His powerful story is a reminder that as teachers, we can and do make major impacts in the lives of our students. I applaud Jacob’s willingness to be open and share his story. His book is filled with life lessons for us all, both in and out of the classroom.” —Haley Curfman, elementary educator, The Weary Teacher “Jacob Chastain has done something that is extremely difficult—he has shared parts of his abusive childhood as well as his teaching experiences to show how he transformed negatives into positives to create a meaningful life, start his own family, and becoming a reflective teacher who responds to his students’ needs. By sharing his painful memories,

#120 What Great Educators Do Differently with Todd Whitaker pt.2 Jul 08, 2019

Hello everyone! Today I am bringing you part 2 of my fantastic discussion with Todd Whitaker on what great educators do differently! If you missed part 1, click here. Dr. Todd Whitaker is recognized as a leading presenter in the field of education, and his message about the importance of teaching has resonated with hundreds of thousands of educators around the world. In this discussion, we focus on what great teachers do differently, and what great principals do differently, and why just being good isn’t enough. Together we hit on why our roles are too important to let the small stuff slide, what to do about toxic teachers around you or in your school, how to talk to parents, and how an ineffective campus all depends on one factor… You DO NOT want to miss this episode! Whether you’re a teacher, principal, or college student, you need to hear this talk with Todd Whitaker! Enjoy!

#119 What Great Educators Do Differently with Todd Whitaker pt.1 Jul 01, 2019

Hello everyone! Today I am bringing you my fantastic discussion with Todd Whitaker on what great educators do differently! Dr. Todd Whitaker is recognized as a leading presenter in the field of education, and his message about the importance of teaching has resonated with hundreds of thousands of educators around the world. In this discussion, we focus on what great teachers do differently, and what great principals do differently, and why just being good isn't enough. Together we hit on why our roles are too important to let the small stuff slide, what to do about toxic teachers around you or in your school, how to talk to parents, and how an ineffective campus all depends on one factor... You DO NOT want to miss this episode! Whether you're a teacher, principal, or college student, you need to hear this talk. Enjoy! For more on leadership and accountability, check out my episode of Ron Clark Academy native, Kirk Brown! PS: If you'd like to support the podcast and Todd, use the links above to his fantastic work!

#118 Lesson Planning Tips with Jennuine Teaching (pt.2) Jun 24, 2019

Hello everyone! Today I have part 2 of my discussion with Jennifer from Jennuine Teaching (Instagram, Youtube) to talk with us about EVERYTHING LESSON PLANNING and REFLECTIVE PRACTICES! If you missed part 1, catch it here. If you haven’t heard of Jennuine Teaching, you’re in for a treat because it is a fantastic resource and Jennifer is one of my favorite teachers to watch and learn from. As expected, this episode dives into the ins and outs of lesson planning from Jennifer’s point of view, all the way from start to finish and every thing in between. If you’re new to lesson planning, want to hear about a new way to do it or think about it, or simply want to listen to two teachers talk shop, this is the episode for you! You can also catch Jennifer at her blog here! Enjoy!

#117 Lesson Planning Tips with Jennuine Teaching (pt.1) Jun 16, 2019

Hello everyone! Today I have Jennifer from Jennuine Teaching (Instagram, Youtube) to talk with us about EVERYTHING LESSON PLANNING! If you haven't heard of Jennuine Teaching, you're in for a treat because it is a fantastic resource and Jennifer is one of my favorite teachers to watch and learn from. As expected, this episode dives into the ins and outs of lesson planning from Jennifer's point of view, all the way from start to finish and every thing in between. If you're new to lesson planning, want to hear about a new way to do it or think about it, or simply want to listen to two teachers talk shop, this is the episode for you! You can also catch Jennifer at her blog here! Enjoy! Oh! One last thing, I referenced Esther Brunat's episode in this talk so the link to that is HERE if you want to check it out (you really should)!

#116 Brain Science for Deeper Learning (Jared Horvath pt.2) Jun 10, 2019

Hello everyone! Today it’s my pleasure to bring you part 2 of my conversation with Jared Cooney Horvath, a cognitive neuroscientist based out of the University of Melbourne specializing in human thought, learning and brain stimulation. If you missed part 1, check it out here. Without a doubt, this is one of the best episodes of the Teach Me, Teacher podcast—if not THE BEST. In this episode, we dive deep into the brain science behind how students learn, and how to move students from surface learning to DEEP LEARNING. This is one of those episodes where I feel like any teacher who spends time listening to Jared's insight will come out far better at the end. I know this is the case for me! When you’re done with this episode, please check out Jared’s work here and support him by buying his book! I’ve read it twice, and it is amazing. If you’d like to win a copy of his book, make sure to sign up for the Teach Me, Teacher email list this week and next! I’ll be choosing two winners. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#115 Brain Science to Make Your Message Stick with Jared Horvath (pt.1) Jun 03, 2019

Hello everyone! Today it's my pleasure to bring you my conversation with Jared Cooney Horvath, a cognitive neuroscientist based out of the University of Melbourne specializing in human thought, learning and brain stimulation. Without a doubt, this is one of the best episodes of the Teach Me, Teacher podcast. In this episode, we dive deep into the brain science behind how students learn, retain, and apply the information we give them in our classes. In part one of our talk, we hit on everything from the role of technology in learning (how it hurts and helps), why note taking can be powerful, and how physical print media can be such a boon when reading longer texts. Of course, there is more than this sprinkled in this episode, but you'll have to listen to get the rest! When you're done with this episode, please check out Jared's work here and support him by buying his book! I've read it twice, and it is amazing every time. If you'd like to win a copy of his book, make sure to sign up for the Teach Me, Teacher email list this week and next! I'll be choosing two winners. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#114 Welcome to Writing Workshop with Stacey Shubitz & Lynne Dorfman (pt.2) May 27, 2019

Hello everyone! Today it’s my pleasure to bring you part 2 of my discussion with the two authors of Welcome to Writing Workshop, Stacey Shubitz and Lynne Dorfman. If you missed part 1, click here! If you are like me, you might have heard the term writing workshop repeatedly, nodding along with enthusiasm, but in the back of your mind be wondering what the heck it actually is. For years, I didn’t really know what workshop was, and I often wished there was a resource to not just tell me what it was, but show me as well. NOW THERE IS! Welcome to Writing Workshop is an amazing resource of strategic routines, tips, resources, and short focused video clips to view and learn with. From explanations of writing process and writing traits to small-group strategy lessons and minilessons, this book provides the know-how to feel confident and comfortable in the teaching of writers. If you’re a fan of the podcast, you know that literacy talk is MY JAM, and writing workshop is something I’m incredibly passionate about. Stacey and Lynne do an amazing job at talking about what writing workshop is and is not, and this episode is a perfect primer for anyone who might not know exactly what it is or what it looks like. Once you have finished the episode, come back and subscribe to the email list (right) so you can be entered to win a FREE COPY of Welcome to Writing Workshop! Thank you to Stenhouse Publishers for sponsoring this episode and providing the books for the giveaway! Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! ***For more on writing, check out my episode with Jeff Anderson on the Patterns of Power!

#113 Welcome to Writing Workshop with Stacey Shubitz & Lynne Dorfman (pt.1) May 20, 2019

Hello everyone! Today it's my pleasure to bring you my discussion with the two authors of Welcome to Writing Workshop, Stacey Shubitz and Lynne Dorfman. If you are like me, you might have heard the term writing workshop repeatedly, nodding along with enthusiasm, but in the back of your mind be wondering what the heck it actually is. For years, I didn't really know what workshop was, and I often wished there was a resource to not just tell me what it was, but show me as well. NOW THERE IS! Welcome to Writing Workshop is an amazing resource of strategic routines, tips, resources, and short focused video clips to view and learn with. From explanations of writing process and writing traits to small-group strategy lessons and minilessons, this book provides the know-how to feel confident and comfortable in the teaching of writers. If you're a fan of the podcast, you know that literacy talk is MY JAM, and writing workshop is something I'm incredibly passionate about. Stacey and Lynne do an amazing job at talking about what writing workshop is and is not, and this episode is a perfect primer for anyone who might not know exactly what it is or what it looks like. Once you have finished the episode, come back and subscribe to the email list (right) so you can be entered to win a FREE COPY of Welcome to Writing Workshop! Thank you to Stenhouse Publishers for sponsoring this episode and providing the books for the giveaway! Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! ***For more on writing, check out my episode with Jeff Anderson on the Patterns of Power!

#112 “33 Years and I Still LOVE Teaching!” May 13, 2019

Hello everyone! Last week, the podcast took a look at the dark side of public education, examining one teacher’s experience with burnout and stress. But this week, I’m talking with one of my co-workers, Pam Ochoa, and we are discussing why she is not only still in love with education, but why after 7 years of being an academic coach and out of the classroom, she is stepping back into the trenches! If you’re in need of a pick me up, this is the episode for you! Filled with honest anecdotes, encouragement, and a little laughter, you’re guaranteed to feel better after this podcast. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#111 “I QUIT!” May 06, 2019

Hello everyone! This week's episode is a little different, but I think you'll get so much out of my talk with Sariah McCall, an ex-teacher who's viral resignation letter has made rounds around the internet recently. In this discussion, we discuss why she got into teaching and why she ultimately had to leave. We discuss her love for education, the students, and her hate for how teachers are treated. But more importantly, we address a problem in education I fear more than anything...the total and absolute burnout from stress of THE JOB. If you've ever felt like you wanted to quit or that it was all too much, this episode is for you. If you want to feel connected to an honest talk about the stress of teaching, this episode is for you. If you are a leader in a school district, this episode is for you. I believe all we have is our testimonies, and this is Sariah's. I thank her for sharing with us her experience so we can all learn and grow from it. Enjoy. Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#110 Doing What’s Best For Kids with Dr. Michael J. Hynes Apr 29, 2019

Hello everyone! Today we have the rare one part episode where I discuss what's best for kids with Dr. Michael J. Hynes! Dr. Hynes is the Superintendent of Schools for the Patchogue Medford School District, and has begun to make waves in the educational community with his approach to supporting schools, teachers, and students. He emphasizes the importance of play and recess in schools and yoga and mindfulness in the classroom. He believes in teaching the whole child, as well as keeping up with his own teaching abilities by stepping into the class and teaching a lesson! There aren't a lot of superintendents like Dr. Hynes, even fewer who openly discuss how teachers should buck and push at the system in order to do what's right for kids! I absolutely love the message and effort Dr. Hynes puts forth, and I know you will too. Don't forget to check out his TedTalk here! Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#109 Who’s Doing the Work? with Kim Yaris pt.2 Apr 22, 2019

Hello everyone! Today, it is my pleasure to bring you part 2 of my discussion with Kim Yaris, one of the authors of my latest favorite professional book, Who’s Doing the Work: How to Say Less So Readers Can Do More. If you missed part 1, get it here. Kim was an elementary teacher for several years, and now travels the world helping teachers with the hard and rewarding work of fostering meaningful literacy in our students. I love her passion and ability to take complex concepts and say them in a way that is immediately illuminating. Who’s Doing the Work has been infinitely influential in my work already, and I can’t wait for you all to experience this fantastic talk. I can't stop talking about this book with everyone I meet! If you’re struggling to get kids to want to do the thinking, reading, or are feeling like you’ve reached a ceiling with your reading instruction, this is the podcast for you! Though the book is mainly geared to elementary teachers, as a 7th grade teacher myself, who teaches students who are behind in their reading achievement, this book has been invaluable. Once you have finished the episode, come back and subscribe to the email list (right) so you can be entered to win a FREE COPY of WHO’S DOING THE WORK! Thank you to Stenhouse Publishers for sponsoring this episode and providing the books for the giveaway! Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#108 Who’s Doing the Work? with Kim Yaris pt.1 Apr 15, 2019

Hello everyone! Today, it is my pleasure to bring you Kim Yaris, one of the authors of my latest favorite professional book, Who's Doing the Work: How to Say Less So Readers Can Do More, and we are discussing "next generation" reading instruction. Kim was an elementary teacher for several years, and now travels the world helping teachers with the hard and rewarding work of fostering meaningful literacy in our students. I love her passion and ability to take complex concepts and say them in a way that is immediately illuminating. Who's Doing the Work has been infinitely influential in my work already, and I can't wait for you all to experience this fantastic talk! If you're struggling to get kids to want to do the thinking, reading, or are feeling like you've reached a ceiling with your reading instruction, this is the podcast for you! Though the book is mainly geared to elementary teachers, as a 7th grade teacher myself, who teaches students who are behind in their reading achievement, this book has been invaluable. Once you have finished the episode, come back and subscribe to the email list (right) so you can be entered to win a FREE COPY of WHO'S DOING THE WORK! Thank you to Stenhouse Publishers for sponsoring this episode and providing the books for the giveaway! Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#107 Flexible Seating Q&A with Shane Saeed pt.2 Apr 08, 2019

Hello everyone! Today, we are continuing our flexible seating Q&A! If you missed part 1, check it out here! With the help of one of my favorite Instagram teachers, Shane Saeed (@fantasticallyfourth), we are hitting on just about every question and concern you could have about flexible seating. If you’ve ever thought about making the commitment to flexible seating, but were concerned about pricing, effectiveness, logistics, or even if you were concerned it was just a fad, this is the episode for you! We cover all of these points, and much much more! In part 2, we dive DEEPER into what flexible seating is all about, and hit on everything from "when things break," to how does it help the kids to have flexible seating! Shane is absolutely amazing, and I loved talking with her. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! For more on flexible seating, check out my first episode on the subject here!

#106 Flexible Seating Q&A with Shane Saeed pt.1 Apr 01, 2019

Hello everyone! Today, we are having a flexible seating Q&A! With the help of one of my favorite Instagram teachers, Shane Saeed (@fantasticallyfourth), we are hitting on just about every question and concern you could have about flexible seating. If you've ever thought about making the commitment to flexible seating, but were concerned about pricing, effectiveness, logistics, or even if you were concerned it was just a fad, this is the episode for you! We cover all of these points, and much much more! Shane is such a power for good in the educational community, and I know you're going to love my talk with her! Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! For more on flexible seating, check out my first episode on the subject here!

#105 Teacher as Practitioner with Teri Lesesne pt.2 Mar 25, 2019

Hello everyone! Does an ELA teacher need to be a practitioner of reading and writing? Teri Lesesne, a former middle school teacher and Professor in the Department of Library Science at Sam Houston State University, says YES YES YES! And I agree. In part one of our discussion, we hit on popular disagreements between what educators and other commentators think quality reading instruction is, why there is a battle at all, and what the best research in the field is inviting teachers all over to implement into their classrooms. In part two, we really hit on this idea of teacher as a practitioner, and why that makes such a big difference in the quality of instruction happening in the classroom. We also take a few minutes to hit on the Lexile obsession in schools, and how it's bad for everyone involved. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! For more on reading instruction, check out my episode with Mary Howard (as mentioned in the episode!)

#104 Is There a Reading War? with Teri Lesesne pt.1 Mar 18, 2019

Hello everyone! Is there a reading war? Teri Lesesne, a former middle school teacher and Professor in the Department of Library Science at Sam Houston State University, is here to help us answer and face this question head on! In our discussion, we hit on popular disagreements between what educators and other commentators think quality reading instruction is, why there is a battle at all, and what the best research in the field is inviting teachers all over to implement into their classrooms. If you're interested at all in the "reading war" happening across educational circles, this is a must listen to episode. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! For more on reading instruction, check out my episode with Donalyn Miller!

#103 Leadership and Accountability with Kirk Brown pt.2 Mar 11, 2019

Hello everyone! We are back with Kirk Brown this week and we are continuing our talk on Leadership and Accountability in our schools! Kirk Brown is the head fundraiser at The Ron Clark Academy and Cofounder of Emerging 100 Atlanta. His vision, leadership, and honest opinions are what we should all want to hear and strive to be like in our own spaces, regardless of if we are administration or the teachers in classrooms. I love this talk, because we talk about leadership in every context. Not just admin leadership, but teacher leadership. And not just teacher leadership, but student leadership. We hit at all, and more, and it’s an episode definitely worth your time. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! For more on RCA: Check out my episode detailing my first visit to The Ron Clark Academy!

#102 Leadership and Accountability with Kirk Brown pt.1 Mar 04, 2019

Hello everyone! Podcast release day is always a good day, but podcast release day with a visionary and leader from The Ron Clark Academy is even better! Kirk Brown, head fundraiser at The Ron Clark Academy and Cofounder of Emerging 100 Atlanta, is here to discuss the power of leadership and the accountability that goes a long with it. I love this talk, because we talk about leadership in every context. Not just admin leadership, but teacher leadership. And not just teacher leadership, but student leadership. We hit at all, and more, and it's an episode definitely worth your time. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! For more on RCA: Check out my episode with RCA co-founder, Kim Bearden.

#101 Year One to Two with ALatteLearning pt.2 Feb 25, 2019

Hello everyone! For episode #101, I'm continuing my FANTASTIC talk with one of my favorite educators, Halee from @alattelearning, to talk about what changes she went through going from her first year of teaching to her second! I couldn’t be any more proud of this young educator, the positivity she brings to the teachers who follow her, and the work she will surely do in the future. This discussion is filled with honesty and passion, and it’s surely to bring out the best in your day. Part two is all about the changes Halee went through from year one to two, a little about the fantastic KAGAN structures she uses, and a lot of great advice from one of the rising teachers on Instagram! Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#100 Year One to Two with ALatteLearning pt.1 Feb 18, 2019

Hello everyone! We did it! We made it to episode 100 of the podcast! How absolutely crazy is that? It's amazing that so many of you come and listen to the show every week, but it's equally amazing that you've supported the show through a 100 episodes! I truly can't be thankful enough for this journey we've had together. In the spirit of the 100th episode, and to celebrate a milestone of one of the most positive podcasts in education, I've brought on one of my favorite educators, Halee from @alattelearning, to talk about what changes she went through going from her first year of teaching to her second. I couldn't be any more proud of this young educator, the positivity she brings to the teachers who follow her, and the work she will surely do in the future. This discussion is filled with honesty and passion, and it's surely to bring out the best in your day. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! PS: having a tough year? Check out this episode from season 1 !

#99 Help! How Do I Do Guided Reading!? with Kelli Sanders pt.2 Feb 11, 2019

Hello everyone! In last week's post/episode, I talked about how guided reading has been somewhat of a hot button issue for me over the past two years. With Kelli Sanders at my side, I have started opening up about why I was reluctant, and correcting my thoughts on the practice at a middle school level. Kelli is one of my favorite educators and people in the world. She’s such a wonderful person and teacher, and her passion for kids is infectious. In part two of our discussion, she helps me through my thinking in what a guided reading lesson should look like, what the other students should be doing when you're with a group, and gives some fantastic advice on HAVING FUN while teaching. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! PS: Want more book love? Check out my episode with Jeff Anderson!

#98 Help! How Do I Do Guided Reading!? with Kelli Sanders pt.1 Feb 04, 2019

Hello everyone! Guided reading has been somewhat of a hot button issue for me over the past two years. When guided reading was brought to my middle school last year, I was...reluctant to try it. I mean, I'm a middle school teacher, why should I be doing something that is CLEARLY only for elementary. Right? Wrong. Not only have I had a change of heart about practicing guided reading at the middle school level, but now I'm actively seeking ways to get good at it. If you're in the same boat, or just want to re-engage with the practice, then you're in the right place! To help us, I've brought on one of my favorite educators and people in the world, Kelli Sanders, also known as @sandersinsecond on Instagram. She's such a wonderful person and teacher, and her passion for kids is infectious. She brings her experience and honesty to our talk, and I just love that I get to bring episodes like this to you all. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! PS: Want more book love? Check out my episode with Donalyn Miller!

#97 Student Stress & College Readiness with TeachLikeAGirl Jan 28, 2019

Hello everyone! In this episode, I am talking with Christina (also known as @teachlikeagirl on Instagram) about student stress levels, and what public school teachers should be focusing on to make sure students are ready for college. Of course, we talk about a lot more than that (just like every Teach Me, Teacher episode), ranging from her passion for psychology, the need for adults to have engaging lessons just like our students, and how and why burnout happens to teachers. This episode is a little different than the usual 2 part episode we release. Due to time and a want for experimentation, this is the whole episode in its entirety. Be sure to let me know if you like shorter 1 off episodes like this so we can do more in the future! Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! Links mentioned in the episode: Alfie Kohn: The Case Against Grades Science behind learning

#96 Have Your Students Do More with Less with Marie Morris pt.2 Jan 21, 2019

Hello everyone! I am so excited to bring you part two of my discussion with Marie Morris about how to have your students do more with less. I love this conversation because it's honest. We don't fudge what it's like working with students. In fact, we are as honest as possible about the challenges we are faced with day in and day out, and that's where the magic of this episode shows. Marie Morris, also known as @thecaffinatedclass on Instagram, is here to help us work through some of our difficulties, as well as shed some honest light on possible ways to get our heads out from under water and into the bright sunshine of a great classroom! You don’t want to miss this episode! It is one of the best of the podcast, for sure. For more from Marie Morris, check here out here. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#95 Have Students Do More with Less with Marie Morris pt.1 Jan 14, 2019

Hello everyone! Teachers are constantly being pushed to do more with less. Usually, this isn't a good thing. It ends up being just a way to cater to the high stakes testing environments we all experience. But what if we focused on what mattered? What if we decided to have our students practice talking to one another? What if we decided to do what's best for kids, but without a focus on using more materials, resources, and "stuff?" Marie Morris, also known as @thecaffinatedclass on Instagram, is here to help us answer some of these questions, PLUS provide us with tons of helpful insights ranging from her first year as a teacher, to how being a mom has changed her for the better as an educator. You don't want to miss this episode! It is one of the best of the podcast, for sure. For more from Marie Morris, check here out here. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#94 Doing What’s Right vs Being Right with Eric Crouch pt.2 Jan 07, 2019

Hello everyone! Today I am honored to share with you part 2 of my discussion with Eric Crouch (if you missed part 1, click here.) Part 2 is all about doing what's right vs being right. Meaning, we should all be more concerned with doing the best work for our students, so they can do their best work. Throughout the episode, we really hit on how Eric runs his classroom workshop, his view on his role as the teacher, and how it all comes together to create the magic of learning. Eric Crouch is a national award-winning educator from Columbus, Ga. Eric is also Harvard PZ Fellow, a Lowell Milken Center Fellow and currently serves on both the State Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory and the Governor’s Teacher Advisory Council for the state of Georgia. His work with project-based learning is well known throughout the education community, and that’s exactly what he shares with us in this podcast episode. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! ________________________________________________ Eric’s work with charities, Teach Your Heart Out, and most importantly, with his own students, is phenomenal to say the least. And yet, he is in need of our help! Eric was hosting at PepTalk with Mr D And Gerry Brooks. He brought his camera to help take photos of the event. He laid his camera down on the sound table in a secure area with two security guards watching the table. Later, it was gone, and they saw nothing... Long story short, Eric is trying to raise money to get his camera back. He uses the camera many afternoons to take family photos or do some real estate photos to make ends meet financially, and this is a huge loss for him. If you'd like to help him out, please go here and do so.

#93 Teach Your Heart Out with Eric Crouch pt.1 Dec 31, 2018

Hello everyone! Today I am honored to share with you my discussion with the one and only Eric Crouch. Eric Crouch is a national award-winning educator from Columbus, Ga. Eric is also Harvard PZ Fellow, a Lowell Milken Center Fellow and currently serves on both the State Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory and the Governor’s Teacher Advisory Council for the state of Georgia. His work with project-based learning is well known throughout the education community, and that's exactly what he shares with us in this podcast episode. Eric's work with charities, Teach Your Heart Out, and most importantly, with his own students, is phenomenal to say the least. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#92 The Real Work of Teaching Literacy with Evan and Laura Robb pt.2 Dec 24, 2018

Hello everyone! In a world where too many educators want the short and easy answers to literacy education, Evan and Laura Robb are here to help us see the value and purpose for putting in the real work and time it takes to learn our craft, and support kids the way they need to be supported. I couldn't be more excited for part two of this conversation! In part two, we discuss where public education is going wrong in how we judge quality literacy teaching, why teachers should be learners along side their students, and how modeling from coaches and leaders is powerful for both the teachers and students to see. As far as I'm concerned, this is one of the most important episodes Teach Me, Teacher has to offer. Do not miss it. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! If you enjoyed this conversation, I highly recommend my discussion with Dr. Mary Howard (who we mention in this episode.) About the guests: EVAN ROBB AUTHOR, PRINCIPAL, & SPEAKER I am a middle school principal in Clarke County, Virginia. I am a committed educator, progressive thinker, author, speaker, and fitness enthusiast. All learning begins with a question. The Robb Review Blog will contain my thoughts and thoughts of my guests about preparing our students for their future. This blog is focused on looking ahead, not looking back. Follow Evan here. LAURA ROBB AUTHOR, TEACHER, COACH, & SPEAKER Author, teacher, coach, and speaker, Laura Robb has completed 43 years of teaching in grades 4-8. She presently coaches teachers in reading/writing workshop at Powhatan School in Virginia and coaches teachers in grades K-8 in Staunton, Virginia, Long Island, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, and West Nyack, New York. Follow Laura here. Get her books here.

#91 The Real Work of Teaching Literacy with Evan and Laura Robb pt.1 Dec 17, 2018

Hello everyone! In a world where too many educators want the short and easy answers to literacy education, Evan and Laura Robb are here to help us see the value and purpose for putting in the real work and time it takes to learn our craft, and support kids the way they need to be supported. I couldn't be more excited for this one. Evan, Laura, and I discuss what balanced literacy education is, why kids need books and time to read them, and why reading programs are often the worst thing you can sit a struggling child in front of. As far as I'm concerned, this is one of the most important episodes Teach Me, Teacher has to offer. Do not miss it. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! PS: This episode was inspired by an episode on Evan and Laura's own podcast, which I highly recommend. Click here for more details. About the guests: EVAN ROBB AUTHOR, PRINCIPAL, & SPEAKER I am a middle school principal in Clarke County, Virginia. I am a committed educator, progressive thinker, author, speaker, and fitness enthusiast. All learning begins with a question. The Robb Review Blog will contain my thoughts and thoughts of my guests about preparing our students for their future. This blog is focused on looking ahead, not looking back. Follow Evan here. LAURA ROBB AUTHOR, TEACHER, COACH, & SPEAKER Author, teacher, coach, and speaker, Laura Robb has completed 43 years of teaching in grades 4-8. She presently coaches teachers in reading/writing workshop at Powhatan School in Virginia and coaches teachers in grades K-8 in Staunton, Virginia, Long Island, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, and West Nyack, New York. Follow Laura here. Get her books here.

#90 Teacher Self-Care with Dr. Woodly pt.2 Dec 10, 2018

Hello everyone! Today, we are diving even deeper into teacher self-care with part two of my talk with Dr. Woodly! This is by far the MOST REQUESTED TOPIC of the show, and I’m extremely happy to bring it to you today. If you missed part 1, click here. Teachers are stressed. Overworked. Guilty for working too much. Guilty for taking time for themselves. Worried they aren’t going to survive the next week, let alone this one. What to do? What about teacher self-care? I partnered with my friend Dr. Woodly from Urban and Educating for this question, and he brings some amazing advice we all need to hear. His points on teacher self-care are real, honest, and exactly what many of us need to hear. If you’re struggling right now and need a great reflection and pick me up, this is the episode for you. If you like what you hear in this episode, be sure to pick up Dr. Woodly’s book MC Means Move the Class: How to Spark Engagement and Motivation in Urban and Culturally Diverse Classrooms. It is worth it! Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! This episode was made possible by Stenhouse Publishers. Their commitment to publishing and producing great books and resources for teachers is truly remarkable, and it’s an honor to partner with them to support great content for the amazing teachers who listen to Teach Me, Teacher. As mentioned in the episode, Practicing Presence is filled with ideas, exercises, checklists, personal anecdotes, and practices you can use to reframe and establish a mindset that will enhance your focus and engagement in the classroom. When teachers care for themselves deeply and deliberately, they are better able to care for the people that matter most in their lives—their students, friends, and families. Practicing Presence focuses not on doing, but rather on being present in the life of the classroom. Each chapter includes self-care strategies to explore how to self-regulate, nurture self-acceptance, and promote compassion. This book will give readers the feeling of having a personal coach who provides suggestions and routines so that they not only can deal with being overwhelmed, but rise above it. Get the book now!

#89 Teacher Self-Care with Dr. Woodly pt.1 Dec 03, 2018

Hello everyone! Today, we are diving deep into teacher self-care. This is by far the MOST REQUESTED TOPIC of the show, and I'm extremely happy to bring it to you today. Teachers are stressed. Overworked. Guilty for working too much. Guilty for taking time for themselves. Worried they aren't going to survive the next week, let alone this one. What to do? What about teacher self-care? I partnered with my friend Dr. Woodly from Urban and Educating for this question, and he brings some amazing advice we all need to hear. His points on teacher self-care are real, honest, and exactly what many of us need to hear. If you're struggling right now and need a great reflection and pick me up, this is the episode for you. If you like what you hear in this episode, be sure to pick up Dr. Woodly's book MC Means Move the Class: How to Spark Engagement and Motivation in Urban and Culturally Diverse Classrooms. It is worth it! Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! This episode was made possible by Stenhouse Publishers. Their commitment to publishing and producing great books and resources for teachers is truly remarkable, and it’s an honor to partner with them to support great content for the amazing teachers who listen to Teach Me, Teacher. As mentioned in the episode, Practicing Presence is filled with ideas, exercises, checklists, personal anecdotes, and practices you can use to reframe and establish a mindset that will enhance your focus and engagement in the classroom. When teachers care for themselves deeply and deliberately, they are better able to care for the people that matter most in their lives—their students, friends, and families. Practicing Presence focuses not on doing, but rather on being present in the life of the classroom. Each chapter includes self-care strategies to explore how to self-regulate, nurture self-acceptance, and promote compassion. This book will give readers the feeling of having a personal coach who provides suggestions and routines so that they not only can deal with being overwhelmed, but rise above it. Buy the book now!

#88 Principles of Effective Communication with Kim Bearden pt.2 Nov 26, 2018

Hello everyone! I can’t possibly be more excited to bring you part 2 of this episode with Ron Clark Academy cofounder, Kim Bearden! In part 1, we really hit on the staff portion of effective communication. In this half of our conversation, we hit on the classroom, and how to support effective communication between the teacher and students. Both of us share stories from our past and current lives and how that influences how we approach communicating with students, and then Kim brings her practical and heartfelt advice on how to elevate our ability to communicate to the next level. If you’ve listened to the podcast for any amount of time, you know how passionate I am about the work everyone at RCA does, and it was an absolute pleasure to be able to record this episode for you all. I can’t recommend Kim’s book enough, or the Ron Clark Academy enough, so I’m just going to let the episode do it for me. BUT BEFORE YOU GO, make sure to sign up to our mailing list (right side) so you can be entered in to win a FREE COPY of Kim’s Talk to Me. If you don’t want to wait to win a copy, check out the book here. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#87 Principles of Effective Communication with Kim Bearden pt.1 Nov 19, 2018

Hello everyone! I can't possibly be more excited to bring you this episode with Ron Clark Academy cofounder, Kim Bearden! If you've listened to the podcast for any amount of time, you know how passionate I am about the work everyone at RCA does, and it was an absolute pleasure to be able to record this episode for you all. In this two part series, we discuss the principles of effective communication, as discussed in Kim's latest book, Talk to Me. We hit on why communication breaks down, where to begin when it's hard to start talking, and how the power of listening can revolutionize the relationships around you. I can't recommend Kim's book enough, or the Ron Clark Academy enough, so I'm just going to let the episode do it for me. BUT BEFORE YOU GO, make sure to sign up to our mailing list (right side) so you can be entered in to win a FREE COPY of Kim's Talk to Me. If you don't want to wait to win a copy, check out the book here. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#86 Teachers as Readers and Writers with Brendan Kiely pt.2 Nov 12, 2018

Hello everyone! Today, we are discussing why teachers should be modeling themselves as readers AND writers, with one of my favorite Young Adult authors, Brendan Kiely. Brendan Kiely is The New York Times bestselling author of All American Boys (with Jason Reynolds), Tradition, The Last True Love Story, and The Gospel of Winter, and together, we discuss why modeling being a reader and writer can be a powerful force in our classrooms. Penny Kittle often talks about how the teacher is the best writer in the room, so they should model their thoughts, feelings, and struggles aloud with their students. Brenden and I dive into this idea, and share how this works when we are working with students, as well as why we think you should practice this as well. We also reference the episode I did with Jeff Anderson, as well as discuss the AMAZING On Writing, by Stephen King, a must for anyone looking for writing inspiration. I think this is a great book for teachers feeling shy or unsure about sharing their own writing with their students. If you’ve ever read a Brendan Kiely novel, or if you care about diversifying your school/classroom library to incorporate fiction that speaks to your students, you’re in for a treat with this talk. If you’ve never read a Brendan Kiely novel, you’re still in for a treat, but I need you to grab one of his books and see his great work for yourself. Click on the images below to check out his work! Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#85 Teens Need Diverse Fiction with Brendan Kiely pt.1 Nov 05, 2018

Hello everyone! Today, we are discussing why teens need diverse fiction, with one of my favorite Young Adult authors, Brendan Kiely. Brendan Kiely is The New York Times bestselling author of All American Boys (with Jason Reynolds), Tradition, The Last True Love Story, and The Gospel of Winter, and together, we discuss the power fiction can have in our student's lives, and why we should make our libraries as diverse as the kids in our classrooms. Before Brendan found success with his fiction, he taught in schools in New York. This background of his allowed our talk to branch beyond author to teacher, and into a deeper world of really asking the tough questions about the role literature has in our schools, why certain books are necessary (even if they're controversial), and how we should be using modern fiction to inspire kids to check out the classics, not the other way around. If you've ever read a Brendan Kiely novel, or if you care about diversifying your school/classroom library to incorporate fiction that speaks to your students, you're in for a treat with this talk. If you've never read a Brendan Kiely novel, you're still in for a treat, but I need you to grab one of his books and see his great work for yourself. Click on the images below to check out his work! Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#84 A Ron Clark Academy Reflection with ABubblyClassroom pt.2 Oct 29, 2018

Hello everyone! Today we are taking part in part 2 of our Ron Clark Academy Reflection with @abubblyclassroom, otherwise known as Brianna Johnson. Brianna has become one of my friends over on Instagram, and I got a chance to sit down with her for an hour to discuss her trip to The Ron Clark Academy! We recorded this episode all the way back during the summer, and I’m amazed at how much of our conversation connects to our teaching lives in October. A testament to the power of RCA, for sure. Throughout this episode, Brianna takes us through her experience (I share a little of mine from my trip all the way back in season 1), and we connect what she saw to the world inside of her school and classroom. I believe reflection is the KEY to taking our practices and skills to the next level, and I love episodes where we get to do just that… REFLECT! If you’ve ever been curious as to what the RCA experience is all about, this is a great place to start. Enjoy! PS: We mention books by both Ron Clark and Kim Bearden in this episode. Because I love them so much, I’m linking them below for you. They are AMAZING resources. Just click on the pictures!

#83 A Ron Clark Academy Reflection with ABubblyClassroom pt.1 Oct 22, 2018

Hello everyone! Today we are taking part in a Ron Clark Academy Reflection with @abubblyclassroom, otherwise known as Brianna Johnson. Brianna has become one of my friends over on Instagram, and I got a chance to sit down with her for an hour to discuss her trip to The Ron Clark Academy! We recorded this episode all the way back during the summer, and I'm amazed at how much of our conversation connects to our teaching lives in October. A testament to the power of RCA, for sure. Throughout this episode, Brianna takes us through her experience (I share a little of mine from my trip all the way back in season 1), and we connect what she saw to the world inside of her school and classroom. I believe reflection is the KEY to taking our practices and skills to the next level, and I love episodes where we get to do just that... REFLECT! If you've ever been curious as to what the RCA experience is all about, this is a great place to start. Enjoy! PS: We mention books by both Ron Clark and Kim Bearden in this episode. Because I love them so much, I'm linking them below for you. They are AMAZING resources. Just click on the pictures!

#82 Lead Meaningful Race Conversations with Matthew Kay pt.2 Oct 15, 2018

Hello everyone! Today I have on Matthew Kay, the author of the AMAZING book, Not Light, But Fire, and we are continuing our discussion about how and why we should all step up and lead meaningful race conversations in our classrooms. It matters, now more than ever, especially if you're an educator in America. Teach Me, Teacher has never shied away from controversial or hard topics. This is a fact I'm extremely proud of in the work of the show. We took on Betsy DeVos all the way back in season 1. We discussed the lack of diversity in our curriculum. We examined the role of social justice in our classrooms. And now, we are discussing how we can have powerful and meaningful race conversations in our schools. I'm in love with Matthew's book. He writes with clarity, passion, and backs up everything he says with experiences or history that hits you right in the chest. As an educator in the world today, we owe it to our students to listen to what Matthew Kay has to say. About Matthew Kay: Matthew R. Kay is a proud product of Philadelphia’s public schools and a founding teacher at Science Leadership Academy (SLA). He is a graduate of West Chester University and holds a Masters in Educational Leadership with a Principals’ Certificate from California University of Pennsylvania. He is also the Founder and Executive Director of Philly Slam League (PSL), a non-profit organization that shows young people the power of their voices through weekly spoken word competitions. The PSL is the only season-long, school-based slam poetry league in the United States. Special thank you to Stenhouse Publishers for sponsoring this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, and supporting the constant professional development of educators around the world.

#81 Lead Meaningful Race Conversations with Matthew Kay pt.1 Oct 08, 2018

Hello everyone! Today I have on Matthew Kay, the author of the AMAZING book, Not Light, But Fire, and we are discussing how we can all step up and lead meaningful race conversations in our classrooms. Teach Me, Teacher has never shied away from controversial or hard topics. This is a fact I'm extremely proud of in the work of the show. We took on Betsy DeVos all the way back in season 1. We discussed the lack of diversity in our curriculum. We examined the role of social justice in our classrooms. And now, we are discussing how we can have powerful and meaningful race conversations in our schools. I'm in love with Matthew's book. He writes with clarity, passion, and backs up everything he says with experiences or history that hits you right in the chest. As an educator in the world today, we owe it to our students to listen to what Matthew Kay has to say. About Matthew Kay: Matthew R. Kay is a proud product of Philadelphia’s public schools and a founding teacher at Science Leadership Academy (SLA). He is a graduate of West Chester University and holds a Masters in Educational Leadership with a Principals’ Certificate from California University of Pennsylvania. He is also the Founder and Executive Director of Philly Slam League (PSL), a non-profit organization that shows young people the power of their voices through weekly spoken word competitions. The PSL is the only season-long, school-based slam poetry league in the United States. Special thank you to Stenhouse Publishers for sponsoring this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, and supporting the constant professional development of educators around the world.

#80 Tips and Practices to Build Literacy with Travis Crowder and Todd Nesloney pt.2 Oct 01, 2018

Hello everyone! Today we are discussing Sparks in the Dark: Lessons, Ideas and Strategies to Illuminate the Reading and Writing Lives in All of Us, a wonderful book and resource for teachers who want to ignite the fire that keeps their students’ reading and writing lives rich and rewarding. In part one of this episode, Travis Crowder and Todd Nesloney discussed the beliefs that formed the book Sparks in the Dark, and in part 2, we move into essential tips and practices you can put in place TODAY to inspire your students to become readers and writers. Sparks in the Dark is a beautiful book that needs to be read by everyone. Don’t forget to stick around to the end of the episode to discover how to win a copy of Sparks in the Dark for yourself! Or you can buy it above. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#79 Tips and Practices to Build Literacy with Travis Crowder and Todd Nesloney pt.1 Sep 24, 2018

Hello everyone! Today we are discussing Sparks in the Dark: Lessons, Ideas and Strategies to Illuminate the Reading and Writing Lives in All of Us, a wonderful book and resource for teachers who want to ignite the fire that keeps their students' reading and writing lives rich and rewarding. In part one of this episode, Travis Crowder and Todd Nesloney discuss the beliefs that formed the book Sparks in the Dark, why they wrote it, and the road they took to get where they are today. I love episodes like this one It's pure and raw. It's honest about struggles, and fierce about overcoming them for our students. Sparks in the Dark is a beautiful book that needs to be read by everyone. Don't forget to stick around to the end of the episode to discover how to win a copy of Sparks in the Dark for yourself! Or you can buy it below or in the link above. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! Travis Crowder, M.Ed., is a middle school English/Language Arts teacher at East Alexander Middle School in Hiddenite, NC. He has taught for ten years and has experience in both middle and high school levels. He currently teaches 7th grade ELA and social studies, and works with the gifted and talented students in his school. Todd Nesloney is the Principal/Lead Learner at a PreK-5 school in Texas. He is an award winning author for his work in co-authoring Kids Deserve It!, Flipping 2.0: Practical Strategies for Flipping Your Class and his brand new release Sparks in the Dark. He has also written the 2018 book Stories from Webb and published a children’s book, Spruce & Lucy. Todd has been recognized by the National School Board Association as one of the “20 to Watch” in Education, by the Center for Digital Education as one of their “Top 40 Innovators in Education”, by the BAMMYs as the “National Elementary Principal of the Year” and the “National Elementary Teacher of the Year”, by the Texas Computer Education Association as their “Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year”, and by the White House as a Connected Educator “Champion of Change”.

#78 The Moments Teachers Live For with DeAnna Morgan pt.2 Sep 17, 2018

Hello everyone! I am so excited to bring back DeAnna Morgan for part 2 (you can listen to part 1 here) to discuss why we should all be practicing what we preach and modeling the behavior and actions we want to see in our students, as well as hitting on the WHY behind what we do. DeAnna opens up in part 2 of our discussion about a powerful moment she had with a student, and it's truly inspiring. This is a timely and passionate episode, and one of my personal favorites. You owe it to yourself to listen and remember why you show up everyday for your students. DeAnna puts this outlook in such beautiful words for us to reflect on. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#77 The Moments Teachers Live For with DeAnna Morgan pt.1 Sep 10, 2018

Hello everyone! I am so excited to bring you DeAnna Morgan of Instagram fame to discuss why we should all be practicing what we preach and modeling the behavior and actions we want to see in our students. This is a timely and passionate episode, and one of my personal favorites. Overall, this is the core of great advice for teachers. We can't be lazy and bored and expect our students not to be. We have to lead any example! DeAnna puts this outlook in such beautiful words you would be doing a disservice to yourself not to listen. Plus, check out her art in this post. AMAZING right? Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#76 The 21 Day Game Changer Challenge (Monica Genta pt.2) Sep 03, 2018

Hello everyone! In part 2 with Monica Genta, we continue our discussion about amazingly small, but powerful ways, to take your class to the next level, and we are also discussing her amazing 21 day challenge for educators! I love Monica’s advice in this episode because it’s advice everyone can take to heart. It’s broad enough we can all learn from her, and deep enough that it will bring meaningful change to our lessons and practices. Monica is the author of two books, Game Changers and 180 Days of Awesome, a middle school science teacher, and nationwide educational consultant and motivational speaker. Her goal is to transform teachers, leaders, and schools from seeing education as an ordinary job into an extraordinary adventure. Genta feels that every person who walks into a school deserves to love their experience! She is a believer in finding awesome and celebrating life every day! Genta is full of energy, full of passion, and full of love for helping others on their journey in life and learning. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! This episode was made possible by Stenhouse Publishers. Their commitment to publishing and producing great books and resources for teachers is truly remarkable, and it’s an honor to partner with them to support great content for the amazing teachers who listen to Teach Me, Teacher. As mentioned in the episode, Who’s Doing the Work? Lesson Sets by Jan Burkins and Kim Yaris, is a collection of 30 short lessons that guide teachers as they encourage students to take ownership of their own reading development, and it is an amazing resource for teachers of grades K-2. You can check it out here.

#75 Take Your Lessons to the Next Level with Monica Genta pt.1 Aug 27, 2018

Hello everyone! I've brought on Monica Genta to help us spice up our classrooms and bring our lessons to the next level! I love Monica's advice in this episode because it's advice everyone can take to heart. It's broad enough we can all learn from her, and deep enough that it will bring meaningful change to our lessons and practices. Monica is the author of two books, Game Changers and 180 Days of Awesome, a middle school science teacher, and nationwide educational consultant and motivational speaker. Her goal is to transform teachers, leaders, and schools from seeing education as an ordinary job into an extraordinary adventure. Genta feels that every person who walks into a school deserves to love their experience! She is a believer in finding awesome and celebrating life every day! Genta is full of energy, full of passion, and full of love for helping others on their journey in life and learning. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! This episode was made possible by Stenhouse Publishers. Their commitment to publishing and producing great books and resources for teachers is truly remarkable, and it's an honor to partner with them to support great content for the amazing teachers who listen to Teach Me, Teacher. As mentioned in the episode, Who’s Doing the Work? Lesson Sets by Jan Burkins and Kim Yaris, is a collection of 30 short lessons that guide teachers as they encourage students to take ownership of their own reading development, and it is an amazing resource for teachers of grades K-2. You can check it out here.

#74 Learning How to Learn with Barbara Oakley, PhD (pt.2) Aug 20, 2018

Hello everyone! Today, we are learning how to learn with Barbara Oakley PhD, and giving away some FREE BOOKS! Barbara Oakley is an amazing advocate for learners of all ages, and has put together an amazing piece of work along side her partner on the project, Terrence Sejnowski, PhD. This book is all about understanding the brain and how it processes and remembers information, and putting it in a way that not only we can understand, but so can our students! A few of the points we hit on in this episode are: The importance of processing time Why ADHD exists, and why it can be a benefit to a child Science behind how we learn and why certain strategies JUST WORK! …AMONG OTHERS! I love Learning How to Read, I loved this conversation with Barbara, and I can’t wait for you guys to dive into this amazing detailed and insightful part 2. You can win a copy of Learning How to Learn by sharing your #TMTtakeaways on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Make sure to tag me (@teachmeteacherhost, @jacobchastain_ , Teach Me, Teacher) and use the hashtag so I can pick a winner! More details in the show. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#73 Learning How to Learn with Barbara Oakley, PhD (pt.1) Aug 13, 2018

Hello everyone! Today, we are learning how to learn with Barbara Oakley PhD, and giving away some FREE BOOKS! Barbara Oakley is an amazing advocate for learners of all ages, and has put together an amazing piece of work along side her partner on the project, Terrence Sejnowski, PhD. This book is all about understanding the brain and how it processes and remembers information, and putting it in a way that not only we can understand, but so can our students! A few of the points we hit on in this episode are: What the book is intended for Why procrastination is such a big deal and how to handle it Why the brain needs rest, and what that looks like in our busy classrooms ...AMONG OTHERS! I love Learning How to Read, I loved this conversation with Barbara, and I can't wait for you guys to dive into this amazing detailed and insightful episode. You can win a copy of Learning How to Learn by sharing your #TMTtakeaways on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Make sure to tag me (@teachmeteacherhost, @jacobchastain_ , Teach Me, Teacher) and use the hashtag so I can pick a winner! More details in the show. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#72 New Teacher Crash Course BONUS EPISODE Aug 12, 2018

Hello everyone! You asked, so I delivered! If you're a new teacher, this episode is for you! I gathered my best advice, as well as some great advice from my friends over on Instagram, Megan Medina of Beauty, Brains, and Other Things, and Rachel Fairchild of Chalk and Coffee, to help you in your new year. This is your crash course! Make sure to take some great notes, and continue to dive into the back catalogue of the podcast, because we have episodes on all sorts of subjects YOU need to make your year great. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! PS: Make sure to check out this episode on relationships in the classroom, and why they are so important!

#71 Social Justice with Megan Forbes (pt.2) Aug 06, 2018

Hello everyone! Today, we are continuing our talking about social justice in our classrooms! Megan Forbes, otherwise known as @toocoolformiddleschool on Instagram and Youtube , brings the heat again and helps us not only understand why we need social justice, but what it looks like in the classroom. In this episode, we discuss: That education is political, but it doesn't have to be partisan How to implement social justice into our classrooms A free lesson idea to encourage academic conversations about big issues This is an important episode, and I’m extremely proud I get to bring this type of content to the Teach Me, Teacher audience. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! For episodes on social justice in our schools, click here.

#70 Social Justice with Megan Forbes (pt.1) Jul 30, 2018

Hello everyone! Today, we are talking about social justice in our classrooms! To discuss, I brought on the amazing Megan Forbes, otherwise known as @toocoolformiddleschool on Instagram and Youtube ! In this episode, we discuss: Misconceptions about social justice What social justice is and isn't The difference between political and partisan Why we should all try to understand the power of social justice in school and our classrooms This is an important episode, and I'm extremely proud I get to bring this type of content to the Teach Me, Teacher audience. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! For episodes on social justice in our schools, click here.

#69 180 Days with Penny Kittle (pt.2) Jul 23, 2018

Hello everyone! It's time for part two with Penny Kittle! We continue talking about 180 Days, as well as: What do you do in a conference with a student? What are the other kids doing? How do you know if your student is becoming a better reader and writer? Are digital lexile programs good assessment data for our students? What is good assessment data? And much, much, more! You do not want to miss this episode! Don't forget, you can win a copy of 180 Days by sharing your #TMTtakeaways on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Make sure to tag me (@teachmeteacherhost, @jacobchastain_ , Teach Me, Teacher) and use the hashtag so I can pick a winner! More details in the show. Enjoy the show. Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! For more episodes like this, click here.

#68 180 Days with Penny Kittle (pt.1) Jul 16, 2018

Hello everyone! Welcome to season 3. I am overly excited to bring this episode with Penny Kittle to you. If you're in ELA, you probably know who Penny Kittle is. If you don't know who she is, you're in for a treat, regardless if you teach ELA or another subject. In this episode, Penny and I discuss her new book (co-written with Kelly Gallagher), 180 Days, and how we can better our literacy practices and deepen the learning of our students. We hit on: Beliefs that drive teaching decisions Why teaching a LOVE for reading and writing is paramount The power of modeling The need for conferencing with students ...and much much more. What's even better is that you can win a copy of 180 days by sharing your #TMTtakeaways on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Make sure to tag me (@teachmeteacherhost, @jacobchastain_ , Teach Me, Teacher) and use the hashtag so I can pick a winner! More details in the show. Enjoy the show. Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#67 I’m Leaving the Classroom (Season 3 INTRO!) Jul 09, 2018

Hello everyone. I'm leaving the classroom.

#66 The Heart of it All with Danny Steele (pt.2) Season Finale Jul 02, 2018

Hello everyone! Today, I have the pleasure of bringing you one of the most important episodes of the show, and the season 2 finale! If you missed part one, listen here. Danny Steele is a fantastic principal, writer, and speaker, and someone I’ve followed for a long time. I brought him on to talk about culture and empowering teachers and students, but we ended up talking about so much more. In this episode, we talk about appreciating teachers, supporting students, and the top 3 issues Danny feels are affecting our schools the most. You DO NOT want to miss this amazing close out to an amazing podcast season. Enjoy the show. Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#65 The Heart of it All with Danny Steele (pt.1) Jun 25, 2018

Hello everyone! Today, I have the pleasure of bringing you one of the most important episodes of the show. Danny Steele is a fantastic principal, writer, and speaker, and someone I've followed for a long time. I brought him on to talk about culture and empowering teachers and students, but we ended up talking about so much more. Yet, it's not the topics that make this episode shine bright, it's the depth that Danny speaks to. He speaks to the soul of an educator. He directs us back to the heart of it all--the why, and the how of what we do. Anything I say here is less than the amazingness of this episode, so I'll leave it here. Enjoy the show. Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#64 Know Your Why with Hal Bowman (pt.2) Jun 18, 2018

Hello everyone! Welcome to a FANTASTIC episode about how it’s important to not only know your why, but how it’s also important to use it to fuel your work in the classroom. To discuss this, I’ve brought on Hal Bowman, of Teach Like a Rockstar and Be The One fame. We hit on a lot in part 2, but specifically, we hit on some amazing self reflective questions we all need to be asking ourselves in order to get better, and make better choices for us and our classrooms. Hal Bowman can see the future, and he is determined to do all he can to change it for the better, one life at a time. He is certain that schools are the key to a better world down the road. “Every school can be a phenomenal school” is his mantra, and it shows in his actions. Most days, you are likely to find him with his shirtsleeves rolled up and doing at least one thing to make it so. He is constantly mulling over the possibilities while designing programs, road maps, and materials to help make it happen. Hal has dedicated his life to helping the nation’s best teachers and schools reach a new level of excellence. Each year, he captivates tens of thousands of students and teachers with his powerful message of hope and what can be. His attitude and demeanor may be unconventional and unexpected in the historically reserved world of education, but he is real; he is solid; and his deep and genuine compassion for students, teachers, and schools shines through. Check it out, share, and enjoy the show. Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#63 Know Your Why with Hal Bowman (pt.1) Jun 11, 2018

Hello everyone! Welcome to a FANTASTIC episode about how it's important to not only know your why, but how it's also important to use it to fuel your work in the classroom. To discuss this, I've brought on Hal Bowman, of Teach Like a Rockstar and Be The One fame. We hit on a lot in this episode, and it is definitely one for the record books. Whether you're a coach, a new or veteran teacher, or an educational leader, you will get something from Hal! Hal Bowman can see the future, and he is determined to do all he can to change it for the better, one life at a time. He is certain that schools are the key to a better world down the road. “Every school can be a phenomenal school” is his mantra, and it shows in his actions. Most days, you are likely to find him with his shirtsleeves rolled up and doing at least one thing to make it so. He is constantly mulling over the possibilities while designing programs, road maps, and materials to help make it happen. Hal has dedicated his life to helping the nation’s best teachers and schools reach a new level of excellence. Each year, he captivates tens of thousands of students and teachers with his powerful message of hope and what can be. His attitude and demeanor may be unconventional and unexpected in the historically reserved world of education, but he is real; he is solid; and his deep and genuine compassion for students, teachers, and schools shines through. Check it out, share, and enjoy the show. Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#62 How to Foster Relationships (Esther Brunat pt.2) Jun 04, 2018

Hello everyone! Now more than ever, there is a need for relationships in our classrooms. What some might call “the hidden standards” of teaching, need to come out in the open, and drive our decisions and how we conduct ourselves daily. It could be argued that the younger generations are less equipped to deal with emotions than other generations were. Due to the sterilization of human emotion they see in social media, they spend more and more time operating with ideas that aren’t exactly the most accurate way to view the world. This can, and does, cause many issues in their social and emotional development. Because of this, I believe educators should lead their classes with relationships first, then use those relationships to push kids into bigger and better places academically, socially, and emotionally. To talk about how to do this, I brought on Esther Brunat, a fantastic math teacher who has developed quite a following on Instagram for her stories and realness. Esther details how she thinks about relationships in the class, how she makes herself available, and just how exhausting it can be to do this correctly. If you missed part 1, you can listen to it here. You don’t want to miss this episode! Check it out, and enjoy the show. Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! For more insights into the power of relationships, here is an episode from season 1 about relationships and coaching.

#61 The Need for Relationships in our Classrooms with Esther Brunat (pt.1) May 28, 2018

Hello everyone! Now more than ever, there is a need for relationships in our classrooms. What some might call "the hidden standards" of teaching, need to come out in the open, and drive our decisions and how we conduct ourselves daily. It could be argued that the younger generations are less equipped to deal with emotions than other generations were. Due to the sterilization of human emotion they see in social media, they spend more and more time operating with ideas that aren't exactly the most accurate way to view the world. This can, and does, cause many issues in their social and emotional development. Because of this, I believe educators should lead their classes with relationships first, then use those relationships to push kids into bigger and better places academically, socially, and emotionally. To talk about how to do this, I brought on Esther Brunat, a fantastic math teacher who has developed quite a following on Instagram for her stories and realness. Esther details how she thinks about relationships in the class, how she makes herself available, and just how exhausting it can be to do this correctly. You don't want to miss this episode! Check it out, and enjoy the show. Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! For more insights into the power of relationships, here is an episode from season 1 about relationships and coaching.

#60 The Revolution in Education with Joe Dombrowski (pt.2) May 21, 2018

Hello everyone! Today, it is my pleasure to bring you part 2 of our episode with Joe Dombrowski, otherwise known as Mr. D, to discuss the revolution in education, and how and why you need to be a part of it. If you missed part 1, you can find it here. The world of education is changing, and Joe asks us a simple question in this episode...do we want to join him? What follows is a series of reflections on Joe's success after coming from his humble beginnings, and how his past fuels his present decisions. You can hear his passion in his voice when he talks about his first few years as an educator, and this shines even more when he discusses why he tries to do as much as possible for new teachers. In short, we need every passionate soul in the classroom. We lose too many great teachers before they ever find their groove, and many of the factors that drive these educators out can be prevented. Because of this, Joe has started The Mr. Dombrowski First Year Teacher Scholarship, which provides support to new, title 1 educators by stocking up their classroom with the funds and supplies they need to provide exceptional instruction to their students. As a fundraising effort, they have partnered with BookCameo which allows him to give you a personalized shout out! Check it out, and enjoy the show. Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! Mr. D rose to fame after his video pranking his students went viral, and Ellen brought him on her show. Since then, he has spoken all around the world, and is a featured speaker at Get Your Teach On.

#59 The Revolution in Education with Joe Dombrowski (pt.1) May 14, 2018

Hello everyone! Today, it is my pleasure to bring you Joe Dombrowski, otherwise known as Mr. D, to discuss the revolution in education, and how and why you need to be a part of it. Mr. D rose to fame after his video pranking his students went viral, and Ellen brought him on her show. Since then, he has spoken all around the world, is a featured speaker at Get Your Teach On, and he's the most aggravated ranter against Mother Nature I've ever heard. If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen my series of videos about what I see as the next NECESSITY in education. Mainly, that teachers and educators of all positions need to be branding themselves online via social media. This theory of mine has been fueled by watching the revolution happening in education on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, but it's also something that hits home in a variety of ways for me personally, as I see how much I can help my own students by becoming a bigger brand. The more people I reach, the more I can help my students and local community. Throughout the episode, Joe repeatedly demonstrates why you need to be on social media and networking with other teachers. He talks about how his online community has served as his "digital PLC," how it allows his teaching to cross boarders, how he's been able to fund his classroom, and how it quite truly changed his life forever. Joe doesn't think EVERY teacher needs to be a social media personality or brand, but he does think every teacher needs to be on and connecting with other teachers. Personally, I feel a little more strongly than Mr. D about why teachers should be branding their own style, personality, and classroom. I speak strongly about doing it, and I think if you want to be relevant or make a difference in education in the coming years, it's a must. Though, I understand why many people don't want to. To each his own, I suppose, but I imagine most of my audience sees why they need to be out there and showing their work to others... There is no better place to learn, adapt, engage, and help others than to be on social media and networking with other educators. If you truly want to be where the action is, and be a part of the revolution in education, then you need to be on social media, branding yourself, and rising to the new levels great educators all over the world are already setting for the rest of us. I could go on and on about why you should be on social media, and how you could be using it to fundamentally change your classroom, school, and life forever, but I'll let Mr. D do that. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! PS: Make sure to check out The Mr. Dombrowski First Year Teacher Scholarship, which provides support to new, title 1 educators by stocking up their classroom with the funds and supplies they need to provide exceptional instruction to their students. As a fundraising effort, they have partnered with BookCameo which allows him to give you a personalized shout out! Check it out!

#58 How to be a Maniac in the Middle (pt.2) May 07, 2018

Hello everyone! Today, it is my pleasure to bring back Josie Bensko, otherwise known as @MANIACSINTHEMIDDLE , for PART 2 of the episode, to discuss how she gets her kids moving, how she thinks about her lesson plans, and a little bit about the power of INSTAGRAM. I just can't say enough about this episode (which is proven, if you listen to my ending ramble about it). Josie is absolutely amazing, and deserves everything that comes her way. Personally, this talk changed a lot about how I'm going about using social media to empower and inform my practices. I think it will help you do the same. Let me know what you get from this episode! My inbox is always open for you guys. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#57 How to be a Maniac in the Middle (pt.1) Apr 30, 2018

Hello everyone! Today, it is my pleasure to bring you Josie Bensko, otherwise known as @MANIACSINTHEMIDDLE , to discuss how she gets her kids moving to foster that much needed student engagement. If you're not on Instagram, or just haven't come across her yet, you're missing out. Josie is one of my favorite teachers to watch. Her energy and her style of teaching is inspiring, but it's her ability to get kids to learn through experiences that really get me. More and more, educators are realizing that talking at kids isn't the way to get them to learn. The problem is though (and this was true for me too), we don't always know how to make the shift from direct teaching only, to letting kids learn through discovery, movement, and inquiry. If this sounds like you, this episode is the perfect tool. Josie's honesty about what she does, why she does it, and why it works for her students, is applicable to all of our classrooms, and something that shouldn't be ignored by anyone. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#56 Be The One For Kids with Ryan Sheehy (pt.2) Apr 23, 2018

Hello everyone! It is my pleasure to bring Ryan Sheehy back for part 2 of the podcast. Ryan is an Educator/Author/Speaker Elementary Principal @HighlandsMDUSD, and author of Be The One For Kids. Part one can be heard here. In this episode, we talk about the importance of parent involvement, administrative leadership, the importance of relationships, and getting away from excuses. Ryan comes from a sports background, and you can tell as he gets going on this episode. He speaks the truth when it comes to taking charge and getting stuff done, but he also speaks with authority as he helps us realize how important our jobs are. We can all make an impact. We can all be the one our kids need…RIGHT NOW. GET Be the One for Kids HERE Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#55 Be The One For Kids with Ryan Sheehy (pt.1) Apr 16, 2018

Hello everyone! It is my pleasure to bring Ryan Sheehy to the podcast. Ryan is an Educator/Author/Speaker Elementary Principal @HighlandsMDUSD, and author of Be The One For Kids. In this episode, we talk about administrative leadership, teacher leadership, getting away from excuses, and Ryan's amazing brand new book, Be The One For Kids. Ryan comes from a sports background, and you can tell as he gets going on this episode. He speaks the truth when it comes to taking charge and getting stuff done, but he also speaks with authority as he helps us realize how important our jobs are. We can all make an impact. We can all be the one our kids need...RIGHT NOW. GET Be the One for Kids HERE Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#54 The Negative Stigma of Being a Teacher (pt.2) Apr 09, 2018

Hello everyone! As much as I enjoy highlighting the big voices in the educational community, I love finding the new ones too. In this episode, I continue my conversation with Katie Tollitt of For Teachers, and dive into about as many subjects as we could. This is truly one of the best conversations of the podcast. You'll hear about new technology, ideas, insights into teaching at private schools and schools abroad, how and why to help other teachers...EVERYTHING. For Teachers, and Teach Me, Teacher, firmly believe that being an educator is amazing, should be celebrated, and we should all be aiming to help each other get better at what we do, no matter what. This is a fantastic episode, and Katie is wise beyond her years. Share and enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#53 The Negative Stigma of Being a Teacher (pt. 1) Apr 03, 2018

Hello everyone! As much as I enjoy highlighting the big voices in the educational community, I love finding the new ones too. Katie Tollitt of For Teachers, a new Youtube channel dedicated to helping teachers at all stages of their career, came on the show to discuss the negative stigma that has recently attached itself to teaching. This stigma is perpetuated by politicians, community members, and even teachers themselves. Well... We're not about that life. For Teachers, and Teach Me, Teacher, firmly believe that being an educator is amazing, should be celebrated, and we should all be aiming to help each other get better at what we do, no matter what. This is a fantastic episode, and Katie is wise beyond her years. Share and enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! Learn how to support the show here

#52 Putting HUMANITY Back into Teaching (The Weary Teacher pt.2) Mar 26, 2018

Hello everyone! Last week, Haley Curfman and I discussed how kindness is at the center of everything she does in her classroom. This week, we dive deeper into this idea, and hit on some connecting ideas which really focus on bringing humanity back into the classroom. Our students need more love, not more drills. They need more compassion, not more tests. They need more stability, not more data thrown at them. Our students need us. We owe it to them to be the best we can be for them. Share and enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! Learn how to support the show here

#51 Teaching with Kindness ft. The Weary Teacher (pt.1) Mar 19, 2018

Hello everyone! Sometimes, I really like who I get on the show, and sometimes I'm a big fan of the guest... in the case of Haley Curfman, also known as The Weary Teacher, it's both. Haley is an educator who embodies what it means to teach kids...she's kind, smart, humorous, and has an eye for the WOW factor that gets kids engaged. Her ideas and insights are truly worth listening to, and her energy is infectious. Inspiration abound in this episode, and you won't want to miss any part of it. Share and enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! Learn how to support the show here

#50 It’s Time to Talk About Diversity in our Curriculum (pt.2) Mar 12, 2018

Hello everyone! It’s time to talk about diversity in our curriculum, and I’ve brought on an educator from New York, Marguerite Thompson, to help us through this complex and hot topic issue. I found Marguerite after her post sharing her door decoration went viral. Just seeing it, a massive depiction of a black woman with big and grand hair, I knew Marguerite had something to say. Sure enough, I was right. In part 2, we dive deeper into diversity in schools, curriculum, and how biases come out even if we don’t intend them to be. This episode is a celebration of the people who are often slighted by the system as it exists, and a call for everyone to hear and be a part of the discussion. Share and enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! Learn how to support the show here

#49 It’s Time To Talk About Diversity in our Curriculum (pt.1) Mar 05, 2018

Hello everyone! It's time to talk about diversity in our curriculum, and I've brought on an educator from New York, Marguerite Thompson, to help us through this complex and hot topic issue. I found Marguerite after her post sharing her door decoration went viral. Just seeing it, a massive depiction of a black woman with big and grand hair, I knew Marguerite had something to say. Sure enough, I was right. We discuss diversity in schools, curriculum, and how biases come out even if we don't intend them to be. This episode is a celebration of the people who are often slighted by the system as it exists, and a call for everyone to hear and be a part of the discussion. (By the way, it's her birthday this week. Give her a big shoutout if you can!) Share and enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! Learn how to support the show here

#48 Solving the Culture Puzzle (Adam Dovico pt.2) Feb 26, 2018

Hello everyone! I'm just going to be blunt... I. LOVE. THIS. EPISODE. Adam goes into detail about how a school should go about solving culture issues, why it's important to tackle culture first, and how, even though he struggles like the rest of us, the work still must happen. The lives of our students and of our teachers are too important to ignore glaring issues in the culture of our schools and classrooms. We all have to work together to make it happen. Adam Dovico is an accomplished teacher, author, speaker, and professor. He began his career in North Carolina as an elementary school teacher, then worked as a teacher and the school implementation specialist for the renowned Ron Clark Academy, where he traveled across the country conducting professional development and on-site training to schools and districts for over 15,000 educators in thirty states. You can grab The Limitless School: Creative Ways to Solving the Culture Puzzle now. Share and enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! LINK TO THE BRIEF SURVEY

#47 The Limitless School with Adam Dovico (pt.1) Feb 19, 2018

Hello everyone! Today, I have the honor and privilege of bringing you Adam Dovico, a first time principal at Moore Magnet Elementary in North Carolina, and co-author of The Limitless School with Abe Hege. Adam Dovico is an accomplished teacher, author, speaker, and professor. He began his career in North Carolina as an elementary school teacher, then worked as a teacher and the school implementation specialist for the renowned Ron Clark Academy, where he traveled across the country conducting professional development and on-site training to schools and districts for over 15,000 educators in thirty states. In this episode, we discuss not only Adam's new book, but also what it takes to create great teams as a leader, make the right decisions, and even how to keep teaching when you're a principal. But truly, this two part episode is about culture, what that means in our classrooms, and how to make it the best it can be. Culture isn't on the admin to solve, it's on all of us. If you have problems in your school or classroom related to the culture puzzle, then this episode is for you. You can grab The Limitless School: Creative Ways to Solving the Culture Puzzle now. Share and enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#46 How to Change a Failing School (pt.3) Feb 12, 2018

Hello everyone! Today, it is my pleasure to bring you Sue Szachowicz, a retired principal of Brockton High School and now a Senior Fellow for the International Center for Leadership in Education, to close out our 3 part episode on how to change a failing school. She chronicled the turn-around of Brockton High in her book Transforming Brockton High: High Standards, High Expectations, No Excuses,and this week she is on the show to discuss exactly how she, and her team, did it. I can’t say enough positive things about this episode, as well as part 2 and part 1. Sue is a no nonsense educator. Excuses are cheap, and effort is king. It isn’t enough to want to change a school, you have to believe there is no other option. Don’t miss this one. Share and enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#45 How to Change a Failing School (pt.2) Feb 05, 2018

What if I told you about something revolutionary? Something so BIG, that it could literally transform your students and your school? Would you be interested, or doubtful? What if I said it was the most high-tech, costly product? ...but what if it wasn't? What if it was free? What if it wasn't technology? What if you don't need to visit costly seminars to learn it? In part two with Sue Szachowicz, we continue our talk about how she, and her team, saved their failing school with the power of their literacy initiative. We discuss her doubts about the process, criticisms she's faced about her approach being "cookie-cutter," as well as how she used basic skills, focus, and team work to accomplish a seemingly impossible task. I believe this series with Sue is going to go down as one of the best of the podcast. She's inspiring, honest, and above all, no nonsense about her approach. Got to love it! Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#44 How to Change a Failing School (pt.1) Jan 29, 2018

Hello everyone! Today, it is my pleasure to bring you Sue Szachowicz, a retired principal of Brockton High School and now a Senior Fellow for the International Center for Leadership in Education. She chronicled the turn-around of Brockton High in her book Transforming Brockton High: High Standards, High Expectations, No Excuses,and this week she is on the show to discuss exactly how she, and her team, did it. I can't say enough positive things about this episode and Sue. Sue is a no nonsense educator. Excuses are cheap. Effort is king. Science is superior. It isn't enough to want to change a school, you have to believe there is no other option...even if there are toxic people who resist getting better, and resist making the school better. Don't miss this one. Share and enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#43 Stories From Webb (Todd Nesloney pt. 2) Jan 22, 2018

Hello everyone! Last week, I talked about how I had trouble naming our two-part episode with Todd Nesloney, but this week is different...because we dive DEEP into his new book STORIES FROM WEBB, and the amazing story behind this fantastic tribute to educators. But again, we didn’t just discuss his book on this episode, either. Truly, we discussed how community, and supporting communities, can be more powerful than any one book, idea, or person. We discussed how amazing educators are. We gushed over the Ron Clark Academy (both in part one and two). We give shout outs to all the teachers not on a podcast, or who don’t have books coming out, because of how great and amazing they are. We signal boost great educators doing their thing on the internet, like Adam Dovico, Hope and Wade King, Mary Howard, Kim Bearden, and Colby Sharp (part one and two for all). We unpack what it means to lead a school. We affirm what it means to be an educator. I couldn’t be more excited for you all to hear this two-part episode, and nab Todd’s newest book, Stories from Webb: The Ideas, Passions, and Convictions of a Principal and His School Family , as well as his other superb work, Kids Deserve It!: Pushing Boundaries and Challenging Conventional Thinking . Todd Nesloney is the Principal/Lead Learner at a PreK-5 school in Texas. He is an award winning author for his work in co-authoring “Kids Deserve It!” and “Flipping 2.0: Practical Strategies for Flipping Your Class” and his brand new release “Stories from Webb”. He has also published a children’s book, “Spruce & Lucy”. Todd has been recognized by the National School Board Association as one of the “20 to Watch” in Education, by the Center for Digital Education as one of their “Top 40 Innovators in Education”, by the BAMMYs as the “National Elementary Principal of the Year” and the “National Elementary Teacher of the Year”, by the Texas Computer Education Association as their “Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year”, and by the White House as a Connected Educator “Champion of Change”. Enjoy! See you next week. Don’t forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#42 The Power of Community with Todd Nesloney pt.1 Jan 15, 2018

Hello everyone! I had trouble naming this two-part episode with Todd Nesloney. On one hand, I wanted to simply call it, Stories From Webb, since that's the name of Todd's fantastic new book. But as I edited the show this week, I realized this discussion was bigger than that. We didn't just discuss his book. Truly, we discussed how community, and supporting communities, can be more powerful than any one book, idea, or person. We discussed how amazing educators are. We gushed over the Ron Clark Academy (both in part one and two). We give shout outs to all the teachers not on a podcast, or who don't have books coming out, because of how great and amazing they are. We signal boost great educators doing their thing on the internet, like Adam Dovico, Hope and Wade King, Mary Howard, Kim Bearden, and Colby Sharp (part one and two for all). We unpack what it means to lead a school. We affirm what it means to be an educator. I couldn't be more excited for you all to hear this two-part episode, and nab Todd's newest book, Stories from Webb: The Ideas, Passions, and Convictions of a Principal and His School Family, as well as his other superb work, Kids Deserve It!: Pushing Boundaries and Challenging Conventional Thinking. Todd Nesloney is the Principal/Lead Learner at a PreK-5 school in Texas. He is an award winning author for his work in co-authoring “Kids Deserve It!” and “Flipping 2.0: Practical Strategies for Flipping Your Class” and his brand new release “Stories from Webb”. He has also published a children’s book, “Spruce & Lucy”. Todd has been recognized by the National School Board Association as one of the “20 to Watch” in Education, by the Center for Digital Education as one of their “Top 40 Innovators in Education”, by the BAMMYs as the “National Elementary Principal of the Year” and the “National Elementary Teacher of the Year”, by the Texas Computer Education Association as their “Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year”, and by the White House as a Connected Educator “Champion of Change”. Enjoy! See you next week. Don't forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes!

#41 Do We Care About Our Teachers? pt.2 Jan 08, 2018

Hello everyone! It's no secret that teaching is hard. Stress builds. Hours grow long, as the papers pile up. Mandates and emails come at us faster than we can process them...all the while teachers are thinking, "What about me?" In this episode, we continue our talk from last week with Amy Fast, and dive deeper into teacher wellbeing, and how administrators, and colleagues, can help teachers be the best they can be. If you’ve ever felt taken advantage of, asked to do more than you can manage, or simply ignored, this episode is for you, and the people making you feel that way. Enjoy! Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes so you never miss an episode!

#40 Do We Care About Our Teachers? pt.1 Jan 01, 2018

Do we care about our teachers? Do we make sure to take their wellbeing into account, or do we keep asking more of them, never bothering to fill their tanks back up? Amy Fast, an Assistant Principal and passionate voice on Twitter, has a lot to say on this subject. With an honesty that's refreshing and inspiring, Amy holds nothing back as she discusses the state of teachers, how many places aren't treating educators the way they deserve, and what we can do to mend this wound in our amazing field. Many of the points she makes on this episode, and more, can be found in her book, It's the Mission Not the Mandates: Defining the Purpose of Public Education. If you've ever felt taken advantage of, asked to do more than you can manage, or simply ignored, this episode is for you, and the people making you feel that way. Share and enjoy! Don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes so you never miss an episode!

#39 Telling our Stories with Colby Sharp Dec 19, 2017

Hello everyone! As more and more news outlets decide to condemn schools, more and more politicians find it to their liking to tell their version of what public education is (and is not,) it's becoming extremely important for teachers and administrators to step outside of their bubbles and share their stories. I'd argue that educators don't control their narrative right now. Everyone outside of us, the people who want to have a say in our pay, our funding, and how we are held "accountable," control it. I think it's time to take that control back, and I brought Colby Sharp to the podcast to help tell us why. Colby is a fifth grade teacher in Parma, Michigan. He's been a classroom teacher since 2006. In 2011, he started the Nerdy Book Club blog with friend of the show Donalyn Miller. He co-hosts The Yarn podcast with Teacher Librarian Travis Jonker. He also serves on the Nerd Camp, a free literacy event that takes place in Parma, Michigan each summer. His first book, The Creativity Project, hits shelves April 10, 2018. In this episode, Colby says, "We need to share our stories, because if we aren't sharing our stories, other people will," and continues by sharing why he creates the many projects he does, and how it all goes back to helping the kids. I couldn't recommend this episode more. I believe in the message of this episode, and I believe in the power of sharing what we do as educators...Someone will either way, wouldn't you want it to be us? As an added bonus to the conversation, we also briefly discuss his work in his classroom, his philosophy with teaching ELA, and all about his desire to give kids the love of reading. Enjoy!

#38 Jeff Anderson & The Patterns of Power Dec 04, 2017

Hello everyone! Teach Me, Teacher has been around for about a year and half, and I'm amazed at how many great educators I have had the pleasure to speak with. Local gems, like the fantastic Alan Small and Andrew Simmons, to names such as Donalyn Miller and Mary Howard (by the way, limiting that list to just a few names was extremely difficult.) In any case, today, I get to add to the list of AWESOME educators I've got to discuss teaching with. Jeff Anderson, also known as The Write Guy, is a phenom of writing education. His method of "Inviting" writers to notice patterns, and then use those patterns in their own writing, is a powerful force in the classroom. I've seen it in my own classroom, and thousands of educators around the world are finding success with his techniques. I brought him on the show to discuss his newest book, The Patterns of Power, but we also hit on his philosophy with teaching writing, what teachers should do (and stop doing,) and how we should embrace the messiness of writing education. He also corrects me on the proper way to say "aaawwubbis," which was WIN all to itself. Teachers, enjoy and SHARE this one. It's one of the best of the podcast, and you'll get something from Jeff's deep insight into how to teach writing in your classrooms. Enjoy!

#37 Classroom Transformations Nov 20, 2017

Hello everyone! I've been wanting to record an episode on classroom transformations for a while now, so I'm super pumped to get this one out to you guys. I was lucky enough to discuss transformations with Ashleigh Estes, a 4th grade Science teacher in Aledo ISD, and we discussed everything from our most recent transformations, to The Ron Clark Academy and Hope King,to why teachers should be inspired to try something a little "crazy" in their classrooms. Enjoy!

#36 13.4 Billion Dollars a Year on Standardized Tests Nov 08, 2017

Hello everyone! In connection to our last episode about standardized tests (and should teachers hate it,) we have another episode about testing, but this time we dive into the money behind standardized tests, and why you should pay attention to your federal and local politics. You might have seen the figure of 13.4 billion dollars floating around the internet, when talking about the cost of standardized testing in Texas. I did, and that's why I reached out to the guy who created the figure, Michael Messer, and picked his brain about where this number comes from, and why we should all care about it. A deeply fascinating episode, this is one you should listen to, and then share with anyone who has ever asked about the cost of standardized tests in our schools. Enjoy!

#35 Should Teachers Hate Standardized Testing? Oct 24, 2017

Hello everyone! We hear about it everywhere...The test. Whatever state you're in might change what test you're talking about, but it follows us. It infects our teaching, our conversations, and even how we view our jobs. But is standardized testing as bad as so many make it out to be? Let's find out. Jeff Farely, a Texas principal, has a lot to say on the matter. He tackles why standardized testing exists, how teachers should think about it, and spends a considerable amount of time unpacking the loaded language we use when talking about "the test." You'll want to listen to this episode, and then share it with every educator you can. Jeff gives us an insight much needed in our job. Let me know what you think of the episode on Twitter, @jacobchastain_ Enjoy!

#34 Fearless Learning with Dr. Mary Howard (pt.2) Oct 09, 2017

"I don't want our conversations to be about strategies, I want them to be about practices." And this is probably that best summary of my discussion with Dr. Mary Howard. Every word Dr. Howard says is fueled with passion and insight. I can't tell you how much fun I had bringing this two-part episode to you all. In this episode, we continue our discussion about Fearless Learning, and how she is helping educators find that zone of fearlessness through Good 2 Great Twitter chats (#G2Great), as well as other tools for educators. Dr. Howard's insight into how to lead conversations among educators is the highlight of this talk. We spend so much time talking about agenda items, that we never, or rarely, get to the 'why' we do what we do, and what that should look like in our classrooms. It's my hope that every educator who listens to this episode, teacher or admin or academic coach, brings back some of her ideas to inspire their fellow teachers to do what they do best...learn and inspire others to do the same. About Dr. Mary Howard: Dr. Mary Howard is known throughout North America as a leading expert in literacy, presenting seminars as an independent consultant and for the Bureau of Education and Research (www.ber.org) in all fifty states and across Canada. Mary has worked with countless educators to create a research-based literacy program grounded in the current brain research. An educator for more than forty years, she combines years of classroom experience as an elementary grade 1-6 special educator, grade K-12 reading tutor, reading specialist and Reading Recovery teacher with a multitude of experiences as a reading consultant, university reading instructor, professional storyteller, author and nationwide lecturer. Her blend of research and practical application has led many to describe her as a teachers’ teacher, demonstrating a clear understanding of the realities of the classroom by translating research into practice. Mary’s seminars are fast-paced and inspiring, filled with engaging strategies that can be immediately implemented into the existing curriculum. Her no-nonsense approach provides teachers with a deeper understanding of the learning process in order to transform the teaching process into a powerful tool to maximize the potential of every child. Get Mary’s Books here

#33 Fearless Learning with Dr. Mary Howard (pt.1) Sep 25, 2017

Hello everyone! I can’t believe this show gets to release content like this... Dr. Mary Howard is a professional who is astounding in her insight, her dedication, and her effectiveness in communicating with educators. If you haven't run into her on Twitter, you've probably run into the hashtag she co-created, #G2Great. If not, you're in for a real treat for this two part epic. This episode is the piece that most clearly exemplifies why I created Teach Me, Teacher. It is an episode about empowering educators to grow, to learn, and to fight for their profession in the best way they can...by getting BETTER. I needed to hear what Dr. Mary Howard had to say on this episode, and so do you. Her literacy minded message, and her advice on how to grow professionally are among the best words I've heard on the subject. Enjoy and SHARE SHARE SHARE! About Mary: Dr. Mary Howard is known throughout North America as a leading expert in literacy, presenting seminars as an independent consultant and for the Bureau of Education and Research (www.ber.org) in all fifty states and across Canada. Mary has worked with countless educators to create a research-based literacy program grounded in the current brain research. An educator for more than forty years, she combines years of classroom experience as an elementary grade 1-6 special educator, grade K-12 reading tutor, reading specialist and Reading Recovery teacher with a multitude of experiences as a reading consultant, university reading instructor, professional storyteller, author and nationwide lecturer. Her blend of research and practical application has led many to describe her as a teachers’ teacher, demonstrating a clear understanding of the realities of the classroom by translating research into practice. Mary's seminars are fast-paced and inspiring, filled with engaging strategies that can be immediately implemented into the existing curriculum. Her no-nonsense approach provides teachers with a deeper understanding of the learning process in order to transform the teaching process into a powerful tool to maximize the potential of every child. Get Mary's Books here

#32 Teach Online Today Sep 11, 2017

Hello everyone! Teach Me, Teacher is all about elevating the voices of teachers IN the classroom. But what happens when that classroom isn't traditional? What happens when great educators are forced out of the classroom, or have to choose not to be? Today, we bring you an episode that deals with those questions and more. Joanne Kaminski is a veteran in reading education, and has a wealth of knowledge about how she made the transition from teaching in the classroom to online tutoring, and why. Her success is sure to inspire many of you, and even help guide you if you find yourself needing, or wanting, a way to keep doing what you love, even though something might be in the way. If you'd like to check out what Joanne does, check out her site here. She also helps run a great Facebook page for online tutors here. Enjoy!

#31 Discrepant Events to Inspire Learning Aug 29, 2017

Hello everyone! I'm pleased to bring back Alan Small, author of The Science Club Handbook, to discuss how to WOW students into engagement. In this episode, we talk about what discrepant events are, how and why to use them, and practical advice for implementation into your already made lesson plans. I had a lot of fun on this one. Alan is one of the smartest educators I know, and he's always willing to help. FUN FACT: You can get a FREE copy of his book, The Science Club Handbook, by tweeting at him @TheFort_FW ... Get a copy while you can! It's brilliant, and it will help every teacher who wants to discover ways to engage students outside of the classroom. Enjoy!

#30 Donalyn Miller: The Power of Independent Reading (pt.2) Aug 14, 2017

Hello everyone! It has been a complete joy to release this two-part episode with Donalyn Miller. Donalyn is one of my biggest inspirations as a teacher. She changed the way I teach my students, and she is one of the "real deals" in education. I hope you have enjoyed this opener of season 2 as much as I have making it. In this episode, we dive even deeper in the weeds of an independent reading classroom, touching on conferencing, limiting reading selections, research supporting independent reading...and much...MUCH MORE (including one of the best rants I have ever heard in support of letting children read.) I can't stress enough how much you need to hear, and share, this episode. Donalyn Miller has taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grade language arts and social studies in the Fort Worth, TX area and was a finalist for 2010 Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year. In her popular book, The Book Whisperer , Donalyn reflects on her journey to become a reading teacher and describes how she inspires and motivates her middle school students to read 40 or more books a year. In her latest book, Reading in the Wild , Donalyn collects responses from 900 adult readers and uses this information to teach lifelong reading habits to her students. Donalyn is the founder of the annual #bookaday event and co-host the monthly Twitter chat, #titletalk. Her articles about teaching and reading have appeared in publications such as Education Week Teacher, The Reading Teacher, Educational Leadershipand The Washington Post. Enjoy. I have. Thank you for listening and supporting this podcast!

#29 Donalyn Miller: The Power of Independent Reading (pt.1) Jul 31, 2017

Hello everyone! It's finally here, episode 29, the first episode of season 2 of Teach Me, Teacher, and it is my biggest privilege to bring you Donalyn Miller for the two-part opener of the season. I mention Donalyn Miller more times than I can count on the show, and it was just amazing to sit down and talk with her for an hour and half about creating readers, the research behind independent reading, and everything in-between. If you are an ELAR teacher, you need this episode in your life. If you're not, you need to hear what she has to say about literacy and its role in the classroom. It's that simple. Donalyn Miller has taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grade language arts and social studies in the Fort Worth, TX area and was a finalist for 2010 Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year. In her popular book, The Book Whisperer , Donalyn reflects on her journey to become a reading teacher and describes how she inspires and motivates her middle school students to read 40 or more books a year. In her latest book, Reading in the Wild , Donalyn collects responses from 900 adult readers and uses this information to teach lifelong reading habits to her students. Donalyn is the founder of the annual #bookaday event and co-host the monthly Twitter chat, #titletalk. Her articles about teaching and reading have appeared in publications such as Education Week Teacher, The Reading Teacher, Educational Leadershipand The Washington Post. Enjoy!

Intro to Season 2 Jul 24, 2017

Hello everyone! Welcome to season 2 of Teach Me, Teacher! I have an amazing season for you coming up, and it is going to be BIGGER, BETTER, and MORE INSPIRING than ever before. In this episode, I talk about the changes being made to the show (the new theme song, to name one,) and some of the future guests coming on this year. I also spend some quality time thanking you (the listeners) of the show, so if you're in need of some positive words your way, make sure to tune in. Please enjoy the episode. Time to get HYPED!

#28 The Ron Clark Academy (S1 Finale pt.2) Jun 26, 2017

Hello everyone! It's been an amazing first year of podcasting. I wasn't sure where this show was going to go, but with all the love being shown for it, I know it will continue on well into the future. But enough about that (until the season 2 intro episode), and let's get to more Ron Clark! In this episode, Chris Cruz, Malyn Bannister, Lindsey Stewart, and I spend more time reflecting on what we got out of our experience at The Ron Clark Academy (if you missed that, click here), as well as dive into what changes we are planning to make in our own classrooms because of it. This episode is such a great way to close out the season. Most teachers are rocking their summer breaks right now, and for many of us, that means we are planning--or are about to start--the planning process for the next year. Hopefully, our reflections and goals can help you in some way! Let us know! And as always, Enjoy! PS: If you want to stay up to date with all announcements, scroll up and click the Twitter and Facebook links to stay in touch! I would love to talk with you all.

#27 The Ron Clark Academy (S1 Finale pt.1) Jun 13, 2017

Hello everyone! If you've ever been curious about The Ron Clark Academy, or wondered if the hype is all that it's cracked up to be, then here's your chance to hear all about what a two day trip to it consists of, and what 4 teachers got out of the experience. I couldn't have asked for a better way to end season 1 of Teach Me, Teacher than to have 4 educators energized and pumped to talk about our experiences at The Ron Clark Academy, and how it has changed our lives forever. Creating this podcast has been a blast, and the spirit of the show can all be summed up in the discussion I had with Malyn Bannister, Lindsey Stewart, and Chris Cruz, about our trip. It's the spirit that ignites the joy of education. It's the spirit of learning from each other. It's the spirit of pushing towards the next great thing. It's the spirit of why we do what we do... You can literally hear how excited we all were about the trip through this entire episode. And believe me, the excitement is still there! Enjoy part 1 of the season finale!

#26 So you STILL want to be a Teacher? Jun 05, 2017

Hello everyone! It's the end of the school year (for most), and that means reflection is in full swing. Our minds are swimming in questions like, Did I have a good year? A bad one? What awesome new things can I do next year? Do I even want to teach in August? Where's the nearest beach? ...You get the idea. In any case, this week's episode is all about answering the age old question: So you STILL want to be a teacher? #crazy Katie Warren and I sat down a year ago to talk about her first year as a public school teacher. This year, we took it a step further and talked about why we have stuck with it, and discuss why thousands of others are signing up to quit (the poison of negativity might just have an influence.) So if you're feeling down, doubting your career choice, or just want to boost your inspiration even more, this episode is for you. Let's start a #TeacherRevolution! Enjoy!

#25 Reading Myths Debunked May 23, 2017

Hello everyone! This week's episode deals with a few major myths about reading education that teachers and admin let thrive, when really we should be moving on to greener pastures. My discussion with Kate Nelson begins with our personal experiences with "The Myths," and then we expound on why they exist, why we should leave them behind, and how the basic cure for a system based on these myths is as easy as...wait for it...READING. Kate Nelson is the Literacy Specialist at Richland Middle School. She inspired our ELAR department to embrace Independent Reading as a foundation for great instruction, and I think it's safe to say that we are all better for it. I know my class was/is. Enjoy!

#24 Teachers Saved Me from a Family of Drugs and Violence May 09, 2017

I'm going to share my own story with you today. It's the story of how I was saved from a family of drugs and violence over and over again. It's the story of how I was inexorably changed by the many amazing educators in my life who took the time to care. It's the story of WHY WE TEACH. This is my testimony, and my most honest self, in honor of teacher appreciation week. Enjoy. PS: Thank you all for doing the work you do.

#23 The Growth Mindset Apr 25, 2017

Hello everyone! Exciting times are among us as we are reaching the end of the year! Can you believe it? As the year comes to a close, I like to look back and look forward, each to help myself grow as a teacher and learn from mistakes and successes. In this episode, Andrew Simmons and I do plenty of both as we discuss the growth mindset and how to get students to take ownership of their actions. In doing so, we also talk about Teaching With Love and Logic, learning to let kids fail, and reteaching students what "failing" really means in a class where growth is the ultimate goal. Andrew Simmons is a fantastic math teacher, and an even better person. You're sure to love this episode. Enjoy!

#22 Talking Shop and Problem Solving Apr 11, 2017

Hello everyone! Today we are talking with Lindsey Stewart of Richland Middle School, taking it back from the topical shows of late, and just having a good ol' conversation. In this episode, we talk about being teacher of the year (Stewart--YAY!), the need for coaching cycles (discussing ours), and how to use "Exitgrams" to formatively assess your students. We also detour and work through several of our own issues occurring in our classes, as well as look to next year and what we will each be doing in our classes, specifically Project Based Learning for our Pre-Ap classes. Stewart brings her energy and passion directly to this week's episode. You will not be disappointed. She's a blast! Enjoy!

#21 Let’s Get “Lit” Mar 27, 2017

Hello everyone! For this week's episode, WE NEED YOUR HELP! Kecia Dennis, of Richland Middle School, is building something great. She is celebrating literacy the only way she knows how, by creating a completely INSANE event for her students to show off all of their hard work, and to be rewarded for it. To do this the way she wants (and the way the kids need) she needs all hands on deck. I know the Teach Me, Teacher audience will show up in a big way! In the episode, Kecia details her madness by giving us an insider look at how she created "Let's Get Lit: Literacy Appreciation," and why she did it. By taking our call to action and supporting Kecia in her project and gift to her students (and the community,) you will literally be the change we all want to see in the world; celebrating literacy in communities that need it most. But we don't want it to stop with us. We want you to celebrate literacy in your communities, too. Listen in on the episode to discover just how Kecia is doing it, and how you can too! If you would like to contact Kecia, you can do so at the following: Twitter: @realengteacher Email: kecia.dennis@birdvilleschools.net Address: Kecia Dennis Richland Middle School 7400 Hovenkamp, Richland Hills, Tx, 76117 Enjoy!

#20 The Future of Education is Ours (The Betsy DeVos Episode pt.2) Mar 13, 2017

Hello everyone! Here is part 2 of our biggest episode ever, my conversation with Kathy Edwards of The Novus Academy. In this episode, we tackle several big questions, such as: Are private schools in competition with public schools? What happens when private education aims to help public education? Where did the "what if" go in education? Are vouchers nothing but the "boogieman," or do they pose a real threat to education? How should we all react to Betsy DeVos, and where do we go now? I hope you enjoyed this highly political, highly inspirational, visionary episode. Kathy is a true leader in education, and I truly believe we can all learn from her, regardless of what we believe about education and its future. Enjoy!

#19 The Betsy DeVos Episode Pt.1 Feb 28, 2017

Hello everyone! You didn't think Teach Me, Teacher would shy away from topics like this, did you? Doing an episode like this is tricky. I didn't want it to be one sided. I didn't want it to have a political agenda. Instead, I wanted it to be an episode for ALL educators, whether you're public or private, or something in between. To do that, I invited Kathy Edwards of The Novus Academy on the show to discuss everything from vouchers, to accountability in schools, the A-F system, a bloated educational system, private school vs public, and yes, Betsy DeVos and the role the Trump administration is choosing to play in the future of American education. Kathy Edwards is the founder and Principal of The Novus Academy and has too many accomplishments to list here. After Richland Middle School visited with her a few months ago and saw the great things she was doing with students with special needs, I knew I had to get her on the show. She did not disappoint. In fact, we talked so long and covered so many issues, I had to split the episode into 2 roughly hour and a half parts. Part two will air in two weeks from this episode! Enjoy!

#18 How Poverty and Trauma Affect Everything Feb 14, 2017

Hello everyone! Today it is my pleasure to bring you an episode that is sure to hit home for a lot of you. I sat down and talked with Siobhan Mulligan, an educator at Richland Middle School, about poverty and trauma, and how it affects schools and student achievement. Mulligan brought a keen insight into our discussion since she has worked in several schools where poverty was the norm, and has fostered many kids over the years, giving her a view from both sides of the issue. This episode was cut short due to a meeting I was suddenly called to, but hey, that's the life of a teacher, huh? :) I'm sure you all know the feeling. Anyway, enjoy!

#17 The Science Club Handbook with Alan Small Jan 31, 2017

Hello everyone! For today's episode, it is my pleasure to introduce you to one of Teach Me, Teacher's biggest advocates, and a fantastic educator, Alan Small. You will hear us talk about everything from the importance of science education, to creating experiences in the class that will keep students engaged long after they leave the classroom (or science club). We also dive into Alan's expertise with science clubs, and how to make your own. Alan Small is a Science Club organizer, STEM enthusiast, dissection aficionado, biology teacher, bug eater, and Family Science Night activist. As the author of The Science Club Handbook, Alan hopes to expand quality OST (out of school time) and informal science learning options for teachers and students. Formerly a science teacher, Alan now organizes science programs for Worth Learning Inc. as Curriculum Coordinator, and also facilitates STEAM programing for Castleberry ISD as STREAM Coordinator for the district. You can purchase Alan's book (IT IS FANTASTIC) HERE. (There was a glitch in the recording of the episode which made me have to chop part of the beginning intro, so pardon the change in format, briefly.)

#16 Curriculum and Instruction with Dr. Clark Jan 16, 2017

Hello Everyone! Hands down, this is the most important episode of Teach Me, Teacher recorded so far. Dr. Clark brings over 40 years of experience to our discussion and helps us dive deep into what it means to rediscover the art of teaching, and how teachers should view curriculum to help their classes begin to thrive. Dr. Clark joined Birdville ISD as Associate Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in May 2012. She is responsible for providing direction, evaluation and leadership for the overall curriculum and instruction program of the district. In this episode, we hit on what curriculum is, why teachers shouldn't be afraid to dive deep into their content, the importance of literacy in all subjects, and many, MANY, more topics. She also responds to one of the biggest criticisms of public education and you don't want to miss what she says! Enjoy!

#15 Teach Sensory Language With Music Jan 03, 2017

Hello everyone! We are back and ready to roll! I'm alone on this episode, so things are a little different, but it is still worth the listen (if I do say so myself.) In this episode, I talk about our 16th episode milestone, the future of the podcast, and I also lay out a lesson in detail that I had great success with in my classroom. The lesson is great for ELAR teachers of all grades and is easily modifiable to fit your needs. Make sure you have pen and paper ready because you'll want to jot down some notes! Enjoy! SHOW NOTES: These are the songs I used in the lesson. You can use the same ones, or spice things up with your own choices. Am I Wrong Original Cover Radioactive Original Cover Girls Just Want To Have Fun Original Cover Hallelujah (a million versions. I picked this one because they know it from Shrek.) Original (sort of) Cover

#14 How to Get Students to Read! Dec 06, 2016

Hello everyone! I've been gone too long! I've missed you all. I really have. But, to make up for it, we have an extra long episode today, where I have a conversation with my partner in crime, Mrs. Smithey! As is common for the podcast, our episode took a life of its own once we got going, so the intro doesn't exactly match what we ended up spending our time discussing. In this episode, we talk about how her past has made her the teacher she is today, and how that shapes everything she does in the classroom, from relationship building, to helping struggling readers gain confidence, and everything in between. I hope you have as much fun with this episode as much as we did making it. Enjoy!

#13 Use Instagram and Pets to Engage Students Nov 15, 2016

Hello everyone! We have an IMPORTANT episode this week. You will want to share it as much as possible. In this episode, I sat down with my friend and co-worker, Tony Moreau to talk about the importance of science education, teaching the "controversial subjects," and using Instagram and pets to engage students in the learning! Tony brings his awesome personality, ideas, and love for science in this episode and makes it one no one should miss. Enjoy!

#12 Recovering From a Tough Year Oct 31, 2016

Hello everyone! In this episode, I talk with Mrs. West about her toughest year, what went wrong, and how she came out on top afterwards. Not only does she open up and share her personal stories about how she struggled and why, but we also get to see how she recovered, and what steps she took to get her class back on track. This is a fantastic episode for anyone who is having issues, feeling burnt out, or wants to know that they aren't alone in their struggle. Enjoy! PS: Mrs. West was really nervous to be on the podcast. So, if you could, tell her how awesome she was. We all need a boost for our egos sometimes!

#11 Developing Lifetime Writers Oct 18, 2016

Hello everyone! Writing. It can cause stress for the teacher and the student. We push and we push and we push, and we end up not wanting to read final products and the kids don't want to write them. So... What do we do? Malyn Bannister (one of my favorite teachers of all time) is here to help us and teach us what she has been doing to transform her class into a class of writers and creators. In this episode, we hit on recent training she has received that changed how she saw her class, how she has used it, and what simple, yet effective, steps she has taken to get her writing class going. Enjoy!

#10 Great Learning Spaces with Flexible Seating Oct 10, 2016

Hello everyone! We took last week off due to scheduling issues, but we are back with a great episode. We are talking flexible seating (alternative seating) in the classroom. We hit on why you should consider changing your class seating, giving up control of certain things, practical ideas for your class, and a personal look at Jennifer Moreau's experience with changing her class, and how she pulled off such a big task. Jennifer is a fantastic teacher, and this episode is packed full of ideas, musings, and great teaching advice that is sure to help you somehow. Enjoy! Click here for a helpful blog post from Edutopia on the topic of flexible seating. PS -- Check out her room!

#9 Create Your Dream Class with Structures Sep 26, 2016

Hello everyone! This week's episode is all about having structure in the classroom and using structures to better the interactions and academic success of your students! Kecia Dennis of RMS is here to share her insight into what structure means for her, how she uses it to create a safe classroom environment, and how she uses structures specifically in her class to boost academic achievement. Kecia is brilliant in more ways than I can list here, and has filled this episode with so much useful advice that it's impossible not to learn something new you can use in your room. As a side note, we mention Kagan several times in this episode. This podcast isn't sponsored by them in any way or connected, other than finding the tools they provide invaluable for the classroom. Click HERE to visit their website and learn more. Enjoy!

#8 Serving Our ELL and Newcomer Populations Sep 19, 2016

Hello everyone! I am pumped for this episode. Today we are talking about how to better serve our English Language Learner populations and our Newcomers ! America has always been a home for families all over the world. Today, teachers are being asked to better serve these families more than ever, and we plan on helping you guys out in this episode. Cindy brings her expertise, passion, and insight to the table and offers everyone who listens some great and practical advice that can be used TOMORROW. Enjoy!

#7 The “Secret” to Classroom Excellence Sep 12, 2016

Hello everyone! Boy, do we have a great episode for you this week. We are talking about EXCELLENCE, and how to achieve it in your classroom, both academically and behaviorally. I sat down with one of my good friends and colleagues, Chris Alegria, of Richland Middle School, to discuss the "secret" to his successes in his class. Shocking, it's something that we can all do today. Some of us probably do. Many of us might not. In any case, his advice and passion (and humor) are not to be missed or disregarded. Everyone can learn from him. Chris was teacher of the year at RMS two years ago and has an astonishing number of commended students on his state exams. Listen to the episode for more details! Enjoy!

#6 Building Relationships with Coaching Aug 29, 2016

Hello everyone! In episode 6, we are talking about balancing coaching, teaching, and how a passionate educator can use both mediums to build great relationships with their students. The intro to this episode is hilarious to me because of how I stutter. Not sure what was the cause, but it makes me laugh each time. Also, this episode's intro isn't exactly what the conversation ended up being about. The goal was to talk about balancing coaching and teaching solely, but we ended up discussing relationship building far more. Perhaps, that's a sign of which is more important to a successful school year? In any case, this is a great episode, with one of my dearest friends, Mrs. Ha. You'll learn a lot from her during this hour. Her compassion and dedication is evident in every word she speaks. Enjoy!

#5 What You Need to Know About GT Students Aug 22, 2016

Hello everyone! School has begun! This means that we are all thinking about how to make our lesson plans better. To do this, we have to think about each student and group, and what their needs are. A group that is commonly misunderstood and worried over is our GT group. Lucky for us, John Bolles, the GT coordinator at RMS, is here to help us understand and serve these students to the best of our ability! This week's episode is all about GT students, how to approach them, and dispelling common myths surrounding these gifted individuals. Have trouble with differentiation? Don't really know what GT means for you, the teacher? This is your episode! Plus, John is a genius. Plenty of nuggets of truth embedded in our conversation. Enjoy!

#4 Educational Leadership with James Whitfield Aug 15, 2016

Hello everyone! In episode 4, we are talking educational leadership. This is a special episode for many reasons, but first and foremost, it is special because of its message. Principal James Whitfield of Richland Middle School (Go Rams!) has a voice and a vision that, at its core, rises from a servant's heart. His passion comes through with every word and his great attitude is infectious. Want to be a leader? Have anxiety when your principal comes into your room? Don't know how to approach your administration with an idea? We cover it all, and more, in this episode. Enjoy! PS: Stay tuned until the end of the episode for a special message from Whitfield to his team at Richland Middle School!

#3 Mindfulness in the Classroom Aug 08, 2016

Hello everyone! Ever wish you could still your mind or the minds of your students? Ever feel like you are just missing everything around you because of all the tasks that need to get done in the class? For episode 3, we are taking on the BIG topic of MINDFULNESS. To do so, we are sitting down with Staci Hammer, a vice-principal (and one of my dearest friends in the world) who has committed to a "year in mindfulness" over on her blog. Inspiring, thoughtful, and funny, her blog and this episode are two things you do not want to miss! New to mindfulness? No problem. We cover everything from clarifying definitions and explaining the practice, to applying it in the class, with staff, and even how the science of it all supports the practice. In the show, we reference a few things that I would like to link to below. Feel free to check them out now, after you listen, or as they show up during our discussion. Enjoy! LINKS: Scholarly article on the success of mindfulness in prisons Mindfulness in the classroom hub Further research on mindfulness

#2 Technology in the Classroom Aug 01, 2016

Hello everyone! For episode 2 of Teach Me, Teacher, we are diving deep into technology in the classroom. Melinda Bolles (Melbo) was one of my first mentors as a teacher and I was always amazed at how she implemented technology in her class on a daily basis. In this episode we talk about how technology can hurt and help engagement, discuss whether it is the solution for everything (SPOILER: it isn't), and how you can go about using technology in your class. We also discuss a few helpful tools for getting started with tech if you're a newbie, and if you're a seasoned vet. Enjoy! PS: Hate grading? You NEED to hear Melinda's advice on the matter!

Intro to Season 1 Aug 01, 2016

Hello everyone! I am so excited to share what we've been working on this summer. Currently, we are ahead of schedule, and each podcast has turned out to be filled with insight and helpful words from great educators. I have no doubt that you will walk away from each episode filled with ideas and inspiration (like I have). This episode is just a brief intro to what I'm calling "Season 1" of Teach Me, Teacher. In it, I discuss why the podcast exists, why I am spending my time with it, and what the future holds (cruise time!) for the show. Enjoy!

#1 So You Want To Be A Teacher? Jul 01, 2016

Hello everyone! Welcome to the first ever episode of Teach Me, Teacher! I'm super excited to let everyone hear the great interview I had with my colleague, Ms. Katie Ingram (now Mrs. Warren... YAY!) of Richland Middle School. In this episode, we attempt to debunk a lot of the myths about teaching (both as a first year and seasoned vet), and talk a little bit about why this is important to do as professionals in our field. From there, we dive into Katie's experience from her humble beginnings as a college student, all the way through her first year, highlighting successes and struggles along the way. This is a great episode for any teacher, new or old. It doesn't matter if you are excited to start a new year, or are feeling a little burnt out, this conversation is sure to lift those spirits. See you in the classroom! Enjoy! ***Want to listen to the podcast directly from iTunes? Click Here.

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