Hello everyone! We know that change is happening in our society. For many, this change has been difficult and has put strain on the very systems we support and are a part of.  In education, counselors are often a key piece to supporting students, staff, teachers, and families, yet what they do is often misunderstood. Like teachers, many believe they know what counselors do every day because everyone has had a school counselor. And like teachers, often this knowledge is rooted in a different time.  To talk about the counselor life and the realities of working in this field in today's schools are some of the best people I have ever met—Laura and Kim of the Counselor Accents podcast. Their show is amazing and their work is stellar and filled with heart.  In this episode, we discuss:  Why they chose to be counselors  The changes in schools Realities of what counselors can and cannot do ...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 Literacy Studio: Redesigning the Workshop for Readers and Writers, by Ellin Oliver Keene. Do your reading and writing workshops seem to fly by, with never enough time for your students to really dig into the work of either one? What if we could redesign our workshops to create more time for independent reading and writing, conferring, and choice? Welcome to The Literacy Studio, a new, integrated approach to reader’s and writer’s workshop. Here you’ll learn how to plan and execute lessons that weave reading and writing together into one literacy block, giving you much more flexibility to meet your students’ needs. Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/LitStudio.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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! 

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. 

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. 

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! 

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!   

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! 

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.

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.

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.    

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! 

Hello everyone. I'm leaving the classroom.

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! 

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! 

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! 

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! 

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. 

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. 

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.  

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!

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! 

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! 

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! 

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! 

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!  

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

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

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

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

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    

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

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!  

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!

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!

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!

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!  

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!  

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!  

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!

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!

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!

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!    

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!

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!

"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

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

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!    

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.  

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

  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!

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.)

  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!

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

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!

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!  

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!

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!

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!      

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!

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!

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!

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!  

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!  

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!

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

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!

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!

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.