Teach Me, Teacher

Hello everyone! What a title for a podcast. But, this is a real one. No guest, just me (Jacob Chastain,) the reality of changes in my life, and my continued frustration with the discussions around education.  For followers of the show, you have seen a lot of "Greatest Hits" episodes dropping. This is due for a lot of reasons that I go into, but the short of it is that life has thrown some major curveballs my way and it has been hard to balance everything. I am slowly getting there, but some things take time.  This episode details changes in my life and where I am finding it hard to navigate the changing landscape of discourse in education. Come along and dialogue with me!

Hello everyone! Literacy Essentials by Regie Routman (Stenhouse 2018) [https://www.amazon.com/Literacy-Essentials-Engagement-Excellence-Learners/dp/1625310374/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=literacy+essentials&qid=1575248945&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFGSFBMUENDRTdJTjEmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA4MDI2NDIzQ1VXMUZBT0hXOVRMJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3NDUwOTAySTY3VVZYRktUSlJJJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==] is by far one of the most influential books I’ve read in my teaching career. It’s a book I turn to weekly for advice, insight, and encouragement in my work to bring authentic literacy to my students.  https://teachmeteacherpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Screen-Shot-2019-12-08-at-6.59.49-PM-2.pngSo when I was given a chance to talk to Regie herself, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. In part 1 of the podcast [https://teachmeteacherpodcast.com/2019/12/02/140-we-teach-kids-not-data-points-talking-equity-with-regie-routman-pt-1/], we dove deep into the increasingly alarming practice of talking about students as if they are data points and not children. We discussed why we need to humanize our classrooms, and how to think about our school culture in a way that fosters equitable practices. In part 2 [https://teachmeteacherpodcast.com/2019/12/09/141-whats-wrong-and-how-to-fix-it-equity-with-regie-routman-pt-2/], we took a look at some practices we are letting happen in our classes and schools that are hurting students, and what to do about them. And now in part 3, we are wrapping it all together in a discussion about why learning should be joyful—for teachers and students—and should drive us into the beauty and gift that is TEACHING. Do not miss it!  Enjoy!

Hello everyone! Literacy Essentials by Regie Routman (Stenhouse 2018) [https://www.amazon.com/Literacy-Essentials-Engagement-Excellence-Learners/dp/1625310374/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=literacy+essentials&qid=1575248945&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFGSFBMUENDRTdJTjEmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA4MDI2NDIzQ1VXMUZBT0hXOVRMJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3NDUwOTAySTY3VVZYRktUSlJJJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==] is by far one of the most influential books I’ve read in my teaching career. It’s a book I turn to weekly for advice, insight, and encouragement in my work to bring authentic literacy to my students.  https://teachmeteacherpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Screen-Shot-2019-12-08-at-6.59.49-PM-2.pngSo when I was given a chance to talk to Regie herself, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. In part 1 of the podcast [https://teachmeteacherpodcast.com/2019/12/02/140-we-teach-kids-not-data-points-talking-equity-with-regie-routman-pt-1/], we dove deep into the increasingly alarming practice of talking about students as if they are data points and not children. We discussed why we need to humanize our classrooms, and how to think about our school culture in a way that fosters equitable practices. Today, we take a look at some practices we are letting happen in our classes and schools that are hurting students, and what to do about them. Among other topics, we hit on: * Why breaking everything into parts makes learning harder for students * Why “training” is not professional learning * How modeling can elevate your lessons * What it takes to begin innovating as a teacher, and as a student Do not miss it!  Enjoy!

This episode previously aired in another season. Hello everyone! Literacy Essentials by Regie Routman [https://www.amazon.com/Literacy-Essentials-Engagement-Excellence-Learners/dp/1625310374/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=literacy+essentials&qid=1575248945&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFGSFBMUENDRTdJTjEmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA4MDI2NDIzQ1VXMUZBT0hXOVRMJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3NDUwOTAySTY3VVZYRktUSlJJJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==] is by far one of the most influential books I’ve read in my teaching career. It’s a book I turn to weekly for advice, insight, and encouragement in my work to bring authentic literacy to my students.  So when I was given a chance to talk to Regie herself, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. To my delight, Regie is just as honest and passionate in person as she is in her many books. She doesn’t waste time in our talk About Regie: REGIE ROUTMAN has more than forty-five years of experience working in diverse, under-performing schools across the U.S. and Canada as an educational leader, mentor teacher, literacy coach, classroom teacher, and teacher of students with learning differences. Her current work involves on-site demonstrations of highly effective literacy and leadership practices and side-by-side mentoring and coaching of principals, administrators, and lead teachers in order to improve reading and writing engagement, achievement, and enjoyment—across the curriculum–for all learners. Her many research-based books and resources have supported hundreds of thousands of teachers, principals, and educators at all levels to create and sustain trusting, intellectual school cultures where hearing all the voices and ongoing, professional learning are priorities. Regie’s most recent book is Literacy Essentials: Engagement, Excellence, and Equity for All Learners [https://www.regieroutman.org/podcasts/]. (Stenhouse, 2018) For full information on Regie’s publications including her Transforming Our Teaching video-based, online literacy series, her PD offerings, and blogs, see www. regieroutman.org [https://www.regieroutman.org/]

Hello everyone! Today, I am releasing what I believe is the most important podcast in the history of the show. Not only is it filled with honest and real world talk, it is filled with research based advice and insight from one of the premier thinkers on education today. In this episode, I sit down with Alfie Kohn [https://www.alfiekohn.org/] and discuss a range of topics, such as why grading hurts more than it helps, why rewards do more harm than good, and why the testing obsession leads to bad teaching. I consider these the three pillars of what holds up an outdated educational model, and Alfie Kohn is the main reason for that perspective. Without a doubt, Alfie has influenced my teaching in such fundamental ways, and I know his thinking, research, and expertise will encourage you to question some of the norms of our educational climate. Alfie Kohn writes and speaks widely on human behavior, education, and parenting. The most recent of his 14 books [https://www.alfiekohn.org/books/] are SCHOOLING BEYOND MEASURE…And Other Unorthodox Essays About Education (2015) and THE MYTH OF THE SPOILED CHILD: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom About Children and Parenting (2014).  Of his earlier titles, the best known are PUNISHED BY REWARDS (1993), NO CONTEST: The Case Against Competition (1986), UNCONDITIONAL PARENTING (2005), and THE SCHOOLS OUR CHILDREN DESERVE (1999).