37M AGO

42 Years Later: Why I’m Terrified to Teach Next Year

The 42-Year Calculus Challenge I just walked out of my end-of-year evaluation with my assistant principal, and I was handed my assignment for next fall: AP Physics with Calculus. I am one part excited and one part completely terrified. I am a chemist by trade. I understand physics well, but my last calculus class was 42 years ago. To prepare, I am practicing exactly what I preach to my students: Analog Roots. I have a massive physics textbook on order, and I bought a simple, blank composition notebook. I will be manually solving every single problem by hand this summer to stay at least a unit or two ahead. I am stepping completely back into learner mode. The Heartbreak on the Final Exam (Listen at 01:58) As I record this, the final bells have rung and the desks are empty. But right at the finish line, my mood turned sour. I discovered that a student I deeply care about made a very poor choice regarding academic integrity on his final science test. It broke my heart. It’s an administrative hassle, yes, but more importantly, it’s a painful reminder of the shortcuts kids are taking today. But as educators, we have to reframe these moments. This isn’t just an infraction; it’s a critical opportunity for a young man to grow, learn about consequences, and find a better path forward. Flipped Learning Goes Global (Listen at 03:06) By the time you listen to this, I will be on a plane to South America. The largest medical school in Brazil has invited me to speak to their doctors, professors, and dentists about the MasteryFlip model and how to teach clinical logic in the age of AI. The pace of digital change is moving faster than any time in human history. As educational researcher Justin Reich famously noted, nobody truly knows how to teach in the AI era yet—we need thousands of teachers stepping up to try things out. That experimentation led me to launch the MasteryFlip Certification. The battle-tested blueprint is ready, and the 50% off introductory window is open at jonbergmann.com until this Friday. The 750-Mile Escape (Listen at 04:44) Once I return from Brazil and spend a week with my incredible wife, I am disappearing into a militant Analog Reset. I am joining a small crew to cycle 750 miles over 17 days from Salt Lake City to the Grand Canyon through Bryce Canyon. We are riding with the Fuller Center for Housing to build homes for the unhoused along the way. The rules are simple: we are limited to a 40-pound bag, and electronics are strictly discouraged. I need to get away from screens and reconnect with God, nature, and humanity. Our summer batteries are at zero percent. Whether it’s a bike ride, summer school like my daughter is teaching, or traveling to see family, protect your time. Unplug. Recharge. Reclaim your sanity so you can come back next fall ready to transform lives. Ride on, Jon Ke Moments 00:00 - Terrified & Excited: My New AP Physics Assignment 01:20 - The Silence of an Empty Room 229 01:58 - Heartbreak at the Finish Line: An Academic Integrity Mistake 03:06 - Flipped Learning Goes Global: Heading to Brazil 04:44 - The Analog Reset: 750 Miles to the Grand Canyon 06:15 - Solving the Calculus Problem with Old-School Notebooks 07:05 - Why Nobody Knows How to Teach in the Age of AI 08:15 - The "Good Grief" of Saying Goodbye to My Seniors 09:20 - MasteryFlip Certification Launch (Founding Member Special) 10:00 - Summer Challenge: Reaching Your Own Family First This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonbergmann.substack.com

10 min

MAY 18

It’s Sucking My Soul”: Why I Choose Teaching Over Corporate Success | Episode 74

👉 Listen/Watch the full episode above on Substack. You need to hear the tone and emotion of this week’s message. The Sunday Epiphany This week started in the green room at church. I was talking to one of my bandmates on the worship team, and he confessed something heavy: his corporate job is “sucking the life out of him.” He feels like a gear in a machine driven by grind and greed that doesn’t care about his soul. It hit me in that moment: I am exhausted. It’s “Manic May” in Room 229, and I am bone-tired. But as I told my friend—and as I break down in the first two minutes of this episode—there is a profound difference between being drained by a system and being poured out for a mission. The Machine vs. The Mission (Listen at 02:11) Let’s be honest—teaching is brutal right now. But if you feel like your soul is being sucked dry, it’s rarely because of the kids. It’s the “Administrative Machine.” When we close the classroom door and engage in the “Human Check”—that’s our oxygen. We fight the system all day just to earn the right to have those 30-second meaningful moments where a student finally “gets it.” This is exactly why I built the MasteryFlip Certification, which officially launches tonight. I wanted to create a professional “reset” to help you reclaim the human heart of your classroom from the digital machine. In the video, I walk through the three specific pillars designed to buy back your time: * AI Engines: Offloading the logistics. * Analog Roots: Reclaiming the power of the pencil. * Human Checks: Interactive 2-minute oral assessments. The Auburn Letter (Listen at 03:55) If you only have five minutes today, scroll to the 3:55 mark of the audio and listen to the letter I read. I recently received a note from a young lady I taught for the last two years who is heading to Auburn University this fall. I read her exact words aloud in this episode because every exhausted educator in America needs to hear them right now. If you’ve forgotten why we stay in the trenches, let her message remind you of the “delayed harvest” we are planting. The “Good Grief” of May As graduation approaches this Friday, I’m feeling a sense of grief as I say goodbye to my seniors. But in this episode, I want to challenge how you view that end-of-year sadness. I’m arguing for a concept I call “Good Grief.” My corporate friend doesn’t experience this pain because he doesn’t share our mission. Tune in to hear why the heartbreak of the last day of school is actually the ultimate evidence that your life is echoing. 🚀 Launch Invite: Become a Founding Member I want to help you start next August with a clean slate. The MasteryFlip Certification online course is officially open. It’s the distillation of everything I’ve learned about reaching every student while preserving your own sanity. Because you are part of this Substack community, you can claim a Founding Member seat at 50% off before the doors close on May 29th. * Regular Price: $297 * Your Price: $149 * 👉 Click Here to Claim Your Founding Member Seat for $149 Summer Plans: The 750-Mile Analog Reset At the end of the episode, I share my upcoming summer itinerary—including a trip to Brazil to present this framework, followed by a massive 750-mile bicycle ride where I am completely disconnecting for an analog reset. The podcast isn’t stopping. I’ll be recording raw updates from the road every single Monday all summer long. Hit play to hear how you can ride along with me. Ride on, Jon Key Moments in Episode 74 * 00:00 - Survival in “Manic May” * 00:39 - Introducing the MasteryFlip Certification * 01:12 - The corporate machine vs. the teaching mission * 03:55 - The Auburn Letter: Proof your impact is real * 05:56 - The beauty of the professional “reset.” * 08:59 - Why honesty in failing matters for students * 10:55 - Summer plans: Brazil and a 750-mile bike ride This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonbergmann.substack.com

13 min

MAY 11

Mr. Bergmann Changed My Life": The Echo of Impact in the Age of AI | Episode 73

The Story of the Echo Teaching is a delayed harvest profession. This week, I received a message from a student I taught four years ago that reminded me why the 'Human Check' is more important than any AI in education tool Yesterday, I received a message from a friend in Kansas that stopped me in my tracks. He had been talking to a former student of mine—now a sophomore in college—who told him, “Mr. Bergmann really impacted my life.” I didn’t hear that four years ago when he was sitting in my Chemistry class. I didn’t see it on a course evaluation. I am hearing it now, vicariously, through an “echo.” If you are a teacher in the middle of “Manic May,” feeling exhausted and wondering if you’re actually getting through, this episode is for you. Teaching is a delayed harvest profession. You are planting seeds today that you might not see bloom until 2030. The Year in Review: Reclaiming the Classroom As I sat through my final teacher evaluations this week, I looked back at the journey we’ve been on since September. * The AI Pivot: We started the year trying to figure out how to “enmesh” AI into Physics. But as the months went by, the goal changed. I found myself warning students about “Stupefaction.” If we offload our thinking to the machine, we lose the “productive struggle” that actually grows the brain. * The Letters to Students: I wrote two letters to students. The first is more personal to my students, and the second is a joint effort with a consortium of STEM professors across the United States. * The Mastery Flip: This year gave birth to a new framework: AI Engines, Analog Roots, and Human Checks. My wife actually helped me name it: The Mastery Flip. * Analog Roots: In a world of “digital glaze,” I actually went out and bought used physical textbooks for the fourth quarter. We moved away from online platforms and back to paper, pencil, and face-to-face conversation. Why? Because the “Analog Root” is what keeps the student grounded in their own thinking. The “Motor” Moment The payoff for all this “Analog” work happened this week during our electricity unit. I watched a student—one who has struggled with traditional work all year—build an electric motor from scratch. He was so proud that it spun for 30 minutes straight. In that moment, I wasn’t just a teacher; I was a Vision Caster. I told him, “You need to be an electrical engineer.” That’s the “Human Check” that no AI can provide. The Final Word: Stay for the Echo I’ve been doing this for 40 years, and I still get tired. But then I get a message from Kansas. To the “Village” of teachers listening: Don’t judge your success by how you feel today. Judge it by the echo that is coming. Stay in the fight. Episode Timestamps: * 00:00 - The Message from Kansas: A 4-Year Echo * 02:51 - Is AI Stupefying Our Students? * 06:44 - The Mastery Flip: AI Engines & Analog Roots * 08:11 - Why I’m Returning to Physical Textbooks in 2026 * 11:45 - The Motor Project: When a Student “Comes Alive” * 15:01 - Parent Feedback: The Power of Being Seen * 16:17 - Year 40 Encouragement: Stay for the Echo P.S. If you're watching this on YouTube, please hit the 'Hype' button on the video! It helps the algorithm push this encouragement to other tired teachers who need to hear it this week This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonbergmann.substack.com

19 min

MAY 4

Sal Khan’s Treadmill Problem: Why AI Tutors are "Non-Events" Without You | Episode 72

“Manic May” is here. We are in the “Long Sprint”—that exhausted, emotionally spent stretch where the finish line is visible, but the legs are heavy. Technology is supposed to save us time, but I’ve found that the most important work we do in 2026 doesn’t come from a processor; it comes from the heart. In this episode, I dive into a recent, shocking admission from Sal Khan. He noted that despite all the billions invested, AI tutoring (Khanmigo) has been a “non-event” for most students. The “Grandpa” Letter Insight: “Your words remind me that I don’t need to be loud like others to be influential... You kind of remind me of my grandpa... it has been a long, long time since I earned appreciation from an elderly person. Now, I feel like my grandpa is watching me from heaven...” Why? Because access does not equal action. I break down the “Treadmill Problem”: Why having an AI tutor is like having a high-end treadmill in your basement—it’s objectively great, but without a “Personal Trainer” (you), it usually just ends up hanging your laundry. I also share the emotional payoff of the 150 individual “Vision Videos” I just finished recording. You’ll hear the letters my students sent back—including one that reminds us that while AI can explain Chemistry, it can never replace the “Grandpa” factor in a child’s life. Key Highlights in This Episode: * The Motivation Gap: Why Sal Khan realized that a “teacher in the back of the room” (even a digital one) isn’t enough. * The Personal Trainer Metaphor: Why students do the “extra rep” of mastery for a human, but never for an algorithm. * Scaling the Heart: How I managed to “see” each of my students individually during an exhausting week. * The “Grandpa” Letter: A raw look at a student response that proves why the “Human Check” is our true superpower. * Key Moments * 00:00 – Introduction: Heart over Technology * Jon reflects on why the most important work in 2026 comes from the heart, not just a processor. * An update on the seven-year tradition of “Vision Videos” and the surprising responses they generate. * 01:13 – The Sal Khan “Non-Event” Admission * Discussing Sal Khan’s admission that AI tutoring (Khanmigo) has been a “non-event” for most students. * The problem with AI acting as a “teacher in the back of the room” that students never visit. * 01:44 – The Treadmill Metaphor: Access vs. Action * Why having an AI tutor is like having a treadmill in your basement—always there, but often just used to hang laundry. * The need for a “Personal Trainer” who is invested in student progress and encourages that “extra rep”. * 04:18 – Legacy: “He Never Let Me Get Away With Anything” * A powerful story from Senior Chapel about a student being influenced by high expectations and accountability. * 05:13 – Scaling the Personal Trainer for 150 Students * How to act as a personal trainer at scale without burning out. * Holding 150 students accountable through “Human Checks” and Mastery Vivas. * 05:54 – AI as Your Chief of Staff * Turning Gemini into a “Chief of Staff” to handle behind-the-scenes executive assistant work. * Instructing AI to push your thinking rather than just agreeing with you. * 09:00 – The “Grandpa” Letter: Why Being Seen is the Superpower * Jon reads a deeply emotional student response that compares him to a late grandfather. * Why AI can never replace the feeling of being “seen” and validated by a human mentor. * 11:45 – The Motivation Gap & The Human Solution * How teachers serve as the “personal trainers” who make kids run on the treadmill. * Reflecting on 40 years in the classroom and encouraging teachers to stay in the profession. * 14:00 – Teaser: The Grief of the Launch * Reflecting on the coming end of the school year and the emotional weight of saying goodbye. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonbergmann.substack.com

15 min

APR 27

The Exhaustion of Excellence: How to Scale the "Human Check" |Episode 71

Summary It is April, the “Long Sprint,” and I’m exhausted. Over the last few days, I have been pouring my heart into Vision Videos. These are individual, raw, high-energy recordings for every single one of my students where I look them in the virtual eye and tell them exactly who they are becoming. It takes a massive emotional toll—it’s draining, it’s hard, and it’s arguably the most taxing thing I do all year. But I do it because it builds the “Relational Cache” I need for the rest of the year. When I sit down with a student for a Mastery Viva, they know I see them, they know I care, and they are far less likely to push the “Easy Button” of AI cheating. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how I manage the logistics of the Mastery Viva (oral assessments) with lots of students. I share my playbook for “clumping” students to speed up check-ins and how I use AI Proxies (like Flint K12) as a “Safety Valve” when I simply can’t be in ten places at once. This is how we scale the soul of teaching without losing our own. Inside the Episode: Key Timestamps * [0:34] – The “Vision Video” Reality Check: Why making individual videos for every student is emotionally draining, yet the most important relational work I do. * [2:01] – The Mastery Flip in the Age of Cheating: How I answered a colleague’s plea for help after catching students using AI to “dial in” their math homework. * [3:21] – Scaling the Viva: The “Clumping” Strategy How to handle a large class by bringing 3–4 students together for a rapid-fire oral check-in. * [4:38] – The “JB” Signature: The low-tech, high-impact psychological win of a physical mark on a student’s paper. * [6:57] – Using AI as a “Proxy” Coach: When you can’t get to all of your students, how tools like Flint K12 act as your “assistant coach” to perform the human check. * [8:49] – Looking Toward Next Year: The 3 vs. 4 Scale: My “spitballing” session on distinguishing between base-level mastery and the ability to extend a concept to the “next level”. * [11:24] – Final Call: Don’t Push the Coast Button: A reminder that your students will remember your April more than your August—finish the year “in the arena”. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonbergmann.substack.com

13 min

APR 20

The April Burnout: Why I’m Not Pushing the "Coast Button"|Episode 70

If you were to look at me right now, you’d see one tired teacher. You’d see the mid-April exhaustion. And if you’re a teacher, I know you’re feeling it too. We are currently in the “Long Sprint.” The finish line is in sight, and there is a massive temptation to push what I call The Coast Button. It’s that internal switch that tells us to just “mail it in,” put on a movie, and cruise until June. But here is the hard truth: How you finish the last 10% of the year defines the version of you that your students will remember ten years from now. In this episode, I’m sharing why I’m fighting the urge to check out and providing a tactical playbook for staying in the arena with your students—even when you’re running on fumes. Inside the Episode: A Guide for the Tired Teacher [0:00] – The Temptation to Coast I’m being vulnerable: I want to push the button. I describe the specific mid-April fatigue that makes “letting it ride” feel like the only option, and why our students are often rooting for us to check out right along with them. [1:45] – The 10% Rule: Why the work we do in the final weeks matters more than the first few months. I discuss the danger of “ruining” a year of built bridges by becoming a ghost in your own classroom during the final stretch. [3:10] – Shifting to Discovery Mode: When the “Industrial Model” of teaching feels too heavy, it’s time to pivot. I share how my Physics students are building motors and my Geology students are creating their own instructional videos. This isn’t just “busy work”—it’s high-level engagement that re-energizes the room. [4:31] – “But I Don’t Teach Physics...” I address the English, History, and Elementary teachers. The “Stay in the Arena” playbook isn’t subject-specific. It’s about human presence. [5:40] – Tip 1: The Vulnerability Pivot: How to model grit by simply being honest. I share the exact script I use to tell my students: “I’m tired too, but I’m choosing to be here for you.” [6:45] – Tip 2: The 3-Minute Desk Sit A simple tactical move to reclaim your presence. Get out from behind the computer and spend three minutes just sitting with a student. It’s the ultimate “Human Check.” [7:35] – Tip 3: Micro-Visioning If you’re too tired for big projects, try this. I explain how 60-second handwritten notes can act as a “Relational Cachet” deposit that students keep for years. [8:15] – Tip 4: Finding Your Passion Pivot: How to fight boredom by finding one thing in your subject that still makes you curious, and leaning into that for a day to break the monotony. [9:05] – The Final Word: Stay in the Arena: My closing charge to the Village. We are building bridges, and we aren’t going to stop until the final bell rings. The Takeaway You don’t have to be perfect in April, but you do have to be present. Don’t let the Coast Button win. Your students are worth the last 10%. Let’s finish strong. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonbergmann.substack.com

10 min

APR 16 · BONUS

[Special Edition] Tom Daccord: The "Mastery Viva" and the Future of AI Integrity | Episode 69

Summary I know it is not Monday morning, but sometimes a conversation is so timely and important that it demands a special mid-week release . Today, I am joined by my long-time friend and educational technology legend, Tom Daccord . Tom has been a pioneer in our field for decades, and right now, he is doing some of the most grounded work regarding AI in the classroom. In this extended conversation, we move past the Silicon Valley hype to discuss the “Great Bifurcation”—the growing gap between students who use AI as a crutch and those who use it to enhance their learning. We dive into the “Mastery Flip” framework, exploring how to maintain productive struggle and human connection in an age of instant answers. The “Big Rock”: The Mastery Viva If you only have ten minutes to listen today, jump to [16:23]. Tom and I discuss the “Mastery Viva” (or the Human Check), a short, 2-to-3-minute verbal assessment where the teacher and student have a focused conversation about the learning process. In a world where AI can generate a perfect paper or lab report, the only way to truly verify mastery is to look a student in the eye and ask, “How did you get here? Tell me why this works”. Inside the Episode: Practitioner Show Notes * [0:00] – The Mid-Week Drop & Intro Jon explains why this conversation with Tom Daccord couldn’t wait until Monday and provides a sneak peek at the upcoming “Coast Button” episode. * [1:36] – Meet Tom Daccord Tom and Jon reflect on their shared history in edtech since 1986 and Jon’s role as the co-founder of the global flipped classroom movement. * [7:39] – The “Great Bifurcation” A warning about the two paths students are taking: using AI as a crutch that “stupefies” or using it to become leaders of the new world. * [11:05] – The Mastery Flip Framework Jon breaks down his three-step model: AI Engines for content introduction, Analog Roots for classroom practice, and Mastery Vivas for verification. * [14:41] – Analog Roots: High Brain, Low Tech What Jon’s classroom looks like today—paper, pencils, and physical circuits while laptops stay in bags to preserve cognition. * [19:01] – Why We Need “Wrappers” Around AI The problem with AI built for efficiency instead of education. We need systems that prioritize productive struggle over instant answers. * [23:29] – The “Easy Button” vs. The Gym Why you can’t “bring a forklift to the weight room.” Students need the intellectual “reps” to grow. * [31:13] – Preparing for a World of AI Agents How companies are hiring fewer graduates because AI agents are taking entry-level roles—and how students must learn to use AI to teach themselves anything. * This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonbergmann.substack.com

38 min

APR 13

"I See You": Spending the Relational Cachet You’ve Banked All Year #68

The COVID Tradition That Stuck In March of 2020, we sent our students home and never saw them again. I realized then that I needed a way to find closure—a way to let them know they weren’t just a row in a Zoom grid. So, I made a personalized video for every single student. What started as a pandemic necessity has become a seven-year tradition and, quite honestly, the most important thing I do every year. The “Long Sprint” and Your Relational Bank Account I know you’re exhausted. We are deep in the “Long Sprint,” and the finish line feels like a mirage. But here is the truth: Right now, you have more relational cachet with your students than you will ever have again. You have spent a year building a bridge of trust. You’ve banked “Relational Capital” through every lab, every conversation, and every JB Signature. Now is the time to spend that capital to speak life into their future. The “Vision Video” Blueprint Yes, this is a significant time commitment. It is a heavy lift at a time when you are already carrying a lot. But the ROI is eternal. Here is the workflow: * The Mastery of the List: Use a physical list. Check off names as you go. Don’t skip anyone. Every child needs to be “seen” before they walk out your door. * Beyond the Grade: This isn’t a recap of their GPA. It’s a casting of a vision. You are looking at the student they are today and telling them who you see them becoming tomorrow. * The Universal Blessing: In my setting, this includes a prayer. In yours, it might be a “wish for the future.” Whatever the form, the intent is the same: A formal, human acknowledgment of their worth. Does it actually work? Just ask Claudia. I reached out to one of my former students, Claudia Moore, to ask if I could share her story. Her response tells you everything you need to know about why we do this: “I have your video saved on my phone and I watch it every now and then when I need some extra encouragement. Your words were so kind and I think it would be so cool for other teachers to start doing it too!” — Claudia Two Lives Changed: Samuel & Claudia In this episode, I share the actual “Vision Videos” I sent to two of my students (with permission): * Claudia: A high achiever who moved from “Achievement Mode” (checking boxes) to “Discovery Mode” (curiosity and heart). * Samuel: The star of my recent keynote. I celebrate the Grit and “consistent obedience” that led to his 100% mastery. Key Timestamps * 00:00 — The “most important video” question * 01:08 — The COVID-2020 origins of the tradition * 01:46 — Why you have “Relational Cachet” right now * 03:02 — Logistics: Why I still use a physical paper list * 04:42 — Framing the “Blessing” and the Prayer angle * 05:58 — Claudia’s Video: Achievement vs. Discovery * 09:44 — Samuel’s Video: Grit and 100% Mastery * 14:18 — The Eddie Anderson Legacy: Why I became a teacher Socratic Challenge: I became a teacher because my chemistry teacher, Eddie Anderson, believed in me. Who was the teacher that “spoke life” into your context? Know a teacher who needs a reminder of why we do this “hard thing”? Send them this post. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jonbergmann.substack.com

16 min

Reach Every Student with Jon Bergmann

42 Years Later: Why I’m Terrified to Teach Next Year

It’s Sucking My Soul”: Why I Choose Teaching Over Corporate Success | Episode 74

Mr. Bergmann Changed My Life": The Echo of Impact in the Age of AI | Episode 73

Sal Khan’s Treadmill Problem: Why AI Tutors are "Non-Events" Without You | Episode 72

The Exhaustion of Excellence: How to Scale the "Human Check" |Episode 71

The April Burnout: Why I’m Not Pushing the "Coast Button"|Episode 70

[Special Edition] Tom Daccord: The "Mastery Viva" and the Future of AI Integrity | Episode 69

"I See You": Spending the Relational Cachet You’ve Banked All Year #68

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Reach Every Student with Jon Bergmann

Episodes

42 Years Later: Why I’m Terrified to Teach Next Year

It’s Sucking My Soul”: Why I Choose Teaching Over Corporate Success | Episode 74

Mr. Bergmann Changed My Life": The Echo of Impact in the Age of AI | Episode 73

Sal Khan’s Treadmill Problem: Why AI Tutors are "Non-Events" Without You | Episode 72

The Exhaustion of Excellence: How to Scale the "Human Check" |Episode 71

The April Burnout: Why I’m Not Pushing the "Coast Button"|Episode 70

[Special Edition] Tom Daccord: The "Mastery Viva" and the Future of AI Integrity | Episode 69

"I See You": Spending the Relational Cachet You’ve Banked All Year #68

Ratings & Reviews

About

Information