The Physics of Superheroes: Bringing Science to Life with James Kakalios Can Spider-Man really stop a runaway train? What would happen if Ant-Man shrank to the size of an insect? And what can superheroes teach us about scientific thinking? In this episode, I speak with James Kakalios, physics professor at…
Classroom Reset: Bringing Students Into the Conversation | Maureen Chapman & James Simons What happens when classroom culture starts to unravel? Instead of imposing more rules, what if teachers invited students into the conversation? On this episode of Have a Life Teaching, returning guests Maureen Chapman and James Simons of…
How to Go Beyond the Science of Reading — Natalie Wexler Have we gotten better at teaching children how to read without paying enough attention to what they need to know? Natalie Wexler, author ofThe Knowledge Gap and Beyond the Science of Reading, joins Have a Life Teaching to explore…
Thomas Guskey on Rethinking Grading What should a grade actually tell us? I talk with grading and assessment expert Thomas Guskey about why grades should communicate what students have learned and can do but not how they rank against classmates. We discuss why schools need a shared purpose for grading,…
What if schools stopped asking why fathers aren’t involved—and started asking whether fathers truly feel invited to belong? In this episode, John talks with Dr. Debra Higdon and Dr. Chacko Abraham, co-authors of The Dad Difference: How and Why to Invite Fathers into Your School, about moving beyond traditional parent-engagement…
Can AI make teaching easier and make teaching better? John talks with Brett Roer, founder and CEO of Amplify and Elevate Innovation, about practical ways educators can use AI and digital tools to save time while keeping human expertise at the center. From voice memos and AI “sandwiches” to customized…
What if improving schools isn’t only about improving teaching but also about teaching students how to learn? John talks with James Anderson, author of Learnership, about shifting from teacher-dependent learning toward independent and agile learners. They explore productive struggle, students’ relationship with challenge, the difference between performance and growth, and…
What Is at the Heart of Better Teaching? — Larry Ferlazzo What should remain constant in great teaching even as technology, AI, and instructional trends continue to change? John Schembari talks with educator and author Larry Ferlazzo about ideas from The Better Teacher's Toolbox, including relationships, student autonomy, relevance, competence,…
What if we could prevent hate, violence, misogyny, and discrimination before they take root? John speaks with Leslee Udwin, award-winning filmmaker and founder and president of Think Equal. Udwin shares how making the Peabody Award-winning documentary India’s Daughter transformed the direction of her life and led her to focus on…
Teaching changes because what we know about learning changes. In this episode of Have a Life Teaching, John Schembari talks with Ross McGill, founder of Teacher Toolkit, about what 35 years in education have taught him about how students learn—and what teachers should do differently as a result. Ross explores…
Becoming a principal changes everything from relationships with colleagues to responsibility for instruction, culture, communication, and the direction of an entire school. In this episode, I’m joined by Tom Hierck, Rita Marler, and Shan Jorgenson Adam, co-authors of You’re a Principal Now, What’s Next?, to explore the realities of school…
What happens when a coaching relationship leaves the coach feeling frustrated, ineffective, or demoralized? In this episode of Have a Life Teaching, I talk with Elena Aguilar, founder and CEO of Bright Morning and author of How to Coach Resistance: Turning Pushback into Positivity. Rather than focusing only on why…
This week I'm joined by Dr. Cinde Lock, Head of School at Pickering College and author of Connections, Academics & Purpose, to explore why traditional testing isn't enough and what schools can do instead. We discuss: • Why students often forget what they memorize for tests • The difference between…
What does effective explicit instruction actually look like—and when should teachers move beyond it? In this episode, Dr. John Schembari sits down with Australian instructional coach Brendan Lee, founder of Knowledge for Teachers, to explore how cognitive science, explicit instruction, and the instructional hierarchy can help educators improve student learning…
Why are boys disciplined more frequently than girls beginning as early as preschool? Why are boys of color disproportionately affected by school discipline? And how can educators support boys in developing healthy, positive masculinity while improving behavior, communication, and leadership skills? In this episode of the Have a Life Teaching…
Rural schools educate nearly one-third of America's public school students, yet they are often underrepresented in national conversations about education policy, innovation, and school improvement. In this episode of Have a Life Teaching, Dr. John Schembari is joined by Dr. Melissa Sadorf, Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association…
In this episode, John Schembari speaks with Becca Silver about the real causes of resistance in schools and how leaders can respond more effectively. Becca shares her Catalyst Mindsets framework, explains why resistance is often rooted in unmet needs, and discusses the difference between compliance, buy-in, and ownership. The conversation…
In this episode of Have a Life Teaching, I sit down with Starr Sackstein, Michael McDowell, and Alexandra Laing, co-creators of Actionable Assessment, to unpack one of the most pressing instructional questions teachers face every day: When some students get it, some don’t, and some are already ahead… what do…
In this episode of Have a Life Teaching, I sit down with Charlotte Dungan, Chief Learning Officer at the Mark Cuban Foundation, to explore what meaningful AI education actually looks like in K-12. We unpack: • What effective AI professional learning for teachers should include • Why AI literacy must…
In this episode of Have a Life Teaching, John Schembari speaks with Musical IQ leaders Philip Gillette and James Soler about how music can become a bridge to culture, identity, collaboration, and deeper learning. The conversation explores how schools can move beyond treating music and the arts as “extras” and…
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. William DeJean, CEO of Unleash Learning, to unpack a reality many school leaders are feeling but struggling to name: we’re in an era of overwhelm. We explore why traditional approaches to leadership—compliance, checklists, and even strategy overload—are no longer enough. Instead, William…
In this episode, we explore one of the most debated questions in literacy instruction: 👉 Should students read grade-level texts or texts matched to their ability? Joined by Dr. Noreen Bunt, we unpack: • Why grade-level text access matters for all students • The risks of over-relying on leveled grouping…
International Schools: What Educators Need to Know Summary: What is it really like to teach in an international school? This episode explores the realities—opportunities, challenges, and misconceptions—of working abroad as an educator. Key Points: • There is no single definition of an international school • Leadership and school quality matter…
In this episode, I’m joined by Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio, authors of Lead It Like Lasso, to explore what school leaders can learn from Ted Lasso. We discuss leadership archetypes, building authentic school culture, and why leaders don’t need all the answers to be effective. We also dig into…