When something matters to us and we care deeply about it, we put our all into it. This is certainly true for teaching and working in schools. Despite increased demands, daily stresses, and limited resources, educators continue to pour all of their energy and talent into the profession for the sake of their students and communities. This work matters, and it is also hard. Tune in to this week's episode as the team discusses the current state of education as well as ways to mitigate the challenges faced by those working in the field. While the struggles are real, there are strategies and approaches that can both relieve some of the daily stresses and help us feel more connected in our work with students. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

 Nobody knows exactly what education will look like in the future. However, we can continue to grow and improve based on our past experiences. Two school years of pandemic learning have forced schools to do things differently and try new things, and teachers have grown in many ways. In this podcast episode, we talk about what these past two years mean for education and ask several thought-provoking questions: Has anything about education fundamentally changed because of these past two years? Do we have a new definition of normal in our schools? Now that most classrooms are able to be back face-to-face, how do we continue to move forward and leverage what we've learned, rather than simply turning back the clock two years and returning to what was comfortable? Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

The short answer to the question posed in our episode title: Yes. We are all shaped by our experiences, and during the past two years, our students have experienced unique—and oftentimes unprecedented—educational experiences. This has impacted who they have become as people and students. In this podcast episode, we are once again joined by Cherie Spencer, Social and Emotional Learning Coordinator from Galveston, Texas. Together, we discuss how the past two years of pandemic learning have impacted and shaped our students and what that means for education. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Many teachers have recently returned from a winter break that provided a much-appreciated reprieve from the daily stresses of teaching. As we begin the second half of the school year, it's important to reassess and think about how we can set a course for a successful remainder of the year. In this podcast episode, Cherie Spencer—Social and Emotional Learning Coordinator from Galveston, Texas—returns to join us in the conversation and offer her insights and suggestions. Our conversation revolves around topics that include building a trusted team and support system, reconsidering how we verbalize our daily greetings, and looking at how we can establish a realistic self-care plan. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Every student needs a community of support to learn and thrive. In this podcast episode, we are joined by special guest, Cherie Spencer, a Social and Emotional Learning Coordinator from Galveston, Texas. Cherie and the Tech Talk For Teachers team explore how we might engage students as they come back from the holidays so that we appropriately acknowledge the diversity of their experiences. Join us as we share "look-for" considerations to determine if your students may have experienced trauma during the holidays, as well as strategies for developing the empathetic listening skills of all students in your classroom. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

 Happy 2022! In this episode, we reflect on the past year and discuss our resolutions, as we look at our teaching practice and our relationships with students, their families, and our colleagues in the coming year. We reached out on social media for your input. Join us as we share your goals, reflections, and wishes for the new year. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Happy Holidays from Tech Talk For Teachers and AVID Open Access! Join us for the last episode in our Host Choice series for the holidays, where Paul Beckermann shares his favorite holiday dad jokes and celebrates the contributions of one of our special guests from this year, Cherie Spencer, Social and Emotional Learning Coordinator in Galveston, Texas. Join us for fun and reflection, where laughter, song, and warm camaraderie take center stage. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Happy Holidays from Tech Talk For Teachers and AVID Open Access! We have a special series of short episodes to commemorate this past year, as we take a little break to celebrate the holidays. This week, Rena Clark reflects on the past year and shares some of her favorite insights learned from a special guest who joined us earlier this year, Cherie Spencer, Social and Emotional Learning Coordinator in Galveston, Texas. Our holiday message to teachers: Be kind to yourself. Give yourself the grace that you extend to others. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

Happy Holidays from Tech Talk For Teachers and AVID Open Access! We wish you a joyous and fulfilling holiday season. We hope you are able to take some time away from school and work to rest, recharge, and engage in some well-deserved self-care. We have a special series of short episodes to cap off this past year, as we take a little break to celebrate the holidays. This week, we hear from Dr. Winston Benjamin about how we can help students celebrate the holidays while recognizing various cultural communities that exist in your classroom. Join us for fun and reflection, where laughter, song, and warm camaraderie take center stage. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.

To celebrate Computer Science Education Week, we have invited Erica Roberts, a Master Teacher of computer science at Northside College Preparatory High School in Chicago, Illinois. Erica joins the team to share how she inspires students to learn computer science (CS). Together, we discuss how we might advocate for equity and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners in the field. CSEdWeek takes place from December 6–12. Visit AVID Open Access to learn more.