Teachers on Fire

Tim Cavey
  • 4.8 (25)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Warming your heart, sparking your thinking, and igniting your professional practice. Reach out on any social media platform @TeachersOnFire. Hosted by Tim Cavey.

  1. Powerful Productivity for School Leaders - with RICH CZYZ

    DEC 14

    Powerful Productivity for School Leaders - with RICH CZYZ

    → What hope is there for the school leader who feels constantly overwhelmed? → What’s the most common productivity pitfall that school leaders fall into? → How can we manage fires and interruptions without burning out? Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice. About this guest, Rich Czyz Rich is a school principal, cofounder of fouroclockfaculty.com, the author of four books on education and leadership. Rich is dedicated to creating productive environments and engaging all stake-holders in meaningful and relevant learning opportunities. Connect with Rich on LinkedIn,  on X @RACzyz, at his website, https://fouroclockfaculty.com. In This Conversation 0:00:00 -  Rich Czyz is the principal of an elementary school in New Jersey 1:21 - The vision for school leaders in Autopilot: Practical Productivity for School Leaders 2:45 - A misconception about productivity 4:13 - One immediate shift that education leaders can make 5:29 - A common productivity pitfall for school leaders 8:08 - Being visible on campus as a building leader 9:54 - How to manage interruptions in the weekly calendar 12:00 - How to think about delegation when it feels like only you can do it 13:57 - 5th Grade students do the intercom announcements 15:34 - Doing the work that powers the mission before email 18:08 - How to conduct a personal time inventory 20:33 - Rich's daily routine, from wake-up to end of day 24:47 - Managing substitute shortages 27:04 - How and where to connect with Rich Czyz Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

    28 min
  2. The Power of Direct Instruction - with Dr. Zach Groshell

    DEC 7

    The Power of Direct Instruction - with Dr. Zach Groshell

    → How can direct instruction impact student learning and growth? → Where are schools going wrong with technology in the classroom? → Is it possible for every student to succeed without lowering expectations? Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice. About Dr. Zach Groshell Zach is a highly distinguished teacher, instructional coach, and education consultant. Based in Seattle, he works with schools nationwide and internationally to develop high quality instruction based on the science of how kids learn. Zach is the author of Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching, and hosts a podcast, Progressively Incorrect. Connect with Zach on LinkedIn,  on X @mrzachg, on Substack at mrzachg.substack.com, and  at his website, https://educationrickshaw.com/. In This Conversation 0:00:00 - Introducing Dr. Zach Groshell, author of Just Tell Them 1:23 - The thesis of Just Tell Them 3:00 - The opposite of direct instruction 5:20 - Using examples and non-examples in instruction 8:17 - Zach's take on success criteria 10:14 - Teaching to a group of students effectively 13:59 - The role of teacher talk in the classroom 18:36 - Can all students succeed without lowering expectations? 21:13 - What is effective classroom management? 24:23 - The value of starting the class on time 26:44 - How schools are getting it wrong with technology 34:54 - Can AI tools support student learning toward mastery? 37:39 - One idea for teachers from the science of learning 39:38 - Resources for teachers at educationrickshaw.com 42:20 - How and where to connect with Dr. Zach Groshell Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

    44 min
  3. 5 Boundaries for Teacher Flourishing - with RAE HUGHART

    NOV 29

    5 Boundaries for Teacher Flourishing - with RAE HUGHART

    → What are some moves that teachers can make to protect their mental health? → What’s better: stay at school til the work is done, or leave as soon as possible? Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice. Today’s Teacher on Fire is Rae Hughart. Rae is the CEO and Founder of Teachers Deserve It. She’s also a TEDx Speaker and author of two books: Teachers Deserve It and Teach Better. Growing up with IEP support after being diagnosed with Specific Learning Disabilities in Reading, Writing, and Math, Rae has made it her mission to collaborate with educators and districts nationwide to design mastery learning classrooms that reach all learners. Through Teachers Deserve It, she leads a movement dedicated to empowering educators with sustainable, standards-based grading practices that promote clarity, equity, and student success. Connect with Rae on LinkedIn,  on Instagram @RaeHughart,   on TikTok @RaeHughartEDU, on Substack at raehughart.substack.com, and   at her website, teachersdeserveit.com. In This Conversation 0:00:00 - Rae Hughart is the founder of Teachers Deserve It 2:39 - Boundary 1: Leaving the building after contract hours 4:07 - How Rae followed this boundary as a teacher 5:49 - Boundary 2: Taking a sick day when we're sick 11:58 - Boundary 3: Declining voluntary committees that we don't have capacity for 17:08 - Boundary 4: Taking quiet moments on your lunch break 19:54 - Boundary 5: Setting email hours 23:45 - Should we turn off mobile notifications for email? 27:11 - Resources for teachers available at TeachersDeserveIt.com 31:01 - How and where to connect with Rae Hughart on social media Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

    33 min
  4. Assessment Practices for Student Success - with KARLEY ALLEYN

    NOV 22

    Assessment Practices for Student Success - with KARLEY ALLEYN

    → How can our assessment decisions increase equity for all learners? → Are learning targets actually a valuable part of instruction and assessment? → Should teachers give zeros for cheating or deduct marks for late assignment submissions? Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice. Today’s Teacher on Fire is Karley Alleyn. Karley is a BC-based assessment consultant, a sessional instructor for the University of Victoria's BEDILR (Bachelor of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization) program, and a consultant with the Canadian Assessment Centre. Karley's research in assessment identity has led her to speak across BC, Hawaii, London, and in 2026, Singapore. Connect with Karley on LinkedIn,  on Instagram @accessible_assessment, and in her newsletter at https://www.karleyalleyn.com/assessment-identified. In This Conversation 0:00:00 - Karley Alleyn is an assessment consultant and former teacher based in BC 1:47 - What IS assessment? 2:40 - What is the purpose of assessment? 4:11 - How can assessment produce greater equity for learners? 5:52 - Making every learner feel good? 6:38 - Assessment identity as an educator 9:54 - Are learning targets valuable or a waste of time? 14:01 - Should teachers ever give zeros? 19:32 - A great formative assessment strategy 23:56 - What does Extending proficiency mean in BC? 32:54 - Assessment resources offered by Karley Alleyn 35:25 - How and where to connect with Karley Alleyn online Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

    37 min
  5. How to Humanize Parent-Teacher Conferences -- with JEFF SMITH

    NOV 16

    How to Humanize Parent-Teacher Conferences -- with JEFF SMITH

    → How can we reimagine parent-teacher conferences? → What are the issues most responsible for burning out teachers today? → What are some rhythms and activities that can keep our fire for teaching alive? Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice. Today’s Teacher on Fire is Jeff Smith. Jeff has taught in 12 schools over 32 years, with high school courses including mathematics (Pre-Algebra through AP Calculus), AP Comparative Government, Human Geography, and US History. He writes about teacher whitespace on Substack on Teachers' Unmuted. Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn and on Substack at https://jeffuson.substack.com/ In This Conversation 0:00:00 - Jeff Smith is a high school teacher in Illinois 1:46 - Are teachers just customer service representatives? 4:18 - What Jeff means by "whitespace" - where teachers find agency 6:52 - More about whitespace as a metaphor for freedom 7:58 - Bringing one story, one question into our conferences 10:28 - Jeff's view: what causes teacher burnout? 13:11 - What is the Teachers Unmuted blog on Substack all about? 16:10 - Why Jeff writes about his professional practice 20:08 - The hobbies and interests that keep Jeff on fire 23:38 - Where to connect with Jeff Smith and Teachers Unmuted Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

    25 min
  6. Supporting Student Learning Beyond the Classroom -- with SCOTT NUNES

    NOV 9

    Supporting Student Learning Beyond the Classroom -- with SCOTT NUNES

    🔥 How can we bring back the golden age of Edu Twitter? 🔥 What happens when we step out of the classroom and into edtech? 🔥 How should schools and districts think about AI tools for teachers right now? About This Guest Scott Nunes is an international keynote speaker and award-winning education technology strategist. He leverages his network of AI researchers, Fortune-500 tech leaders, and workforce-development partners to share insights on the convergence of education, industry, and emerging technologies. Connect with Scott on LinkedIn, on X @mrnunesteach,  on Instagram @iammredtech, and on his website, scottnunes.com. In This Conversation 0:00:00 - Scott Nunes is an entrepreneur and former teacher based in Texas 1:47 - The golden age of Edu Twitter 3:15 - How can we bring back Edu Twitter today? 5:58 - Scott retraces his professional steps 8:49 - How Scott's PLN has produced professional mobility 10:50 - How does the corporate life compare with the classroom? 14:19 - Scott's value proposition for edtech companies and school districts 20:48 - Scott's advice to schools and districts regarding AI tools 27:28 - Is there still room for more new edtech companies? 30:32 - Will AI replace teachers? 34:57 - How Scott maintains his physical health 40:00 - How and where to connect with Scott Nunes online Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

    42 min
  7. 3-Minute Leadership RESET: Rekindle Your Fire for Education -- with SEAN GAILLARD

    NOV 1

    3-Minute Leadership RESET: Rekindle Your Fire for Education -- with SEAN GAILLARD

    🔥 What happens when our doubts, mistakes, and questions start to take over? 🔥 What is a quick, simple routine that we can follow to rekindle our fire? 🔥 How can music build identity and belonging in a learning community? About This Guest Sean Gaillard is a school administrator in North Carolina, author of The Pepper Effect, and host of the Leadership Liner Notes podcast. He blogs about leadership, education, and inspiration for Leadership Liner Notes, and is currently writing a new book for Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. titled Leadership Riffs. Connect with Sean on LinkedIn, on X @smgaillard, on Instagram @smgaillard, on his blog at https://seangaillard.com/. In This Conversation 0:00:00 - Sean Gaillard is a principal and author in Lexington, North Carolina 1:59 - The dark times that education leaders face 6:37 - Reset Step 1: Take a breath 8:49 - Reset Step 2: Anchor in gratitude 12:02 - Reset Step 3: Affirm and reframe 15:28 - Reset Step 4: Reconnect 21:36 - One more thing: your presence matters 24:10 - Revisiting our why, passions, dreams, and values 27:22 - How can music build identity and belonging? 30:00 - What to expect from Leadership Riffs 31:36 - How to motivate teams with low morale 34:01 - How and where to connect with Sean Gaillard online Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

    36 min
  8. Rethinking Kahoot and Blooket - with MARCIE SAMAYOA

    OCT 31

    Rethinking Kahoot and Blooket - with MARCIE SAMAYOA

    🔥 Are Kahoot and Blooket the best ways for students to review content? 🔥 How can we build fluency, literacy, and thinking skills in the science classroom? 🔥 What’s the role of pencils and paper in the classroom of 2025? Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice. Today’s Teacher on Fire is Marcie Samayoa. Marcie is a high school chemistry teacher from Los Angeles, California with ten years of experience in the classroom. Through her blog, Scientists in the Making, she shares evidence-based teaching strategies that connect cognitive science to instructional practices. Connect with Marcie on LinkedIn, on X @SciInTheMaking  on Instagram @scientistsinthemaking, and on her website at ⁠⁠www.scientistsinthemaking.com⁠⁠. In This Conversation ⁠⁠0:00:00⁠⁠ - Marcie Samayoa is a high school chemistry teacher based in Los Angeles, CA ⁠⁠1:43⁠⁠ - Doesn't Kahoot increase student engagement? ⁠⁠4:16⁠⁠ - Review Step 1: a low-stakes practice test on paper with topics labeled ⁠⁠5:48⁠⁠ - Review Step 2: turn to neighbours, compare answers, consult notes, discuss differences ⁠⁠8:47⁠⁠ - Review Step 3: students note the topics that they struggled with ⁠⁠8:54⁠⁠ - Review Step 4: students review weaker topics using retrieval ⁠⁠10:10⁠⁠ - Review Step 5: 2nd practice test, this time in Google Forms without topics ⁠⁠12:23⁠⁠ - Review Step 6: students take the test again as homework to build fluency ⁠⁠16:55⁠⁠ - The current pushback from educators against overuse of edtech and AI in the classroom ⁠⁠21:11⁠⁠ - Marcie's critique of Building Thinking Classrooms ⁠⁠27:22⁠⁠ - How and where to connect with Marcie Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at ⁠⁠https://teachersonfire.net/⁠⁠. Song Track Credit Opening Song: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠.

    29 min
See All (306)

4.8
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

Warming your heart, sparking your thinking, and igniting your professional practice. Reach out on any social media platform @TeachersOnFire. Hosted by Tim Cavey.

Information

  • Creator
    Tim Cavey
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    306
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Tim Cavey
  • Show Website
    Teachers on Fire

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