Teaching with Valor Podcast: A Veteran Teachers Perspective

Send a text Welcome back to Teaching with Valor , the podcast where we dive deep into the world of education, uncovering the strategies that make teaching not just a profession, but a calling. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today’s episode focuses on a question that sits at the heart of every teacher’s practice: How do I know if my students are understanding the material? If you’ve ever been in...

Send a text Welcome back to Teaching with Valor , the podcast where we explore the art of teaching, focusing on how you can improve your practice from lesson to lesson, day by day, to become the best educator possible. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re diving into a question that every teacher has asked at some point: How can I make my lessons more engaging? Let’s be honest—creating en...

Send a text Welcome back to Teaching with Valor , the podcast that helps educators sharpen their skills, refine their practice, and deliver exceptional learning experiences for their students. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re diving into a crucial aspect of teaching that directly impacts student success: How do I align my lessons with state standards? Whether you’re a new teacher or h...

Send a text Welcome back to Teaching with Valor , the podcast where we explore the strategies, insights, and day-to-day practices that help teachers become the best they can be, one lesson at a time. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re diving into a question that every teacher has asked at some point: How much time should I spend on lesson planning? If you’re an educator, you know that l...

Send a text Welcome back to the Teaching with Valor Podcast , the place where we dive deep into the heart of teaching and explore how we can improve our practice from lesson to lesson and day to day. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re tackling a question that sits at the core of effective teaching: What should be included in a lesson plan? If you’ve been teaching for any length of time,...

Send a text Welcome back to Teaching with Valor , the podcast that dives deep into the art and science of teaching, helping you grow from lesson to lesson and day to day. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re tackling a fundamental question that every teacher has to face: How do I create effective lesson plans? Creating a lesson plan isn’t just about filling time or covering content; it’s...

Send a text Welcome to the Teaching with Valor Podcast . I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re diving into one of the most common challenges teachers face in the classroom: How can I manage different behavior issues without losing instructional time?   Whether you’re working in an elementary classroom with energetic young students, a middle school where hormones are running high, or a hig...

Send a text Welcome back to another episode of the Teaching with Valor Podcast , where we dive deep into the day-to-day challenges and triumphs of the classroom to help teachers grow and refine their practice, one step at a time. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re tackling a topic that every teacher, regardless of experience, will face at some point: What should I do when a student cons...

Send a text Welcome back to the Teaching with Valor Podcast , where we delve into the heart of what it means to be an effective educator, exploring strategies and insights that help teachers grow and improve their practice every single day. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today’s episode is all about one of the most fundamental aspects of teaching: How to Establish Classroom Rules and Expectatio...

Send a text Welcome back to Teaching with Valor , the podcast where we take deep dives into the most pressing topics in education, all with the goal of helping teachers become the best they can be—one lesson, one day at a time. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re diving into a subject that often gets overlooked: Supporting Gifted Students . Gifted students are those who show exceptional...

Send a text Welcome back to another episode of the Teaching with Valor Podcast , where we dive deep into the strategies and practices that help teachers become the best educators they can be. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re tackling a topic that affects every student, regardless of their age, background, or career goals— Financial Literacy . Financial literacy is about more than jus...

Send a text Welcome back to another episode of the Teaching with Valor Podcast , where we explore the strategies and skills that empower educators to teach with excellence, day in and day out. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re diving into a topic that’s often overlooked but is absolutely foundational to great teaching: Effective Questioning Strategies . Now, at first glance, questioni...

Send a text Welcome back to another episode of the Teaching with Valor Podcast . I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today, we’re diving into a topic that is essential not only in the classroom but in life— conflict resolution .  Whether you're a teacher guiding students through their first peer disagreements or a parent helping your child navigate complex social dynamics, conflict resolution i...

Send a text Welcome back to the Teaching with Valor Podcast . I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re diving deep into one of the most vital aspects of education that often doesn’t get the attention it deserves—family and community engagement.  Teaching isn’t just about what happens inside the four walls of a classroom. The connections between families, schools, and the broader community cre...

Send a text Welcome to another episode of the Teaching with Valor Podcast . I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re diving deep into one of the most essential topics in modern education: strategies for teaching diverse learners.  Classrooms today are more diverse than ever—culturally, linguistically, and in terms of learning needs. As educators, we are not only responsible for ensuring that...

Send a text Welcome back to the Teaching with Valor Podcast . I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re diving into a topic that has the potential to transform the way students learn in high school classrooms: cooperative learning.  If you’ve ever wondered how to engage students, improve peer relationships, and foster deeper understanding of the material, cooperative learning is a strategy wor...

Send a text Welcome to the Teaching with Valor Podcast . I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re tackling an incredibly important topic—one that impacts countless students in classrooms across the world: identifying and supporting learning disabilities.  As educators, it’s not just our job to teach, it’s also our responsibility to notice when students are struggling and figure out why. In ma...

Send a text Welcome back to the Teaching with Valor Podcast . I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re diving into a topic that has become more relevant than ever in our modern, technology-driven world: teaching digital citizenship.  As educators, we’re not only responsible for teaching our students math, science, and language arts—we’re also responsible for preparing them to navigate the dig...

Send a text Welcome to another episode of the Teaching with Valor Podcast . I'm your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re diving deep into one of the most crucial aspects of teaching—student engagement.   Let’s face it, no matter how well you plan your lessons or how important the content is, if your students aren’t engaged, real learning doesn’t happen. Student engagement is the key that unl...

Send a text Welcome to the Teaching with Valor Podcast . I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re exploring a topic that’s central to student success but often overlooked or taken for granted: parent-teacher communication. It’s no secret that when teachers and parents are on the same page, students tend to thrive. But effective communication doesn’t just happen on its own—it requires effort,...

Send a text Welcome back to another episode of the Teaching with Valor Podcast . I'm your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re diving into a topic that lies at the very heart of a thriving educational environment: fostering a positive school climate. Every educator knows that the atmosphere within a school can significantly impact both teaching and learning.   When the school climate is posit...

Send a text Welcome back to another episode of the Teaching with Valor Podcast . I'm your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re diving into a topic that has become increasingly vital in the modern classroom: the effective use of technology tools.  As educators, we know that technology has transformed how we teach and how our students learn. But with so many tools, apps, and platforms available...

Send a text Welcome back to the Teaching with Valor Podcast . I'm your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re diving deep into a topic that is incredibly relevant and vital for educators everywhere—trauma-informed teaching, particularly in the high school setting.   The truth is, many of our students come to us carrying experiences and emotions that we can't always see or understand. Traum...

Send a text Welcome back to another episode of the Teaching with Valor Podcast . I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re delving into a topic that is close to the heart of many educators and parents: Special Education Best Practices. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in an environment that understands and nurtures their unique abilities.  As teachers, it's...

Send a text This is a video about A "9-11 Remembrance Ceremony Open Letter to the State Board of Educations" And my willingness to create a program at all high schools across the United States.  We will never forget!  Stay tuned for more episodes, and remember, every student is unique, and every classroom can be a place where all students succeed. Keep teaching with valor!