We all—educators and students— worker harder and smarter when we can identify the bigger picture of our work. That's what we dive into in this episode.

Holding High Expectations for Students

Feb 28th, 2024 24m 8s

Let's talk about the importance of holding high expectations for students and some strategies to do it well.Pre-order the New Teacher Mindset: https://www.amazon.com/New-Teacher-Mindset-Innovative-Strategies/dp/1394210086/ref=sr_1_1?crid=ETFBN

Harnessing Parent Power

Feb 7th, 2024 22m 21s

Why caregivers can be an invaluable resource to your classroom.

Starting Class With Good Things

Feb 1st, 2024 19m 2s

"Good Things" is a calculated way for students to get the most out of every class period. Like many teaching approaches, while not always obvious, there is a method to the madness. It is a routine to help establish classroom culture, a shared s

Let Kids Move: Why kids need opportunities to move and play in school

Jan 17th, 2024 23m 2s

I live here in Michigan, And we've had a whole string of snow days lately. And for my kids it's been like an endless recess. sledding and snow forts and snowball fights, and getting together with the neighbor kids and playing for hours and hour

Becoming "Highly Effective" in the New Year

Dec 29th, 2023 26m 54s

When I was a new teacher, I cared so much about earning the label of "Highly Effective" following my teacher evaluation. I've since learned the joy of labels wears off quickly, and the real joy comes from recognizing my own growth. In this epi

The Value of a Fun and Joyful Class

Dec 20th, 2023 28m 17s

Is the school week before the Holiday Break a big waste of time? Holiday parties, watching Christmas movies, not doing a lot of academic work—well, from the outside looking in, it might look like that, but I don't think it is. Celebrations, rel

Why Some Kids Hate Christmas

Dec 1st, 2023 16m 24s

For many students, the holidays are a time of joy and anticipation. However, that often isn't the case for every student. The reality is, for some students, no school for 2 weeks means no regular meals for 2 weeks, no daily contact with teacher

When a Student Hates Their Teacher

Nov 8th, 2023 22m 28s

We've all been there. You pour your heart and soul into your work, only to have a student declare dislike- maybe even hate- for you as their teacher. That's what we talk about in this episode.

What GPA Really Means

Nov 3rd, 2023 30m 6s

I graduated from college with a 2.75 GPA. Not great. Then I received a 4.0 in my masters program. Did I all of a sudden become smarter in those two years? Did my brain grow exponentially after I earned my bachelor's degree? Or is GPA actually r

What Epic Classroom Really Means

Sep 5th, 2023 31m 9s

You might see the word 'epic' and think BIG, EXCITING, or, FUN. But that's not what I mean when I use that word as it relates to the classroom. It means something much more powerful and significant than just creating enjoyable experiences for s

Creating a Positive & Engaging Classroom Climate

Aug 15th, 2023 29m 1s

Let's talk about creating a classroom climate that helps make students feel safe, secure, and ready to engage in this year.

36: There Are No Perfect Teachers

May 25th, 2023 18m 20s

You don’t have to be perfect to get to know your students and build relationships with them. Perfection isn't required to make your class memorable and even fun. Heck, sometimes it won’t be memorable and fun, and that’s okay.Students still lea

35: The Community and Your Classroom

May 3rd, 2023 28m 56s

In this episode, we explore the critical role of educators in building meaningful connections with parents and community members to support student learning. We discuss the many benefits that come from establishing strong partnerships between s

34: What's Fun Got to Do With It?

Apr 19th, 2023 28m 9s

Kids like to have fun. Grown-ups like to have fun. We all like to have fun. And it turns out, we often learn better when we're having fun. In the episode, we talk about the impact of adding elements of fun to learning units and the impact it c

33: The Hardest Part About Teaching

Apr 6th, 2023 19m 34s

I tried everything under the sun to connect with this student. I gave up my lunch hours to work with him on assignments. I let him come in before school and hang out with me, hoping the relationship would build some rapport. I tried calling hom

32: From Problems to Projects

Mar 23rd, 2023 23m 10s

Coming up with engaging project and unit ideas takes a little creativity, but it's worth it to give students authentic and purposeful learning experiences. Here are my favorite ways to come up with engaging and meaningful project ideas.

31: Teaching How to Give and Receive Critical Feedback

Mar 3rd, 2023 25m 1s

Giving critical feedback can be a very difficult task for anyone, especially students who are working with their peers. It is the job of the teacher to model this process, and show how being critical can be different than being negative.

30: What's the Point of Grades?

Feb 16th, 2023 22m 38s

Are grades meant to reflect how much a student has learned; a snapshot of their knowledge and skills at a specific moment in time? Or are they a measure of work ethic and integrity? Is it possible to do both? Let's dive into it.

29: Using Service Learning to Boost Student Engagement

Feb 10th, 2023 28m 3s

What if the primary motivation for learning wasn't grades or pressure from parents or teachers?Research shows that when students are engaged in service learning, they experience measurable growth in social, behavioral, emotional, and cognitive

28: How to Get Your Students’ Attention (Without losing your cool)

Jan 26th, 2023 33m 47s

Most teachers have been through this exact scenario: You try to start class with a line like, “Okay everyone, we’re going to get started.” And a couple students might glance up at you, indignant that this adult is bothering them. So a little lo

27: Developing the Ideal Graduate

Jan 5th, 2023 26m 28s

When we see young people struggling in the workforce, or data that shows that the top reason people are fired from their jobs is because they don’t have soft skills, I think we have to ask if these skills are being emphasized enough. When stand

26: Why Artificial Technology Won't Cancel English Class

Dec 13th, 2022 22m 54s

Last week some Artificial Intelligence technology called ChatGPT was introduced, and it’s got a lot of people freaking out.The Atlantic had a headline that asks, “Is the College Essay Dead?” A Forbes headline says, “Teachers Fear ChatGPT Will

25: Wisdom From a 50-Year Teacher

Nov 29th, 2022 47m 10s

This might be my favorite episode yet. I sat down with Dr. Sheri Steelman, a teacher of 50 years, published author, inspiring human, AND my mentor teacher during student-teaching. Sheri shares wisdom from her many years in the classroom and how

24: Teaching Students How to Ask Good Questions

Nov 17th, 2022 31m 40s

Asking questions is an essential skill. It's how we express our curiosity, solve problems, engage in public discourse, and gain deeper understanding of what we are learning. In this episode, I share some concrete ways to helps students generate