Mr. G's Podcast

I was asked to help a committee plan a virtual talent showcase. I agreed but it reminded me of when I was in a talent show. What we often don't realize is how much work goes on behind the scenes and how valuable this work is in helping provide students with an opportunity to present a different, unique side of themselves.

Today's question: How much does social media influence our teaching decisions? Do we unknowingly adopt ideas and present them to our students?

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Coming into this June, I feel more tired than I remember ever having been. I feel very confused, uncertain, and disconnected. I've been questioning my teaching practice and its effectiveness. I just don't feel ready, yet.

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In today's episode, I share a bit of my story and how being labelled "smart" had an impact on my life. Being smart isn't a bad thing but it shouldn't be the primary aspect of one's identity. As teachers, we need to be careful about how we congratulate students on a job well done.

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I've been thinking about what it means when students say, "But, you didn't teach this." There are so many ways to interpret this simple statement, but it always means that the student doesn't know how to do what you've asked them to. What causes students to feel this way and what can be changed to support them so that they don't say this again?

Today's question: Should we be thinking about our days as if they are normal school days? Teaching between the bells, planning and marking before or after them.

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After some conversations about student placement, I started thinking about how we have an impact on students' learning environments and the people they interact with. Grouping students together, or determining their cohort, should be done with the best of intentions and done truthfully. 

Today's question: I have a fancy for fountain pens. Now that students are submitting all of their work online, how is this changing the thinking time that is available to students?

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In today's episode, Diana Guerriero shares her experience with using choice boards to empower students. She shares a number of ideas for activities that can be easily implemented. She then shares how she collects student feedback to help her assess the effectiveness of the work students get to choose from. 

Today's question: Should students be playing outside right now or focusing on school work?

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Today I've been thinking about marking and what are some of the best ways for me to approach it. I've never liked marking, as such, even though I understand how valuable it is. There are a few things that I've done to help make it more manageable for myself, but there is room for improvement.

Today's question: Do students need something to care for before they can care about something?

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Today, I try to make the case that teaching is not an academic exercise. It's too practical to be. In education, we are outcome-driven and that is reflected in how we engage and teach students. I don't know that we teach students things that are interesting, simply because they are interesting. I don't know that we should be, either.

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Today I've been thinking about how to increase opportunities for students to speak up, and about what we're missing when students don't say anything. I'm thinking about how the online environment is and isn't conducive to real conversations and how synchronous learning might help mitigate some of the difficulties I'm facing. I believe that all students have something to say but I'm not sure that they all have the opportunity to say what the want to.

Today's question: Where’s your favourite place to work? If you can’t go there now, how can you replicate it at home?

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I took some time to reassess the teaching I've been doing, based on the feedback that I've received in the last week. I came to realize that I probably haven't been capitalizing on the assets that my students have. I also needed to give students the option of a greater structure, by providing them with a detailed schedule. This wasn't easy for me, not only because it took some work.

Today's question: Boredom can be a good thing. It gives us time to think and to search for meaningful activities. When you’re bored, only something that truly interests you will snap you out of it. How can we use this effectively through remote learning?

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