Teach Your Class Off Radio

Welcome to Season 10 of Sunday Night Teacher Talk! After 10 years of Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ and Jenn are back to kick off a brand-new season. In this episode, they talk about making the most of summer, preparing for a new school year, building classroom culture before students even walk through the door, and answering your questions about classroom management, first-day activities, parent c...

n the Season 9 finale of Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ reflects on a life-changing senior mission trip to St. Croix, the power of student stories, losing his wedding ring in the Caribbean, and what educators can do to finish the school year strong. The conversation covers end-of-year projects, student apathy, teacher burnout, classroom management, AI in education, career transitions, and preparing...

In Episode 348 of Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ reflects on the emotional chaos of the end of the school year, preparing for senior trip, graduation weekend, and fundraising with students using World’s Finest Chocolate. The episode dives into teacher burnout, conference season, community support, classroom culture, mentoring, and practical advice for educators navigating transitions, interviews, c...

The end of the school year is here and with it comes chaos, big projects, and students who are either all-in or completely checked out. In this episode of Sunday Night Teacher Talk , CJ shares how he’s structuring final exam projects, keeping energy high during the last stretch, and having real conversations with students who are struggling to stay motivated. If you’re trying to finish the year st...

CJ kicks off Episode 346 with a real-life chaotic Sunday and a reminder that growth-minded teachers show up—even when it’s messy. From students not turning in work to end-of-year burnout, CJ breaks down practical strategies to re-engage your classroom, chunk projects, and refocus on what actually works. He also dives into motivation, the power of joy, and how to avoid focusing on the wrong student...

With only a few weeks left in the school year, CJ dives into one of the trickiest seasons in teaching—when you’re balancing burnout, expectations, and unfinished goals. This episode tackles scripted curriculum frustrations, holding coworkers accountable, managing difficult student behaviors, and navigating high-stress situations like classroom incidents and toxic environments. CJ also shares pract...

CJ is back solo after a long week of school and prom chaperoning—and an unexpected class pet dilemma. In this episode, he dives into real talk about having favorite students (and why that’s okay), navigating toxic coworkers and admin, handling testing season burnout, and staying rooted in your mission when school culture gets messy. He also shares powerful strategies for classroom accountability,...

This week, CJ shares a heartbreaking story from his classroom week after losing one of the family cats just before school started, and talks honestly about what it looks like to teach when life feels heavy. He answers questions about becoming a teacher resource, rebuilding trust with disconnected classes, making SEL lessons more meaningful, preparing students for major exams, using AI ethically, g...

This week on Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ gets real about coming back from a spring break that was anything but restful. He talks about feeling worn down, spiritual resistance, tech disasters, sickness at home, and what it looks like to keep showing up when you do not feel refreshed. He also shares a fascinating insight from Malcolm Gladwell on ideal class size, then answers questions about revie...

This week on Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ talks about that awkward week right before spring break, how to keep class fun without losing structure, and why student behavior often spikes before a break. He also answers questions on exhaustion, long commutes, entitled students, test prep classes, building trust with new admin, reaching discouraged students, and how to start getting your school ready...

This week on Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ opens with a powerful reminder: everything you want is on the other side of being honest with yourself. As March begins and the stretch to the end of the year feels long, CJ and Jen tackle real teacher struggles — student apathy, inconsistent behavior, tech vs. traditional instruction, AI misuse, co-teaching tension, and how to push through burnout before...

This week on Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ reflects on speaking in Kansas and why hands-on programs like woodshop, robotics, and CTE matter more than ever. He answers big questions about moving on from a school after tough evaluations, advocating for teacher support, handling co-teaching tension, student apathy, AI in writing, and encouraging students to advocate for better instruction. Plus: prac...

This week on Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ shares highlights from speaking in Kansas, why hands-on programs like woodshop and robotics matter, and how to fight the “February funk” hitting teachers and students alike. He answers questions about grading sub work, staying organized, handling co-teaching tension, navigating student apathy, and building joy into heavy seasons of the school year. Plus:...

This week on Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ and his wife Jen dive into the tough realities of leaving the classroom, balancing motherhood and identity, and why some teachers need to take a mental health day—guilt-free. They also cover strategies for teaching mixed-level classes (especially in therapeutic or IEP settings), how to bounce back after long breaks, why leadership visibility matters, and...

In Episode 335 of Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ reflects on how tracking small wins and classroom buy-in can re-energize your teaching midyear. He and his co-host Jen dive into questions about: resetting expectations after big projects, writing honest but compassionate feedback for student teachers, managing disruptive classes, and overcoming anxiety when stepping into the classroom after a long b...

This week on Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ reflects on KnowledgeCon in Los Angeles and the power of surrounding yourself with people who sharpen your vision and re-ignite your passion. He shares updates from the classroom, including why he transformed his room into a jungle, how he resets after winter break, and how to make even midterm testing feel supportive, joyful, and human. Also in this epis...

🎥 What is Sunday Night Teacher Talk? Every Sunday at 4:00 PM Eastern , we go live for a teacher Q&A. Think of it as your weekly prep session with a community of educators who want to start the week strong. Whether you’ve got questions about classroom management, lesson planning, or just need encouragement, this is your space. 👉 Join us live here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRGA_FqyigEP...

This week on Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ kicks off 2024 with real talk about easing back into the classroom, navigating grading overwhelm, and how to show up with purpose and joy—even when the work feels heavy. He shares first-day-back routines, practical tips for grading essays and tests without drowning, and why teachers need both play and structure to thrive. Topics also include: navigating b...

In this low-key, holiday break episode, CJ reflects on the first half of the school year and shares his goals for a more intentional and joyful second half. Topics include helping students build confidence and creativity, choosing new core texts like Tuesdays with Morrie and Of Mice and Men , and using storytelling-based assessments. He also chats about parenting during tech-heavy times, how he us...

n this episode of Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ unpacks what it means to lead with kindness—even when students act entitled. He shares how to respond when your classroom data gets called out, how to restore confidence through honest conversation, and why teaching with joy is a radical act in hard times. We also dive into media-based storytelling projects for December, parenting with purpose in a t...

Back from Thanksgiving break with three weeks 'til Christmas—and it’s already chaos. In this episode, CJ talks about navigating shifting schedules due to sports tournaments, whether to cancel the long-awaited brain rot project, and how to reset classroom expectations in December. He also dives into what to do when students trash-talk you for holding them accountable, how to come back after a r...

This week on Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ shares hallway snowstorms, Christmas confetti, and real talk about what happens when a student’s only friend cuts ties. We dive into how to rebuild class culture after an extended absence, why some teachers are ditching scripted curriculum (or fighting to), and what to say when other staff roll their eyes at esports teams. Also in this episode: strategies...

This week on Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ gets fired up about what it really takes to grow as a teacher—and how to mentor others without losing yourself in the process. He shares honest stories about co-teaching wins and disasters, classroom aides who ghost on the job, and what to do when your enthusiasm doesn’t match your students’ vibe (Tigger vs. Eeyore energy). We also talk about grading with...

This week on Sunday Night Teacher Talk, we’re unpacking what it really looks like to build a classroom and school culture from the ground up—especially when you’re new to the building. CJ shares updates on how shared experiences like lunch invites, Spirit Week, and hallway antics are shaping connection at his new school. Other big topics this week include how to use ChatGPT to streamline grading w...

This week on Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ dives into the real stuff teachers are navigating—burnout in the early months, resetting energy and habits, and how to bring “sprinkle magic” to your classroom without losing your mind. We also get real about romantic relationships in middle and high school, how to spot great leadership when job hunting, and how to keep your class culture joyful and groun...