Life of the School Podcast: The Podcast for Biology Teachers

By Life of the School

What's Life of the School Podcast: The Podcast for Biology Teachers about?

For the first 100 episodes, the Life Of The School podcast was a series of episodes where Aaron Mathieu interviewed different life science teachers to discus their path to the classroom, work in the classroom, and hopes and dreams for the future. Starting in September 2020 (episode 102), LOTS became a panel discussion podcast, exploring various issues we face in our classroom.

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Life of the School Podcast: The Podcast for Biology Teachers episodes:

06.20.2022
LOTS145 - Goodbye For Now
After 6 years, I am taking a break from podcasting. I am calling it a summer vacation for now, but we will see if the break is actually a bit longer. Before I go, I am going to leave you...
06.06.2022
LOTS144 - End Of The School Year!
We made it?! I don’t know if it was that we had our expectations too high or that the pandemic has broken us all, but the 2021-2022 school year was rough. With that in mind, we are going to hunt...
05.16.2022
LOTS143 - Student Behavior
One of the topics that teachers have been discussing a lot this year has been how issues with student behavior feel worse this past school year compared to the past. Today we discuss this topic and reflect on how we...
05.02.2022
LOTS142 - Phemonena
As I have been reimagining my curriculum over the past few years, the idea of using a scientific phenomenon to hook kids into our work has been both exciting and challenging. Today, I discuss the concept of phenomena with Tanea,...
04.18.2022
LOTS141 - Forms Of Assessment
As we head into state assessment season (people who don’t spend their lives in schools call this spring), I thought it would be fun to talk about different forms of assessment and what this looks like in our classrooms. Show Notes: -...
04.04.2022
LOTS140 - Discussing Late Work, Retakes, And Revisions
On this episode we discuss the sometimes challenging issues dealing with late work, retakes and revisions, particularly considering the grading practices through the lens of grading equity. Show Notes: We start this question with the goofy question. How do you...
03.21.2022
LOTS139 - Discussing Zeros And Group Work
On this episode we discuss two grading practices that are used in many classroom but are certainly possible issues when it comes to grade equity. Show Notes: We start this question with the goofy question. Have you been caught up in...
03.07.2022
LOTS138 - Should I Go Back To Get Another Degree?
As a group of lifelong learners, we are in a community of teachers who are often getting additional degrees and certificates, some are for career advancement, while others are just for growth and learning. With that in mind, we are...
02.21.2022
LOTS137 - What Does PD Look Like Now?
Today, as we return to the topic of professional development to discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of pandemic PD and what PD may look like in the future. We kick off our episode with a goofy question:...
02.07.2022
LOTS136 - What Is Your Dream Interdisciplinary Class?
Today, we return to a topic that comes up every few months, the concept of teaching an interdisciplinary class. Show Notes: We kick off our episode with a question: what was your favorite non-science subject(s) in school when you were a kid? Joining...
01.17.2022
LOTS135 - Who Are Those Adults In Your Classroom?
Today, we discuss the presence and influence of other adults in our classroom. Show Notes: We kick off our episode with the question: What is something New and Exciting happening in your professional life in 2022? Joining us from Texas is Lee Ferguson:...
01.03.2022
LOTS134 - How Do You Redesign Curriculum?
Today we kick off 2022 by discussing how we go about revising aspects of our curriculum. Show Notes: We kick off our episode with a goofy question: Do you typically make a New Year’s Resolution or goal for the upcoming year? If...
12.20.2021
LOTS133 - Goodbye 2021!
To say goodbye to 2021, I am joined by the hosts of the 2 Pint PLC to wrap up the year! Show Notes: We Introduced ourselves with the goofy question: What is one thing you learned this year from educational research about...
12.06.2021
LOTS132 - Have Grades Changed?
Today, as we find ourselves deep into the holiday season, we reflect back on the past few years and ask whether or not the grades have the same emphasis as they did a few years ago. Show Notes: We kick off...
11.22.2021
LOTS131 - HowDoYouCollaborate?
Show Notes: On our panel shows, we start with a goofy question, and as we are releasing this just before thanksgiving, what’s a Thanksgiving side dish that you have that may not be on everyones table? - Kelly Kluthe: gooey butter...
11.08.2021
LOTS130 - WhoDecidesYourCurriculum
Show Notes: - On our panel shows, we start with a goofy question, and as we are recording this just before halloween, did you dress up for halloween this year? If not, do you remember the last time you did? Lee Ferguson:...
10.18.2021
LOTS129 - Revisiting Episode One With Brian Dempsey
For this episode, I am reposting episode #1, but be before that audio, I chat with my colleague and first guest Brian Dempsey to reflect on how the last 5+ years of podcasting has shaped our teaching practice. Credits: Please...
10.04.2021
LOTS128 - AmyKelly
Show Questions: - How did you become a science teacher? What did you do before teaching? - I am curious about how you became a co-teacher of a biology course. How did that begin and how has it changed while you have...
09.20.2021
LOTS127 - UDL
On this episode, we will be discussing the concept of Universal Design for Learning. Show Notes: - To kick off the episode, we will start with our goofy question: You will only be able to watch episodes of 1 TV show for...
09.06.2021
LOTS126 - IEPs, 504s, & Accommodations
On this episode, I am joined by one new panelist and one old friend to discuss IEPs, 504s and other accommodations in the classroom. Show Questions: To kick off the episode, we will start with our goofy question: You are in...
08.16.2021
LOTS125 - End Of Summer
In this episode, Lee and I have an informal chat about the end of summer and the start of the school year on the two very different planets we live on (Massachusetts and Texas). We will do our best to...
08.02.2021
LOTS124 - AfterTheMask
On this episode I chat with the authors of the book After The Mask: A Guide to Caring for Students and Schools. This recently published book discusses the pediatric mental health crisis that schools were grappling with before 2020, has...
07.19.2021
LOTS123 - UnGrading w/Johanna Brown
Today we discuss how we remove or reduce grades from our classrooms. Joining me for this conversation is Lee Ferguson from Texas and Johanna Brown from Washington State. Show Notes: - Johanna gave a shout out to Katy Dornbos as one of...
07.05.2021
LOTS122 - KatieRyan Revisited
Today we check back in with a past guest, Katie Ryan from Episode 85. When we last talked with Katie in December of 2019 as she was completing her student teaching in Colorado. Since our conversation, Karie became a Knowles...
06.21.2021
LOTS121 - Things Are Changing
We Introduced ourselves with the Question: What is one frivolous piece of media (book, tv, movie, music) you are looking forward to enjoying this summer? How is your professional life going to change in the upcoming school year(s)? Bold goal setting time:...
06.07.2021
LOTS120 - Celebrating Five Years
We Introduced ourselves with the Goofy Question: If you could interview one famous person, living or dead, who would it be? Do you have any memories of what it was like to be a guest on the episode? Do you have...
05.17.2021
LOTS119 - COVID Keepers?
We Introduced ourselves with the Goofy: What's your current cellphone wallpaper/lockscreen? Tanea: Me at 16. Boy do I miss the 16 year old me (well the body, not the brain and confidence, etc.) Lee: It’s an old picture of...
05.03.2021
LOTS118 - Teacher Training
We Introduced ourselves with the Question: What was the worst job you've ever had? Lee: probably telemarketer was my least favorite. It was my first job, and I was in high school. I had to try and sell these...
04.19.2021
LOTS117 - Student Engagement
We Introduced ourselves with the Goofy Question: What is one activity that you can get completely lost in and spend hours doing without realizing it? We then Discuss the following questions: - Is “engagement” something you actively consider when lesson planning? - How...
04.05.2021
LOTS116 - Professional Development
We Introduced ourselves with the Goofy Question: Do you have a favorite PD Icebreaker (or are all icebreakers evil...I think this is a perfectly reasonable stance) We also discuss the following questions: - How do you normally approach finding PD opportunities? -...
03.22.2021
LOTS115 - My Classes Are Pointless
This episode is a presentation I made with Paul Strode at the 2020 NABT Conference. You can follow Paul on twitter @pkstrode. Some useful resources from this talk include: Kohn, A. (2012). The case against grades. The Education Digest, 77(5), 8. Strode, Paul...
03.08.2021
LOTS114 - Course Recommendations & Tracking
We Introduced ourselves with the Goofy Question: If you could live somewhere else in the world for a year, where would it be? Tanea - Shenzhen! That’s where I’m moving, but I considered Vietnam, Spain, and Rwanda too. Lee: absent...
02.22.2021
LOTS 113 - Communication with Student & Families
We Introduced ourselves w/ the Question: Would you rather live where it only snows or the temperature never falls below 100 degrees? Ryan: where the temp never falls below 100. I have island genes and can’t stand the cold. Lee: definitely where...
02.08.2021
LOTS112 - EOCs During A Pandemic?
We Introduced ourselves using this goofy Question: What is the best anagram of your name? https://wordsmith.org/anagram/ Aaron: A Humane Ratio or Tea Mania Hour Ryan: Can Snarl Yo… I guess that means I’m prone to anger Tanea: They all sucked - I’ll...
01.18.2021
LOTS111 - Thoughts About EOC Exam?
We Introduced ourselves with our goofy question: You have your own late night talk show, who would you want to be your band leader? Tanea: Nyaze - my musical buddy from college Ryan: Hands down, Tim Blais from A Capella...
01.04.2021
LOTS110 - Our 2021 Resolution - Equity
We introduce ourselves by honoring and acknowledging the native lands where we are recording from. Aaron is broadcasting from the land of the Nipmuc Nation Ryan lives on lands shared by the Kickapoo and Osage tribes Tanea - Hohokam, Akimel O’odham (Upper...
12.21.2020
LOTS109 - Goodbye 2020!
- We Introduced ourselves (Aaron Introduces the show, then Tanea, Ryan, Lee) Order will be Aaron, Joining us from Arizona is Tanea Hibler, joining us from Missouri is Ryan Lacson, and joining us from Texas is Lee Ferguson. - What is...
12.07.2020
LOTS108 - What Will Be The Legacy Of The Pandemic On Grading?
Has your grading philosophy changed during a pandemic? Our Panel this week is Aaron Mathieu from Massachusetts, Joining us from Arizona is Tanea Hibler, Joining us from Missouri is Ryan Lacson, and joining us from Texas is Lee Ferguson. Opening Question: What...
11.16.2020
LOTS107 - What Your Grading Philosophy?
Our Panel this week is Aaron Mathieu from Massachussets, Joining us from Arizona is Tanea Hibler, Joining us from Missouri is Ryan Lacson, and joining us from Texas is Lee Ferguson. Opening Question: Does pineapple belong on pizza? We also discuss:...
10.30.2020
LOTS106 - NABT Preview 2020
In this episode, I chatted with NABT Executive Director Jaclyn Reeves-Pepin and several teachers who will be presenting at the 2020 NABT Virtual Conference. My conversations are with Jon Darkow from Seneca East High School in Attica, Ohio, Paul...
10.19.2020
LOTS105 - Labs In A Pandemic?
Life Of The School Episode 105: How do you run a lab during a pandemic? Our Panel this week is Aaron Mathieu from Massachussets, Joining us from Arizona is Tanea Hibler, Joining us from Missouri is Ryan Lacson, and joining us...
10.05.2020
LOTS 104 - Elements Of A Good Lab
- Our panel this week is Aaron Mathieu from Massachussets, Joining us from Arizona is Tanea Hibler, Joining us from Missouri is Ryan Lacson, and joining us from Texas is Lee Ferguson. - Our silly questions of the episode is: who...
09.21.2020
LOTS 103 - Why Are We Staying?
This is the second episode of the podcast as a panel of discussion with Aaron Mathieu, Lee Ferguson, Tanea Hibler, and Ryan Lacson. Show Notes: - We discussed how the office is going to change as a result of the pandemic. - Ryan...
09.07.2020
LOTS 102 - Should I Stay Or Should I Go? Part 1
Show notes: - This is the first episode of the show's new format! The podcast is now a panel of discussion with Aaron Mathieu, Lee Ferguson, Tanea Hibler, and Ryan Lacson. - Lee has recently posted a video of her classroom. - We...
08.17.2020
LOTS 101 - Aaron Mathieu
This episode is guest hosted by Tanea Hibler from Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix Arizona. Tanea Interviewed Aaron Mathieu, the typical host of the podcast. Aaron teaches Honors Biology and AP Biology at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School in Acton, Massachusetts. In...
08.03.2020
LOTS 100 - Dr Bryan Dewsbury
Bryan Dewsbury is an associate professor of biological sciences at the University of Rhode Island. In addition to teaching Principles of Biology 101, Bryan is the Princple Investigator for the Science Education And Society (SEAS) Research Program. The SEAS Program...
07.20.2020
LOTS99 - LisaSequeira
Lisa Sequeira is the Science Department Chair and Middle School Science Instructional Coach at Tahanto Regional Middle/High School in Boylston, MA. She has also served as a district mentor for a number of new teachers and hosted student teachers in...
07.06.2020
LOTS98 - Anu Deshpande
Anu is a Science Teacher at St. Mary’s Academy in Portland, OR where she teaches biology and chemistry. Before moving to Oregon, Anu taught at Westborough High School in Westborough MA, teaching both biology and chemistry. At Westborough, Anu was...
06.22.2020
LOTS 97- Mark Eberhard
Mark Eberhard teaches Biology and AP Biology at St. Clair High School in St. Clair, MI. Next year will be Mark’s 35th year in the classroom, and for the past 25 years Mark has been the St. Clair High Theatre...
06.08.2020
LOTS96 - JohnMaddux
John Maddux teaches biology, ecology, and anatomy & physiology at Festus High School in Festus, MO. John began teaching science at Festus High School during the 2017-2018 school year, where he is working with his department to adapt instruction to...

What's Life of the School Podcast: The Podcast for Biology Teachers about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Life of the School Podcast: The Podcast for Biology Teachers episodes:

LOTS145 - Goodbye For Now

LOTS144 - End Of The School Year!

LOTS143 - Student Behavior

LOTS142 - Phemonena

LOTS141 - Forms Of Assessment

LOTS140 - Discussing Late Work, Retakes, And Revisions

LOTS139 - Discussing Zeros And Group Work

LOTS138 - Should I Go Back To Get Another Degree?

LOTS137 - What Does PD Look Like Now?

LOTS136 - What Is Your Dream Interdisciplinary Class?

LOTS135 - Who Are Those Adults In Your Classroom?

LOTS134 - How Do You Redesign Curriculum?

LOTS133 - Goodbye 2021!

LOTS132 - Have Grades Changed?

LOTS131 - HowDoYouCollaborate?

LOTS130 - WhoDecidesYourCurriculum

LOTS129 - Revisiting Episode One With Brian Dempsey

LOTS128 - AmyKelly

LOTS127 - UDL

LOTS126 - IEPs, 504s, & Accommodations

LOTS125 - End Of Summer

LOTS124 - AfterTheMask

LOTS123 - UnGrading w/Johanna Brown

LOTS122 - KatieRyan Revisited

LOTS121 - Things Are Changing

LOTS120 - Celebrating Five Years

LOTS119 - COVID Keepers?

LOTS118 - Teacher Training

LOTS117 - Student Engagement

LOTS116 - Professional Development

LOTS115 - My Classes Are Pointless

LOTS114 - Course Recommendations & Tracking

LOTS 113 - Communication with Student & Families

LOTS112 - EOCs During A Pandemic?

LOTS111 - Thoughts About EOC Exam?

LOTS110 - Our 2021 Resolution - Equity

LOTS109 - Goodbye 2020!

LOTS108 - What Will Be The Legacy Of The Pandemic On Grading?

LOTS107 - What Your Grading Philosophy?

LOTS106 - NABT Preview 2020

LOTS105 - Labs In A Pandemic?

LOTS 104 - Elements Of A Good Lab

LOTS 103 - Why Are We Staying?

LOTS 102 - Should I Stay Or Should I Go? Part 1

LOTS 101 - Aaron Mathieu

LOTS 100 - Dr Bryan Dewsbury

LOTS99 - LisaSequeira

LOTS98 - Anu Deshpande

LOTS 97- Mark Eberhard

LOTS96 - JohnMaddux