Transparency in Teaching (stuff)

(My sound engineering still sucks, as you'll hear in the beginning. I need a tutor! Any volunteers? See how transparent I am!)

 In today's episode, we start with some news about the current bill in the State which is geared toward protecting school districts from Covid related lawsuits, also the reversal of the student visa deportation issue.  Special guest Heather, a middle school teacher from Orange County shares how she brought restorative practices to her school and why they work.

We are a bit concerned about what August might entail as pediatricians and the president push to reopen schools, but at whose expense? We start the episode with a discussion of what the California state budget holds for education, plus a little history of how education is funded in our state. Then we get into the debate that surrounds what school might look like in the midst of the current rise in Covid cases.  There are so many factors to consider that it seems impossible to be truly prepared. Plus the fact that we will only have 3 weeks to create our lesson plans based on what our district decides to do.  So pull up a chair, plug in your headphones and get in on the conversation.  Be sure to check out our website at www.TransparencyinTeaching.com.  Leave your opinion on how schools should reopen. You can also use this link, to leave a voice message. Let us here the calm in your voice (or the rage of disbelief!)

In Episode 007  you'll hear:

• Discussion about what we think this next school year will be like
• Two new education laws that were passed having to do with prohibiting cell phones in schools and incorporating suicide prevention classes for K-6 students
• What are different states' requirements or lack thereof for becoming a substitute teacher
• The advantages and disadvantages of subbing
• Suggestions on how to make subbing better

and Jen's sex education 🍆🍑and barforama 🤮 substitute teaching stories. Fun times!

For resources used in this episode and more stories about other teacher's substitute teaching experiences go to our website. www.TransparencyinTeaching.com. and subscribe!

On today’s episode Sharyn and Anne Zoom with co-workers Jimese and Diedre, who bring their perspectives as black educators to the conversation about what we all need to be thinking about and doing differently in our classrooms to ensure equity for our students. As the dialog about race and racism in our country once again comes to the forefront, we felt it was important to have an honest discussion about what teachers need to be aware of when dealing with the diversity within our own classes.

We talk about the importance of having those difficult but frank conversations about bias, out in the open, instead of behind closed doors, and about holding each other accountable when things are done or said. We also discussed the idea of standards to hold students to when dealing with language and culture and how to take advantage of those teachable moments as conduits towards change.

In light of the movement for massive change within our country that is now pushing forward, we delved into the topic of civic responsibility and to how to get the right people into our classrooms and into government office so that major change can more readily be accomplished.

Diedre and Jimese are a joy to talk with, and in this frank no nonsense conversation, Sharyn and I learned a lot. We hope you will find today’s dialog just as enlightening, and come away with some ideas on how to bring more equity to your classrooms and campuses.

Please share your own ideas and thoughts on this topic with us by leaving comments on our website, www.transparencyinteaching.com

Thanks to the listeners that have shared their relevant links:

VABB (Culturally Responsive)

Links to resources used in this episode:

My White Friend Asked Me on Facebook to Explain White Privilege; I Decided to be Honest

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Calls on Schools and Communities to Take Action to Address Institutional Racism and Educational Inequities

10 Examples that Prove White Privilege Exists in Every Aspect Imaginable 

Tony Thurmond Video

 Social Justice Books : Teaching for Change Project

        A list of young adult fiction.

Instagram accounts referenced.

@realrapwithreynolds

@callmeshivy

Instagram live:Teacher Talk Live (6/3/20)

Jen, Sharyn and I start the show by discussing the latest education news which in this case is what the proposed 10% budget cut might mean for schools (for me, it might mean retirement!) These could be the single biggest cuts to education in the history of California! Write your state representatives people and let them know we need to leave our schools out of this! I’ve included a letter  template you can use.I  feel a fight coming on.

Teaching is a tough profession. I’m thinking now that many parents have been attempting to keep their own offspring on track, they may have a more valid picture of what we do every day, but times 30!

Teaching from home has its own set of issues but today we focus on all the little and not so little things teachers deal with in the classroom, which those who haven’t spent much time in a classroom may not realize. Little things like, having time to go to the bathroom, or deciding to go to work sick because it’s easier than calling for a sub. Or perhaps it’s that duty free lunch we’re guaranteed, that sometimes isn’t so duty free (can you say, rainy day?)

This all started with a conversation about that lovely adage, “Those that can’t do, teach.” (stick a knife in my heart, ouch!) We hope this episode helps to show what we do, do and change that little phrase to something more like, “ Those that can’t teach, do something less important.” Ok, there are other jobs that are very important, but ummmm, I think they needed a teacher to get them to that job, right?

Don’t forget to comment and like us in Apple iTunes or your other listening platforms.  It helps more people find our show and listen to our calming dulcet vocal tones. If, after hearing today’s conversation, you have something to add to our list of things teachers do but no one thinks about, add it to the comments on our website. We’d also love it if you added your suggestions of topics you think are important for people to know about teaching.Thanks for listening!  

Please do write your legislators and ask them to consider cutting funds from other places besides education.  

Click on the link below to be taken to the Education Votes webpage. There you can fill out a form to have a letter sent to your federal congressperson asking for them to take action on the Federal Education Funding. 

https://educationvotes.nea.org/action/keep-students-learning-and-educators-working/

Here are links to the resources used in this week's episode:

SHOW NOTES: 

Hey, Anne here. Thanks for hitting the “Listen Now” button. I know there are sooooo many other things you could be doing with all your free time now. Glad you chose to spend some of it with us. In this episode Jen, Sharyn and I discuss how we’re keeping sane at home. Then we get into the good, the bad, and the crazy of Emergency Remote Teaching. Finally, I interview two “Teacher Mommies” who are navigating how to manage homeschooling their own small children while trying to teach everyone else’s.

We recorded this from our own homes (you know, practicing responsible social distancing), using a combo of Zoom (who wishes they had stock in that company now?) and the Anchor App which lets us call in and use our cell phones as mics. The audio isn’t always perfect and I had to do a lot of editing when the Internet quit or slowed or whatever it does when a bizillion people are all on at the same time. So be gentle in your criticisms.

In any case, I hope you find this entertaining, and informative or  well, maybe you just need some background noise to fill the void your real friends would if you were out to lunch with them at the local restaurants that are all closed up. Whatever your motivation for listening is, we’ll take it!

Don’t forget to download and rate us on Apple ITunes or all the other listening platforms you are using. This helps other people find us (as well as potential sponsors, c’mom Sponsors!), and help me, build back my currently devastated retirement accounts so I can retire next year, and not live under a freeway.

Visit our Website http://transparencyinteaching.com/

In this episode we start with a little about the history, the how and the why, of grading. (Did you know that grades were originally A, B, C, D and E?? Where did F come in?).  Then we get into grading practices used today and how they affect our students. We debate methods like percentage based, standards based, and narrative grading and how they might be implemented in real classrooms (How logical is narrative grading when many of us have 150+ students??).

We talk about:

• the subjectivity of grading,
  
• implicit bias,
  
• the varied ways teachers choose to grade
  
• grading’s effect on student motivation
  
• the lack of any training in how to grade
  
• what we wish parents knew about grading.
  

Ultimately, we come to the conclusion that there is no conclusion about grading.

What’s your take on this topic? Leave us a comment and add to the discussion.

Leave Voice Comments here,  or visit our website at TransparencyinTeaching.com to find links to resources and other materials (read Anne's Rant on grading) for this episode.

Please rate us on Apple iTunes and elsewhere! It helps others to discover this podcast and learn about these important topics. (and, frankly, we just want to feel popular)

Link to the story sent to us from our listener, Maria:

Teachers are walking away from their careers in Alabama because of unruly students

References used in this episode:

• Do no zero policies help or hurt students?
• Effective grading policies
• Test failures 
• Are Letter Grades Failing Our Students?
• What Traditional Classroom Grading Gets Wrong
• Why it’s Crucial and Really Hard to Talk about More Equitable Grading
• Call to Action for Equitable Grading
• An A Is Not An A Is Not An A: A History Of Grading
• Grading Systems - SCHOOL, HIGHER EDUCATION - Students, Grades, Teachers, and Learning
• Teaching More by Grading Less (or Differently)

Anne, Jen and Sharyn discuss why they became teachers and why they think so many teachers leave the profession. They give their suggestions as to what needs to change and what new teachers should consider when applying for a job. 

Anne, Jen and Sharyn share a little about what to expect in their off the wall new podcast that takes you into the "teacher's lounge" and lets you listen in to real conversations from real in the trenches teachers as they discuss the real stuff that happens in today's classrooms. Their "no holds barred" talk and frank uncensored opinions will have you laughing. while getting you to think about what your friendly, neighborhood teacher is really dealing with in the classroom.