Episodes

The journey of an educator is a challenge. It is a demanding position that requires all of our physical and emotional energy. Matthew Strine provides us honest feedback about his journey and how it has shaped his positive mindset on teaching today. We discuss key strategies and examples for incorporating real-world tasks in the classroom. Matthew shares the opportunities he is creating for students and how his high expectations create results they never dreamed to be true. In This Episode We Co...

After facilitating a lesson, the time to think, reflect, and set action steps for the next attempt is key for growing as a teacher. Matt and Ken discuss what best practices for reflecting on lessons look like and how it applies to all K-12 educators. The process for a self-contained elementary teacher is much different that a middle school social studies teacher. Ken just wrapped up facilitating a lesson with two teachers he helped design in his role as an instructional coach. He reflects on the...

Professor Christopher P. Brown brings a calm, level-headed, realistic approach to what teaching and learning should look like for our youngest learners. The standards we set, the expectations we create, need to align to what students need to develop as young people, not the content policymakers feel are important. Chris shares key strategies for taking advantage of learning moments, explaining why, and being explicit with his instructional decisions. In This Episode We Cover The power of expla...

Events with parents and family members can be stressful, overwhelming, and a time that creates anxiety for teachers. Our host Matt Rogers just wrapped up his back-to-school night an hour before the recording. We dove deep into the topic and heard honest, organic reflections from Matt coming right off of the event. To quote Ken, "this is a crucial event" to help guide students towards success. In This Episode We Cover: How to establish a team atmosphere working towards the success of the child....

Here is a show with twice the excitement for the price of one! Mario and Alberto, known as the ETwinz are two outstanding educators creating learning experiences for students like non-other. They relocated from Spain 6 years ago, and began teaching in the United States without knowing how to speak English. Their life experience blends with a student-centered teaching experience to inspire students to make mistakes, take risks, and solve problems. They teach in a Spanish immersion school; the app...

Dr. Erik Youngman is a dedicated educator bringing his professional and personal life experiences together to provide a well-rounded approach to his district. As the father of three daughters and husband to a speech pathologist, he is able to wear multiple hats in addition to his experience as a teacher, principal, and curriculum director. He encourages a holistic approach to teaching and constantly checking in with students to hear authentic feedback about how teaching and learning can improve....

Jorge Rodriguez is a physical education teacher from Saudi Arabia, relocated from Houston Texas. His calm presence, open mind, and willingness to take risks in is inspirational. After sharing the experience of moving his family across the globe, Jorge jumps into his key instructional strategies to run a democratic classroom. He provides specific examples of how his lessons are structured to create this type of learning environment. In This Episode We Cover: Taking life risks to expand yourself...

"I was able to align my head and my heart as a teacher." Those words of inspiration were one of many from Abby French, a middle school social studies teacher from Virginia. In our conversation with Abby, we learned how she works as a local advocate for her teachers and schools, creates passion and excitement in the classroom, and facilitates student-centered learning. She finds ways to teach history through empathy and connect the past to the present. Abby is an incredible teacher and her work g...

Dr. Tracy Scott Kelly went through every effort to record this podcast, the passion and enthusiasm are palpable from the moment it began. He is a dedicated, relentless educator always striving to do his best for students. He has made a career out of special education, whether it is a five-student or 25 student caseload he does everything necessary to see the success of those students. Tracy is inspirational to push for change, step out of our comfort zone, and make a positive influence on educat...

Christopher Albrecht is a humble, committed, passionate, and inspirational educator for everyone to look up to. For 24 years Christopher has impacted countless lives of students and is committed to the betterment of his community. As a community member himself, he serves as a role model for all. Christopher shares his insight on how to make new teachers more successful and to prevent burnout. His approach to classroom management is powerful. This podcast is a must-listen for educators in pre-ser...

Imagine walking into your child's fifth-grade classroom two days before the first day of school for an open house and seeing 30 desks and chairs in a pile. Ken Ehrmann's parents and children went through this very experience, and it was all by design. Ken shares how he launched his year through a student-centered experience to completely immerse the students into the room. The phrase "we share this room together" took on a whole new meaning. In This Episode We Cover: How to approach the first ...

Casey Jakubowski is a passionate advocate for teacher well-being and preventing burnout. His desire to support new and veterans teachers come from a place of experiencing burnout himself. He is a former high school civics teacher and has worked many years in the pre-service training of teachers. He provides motivation to grow as a teacher and actionable steps to do so. In This Episode We Cover: Defining the difference between civics education and social studies. Creating simulation-based expe...

Cara Bowerman is teaching and coaching her passions and influencing young adults to pursue the same. As a high school art teacher, Cara has the unique experience to work with students passionate about the content and interested in growing their own skills. She doesn't assume this will create instant buy-in. Cara works hard to develop real respect from her students and to promote an environment of risk-taking. Her students are supported and encouraged to do their own version of "best". In This E...

Linda Rost is the 2020 Montana Teacher of the Year. From the moment the podcast begins it is evident as to why she has earned those accolades. The learning experiences she creates are all designed around one goal, to improve student learning. She provides students with the opportunity to redesign a local lake, and challenge the decisions made by the Department of Interior on endangered species. Her passion is palpable and the podcast will truly leave you feeling powerED Up! In this episode, we ...

Connecting with a large group of students year after year is a teacher's highest priority but also a major challenge. Stacie Lawler uses an open, authentic, and honest approach to accomplish such a task. As a Health and P.E. teacher, Stacie wears many hats and one she has added to her collection is the daunting task of mental health. In 2014, Stacie was faced with her own challenges of mental health as a parent. This translated into an endless mission to change the narrative in her school, state...

Creating lesson plans, how exciting! In pre-service education, most aspiring teachers will spend many classes and assignments designing lesson plans in different templates all to find out that every district has its own expectations for design and components. If you are a ten-year teacher, do you even need to write lesson plans? Matt and Ken have very conflicting answers. In this episode, the two co-hosts debate over the purpose, relevancy, and value of lesson plans. In This Episode We Cover: ...

Creating an integrated wellness approach is so much more than "teaching gym class". Bo Shappell shares the truth about physical education and the future of this class in public education. Bo's approach is focused on improving the lives of his students and the way they think about themselves. Bo shares how he is combining the curriculum of health with the movement of physical education to create his integrated wellness course. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is at the core of instruction. Add...

If it works for one, then it works for all. Designing a learning space where students have real choices to fit their learning needs and modalities is a powerful environment to thrive. Kyle Niemis shares how he combines Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Flipped Learning to create an amazing learning culture. The four-step process to supporting students in a choice-based learning environment is a strategy all teachers can copy and use. He explains the pros and cons, the troubles and triumphs...

Nick Snyder is a South Carolina Teacher of the Year turned administrator. Nick dives deep into the story of "Mr. Snyder" highlighting his passions as a classroom teacher and what students valued most about his classroom. He shares his experience in both middle school and high school English. He provides a great perspective discussing his switch into administration, serving as the assistant principal of his same school. This show brings humility to teaching and a re-centered approach to the human...

Summer break has finally arrived for all teachers around the country! This year tested the patience, willpower, and dedication of all teachers. They stepped up and crushed it. Summertime is about unplugging, relaxing, and recharging the batteries. The summer of 2021 is going to be the most important time for teachers to do this. Matt and Ken talk about their summer goals, strategies, and plans for the most effective rejuvenation. In This Episode We Cover Why summer is so important. Matt's sum...

Kyle Bragg, the SHAPE America 2021 National Teacher of the Year, brings amazing ideas to all teachers in all content areas. He is an inspiration to students, a role model for teachers, and a positive voice in education. As an elementary physical education teacher, he creates a classroom dynamic that is engaging, empowering, and safe for all students. He focuses on praising the characteristics and actions that all students can do, not just the athletically superior students. His specific strategi...

Maggie McHugh is a middle school teacher from Wisconsin focused on project-based learning. For some, PBL is a special week or one unit. Not for Maggie, it is her class all day, every day. Maggie demystifies PBL and provides the listeners with actionable steps towards how to build your students and yourself towards the capacity for PBL. At the beginning of the show, we dive deep into a very intense moment in her classroom related to student identity. As Maggie says herself, "the best Maggie has y...

Elisabeth Bostwick is a former elementary classroom teacher, instructional coach, educational consultant, and published author. She has an amazing perspective on inspiring creative, student-centered learning. She provides actionable steps to develop these learning experiences in any classroom. Some specific topics include: Design loop Empathy Student voice/choice Integrating STEM Student-centered learning Visible thinking routines See think wonder --- Support this podcast: https://podc...

Cathy Koenig is Director of Student Services for Pequea Valley School District. She has a diverse background of teaching as she worked her way to a high-level administration position. Her diverse experience has provided her with insight and advice applicable to all K-12 educators, both regular education and special education. She provides the audience with excellent strategies to help meet the needs of all learners. In This Episode We Cover Defining and explaining Specially Designed Instructio...