We speak with the 2019 Teacher of the Year, Rodney Robinson. He doesn’t have a typical teaching assignment. The 19-year veteran of Richmond Public Schools works at a school inside the Richmond Juvenile Justice Center.

The "Mindsets" Lesson

Jun 13th, 2019

Teacher mindset is a buzzword in education right now. But what does it really mean to have the right or wrong mindset in class?

The "Like" Lesson

Jun 6th, 2019

A teenager gets put on blast on social media for peppering her speech with the word “like”. Why our teachers think using verbal fillers is and isn’t a big deal.

The "Adversity Scores" Lesson

May 31st, 2019

Can the adversity that students face be boiled down to a number? The makers of the SAT are going to try. Our teachers say that's both a good and bad idea.

The "Teaching Abroad" Lesson

May 23rd, 2019

Teaching abroad can have its perks…but are they enough to pull teachers away from America?

The "Segregated Schools" Lesson

May 16th, 2019

After San Francisco’s plan to tackle school segregation actually made it worse, our teachers discuss how our conversation around this issue needs to change.

Extra Credit: The "Student Journalists" Lesson

May 9th, 2019

A high school newspaper’s story about a student sex worker causes a national stir. Now the district is threatening to fire the newspaper’s teacher adviser. We get that teacher’s side of the story.

The "Anxiety In Class" Lesson

May 2nd, 2019

Schools statistically are safer than they’ve been in years…so why doesn’t it feel like it?

The "Fortnite" Lesson

Apr 18th, 2019

Some say Fortnite, the video game, should be banned. Our teachers say that’s a bad idea. Instead, schools should be learning how to take advantage of kid’s gaming passion.

The "Teacher Shortages" Lesson

Apr 11th, 2019

Teacher shortages have been around for decades, but new research shows it’s getting worse. What impact does that have on kids and classrooms?

The "Seeing The Signs" Lesson

Apr 5th, 2019

WARNING: This episode contains conversations about teen suicide. The number for the National Suicide Helpline is 1-800-273-8255.The specter of teen suicide is again in the news. Do you feel comfortable broaching that topic with your students? O

The "Achievement Gap" Lesson

Mar 28th, 2019

The achievement gap between rich and poor students has hardly budged in 50 years. Our teachers say maybe we need to redefine what “gap” even means. Plus, bathroom access is always a hot topic at schools, but are we hurting student’s health by r

The "College Admissions" Lesson

Mar 21st, 2019

A college admissions cheating scandal has shocked America. Our teachers say…you think that’s bad…how about all the legal ways the admissions process is unequal. Plus, “grit”…our teachers say there’s a lot wrong with how it’s being used in the c

The "Dr. Seuss" Lesson

Mar 15th, 2019

Dr. Seuss is one of the most beloved children authors of all time, but his place in the literary canon is being challenged. The reason has to do with history and race. Plus, Chicago public schools has a big problem with gangs…but our teachers s

The "Incentive Pay" Lesson

Feb 20th, 2019

The Denver teacher strike was focused mostly on complaints about incentive pay. Our teachers break down that idea. Plus, standardized testing…what is it good for?

The "Mass Incarceration" Lesson

Feb 13th, 2019 46m

THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE YOU HAVE OR HAVE HAD A STUDENT WITH A LOVED ONE IN PRISON. BUT WE RARELY TALK ABOUT HOW TO HELP KIDS DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF MASS INCARCERATION. WE FIX THAT ON THIS WEEK’S EPISODE.

The "Gentrification" Lesson

Feb 7th, 2019

Many city schools struggle with the g-word. Gentrification. But there are actual steps schools can take to get involved. Plus, norms about manhood are changing but our teachers seeing a difference in their male students? Three female teachers g

The "Class Size" Lesson

Feb 1st, 2019 42s

Class size was a big sticking point in the recent LA teachers strike. But how do you know when a class really is too big? And the Covington Catholic mess, some say it’s a teachable moment. If so, who’s getting taught and what are they learning?

The "Learning To Read" Lesson

Jan 23rd, 2019 40m

If reading is fundamental, why do so many American kids struggle with it? Emily Hanford from American Public Media explains. Plus, we know about the achievement gap, but what about the homework gap.

The "Teach-In" Lesson

Jan 15th, 2019 50m

The national teacher of the year calls the detention of migrant children at the border “abuse” and an “atrocity”. But she says teachers can do something about it. Plus, as American cities are becoming less segregated…are schools following suit?

The "Happy Schools" Lesson

Jan 8th, 2019 41m

A Kansas teenager is set to graduate from his high school, and Harvard University this spring…at the same time. We have a whole lot of questions. Plus, is your school a happy place? Does it need to be in order to be successful? Our teacher’s an

The "Charter School Tensions" Lesson

Dec 18th, 2018 44m

Discipline. Our teachers say their schools are starting to get it right. Now, Betsy DeVos is getting involved. Plus, the old tensions between charter schools and district schools is back in the headlines after a charter school strike in Chicago

The "Civics" Lesson

Dec 11th, 2018 40m

Can civics class save American democracy? Our teachers say the perennial debate has a new look after Trump’s election. Plus, schools are inequitable but, it turns out, so are PTAs. How this inequality changes the dynamic in schools. Finally, th

The "Pensions" Lesson

Dec 5th, 2018 41m 51s

Retirement. If you’re a young teacher you might not be thinking about it much, but our veteran teachers say you should start right now. Plus, tis the season for snow days. Students and teachers love them, right? Why snow days can be so disrupti

The "Renewal" Lesson

Nov 29th, 2018 15m

There is a growing schism among education reformers. One side says schools should be held account for their performance…even to the point of closing them down. The other believes we should give them more resources and funding to see what happen