Catholic Teachers' Lounge Podcast

In this episode, Jill shares a question from a Catholic school in Erie, Michigan about what to do with early arrivers in the morning. What is the most productive or effective way to ease kids into the school day while the room is still quiet and the day hasn’t quite begun? Teachers share ideas and Colleen and Jill grapple with ideas and suggestions.

Did you ever wish you had a group of people to solve your problem? So does Colleen! In this epsiode Jill and Colleen explore the idea of community inquiry learning to solve a real life problem. Stop in the lounge for inspiration on a community learning project that might work for you and your students.

Today in the lounge, Jill and Colleen talk about approaches to lesson, unit, and course design. What’s better–following curriculum chronologically or thematically? How do we focus on standards AND make sure lessons are hitting if a way that ensures student connection? Stop in the lounge for a theoretical conversation and agreeable conclusion.

What’s a great way to assess whether a lesson went well? Ask the kids! In this episode Jill shares an idea used by the Detroit Catholic Microschools that can be applicable across the board with any class, age, or subject area. Join us in the lounge for a practical and fun conversation on how and why to use a classroom debrief.

Do you remember the first time you got to choose your own book, topic, or partner for a project? We do! In this episode, Jill and Colleen explore how personal experiences and core memories can make for the most memorable and high quality work in the classroom. Take a trip down memory lane and get inspired to take voice and choice to the next level.

Jill and Colleen welcome guest Will Dennis into the lounge for a conversation on creating the best conditions for learning. Will’s insights, based on his time teaching Theology and teaching and studying improv, have led him to conlcude that all good learning begins with connection. Creating the conditions for connection, sharing, and growth are essential at every age, grade, and activity. Be inspired as Jill, Colleen, and Will talk about the common aspects of all human beings that make connections and conditions the foundations of successful classrooms, schools, and teams.

What happens when ISTE, Google, and NCEA team up to train educators? A whole lot of innovation! Join Jill, Colleen, and special guest Dr. Karl Ochsner for an overview of an amazing nationwide collaboration of innovative teachers & leaders who are learning about and influencing STEM education and technology use to shae in their schools as well as providing PD for you. It’s not about screen time–it’s about quality tools and purpose!

Jill puts on her teacher hat and mom hat as she shares about the awesome summer Catholic youth camp available in her state of Michigan as well as Virginia and Ohio. Colleen recalls her own son’s experience at summer camp and compares. What can kids do over the summer to stay in touch with their faith, enrich their social emotional growth, learn some new skills, and grow in independence? Drop into the lounge for a summer camp chat.

Pope Leo’s first encyclical for the Church reminds Catholic educators that it is not our job to keep pace with the secular world. Join Jill and Colleen for a dive into Pope Leo’s Magnifica Humanitis and a chat on what Catholic educators should know and why it matters. A timely and pointed lounge conversation!

In this episode, self-proclaimed AI skeptic Colleen shares her favorite tool–Gemini Notebook. If you’re a teacher looking for a tool that integrates disciplines, can pull from your specified resources without pulling random info from the web, and likes a variety of options for your students, this episode is for you. Already a Gemini Notebook user? Stop in to enjoy the conversation and share with another AI skeptic!