We all have been through tough times. And this season on The Elephant in the Classroom we have accepted that and started to look ahead and to look up. It is possible for things to get better. It is possible to turn the bad into good. But we don't always feel like we deserve that transformation. Not only do we deserve it, it is our job, our purpose to pursue it. Today we look at the meaning of the afterlife with the ambitious comedy sitcom, The Good Place. Together we will talk about what we can do to turn our classrooms into good places once again. For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com
Our classrooms are made up of a bunch of characters. Screenwriters develop their characters by constantly thinking about what a character wants in every scene. That's what we have to do for our students. We need to understand what they want so that we can help the learn and grow. The added benefit is that we will have healthier expectations for our time in the classroom. For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com.
Everyone hates failing. It is never good to know that there was something that we couldn't do. When we fail there is always a group of people right there ready to tell us that we have to learn from it. And while that's all well and good...what does that do for me in the moment? What does that do to me when the crisis isn't over yet? Working through failure as it happens is its own animal. Today we discuss the art of failing successfully through the story of Apollo 13. For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com
We all have been impacted by teachers. They teach us so many things, even when we don't realize that they're doing it. Today we visit the Black Hills of South Dakota and Mt. Rushmore to apply its framework to the teachers of our lives. For more information please visit 2ndrockeducation.com
Toxic positivity is a big time buzz word these days. Toxic positivity is the act of glossing over problems in order to see the brighter side of things. We hope that if we don't pay attention to the problem that things will naturally get better. But when we do that we minimize the trauma that people are going through. This leads to people checking out and feeling resentful of their leaders. They don't feel safe and taken care of. At the same time there is a toxic negativity that we have to be aware of. Our negativity and cynicism sucks the energy out of the room. What is the purpose of it? Once we lose that purpose the negativity becomes toxic, our 'advice' becomes misguided. Today we analyze the new hit show, Ted Lasso. Ted is an American football coach attempting to become a European Soccer coach. It is a funny premise that provides the opportunity for audiences to explore a wonderful, heartwarming and enduring thesis, what if we lean into healthy positivity. For more information please head over to 2ndrockeducation.com
Being bold is a great thing to be. We want to stand out and be noticed! But being bold takes courage and it takes a constant confrontation with potential failure. So how do we do it? And why is it so important that we try? Today we head to the 1990s to share a number of stories of female athletes who all put themselves out there in a truly bold way. The result? An inspiring wave of little girls who wanted to lace up their cleats just like them. For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com
Game of Thrones is a television show about the struggle for power. Its enduring question is where does power come from? That is the same question that we grapple with as teachers. Often we are the kings and queens of our rooms but there are also times when we feel helpless and at the whims of others. Today we explore that struggle for power that we fight every day in the classroom. For more information please visit 2ndrockeducation.com.
We all have a million things to do and never enough time to do it. Each of those things pulls us in a different direction. When we go in different directions will we ever go in the direction that we want to? How do we move towards our purpose in the classroom if we never have time to move that way? As much as we were told, "know you priorities" as kids we need to do that even more when we are adults. Our priorities are not just to make sure that the trains run on time but also to ensure that our purpose is spoken for each and every day. Today we head to Disneyland, where Walt Disney built something brand new and magical. In order to accomplish this fantastic feat he needed to stick to his priorities...especially when times got hard. For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com
In 2001, Hollywood made the brave decision to remake an old Rat Pack film, Ocean's Eleven. The Rat Pack led by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. transformed into a smooth talking band of thieves set to take down the casinos of Sin City. Similarly, the remake brought the likes of famous Hollywood hunks George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and others. This comedic heist movie reveals an important philosophy about teaching. This philosophy is a tough one to understand. We often feel as if luck isn't on our side. In fact, we feel like it is actively working against us. But as Danny Ocean and his crew will show us, we often need to make our own luck. That when you play the game right...success is in the bag.
Teachers begin their careers with a lot of inspiration, hope and optimism. But then reality starts to set in a little bit at a time. Little bit by little bit and we begin our slow descent to the dark side. The temptation of the dark side is alluring. It makes us cut corners and be a lesser version of ourselves. The Star Wars franchise built itself on this theme. And the Star Wars saga shows us that the you can come back from the darkness. For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com
Teachers are true underdogs. There is no way around it. The odds are stacked against us in more ways than one. But every underdog has their day. That moment when things turn around and the impossible becomes possible. What happens after the underdog triumphs? How do they deal with that success? They have to always keep in mind the attitudes, hard work, skills and humility that helped them get there. When we succeed as teachers we need to remember to stay humble and in a state of development. Today, we cover the best underdog story in cinematic history, Rocky. Yo Adrian! For more information please visit 2ndrockeducation.com
Teachers and Parents are seemingly natural enemies. But why? Why don't we trust one another? When the fate of a child is on the line people can act a little nutty. Ironically the truth is that we all want the same thing; what is best for our students. So if we take all of the frustration and anxiety out of the equation imagine what we are able to do together. Today, we tell the harrowing tale of the Baltimore Colts Marching Band. In 1986 when the team tragically left left for Indianapolis, the entire city of Baltimore was left devastated. All hope was lost except for the defiant beat of the Marching Band who had stayed behind. The played year after year until the NFL would bring a new team back to Baltimore. Their dedication and commitment to one another will teach us a lot about working together.For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com.
In order for our classrooms to be places of purpose they need to be places of learning. And in order for them to be places of learning they need to be quite places, still places and controlled places. Right? Wrong! It may be easier when our classrooms are quiet. But quiet doesn't always mean behaved or productive. That's why we need to find new and fun ways to engage our students in the classroom. We need to start taking humor more seriously. Today we jump into the world of Seinfeld for some lessons on how to be funny.For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.com
As we begin to dream about what a post-pandemic classroom can look like the thing that we must build at the center of every classroom is joy. A joy of teaching and a joy of learning. A joy of belonging and discovery, challenge and triumph. Back in 2016, two faith leaders, the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu came together for a week of friendship and important conversations. Out of everything these two men could have discussed they decided to spend an entire week talking about the true nature of joy. Coming from different perspectives the two explored joy in a new way. What does it take to find joy? What are some roadblocks to it? There conversations made it into the book, The Book of Joy.Today we explore their conversation through the lens of a teacher. Teachers have the power to bring joy into their classrooms everyday. Joy is something to grow and cultivate. It isn't always easy, especially when times get hard. But it is the fight worth fighting. For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.comand Follow us on Instagram @the_elephant_insta_classroom
Welcome back for Season 2 of The Elephant in the Classroom! On this new season we are going to talk about getting back up and dusting ourselves off. We are going to find ways to bring joy back into the classroom. The truth is 2020 was rough and to be honest...so has 2021. But as we start a new school year we need to recognize the important lesson that 2020 taught us. And that is some times are bad times. We often believe that times will end on a high note, but sometimes they don't. 2020 is how life in the classroom can feel like sometimes. So how do we deal with that? What can we do to ride it out and not let the bad times consume us and snuff out our passion and purpose? That's where our second season begins. It's all up from here. For more information head over to 2ndrockeducation.comAnd like us on instagram @the_elephant_insta_classroom
It is time for summer break on The Elephant in the Classroom! I appreciate your loyal listenership over the course of our first season. We are taking off for the next couple of weeks as we enjoy our summers and prepare for Season 2! I am so excited for the topics we are covering that I want to burst. But I'll have to wait a couple of weeks. Season 2 will premier on Thursday, August 5. So stay tuned for a teaser mini-episode before then for more information about Season 2 as a whole. In the meantime, check out any episodes you may have missed and share them with the teachers in your lives. For more information check out 2ndrockeducation.com. And like us on Instagram @The_Elephant_Insta_Classroom
Teaching is hard on its own. Not to mention if you are a first year teacher trying to learn on the fly during the pandemic. If you have to learn new technologies, pedagogies and very little to turn to for help. After all, your mentors and community are learning on the fly as well. So amidst all of the pandemic pandemonium how do you keep your sanity in the classroom? You pay attention to what matters most. That is what today's guest, Jordan Gillespie did on her quest to get through the year in one piece while providing her students with an unforgettable learning experience. It is time to Stay After Class with Jordan Gillespie.For more information check out:2ndRockEducation.com
Teaching is one of the most personal professions in the world. Every single day we put who we are on the line. That is why when things don't go our way in the classroom we take it so personally. Ironically, discovering our identity and knowing who we really are makes all of the difference. Our identity makes us special and that unique teacher that all of our students need. Today we sit down with Erin Beuglass to discuss how exploring their identity as a person and a teacher has transformed who they are in the classroom. It is time to Stay After Class with Erin Beuglass.For more information check out2ndrockeducation.com
Our purpose and passion are not static things. They evolve alongside your ever-changing life. This doesn't mean that you abandon your purpose but rather it means that you have grown out of it. Sometimes those passions find their ways back to us. But some passions are so powerful that we hold onto them forever. We spend our time exploring it, we spend our time finding new ways to incorporate into our lives. In Kimberly Bill's case she has found new ways to spread her passion with others. Kim is a brilliant professional violinist. As she pursues her own dreams she finds fulfillment teaching others how to love the violin as well. It is time to Stay After Class with Kimberly Bill.Check out more of my work at 2ndrockeducation.com
It is tough to give that extra effort all of the time. Teachers and coaches always say, 'You need to give 110%!' But the truth is that is impossible, or at least it is all of the time. Eventually your 110% becomes your 100% and it does at your own detriment and burnout. That's why the goal is not giving the most effort, it is about giving the perfect effort. We can give a perfect effort through compassion, commitment, and community. Today we are joined by best friend, Michael Bobich. His life as a marketing whiz and dad extraordinaire has given him ever changing perspectives on what it means to give a perfect effort. This episode will pair greatly with Season 1 - Episode 7. That episode told the story of Coach Bob Ladouceur and the De La Salle high school football team. Michael was a student of Coach Lad and has fun things to say about his time in his class. It is time to Stay After Class with Michael Bobich.For more of my work check out my website...2ndrockeducation.com