Transparency in Teaching (stuff)

Transparency in Teaching
Transparency in Teaching (stuff)

Public education sucks and needs a significant overhaul. Want change? So do we! Real classroom teachers explain the effects of decisions made by the people who “think” they know what’s best for education and what we know would work better. It’s a good dose of reality with a few laughs thrown in. Transparency in Teaching lets you see through the classroom door, so you know what's really happening in today's classrooms. Pull up a chair and join in the conversation. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/transparencyinteaching/support

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    55 Trump vs. Harris on Education: Who's Got Our Kids Backs?

    Ok, it's just a couple of days before we have to decide what some are calling "the fate of our county." Part of that fate is what's on the slate for public education. Both candidates have education as part of their platforms. I went to each candidate's pages to see their education plans. I am bringing my findings to you in a way that is as unbiased as I can manage. Ultimately we all want the same thing-- for our children to have the best education possible that will help them be adults that contribute to the betterment of society. We just seem to have different opinions on how to get there. (Compromise, anyone??) The result is this episode; Jen and Jimese were busy being teachers, so since the election is literally in just a few days, I decided to throw caution to the wind and just went for it and recorded this episode by myself. I also decided not to spend 6 hours editing it. (Which maybe I should have because I sure say "um" and "uh" a lot. You know how it is thinking on the fly. ) I wanted to get this information out there for anyone concerned about what state our schools may be in after November 5. The links to the websites I used to create this episode can be found on our website, TransparencyinTeaching.com I hope you get some value out of my solo discussion. Please share this episode (soon!) with anyone you think might find value. While you're at it, could you give us a nice rating, too? Now, take your mighty pen and go forth and vote your conscience. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/transparencyinteaching/support

    26 min
  2. AUG 14

    054 Why Teachers Quit (3.0): Same themes, Different times

    We've been here before, twice! This is our third episode on this topic. It seems some things don't change. Districts are still struggling to hire and retain educators. This job we do and love comes with a price many aren't willing to pay to stay. We dive deep into the ongoing teacher exodus and explore the multifaceted reasons behind it. Joined by new host, Jimese, a seasoned educator from a continuation high school, the discussion covers: AI and Cyberbullying: Discover what Jen learned on her student trip about the nightly "MOO" and alarming new trends in cyberbullying involving AI and how it's affecting both students and teachers. Teacher Pay: Is it really as low as people think? We break down the numbers and discuss teachers' financial struggles, including the burden of student loans. Lack of Resources: From outdated technology to insufficient classroom supplies, learn how the lack of resources impacts teaching effectiveness. High Workload: Understand the extensive, often unpaid duties teachers perform beyond classroom instruction, including grading, planning, and dealing with administrative tasks. Discipline Challenges: Hear firsthand accounts of the increasing discipline issues in classrooms and how they contribute to teacher burnout. Job Satisfaction: We analyze recent statistics on teacher job satisfaction and discuss why many educators advise against entering the profession. Tune in to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges teachers face today. Of course, you'll hear our suggestions about retaining good, qualified educators. Visit our website, TransparencyinTeaching.com, for a list of resources used in this episode. UGkR22JBpJCD7265ulL6 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/transparencyinteaching/support

    1h 7m
  3. MAY 23

    051 State Testing and Sex Education: Jen explains how it works

    YAY! It's state testing time at schools all over the country. We love the inconvenient schedule changes and the disruption of the end-of-year rush to get through our curriculum, said no teacher ever. In this episode, Jen explains the new way state testing is being implemented and how they are trying to increase student engagement. She also empathizes with the trepidation the PE teachers are feeling about having to teach the new sex education curriculum. Key Topics Discussed: Sex Education Program: Jen describes the nervousness among PE teachers about teaching the new sex education curriculum, highlighting the discomfort and reluctance from both teachers and students. State Testing: The episode covers the new approach to state testing at their school, which involves breaking the tests into shorter segments spread over a month. They discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of this method, including how it impacts student focus and performance. Teacher and Student Engagement: Various strategies to motivate students during the testing period are discussed, such as providing incentives like raffle tickets for prizes, fun activities, and motivational speakers, although the latter received mixed reviews from students. End-of-Year Activities: As the school year winds down, Anne and Jen touch on the flurry of activities and the anticipation of summer break, reflecting on the exhaustion but also the fulfillment that comes with wrapping up the academic year. Remember to stop by our website, TransparencyinTeaching.com. There, you'll find links to all the resources used to create this episode. You'll also find the backstory of how our little podcast was started, as well as pictures, blog posts, and all of our other episodes. Thanks for listening. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/transparencyinteaching/support

    32 min
  4. MAR 11

    050 From Firing Teachers to Scripted Lessons: Unpacking Houston's School District Overhaul

    Welcome back to another episode of TransparencyInTeaching.com. Today, we're diving into the controversial state takeover of the Houston Independent School District (HISD), which has been making headlines. With me, your host, Miss Anne, and my co-host Jen, we're unpacking the drastic changes implemented in HISD and discussing their potential impact. HISD, the largest school district in Texas and the eighth largest in the country, has been underperforming for years. The state's intervention was triggered by the chronic low achievement across multiple schools, particularly Wheatley High School. The school, serving a majority of economically disadvantaged students, became the face of the district's struggles. The state's response was to fire all teachers and principals, requiring them to reapply for their jobs. This move has sparked fear and uncertainty among educators and parents alike. The state also introduced merit pay, aiming to reward high-performing teachers but raising concerns about fostering unhealthy competition and inequity among subjects. Another significant change is the scripted curriculum, which strips teachers of the autonomy to tailor lessons to their students' needs. This one-size-fits-all approach has been met with skepticism, as it may not address the individual challenges faced by students. The state is also enforcing strict discipline policies, including converting school libraries into detention centers. This decision has been criticized for potentially depriving students of valuable resources and creating an inequitable environment. Throughout the episode, we question the effectiveness of these changes and whether they address the root causes of the district's issues. We also invite listeners, especially those from Houston, to share their insights and experiences with the takeover. As we wrap up, we reflect on the possibility of such drastic measures being implemented in other districts. The HISD takeover serves as a case study for education reform, and its outcomes will likely influence future policies across the nation. Remember to check out our website, TransparencyinTeaching.com for more in-depth analysis and resources related to this episode. Join us again as we continue to explore the complexities of teaching and the education system. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/transparencyinteaching/support

    55 min
5
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

Public education sucks and needs a significant overhaul. Want change? So do we! Real classroom teachers explain the effects of decisions made by the people who “think” they know what’s best for education and what we know would work better. It’s a good dose of reality with a few laughs thrown in. Transparency in Teaching lets you see through the classroom door, so you know what's really happening in today's classrooms. Pull up a chair and join in the conversation. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/transparencyinteaching/support

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