Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast

Episode 9: STEM in the Classroom with Kamla Rambaran and Zélia Capitao-Tavares In this episode of Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast, Chey and Pav are joined by Kamla Rambaran and Zélia Capitao-Tavares, two innovative educators who are making significant strides in integrating STEM, coding, and gaming into the classroom. Kamla and Zélia share their journey as teaching partners, their commitment to fostering community in learning spaces, and their passion for empowering students, particularly female-identifying students, through technology and collaboration. The episode dives into their inspiring work with Girls Who Game, a program supported by Dell, Microsoft, and Intel that encourages girls to explore STEM fields by engaging in game-based learning. Kamla and Zélia reveal how this initiative has transformed their classrooms, helping students build critical skills like collaboration, resilience, and problem-solving. Through projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), students are motivated to design innovative solutions and see themselves as future leaders in STEM careers. The conversation also highlights: How STEM and gaming break down traditional barriers to learning. The role of transferable skills, such as critical thinking and teamwork, in shaping students’ futures. The power of representation and mentorship in encouraging girls to pursue STEM opportunities. Practical tips for educators on fostering authentic, student-driven learning environments. Kamla and Zélia share heartwarming stories of students whose aspirations shifted toward STEM-focused futures, as well as their vision for expanding eSports and post-secondary partnerships. Their dedication to creating equitable and engaging learning spaces is an inspiration for educators everywhere. Join us for this enlightening discussion, and learn how Kamla and Zélia are reshaping the possibilities of education with creativity, technology, and purpose. If you'd like to reach out to the hosts of "Teacher Talk" or any of the guests featured on the podcast, please send an email to ⁠⁠teachertalk@ett.on.ca⁠⁠. "Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast" is a Chey and Pav Educational Services, Inc. Production. TRANSCRIPT

Episode 9: Classrooms and Coaching with Ryan Richards In this episode of Teacher Talk, we sit down with Ryan Richards, an experienced middle school teacher and inspiring educator from Toronto. Ryan dives into the heart of teaching at the middle school level, sharing his insights on fostering meaningful connections with students and preparing them for the complexities of life beyond the classroom. From navigating the challenges of lesson plans that don’t always land to emphasizing the importance of recognizing students’ humanity, Ryan provides a refreshing perspective on education as an investment in young people rather than just curriculum delivery. Join us as we explore the importance of creating a learning environment where students feel empowered to think critically, engage in challenging conversations, and define their own paths. Ryan’s passion for nurturing leadership and curiosity in his students is evident as he discusses teaching real-world topics like the human right to water and encouraging students to view education as a platform for making a meaningful impact. This episode is a must-listen for educators looking to be inspired by fresh perspectives and the transformative power of authentic teaching. If you'd like to reach out to the hosts of "Teacher Talk," or with any of the guests featured on the podcast, please send an email to ⁠⁠teachertalk@ett.on.ca⁠⁠. "Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast" is a Chey and Pav Educational Services, Inc. Production. TRANSCRIPT

Episode 8: Kindergarten with Rosy and Angela In this episode of Teacher Talk, host Pav Wander chats with Rosy Suppa and Angela Orrico, two passionate Kindergarten teachers, about the joys and wonders of early childhood education. Together, they explore how connecting with nature enriches learning experiences, fosters curiosity, and supports child development. From outdoor adventures to hands-on exploration, discover how these educators harness the power of the natural world to inspire their youngest learners. Whether you're a seasoned teacher or new to the profession, this conversation will leave you recharged with fresh ideas and perspectives! If you'd like to reach out to the hosts of "Teacher Talk," or with any of the guests featured on the podcast, please send an email to ⁠teachertalk@ett.on.ca⁠. "Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast" is a Chey and Pav Educational Services, Inc. Production. TRANSCRIPT

Episode 7: Bargaining Update with Laura McCoy In Episode 7 of "Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast," host Pav Wander sits down with Laura McCoy, Executive Officer for Ward 6 and 11, Chief Negotiator, and Executive Liaison to the Collective Bargaining Committee for the Elementary Teachers of Toronto (ETT). Laura provides an in-depth look into the current state of collective bargaining for the ETT, sharing valuable insights into the process, goals, and ways members can get involved. Introduction to Laura McCoy: Laura's background as a teacher with 23 years of experience, primarily teaching art to intermediate students. Her extensive involvement in the union and her current role as chief negotiator and executive officer. The Bargaining Process: Overview of the collective bargaining process, starting with a survey of ETT members to identify key issues. Crafting bargaining proposals and the preliminary submission, which is then voted on by the membership. Current Bargaining Goals: Focus on improving working conditions to retain quality teachers and enhance the public education system. Key issues include the definition of consultation, surplus and transfer processes, addressing toxic work environments, and securing better resources and professional development for teachers. Efforts to reduce classroom violence and ensure proper payback for missed prep time. Importance of Member Involvement: Encouragement for members to attend ETT meetings, join committees, and participate in actions like "Red for Ed" days. How visible solidarity, such as wearing red on bargaining days and participating in walk-ins, supports the bargaining process. Status of Current Negotiations: Explanation of the slow progress due to the dual-tier bargaining process and initial delays. Recent improvements in the negotiation process with increased engagement from the TDSB bargaining team. Upcoming bargaining dates and the hope for resolution by the end of the school year. How to Stay Informed: Members can stay updated through bargaining bulletins, the ETT weekly newsletter, social media, and ETT meetings. Final Thoughts: Laura emphasizes the importance of ongoing member involvement and community support to strengthen the union’s position. Encourages members to continue discussing bargaining issues within their schools and communities to garner broader support. Rate, review, and subscribe to "Teacher Talk" on your favorite podcast platform. Visit the ETT website for additional resources and information on upcoming events. Engage with the educational community through social media and email to suggest topics and questions for future episodes. If you'd like to reach out to the hosts of "Teacher Talk," or with any of the guests featured on the podcast, please send an email to teachertalk@ett.on.ca. "Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast" is a Chey and Pav Educational Services, Inc. Production. TRANSCRIPT

In Episode 6 of "Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast," guest Diana Hong shares her perspectives and experiences as an Elementary Hybrid Math Learning Partner with the Toronto District School Board. Diana discusses the many ways that math pedagogy is implemented in Elementary education, and dives deep into the Building Thinking Classrooms (Dr. Peter Liljedahl) process along with the successes and challenges she has seen along the way. The episode delves into practical aspects, with Diana exploring the many ways her mathematics space has been revolutionized through exploring the math thinking process, and through social and emotional aspects that improve learning outcomes. Read more about Diana Hong here: Diana is an Elementary Hybrid Math Learning Partner (Demonstration Classroom) with the TDSB. Currently, she is on a math learning journey with a fantastic group of Grade 5/6 students, as they implement the Building Thinking Classrooms framework in many aspects of our math classroom, as well as other areas of the curriculum. If listeners want to learn more and are with the TDSB, feel free to check out her google site (linked below) where there are resources, a blog-like account of how things are going, and so that practitioners can learn from her experiences as they implement Building Thinking Classrooms into learning spaces. If anyone listening would like to hang out with Diana and her students for a day, feel free to book a demonstration classroom visit. The link can be found on the google site linked below. A BTC Journey If you'd like to reach out to the hosts of "Teacher Talk," or with any of the guests featured on the podcast, please send an email to teachertalk@ett.on.ca. "Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast" is a ⁠⁠Chey and Pav Educational Services, Inc.⁠⁠ Production.

In Episode 5 of "Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast," guest Davin Yu shares his perspectives and experiences as a Physical Education teacher and a homeroom teacher in Toronto. Davin discusses the many misconceptions and misnomers about Health and Physical Education and how the subject has necessarily evolved over the past 20 years as a teacher in the board. The episode delves into practical aspects, with Davin exploring the many ways he has revolutionized what HPE looks like in elementary education. Davin shares some of the real and everlasting struggles that students and teachers face in order to meet needs in a system that struggles to provide enough resources for students to thrive in the physical education space. The conversation focuses on what teachers can be doing in order to create inclusive and dynamic spaces that students want to be in all the time. Overall, this podcast encourages a reimagining of the health and physical education space, and Davin does a wonderful job of illustrating how he has done this in his magnificent career. If you'd like to reach out to the hosts of "Teacher Talk," or with any of the guests featured on the podcast, please send an email to teachertalk@ett.on.ca. "Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast" is a ⁠Chey and Pav Educational Services, Inc.⁠ Production.

In Episode 4 of "Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast," guests Kathy Lewis and Hardeep Shergill share their perspectives and experiences as anti-racist leaders in education. Kathy's commitment stems from her personal experiences as a black Afri-Caribbean woman, witnessing the marginalization of Black Indigenous students. Hardeep, a Punjabi Sikh woman with a disability, draws from her upbringing in an underserved neighborhood and her family's history of fleeing British colonial actions. Both advocate for a transformative education that centers student identity, caregiver voices, and sacred knowledge while challenging intersecting systems of oppression. They stress the need to bridge theory and practice, actionize anti-colonial education, and shift the narrative in schools by critically examining history and dismantling oppressive structures. The episode delves into practical aspects, with Kathy emphasizing the importance of safe spaces, trust in students, and alternative assessment methods aligned with decolonial practices. The conversation underscores the ongoing process of decolonization, collective responsibility, and the importance of humility in the learning journey for both educators and students. Overall, this podcast encourages a reimagining of schools, urging educators to be ethical learners, challenge oppressive systems, and cultivate inclusivity for a more just society. BIOS: Kathy Lewis is a Secondary School Teacher with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). As an educator with the TDSB, in the role of Curriculum Leader for Student Engagement, Equity and Wellbeing, Kathy has been critically involved in school and community activism. She has organized several professional development workshops for staff and administrators through critical inquiry, in deconstructing anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism and examining ways educators can critically engage students in a co-construction and co-production of knowledge within their own instinctual frame of understanding that is self-validating and self-affirming. Kathy is also a member of The Centre for Integrative Anti-Racism Studies (CIARS) and was one of the panellists for the Rising up During COVID-19: Solidarity, Anti-Black Racism and Health’s panel discussion. Kathy also co-moderatored the CIARS in Conversation: Critical Cross-Racial Conversations: Thinking Through Our Complicities, Implications and Responsibilities. Kathy has completed her Masters in Education, M.Ed. in Social Justice Eduation, with a Collaborative Specialist in Educational Policy, at OISE, University of Toronto. She is now pursuing her Ph.D in Social Justice Education at OISE. Her research and practice mirror a decolonial framework that centers students’ history and cultural ways of knowing. Kathy’s unique approach to school as a community is one that is rooted in the solidarity of inclusivity, a subversive lens that embaraces sites of historical curiosity necessary in authenticating students’ lived-experiences and histories and building links of communal bonds. Hardeep Shergill is an elementary school educator with the Toronto District School Board and is pursuing her Ph.D. at OISE/University of Toronto. She is also a member of the Centre for Integrative Anti-Racism Studies at OISE. Hardeep is passionate about actionizing anti-racist and anti-colonial education. As a child who was born and brought up in Rexdale, Ontario, an underserved community in Toronto,  Hardeep is a fierce advocate of learners and families from marginalized communities. It is her hope that educational spaces become more inclusive and epistemologically multicentric for all students. See the TRANSCRIPT for this episode. If you'd like to reach out to the hosts of "Teacher Talk," or with any of the guests featured on the podcast, please send an email to teachertalk@ett.on.ca. "Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast" is a Chey and Pav Educational Services, Inc. Production.

In Episode 3 of "Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast," guests Christie Vella and Rabia Khokhar explore the pivotal role of teacher librarians in today's education landscape. These unsung heroes are not just bookkeepers; they are champions of literacy, curating diverse collections that foster a love for reading and a sense of belonging among students. Teacher librarians also serve as instructional leaders, tailoring reading experiences to individual student preferences and bridging the gap between theory and practice. Furthermore, this episode highlights how teacher librarians create vibrant learning spaces, extending education beyond the classroom through innovative approaches and support for both students and teachers. However, the challenge lies in securing adequate funding to empower teacher librarians in their multifaceted roles. Join us in celebrating these indispensable members of school communities and advocating for the resources they need to continue shaping our students' educational experiences. See the TRANSCRIPT for this episode. If you'd like to reach out to the hosts of "Teacher Talk," or with any of the guests featured on the podcast, please send an email to teachertalk@ett.on.ca. "Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast" is a Chey and Pav Educational Services, Inc. Production.

In this inspiring second episode of "Teacher Talk," we explore "The Power of Reflection" with special guest, teacher Matthew Morris. As an experienced educator, Matthew shares how reflection has transformed his teaching practice and impacted the lives of his students. From his initial motivation to become a catalyst for change to fostering a reflective culture among colleagues, Matthew reveals the profound benefits of introspection and self-analysis in education. Join us as we delve into his personal experiences, insights, and the transformative power of embracing reflection for positive change in the classroom. See the TRANSCRIPT for this episode. If you'd like to reach out to the hosts of "Teacher Talk," or with any of the guests featured on the podcast, please send an email to teachertalk@ett.on.ca. "Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast" is a Chey and Pav Educational Services, Inc. Production.

In the first full length episode of "Teacher Talk," we explore the impactful role of learning coaches in education. Hosted by ETT member and middle school teacher, Pav Wander, the podcast features conversations with Linette, Jennifer, and Ellen, who share their unique journeys as learning coaches specializing in areas such as early literacy, student mental health, transitions in middle years, and student support from kindergarten to grade 12. Despite facing challenges and often being misunderstood, learning coaches and other specialized support roles play a vital part in ensuring student success and joy. Additionally, central staff members contribute significantly to the educational system. By working together, these diverse roles help create an education system focused on student achievement and happiness. See the TRANSCRIPT for this episode. If you'd like to reach out to the hosts of "Teacher Talk," or with any of the guests featured on the podcast, please send an email to teachertalk@ett.on.ca. "Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast" is a Chey and Pav Educational Services, Inc. Production.

In the first episode of "Teacher Talk," hosts and elementary teachers Chey Cheney and Pav Wander sit down with the Elementary Teachers of Toronto (ETT) President, Helen Victoros, and Vice President, Nigel Barriffe, to talk about the vision and mission of the podcast series. Through the conversation, Helen and Nigel highlight the incredible work being done in Toronto schools and provide insights about the challenges that teachers face in those very same school settings. The ETT podcast is a great example of the power of podcasting to create impactful content and bring awareness to critical issues. If you'd like to reach out to the hosts of "Teacher Talk," or with Helen Victoros and/or Nigel Barriffe, please send an email to teachertalk@ett.on.ca. "Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast" is a Chey and Pav Educational Services, Inc. Production