Hello everyone! Welcome to Teach Me, Teacher. This episode is a version of one of my favorite keynotes I do. It's my favorite because it's filled with real world stories about my life and the teachers that saved me growing up.  Now, I don't mean "saved" in the religious sense. I mean "saved" as in BEING THE DIFFERENCE.  What did that look like to me? What did it sound like as I navigated growing up around drugs and violence? All of that and more in this talk. If you want to see the digital...

Hello everyone! Being in the teacher podcast space for over 8 years has shown me a lot about the state of education and how it has changed. Mainly, professional development is dying. If you missed part 1 of this talk, find it here.  Conferences are filled with sessions that appeal to ideology instead of quality pedagogy. District PD’s are all about how to log in to the latest tool and assign work to kids. Books are expensive and not worth reading when state laws restrict what resources...

Hello everyone! Being in the teacher podcast space for over 8 years has shown me a lot about the state of education and how it has changed. Mainly, professional development is dying.  Conferences are filled with sessions that appeal to ideology instead of quality pedagogy. District PD's are all about how to log in to the latest tool and assign work to kids. Books are expensive and not worth reading when state laws restrict what resources teachers can use.  So, what's the deal? Why is...

Hello everyone! The reading wars carry on, believe it or not. In nearly every corner of the internet—even outside of education—people are concerned about literacy in America. This has resulted in some dynamic, and at times volatile, discussion about how to teach reading to children. In part 1, we discussed curriculum expectations, the expertise of teachers, and the misuse of computer programs.  In part 2, we discuss providing authentic reading experiences for students, tasks around...

Hello everyone! The reading wars carry on, believe it or not. In nearly every corner of the internet—even outside of education—people are concerned about literacy in America. This has resulted in some dynamic, and at times volatile, discussion about how to teach reading to children.  Jennifer McCarty Plucker, author of Inspiring Lifelong Readers, has her own thoughts on the matter. Jennifer McCarty Plucker is the director of learning and development and a literacy consultant at Mackin...

Hello everyone! Personally, I believe this episode to be the best episode of Teach Me, Teacher in a long time. If you missed part one, check it out here.  James Nottingham is most known for his work with The Learning Pit, but he has also written several books, and consults regularly around the world. His newest book, Teach Brilliantly, can be found here. In this episode, we discuss the power of quality feedback, student choice and agency on their work, and how different cultures want...

Hello everyone! Personally, I believe this episode to be the best episode of Teach Me, Teacher in a long time.   James Nottingham is most known for his work with The Learning Pit, but he has also written several books, and consults regularly around the world. His newest book, Teach Brilliantly, can be found here.    In this episode, we discuss the state of education around the world, the embattled nature of teaching, what matters in pedagogy, and what constitutes effective feedback...

Hello everyone! The other day, I came across a post about a viral lesson where a history teacher used the video game Assassin's Creed Odyssey to show a famous ancient battle. After looking at his content online for a bit, I KNEW I had to talk to him.  Dale Mahathey is a middle school Social Studies teacher who is finding success with using social media to connect with his kids. He is also a passionate historian who wants to help kids find new ways to connect to the stories of the past—and...

Join Dr. Shaun Woodly and host Jacob Chastain in the latest episode of Teach Me, Teacher as they delve into the ever-evolving landscape of education. Shaun Woodly, PhD, has dedicated his career to education, first as a decorated K-12 teacher and later as a university professor, author, and speaker. He is the architect behind the educator movement “Teach Hustle Inspire,” which seeks to redefine teaching as well as learning experiences in urban and culturally diverse schools so that the...

Hello everyone! Teaching reading may have the spotlight currently in teacher PD land, but writing should not be missed. In fact, Melissa Morrison argues, it should be at the forefront of literacy instruction. If you missed part 1, click here. In this episode we cover:   The Nuances of Teaching Writing: Melissa delves into the intricacies of teaching writing, emphasizing the need for a tailored approach. Learn how she navigates the delicate balance between guidance and freedom, providing...

Hello everyone! Teaching reading may have the spotlight currently in teacher PD land, but writing should not be missed. In fact, Melissa Morrison argues, it should be at the forefront of literacy instruction. In this episode we cover:  From Response to Creation: Melissa shares her transformative perspective on teaching writing. It's not just about responding to prompts—it's about unleashing the creative forces within students. Discover how she shifted the focus from mere response to the...

Hello everyone! It's no secret that teachers are leaving teaching. Many people outside of education don't know why... so I asked educators to tell them.  In this episode, I let the voices of real teachers tell the reasons. I let them voice their concerns in hopes that we can begin to educate people on the realities of the classroom today, not the classrooms people project onto us.  I asked. Teachers answered. Share widely. Join the discussion. 

Hello everyone! Welcome to part two of my talk with the wonderful Tara Martin!If you missed part one, click here.  We live in a world of clever marketing strategies, social media highlight reels, and the rise of AI. It’s hard to find much that’s real, let alone authentic, in our daily lives. Yet over and over again, the people seeing the most success—whether that be personal or professional success—are the ones being authentically themselves. At least, that’s how we see it at Teach Me,...

Hello everyone! We live in a world of clever marketing strategies, social media highlight reels, and the rise of AI. It's hard to find much that's real, let alone authentic, in our daily lives.  Yet over and over again, the people seeing the most success—whether that be personal or professional success—are the ones being authentically themselves. At least, that's how we see it at Teach Me, Teacher.  To break down why this is and how to bring your true self into the classroom, I have brought...

Hello everyone! All last week, I released resolution episodes to get us all back into the swing of things. Today, as promised, I am releasing the 2024 resolutions I am walking into this year with, and resolutions I think that can help us all have an amazing 365 days.  Resolutions for 2024:  Face reality no matter what that is Give yourself compassion Allow yourself to feel whatever it is you’re feeling There is no objective timeframe. Go at your own pace LISTEN ...and #5 is especially...

Hello everyone! 2024 is here and we are keeping the inspiration coming! Today marks the 4th day in a row where we are looking at our past so that we can move forward. Re-energizing. Re-focusing. Remembering who we are and why we do the things we do—why we push to be better every single day. This one hits on a lot of levels for me personally, so I hope it does for you, too. Enjoy, and thank you for those who are listening and sharing these episodes. Let’s keep pushing forward to the 2024...

Hello everyone! 2024 is here and we are keeping the inspiration coming! Today marks the 3rd day in a row where we are looking at our past so that we can move forward. Re-energizing. Re-focusing. Remembering who we are and why we do the things we do—why we push to be better every single day. This one hits on a lot of levels for me personally, so I hope it does for you, too. Covid was here and very real. Times were changing. But it was time to check fear at the door and face the new world......

Hello everyone! 2024 is here and I hear you all… There is no tired like TEACHER TIRED. It feels like the work is piling up. It feels like there is always something new to do or focus on—or worse—attempt to survive. Personal lives are taking a hit. Your sanity… But you still love what you do. You just need some refocus. So… ALL WEEK LONG, the Teach Me, Teacher podcast is releasing every resolutions episode made. Take a trip through remembering our focus as a community and why we do what we...

Hello everyone! 2024 is here and I hear you all... There is no tired like TEACHER TIRED. It feels like the work is piling up. It feels like there is always something new to do or focus on—or worse—attempt to survive. Personal lives are taking a hit. Your sanity...  But you still love what you do. You just need some refocus.  So... ALL WEEK LONG, the Teach Me, Teacher podcast is releasing every resolutions episode made. Take a trip through remembering our focus as a community and why we do...

Hello everyone! This time of year means a lot to different people. For many, it's a time for reflection, family, and friends. For others, it can be lonely, dark, and isolating. This is also true for the kids we teach and the families we support.  Jenna Edwards, author of the upcoming novel Aggressive Optimism, is no stranger to the harder topics or moments of life. Her life has made it into this story, and has filled its pages with truth and a passion for getting through the hardest moments...

Hello everyone! If you missed part 1 of this discussion—check it out here. Today, we are diving in DEEP about how to motivate young people by listening to experts Dr. Wallace Panlilio II and Artyom Zinchenko, PhD. As the minds behind “Wisest Learners (Parent Edition),” they delve into the intricacies of student motivation from a parent’s perspective, emphasizing the pivotal role of role modeling in nurturing encouragement. Join us as we explore the nuances of discussing academic success with...

Discover the keys to fostering your child's academic triumph in this illuminating podcast episode featuring esteemed authors Dr. Wallace Panlilio II and Artyom Zinchenko, PhD. As the minds behind "Wisest Learners (Parent Edition)," they delve into the intricacies of student motivation from a parent's perspective, emphasizing the pivotal role of role modeling in nurturing encouragement. Join us as we explore the nuances of discussing academic success with children and unravel the secrets to...

Love the podcast? Consider supporting the show here at Patreon.  Data often gets a bad rap... for reasons that are completely justified! But we have long sang the praises of data—if used and understood correctly.  In this podcast, Jacob walks through an overview of what data is (and isn't), how to think about it, and ultimately, how to use it to empower your teams and your teaching.    Attention educators! Say goodbye to traditional grading tools and embrace the future of assessment with...

Hello everyone! Data in the classroom has become a buzzword that doesn’t have a lot of buzz anymore for teachers. It’s often seen as a punitive way to make educators feel like failures—and worse—make kids feel like learning is just percentages to move up on a chart. To really examine what data is supposed to be in the class, and give a fresh perspective on how it can effectively transform your classroom into a positive learning environment, I have brought back my good friend, Jen Kleiber. ...