Episodes

What if schools taught longevity—not just aging? On the latest episode of the podcast, I spoke with Karol Schwartzlander (California Commission on Aging) and Judith Hemphill about why aging belongs in our K–12 conversations. We’ve added nearly 30 years to life expectancy, yet schools rarely prepare students for long, multigenerational lives. Aging doesn’t start at retirement—it starts at birth. Key ideas from the conversation: Positive images of aging can add years to life Older adults brin...

Grammar doesn’t fail because students can’t learn it. It fails because of how it’s taught. In this episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast, I’m joined by literacy expert Patty McGee, co-author of Not Your Granny’s Grammar, to rethink grammar instruction from the ground up. We explore how grammar can be: taught through sentences, play, and inquiry embedded across ELA, science, and social studies accessible to multilingual learners focused on growth over time, not mastery in a day Patty sh...

In this episode, I speak with Adam Watson about role-playing and gamification as serious instructional tools, not motivational add-ons. We explore how well-designed role-play: Shifts students from passive responders to active decision-makers Lowers affective risk while increasing cognitive demand Uses identity, narrative, and constraints to deepen reasoning Supports academic discourse without overscripting language This conversation reframes gamification as a cognitive access strategy—espe...

As we return to the second half of the school year, and exhaustion starts to set in, morale often becomes fragile—for teachers, students, and leaders alike. In this episode, John is joined by Dr. Darrin Peppard, former Wyoming Principal of the Year and founder of Road to Awesome Consulting, to explore a critical reframe: morale isn’t a program—it’s a byproduct of a well-run school. Darren traces his own leadership journey from classroom teacher to principal and superintendent, including the bu...

What does it really mean to communicate a vision—and why does it matter so much for school culture? In this episode, John Schembari is joined by Corey Gordon, CEO of DeliverEd, to explore how schools and districts can move beyond vision statements as “documents on a page” and turn them into drivers of strategic action and improvement. Together, they unpack: Why a clear vision is the essential first step in building strong school culture What effective vision statements include—and what they ...

In this episode, John Schembari is joined by student author Amy Wallace and education researcher Dr. Nick Jackson to explore AI in education—from the learner’s perspective. Key Topics Covered How students actually use AI to think, revise, and plan Why bans and AI “detection” tools fail What AI reveals about broken assessment systems Student agency vs. performative voice AI, careers, and uncertainty in the future workforce Lessons from Australia’s social media ban Why education must move f...

Chronic absenteeism still hovers around 25% nationwide—and one root cause keeps surfacing: student disengagement. In this episode, we sit down with Alfie Kohn, author of Punished by Rewards, to unpack a hard truth many of us weren’t trained to question: 👉 Rewards, grades, praise, and “positive reinforcement” don’t build motivation—they often undermine it. Alfie reminds us: Motivation isn’t one thing. The kind matters more than the amount. Intrinsic motivation (learning for meaning, curiosit...

In 2025, great teaching isn’t about delivering content — it’s about curating it, unleashing student curiosity, and building true student efficacy.But here’s the twist: teachers can’t foster efficacy if leaders are still ferry-captains instead of bridge-builders.In my latest conversation with Tanya Bosco (Chief Strategy Officer at IDE Corp), we unpack the leadership mindset shifts from her new book Students Taking Charge: Implementation Guide for Leaders. We covered: 🔹 The difference between stud...

Making Social Studies Come Alive Through Inquiry In this week’s Podcast episode, I sit down with Charisse Smith Ph.D. —CEO of Sankofa Educational Consulting and former K–6 Social Studies Supervisor in Trenton Public Schools, NJ—to dig into why inquiry-driven social studies is essential for today’s learners. We talk about: ✨ Moving beyond facts + dates to real student thinking ✨ Why elementary students can handle complex history ✨ Powerful examples of informed action (2nd graders contacting ...

Cutting Through the Noise with Priority Standards Teachers are asked to do everything — personalization, differentiation, voice and choice, standards-based instruction… but rarely is anything taken off the plate. In this episode of the Podcast, I sit down with Larry Ainsworth, the nationwide expert on unwrapping standards, priority standards, and creating clear learning targets. We dive into: ✨ How to identify what’s truly essential for student learning ✨ The REAL (Readiness, Endurance, Asse...

In this Have a Life Teaching Podcast episode, we speak with Maureen Chapman and James Simons of Core Creative Partners about their new book, Leaders of the Class. We explore how motivation, perseverance, communication, and collaboration can be intentionally taught alongside academic content—especially at the secondary level. Our guests share powerful stories about helping schools rebuild joy post-pandemic, why adolescents need more opportunities to reflect and lead, and how routines like goal ...

In this episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast. we welcome Dr. Carmen Bell Ross—founder and CEO of SP Grace—and her daughter, Sierra Ross, a Harvard University student, for a powerful mother-daughter conversation on helping students not just get into college but thrive once they’re there. Dr. Carmen shares the origins and pillars of her College Smarter Method, a framework that helps students identify their authentic strengths, personal brand, and purpose beyond grades and test scores. She...

John talks with Mickey Evans and Erin Sanchez about place-based learning, a pedagogy of connectedness that roots instruction in students’ local communities, cultures, and environments. They share design principles for creating authentic, equitable learning experiences and examples from tribal, rural, and urban schools—showing how community partnerships, storytelling, and student voice transform learning. The episode also explores how AI and VR can expand access and make place-based learning po...

In this episode, Dr. John Schembari speaks with Nicholas Bradford - Founder at National Center for Restorative Justice - about how restorative justice can transform school culture by balancing accountability, relationship building, and community repair. Together, they unpack what restorative practices look like in real classrooms and explore how schools can move from punitive discipline models to ones focused on learning, empathy, and responsibility. Redefining Discipline: Moving beyond punish...

Guest: Dr. Tim Shanahan, literacy researcher, author of Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives, and founder of the UIC Center for Literacy. Episode Summary: Dr. Shanahan joins John to discuss why students must engage with grade-level, complex texts—and how teachers can scaffold instruction instead of lowering text difficulty. He explains practical ways to support struggling readers while maintaining rigor and motivation. Key Takeaways: Match instruction—not text level—to student needs. Use rereading,...

“If students can’t read to learn, they can’t learn through reading.” In this episode of the podcast, I talk with Gwen Pauloski, author of Making Deep Sense of Informational Text: A Framework for Strengthening Comprehension in Grades 6–12. We dig into why every teacher—not just ELA—needs to see themselves as a literacy teacher. Gwen shares her four pillars for helping adolescents make sense of complex texts: 1️⃣ Rebuilding confidence and “reading esteem” 2️⃣ Teaching comprehension strategies e...

In this episode of The Have a Life Teaching Podcast, host Dr. John Schembari talks with Illinois educators Paige Timmerman and Courtney Hake, co-authors of Their Stories, Their Voices. Together, they explore how teachers can use personal narrative writing to help students find and share their authentic voices—while meeting academic standards and preparing for real-world writing. Paige and Courtney discuss how narrative writing builds engagement, supports social-emotional learning, and develops ...

Poetry isn’t just “beautiful prose” — it’s a doorway into critical thinking, voice, and perspective. In this episode, I sit down with Jewellyn Forrest, national writing consultant and co-founder of Autonomy Learning, to explore how poetry — and especially figurative language — can: ✔️ Help students “read between the lines” ✔️ Unlock reluctant writers ✔️ Build community and celebrate student voice ✔️ Offer an equity lens by honoring culture and personal experience Jewellyn also ...

When Teachers Believe—in Themselves and Each Other—Students Thrive This week on the podcast, we sit down with Jenni Donohoo and Glenn Forbes to discuss their new book, Collective Impact: Overcoming the Twelve Enemies of Teacher Efficacy. We explore how collective efficacy—educators’ shared belief in their power to impact student learning—creates school cultures where both teachers and students flourish. Just as we encourage students to see challenges as opportunities, teachers must shift from...

In this episode, we are joined by Shannon McLeod from Thrive with Outdoor Learning for an inspiring and insightful conversation about the power of taking learning outside the classroom. We cover the how, why, when, and what of outdoor learning—from practical strategies to deeper reflections on its benefits for students' well-being, engagement, and development. Shannon shares her journey into outdoor education, the philosophy behind her work, and the tangible ways educators can integrate nature...