Catholic Teachers' Lounge Podcast

The day after the eclipse, take a moment to look at what you do and how you do it with a new set of eyes. It’s easy to stick to your routine with trusted resources, but we can’t afford not to keep trying new things or re-envisioning old things.

Bring lessons to life with engaging activities that incorporate movement into learning, understanding and memorization.03

We’ve all experienced failures in life but how do we empower our students to embrace the normalcy of life’s emotional roller coaster — especially our littles? Take a lesson from Tricia’s Richardson’s kindergarten class and apply it all the way through college visits.

When the tables are turned and teachers become students, how to make the most of professional development opportunities, no matter the topic, presenter or how busy you are in regular life.

Assigning group work can be a recipe for disaster no matter the age of the kids. However, disciplined assignment of roles and responsibilities can successfully help students navigate this critical, real world skill set.

In a world dominated by social media and electronic communication, facilitating classroom discussion that includes peer to peer eye contact, active listening, and mutual respect can be a significant challenge as you bridge the socratic method of yesteryear with the digital habits of today.

Parent-teacher communication is more important than ever, but one-way digital communication like newsletters to parents can be way too easy to ignore or miss. How to create a more consistent and effective two way communication method that is relevent and effective.

Making memories with the unique and historic eclipse before, during or after the 8th with art, science and study projects.

Every school has a trusted teacher that everyone looks up to no matter what grade they teach. Today’s guest, Elizabeth D’Aurora, a 3rd grade teacher from Parnell Michigan, is one of those teachers for her school as well as listeners of the Catholic Teachers Lounge podcast thanks to her regular contributions!

Consider adding an Advent Wreath to your classroom, beginning the season with an advent wreath blessing. Jill and Colleen discuss the Loyola Press lesson on blessing an Advent wreath.

Jill and Colleen welcome Dr. Kaitlin Reichart into the Catholic Teachers’ Lounge to share the best things they have seen and heard in classrooms so far this year. Stop in the lounge to hear shout outs, accolades, and cheers for the hardworking and creative teachers and leaders in our schools. You’ll have lots of time over break to binge back episodes of the Catholic Teachers’ Lounge AND Connected Classrooms, the Greeley Center for Catholic Education’s podcast starring Kaitlin Reichart!

This episode takes Jill and Colleen down a rabbit hole of multi-age instructional shifts, putting theory into practice, and wondering if PD is enough. Tune in as talk in lounge shifts to the way instructional leaders must create the space and opportunities for teachers to put practices that serve all students into action and help them let go of habits, systems, and structures that no longer serve today’s classrooms.

This episode takes the lounge conversation back to homework, only this time Jill and Colleen are talking about high school kids. Studies show there is a sweet spot for impact when it comes to time spent on homework and success on standardized exams. Stop by the lounge to hear about stressors, tasks, and impact when it comes to homework in high school.

“In this episode of the Catholic Teachers Lounge, Jill and Colleen explore various themes related to Catholic education, particularly focusing on the Advent season, prayer practices, and the role of AI in spiritual expressions. They discuss the importance of spontaneous prayer in schools, share personal anecdotes about prayer with children, and reflect on the authenticity of prayer in the context of modern technology. The conversation concludes with a historical insight into the oldest Catholic school building still in use in the United States. “

In this episode, Jill and Colleen ponder a homework study. What is the value of homework? What is the most effective use of student time in and out of school? Stop in the lounge for a topic that everyone has an opinion about.

It’s Advent–A time of high energy, activities, service projects, special prayer events, art, music, and lots of patience. Join Jill and Colleen for a conversation about fresh ideas and traditions to bring Advent to life for students.

It’s Thanksgiving week! Join Jill and Colleen in a lounge conversation about classroom activiities that reflect the values and meaning of Thanksgiving, let kids be creative, and honor history. Jill and Colleen wish all Catholic school teachers and leaders all the best–they are so grateful for what you do every day!

Teaching has historically been an isolating profession for many. We would go into our classrooms, not to see another adult until we ventured to the office or teachers’ lounge. When teachers experience the benefits of frequent visitors, co-teachers, and other adults in their classroom, they can experience a shift to openness that lifts them and their students to new heights. Join Colleen and Jill in the lounge for a conversation about teacher support practices.

In this episode, Jill and Colleen explore the universal design aspects of marching band and music education and how these can apply to the classroom. Discover UDL through a musical lens.

In this episode, Jill and Colleen put on their doctor hats and talk about a study proving the importance of handwriting to benfit learning to read. What begins as a simple conversation about spelling words goes down a rabbit hole of literacy. Stop in the lounge for this cutting edge–yet not surprising!– conversation about reading and writing.