53 episodes
Transparency in Teaching (stuff) Transparency in Teaching
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- Education
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5.0 • 31 Ratings
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Public education sucks and needs a significant overhaul. Want change? So do we! We are current classroom teachers with almost 80 years of combined experience. We explain the effects of decisions made by the people who “think” they know what’s best for education and discuss all sides of current classroom controversies 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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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.
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049 From Planning to Performance: How Teacher Collaboration Boosts Student Achievement
In today's episode, we dove deep into teacher collaboration, discussing the why and how to do it. We explored why teacher collaboration is crucial for both teacher and student performance, and shared personal anecdotes to illustrate our points.
Collaboration is not just about meeting once a week; it's about creating a culture where teachers feel supported and are encouraged to share ideas and strategies. It's about building a community within the school that ultimately benefits the students. We encourage all educators to step out of their classrooms, engage with their peers, and embrace the power of collaboration.
Remember to share your own collaboration models and experiences with us, as we're all here to learn from each other. Let's not be stingy with our ideas; let's collaborate and make education better for everyone involved.
Until next time, keep the conversation going and never stop collaborating!
Be sure to visit TransparencyinTeaching.com to find all the other interesting and in-depth articles on the teaching topics you want to know about. You'll also find all the resources used to create this episode.
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/transparencyinteaching/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/transparencyinteaching/support -
050 From Firing Teachers to Scripted Lessons: Unpacking Houston's School District Overhaul
In today's episode, we dove deep into teacher collaboration, discussing the why and how to do it. We explored why teacher collaboration is crucial for both teacher and student performance, and shared personal anecdotes to illustrate our points.
Collaboration is not just about meeting once a week; it's about creating a culture where teachers feel supported and are encouraged to share ideas and strategies. It's about building a community within the school that ultimately benefits the students. We encourage all educators to step out of their classrooms, engage with their peers, and embrace the power of collaboration.
Remember to share your own collaboration models and experiences with us, as we're all here to learn from each other. Let's not be stingy with our ideas; let's collaborate and make education better for everyone involved.
Until next time, keep the conversation going and never stop collaborating!
Be sure to visit TransparencyinTeaching.com to find all the other interesting and in-depth articles on the teaching topics you want to know about. You'll also find all the resources used to create this episode.
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/transparencyinteaching/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/transparencyinteaching/support -
048 Jen and Anne on the Other Side of the Mic
Jen and I, Anne, sat down for a Zoom interview with Christopher Nesi, the head of the Education Podcast Network. The EPN plays host to a terrific collection of education-related podcasts, which you should definitely check out.
Our interview was the first in a series called "Behind the Mic: Voices of the EPN." Christopher is interviewing the podcast hosts and creators of each of the shows you can find on the network. The episodes give listeners a great overview of what each podcast has to offer and can help you find new shows on topics that you can relate to.
I have to admit it was a bit disconcerting being on the other side of an interview. I hope you can't tell how nervous I was during this interview. Jen, of course, is her normal, jovial self. Thank goodness!
I hope you'll give it a listen and then jump over to the EPN to listen to all the other informative and entertaining shows.
Here are some of my favs (after ours, of course) to get you started:
Fresh Air at Five: Welcome to FreshAirAtFive, the Podcast. I’m your host, Bryon Carpenter. FreshAirAtFive is my regular attempt to exercise by walking about my neighborhood, taking in Podcast content or an audiobook, and then reflecting on an unedited video, which I finally post to my Twitter channel.
EduMagic: The New Educator Podcast: Are you an aspiring teacher? The EduMagic Future Teacher Podcast is a podcast designed for preservice teachers who are using EduMagic to rock their college careers. With each episode, you will learn about what it means to be an educator of excellence. Guests include current teachers, educational experts, and administrators who share their tips and stories to help YOU.
Teaching While Queer: Teaching While Queer is a space for 2SLGBTQIA+ educational professionals to share their stories working in academia. We dive into our experiences as students and how this informed our work in academia as adults.
Reimagine Schools: Hosted by Dr. Greg Goins, the Reimagine Schools Podcast features many of the nation's top educators, authors, and innovators in K-12 education with an emphasis on leadership development, scaling innovation, and transforming our public school system. Guests have included some of the world's most prolific thought leaders on education.
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/transparencyinteaching/message
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040 Mastery Learning: What are teachers Really Grading?
The current grading system used in education has been in place for over a century, but it is becoming increasingly clear that it needs reform. In this episode, Jen and Anne discuss the current system's flaws, such as grade inflation, subjectivity, and the lack of standardization. They talk about how students are rewarded for completing assignments or even just showing up rather than demonstrating mastery of the material. They highlight the difficulty of determining what exactly to grade and how to fairly assess student performance. Finally, we argue for adopting mastery learning grading methods to better support student learning.
One of the main issues with the current grading system is grade inflation. Students are often given high grades for simply completing assignments, regardless of the quality of their work. This leads to a false sense of achievement and can be detrimental to their learning in the long run. It's a system that rewards "seat time" over the actual demonstration of knowledge.
Another problem with the current grading system is subjectivity. Teachers can have different standards for what constitutes an A or a B grade. This can lead to unfairness and inconsistent grading, which can be especially problematic for students competing for college admissions or scholarships.
An evaluation system based on Mastery learning could be a better alternative to the current grading system. This system would focus on student mastery of the material rather than just completing assignments. Teachers would work with students to help them achieve true mastery of the material, and grades would be based on demonstrated proficiency rather than subjective factors.
It is obvious that the current grading system needs reform. Grade inflation, subjectivity, and lack of standardization are all issues that must be addressed. A mastery learning system could be a better alternative to the current grading system, as it would focus on student mastery of the material rather than just completing assignments. By rethinking grading, we can better support student learning and help students achieve their full potential.
For a list of all the resources used in this episode, visit TransparencyinTeaching.com
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047 Battling Teacher Burnout: What To Do to Put Out the Fire
In this episode, Anne and Jen shed light on the issue of teacher burnout and its prevalence in the education system. We discuss teachers' experiences facing challenges such as an intense curriculum without sufficient resources, mold-infested classrooms, and unaddressed disciplinary issues. We explain how teachers are not burned out simply because of their workload but rather because they are set up to fail by systemic issues. We cover the definitions of burnout, highlighting symptoms like exhaustion, cynicism, reduced efficacy, its cause, and some ideas on how to combat burnout. We also share personal experiences of feeling depleted and unmotivated, and what we found worked for us.
Stop by our website, TransparencyinTeaching.com, and read my in-depth opinion on this topic, and to find all the resources we used to create this episode. You can also find more information about all things education by reading our informative blog entries.
We appreciate you stopping by to listen to this critical topic. We'd love to hear your experiences and suggestions. Leave us a comment here and consider joining our new FaceBook group. Your words may be just what a struggling teacher needs to hear!
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Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/transparencyinteaching/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/transparencyinteaching/support
Customer Reviews
Very current
I’m hooked on this podcast. It’s a resource I never knew I needed, keeps me informed on local and current trends in education. Public school is not what it used to be and as a mom with a kid just entering public school, this will keep me informed by people who seem to be really passionate a care a lot. Without having any friends that are teachers, this is the next best thing to stay close to the industry for the betterment of my children.
Great Podcast
I really enjoy listening to this Podcast. Anne, Sharon and Jenn do an amazing job in discussing teaching from all different angles. In a recent episode, the Pros and Cons of student teaching were discussed. I taught at the Elementary Level for 17 years and the Junior High level for 21 years before retiring in 2019. If there is a couple of things I’ve learned for success, is that Classroom Management is the key for success. If you have consistent management skills, then the students will respond much better to your lessons, and to you. A consistent routine is important. I learned to relate to each and everyone of my students, tried to make a positive connection with them while being sympathetic to their needs. As the new teachers come in, I hope that they can provide new and exciting experiences for their students. Thanks you to Anne, Jenn and Sharon for putting out ll this information.
Informative and entertaining and RIGHT ON!
I love listening to this podcast with Anne, Sharon, and Jenn! I listen and find myself laughing and learning and agreeing each episode. Even though we are hundreds of miles apart I feel like I’m at lunch with them again :) Thank you ladies for your insightful podcast!