Step Into Learning

In this more personal episode, I take you behind the scenes of my journey as an educator and share some of the key moments that ultimately led me to resign from teaching. I reflect on my early experiences questioning traditional schooling, the mentors and research that reshaped my perspective, and the struggles of balancing my values with the realities of the system. I also share how becoming a mo...

In this episode, I'm answering the question I get asked the most when I run into teachers in real life: So what have you been up to? Join me as I reflect on my 2024 experiences working in Calgary schools with teachers and students to explore their local surroundings. I'll give you a quick look at what this past year has been like for Yellow Steps—including five school residencies, two professional...

Have you ever seen other teachers on social media doing cool off-site trips with their students and wondered,  Could I do that too? In this episode, we're looking at place-based education—what it is, what it requires, and whether it could be a good fit for you. You'll hear real-life examples of teachers using their local surroundings to spark meaningful learning, plus the benefits and challenges o...

Feeling overwhelmed by (all) the demands of teaching? Maybe you've though about simply quiet quitting—doing the bare minimum—as a way to protect your well-being... In this episode, we'll take a look at the quiet-quitting mentality in education and what the approach could mean for teaching and learning. Instead of detaching or just "getting through the day," Jenn offers an alternative approach that...

What is the most valuable gift you could give your students this year? When you want your students to be happy and excited at school, it's easy to get distracted with the shiny things. In this case, hyped up lessons, matchy-matchy classroom design, special pencils or bookmarks?! The truth is, you can offer an exceptional educational experience without any of those things, as long as you remember t...

What are some aspects of traditional schooling that might contribute to teacher exhaustion?  You may be heading into the 2023 break feeling like your cup is bone dry. And on top of that, you might have convinced yourself that it's your own fault! You're not alone. While there are many general aspects of school life that are time-consuming and tedious, there are multiple ways that traditional schoo...

I can't get this idea out of my head that we are missing the mark with the way we are doing school...  So let's take a closer look at what's not working, and also leave ourselves some room to dream up something greater. 

I used to think that all teaching was made equal, as long as kids were happy. I know now that it is more important than ever for truly excellent teaching to become increasingly visible. How might we activate the voices of our students to that end?    Show Notes: Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin (Pizza and sushi)   PBL Works from the Buck Institute for Education Subscribe to my newsletter , Fuera...

Choosing a career is a big commitment. You sort of want to know what you're getting yourself into before you begin. But, is it possible that on the journey to become teachers, each person somehow develops their own idea about what teaching actually IS?   Show Notes:  Free Range Humans - Learning Isn't Linear - A Conversation with Members of the Big Picture Learning Network https://free-range-human...

Determining what is and isn't included in a new curriculum is bound to be controversial. But does including a topic in the curriculum necessarily mean that it is worthwhile to learn? Jenn discusses a powerful tool for contextualizing learning.    Show Notes:  The Power of Place  Motive Art Academy @motiveartacademy Subscribe to my newsletter , Fuera del aula Connect with me on Instagram @yellowste...

Teachers often hear the wise advice "less is more" with little to no explanation of what that actually means. Jenn considers what we might prioritize when we do choose to do less.

Working with young people should be a joyful and fulfilling experience. I'm Jenn Doeve, a former bilingual teacher. Join me as I embark on a journey to explore how we might prioritize connection to become more confident and compelling leaders.  Connect with me on Instagram @yellowstepslearning