This Teacher Life

Needing Engaging, Relevant, Fun PD at Your School? Let’s Connect:

Connect with Monica on social media:

How to Get ALL Students Participating & Asking Awesome Questions (All You Need is a Dice) Jan 07, 2024

Show notes

Do you want to get all of your students participating in class?

The answer is probably YES!

The question is, how do we actually do that?

We have all been teaching and then hit pause to say, “does anybody have any questions” and ZERO hands go up.

Then, only moments later, kids are saying things like “I don’t get it” “Can you help me?” “This doesn’t make sense.”

So were kids actually engaged?

In this week’s episode of the This Teacher Life podcast we talk about the pro-active pause that pushes kids to ask really great questions.

And all you need for this simple strategy is a dice!

I promise this idea will be a game changer for your students and school!

Episode Notes:

Learn 100’s of Classroom Engagement and Motivation Ideas in the Game Changers Course:

monicagenta.com/courses/

Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here:

Needing Engaging, Relevant, Fun PD at Your School? Let’s Connect:

Connect with Monica on social media:

2 HIGHLY Controversial Pieces of Advice about Goals & Dreams (If You Do These You WILL Find Success) Dec 31, 2023

Show notes

There is SO much hype around goal settings, resolutions, and dreaming big at the start of the new year.

Have you ever felt pressure to make a resolution and found yourself giving up only a few days into Jan?

Are you in the exact same place, mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, that you were at this time last year?

Do you ever get frustrated with progress (or lack of it) because you are so focused on perfection?

If you said YES to any of those things, you are not alone and this week’s episode of This Teacher Life is for you!

Here I am going to be dropping 2 super, strategic ways for you to find success this year.

And spoiler alert, these ideas take LESS work with MORE results.

Episode Notes:

Make this Year Full of Great Goals & Dreams with a Copy of 365 Days of Awesome:

monicagenta.com/books

Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here:

Needing some uplifting, awesome professional development at your school? Let’s Connect:

Connect with Monica on social media:

https://monicagenta.com/game-changers-course/

Old School Teaching vs. New School Teaching- Which is Better & More Effect for Kids? with Jack Berckemeyer Dec 24, 2023

Show notes

Paper assignments vs. computer assignments. Which is better for kids?

Stern consequences or flexible behavior options. Which is better for kids?

To allow AI vs. not allow AI. Which is better for kids.

Educators can debate and disagree on SO many education topics.

But, at the end of the day we have to ask ourselves, which is better for kids and their future?

In this special episode of the This Teacher Life podcast, guest Jack Berckemeyer and I discuss all of the philosophies of school.

This episode is challenging, hilarious, controversial, and loving, all wrapped into 30 minutes!

How many of the ideas will you agree or disagree with? Take a listen and find out…

Episode Notes:

Get TONS of New School and Old School Teaching Ideas Ideas Right Here:

Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here:

Needing some uplifting, awesome professional development at your school? Let’s Connect:

Connect with Monica on social media:

How Oprah and Reese Witherspoon are Making a HUGE Impact in Education (The Answer will Surprise You) Dec 17, 2023

Show notes

Oprah and Reese Witherspoon are known for their incredible book clubs. Each year millions of people read titles from their award-winning lists.

“Teacher Books” rarely make the cut. But what if I told you that there is actually SO much to be learned from New York Times Best sellers that we could use in your classrooms on a daily basis.

In this week’s episode of This Teacher Life I unpack 3 books that have “nothing to do with teaching” and prove how much we can learn from them.

The ideas, analogies, and reflections in this episode are going to blow your mind.

So, welcome to Monica’s book club. The next 30 minutes is going to feel like a page-turner.

Episode Notes:

Add these Awesome Teacher Books to Your Reading List:

monicagenta.com/books

Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here:

Needing some uplifting, awesome professional development at your school? Let’s Connect:

Connect with Monica on social media:

How to Overcome Teacher Mistakes and What We Can Learn From Them (Spoiler Alert: This is Actually Really Funny Too) Dec 10, 2023

Show notes

Have you ever tried to say one thing in your classroom and it came out completely different?

That comment may have cause your whole class to laugh. caused you to be embarrassed, or maybe both.

Teacher mistakes are a real thing and when they happen, we have to remember they don’t make us bad teachers, they make us humans.

But sometimes those mistakes end up being super hilarious!

In this episode you will hear about 3 real, raw, really “funny” things that have happened that caused some major laughs and learning for everybody.

Episode Notes:

Looking for some Last Minute Holiday Gifts for Teachers? Check out These Awesome Books:

monicagenta.com/books

Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here:

Needing some uplifting, awesome professional development at your school? Let’s Connect:

Connect with Monica on social media:

Don’t Make THIS Teacher Mistake in December (Plus a Positive, Pro-Active Way to Mend the Mistake) Dec 03, 2023

Show notes

Thanksgiving break is over and winter break is coming soon!

During this time of the school year we are SO excited because we have made it through nearly half of the academic calendar.

As teachers, we are probably day dreaming about things like sleeping in, family time, watching cheesy Lifetime movies, and staying in our pjs.

And let’s be serious, a majority of our students are excited about that too.

But, before that final bell of 2023 rings we have an awesome opportunity to capitalize on every single second with students.

How do we do that and also avoid a common mistake this time of year?

That is exactly what I’m tackling in this week’s episode of This Teacher Life.

I also give 2 simple, strategic ideas on how to proactively and positively end on a good note so all students are smiling and celebrating.

Don’t miss this heartfelt, motivational episode!

Episode Notes:

Build Rooted Relationships ALL Year with The Rooted Relationship Virtual Course:

monicagenta.com/courses

Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here:

Needing some uplifting, awesome professional development at your school? Let’s Connect:

Connect with Monica on social media:

The #1 BEST Way to Create Dynamic Discussions in Your Classroom (This Battle Will Also Create Rooted Relationships) Nov 26, 2023

Show notes

How awesome would it be if you could get 100% of students participating?

The answer is really awesome!

However, you might be thinking, is that even possible?

The answer is YES it’s 100% possible with THIS idea.

The full ideas is described in this week’s episode of This Teacher Life and I promise even your “difficult” “hard to reach” and “quiet” students will LOVE this.

Not to mention, this idea is perfect for both relationship building and creating strong connections to your classroom curriculum.

Don’t miss this ultra engaging episode!

And PS- if you happen to like chocolate you will like this idea even more!

Episode Notes:

Learn 100’s of Relationship Building Ideas in the Rooted Classroom Course:

monicagenta.com/courses/

Want Battle Bracket Bundles? Get Your Copies Here:

monicagenta.com/brackets

Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here:

Needing Engaging, Relevant, Fun PD at Your School? Let’s Connect:

Connect with Monica on social media: