Teachers Talkin'

Dustin and Ghazali close out Season 3 of Teachers Talkin’ with a practical conversation about setting your future teacher self up for a stronger start. As educators head into summer break or time away from school, this episode focuses on how to find the right balance between rest, reflection, and preparation. Rather than using the break to either work nonstop or completely disconnect until the las...

Dustin and Ghazali talk with Katie Ludes to discuss reading instruction, the science of reading, and what it means to support readers across K–12. Our guiding question is, “How does the science of reading and learning impact instruction and outcomes across K–12?” Katie Ludes has spent 25 years in education, including work as a teacher, reading interventionist, coach, and EL coordinator. Throughout...

Dustin and Ghazali talk with Shuayb Abdi, an educator-turned-founder working with international schools across Southeast Asia and the Middle East, to discuss the growing gap between AI policy and what’s actually happening in classrooms—especially in contexts where class sizes are large, resources are limited, and traditional assessment models are strained. Together, they explore why many schools s...

In this short episode of Teachers Talkin’, Dustin Tatroe explains why the end of testing can’t become the end of learning, especially in early May when students and teachers feel summer approaching and routines start to slip. He argues that tight, consistent systems—do nows, transitions, attention signals, work-time expectations, and follow-through on missing work—matter most at the end of the yea...

Dustin Tatroe and Ghazali Abdul Wahab welcome Jake Bersin, a health and physical education teacher in Worcester Public Schools and host of MAHPERD’s Voices from the Field, to discuss “practice with a partner” and how colleagues can make growth visible and sustainable. Jake contrasts side-by-side practice with casual advice by emphasizing SMART goals, agendas, accountability, and mentoring aligned...

Dustin and Ghazali welcome returning guest Ryan Nicolas Leong to explore how educators can make learning fun through GenAI-powered world building. Ryan explains that as AI becomes an equalizer, the key question shifts from whether teachers use AI to how they create immersive, trust-building experiences that spark curiosity and make “dry” topics engaging. He outlines a practical workflow using GenA...

In this episode, Dustin and Ghazali welcome Marlene Tapia Garcia to talk about what it really takes to move growth mindset beyond classroom posters and into daily practice that creates more equitable learning opportunities. Marlene shares how students’ confidence is shaped by past experiences and why “I can’t” often reflects learned beliefs—not ability. She explains how teachers can build systems...

Dustin Tatroe and Ghazali Abdul Wahab celebrate the 50th episode of Teachers Talkin’ with a Podcasthon bonus episode spotlighting the Les Turner ALS Foundation. They reflect on five standout moments: Joe Dale on AI for language learning (and improving podcast sound quality), their boundaries-and-balance episode on avoiding burnout, Connie Rasmussen on outdoor learning, Kip Morales on building clas...

In this Teachers Talkin’ episode, hosts Dustin Tatroe and Ghazali Abdul Wahab continue their US–Singapore grading conversation by focusing on sustainable grading practices that reduce teacher burnout. Ghazali explains how grading load varies by subject, how large class sizes and detailed rubrics create feedback delays, and how Singapore’s system relies on frequent formative tracking (often numeric...

Dustin Tatroe and Ghazali Abdul Wahab launch a two-part conversation on “grades that tell the truth,” focusing in Part 1 on accuracy—what grades should measure, why they often don’t, and how grading practices shape teacher workload and student motivation. They compare contexts in Singapore and the United States: Ghazali outlines Singapore’s high-stakes structure (PSLE with banded scoring, O/N Leve...

In this episode, Dustin and Ghazali welcome Jennifer Hartman, an associate principal at Memorial Junior High in Lansing, Illinois, to discuss the critical importance of structured mentoring programs in education. Jennifer shares her unique journey from aspiring dentist to educational leader and her passion for supporting new educators. They dive into the development of effective mentoring strategi...

Dustin and Ghazali dive into the crucial topic of teacher retention in this episode titled "Why Teachers Stay and Why They Leave." They address the guiding question: What keeps teachers in the classroom, and how do we make teaching sustainable without lowering expectations for students or educators? They discuss common misconceptions about teacher attrition, emphasizing issues beyond pay, such as...

Dustin and Ghazali dive deep into the topic of cultural awareness and internationalization in education on this episode of Teachers Talking. Their guiding question: How can educators create meaningful connections across cultures locally, nationally, and globally, so students grow in empathy, understanding, and real-world readiness? They start by defining culture in a school context, discussing bot...

Dustin and Ghazali are joined by Aditya Prakash, founder & CEO of SKIDOS Labs, to explore how playful design can turn “screen time” into learning time for our youngest learners. Their guiding question: How can beloved characters, adaptive game design, and thoughtful UX turn practice into joyful mastery for every child—without overstimulation? With SKIDOS focused on ages 3–7, Aditya shares why...

Dustin and Ghazali get real about parent communication in Hard Conversations, Strong Partnerships —a practical episode on preventing most tense meetings before they ever happen. Their guiding question: How can teachers head off 80% of “hard” parent conferences—and turn the rest into collaborative problem-solving? They share concrete moves for the first weeks of school (positive check-ins, asking f...

Dustin and Ghazali flip roles in this episode as Ghazali joins as the guest to talk about a question he’s been helping educators tackle around the world: How can we harness AI to enhance instruction while protecting the human connection that makes great teaching possible? Drawing on two years of classroom work in Singapore, Ghazali shares concrete examples of AI’s real impact on students—from cust...

Dustin and Ghazali are joined by Mirriam Chintu to explore how something as simple as “try again” can transform how students see themselves as learners. Their guiding question: How can positive reinforcement reshape the way students experience learning and behavior in school? Drawing on more than 20 years of teaching experience from grades 3–7 and now junior secondary English in Zambia, Mirriam sh...

Dustin and Ghazali are joined by Theresa McSweeney to unpack what blended and hybrid learning really look like when they work—beyond the buzzwords. Their guiding question: How can schools move from tools-first thinking to student-centered, teacher-powered models of learning? With experience across K–6 and a current role as a digital support specialist, Theresa shares how teaching kindergarten onli...

Dustin and Ghazali are joined by Priya Aavla to unpack what truly supporting at-risk students looks like—beyond the buzzwords. Their guiding question: How can higher education shift from reacting to student struggles to creating proactive systems of support? With over 16 years of experience working with students, faculty, and administrators, Priya brings a clear-eyed view of where gaps exist—and h...

Dustin and Ghazali are joined by Judy Raphalalane to dig into the essential—but often overlooked—role of mentorship in schools. Their guiding question: How can mentorship programs strengthen both new and experienced teachers, and help build healthier school cultures? After 11 years in the private sector, Judy entered public education and was immediately struck by the culture shift. From the absenc...

Dustin and Ghazali sit down with Dr. Kevin Jennings to rethink what rigor actually looks like in classrooms—and why the old definitions no longer serve students or teachers. Their guiding question: How can we reimagine rigor in ways that deepen learning—without crushing students or teachers? Drawing from 15 years of classroom experience across the U.S., South Korea, and Switzerland, Kevin brings a...

In the Season 3 premiere, Dustin and Ghazali dig into what it really takes to start the school year strong—beyond bulletin boards and icebreakers. They surface the real pressures of Week 1 and why mindset matters, then ground the conversation in practical moves teachers can use tomorrow. Their guiding question: How can educators begin the year in ways that build lasting routines, relationships, an...

In the season 2 finale, Dustin and Ghazali reflect on the journey of Teachers Talkin’ , what they’ve learned, and how podcasting has become a powerful pedagogical tool. They revisit the podcast’s origin, the connections they’ve built, and the stories that have shaped the show. Their guiding question: What role can storytelling and podcasting play in building community and transforming education? D...

In this special podcast swap episode, we're sharing an episode from the Modern Classrooms Project Podcast —a show hosted by Toni Rose and Zach that explores instructional practice, classroom tech, student advocacy, and more through the lens of the Modern Classrooms instructional model: blended, self-paced, and mastery-based learning. Guests include classroom teachers, MCP mentors, school leaders,...

Dustin and Ghazali ask the question "what does it take to lead lasting, ethical, and strategic school transformation from any seat in the building?" to Danielle Craig. Danielle is an experienced school leader with a track record of significant and effective school improvement. She is a level 7 qualified coach and now works for herself and in schools as an executive coach and educational consultant...