Teachers on Fire

🔥 What happens when our doubts, mistakes, and questions start to take over?🔥 What is a quick, simple routine that we can follow to rekindle our fire?🔥 How can music build identity and belonging in a learning community?About This GuestSean Gaillard is a school administrator in North Carolina, author of The Pepper Effect, and host of the Leadership Liner Notes podcast. He blogs about leadership, education, and inspiration for Leadership Liner Notes, and is currently writing a new book for Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc. titled Leadership Riffs.Connect with Seanon LinkedIn,on X @smgaillard,on Instagram @smgaillard,on his blog at https://seangaillard.com/.In This Conversation0:00:00 - Sean Gaillard is a principal and author in Lexington, North Carolina1:59 - The dark times that education leaders face6:37 - Reset Step 1: Take a breath8:49 - Reset Step 2: Anchor in gratitude12:02 - Reset Step 3: Affirm and reframe15:28 - Reset Step 4: Reconnect21:36 - One more thing: your presence matters24:10 - Revisiting our why, passions, dreams, and values27:22 - How can music build identity and belonging?30:00 - What to expect from Leadership Riffs31:36 - How to motivate teams with low morale34:01 - How and where to connect with Sean Gaillard onlineVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 Are Kahoot and Blooket the best ways for students to review content?🔥 How can we build fluency, literacy, and thinking skills in the science classroom?🔥 What’s the role of pencils and paper in the classroom of 2025?Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.Today’s Teacher on Fire is Marcie Samayoa. Marcie is a high school chemistry teacher from Los Angeles, California with ten years of experience in the classroom. Through her blog, Scientists in the Making, she shares evidence-based teaching strategies that connect cognitive science to instructional practices.Connect with Marcieon LinkedIn,on X @SciInTheMaking on Instagram @scientistsinthemaking, andon her website at ⁠⁠www.scientistsinthemaking.com⁠⁠.In This Conversation⁠⁠0:00:00⁠⁠ - Marcie Samayoa is a high school chemistry teacher based in Los Angeles, CA⁠⁠1:43⁠⁠ - Doesn't Kahoot increase student engagement?⁠⁠4:16⁠⁠ - Review Step 1: a low-stakes practice test on paper with topics labeled⁠⁠5:48⁠⁠ - Review Step 2: turn to neighbours, compare answers, consult notes, discuss differences⁠⁠8:47⁠⁠ - Review Step 3: students note the topics that they struggled with⁠⁠8:54⁠⁠ - Review Step 4: students review weaker topics using retrieval⁠⁠10:10⁠⁠ - Review Step 5: 2nd practice test, this time in Google Forms without topics⁠⁠12:23⁠⁠ - Review Step 6: students take the test again as homework to build fluency⁠⁠16:55⁠⁠ - The current pushback from educators against overuse of edtech and AI in the classroom⁠⁠21:11⁠⁠ - Marcie's critique of Building Thinking Classrooms⁠⁠27:22⁠⁠ - How and where to connect with MarcieVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at ⁠⁠https://teachersonfire.net/⁠⁠.Song Track CreditOpening Song: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠⁠.

🔥 Are Kahoot and Blooket the best ways for students to review content?🔥 How can we build fluency, literacy, and thinking skills in the science classroom?🔥 What’s the role of pencils and paper in the classroom of 2025?Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.Today’s Teacher on Fire is Marcie Samayoa. Marcie is a high school chemistry teacher from Los Angeles, California with ten years of experience in the classroom. Through her blog, Scientists in the Making, she shares evidence-based teaching strategies that connect cognitive science to instructional practices.Connect with Marcieon LinkedIn,on X @SciInTheMaking on Instagram @scientistsinthemaking, andon her website at ⁠www.scientistsinthemaking.com⁠.In This Conversation⁠0:00:00⁠ - Marcie Samayoa is a high school chemistry teacher based in Los Angeles, CA⁠1:43⁠ - Doesn't Kahoot increase student engagement?⁠4:16⁠ - Review Step 1: a low-stakes practice test on paper with topics labeled⁠5:48⁠ - Review Step 2: turn to neighbours, compare answers, consult notes, discuss differences⁠8:47⁠ - Review Step 3: students note the topics that they struggled with⁠8:54⁠ - Review Step 4: students review weaker topics using retrieval⁠10:10⁠ - Review Step 5: 2nd practice test, this time in Google Forms without topics⁠12:23⁠ - Review Step 6: students take the test again as homework to build fluency⁠16:55⁠ - The current pushback from educators against overuse of edtech and AI in the classroom⁠21:11⁠ - Marcie's critique of Building Thinking Classrooms⁠27:22⁠ - How and where to connect with MarcieVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at ⁠https://teachersonfire.net/⁠.Song Track CreditOpening Song: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at⁠ https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/⁠.Ending Song: Natural PhenomenaMusic by: CreatorMix.comVideo: ⁠https://youtu.be/v2DerSDbfCg⁠

🔥 Are Kahoot and Blooket the best ways for students to review content?🔥 How can we build fluency, literacy, and thinking skills in the science classroom?🔥 What’s the role of pencils and paper in the classroom of 2025?Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.Today’s Teacher on Fire is Marcie Samayoa. Marcie is a high school chemistry teacher from Los Angeles, California with ten years of experience in the classroom. Through her blog, Scientists in the Making, she shares evidence-based teaching strategies that connect cognitive science to instructional practices.Connect with Marcieon LinkedIn,on X @SciInTheMaking on Instagram @scientistsinthemaking, andon her website at www.scientistsinthemaking.com.In This Conversation0:00:00 - Marcie Samayoa is a high school chemistry teacher based in Los Angeles, CA1:43 - Doesn't Kahoot increase student engagement?4:16 - Review Step 1: a low-stakes practice test on paper with topics labeled5:48 - Review Step 2: turn to neighbours, compare answers, consult notes, discuss differences8:47 - Review Step 3: students note the topics that they struggled with8:54 - Review Step 4: students review weaker topics using retrieval10:10 - Review Step 5: 2nd practice test, this time in Google Forms without topics12:23 - Review Step 6: students take the test again as homework to build fluency16:55 - The current pushback from educators against overuse of edtech and AI in the classroom21:11 - Marcie's critique of Building Thinking Classrooms27:22 - How and where to connect with MarcieVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track CreditTropic Fuse by French FuseGO! by Neffex*All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 What can we do as teachers to uplift the students in our classrooms?🔥 What happens when our students see themselves in a story of learning?🔥 What should concern us most about AI tools in education?Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.Today’s Teacher on Fire is Marcus Luther. Marcus is a high school English teacher with over a decade in the classroom. He cohosts a teacher-centered podcast and Substack called The Broken Copier, which focus on conversations and strategies to better support teachers.Connect with Marcuson LinkedIn,on X @marcusluther6, on Instagram @thebrokencopier, on BlueSky @marcusluther.bsky.social, and on Substack at thebrokencopier.substack.comIn This Conversation0:00:00 - Marcus Luther is a high school English teacher and host of The Broken Copier2:15 - The heaviness that can settle in a classroom4:31 - Uplifting Move 1: “Everyone write down what ___ said!"7:11 - Uplifting Move 2: Kneeling down and giving quiet praise9:37 - Uplifting Move 3: Ask if you can take a picture and use it as an example11:59 - Uplifting Move 4: Who can I brag to about how well you're doing?16:12 - Helping students reflect on their own writing journeys20:23 - What's the real problem with AI in K-12 education right now?28:27 - How and where to connect with Marcus Luther's reflections onlineVisit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track CreditTropic Fuse by French FuseGO! by Neffex*All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 How should teachers start every day?🔥 What are the best ways to organize our workspaces?🔥 When is the right time to leave the school building? About This GuestToday’s Teacher on Fire is Liz Prather. A 30-year high school classroom teacher, Liz is the Co-Director of Programming for the Kentucky Writing Project. She holds an MFA in Fiction from the University of Texas-Austin and is the author of three books about teaching writing from Heinemann Press: Project Based Writing; Story Matters; and The Confidence to Write.Connect with Liz Pratheron LinkedIn and on Substack at https://writingteacher.substack.com/In This Conversation0:00:00 - LIZ PRATHER is a a 30-year high school writing teacher1:43 - Daily Ritual 1: Arrive to school early4:59 - Daily Ritual 2: Take 5 minutes for yourself7:50 - Daily Ritual 3: Organize your room for efficiency11:16 - Daily Ritual 4: Look out for your future self14:41 - Daily Ritual 5: Leave school within an hour of the last bell17:25 - A BIG IDEA about writing instruction in 202520:22 - Encouraging teachers to write and publish their own work23:27 - Three books on writing and instruction by Liz Prather25:31 - Where to connect with Liz Prather onlineConnect with Teachers on Fire and Host Tim Cavey:On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire)On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/)On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire)On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.Song Track CreditTropic Fuse by French FuseGO! by Neffex*All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

When students have committed offenses against other students, staff members, or property, should an apology be optional? Here are my thoughts. Read the blog post here: https://teachersonfire.net/2025/01/26/im-sorry-why-im-in-favor-of-forced-apologies/

🔥 What’s the state of cyberbullying in our schools today? 🔥 What are the silent impacts on our children, and what can we do to protect them? 🔥 When used effectively, can devices actually increase collaboration and communication in the classroom? Join me in conversation with Eva Harvell as we dig into these and other critical questions. About This Guest Eva Harvell serves as the Director of Technology for the Pascagoula-Gautier School District. She was recognized as the 2021 Mississippi Educational Computing Association's Administrator of the Year. As a national speaker, published author, doctoral candidate, and an Education and Research Partner for the Mississippi AI Collaborative, she drives innovation in K-12 educational technology. Connect with Eva Harvell on LinkedIn and on X @techie_teach. This episode is sponsored by Linewize.com. Linewize helps schools, districts and the communities they serve to keep children safe and thriving in their digital lives - in school, at home and everywhere in between. Visit Linewize.com to learn more about their best-in-class filtering, threat detection, and student empowerment solutions. In This Conversation: 0:31 - Who is Eva Harvell? 1:54 - Story time: moving from the classroom to a new position 4:58 - What is the state of cyberbullying in our schools today? 12:22 - What is Linewize and how does Linewize support schools and districts? 23:46 - Are student phone bans the right path forward for schools? 29:06 - Australia's attempt to ban social media for minors 31:37 - Can devices in the classroom actually promote the 4 Cs? 34:21 - Eva's thoughts on AI tools in schools right now 38:19 - Google for Education is squeezing schools and districts into paid tiers 41:09 - A productivity hack: lists 41:42 - An edtech tool pick: Claude.ai 42:05 - A book recommendation: Atomic Habits by James Clear and Essentialism by Greg McKeown 42:38 - Educators to follow: Amanda Bickerstaff on Linkedin and Susan Bearden on X Connect with Teachers on Fire and Host Tim Cavey: On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire) On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/ Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit Tropic Fuse by French Fuse GO! by Neffex *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 What can teachers do to protect their fire for teaching? 🔥 What can we do to attract and keep great people in our profession? 🔥 What happens in a school community when the principal is not okay? Join me in conversation with MICHELLE PAPA and ERIN TASHIAN as we dig into these critical questions. About These Guests Michelle Papa is the principal of a nationally recognized Middle School to Watch in Northern New Jersey. She is passionate about supporting a healthy and inspiring school climate and culture, understanding this starts with the principal. Michelle is dedicated to continuing her personal and professional growth around the social and emotional learning competencies and is hoping to inspire other educational leaders to do the same. She’s had the privilege to partner with Erin Tashian to promote this mission within her school and district and has seen tremendous impact on her students, staff, and community as a result. Erin Tashian is a distinguished educator, coach, and professional developer, renowned for her efforts in supporting the educator wellness through emotional resilience and self-awareness practices. Erin believes that it is our responsibility as educators to develop a deep understanding of our emotional world so we can create safe, connected school communities that support students and staff academically and emotionally. You can connect with Michelle on LinkedIn and  on X @MPapaEdu. You can connect with Erin on Linkedin, on X @themindfuleds, on Instagram @Erin_Tashian, and  at her website at https://erintashian.com/. Tune in for my regular Teachers on Fire interviews, airing LIVE on YouTube every Saturday morning at 8:00am Pacific and 11:00am Eastern! Join the conversation and add your comments to the broadcast. In This Conversation: 0:32 - Who is Michelle Papa? 1:09 - Who is Erin Tashian? 2:30 - Why Erin Tashian left 31 years of teaching elementary to support teachers 5:08 - Is it okay when the principal is not okay? 8:42 - Challenges that teachers face today 11:37 - Michelle on her takeaways from Erin's work 14:08 - Erin Tashian's Educator Wellness Institute 19:09 - Sustainability strategies for new teachers 24:03 - Are we pressuring teachers right out of the profession? 32:16 - The mission of The Mindful Educators Podcast 34:37 - A personal habit or daily productivity hack 36:02 - A favorite edtech tool or app 37:49 - Book recommendations 39:55 - Inspiring educators worth following 41:45 - Where to connect with Erin Tashian and Michelle Papa online Connect with Teachers on Fire and Host Tim Cavey: On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire) On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/ Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit Tropic Fuse by French Fuse GO! by Neffex *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

🔥 How can today’s teachers eat well and care for their bodies? 🔥 How can we fit movement and fitness into our hours at school? 🔥 What are some simple strategies we can follow to improve our nutrition? Join me for this conversation with Florida PE teacher Eric Nelson as he responds. About This Guest: Eric is a K-5 physical education teacher and the Director of Member Success at TeacherFit. TeacherFit provides proactive wellness solutions that focus on physical and mental health for teachers and students. You can connect with Eric on LinkedIn, on X @teacherfit_, on Instagram @teacherfit__, and through the TeacherFit newsletter https://teacherfitnewsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe. Tune in for my regular Teachers on Fire interviews, airing LIVE on YouTube every Saturday morning at 8:00am Pacific and 11:00am Eastern! Join the conversation and add your comments to the broadcast. In This Conversation: 0:31 - Who is Eric Nelson? 1:30 - How Eric learned to say no to requests for his time 3:00 - Challenges teachers face in 2024 4:47 - Ways to fit in quick workouts during the school day 7:31 - Advice for the teacher who feels like exercise is torture 9:58 - How to cook nutritious meals with little time 13:11 - Dig it or ditch it? Eric's take on popular fitness practices 16:31 - The TeacherFit newsletter 18:39 - Eric's mental health hacks: detaching from email 20:38 - An edtech tool pick: Canva 22:10 - A book recommendation: Are My Kids on Track? 23:01 - Someone to follow online: Dr. Don Parker 23:58 - Where to connect with Eric's work online Connect with Teachers on Fire and Host Tim Cavey: On X @TeachersOnFire (https://X.com/TeachersOnFire) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/@teachersonfire) On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timwcavey/ Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credit Tropic Fuse by French Fuse GO! by Neffex *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.