Pedagogically Speaking

How much are you willing to lose to be a good teacher? Teachers don't just spend money on their classrooms. We spend our time, our emotional energy, our evenings, our weekends—and sometimes we keep giving because we feel like we owe our students more. In this episode of Pedagogically Speaking, we're talking about teacher debt : the hidden costs of trying to be a good teacher. There's the financial...

The conversation explores the idea that teachers often feel compelled to respond to every minor misbehavior in the classroom, but sometimes the best approach is to let small issues go unaddressed. By focusing on what truly deserves attention, teachers can maintain a more effective learning environment and avoid unnecessary disruptions. Chapters 00:00 The Art of Noticing 02:53 Understanding Attenti...

I discuss effective classroom management strategies, emphasizing the importance of teaching students expected behaviors rather than merely enforcing rules. I outline various routines that can enhance student participation and create a positive learning environment. Takeaways Focus on teaching expected behaviors Routines enhance classroom management Chapters 00:00 Rethinking Classroom Management 02...

The conversation explores practical strategies for helping students build executive functioning skills in the classroom. It emphasizes the importance of making planning visible, using spotlight strategies, being intentional, using a working clock, and creating situational awareness through making real mistakes. Additionally, it introduces the concept of giving students specific roles to enhance th...

The mindset shifts needed for a successful start to the school year, focusing on adaptability, teaching routines, understanding student behavior, and adjusting to student needs. Takeaways Adaptability is key to successful teaching. Teaching routines and establishing classroom systems are essential for a smooth start. Understanding student behavior and responding to their needs is crucial for effec...

I talk about the essential classroom management strategies, which aim to enhance the teaching experience and student engagement by establishing clear expectations, predictability, and positive relationships while minimizing disruptions and incidents. Takeaways Classroom management strategies Teaching behavior expectations Creating predictability in the classroom Correcting behavior without escalat...

Teachers often feel pressure to prepare for the perfect first day, but the focus should be on creating conditions for a successful year and avoiding burnout. This requires a mindset shift and a change in preparation focus.

Starting a new classroom, or starting at a new school, can feel overwhelming. What do you actually need? How should you arrange the room? Should the walls be decorated? How do you create a space where students feel welcome and ready to learn? Before you spend hundreds of dollars on classroom decorations, bins, posters, and Pinterest-perfect displays, start with three simple ideas: Make your classr...

I talk about 5 ways you can build a trauma informed classroom using the book Fostering Resilient Learners: Strategies for Creating a Trauma-Sensitive Classroom by Kristin Souers with Pete Hall. I talk and link 5 trauma informed practices with the book so you don't need to have read it to watch or listen to this episode. A really helpful website is: https://www.fosteringresilientlearners.org/ I exp...

Engagement is not the same as learning. Learning is invisible and requires evidence. Evidence of learning includes deeper thinking, exit tickets, listening, and revisiting learning. Teaching is about creating conditions for students to make meaning. Takeaways Engagement is not a reliable indicator of learning Learning is invisible and requires evidence Teaching is about creating conditions for stu...

I read a TES article by Sam Gibbs titled " How we dumbed down teaching - and what we must do to fix it" and I really appreciated the article. In this episode I talk about what it means to be a professional in education, what some people want it to mean, and the struggle we can feel when we know what to do, but we have to follow along with a script or a checklist. I also talk about the role of evid...

In this episode I talk about the emotional burden of parent communication for teachers, the perspective of parents, effective communication strategies, and managing expectations and recovery after difficult conversations. Takeaways Parent communication is emotionally heavy for teachers, requiring careful consideration and compassion. Understanding the parent's perspective and leading with connecti...

The World Cup offers valuable lessons for teachers, emphasizing the importance of mistakes, invisible learning, immediate feedback, teamwork, classroom culture, and continuous improvement. It highlights the significance of celebrating progress, creating a psychologically safe environment, and recognizing that learning is emotional. The bonus lesson emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning fo...

In this episode I discuss the invisible impact of teaching, the growing complexity of the teaching profession, and the lasting impact of teaching on students' lives. I emphasize the importance of recognizing the invisible outcomes of teaching and the profound influence teachers have on students beyond measurable metrics. Takeaways Teachers' impact is often invisible Teaching goes beyond measurable...

What if the key to improving student behaviour isn't better behaviour management? In this video, I explore why shifting your focus from managing behaviour to building a strong classroom community can transform your classroom. Instead of relying on rewards, consequences, and constant correction, we'll look at how relationships, belonging, shared expectations, and trust create the conditions where p...

The teacher summer slump is not burnout, it's not laziness. It's the psychological disruption that happens when the routine, identity, and purpose of teaching suddenly disappear for two months. In this video essay, I break down what the research actually says about why teachers struggle during summer break — from occupational identity and role transition to anticipatory anxiety and the paradox of...

This year taught me about the critical role of leadership in education, the need for support, recognition, and inclusion for teachers and diverse learners, and the impact of leadership on teacher retention and the challenges faced by educators. Takeaways Leadership plays a significant role in creating a positive educational experience for both teachers and students. Building strong relationships w...

Why are so many teachers emotionally checking out of education? In this episode of Pedagogically Speaking, we unpack the rise of “quiet quitting” in teaching — and why it may actually be a response to burnout, emotional exhaustion, and unsustainable expectations in schools. We discuss: teacher burnout emotional disengagement workload creep toxic productivity in education boundaries vs burnout why...

The conversation explores the engagement and learning opportunities presented by global events like the World Cup. It emphasizes the academic richness of sports, the importance of cross-curricular integration, and the potential for leveraging the World Cup in education to enhance student engagement and learning. Takeaways Global events like the World Cup provide a rich learning environment for stu...

The conversation delves into the misunderstood struggle of overwhelmed students, the damaging impact of the label 'lazy,' and the need for a supportive environment. It explores the complexity of human cognition, the impact of chronic stress, and the challenges of executive functioning. Additionally, it addresses the effects of chronic stress, perfectionism, avoidance, and learned helplessness, as...

The conversation explores the impact of stillness on learning, the historical context of stillness in education, compliance culture in modern classrooms, the impact of movement on learning, the role of teachers and classroom environment, and the need to rethink engagement and learning environments. Takeaways Movement is cognition, not a distraction Learning environments may have been failing stude...

The conversation delves into the uncomfortable truth about teacher burnout, the expectation of self-sacrifice in education, and the normalization of overwork. It explores the subtle ways in which teacher passion and dedication are being weaponized to manipulate teachers into overextending themselves, and the impact of unsustainable working conditions on teachers' well-being and effectiveness. Take...

Students don’t care anymore… or at least that’s what it feels like right now. If your students are disengaged, refusing work, or saying “I don’t care,” this episode breaks down what’s actually happening—and why it’s not about laziness or defiance. In this episode of Pedagogically Speaking , we unpack: Why student engagement drops at this time of year The truth behind “I don’t care” behavior Why pr...

The conversation covers the journey of a teacher from the initial decision to become a teacher, transitioning from an EA to a teacher, dealing with overwhelm and imposter syndrome, belonging and self-doubt in teaching, effective teaching strategies, adapting to student diversity, teaching standards, classroom management, and advice for new teachers. The conversation covers a range of topics relate...

The conversation explores the impact of fear of failure on students and the importance of normalizing struggle, slowing down the rescue instinct, and praising the process and effort. It emphasizes the need to change the narrative around failure and make it a part of the learning process. Takeaways Normalizing struggle and making it a part of the learning process Slowing down the rescue instinct an...