Teach Me, Teacher

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#40 Do We Care About Our Teachers? pt.1 Jan 01, 2018

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Show notes

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

Show notes

"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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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!

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