Teach Me, Teacher

On this week's Teach Me, Teacher we sit down with Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath — neuroscientist, educator, and author — to dive deep into one of the most urgent debates in education today: the role of technology in schools. All of the discussion items in this episode are inspired by and directed by Jared's latest book: The Digital Delusion: How Classroom Technology Harms Our Kids' Learning — And How To Help Them Thrive Again — check it out here. In this powerful conversation, Jared breaks down the myth of educational technology. His new book takes a rigorous, research-grounded view of why digital tools — once hailed as revolutionary — often fail to deliver on their promises and can actually hinder real learning. Jared and I explore how technology went from a supplemental tool to a central feature of classrooms. Fueled by optimism, investment, and the idea that digital tools automatically mean innovation, schools adopted laptops, tablets, apps, and AI — often without deep evidence that these tools improve learning. Drawing on decades of cognitive research, Jared explains how digital distraction — from multitasking to constant notifications — can disrupt memory, attention, and deep thinking. These are the very processes that real learning depends on. Rather than simply adding more tech, we talked about what happens when schools put teachers, relationships, and focused engagement back at the center of learning. Jared makes the case that most student-facing screens should be phased out — not because technology is inherently bad, but because its dominant role undermines learning outcomes and critical thinking skills We also cover what better education actually looks like: classrooms where print media, discussion, reflection, and deep practice take priority — and where technology serves only highly specific, evidence-based purposes rather than driving instruction. As schools grapple with stagnant achievement, reduced attention spans, and rising concerns about student well-being, this episode challenges the assumption that more technology equals better learning. It's time for educators, parents, and policy makers to rethink the role of ed tech — and that starts with honest conversations like this one. Check out our previous discussion on the podcast here. 

Hello everyone! In this episode of the podcast, we go over what resolutions teachers should embrace this coming year. The last several years have been difficult in the profession and for Jacob Chastain personally, but times change, we grow and we move on. The resolutions featured here are inspired by both personal and professional needs and hopefully provide a focus for the coming year.  Resolutions in this episode include:  Show people the true nature of what we do Advocate for yourself and your teams Change it up and experiment Be the teacher you needed as a kid If you have missed previous resolution episodes, they can be found below.  2020 Resolutions 2021 Resolutions 2022 Resolutions  2023 Resolutions  2024 was a recap of the previous years and 2025 is here

Hello everyone! If you have listened to the podcast for a significant amount of time, you have probably heard me talk about how my son is autistic. It has been a journey, for sure, but something that has been helpful along the way has been all of the great educators who have supported him and his needs. With that said, I couldn't be more excited to bring my talk with Melinda Arnost to you. She is the author of the upcoming book, Empowering Inclusion, and a passionate educator. Melinda is exactly the kind of educator we love to have on Teach Me, Teacher: passionate, innovative, and deeply in love with the work it takes to serve all students.   This episode originally appeared as episode #184 of the podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Tinsley Galyean—co-founder of Curious Learning and author of the forthcoming book REFRAME: How Curiosity & Literacy Can Redefine Us—to challenge everything we think we know about technology, kids, and learning. As debates rage over screen time, AI, and the impact of digital tools on child development, Galyean offers a powerful counter-narrative: what if technology, used intentionally, could become one of the most transformative forces in global childhood literacy? Drawing on fieldwork across Ethiopia, India, Bangladesh, South Africa, and beyond, Tinsley reveals how low-cost smartphones and child-driven learning apps are helping children learn to read in their mother tongue—even in communities with no formal schooling. We explore why curiosity is the secret engine of learning, how tech can support (not replace) human connection, and why it's time to reexamine the role technology can and should play in childhood literacy. If you're an educator, parent, or leader searching for evidence-based insights on technology and kids, digital learning, or the future of literacy, this conversation will expand your thinking and push you to reframe what's possible.

In this episode, we sit down with Tinsley Galyean—co-founder of Curious Learning and author of the forthcoming book REFRAME: How Curiosity & Literacy Can Redefine Us—to challenge everything we think we know about technology, kids, and learning. As debates rage over screen time, AI, and the impact of digital tools on child development, Galyean offers a powerful counter-narrative: what if technology, used intentionally, could become one of the most transformative forces in global childhood literacy? Drawing on fieldwork across Ethiopia, India, Bangladesh, South Africa, and beyond, Tinsley reveals how low-cost smartphones and child-driven learning apps are helping children learn to read in their mother tongue—even in communities with no formal schooling. We explore why curiosity is the secret engine of learning, how tech can support (not replace) human connection, and why it's time to reexamine the role technology can and should play in childhood literacy. If you're an educator, parent, or leader searching for evidence-based insights on technology and kids, digital learning, or the future of literacy, this conversation will expand your thinking and push you to reframe what's possible.

Hello everyone and happy Thanksgiving break! We will be back to our regular scheduled programming next week, but for our off week, let's revisit one of the top minds in education to look at reading and writing practices that actually work in secondary classrooms.  NOTE: This episode featured a giveaway that has already been honored.  If you're in ELA, you probably know who Penny Kittle is. If you don't know who she is, you're in for a treat, regardless if you teach ELA or another subject. In this episode, Penny and I discuss her new book (co-written with Kelly Gallagher), 180 Days, and how we can better our literacy practices and deepen the learning of our students. We hit on: Beliefs that drive teaching decisions Why teaching a LOVE for reading and writing is paramount The power of modeling The need for conferencing with students  …and much much more. Enjoy the show. Don't forget to subscribe and review the show on iTunes! 

This week, we're back with Part 3 of my conversation with Ken Williams — and we're pushing even deeper into what real leadership looks like when the excuses are stripped away. If you missed Part 2, make sure you catch up first. In this installment, we go beyond the question of whether teachers matter and dig into the systems, habits, and mindsets that either amplify teacher expertise or quietly suffocate it. Because here's the truth far too many leaders avoid: You can't claim to believe in teachers while building a school that doesn't trust them. We talk about how some schools unintentionally create environments where demographics set the narrative, expectations shrink, and teacher talent is overshadowed by fear, compliance, or "initiatives" that don't move the needle. And we explore the opposite—what it looks like when leaders actively remove barriers, create clarity, and build cultures where teachers are empowered to be the experts they were hired to be. This episode gets into: Why "context" can't become a convenient excuse for low accountability How leaders can shift from managing teachers to developing them What high-functioning schools do differently — no matter the zip code The mindsets that help leaders create conditions where every teacher can succeed Why student demographics must never determine adult expectations Ken pulls no punches as we examine what it really takes for leaders to support teachers in any school, with any students, under any circumstances. This is the deeper work — the work that transforms schools from the inside out. If you're ready to move past rhetoric and toward real leadership that elevates teacher expertise, this is the episode. Learn more about Ken's work at Unfold the Soul and check out his book Ruthless Equity.

This week, I sit down with Ken Williams — educator, speaker, author of Ruthless Equity, and founder of Unfold the Soul — to dig into a question that hits the core of what schools are becoming: Do teachers still matter? If you missed part 1, click here. In far too many places, we've slipped into treating demographics like destiny. Schools get so wrapped up in predicting outcomes based on factors kids can't control that teachers end up feeling obsolete before they even step into the room. When we assume what students can't do, we quietly remove the people who can change everything: the teachers. If we actually want better schools, we have to treat teachers like the experts they are and let them do what only they can do. Because kids from every background and every circumstance can learn when we trust and empower the people closest to them. Ken brings his trademark clarity and candor as we dig into how schools can rebuild belief in teachers and what leaders must do to support that shift. It's real, it's challenging, and it's the kind of conversation that refuses to settle for easy answers. Learn more about Ken's work at Unfold the Soul and check out his book Ruthless Equity.

This week, I sit down with Ken Williams, educator, speaker, and author of Ruthless Equity and founder of Unfold the Soul, to wrestle with one of the toughest questions in education today: Do teachers still matter? In too many schools, leadership decisions, policies, and even cultural norms seem to have already decided what kids can and cannot do — leaving teachers feeling like their impact is secondary. But if we truly believe teachers matter (and we say we do), why don't our practices reflect that belief? Ken brings his signature honesty and insight as we unpack how schools can reclaim belief in the power of teachers — and what leaders must do to support them. This conversation is real, challenging, and deeply necessary for anyone who refuses to accept mediocrity in education. Learn more about Ken's work at Unfold the Soul and check out his book Ruthless Equity.  

High school kids are tough to reach… but maybe that's the fun part. In this episode, we're talking about engagement that actually works—finding that ONE thing that makes your lessons hit different. Maybe it's a wild outfit. A totally new lesson design. A classroom setup that surprises them. Something weird, bold, or uniquely you. Because when you make it your own… that's when kids connect. That's when it sticks. Listen now on Teach Me, Teacher — where passion meets practice, and every classroom becomes a story worth telling.

Hello everyone!  This week I'm joined by Carrie Jackson, the incredible principal of Allen High School in Texas — and someone I've had the privilege of working alongside in my career. Carrie embodies what it means to lead with humility, compassion, and care. In our conversation, we dig deep into what real leadership looks like — not the kind that leans on authority or power, but the kind that sees people first. We talk about the difference between power and influence, and how the best leaders earn trust and respect not through force, but through consistency, empathy, and a genuine commitment to the people they serve. It's a reminder that leadership isn't about control — it's about connection.

Hello everyone!  This week I'm joined by Carrie Jackson, the incredible principal of Allen High School in Texas — and someone I've had the privilege of working alongside in my career. Carrie embodies what it means to lead with humility, compassion, and care. In our conversation, we dig deep into what real leadership looks like — not the kind that leans on authority or power, but the kind that sees people first. We talk about the difference between power and influence, and how the best leaders earn trust and respect not through force, but through consistency, empathy, and a genuine commitment to the people they serve. It's a reminder that leadership isn't about control — it's about connection.

Hello everyone! We have done extensive podcasts on the many aspects of reading and writing. We have covered pedagogy, research, cutting edge ideas and a return to form. One of the biggest topics that have graced this show is the topic of The Science of Reading. Heard of it? To dive into the latest research, findings, and thinking around the subject, I have brought on one of the experts in the field, Erica Woolway. Erica Woolway is the President and Chief Academic Officer of Teach Like a Champion. Erica is a former kindergarten teacher and elementary school leader. She is coauthor of Practice Perfect and Reading Reconsidered. In this episode we cover what SoR is, the debate around what works in reading, and the push for a more in-depth approach to reading instruction (among other odds and ends.) Enjoy!   Teach Like a Champion Links   Buy the book: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/The+Teach+Like+a+Champion+Guide+to+the+Science+of+Reading%3A+Translating+Research+to+Reignite+Joy+and+Meaning+in+the+Classroom-p-9781394305995 Pilot the Reading Reconsidered Curriculum – available to purchase just one unit for £590 : https://teachlikeachampion.org/reading-reconsidered-curriculum/ Come to our workshops: https://teachlikeachampion.org/training/workshops/ Have us come lead training for you (in-person or remotely): https://share.hsforms.com/1w8SlL9vPRuq30hsy_6JUWgs3y4d?__hstc=65301169.251c3eb934a8f6dab79aeafc7cae4ab1.1727899617348.1757098518554.1757340098147.227&__hssc=65301169.2.1757340098147&__hsfp=3474073941   Doug LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglemov X: @Doug_Lemov ; https://x.com/doug_lemov?lang=en Blog: https://teachlikeachampion.org/blog/   Erica LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-woolway-44901130/ X: https://x.com/ericawoolway?lang=en   Colleen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-driggs-09903559/ X: https://x.com/colleendriggs?lang=en Comments Offon #391 Guide to the Science of Reading with Erica Woolway (pt.1) Share this episode! FacebookXRedditLinkedInWhatsAppTumblrPinterestVkEmail    

Hello everyone! We have done extensive podcasts on the many aspects of reading and writing. We have covered pedagogy, research, cutting edge ideas and a return to form. One of the biggest topics that have graced this show is the topic of The Science of Reading. Heard of it?  To dive into the latest research, findings, and thinking around the subject, I have brought on one of the experts in the field, Erica Woolway. Erica Woolway is the President and Chief Academic Officer of Teach Like a Champion. Erica is a former kindergarten teacher and elementary school leader. She is coauthor of Practice Perfect and Reading Reconsidered. In this episode we cover what SoR is, the debate around what works in reading, and the push for a more in-depth approach to reading instruction (among other odds and ends.)  Enjoy!    Teach Like a Champion Links   Buy the book: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/The+Teach+Like+a+Champion+Guide+to+the+Science+of+Reading%3A+Translating+Research+to+Reignite+Joy+and+Meaning+in+the+Classroom-p-9781394305995 Pilot the Reading Reconsidered Curriculum – available to purchase just one unit for £590 : https://teachlikeachampion.org/reading-reconsidered-curriculum/ Come to our workshops: https://teachlikeachampion.org/training/workshops/ Have us come lead training for you (in-person or remotely): https://share.hsforms.com/1w8SlL9vPRuq30hsy_6JUWgs3y4d?__hstc=65301169.251c3eb934a8f6dab79aeafc7cae4ab1.1727899617348.1757098518554.1757340098147.227&__hssc=65301169.2.1757340098147&__hsfp=3474073941   Doug LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglemov X: @Doug_Lemov ; https://x.com/doug_lemov?lang=en Blog: https://teachlikeachampion.org/blog/   Erica LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-woolway-44901130/ X: https://x.com/ericawoolway?lang=en   Colleen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-driggs-09903559/ X: https://x.com/colleendriggs?lang=en

In light of the world and the tragedies that have unfolded, Teach Me, Teacher skipped this week. In the meantime, a PSA for the audience. 

Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching.  In this episode, Jacob and Pam address the issues of student cheating and AI.  Jacob poses the question of whether cheating is a greater problem today than in the past.   Pam shares how she has seen cheating throughout her career and determined that it has always been a large problem.  Jacob explains how technology changes seem to instill fear regarding cheating, such as Google, so, AI is just another one of those changes.

In this heartfelt new episode of Teach Me, Teacher, we sit down with Josh Monroe—the inspiring 5th-grade teacher behind the TikTok sensation @mrmonroeandnala, where he shares heartwarming and thought-provoking classroom moments alongside his therapy dog, Nala TikTok (though things have changed). Josh is also the co-host of the acclaimed podcast What the World Needs Now, where he and fellow educator Tom Whisinnand explore what keeps teachers motivated while uplifting educator voices from around the world. Together, we explore the concept of "hidden standards"—the unspoken social expectations like listening empathetically, speaking kindly, and treating one another with respect. Josh shares why teaching content is only half the job and introduces audiences to classroom strategies that embed social-skill building into everyday teaching. Expect practical ideas for cultivating empathy, communication, and ethical behavior—because growing good humans matters as much as grade-level success. Educators and parents, get ready to learn how to turn your classroom or home into a place where kindness is just as important as curriculum—and then some. Tune in now to reframe how we teach, how children learn to engage, and how we all build better communities, one conversation at a time. If you'd like to hear his previous episode, click here. 

In this heartfelt new episode of Teach Me, Teacher, we sit down with Josh Monroe—the inspiring 5th-grade teacher behind the TikTok sensation @mrmonroeandnala, where he shares heartwarming and thought-provoking classroom moments alongside his therapy dog, Nala TikTok (though things have changed). Josh is also the co-host of the acclaimed podcast What the World Needs Now, where he and fellow educator Tom Whisinnand explore what keeps teachers motivated while uplifting educator voices from around the world. Together, we explore the concept of "hidden standards"—the unspoken social expectations like listening empathetically, speaking kindly, and treating one another with respect. Josh shares why teaching content is only half the job and introduces audiences to classroom strategies that embed social-skill building into everyday teaching. Expect practical ideas for cultivating empathy, communication, and ethical behavior—because growing good humans matters as much as grade-level success. Educators and parents, get ready to learn how to turn your classroom or home into a place where kindness is just as important as curriculum—and then some. Tune in now to reframe how we teach, how children learn to engage, and how we all build better communities, one conversation at a time. If you'd like to hear his previous episode, click here. 

Jonathan Alsheimer is back on the podcast, and this conversation is every bit as powerful as his first appearance. If you missed part 1, check it out here.  We dig into what it really means to show up for kids—not just being present in the room, but being fully engaged, intentional, and committed to their success. Jonathan shares how building strong, authentic relationships can transform not only the classroom environment, but also the learning that happens within it. We also tackle one of the biggest balancing acts in education: delivering rigorous, meaningful content while also teaching the life skills, resilience, and character our students need beyond school walls. If you enjoyed our first conversation, you'll love this one even more. It's a reminder that great teaching isn't just about the curriculum—it's about the connection.

Jonathan Alsheimer is back on the podcast, and this conversation is every bit as powerful as his first appearance. We dig into what it really means to show up for kids—not just being present in the room, but being fully engaged, intentional, and committed to their success. Jonathan shares how building strong, authentic relationships can transform not only the classroom environment, but also the learning that happens within it. We also tackle one of the biggest balancing acts in education: delivering rigorous, meaningful content while also teaching the life skills, resilience, and character our students need beyond school walls. If you enjoyed our first conversation, you'll love this one even more. It's a reminder that great teaching isn't just about the curriculum—it's about the connection.