Will This Be On The Test? Teacher Pod

After first grade teacher Abby Zwerner was shot by a six year old student in her classroom several weeks ago, the question that kept coming up was "How?" How did a six year old get access to a gun? How did no one know he had it at school? Why wasn't something done?

And then we heard-it was known. It was reported to administration. And nothing was done.

Teachers started talking, telling their own stories of violence in their schools. Of worsening student behavior, particularly since the pandemic began. And of administration sending kids back to the classrooms of teachers they had, only yesterday, punched in the face. 

This episode contains your stories, your fears, and your overriding question-"How?"

Don't forget to check out Miss V's substack, "Over Drinks!" It's fabulous!! https://overdrinks.substack.com/

Thanks to Max Siskind, of the "Max and Maks in the Morning" podcast, for voicing our intro.

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We think that everyone would agree-student behavior is awful. And it's not just apathy, it's not just attitude-it's beyond that. We can point to the pandemic, and the impact that online learning and isolation had on kids and families, but in the end, we're still dealing with kids walking out of classrooms while cursing out teachers, and worse. 

One thing that can help is actually devoting personnel to solving behavior issues. Enter Public Enemy #1, who in fact actually is not the enemy! She is a behavior interventionist, who works with kids and teachers to resolve behavior issues in both the short and longer term. She tells us about her role, and the more she spoke, the more we realized how vital it is to have someone who is not part of admin, but can work with kids and teachers to address behavior issues!

We also talk about our special skills (Yo Miss has a weird one), and discuss what a load of bullshit The Secret is (in our opinions).

Thanks to Max Siskind, of the "Max and Maks in the Morning" podcast, for voicing our intro.

Email: [email protected]

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Website: https://anchor.fm/wtbott-teacher-pod

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We don't know about you, but when we see those massive school buses filled with loud kids go driving down the street, we think to ourselves, "Holy Crap! I can't drive my Nissan Rogue when my two kids are fighting, how the hell do those school bus drivers do it?"

Listen as we chat with Miss J., a school bus driver who has dealt with it all-sick kids, unruly parents, absent admin-and yet, still refers to her passengers as "friends," and listens to countless descriptions of Pokemon without batting an eye (or hitting another car).

Oh and yeah-she saved someone's life recently too. For real!

We also discuss New Year's Eve, and what super powers we'd like to have-we all have given this way too much thought!

Thanks to Max Siskind, of the "Max and Maks in the Morning" podcast, for voicing our intro.

Email: [email protected]

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Reddit:  r/WTBOTT_Teacher_Pod

Website: https://anchor.fm/wtbott-teacher-pod

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCO9hAtR0tB33lO5od4GSUbg

Have you ever, during your teaching career, gotten a response or comment from a parent of one of your students that is so crazy, so unbelievable that you are stunned into silence? How about a request that you think is some sort of joke, and it turns out to be an actual request?

If so, then this episode is for you! And if not, this episode is for you too (just to hear what goes on with your teacher friends)! We gathered stories from Reddit, as well as from friends, and even a few of our own, to put a sampling of parent ridiculousness out into the world that makes it even clearer: the parents are a lot harder to deal with than the kids.

We also discuss school holiday parties (has anyone else been asked to do a St. Patrick's Day party??), and what dog breeds we would be. Spoiler alert: everyone picked pretty dogs. Of course!

Thanks to Max Siskind, of the "Max and Maks in the Morning" podcast, for voicing our intro.

Email: [email protected]

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Website: https://anchor.fm/wtbott-teacher-pod

We all have daydreamed about what we'd do if we won the Powerball. But do we have to wait for that 1 in 1 billion chance to leave teaching? According to Zachary Long, the originator (along with his wife, Brittany) of the Facebook group "Life After Teaching: Educator Options Beyond the Classroom" the answer is a resounding NO! This group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/495865574323107), as well as the accompanying website (https://lifeafterteaching.com/), has so many resources and so much advice and conversation for either leaving the profession, or starting up a side gig to supplement your income. So if you've had enough of kids ignoring you, admin asking you to do ridiculous tasks, and parents blaming you for pretty much everything, take a listen to this episode, and check out the Life After Teaching: Educator Options Beyond the Classroom Facebook group!

We also dive into crappy jobs and job interviews, great moments in sports, and how being sick without having to act like you care about your classroom (aka writing sub plans) is definitely still not great, but slightly less awful.

Thanks to Max Siskind, of the "Max and Maks in the Morning" podcast, for voicing our intro.

Email: [email protected]

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There's a playbook. It's probably called something like "How To Kill Public Education, and Get The Government To Pay For Your Kids' Private School." And there is a lot of conservative money behind this playbook, and the movement it inspires that wants to do away with kids learning about racism, LGBTQ people and stories, and basically anything they don't support. In this episode, we are joined by founders of the "Support Forest Hills Public Schools," a group which started after recognition of the playbook coming to their town. Listen as we hear about how a group of moms took on the opposition in their school board elections, including holding a forum for all of the candidates!

We also spend some time denying the heinous rumor that women in New Jersey call their husbands "daddy." No, that is not a thing. Never has been a thing! Except, perhaps, with weirdos, and New Jersey does have a few of those. But in general-"daddy" is reserved for our dads. Period.

Thanks to Max Siskind, of the "Max and Maks in the Morning" podcast, for voicing our intro.

Email: [email protected]

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Website: https://anchor.fm/wtbott-teacher-pod

Do you ever shake your head and think, "How is it that book banning is a thing now, in the United States?" We do too. Because it's appalling. We spoke to Carolyn Foote, a founding member of the 13,000 follower strong #Freadom, which was started by a group of librarians, with a hashtag takeover of #txlege! This organization is dedicated to fighting censorship, by publicizing how very dangerous it can be, and by providing resources for others to also walk the walk at board meetings, and other public forums. It also has as its mission familiarizing the public-including school administrators who haven't a clue, even if they should-with the role of librarians and school libraries, and how it is not just checking out books and telling kids to be quiet.

Check out #FreadomFighters at www.freadom.us!

In keeping with our literary theme, we also talked about our fave books from elementary school, and holiday decorating contests, revealing that our annoyance at some of the over the top things people do most likely stems from the lack of winning on our part. Sigh.

Thanks to Max Siskind, of the "Max and Maks in the Morning" podcast, for voicing our intro.

Email: [email protected]

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Reddit:  r/WTBOTT_Teacher_Pod

Website: https://anchor.fm/wtbott-teacher-pod

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Teachers do not make enough money. Period. But often teachers will stay in the job because they're unable to save enough money to amass the safety net of savings that would allow them to leave. Enter The Dream Teacher Project. Israel Tovar, a former teacher, and his sister Sunem, have made working with teachers to get their money right in order to gain financial peace, and have choices, their mission. While their focus is on teachers of color, whose situations and status in the profession make them particularly vulnerable, their advice and coaching is available, and valuable, to every damn teacher.

In addition to chatting with Sunem and Israel, and learning why reaching for that margarita instead of saving is not particularly kind to our future selves, we also discuss scary season, and how we're kinda a wimpy bunch. Okay, not kinda. Just wimpy.

Thanks to Max Siskind, of the "Max and Maks in the Morning" podcast, for voicing our intro.

Email: [email protected]

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Reddit:  r/WTBOTT_Teacher_Pod

Website: https://anchor.fm/wtbott-teacher-pod

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCO9hAtR0tB33lO5od4GSUbg

We've all heard about the folks who want to "save education," who put "family first," who want to "keep our children safe." Of course, these are the same people who are banning books, and claiming that teachers are pedophiles who are grooming their students (insert eyeroll here). Enter Mike Gottesman, of Wayne, NJ, who has formed the New Jersey Coalition for Protection of Public Education, a group that is taking on the factions in the state that are backed by the deep pockets of the Conservative movement. Give a listen to our interview with Mike, and learn about the model that he and his compatriots have developed to fight against the demise of public education! And, if you are interested in learning more, you can check out their Facebook page here:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/345537860890256

We also get cranky about "Days of Awesome" that aren't so awesome for kids who can't participate, and get motivated to start our letter writing campaign to get a mountain named after Scotty.

Thanks to Max Siskind, of the "Max and Maks in the Morning" podcast, for voicing our intro.

Email: [email protected]

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Instagram: WTBOTTCast

Twitter: Will This Be On The Test? (Teacher Pod)

Reddit:  r/WTBOTT_Teacher_Pod

Website: https://anchor.fm/wtbott-teacher-pod

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCO9hAtR0tB33lO5od4GSUbg

Come join us on this hilarious journey, as we discuss a district bringing in a Las Vegas magician to perform feats of...professional development? A retired teacher, who is a shining example of what in-class support should be for all of us, telling us about kids with challenging behaviors getting the Door Dash lunch treatment. Some regional terminology differences that have us wondering if Miss V has an odd idea of what the perfect donut tastes like. And then....then there's the little old British designer who has decided to use her talents to create sex rooms (yes, you read that right). All in one lil episode. 

If you're ever going to listen to one of our episodes, this is the one. You'll definitely laugh!

Email: [email protected]

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Instagram: WTBOTTCast

Twitter: Will This Be On The Test? (Teacher Pod)

Reddit:  r/WTBOTT_Teacher_Pod

Website: https://anchor.fm/wtbott-teacher-pod

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCO9hAtR0tB33lO5od4GSUbg