The Parent/Teacher Conference

How are we doing making other people's place on earth a bit better? Disney places a heavy emphasis on the guest experience by teaching their cast members their 7 Guest Service Guidelines.  Many visitors to the Disney World will remark how some cast member made their stay a bit better thanks to following these guidelines.  How are we doing as teachers and parents in making children's live...

Part 1 of a series of reflections on Coach's trip to Disney World.  Walking into the Magic Kingdom in Florida, looking around Main Street, was not much different in 2022 than it was in 1976 leads to a discussion in how constants in life help us deal with an ever changing world.  Also, how experiencing the unrealism of Disney should help us to strive for perfection rather than be satisfie...

Taking the famous opening line of A Tale of Two Cities, Coach shares  the BEST- spending time and cultivating your family by spending time away with just them the WORST- the months between the return to school in January from break until spring break and how we can spark energy in our lifeless students, children, and even ourselves.

As a new year approaches, Coach looks back at how he has done keeping his new school year resolution of returning his classroom back to normal after several years of COVID restrictions and as a parent, how he needs to do better by his daughters because he loves them more than he loves teaching. 

On the last day of this special series of episodes, Coach shares several historical events that occurred on Christmas Day (not Jesus' birth) and how the event selected as the best has much to teach us about our society today.

For Day 11, Coach mentions several of his favorite TV Christmas episodes, and with the wealth to choose from, there are sure to be ones you want to argue he missed.  He has one from almost every decade, and makes a case that the Christmas episode of the show he chose, not only grasps the need to be with family during Christmas that he has discussed, but also set this TV show trajectory until...

What is your favorite fun, quirky Christmas song?  Coach gives you some insight of songs that bring back great memories (such as I'm Getting Nuttin For Christmas), talks about a far superior comedy sketch show than SNL, and challenges anyone who listens to give a better argument if they disagree with his choice for favorite novelty Christmas song.

Many cultures have their own way of adding to the Christmas celebration, but which one is the best.  Coach decides on a tradition that does a great job of combining both the Jesus and Santa stories in a very unassuming way.

Looking at 3 different categories of Christmas movies, movies that the main character is Santa, old time Christmas movies, and then which of the Big 3 is the best, A Christmas Story, Elf, or National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Over the past 7 days, I have discovered that a running theme of Christmas is the importance of family.  Using that criteria, what movies have Christmas as a backdrop yet still present that characteristic of Christmas. Other than the BEST non-Christmas/Christmas movie (not called Die Hard) will be an anti-Christmas movie that is quite funny and the movie I play for my students every Christmas...

Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?  Hear Bruce Willis' own response, hear Coach's response, what's your response? Also, the episode is a celebration of the career of Mr. Willis, who sadly has retired from acting due to health issues.  The 6th Day of 12 Christmas Arguments Clips mentioned in episodes can be found at coachcullen.com Follow for our main focus, education from a teacher and paren...

What is the best rocking Christmas song?  Coach shares a list of famous song, from songs that were written to raise social consciousness during the season (think Happy Xmas-War is Over by John Lennon), to the Christmas gift of Cobra Ki season 3.   Find the clips of some of the songs mentioned at coachcullen.com

Not counting Rankin Bass Specials, what is the best Christmas Cartoon?  So many to choose from, less than 30 minutes to review a few of the better ones and come up with the best. Take a listen and see if you agree.

What was your favorite Rankin and Bass Christmas special? Rankin and Bass were known for their stop motion animation holiday specials as well as a few cartoons (Rudolph, Frosty, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Nestor, and more).  But what was their best?  Listen as Coach misnames one of the characters of one of the special until he catches himself and raises some interesting questions abo...

What is your favorite Christmas hymn? In this special episode, Coach shares how his love of American history leads to his favorite Christmas hymn.  He also viciously attacks a beloved Christmas hymn sure to anger some listeners (OK, not so savagely but still might upset people that I go after a Christmas classic) Make sure to tune in tomorrow of the next Christmas Argument or catch up on the...

In this series of special episodes, Coach shares some of his favorite holiday classics.  For the first day, the question is "Who played Scrooge the best?" and Coach is going with Mr. Magoo.  Many younger listeners will question who Magoo even is, but take a listen to discover why this cartoon musical may be the best version of Dickens' Christmas Carol you never seen. 

Lesson plans, classroom management, assessments, are all a designed and planned by a teacher who has a masterpiece for their students in mind.  All teachers have different specialities just as artists excel in certain mediums and styles.  As fellow teachers, administrators, and/or parents, we need to appreciate each teacher's unique style for their students rather than cursing it because...

How did you approach homework as a student?  For some families, it is the never ending fight.  Instead of cursing teachers who assign it (which tends to be fruitless & doesn't displays a lack of trust in the teacher) how can parents and teachers come together in a way that is beneficial for the child? 

Should a teacher have Christmas decorations in their classroom?  On this episode, Coach shares reasons to support the practice including inclusion, using them as a teachable moment, and it's as American as 4th of July (literally). Don't believe that last statement, take a listen.

How preparing to be pulpit supply in a Presbyterian church led to this year's Thanksgiving lesson for my 7th graders; a focus on thankfulness as a unifier especially with the school and their parents.  And then thanking two teachers in my daughter's lives that went above and beyond for their students' sake,  a teacher I had in middle school that still shows the same energy in retirement...

If how you dress, the hair you wear, tattoos, and piercings are included in your freedom of expression, then we cannot be shocked that people use their freedom of expression to judge us.  What does that mean for us as teachers?  What does that mean for us as parents as we buy clothes for our kids?  Trust me, Im NOT a person who feels a need to dress professionally, I want people to...

We are in a highly political moment, so how does a teacher navigate that minefield. Coach shares his Road to the White House Election Game that he plays every year with his students to learn political terms such as Liberal and Conservative and the intricacies of the Electoral College.  And then he gives his 3 Steps through the Political Minefield 1) Stay in Your Lane 2) Present Both Sides Fai...

Coach discusses some of his experiences participating in Parent Teacher Conferences sharing with both Parents and Teachers what they can do together to help each child be the best they can be.  Included Compliance isn't a dirty word, the exhaustion from peopling all day for teachers and what admins could change up to avoid wasted days, and the need for teachers to use the time as a means of a...

Why is Social Emotional Learning such a buzz word? On this episode, SEL is defined and benefits shared, reasons why some parents are concerned, and reasons for the stresses of kids today that many parents never faced.  Coach ends with a suggestion for a great SEL program for your school.

The last episodes of TV shows tend to be over the top memorable affairs, but the comedy show "Everybody Loves Raymond" decided just to do normal well.  What can that sitcom's finale teach teachers and parents about doing well for students/children?