New Teacher Talk

Ep 161: Mistake-Friendly Classrooms Build a Culture Where Errors Fuel Growth

2 of 3 in Series

Ready to revolutionize how you handle student mistakes? Join us as education professor Ken King from Aurora University shares game-changing strategies for transforming those "wrong" answers into powerful learning moments! This is another episode in Dr. King’s series on brain-based teaching.

Discover why students get frustrated with mistakes and learn the fascinating brain science behind productive struggle. Ken introduces practical tools like "my favorite no" and talk moves that will help you create a classroom culture where mistakes become stepping stones to deeper understanding.

Whether you're a first-year teacher or a seasoned educator, you'll walk away with concrete strategies to normalize mistakes, promote resilience, and build the growth mindset your students need to thrive.

Check out New Teacher Talk Episode #69. Dr. King’s alludes to this episode where he discusses the concept of Talk Moves.

#NewTeacherTalk #GrowthMindset #ProductiveStruggle #ClassroomCulture #TeacherTips #StudentLearning #MistakeBasedLearning #EducationPodcast #TeachingStrategies #NewTeachers #ProfessionalDevelopment #TeacherLife #LearningScience

Ep 160: The Power of the Pause: Wait Time Part 1

Transform your classroom discussions with the power of pause! Join Dr. Monica Boehle, Associate Director of Curriculum and former social studies teacher, as she explores "wait time",  the simple yet revolutionary 3-5 second pause that can dramatically improve student engagement and learning outcomes.

Discover why this research-backed practice, proven effective since the 1970s, is often overlooked and how it can ensure every student's voice is heard. Monica breaks down the barriers that prevent teachers from implementing wait time, from time distortion to fear of silence, and provides practical strategies you can use immediately in your classroom.

Whether you're looking to engage introverted students, support learners with different processing speeds, or simply create more inclusive classroom discussions, this episode offers concrete tools and techniques that make a real difference. Perfect for educators at all levels who want to move beyond rapid-fire questioning to meaningful, thoughtful dialogue.

#WaitTime #TeachingStrategies #EducationPodcast #ClassroomManagement #StudentEngagement #InclusiveEducation #TeacherTips #EducationalResearch #QuestioningTechniques #TeacherProfessionalDevelopment

Ep 158: Surviving October: Essential Time Management and Burnout Prevention for New Teachers

Join third-year English teacher Abby Bartle from Oswego High School as she shares hard-earned wisdom about navigating your first year of teaching. Drawing from her own experience with second-year burnout, Abby provides practical strategies for managing overwhelming workloads and maintaining your sanity during the challenging October slump.

In this episode, you'll discover Abby's game-changing three-category to-do list system, effective grading management techniques, and tips for making the most of your prep periods. She also covers essential survival strategies including how to prepare for parent-teacher conferences, handle administrator observations with confidence, and build supportive relationships with colleagues.

Whether you're drowning in lesson plans or struggling to find work-life balance, this episode offers actionable advice to help you not just survive, but thrive in your teaching career. Remember: it does get easier with time and experience.

#NewTeacherTalk #TeacherBurnout #TimeManagement #NewTeachers #TeachingTips #WorkLifeBalance #TeacherWellness #EducationPodcast #TeacherSupport #FirstYearTeaching #TeacherStress #ProfessionalDevelopment

Ep 157: Two Teachers, One Classroom: Your Complete Guide to Co-Teaching That Actually Works

Join Nicole Heaver (middle school STEM teacher) and Joanie Thrush (5th/6th grade teacher) from Central Intermediate School in Ottawa, Illinois, as they share their combined 35+ years of co-teaching wisdom. With Nicole's 8 years co-teaching special education and 6 years with science teachers, plus Joanie's 15+ years in reading, math, and science co-teaching, these hosts know what really works.

Discover the 5 essential strategies that transform co-teaching from chaos to collaboration: mastering different communication styles, respecting diverse teaching approaches, defining clear roles, embracing flexibility when students (and life) throw curveballs, and creating physical space that shows students you're truly partners.

Whether you're new to co-teaching or looking to strengthen existing partnerships, this episode delivers practical, field-tested advice from educators who've navigated every co-teaching challenge imaginable.

#NewTeacherTalk #CoTeaching #TeacherPartnership #EducationPodcast #TeachingTips #ClassroomManagement #SpecialEducation #STEMEducation #TeacherCollaboration #MiddleSchool #ElementaryEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment

Ep 156: Who You Know Matters: Building Your Support Squad as a New Teacher

Dr. Beth and Dr. Anna tackle one of the biggest challenges facing new educators: the overwhelming isolation that can derail promising teaching careers. In this essential episode, they break down exactly who you need in your professional support network and how to find them.

From identifying mentor teachers who truly align with your values to leveraging instructional coaches without fear of judgment, the hosts provide a roadmap for building meaningful professional relationships. They dive deep into connecting with day-to-day team members who know the unwritten rules, building bridges with administrators, and tapping into support staff like counselors and social workers who understand your students' needs.

The conversation expands beyond your school walls, exploring how social media platforms, professional organizations, and unions can provide ongoing support, professional development, and advocacy. Dr. Anna offers special insights for international teachers seeking culturally responsive mentorship, while Dr. Beth shares personal strategies that transformed her relationships with administrators.

Remember: You don't need to know everything—you just need to know who to ask. This episode will help you identify those crucial people and build the support system that will sustain your teaching career.

#NewTeacherTalk #TeacherSupport #Mentorship #NewTeachers #EducationPodcast #TeachingCommunity #ProfessionalDevelopment #TeacherMentors #EducatorNetwork #TeachingAdvice #ClassroomSupport

Ep 155: Building Classroom Community Through Meaningful Student Connections

In this episode of New Teacher Talk, we invite Keon Ruiter, a dedicated second-grade teacher with 18 years of experience at Maria Sanchez Elementary School, to share his time-tested approach to classroom management through relationship building.

Keon reveals how positive connections with students and families create the foundation for everything else that happens in the classroom. From the moment students arrive, he demonstrates how simple door greetings can set the tone for the entire day while providing valuable insights into each child's emotional state.

Discover the power of morning meetings as Keon walks us through his straightforward structure that builds classroom community and supports social-emotional learning. Learn how to create collaborative "respect agreements" with your students that cover student-to-student, student-to-teacher, teacher-to-student, and environment interactions, plus how to adapt these agreements for today's technology-rich classrooms.

Keon shares practical family engagement strategies, including the beloved "all about me bag" activity that serves as a perfect first homework assignment while helping teachers learn about their students' interests and backgrounds. He also discusses effective communication techniques for building positive relationships with families, from dismissal-time interactions to using apps for sharing good news.

The episode concludes with Keon's innovative "chance slip" system for positive reinforcement, showing how non-material rewards can motivate students while reinforcing classroom expectations.

Whether you're a new teacher looking to establish strong classroom management from day one or a veteran educator seeking fresh relationship-building strategies, this episode offers practical, proven techniques that will transform your classroom community. Keon's approach proves that when students feel safe, supported, and valued, both learning and positive behavior naturally flourish.

#ClassroomCommunity #RelationshipDrivenTeaching #PositiveClassroomManagemetn #EducationTips #Newteachertips #newteachers #newteachertalk #podcast

Ep 154: Making PBL Work: Sustainable Project-Based Learning with Brad Sever

Join us for an essential conversation with Brad Sever, assistant principal and PBL expert, as he breaks down the secrets to making project-based learning sustainable in your classroom. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by PBL or wondered how to make it work long-term, this episode is for you.

Brad takes us through the seven "gold standard" design elements of project-based learning as defined by PBLWorks: challenging problems with driving questions, student voice and choice, authenticity, reflection, critique and revision, sustained inquiry, and public culminating products. But here's the game-changer – he shows us how to make these elements sustainable through his innovative SPBL (Sustainable Project-Based Learning) approach.

Discover Brad's practical five-step implementation process that integrates social-emotional learning and teacher action research within collaborative teams. Learn how to plan units with clear standards alignment, develop assessments that capture surface, deep, and transfer learning, and establish team goals that actually stick.

New to PBL? Brad shares four essential reflective questions that any teacher team can start with today. Feeling overwhelmed by all seven design elements? Learn his brilliant "stereo equalizer" approach that lets you adjust each element based on your readiness, your students' needs, and your specific unit.

This isn't just theory, it's a roadmap for creating powerful, authentic learning experiences that engage students while remaining manageable for teachers. Whether you're a PBL newcomer or veteran looking to refine your approach, you'll walk away with concrete strategies and renewed confidence.

Brad’s Website: https://perseveranceeducation.com/

#ProjectBasedLearning #PBL #TeacherProfessionalDevelopment #EducationalLeadership #StudentEngagement #AuthenticLearning #TeacherCollaboration #EducationPodcast #NewTeachers #SustainablePBL #TeachingStrategies #StudentVoice #EducationalInnovation #ClassroomManagement #TeacherSupport

Ep 153: The Power of Positive Language in the Classroom with Heather Lyon

What if changing just a few words could transform your entire classroom management approach? Join us as district administrator, author, and blogger Heather Lyon reveals how the simple shift from "No running" to "Walk please" can revolutionize student behavior and classroom dynamics.

Inspired by a classic "Who's the Boss?" episode where "No parking" became "Park elsewhere," Lyon shares the science behind why positive language works better than negative commands. Drawing on research from parenting expert Alana Pace, she explains how our brains process positive directions more efficiently, requiring less mental gymnastics from students who are already navigating countless rules and expectations.

This isn't about avoiding discipline or being overly permissive, it’s about providing crystal-clear guidance that helps establish your authority as a new teacher. Lyon offers four actionable strategies: reframing classroom rules positively, practicing positive corrections, maintaining consistent language, and modeling this approach with colleagues.

Whether you're struggling with classroom management or simply want to refine your communication skills, this episode provides immediately applicable techniques that will make your instructions clearer, your students more responsive, and your teaching more effective.

Perfect for new teachers, student teachers, and veteran educators looking to enhance their classroom communication.

#NewTeacherTalk #ClassroomManagement #PositiveLanguage #TeachingTips #NewTeachers #EducationPodcast #TeacherSupport #ProfessionalDevelopment #StudentBehavior #TeachingStrategies #ClassroomCommunication #TeacherLife #EducationLeadership #TeachingSuccess #BackToSchool

Ep 152: From Day One to Done Right: Building Student Connections and Classroom Success

Join PE teachers and education veterans Tom Rocco and Mike Gillespie on New Teacher Talk as they break down the four pillars every new educator needs to master. Whether you're stepping into your first classroom or looking to refine your approach, this episode delivers actionable strategies you can implement immediately.

Discover proven methods for building authentic student relationships through surveys, conversations, and school involvement. Learn how backward design and solid preparation can transform your lesson planning, while practical organization tips help you establish routines that actually stick. Plus, get insider advice on communication strategies that strengthen both student connections and family partnerships—from weekly newsletters to those game-changing positive phone calls home.

Packed with real classroom experiences and no-nonsense advice, this episode gives new teachers the confidence and tools to thrive from day one. Perfect for educators at any level who want to build stronger classrooms and deeper student relationships.

#NewTeacher #TeachingTips #Education #PodcastLife #TeacherLife #ClassroomManagement #StudentSuccess #NewTeacherTalk

Ep 151: Beyond Repetition: Four Brain-Based Strategies That Actually Work

1 of 3 in a Series:

Join education professor Ken King from Aurora University as he debunks one of education's most persistent myths: that repetition alone leads to learning mastery. In this essential episode for new teachers, King reveals why the brain science shows repetition isn't enough and introduces four evidence-based strategies that actually work for long-term retention.

King explores the dangerous "fluency illusion" that tricks students into thinking they've mastered material when they haven't, and explains how our brain's limited working memory makes simple repetition ineffective. Then he dives deep into four game-changing strategies: retrieval practice (the power of self-testing), spaced repetition (strategic review timing), elaboration (connecting new info to existing knowledge), and interleaving (mixing different problem types).

Whether you're a first-year teacher struggling with student retention or a veteran educator looking to upgrade your methods, this episode provides practical, science-backed techniques you can implement immediately. King's clear explanations of the neuroscience behind learning will transform how you think about teaching and help your students move information from short-term memory into long-term mastery.

Perfect for: New teachers, education students, veteran educators interested in cognitive science, and anyone wanting to understand how the brain really learns.

#BrainBasedLearning #EffectiveLearning #RetrievalPractice #MetacognitionMatters #Newteachertips #newteachers #newteachertalk #podcast