Transparency in Teaching (stuff)

We've been here before, twice! This is our third episode on this topic. It seems some things don't change. Districts are still struggling to hire and retain educators. This job we do and love comes with a price many aren't willing to pay to stay.

We dive deep into the ongoing teacher exodus and explore the multifaceted reasons behind it. Joined by new host, Jimese, a seasoned educator from a continuation high school, the discussion covers:

Tune in to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges teachers face today. Of course, you'll hear our suggestions about retaining good, qualified educators.

Visit our website, TransparencyinTeaching.com, for a list of resources used in this episode.

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Hey there, amazing listeners!

I'm thrilled to share the latest episode of our Transparency in Teaching podcast. In this episode, my fabulous co-host, Jen, and I dive into some hot topics making waves in the education world.

We start by discussing Oklahoma's recent mandate requiring the Bible to be given more credit for helping our forefathers create the foundations of this country. We explore its implications and the controversy surrounding it.

Next, we delve into the Louisiana mandate requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in every classroom and discuss its potential impact on students and the school environment.

Finally, we tackle the issue of cell phone bans in schools. We share our thoughts on their effectiveness and the challenges schools face in implementing them.

If you're curious to hear our take on these important issues, be sure to tune in to this latest episode of Transparency in Teaching. You can also listen to the full episode on our website and find the links to all the resources used to create this episode.

Thank you for your continued support and for being part of our podcast community. We appreciate each and every one of you!

In this episode of Transparency in Teaching, Anne and Jen discuss three intriguing news stories that could impact schools across the country. The topics include Tennessee's rethinking of its third-grade retention policy, Ohio school districts buying mobile homes to teach teachers how to shoot guns, and Iowa's potential law requiring the daily singing of the national anthem. Tune in to stay informed about these developments in education.

Like what you heard? Please rate and review our podcast so others can find us and tell a friend to give us a listen. We count on all of you faithful to help us keep sharing the truth about what is happening in our schools.

Find the resources used to produce this episode at TransparencyinTeaching.com!

Leave us a comment about today's show. Let us know what you think.

YAY! It's state testing time at schools all over the country. We love the inconvenient schedule changes and the disruption of the end-of-year rush to get through our curriculum, said no teacher ever.

In this episode, Jen explains the new way state testing is being implemented and how they are trying to increase student engagement. She also empathizes with the trepidation the PE teachers are feeling about having to teach the new sex education curriculum.

Thanks for listening.

Welcome back to another episode of TransparencyInTeaching.com. Today, we're diving into the controversial state takeover of the Houston Independent School District (HISD), which has been making headlines. With me, your host, Miss Anne, and my co-host Jen, we're unpacking the drastic changes implemented in HISD and discussing their potential impact.

HISD, the largest school district in Texas and the eighth largest in the country, has been underperforming for years. The state's intervention was triggered by the chronic low achievement across multiple schools, particularly Wheatley High School. The school, serving a majority of economically disadvantaged students, became the face of the district's struggles.

The state's response was to fire all teachers and principals, requiring them to reapply for their jobs. This move has sparked fear and uncertainty among educators and parents alike. The state also introduced merit pay, aiming to reward high-performing teachers but raising concerns about fostering unhealthy competition and inequity among subjects.

Another significant change is the scripted curriculum, which strips teachers of the autonomy to tailor lessons to their students' needs. This one-size-fits-all approach has been met with skepticism, as it may not address the individual challenges faced by students.

The state is also enforcing strict discipline policies, including converting school libraries into detention centers. This decision has been criticized for potentially depriving students of valuable resources and creating an inequitable environment.

Throughout the episode, we question the effectiveness of these changes and whether they address the root causes of the district's issues. We also invite listeners, especially those from Houston, to share their insights and experiences with the takeover.

As we wrap up, we reflect on the possibility of such drastic measures being implemented in other districts. The HISD takeover serves as a case study for education reform, and its outcomes will likely influence future policies across the nation.

Remember to check out our website, TransparencyinTeaching.com for more in-depth analysis and resources related to this episode. Join us again as we continue to explore the complexities of teaching and the education system.

In today's episode, we dove deep into teacher collaboration, discussing the why and how to do it. We explored why teacher collaboration is crucial for both teacher and student performance, and shared personal anecdotes to illustrate our points.

Collaboration is not just about meeting once a week; it's about creating a culture where teachers feel supported and are encouraged to share ideas and strategies. It's about building a community within the school that ultimately benefits the students. We encourage all educators to step out of their classrooms, engage with their peers, and embrace the power of collaboration.

Remember to share your own collaboration models and experiences with us, as we're all here to learn from each other. Let's not be stingy with our ideas; let's collaborate and make education better for everyone involved.

Until next time, keep the conversation going and never stop collaborating!

Be sure to visit ⁠TransparencyinTeaching.com⁠ to find all the other interesting and in-depth articles on the teaching topics you want to know about. You'll also find all the resources used to create this episode.

In today's episode, we dove deep into teacher collaboration, discussing the why and how to do it. We explored why teacher collaboration is crucial for both teacher and student performance, and shared personal anecdotes to illustrate our points.

Collaboration is not just about meeting once a week; it's about creating a culture where teachers feel supported and are encouraged to share ideas and strategies. It's about building a community within the school that ultimately benefits the students. We encourage all educators to step out of their classrooms, engage with their peers, and embrace the power of collaboration.

Remember to share your own collaboration models and experiences with us, as we're all here to learn from each other. Let's not be stingy with our ideas; let's collaborate and make education better for everyone involved.

Until next time, keep the conversation going and never stop collaborating!

Be sure to visit TransparencyinTeaching.com to find all the other interesting and in-depth articles on the teaching topics you want to know about. You'll also find all the resources used to create this episode.

Jen and I, Anne, sat down for a Zoom interview with Christopher Nesi, the head of the Education Podcast Network. The EPN plays host to a terrific collection of education-related podcasts, which you should definitely check out.

Our interview was the first in a series called "Behind the Mic: Voices of the EPN." Christopher is interviewing the podcast hosts and creators of each of the shows you can find on the network. The episodes give listeners a great overview of what each podcast has to offer and can help you find new shows on topics that you can relate to.

I have to admit it was a bit disconcerting being on the other side of an interview. I hope you can't tell how nervous I was during this interview. Jen, of course, is her normal, jovial self. Thank goodness!

I hope you'll give it a listen and then jump over to the EPN to listen to all the other informative and entertaining shows.

Here are some of my favs (after ours, of course) to get you started:

Fresh Air at Five: Welcome to FreshAirAtFive, the Podcast. I’m your host, Bryon Carpenter. FreshAirAtFive is my regular attempt to exercise by walking about my neighborhood, taking in Podcast content or an audiobook, and then reflecting on an unedited video, which I finally post to my Twitter channel.

EduMagic: The New Educator Podcast: Are you an aspiring teacher? The EduMagic Future Teacher Podcast is a podcast designed for preservice teachers who are using EduMagic to rock their college careers. With each episode, you will learn about what it means to be an educator of excellence. Guests include current teachers, educational experts, and administrators who share their tips and stories to help YOU.

Teaching While Queer: Teaching While Queer is a space for 2SLGBTQIA+ educational professionals to share their stories working in academia. We dive into our experiences as students and how this informed our work in academia as adults.

Reimagine Schools: Hosted by Dr. Greg Goins, the Reimagine Schools Podcast features many of the nation's top educators, authors, and innovators in K-12 education with an emphasis on leadership development, scaling innovation, and transforming our public school system. Guests have included some of the world's most prolific thought leaders on education.

In this episode, Anne and Jen shed light on the issue of teacher burnout and its prevalence in the education system. We discuss teachers' experiences facing challenges such as an intense curriculum without sufficient resources, mold-infested classrooms, and unaddressed disciplinary issues. We explain how teachers are not burned out simply because of their workload but rather because they are set up to fail by systemic issues. We cover the definitions of burnout, highlighting symptoms like exhaustion, cynicism, reduced efficacy, its cause, and some ideas on how to combat burnout. We also share personal experiences of feeling depleted and unmotivated, and what we found worked for us.

Stop by our website, TransparencyinTeaching.com, and read my in-depth opinion on this topic, and to find all the resources we used to create this episode. You can also find more information about all things education by reading our informative blog entries.

We appreciate you stopping by to listen to this critical topic. We'd love to hear your experiences and suggestions. Leave us a comment here and consider joining our new FaceBook group. Your words may be just what a struggling teacher needs to hear!