Summer is in full blast and lawns are frequently groomed. Jack and Steve relate their yard care process to the classroom and discuss how they cultivate the flowers, mow the grass, and minimize the weeds.

Scott Spradling, Director of Music at Concord Community Schools, joins Chops this week for a conversation on how he instills effort in his students through humor and authenticity.

The educational buzzword “scaffolding” means to break down a difficult task into smaller, more manageable pieces. Jack and Steve take the listeners through their thoughts on scaffolding, why it is necessary in the classroom, and how they use it in their lessons.

Your podcast hosts are back at school for the summer working with the marching band. They discuss implementing “inside-out teaching” where students are driven by intrinsic motivators rather than instructions and demands from the adult in the room.

After sharing their experiences from their time off in June, Steve and Jack discuss their goals for their classes as they near the beginning of the marching band season.

Jack and Steve wrap up their years at the school. Hot topics like programming, classroom culture, and student relationships are on the table as they discuss three things: what to keep from this year, what to change for next year, and the importance of stillness.

Steve Peterson and Jack Hinkle introduce themselves and the show "Chops," a podcast about teaching kids. While they both teach band, they find that their topics relate to all types of educators. In this episode, they explore the concept of the Teaching Trifecta - knowing (and loving) teaching, your content, and your students.