Have a Life Teaching

We are in a new age of education where, finally, all communities (not just the rich) have the ability to create schools that mirror their values and hopes for their children. Join my guest David Greenberg - Vice President, Authorizer Learning & Development at NACSA - and I as we discuss the new school authorization process, nationally, as well as local resources available in various states. NA...

The rigor of any lesson begins with the learning objective and what we are asking students to know and be able to do. However, far too often, we do not ask our students to engage in heavy cognitive lift. Join me and my guest, Alice Vigors, as we discuss how to get students to think about their thinking in visible ways/through the use of simple thinking protocols (see, think, and wonder). Alice Vig...

Are you preparing your students for your past or their future? If you are banning the use of technology in the classroom then it is your past that you are prioritizing. Listen in to Jeff Utecht and I as we discuss how to use technology in K12 classrooms responsibly. Jeff Utecht LinkedIn Jeff Utecht Homepage Shifting Schools Music: Aylex

Having guest speakers can really make learning come alive for students. However, to maximize the benefits that can come from these living community resources, guest speaker engagements need to be well planned. Join Samantha Shane, ELA teacher in Northern New Jersey, and I as we discuss ways to maximize the impact of guest speakers on this episode of the Have a Life Teaching podcast. Samantha Shane...

In the wake of the pandemic, we all know that students are struggling in understanding and regulating their emotions. Before learning can occur, however, students need to be able to understand and regulate their emotions; It falls to the adults mentoring students to build SEL into the curriculum. Join Bridget Durkan Laird, CEO at Kings for Kids, and I as we discuss ways to bring simple SEL strateg...

In this Have a Life Teaching podcast episode, we speak with rising admin star and current vice principal Alexandra Auriemma about what she feels are her leadership strengths and opportunities for growth. We are also joined by Frederick Buskey of Strategic Leadership Coaching and host of the Assistant Principal Podcast who guides Alex, in this episode, on how she might best serve teachers by leadin...

Kevin Foote realized after many years that a passion for teaching wasn't enough to keep him in the classroom. However, Kevin was lucky in that he found the next best thing - a career supporting teaching and learning nonetheless (designing and selling school furniture that promotes student collaboration). Join Kevin, a furniture designer for Kay-Twelve Education, and I as we discuss having a plan B...

LGBTQ+ students (and staff) are part of our school communities and if we are truly concerned with providing a safe learning environment, which most educators would agree is part a school's mission, then this means for all students including LGBTQ+ youth. So says guest Tricia Friedman, LGBTQ+ advocate and consultant with Shifting Schools in this episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast. Join Tri...

Inclusive Classrooms are places of joy and creativity. Join me and my guest Mariah Rankine-Landers, author of the new book "How to Create Lessons that Love Your Students", as we discuss how to create culturally responsive classrooms that could easily be mistaken for artistic studios. Want to learn how to turn your middle school classroom into a jungle when studying biomes? How to use zombies to te...

Speaking with parents as a teacher can be a scary thing if we feel unprepared. In this episode, Crystal Frommert, assistant head of middle school and Math teacher at Awty International School (Houston), discusses several best-in-class strategies for proactively engaging with parents. We will look at several specific strategies addressed in her new book - When Calling Parents Isn't Your Calling (Ro...

In this episode, join Melissa Morrison of Teaching to Tranform and I as we discuss why it is more important than ever, in the age of AI, to help our students develop critical thinking skills through their writing. We also discuss strategies that teachers can use for engaging students across K-12 in the process of writing. It begins with allowing children choice in how and what they write about. Te...

New teachers are often overwhelmed by the volume of procedures and practices they must learn while having a classroom full of students at the same time. In this conversation, Dr. Matthew Rhoads and I discuss some of the top teaching hacks that new teachers (really, any) should be doing each season of the school year. We also discuss the top five areas of teaching practice that all educators must m...

Yes, summative assessmemt at the end of each unit/year is important. However, formative assessment that measures student growth during the year so that teachers can pivot/target instruction to meet the needs of specific students is just as important. Join Starr and I as we discuss not only formative assessment techniques but also alternative and authentic assessment that motivates students to lear...

It will not come as a surprise to educators that, post COVID, many of our students are not where they should be academically. In response, many school districts have been using ESSER funding to provide supplemental tutoring services to students. In this episode, Jesse Roselin - founder and CEO of Tutor Corps - will offer advice to school districts on how to provide tutoring services that will have...

On this podcast, we have discussed the importance of teachers engaging in collaborative design thinking when considering how THEY will innovate their teaching practices. However, collaboration with others often comes with tension. In this episode, Ryan Burke, senior partner with Leadership and Design, discusses strategies for how to give feedback on a colleague's teaching practice rather than judg...

Most innovation in school fails. Why? Often, innovation fails because it is imposed upon teachers rather than being designed by teachers themselves. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Justin Reich, Executive Director of the Teaching Systems Lab at MIT about how teachers can create positive and long lasting instructional change through collaborative and iterative cycles of inquiry. Justin Reich on...

Welcome to the Have a Life Teaching Podcast! In this podcast, we will speak to educators in the field improving curriculum, instruction, and assessment best practices in K-12 Education.