In this episode, Linda, a teacher from Puerto Rico, shares her wholehearted journey to become the most honest, authentic and supportive teacher she can be for the happiness and well-being of her students. As an “equity champion” in her school district, she talks to teachers about how to respect every person’s true self, how to give them their place and how we must recognize the value that every person brings to the table. She says that students love how honest and authentic she is, and that her classroom is a “safe place” (as a sign indicates outside her door) for them to be themselves, to be seen and to be valued. In our conversation, we explore the concept of giving zeros to students, why students are acting out as well as checking out of learning. Linda tells us that we need more empathy, kindness and happiness in the classroom right now more than ever. She explains how we can do this by providing enriching, life-affirming, self-exploratory experiences for students through projects, field trips, clubs, competitions, cultural events, community service and creating opportunities for deep, meaningful conversations and connections to our identity and our humanity. This kind of investment in education and in our students pays tremendous heart-felt dividends for teachers and society. We owe Linda and all teachers a debt of gratitude for their investment in education!
In this episode, we meet Andrea, a teacher whose journey has taken her across the country from the sandy beaches of California to the...
In this episode, Nilda, an inspiring teacher in Puerto Rico, is a great example of what the Spirit of Teaching is all about. Listen...
In this episode, our guest teacher from North Caroline, Jennifer, goes big and deep into making connections to humanity through what we teach students....