Those Who Can't Do

This week Denver Riley is back to dive into the quirky and chaotic moments that make up daily life in the classroom. From a “bagel ban” created by Denver’s students to navigating E.E. Cummings' poetry with skeptical high schoolers, they share the ups and downs of engaging students. Denver recalls being humorously bullied by her middle schoolers and admits the trials of working within a scripted curriculum while keeping her teaching style fresh. Denver and I explore why teachers love (and sometimes hate) certain poems, how they handle student antics, the problem with sleepy stickers, and why staying flexible keeps their classrooms fun and productive. This episode brings both the humor and the honesty of what it's really like to teach English to a room full of teenagers.

Takeaways:

Student-Led Humor and Inside Jokes: Embracing humor, including quirky student terms like dependapotomus, helps teachers build a fun, inclusive classroom culture.

The Struggle with Scripted Curriculum: Scripted lessons often limit teacher creativity, highlighting the need for flexibility to make lessons more engaging and relevant.

Navigating Challenging Literature: Teaching poets like E.E. Cummings can be daunting, but breaking down difficult works offers students fresh perspectives and critical thinking skills.

Teacher Growth Through Reflection: Andrea and Denver emphasize that learning from students, sharing laughs, and adapting strategies keep teaching fresh and fulfilling.

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Want to Learn more about Denver Riley?

Instagram: @keepingupwithms.b_

Tiktok: @keepingupwithms.b_

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Don’t be shy come say hi: [email protected] and podcasterandrea.com

Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea

Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc.

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A Human Content Production

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We’re doing something a little different today. We’re sharing an episode from another podcast. It’s called Opportunity Gap: How to get kids to talk about school. It’s hosted by Julian Saavedra, an assistant principal in Philadelphia who has spent nearly 20 years working in public schools. Kids of color who have things like ADHD or dyslexia often face a double stigma. This show offers knowledge about how to support those students better, so that we can close the opportunity gap in our communities. If you have any students in your class who are in special education, this is an excellent resource.

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Don’t be shy come say hi: [email protected] and podcasterandrea.com

Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea

Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc.

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A Human Content Production

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode "Homework Horror Stories: When Parents Say ‘No Way!", I chat with Gabe Dannenbring about the challenges of modern-day education. From managing work-life balance post-pandemic to evolving classroom dynamics, we explore how teachers and students alike are navigating an ever-changing landscape. Gabe shares his perspective as a middle school teacher, while I bring insights from the university level. Together, we reflect on the impact of the shifting attitudes toward education, homework debates, and what it takes to keep both students and teachers engaged. Tune in for an enlightening conversation on teacher burnout, student resilience, and the delicate balance between structure and innovation in the classroom.

Takeaways:

The Shift in Student Attitudes: Post-pandemic students exhibit a different approach to work-life balance, focusing more on mental health and less on pushing through discomfort.

Homework Debate: Some parents, like the TikTok mom mentioned, are pushing back on excessive homework for young children, raising questions about the balance between school expectations and student well-being.

Classroom Management Challenges: Teachers today are dealing with increasingly chatty, distracted students, but there's a need to push through discomfort and maintain structure.

Teacher Burnout is Real: A recent Wall Street Journal study shows that teacher satisfaction has dropped dramatically, with only 42% of teachers feeling that their job is worth the stress.

The Importance of Doing Hard Things: Andrea and Gabe both highlight the value of resilience and persistence in both teaching and learning, emphasizing the growth that comes from pushing through challenges.

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Want to Learn more about Gabe Dannenbring?

TikTok: @g_unit24

IG / YT / FB: @gabedannenbring

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Don’t be shy come say hi: [email protected] and podcasterandrea.com

Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea

Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc.

—

A Human Content Production

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode "Haunted Classrooms and Mormon Wives", Denver Riley and I tackle the rollercoaster of being a teacher, from Denver’s near-miss with HR over a missing credential to the spooky fun of Halloween in the classroom. But the real fun begins when they hilariously compare the cast of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives to the types of teachers they’d be. Would Demi be the no-nonsense English teacher? Is Jen Affleck the ultimate kindergarten teacher? Tune in to see how these reality stars would navigate the world of education! Alongside the humor, the episode delves into why facing tough situations in teaching leads to growth and resilience.

Takeaways:

Credential Panic is Real: Denver recounts her brush with HR over a missing teaching credential and the importance of staying on top of certifications as an educator.

Comparing Mormon Wives to Teachers: Andrea and Denver bring the fun by imagining which teacher roles the stars of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives would fill. From cheer coach to high school math teacher, the comparisons are both hilarious and spot-on.

Halloween Fun in the Classroom: Spooky season takes over as Denver shares how she incorporates Halloween themes into her teaching, from activities to costumes.

Union Support Matters: Denver discusses how crucial union representation is when facing issues with HR or administration, especially when your job is on the line.

Why the Hard Road Pays Off: Choosing not to take the path of least resistance in the classroom leads to stronger teacher-student relationships and a more fulfilling teaching experience.

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Want to Learn more about Denver Riley?

Instagram: @keepingupwithms.b_

Tiktok: @keepingupwithms.b_

—

Don’t be shy come say hi: [email protected] and podcasterandrea.com

Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea

Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc.

—

A Human Content Production

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re doing something a little different today. We’re sharing an episode from another podcast. It’s called In It: Raising Kids who Learn Differently. It’s a show for parents and educators of children who have challenges with reading, math, focus, and other learning differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you have any students in your class who are in special education, this podcast is an excellent resource that will help you support those students better. Here’s an episode of the show called Advocating for your special ed child.

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Don’t be shy come say hi: [email protected] and podcasterandrea.com

Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea

Listen Anywhere You Podcast: Apple, Spotify, PodChaser, etc.

—

A Human Content Production

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices