The Teachers Lounge: Recent Episodes
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Most new teachers don't make it past the five year mark, and its easy to understand why. Teachers are stressed from budget cuts, testings, discipline problems, parents, poor adminstrators, etc. This show is designed to encourage teachers and to provide useful tools to help them succeed.
This brief episode is a prequel to the upcoming season. Bryan checks in and share his thoughts about this podcast series which aims to encourage educators and provide them a voice. This series will also provide teachers helpful tools and strategies.
So stay subscribed and be ready for a great season of episodes that will help us become better educators!
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We often hear from others a lot of complaining about how schools are failing. Too often, it's the teachers themselves who are negative about their profession. What keeps you motivated when you enter your classroom?
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Teachers, before we start the beginning of another school year I feel like it's important to hear the messages from those who are at the end of this life. What would they do differently? A conversation with your dying self could change how you live your life for the upcoming school year.
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As I wrap season two of the podcast, this episode serves as an epilogue. While we get ready to start our summer break in the States my time away from the classroom will be extended. Since the field of education doesn't seem to be making positive changes for teachers it's time for me to make a change.
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As the school year is coming to an end, many teachers shut down and give the students unstructured free time. While this may work with some groups, for many teachers it can lead to more stress and classroom management problems. In this episode, Bryan shares some ideas on how you can end the school year on a fun note, yet stay true to the learning environment. After all, students have all summer to rest and goof around. It shouldn't happen in your classroom.
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Our culture is one who likes to whine and complain. Many people see themselves as victims, and today's students are no exception. Regardless of what grade you teach, educators are bombared by a variety of excuses. Bryan encourages listeners to not accept your average student excuse. Don't get angry, get creative.
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Almost every teacher has a classroom where there is one unmotivated student, regardless of what you try. The parents have lost hope. Is this failure your fault? Could a better teacher have done better? Not likely.
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This episode was previously released in 2016. With our current times, now seems like a good time to revisit it and be reminded of the impact teachers have on their students.
Like Ben Ellis, one day we will die. Make the most out of the opportunities the teaching profession presents to you. One never knows what kind of impact you can have on others. My grandmother, who was a teacher, was honored at a 50th high school reunion. She was remembered as an inspiration and friend to all.
What will our students remember about us, and our action, long after we leave them? Here's a hint. It won't be about test driven data and meeting state standards for testing.
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Happy New Year! Joining us on this season premiere is Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher). She too is a teacher and podcaster. On this episode, Vicki offers some motivation, teaching strategies, and some of what she's learned over her very successful journey as an educator. Check out her podcast "The 10 Minute Teacher" at https://www.coolcatteacher.com/podcast/ .
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We as educators give attention to those who excel in our classrooms and to the ones who disrupt the learning environment.
However, what about our invisible students? They are disappearing and we may not even know it. You know the type. They don't misbehave and we can go through a whole period/subject without engaging them at all. We can't ignore them. Bryan shares some strategies to help us include the invisible students in our classroom.
We as educators give attention to those who excel in our classrooms and to the ones who disrupt the learning environment.
However, what about our invisible students? They are disappearing and we may not even know it. You know the type. They don't misbehave and we can go through a whole period/subject without engaging them at all. We can't ignore them. Bryan shares some strategies to help us include the invisible students in our classroom.
Are you looking for a strategy that allows you to do some lecture but also builds in time for student interaction? In this episode, I'll share the Ten Plus Two strategy from the "Let's Teach" YouTube channel found at https://youtu.be/Y2udPWz_3vg
Are you looking for a strategy that allows you to do some lecture but also builds in time for student interaction? In this episode, I'll share the Ten Plus Two strategy from the "Let's Teach" YouTube channel found at https://youtu.be/Y2udPWz_3vg
Welcome to another season of the podcast! If you are listening to this during the summer, I hope your break is going well. However, for some of us, a summer break may not be a true break. Some teachers, like myself, use this time of year to bring in extra money.
Many teachers are doing a variety of side hustles like tutoring, in person/online classes, food delivery, or pet sitting. Why? Because many are trying to better their financial situation, especially with current high cost of living. Others are working to pay off debt.
Is it worth it to be debt free? For many people the answer is yes.
For many, getting out of debt is one of the best things you can do for your financial well-being. It can reduce your stress, improve your financial security, and provide you with more financial freedom. Beyond that, it just makes life a lot easier — and some might say more fun.
The teaching profession is difficult enough to manage with all the various stresses we encounter everyday. Financial stress can add to that. The last thing we need is to live a life borrowing money, living paycheck to paycheck, and having debt collectors reach us at work.
So for this mid season episode, we are talking about the journey to becoming a debt free teacher. To help motivate us, I’m featuring a post from theteacherswife.com called "Our Journey to Debt-Free Living". Although this episode was recorded years ago, I believe the content still holds value.
If you are interested in making some extra money check out the following links:
Outschool: https://outschool.com/teach?signup=true&usid=4wWI6KU0&utm_campaign=share_invite_link&teacherReferral=true
Varsity Tutors: https://www.varsitytutors.com/tutoring-jobs?SPLIT_DISABLE=true&r=2AJPCU
Rover Pet Sitting: http://sit.rover.com/6h9hP3
Uber/Uber Eats: https://www.uber.com/a/join/?invite_code=dwcqx4pfs3k2
Day one or one day....the choice is yours.
The final episode of this season!
So many teachers are making decisions about leaving the classroom. Bryan reads "When Is It Time to Quit Teaching" by former guest Vicki Davis. The full article can be found at http://www.coolcatteacher.com/when-is-it-time-to-quit-teaching/
Ending something we enjoy is a decision we face several times in our lifetime. This episode will help you to determine if you just need a break or really need to let go.
This is the time of year when we might start exploring other opportunities in the teaching field. One of the disadvantages of our profession is that teachers have a very small window of time to interview and be hired. With so much competition, you want to make sure your interview goes well.
We as teachers often compare ourselves to other teachers. This is especially true in the days of social media and the results are nothing good. Comparing ourselves to others isn't always healthy, yet we do it anyway.
Bryan reads the blog post "Stop Comparing Your Life. Start Living It" by Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist. The original post is located here: http://www.becomingminimalist.com/stop-comparing-your-life-start-living-it
It's my birthday month and that has put me in a reflective mood. I'm reminded that I'm getting older. I have more years behind me than in front of me. This reflection has led me to look back over my long teaching career and offer some of what I have found to be effective for my classroom experience.
Regardless of where we are in our teaching career, it can be helpful to be reminded of what successful teachers look like. We often confuse successful teachers as those whose students produce high test scores or create these amazing classrooms that are highlighted on sites like Pinterest.
What truly can bring value to classrooms? To help coach us Bryan talks with National Hall of Fame educator Alan Haskvitz. Alan shares with us certain traits that many excellent teachers have in common.
The Teachers Lounge goes live with special guest Dr. James Hughey. Dr. Hughey is a retired teacher/psychologist who will offer some insight for teachers about taking care of their mental health. He'll also share teaching strategies that have worked well for him.
For blog posts, podcasts, and videos from Dr. Hughey visit pfpl.us.
In honor of Valentine's Day, I share my thoughts on what I love about my job. Very often we are more focused on all of the negativity found in the teaching profession. So, let's flip the script. What do you love about being in the classroom?
Are you looking for a strategy that allows you to do some lecture but also builds in time for student interaction? In this episode, Bryan discusses the Ten Plus Two strategy from the "Let's Teach" YouTube channel found at https://youtu.be/Y2udPWz_3vg
Joining us for this episode is Erin Gruwell. Her teaching story was made into a book "The Freedom Writers Diary" and a movie "Freedom Writers"!
By fostering an educational philosophy that valued and promoted diversity, she transformed her students’ lives, most of whom were seen as "unteachable". She encouraged them to rethink rigid beliefs about themselves and others, to reconsider daily decisions, and to re-chart their futures. With Erin's steadfast support, her students shattered stereotypes to become critical thinkers, aspiring college students, and citizens for change.
Also, Erin shares how the publication of her student's world "The Freedom Writers Diary" became a best seller.
For more about the Freedom Writers foundation visit http://www.freedomwritersfoundation.org
Happy New Year! Are you ready for the return of school? Looking back on the previous year, what did we do well and what could have been improved?
As we return to teaching, Bryan shares an article from Mike Roberts (@BaldRoberts) on 20 simple-yet-meaningful things teachers can do every day to improve the classroom atmosphere for themselves and their students.
This article can be found on the National Association of Independent Schools website at https://www.nais.org/learn/independent-ideas/august-2018/20-simple-yet-meaningful-things-educators-can-do-every-day/
Congratulations to the teachers in the States! You have made it to Thanksgiving break! We all deserve some rest from the classroom.
Kriscia Cabral took some time to write down what she is thankful for when she goes to work as a teacher. In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, Bryan shares her top five reasons on why she is a thankful teacher. For the full article go to http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top-teaching/2013/11/top-5-reasons-im-thankful-teacher
Also, It's the final episode of season three! Season four of the podcast will start in January. Until then, may your days be merry and bright!
Despite the fact that teaching seems to be phasing out of modern classrooms, many of us in education recognize its value. In fact, many teachers are doing their best to keep creativity in classrooms.
However, like our car batteries, we sometimes wear down and our inspiration to be creative is lost. We can enter a rut.
Fortunately, this rut can be temporary. On this episode, Bryan shares a blog post from "Write On With Mrs. G" that can help us jump-start our creativity as a teacher.
Teacher and author Lewis Buzbee join us on the program to discuss his book "Blackboard-A Personal History of the Classroom". We discuss classrooms of the past, evaluate schools in the present, and offer possibilities for how education will be in the future. For more of Lewis Buzbee check out https://www.lewisbuzbee.com
Parent/teacher conferences can be something that both parents and teachers dread. We can get tired of the same old, same old interactions, that really did not affect change. Often this conferences take the shape of telling the parents all the “wrong” things their child is doing to earn a bad grade – or it is a time for the parents of the high performing students to come to school to hear how great their child is or is doing. Most of the time the student is excluded from the conference or not given much of a voice to advocate for themselves.
Instead of conferences, why not try goal setting meetings that are led by students? This meeting can be a positive, proactive approach to improve student achievement by facilitating a positive mindset.
Learning cannot happen if students do not understand the expectations and do not have a positive attitude and mindset. Student success is more likely with parents as part of the instructional team.
Too often as educators we focus much of our energy on the problems we have in the classroom and not enough on possible solutions. For this episode, we discuss some common problems that listeners are experiencing and offer some possible solutions.
James hosts The Power For Positive Living podcast. Visit https://power4positiveliving.libsyn.com/
The Teachers Lounge welcomes former Georgia Teacher of the Year for 2016 Ernie Lee (@GATOTY2016) to the program.
At the time of this recording, Mr. Lee had only been in the classroom for a few years. He quickly found great success in the education profession. This former lawyer turned teacher shared strategies that worked well for him and offered some motivation to fellow teachers.
On the podcast, Bryan will not only share his own views and experiences but feature the voice of other educators as well. Some are featured in a conversational episode and others are highlighted by having their written words read aloud.
This episode features an article from edutopia.org titled "How Novice and Expert Teachers Approach Classroom Management Differently" byYouki Terada.
A recent "study reveals the ways in which new and experienced teachers think about discipline—plus 6 takeaways for managing your classroom effectively this year."
Whether you are an experienced teacher, or a fairly new educator, the Teachers Lounge believes you will find some value from this article.
In Smart Kids, Bad Schools, award-winning author and educator Brian Crosby (brian-crosby.com)draws on his many years as a high school English teacher to offer a candid appraisal of why our schools are failing and what we must do to save them.
Welcome back to school! For some of us, it may have been awhile since we've had a normal classroom environment. Whether our school has a mask mandate or not it's a good time to review procedures. Procedures tell a student what to do. This form of prevention can be an important key to solving discipline problems.
For the full article, visit http://www.teachers.net/wong/SEP13/
This brief episode is more of a prequel to the upcoming season. Bryan checks in and share his thoughts about this podcast series. Like our teaching profession, it produces feelings of discouragement as well as rewards.
The Teachers Lounge will return for a new season of shows that aims to encourage educators and provide them a voice. The show also aims to provide teachers helpful tools/strategies to make this next school year a successful one. So stay subscribed and be ready for a great season of episodes that will help us become better educators!
Clutter kills creativity and serves no real value to you and your students. The minimalism movement is growing and teachers can use its core principals to have an improved classroom environment. It's simply getting rid of things you do not use or need, leaving an uncluttered, simple environment to where you can focus on things that really matter in your class.
Our days are tough enough as it is. Why not use the end of the year to get rid of things that are serving no real value to you or your students?
Mentioned on the program: Tiny Houses & the Quest to De-Clutter, Edhelper.com, Evernote, Freecycle.org and Google Drive.
As most of us conclude a challenging school year, this will be the final show for this season.
For many of us, we are near the end of the school year! Congratulations! It has been a year like no other. Even with a pandemic, teachers found a way to influence their students.
The Teachers Lounge is proud to have a Georgia Teacher of the Year join us for this episode. Emily Jennette is a teacher who has a passion for making a difference in the lives of her students and fellow educators.
On this program, Emily discusses her history about why she became a teacher and some strategies that worked in her classroom. Also, Emily offers encouragement/insights to her fellow teachers who truly want to make a difference.
Joining us in the Lounge today is Robert Wilder, author of 'Tales From The Teachers Lounge' a series of irreverent, wickedly observant essays about what it really means to be a teacher today.
Leaving a lucrative advertising career in New York, he got a job as a teacher at a Santa Fe alternative school—and never looked back. Now he brings his unique perspective—as a teacher, parent, and former student—to a series of laugh-out-loud essays that show teaching at its most absurd...and most rewarding.
http://robertwilder.com/
Teachers, no less than anyone, deserve safe workplaces. These days we show a lot of concern about the topic of bullying in regards to our students. Unfortunately, very little is being done about teachers being bullied by their students, parents, and leadership at a place that is supposed to be a bully free zone.
School officials must send an unmistakable message to students that striking or threatening physical violence against a teacher will bring the swiftest and most severe consequences.
Cyber bullying is real not just with student victims but educators as well. If teachers are not safe, disrespected, and have no place to turn for support, our educational system is in serious trouble.
Joining me on the show is Dr. Todd Whitaker (@ToddWhitaker). He's recognized as a leading motivational speaker in the field of education. On the program we discuss what great teachers and principals do differently.
Recently, I lost my dog of 13 years. Max was fortunate to spend his senior years working in my classroom. I heard from many parents, staff, and students about the impact Max had on the school. The right animal in the right classroom can provide a lot of value.
Janelle's Cox article lists the following benefits:
Teaches Responsibility: Having a classroom pet allows children to understand the responsibility that is involved in order to take care of an animal. Whether it’s feeding it lunch or cleaning out the cage, children will learn what it takes to care for something other than themselves.
Students Learn Compassion: A classroom pet is a great way to teach children compassion and how to nurture. Children will learn how to properly handle and care for the pet. Even the toughest of kids will have the chance to practice his/her nurturing skills. They will learn that they need to treat the pet carefully in order for it to trust them.
Is Therapeutic for Children: Classroom pets can bring calmness to children who have anxiety or stress in their lives. Studies show that classroom animals lessen tension and help children to be calmer. What teacher wouldn’t want that in their classroom?
Can be good for Your Health: There has been a lot of research on the benefits of animals and your health. Studies not only show that children who have pets are better equipped to fight off infection, but they also tend to average more days at school than children who do not have a pet.
It Enriches the Classroom Experience: Classroom pets introduce children to the world of animals. If students don’t have a pet of their own at home, they can see, feel, touch, and learn what it takes to care for one at school.
For the full article from Janelle Cox please visit http://www.teachhub.com/teacher%E2%80%99s-guide-classroom-pets
Educators, may your holiday break be merry and bright! Enjoy this rebroadcast on why you are a big deal.
It's Christmas time in the city, and that means we not only get to enjoy the holiday season but also some much needed time off. It's halftime for us as teachers...a time to rest and also maybe think of how the 2nd half of the year will go.
Bryan also shares some inspiring stories from teachers to remind you that we as educators can make a difference.
Girls rule in school. Great, right? Not to the millions of boys who are performing poorly in reading and writing, being diagnosed with learning disabilities in record numbers, and opting out of college.
Joining us is Peg Tyre, best selling author of The Trouble with Boys. Her book has been hailed by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsweek, Redbook, U.S News & World Report, People Magazine, Parents, the Today Show, Fox & Friends, and Anderson Cooper 360. Peg will be giving teachers, school administrators, and concerned parents a clear idea of the problems that beset boys from all walks of life and helping families and schools come up with new tools to ensure all children achieve their best.
Check out the book on Amazon or from Peg Tyre's website.
Shyness is often misunderstood because it is not one emotion, but a mixture of fear, tension, apprehension, or embarrassment. Shy children seem to lack confidence and are self-conscious especially in new surroundings or when they are the center of attention. Changes in the environment and school pressures are also factors that affect a child’s demeanor.
It is noteworthy that shyness is not necessarily a negative attribute. Many shy children exhibit an ability to please and think for themselves. Being reserved can also be a worthy personality trait. It is when shyness is severe that educators need to be concerned.
Join Bryan in the Lounge as he and education writer Leah Davies (@Kellybearbooks) converse about students who are quiet thinkers and observers. She also manages http://www.kellybear.com
What strategies help you in reaching your quiet and shy students?
The Teachers Lounge mourns the loss of an incredible veteran teacher, Evelyn Sellers. Evelyn taught a vast amount of students in over 30 years. She made an incredible impact on her students and fellow teachers; many of whom attended her funeral decades after knowing her. Of course, since she was my mom, she also made an incredibly positive impact on my life.
Evelyn was also a member of our teachers' roundtable on various episodes. The following is an interview clip I did with her on her educational career, and useful strategies to help the current teacher.
Welcome to a new season of shows on The Teachers Lounge! It's an exciting time of year as we start not only a new season of shows but also a brand new school year!
For many teachers, its a struggle to transition from summer vacation mode to teaching. This is especially true in our current coronavirus times when there is so much negative energy about whether a school should open up in person or online. The beginning of the school year is so full of things to do and can be overwhelming. Educators often make the mistake of complaining about the start of school and focus on all the negative aspects of the job.
Returning guest Owen Griffith (@owenmgriffith) is back and is here to help us have a more grateful mindset about our jobs and life. Owen is not only a classroom teacher but also a public speaker, blog writer, and published author. His new book Gratitude: A Way of Teaching will help many discouraged teachers and how they conduct their classrooms. This valuable book will give educators solution-based methods and research-based resources to improve classroom culture, as well as enabling schools to elevate students’ engagement and academic achievement. This highly praised book is currently available at Amazon and was a Top Ten Best Seller in April 2016
Remind is a free tool that has helped me to be more effective with classroom communication by sending quick, simple messages to any device that parents and students may use. All phone numbers stay private.
I talk with Taylor Chapman about the many benefits of using the Remind platform and how it can make us more effective in communicating with students and parents.
Visit Remind and try it out at https://www.remind.com/
Teachers expect their students to listen to adults and to others, but how effectively are we as listeners to our students? Listening is an extremely important skill for educators (communicating with parents, administrators, co-workers, and students) but most of us struggle with being good listeners. Veteran teacher, and retired counselor, Dr. James Hughey joins us in the Lounge to discuss what can truly make a difference in the lives of you and your students for years to come.
For Dr. Hughey's podcast “Power For Positive Living” visit PFPL.US
If you watched the Superbowl, you couldn't help but notice the atmosphere was filled with excitement and passion. The announcers, players, fans, and halftime performers acted like they really wanted to be there and enjoyed what they were doing. Can the same be said about you in your classroom?
Happy New Year! Joining us on the program to offer some motivation, teaching strategies, and some of what she's learned over her very successful journey as an educator is Vicki Davis (@coolcatteacher). She also hosts a podcast show called "The 10 Minute Teacher" at https://www.coolcatteacher.com/podcast/
Child abuse is not something we like to discuss, especially this time of year. However, sexual child abuse is going on somewhere right now. Often we as teachers hear this information at the start of the year when we have a ton of responsibilities on our plate and we haven't even met our students.
Now as we approach the halfway mark of the year and know our students, The Teachers Lounge goes back to this topic and invites special guests from Darkness to Light (http://www.d2l.org). They are an organization dedicated to helping those children who suffer from sexual abuse. We discuss the myths, our roles as teachers, and useful strategies in dealing with this very dark topic.
Teaching can be a very discouraging field. It's very tempting to gravitate to the dark side while complaining about our career and being very negative. Owen Griffith is our guest in the Lounge. He is a veteran teacher and educational blog writer (http://spirituallyteaching.blogspot.com). Owen has found that teaching gratitude not only has changed the students in his classroom but also has made him a stronger teacher. We discuss the importance of cultivating an attitude of gratitude in our classrooms and the many benefits it brings.
We continue our insightful interview with teacher and author Robert Ward. On part two of this program we discuss more topics from his book The Firm, Fair, Fascinating Facilitator: Inspire your Students, Engage your Class, Transform your Teaching
Robert's resource's can be found on Amazon and his blog is at https://rewardingeducation.wordpress.com. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/RewardingEdu
No smiling till Christmas? Are you acting like a drill instructor for the first few weeks of school? Should we post consequences in our classroom? What about that student who lies and says he is innocent?
There are many misunderstandings when it comes to being a firm and fair teacher. Fortunately, we have an experienced educator, mentor, and author to help us reflect on how firm and fair we are in the classroom.
Fellow teacher Robert Ward(@RewardingEdu) brings over two decades of classroom experiences to our show and his book: The Firm, Fair, Fascinating Facilitator: Inspire your Students, Engage your Class, Transform your Teaching is currently available wherever books are sold.
"The purpose of this book is to illuminate and equip both current and prospective educators with the necessary knowledge and skills to at long last become that spectacular and satisfied teacher that they had always envisioned themselves to be and that their students so desperately need them to be."
For more about Robert Ward, his books, and contact information visit https://rewardingeducation.wordpress.com
It's that time of year again! Summer vacation is coming to an end and we're getting ready to start a new school year! The start of the year is critical, and so much depends on your attitude. This episode offers some helpful suggestions.
For Dr. James Hughey's podcast “Power For Positive Living” visit PFPL.US
Bryan retired The Teachers Land Podcast a few years ago. However, he is surprised after all this time many people are still checking out the old episodes!
Bryan recently celebrates 20 years of classroom teaching by looking back at episodes that were recorded earlier in his career. Do those shows stand the test of time? Years later, Bryan offers his commentary about what was said.
The first episode is the series premiere. Originally entitled, "Carpe Diem" Bryan feels it's important to look back and understand why we wanted to enter such a challenging field. We can also see growth and improvement when we look back. Did we turn into the experienced teachers we envisioned at the start?