Episodes

In Part I, Sybil Hall and I discussed what educators can do to take ownership of their own wellbeing. Here, in Part II, Aimee Parkinson Presnall. Founder and CEO of Well-Nest (Australia) and I discuss how individual responsibility for our own wellbeing as educators can and should be further supported by school systems/administrators. School leaders also have a responsibility to implement and sustain initiatives that prioritize the collective wellbeing of all within their school community. Aimee ...

There is a wealth of things we can do to reduce the stress and anxiety that we feel as educators. In this episode, wealth and wellbeing consultant, teacher, and author Sybil Hall (Burn Bright Not Out) takes us through some simple ways we can make our lives calmer as educators be that through scheduling our time, batching our teaching tasks, and/or taking brief time outs before and during the day to meditate/reflect. Sybil Hall LinkedIn Burn Bright Not Out Book Music - Aylex

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) means much more than just ensuring that students are reading books with a diverse character. Join Maria Garcia Underwood, founder of M Ideas Consulting, and I as we discuss what deep DEI looks like in terms of curriculum, assessment, and pedagogy within school communities vested in ensuring that all members are seen and heard. We also discuss allyship. M Ideas Consulting Maria Underwood LinkedIn Music: Aylex

Many teachers are teaching 21st Century students in buildings designed in the 19th and/or early 20th Centuries. Join my next guest, Prakash Nair, CEO of Education Design International, and I as we discuss in this episode what school communities are doing around the world to design buildings that are purposefully built to engage students through collaboration and inquiry based learning. Prakash Nair LinkedIn Education Design International Music: Aylex

Join me and my guest Nicola S. Morgan - Founder/CEO of NSM Training and Consultancy - as we discuss strategies for developing resiliency in the students we teach. Nicola also is one of a select few to successfully swim across the English channel and uses this experience to guide her resiliency work in schools. We also discuss how this experience has informed her work in schools. Nicola S. Morgan LinkedIn Unfinished Business TED Talk NSM Consultancy Music: Ayles

Many of us in education, particularly these days, feel like we are not capable of addressing all of the needs of our students and families. This is often the case for both teachers and administrators. Join me and my guest Jill Stoddard, author of the book "Imposter No More", in this latest episode, as we discuss strategies that educators can use to quell the anxiety and fear that often accompany imposter syndrome. Jill Stoddard Web Page Jill Stoddard LinkedIn Jill Stoddard TED Talk Imposte...

India is becoming an ever increasingly important player on the international stage. It is the largest democracy in the world and its population to set to shortly overtake that of China. Further, citizens of India have long been successful participants in the global economy - and in particular within the tech/innovation sectors. Join my guest Greshma Momaya, Principal of the Prarthana World School in Bangalore, and I as we discuss how India is adapting its primary and secondary education polic...

No one needs to be told that many teachers are leaving the profession these days for a variety of reasons. However, there are ways to make teaching more sustainable. Join my guest Paul Emerich France and I as we discuss how to grade less but still assess learning, how to lesson plan for impact rather than compliance, and on how to develop less toxic/more welcoming school communities that will embrace LGBTQ+ and other diverse educators. Paul Emerich France (LinkedIn) Make Teaching Sustainab...

As my next guest Maribeth Edmunds says, students with Autism will grow up to be adults with Autism. In this episode, we explore how to help our students with Autism grow and achieve academically and socio-emotionally so they can become fully integrated adults participating in our economy and community. The number of students being diagnosed with Autism is on the rise. Be prepared to educate these students. Maribeth Edmunds LinkedIn TED Talk Music: Aylex

It's that time of year again. College applications are due! Join me and my guest Kate Stone, CEO of University Gurus, as we discuss how high school/rising college students can be writing effective application essays. We also discuss what high school teachers can be doing to help students develop strong writing skills as well as how students can become better storytellers through the writing process. Kate Stone LinkedIn University Gurus Why Did I Say Yes to Speak Here? (Malcolm Gladwell) ...

We are in a new age of education where, finally, all communities (not just the rich) have the ability to create schools that mirror their values and hopes for their children. Join my guest David Greenberg - Vice President, Authorizer Learning & Development at NACSA - and I as we discuss the new school authorization process, nationally, as well as local resources available in various states. NACSA David Greenberg on LinkedIn Music: Aylex

The rigor of any lesson begins with the learning objective and what we are asking students to know and be able to do. However, far too often, we do not ask our students to engage in heavy cognitive lift. Join me and my guest, Alice Vigors, as we discuss how to get students to think about their thinking in visible ways/through the use of simple thinking protocols (see, think, and wonder). Alice Vigors LinkedIn The Thinking Classroom Teacher Takaway Podcast Music: Aylex

Are you preparing your students for your past or their future? If you are banning the use of technology in the classroom then it is your past that you are prioritizing. Listen in to Jeff Utecht and I as we discuss how to use technology in K12 classrooms responsibly. Jeff Utecht LinkedIn Jeff Utecht Homepage Shifting Schools Music: Aylex

Having guest speakers can really make learning come alive for students. However, to maximize the benefits that can come from these living community resources, guest speaker engagements need to be well planned. Join Samantha Shane, ELA teacher in Northern New Jersey, and I as we discuss ways to maximize the impact of guest speakers on this episode of the Have a Life Teaching podcast. Samantha Shane Edutopia Page Samantha Shane LinkedIn Samantha Shane X SpeakerHub Skype a Scientist Music:...

In the wake of the pandemic, we all know that students are struggling in understanding and regulating their emotions. Before learning can occur, however, students need to be able to understand and regulate their emotions; It falls to the adults mentoring students to build SEL into the curriculum. Join Bridget Durkan Laird, CEO at Kings for Kids, and I as we discuss ways to bring simple SEL strategies into academic and after school programming. Bridget Durkan Laird LinkedIn Wings for Kids M...

In this Have a Life Teaching podcast episode, we speak with rising admin star and current vice principal Alexandra Auriemma about what she feels are her leadership strengths and opportunities for growth. We are also joined by Frederick Buskey of Strategic Leadership Coaching and host of the Assistant Principal Podcast who guides Alex, in this episode, on how she might best serve teachers by leading on the leadership edge, building relationships with teachers, as opposed to leading on the bleedin...

LGBTQ+ students (and staff) are part of our school communities and if we are truly concerned with providing a safe learning environment, which most educators would agree is part a school's mission, then this means for all students including LGBTQ+ youth. So says guest Tricia Friedman, LGBTQ+ advocate and consultant with Shifting Schools in this episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast. Join Tricia and I as we discuss how to support this population of students in our schools. Re...

Inclusive Classrooms are places of joy and creativity. Join me and my guest Mariah Rankine-Landers, author of the new book "How to Create Lessons that Love Your Students", as we discuss how to create culturally responsive classrooms that could easily be mistaken for artistic studios. Want to learn how to turn your middle school classroom into a jungle when studying biomes? How to use zombies to teach exponential equations? Listen in here! LinkedIn Page (Mariah Rankine-Landers) Do Your Less...

Speaking with parents as a teacher can be a scary thing if we feel unprepared. In this episode, Crystal Frommert, assistant head of middle school and Math teacher at Awty International School (Houston), discusses several best-in-class strategies for proactively engaging with parents. We will look at several specific strategies addressed in her new book - When Calling Parents Isn't Your Calling (Road to Awesome Publishing). Crystal Frommert on Edutopia When Calling Parents Isn't Your Callin...

Kevin Foote realized after many years that a passion for teaching wasn't enough to keep him in the classroom. However, Kevin was lucky in that he found the next best thing - a career supporting teaching and learning nonetheless (designing and selling school furniture that promotes student collaboration). Join Kevin, a furniture designer for Kay-Twelve Education, and I as we discuss having a plan B, how ex-teachers can still have a huge positive impact on student growth and achievement outside of...

In this episode, join Melissa Morrison of Teaching to Tranform and I as we discuss why it is more important than ever, in the age of AI, to help our students develop critical thinking skills through their writing. We also discuss strategies that teachers can use for engaging students across K-12 in the process of writing. It begins with allowing children choice in how and what they write about. Teaching to Transform Melissa Morrison LinkedIn Music: Wanderer by Aylex (Uppbeat)

New teachers are often overwhelmed by the volume of procedures and practices they must learn while having a classroom full of students at the same time. In this conversation, Dr. Matthew Rhoads and I discuss some of the top teaching hacks that new teachers (really, any) should be doing each season of the school year. We also discuss the top five areas of teaching practice that all educators must master. Crush It From the Start: 50 Tips for New Teachers Matthew Rhoads LinkedIn Matthew Rhoad...

Yes, summative assessmemt at the end of each unit/year is important. However, formative assessment that measures student growth during the year so that teachers can pivot/target instruction to meet the needs of specific students is just as important. Join Starr and I as we discuss not only formative assessment techniques but also alternative and authentic assessment that motivates students to learn (project based learning as well as student portfolio assessment). https://www.ascd.org/peopl...

It will not come as a surprise to educators that, post COVID, many of our students are not where they should be academically. In response, many school districts have been using ESSER funding to provide supplemental tutoring services to students. In this episode, Jesse Roselin - founder and CEO of Tutor Corps - will offer advice to school districts on how to provide tutoring services that will have a positive impact in reducing learning gaps. We also discuss how we might fund tutoring programs af...