Talk to Mee in the Car Education Podcast

Last week we peeled back the curtain to talk shop on all things PBL and PBA, and this week we're going inside of a real-life project that's still very much in the making. Tune in for a 20 minute crash course on backwards design, skill-based assessments, and the value of planning (plus the lack of value in plans). We're making a mess in the best way possible! Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 15 (ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

This week, we're talking shop about the subtle (but important!) differences between Project Based Assessments and Project Based Learning. While we're at it, we're sharing a delightfully overcooked extended metaphor about some homemade lasagna. Sounds tempting, no? See you inside! Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 15 (ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

After a much-needed summer sabbatical, the podcast is back with a brand new season of tips, tricks, and teaching insight to help you make sense of the day to day life as a 21st century classroom teacher. Today's episode focuses on what's important and tries to bring clarity to the great work that we try to do in spite of the myriad distractions and demands that are so much a part of life as an educator in the era of COVID-19. Welcome back to our regularly scheduled program! Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 15 (ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

It's the end of the school year! And that means it's a great time to look back on all of the highs (and lows) of where we've been over the course of the past 180 days of instruction. This week's podcast leans in on a handy little trade secret that's helped me "Teach Better" over the course of the past five years or so. Feel free to give a listen to check out a boatload of bite-sized strategies that teachers can punch up their instruction! "You measure what you value and you value what you measure," right? Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 15 (ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

Ready for a shaggy dog story that's part Willy Loman and part high school nostalgia trip? This week's podcast offers some musings on going slow to go fast and trying to build something that lasts, thanks to some handy instructional tips from a middle school technology class. Tune in for lots of good stuff inside in a freewheeling trip down memory lane! Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 15 (ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

What a week it's been right? Between new masking policies and revised social distancing guidelines and a whole bunch of updates from the CDC, the past seven days have thrown a monkey wrench into the planning efforts of schools and districts throughout the US and beyond. As we try our best to make sense of this whirlwind of information, today's podcast will see if we can't find a way to get our feet back under us to finish the school year (and the start of summer) off on the road to success. Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 15 (ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

Happy day after Mother's Day 2021! On the heels of a back-to-back Teacher Appreciation Week and Mother's Day, there's certainly a lot to be thankful for as we reach the tail end of the 2020-2021 school year. This week's podcast takes a closer look at a handful of lessons that teachers can learn from dear old M-O-M, plus a bundle of extra special teacher tips I've personally found to be of incredible value thanks to my own relationship with my mother. Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 15 (ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week y'all! It's been a school year unlike any we've ever known, and this year has demanded tremendous degrees of teacher flexibility, empathy, and grace. And this week's podcast is all about ways that we can continue bringing each of these same elements into our professional practice. Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 15 (ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

Have you ever been to a professional development and told to "TEACH DIFFERENTLY!?" but walked away feeling simultaneously overwhelmed and underprepared to do exactly that? Far too often, traditional PD drops teachers into the brave new world of an uncharted instructional strategy, and yet we are given little more than a scarce breadcrumb trail to find our way to some sort of way forward. Not to worry gang: this week, Penny Pegagogies and Side Quests are here to help! Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 15 (ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

Do you smell what the Pod is cooking? This week, we're talking all things WRESTLEMANIA! And before you laugh me out of the arena -- I think there's a surprising amount of insight that teachers can glean from this larger than life pseudosport. From the scripted theatrics to the pulse pounding spectacle, the low-key comradery to the all-out cooperation, sports entertainment actually shares quite a bit in common with the wacky and wild world of classroom teaching. So let's tune into this week's podcast for a closer look behind the curtain! Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 15 (ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

This week's episode takes a bit of a departure from our usual routine of high-energy teacher talk to spend some serious thought on the very sobering issue of gun violence and mass shootings. As the world gradually makes it's way back to pre-pandemic "normal," once again we're starting to see devastating reports of unspeakable tragedies in communities all around the U.S. In the past week alone, there have been two high-profile shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, and this week's podcast takes a closer look on some possible ways that educators can help put a stop to these awful realities of "normal" American life. Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 15 (ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

Happy Monday! This week we're taking look at the "new" new normal of returning to some degree of in-person instruction as COVID-19 vaccines become more widely available to educators throughout the U.S. And in today's episode, we're diving back into the brave new (old?) world of in-person professional development. So what makes a great PD? And why are moments and the mundane so powerful (or powerfully un-powerful) in helping what we learn stick? See you inside! Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 15 (ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

Happy Monday, gang! We're just one week removed from last week's big announcement, and let's just say that we're gonna' need a bigger boat. If you're a longtime listener of the show, today's episode will offer a new layer of insight into the behind-the-scenes work that teachers can do to make their classrooms more accessible, enjoyable, and exciting. And if you're brand new to the podcast? Welcome! This week's show will give a bit of a crash course through how, when, and why PD needs a serious shot in the arm -- and what my goal is to help make that happen for teachers everywhere. Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 15 (ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

The Big Reveal is here! And I can finally let the cat out of the bag on a project that I've been working on behind the scenes since March of last year. Not going to lie: it is quite possibly the biggest thing I've ever done and I think you're absolutely going to love the results! Long story short: I made a thing. Actually, I made like 200 things. And now they're all yours to enjoy, to remix, and to reimagine in any way that you'd like. But I didn't make them alone. Tune in to this week's podcast for the full scoop! Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 15 (ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

Last week's podcast talked all about my recent run in with the Coronavirus. But there's an old saying that only a fool trips on what is behind them. So this week, I am focused on the future and setting eyes towards all the things that lie in front of me. In today's episode we take a look at all the things that we can learn in the face of adversity. And I'm really excited to share a message that I recently heard that helps me keep this whole pandemic thing in perspective. Click the link and let's talk, yeah? Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 15 (ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

Hey -- isn't this podcast supposed to drop new episodes EVERY MONDAY? Where have you been John? Great question folks, and thank you for your patience and understanding as the past six weeks of my world have been an absolute blur. This week's return to form (sorry again for the late posting) will walk you through the entire story. Spoiler: this virus is no joke, y'all. Please stay safe and stay home if you are able! And check out this week's podcast for the complete details. Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 15 (ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

Our winter sabbatical is at an end! So welcome back for a new season of Talk to Mee in the Car -- a podcast about all things teaching related and education inspired, recorded right here in my vehicle on my drive back and forth to work as a high school instructional coach. This week's podcast takes a closer look at the shocking events from our nation's Capitol last week, and shares what I hope might serve as an age-appropriate metaphor (or maybe a shaggy dog story?) to give some perspective on how you might be able to discuss some of these challenging issues in the classroom with learners at any age. Thanks again for supporting the show, and hope you are staying safe. Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 15 (ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

Hi from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina! This week's podcast takes us up, up, up and away on a soaring adventure to the birthplace of modern aviation as we visit the legendary site of the incomparable Wilbur and Orville Wright's famed journey into the wild blue yonder. Tune in for a listen on just a few things that educators can learn from these world famous innovators, and see how lessons from the Wright Brothers can inspire tons of creativity and innovation in the contemporary classroom. Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 11(ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

Greetings from an unexpected spell of virtual instruction in sunny Corolla, North Carolina! Today's podcast comes at you live following a shift to distance learning, and this episode is packed with a bag of tricks I'm calling my "Magnificent Seven" to make sure that your students feel safe, supported, and fully engaged no matter where you're teaching from in these unprecedented times. Whether you're using fancy technology or fiddling with basics of remote teaching and classroom management, we've got you covered! Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 11(ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.

Elections! Anxiety! Mental Health Professionals! Oh My. This week's episode offers a closer look at life behind the polished facade of your favorite teacher-turned-podcaster-turned-aspiring Z-list Twitter blue checkmark. In a week where the entire world will be holding their collective breaths as we await the results of the U.S. Presidential election, it's easy to get spun up and feel all sorts of reasons for mental and emotional distress. So in today's episode, I decided to let down the proverbial guard and offer just a bit of insight on my own struggles with mental wellness. Please note that I am not a mental health expert nor do I pretend to be one -- this podcast is merely shared as an opportunity to offer some personal perspective on how I've seen some success (and plenty of setbacks) in my own efforts to become more healthy, centered, and whole. Recorded in bumper-to-bumper traffic to and from my daily work as a high school instructional coach just outside of Washington D.C., Talk to Mee in the Car is where a brainstorm and a good old-fashioned brain dump collide to help educators hone their skills and become leaner, meaner, 21st century teaching machines. Join me for a quick hitting 11(ish) minute episode every Monday for tips, tricks, and strategies to change the game in your classroom TODAY with high-energy, student-centered teaching that actually works. Because one size fits all professional development simply doesn't.