Teachers on Fire

Tim Cavey

Warming your heart, sparking your thinking, and igniting your professional practice. Reach out on any social media platform @TeachersOnFire. Hosted by Tim Cavey.

  1. Are our schools TOO SAFE? Embracing risky play with Dr. Mariana Brussoni and Dr. Megan Zeni

    5 DAYS AGO

    Are our schools TOO SAFE? Embracing risky play with Dr. Mariana Brussoni and Dr. Megan Zeni

    → What does recess look like if it is as safe as necessary but not as safe as possible? → What are the links between the decline of independent, risky play and the rise in student anxiety? → How do we distinguish between healthy 'rough-and-tumble’ play and actual aggression? Today’s Teachers on Fire are Dr. Mariana Brussoni and Dr. Megan Zeni, the authors of the recently published Embracing Risky Play at School: Getting Kids Outdoors to Explore, Learn, and Grow.  Dr. Mariana Brussoni is a Professor within the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine and a scientist with British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, where she leads the Outside Play Lab. Her research reimagines how outdoor and risky play can be integrated into everyday life to help children thrive. Dr. Megan Zeni is a teacher consultant and researcher in the province of British Columbia. She has 3 decades of professional K-7 teaching experience in classrooms, outdoor classrooms, and school gardens. Megan supports just about anyone interested in building capacity for effective and sustainable implementation of risky play, school gardens, and outdoor classrooms in elementary schools. Learn more and follow her work at meganzeni.com. Timestamps from This Episode 0:00:00 - Welcoming Dr. Mariana Brussoni and Dr. Megan Zeni  2:00 - Distinguishing between RISKS and HAZARDS in the school environment 5:24 - As safe as necessary but not as safe as possible 7:14 - Surplus safety as a barrier to development 10:06 - The 17-second pause before intervening 12:42 - Links between the decline of risky play and the rise in student anxiety 18:35 - Creating 'Yes spaces' in our schools 27:02 - Healthy rough-and-tumble play vs actual aggression 30:19 - Items to add to a playground 35:22 - Going outdoors consistently beats occasional trips 38:16 - How and where to connect with the authors online Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

    40 min
  2. Are classroom AI tools doing more harm than good? with David Cutler

    28 FEB

    Are classroom AI tools doing more harm than good? with David Cutler

    → Is it still possible to engage productively as a teacher on social media? → What do our students risk losing when they lean into AI tools and strategies? → What can be gained by bringing student writing to authentic audiences? Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice. About This Guest, David Cutler David is a dad, husband, and writer. He’s also a veteran US history, government, and journalism teacher who is exploring AI in education with caution. Timestamps from This Episode 0:00:00 - David Cutler is a high school history and journalism teacher in Massachusetts 1:30 - "ChatGPT has no place in my classoom!" 2:41 - Don't let AI climb the hill for our kids 6:01 - Too much help from AI tools 7:49 - Is there a contradiction in belief when teachers use AI tools? 12:01 - How teachers can use social media productively 17:38 - Teaching students to identify fake news 20:53 - Using comic books in the social studies classroom 22:40 - The value of frequent, low-stakes assessments 24:49 - Sharing student writing with authentic audiences 27:31 - Why David writes about education on Medium 30:10 - How and where to connect with David Cutler online Connect with David Cutler on LinkedIn, on X @spinedu, on Instagram @teachercutler, on Medium at medium.com/@spincutler, and  on his website, dcutler.pressfolios.com. Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

    31 min
  3. ERIC SHENINGER: Navigating AI in Our Schools with Clarity, Intention, and Purpose

    22 FEB

    ERIC SHENINGER: Navigating AI in Our Schools with Clarity, Intention, and Purpose

    → How can education leaders help staff move from AI anxiety to AI optimism and fluency? → How can we make sure that pedagogy always trumps technology in our classrooms? → How can we promote the kind of disruptive thinking necessary to future-proof our learners for an unpredictable world? Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice. About This Guest, Eric Sheninger Eric works with schools throughout the world, helping educators meet and exceed their potential to improve outcomes for learners. He is the founder and CEO of Aspire Change EDU, a collaborative consultancy designed to provide personalized support to all educational systems. Prior to this, he was a teacher and an award-winning Principal at New Milford High School. Timestamps from This Episode 0:00:00 - Eric Sheninger is an award-winning principal, author, and speaker. 2:01 - About his book, Personalize: Meeting the Needs of All Learners  3:47 - Leveraging technology and personalized learning frameworks 7:56 - How to use AI as a force multiplier as education leaders 12:57 - Which AI tools Eric uses for which purposes 16:22 - How to move from AI anxiety to AI optimism and fluency 21:16 - Pedagogy trumps technology - and that includes AI 24:59 - The disruptive thinking necessary to future-proof our learners 28:02 - Words for the innovative educator who feels alone 34:06 - How and where to connect with Eric online 34:54 - Eric's current work on a next book Connect with Eric on LinkedIn, on X @E_Sheninger, on Instagram @esheninger,  on YouTube @EricSheninger, and on his website at https://ericsheninger.com/. Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

    36 min
  4. Building School Culture That Lifts All Learners - with JOSH TOVAR

    15 FEB

    Building School Culture That Lifts All Learners - with JOSH TOVAR

    → What does it look like to put student connections before content? → How can we help every student in our communities feel a sense of belonging? → How can we leverage social media to tell stronger stories as building leaders? Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice. About This Guest, Josh Tovar Josh is the proud principal at Memorial Pathway Academy in Garland ISD, just outside of Dallas, Texas. Josh has been in education for over thirty years and has supported at all levels from elementary to university. Josh is the proud son of Virginia and Jesus Tovar, a proud immigrant to the USA and former US Marine. Timestamps from This Episode 0:00:00 - Josh Tovar is the principal of Memorial Pathway Academy in Garland, TX 1:43 - How Josh's wife empowers his leadership 7:29 - "No More Orange Jumpsuits" at MPA 15:47 - How Josh uses social media to tell stories and build culture 21:40 - How Josh makes every MPA student feel that they belong 27:02 - Combining the discipline of the Marines with love and joy 30:59 - How Josh relates with students who have made big mistakes 34:30 - Josh's contributions on two recent ed leadership books 39:33 - How and where to connect with Josh online Connect with Josh on LinkedIn, on LinkedIn and on X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @JTspotlights. Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

    43 min
  5. 3 Podcast Guests Who Inspired Changes to My Personal and Professional Life

    11 FEB

    3 Podcast Guests Who Inspired Changes to My Personal and Professional Life

    I'm trying something NEW! In this first walking journal entry, I reflect on three recent guests on the Teachers on Fire Podcast who inspired changes to my personal and professional life. They are: Edmond Chin, Rich Czyz, and Becky Keene.

    11 min
  6. AI Optimism: What's the proper place of AI in the classroom? with BECKY KEENE

    9 FEB

    AI Optimism: What's the proper place of AI in the classroom? with BECKY KEENE

    → How can AI tools and technologies support learning in the classroom? → How can students leverage AI tools for greater creativity and judgment? → How can we make sure our AI policies align with mission and core pedagogical beliefs? Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice. About This Guest, Becky Keene Becky is an educator, author, and speaker who helps schools integrate AI to empower students as creators and support innovative teaching and learning. She designs professional learning for teachers and leaders on practical, responsible AI use—blending instructional coaching and game-based learning to make AI meaningful in the classroom. Connect with Becky on LinkedIn, on X @beckykeene,  on Instagram and TikTok @BeckyKeeneEdu,  and at her website, beckykeene.com. Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

    27 min
  7. Building Regenerative Schools - with RUTH POULSEN

    2 FEB

    Building Regenerative Schools - with RUTH POULSEN

    → How can principals do better than superficial gestures of teacher appreciation? → How can we address teaching colleagues who seem caught in a martyr mindset? → How can school leaders work efficiently without building a toxic culture of rushing? Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice. About This Guest, Ruth Poulsen Ruth is an international school leader who has spent her career building cultures of care—from China to Colorado, and next up, Jordan. She’s currently on sabbatical and writing Regenerative Schools, a newsletter exploring the mindset shifts and systems changes needed to prevent the crisis of educator burnout and ultimately, to support student wellbeing. Connect with Ruth on LinkedIn,  on Substack at regenerativeschools.substack.com In This Conversation 0:00:00 - Ruth Poulsen is a school principal and education writer. 1:31 - Stepping from an industrial paradigm to a regenerative mindset 4:56 - Distinguishing between efficiency and frantic rushing 9:19 - The "fertilizer" in our schools: toxic element or asset? 11:48 - How can teachers show appreciation beyond superficial efforts? 14:52 - Surveys: How to take the pulse of teachers effectively 20:13 - How to set up tree lines in our schools: boundaries that preserve and protect 29:04 - Managing parent complaints 30:25 - How to coach colleagues caught in a martyr mindset 35:01 - Creating intentional moments in schools that connect with mission 36:53 - Ruth talks about Regenerative Schools, her Substack 38:58 - How and where to connect With Ruth Poulsen online Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

    40 min
  8. Dr. DANNY STEELE: Support Teachers FIRST to Serve Students Well

    25 JAN

    Dr. DANNY STEELE: Support Teachers FIRST to Serve Students Well

    → What does it mean to lead with curiosity over expertise? → How can we make our schools places where the adults like to come to work? → How can school leaders build a presence that feels more supportive, less policing? Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice. About This Guest, Dr. Danny Steele Danny is a former award winning principal who speaks to educators around the country about the difference they make for kids. He’s also the author of several best-selling books for educators, including The Instructional Leader in You: 10 Strategies for Every School Leader, Essential Truths for Principals, and The Total Teacher: Understanding the Three Dimensions that Define Effective Educators. Connect with Danny on LinkedIn,  on X @SteeleThoughts, on Instagram @SteeleThoughts, on his blog at https://www.steelethoughts.com/ In This Conversation 1:50 - Passion drift for school leaders 4:09 - Leading with curiosity over expertise 6:48 - Creating cultural conditions to overcome stagnancy 7:53 - Staff come first, students second 8:57 - Admitting vulnerability as a building leader 10:31 - Observing the student experience instead of teacher performance 12:09 - When an expert teacher struggles to integrate into the community 13:15 - Being a supportive resource instead of a policing presence 15:11 - Shouting out teachers for their great work 16:49 - Building fun and meaningful traditions in your school 19:14 - Danny raps about the power of good choices 21:06 - Danny Steele's six education books 22:19 - Danny Steele's speaking services and other resources on his website Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

    25 min
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About

Warming your heart, sparking your thinking, and igniting your professional practice. Reach out on any social media platform @TeachersOnFire. Hosted by Tim Cavey.

Information

  • Creator
    Tim Cavey
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    317
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Tim Cavey
  • Show Website
    Teachers on Fire

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