Shows
Have a Life TeachingDarrin Peppard: How to Build Staff Morale by Running a School Well (Not Playing the Superhero)As we return to the second half of the school year, and exhaustion starts to set in, morale often becomes fragile—for teachers, students, and leaders alike. In this episode, John is joined by Dr. Darrin Peppard, former Wyoming Principal of the Year and founder of Road to Awesome Consulting, to explore a critical reframe: morale isn’t a program—it’s a byproduct of a well-run school.Darren traces his own leadership journey from classroom teacher to principal and superintendent, including the burnout that came from trying to be a “superhero leader.” From there, the conversa...
2026-01-0741 min
Have a Life TeachingCorey Gordon: How to Build a Vision That Actually Drives School ImprovementWhat does it really mean to communicate a vision—and why does it matter so much for school culture?In this episode, John Schembari is joined by Corey Gordon, CEO of DeliverEd, to explore how schools and districts can move beyond vision statements as “documents on a page” and turn them into drivers of strategic action and improvement.Together, they unpack:Why a clear vision is the essential first step in building strong school cultureWhat effective vision statements include—and what they leave outHow...
2026-01-0633 min
Have a Life TeachingNick Jackson and Amy Wallace: How and Why Student Voice Must Reshape the AI Conversation in EducationIn this episode, John Schembari is joined by student author Amy Wallace and education researcher Dr. Nick Jackson to explore AI in education—from the learner’s perspective.Key Topics CoveredHow students actually use AI to think, revise, and planWhy bans and AI “detection” tools failWhat AI reveals about broken assessment systemsStudent agency vs. performative voiceAI, careers, and uncertainty in the future workforceLessons from Australia’s social media banWhy education must move from binary rul...
2025-12-3041 min
Teaching Learning Leading K-12John Schembari, Johanna Tramantano, Crystal Frommert, and Steve Miletto: The Art and Purpose of Podcasting in Education - 801
John Schembari, Johanna Tramantano, Crystal Frommert, and Steve Miletto: The Art and Purpose of Podcasting in Education. This is episode 801 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.
John Schembari, Have a Life Teaching, leads a discussion with education podcasters to reflect on the art and purpose of podcasting in education. John uses AI to determine what questions he will ask. This was a fun discussion about why we podcast and what we have discovered while podcasting. John notes, "From the challenges of balancing storytelling with scholarship to the power of teacher voice in...
2025-11-2540 min
Have a Life TeachingPodcasters on Education Podcasts - Episode 2Host Dr. John Schembari brings together three leading K–12 podcasters from the U.S. and Australia to explore why they podcast, how they amplify teacher voices, and what keeps them inspired. They discuss balancing practical classroom takeaways with deeper human stories, staying authentic and apolitical, and the impact of connecting educators worldwide.Key Themes:Diversity of voices in educationEquity and purpose in teachingBalancing research and real classroom practiceThe emotional power of teacher storytellingFind Them:Vicki Davis – CoolCatTeacher.comAlice Viga...
2025-11-1236 min
Have a Life TeachingMicki Evans and Erin Sanchez: How to Use Place-Based Learning to Connect Students with Their CommunitiesJohn talks with Mickey Evans and Erin Sanchez about place-based learning, a pedagogy of connectedness that roots instruction in students’ local communities, cultures, and environments. They share design principles for creating authentic, equitable learning experiences and examples from tribal, rural, and urban schools—showing how community partnerships, storytelling, and student voice transform learning. The episode also explores how AI and VR can expand access and make place-based learning possible anywhere.Defining place-based learning and its equity focusHow to design “learning journeys” that connect culture, inquiry, and communityReal-world examples...
2025-11-0441 min
Have a Life TeachingNicholas Bradford: How Restorative Justice Transforms School Discipline into Lasting LearningIn this episode, Dr. John Schembari speaks with Nicholas Bradford - Founder at National Center for Restorative Justice - about how restorative justice can transform school culture by balancing accountability, relationship building, and community repair. Together, they unpack what restorative practices look like in real classrooms and explore how schools can move from punitive discipline models to ones focused on learning, empathy, and responsibility.Redefining Discipline: Moving beyond punishment to accountability and relationship repair.Restorative Practices in Action: How “restorative conferences” differ from traditional discipline and what they look like in schools.Acc...
2025-10-2840 min
Have a Life TeachingTim Shanahan: How Teachers Can Help Students Read Complex Texts Without “Dumbing It Down”Guest:Dr. Tim Shanahan, literacy researcher, author of Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives, and founder of the UIC Center for Literacy.Episode Summary:Dr. Shanahan joins John to discuss why students must engage with grade-level, complex texts—and how teachers can scaffold instruction instead of lowering text difficulty. He explains practical ways to support struggling readers while maintaining rigor and motivation.Key Takeaways:Match instruction—not text level—to student needs.Use rereading, chunking, and guided practice to build comprehension.Pre-teach critical vocabulary and model how to...
2025-10-2141 min
Have a Life TeachingPaige Timmerman and Kourtney Hake: How to Empower Student Writers Through Personal NarrativeIn this episode of The Have a Life Teaching Podcast, host Dr. John Schembari talks with Illinois educators Paige Timmerman and Courtney Hake, co-authors of Their Stories, Their Voices. Together, they explore how teachers can use personal narrative writing to help students find and share their authentic voices—while meeting academic standards and preparing for real-world writing.Paige and Courtney discuss how narrative writing builds engagement, supports social-emotional learning, and develops critical thinking. They outline four key narrative types—informative, analytical, persuasive, and reflective—and share practical ways to weave student voice into everyday assign...
2025-10-0739 min
Have a Life TeachingJenni Donohoo and Glenn Forbes: How to Improve the Collective Efficacy of TeachersWhen Teachers Believe—in Themselves and Each Other—Students ThriveThis week on the podcast, we sit down with Jenni Donohoo and Glenn Forbes to discuss their new book, Collective Impact: Overcoming the Twelve Enemies of Teacher Efficacy.We explore how collective efficacy—educators’ shared belief in their power to impact student learning—creates school cultures where both teachers and students flourish.Just as we encourage students to see challenges as opportunities, teachers must shift from fixed, demoralized mindsets to one where a small win is cel...
2025-09-0939 min
Have a Life TeachingJohn Hattie: How to Prioritize Learning Strategies Not PreferencesIn this latest episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast, we chat with education researcher John Hattie - professor at the University of Melbourne. We discuss, despite evidence suggesting it is ineffective, the continued prevalence of the theory of learning styles and preferences and targeting instruction for individual students towards a specific approach such as visual, auditory, verbal, and/or kinesthetic learning. Rather, Hattie suggests that we think in terms of using a variety of learning strategies that evidence suggests are high impact strategies for improving student knowledge...
2025-06-0334 min
Have a Life TeachingDarlyne de Haan: How to Support Multilingual Learners in STEM ClassroomsPer our next guest on the podcast, MLL/STEM specialist Darlyne de Haan, there are over 900K high school MLL students in the USA - a large number of these students living in poverty (2014). While Algebra and other STEM classes can catapult students into lucrative STEM careers, still, only a very small percentage of MLL students take these courses. I hope you will listen in to my conversation with de Haan, author of the book STEM For All, as we discuss:-Why MLLS are...
2025-04-2935 min
Have a Life TeachingPatrick Sullivan: How to Teach Primary Students Five Math Superpower UnderstandingsDo You Know What the Superpower Understandings in Math Are? Recently, I wrote an article for ASCD about modeling Math through a gradual release framework. A common way through which to do this is to teach Math conceptually, representationally, and then abstractly (CRA Framework). However, there are other frameworks that help students understand Math as well. This week on the podcast, I speak with Patrick Sullivan about additional ways to help elementary students see Math holistically. Sullivan is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Missouri State University and the author of the Solution...
2025-04-2238 min
Have a Life TeachingKatie Gillies and Beverly Zbinden: How to Implement a High School Summer Reading ProgramIn this episode, we speak with Niles North High School Summer Reading Program leads ELA teacher Katie Gillies and librarian Beverly Zbinden.While summer reading may help reduce the potential student summer learning slide, Gillies and Zbinden discuss their true purpose in creating this ambitious project at North Niles High School - a large and diverse high school outside of Chicago:- help students see themselves reflected in the literature they read- expand student choice in the type of literature to which students are exposed
2025-04-1534 min
Have a Life TeachingCheri Sterman and Elle LeBlanc: How to Infuse Art and Creativity in K-12 Core Content LearningEarlier in the second season of this podcast, we had as a guest Bo Stjerne Thomsen of LEGO Education discussing the importance of play in creative learning. In this episode, we continue our look at creativity in learning by discussing how to infuse art in the four core -content areas. In this discussion, we are joined by Cheri Sterman, Director of Education, for Crayola as well as science teacher Elle LeBlanc who discusses her recent Edutopia article - Integrating the Arts in High School Science.
2025-04-0838 min
Have a Life TeachingJennifer Lenhardt: How to Help Secondary Students Develop a Math IdentityWhen students ask where are they EVER going to use the Math they are learning in middle and high school, there is usually something deeper going on; And that is a disconnect in, disinterest, and lack of curiosity in learning Math which manifests itself in misbehaving students. So says, Jenn Lenhardt - author of the book Common Denominators: Cultivating Engagement and Belonging in Secondary Mathematics 7-12 and former 7-12th grade Math interventionist. In this episode, we talk with Lenhardt about getting students excited about and engaged within the process of learning Math both...
2025-04-0137 min
Have a Life TeachingDouglas Fisher: How Educators Can Share Their VoiceThe other day, I was speaking with a colleague with whom I co-moderated a LinkedIn Live event, a year or two ago, on supporting multilingual students. She told me that, recently, someone reached out to her from across the country for support. I was so excited by this. I also get excited when people reach out to discuss my occasional online posts pro or con. My next guest on the podcast and I - Douglas Fisher, Chair of Educational Leadership Programs at San Diego State University - discuss the...
2025-03-2541 min
Have a Life TeachingDaniel Argentar, Katherine Gillies, and Maureen Rubenstein: How to Integrate Reading and Writing in a Secondary Science ClassAs one of our next guest on the podcast, Daniel Argentar says, students need to know something to learn something. Students need to be able to read and write to be able to internalize scientific information. In this episode, we are joined by the authors of the book Reading and Writing Strategies for the Secondary Science Classroom to discuss the most important literacy skills in science classrooms and how to help our students develop these skills. Without a doubt, students - in science - need to have a broad...
2025-03-1834 min
Have a Life TeachingPaul Cancellieri: How to Create Effective AI Prompts as a TeacherAI can really help teachers plan more engaging lessons in a time conscious manner. In this episode, we speak about how AI can help teachers to plan engaging lessons with North Carolina based science teacher Paul Cancellieri. Cancellieri is the author of the new book - 50 AI Prompts for Teachers.We discuss in particular:- Why it is important for teachers to use AI- Various AI platforms that teachers may want to explore...
2025-03-1136 min
Have a Life TeachingBo Stjerne Thomsen: How to Integrate Play-Based Learning into Your TeachingHow to Teach Using Play Based Learning In this episode, we chat with Bo Stjerne Thomsen - Director of Education for LEGO Education and former VP with the LEGO Foundation - about how teachers can integrate physical objects (manipulatives) and play-based learning across all content areas. We also discuss:What Play Based Learning IsHow it Helps Students Make Meaning and Retain InformationThe "Happy Medium" Between Unbounded and Scripted LearningHow LEGO Supports Educators Globally...
2025-03-0430 min
Have a Life TeachingAmanda Jones: How to Respond to Book Bans as a Librarian/EducatorParents should always have the right to decide what books their student can read. But school system wide book bans are bad for children. So says our next guest on the Have a Life Teaching Podcast, former ALA librarian of the year Amanda Jones. In this episode, Jones - author of the book "That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in the United States" - discusses how she became an activist, why book bans hurt children, how educators can respond to book bans as well as to harassment, and best practices for ensuring that...
2025-02-2530 min
Have a Life TeachingSteve Underwood: How to Teach the Science of Reading to PK-3 StudentsWhile oral language development is a process that occurs naturally, over time, the written word is a complex human produced system that, therefore, requires a systematic approach to decipher - or read. So says this week's guest on the podcast, Steve Underwood.In this episode, Underwood, former senior director of professional development with NWEA and founder/CEO of Veritas Educational Consulting, chats with us about how to teach reading systematically through "the science of reading". I hope that you will listen in to our conversation about the recent reading...
2025-02-1833 min
Have a Life TeachingBelinda Karge and Matt Rhoads: How to Co-Teach EffectivelyEffective coteaching has so many benefits for students, particularly in terms of inclusion for students with special needs and for bilingual learners. So say today's guests on the podcast - Belinda Karge and Matt Rhoads - who are the authors of the book "Co-Teaching Evolved".Listen here to our conversation with Karge and Rhoads as we discuss several strategies for effective co-teaching, actions that might help co-teaching pairs effectively plan for and monitor student progress, and solutions to common co-teaching problems ranging from reducing co-teacher tensions to how administration can better support co-teaching pairs.
2025-02-1242 min
Have a Life TeachingAaron Hansen: How to Help Students Take Ownership of Their Own LearningToo often, at best, students are compliant with school directives and, at worst, actively defiant much like inmates in a minimum security prison. So says, today's guest, Aaron Hansen - author of the book "Heroes Within" - on this episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast.In this episode, we speak with Hansen about ways through which teachers can better engage students to take ownership of their own learning journeys such as by posting and discussing learning objectives with them, having students track their own academic progress, and by having students self and peer assess learning...
2025-02-1137 min
Have a Life TeachingNathaniel Swain: How to Guarantee You Are Using a Deep Knowledge CurriculumIn some schools, curriculum is prescribed. In other places, teachers put together their own learning materials. In either case, how do we know that what we are providing students, in terms of materials and content, will promote learning acquisition, extend thinking, and foster creativity? How do we know that it aligns with the science of learning?In this episode, my guest Nathanial Swain, professor of teaching at La Trobe University and author of the book "Harnassing the Science of Learning", discuss the elements that should be in any knowledge rich curriculum. We discuss...
2025-02-0439 min
Have a Life TeachingChepina Rumsey and Jody Guarino: How to Enhance Student Curiosity in Your K-2 Math ClassroomToo often, we think of early primary learners as empty recepticles to be filled. However, this is when creativity and ingenuity is most unfettered and/or non self-conscious. How then can we draw out what early primary students already know and think about Math? How might we get students to make conjectures and extend their thinking?I hope you will listen in to our recent conversation with Chepina Rumsey, professor at the University of Northern Iowa, and Jody Guarino, professor at UC Irvine, about their book - Nurturing Math Curiosity - and fostering Math curiosity.
2025-01-2828 min
Have a Life TeachingMaud Dahme, Mike Pawloski, David Modigliani, and Catherine Clark: How to Teach the Holocaust in the 21st CenturyHow and Why Still Teach the Holocaust? After all, it has been 80 years since the liberation of the concentration camps and end of WWII. Unfortunately, the answer to this question is very simple. Look at the world around us where hate and prejudice continue to thrive. As such, I hope you will listen in to this special episode where we ask several people making a difference in Holocaust education about how they would answer this question and about how teachers, across content areas, might teach this hard subject in engaging ways. Join us as we...
2025-01-2148 min
Have a Life TeachingNathaniel Hansford: How to Ground Your Teaching in Best Practice ResearchKnowing research can help us to determine if what others may be telling us to do in our teaching is in the best interest of us and our students. So says, Nathaniel Hansford, a teacher in Canada and author of the book "The Scientific Principles of Teaching", In this episode, Hansford talks about the importance of aligning our teaching practices to what research indicates is effective in increasing student growth and achievement. Hansford, in particular, discusses what the research says works in developing student literacy skills (phonemic awareness) as well as on how teachers...
2025-01-1433 min
Have a Life TeachingJohn Arthur: How to Create Digital Projects that Elevate Student VoiceIn this episode, we chat with John Arthur, former Utah teacher of the year, current 6th grade teacher in Salt Lake City, and author of the new book "The Digital Projects Playbook."Join us here as we discuss not only the benefits of project based learning, a topic we also have discussed in earlier episodes, but also how and why to turn projects into digital learning opportunities such as blogs, podcasts, and interactive presentations that are equally evergreen and promote ongoing conversation with student voice at the heart of this discourse.We hope you will...
2025-01-0740 min
Have a Life TeachingDavid Gaston: How to Develop Your Capacity as a Servant LeaderLeadership within 21st Century schools should be different from what those of us in Generation X or before experienced of our school leaders says my next podcast guest, David Gaston. Gaston is founder and CEO of Gaston Educational Consulting LLC and a former district superintendent in Charles City, Virginia. He also partners with Commonwealth Learning Partnership, Shaffer Evaluation Group LLC, and Upbeat in his consulting work. Often, we teach (or lead) the way we were taught (or led). However, the top-down authorative approach to leadership is not a model of success for today as leaders...
2024-12-1731 min
Have a Life TeachingTracey Quarles and Michael Casserly: How to Ensure Great City SchoolsUrban schools are vitially important for ensuring the strength of our overall economy as well as the growth of democracy says Michael Casserly, former executive director and current senior consultant of the Council of Great City Schools, on this week's podcast.On this episode, Casserly discusses his new book - The Enduring Promise of America's Great City Schools (Forward by Arne Duncan) - and how we can ensure that the urban schools we manage today are high quality learning centers for all. We are joined on this episode by Tracey Quarles, principal of elementary school...
2024-12-1039 min
Have a Life TeachingLeslie Hayes: How to Use Physical Objects in Student Historical InquiryIn this episode, we are joined by Leslie Hayes, Vice-President of Education at the New York Historical Society.Hayes discusses how even the simplest item - a Dunkin Doughnuts Coffee Cup for example - can unleash deep and engaging student conversation on what everyday items tell us about the cultures we currently live in as well as about past times. Hayes also tells us about the work of her department at the museum in training educators and teaching students and also walks listeners through the steps that educators should take students through when conducting object...
2024-12-0337 min
Have a Life TeachingJenee Henry Wood: How to Design Community Informed SchoolsFor too long, schools have been designed using either a top down or bottom up approach; top down where administration makes all system decisions or bottom up where leadership is responsive to parent needs and wishes.However, in each model, important stakeholders are missing from the decision making table - students, families, leadership, teachers, and other community partners. What if, instead, says Wood - Chief Learning Officer at Transcend Education, we implemented a community informed school design model which incorporates the best of the top down model (order) and one that also prioritizes the social...
2024-11-2637 min
Have a Life TeachingGeri Parscale and Darcy Kraus: How Schools Can Create Systems to Weather the UnexpectedDid you know that two out of every three students will experience a traumatic event before they reach the age of 16? Trying to be clearheaded during a crisis is difficult. As such, schools must therefore be prepared to address the unexpected before the unexpected happens. But how to prepare for all of the unknowns that can befall our students and their families? Join me and my next guests, Geri Parscale and Darcy Kraus, as we discuss their new book - Navigating the Unexpected. In this episode, we discuss, in...
2024-11-2035 min
Have a Life TeachingLindsay Schambach: How Schools Can Support Grieving StudentsDid you know that November is Children's Grief Awareness Month? Or, that 1/12 U.S. children will experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18? Grief is a normal part of life, and schools must find ways to support students experiencing it. Join my next guest - Lindsay Schambach , CEO of the NJ based Imagine Grief Support Center - and I as we discuss ways through which teachers and others within school communities can help students process their grief over deaths of people involved in their lives as...
2024-11-1937 min
Have a Life TeachingPaola Sztaijn: How to Activate Math Talks in Your Elementary ClassroomDr. Paola Sztaijn is Dean of Education at North Carolina State University and co-author of the book - Activating Math Talk: 11 Purposeful Techniques for Your Elementary Students. In this episode, Paola and I discuss the four types of Math discourse as well as how/when to plan for each type so that math conversations between our students are meaningful and that students feel empowered and welcome to participate in such discussions. We also discuss the power of good questioning and the systemic conditions that are necessary for Math discourse to take root across our...
2024-11-1233 min
Have a Life TeachingJeremy Kaplan: How and Why to Teach the "Hard" Election ProcessGiven the contentious nature of this election season and the accompanying polarization, humanities teachers could be forgiven for not wanting to teach the election process. Yet, if we onlt teach the past, including hard pasts like slavery, then we never prepare students for the hard present which can help them to engage effectively as involved citizens in the civic sphere. So says my guest in this episode, Jeremy Kaplan, author of several Chalkbeat articles on teaching students political processes and assistant principal of Supervision for Social Studies and Physical Education at the High School for...
2024-11-0529 min
Have a Life TeachingErik Francis: How to Use Questioning to Maximize Student Curiosity and EngagementIn this episode, I am joined by Erik Francis, author of the new book Inquiring Minds Want to Learn. In our conversation, we discuss not only how to use questioning as a form of assessment but, perhaps more importantly, as a tool for maximizing student interest and engagement in learning.We also discuss what is wrong in how we are using Depth of Knowledge Questioning tools as well as a more research based and sound approach to using the Hess Cognitive Rigor Matrix than how most of us currently use this resource. Hint - A...
2024-10-2941 min
Have a Life TeachingNicole Dimich: How to Design Your Student Assessments in Five Easy StepsAssessment of student learning is critical if we are to get a true sense of what students know and can do before, during, and after teaching.Join me and my next guest, Nicole Dimich, as we discuss her book - Design in Five. We discuss five steps for creating more effective assessments that are both more engaging to students and involve student self reflection. We also discuss "better" homework practices than we often see as well as the effect of standardized and high stakes assessment on the teaching and learning process. Music...
2024-10-2239 min
Have a Life TeachingGretchen Bridgers: How to Think of Teaching as a Series of Building BlocksJoin me and my guest Gretchen Bridgers and I as we discuss her latest book - Always a Lesson. In it, and in our conversation, Gretchen discusses the four building blocks of teaching that must be considered, in order, for teaching to be successful. These blocks, or'bricks", include lesson design, class management/systems, student engagement, and, ultimately, student ownership. This episode is not just for new educators, mind you. As Gretchen says in our conversation, it is important for every teacher to reset each year as the needs of our students fluctuate from year to year. Consider...
2024-10-1533 min
Have a Life TeachingGene Tavernetti: How to Coach Teachers and School Leaders as an External ConsultantThere are times when school systems need to rely on external support to improve instruction and student outcomes. While external consultants often bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in what works in schools, it can be difficult to gain the trust of educators in that many educators are suspicious when it comes to coaches/consultants having a school's best interests at heart.In this episode, my guest Gene Tavernetti - Founder/CEO of TESS Consulting Group - and I discuss how coaches/consultants can improve instruction through quick turnaround coaching cycles while also treating...
2024-10-0930 min
Have a Life TeachingTevan Asaturi: How to Teach Students About Financial Literacy and EntrepreneurshipIncreasingly, financial literacy standards are being adopted across school districts and states. Join me and my guest Tevan Asaturi, Founder and CEO of Money Mastery University, as we discuss the need to teach financial literacy across K-16 - particularly in middle school, high school, and beyond - both as a necessary life skill and as a way to engage students through relevant real-world learning. Tevan also shares his tips on becoming a self-funded entrepreneur as well as strategies for attracting angel investors to one's product and/or service. Music - Aylex
2024-10-0836 min
Have a Life TeachingWill Be Back with More HALT Content in August!Hi Everyone!
Thanks for listening to season one of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast.
In July 24, I'll be continuing to edit great content that I hope you will enjoy in August and beyond. The podcast will be back in August/September on a limited schedule - as I will be working overseas in September - and returning full force with season two content being published weekly in October onwards.
Best,
John Schembari
2024-07-0200 min
Have a Life TeachingAdam Andre: How to Teach Students About SlaveryIn this episoode of the Have a Life Teaching podcast, Adam Andre - museum participation facilitator at the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool - and I discuss how and why we should not shy away from teaching students about historical slavery nor its ongoing impact on our world today. We discuss:- Liverpool's connection to the transatlantic slave trade and the impact of slavery on the city's growth- How to center the voices of those victimized by slavery- Focusing on resistance, for example...
2024-06-2536 min
Have a Life TeachingElizabeth Warner Hansen: How to Reduce Student Academic Stress and Improve School ClimateIn this episode, Anjana and Anya, two high school students from New Jersey, discuss their program 'Connected'aimed at promoting awareness of the mental health struggles that often accompany the academic pressures that high achieving secondary students sometimesfeel. Anjana and Anya share their experiences and insights on creating this high school public awareness campaign and discuss how their work has inspired peer scholarsto prioritize their mental health wellbeing.Anjana and Anya emphasize the importance of students developing time management skills and not overextendingthemselves academically and/or in other activities. They...
2024-06-1828 min
Have a Life TeachingMaria Nielsen: How to Write a Strategic and Engaging Curriculum UnitIn this episode, we speak with Maria Nielsen - former school principal, current education consultant, and author of the new Solution Tree book - 15 Day Challenge: Simplify and Energize Your PLC at Work.We discuss how to write 15 day curriculum units, efficaciously and efficiently, through a seven step PLC process that is strategically aligned to academic goals, anticipates student needs, assesses impact on student growth and achievement and is collaborative in nature. Learn how such a process not only increased teacher ownership and creativity in design of the learning...
2024-06-1137 min
Have a Life TeachingPeter Liljedahl and Norman Eng: How to Create Thinking Classrooms in MathematicsIn an earlier episode, we spoke with Alice Vigors about her work in creating cross-content thinking classrooms. In this episiode, we speak with Professor Peter Liljedahl, of Simon Fraser University, about how to create thinking classrooms in Mathematics - primarily K-6 - where students are doing the heavy cognitive lift as opposed to teachers.Join me and my guest co-host Norman Eng, student teaching supervisor at Brooklyn College/CUNY, as we chat with Peter Liljedahl about:- The 14 practices associated with a thinking Math classroom (macro/micro moves);
2024-06-0432 min
Have a Life TeachingCarolyn Brown and Rose Reiken: How to Develop Community Partnerships through PBL - Part IIEarlier this week, we chatted with Ryan Steuer and Andrew Larson about the mechanics of embedding PBL within our teaching practice. This week, we speak with Carolyn Brown, Acting VP of the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, and Rose Reiken, middle school teacher at High Tech High in San Diego, about their PBL unit collaboration.Learn more in this episode about how Carolyn and Rose partnered on a project that benefited both the museum, in improving the youth engagement factor of their public tours, and Rose's students in their understanding of Japanese American internment...
2024-05-2934 min
Have a Life TeachingRyan Steuer and Andrew Larson: How to Teach through Project Based Learning (PBL) - Part IIn this episode, join me and my guests Ryan Steuer and Andrew Larson - authors of PBL Simplified and Life's a Project - as we discuss the ins/outs of teaching through a project based learning model. In this episode, we discuss the what and why of PBL - student engagement in learning - as well as practical ways to implement PBL in the classroom. We chat about how to align PBL learning to standards, the typical length of a PBL unit, sample units, the role of community parthers and student public presentation of...
2024-05-2839 min
Have a Life TeachingTom Hierck and Alex Kajitani: How Knowing Our Students’ DNA Can Help Us Succeed as EducatorsNew teachers coming into the profession often struggle inknowing what to do/learn first. Indeed, as my next guests say, for most new teachers, the goal is simply surviving day to day and to make it into their second yearof teaching. Join me and my guests, Tom Hierck and Alex Kajitani – book authors and Solution Tree education consultants – as we discuss their new book – You’rea Teacher Now! What’s Next? We discussthe importance of forming relationships with both students and colleagues, as the key to survival, and knowing our students’ DNA – Dreams, Needs, andAbilities. We also discuss how admi...
2024-05-2134 min
Have a Life TeachingChad Dumas: How to Use Data Strategically in School Improvement WorkIn this episode, we have the opportunity to chat with Chad Dumas - former school principal, CEO of Next Learning Solutions, and Solution Tree PLC@Work consultant - about how schools should be using data strategically in both PLCs and school leadership teams to improve student growth and achievement. Dumas discuss the four lenses through which we should collect/review data, systemically, as we set school improvement goals and develop our 3-5 year school strategic plans - achievement, perception, demographic, and program data. How does program and perception data affect achievement, and vice versa, etc.? ...
2024-05-1431 min
Have a Life TeachingLorraine M. Radice: How to Create a Culture of Reading in SchoolsIn an earlier episode with Darlene Prott, we discussed how to help students to engage in the act of reading itself. In this episode, we speak with Lorraine Radice - K-12 director of literacy in a public school district in New York and author of the book Leading a Culture of Reading -about how to create a welcoming school community culture centered around reading. This culture can take many forms, some of which we unpack here - adult book study, parent academies centered around how to help parents read with one's child, class/teacher book...
2024-05-0732 min
Have a Life TeachingDebbie Almontaser: How to Teach Students About Islamophobia and Anti-SemitismThese are challenging times in the world and, as we see on university/K12 school campuses, global events are having a direct impact on the teaching and learning environment.How do we teach students about both Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia?How do we engage with those who do not share our perspectives on the Israel-Hamas conflict? I hope you will listen to this podcast conversation with Dr. Debbie Almontaser - cultural diversity specialist and founder/CEO of the Bridging Cultures Group - as we discuss how to have a thoughtful conversation with our students...
2024-04-3032 min
Have a Life TeachingDarlene Farrace-Prott: How to Teach Students to ReadAs Darlene Prott - Founder and CEO of NJ Teacher 2 Teacher says, we may think students should be able to read once they pass third grade but we may want to think again especially if we are supporting multi-lingual learners. Students may be able to decode words by 3rd grade but do they truly understand and can they make meaning of and draw connections from what they are reading? In this episode, Prott and I discuss how teachers - particularly cross content teachers grades 4 and up - can help...
2024-04-2334 min
Have a Life TeachingDavid Franklin: How to Lead Schools When You Are New to AdministrationToday, principals are coming to the job younger and with less experience. While they come with curiosity and enthusiasm for the job, many still struggle in the role because they do not have a grounding in the basic pillars of leadership in school settings.In this episide, my guest David Franklin - CEO and founder of The Principal's Desk - and I discuss the five pillars of leadership as discussed in his new book - Advice from The Principal's Desk. We highlight the importance of improving student attendance, being...
2024-04-1734 min
Have a Life TeachingJose Antonio Bowen: How to Teach with AI: Practical TipsIn this episode, Jose Bowen - DEI education consultant and former President of Goucher College - and I discuss his new book Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning. Indeed, in his book and in our chat, Professor Bowen asserts that AI will not replace jobs but rather require students today to use AI to develop both their metacognition and creativity if they are to be marketable for the jobs that AI will actually create. We also discuss practical ways through which teachers...
2024-04-1626 min
Have a Life TeachingJacqueline Murekatete: How to Teach Students About the Impact of Hate and ExtremismApril 7th will be the thirtieth anniversary of the start of the Rwandan Genocide in which 800,000 men, women, and children - mostly from the Tutsi minority group - were deliberately and systematically murdered because of who they were - not because of anything they did. In this episode, my guest Jacqueline Murekatete - human rights lawyer and founder of the Genocide Survivors Foundation - and I not only discuss her work in supporting survivors of global genocide but also her experiences as a survivor of the genocide in Rwanda. We discuss ways through which educators...
2024-04-0944 min
Have a Life TeachingCasey Jakubowski: How to Know When to Retreat as an EducatorEducators can't do well by their students if they are not whole themselves.Sometimes, the best course of action is to know when enough is enough and change course to new jobs in the education field or outside of it. In this episode, Casey Jakubowski - co-author of Crush It From the Start: 50 Tips for New Teachers and school principal - and I discuss the signs to look for to determine if moving on is the right decision. In his book, see Tip #50 - Knowing When to Retreat.
2024-04-0232 min
Have a Life TeachingMegan Conklin: How to Support Substitute TeachersIn this episode, Megan Conklin - founder of Conklin Educational Perspectives and Trainer at the Washington Education Association - discusses her work in designing and facilitating substitute teacher team training programs and how her model could and should be replicated across the country.Data suggests that K12 students in the USA can spend up to a year in classes managed by substitutes who are often unsupported and unprepared to meet student needs. Yet, programs like Megan's are providing substitute teachers with the skills needed to excel and also a community of like individuals. With over 30...
2024-03-2632 min
Have a Life TeachingJo Boaler: How to Make K12 Math AccessibleIn this episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast, Jo Boaler, Stanford Math education professor and author of ther new book "Math- ish", and I discuss how to make Math instruction more accessible to students in K12 schools. Math learning can cause unnecessary anxiety if it is taught only abstractly rather than in a way that connects it to the world in which we live and helps to explain it. We chat about the value that comes from K12 students discussing what they think Math represented pictorally may mean - even if imprecise...
2024-03-1929 min
Have a Life TeachingRoxie J. Patton: How to Prioritize DEI in Schools Part IIIn this episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast, Roxie Patton, Founder of RJ Consulting and Coaching, and I continue our conversation on the importance of having educators who understand the students and families they serve.Since many educators no longer live in the communites where they teach, this becomes a particularly important consideration within teaching. Roxie and I discuss ways through which educators might combat the internal biases they may have of others/their students as well as how school administration can proactively develop inclusive school communities....
2024-03-1232 min
Have a Life TeachingRobyn Brinks Lockwood: How to Improve Student Presentations and Public SpeakingWhen we teach students how to write, we often do so by teaching certain writing "moves" - introducing a topic, expanding on it, and summation, etc. We also should be teaching the communication moves that go along with public speaking and presentation. So says my guest Robyn Brinks Lockwood, speech professor at Stanford University, on this episode. So that students can meet the rigor of college teaching and learning, Professor Brinks-Lockwood and I discuss what K12 educators, particularly high school teachers, can do to better prepare students to not only give presentations but also to...
2024-03-0517 min
Have a Life TeachingAri Gerzon Kessler: How to Involve Newcomer ParentsOver 27 percent of all students in America have immigrant parents. In this episode, Ari Gerzon-Kessler and I discuss strategies for better engaging this traditionally underserved population of families. Gerzon-Kessler, a former principal, currently serves as a coordinator of family partnerships and is the author of the new book "On the Same Team: Bringing Educators and Underrepresented Families Together". He and I discuss the power of newcomer parent-teacher teams as well as home visits in both helping educators to better connect with these families and in providing newcomer families with additional voice on and insight into their child's...
2024-02-2731 min
Have a Life TeachingAllison Rodman: How to Plan for EFFECTIVE Teacher Training/CollaborationIn this episode, my guest Allison Rodman, author of the new book Still Learning and the founder/CEO of The Learning Loop, and I discuss what is required to embed effective teacher professional development in schools. We discuss what administrators must do to ensure that all training is systemic and has established success criteria as well as how to improve the effectiveness of teacher professional learning communities and overall teacher collaboration in schools. Allison Rodman LinkedInStill Learning Book The Learning Loop Web Site Music...
2024-02-2035 min
Have a Life TeachingMarine Freibrun and Sandy Brunet: How to Craft Quality Learning ObjectivesIn this episode, the authors of the Formative Assessment Handbook, Marine Freiburn and Sandy Brunet, and I discuss how to craft learning intentions that then allow teachers to align assessment and student engagement to those learning goals. In our chat, we discuss how to unpack standards into child friendly learning intentions, how to embed success criteria in learning, and strategies for engaging students in understanding and measuring their own growth towards mastery of learning intentions. Marine Freibrun LinkedIn Sandra Brunet LinkedIn The Formative Assessment Handbook ...
2024-02-1331 min
Have a Life TeachingMatt Zigler: How to Create Maker Spaces in SchoolMaker spaces are anywhere and everywhere where students are taking knowledge and creating something physical that adds on to that knowledge in new ways. Students' cognitive skills are developed in the process. Yes, schools can create labs with 3D printers but teachers can also turn a closet into a maker space. Join my next guest Matt Zigler, maker space cordinator at the Bullis School and professional artist, and I as we discuss ways through which he helps classroom teachers design a maker space component to their lessons. Matt Zigler LinkedInMake: Three...
2024-02-0636 min
Have a Life TeachingAimee Presnall: How to Ensure Educator Wellbeing - Part IIIn Part I, Sybil Hall and I discussed what educators can do to take ownership of their own wellbeing. Here, in Part II, Aimee Parkinson Presnall. Founder and CEO of Well-Nest (Australia) and I discuss how individual responsibility for our own wellbeing as educators can and should be further supported by school systems/administrators. School leaders also have a responsibility to implement and sustain initiatives that prioritize the collective wellbeing of all within their school community. Aimee provides some strategies for how school systems might do this in our chat. Linkedin - Aimee Presnall
2024-01-3034 min
Have a Life TeachingSybil Hall: How to Ensure Educator Wellbeing - Part IThere are a wealth of things we can do to reduce the stress and anxiety that we feel as educators. In this episode, weath and wellbeing consultant, teacher, and author Sybil Hall (Burn Bright Not Out) takes us through some simple ways we can make our lives calmer as educators be that through scheduling our time, batching our teaching tasks, and/or taking brief time outs before and during the day to meditate/reflect. Sybil Hall LinkedIn Burn Bright Not Out Book Music - Aylex
2024-01-2330 min
Have a Life TeachingMaria Underwood: How to Prioritize DEI in SchoolsDiversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) means much more than just ensuring that students are reading books with a diverse character. Join Maria Garcia Underwood, founder of M Ideas Consulting, and I as we discuss what deep DEI looks like in terms of curriculum, assessment, and pedagogy within school communities vested in ensuring that all members are seen and heard. We also discuss allyship. M Ideas ConsultingMaria Underwood LinkedInMusic: Aylex
2024-01-1634 min
Have a Life TeachingPrakash Nair: How to Design a 21st Century SchoolMany teachers are teaching 21st Century students in buildings designed in the 19th and/or early 20th Centuries. Join my next guest, Prakash Nair, CEO of Education Design International, and I as we discuss in this episode what school communities are doing around the world to design buildings that are purposefully built to engage students through collaboration and inquiry based learning. Prakash Nair LinkedInEducation Design InternationalMusic: Aylex
2024-01-0931 min
Have a Life TeachingNicola S. Morgan: How to Develop Resiliency in StudentsJoin me and my guest Nicola S. Morgan - Founder/CEO of NSM Training and Consultancy - as we discuss strategies for developing resiliency in the students we teach. Nicola also is one of a select few to successfully swim across the English channel and uses this experience to guide her resiliency work in schools. We also discuss how this experience has informed her work in schools.Nicola S. Morgan LinkedIn Unfinished Business TED Talk NSM ConsultancyMusic: Ayles
2024-01-0334 min
Have a Life TeachingJill Stoddard: How to Silence Your Inner Critic/Imposter SyndromeMany of us in education, particularly these days, feel like we are not capable of addressing all of the needs of our students and families. This is often the case for both teachers and administrators. Join me and my guest Jill Stoddard, author of the book "Imposter No More", in this latest episode, as we discuss strategies that educators can use to quell the anxiety and fear that often accompany imposter syndrome. Jill Stoddard Web Page Jill Stoddard LinkedIn Jill Stoddard TED Talk Imposter No More Book
2024-01-0236 min
Have a Life TeachingGreshma Momaya: How India Educates Its Primary/Secondary StudentsIndia is becoming an ever increasingly important player on the international stage. It is the largest democracy in the world and its population to set to shortly overtake that of China. Further, citizens of India have long been successful participants in the global economy - and in particular within the tech/innovation sectors. Join my guest Greshma Momaya, Principal of the Prarthana World School in Bangalore, and I as we discuss how India is adapting its primary and secondary education policy to include, in particular, additional play and student metacognition within the learning process. We also discuss...
2023-12-2027 min
Have a Life TeachingPaul Emerich France: How to Make Your Teaching SustainableNo one needs to be told that many teachers are leaving the profession these days for a variety of reasons. However, there are ways to make teaching more sustainable. Join my guest Paul Emerich France and I as we discuss how to grade less but still assess learning, how to lesson plan for impact rather than compliance, and on how to develop less toxic/more welcoming school communities that will embrace LGBTQ+ and other diverse educators. Paul Emerich France (LinkedIn)Make Teaching Sustainable Make Teaching Sustainable Book
2023-12-1931 min
Have a Life TeachingMaribeth Edmunds: How to Support Students with AutismAs my next guest Maribeth Edmunds says, students with Autism will grow up to be adults with Autism. In this episode, we explore how to help our students with Autism grow and achieve academically and socio-emotionally so they can become fully integrated adults participating in our economy and community. The number of students being diagnosed with Autism is on the rise. Be prepared to educate these students. Maribeth Edmunds LinkedInTED TalkMusic: Aylex
2023-12-1229 min
Have a Life TeachingKate Stone: How to Rock the College Application EssayIt's that time of year again. College applications are due! Join me and my guest Kate Stone, CEO of University Gurus, as we discuss how high school/rising college students can be writing effective application essays. We also discuss what high school teachers can be doing to help students develop strong writing skills as well as how students can become better storytellers through the writing process. Kate Stone LinkedInUniversity Gurus Why Did I Say Yes to Speak Here? (Malcolm Gladwell)Music: Aylex
2023-12-0627 min
Have a Life TeachingDavid Greenberg: How to Start a Charter SchoolWe are in a new age of education where, finally, all communities (not just the rich) have the ability to create schools that mirror their values and hopes for their children. Join my guest David Greenberg - Vice President, Authorizer Learning & Development at NACSA - and I as we discuss the new school authorization process, nationally, as well as local resources available in various states. NACSADavid Greenberg on LinkedInMusic: Aylex
2023-12-0532 min
Have a Life TeachingAlice Vigors: How to Create Thinking ClassroomsThe rigor of any lesson begins with the learning objective and what we are asking students to know and be able to do. However, far too often, we do not ask our students to engage in heavy cognitive lift. Join me and my guest, Alice Vigors, as we discuss how to get students to think about their thinking in visible ways/through the use of simple thinking protocols (see, think, and wonder). Alice Vigors LinkedInThe Thinking ClassroomTeacher Takaway PodcastMusic: Aylex
2023-11-2833 min
Have a Life TeachingJeff Utecht: How to Use Technology in ClassAre you preparing your students for your past or their future? If you are banning the use of technology in the classroom then it is your past that you are prioritizing. Listen in to Jeff Utecht and I as we discuss how to use technology in K12 classrooms responsibly. Jeff Utecht LinkedInJeff Utecht HomepageShifting SchoolsMusic: Aylex
2023-11-2132 min
Have a Life TeachingSamantha Shane: How to Use Guest Speakers in Student LearningHaving guest speakers can really make learning come alive for students. However, to maximize the benefits that can come from these living community resources, guest speaker engagements need to be well planned. Join Samantha Shane, ELA teacher in Northern New Jersey, and I as we discuss ways to maximize the impact of guest speakers on this episode of the Have a Life Teaching podcast. Samantha Shane Edutopia Page Samantha Shane LinkedInSamantha Shane XSpeakerHubSkype a ScientistMusic: Aylex
2023-11-1429 min
Transformative PrincipalEverything Curriculum with John Schembari Transformative Principal 571Dr. John Schembari is an Improvement Coach through which he supports teachers and school leaders by performing on site evaluations, identifying data informed trends, reviewing curriculum/assessment materials, creating improvement plans, coaching individuals one-on-one, developing and delivering group training to educators, and implementing evidence-based instructional strategies that improve teaching practices and increase student learning. JOHN SCHEMBARI Senior Education Executive In today’s episode, we discuss everything curriculum. John shares his answer when teachers say “I’m just going to hurry up and teach all of the curriculum” and “I’m done with the cu...
2023-11-1437 min
Have a Life TeachingBridget Durkan Laird: How to Build SEL into After School and Academic ProgramsIn the wake of the pandemic, we all know that students are struggling in understanding and regulating their emotions. Before learning can occur, however, students need to be able to understand and regulate their emotions; It falls to the adults mentoring students to build SEL into the curriculum. Join Bridget Durkan Laird, CEO at Kings for Kids, and I as we discuss ways to bring simple SEL strategies into academic and after school programming. Bridget Durkan Laird LinkedInWings for KidsMusic: Wanderer by Aylex (Uppbeat)
2023-11-0729 min
Have a Life TeachingAlexandra Auriemma and Frederick Buskey: How to Lead Teachers with HumanityIn this Have a Life Teaching podcast episode, we speak with rising admin star and current vice principal Alexandra Auriemma about what she feels are her leadership strengths and opportunities for growth. We are also joined by Frederick Buskey of Strategic Leadership Coaching and host of the Assistant Principal Podcast who guides Alex, in this episode, on how she might best serve teachers by leading on the leadership edge, building relationships with teachers, as opposed to leading on the bleeding edge - being reactionary. Strategic Leadership Consulting Frederick Buskey LinkedIn ...
2023-11-0728 min
Have a Life TeachingTricia Friedman: How to Support Your LGBTQ+ StudentsLGBTQ+ students (and staff) are part of our school communities and if we are truly concerned with providing a safe learning environment, which most educators would agree is part a school's mission, then this means for all students including LGBTQ+ youth. So says guest Tricia Friedman, LGBTQ+ advocate and consultant with Shifting Schools in this episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast. Join Tricia and I as we discuss how to support this population of students in our schools.Resources: GLAADTrevor...
2023-10-3133 min
Have a Life TeachingKevin Foote: How to Impact Education Outside of the ClassroomKevin Foote realized after many years that a passion for teaching wasn't enough to keep him in the classroom. However, Kevin was lucky in that he found the next best thing - a career supporting teaching and learning nonetheless (designing and selling school furniture that promotes student collaboration). Join Kevin, a furniture designer for Kay-Twelve Education, and I as we discuss having a plan B, how ex-teachers can still have a huge positive impact on student growth and achievement outside of the classroom, and how we can design classroom spaces that promote student ownership of learning and that help...
2023-10-3129 min
Have a Life TeachingMariah Rankine-Landers: How to Create Lessons That Love Your StudentsInclusive Classrooms are places of joy and creativity. Join me and my guest Mariah Rankine-Landers, author of the new book "How to Create Lessons that Love Your Students", as we discuss how to create culturally responsive classrooms that could easily be mistaken for artistic studios. Want to learn how to turn your middle school classroom into a jungle when studying biomes? How to use zombies to teach exponential equations? Listen in here! LinkedIn Page (Mariah Rankine-Landers)Do Your Lessons Love Your Students Book Studio Pathways...
2023-10-2435 min
Have a Life TeachingCrystal Frommert: How to Communicate with ParentsSpeaking with parents as a teacher can be a scary thing if we feel unprepared. In this episode, Crystal Frommert, assistant head of middle school and Math teacher at Awty International School (Houston), discusses several best-in-class strategies for proactively engaging with parents. We will look at several specific strategies addressed in her new book - When Calling Parents Isn't Your Calling (Road to Awesome Publishing). Crystal Frommert on Edutopia When Calling Parents Isn't Your Calling Crystal Frommert on LinkedIn Mastery Portfolio Podcast Road to Awesome Publishing
2023-10-2131 min
Have a Life TeachingMelissa Morrison: How to Get Students to Like WritingIn this episode, join Melissa Morrison of Teaching to Tranform and I as we discuss why it is more important than ever, in the age of AI, to help our students develop critical thinking skills through their writing. We also discuss strategies that teachers can use for engaging students across K-12 in the process of writing. It begins with allowing children choice in how and what they write about. Teaching to TransformMelissa Morrison LinkedInMusic: Wanderer by Aylex (Uppbeat)
2023-10-1626 min
Have a Life TeachingMatthew Rhoads: How to Crush Teaching from the Start!New teachers are often overwhelmed by the volume of procedures and practices they must learn while having a classroom full of students at the same time. In this conversation, Dr. Matthew Rhoads and I discuss some of the top teaching hacks that new teachers (really, any) should be doing each season of the school year. We also discuss the top five areas of teaching practice that all educators must master. Crush It From the Start: 50 Tips for New Teachers Matthew Rhoads LinkedInMatthew Rhoads Blog and Navigating Education Podcast
2023-10-0228 min
Have a Life TeachingStarr Sackstein: How to Make Assessment EngagingYes, summative assessmemt at the end of each unit/year is important. However, formative assessment that measures student growth during the year so that teachers can pivot/target instruction to meet the needs of specific students is just as important. Join Starr and I as we discuss not only formative assessment techniques but also alternative and authentic assessment that motivates students to learn (project based learning as well as student portfolio assessment). https://www.ascd.org/people/starr-sacksteinhttps://www.mssackstein.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/starrsackstein...
2023-09-2627 min
Have a Life TeachingJesse Roselin: How to Tutor for ImpactIt will not come as a surprise to educators that, post COVID, many of our students are not where they should be academically. In response, many school districts have been using ESSER funding to provide supplemental tutoring services to students. In this episode, Jesse Roselin - founder and CEO of Tutor Corps - will offer advice to school districts on how to provide tutoring services that will have a positive impact in reducing learning gaps. We also discuss how we might fund tutoring programs after ESSER funding runs out, tutoring practices that general education teachers should consider adopting in...
2023-09-1933 min
Have a Life TeachingRyan Burke: How to Give Feedback to TeachersOn this podcast, we have discussed the importance of teachers engaging in collaborative design thinking when considering how THEY will innovate their teaching practices. However, collaboration with others often comes with tension. In this episode, Ryan Burke, senior partner with Leadership and Design, discusses strategies for how to give feedback on a colleague's teaching practice rather than judgement. Ryan Burke on LinkedIn Leadership+DesignFeedback or Judgement? Music: Wanderer by Aylex (Uppbeat)
2023-09-1232 min
Have a Life TeachingJustin Reich: How to Bring Design Thinking into SchoolsMost innovation in school fails. Why? Often, innovation fails because it is imposed upon teachers rather than being designed by teachers themselves. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Justin Reich, Executive Director of the Teaching Systems Lab at MIT about how teachers can create positive and long lasting instructional change through collaborative and iterative cycles of inquiry. Justin Reich on LinkedInIterate: The Secret to Innovation in Schools Pre-order the book here before 9/20 and have access to a free course on design thinking in schools.
2023-09-0529 min
Love, Sweat, & Tears: Ingredients for Transformative Campus LeadershipEVEN MORE practical tools and tips to connect with your staff, lead efficiently, and systemize your job w/John SchembariJohn Schembari's BACK for part TWO! John's got even MORE fantastic tools for you. ICYMI on our last episode- John has been in education leadership for nearly two decades. He's worked as an education management consultant with organizations like CUNY, Fordham University, Center for Educational Innovation, NJPSA, and SCCI... and lots more. In THIS episode, we talked coaching staff through meaningful relationship, the difference between leading a lack of skill vs. a lack of will, resource management techniques, and how to start this school year off with a BANG!You can connect with John on LinkedIn at ...
2023-08-3047 min
Have a Life TeachingIntroduction to the PodcastWelcome to the Have a Life Teaching Podcast! In this podcast, we will speak to educators in the field improving curriculum, instruction, and assessment best practices in K-12 Education.
2023-08-1700 min
Navigating Education - The PodcastEp - 62 Coaching Teachers in 2023 with Dr. John SchembariIn this episode, Dr. Schembari and Dr. Rhoads will discuss what instructional and skill gaps coaches and leaders need to help support teachers in building in 2023. We will outline what has happened over the past school year in 2022 to frame our conversation. This is a great opportunity for coaches, leaders, and teacher leaders to listen as they may learn about resources that may support them in amplifying teaching and learning in their schools and districts.
Guest Bio:
Dr. John Schembari is an Improvement Coach through which he supports teachers and school leaders by performing on-site...
2022-12-1139 min
The Assistant Principal PodcastSupporting New Teachers with John SchembariShow Notes, Episode 58: Supporting New Teachers with John SchembariAbout this show:We all know how critical it is to support new teachers, but do we actually know how to support them? Today we answer four questions:What do we mean when we say “new teacher?”How can APs build collaborative relationships with new teachers?What specific actions can we take to meet the personal and professional needs of early career teachers and How do we fit those actions into the crazy days of the assistant principalship?Betwe...
2022-09-1359 min
Teaching Learning Leading K-12John Schembari - Improvement Coach - Best Practices & Supporting Teachers - 481John Schembari, EdD - improvement coach - talks with me about using best practices in the classroom and supporting teachers. This is episode 481 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.Dr. John Schembari is an Improvement coach supporting teachers and school leaders in the implementation of best- in-class curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices. Currently, he works with the Center for Educational Innovation, FACTS Education Solutions, Fordham University, and NWEA.He also has advised the Ministries of Education of the U.A.E. and East Timor.Today, we are focused on best instructional practices and supporting t...
2022-05-231h 05
Always A Lesson's Empowering Educators Podcast264: Teacher Leadership with John SchembariJohn Schembari shares about his journey within the education world. He discusses what it takes to be a true teacher leader and how you can leverage past experiences to add value to your teacher leadership journey.
Quotables
*All quotables are from the interviewee
A true leader understands that it’s about empowering the community, not necessarily empowering themselves.
We cannot do this alone. It requires all of us to step up and give our best.
Educators throughout time have had similar concerns and stress… take comfort in that.
You can have all t...
2022-05-0246 min
Emergency Management, EdTech, Business & Leadership. uard.universityMasters in Education - UARD - Educator's Podcast - Masters in Education, #12 John SchembariUniversity of Applied Research & Development Educator's Podcast, #12 John Schembari, Senior Independent Education Consultant. John works with schools and school leaders. John shared with us the importance of school culture and his work with magnet & theme-based schools. The importance of college career readiness, celebrating grit and the power of self-reliance were shared in a lively discussion.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/uard-university/message
2022-03-0728 min