We Teach Inspired!!

Latest Episodes:

The LED Project #89: Seek The Marigolds w/ Tracy Costa Aug 05, 2018

Show notes

We're just going to put this out there... we love Tracy Costa!! We got to know her during the Teach Your Heart Out Conference in Vegas and we're so glad she could come on the podcast to talk about the growth mindset. Tracy is just as excited about education as we are and it came through during our time together. Tracy tells the story of how she went from a bus driver to nearing the completion of her doctorate in education and how she strives to change the trajectory of her students lives. Tracy talked about the impact her fixed mindset teachers had on her and how into adulthood she felt that she just wasn't smart. But after finding Carol Dweck's book she transformed her teaching and learning by understanding the our brains can grow through our entire lives and our intelligence is not fixed. We also had the chance to discuss with Tracy how to maintain high expectations while allowing kids the opportunity to fail at tasks. Tracy advises all teachers to above anything else always view yourself as a learner and your students will follow suit!! Thank you to Tracy for coming on the show and thank you for tuning in!

The LED Project #88: Part 2 with Jose Cortez Aug 02, 2018

Show notes

This is part to of our conversation with Jose Cortez! In this episode Jose explains the importance for teacher to plan, prepare, and write things down. We admire Jose for what a thoughtful and quality product his planner is and how its having an impact on both teachers and students. If you'd like to learn more about Jose and his products you can find him online at www.berteauandco.com. We hope you enjoy the second half of our conversation with Jose Cortez!

The LED Project #87: Part 1 with Jose Cortez Jul 31, 2018

Show notes

This is part one of our interview with Jose Cortez of Berteau and Co!! In this part of the episode Jose opens up about the challenges he faced during his time in school moving between Mexico and Texas as well as what it was like to grow up a gay man in his schools. He also tells the story of how he went from a career in graphic design to the classroom after a medical emergency with his husband and how that propelled him into the success he has had with his planners. We're honored at the candor that Jose showed during this interview and we can't wait for you to hear it! Here's how you can connect with Jose: Instagram: @berteauandco and @classroomtopia www.berteauandco.com

The LED Project #85 with Katie From Teaching On Tables Jul 29, 2018

Show notes

What exactly does it mean to teach on tables?! Lucky for you Katie (@teachingontables) joined us on the podcast to describe her unique brand of art, theater, and taking that has become her calling card! During this conversation Katie tells the story of how a theater major at Notre Dame turned into her engaging style of teaching with help from the folks over at The Ron Clark Academy. Katie shares our belief that as teachers we are the #1 determinants of our students success and future opportunities and although her presentation may be over the top her practice is rooted in a simple principle--listen. Katie has developed her own voice as a teacher and gives you the advice that she used to do so during this episode. Although her dancing and singing may seem like a novelty they are far from it. The central tenant of her teaching lies in the idea that students expect the unexpected in her class. Not only does this allow for her to take risks in her teaching, but it provides the space kids need to develop their own voice as well. If you don't already follow Katie please do so because it will give you a visual of all the things she spoke of in this episode and thank you to Katie for coming on the show and providing such value to teachers!

The LED Project #84: It's a "Human" Field w/ Yannick Florest Jul 26, 2018

Show notes

For this episode we caught up with Yannick Florest (@soapboxvizzy)for a conversation about education and his amazing mixtape TEACHERS COLLEGE OR BUST (educatorlife.bandcamp.com). During on conversation we talked about the importance of reenforcing that every student has value and that we must provide them multiple avenues upon which to learn. Yannick discussed his on education in Brooklyn and the impact that teachers of color, especially male teachers of color, had on his education. He explained that the cultural sensitivity of these teachers to what he was going through allow him to shine in ways that he hadn't for other teachers. This lead us to a long talk about how we can get more men and men of color into the teaching profession and this is when he emphasized the humanness of the field. The more as teachers we validate who are students are as people the more options we help them to see in their future and our hope is that more young men will see teaching as a viable option. We're so grateful to Yannick for taking some time to be on the podcast and if you haven't connected with him please do so! If you'd like to help us out here's what you can do. Click on the link below and check out the fundraising campaign we launched for our nonprofit. We're just asking you to check it out : ) give.classy.org/theledproject

The LED Project #83: Significance of Our Words w/ Dwayne Reed Jul 24, 2018

Show notes

On this episode we were joined by teacher and Chicago native Dwayne Reed! We were blown away by the fact that Dwayne just completed his first year in the classroom. We chose to call this episode 'significance of our words' because Dwayne is one of the most articulate and thoughtful people we've ever met. Dwayne took a nontraditional path to the classroom and he continues that path as and educator. He creates and uses original songs and chants with his class to get them into routines and refuses to accept the status quo. Prior to his first year of teaching he reached out to the parents of his students and was able to meet with many of them before the year began. He says this was a foundational piece to his classroom culture as the students and parents both knew he was on their side. Among many other pieces of advice Dwayne stressed the need for teachers to have a strong sense of purpose and use that purpose to provide validation and affirmation to their students as both learners and people. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did! You can follow Dwayne online as @teachmrreed on Instagram and Twitter. If you're getting value from the podcast please to a minute to check out the fundraiser we've created for our nonprofit. We're asking for $1 a month for a year so that we can continue to add value to teachers at no cost to them. If you'd like to help click the link below. give.classy.org/theledproject

The LED Project #82: The Montessori Approach w/ Razan Abdin Adnani Jul 22, 2018

Show notes

On this episode we're joined by Razan Abdin Adnani for a conversation on the Montessori approach to teaching and learning, how we define discipline, and what we can do as educators to affirm the identities of all our students. Razan is an Arab-American and she discusses how it feels to often be labeled as an 'other' in our country and what impact she feels that has on students who are also labeled as 'others'. Razan talked about the isolation and pain that students feel when they don't have teachers who look like them or understand their culture and why it's so important for teachers to their students and communities to bridge the cultural gaps. She also describes the holistic nature of the Montessori classroom and how discipline in these classrooms represents our actions rather than punishment through authority. Montessori strives to be an environment that is more reflective of our society in its structure. We were honored to have Razan on the podcast and here's how you can connect with her: Instagram: @oustadarazan Twitter: @razanabdin www.razanabdin.com Thank you so much for listening and supporting our podcast! We launched our first fundraiser as a non-profit to help us continue to provide our services and add value to the teaching craft at no charge. Our fundraiser is called 1:1 and we're asking for people to donate $12 a year to support education and our programs. If you'd like to help click the link below: give.classy.org/theledproject

The LED Project #86: Collaboration Through Technology w/ Bonnie Razler Jul 19, 2018

Show notes

Hey Mrs. Raz!! We're so lucky to have Bonnie Razler on the podcast to talk about how to integrate technology into the classroom. Technology is not a gimmick according to Bonnie and she says it frees her up to create meaningful connections with her students. We had a really good conversation about the importance of technology in giving students access to all of the learning that is out there and show them all the options available for them in the future. I asked what collaboration looks like in her classroom as she teaches in a 1:1 school and she explained that there are very few days where it is quiet in her room. That might stress some of you out, but her 4th graders adapt to her culture of finding solutions themselves. She said that it puts them in a position in which everyone has something offer the group and everyone gets to use their skills. If you don't follow @hey_mrs_raz on Instagram and @bonnieraz on Twitter you best go do that!!

The LED Project #81: Teach With Tech w/ Danielle Knight Jul 17, 2018

Show notes

On this episode we catch up with our friend Danielle Knight before the start of her online Teach With Tech Conference (http://teachwithtechconference.com/). Danielle and her colleagues are bringing together 25 speakers from across the world to teach 25 sessions over four days on a variety of topics in the educational tech space. Best of all it is totally FREE!!! We're signed up and are looking forward to checking out the presenters and finding the technologies that are most applicable to us. We also got to talk with Danielle about her experiences teaching English in a SPED setting and how she uses technology not just to deliver content, but also to assess learning. She talked a length on how we as teachers can use technology to give students choices in their learning and their products. If you don't follow Danielle you can find her across all social media channels as STUDY ALL KNIGHT and to check out her resources go to studyallknight.com. And please if you're not signed up for teach with tech there is still time! Conference is July 23-26.

The LED Project #80 w/ Erin From Making a Statement in SPED Jul 15, 2018

Show notes

We were so fortunate to have met Erin at Teach Your Heart Out Las Vegas and she was kind enough to join us on the podcast! During our conversation Erin talks about growing up in school with a learning disability and how that impacts the way she connects with her students. Erin didn't know until college that she has Auditory Processing Disorder, so growing up she just thought she wasn't that smart, and unfortunately teachers told her so. That's what makes her story and the work she is doing now that much more powerful! Erin talks about how we can't drop our expectations for special education students because many of them are capable learners in their own ways. She works with mild to moderate SPED students and she works hard to help them realize their potential and get out of feeling helpless in their learning. We also got the chance to talk about her Peer Counseling class that trains students counselors to provide support to their fellow students, but only after they have spent a year working on themselves are the allowed to help others. Erin is doing incredible things and we're so glad to call her a friend!

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