The ABC's High School Teachers Really Need to Know

Effective teachers keep the valley small between students and themselves.  Relatability and involvement are crucial in generating great student outcomes.  Be present.   Be involved.  Be happy.  Be an advocate.  Be willing to get your hands dirty.  In almost every struggling classroom, you will find that some or all of those things are missing.  

If you have been living to work or find yourself consumed primarily by your school duties, it's time to join the living!  Effective teachers know the importance of balance and perspective.  Don't put your own life on hold...even to focus on serving others.  Both can and should be done!  

My grandmother said it all the time...."Once an adult, and twice a child."  When we are called into the principal's office, it can feel like we are children once again.  Don't let it!  You are a professional, a content specialist, and a human being.  If you have messed up or fallen short of expectations, own it, learn from it, and move on!  If you need to advocate for yourself,...

If we don't effectively land helicopter parents, we will likely fail our students and ourselves.  In this episode, we will discuss crucial strategies, approaches, and policies that will absolutely help you win the battle...before it's a battle. 

It is difficult to be an effective teacher without developing productive and healthy relationships with students.  These relationships, along with the connections that students form with other students, serve as the basis for building a strong classroom community.  As educators, we need to make sure we balance the needs of the individual with those of the community.  Effective educators build a pr...

Do you consider yourself a more traditional or modern teacher instructionally?  The truth is that our most effective teachers are both.  Our students need you to be both.  We need them to be able to learn from both.  If you find the balance, the learning will happen.  

Funding is important for the education system, but inside the classroom, budget should NEVER dictate the effectiveness of a lesson.  Effective teachers innovate, create, and build meaningful lessons no matter the obstacles.  The opportunity to learn should NEVER stop.  

When did differentiating students and speaking truth about where they are in the learning process become four-letter words?  As effective educators, we need to ensure that our process bolsters the individual.  We can't do that if we don't clearly communicate where kids are in that process.  Disproportionately focussing on students at the bottom, inflating grades, and standardizing instru...

I'm not sure when it happens for every teacher, but at some point, you will (or should) realize the incredible opportunity we have been given as educators.  We have the ability to positively affect lives every single day!  As part of this realization, we sort of "come of age."  We reach a peace about what we do and our impact.  We tune more of the negative noise out, let the small s...

Ever had a lesson go way south or messed up an activity so bad you wanted to run away and hide?  Well, congratulations you're a teacher!  The key is to adapt and improve.  The worst thing you can do is stop innovating or being creative.  Effective teachers know that botched executions can turn into some of the most inspiring and insightful experiences for educators.  Never stop growing and le...

We're back on the podcast and back in school!  Start the year by investing in your students and yourselves.  The people must always come before the process, particularly in August.  Bring your best and carry that energy all the way to May!

Don't give apologies or make excuses when it comes to advocating for students.  Being an effective teacher means that we focus on relationships and creating a process and environment that are conducive to learning.  Sometimes, advocating means we have to also make tough and unpopular decisions (especially in the minds of students).  Still, we have to be leaders.  We have to be educators.  

I am asked constantly to name some common pitfalls educators make.  While the entire podcast is that list to some degree, this episode includes some mistakes regularly made by classroom teachers.  Becoming an effective educator means avoiding them (or learning from them after you make them).  If you don't you'll absolutely regret it.

We've said it many times...teachers are superheroes.  In this episode, we discuss the importance of identifying and leveraging your unique superpowers as an educator.  What makes you effective?  What moves the needle?  What makes you and your process amazing?  Answering these questions will help you improve outcomes in a big way.  

Administrators are people too!  Seriously, take the time to build a genuine relationship with your admin.  It will typically help you and those you serve.  Most importantly, it will make your job and day-to-day much more meaningful.  

Teachers love ideas that are effective and efficient.  Here's one that will save you so much time, spare you from needless headaches, and help you become better at your job:  make it a regular practice to vary your vantage points.  You'll be so glad you did...and so will your students.  

All students need experience solving problems, making decisions, advocating for themselves, applying skills, and completing assignments under pressure.  It's a crucial instructional approach, that when used in a balanced and productive way, generates better, more meaningful outcomes.  While effective teachers never intentionally humiliate, power struggle, or leave students to drown in the cla...

Effective teachers know that action is necessary to make change and positive impact happen.  All too often, we talk too much, make too many excuses, or give in to inaction.  Whether it's in how you manage your classroom, your process, or yourself, don't be afraid to take action.  Don't make empty promises or underestimate your ability.  Trying to improve and grow are extremely impor...

The more we focus on grades and policies like "credit recovery" the less we focus on the things that really matter - learning and mastery.  It really is a mindset that must play out in classrooms each and every day.  Unfortunately, too many teachers fail to recognize this and/or are simply unaware of how to create a "mastery classroom."  As a result, they become highly ineffect...

Excessive negativity and overreaction seems to be creeping into the classroom from all around us.  It can make our jobs seem counterproductive or even impossible.  However, effective educators use philosophical approaches and practical strategies to keep the rot at bay.  Will there always be problem stakeholders and problem situations that come up in the classroom...absolutely.  Can we overcome an...

It's amazing how much dysfunction is ingrained in our classrooms, schools, and the education system itself.  Much of it is so prevalent that we have resigned ourselves to accept it as reality.  We can do better.  Effective educators identify normalized dysfunction in their classrooms and then take steps to begin eliminating it.  For things we can't completely control, we advocate for cha...

Teachers live a dual existence as very public figures trying to also have a private life.  It is difficult for many educators to understand and achieve a balance between the two.  It's important that we don't let awareness of our public perception become worry or fear.  Also, we can't be scared to be ourselves inside or outside of the classroom.  Being unauthentic reduces your quali...

The Octopus Mentality is crucial for any effective educator.  If you're not familiar with it, you should definitely tune in to this week's episode.  It could change your whole perspective on working with your students, your process, and even with yourself.  This is an episode of self-reflection that could lead to real improvement for your students and a longer and more successful career...

Effective teachers know that functioning in absolutes is very difficult and often counterproductive to authentic learning.  Learning to expect, navigate, and plan for the gray is both a skill and professional necessity in education.  As a teacher, becoming more comfortable working in the gray will have lasting benefits for you and your students.  

Most people aren't terrible.  You have to believe that to survive and thrive in education.  It's both a mindset and a philosophy.  If you let the negative control you or your process, everyone will suffer.