A lot of teachers have different strategies for cooperative learning or to facilitate more engaging learning experiences. One that most know of and not enough try is station rotations. I'd seen these done with various teachers and even dipped my toe in a bit, but I wanted to know more about how to do them effectively. So I invited my friend, Laura Kebart from languageartsteachers.com , who is an expert on making stations fit within the context of your class. We go into what stations are, why we ...
Oct 28, 2019•38 min•Ep 84•Transcript available on Metacast New teachers come out of their practicum excited and ready to dive head-first into teaching. But they often run into the problem of trying to decide which schools to teach at, being a positive force for students with difficult home lives, and a long list of other serious issues. How do they know if a school is right for them? How can they handle being a long-term substitute or start in the middle of the year? In this special interview with Liam Auliciems and Scott Harding, the founders of Prac-E...
Oct 21, 2019•49 min•Ep 83•Transcript available on Metacast New teachers often come into teaching already supporting LGBTQ rights and have good intentions to demonstrate this support but can fall short on implementation. How can they start eradicating cisnormativity and heteronormativity that has been institutionalized for many students? How can they create a safe space that goes beyond rainbow flags and stickers? In part 2 of my interview with Cody Miller, we continue to discuss how to support queer educators in our schools, how to deal with derogatory ...
Oct 14, 2019•39 min•Ep 82•Transcript available on Metacast Even though it's 2019 and it seems like there would be more acceptance and inclusion of the LGBTQ people, there is still a lot of work to do. And while I personally support those in the community, I wanted to know more about how I can do a better job as a teacher. So on Part 1 of my interview with Cody Miller, an assistant professor in New York who gives professional development on these issues, we discuss what has and hasn't improved with schools, how cisgender and hetero educators can support ...
Oct 07, 2019•37 min•Ep 81•Transcript available on Metacast Student loan debt is no joke, and it creates so much anxiety for just about everyone, ESPECIALLY newer teachers. Programs like Teacher Loan Forgiveness promise to help with this burden, but it barely helps to bring down the tens of thousands of dollars in debt that teachers have. And misinformation about the best way to pay back these loans results in teachers losing thousands of dollars. Why doesn't anyone tell us about this? Why is it so complicated. In this second part of my conversation with...
Sep 30, 2019•39 min•Ep 80•Transcript available on Metacast The large majority of new teachers have some form of student loan debt are probably trying to figure out how they’re going to pay it off with their new salary. What if I told you that some of you could pay as little as $100 a month AND have all of your debt taken care of in 10 years? Sounds too good to be true, right? In this episode, Travis Hornsby from the Student Loan Planner tells us not only why we’re entitled to do this but also how we can save tens of thousands of dollars on our debt. Whe...
Sep 23, 2019•34 min•Ep 79•Transcript available on Metacast Educators that teach teenagers have a unique challenge: their students want the same type of love and praise as before, but now they also want more autonomy. This means that the typical model of teachers setting the rules and students complying becomes more complicated as teenagers begin to question and challenge their teachers. What can new teachers do to ensure that they're respecting the needs of teenagers while still maintaining a positive learning environment? What should they do when their...
Sep 15, 2019•40 min•Ep 78•Transcript available on Metacast For many new teachers, lesson planning ALONE is a huge source of stress and anxiety. Not only is there a billion other things to do as a teacher, but there's the tiny detail of knowing how and what to plan. Yes, you definitely learned about it and even did some practice lesson plans. But now that you're faced with your own students (and possibly teaching a grade that you weren't prepared for), it's a whole new ballgame. In this episode, I don't tell you how to plan - I explain the mindset and bi...
Sep 09, 2019•24 min•Ep 77•Transcript available on Metacast Many teachers have students work in groups on assignments, but there are also quite a few that limit it. They don’t like the potential for chaos and bad behaviors, so for the most part, they avoid it. However, it’s impossible to keep students on-task and in silence for an entire class period. Those students may seem like they're paying attention but are in fact playing the role of a student who’s working. They’re tuning out from the lack of opportunity to talk to their peers. This is where group...
Sep 02, 2019•28 min•Ep 76•Transcript available on Metacast One of your strongest and most helpful allies as a teacher are parents. They can rescue you when you need help creating materials for your class, volunteer to help chaperone events, and run fundraisers for your classroom. They can also question your teaching practices, make excuses when their child misbehaves, and go over your head and complain to your administrator. Either way, it's important that you build strong relationships with your students' parents right from the start. But how do you do...
Aug 26, 2019•28 min•Ep 75•Transcript available on Metacast Having a solid classroom management plan is ESSENTIAL for a successful year. No amount of curriculum planning will be effective if you have multiple students disrupting the learning. So now that you have a plan, how do you implement it? What are the possible things that could go wrong, and why do they happen? In Part 2 of this 2-part series, I dive into how to train your students to follow your plan, as well as how to deal with parents when their student misbehaves. Sign up for Tailor-Ed and rec...
Aug 19, 2019•23 min•Ep 74•Transcript available on Metacast Classroom management is BY FAR every new teacher's biggest struggle. They may have had success when they were borrowing someone else's class during student teaching, but when faced with their own, it can be daunting. Despite the tips and tricks taught in pre-service preparation programs, most new teachers still feel woefully unprepared for dealing with student behaviors. In Part 1 of this 2-part series, I discuss how to get in the right mindset for classroom management, as well as how to craft a...
Aug 12, 2019•23 min•Ep 73•Transcript available on Metacast Many new and current teachers came to the profession as a second career. They take the plunge for many reasons and find themselves in a tough but completely fulfilling job. Some question whether or not it's a good idea or if they have anything to offer in education, and others are worried about the age gap between them and teachers coming straight from college. On today's episode, I discuss not only why many teachers make the switch, but I also showcase the advantages that second-career teachers...
Aug 05, 2019•26 min•Ep 72•Transcript available on Metacast It's the back-to-school season as evidenced by all of the supplies laid out in Target! While this is a sad end to the summer, many new teachers are still interviewing for their first job or eagerly getting ready for their very first classroom. There's so much unknown in terms of what supplies you'll need, how to plan curriculum, learning about your school, etc. that it can be overwhelming, especially for elementary school teachers. So I called in an expert, Gretchen Bridgers from Always a Lesson...
Jul 29, 2019•46 min•Ep 71•Transcript available on Metacast Every teacher understands the need for students to be engaged, but what if they constantly find themselves staring back at blank stares? How can a teacher deliver a lesson so that their students aren't falling asleep or spacing out? In addition to proper planning, lesson delivery is key to getting kids motivated to learn and do the hard work to improve. Here are actionable strategies that teachers can use today to keep their students excited throughout the class period. How to be an engaging tea...
Jul 22, 2019•21 min•Ep 70•Transcript available on Metacast All teachers know that student engagement is essential for successfully teaching a lesson. Why? Because students don't necessarily want to learn and participate in school, and as a result, miss out on mastering important skills. When students are engaged, they switch on their natural curiosity and are self-motivated to learn, explore, and solve problems. But it's up to teachers to create optimal learning experiences to foster this passion for learning, which can at times be difficult to do. Here...
Jul 15, 2019•24 min•Ep 69•Transcript available on Metacast If you scroll through social media, you'll see a lot of teachers posting the amazing things they're doing in their classrooms. This includes lessons, bulletin boards, materials, organization...if a teacher does, you'll see it there! But what if you have bigger dreams for your classroom, but neither you nor your school has the money? Do you just give up on it or use your small paycheck to fund it? Luckily, there are SO MANY people out there who want to help teachers out so that they can provide t...
Jul 08, 2019•49 min•Ep 68•Transcript available on Metacast New teachers around the world are gearing up to find their first new job OR find a better one. Part of that job hunt is the dreadful but necessary part of writing a resume. But what if you don't have much experience to list on your resume? Should it be one page or more? What if you took a year off to travel? There's so much conflicting information on the Internet, so I brought professional resume writer Lauren Hamer to answer these questions. From cover letters to thank-you emails, Lauren and I ...
Jul 01, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Ep 67•Transcript available on Metacast Many newer teachers feel unprepared for integrating technology into their teaching. Their credentialing program or student teaching experience may have exposed them to some basic tech, but figuring out WHEN and WHY to use it is a different story. How can we meaningfully use tech in a way that isn't overwhelming to both us and the students? How do we know if it's actually improving outcomes? Jennifer Gonzalez from The Cult of Pedagogy and I discuss the thought processes teachers should go through...
Jun 24, 2019•36 min•Ep 66•Transcript available on Metacast Love this show? Become an AWESOME SUPPORTER! Pretty much everybody has good intentions to implement healthy habits after January 1, but for teachers, the BEST time to do this is when school is out for the summer! We have more time to think about it, more time to plan, and more time to gently adopt a new lifestyle without the pressures of planning, teaching, and grading. But how do we do this so that it sticks and we don't throw it away with the stress of the new year? In this episode, Sheri Trax...
Jun 17, 2019•48 min•Ep 65•Transcript available on Metacast Love this show? Become an AWESOME SUPPORTER! Finding time to exercise when you've got a 9-5 job can be tough. The thing is, teachers don't just work 9-5, they often take work home, which means that there's even less time to exercise. How can we fit this in when we're exhausted at the end of the day, don't really like to exercise in the first place, or are burnt out from trying? In this episode, Sheri Traxler and I discuss how to find movement that you enjoy sneaking in some exercise, as well as ...
Jun 10, 2019•57 min•Ep 64•Transcript available on Metacast Love this show? Become an AWESOME SUPPORTER! Teachers often develop poor eating habits from the limited time to eat and the constant barrage of work. Think about how you work while eating, have barely any time to really enjoy your food, eating while supervising, etc. How can we possibly enjoy our food? And for those of us trying to lose weight, how can we do that if we're mindlessly stuffing our faces at school? In this episode, Sheri Traxler and I discuss how to regain control in a practical wa...
Jun 03, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Ep 63•Transcript available on Metacast It’s hard to get past someone who annoys you - whether it’s a child or adult. And we tend to place blame on circumstances beyond our control, such as parent involvement or accountability, lack of consequences from the administration, the apathy of the student. But what did WE do to mitigate those circumstances? How have WE tried to repair the relationship in order to get a different outcome? In this episode, I discuss how to deal with that ONE student you’ve been battling with all year as well a...
May 27, 2019•24 min•Ep 62•Transcript available on Metacast Click here to get your FREE preview lesson of the End-of-the-year Sanity Saver! How do you know if teaching is really for you? This question is on the minds of new teachers year round, but especially at the end of the year. Sometimes student teaching or that first year will be that crucial time when you start feeling like something isn’t right, or maybe it’s just a little further down like 6 or 7 years. In any case, let’s be introspective and be honest about the answers to these questions. Anoth...
May 20, 2019•27 min•Ep 61•Transcript available on Metacast Click here to sign up for the End-of-the-year Sanity Saver! You may already be feeling burnout at this early point in your career. Luckily, there is no shortage of articles, podcasts, books, or Youtube videos on the topic. And the reason is obvious - teaching is hard, requires long hours with little pay, so burnout is inevitable. With all of the content on teacher burnout comes recommendations on getting past it. So I wanted to share with you five things that I did this year to still be an effec...
May 13, 2019•23 min•Ep 60•Transcript available on Metacast Click here to sign up for the End-of-the-year Sanity Saver! Foreign language teachers have a wonderful and life-changing subject area, but it definitely comes with its challenges. Reluctant speakers, struggling readers, and a subject area that is relegated as "just an elective" can make it difficult to feel like one is making an impact. Elena Spathis offers strategies on how to overcome this and turn those students into lifelong language learners. Where you can find Elena: @SrtaSpathis Love this...
May 06, 2019•51 min•Ep 59•Transcript available on Metacast Click here to sign up for the End-of-the-year Sanity Saver! Many new teachers are just trying to make it to the end of the year in one piece so that they can finally welcome summer break. But before we can hit happy hour and celebrate, we need to plan it out. Here are the four areas you need to start taking action on now so that you can have a stellar end of the school year. Love this show? Become an AWESOME SUPPORTER! Don't forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here how to...
Apr 29, 2019•17 min•Ep 58•Transcript available on Metacast During an interview, it's important to find a way to showcase our strengths. But how can we do it without necessarily bragging, and how can we do it in the context of the questions? Similarly, if you're asked about a negative experience in your teaching, how can you frame your answer to put you in a positive light? Ross Cooper gives fabulous tips on how to answer interview questions from the lens of a principal. Click HERE for a copy of all of the interview questions from this series! Tell us ab...
Apr 25, 2019•36 min•Ep 57•Transcript available on Metacast New teachers looking for that first teaching job are often worried about their lack of experience when doing their first round of interviews. How can they talk about their experiences when they've only finished student teaching? Should they be upfront or pad their experiences? Rick Mohrien explains how newer teachers can still be authentic while still making a good impression on the interview panel. Click HERE for a copy of all of the interview questions from this series! Tell me your story, how...
Apr 22, 2019•42 min•Ep 56•Transcript available on Metacast So you've sent in your resume, and finally got a call for an interview. AWESOME! You put on your most professional-looking outfit, walk in tall, shake hands firmly, and finally sit down for those questions. But what if you don't know the answer to a question? What should you say? Should you lie? What if you said, "I don't know?" Would you look like an idiot? Rob Fulk asks me some compelling interview questions that I wasn't necessarily ready for (but did my best to think on the fly), and he give...
Apr 18, 2019•30 min•Ep 55•Transcript available on Metacast 
