Schooled by Mr Bascom: Recent Episodes
Kurt Bascom
Podcast/YouTube Show interviewing former students, reflecting on how their educational experiences brought them to where they are now. Lessons & Laughs for Learners of all ages.
Ep #30 is my 30 for 30- A look back at 30 years of teaching, with some nostalgia, compare & contrast, love for the profession, my kids, my transformation over that time, love for the Bronx, and just some feelings of gratitude for everything that brought me to this point. Teaching can be a grind, but if you focus on the kids and your craft, you can find the grace and joy in it. Life's good!
2024: The Return of the...oh well, you know:) It's been a while, but as I approach my 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF TEACHING(!!!), I started thinking about Professional Development (1,200 sessions of those bore-fests!) and more importantly, how do we get better at teaching and the things we do for a living.
After months of planning, preparing, practicing and playing, the 2023 Football Season has ended for me and my team. In this episode, I reflect on the challenges and hopes for us.
I'm sort of surprised I haven't covered this one yet. In this ep, I talk about dealing with kids displaying attitudes and being a pain both in the classroom and on the field. I drove into work feeling one way about this, and wound handling it pretty different a little while later- so listen the whole way through to this tough guy/softie LOL
As both a new football season and a new school year approach, I compare and contrast the experiences, do a little self-inventory and talk about making sure the toolbox has everything needed to get the year started right. Check it out!
This episode has 2 parts: Me driving in and wondering about my team & how practice is going to go, then me driving home from it hours later, with some positive vibes. The anxiety and the amazing!
In this episode, I talk about how I try to get both players and students to "buy in" to a team goal on the field or into actively learning in the classroom. We need to engage, to inspire without falling into cliches. Not always easy!
In this episode, I talk about some of the distinct differences between being a head coach and a coordinator or assistant coach. Also talk a bit about big schools vs small schools, "busy work" vs practical and engaging teaching and coach. Listen, like, subscribe, share and spread the word!!
In this episode, I talk about the results of the US History Regents Exam that just came in. My first time administering this exam to my 8th grade students, as it's normally taken by 11th graders! Some thoughts on teaching, engaging, anticipation and next steps for myself as a teacher. Check it out- I really want to hear back from current & former students about this exam and how my teaching (hopefully) helped you on it and in your general Social Studies knowledge. Email or message me- Email: SocialStudiesBascom@gmail.com; Instagram: SocialStudiesBascom; Twitter: CoachBascom
Subscribe! Gracias!
My father's longtime girlfriend of over 30 years recently passed away, so this week has been about helping him cope and grieve. It's allowed me to reflect, support and learn more about my Dad, Lisa, and dealing with the passing of someone close to your family, while facing the challenges of putting my normal life on pause to be there for him. Pretty deep stuff.
In this short episode, I talk about a pet peeve of mine in both the classroom and on the field- Being nice and acknowledging others. Sometimes we get caught up in whatever is in our front-view and ignore everything outside our blinders, but...Stop that! LOL Take the time to acknowledge people you know, particularly those you have worked with before. Be nice!
In this episode, we talk about the challenges of advocating, managing and helping our student-athlete kids. We always mean well, but sometimes our efforts can be counter-productive. We have to be willing to reflect honestly and have those tough conversations with our young people to make sure they are getting the most out of their sports experiences. Hope you like it- Like, Subscribe, Share & Spread the Word- Thanks!
I recorded this a couple of weeks ago after having Spring PTC. Some of the good, bad and ugly parts of hosting them as a teacher, attending them as a parent and advice for both. Enjoy, comment, subscribe and spread the word- Thanks!
This episode is me essentially one of my favorite all-time lessons, connecting history, Metallica and storytelling about World War I via my own story, Dalton Trumbo's Johnny Got His Gun, the movie based on that book, and Metallica's "One". The lesson's intent is to teach how nationalism and militarism negatively affected our soldiers and citizens, but it's a lot more than that. The art of telling a good story and keeping learners engaged! Enjoy!!
In this episode, I delve into how teachers are looked at and treated using the "Social-Emotional Learning" lens. Critical, yet honest and reflective. Like me! And like this podcast while you're at it- then subscribe and spread the word! Thanks!!
In this episode, I rant a bit about my thoughts concerning empathy, understanding and the nuances of Social-Emotional Learning in the classroom and on the football field. Check it out, comment, subscribe & spread the word- Thanks!
The Chiefs won the Super Bowl, ending the NFL Football season, but High School Football never ends! In this episode, I think out loud about how to restock, rebuild and reload my football team.
Part 2 of my story about becoming a teacher 5,000 um 29 years ago! 41 students, destroying bookcases and learning how to teach- Enjoy, subscribe and share!
This is Part 1 of my story about how I started teaching 29 years ago this month. Hope I made the right career decision LOL Check it out and Subscribe! Let me know what you think!
Returning to the podcast world; Facing changes in Section 1 High School Football, I consider options for my team to stick with the federation we have been connected with for a long time OR go independent. Lots of talk about pros and cons, what's best for a team, and how to build a team amidst all of these challenges. Even if you don't coach or like football much (and that's terrible LOL), I think you might like this internal debate:)
This episode comes after our terrible first game loss to Briarcliff. We had a lot of hope and expectations, and we still do. I try to analyze what happened, what we did right and wrong, and how we keep moving ahead. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
On this episode, I was driving to our first game of the season vs Briarcliff. Lots of talk about hope, joy, optimism & anxiety. Wonder what happened? LOL
In this episode, I talk about some of the challenges of being the new head coach of a football team that has had some bad times. How to rebuild the team and the culture while still keeping some semblance of a life:)
This was recorded (in the car, driving to work:) after the 1st week of Spring Sessions of Football at Woodlands High School. I've been coaching for a long time, but this is the first time I've led the way into spring football as Head Coach, so naturally I was a combination of excited and anxious. Here are my thoughts & reflections on it- Hope you like it! Like, Comment & Subscribe!
Anyone that knows me knows I love football AND I drive A LOT. Leaving early in the morning every day, I sometimes get sleepy while driving. So rather than eating or guzzling coffee, I decided to record myself talking about how I became the Head Coach of the Woodlands HS Football team. I wanted to have a record of this for myself, but thought: I haven't recorded a podcast in a while; let's see if I can multitask: Podcast, Commute and tell a (hopefully) interesting story! I hope the audio isn't too bad!
It's been about 5 months since I dropped an episode. This one is different from the others, as it's just me (interviews will return) riffing on teaching during COVID, African-American History Month, and trying to be engaged and into what you're doing/learning, particularly when you're not 100%- Can you be RIGHT when everything's not right?
Rosalynn Diaz, or "Roz", is a former student of mine from I.S. 162. I taught her back in 2003-2004, after which she went on to graduate from Jane Addams High School, then go on to John Jay College. She was an excellent student then, overcoming challenges while providing inspiration on her path towards success. She is a family advocate in Queens Court. She is also a poet, expressing her views on social justice, facing adversity, life and love through her pen name "Through These Big Brown Eyes". She seeks to inspire and motivate all of those around her; learn more about her and her writing here: https://throughherbigbrowneyes.com/
Danielle Taylor is not only a former student, but a former colleague of mine(!). I taught Danielle at I.S. 162 back in 2002-2003. After graduating from Clinton High School and getting her Bachelor's Degree from John Jay College, she went on to work with young people with Directions For Our Youth (DFOY) at Van Nest Academy. I reacquainted myself with Danielle there, as that is where I work- small world! She did a fantastic job there, impacting students and making the most of her opportunities. She continues to work with young people today. We had a great conversation about her early years, growing up in the Bronx and taking the lessons of our pasts and making them work for us, and others, in the present and future.
Envy Lopez is a former student of mine, proudly serving our country in the U.S. Army. Currently residing in Florida, she is a sergeant, working in recruitment, helping young people make wise decisions and maximize their potential while also contributing to the nation's defense. She continues her own education. Envy was a fantastic student in my VNA Class of 2013. She learned a lot about herself along the way. We have a great conversation connecting the lessons and laughs of her past to the passion of her present and focus of her future.
Angel Fonseca was in the first class I ever taught, a fifth grader back in 1994 in P.S. 161 in the South Bronx. Angel and I never lost touch, as he was a player on my Bantam League football team in 1999 and a friend ever since. He knows me as "Mr. Bascom", "Coach Kurt" and "Kurt", while I know him as a friend, a family man and a successful entrepreneur. Angel is one of the co-founders of Hudsy, a video streaming platform using their varied, first-rate backgrounds to protect and celebrate the Hudson Valley’s talent, diversity, recreational offerings, and culture.