Be A Funky Teacher Podcast

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on an important moment during student computer time when I noticed students using digital messaging systems to communicate hurtful comments toward each other. That moment reminded me that technology itself is not automatically good or bad. Technology is a tool, and how students choose to use those tools matters deeply. I unpack the reality that students a...

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on the powerful story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet during the Last Supper and what that moment teaches us about servant leadership. Jesus chose to do work that was considered lowly and humble, showing that true leadership is rooted in service rather than status or recognition. I walk through the deeper meaning of this story and the cultural signif...

Episode Summary In this episode, I focus on the importance of helping students understand that different is not wrong. Through this Leadership Kit story, I explore how students bring different personalities, strengths, communication styles, and ways of thinking into collaborative spaces, and how those differences can actually strengthen a group instead of divide it. I walk through the story of Eli...

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on a growing tension in education where students often become more focused on finishing quickly than thinking deeply. During science inquiry activities and problem-solving scenarios, I noticed students rushing toward answers without fully considering reasoning, implications, or deeper possibilities within the learning itself. I unpack the idea that in an...

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on the importance of explicitly teaching integrity, citation, and responsible use of information in a digital world filled with instant access to content. I share experiences from guiding students through a long-standing Great Americans research project where students researched influential people, created presentations, and learned how to work responsibl...

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on the growing conversation around cheating, AI misuse, and academic honesty in education. While some situations clearly involve dishonesty, I believe other situations reveal something deeper about student understanding, pressure, confidence, and how students view learning itself. I unpack the idea that shortcutting is not entirely new, but AI has intensi...

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on how AI is pushing educators to rethink assessment and what it truly means to measure student understanding. I share a recent experience where I used AI to help create part of an assessment and quickly noticed issues with patterns, answer structures, and predictability that weakened the quality of the assessment itself. I unpack the idea that while AI c...

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on a classroom moment where a student clearly understood a science concept verbally but struggled to express that understanding in written form. That experience pushed me to think more deeply about what learning actually looks like and how schools often rely heavily on traditional measures that may not always fully capture understanding. I unpack the idea...

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on the story of Jesus calming the storm from the Book of Mark and how deeply that message connects to the life of a teacher. The disciples found themselves in the middle of a violent storm, overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty, while Jesus remained calm in the middle of the chaos. I walk through the details of the story and focus on the contrast between th...

Episode Summary In this episode, I focus on the idea that responsibility is not just about intentions or words. It’s about action. Students often wait for the “right time” to begin something, but learning to move forward anyway is one of the most important habits they can develop. I walk through this Leadership Kit story centered around Mateo, a student who kept putting off an assignment until the...

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on the balance between structure and flexibility in teaching and how some of the best learning happens when we allow space for students to think, create, and take ownership. While structure provides clarity and direction, flexibility can open the door to deeper engagement and unexpected growth. I unpack a science inquiry project where I originally had a v...

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on the reality that some of the most meaningful moments in teaching are not planned ahead of time. Sometimes a tool, a question, or a student action unexpectedly shifts the direction of learning, and those moments can become far more impactful than the original lesson itself. I unpack a real classroom experience where a student used digital slides in a cr...

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on the growing conversation around AI in education and why I believe the focus should not be on resisting AI, but on learning how to use it thoughtfully. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding these tools, but there is also real potential when they are used with purpose and intention. I unpack the idea that AI is ultimately a support tool, not a replac...

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on the reality that students are always watching us, not just listening to what we teach. They pay attention to how we respond, how we adjust, and how we continue learning ourselves. That influence shapes classrooms in ways that go far beyond academic content. I unpack the idea that lifelong learning is not something we simply talk about. It’s something w...

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on the role of the teacher and how it goes beyond simply delivering information. There’s a natural instinct to step in and help students quickly, especially when they are struggling, but sometimes the most powerful move is to step back instead. I walk through how learning deepens when students are actively involved in the process. When they wrestle with i...

Episode Summary In this episode, I take time to reflect on Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians about what it means to carry something difficult and not have it taken away. This isn’t a story filled with action or resolution. It’s a deeply personal moment where Paul shares openly about a struggle that stayed with him, something he asked God to remove but didn’t. As I walk through this passage, I focus on...

Episode Summary In this episode, I focus on the idea of taking responsibility for your choices and what that really looks like in a classroom setting. It’s not just about being right—it’s about being honest when things don’t go as planned. I walk through this Leadership Kit story and highlight how a simple moment—owning a mistake—can shift the entire dynamic of a group. When a student chooses to b...

Episode Summary In this episode, I focus on the idea that some of the most important things students learn are the skills that don’t stay in one place. While content matters, there is a deeper layer of learning that carries across classrooms, experiences, and life situations. I walk through key transferable skills like staying calm under pressure, thinking before reacting, communication, and probl...

Episode Summary In this episode, I focus on the role curiosity plays in preparing students for the future. While we often talk about skills and knowledge, I believe curiosity is what drives students to keep learning long after the lesson ends. I unpack how curiosity pushes students to go beyond what is required, ask deeper questions, and explore possibilities. It’s not about compliance—it’s about...

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on a major career change in my own life and how that experience reshaped my thinking about what careers are supposed to look like. After spending over two decades in one school district, stepping into something new reminded me that change can bring growth in ways we don’t always expect. As I unpack this idea, I challenge the traditional belief that career...

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on a moment early in my teaching career when everything changed unexpectedly, and how that experience shaped my understanding of adaptability. That moment didn’t come with clarity or a plan—it required adjustment, and that lesson has stayed with me. As I unpack this idea, I focus on the difference between certainty and adaptability in the classroom. While...

Episode Summary In this episode, I take on a phrase we hear often in education—preparing students for jobs that don’t exist yet—and unpack what that really means in practice. While it sounds forward-thinking, it can also feel unclear, because we can’t actually predict what those future careers will look like. As I break this down, I focus on what we can control as educators. Instead of trying to p...

Episode Summary In this episode, I reflect on the story of the Valley of Dry Bones from Ezekiel and what it reveals about hope in seasons that feel difficult, stuck, or lifeless. This powerful image of something completely dry and broken coming back to life reminds us that what we see is not always the full story. As I walk through the vision, I unpack how God uses this moment to show that even wh...

In this episode, I focus on the importance of responsibility through the idea of doing what you say you will do. This goes beyond completing tasks—it’s about trust, reliability, and how our actions impact others. I walk through how to use this Leadership Kit story in the classroom by guiding students with reflective and noticing questions that help them understand follow-through and its effect on...

Episode Summary In this episode, I talk about why collaboration still matters deeply, even in a time when students can work more independently than ever before. Just because students can work alone doesn’t mean they should, especially when some of the most meaningful learning happens through interaction with others. I explain that true collaboration goes beyond simply working in groups. It involve...