Shows
Authentic Educators27: Students Take the LeadWhat happens when teachers put students in charge? Success? Chaos? In this episode, Cody shares a two-day lesson he uses with his 7th grade ELA class. He challenges each class period to function as a team to storyboard a short play. Each class period “competes” against the others to create a sense of friendly competition and urgency. The feature of the lesson is to provide very little answers on how to accomplish the collective goal; this ensures that students help each other and solve problems together.
2025-11-1815 minAuthentic Educators26: Empowering student Learners w/ Hannah KnechtMuch of what happens inside a classroom is the result of the opinions and demands of many stakeholders: governments, school boards, administration, and parents. Too often, the most important voices have little to no say—the students. Hannah Knecht has worked with people of all ages: elementary, middle, and adult learners. Her straightforward system for eliciting student feedback creates a powerful classroom structure in which students themselves can shape the learning environment they want. In this episode of Authentic Educators, Cody and Dave discuss Hannah's methodology with her. We were blown away by how such a quick and easy...
2025-11-0424 minAuthentic Educators25: Cultural Connections w/ Kayla AngstadtCulture is where you’re from; it’s also what you create. Kayla Angstadt lives both of these truths—embracing her Pennsylvania Dutch roots while immersing herself in the vibrant culture of Costa Rica, where she founded Cross Cultural Connect, an organization transforming the way students experience global learningIn this episode of Authentic Educators, Cody and Dave talk with Kayla Angstadt about cultural curiosity, being a global citizen, and her “cultural iceberg" lesson. Kayla shares the story behind CCC’s founding, the power of authentic cultural exchange, and how technology and travel can unite students from around the...
2025-10-2129 minAuthentic Educators24: Exploring AI (Artificial Intelligence) w/ Melissa ZoninArtificial intelligence is a topic that’s rapidly changing the world of education.In this episode of Authentic Educators, Dave and Cody are joined by Melissa Zonin and take a thoughtful look at the rise of artificial intelligence in education. They discuss the opportunities and challenges AI presents for teachers, students, and schools—from saving time and sparking creativity to maintaining authenticity and trust in learning. A grounded, honest conversation about the tools reshaping our classrooms and the values that must guide us forward.Melissa brings with her 20 years of experience in Georgia public schools as a...
2025-10-0738 minAuthentic Educators23: Learning from a Future Teacher w/ Hannah HuddlesonMost of the guests we have interviewed for Authentic Educators are decades into their professional careers. In this episode, Hannah Huddleson, an aspiring teacher shares with us the moments that made the biggest impacts in her experiences as a student. This fresh perspective is essential for veteran teachers to hear. Hannah’s experiences are fresh and powerful and provide a target for educators to aim for when they design lessons meant to inspire their students. Please consider reaching out to us with questions, feedback, or to suggest a great educator to interview by emailing authenticedpod@gmail.c
2025-09-2319 minAuthentic Educators22: Trauma Informed Pedagogy w/ Brooke BurgyTrauma impacts not only how students learn but also how educators teach. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Brooke Burgy, an instructional coach whose doctoral research focused on trauma-informed care and trauma-informed pedagogy.Drawing from both her professional expertise and personal experiences, Dr. Burgy shares powerful insights into building classrooms that prioritize connection and well-being.A central thread in our conversation is social-emotional learning (SEL), a theme that continues to shape the work of authentic educators everywhere.As always, you can reach out to use with questions, feedback, or to suggest...
2025-09-0925 minAuthentic Educators21: 2 Strategies to Build Community w/ Ben BrowandStudents learn best when they feel connected. In our season two premiere, team-building expert Ben Browand shares two quick, fun strategies that help every student know each other’s name and strengthen the classroom community. Perfect for the first week of school or anytime your class needs a boost!
2025-08-2826 minAuthentic Educators20: End of Year ReflectionCody and Dave reflect on season one of the podcast and the school year coming to a close and reflect on the importance of reflection as a practice.
2025-06-0326 minAuthentic Educators19: (No) Seating Charts and Vertical Thinking w/ Jo Ann CawleyWhat if your classroom didn’t have a traditional seating chart? In this episode, veteran middle school math teacher Jo Ann Cawley shares how she differentiates instruction by randomizing student seating daily. Her unique approach gives students a fresh perspective, new partners, and a different role each day. Jo Ann also incorporates vertical whiteboards and student-created playlists to spark meaningful conversations and drive deeper learning in her classroom.Enjoy this episode and reach out with any feedback at AuthenticEdPod@gmail.com.
2025-05-2028 minAuthentic Educators18: Regulate, Relate, and Reason w/ Katie McLaughlin de VriesDeregulation can affect anyone—students and adults alike—disrupting focus and derailing the learning process. In this episode, Cody and Dave are joined by Katie McLaughlin de Vries, an educational consultant with Thom Stecher and Associates, to explore practical, compassionate strategies educators can use to support students of all ages when they become dysregulated. Centered around the powerful framework of the three Rs—regulate, relate, and reason—this conversation offers valuable insights for teachers, parents, and anyone working with young people. Don’t miss this meaningful discussion on helping students navigate their most challenging moments.Enjoy this episode and reach out...
2025-05-0638 minAuthentic Educators17: Poetry Pauses w/ Brett VogelsingerApril is National Poetry month, but teacher and author Brett Vogelsinger thinks poetry should be read, enjoyed, and utilized as an instructional tool year round. Join Cody and Dave to learn about Brett’s use of poetry in the classroom, including insights from his book, Poetry Pauses. Brett advocates for using poems weekly, if not daily, to help connect with course content, teach mini-lessons, and appreciate the beauty of language.You can learn more about Brett at his website, brettvogelsinger.com, and you can purchase his book. Poetry Pauses, here.Enjoy this ep...
2025-04-2233 minAuthentic Educators16: Hot Seat DebateSociety is full of disagreement, and students of all ages need opportunities to practice meaningful debate. In this episode, Cody shares a strategy called Hot Seat Debate, which he learned from a colleague. This engaging activity taps into students’ natural love of argument and competition, guiding them through three rounds of lively, structured debate. One key element: students don’t get to choose their side. Some of the most powerful learning moments happen when they’re asked to argue for a position they personally disagree with.Feel free to use this Canva link to create an awesome activi...
2025-04-0818 minAuthentic Educators15: Storytelling and Authenticity w/ Victoria ShortVictoria Short a retired English teacher and veteran of the U.S. Army. In her 28 years as a teacher she was named Teacher of the Year, taught thousands of students, and inspired many with her storytelling and life lessons. She is the author of the book, Find Your Mini Pumpkin, a collection of the life lessons that she would share with her students on Fridays. In this episode, Victoria reflects about lessons she learned early in her teaching career, the power of storytelling, giving students written feedback, and the importance of being authentic in the classroom. You c...
2025-03-2533 minAuthentic Educators14: Engaging Classroom DisplaysPurposeful displays like printouts of current events, character maps drawn on whiteboard, or daily stock market updates posted on the wall can create engagement and authentic conversations. In this episode, Cody and Dave talk about simple ways to create engagement, foster rapport, and connect to the curriculum through engaging classroom displays.Reach out at authenticedpod@gmail.com if you have any questions or ideas to share!
2025-03-1115 minAuthentic Educators13: Student Autonomy w/ Ken EhrmannAutonomy provides students the necessary opportunities to see what they are capable of and learn from their mistakes. Cody and Dave’s conversation with PA teacher of the year nominee, Ken Ehrmann, explores the ways in which teachers can foster powerful learning experiences in their classrooms with students at the center of the decision-making tree.Learn more about Ken at his website, https://www.kenehrmann.org/, or listen to his podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Clzuqa1Uai1G6Ihfr8Glw?si=428a98d54e8240adReach out at authenticedpod@gmail.com if you...
2025-02-2531 minAuthentic Educators12: Reflecting on FeedbackProviding effective feedback is an essential but time-consuming part of being a teacher. Cody and Dave discuss a model of ensuring that students hear their teacher’s advice and are able to act upon it for future essays, projects, or activities. Reach out at authenticedpod@gmail.com if you have any questions or ideas to share and click the link below to use the resource Cody discusses in this episode:https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1zyiBwGBs6-aIermSOgAInM8tdL-80b3Eu90xOWy_sY4/edit?usp=sharing
2025-02-1115 minAuthentic Educators11: Three Total Participation TechniquesClassrooms thrive when every voice is heard and every mind is engaged, but how do we move beyond the handful of hands that always go up? Cody and Dave dive into Total Participation Techniques, practical strategies to get all students actively involved in learning, sharing 3 total participation techniques–Table top reviews, pass it forward, and debate carousels–that they love to use in their classrooms. Reach out at authenticedpod@gmail.com if you have any total participation techniques that you’d like to share!
2025-01-2821 minAuthentic Educators10: Battleship Coordinate Planes w/ Owen Ricciardi and Nick MedaglioImagine if the games you played as a child were an active part of your educational experience. In this episode, Owen and Nick, who have teaching and administrative experience in various educational settings, share a collaborative activity they used in their middle school math classes. Their creative minds were on full display as each class assumed the role of pirate or sailor to try and outsmart and outthink their classmates in an epic game of Battleship.
2025-01-1422 minAuthentic Educators9: You Can Do Hard Things w/ Karen MillerKaren Miller, a middle school English teacher in Pennsylvania, shares a transformative classroom moment that underscores the importance of teaching students they are capable of doing hard things—and why it’s crucial they do.In a world where phones and computers have made instant gratification more accessible than ever, every teacher faces the challenges of managing technology’s impact on students. Karen opens up about how she confronted this issue head-on in her classroom, sparking an incredible shift in her students’ mindset. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation!
2024-12-1026 minAuthentic Educators8: Reintroductions w/ Patrick BreshearsPatrick Breshears, a high school history teacher in North Carolina, talks about classroom management and a concept he calls “reintroductions.”You’ve probably heard of redirections, which sometimes involves pausing a lesson to address or correct student behavior. Patrick talks about something he calls reintroduction, where rather than pausing an entire lesson, he finds a way to include a distraction as part of the lesson. Listen to our conversation to learn more about this strategy that highlights how teaching is a balancing act, requiring improvisation and flexibility. Reach out at aut...
2024-11-2619 minAuthentic Educators7: Reading RoutinesCody and Dave talk about the importance of routines in the classroom and specific reading routines that Dave implements. Dave talks about writer’s notebooks, establishing time each week for reading, read alouds, and an activity called reading minutes that he used to use as an English teacher and now implements in business courses. Enjoy listening and find ways to incorporate in your own classroom! As always, reach out at authenticedpod@gmail.com if you have any questions or an idea you’d like to share.
2024-11-1229 minAuthentic Educators6: Día de Muertos w/ Meghan MacConnellCody and Dave interview Meghan MacConnell, a Spanish teacher in suburban Philadelphia with twenty years of teaching experience. She is the department chair and gifts students the experience of learning Spanish culture by participating in Dia de Muertos through creating original ofrendas, honoring loved ones in their lives who have passed away. Our conversation details how Meghan implements this project, shares powerful moments from the past, and offers ways to apply her idea to any subject area classroom.Listen, learn, and reach out at AuthenticEdPod@gmail.com if you have any questions or an...
2024-10-2914 minAuthentic Educators5: SEL w/ Thom Stecher (Part 2)This is part two of Cody and Dave’s conversation with Thom Stecher. Thom is a nationally recognized motivational speaker and educational consultant who specializes in self-esteem, wellness, and student assistance programs. In this episode, we talk about specific strategies that embed social and emotional learning within our curriculum. Thom talks about sending letters home to parents, introducing yourself and sharing your passions as two specific ways to be authentic. He discusses low stakes activities like scavenger hunts and think-pair-shares that allow students to interact without all eyes on them. We also dive into th...
2024-10-2224 minAuthentic Educators4: SEL w/ Thom Stecher (Part 1)Cody and Dave are joined by their first guest, Thom Stecher. Thom is a nationally recognized motivational speaker and educational consultant who specializes in self-esteem, wellness, and student assistance programs. In this episode, we discuss how critical the first weeks of school are, how to build a classroom climate, and the importance of embedding social and emotional learning throughout your curriculum. This is part one of two of our conversation. Tune in next episode for part two! Listen, learn, and reach out at AuthenticEdPod@gmail.com if you have...
2024-10-1523 minAuthentic Educators3: MafiaCody and Dave talk about Cody’s favorite lesson ever, a lesson that he has done in the past to hook his students before reading Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible. Cody has his classes play a game, Mafia, to hook his students. Cody and Dave talk about this game and hooking students with unique experiences. Listen and learn more and reach out at authenticedpod@gmail.com if you have any questions or an idea you’d like to share!
2024-10-0119 minAuthentic Educators2: Daily ConferencingCody and Dave talk about Cody’s daily conferencing practice. He checks in with a handful of students every day about their lives, their schoolwork, their questions, and more, and it’s a practice that pays dividends for his classroom climate. Listen and learn more and reach out at authenticedpod@gmail.com if you have any questions for Cody!
2024-09-1718 minAuthentic Educators1: Letter WritingCody and Dave talk about letter writing during the first week of school.
2024-09-0317 minAuthentic EducatorsTrailerAuthentic EducatorsA podcast for teachers, by teachers, about best lessons, favorite classroom moments, and strategies you can implement today. Reach out at authenticedpod@gmail.com!
2024-08-2802 min