Hello everyone! I hope you're ready for an energy filled inspirational episode, because today Chris Pombonyo is on the podcast! Chris is a teacher, coach, the creative director of Get Your Teach On, and all around ball of inspiration. His dedication to his craft, and his drive to help teachers embrace their passions is phenomenal. In this episode, we discuss: Why doing so many different things inspires Chris How embracing what makes us happy as teachers will make students happy No teacher needs to look the same The power of working together to create something great and MUCH MORE! (including our opinions on coffee and fitness...) Enjoy! This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, 180 Days: Two Teachers and the Quest to Engage and Empower Adolescents by Kelly Gallagher and Penny Kittle. 180 Days was inspired by a teacher's question: "How do you fit it all in?" To answer that question, Kelly and Penny spent an entire school year planning, teaching, and reflecting together. Through their collaboration, they identified the most essential everyday practices for helping middle and high school students become more engaged readers and writers. 180 Days maps out a year of the most powerful, engaging literacy practices. It provides insights about time management, teaching strategies, and how to effectively use both whole class and independent work. You'll also find a library of accompanying videos that support each chapter. So, if you want to make every moment matter in your classroom, and empower your students to live more literate lives, visit Heinemann.com to download a sample from 180 Days or order your copy.