Ready to Teach Podcast - podcast cover

Ready to Teach Podcast

Ready to Teachreadytoteach.com
Ready to Teach is a podcast for teachers, by teachers. We’ll showcase teachers’ stories - mistakes and all - the best practices that come from those mistakes, and the research behind it all. We’ll cut through the buzz-words and the trends to discuss what works in the classroom, what doesn’t, and why. As teachers, we know the best people to learn from are other teachers. We also know how difficult it is to build community outside of our own classrooms. Come hear stories and strategies from first, fifth, fifteenth, and fiftieth year teachers; elementary and secondary teachers; and teachers from all subject areas. Stay energized in the grind with fresh perspectives and get practical strategies that you could implement the same day you listen.
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Episodes

Episode 14: Arranging the Classroom with Jane Tomick

Kindergarten and 1st grade teacher Jane Wold joins me from Austin, Texas to talk about arranging her room for her students. We cover furniture, ambience, and more as the first kindergarten and elementary school teacher on the podcast shares her approach to making her classroom a safe, comfortable, and fun place to learn. Takeaways from this week’s episode: 1) The number one priority in arranging the classroom is safety. 2) Visibility is a significant part of safety: Make sure there are no places...

Aug 27, 201727 min

Episode 13: Music, Math, and More with Jesenka Filipovic

Music teacher and math interventionist Jesenka Filipovic joins me from Metro Nashville Public Schools. Jesenka is a band director, music teacher, and math teacher at a magnet middle school specializing in math and science. We talk about the unique role of the music teacher in schools, what makes teaching music unique, what makes it just like teaching any other subject! Takeaways from this week’s episode: 1) Students are able to learn more effectively when they are relaxed and having fun. 2) Musi...

Aug 14, 201732 min

Episode 12: The Tragedy of the A- with Tracy Woodham

High school English teacher Tracy Woodham joins me from California to talk about the “Tragedy of the A-” and how to coach students through challenging situations. We discuss what it’s like to teach in a highly competitive environment and how to nurture intrinsic motivation and problem solving skills in students that just want to get their A and move on to the next thing. Takeaways from this week’s episode: 1) Show value for students’ mental and emotional well-being. 2) One way to do this is thro...

Aug 07, 201728 min

Episode 11: Trusting Students and Families with Elizabeth KonKolics

Elizabeth KonKolics - licensed social worker and former teacher - joins the podcast to talk about how teachers can transition back into thinking about school and maintain a positive, hopeful mindset towards the students and families we’ll soon be meeting. Here are the takeaways from this week’s episode: 1) People grow in the context of people they trust, so begin building that trust from day one by investing ourselves in students’ experiences. 2) Young people have a sense of optimism and potenti...

Jul 31, 201726 min

Episode 10: What Really Makes Teachers Amazing

To celebrate our tenth episode, your host shares some reflections on what really makes teachers amazing (Hint: The answer is not because people just say we are). Then, your host goes back to enjoying summer vacation with his family while hoping you can do the same. Enjoy! Here are the takeaways from this week’s episode: 1) Try never to let the failures eclipse your successes. I was taught – and I believe – that if we make a difference for one student – one – it’s worth it. 2) Be your own harshes...

Jul 20, 201715 min

Episode Nine: Putting Race, Equity, and Justice at the Center of Teaching with Dr. Rich Milner

Professor of Education and Director of the Center for Urban Education at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Rich Milner (Ph.D.) joins the Ready to Teach Podcast to have a candid discussion about how to address issues of race and injustice in our teaching. Takeaways from this week’s episode: 1) As an educator, we need to constantly ask ourselves questions like, “Why am I doing what I’m doing?” and “Why do I believe some groups of students are underprepared in comparison to other groups of students...

Jul 13, 201735 min
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