Welcome back to 'Just Listen the First Time' as we kick off Season 3! In our first episode, we're catching up on all the big life changes—celebrating new family additions and sharing experiences from taking a year off to focus on family. Join us as we reflect on these personal milestones and discuss how they're shaping our approach to this school year. Whether you're a teacher, parent, or just someone who enjoys heartfelt stories and educational insights, this episode is for you!

What a school year it has been! The JLFT Crew ends this "season" of the podcast with a game hosted by Kacey! In a spinoff of The Newly Wed Game, we will see how well Fletcher and Mark know each other! Most questions are related to their teaching careers. Listen and find out if they know each other as well as they think they do!

Have you ever thought about looping with your class? Have you ever wondered if it's worth it as a teacher? A student? A parent? In this episode, Mark interviews Kacey and Fletcher about their experiences looping with their classes. Learn the good and the bad from their experiences and if they think it's worth it!

In this episode of "Just Listen the First Time," join Fletcher as he takes Mark's role as the host. He sits down for a chat with Kacey and Mark, two awesome individuals rocking the roles of both teachers and parents. They dive into the real deal of juggling lesson plans with bedtime stories, sharing the highs, lows, and some things they've learned along the way. From navigating chaotic schedules to finding moments of unexpected joy, their conversation is one any teacher/parent balancing work and family life can relate to. So kick back, tune in, and get ready to Just Listen the First TIme.

As a teacher, what is your favorite spirit week dress up day? What's your least favorite? In this episode, Kacey, Mark, and Fletcher will do a snake draft to select 5 dress up days each. Listen along and see if you agree with their thinking!

Grab your headphones and join Mark, Kacey, and Fletcher, three teachers for a enlighting chat on the unsung heroes of our schools: paraprofessionals. Ever wondered about the secret behind smooth-running classrooms and happy, thriving students? Spoiler: it’s often the paras. Through stories from their own classrooms, our hosts dig into the real-deal impact of paras on students, teachers, and the whole school vibe. They’ll chat about those magic moments made possible by great para-teacher teams and share tips on how everyone can get in on this winning formula. So, whether you’re in the car, on a break, or just chilling at home, tune in to find out why paras are the heart and soul behind the scenes of education.

Teaching is hard. In our last episode, we talked about why teaching is hard. We thought it would be fun to bring some positivity to this episode and discuss what our dream schools would include! We of course would have a lot more items that we'd have, but here's what we came up with on the spot! What would you add?

There's a national teacher shortage? Why? Why is teaching so hard? Why are less people going into teaching? In episode 10, we talk about why we think teaching is hard. We aren't trying to be negative about the profession. We want to be real about the struggles educators are experiencing. What did we miss? Let us know!

Back to school season is exhausting. Especially when you throw in a new math curriculum and coach a fall sport. Join us as we talk about how the first weeks of school have gone with homecoming week tossed in.

Teaching is hard. No one has it all figured out. However, there are things we've learned over the years that have allowed all of us to hit the decade marker for years of teaching. Join us as we share advice for new teachers, or teachers in general! Have some extra advice? Let us know on IG @jlft_podcast