From slow-claps to GLEAM: grade-level rigor, real talk, and a rainbow pumpkin

What happens when two middle-school teachers and their favorite guest crack open UnboundEd’s GLEAM (Grade-Level, Engaging, Affirming, Meaningful) and ask the big question: “Who’s doing the thinking?” Chandler, Russell, and Melissa Robinson-Eagles (aka Mrs. Russell) get candid about teaching at grade level, scaffolding without watering down, and making learning feel sincere and not performative. There’s campus solidarity, rock-paper-scissors seating charts, sub-plan bribery, classroom jobs that actually work, and the world premiere of Steve, the very gay pumpkin.

Cool in School:

• Staff unity + a school-board slow-clap moment that turned into full-district solidarity
• This year’s calmer cohorts (puppies ????, feral cats ????, and old cats ????‍⬛, you’ll get it)

Teacher Tips (you can steal tomorrow):

• Seating fix: neighbors RPS—loser moves (student ownership without drama)
• Classroom jobs + team tubs: pencils, chargers, workbooks, and clean endings to every period
• Sub-plan toolkit: a plug-and-play template + strategic bribes for smooth days

Good in Life:

• New cats, audiobook obsessions, and sports banter (no comment on certain playoff heartbreaks)
• Meet Steve the pumpkin. Proof that joy belongs in lesson planning

Gleam, but make it real:

• Grade-level first, smart scaffolds second
• Affirming beyond name-drops that build a classroom culture kids actually feel
• Meaningful is the mountain: from pink-tax math to community resource mini-units

If this episode got you rethinking rigor and relevance, share a recent Big-E moment from your class and tag us!

Follow, rate, and subscribe so you don’t miss our next guest episode.

We didn’t fix education today, but we made it GLEAM, Glitter and Sparkle.