The Broken Copier

Teaching is community work—so let's talk about it together.
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Conversations about teaching that center the voices and experiences of teachers as we discuss all things education—always with the goal of better serving the students in our classrooms. thebrokencopier.substack.com

  1. What if we tended the soil of our schools?

    4월 15일

    What if we tended the soil of our schools?

    Whether you are a student, teacher or even a building leader, there is too often a shared experience of how individuals feel within our education system, no matter their role. Stressed. Drained. Overextended. Burnt out. Depleted. Ruth Poulsen believes there is a better path forward. An international school leader and author of the Regenerative Schools newsletter, Ruth is focused on the ways we can shift our mindsets and systems not only to better support educators but also, as a result, to create schools that do more for the students within them—now and going forward. Referenced within this conversation: * Burning the Math Workbook (from Ruth’s newsletter) * Boundaries Create Culture (from Ruth’s newsletter) * The End of Education as We Know It: Regenerative Learning for Complex Times by Ida Rose Florez Thanks, as always, to Alberto Lugo, one of Jim’s former students, for writing and recording original intro music; and Tom Csatari for allowing us to use his band’s recording of “Woodstock” from their 2020 album, Garden. * Find Tom’s work at uncivilizedtom.com, and on Instagram @banduncivilized. * Find Alberto’s work at djsynchro.weebly.com, and on Instagram @djsynchro. You can email us here with feedback or any other questions as well: thebrokencopier@substack.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokencopier.substack.com

    44분
  2. What should reading look like in our classrooms?

    4월 1일

    What should reading look like in our classrooms?

    There’s a lot of conversation about which books students should be reading these days and how many—but too little, perhaps, about how to make their actual experiences with books in the classroom better. Today’s guest is Kate Roberts, a former middle school ELA teacher who now works with teachers all over the country to strengthen the reading that takes place in their classrooms. This conversation goes a lot of places: considering the many paradoxes ELA teachers have to balance with books in their classrooms; discussing strategies and mindsets that can elevate those reading experiences; and imagining what a better vision of reading might be for this current moment. To follow Kate’s work, the best place is https://www.kateandmaggie.com—and here are links to both of Kate’s books that were discussed in this episode: * The Heart of Fiction: Reading for Character, Theme and Craft * A Novel Approach: Whole-Class Novels, Student-Centered Teaching, and Choice Thanks, as always, to Alberto Lugo, one of Jim’s former students, for writing and recording original intro music; and Tom Csatari for allowing us to use his band’s recording of “Woodstock” from their 2020 album, Garden. * Find Tom’s work at uncivilizedtom.com, and on Instagram @banduncivilized. * Find Alberto’s work at djsynchro.weebly.com, and on Instagram @djsynchro. You can email us here with feedback or any other questions as well: thebrokencopier@substack.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokencopier.substack.com

    52분
  3. A no-zeroes grading policy that...works?

    3월 18일

    A no-zeroes grading policy that...works?

    Many teachers and educators have strong feelings about “no-zeroes” or minimum grading policies. Quite often of late, strong negative feelings. A few weeks ago, Matt Brady wrote a piece for his newsletter called “The 100-Point Scale Is a Design Flaw,” which outlined not just the thinking about his own classroom policy but why it was working so well for his students. “The room is not more permissive,” he wrote. “It is more hopeful.” A high school science teacher in his second decade of teaching, Matt joins The Broken Copier in today’s episode to share more about this policy, and—because almost all conversations that on the surface are about grading ultimately are about the mindsets and values undergirding them—so much else about teaching overall in this moment. To follow Matt’s work, you can (and should!) check out his two newsletters—Teacher, Teacher and The Science Of—and also, especially if you’re a Rick and Morty fan, his science book around the popular television show. Thanks, as always, to Alberto Lugo, one of Jim’s former students, for writing and recording original intro music; and Tom Csatari for allowing us to use his band’s recording of “Woodstock” from their 2020 album, Garden. * Find Tom’s work at uncivilizedtom.com, and on Instagram @banduncivilized. * Find Alberto’s work at djsynchro.weebly.com, and on Instagram @djsynchro. You can email us here with feedback or any other questions as well: thebrokencopier@substack.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokencopier.substack.com

    49분
  4. What should homework look like in 2026?

    3월 4일

    What should homework look like in 2026?

    Surveys show students increasingly turning to AI as a tool for their school work. Teachers who want to limit AI usage during instructional time still have many options on table—but what should they do about homework and other assigned out-of-class essays and projects? Given that the topic of homework already has been quite controversial before bringing AI into the conversation, this felt like a good time to exchange ideas about what it can and should mean to assign work outside of the classroom right now. Joining this conversation is Brett Vogelsinger, another high school English teacher who sees things around this topic quite a bit differently than Marcus—which hopefully is the makings of a meaningful discussion. Brett is the author of two books, Poetry Pauses and Artful AI in Writing Instruction, and is also starting a new Substack newsletter: Declarative, Imperative, Interrogative, Explanatory. (If you follow The Broken Copier, this is definitely something you should consider subscribing to!) Thanks, as always, to Alberto Lugo, one of Jim’s former students, for writing and recording original intro music; and Tom Csatari for allowing us to use his band’s recording of “Woodstock” from their 2020 album, Garden. * Find Tom’s work at uncivilizedtom.com, and on Instagram @banduncivilized. * Find Alberto’s work at djsynchro.weebly.com, and on Instagram @djsynchro. You can email us here with feedback or any other questions as well: thebrokencopier@substack.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokencopier.substack.com

    53분

  5. 2월 21일

    On Giving Teachers Enough Time

    After a couple quieter months, we are back and rolling with The Broken Copier. Today’s Unjammed episode is built around a simple-if-implausible idea: what happens when teachers are given enough time to do their work. It’s not just about having enough time to complete all the items off the to-do list, either. (Though that does matter!) More importantly, it’s about what it means for teachers to step into a classroom as their best selves—a win for teachers, yes, but more importantly a win for students. Two writings directly referenced in today’s episode: * Burning the Math Workbook by Ruth Poulsen * This is Air by Adrian Neibauer As always, thanks to: Alberto Lugo, one of Jim’s former students, for contributing their music to The Broken Copier podcast—and also Tom Csatari for allowing us to use his band’s recording of “Woodstock” from their 2020 album, Garden. * Find Tom’s work at uncivilizedtom.com, and on Instagram @banduncivilized. * Find Alberto’s work at djsynchro.weebly.com, and on Instagram @djsynchro. * Email thoughts and feedback to thebrokencopier@substack.com, and if you want you can record your own thoughts at our Fanlist that might show up on a future episode! (Feel free to also just toss your response in the comments.) Thanks for listening! Share or leave a review if you’re willing, and take care of yourselves as educators as we finish out the school year! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokencopier.substack.com

    15분
  6. Two Teachers Talking About Reading

    1월 17일

    Two Teachers Talking About Reading

    The conversation about reading across education has taken a front-and-center position in many places, so it felt like the right time to have a conversation about it—especially since Adrian Neibauer recently wrote a thoughtful reflection on the topic called “The Sanctity of Literacy.” In this conversation, Marcus and Adrian talk about their experiences as teachers of reading in their respective classrooms; about the broader conversation over the Science of Reading and its current impact on education; and about how we can create space to help students foster a more-sustainable love of reading in our classrooms going forward. Some resources mentioned at the beginning of the conversation: * Adrian’s piece on “The SLIME Method” * John Spencer’s website/resources Thanks, as always, to Alberto Lugo, one of Jim’s former students, for writing and recording original intro music; and Tom Csatari for allowing us to use his band’s recording of “Woodstock” from their 2020 album, Garden. * Find Tom’s work at uncivilizedtom.com, and on Instagram @banduncivilized. * Find Alberto’s work at djsynchro.weebly.com, and on Instagram @djsynchro. You can email us here with feedback or any other questions as well: thebrokencopier@substack.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokencopier.substack.com

    1시간 3분

  7. 2025. 12. 31.

    On The Broken Copier

    Given that we are at the finish line of a very-busy 2025 with The Broken Copier, the goal of this short episode is first and foremost to express gratitude for what has been an incredible year of conversations and community-building—and also to share an update that over the next few months, we are going to slow down just a bit. 2025 was an incredible year with The Broken Copier, yet the pace we’ve been at in terms of written posts and recorded conversations sort of runs smack dab into the paradox of our goal: we deeply value an education conversation that centers the voices of classroom teachers, but prioritizing what it takes to be a full-time classroom teacher? As so many of you know from personal experience, it takes a lot. Toss in being parents of little ones, and “a lot” can quickly become “too much”—especially in terms of making this a sustainable project going forward. So for the short term, we are going to be generous towards ourselves in adjusting the pace. This is why you’ll see fewer posts and fewer conversations for these first few months of 2026. We aren’t going away! Instead, the goal is to prioritize sustainability and even more importantly authenticity—as we continue to believe in the importance of telling the good story of what the classroom is and can be. And that’s exactly what we plan on doing going forward with The Broken Copier, even if that means taking a little time to learn and listen more in the short term to make that storytelling more meaningful in the long run. One final note: thank you to all those who continue to listen, engage, and share these conversations—as it continues to be sincerely affirming to see the different ways The Broken Copier has resonated with teachers and educators. As we say: this is community work, it always has been, and—more than ever—it will continue to be. As always, thanks to: Alberto Lugo, one of Jim’s former students, for contributing their music to The Broken Copier podcast—and also Tom Csatari for allowing us to use his band’s recording of “Woodstock” from their 2020 album, Garden. * Find Tom’s work at uncivilizedtom.com, and on Instagram @banduncivilized. * Find Alberto’s work at djsynchro.weebly.com, and on Instagram @djsynchro. Thanks for listening! Share or leave a review if you’re willing, and take care of yourselves as educators as we enter into 2026! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokencopier.substack.com

    12분

  8. 2025. 12. 12.

    What Should "Support" Look Like?

    It is a very easy word to say in education, right? Full-stop: everyone wants to be supported and everyone wants to be supportive. However, making that support a reality that is experienced and sustainable in our classrooms and schools? For students and teachers alike? Much more complicated. Today’s conversation with Nathan Parham is 100% about this. Nathan is in his first year as a special education administrator at a trauma-informed alternative school after a decade of his own classroom experience. Given his unique perspective in transitioning into a role where he is now responsible for supporting teachers along with students at his school, Nathan has a lot to share about what support can and should look like in this moment. Thanks, as always, to Alberto Lugo, one of Jim’s former students, for writing and recording original intro music; and Tom Csatari for allowing us to use his band’s recording of “Woodstock” from their 2020 album, Garden. * Find Tom’s work at uncivilizedtom.com, and on Instagram @banduncivilized. * Find Alberto’s work at djsynchro.weebly.com, and on Instagram @djsynchro. You can email us here with feedback or any other questions as well: thebrokencopier@substack.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebrokencopier.substack.com

    1시간 1분
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4.7
최고 5점
19개의 평가

소개

Conversations about teaching that center the voices and experiences of teachers as we discuss all things education—always with the goal of better serving the students in our classrooms. thebrokencopier.substack.com

정보

  • 제작진
    Teaching is community work—so let's talk about it together.
  • 방송 연도
    2022년 - 2026년
  • 에피소드
    115
  • 등급
    전체 연령 사용가
  • 저작권
    © The Broken Copier
  • 웹사이트 보기
    The Broken Copier

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