Catholic Teachers' Lounge

The Ball of Red String is a delightfully easy read for young kids, but as we enter the Lenten journey, it can lead to many deeper insights and questions for every child and family member. Jill and Colleen follow the string…

How to share your excitement about a new idea, thought, book or approach without it being dismissed as the “flavor of the week” because everyone is busy and overworked? What role do you play — the idea generator, the wet blanket, the listener or the collaborator?

Jill and Colleen go all in on CSI-like tips and technique thanks to a creative teacher who made her own murder board to break down characters and plot twists in middle school novels.

With a heart for teaching, Mary Pat Donoghue has run the gamut of supporting Catholic schools as a teacher, administrator and consultant. Now, she serves as the Executive Director of the Secretariat of Catholic Education for the USCCB — acting as the bridge between the bishops and the schools.

How wonderful that a former middle school teacher is now forming and inspiring future school principals? This is what the Catholic Teachers Lounge is all about with special guest Kevin Baxter, Director of the Remick Leadership Program at University of Notre Dame.

School choice is changing the landscape of Catholic school enrollment and who better to talk about the positives and negatives than a former teacher, coach, and principal. Hear more from Bruce Hermie, National Director of School Partnerships for the American Federation for Children.

Every school has a trusted teacher that everyone looks up to no matter what grade they teach. Today’s guest, Elizabeth D’Aurora, a 3rd grade teacher from Parnell Michigan, is one of those teachers for her school as well as listeners of the Catholic Teachers Lounge podcast thanks to her regular contributions!

Taking a stroll down memory lane with special guest Dr. Debbie Sullivan from the Greeley Center for Catholic Education at Loyola Chicago to savor all the wonderful traditions of Catholic Schools Week.

Welcoming home schoolers into a community is what Catholic schools are all about. Students can embrace new friends and teachers can see education and learning methods with a fresh perspective. But sensitivity is also required as the transition can be challenging for both sides.

Many teachers also coach, but how many coaches also teach? Bringing a coach mentality to the classroom can significantly improve skill development and application across disciplines. It can embrace failure in the learning process as well.

How do we know students are grasping the lessons of the day — especially if they are working independently or across multiple ages and stages of learning? It is imperative we find the right questions to end a lesson or class that confirms comprehension while also providing helpful feedback to teachers as they ajust their daily lessons accordingly.

We love to do field trips and other immersive teaching opportunities, but when there is so much to see, do and experience, we risk information overload for students with different learning norms. This makes pre and post experiences a critical part of the process so students retain the main elements that fit perfectly into your lesson plans.

By its nature, substitute teaching is usually unplanned, but the preparation doesn’t have to be — by the teacher AND school. An annual substitute orientation seesion for new and old subs can cover the foundational elements of scheduling, philosophy, policies and culture while helping them feel important and part of the team.

Jennifer Wallace’s new book Never Enough opens our eyes to the pressure on kids and parents to achieve, achieve, achieve and the unintended consequence of teaching our young people that the world revolves around them. As teac hers, how can we help return to balance?

In our culture of achievement, we are seeing the impact of overscheduling on our students. Is it the responsibility of the teacher to give less (or no) homework or are there bigger issues at play for parents, coaches, and teachers to all work together? What better time than Advent to consider the value of patience and prayer to find inner peace?

Building on the tension filled dialogue episode, how to recognize a-ha moments of discovery and connection vs. students simply looking to de-rail the conversation? And then how does this impact future behavior and teaching?

Real discussion requires tension and varied perspectives — but it can be stressful and scary to not be able to control the dialogue. How do we trust the process and each other to facilitate this important transfer of knowledge where brains have an opportunity to grow.

Evaluating and remembering the past can help us improve for the future. It’s also helpful to take time to connect with others and acknowledge gratitude for our time together.

We do our best to stay focused on the real reason for the season, but the reality is teachers are the ones who have to juggle the challenges of excited students, overwhelming schedules, extra events and stressed out parents and families. Special shout out to teachers who make it all happen and still keep their faith!

Combining pop culture with our Catholic faith by mixing popular music with prayers or scripture — “Weird Al” Yankovic style! It brings creativity, fun and a deeper understanding or words and language together in a unique and special way.

Going beyond the tchotchkes at teacher conventions to share ideas, meet new people and explore fresh perspectives. Everyone has something to share — even you!

When the tables are turned and teachers become students, how to make the most of professional development opportunities, no matter the topic, presenter or how busy you are in regular life.

As Catholics, our rituals are a wonderful way to grow in faith, but unscripted, group prayer can also be an intentional community builder for any classroom as we share concerns, hopes, dreams and understanding. The benefits of class connections are a testament to investing the time in each other.

Let’s talk Advent cards. Jill and Colleen talk about how to encourage students to consider what they say YES to, from a kindergartener thanking Mary for her YES, to high school seniors considering which vocational YES God is asking of them.

Colleen and Jill explore what’s happening in schools as we begin Advent. It’s a time of preparation, and the prayer of the moment is that even those who are secularly preparing for Christmas are awaiting something even much bigger: the coming of Christ.