Teach Me, Teacher

Hello everyone! Educators are some of the hardest working people on this earth. Few people outside of education understand what it truly takes to move kids, support families, and build schools to be powerful tools for all who enter them.

At times the demands of this job can take their toll, however, and when they do, consequences can be dire.

To discuss what it takes to build powerful educational environments and the cost that can be present with such work is the brilliant Dr. Nadia Lopez.

Dr. Nadia Lopez is an award-winning global educational thought leader, who became a viral sensation after the popular blog Humans of New York featured her as one of the most influential people of this life. Disrupting the school to prison pipeline, Dr. Lopez founded Mott Hall Bridges Academy, a STEAM-focused middle school in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, in 2010, and served as the principal for ten years. She was named Linkedin's 2019 Top 10 Voices in Education and received the Black Girls Rock award–alongside Michelle Obama in 2015.

In 2020, Dr. Lopez ended her tenure as Mott Hall Bridges Academy's principal as an act of self-preservation after developing a stress-related illness that threatened her life. The experience inspired her to develop a coaching program for women of color in educational leadership designed to build their capacity, with a focus on sustainability.

In this episode we discuss:

• Building a school and a culture in a struggling area of New York
• Focusing a school on the right things
• Stress and the affects it has on the health of educators
• Reimagining the work week

...and so much more!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, The First Five: A Love Letter to TeachersBy Patrick Harris II.

We all have stories. We all have experiences to share. A memoir with a call-to-action, The First Five affirms the humanity of all teachers. Patrick inspires you to dream big about what you want for yourself, our students, our schools, and our educational system.

In The First Five, Patrick brings to light the realities of teaching, especially in the first five years. He immerses you in his world with personal stories that lead to lessons, questions, and exercises to help you reflect on your own journey. Each chapter includes interviews with a diverse group of educators.

Creating change in our education system is a process. It will happen from the ground up and the inside out. If we want to make a long-lasting impact we need to know more than just what to do; we need to start sharing our stories, not just our strategies. The work we do together throughout this book and beyond will leave you feeling hopeful, empowered, and challenged. No matter where you start, know that this work is ongoing. Give yourself grace. We are in this together, for the long haul. Here's to the next five years.

Hello everyone! The job of being an educator can be difficult. For a profession that has so many highs, like seeing the growth of young people, it can also have many lows. In such times, it can be hard to be alone or feel like you are. Having educators in your corner, whether that's digitally on social media or in your building, can be career saving.

Last week, we talked about the value of finding your tribe with Rae Hughart, a Middle Level Math Educator in Illinois, and creator of the Teach Further Model.

This week, we are discussing moving forward in education and the need to stop putting bandages on everything, but rather, implement real change in our schools.

All of that and MORE on this episode.

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, The First Five: A Love Letter to TeachersBy Patrick Harris II.

We all have stories. We all have experiences to share. A memoir with a call-to-action, The First Five affirms the humanity of all teachers. Patrick inspires you to dream big about what you want for yourself, our students, our schools, and our educational system.

In The First Five, Patrick brings to light the realities of teaching, especially in the first five years. He immerses you in his world with personal stories that lead to lessons, questions, and exercises to help you reflect on your own journey. Each chapter includes interviews with a diverse group of educators.

Creating change in our education system is a process. It will happen from the ground up and the inside out. If we want to make a long-lasting impact we need to know more than just what to do; we need to start sharing our stories, not just our strategies. The work we do together throughout this book and beyond will leave you feeling hopeful, empowered, and challenged. No matter where you start, know that this work is ongoing. Give yourself grace. We are in this together, for the long haul. Here's to the next five years.

Hello everyone! The job of being an educator can be difficult. For a profession that has so many highs, like seeing the growth of young people, it can also have many lows. In such times, it can be hard to be alone or feel like you are. Having educators in your corner, whether that's digitally on social media or in your building, can be career saving.

To talk about this and how to build up your tribe, I have brought on Rae Hughart! Rae is a Middle Level Math Educator in Illinois, creator of the Teach Further Model, Instructional Assistant Professor at Illinois State University, and the Director of Training & Development for the Teach Better Team.

In this episode we discuss:

• The value of talking with people you disagree with
• The power of community
• Finding your people
• The creativity present in all educators

...and so much more!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Tuned-In Teaching: Centering Youth Culture for an Active and Just Classroom.

Ever feel like your classroom culture is stuck? Or that you're a little out-of-tune with your students?

If so, Tuned-In Teaching is for you.

This book is the road map for creating a classroom that is transformative for your students and revitalizing for you. You'll read about six practical ways to connect with your students and build a more active and engaging learning environment.

By tuning in to the lives and culture of your students, you'll connect with them more meaningfully and teach them more effectively.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/TunedIn.

Hello everyone! Teachers and administrators live busy lives. We make hundreds of decisions every single day and dedicate the majority of our time serving and supporting others. This often leads us making little time for ourselves, especially with health and fitness.

I am guilty of this just like many of you probably are. My health often sits on the back burner while I work to do my job to the best of my ability. And just like you, I know this is unsustainable and wrong minded.

To hopefully help you and myself focus on steps we can take to insure we get to serve students and families long into the future, I have brought on Big Ron Jones to give us practical, real world advice on health and fitness. Ron Jones is a health and wellness trainer who reaches tens of thousands of people with his videos and advice.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What health is and how to define it
• Setting realistic goals
• Common myths in fitness
• The basics of calories
• Fad diets and predatory gyms

...and much more!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Tuned-In Teaching: Centering Youth Culture for an Active and Just Classroom.

Ever feel like your classroom culture is stuck? Or that you're a little out-of-tune with your students?

If so, Tuned-In Teaching is for you.

This book is the road map for creating a classroom that is transformative for your students and revitalizing for you. You'll read about six practical ways to connect with your students and build a more active and engaging learning environment.

By tuning in to the lives and culture of your students, you'll connect with them more meaningfully and teach them more effectively.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/TunedIn.

Hello everyone! Teach Me, Teacher has been very fortunate to feature so many amazing educators—especially in the literacy space. Our Top 10 Literacy Podcasts list gets tens of thousands of hits every month and spans educators all over the United States and grade levels. It's truly an honor to bring so many great talks to educators for free.

Today, we get to continue adding to this list of amazing people and giants in the world of literacy who've been on the show with part two of our talk with Linda Rief. Linda is the author of Whispering in the Wind: A Guide to Deeper Reading and Writing Through Poetry, The Quickwrite Handbook, and Read Write Teach, to name a few. In 2021 she was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from NCTE and in 2020 received the Kent Williamson Exemplary Leader Award from the Conference on English Leadership, in recognition of outstanding leadership in the English Language Arts.

Today we are discussing her latest book, Whispering in the Wind, engaging kids with poetry, improving schools, engaging kids through choice, creating Heartbooks, and so much more

On a connected note: check out Linda on the G2Great chat on Twitter this week!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Tuned-In Teaching: Centering Youth Culture for an Active and Just Classroom.

Ever feel like your classroom culture is stuck? Or that you're a little out-of-tune with your students?

If so, Tuned-In Teaching is for you.

This book is the road map for creating a classroom that is transformative for your students and revitalizing for you. You'll read about six practical ways to connect with your students and build a more active and engaging learning environment.

By tuning in to the lives and culture of your students, you'll connect with them more meaningfully and teach them more effectively.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/TunedIn.

Hello everyone! Teach Me, Teacher has been very fortunate to feature so many amazing educators—especially in the literacy space. Our Top 10 Literacy Podcasts list gets tens of thousands of hits every month and spans educators all over the United States and grade levels. It's truly an honor to bring so many great talks to educators for free.

Today, we get to add to this list of amazing people and giants in the world of literacy who've been on the show with the wonderful Linda Rief. Linda is the author of Whispering in the Wind: A Guide to Deeper Reading and Writing Through Poetry, The Quickwrite Handbook, and Read Write Teach, to name a few. In 2021 she was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from NCTE and in 2020 received the Kent Williamson Exemplary Leader Award from the Conference on English Leadership, in recognition of outstanding leadership in the English Language Arts.

Today we are discussing her latest book, Whispering in the Wind, and how to guide and support students to deeper reading and writing through poetry.

We discuss choice, the power of the written word, and the importance of writing journals in this part of our talk.

Enjoy, and make sure to subscribe so you don't miss part 2 next week!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, Tuned-In Teaching: Centering Youth Culture for an Active and Just Classroom.

Ever feel like your classroom culture is stuck? Or that you're a little out-of-tune with your students?

If so, Tuned-In Teaching is for you.

This book is the road map for creating a classroom that is transformative for your students and revitalizing for you. You'll read about six practical ways to connect with your students and build a more active and engaging learning environment.

By tuning in to the lives and culture of your students, you'll connect with them more meaningfully and teach them more effectively.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/TunedIn.

Hello everyone! Many dedicated professionals ignore their mental health. They put it off, hide their struggles, and often suffer in silence. Todd Nesloney not only understands this, but has lived through it and came out on the other side.

In this episode, we touch on:

1. His new book, In This Season
2. The importance of mental health
3. The value of community

...and much more!

Todd Nesloney is the Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership for the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA). We previously spoke to Nesloney about the power of community and literacy, and we are happy for his return for this discussion.

Enjoy!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, Whispering in the Wind: A Guide to Deeper Reading and Writing Through Poetry, by Linda Rief.

Do your students cringe when you teach a poetry unit? Do you? Whispering in the Wind is Linda Rief's latest book and it's a cure for poetry agony.

This book shows you how to launch a simple, self-directed student poetry project that will help your students read more poetry, respond to it authentically, and maybe even discover that they actually enjoy it.

Focusing on poetry really can make your students stronger readers and stronger writers.

And you'll finally have a plan for teaching poetry that you'll love too.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/Whispering.

Hello everyone! As we head into another school year, many educators and administrators are asking themselves if we are on the right track. School boards, parents, and students are increasingly asking this as well. We all deeply believe in the power of a quality education, and yet many of us are concerned about the future in this regard.

To discuss this, and much more, is friend of the show Todd Nesloney. Nesloney is the Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership for the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA). We previously spoke to Nesloney about the power of community and literacy, and we are happy for his return for this discussion.

In this episode we touch on:

1. Changes to Nesloney's world
2. Mental health
3. The challenges facing teachers and admin
4. The hope for the future of education and educators

Enjoy!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, Whispering in the Wind: A Guide to Deeper Reading and Writing Through Poetry, by Linda Rief.

Do your students cringe when you teach a poetry unit? Do you? Whispering in the Wind is Linda Rief's latest book and it's a cure for poetry agony.

This book shows you how to launch a simple, self-directed student poetry project that will help your students read more poetry, respond to it authentically, and maybe even discover that they actually enjoy it.

Focusing on poetry really can make your students stronger readers and stronger writers.

And you'll finally have a plan for teaching poetry that you'll love too.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/Whispering.

Hello everyone! Patrick Harris II, an educator and the author of The First Five: A Love Letter to Teachers, came on to the show last week to discuss the importance of teacher autonomy. This week, we are diving into the importance of the first five years of teaching and finding a school that fill your cup.

Patrick's journey to his dream school is a wild one, but if anything, it should inspire you if you are hoping your career takes a turn for the better!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, Whispering in the Wind: A Guide to Deeper Reading and Writing Through Poetry, by Linda Rief.

Do your students cringe when you teach a poetry unit? Do you? Whispering in the Wind is Linda Rief's latest book and it's a cure for poetry agony.

This book shows you how to launch a simple, self-directed student poetry project that will help your students read more poetry, respond to it authentically, and maybe even discover that they actually enjoy it.

Focusing on poetry really can make your students stronger readers and stronger writers.

And you'll finally have a plan for teaching poetry that you'll love too.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/Whispering.

Hello everyone! Many teachers work within districts and schools that value and understand the importance of teacher autonomy, yet this is not the case everywhere. With the pressure of accountability and an ever increasing eye on education in the political sphere, some districts and schools are opting for LESS teacher autonomy—often limiting teachers to just being program pushers or curriculum guide readers.

To discuss this and more, I have brought on Patrick Harris II, an educator and the author of The First Five: A Love Letter to Teachers.

In this discussion we talk about:

1. The world of middle school teachers
2. The importance of story-telling
3. Knowing our why
4. How teachers and students need room to be themselves to get the most out of education

...and so much more!

This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, Whispering in the Wind: A Guide to Deeper Reading and Writing Through Poetry, by Linda Rief.

Do your students cringe when you teach a poetry unit? Do you? Whispering in the Wind is Linda Rief's latest book and it's a cure for poetry agony.

This book shows you how to launch a simple, self-directed student poetry project that will help your students read more poetry, respond to it authentically, and maybe even discover that they actually enjoy it.

Focusing on poetry really can make your students stronger readers and stronger writers.

And you'll finally have a plan for teaching poetry that you'll love too.

Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/Whispering.