Teach Me, Teacher

In this episode, Jacob Chastain sits down with Jennifer Serravallo to discuss Whole Book Comprehension and why knowledge building, sustained reading, and deep comprehension deserve a renewed place in today's classrooms. Together, they explore how literacy instruction has shifted over the past decade, why whole-book reading has become less common, and whether today's emphasis on knowledge-rich inst...

In this episode, Jacob Chastain sits down with Jennifer Serravallo to discuss Whole Book Comprehension and why knowledge building, sustained reading, and deep comprehension deserve a renewed place in today's classrooms. Together, they explore how literacy instruction has shifted over the past decade, why whole-book reading has become less common, and whether today's emphasis on knowledge-rich inst...

Hello everyone! Personally, I believe this episode to be the best episode of Teach Me, Teacher in a long time. James Nottingham is most known for his work with The Learning Pit, but he has also written several books, and consults regularly around the world. His newest book, Teach Brilliantly, can be found here. In this episode, we discuss the state of education around the world, the embattled natu...

Hello everyone! Classroom management has never been more important in schools. Study after study cites one of the biggest reasons for teachers leaving the classroom has to do with student behavior. While we can't control everything, we can come together and think about how to create classrooms that support the best behavior students can have and cultivate a great learning environment. To help with...

Hello everyone! Classroom management has never been more important in schools. Study after study cites one of the biggest reasons for teachers leaving the classroom has to do with student behavior. While we can't control everything, we can come together and think about how to create classrooms that support the best behavior students can have and cultivate a great learning environment. To help with...

n this episode of Teach Me, Teacher , Jacob sits down with educator and author Jay Wamsted to discuss how teaching becomes transformational when we stop trying to fit a mold and start embracing our own originality. While Jay's latest novel, The Lockdown Artist , serves as the backdrop for the conversation, the heart of this episode is about the people behind the lesson plans. Jay shares why he cho...

Every great teacher has something students can't find in a textbook: themselves. In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher , Jacob sits down with educator and author Jay Wamsted to discuss how teaching becomes transformational when we stop trying to fit a mold and start embracing our own originality. While Jay's latest novel, The Lockdown Artist , serves as the backdrop for the conversation, the heart...

Hello everyone! In light of the tragedies facing the world and America today, I found it timely to bring this talk to teachers. I don't believe there has ever been a time in modern history when our students need to be doing what matters most—exploring their thoughts and reflecting on the ideas, experiences, and lives of others. With the murder of George Floyd giving rise to Black Lives Matter prot...

Hello everyone! In light of the tragedies facing the world and America today, I found it timely to bring this talk to teachers. I don't believe there has ever been a time in modern history when our students need to be doing what matters most—exploring their thoughts and reflecting on the ideas, experiences, and lives of others. To help give us the tools to empower students in such a way, I brought...

Hello everyone! Today I'm flying solo as I offer my best 10 tips for getting hired as a teacher. While this episode is geared to new teachers, I believe anyone can follow these tips. So if you are changing schools, positions, or moving, I think these 10 tips can increase your chances at nailing that interview. Each piece of advice in this episode is fueled by my experience with hiring teachers, an...

As summer break begins, many educators find themselves carrying the weight of a hard year—stress, setbacks, frustration, negativity, and the moments that didn't go as planned. In this reflective episode of Teach Me Teacher , we explore what it means to move forward without being defined by the struggles behind us. How do we let go of what we couldn't control, learn from what challenged us, and ret...

What if the leadership crisis everyone's talking about isn't a talent problem—but a systems problem? In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher , I sit down with Muriel Summers, founding principal of the first Leader in Me school and a global voice in transforming how schools think about leadership. From her work at A.B. Combs Elementary—twice named the top magnet school in America—to influencing thousa...

What if the leadership crisis everyone's talking about isn't a talent problem—but a systems problem? In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher , I sit down with Muriel Summers, founding principal of the first Leader in Me school and a global voice in transforming how schools think about leadership. From her work at A.B. Combs Elementary—twice named the top magnet school in America—to influencing thousa...

What happens in early childhood classrooms doesn't stay there—it shows up every day in K–12 schools. In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher , I sit down with Robert Cordero and Tara Gardner to unpack what "universal child care" in New York City really means—not just as a policy idea, but as a lived reality for families, providers, and educators. If you missed part one, check it out here.  We dig int...

What happens in early childhood classrooms doesn't stay there—it shows up every day in K–12 schools. In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher , I sit down with Robert Cordero and Tara Gardner to unpack what "universal child care" in New York City really means—not just as a policy idea, but as a lived reality for families, providers, and educators. We dig into why child care has become both a moral and...

Hello everyone! Spring is here—and everything that means for school. State testing. Unknowns. Changes. Student behavior struggles…the list goes on. This time of year can be stressful and miserable at times for teachers. If you know, you know… But this time can also be a moment for clarity. A moment for reimagining and refocusing on what you need to do to make an impact in the classroom. This time...

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 e...

What happens after we name the problem—but still aren't sure what to do about it? In Part 2 of this conversation on Teach Me, Teacher, I continue my discussion with Jacob Adams, founder and executive director of Inner Spark Learning Lab, moving from diagnosis into action. If Part 1 unpacked the Disconnection Crisis in education, this episode is about what it actually looks like to respond to it in...

What happens when the biggest problems in education—chronic absenteeism, failing grades, teacher burnout, and families leaving schools—aren't actually the core issues at all? In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, I sit down with Jacob Adams, founder and executive director of Inner Spark Learning Lab , to explore what he calls the Disconnection Crisis in education. Check out their Inside Out Summit...

Hello everyone! I hope you are ready for some AMAZING content today, because I have brought on one of my favorite educators in the literacy space, Martin Brandt , to discuss his book Between the Commas , and how to use writing instruction that WORKS! In this talk, we discuss: That writing is more than just responses to questions and essays How to achieve sentence focus The power of writing instruc...

Hello everyone! I hope you are ready for some AMAZING content today, because I have brought on one of my favorite educators in the literacy space, Martin Brandt , to discuss his book Between the Commas , and how to use writing instruction that WORKS! In this talk, we discuss: That writing is more than just responses to questions and essays How to achieve sentence focus The power of writing instruc...

This week on Teach Me, Teacher , Jacob sits down with lifelong educator and friend Pam Ochoa — former cohost of the Craft & Draft podcast — who has stepped back into the high school classroom after retirement. Why now? What pulled her back? Together, they wrestle with big questions facing the profession: Where has quality professional development gone? Has the era of student voice and choice quiet...

This week on Teach Me, Teacher , Jacob sits down with lifelong educator and friend Pam Ochoa — former cohost of the Craft & Draft podcast — who has stepped back into the high school classroom after retirement. Why now? What pulled her back? Together, they wrestle with big questions facing the profession: Where has quality professional development gone? Has the era of student voice and choice quiet...

Hello everyone! I wanted to talk about behavior and better ways we can respond as teachers. To do so, I brought on the amazing Ms. Chyna, a behavioral special education teacher, otherwise known as @especiallysped on Instagram. In this talk, we set the stage for how we should be thinking about behavioral issues in the class, and then move on to discuss ineffective and effective ways to deal with su...

Hello everyone. What we do as educators has meaning, and the lives that we interact with and that affect us are just as powerful as what we offer them.  Unfortunately, one of my previous students lost her life in the last few weeks, and I wanted to take the time to give my respects, solid her impact, and share her wonder with the audience.