This week: a crisis is brewing, as enrollment in teacher training programs is down significantly across the country, in one state by a whopping 80%. This, while we currently face teacher shortages in most states. Where are all the teachers going? And where do we go from here? Passing Period is an AOTA Podcast Extra that gives us a chance to check-in, reflect, and discuss powerful stories between our full episodes.

Often overlooked in discussions about educational equity and culturally responsive teaching is the role that a teacher’s own personal identity plays in how they approach their practice and interact with others. How do our identities impact our work in education and what can educators do to unpack their identity in the pursuit of educational justice? We’re joined by Heinemann fellow and educator extraordinaire Minjung Pai for a discussion about what personal identity work is and why it matters for our schools. Also, we review this week’s headlines in education including a report that the College Board is selling student data to colleges aiming to cook their books and improve their rankings.

This week: Georgia from Texas tweets Trump to ask for help in getting rid of all the “illegals” in her city, and then gets fired. But now the state says she should be reinstated and given back pay. Yikes. Passing Period is an AOTA Podcast Extra that gives us a chance to check-in, reflect, and discuss some stories that our full episodes might have missed.

Within the context of phrases like “school to prison pipeline” and “restorative justice,” what do educators need to consider before making that fateful decision to suspend a student? In this episode we take a look at the controversial history of suspensions and the recent efforts to address systemic inequities in school discipline. How do policy changes and ongoing efforts to implement restorative practices inform our immediate classroom practice? Also, we review recent headlines in education including a major challenge to the use of the SAT and ACT for college admissions.

This week: Betsy DeVos seeks to incentivise the creation of charter schools in “Opportunity Zones” and Jeffrey needs a thesaurus. “Passing Period” is an AOTA Podcast Extra that gives us a chance to check-in, reflect, and discuss some stories that our full episodes might have missed.

Teachers are expected to wear a smile and carry on, but nearly every educator has hit a low point that nearly drove them out of the profession. How does one overcome that “I’m terrible at this and nothing I do makes a difference” feeling? We’re joined by our new Senior Middle School Correspondent and #NBCT educator extraordinaire Geneviève DeBose Akinnagbe for a discussion about how we overcame the low points in our careers. What does a teacher do when they feel that nothing is working and there’s no road ahead for them in their work? Also, we review this week’s headlines in education including a new study that challenges many of the strongest beliefs about school suspensions. Subscribe now and join us for All of the Above—a new web series about education and hosted by real educators!

“Passing Period” is an AOTA Podcast Extra that gives us a chance to check-in, reflect, and discuss some stories that our full episodes might have missed. This week: new, distressing data emerges about the prevalence of sexual assaults on college campuses.

Who was your favorite teacher? What tend to be the qualities of people’s “favorite” teachers? In this episode we discuss who our favorite teachers were growing up and how their work informs our understanding of teaching and learning today. We also take a look at recent news in education including a huge shortfall in adequate funding for California schools, a report about lead found in school water, and a Surgeon General’s plan to screen all kids for trauma. Subscribe now and join the conversation!

Our full episodes deliver a LOT, so “Passing Period” is an AOTA Podcast Extra that gives us a chance to check-in, reflect, and discuss some timely stories that our full episodes might have missed. This week: Hijabs, bootleg binders, and trying to teach about slavery.

How should grading work? What’s fair? In this episode we unpack the dilemmas of grading. Why do grading practices vary so much from teacher to teacher, and what does this all mean for students in America’s schools? We also take a look at recent news in education including a teacher being fired for refusing to use a student’s preferred pronouns, the controversy surrounding a new alternative school opening up for young children, and the whopping $9.2 million awarded to a curriculum company for violations to its copyrights.