Have a Life Teaching

John Schembari

In this podcast, we will engage in conversation with educators providing insight on best-in-class K-12 curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices.

  1. Cinde Lock: How to Move Beyond Tests - Building Authentic Learning Through Connections, Assessment, and Purpose

    22h ago

    Cinde Lock: How to Move Beyond Tests - Building Authentic Learning Through Connections, Assessment, and Purpose

    This week I'm joined by Dr. Cinde Lock, Head of School at Pickering College and author of Connections, Academics & Purpose, to explore why traditional testing isn't enough and what schools can do instead. We discuss: Why students often forget what they memorize for testsThe difference between authentic assessment and "doing a fun project"How community partnerships create meaningful evidence of learningWhy alternative assessment can improve—not replace—academic rigorHow AI makes personalized, competency-based learning more realistic than everPractical ways school leaders can begin implementing authentic assessment one project at a timeIf you're interested in project-based learning, competency-based education, or preparing students for an AI-enabled future, this episode offers both a compelling vision and practical next steps. Dr. Cinde Lock LinkedIn Page Webpage Connections, Assessment, and Purpose - Book

    42 min
  2. Brendan Lee: How Explicit Instruction Can Increase Student Learning

    Jun 23

    Brendan Lee: How Explicit Instruction Can Increase Student Learning

    What does effective explicit instruction actually look like—and when should teachers move beyond it? In this episode, Dr. John Schembari sits down with Australian instructional coach Brendan Lee, founder of Knowledge for Teachers, to explore how cognitive science, explicit instruction, and the instructional hierarchy can help educators improve student learning and instructional decision-making. Brendan shares his own journey from struggling teacher to instructional coach and explains why understanding how learning happens is essential for improving classroom outcomes. What explicit instruction is—and what it is not Why many lessons fail despite strong planning The importance of prerequisite knowledge and retrieval practice How to use modeling, guided practice, and checking for understanding effectively Why guided practice is where most learning occurs The role of feedback in accelerating learning How fluency differs from acquisition and why both matter When students are ready for independent practice The Instructional Hierarchy: Acquisition, Fluency, Generalization, and Adaptation Why teachers should differentiate support rather than curriculum How understanding learning science can increase teacher efficacy and retention Explicit instruction is critical when students are learning something new, but it is only the beginning. Effective teaching requires knowing where students are in the learning process and providing the right level of support, practice, feedback, and challenge to help them move from novice to expert. Brendan Lee Website Brendan Lee LinkedIn Page Music by Aylex

    41 min
  3. Robert Cooper Jr: How to Help Boys Become Authentic Men

    Jun 16

    Robert Cooper Jr: How to Help Boys Become Authentic Men

    Why are boys disciplined more frequently than girls beginning as early as preschool? Why are boys of color disproportionately affected by school discipline? And how can educators support boys in developing healthy, positive masculinity while improving behavior, communication, and leadership skills? In this episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast, host John Schembari sits down with Robert Cooper Jr., founder of Young Men Becoming Men and author of The Authentic Man: Embracing Your Journey. Drawing from his own experiences growing up without a father figure and his years of mentoring young men, Robert shares practical strategies for helping boys navigate trauma, build self-worth, develop emotional regulation, and become leaders in their schools and communities. This conversation challenges educators to move beyond behavior management and focus on relationship-building, validation, and understanding the lived experiences of young men. ✅ Why boys are disciplined more frequently than girls beginning in early childhood ✅ The impact of trauma, absent fathers, and lack of validation on young men ✅ Why relationship-building is the foundation of effective teaching ✅ What educators often misunderstand about boys and boys of color ✅ The difference between toxic masculinity and positive masculinity ✅ How schools can create leadership opportunities that empower young men ✅ Practical ways teachers can connect with students in just a few minutes each day ✅ How parents can counter negative social media influences ✅ Why accountability and self-worth must be taught together ✅ Strategies for helping boys develop healthy identities and emotional resilience Boys often want to be understood before they are corrected.Validation and connection are powerful tools for behavior improvement.Leadership is about service, growth, and accountability—not control.Young men need opportunities to explore their identities in healthy ways.Positive adult relationships can alter the trajectory of a student's life.Schools can support boys by embedding relationship-building and social-emotional learning into daily practice.Robert Cooper Jr. LinkedIn Page Young Men Becoming Men Book: The Authentic Man: Embracing Your Journey Music by Aylex

    41 min
  4. Melissa Sadorf and Derek Cantrell: How to Lead in Rural Schools

    Jun 9

    Melissa Sadorf and Derek Cantrell: How to Lead in Rural Schools

    Rural schools educate nearly one-third of America's public school students, yet they are often underrepresented in national conversations about education policy, innovation, and school improvement. In this episode of Have a Life Teaching, Dr. John Schembari is joined by Dr. Melissa Sadorf, Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association and author of The Resilient Rural Leader, along with Derek Cantrell, principal of Alleghany Highlands High School and author of Better Together: Two Communities, One School. Together, they explore the strengths, challenges, and opportunities facing rural schools today. Topics include: • Teacher recruitment and retention in rural communities • School consolidation and community identity • Grow-your-own teacher programs • Partnerships with community colleges, businesses, and local organizations • Broadband access and educational equity • AI and technology as tools to expand opportunity • What urban and suburban schools can learn from rural schools • Why relationships remain the foundation of effective leadership The conversation highlights an important reality: rural education is not a deficit story. It is a story of resilience, innovation, community partnership, and leaders who consistently find ways to create opportunities for students despite limited resources. Whether you work in a rural, suburban, or urban setting, this episode offers valuable insights into leadership, trust, community engagement, and the future of education. Melissa Sadorf LinkedIn Derek Cantrell LinkedIn The Resilient Rural Leader Book Better Together Book National Rural Education Association Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

    38 min
  5. Becca Silver: How to Transition Through Staff Resistance in Schools

    Jun 2

    Becca Silver: How to Transition Through Staff Resistance in Schools

    In this episode, John Schembari speaks with Becca Silver about the real causes of resistance in schools and how leaders can respond more effectively. Becca shares her Catalyst Mindsets framework, explains why resistance is often rooted in unmet needs, and discusses the difference between compliance, buy-in, and ownership. The conversation explores practical strategies for coaches, principals, and district leaders seeking to build trust, navigate difficult conversations, and create cultures where meaningful change can take hold. Becca Silver Website Becca Silver LinkedIn Book - The Resistance Solution Music by Aylex

    41 min
  6. Starr Sackstein, Michael McDowell, and Alexandra Laing: How to Use Actionable Assessment in Real Time

    May 26

    Starr Sackstein, Michael McDowell, and Alexandra Laing: How to Use Actionable Assessment in Real Time

    In this episode of Have a Life Teaching, I sit down with Starr Sackstein, Michael McDowell, and Alexandra Laing, co-creators of Actionable Assessment, to unpack one of the most pressing instructional questions teachers face every day: When some students get it, some don’t, and some are already ahead… what do you do next? We explore how formative assessment should be less about collecting data and more about making immediate instructional decisions during Tier 1 teaching. Key takeaways include:✅ Quick checks for understanding that don’t interrupt lesson flow✅ How to respond to students below, at, and above readiness levels in the moment✅ Why differentiation does not have to mean separating students into intervention groups✅ How visual “instructional snapshots” help teachers choose responsive next moves fast✅ Why advanced learners deserve extension—not becoming the class tutor✅ Simple routines that build student metacognition and ownership of learning✅ How schools can embed responsive teaching through PLCs, coaching, and leadership follow-through This conversation is a practical look at the intersection of formative assessment, differentiation, MTSS, and instructional coaching—with actionable strategies teachers can use tomorrow. Starr Sackstein Webpage Michael McDowell Webpage Alexandra Liang LinkedIn Page Book Featured: Actionable Assessment: A Step-by-Step Guide to Responsive Teaching and Student Growth Music by Aylex

    43 min
  7. Charlotte Dungan: How AI Bootcamps Can Develop Both Teachers and Students While Preserving Our Humanity

    May 19

    Charlotte Dungan: How AI Bootcamps Can Develop Both Teachers and Students While Preserving Our Humanity

    In this episode of Have a Life Teaching, I sit down with Charlotte Dungan, Chief Learning Officer at the Mark Cuban Foundation, to explore what meaningful AI education actually looks like in K-12. We unpack: • What effective AI professional learning for teachers should include • Why AI literacy must go beyond prompts and productivity • How the Mark Cuban Foundation’s free teacher and student AI bootcamps work • The connection between AI, CTE, entrepreneurship, and future workforce readiness • Equity, access, and ensuring rural and underserved students aren’t left behind • Why teacher agency matters more than overly rigid AI policies • Practical AI tools for assessment, feedback, classroom conversations, and teacher practice A standout takeaway: AI should reduce the drudgery so humans can do more of the creative, relational, deeply human work that matters most. Because schools are not just preparing workers. We’re preparing citizens. Charlotte Dungan LinkedIn Page Mark Cuban Foundation Music by Aylex

    37 min
  8. Philip Gillette and James Soler: How to Use Music, Culture, and Play to Build Student Engagement

    May 12

    Philip Gillette and James Soler: How to Use Music, Culture, and Play to Build Student Engagement

    In this episode of Have a Life Teaching, John Schembari speaks with Musical IQ leaders Philip Gillette and James Soler about how music can become a bridge to culture, identity, collaboration, and deeper learning. The conversation explores how schools can move beyond treating music and the arts as “extras” and instead use them as powerful tools for engagement, systems thinking, interdisciplinary learning, and community building. Topics include:• Why music creates belonging and confidence for students• How Musical IQ uses African and Afro-diaspora music traditions to teach culture and history• Using drumming, storytelling, and ensemble work to develop student voice and collaboration• Why “play” is essential for curiosity and learning• Helping students feel seen through culturally responsive instruction• The connection between music, memory, and deeper learning• How arts integration supports systems thinking and interdisciplinary instruction• Navigating cultural appreciation vs. cultural appropriation in education• Practical ways schools can integrate music and culture into everyday teaching• How immersive science experiences through Cosmic IQ connect to the same philosophy of engagement and wonder One powerful takeaway from the episode:“If students feel seen, connected, and curious, learning accelerates.” Listen if you are interested in:• Student engagement• Arts integration• Culturally responsive teaching• Interdisciplinary learning• Student voice and agency• Music education• Building joyful classrooms• Global and culturally connected instruction Musical IQ Website James Soller LinkedIn Page Phillip Gilette Website Music by Aylex

    43 min
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About

In this podcast, we will engage in conversation with educators providing insight on best-in-class K-12 curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices.

Information

  • Creator
    John Schembari
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    141
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © John Schembari
  • Show Website
    Have a Life Teaching

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