Teachers on Fire

→ How can we reimagine parent-teacher conferences?→ What are the issues most responsible for burning out teachers today?→ What are some rhythms and activities that can keep our fire for teaching alive?Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.Today’s Teacher on Fire is Jeff Smith. Jeff has taught in 12 schools over 32 years, with high school courses including mathematics (Pre-Algebra through AP Calculus), AP Comparative Government, Human Geography, and US History. He writes about teacher whitespace on Substack on Teachers' Unmuted.Connect with Jeffon LinkedIn andon Substack at https://jeffuson.substack.com/In This Conversation0:00:00 - Jeff Smith is a high school teacher in Illinois1:46 - Are teachers just customer service representatives?4:18 - What Jeff means by "whitespace" - where teachers find agency6:52 - More about whitespace as a metaphor for freedom7:58 - Bringing one story, one question into our conferences10:28 - Jeff's view: what causes teacher burnout?13:11 - What is the Teachers Unmuted blog on Substack all about?16:10 - Why Jeff writes about his professional practice20:08 - The hobbies and interests that keep Jeff on fire23:38 - Where to connect with Jeff Smith and Teachers UnmutedVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 How can we bring back the golden age of Edu Twitter?🔥 What happens when we step out of the classroom and into edtech?🔥 How should schools and districts think about AI tools for teachers right now?About This GuestScott Nunes is an international keynote speaker and award-winning education technology strategist. He leverages his network of AI researchers, Fortune-500 tech leaders, and workforce-development partners to share insights on the convergence of education, industry, and emerging technologies.Connect with Scotton LinkedIn,on X @mrnunesteach, on Instagram @iammredtech,and on his website, scottnunes.com.In This Conversation0:00:00 - Scott Nunes is an entrepreneur and former teacher based in Texas1:47 - The golden age of Edu Twitter3:15 - How can we bring back Edu Twitter today?5:58 - Scott retraces his professional steps8:49 - How Scott's PLN has produced professional mobility10:50 - How does the corporate life compare with the classroom?14:19 - Scott's value proposition for edtech companies and school districts20:48 - Scott's advice to schools and districts regarding AI tools27:28 - Is there still room for more new edtech companies?30:32 - Will AI replace teachers?34:57 - How Scott maintains his physical health40:00 - How and where to connect with Scott Nunes onlineVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 What happens when our doubts, mistakes, and questions start to take over?🔥 What is a quick, simple routine that we can follow to rekindle our fire?🔥 How can music build identity and belonging in a learning community?About This GuestSean Gaillard is a school administrator in North Carolina, author of The Pepper Effect, and host of the Leadership Liner Notes podcast. He blogs about leadership, education, and inspiration for Leadership Liner Notes, and is currently writing a new book for Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. titled Leadership Riffs.Connect with Seanon LinkedIn,on X @smgaillard,on Instagram @smgaillard,on his blog at https://seangaillard.com/.In This Conversation0:00:00 - Sean Gaillard is a principal and author in Lexington, North Carolina1:59 - The dark times that education leaders face6:37 - Reset Step 1: Take a breath8:49 - Reset Step 2: Anchor in gratitude12:02 - Reset Step 3: Affirm and reframe15:28 - Reset Step 4: Reconnect21:36 - One more thing: your presence matters24:10 - Revisiting our why, passions, dreams, and values27:22 - How can music build identity and belonging?30:00 - What to expect from Leadership Riffs31:36 - How to motivate teams with low morale34:01 - How and where to connect with Sean Gaillard onlineVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 Are Kahoot and Blooket the best ways for students to review content?🔥 How can we build fluency, literacy, and thinking skills in the science classroom?🔥 What’s the role of pencils and paper in the classroom of 2025?Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.Today’s Teacher on Fire is Marcie Samayoa. Marcie is a high school chemistry teacher from Los Angeles, California with ten years of experience in the classroom. Through her blog, Scientists in the Making, she shares evidence-based teaching strategies that connect cognitive science to instructional practices.Connect with Marcieon LinkedIn,on X @SciInTheMaking on Instagram @scientistsinthemaking, andon her website at ⁠⁠www.scientistsinthemaking.com⁠⁠.In This Conversation⁠⁠0:00:00⁠⁠ - Marcie Samayoa is a high school chemistry teacher based in Los Angeles, CA⁠⁠1:43⁠⁠ - Doesn't Kahoot increase student engagement?⁠⁠4:16⁠⁠ - Review Step 1: a low-stakes practice test on paper with topics labeled⁠⁠5:48⁠⁠ - Review Step 2: turn to neighbours, compare answers, consult notes, discuss differences⁠⁠8:47⁠⁠ - Review Step 3: students note the topics that they struggled with⁠⁠8:54⁠⁠ - Review Step 4: students review weaker topics using retrieval⁠⁠10:10⁠⁠ - Review Step 5: 2nd practice test, this time in Google Forms without topics⁠⁠12:23⁠⁠ - Review Step 6: students take the test again as homework to build fluency⁠⁠16:55⁠⁠ - The current pushback from educators against overuse of edtech and AI in the classroom⁠⁠21:11⁠⁠ - Marcie's critique of Building Thinking Classrooms⁠⁠27:22⁠⁠ - How and where to connect with MarcieVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at ⁠⁠https://teachersonfire.net/⁠⁠.Song Track CreditOpening Song: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠.

🔥 What can we do as teachers to uplift the students in our classrooms?🔥 What happens when our students see themselves in a story of learning?🔥 What should concern us most about AI tools in education?Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.Today’s Teacher on Fire is Marcus Luther. Marcus is a high school English teacher with over a decade in the classroom. He cohosts a teacher-centered podcast and Substack called The Broken Copier, which focus on conversations and strategies to better support teachers.Connect with Marcuson LinkedIn,on X @marcusluther6, on Instagram @thebrokencopier, on BlueSky @marcusluther.bsky.social, and on Substack at thebrokencopier.substack.comIn This Conversation0:00:00 - Marcus Luther is a high school English teacher and host of The Broken Copier2:15 - The heaviness that can settle in a classroom4:31 - Uplifting Move 1: “Everyone write down what ___ said!"7:11 - Uplifting Move 2: Kneeling down and giving quiet praise9:37 - Uplifting Move 3: Ask if you can take a picture and use it as an example11:59 - Uplifting Move 4: Who can I brag to about how well you're doing?16:12 - Helping students reflect on their own writing journeys20:23 - What's the real problem with AI in K-12 education right now?28:27 - How and where to connect with Marcus Luther's reflections onlineVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track CreditTropic Fuse by French FuseGO! by Neffex*All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 How should teachers start every day?🔥 What are the best ways to organize our workspaces?🔥 When is the right time to leave the school building? About This GuestToday’s Teacher on Fire is Liz Prather. A 30-year high school classroom teacher, Liz is the Co-Director of Programming for the Kentucky Writing Project. She holds an MFA in Fiction from the University of Texas-Austin and is the author of three books about teaching writing from Heinemann Press: Project Based Writing; Story Matters; and The Confidence to Write.Connect with Liz Pratheron LinkedIn and on Substack at https://writingteacher.substack.com/In This Conversation0:00:00 - LIZ PRATHER is a a 30-year high school writing teacher1:43 - Daily Ritual 1: Arrive to school early4:59 - Daily Ritual 2: Take 5 minutes for yourself7:50 - Daily Ritual 3: Organize your room for efficiency11:16 - Daily Ritual 4: Look out for your future self14:41 - Daily Ritual 5: Leave school within an hour of the last bell17:25 - A BIG IDEA about writing instruction in 202520:22 - Encouraging teachers to write and publish their own work23:27 - Three books on writing and instruction by Liz Prather25:31 - Where to connect with Liz Prather onlineConnect with Teachers on Fire and Host Tim Cavey:On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire)On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/)On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire)On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track CreditTropic Fuse by French FuseGO! by Neffex*All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

When students have committed offenses against other students, staff members, or property, should an apology be optional? Here are my thoughts. Read the blog post here: https://teachersonfire.net/2025/01/26/im-sorry-why-im-in-favor-of-forced-apologies/

🔥 What’s the state of cyberbullying in our schools today? 🔥 What are the silent impacts on our children, and what can we do to protect them? 🔥 When used effectively, can devices actually increase collaboration and communication in the classroom? Join me in conversation with Eva Harvell as we dig into these and other critical questions. About This Guest Eva Harvell serves as the Director of Technology for the Pascagoula-Gautier School District. She was recognized as the 2021 Mississippi Educational Computing Association's Administrator of the Year. As a national speaker, published author, doctoral candidate, and an Education and Research Partner for the Mississippi AI Collaborative, she drives innovation in K-12 educational technology. Connect with Eva Harvell on LinkedIn and on X @techie_teach. This episode is sponsored by Linewize.com. Linewize helps schools, districts and the communities they serve to keep children safe and thriving in their digital lives - in school, at home and everywhere in between. Visit Linewize.com to learn more about their best-in-class filtering, threat detection, and student empowerment solutions. In This Conversation: 0:31 - Who is Eva Harvell? 1:54 - Story time: moving from the classroom to a new position 4:58 - What is the state of cyberbullying in our schools today? 12:22 - What is Linewize and how does Linewize support schools and districts? 23:46 - Are student phone bans the right path forward for schools? 29:06 - Australia's attempt to ban social media for minors 31:37 - Can devices in the classroom actually promote the 4 Cs? 34:21 - Eva's thoughts on AI tools in schools right now 38:19 - Google for Education is squeezing schools and districts into paid tiers 41:09 - A productivity hack: lists 41:42 - An edtech tool pick: Claude.ai 42:05 - A book recommendation: Atomic Habits by James Clear and Essentialism by Greg McKeown 42:38 - Educators to follow: Amanda Bickerstaff on Linkedin and Susan Bearden on X Connect with Teachers on Fire and Host Tim Cavey: On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire) On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/ Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit Tropic Fuse by French Fuse GO! by Neffex *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 What can teachers do to protect their fire for teaching? 🔥 What can we do to attract and keep great people in our profession? 🔥 What happens in a school community when the principal is not okay? Join me in conversation with MICHELLE PAPA and ERIN TASHIAN as we dig into these critical questions. About These Guests Michelle Papa is the principal of a nationally recognized Middle School to Watch in Northern New Jersey. She is passionate about supporting a healthy and inspiring school climate and culture, understanding this starts with the principal. Michelle is dedicated to continuing her personal and professional growth around the social and emotional learning competencies and is hoping to inspire other educational leaders to do the same. She’s had the privilege to partner with Erin Tashian to promote this mission within her school and district and has seen tremendous impact on her students, staff, and community as a result. Erin Tashian is a distinguished educator, coach, and professional developer, renowned for her efforts in supporting the educator wellness through emotional resilience and self-awareness practices. Erin believes that it is our responsibility as educators to develop a deep understanding of our emotional world so we can create safe, connected school communities that support students and staff academically and emotionally. You can connect with Michelle on LinkedIn and  on X @MPapaEdu. You can connect with Erin on Linkedin, on X @themindfuleds, on Instagram @Erin_Tashian, and  at her website at https://erintashian.com/. Tune in for my regular Teachers on Fire interviews, airing LIVE on YouTube every Saturday morning at 8:00am Pacific and 11:00am Eastern! Join the conversation and add your comments to the broadcast. In This Conversation: 0:32 - Who is Michelle Papa? 1:09 - Who is Erin Tashian? 2:30 - Why Erin Tashian left 31 years of teaching elementary to support teachers 5:08 - Is it okay when the principal is not okay? 8:42 - Challenges that teachers face today 11:37 - Michelle on her takeaways from Erin's work 14:08 - Erin Tashian's Educator Wellness Institute 19:09 - Sustainability strategies for new teachers 24:03 - Are we pressuring teachers right out of the profession? 32:16 - The mission of The Mindful Educators Podcast 34:37 - A personal habit or daily productivity hack 36:02 - A favorite edtech tool or app 37:49 - Book recommendations 39:55 - Inspiring educators worth following 41:45 - Where to connect with Erin Tashian and Michelle Papa online Connect with Teachers on Fire and Host Tim Cavey: On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire) On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/ Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit Tropic Fuse by French Fuse GO! by Neffex *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 How can today’s teachers eat well and care for their bodies? 🔥 How can we fit movement and fitness into our hours at school? 🔥 What are some simple strategies we can follow to improve our nutrition? Join me for this conversation with Florida PE teacher Eric Nelson as he responds. About This Guest: Eric is a K-5 physical education teacher and the Director of Member Success at TeacherFit. TeacherFit provides proactive wellness solutions that focus on physical and mental health for teachers and students. You can connect with Eric on LinkedIn, on X @teacherfit_, on Instagram @teacherfit__, and through the TeacherFit newsletter https://teacherfitnewsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe. Tune in for my regular Teachers on Fire interviews, airing LIVE on YouTube every Saturday morning at 8:00am Pacific and 11:00am Eastern! Join the conversation and add your comments to the broadcast. In This Conversation: 0:31 - Who is Eric Nelson? 1:30 - How Eric learned to say no to requests for his time 3:00 - Challenges teachers face in 2024 4:47 - Ways to fit in quick workouts during the school day 7:31 - Advice for the teacher who feels like exercise is torture 9:58 - How to cook nutritious meals with little time 13:11 - Dig it or ditch it? Eric's take on popular fitness practices 16:31 - The TeacherFit newsletter 18:39 - Eric's mental health hacks: detaching from email 20:38 - An edtech tool pick: Canva 22:10 - A book recommendation: Are My Kids on Track? 23:01 - Someone to follow online: Dr. Don Parker 23:58 - Where to connect with Eric's work online Connect with Teachers on Fire and Host Tim Cavey: On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire) On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/ Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit Tropic Fuse by French Fuse GO! by Neffex *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 Can you describe the vision of your school? 🔥 How can teacher-leaders raise up the people around them? 🔥 How can schools and districts better communicate with their communities? Join me for this conversation with national superintendent of the year, Dr. Joe Sanfelippo, as he shares his insights on these and other critical questions.  About This Guest: Dr. Joe Sanfelippo is a celebrated educational leader and author. During his tenure as superintendent, his Wisconsin school district was twice recognized for innovation by the International Center for Leadership in Education. Joe was named one of the 100 Most Influential Educators by District Administration Magazine, and in 2019, Education Dive (now K-12 Dive) awarded him National Superintendent of the Year.  You can connect with Joe on LinkedIn, on X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @joe_sanfelippo, and at his website, www.jsanfelippo.com. Tune in for my regular Teachers on Fire interviews, airing LIVE on YouTube every Saturday morning at 8:00am Pacific and 11:00am Eastern! Join the conversation and add your comments to the broadcast. In This Conversation: 0:27 - Who is Dr. Joe Sanfelippo? 2:35 - Story time: When the work eclipsed his family relationships 5:07 - How to acknowledge the great work of teachers in your building 8:52 - Narrowing the focus of a community on a collective goal 13:09 - How can teachers lift up the teachers around them? 18:44 - "I don't have time to prioritize my school's brand." 22:03 - How can we protect teacher fire in 2024? 25:23 - How can schools communicate better with their communities? 29:25 - A daily habit: starting and ending the day with encouraging text messages 30:08 - A favorite edtech tool: CapCut 30:38 - A book recommendation: Power of Moments by Dan Heath 31:15 - Educators to follow online: Jimmy Casas, Tom Murray 31:39 - Where to connect with Dr. Joe Sanfelippo online Connect with Teachers on Fire and Host Tim Cavey: On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire) On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/ Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit Tropic Fuse by French Fuse GO! by Neffex *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 How can media creation activities support student learning? 🔥 How should we think about student phones in today’s classrooms? 🔥 How can we captivate, engage, and empower our students in a world of digital distractions? Join me for this conversation with New York assistant principal, author, and podcaster Dr. MARC ISSEKS as he shares his insights on these and other critical questions. About This Guest: Marc is a third-generation educator with 30 years of experience. He has served as a teacher, curriculum coordinator, and building administrator in Brooklyn and Long Island.  Marc is passionate about sharing strategies to increase student engagement and ensuring that schools cultivate the nurturing and invigorating learning environment that every student deserves. A self-proclaimed educational pyromaniac, he is dedicated to lighting fires under people who work and setting fire to systemic conventions that do not.  Dr. Isseks is the author of Forward Fast: Making Sense of Education in an Era of Rapid Change (2019) and the recently published Captivate: Engaging and Empowering Students in a World of Digital Distractions. You can connect with Dr. Marc Isseks on LinkedIn, on X @marcisseks, on Instagram and TikTok @edupyro, and on his website at marcisseks.com. Tune in for my regular Teachers on Fire interviews, airing LIVE on YouTube every Saturday morning at 8:00am Pacific and 11:00am Eastern! Join the conversation and add your comments to the broadcast. In This Conversation: 0:30 - Who is Dr. Marc Isseks? 2:09 - "What the F was that?" 5:06 - The challenge that teachers face in 2024 6:17 - Hope for the struggling teacher 10:13 - "But this is how we've always done it!" 14:07 - How assessment can play a role in student engagement 17:56 - How media creation can support student learning 21:35 - Can student phones possibly be a win in the classroom? 24:37 - One thing to realize about student motivation 28:55 - The State of Ed Podcast 30:40 - A powerful personal habit: daily walking 32:03 - App recommendations: Canva and TextToImage.AI 33:01 - A book suggestion: Unconscious Bias in Schools 33:48 - Someone worth following: Libo Valencia 34:36 - How to connect with Dr. Marc Isseks online Connect with Teachers on Fire and Host Tim Cavey: On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire) On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/ Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit Tropic Fuse by French Fuse GO! by Neffex *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 How can we promote values like courage, commitment, and sacrifice in our learning communities? 🔥 What is the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, and how can it impact your school? Join me for this conversation with California middle school teacher and trainer MARILYNN ALFORD-WALSH as she shares her insights on these and other critical questions. About This Guest: Marilynn has been in education for over 30 years, teaching all grade levels from preschool through middle school. Today, she teaches middle school science, college and career, technology, and education courses.  She’s also been a national curriculum trainer for the Medal of Honor Character Development Program for the past 13 years, and uses the program regularly with her middle school students.  You can find out more about the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Character Development Program at cmohs.org/lessons and the Path to Honor at pathtohonor.cmohs.org/introduction. Tune in for my regular Teachers on Fire interviews, airing LIVE on YouTube every Saturday morning at 8:00am Pacific and 11:00am Eastern! Join the conversation and add your comments to the broadcast. In This Conversation: 0:28 - Who is Marilynn Alford-Walsh? 1:28 - Marilynn's story: Building connections with middle schoolers 4:31 - Six Core Values: Courage, Commitment, Integrity, Sacrifice, Citizenship, Patriotism 5:21 - What is courage? 6:09 - What is integrity? 6:51 - What is citizenship? 7:31 - What is sacrifice? 10:11 - How the Character Development Program has impacted Marilynn's students 12:43 - How the CDP supports writing and thinking skills 14:35 - How Marilynn plans to use the CMOHS Path to Honor this year 16:02 - How schools can connect with Medal of Honor recipients 18:55 - A tour of FREE teacher resources at cmohs.org 32:54 - A recommended teaching resource: EduProtocols 34:33 - WeWillWrite.com 35:34 - A book recommendation: The Shark and the Goldfish by Jon Gordon 38:14 - How teachers can connect with the FREE Character Development Program Connect with Teachers on Fire and Host Tim Cavey: On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire) On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/ Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit Tropic Fuse by French Fuse GO! by Neffex *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 How has the teaching profession changed over the last five years? 🔥 What would you say to a rookie teacher struggling with imposter syndrome? 🔥 As federal elections approach, what is the role of the Social Studies teacher? Join me for this conversation with New Brunswick resource teacher and podcaster LUCAS CLARKE as he shares his insights on these and other critical questions. About This Guest: Lucas is an academic support teacher in Saint John, New Brunswick, and the host of the Mr. Clarke After Dark podcast. Connect with Lucas on Linkedin, on Instagram and TikTok @mrclarke.afterdark,  on his podcast Mr. Clarke After Dark, and on his YouTube channel @MrClarkeAfterDark. Tune in for my regular Teachers on Fire interviews, airing LIVE on YouTube every Saturday morning at 8:00am Pacific and 11:00am Eastern! Join the conversation and add your comments to the broadcast. In This Conversation: 0:30 - Who is Lucas Clarke? 1:33 - Two stories of adversity 11:55 - Why Lucas moved from Alberta to Saint John, New Brunswick 16:59 - Lucas's current position as Academic Support Teacher (Resource Teacher) 20:06 - Resource teacher strategy: Pull students out or push in? 24:39 - Advice for new teachers struggling with Imposter Syndrome 28:54 - How has education changed over the last five years? 32:40 - What is the role of the Social Studies teacher as federal elections loom? 38:14 - The Mr. Clarke After Dark Podcast 43:25 - A productivity hack: grade fewer assignments 45:41 - An edtech app pick: Epic 47:18 - A book recommendation: The Boy Who Was Raised As a Dog 48:56 - An educator to follow online: George Couros 50:17 - Where to connect with Lucas online Connect with Teachers on Fire and Host Tim Cavey: On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire) On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/ Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit Tropic Fuse by French Fuse GO! by Neffex *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 What does a coaching mindset look like in professional observations? 🔥 How important is mentorship when it comes to the growth of school leaders? 🔥 How can we better support the learning of our youngest readers and writers? Join me for this conversation with author and Director of Literacy LAUREN KAUFMAN as she shares her insights on these and other critical questions. About This Guest Lauren is passionate about empowering teachers to lead and develop lifelong literacy practices in all learners. She serves as a Director of Literacy K-12 in Long Island and is the author of The Leader Inside: Stories of Mentorship to Inspire the Leader Within. You’ll find Lauren’s work on her blog, podcasts, The Teach Better Team, Future Ready Schools, and in various publications including Edutopia, Education Week, George Couros's Because of a Teacher, and Lainie Rowell’s Evolving With Gratitude. Connect with Lauren on Linkedin, on X @LaurenMKaufman, on Instagram @LaurenMKaufman, and at her website, www.LaurenMKaufman.com. Tune in for my regular Teachers on Fire interviews, airing LIVE on YouTube every Saturday morning at 8:00am Pacific and 11:00am Eastern! Join the conversation and add your comments to the broadcast. In This Conversation 0:23 - Who is Lauren Kaufman? 1:47 - Overcoming the disappointment of unmet expectations 5:56 - How can mentorship impact the growth of school leaders? 12:58 - Can formal mentorship structures make a difference? 18:00 - What does the ideal mentorship arrangement look like? 23:11 - What does a coaching mindset look like during teacher observations? 30:07 - What does 30-second feedback look like? 33:40 - The power of job-embedded learning as a model for Pro D 36:23 - A personal productivity hack: slow reading and note-taking 38:22 - Lauren's edtech tool picks: Canva and Notebook LM 39:16 - A book recommendation: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara 40:13 - Inspiring educators to follow: Darrin Peppard, Sean Gaillard, Meghan Lawson, Adam Welcome 41:14 - Where to connect with Lauren Kaufman Connect with Teachers on Fire and Host Tim Cavey: On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire) On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/ Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit Tropic Fuse by French Fuse GO! by Neffex *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 What does your school’s dream makerspace look like? 🔥 Will AR and VR tools ever impact K-12 education in a significant way? 🔥 How are students using 3D printing, laser cutting, and sublimation to create? Join me for this conversation with education technology coach JESUS HUERTA as he shares his insights on these and other critical questions. About This Guest: Jesus is an education technology coach based in southern California who believes that access to technology should not be determined by demographics. He believes that improved technology in the classroom can lead to higher engagement and spark student interest in STEAM careers from a young age. Connect with Jesus on Linkedin, on X @jesush1979,  on TikTok @jesush1979,  on Instagram @Mrhuertasclass. Tune in for my regular Teachers on Fire interviews, airing LIVE on YouTube every Saturday morning at 8:00am Pacific and 11:00am Eastern! Join the conversation and add your comments to the broadcast. In This Conversation: 0:29⁠ - Who is Jesus Huerta? ⁠1:50⁠ - Story time: rekindling his fire for teaching after the pandemic ⁠5:17⁠ - The state of 3D printing opportunities in K-12 schools today ⁠11:36⁠ - What are K-12 students creating with laser cutting and sublimation? ⁠16:12⁠ - Project-based learning that solves real-world problems for others ⁠21:48⁠ - What would be in your dream school makerspace? ⁠27:37⁠ - Game design as a teaching tool in the classroom ⁠34:23⁠ - Will AR and VR tools ever make a big impact in K-12 classrooms? ⁠45:32⁠ - Jesus's productivity hack: making lists ⁠46:02⁠ - An edtech tool pick: Canva ⁠47:03⁠ - An inspiring educator to follow online: Martin Ricardo Cisneros  @TheTechProfe   ⁠48:20⁠ - How to connect with Jesus Huerta online Connect with Teachers on Fire and Host Tim Cavey: On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire) On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/ Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit Tropic Fuse by French Fuse GO! by Neffex *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 What does it mean to grow beyond grades? 🔥 What works about standards-based grading, and where does it fall short? 🔥 How can we deemphasize grades and shift the focus to growth in our practice? Join me for this conversation with assessment leader ARTHUR CHIARAVALLI as he shares his insights on these and other critical questions. About This Guest: In his teaching career, Arthur has taught mathematics, language arts, media arts, and technology. He has a passion for helping teachers move toward more humane, effective approaches to assessment, feedback, and reporting that help students develop positive beliefs in their abilities. He is also the founder of Grow Beyond Grades, a global group of educators convinced that teaching and learning is better when we grade less. Connect with Arthur on Linkedin, on X @iamchiaravalli, and on growbeyondgrades.org. Tune in for my regular Teachers on Fire interviews, airing LIVE on YouTube every Saturday morning at 8:00am Pacific and 11:00am Eastern! Join the conversation and add your comments to the broadcast. In This Conversation: 0:29 - Who is Arthur Chiaravalli? 2:01 - Arthur's story: hitting an assessment rock bottom in Atlanta 5:49 - The wins and losses of SBG, or Standards-Based Grading 10:56 - Defining gradeless and the practice of grading less 13:40 - Arthur describes his first steps on the journey of grading less 19:55 - Benefits from de-emphasizing grades and focusing on growth 24:30 - Increasing student engagement and engagement 29:56 - Arthur's laments regarding traditional grading practices 36:47 - Why Teachers Going Gradeless became Grow Beyond Grades 39:15 - An update on Arthur's upcoming book 41:01 - What's next for the Grow Beyond Grades team 43:48 - Arthur's passion for family, exploring Vermont 44:34 - A productivity hack: Google apps and Calendar 45:24 - A book recommendation: The Dialogic Imagination by Mikhail Bakhtin 46:33 - Someone to follow online: Human Restoration Project 47:54 - What Arthur's streaming: Martin Short videos on YouTube 49:04 - How to connect with Arthur online Connect with Teachers on Fire and Host Tim Cavey: On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire) On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/ Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit Tropic Fuse by French Fuse GO! by Neffex *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 How can I take my students and their learning outdoors? 🔥 How do students win when learning occurs outside the school building? 🔥 How do curriculum, feedback, and assessment appear in outdoor environments? Join me for this conversation with LAUREN MACLEAN as she shares her insights on these and other critical questions. About This Guest: Lauren is an elementary school teacher and the author of Me and My Sit Spot, Finding Common Ground, and Sitting with Nature: An Educator's Guide to Sit Spots. She is the host of the Teach Outdoors podcast where she shares her passion for outdoor learning and promoting environmental education. She is also an outdoor learning consultant for school districts in Canada and the USA. Connect with Lauren on Linkedin, on X @lkmaclean, on YouTube @TeachOutdoors on Instagram @teachoutdoors.ca, on TikTok @teachoutdoorsca, and at her website, teachoutdoors.ca. Tune in for my regular Teachers on Fire interviews, airing LIVE on YouTube every Saturday morning at 8:00am Pacific and 11:00am Eastern! Join the conversation and add your comments to the broadcast. In This Conversation: 0:15 - Who is Lauren MacLean? 1:25 - Story Time: Lauren recalls responding to an upset parent 4:10 - Lauren describes the themes in her latest book, Finding Common Ground 6:19 - Why teaching and learning outdoors sets Lauren on fire 8:44 - The natural environment around Lauren's elementary school 10:26 - How to respond to the practical challenges of teaching outdoors 13:09 - How to address feedback and assessment in the outdoor classroom 16:24 - Lauren discusses her first children's book, Me and My Sit Spot 19:29 - Nature's Path: 12 months of professional support for schools and educators 21:50 - Lauren previews her next book project: Sitting with Nature 24:06 - Passions outside of teaching and nature: field hockey and gardening 25:31 - Daily productivity hacks: waking up early, mud water, quiet 26:50 - A favorite edtech tool: ‪@SeesawEdu‬  27:38 - A book recommendation: Unschooled by Kerry McDonald 28:39 - People to follow online: Janice Novakowski, Megan Zeni (Room to Play), and Outdoor Learning Store 29:13 - What Lauren's streaming in her down time: Alone 29:49 - How and where to follow Lauren online Connect with Teachers on Fire and Host Tim Cavey: On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire) On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/ Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit Tropic Fuse by French Fuse GO! by Neffex *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 What does it mean to create a classroom of abundance? 🔥 How can we make multiple iterations of work an integral part of our learning culture? 🔥 How can we build strong relationships with our students at the start of the school year? Join me for this conversation with ADRIAN NEIBAUER as he shares his insights on these and other critical leadership questions. About This Guest: Adrian is a public school educator in Colorado with 20+ years of experience in helping students find their voices. His elementary classes rely on design thinking as a process for creativity and innovation. Forever a student of teaching, Adrian runs learning experiments in his classroom to collect feedback on what’s working and tweak things that are not. Connect with Adrian on Linkedin, on X @MrNeibauer,  at his website, adrian-neibauer.com, and  on Substack at adrianneibauer.substack.com. Tune in for my regular Teachers on Fire interviews, airing LIVE on YouTube every Saturday morning at 8:00am Pacific and 11:00am Eastern! Join the conversation and add your comments to the broadcast. In This Conversation: 0:27 - Who is Adrian Neibauer? 1:48 - Adrian's story of teaching through some low years 3:58 - How to build relationships with students in the first week of school 9:28 - Designing learning experiences and classrooms of abundance 13:32 - Design thinking in the English Language Arts classroom 18:20 - Why Adrian blogs about teaching and learning on Substack 23:21 - Adrian talks about his YouTube video titled 'Why I Teach' 27:15 - A message for veteran teachers who feel off their game 30:31 - Adrian loves reading and writing poetry 31:09 - A productivity habit: a little bit every day 32:19 - An edtech tool pick: Microsoft Flip 32:59 - Book recommendations: Don Quixote and Redesigning Tomorrow 33:49 - Inspiring educators to follow: Mike Kleba (author of Otherful) and Marcus Luther 35:35 - What Adrian's streaming right now: K-Dramas 36:16 - How to follow Adrian online  Connect with Me: On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire) On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/ Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit Tropic Fuse by French Fuse GO! by Neffex *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 What are the core ingredients of successful school leadership teams? 🔥 How important is mindset when it comes to the effectiveness of a school leader? 🔥 What is one piece of advice that new principals, APs, and teacher-leaders should consider as they head into this school year? Join me for this conversation with Dr. DARRIN PEPPARD as he shares his insights on these and other critical leadership questions. About This Guest: Dr. Darrin Peppard is an author, leadership coach, consultant, and speaker focused on developing emerging leaders and building organizational cultures. He is the best-selling author of the book Road to Awesome and is the host of the Leaning into Leadership podcast. As a ‘recovering high school principal’, Darrin shares strategies and lessons learned from 26 years in public education to help leaders gain clarity, find joy in their work, and walk in their purpose. Connect with Darrin on Linkedin, on X @DarrinMPeppard, On TikTok @DarrinMPeppard, on Instagram @darrin_m_peppard,  on YouTube at Darrin M Peppard EdD, at his website, https://darrinpeppard.edublogs.org/, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/darrin.peppard. Tune in for my regular Teachers on Fire interviews, airing LIVE on YouTube every Saturday morning at 8:00am Pacific and 11:00am Eastern! Join the conversation and add your comments to the broadcast. In This Conversation: 0:27 - Who is Dr. Darrin Peppard? 2:04 - Darrin tells the story of his rocky start in school leadership 8:03 - How significant is mindset when it comes to the effectiveness of a school leader? 11:40 - What are the core ingredients of successful school leadership teams? 17:49 - What are the most common pitfalls of school leadership teams? 21:57 - What's the first step to repairing a broken system? (Question from ‪@ElementalEducator‬) 25:24 - Advice for new principals and school leaders 28:40 - How can principals and school leaders take ownership of their calendars? 36:48 - How Darrin made his teachers feel safe with their principal 41:04 - The mission of the Leaning Into Leadership Podcast 44:28 - An area of learning for Darrin away from education: building a business 46:01 - A productivity hack: Darrin's daily routines 46:55 - An app that Darrin relies on: Clear 48:38 - People to follow: Lauren Kaufman, Sean Gaillard, and Josh Tovar 49:45 - What Darrin's streaming on TV: Hijack and Reacher 50:39 - How to connect with Dr. Darrin Peppard online Connect with Me: On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire) On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/ Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit Tropic Fuse by French Fuse GO! by Neffex *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.