Teaching Today

Stress and anxiety is on the rise — and schools often can’t or don’t know how to address stress and promote the health and wellness of teachers and students, for many reasons. In this episode, we welcome our guest, Pamela Gunther, who shares her inspiring journey of starting a company that creates engaging, active learning environments to support the overall wellbeing of teachers and students. We discuss ways districts can foster a sense of community and shared responsibility in making health and wellness a top priority for all, and we explore the ways movement is essential to learning — for teachers, administrators, and students alike.

In today's rapidly evolving world, the skills required for success are constantly shifting. The 21st century demands a new set of durable skills — critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, grit, and curiosity. Today, we welcome Dr. Padhu Seshaiyer, Professor and Director at George Mason University, to discuss the challenges of teaching in the 21st century and the ways he is responding to this challenge in his work with educators.

Most educators, if not all, would answer the question, “Should education be equitable?” with an immediate, “Of course!” Most educators also face barriers to creating a truly equitable space for all students. What steps can educators — from custodians to school secretaries to librarians to teachers to administrators — take to determine their individual and collective values? How can they work together to implement those values with fidelity? Today, we welcome Dr. Delores Lindsey, from the Center for Culturally Proficient Educational Practice, to discuss concrete solutions that foster equity in education.

Teachers possess the remarkable ability to ignite curiosity, nurture potential, and empower students to take steps toward their goals. With unwavering patience and a deep understanding of each student's unique strengths and struggles, they tailor their approach to ensure every student has a way to stretch and grow in their classroom. Teachers’ influence goes beyond academics, as they serve as role models, mentors, and guides, helping students navigate the challenges of personal growth and self-discovery. Their tireless efforts, often unacknowledged, leave an indelible mark on the lives of their students, inspiring them to become the best versions of themselves and contribute positively to society.

This week, our guests are teachers who share why they were inspired to teach and what they've learned on their own teaching journeys.

Arriving in an entirely new place after fleeing dangerous or unstable circumstances in their home countries, newcomers and asylum-seeking students are navigating a complex set of obstacles. From dealing with past trauma to acculturation struggles, gaps in formal education, taking on family responsibilities, and simply meeting basic needs like food and shelter, the demands can seem overwhelming.

Our guest, Gicel Adon, has made it her mission to create an environment where these incredible young people can thrive. As Principal of the International School for Liberal Arts, she is committed to collaborating with her team to equip students with the tools and support system they need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. In this episode, Principal Adon shares practical guidance based on her experience serving this vibrant student population.

Math teachers are pulled in several directions as they plan and implement their lessons — how do they divide their precious, limited teaching time between teaching discrete and necessary skills, empowering students to use math in the real world today and in their future, and preparing students for “the test?"

In this episode, we’re talking with Bob Janes, Supervisor of Secondary Mathematics at East Hartford Public Schools, about what math literacy looks like and how he coaches teachers to infuse literacy in their classrooms. He also recommends tools and practices for teachers to find their balance in this challenging and exciting world of math literacy.

Questions come naturally to young children: Why is the sky blue? Where do butterflies go in winter? As they grow older, students need invitations to cultivate curiosity and teachers who are able to teach the skill of questioning.

The Question Formulation Technique builds this lifelong learning skill, teaching students how to ask their own questions. In this episode, we’re joined by Dan Rothstein, Luz Santana, and Sarah Westbrook from The Right Question Institute to discuss how the QFT works and what we can do to cultivate curiosity through questioning.

Educators have an important job: getting students — the next group of leaders — ready for the future. Our guests this week — Lisa Dughi, CEO of NAF, a national education non-profit that works to prepare students for a life of upward mobility and success; and Collette Smith, Founder of Believe N You, which works with schools in underserved communities to encourage students and inspire positive change — bring their personal and professional experience as changemakers to the pod to discuss how we can best support tomorrow's leaders.

Engagement is a lever for achievement — when students are highly engaged, they are more likely to learn and persevere through challenges. How can educators effectively measure and assess student engagement in the classroom?

We're joined by Nona Ullman and Melissa Payette of LessonLoop — an organization that guides better instruction and transforms learner engagement — to talk about the innovative practice of using student feedback to measure engagement and increase joyful learning.

Station teaching can transform traditional classrooms into dynamic learning environments — the key is to familiarize yourself with the promising practices and potential pitfalls of this approach. In this episode, we're talking with co-teaching specialists Dr. Laura Rigolosi and Jacqui Stolzer about how educators can make station teaching work in their classrooms.