WHY: With Haya & Yousra

In this episode, Haya and Yousra discuss the system of education and why the discourse surrounding it is often similar regardless of where the schooling is.

The hosts are joined in this episode by Shiraz Lafhaj, an educator who taught in different countries and schools. The discussion explains the similarities and differences in these places; it is centered around explaining why these transnational similarities occur. The question to ask is: “what is the underlying reason behind the student experience being similar everywhere?” 

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In this episode, the voice of discussion changes; it shifts from being a conversation between only educators to one that includes a parent. With the input of Um Khalifa, a conversation of broad learning is set. The hosts and Um Khalifa make a point that home is the first and most influential teacher. A child’s family plays the biggest role in shaping their educational journey as education starts at home; the teacher and the guardian are to be held accountable for the learning process of the child.

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This episode revolves around the topic of STEM and its relationship to Arts. In this episode, the hosts discuss the connection between the two with the help of Ahmad Almansoor, an engineer turned teacher. The conversation explains what stereotypes encompass STEM and Arts, and why it is important to dismantle that.

The episode tackles the idea that STEM and Arts cannot stand alone and that they integrate more than we often perceive; it’s important to allow children to explore both as they do not exist separately in the real world. 

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In this episode, Haya and Yousra start the season by discussing emotions and their significance in teaching. Through the discussion, the hosts explain the necessity of allowing one-self to feel vulnerability and every other emotion regardless of any negative connotation it may hold; this is an important part of leadership.

Hend Al-Muftah, a middle-school English teacher, joins the discussion and explains the difficulty of balancing between vulnerability and discipline. Children are led by example, and that is why it is important to showcase the full range of emotions when teaching them how to express themselves.

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This episode is the last in season 1 of WHY: With Haya & Yousra. It concludes everything discussed in the season while taking a different approach. This episode doesn’t include generalities, but specifics; the hosts discuss their own experiences, and what emotions overtook their years of teaching. It is a collection of stories and recollections that describe Ms. Haya and Ms. Yousra. 

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As the discussion of educational traumas continues, the hosts discuss the results of them; for example, rebellion, perfectionism, self-doubt, and very real psychological issues like anxiety or even depression. The wounds created by teachers stay decades within students - even if they don’t fully realize it.
This episode also acts as a comforting voice to the listener that they weren’t alone. It is the closure many students never, and will never, have.

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In this episode, Haya and Yousra discuss systemic and continuous practices that create educational trauma. They discuss the anxiety, stresses and pressures put on students and their impact. Some examples are underestimation, humiliation, and the abused authority.
Because the topic is divided into two, this episode only holds a few of the traumas that the hosts faced and were triggered by in their teaching experience. They also discuss what actions they took to break the cycle in hopes to protect their students.

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In this episode, Haya and Yousra bring the listener’s attention to the different types of students within the classroom, and why their differences matter. 
The episode concludes with the idea that students can’t be coerced into changing, and they shouldn’t be; however, discipline can always be achieved. The hosts make the point that students, just like adults, deserve their differences to be respected. If they aren’t, they rarely forget it.

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This episode revolves around the topic of creativity and how limited it actually is within the context of the classroom. In this episode, the hosts discuss the direct link between teachers’ creativity and their students’. The hosts also question what happens to the students’ creative and critical thinking between grades 5 and 8.
The discussion also addresses everyone’s responsibilities in facilitating safe environments for kids to express themselves creatively. 

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An introductory episode to the podcast; it introduces Haya and Yousra, why they became teachers, and why anyone should be interested in teaching. It also acts as a teaser to the upcoming episodes.
This episode goes deeper than teaching strategies or whiteboards and markers; it rather focuses on the teacher-student relationship and how it affects learning. 

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