The Broken Copier

After a long hiatus from recording, Marcus and Jim are finally able to sit down and check in about how the school year is starting to wind down. They focus on some of the big picture reflections they've had coming out of this year, especially in regards to how students feel ownership and agency in the classroom decisions that impact their learning. Marcus attacks Jim for being too autocratic in his classroom, and not valuing what students think, say, or feel. They're still friends, though. 

Mr. P is back! After strenuous negotiation with our record label, Brandon was granted paternity leave from the pod to help care for his new baby girl! On behalf of the entire @realPDpod family, we'd like to say congratulations to the entire Piasecki family - especially to the newest big brother in our fanbase, Langston. In the midst of balancing teacher life with dad life, Jim and Brandon are finally able to sit down and talk a little shop. Brandon shares some insight into how he approaches all the fun 5th grade science questions he gets on a daily basis with the long term goals of his curriculum (you know, why not stop a lesson to talk about how you could walk on water?), and shares a little insight into a well-known struggle for many teachers: how to balance the demands of being both a parent and a full time teacher.

Marcus & Jim sit down to talk about The Great Education Resignation. Teachers are quitting mid year, creating viral social media content about how to transition out of the classroom, and we're just getting the sense that after this school year is over, a lot of teachers are going to leave their jobs. We talk through how that's impacting our classrooms right now, what we think some of the causes are, and what - if anything - we can do looking ahead. 

After a short brush with viral Twitter fame, Jim heard from all kinds of different people. One of them was Joseph Maffey, who didn't email about the infamous bus tweet, but rather to let Jim know that not only had he listened to the podcast, but that he actually liked it! The two teachers are finally able to connect and talk about their classrooms, what's been going on in Joseph's district around mask policy, when and how to teach fiction, and the age old question of how you can hold a teenager's attention long enough for them to read an entire book. Enjoy!

As many state legislatures are drafting and passing legislation aimed at requiring teachers to be more transparent about their curriculum, especially out of fears of indoctrination and the idea that teachers are "teaching Critical Race Theory," Marcus & Jim dive head on into a conversation about how they approach politics in the classroom. Should teachers talk about politics with students? When is it appropriate? What's the line between being authentic with yourself and allowing students to think for themselves? As always, feel free to reach out with feedback & follow us on TikTok & IG @realPDpod. Enjoy!

Jim and Marcus sit down with Dr. Chris Jones to talk about his run for Governor of Arkansas. After a viral campaign launch video that took Twitter by storm (currently with 5.3 million views), Dr. Jones has been clear that education in Arkansas is a top priority in his campaign. He's got a tough road ahead of him: he's running against Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former White House Press Secretary for President Trump, and daughter of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. But his calls for empathy, innovation, and systemic change are refreshing for two tired teachers. Dr. Jones shares about his journey in the classroom as a graduate of Morehouse College and MIT, as well as leading a 9th grade Algebra classroom of his own. He shares his vision for education in Arkansas, what he thinks the stakes are for this election, and the impacts that arguments about Critical Race Theory are having on students and teachers.

Jim and Marcus debrief the recent report from The Teacher Salary Project, "Teacher Salaries and Teacher Shortages: The View from the Classroom." They walk through their reactions and experiences around compensation in both rural and urban contexts, and discuss the role they think salary plays in teacher retention from both a systemic and personal lens. Since they recorded the episode on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, they also close with a reflection on how they approach talking about the day with their students, and how as white teachers they think about decolonizing and diversifying their own curriculum beyond single a single holiday or a single month.

Link to the report: https://www.teachersalaryproject.org/uploads/1/3/9/1/139153593/tsp-report-final.pdf

Marcus & Jimmy catch up after all the hustle & bustle of the holidays, and discuss how they're thinking about their jobs in the midst of some really serious questions emerging about the relationship we should have with work itself.

Jim interviews Matt Wright, the Superintendent of the Marked Tree School District. Matt was Jim's principal when he started teaching in 2011, and has been a significant mentor for him throughout his career. In this episode, Matt shares some insight into how he led his district through the transitions around shifts to remote learning during the pandemic, and how he approached some critical decisions as a school and community leader during the onset of COVID-19.

Jim talks with his former Master's thesis advisor, Dr. Patrick Comstock, about his own journey in education and some of his current research on mindfulness in the classroom.

Jim & Marcus return to the conversation about pivoting from remote instruction.

Jimmy, Brandon, and Marcus talk about their goals and mindsets as they go back in person into an uncertain school year.

Jim reconnects with his old college friend and track teammate, Whitney Koch, to talk about her journey in the classroom. Whitney dives into her own process of discovering her love of teaching a few years into her teaching career, some of the people who helped her along the way, and her current efforts teaching high schoolers about sexual health, identity, relationships, and wellness. They also discuss some of the overlap with literacy skills in science classrooms, and how Whitney thinks about her job as a literacy teacher in STEM.

Hosts Jimmy and Brandon dive deeper into their remote learning discussion (since there's a lot to talk about).

Brandon and Jimmy reflect on their transition to remote learning, how that felt, and the ways in which they had to adapt during the pandemic.

Jimmy welcomes Marcus Luther as another host to the show. They talk about some of the big things on their mind as they look to the fall after a year of remote learning, how the current political climate around education is shaping their thinking, and geek out a little bit regarding best practices for English teachers.

Jim interviews one of the people who first inspired him to become a teacher, and somebody who has always encouraged his journey in the classroom: Mr. Bonfiglio, his high school English teacher. Joe walks Jim through his own journey into the classroom, what it was like to be a teacher making less than $6,000 a year, what educational practices he thinks have staying power over the years, and why the classroom is such a sacred place. 

Hosts Brandon and Jimmy introduce themselves & discuss what they want for the podcast.