Teach Me, Teacher

Doing an episode like this is tricky. I didn’t want it to be one sided. I didn’t want it to have a political agenda. Instead, I wanted it to be an episode for ALL educators, whether you’re public or private, or something in between. To do that, I invited Kathy Edwards of The Novus Academy on the show to discuss everything from vouchers, to accountability in schools, the A-F system, a bloated educational system, private school vs public, and yes, Betsy DeVos and the role the Trump administration is choosing to play in the future of American education. Kathy Edwards is the founder and Principal of The Novus Academy and has too many accomplishments to list here. After Richland visiting with her, I knew I had to get her on the show. She did not disappoint. Enjoy!    

Join us in this powerful episode of Teach Me Teacher as we welcome Stephanie Edmonds, also known as TeachingLiberty on Instagram and YouTube. After losing her teaching position in New York due to Covid vaccine mandates, Stephanie transformed her experience into a platform for advocacy and education. She passionately discusses the importance of healthy dialogue and political activism in the teaching community, shedding light on the real-world consequences educators face amid political battles. Tune in to hear her inspiring story, insights on fostering constructive conversations, and how teachers can stand strong in the face of adversity. Agree, disagree, or land somewhere in the middle, this talk will ignite your thinking.

Join us in this powerful episode of Teach Me Teacher as we welcome Stephanie Edmonds, also known as TeachingLiberty on Instagram and YouTube. After losing her teaching position in New York due to Covid vaccine mandates, Stephanie transformed her experience into a platform for advocacy and education. She passionately discusses the importance of healthy dialogue and political activism in the teaching community, shedding light on the real-world consequences educators face amid political battles. Tune in to hear her inspiring story, insights on fostering constructive conversations, and how teachers can stand strong in the face of adversity. Agree, disagree, or land somewhere in the middle, this talk will ignite your thinking. 

Hello everyone! This episode was previously published on the Craft & Draft podcast—my second show all about literacy! If you enjoy this one, go subscribe and support the show so you can be in line for all the bonus content coming soon!  Jacob and Pam begin the episode with a segment regarding the best way to communicate in order to have difficult conversations.  This leads into a conversation about how communication styles impact education. Pam shares how teachers need to approach students with a countenance that says, ‘I’m glad you are here!”  She uses examples from her own life as well as from her experiences in the classroom to illustrate how to make this happen.  Jacob brings his insight and examples of how conversations and approaches to teaching impacts learning and classroom environment. Join Jacob and Pam as they share the importance of framing conversations in a manner that is best for students!

In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Lauren Horn, author of This Is Not a Sketchbook: It’s a Class. Join us as Lauren dives into the transformative power of creativity in education and shares insights from her innovative approach to teaching. Discover how she encourages students to express themselves beyond traditional methods, and learn practical tips to foster a more engaging classroom environment. Whether you’re an educator or simply passionate about learning, this conversation will inspire you to rethink how creativity can shape our educational experiences. Tune in and get ready to be inspired! Make sure to use code TeachMe at check out for 15% off your purchase of Lauren's book! 

In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Lauren Horn, author of This Is Not a Sketchbook: It’s a Class. Join us as Lauren dives into the transformative power of creativity in education and shares insights from her innovative approach to teaching. Discover how she encourages students to express themselves beyond traditional methods, and learn practical tips to foster a more engaging classroom environment. Whether you’re an educator or simply passionate about learning, this conversation will inspire you to rethink how creativity can shape our educational experiences. Tune in and get ready to be inspired! Make sure to use code TeachMe at check out for 15% off your purchase of Lauren's book! 

Hello everyone!  Join us for an inspiring episode featuring the one and only Kari Byron from Mythbusters! We dive into the exciting world of STEM education and its profound impact on creativity and innovation. Kari shares her insights on the upcoming National STEM Festival and discusses how hands-on experiences can ignite a passion for science in students of all ages. Discover how to foster curiosity in the classroom, the importance of integrating creativity into STEM subjects, and Kari’s personal journey in breaking down barriers in science education. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or simply a science enthusiast, this episode is packed with ideas to spark imagination and learning. Tune in and let’s explore how to make science more engaging and accessible for everyone! For over a decade Kari Byron has been a strong presence in the world of science adventure and travel television. She is best known as a host on Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters but has gone on to host and produce shows spanning several networks. Today you will find her continuing her mission to inspire, empower, entertain and educate through the digital storytelling of EXPLR. Fostering her curious nature, she spent a lifetime acquiring odd skills and interests. After graduating college and traveling the world she decided to settle in San Francisco and pursue a career as a sculptor. Special effects and prop making seemed like a perfect fit. Trying to break into the field, she got an internship at M5 industries with Jamie Hyneman. Her first day turned out to be the beginning of Mythbusters, and a career in television. Though her dream was to be a working artist somehow handling poop, eating bugs, wiring explosives and scraping chicken guts off the ceiling turned out to be the catalyst of her real dream job as a science communicator., STEM advocate, and Cofounder of the National STEM Festival.

Welcome to Teach Me, Teacher! In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to have Sierra Bohamera, also known as @thattrendyteacher on Instagram. Join us as we explore the art of making teaching fun and engaging, connecting authentically with students, and infusing that all-important math energy into the classroom. Sierra shares her insights on being open to growth and learning in this ever-evolving profession. Get ready for a lively conversation packed with inspiration and practical tips to elevate your teaching game! Let’s dive in!

Welcome to Teach Me, Teacher! In today’s episode, we’re thrilled to have Sierra Bohamera, also known as @thattrendyteacher on Instagram. Join us as we explore the art of making teaching fun and engaging, connecting authentically with students, and infusing that all-important math energy into the classroom. Sierra shares her insights on being open to growth and learning in this ever-evolving profession.  Get ready for a lively conversation packed with inspiration and practical tips to elevate your teaching game! Let’s dive in!

Hello everyone! In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, we’re thrilled to welcome Molly Dugan, a dynamic educator whose journey from novice to seasoned teacher is nothing short of inspiring. Join us as Molly delves into her personal and professional history, sharing how her passion for teaching evolved and what she’s learned along the way. If you missed part one, catch it here.  Discover the moments that shaped her approach to education and how her experiences with students and the teaching community have influenced her work. Molly also opens up about her use of humor online—why she integrates it into her teaching persona and the impact it has on her audience. We’ll explore the lessons she’s learned from building a growing social media presence and reflect on what she wishes her younger self had known about the teaching profession. Whether you’re an educator or simply passionate about the world of teaching, Molly’s insights are sure to inspire and enlighten. Tune in to get a behind-the-scenes look at a teacher’s journey and the power of humor and social media in education. Don’t miss it!

Hello everyone! In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, we're thrilled to welcome Molly Dugan, a dynamic educator whose journey from novice to seasoned teacher is nothing short of inspiring. Join us as Molly delves into her personal and professional history, sharing how her passion for teaching evolved and what she's learned along the way. Discover the moments that shaped her approach to education and how her experiences with students and the teaching community have influenced her work. Molly also opens up about her use of humor online—why she integrates it into her teaching persona and the impact it has on her audience. We’ll explore the lessons she's learned from building a growing social media presence and reflect on what she wishes her younger self had known about the teaching profession. Whether you're an educator or simply passionate about the world of teaching, Molly’s insights are sure to inspire and enlighten. Tune in to get a behind-the-scenes look at a teacher’s journey and the power of humor and social media in education. Don’t miss it!

Hello everyone! In our previous episode, we touched on the many facets of engagement in teaching, from lesson design and teaching style to the content itself. But let’s dive deeper. If you’re seeking ways to make engagement more actionable and less of a mystery, you’re in for a treat! This week, we’re thrilled to have Dave Burgess—author of the bestselling book Teach Like a Pirate, publisher, and internationally acclaimed speaker—joining us. Dave brings a fresh perspective on engagement, one that’s accessible to every educator, regardless of their teaching style or experience level. In our conversation, Dave will share his insights on how to break down engagement into practical, manageable components. He’ll offer strategies for analyzing and refining your lessons to ensure you're maximizing their impact. Whether you’re a seasoned teacher looking to inject some new energy into your classroom or someone just starting out, Dave’s approach promises to offer valuable, actionable advice. Tune in to get inspired and discover how you can make engagement work for you in your teaching practice. Enjoy the episode!

Hello everyone! Engagement can come in many forms. It can be the lesson design. It can be the teacher's style. It can be the content itself...But what if there was a way to think about engagement that demystified it a bit? What if there was a way to analyze each lesson to make sure you were getting the most out of it? Dave Burgess, author of Teach Like a Pirate, publisher, and world renowned speaker, joins us this week to discuss his vision of engagement and why it applies to ALL teachers—not just the most over the top educators. Whether you are needing ideas or just want to be encouraged to try something new, this episode is for you! Enjoy. (NOTE: Due to a special and TIMED announcement in part 2, if you are a Patreon supporter or are subscribed to the Youtube channel, the video is delayed until the announcement is closer. Stay tuned!)

Hello everyone! Teach Me, Teacher is back and I cannot believe we are at season 9 of the podcast... For those that have been along for this journey, can you believe it? Truly, this has been a ride of a lifetime.  But, we aren't done yet.  In this intro, we debut the new theme of the season, and detail what's to come, including guests, ideas, and goals for the coming months (such as posting every podcast video on the Teach Me, Teacher Youtube channel.) I want this season to be bigger, smarter, and more helpful to education as a whole. The only way I can do this is with your support and time. For those that continue to support the show, thank you! Reviews, shares, and support on Patreon really do mean the difference.  Enjoy! 

Join us on Teach Me, Teacher as we delve into the critical topic of teaching reading across all subjects with Jennifer Seravallo, author of the groundbreaking book “Teaching Reading Across the Curriculum“. In this episode, we explore the research-backed strategies that truly enhance literacy skills, contrasting them with the flood of ineffective programs schools often invest in. Together, we uncover why these programs fail to deliver and discuss practical solutions for educators feeling overwhelmed. If you missed part one, listen here.  Tune in for an insightful conversation that promises to empower teachers with actionable insights to foster a culture of reading in every classroom. If you enjoyed this episode, check out my other talks with Jen here and here.

Join us on Teach Me, Teacher as we delve into the critical topic of teaching reading across all subjects with Jennifer Seravallo, author of the groundbreaking book "Teaching Reading Across the Curriculum". In this episode, we explore the research-backed strategies that truly enhance literacy skills, contrasting them with the flood of ineffective programs schools often invest in. Together, we uncover why these programs fail to deliver and discuss practical solutions for educators feeling overwhelmed. Tune in for an insightful conversation that promises to empower teachers with actionable insights to foster a culture of reading in every classroom. If you enjoyed this episode, check out my other talks with Jen here and here. 

Hello everyone! Leadership is challenging. Everyone has an opinion and many think they can do it better than whoever is currently in a leadership role. In a way, it’s just like what teachers face in many circles of the public. Regardless, leadership is essential to any healthy organization. It can make or break the focus of a campus, at times, and it can be the change agent many teachers and families need. But what makes a good leader? What are pitfalls to avoid and perspectives to shift? More importantly, what does it take to be a leader that supports students and staff and also create a highly effective learning environment? To answer these questions and whole lot more, we have brought on Rhonda Roos, author of The Deliberate and Courages Principal.  Part one aired last week here.  Rhonda is an educational speaker who coaches principals, district leaders, and administrative teams in the complex and ever-challenging work of leading schools. She is a former director of middle schools in New Albany, Indiana, where she led curricular improvement, aligning those efforts with the district’s progress in becoming a professional learning community. Rhonda serves on the leadership team of the Indiana Principal Leadership Institute and is a regular keynote speaker. Her honors include the 2009 Indiana Middle School Principal of the Year, the 2011 Solution Tree Redefining Excellence District Award, and the 2015 Indiana University Southeast Educator of the Year.

Hello everyone! Leadership is challenging. Everyone has an opinion and many think they can do it better than whoever is currently in a leadership role. In a way, it's just like what teachers face in many circles of the public.  Regardless, leadership is essential to any healthy organization. It can make or break the focus of a campus, at times, and it can be the change agent many teachers and families need.  But what makes a good leader? What are pitfalls to avoid and perspectives to shift? More importantly, what does it take to be a leader that supports students and staff and also create a highly effective learning environment?  To answer these questions and whole lot more, we have brought on Rhonda Roos, author of The Deliberate and Courages Principal.  Rhonda is an educational speaker who coaches principals, district leaders, and administrative teams in the complex and ever-challenging work of leading schools. She is a former director of middle schools in New Albany, Indiana, where she led curricular improvement, aligning those efforts with the district's progress in becoming a professional learning community.  Rhonda serves on the leadership team of the Indiana Principal Leadership Institute and is a regular keynote speaker. Her honors include the 2009 Indiana Middle School Principal of the Year, the 2011 Solution Tree Redefining Excellence District Award, and the 2015 Indiana University Southeast Educator of the Year. 

Hello everyone! The world of education is changing. Teachers are leaving. Administrators are retiring. Politicians are running on entire campaigns centered around the "failing public school system" and being supported by parents who are frustrated their kids can't read—or worse—are being convinced to believe radical ideas.  Of course, this sounds like the sky is falling... but is it? Is all of the above black and white, or is their nuance to the complex problems surrounding education in America?  To unpack a lot of these topics and present solutions and visions for the future, I have brought on the wonderful and thoughtful Will Reusch.  Will is a thinker, educator, and someone who finds meaning in modeling how to think, learn, and question some of the biggest ideas out there. Listen to our full hour long discussion about education, where we fail, why it's so hard to change, and how to bridge gaps so that we can move forward.  Be sure to check out Will's newest project, Patterdox. He has a Masterclass this Saturday at 9am PST.  @willreusch @Patterdox

Hello everyone! In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, host Jacob Chastain sits down with the brilliant Elliot Seif, author of the groundbreaking book Teaching for Lifelong Learning: How to Prepare Students for a Changing World. Join Jacob and Elliot as they delve into the essential strategies for fostering curiosity, independence, and a growth mindset in students. Elliot shares insights from his book, offering practical methods to enhance instruction, assessment, and curriculum design. Discover the transformative power of a four-phase instructional framework, and learn how diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments work together to cultivate lifelong learners. Elliot unpacks the importance of selecting or crafting curricula that prioritize adaptability and critical thinking, equipping students to navigate the complexities of our ever-changing world. From elementary to high school classrooms, this episode is packed with real-world examples and actionable advice to inspire educators at every level. Tune in and learn how to empower your students not just for academic success, but for a lifetime of meaningful learning and growth.     The pressure on school leaders to effectively navigate change, implement new programs, and keep teachers motivated can be intense. Solution Tree has the tools you need to rise to any challenge. Our curated library of resources features new titles like The Emerging Teacher Leader, a guide to equip new leaders, Groups at Work to foster productive teamwork, and Implement with IMPACT to ensure initiatives hit the mark. Titles like Grading Reform That Lasts and Competency-Based Education Ignited offer methods to address critical school issues while Navigating the Unexpected provides essential strategies for facing unforeseen challenges. Be sure to stream Passion and Persistence, a motivational video designed to inspire a collaborative team environment in your school or district. Elevate your leadership skills and discover how these powerful resources can help you lead with confidence at SolutionTree.com/LeadershipResources