After 6 years, I am taking a break from podcasting. I am calling it a summer vacation for now, but we will see if the break is actually a bit longer. Before I go, I am going to leave you with a clips episode from some of my favorite conversations during the early years of the podcast. This episode could have easily been 60 hours long, but I hope you enjoy these 2 hours to keep you company during summer break. Clips are from: Episode 1: Brian Dempsey Episode 7: David Knuffke Episode 13: Paul Stro...
Jun 20, 2022•2 hr 10 min
We made it?! I don’t know if it was that we had our expectations too high or that the pandemic has broken us all, but the 2021-2022 school year was rough. With that in mind, we are going to hunt for the silver linings to the storm cloud that was this past school year. Show Notes: We start this show with the goofy question: What is one of your favorite things to do by yourself on a completely free, unscheduled day? Joining us from Texas, Lee Ferguson: catching up on TV, shopping Joining us from W...
Jun 06, 2022•47 min
One of the topics that teachers have been discussing a lot this year has been how issues with student behavior feel worse this past school year compared to the past. Today we discuss this topic and reflect on how we may reframe this issue next year. Show Questions: We start this question with the goofy question. What is a dumb rule that you have had to follow at some time during your life? Joining us from Ohio is Tanea Hibler: Honestly, most rules are pretty dumb, but we have them becuase humans...
May 16, 2022•1 hr 13 min
As I have been reimagining my curriculum over the past few years, the idea of using a scientific phenomenon to hook kids into our work has been both exciting and challenging. Today, I discuss the concept of phenomena with Tanea, Mark and Jess. We definitely had a lot of fun, so we hope you enjoy the conversation. Show Notes: We start this question with the goofy question: What is an area of science that you find cool, but don’t really understand the underlying mechanism of (possibly nobody knows...
May 02, 2022•53 min
As we head into state assessment season (people who don’t spend their lives in schools call this spring), I thought it would be fun to talk about different forms of assessment and what this looks like in our classrooms. Show Notes: - We start this question with the goofy question. When was the last time you had to sit down to take a test? Joining us from Ohio is Tanea Hibler:I don’t remember. Oh, it was when I took the GRE about 1-2 years ago. I was totally freaked out and super nervous and actu...
Apr 18, 2022•1 hr 3 min
On this episode we discuss the sometimes challenging issues dealing with late work, retakes and revisions, particularly considering the grading practices through the lens of grading equity. Show Notes: We start this question with the goofy question. How do you personally feel when you need to get to an event by a certain time? Are you an early person, a late person, or does it vary? Joining us from Illinois is Amy Kelly: I want to be an early person, and if I am on my own, I will generally be a ...
Apr 04, 2022•59 min
On this episode we discuss two grading practices that are used in many classroom but are certainly possible issues when it comes to grade equity. Show Notes: We start this question with the goofy question. Have you been caught up in the 2022 Wordle wave? Any other puzzle games popular with your family, friends or students? Joining us from Texas is Lee Ferguson: No but I have played Sweardle 🤣🤣 Joining us from Illinois is Amy Kelly: I have to be honest, I hadn’t heard of Wordle until about a we...
Mar 21, 2022•1 hr 17 min
As a group of lifelong learners, we are in a community of teachers who are often getting additional degrees and certificates, some are for career advancement, while others are just for growth and learning. With that in mind, we are discussing the pros and cons of teachers pursuing additional degrees. Show Notes: We kick off our episode with a goofy question: Were you a good student in high school, good at “doing school,” both or neither? - Joining us from Texas is Lee Ferguson: Both. My grades i...
Mar 07, 2022•55 min
Today, as we return to the topic of professional development to discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of pandemic PD and what PD may look like in the future. We kick off our episode with a goofy question: If you could attend a PD workshop run by any person (scientist, author, teacher, etc) whose workshop would you want to attend? - Joining us from Missouri is Kelly Kluthe: Maybe because yesterday was Darwin Day, but I’m going with the obvious Charles Darwin pick. - Joining us from Texas is Lee ...
Feb 21, 2022•47 min
Today, we return to a topic that comes up every few months, the concept of teaching an interdisciplinary class. Show Notes: We kick off our episode with a question: what was your favorite non-science subject(s) in school when you were a kid? Joining us from Missouri is Kelly Kluthe: Art and orchestra! I loved drawing and playing the violin. I was a quiet kid in school but was able to express myself through art and music. Joining us from Texas is Lee Ferguson: Music theory was one of my favorite ...
Feb 07, 2022•45 min
Today, we discuss the presence and influence of other adults in our classroom. Show Notes: We kick off our episode with the question: What is something New and Exciting happening in your professional life in 2022? Joining us from Texas is Lee Ferguson: I am starting classes for administrator certification on January 18. Joining us from Missouri is Kelly Kluthe: I made a major change and moved from high school to elementary! Aaron: I am going to have a Student Teacher! Questions We Discuss: Often...
Jan 17, 2022•59 min
Today we kick off 2022 by discussing how we go about revising aspects of our curriculum. Show Notes: We kick off our episode with a goofy question: Do you typically make a New Year’s Resolution or goal for the upcoming year? If so, what is your resolution for 2022? How much pre-planning goes into your teaching? Do you have structured unit plans for the whole year? Do you plan unit to unit? Week-to-week? Day-to-day? Amy: Our biology team determined our objectives for each unit, and we agreed on w...
Jan 03, 2022•51 min
To say goodbye to 2021, I am joined by the hosts of the 2 Pint PLC to wrap up the year! Show Notes: We Introduced ourselves with the goofy question: What is one thing you learned this year from educational research about beer? Laurence Woodruff: Dragons milk stout is giving me heartburn Michael Ralph: wheat beers are not a monolith. Aaron: Non-alcoholc craft beer is a thing Today we say goodbye to 2021. While not quite as terrible as 2020, it was certainly a challenging year. With that said, we ...
Dec 20, 2021•1 hr 26 min
Today, as we find ourselves deep into the holiday season, we reflect back on the past few years and ask whether or not the grades have the same emphasis as they did a few years ago. Show Notes: We kick off our episode with a goofy question: What movie/tv show/or music signifies to you that it is holiday season? Joining us from Illinois is Amy Kelly: “All I want for Christmas is you” Mariah Carey Joining us from Colorado is Hannah Hathaway: Muppet Christmas Carol Aaron: John Denver & Muppets ...
Dec 06, 2021•44 min
Show Notes: On our panel shows, we start with a goofy question, and as we are releasing this just before thanksgiving, what’s a Thanksgiving side dish that you have that may not be on everyones table? - Kelly Kluthe: gooey butter cake - Sedate Kohler: cheesy potatoes #Wisconsin - Lee Ferguson: The most decadent scalloped potatoes ever. - Aaron Mathieu: Mashed turnips and carrots. Let’s talk about school culture. How big is the science department in your school? Are you expected to collaborate? -...
Nov 22, 2021•1 hr 11 min
Show Notes: - On our panel shows, we start with a goofy question, and as we are recording this just before halloween, did you dress up for halloween this year? If not, do you remember the last time you did? Lee Ferguson: I did not...but I think the last time I did dress up for Halloween, I dressed as a hockey puck. Somewhere in my house there is photographic evidence of this! Kelly Kluthe: My students always say I remind them of Ms. Frizzle, so I think I’ll lean into that this year and bust out ...
Nov 08, 2021•57 min
For this episode, I am reposting episode #1, but be before that audio, I chat with my colleague and first guest Brian Dempsey to reflect on how the last 5+ years of podcasting has shaped our teaching practice. Credits: Please subscribe to Life of the school on your podcast player of choice! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LOTS Music by: https://exmagicians.bandcamp.com/ Show Notes at Lifeoftheschool.org You can follow on twitter @MrMathieuTweets or @lifeoftheschool
Oct 18, 2021•42 min
Show Questions: - How did you become a science teacher? What did you do before teaching? - I am curious about how you became a co-teacher of a biology course. How did that begin and how has it changed while you have been doing this? - I know that you typically teach a forensics science course, even though you are not teaching it this year. What is that course like? How is it different from your biology course? Do you hope to teach this course or a different elective in the future? - In the upcom...
Oct 04, 2021•1 hr 12 min
On this episode, we will be discussing the concept of Universal Design for Learning. Show Notes: - To kick off the episode, we will start with our goofy question: You will only be able to watch episodes of 1 TV show for the next year, what show do you pick? - Have you had any discussions of UDL at your school or as part of your own personal development? Where are you on your journey? - UDL is often organized into three principles: Engagement, Representation, and Action & Expression? Focussin...
Sep 20, 2021•56 min
On this episode, I am joined by one new panelist and one old friend to discuss IEPs, 504s and other accommodations in the classroom. Show Questions: To kick off the episode, we will start with our goofy question: You are in a rock group, what is your role in the group? Joining us from Illinois, is new panelist Amy Kelly: Lead Singer Joining us from Minnesota, Mark Peterson: Rhythm Guitar Aaron would be a roadie or the sound engineer. Additional Questions: How is the start of the school year goin...
Sep 06, 2021•51 min
In this episode, Lee and I have an informal chat about the end of summer and the start of the school year on the two very different planets we live on (Massachusetts and Texas). We will do our best to avoid political landmines… let’s see how this goes. Show Notes: How do you feel getting the school year started? Lee: Cautiously excited. I’m ready to meet kids, do some science with them, and help them love learning. I’m ready to try ungrading with my IB class. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t anxi...
Aug 16, 2021•1 hr 5 min
On this episode I chat with the authors of the book After The Mask: A Guide to Caring for Students and Schools. This recently published book discusses the pediatric mental health crisis that schools were grappling with before 2020, has been exacerbated by the COVID19 pandemic, and proposes strategies educators will want to implement in their classrooms. Show Notes: Author Introductions: Dr. Chris Jensen, Jessica Sorcher, and Rachael Sorcher. You can purchase the book on Amazon The Book Website i...
Aug 02, 2021•1 hr 9 min
Today we discuss how we remove or reduce grades from our classrooms. Joining me for this conversation is Lee Ferguson from Texas and Johanna Brown from Washington State. Show Notes: - Johanna gave a shout out to Katy Dornbos as one of the teachers who helped out on her journey to being a gradeless teacher. - Johanna put together this google doc with a collection of ungrading resources. - We discussed the book Ungrading: Why Rating Students Undermines Learning (and What to Do Instead) Edited by S...
Jul 19, 2021•1 hr 18 min
Today we check back in with a past guest, Katie Ryan from Episode 85. When we last talked with Katie in December of 2019 as she was completing her student teaching in Colorado. Since our conversation, Karie became a Knowles Teaching Fellow and began her teaching career at Gresham Middle School in Knoxville, TN. Show Notes: We discussed Katie’s : Move from Colorado to Tennessee How year 1 went in her own classroom Her experience as a Knowles Fellow over the past year Year 2-goals Plans for non-te...
Jul 05, 2021•1 hr 6 min
We Introduced ourselves with the Question: What is one frivolous piece of media (book, tv, movie, music) you are looking forward to enjoying this summer? How is your professional life going to change in the upcoming school year(s)? Bold goal setting time: What is one aspect of your teaching you want to improve? What should the Life of the school podcast look like in the future? Should it continue? If so in what form? We would love feedback! DM or Tweet @lifeoftheschool and share your Thoughts? C...
Jun 21, 2021•1 hr 14 min
We Introduced ourselves with the Goofy Question: If you could interview one famous person, living or dead, who would it be? Do you have any memories of what it was like to be a guest on the episode? Do you have a favorite memory or “A Ha!” moment from the past year? We play a trivia game: Name that LOTS episode! (apologies to the 50+ Guests not mentioned in this game, we don’t want a 3 hour episode). We would love feedback! DM or Tweet @lifeoftheschool and share your thoughts. Credits: Please su...
Jun 07, 2021•1 hr 10 min
We Introduced ourselves with the Goofy: What's your current cellphone wallpaper/lockscreen? Tanea: Me at 16. Boy do I miss the 16 year old me (well the body, not the brain and confidence, etc.) Lee: It’s an old picture of the wall from our former teacher workroom. The girl who ran the copier there had decorated it with movie quotes from a bunch of different movies, and the photo I have is a quote from “Zombieland”--Woody Harrelson says “It’s time to nut up or shut up” Aaron: Wallpaper: My dog pe...
May 17, 2021•51 min
We Introduced ourselves with the Question: What was the worst job you've ever had? Lee: probably telemarketer was my least favorite. It was my first job, and I was in high school. I had to try and sell these cheesy plaques to parents that congratulated their kid for graduating high school. I did at least learn to handle rejection so maybe it wasn’t the absolute worst. I’ve been pretty lucky to work in the places I’ve worked but I’m also pretty choosy about where I work too. Tanea: I wouldn’t lik...
May 03, 2021•1 hr 2 min
We Introduced ourselves with the Goofy Question: What is one activity that you can get completely lost in and spend hours doing without realizing it? We then Discuss the following questions: - Is “engagement” something you actively consider when lesson planning? - How do you differentiate “busy work” from engagement? - Over the past few years, some educators have been arguing that we should be focussing on Empowerment rather than Engagement. Do you feel this is a semantic argument or does it res...
Apr 19, 2021•49 min
We Introduced ourselves with the Goofy Question: Do you have a favorite PD Icebreaker (or are all icebreakers evil...I think this is a perfectly reasonable stance) We also discuss the following questions: - How do you normally approach finding PD opportunities? - What is a typical summer like for you in terms of PD, Planning, and Personal time? - Summer 2020 was definitely an atypical PD summer, how are you approaching summer 2021? We would love feedback! DM or Tweet @lifeoftheschool and share y...
Apr 05, 2021•50 min
