In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, we sit down with Tal Thompson, a National Board Certified teacher with over 20 years of experience, to dive deep into the essential principles of classroom engagement. Tal, a finalist for America’s Top Teacher on Live with Kelly and Michael and recipient of numerous teaching accolades—including the Golden Apple Award—shares his expertise on pushing the status quo in education.

From transforming middle school classrooms in Charlottesville, Virginia, to advocating for what truly works for students, Tal discusses strategies that ignite passion, creativity, and real connection in the classroom. We explore how educators can break away from outdated systems, focus on what’s truly effective, and, most importantly, meet the diverse needs of students.

Whether you're a teacher, a coach, or just passionate about the future of education, this episode is packed with practical insights and inspiring ideas to create a classroom where every student thrives.

Tune in for a conversation you won’t want to miss!

Hello everyone! I am back from my small break and ready to dive back into all things education. 

This episode provides some behind the scenes insights into where I was, my thinking of the podcast, and where the show could be headed in the next few months. 

Enjoy! 

Hey everyone! Just wanted to make this quick post. All will be well. Just lots of changes coming and I need some time. 

Thank you. 

-Jacob 

Doing an episode like this is tricky. I didn’t want it to be one sided. I didn’t want it to have a political agenda. Instead, I wanted it to be an episode for ALL educators, whether you’re public or private, or something in between.

To do that, I invited Kathy Edwards of The Novus Academy on the show to discuss everything from vouchers, to accountability in schools, the A-F system, a bloated educational system, private school vs public, and yes, Betsy DeVos and the role the Trump administration is choosing to play in the future of American education.

Kathy Edwards is the founder and Principal of The Novus Academy and has too many accomplishments to list here. After Richland visiting with her, I knew I had to get her on the show.

She did not disappoint.

Enjoy!

Doing an episode like this is tricky. I didn’t want it to be one sided. I didn’t want it to have a political agenda. Instead, I wanted it to be an episode for ALL educators, whether you’re public or private, or something in between.

To do that, I invited Kathy Edwards of The Novus Academy on the show to discuss everything from vouchers, to accountability in schools, the A-F system, a bloated educational system, private school vs public, and yes, Betsy DeVos and the role the Trump administration is choosing to play in the future of American education.

Kathy Edwards is the founder and Principal of The Novus Academy and has too many accomplishments to list here. After Richland visiting with her, I knew I had to get her on the show.

She did not disappoint.

Enjoy!

Join us in this powerful episode of Teach Me Teacher as we welcome Stephanie Edmonds, also known as TeachingLiberty on Instagram and YouTube. After losing her teaching position in New York due to Covid vaccine mandates, Stephanie transformed her experience into a platform for advocacy and education. She passionately discusses the importance of healthy dialogue and political activism in the teaching community, shedding light on the real-world consequences educators face amid political battles. Tune in to hear her inspiring story, insights on fostering constructive conversations, and how teachers can stand strong in the face of adversity. Agree, disagree, or land somewhere in the middle, this talk will ignite your thinking.

Join us in this powerful episode of Teach Me Teacher as we welcome Stephanie Edmonds, also known as TeachingLiberty on Instagram and YouTube. After losing her teaching position in New York due to Covid vaccine mandates, Stephanie transformed her experience into a platform for advocacy and education. She passionately discusses the importance of healthy dialogue and political activism in the teaching community, shedding light on the real-world consequences educators face amid political battles.

Tune in to hear her inspiring story, insights on fostering constructive conversations, and how teachers can stand strong in the face of adversity.

Agree, disagree, or land somewhere in the middle, this talk will ignite your thinking. 

Hello everyone! This episode was previously published on the Craft & Draft podcast—my second show all about literacy! If you enjoy this one, go subscribe and support the show so you can be in line for all the bonus content coming soon! 

Jacob and Pam begin the episode with a segment regarding the best way to communicate in order to have difficult conversations.  This leads into a conversation about how communication styles impact education.

Pam shares how teachers need to approach students with a countenance that says, ‘I’m glad you are here!”  She uses examples from her own life as well as from her experiences in the classroom to illustrate how to make this happen.  Jacob brings his insight and examples of how conversations and approaches to teaching impacts learning and classroom environment.

Join Jacob and Pam as they share the importance of framing conversations in a manner that is best for students!

In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Lauren Horn, author of This Is Not a Sketchbook: It’s a Class. Join us as Lauren dives into the transformative power of creativity in education and shares insights from her innovative approach to teaching.

Discover how she encourages students to express themselves beyond traditional methods, and learn practical tips to foster a more engaging classroom environment.

Whether you’re an educator or simply passionate about learning, this conversation will inspire you to rethink how creativity can shape our educational experiences. Tune in and get ready to be inspired!

Make sure to use code TeachMe at check out for 15% off your purchase of Lauren's book! 

In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Lauren Horn, author of This Is Not a Sketchbook: It’s a Class. Join us as Lauren dives into the transformative power of creativity in education and shares insights from her innovative approach to teaching.

Discover how she encourages students to express themselves beyond traditional methods, and learn practical tips to foster a more engaging classroom environment.

Whether you’re an educator or simply passionate about learning, this conversation will inspire you to rethink how creativity can shape our educational experiences. Tune in and get ready to be inspired!

Make sure to use code TeachMe at check out for 15% off your purchase of Lauren's book!