Teach Me, Teacher

Hello everyone! Today it's my pleasure to bring you my conversation with Jared Cooney Horvath, a cognitive neuroscientist based out of the University of Melbourne specializing in human thought, learning and brain stimulation. Without a doubt, this is one of the best episodes of the Teach Me, Teacher podcast. In this episode, we dive deep into the brain science behind how students learn, retain, an...

Hello everyone! Today it's my pleasure to bring you part 2 of my discussion with the two authors of Welcome to Writing Workshop, Stacey Shubitz and Lynne Dorfman.  If you missed part 1, click here! If you are like me, you might have heard the term writing workshop repeatedly, nodding along with enthusiasm, but in the back of your mind be wondering what the heck it actually is. For years, I didn't...

Hello everyone! Today it's my pleasure to bring you my discussion with the two authors of Welcome to Writing Workshop, Stacey Shubitz and Lynne Dorfman. If you are like me, you might have heard the term writing workshop repeatedly, nodding along with enthusiasm, but in the back of your mind be wondering what the heck it actually is. For years, I didn't really know what workshop was, and I often wi...

Hello everyone! Last week, the podcast took a look at the dark side of public education, examining one teacher's experience with burnout and stress. But this week, I'm talking with one of my co-workers, Pam Ochoa, and we are discussing why she is not only still in love with education, but why after 7 years of being an academic coach and out of the classroom, she is stepping back into the trenches!...

Hello everyone! This week's episode is a little different, but I think you'll get so much out of my talk with Sariah McCall, an ex-teacher who's  viral resignation letter has made rounds around the internet recently. In this discussion, we discuss why she got into teaching and why she ultimately had to leave. We discuss her love for education, the students, and her hate for how teachers are treate...

Hello everyone! Today we have the rare one part episode where I discuss what's best for kids with Dr. Michael J. Hynes! Dr. Hynes is the Superintendent of Schools for the Patchogue Medford School District, and has begun to make waves in the educational community with his approach to supporting schools, teachers, and students. He emphasizes the importance of play and recess in schools and yoga and...

Hello everyone! Today, it is my pleasure to bring you part 2 of my discussion with Kim Yaris, one of the authors of my latest favorite professional book, Who's Doing the Work: How to Say Less So Readers Can Do More. If you missed part 1, get it here.  Kim was an elementary teacher for several years, and now travels the world helping teachers with the hard and rewarding work of fostering meaningful...

Hello everyone! Today, it is my pleasure to bring you Kim Yaris, one of the authors of my latest favorite professional book, Who's Doing the Work: How to Say Less So Readers Can Do More, and we are discussing "next generation" reading instruction. Kim was an elementary teacher for several years, and now travels the world helping teachers with the hard and rewarding work of fostering meaningful lit...

Hello everyone! Today, we are  continuing our flexible seating Q&A! If you missed part 1, check it out here! With the help of one of my favorite Instagram teachers, Shane Saeed (@fantasticallyfourth), we are hitting on just about every question and concern you could have about flexible seating. If you've ever thought about making the commitment to flexible seating, but were concerned about pricing...

Hello everyone! Today, we are having a flexible seating Q&A! With the help of one of my favorite Instagram teachers, Shane Saeed (@fantasticallyfourth), we are hitting on just about every question and concern you could have about flexible seating. If you've ever thought about making the commitment to flexible seating, but were concerned about pricing, effectiveness, logistics, or even if you were...

Hello everyone! Does an ELA teacher need to be a practitioner of reading and writing? Teri Lesesne, a former middle school teacher and Professor in the Department of Library Science at Sam Houston State University, says YES YES YES! And I agree.  In part one of our discussion, we hit on popular disagreements between what educators and other commentators think quality reading instruction is, why th...

Hello everyone! Is there a reading war? Teri Lesesne, a former middle school teacher and Professor in the Department of Library Science at Sam Houston State University, is here to help us answer and face this question head on! In our discussion, we hit on popular disagreements between what educators and other commentators think quality reading instruction is, why there is a battle at all, and what...

Hello everyone! We are back with Kirk Brown this week and we are continuing our talk on Leadership and Accountability in our schools! Kirk Brown is the head fundraiser at The Ron Clark Academy and Cofounder of Emerging 100 Atlanta. His vision, leadership, and honest opinions are what we should all want to hear and strive to be like in our own spaces, regardless of if we are administration or the t...

Hello everyone! Podcast release day is always a good day, but podcast release day with a visionary and leader from The Ron Clark Academy is even better! Kirk Brown, head fundraiser at The Ron Clark Academy and Cofounder of Emerging 100 Atlanta, is here to discuss the power of leadership and the accountability that goes a long with it. I love this talk, because we talk about leadership in every con...

Hello everyone! For episode #101, I'm continuing my FANTASTIC talk with one of my favorite educators, Halee from @alattelearning, to talk about what changes she went through going from her first year of teaching to her second! I couldn't be any more proud of this young educator, the positivity she brings to the teachers who follow her, and the work she will surely do in the future. This discussion...

Hello everyone! We did it! We made it to episode 100 of the podcast! How absolutely crazy is that?  It's amazing that so many of you come and listen to the show every week, but it's equally amazing that you've supported the show through a 100 episodes! I truly can't be thankful enough for this journey we've had together. In the spirit of the 100th episode, and to celebrate a milestone of one of th...

Hello everyone! In last week's post/episode, I talked about how guided reading has been somewhat of a hot button issue for me over the past two years. With Kelli Sanders at my side, I have started opening up about why I was reluctant, and correcting my thoughts on the practice at a middle school level.  Kelli is one of my favorite educators and people in the world. She's such a wonderful person an...

Hello everyone! Guided reading has been somewhat of a hot button issue for me over the past two years. When guided reading was brought to my middle school last year, I was...reluctant to try it. I mean, I'm a middle school teacher, why should I be doing something that is CLEARLY only for elementary. Right? Wrong. Not only have I had a change of heart about practicing guided reading at the middle s...

Hello everyone! In this episode, I am talking with Christina (also known as @teachlikeagirl on Instagram) about student stress levels, and what public school teachers should be focusing on to make sure students are ready for college. Of course, we talk about a lot more than that (just like every Teach Me, Teacher episode), ranging from her passion for psychology, the need for adults to have engagi...

Hello everyone! I am so excited to bring you part two of my discussion with Marie Morris about how to have your students do more with less. I love this conversation because it's honest. We don't fudge what it's like working with students. In fact, we are as honest as possible about the challenges we are faced with day in and day out, and that's where the magic of this episode shows. Marie Morris,...

Hello everyone! Teachers are constantly being pushed to do more with less. Usually, this isn't a good thing. It ends up being just a way to cater to the high stakes testing environments we all experience. But what if we focused on what mattered? What if we decided to have our students practice talking to one another? What if we decided to do what's best for kids, but without a focus on using more...

Hello everyone! Today I am honored to share with you part 2 of my discussion with Eric Crouch (if you missed part 1, click here.) Part 2 is all about doing what's right vs being right. Meaning, we should all be more concerned with doing the best work for our students, so they can do their best work. Throughout the episode, we really hit on how Eric runs his classroom workshop, his view on his role...

Hello everyone! Today I am honored to share with you my discussion with the one and only Eric Crouch. Eric Crouch is a national award-winning educator from Columbus, Ga. Eric is also Harvard PZ Fellow, a Lowell Milken Center Fellow and currently serves on both the State Superintendent's Teacher Advisory and the Governor's Teacher Advisory Council for the state of Georgia. His work with project-bas...

Hello everyone! In a world where too many educators want the short and easy answers to literacy education, Evan and Laura Robb are here to help us see the value and purpose for putting in the real work and time it takes to learn our craft, and support kids the way they need to be supported. I couldn't be more excited for part two of this conversation! In part two, we discuss where public education...

Hello everyone! In a world where too many educators want the short and easy answers to literacy education, Evan and Laura Robb are here to help us see the value and purpose for putting in the real work and time it takes to learn our craft, and support kids the way they need to be supported. I couldn't be more excited for this one.  Evan, Laura, and I discuss what balanced literacy education is, wh...