Teaching Keating with Weston and Molly Kieschnick
Teaching Keating with Weston and Molly Kieschnick

Teaching Keating with Weston and Molly Kieschnick

Weston and Molly Kieschnick

Overview
Episodes

Details

Join Weston, Molly, and a bottle of wine as we use iconic teaching moments from movies and television as a vehicle to reflect on instructional practice. We invite you to laugh, agree or disagree, and work toward discovering exactly who you are and where you stand as an educator. Weston is a former high school teacher and administrator who now works as a Senior Fellow with the International Center for Leadership in Education. His work as a keynoter and instructional coach has afforded him the opportunity to learn alongside teachers and administrators from all 50 states and more than 30 countries around the world. Molly is a former elementary and middle school teacher who now works with teens and young adults in parochial education programs around Colorado. She and Weston are the parents of two elementary aged children who provide additional fodder for an ed-centric podcast. Cheers!

Recent Episodes

E205: The Most and Least Important School Subjects: Our Bold Rankings
SEP 23, 2025
E205: The Most and Least Important School Subjects: Our Bold Rankings

On Teaching Keating, Molly and Weston tackle a controversial topic by ranking the most and least important school subjects, debating priorities for functional adulthood amid potential backlash. They reveal top picks like ELA for communication, social studies for civic discourse, and math/personal finance for economic literacy, while critiquing lesser focuses like foreign languages or advanced sciences. Weston argues for reclaiming social studies testing to fix political dysfunction, as Molly champions science for natural world understanding and MAP (music, arts, PE) for creativity and health. Covering pedagogical gaps, age-appropriate teaching, and societal impacts, they encourage reasonable discourse on education's core needs. Listeners are inspired to rethink curricula, value critical thinking, and engage in productive debates.

In this episode:

  • Molly and Weston debate subject myths, like ELA's articulation focus vs. social studies' compromise skills.
  • Insights on top rankings, including math's debt lessons, science's critical reasoning, and MAP's holistic benefits.
  • Personal takes on controversies, from lost political discourse to prioritizing finance over rote memorization.
  • Their reveal game explores disagreements, like ELA vs. science priorities and bottom-three subjects like foreign languages.

Connect with Us: Follow us for updates and more episodes. Share your thoughts in the comments below about your strategies for building habits rather than setting resolutions. Learn more at: westonkieschnick.com

About Weston and Molly: Weston is a former high school teacher and administrator who now works as a Senior Fellow with the International Center for Leadership in Education. His work as a keynote speaker and instructional coach has allowed him to learn alongside teachers and administrators from all 50 states and more than 30 countries around the world.

Molly is a former elementary and middle school teacher who now works with teens and young adults in parochial education programs around Colorado. She and Weston are the parents of children who provide additional fodder for Teaching Keating.

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25 MIN
E204: Is It Important to Raise Kids Around Family? Pros, Cons, and Adjustments
SEP 16, 2025
E204: Is It Important to Raise Kids Around Family? Pros, Cons, and Adjustments

On Teaching Keating, Molly and Weston explore the value of raising children near extended family, reflecting on their own transitions from isolated upbringings to Colorado's close-knit dynamics. They weigh pros like community support, grandparent help, and cousin bonds against cons such as constant pop-ins and balancing multiple families. Weston recounts culture shock from family fridge raids and open-concept home debates, while Molly highlights holiday gatherings and in-law navigation. Covering emotional adjustments, space needs, and generational baggage, they affirm family's role in community-building while acknowledging not everyone has the option. Listeners are inspired to embrace proximity's benefits, set boundaries, and adapt to evolving family roles.

In this episode:

  • Molly and Weston debate family proximity myths, from Weston's "unemployed" label to managing 35-person Thanksgivings.
  • Insights on pros like date-night help and closet fixes, plus cons like constant presence and open-concept overwhelm.
  • Personal stories of transitions, from small-house pop-ins to fearing overload when parents move nearby.
  • Discussions on community raising, imperfect families, and inviting everyone to everything for balanced dynamics.

Connect with Us: Follow us for updates and more episodes. Share your thoughts in the comments below about your strategies for building habits rather than setting resolutions. Learn more at: westonkieschnick.com

About Weston and Molly: Weston is a former high school teacher and administrator who now works as a Senior Fellow with the International Center for Leadership in Education. His work as a keynote speaker and instructional coach has allowed him to learn alongside teachers and administrators from all 50 states and more than 30 countries around the world.

Molly is a former elementary and middle school teacher who now works with teens and young adults in parochial education programs around Colorado. She and Weston are the parents of children who provide additional fodder for Teaching Keating.

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31 MIN
E203: How to Talk to Teachers: A Guide for Parents, Students, and Strangers
SEP 9, 2025
E203: How to Talk to Teachers: A Guide for Parents, Students, and Strangers

On Teaching Keating, Molly and Weston offer practical advice on communicating with educators, drawing from their experiences as teachers and parents amid back-to-school chaos. They break down boundaries for parents—like weekend email limits and 24-hour response windows—while addressing student interactions and stranger small talk on planes. Weston shares airplane peacock questions and celebrity encounters, as Molly emphasizes clear school guidelines to avoid confusion. Covering email etiquette, weekend no-gos, and aligning teacher expectations, they stress respect for educators' personal time to sustain the profession. Listeners are encouraged to foster positive dialogues, set realistic expectations, and navigate varying norms with empathy.

In this episode:

  • Molly and Weston discuss parent-teacher boundaries, including why Sundays are off-limits and the pitfalls of inconsistent colleague responses.
  • Insights on stranger interactions, from Weston's plane chat shutdowns to avoiding self-importance in "what do you do?" questions.
  • Personal stories of coaching connections, like Travis's NFL contractor alias, and celebrity plane rides with Adam Carolla and Molly Shannon.
  • Tips for students and parents, such as administration guidelines, direct communication lines, and respecting 24-hour windows.

Connect with Us: Follow us for updates and more episodes. Share your thoughts in the comments below about your strategies for building habits rather than setting resolutions. Learn more at: westonkieschnick.com

About Weston and Molly: Weston is a former high school teacher and administrator who now works as a Senior Fellow with the International Center for Leadership in Education. His work as a keynote speaker and instructional coach has allowed him to learn alongside teachers and administrators from all 50 states and more than 30 countries around the world.

Molly is a former elementary and middle school teacher who now works with teens and young adults in parochial education programs around Colorado. She and Weston are the parents of children who provide additional fodder for Teaching Keating.

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41 MIN
E202: Rediscovering Social Etiquette: What's Lost and What We Want Back
SEP 2, 2025
E202: Rediscovering Social Etiquette: What's Lost and What We Want Back

On Teaching Keating, Molly and Weston dive into the evolution of social etiquette, sharing hilarious personal anecdotes on bodily functions, burping, and family dynamics as they celebrate Molly's birthday month. They explore norms lost to casual society—like airplane attire, gym awareness, and yoga mat boundaries—and debate reclaiming formalities for better public interactions. Weston reflects on sweaty hugs and allergy mishaps, while Molly pushes for reclaiming politeness in shared spaces. Covering generational shifts, ignorance vs. intentional rudeness, and the pendulum swing toward formality, they encourage reclaiming boundaries without becoming curmudgeons. Listeners are inspired to reflect on everyday courtesies and adapt to modern casualness while valuing respect.

In this episode:

  • Molly and Weston share laugh-out-loud stories on family bodily function taboos, from holding in farts to sprinkler sneezes.
  • Insights on lost etiquette in public spaces, like avoiding dumbbell hogging at gyms or stepping on yoga mats, with tips for polite navigation.
  • Personal takes on airplane dress codes, from pajamas and filthy pillows to dressing like an adult for flights.
  • Discussions on societal changes, including formal attire's decline and the need for boundaries in casual times.

Connect with Us: Follow us for updates and more episodes. Share your thoughts in the comments below about your strategies for building habits rather than setting resolutions. Learn more at: westonkieschnick.com

About Weston and Molly: Weston is a former high school teacher and administrator who now works as a Senior Fellow with the International Center for Leadership in Education. His work as a keynote speaker and instructional coach has allowed him to learn alongside teachers and administrators from all 50 states and more than 30 countries around the world.

Molly is a former elementary and middle school teacher who now works with teens and young adults in parochial education programs around Colorado. She and Weston are the parents of children who provide additional fodder for Teaching Keating.

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39 MIN
E201: Back-to-School Survival Guide
AUG 26, 2025
E201: Back-to-School Survival Guide

Molly and Weston prep for the school year on Teaching Keating, offering educator shortcuts to smooth starts and cut tension. Weston outlines ideas like emergency-plan bins, review slots, and student-soundtracked transitions, as Molly recalls streamlined designs and kid-picked tunes. They capture the buzz of fresh groups, home no-work areas, and grading restraint for progress. Via tricks such as backup attire and optimal-hour pinpointing, they spotlight wellness and ops. Audiences are prompted to set limits, opt for simplicity, and pick aids that boost education minus overload.

In this episode: - Weston and Molly break down hacks like sub tubs, pause days, and no-work zones for better work-life balance. - Tips on playlists, secret student games, and not grading everything to foster engagement and reduce guilt. - Personal anecdotes on forgetting coffee, ugly comfy shoes, and the honeymoon period of new classes. - Their "he said, she said" game reveals first-day outfits, classroom setup time, and signs of school mode.

Connect with Us: Follow us for updates and more episodes. Share your thoughts in the comments below about your strategies for building habits rather than setting resolutions. Learn more at: westonkieschnick.com

About Weston and Molly: Weston is a former high school teacher and administrator who now works as a Senior Fellow with the International Center for Leadership in Education. His work as a keynote speaker and instructional coach has allowed him to learn alongside teachers and administrators from all 50 states and more than 30 countries around the world.

Molly is a former elementary and middle school teacher who now works with teens and young adults in parochial education programs around Colorado. She and Weston are the parents of children who provide additional fodder for Teaching Keating.

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35 MIN