Has a student ever said something AWFUL to you and you took it personally?

Me too.

This is what we talk about in the latest episode of the podcast. 

It's easier said than done to not take it personal when students say hurtful things. But what if it's not actually personal? 

Let's talk about how to respond to a student when they are deliberately trying to get under your skin, and how we can approach our work despite not being loved by every student.

Because of all the disruption caused during the pandemic, many teachers have seen students struggle to socialize and interact with one-another. In this episode, we talk about concrete ways to get students talking, interacting, and socializing with each other again in the classroom.

There's a lot of noise about "what's happening in schools" right now. So let's talk about what's really happening in classrooms across the country.

No one likes being uncomfortable, yet brain science shows that the most growth happens outside of the comfort zone. When we are exposed to new scenarios, new challenges, and new adventures, our brains literally grow and we become more capable of solving problems and thriving in our work. 

It's neuroplasticity, and it is fascinating. 

In the latest episode of the podcast, we talk about how this applies to teaching and ways we can thrive outside of the comfort zone so we can help students do the same. 

Whatever you are doing this week, whether it is laying on a beach or backyard, walking down sidewalks or school hallways, I hope you have a little time to listen to this episode and feel inspired to step out of your comfort zone in some way. As I talk about in the podcast, doing so is guaranteed to bring you life and growth.

For a lot of educators, this year has delivered a beating, and the passion for teaching is waning. Here are strategies to reignite your passion for teaching after an abnormally challenging year.

Remember at the beginning of the school year when there was this great hope that school would finally get back to normal? "Covid is over, things have settled, we can finally have the great year we've been waiting for!"

Most educators would agree that didn't happen.

So is there any point in holding out hope for a better year next year? Let's talk about it.

Are desks in rows a bad thing? Are rows outdated and therefore should have no place in the modern classroom?

Good question. 

This is what explore as well as other aspects of classroom design to maximize learning and engage students.

There are many parts of teaching that can only be learned from experience, OR from those who are experienced.

Here's why it is so crucial new and young teachers learn best practices from veteran teachers.

Summer Break may be close, but it also feels a long way off. You may be running on empty right now as you search for inspiration and energy to make it through the rest of the school. So let's talk about some ways to find energy in your work as an educator and help students finish strong as well.

The bad news: As social media and cell phones become more prevalent, it seems strong discussion skills are become more scarce. The good news: People can learn how to discuss! Discussion skills can be re-strengthened and taught. This is why discussion should be one of the key pillars in the classroom. In this episode, we talk about ways to teach student how to discuss and share strategies to get them to speak up in class more.