In this more personal episode, I take you behind the scenes of my journey as an educator and share some of the key moments that ultimately led me to resign from teaching. I reflect on my early experiences questioning traditional schooling, the mentors and research that reshaped my perspective, and the struggles of balancing my values with the realities of the system. I also share how becoming a mom solidified my commitment to place-based education.

I hope this episode can offer validation for those feeling the weight of the education system, share insights from my own path, and provide inspiration for those seeking a different way to engage in meaningful teaching and learning.

Key Topics:

• Early Frustrations with Traditional Schooling

• Graduate School & Mentorship

• Cognitive Dissonance in Teaching

• Motherhood & Place-Based Learning

• The Decision to Resign

• The Power of Place-Based Education

• Looking Forward

Resources & Links:

• Episode 3: Teachers: Creative by accident or by intention?

• Elmore’s Final Podcast Appearance

• The Future is Learning, But What About Schooling? by Richard Elmore

• The Elmore Chapter That Made Me Scream Out Loud (It’s lengthy but worth it if you are critical of the current model of education) 

Stay Connected:

• You can find me on Instagram at @yellowstepslearning 

In this episode, I’m answering the question I get asked the most when I run into teachers in real life: So what have you been up to? Join me as I reflect on my 2024 experiences working in Calgary schools with teachers and students to explore their local surroundings.

I’ll give you a quick look at what this past year has been like for Yellow Steps—including five school residencies, two professional development workshops, and fieldwork with nearly 1,500 students at over 30 unique locations. Then, I’ll share my three top fieldwork experiences with you:

🌳 Bowmont Park (NW Calgary) – A stunning natural area where students explored curriculum connections in geology, human impact, and community wellness. 🏗 The Red Construction Crane (SW Calgary) – A student-driven investigation into a towering landmark that became a symbol of curiosity and creativity for a Kindergarten class. 🚂 Train Yard in Ogden (SE Calgary) – A spontaneous partnership opportunity that turned a simple walk into a hands-on history lesson about Calgary’s railway past.

These stories highlight the magic of place-based education—how it connects students to their communities, makes learning relevant, and creates experiences that endure over time. Whether you're a local teacher in Calgary or listening from afar, I hope these stories inspire you to think about how the places around your school can become part of your teaching.

Let's Connect: 🌍 Learn more about my work and upcoming residencies: yellowsteps.ca 📸 Follow my place-based adventures on Instagram: @yellowstepslearning

Let’s get out and get curious in 2025!

Have you ever seen other teachers on social media doing cool off-site trips with their students and wondered, Could I do that too? In this episode, we’re looking at place-based education—what it is, what it requires, and whether it could be a good fit for you.

You’ll hear real-life examples of teachers using their local surroundings to spark meaningful learning, plus the benefits and challenges of this approach. If you’re looking for a way to engage students, break free from classroom monotony, and make your teaching feel more relevant, this episode is for you!

 

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✔️ What place-based education is and how it connects to other teaching methods

✔️ Why this approach can lead to deeper student engagement and more fulfilling teaching

✔️ The challenges to consider before getting started

✔️ Reflection questions to help you decide if PBE is right for you

 

Let’s Connect! 

 @yellowstepslearning

💬 Have questions or thoughts on today’s episode? Send me a message on Instagram or tag me in your PBE-inspired classroom moments!

Feeling overwhelmed by (all) the demands of teaching? Maybe you've though about simply quiet quitting—doing the bare minimum—as a way to protect your well-being...

In this episode, we'll take a look at the quiet-quitting mentality in education and what the approach could mean for teaching and learning. Instead of detaching or just “getting through the day,” Jenn offers an alternative approach that allows you to protect your energy while keeping your work meaningful and fulfilling.

Key Points from the Episode: 

• The three common ways teachers try to quiet quit—and why they might leave you feeling uninspired
• Why predictable, ready-made lessons can make your job easier but may not fill your cup
• How place-based education provides a way to do impactful, engaging work without overworking yourself
• Teaching isn’t just about covering curriculum—it’s about experiencing life with your students

 

📌 Find me on Instagram: @yellowstepslearning

📌 Have thoughts on this episode? Reply to this email or send me a message!

What is the most valuable gift you could give your students this year?

When you want your students to be happy and excited at school, it’s easy to get distracted with the shiny things. In this case, hyped up lessons, matchy-matchy classroom design, special pencils or bookmarks?!

The truth is, you can offer an exceptional educational experience without any of those things, as long as you remember to give this one gift to your students.

In this episode, I'll share what it is and why sometimes it’s harder to give than it should be.

• Follow me on Instagram @yellowstepslearning

What are some aspects of traditional schooling that might contribute to teacher exhaustion? 

You may be heading into the 2023 break feeling like your cup is bone dry. And on top of that, you might have convinced yourself that it's your own fault! You're not alone. While there are many general aspects of school life that are time-consuming and tedious, there are multiple ways that traditional schooling specfically might be holding you back from meeting your own needs at work- leading to exhaustion and maybe even burnout. 

In this episode, I'll share three sneaky ways that traditional schooling creates an energy-sucking environment, and how you might start to counteract them.

-Follow me on Instagram @yellowstepslearning

I can’t get this idea out of my head that we are missing the mark with the way we are doing school... 

So let's take a closer look at what's not working, and also leave ourselves some room to dream up something greater. 

I used to think that all teaching was made equal, as long as kids were happy. I know now that it is more important than ever for truly excellent teaching to become increasingly visible. How might we activate the voices of our students to that end? 

 

Show Notes:

• Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin (Pizza and sushi)

 

• PBL Works from the Buck Institute for Education

Subscribe to my newsletter , Fuera del aula

Connect with me on Instagram @yellowstepslearning

Choosing a career is a big commitment. You sort of want to know what you’re getting yourself into before you begin. But, is it possible that on the journey to become teachers, each person somehow develops their own idea about what teaching actually IS?

 

Show Notes: 

• Free Range Humans - Learning Isn't Linear - A Conversation with Members of the Big Picture Learning Network

  https://free-range-humans.simplecast.com/episodes/31-bp-schools 

• Creative Pep Talk Podcast 

  https://www.creativepeptalk.com/

  IG: https://www.instagram.com/andyjpizza/

 

Subscribe to my newsletter , Fuera del aula

Connect with me on Instagram @yellowstepslearning

Determining what is and isn't included in a new curriculum is bound to be controversial. But does including a topic in the curriculum necessarily mean that it is worthwhile to learn? Jenn discusses a powerful tool for contextualizing learning. 

 

Show Notes: 

• The Power of Place 
• Motive Art Academy @motiveartacademy

Subscribe to my newsletter , Fuera del aula

Connect with me on Instagram @yellowstepslearning