Mr. Bryan's Classroom

Take a nostalgic journey back to 1947 with a classic educational training video. This fascinating glimpse into the past highlights how teaching practices and classroom dynamics have evolved over the years—and how some timeless advice still holds true today.

Happy New Year, teachers! Welcome to the podcast where educators come together to inspire, learn, and grow. I'm thrilled to kick off the year with a special guest, Vicki Davis—a passionate teacher and successful podcaster. In this episode, Vicki shares invaluable teaching strategies, motivational insights, and lessons from her remarkable journey as an educator. Whether you're looking for fresh ide...

This time of year, we often pause to reflect on the past and plan for the year ahead, but have you ever wondered—what advice would the older version of yourself give you today? Imagine your future self, nearing the end of life, offering insights to you in the present. Would your future self encourage you to stay with teaching? Would they encourage you to take a risk and try something else? In this...

Feeling guilty about leaving education? In this video, I dive into why it’s okay to transition out without guilt. While you may love the kids and cherish your co-workers, the truth is that they’ll adapt and move on just fine. Kids are resilient, and your co-workers will adjust to new dynamics. You need to prioritize your well-being because staying in an unhealthy situation doesn’t serve anyone, es...

Teachers, may your holiday break be merry and bright!  It's Christmas time in the city, and that means we not only get to enjoy the holiday season but also some much needed time off.  Bryan shares some inspiring stories from teachers to remind you that we as educators are a big deal.

Child abuse is an incredibly difficult subject to confront, especially during a season traditionally filled with hope and joy. However, the painful truth is that sexual abuse of children is happening even now. As educators, we often receive training on this issue at the start of the school year—a time when our plates are already overflowing, and we haven’t yet had the chance to truly know our stud...

December often brings unique challenges for elementary teachers, as excitement for the holidays can make classroom management more difficult. Will students in your class be naughty or nice this year? In this festive episode from A Modern Teacher (amodernteacher.com), discover a creative approach one teacher used to keep her students off Santa’s naughty list. With practical tips and holiday cheer,...

Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions, yet it often comes with challenges that can feel overwhelming. It’s easy to slip into negativity, focusing on frustrations and struggles. But what if there’s a better way to approach our work and inspire our students? In this episode, we’re joined by Owen Griffith, a veteran teacher and author of the educational blog Spiritually Teaching. Owen sha...

Are you looking for an effective way to balance your lectures with meaningful student interaction? In this episode, I introduce and comment on the **Ten Plus Two Strategy** from the Let's Teach YouTube channel —a simple yet powerful teaching technique that promotes active engagement while maintaining the structure of your lesson. Perfect for creating a dynamic and interactive classroom, this strat...

Girls are excelling in schools today—fantastic news, right? But what about the boys who are falling behind? Across the country, millions of boys are struggling with reading and writing, being diagnosed with learning disabilities at unprecedented rates, and increasingly opting out of college altogether. In this eye-opening episode, we’re joined by Peg Tyre, bestselling author of The Trouble with Bo...

Like Ben Ellis, one day we will all pass from this life. But before that day comes, we have the profound opportunity to leave a lasting legacy through our work as educators. The teaching profession offers countless moments where we can make a real difference—not only in the academic success of our students but in their lives as whole people. We never truly know the depth of the impact we can have...

While teachers naturally expect their students to be attentive and engaged, how often do we prioritize being active listeners ourselves? Listening is a crucial skill for educators, yet many of us find it challenging to fully engage with our students' thoughts and feelings. Join Dr. James Hughey and Bryan as they explore the transformative impact of teachers who truly listen.  For Dr. Hughey's “Pow...

  Parent-teacher conferences often feel like a routine obligation that neither parents nor teachers look forward to. These meetings can become repetitive, with teachers listing off a student's challenges or, in the case of high achievers, simply praising their performance. Unfortunately, this traditional format often fails to spark meaningful change or inspire student growth and it frequently side...

Remind (@RemindHQ) is a free tool that has helped me to be more effective with classroom communication by sending quick, simple messages to any device that parents and students may use. All phone numbers stay private. I talk with Taylor Chapman about the many benefits of using the Remind platform and how it can make us more effective in communicating with students and parents. Visit Remind at http...

In this episode, we dive into the reality many teachers face: the struggle to keep creativity alive in a classroom setting that often feels like it’s moving away from innovative teaching methods. Just like a car battery can lose its charge, educators can sometimes find themselves in a rut, losing the inspiration that fuels their passion. Fortunately, these ruts don't have to be permanent. Bryan sh...

Discover invaluable insights from Emily Jennette, the 2008 Georgia Teacher of the Year, as she shares her passion for transforming the lives of students and inspiring fellow educators. In this enlightening program, Emily opens up about her journey into teaching, revealing the key moments that fueled her dedication. She also dives into practical strategies that brought success in her classroom—appr...

  We as educators give attention to those who excel in our classrooms and to the ones who disrupt the learning environment.  However, what about our invisible students? They are disappearing and we may not even know it. You know the type. They don't misbehave and we can go through a whole period/subject without engaging them at all. We can't ignore them. Bryan shares some strategies to help us inc...

In this episode, we dive deep into the complexities of shyness and how it impacts students in the classroom. Often misunderstood, shyness isn’t just one emotion—it’s a combination of fear, tension, apprehension, and embarrassment. Many shy students may appear to lack confidence or seem self-conscious, especially in new situations or when they're the center of attention. Environmental changes a...

"Shut up and sit down!" No, that's not Samuel Jackson acting out a role as a teacher. It's Mr. Ruffen. Several years ago, this teacher went viral in how he handled a conflict between two students in his classroom. Of course, not all classroom conflicts are the same. However, I believe Mr. Ruffen did an excellent job of breaking up these two students and showing his class that he...

 On this episode, Bryan interviews his mom. Not only did she have an incredible impact on her family, she also made a difference in the lives of many students. Evelyn taught a vast amount of students during three decades. This episode highlights some of what she learned in her teaching journey. 

As many of us start another year of teaching, Bryan shares an article from Mike Roberts (@BaldRoberts) on 20 simple-yet-meaningful things teachers can do every day to improve the classroom atmosphere for themselves and their students. This article can be found on the National Association of Independent Schools website at https://www.nais.org/learn/independent-ideas/august-2018/20-simple-yet-meanin...

No smiling till Christmas? Do we need to act like a drill instructor the first few weeks of school? There are many misunderstandings when it comes to being a firm and fair teacher. Fortunately, we have an experienced educator, mentor, and author Robert Ward to help us identify what that looks like in an effective classroom. We also discuss what makes teachers fascinating facilitators to their stud...

Welcome back to school! It's been awhile since we've had a normal classroom environment. It can be helpful to explain your class procedures. Procedures tell a student what to do. This form of prevention can be an important key to solving discipline problems and make your classroom run more smoothly. For the full article, visit http://www.teachers.net/wong/SEP13/

It's that time of year again! Summer vacation is coming to an end and we're getting ready to start a brand new school year! The start of the year is critical, and so much depends on your attitude. Bryan and Dr. James offer some helpful suggestions about the mindset/attitude you convey the first few weeks. For more of Dr. James content visit ⁠PFPL.US

On this podcast series, Bryan will not only share his own views and experiences but feature the voice of other educators as well. Some are featured in a conversational episode and others are highlighted by having their written words read aloud.    This episode features an article from edutopia.org titled ⁠"How Novice and Expert Teachers Approach Classroom Management Differently"⁠ by Youk...