Teach Me, Teacher

Hello everyone! Education policy is changing. Politicians and board members are literally running on campaigns centered around what they believe should—and should not—happen in schools. Because of this, it is extremely important that we not only stay informed, but are knowledgable around laws, the history of educational movements, and why many restrictions are being pushed right now so hard. Among...

Hello everyone! Last week, I spoke with Ashley Hope Pérez about book bans and why she has been speaking up about them. As an educator, trauma survivor, and author, Ashley brought her unique perspective to this topic and challenged us to look at the complexity of, not just book bans, but the human beings being affected by them most…kids. In this episode, we continue this talk but dive into the nuan...

Hello everyone! It seems like any time you scroll through the news around education these days there are new reports of another book being banned. Authors of celebrated books are now being demonized, and more and more parents and special interest groups are raining their voices about books in schools. But why now? What caused the massive uproar? Why are certain books being attacked and others not?...

Hello everyone! This podcast is many things to many people. It's where educators can gather and enjoy the good news and positivity of education. It's where educators can learn the latest approaches to fostering deep and meaningful literacy classrooms. And it's a place where we discuss complicated issues in and around education today. Today, and over the next few episodes, we will be diving into th...

Hello everyone! Kelly Gallagher returns in part two of our discussion about engagement, the writing life, and his newest book with Penny Kittle (see our talk here), 4 Essential Studies. Last week, we talked about moving students beyond compliance and into actual engagement with content—reading and writing. If you missed it, check it out here. In this half of our talk, we touch on: Allowing student...

Hello everyone! When it comes to getting students to engage with content, we often focus on compliance. We want to see students doing the work as we say to do it and during the timeframes we determine are correct. This over emphasis on compliance, however, can actually work against us. Students may be "doing the work," but is it registering meaningfully in their minds? Is it enriching their lives...

Hello everyone! For the last few years, I have made new year resolutions for teachers episodes. I find it a great way to reset, refocus, and share some ideas with you all, one to one. It helps me stay focused, and many of you have reached out to say you appreciate these as well. 2020 resolutions can be found here.  2021 resolutions can be found here.  This year, it seems like we have all at once,...

Hello everyone! Coming right off of the holiday, we head into a fantastic discussion with the Vice President of Avid Center all about deep learning and remembering the WHY behind our practices. I have come into contact with Avid teachers a few times in my career, and I'm always delighted by their practices and work they do with young people. I'm also, as listeners of the show know, wary of anythin...

Hello everyone! A few weeks ago, I woke up in a snarky mood. In this mood, I scrolled through Twitter and came across this video from Jon Corippo. I responded by saying something along the lines of "this has nearly 0 educational value..." or something like that. Well, Jon responded, we talked, and now he is on the show! And... I have to be honest, he changed my mind. Not all that glitters is gold,...

Hello everyone! A few weeks ago, I woke up in a snarky mood. In this mood, I scrolled through Twitter and came across this video from Jon Corippo. I responded by saying something along the lines of "this has nearly 0 educational value..." or something like that. Well, Jon responded, we talked, and now he is on the show! And... I have to be honest, he changed my mind. Sort of. Depending on the cont...

Hello everyone! We have talked a lot about the power of making learning relevant for students. It gets kids engaged and excited to be in class. But what happens when we look at ourselves? Are we staying relevant with the kids? Do we know that they like? Do we attempt to know their world and connect our lessons to what they are already engaged with? Billy Allen, founder of 3kingvisions, is here to...

Hello everyone! We have talked a lot about the power of making learning relevant for students. It gets kids engaged and excited to be in class. But what happens when we look at ourselves? Are we staying relevant with the kids? Do we know that they like? Do we attempt to know their world and connect our lessons to what they are already engaged with? Billy Allen, founder of 3kingvisions, is here to...

Hello everyone! Today, there is a special focus on schools. Across America, people are examining curriculum, going to board meetings and making their voices heard, and posting online about their worries about where schools are going. Many people dismiss these events by saying they are spurred by special interest groups (driven by money). They say the parents railing against Critical Race Theory or...

Hello everyone! Several months ago, I gave a virtual keynote for a workshop the wonderful Jen Jones was conducting. I talked all about empowering young writers, and how I began this work—struggles and all. I discussed the philosophy and big ideas of what an empowered workshop is, but I also talked about the nuts and bolts and growth I saw in my students over time. And now this keynote is available...

Hello everyone! It seems like every single day there is another controversy about public schools. Whether it's about banning books or the curriculum being taught, the media and pundits alike cannot get enough of the discussion. But why? Is it really a fear of what is happening in schools, or is there a different reason? Jessica Piper, a previous middle and high school English teacher and now candi...

Hello everyone! It seems like every single day there is another controversy about public schools. Whether it's about banning books or the curriculum being taught, the media and pundits alike cannot get enough of the discussion. But why? Is it really a fear of what is happening in schools, or is there a different reason? Jessica Piper, a previous middle and high school English teacher and now candi...

Hello everyone! Saying this year is difficult is an understatement. Administrators, teachers, students and parents are all trying to figure out how to balance their lives within constant disruption and uncertainty. For many, this problem is causing mental health concerns and quality of life struggles. Returning for part two of our discussion, Monika, otherwise known as @thecheerteacher on Instagra...

Hello everyone! Saying this year is difficult is an understatement. Administrators, teachers, students and parents are all trying to figure out how to balance their lives within constant disruption and uncertainty. For many, this problem is causing mental health concerns and quality of life struggles. In hopes that we can shed some light—and the importance of—managing mental health, I have brought...

Hello everyone! Today, educators are under more scrutiny than they have been in many years. Not only are people rallying together to fight what they feel like is Critical Race Theory, but they are also signing laws that prevent certain texts from being taught in schools. Yet, teachers are constantly being told that teaching isn't political. In part one of our talk, Alfred Shivy Brooks asks, if wha...

Hello everyone! Today, educators are under more scrutiny than they have been in many years. Not only are people rallying together to fight what they feel like is Critical Race Theory, but they are also signing laws that prevent certain texts from being taught in schools. Yet, teachers are constantly being told that teaching isn't political. Alfred Shivy Brooks asks, if what is taught is dictated b...

Hello everyone! The terms antibias and antiracist bring up a lot of opinions and feelings in people. Depending on who you are talking to, this work might be the most important work happening in schools, or the bane on public education as a whole. Never being shy of a large topic, I wanted to discuss this work with one of the leading (and humble) voices in the space and see what it was all about. L...

Hello everyone! The terms antibias and antiracist bring up a lot of opinions and feelings in people. Depending on who you are talking to, this work might be the most important work happening in schools, or the bane on public education as a whole. Never being shy of a large topic, I wanted to discuss this work with one of the leading (and humble) voices in the space and see what it was all about. L...

Hello everyone! In part 1 with Selena, we discussed how the war about what schools should look like in a world driven by Covid is still waging, and many have called for "a return to normal." While this might seem wise on first glance, many educators are asking if returning to normal is what we should be striving for. They ask if normal was good enough. They wonder if we should be pushing for somet...

Hello everyone! The war about what schools should look like in a world driven by Covid is still waging, and many have called for "a return to normal." While this might seem wise on first glance, many educators are asking if returning to normal is what we should be striving for. They ask if normal was good enough. They wonder if we should be pushing for something greater, using the knowledge Covid...

Hello everyone! One of my any promises for season 6 of the podcast was to bring on teachers who teach subjects outside of the core bunch. Today, we are doing just that! Laura Truebenbach is a high school Spanish teacher in Texas, and has a lot of insights about how Covid changed how she taught, how she overcame those obstacles, and the importance of supporting students as they learn a new language...