PodcastPD

In this episode, we explore the concept of self-care and why it is essential for educators. We discuss personal definitions of self-care and share practical tips for incorporating self-care practices into busy schedules. We also examine how practicing self-care affects work as a teacher, benefits students, and can combat the notion that self-care is selfish.

Our guest, Mark Torrie, provides insights on how educators can set boundaries to protect their time and energy, both at work and outside of it, and how schools and districts can prioritize and support educator self-care. We discuss the emotional demands of the profession and share strategies for cultivating emotional resilience and practicing self-compassion.

We delve into the role of mindfulness in promoting self-care for educators and explore best practices for creating policies and programs that prioritize educator well-being. Additionally, we share available resources and support for educator self-care, including national and local organizations and successful self-care programs and initiatives.

We conclude by discussing the long-term benefits of practicing self-care for educators, their students, and the broader community. We highlight the costs of neglecting self-care and the importance of shifting the conversation around self-care from individual well-being to broader societal benefits.

Resources:

• Dr. Jaime Seeman - https://www.doctorfitandfabulous.com/
• Dr. Mindy Pelz - https://drmindypelz.com/ 
• Dr. Mark Hyman - https://drhyman.com/ 
• Dr. Peter Attia - https://peterattiamd.com/
• Dr. Georgia Ede - https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/

Chris - A Bit of Optimism - Episode 76 Down A Rabbit Hole with Seth Godin

AJ - Success Hotline With Dr. Rob Gilbert - For nearly 30 years, Dr. Robert Gilbert, a professor of sports psychology at Montclair State University, a public speaker, motivational coach, sports coach and author, has recorded daily three-minute motivational messages that have reached countless listeners around the world. You can still call the Success Hotline at (973) 743-4690, but now, you can subscribe this new podcast, and get his daily messages right to your device.

Today, we are excited to have Dr. Melissa Groff with us as our guest. Melissa is a highly experienced educator with a passion for creating proactive school cultures through the implementation of restorative practices, leadership coaching and mentorship, and job-embedded coaching. Additionally, Melissa's efforts showcase her strong commitment to mental health support for both students and staff, emphasizing the crucial role of a safe and supportive environment in schools.

With nearly two decades of experience in the field, she has honed her skills in conducting comprehensive needs assessments, crafting effective strategic plans, and delivering the necessary support to facilitate the development of a proactive culture within the school community. With a strong commitment to education and a passion for supporting school communities, Melissa now serves as the Director of Operations and a Lead Consultant for High Five, formerly The Restorative Group and Behavior Flip.

We are thrilled to have her with us today to share her insights on overcoming challenges in education and creating positive, proactive school cultures.

Discussion Topics:

• Identifying the Challenges
• Strategies for Overcoming Challenges
• Looking to the Future

Chris - Throughline - The Whiteness Myth - This episode of Throughline explores the case of Bhagat Singh Thind, an Indian American man who argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1923 that he was a white man and therefore eligible for naturalized citizenship. Thind's claim was based on the Indo-European language theory, which proposes that nearly half of the world's population speaks a language originating in one place and inspired a racist ideology that defined whiteness. The podcast delves into the myths surrounding this idea and discusses the politics and potential of the mother tongue.

AJ - Everybody Pulls the Tarp - Betsy Julien: The 5th & 6th Grade Teacher - This week Andrew talks with elementary school teacher Betsy Julien. Betsy’s 5th & 6th-grade class has raised over $500,000 to build a wheelchair-accessible playground at their school. Betsy seamlessly integrated the fundraising project into her lesson plans and her 25 students rallied together to support their friends who use wheelchairs. This conversation is filled with timeless lessons about leadership, teamwork, and what’s possible when people come together above all else to help others. It’s also a powerful reminder that sometimes the best place to look for a solution to a big challenge is our youngest generation. This conversation is raw, emotional, and incredibly inspiring.

Melissa - The Flywheel Effect - Districts & the Connection Between Behavior, Social Media, & SEL - In this episode, we are joined by Dedeeh Newbern who is the Chief Student Support Officer for Fayette County Public Schools in Lexington, Kentucky. She’s here to explore the essential role of district behavior support, social media, and SEL in creating positive learning environments.

• During 2023 we will be releasing one episode per month and we will be live streaming our episode recordings on the last Sunday night of the month.
• Join our new PodcastPD Discord Community! We want to connect and chat with you in between our episodes.

In this episode, we share valuable tips for new educators entering the field. We offer practical advice, based on their own experiences, for navigating the challenges of being a new teacher, and provide inspiration for those just starting out in their teaching journey. Whether you are a seasoned educator or just starting out, this episode offers valuable insights and resources for success in the classroom.

Tips for New Teachers

1. Plan Ahead - Effective teaching requires careful planning and preparation. To ensure that you are ready for your lessons, take the time to plan ahead and create detailed lesson plans that outline your objectives, activities, and assessments.
2. Be Organized - Being organized is essential for managing your classroom and your time effectively. Create a system for organizing your materials, assignments, and grades, and stick to it to help you stay on track and avoid getting overwhelmed.
3. Establish Classroom Expectations - To create a positive and productive learning environment, it is important to establish clear rules and expectations for student behavior. Communicate these expectations to your students and consistently enforce them to ensure that your classroom is a safe and respectful place for learning.
4. Differentiate Instruction - Not all students learn in the same way or at the same pace. To ensure that all of your students are successful, it is important to differentiate your instruction to meet the individual needs of your students. This may involve using a variety of teaching strategies, adjusting the difficulty of your lessons, or providing additional support to students who need it.
5. Ask for Help - Teaching can be challenging, and it is normal to need help and support from time to time. Don't be afraid to ask for help from your colleagues, mentors, or school administrators when you need it. They can provide valuable advice and guidance to help you improve your teaching and support your student's success.

Chris - Everything Everywhere - A Podcast for Intellectually Curious People! Learn something new every single day. Everything Everywhere Daily tells the stories of interesting people, places, and things from around the world and throughout history. Topics covered include, but are not limited to, history, science, geography, and culture.

We changing things up with PodcastPD as the show enters 2023.

We are shifting to a monthly release schedule. The show will still be recorded live via a live stream that will take place on the last Sunday of each month. Mark your calendars!

Our next episode will be #124 and we will be talking about advice and tips for new educators. This will be recorded live at 8:30 PM Eastern and we would love for you to join us: https://podcastpd.com/live

We would also like to invite you to become a member of our all-new Discord community.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PodcastPD has changed over the course of 2022 and we believe we're at a crossroads.

Please give us your thoughts on PodcastPD.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're over COVID and schools and education are 'normal.' But what is this new normal? Chris and AJ discuss.

Discussion Points:

• What is the new normal?
• What is AJ experiencing as an administrator?
• What is Chris doing to blend pre-pandemic and post-pandemic teaching strategies?

Chris

• Pod Meets World - Boy Meets World Rewatch

AJ

• Compete Everyday
• Increase Your Impact with Justin Su'a
• Mental Performance Daily

Educators across the world are working to design individualized instruction that empowers every student to become experts at learning. Technology and instructional interventions designed to support students with disabilities often eventually become mainstream and used by the masses. These practices provide a pathway for designing inclusive, equitable, and accessible educational experiences that meet the needs of every individual learner.

Chris and AJ speak with authors Christopher Bugaj, Karen Janowski, Mike Marotta, and Beth Poss about their new book, Inclusive Learning 365: Edtech Strategies for Every Day of the Year.

Discussion Points:

• Inclusive vs Assistive
• The shift in the mindset that occurs by exploring a different practical, inclusive strategy each day and infusing these strategies into everyday practice.
• Explanation of how to use the strategy to design inclusive educational experiences.

Resources:

• https://inclusive365.com/
• #InclusiveRoadToISTE

Living and teaching in a post-pandemic (almost) world has presented some obstacles and new approaches to education.

Returning to school full-time in September of 2021 was undoubtedly welcome for many educators and now that we've gone through the school year it is time to reflect on the year.

Chris and AJ discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of the last year.

Non-educators typically look at summer vacation as a free time where teachers aren't working and just sitting around. While part of any educator's Summer is undoubtedly used for rest and relaxation time is also used to learn and grow and plan for the next school year.

In the episode, Chris and AJ discuss Summer professional development, some opportunities that are available, and some of their plans for their upcoming break.

Discussion Points:

• Do good in your piece of the world.
• Is it acceptable to do nothing during Summer?
• Summer Conferences - Live/Virtual (TeachMeets, EdCamps)
• Twitter Chats, Podcasts...Books

• Chris - Freshen up World History Course, Reflection
• AJ - PBIS, Building Culture, and Climate

Chris

• Code Switch School Colors

AJ

• Everybody Pulls The Tarp

Teacher Appreciation Week is always a welcome time of year for teachers across the country and this year is no different. Classroom teachers have worked in challenging conditions for more than two years and a little appreciation goes a long way.

Our conversation in this episode revolves around what we will be experiencing this week. AJ shares the perspective of the average administrator and Chris shares what's happening at his high school to celebrate teachers.

Chris

• Good Morning Podcasters!

AJ

• 60 Songs That Explain the 90s
• First Gen Teacher Lens
• No Quit Living - Episode 348
• Teaching Champions

Live Chat Suggestions

• Jay Strumwasser - Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey & David Spade, Smartless with Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, & Sean Hayes, Life is Short with Justin Long