We Teach Inspired!!

CJ Reynolds teaches 9th grade English at Latin Boys High School in West Philly... INSERT THE FRESH PRINCE THEME HERE and has an incredible YouTube channel with which he puts out videos on teaching. During our conversation we talked about the value of both authenticity and vulnerability and how we models them for his boys. CJ also discussed how to "find the you" among your students meaning that if we are struggling to connect with our students we should seek out kids who were like us at that age because we can easily relate. And among other things made the point in conclusion that our job as teachers is to make sure kids feel seen and heard and challenges us to strive at that goal. It was a powerful conversation and you're going to want to follow CJ wherever you can! @realrapwithreynolds https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRGA_FqyigEPmh5U37Yn7fA

We've been talking a lot recently as Wilkie has been back in the classroom about how kids truly just want to be seen. So we're releasing this podcast from earlier this year because we want to continue the conversation on how we can validate kids more authentically!

On this episode of the podcast we're joined by our friend and Bay Area teacher Tyler Richards! Originally we'd planned to talk about his routines and reading strategies, but it turned into a conversation about education and the teachers role in it. We talked about the difference between having discipline and structure and being an authoritarian. We talked about how teaching is a profession is among the most difficult and rewarding in the country. We talked about how reluctant we are as teachers to talk to people other than teachers about the joys of the job because we assume they won't understand. All of that is to say that this job isn't for the faint of heart and we must find a way to make our profession look more inviting!

We hope you enjoy this episode of the podcast and if you want to connect with Tyler you can find him on Instagram @sculptinginsixth!!

We throw this Thursday's episode back to our interview with one of our favorite people Monica Genta! Not only did we get to have her on the podcast this year, but we also got to see her present and we danced the night away with her at Teach Your Heart Out! On this episode she talks her teaching experience and books 180 Days of Awesome and Game Changers!

Check her out online and enjoy this episode!

https://monicagenta.com/

Instagram: @monicagentaed

On this episode we're joined by the Teaching Texan himself Bryce Sizemore! We're so grateful to Bryce for taking time on a busy Saturday to have a conversation for our podcast about the way he sets his kids up for success with Project Based Learning, the importance of providing students opportunities to learn with their hands, and how he prioritizes social and emotional learning.

If you'd like to learn more about Bryce or connect with him you can find him online at theteachingtexan.com or on Instagram @theteachingtexan!

On this episode of the podcast we were joined by Sally Shah and Sarah McCarthy of Practically Positive Teaching! To sum it up we really want to be their friends!!

We had the chance to talk with them about how their partnership was formed and they share a story very similar to ours in that they worked together and grew a friendship and collaboration from. We also got to hear why they believe teachers can be practically positive rather than perfectly positive.

We hope that in this interview you'll find value in their strategies and stories to create a more positive environment for schools!

Find them on Instagram @practicallypositiveteaching or their website https://practicallypositiveteaching.com/!!

Juan Gonzalez Jr. is a teacher and proud of it. We're proud to be able to call him a colleague and a friend. During this conversation with Kyle and Wil he talks about why our stories matter. Juan (IG: @teaching3rdwithmrg) has a love for reading that is infectious and passion for showing others the power that reading has to open up our world. "Reading is an insight into the world before they live it," according to Juan as he explains how we can shift students mindset to understand that books tell the same stories as TV and the internet. Juan strives to shine a positive light on education and urges teachers to let students know the why of everything that they do in order to establish the relevance of learning. And his most power piece of advice, "we don't know the impact we have on students." He stressed that we can show students that reading isn't a chore and that as teachers we are never alone in our struggles. And as an added bonus he discusses the Teach Your Heart Out Cruise in June of 2019!! So to get details on that and learn to love Juan as much as we do listen up!!

On this episode Kyle has a conversation with Chris Ocampo who is a special education teacher in Massachusetts, food fanatic, and fellow lover of the bow tie! Originally there were a dozen questions laid out for this episode, but the conversation flowed so naturally that we didn't need them.

Here are some of the things Chris talked about:

- Growing up the son of Filipino Immigrants and the expectations that come with it.

- How the diversity of his school and town are unlike most other places.

- How food is a platform to learn about others allows us to more easily share our cultures.

- How we are not limited to what society gives us and who we can be right in our experiences without someone else having to be wrong.

- And how the diversity of our experiences helps us to understand different perspectives.

- His book!!

WE PROMISE TO HAVE CHRIS BACK ON TO TALK ABOUT HIS TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND WAYS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS! But until then go follow Chris on Instagram @feasting_and_teaching!

Thanks for checking out this episode of the podcast and leave a review if you're so inclined!

On this episode of the podcast we're joined by Chelsey Odgers who is a an artist, clipboard creator, anchor chart expert, and technology teacher! You may know Chelsey better as @hipsterartteacher on Instagram and by the amazing clipboards she decorates!

We had a great conversation on how she uses her background in graphic design and art to teach her students in tecnology, STEAM, and Makers Space. When we asked Chelsey what the struggles are for art teachers she discussed how it can be challenging to help students overcome their self doubt. What struck us is the way she described how many students have been told they are not good at art and it makes them more reluctant to try and how it could be the story of any student in any class. She then talked about how she wants students to feel capable and valued as individuals and the ways in which she strives to do that in all her classes.

Finish it off with some talk on anchor charts, Teach Your Heart Out, and how she uses Makers Spaces and this is an episode you won't want to miss!

On this Throw Back Thursday we have our episode with Megan Forbes! If you follow Megan (IG: @toocoolformiddleschool) that she is an advocate for so many groups and causes. Whether it is equity in the classroom or fair trade businesses Megan shares her passions and speaks beautifully from her experiences. On this episode we talked about the value of teaching history and breaking the thought pattern that this job ever gets easier. It doesn't-- we just get better!!

We hope you enjoy this throw back episode of the podcast and if you don't follow Megan check out her blog and social media!!