All Things Education

For this episode, a previous guest, King Michael, is at the helm.  He wanted to be the host in order for you to learn more about me, and my story.  In this episode, Michael walks me through a discussion on my path to education, why I am consistently positive, how I handle student behavior while maintaining positive relationships, and I share fears of "burning out" as well as tips to build a great community of learners. Enjoy!

In this episode, Greg joins me to discuss what it is like being a school counselor.  We cover his path to school counseling, how he builds relationships with students outside of the classroom, why those relationships are so important, and he explains how he advocates for everyone in the school.  Greg's passion for this is undeniable and his success is displayed throughout the recording.  This episode shines a light on a different perspective in education.  Enjoy!

In this episode, Matt Rogers joins me for an absolutely incredible discussion.  We talk about his path to teaching (including his personal learning story), how his school uses Mass Customized Learning (including eliminating grade levels), ways he creates student choice for assessments and why pre-service teaching is the focus of his podcast.  I was overwhelmed by his passion and creativity and I can't wait to have him as a guest again! Enjoy! Follow The Faculty Room for more amazing conversations about education.

My sister FINALLY agreed to join me to discuss her 15 year career as an educator.  Alyssa Stine is a fantastic early childhood teacher that has plenty to share! In this episode, we discuss her passionate path to education, the difference between childcare and educational experiences, why consistency and structure is so important and how she takes every opportunity to make teachable moments out of "play."  I may be biased but I think Alyssa is hilariously real about her role in education. Enjoy!

Danny, a close friend and a different kind of educator, is a Technical Trainer in the corporate world.  He joins me to discuss his passion for education, the similarities and differences between corporate education and K-12 education, how students can prepare for a career in the tech industry and he shares his thoughts on the future of corporate training.  His perspective is so special and the connections to the classroom are abundant.  Enjoy! (Find Danny at www.averagedisnerd.com) (Mentioned in the show - Kano Harry Potter Coding Wand)

In this VERY special episode my wife, Arielle, joins me to have an open conversation about her role as a spouse of a teacher.  While she does not work in the education field, she shares her valuable insight into how she supports me, her likes/dislikes about her role, situations that have come up because of my career, and she shares her thoughts on why education is so important. I am so grateful for her never-ending love and support, and for her willingness to share a bit of our lives. Enjoy!

In this episode, Zach and I dive deep into talking about teaching in an urban district. We discuss how he got started, how he manages cultural differences, the daily challenges that he faces, and he shares his advice for others interacting with students from different backgrounds. We also briefly touch on the importance of a Professional Learning Community and why Zach finds his so helpful. I am so impressed by Zach's never-ending desire to better all of his students and I am thrilled to bring this episode to all of you! Enjoy!

In this episode, Stephanie joins us to discuss her first year teaching experience. She touches on the successes and challenges of the first year, how college prepared her for her first classroom, and what things she is doing differently in year 2. Steph is a passionate educator who builds great relationships with students and is well on her way to having a very successful career in education. Enjoy!

An expert in Restorative Practices, Jennifer Williams, joins me to discuss this important topic. We cover how she became a licensed trainer for Restorative Practices, why Restorative Practices are more beneficial than traditional ways, some "take-aways" from a recent conference we attended and Jennifer shares her advice for educators interested in using Restorative Practices today. Jennifer is a great counselor, colleague, educator and a tremendous friend. Enjoy!

In what might be the funniest episode of All Things Education, Kristen and I discuss her unconventional path to becoming an educator, how she incorporates her sarcasm and humor into the classroom, meeting students at their levels of energy and "teaching life." Kristen is one of the most "real-life" educators I know and it was a pleasure to chat with her. (Sub-topics covered: Taylor Swift, High School Musical, and "Christmas Tree Teacher") *Correction: In this episode we incorrectly reference the movie High School Musical. The correct reference should have been the movie "Jump In." Kristen insisted I make this note.

In this episode I talk to Elle Ingarra about her path to becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), what a BCBA can do for students, the pros and cons of "behavior/token charts", and why applying reinforcement of behaviors consistently is so important. Elle is an exceptional educator who cares so much for the students she encounters and who has a passion that is contagious! Enjoy!

Michael Blum is an incredible educator that joined me to discuss his personal style to teaching, his strong feelings about lectures, his thoughts on standardized testing, and our ideas about getting students to a higher level of thinking. Enjoy my chat with "King Michael."

In this very first episode of All Things Education, Zach and I discuss his path to becoming an educator, how he makes time for cross-curricular projects, our thoughts on flexible seating and he gives solid advice to new teachers. Enjoy!