Transparency in Teaching (stuff)

Ok, it's just a couple of days before we have to decide what some are calling "the fate of our county." Part of that fate is what's on the slate for public education. Both candidates have education as part of their platforms. I went to each candidate's pages to see their education plans. I am bringing my findings to you in a way that is as unbiased as I can manage. Ultimately we all want the same thing-- for our children to have the best education possible that will help them be adults that contribute to the betterment of society. We just seem to have different opinions on how to get there. (Compromise, anyone??)

The result is this episode; Jen and Jimese were busy being teachers, so since the election is literally in just a few days, I decided to throw caution to the wind and just went for it and recorded this episode by myself. I also decided not to spend 6 hours editing it. (Which maybe I should have because I sure say "um" and "uh" a lot. You know how it is thinking on the fly. ) I wanted to get this information out there for anyone concerned about what state our schools may be in after November 5. The links to the websites I used to create this episode can be found on our website, TransparencyinTeaching.com

I hope you get some value out of my solo discussion. Please share this episode (soon!) with anyone you think might find value. While you're at it, could you give us a nice rating, too?

Now, take your mighty pen and go forth and vote your conscience.

We've been here before, twice! This is our third episode on this topic. It seems some things don't change. Districts are still struggling to hire and retain educators. This job we do and love comes with a price many aren't willing to pay to stay.

We dive deep into the ongoing teacher exodus and explore the multifaceted reasons behind it. Joined by new host, Jimese, a seasoned educator from a continuation high school, the discussion covers:

• AI and Cyberbullying: Discover what Jen learned on her student trip about the nightly "MOO" and alarming new trends in cyberbullying involving AI and how it's affecting both students and teachers.

• Teacher Pay: Is it really as low as people think? We break down the numbers and discuss teachers' financial struggles, including the burden of student loans.

• Lack of Resources: From outdated technology to insufficient classroom supplies, learn how the lack of resources impacts teaching effectiveness.

• High Workload: Understand the extensive, often unpaid duties teachers perform beyond classroom instruction, including grading, planning, and dealing with administrative tasks.

• Discipline Challenges: Hear firsthand accounts of the increasing discipline issues in classrooms and how they contribute to teacher burnout.

• Job Satisfaction: We analyze recent statistics on teacher job satisfaction and discuss why many educators advise against entering the profession.

Tune in to gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges teachers face today. Of course, you'll hear our suggestions about retaining good, qualified educators.

Visit our website, TransparencyinTeaching.com, for a list of resources used in this episode.

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Hey there, amazing listeners!

I'm thrilled to share the latest episode of our Transparency in Teaching podcast. In this episode, my fabulous co-host, Jen, and I dive into some hot topics making waves in the education world.

We start by discussing Oklahoma's recent mandate requiring the Bible to be given more credit for helping our forefathers create the foundations of this country. We explore its implications and the controversy surrounding it.

Next, we delve into the Louisiana mandate requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in every classroom and discuss its potential impact on students and the school environment.

Finally, we tackle the issue of cell phone bans in schools. We share our thoughts on their effectiveness and the challenges schools face in implementing them.

In this episode of Transparency in Teaching, Anne and Jen discuss three intriguing news stories that could impact schools across the country. The topics include Tennessee's rethinking of its third-grade retention policy, Ohio school districts buying mobile homes to teach teachers how to shoot guns, and Iowa's potential law requiring the daily singing of the national anthem. Tune in to stay informed about these developments in education.

Like what you heard? Please rate and review our podcast so others can find us and tell a friend to give us a listen. We count on all of you faithful to help us keep sharing the truth about what is happening in our schools.

YAY! It's state testing time at schools all over the country. We love the inconvenient schedule changes and the disruption of the end-of-year rush to get through our curriculum, said no teacher ever.

In this episode, Jen explains the new way state testing is being implemented and how they are trying to increase student engagement. She also empathizes with the trepidation the PE teachers are feeling about having to teach the new sex education curriculum.

• Key Topics Discussed:

  • Sex Education Program: Jen describes the nervousness among PE teachers about teaching the new sex education curriculum, highlighting the discomfort and reluctance from both teachers and students.

  • State Testing: The episode covers the new approach to state testing at their school, which involves breaking the tests into shorter segments spread over a month. They discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of this method, including how it impacts student focus and performance.

  • Teacher and Student Engagement: Various strategies to motivate students during the testing period are discussed, such as providing incentives like raffle tickets for prizes, fun activities, and motivational speakers, although the latter received mixed reviews from students.

  • End-of-Year Activities: As the school year winds down, Anne and Jen touch on the flurry of activities and the anticipation of summer break, reflecting on the exhaustion but also the fulfillment that comes with wrapping up the academic year.