From Bell to Bell - A Podcast About School

Welcome back to school and back to hanging out with us...From Bell to Bell!  The summer hiatus has been way too long, and we are pumped to be getting back to talking with you guys. In particular, we are excited to bring you the first three episodes of this new season which have been saved to ensure a powerful kick-off.  Today, we welcome Hal Bowman, veteran teacher who now runs Teach Like a Rockstar, a program that brings him to individual schools and sold-out crowds where he energizes teachers and administrators around his mantra, "Every school can be a phenomenal school."  Hal chose the mockumentary, Chalk, for our discussion, and listening to this episode will find you hearing all three of us cringe in horror as we realize how awful the profession of teaching looks to those on the outside, and how awful it can actually be. It's incredible, and something has to be done about it!  

Ok, people. This is the best episode of From Bell to Bell yet. Chris Bronke is back by popular demand, dazzling audiences with his uncanny recall of the day-to-day details of the Bayside crew. Sara brings a wry sense of superiority in regards to Andy, and Andy destroys everyone by staying quiet and then whipping out a quiz for the ages out of nowhere at the end. This is truly hilarious, and sure to invoke nostalgia as we discuss the original pilot of Good Morning, Miss Bliss, the pre-curser to Saved By the Bell. "Not to be missed!" - Sara's college boyfriend We recommend watching this pilot before listening to the episode: Good Morning, Miss Bliss - Pilot, Part 1 Good Morning, Miss Bliss - Pilot, Part 2  Good Morning, Miss Bliss - Pilot, Part 3    

In this episode we talk with two of Sara's former students about one of the quintessential teen movies of our lifetimes. The layers of Clueless are so fun to unravel because of its smart, funny writing, and its memorable characters, but also because it tethers us to a unique time in teen cultural history - the 1990s. Not to mention it's a better adaptation of Jane Austen's 19th century novel, Emma, than any of the actual literal adaptations made in the last 30 years (we're looking at you, Gwyneth Paltrow). Join us as we dissect everything about this movie that makes us love Beverly Hills high school, and some things that make us loathe it. Let us know what you think! Review us on Apple Podcasts, and tweet at us @bell2bellpod! 

Today brings you Part 2 of our two-part episode on Dangerous Minds - as we have middle school English teacher Jamie Turnbull on the show to talk about the implications this film had on her view of the teaching profession when she was just a teenager herself, and we finish our discussion on everything from the soundtrack of the film to Bob Dylan to the probable expenses of the teachers in the film. Listen today wherever podcasts are found! 

Well, we had to take a week off from production but we're back, a week and a day late, but it's okay because we bring a discussion about Michelle Pfeiffer pretending to be an alternative school teacher in the 1995 film, Dangerous Minds. This depiction of a class of teenagers who take a bus each day to a school outside of their own poverty-stricken neighborhood was met with plenty of criticism at the time of its release and in the 25 years since. So how damaging is it to invite an audience to imagine a young, white, female teacher (with no real experience) conquer a group of rowdy, poor, but pretty smart and willing teenagers? That's what we ask today - and next week, as this is a two-part episode - as we have middle school English teacher Jamie Turnbull on the show to talk about the implications this film had on her view of the teaching profession when she was just a teenager herself. Listen today wherever podcasts are found. 

This week, Sara and Andy sit down with English teacher Chris Bronke to geek out about everyone's favorite school, Bayside High! This episode hits all the right spots as we recall our impressions of the characters that we had in our youth, the ridiculous plot lines that become labeled as "so Saved By the Bell," and also the thematic waves that actually work and serve up core values like a cheeseburger at The Max. Yea, that was bad. But Saved By the Bell is rad, we decide, and so is this conversation.  

Sara and Andy are guest-less and brilliant on this discussion about 1989's Lean On Me. Who is this movie for? Are we supposed to love Morgan Freeman or despise him? How much of the film can be explained by just being dated rather than dramatized? Is there ever a reason to talk to a student on the roof? All this and more is analyzed in a thoughtful banter that will hopefully come to characterize podcasting's new dynamic duo. 

Stephen Hurley is the founder of voicEd Radio, "a 24/7 Internet-based Radio Station dedicated to both broadening and deepening the conversations we have about education." Since his primary interest is in broadening and deepening the way we talk about schools, teaching, and learning in the 21st Century, he is the perfect guest for this show, where we value the same mission. He joins me this week to talk about the 1984 movie, Teachers, where we discuss the endearing qualities of a film that remains largely underrepresented in the movies-about-school genre. In this episode, Andy Simpson is back for a trial co-host run, so it's my first time with three people in the "studio." You'll get to hear me trying to get used to the dynamic of wrangling two voices instead of one, Andy trying to find moments to jump in, and Stephen trying to challenge us with his analysis of the film - and succeeding.

In this episode of From Bell to Bell, I forget everything I know about talking about movies and leave it up to my guest, high school basketball and small town expert, Andy Simpson, to provide almost all of the information. If you want to be impressed by just how closely one person's early years can resemble the plot of the movie Hoosiers, you are not going to want to miss Andy's storytelling here. It saves the day, literally. And then I recommend he come back and talk about another sports movie, which isn't even what this podcast is about. Something was definitely wrong with me when I recorded this. Have fun! 

Today Shane Lawrence is in the house and we are talking about The Edge of Seventeen, which really means we're talking about all the things that teenagers think about that maybe they shouldn't say out loud. But, actually they should because teenagers are people too and they are going through awful and devastating things just like the rest of us and deserve to feel them fully and complexly. Life is hard, man, and it's even harder when you're dealing with mental health issues and your father dies and your best friend starts dating your brother. What? Did I say all that out loud? Ok, well if you haven't seen this movie, WATCH IT, and then come immediately back here to listen and discuss along with us because this episode is packed with revelations that are sure to get you thinking about things you've been repressing for awhile.   

In this episode, I welcome Carla of EDpiphany to the show to talk about the teen comedy, Superbad. Carla talks at length about her work in education and how it has led to a secondary path running EDpiphany - "a place for educators to find inspiration and resources to be at their best, personally and professionally," and also hosting the podcast of the same name. Carla chose Superbad to discuss because when she first listened to From Bell to Bell, it immediately came to mind as the something she remembered from her younger days that she would love to test against the formula of the podcast. So, she tweeted about it, and the rest is history.  Carla and I spend a fair amount of time trying to figure out why we are attempting to talk about a movie about sex-obsessed teenagers on a podcast that is supposed to be "about school," only to realize we've talked about it for 40 minutes. I can't promise any "edpiphanies," but I can promise honest talk from two female educators in their 30s about what was like to be a teenager looking for anything that will prove life can be exciting.    Follow Carla at: https://www.myedpiphany.com/ Twitter: @Edpiphany Instagram: @Edpiphany   

Yes, I know it's been months. I know last time, after I got back from traveling I was like, "Here I am! I'm back!" And then I disappeared again. But this is different. This week I talk to author and speaker, B.J. Mendelson about the 2010 teen comedy Easy A. It was so great to talk to my first stranger on the show, and it's obvious how smart and comfortable behind the mic B.J. is right from the beginning. Listen as we talk about the damaging power of secrets, the social lives of teenagers, and wander into unexpected territory. Follow B.J.'s work at https://bjmendelson.com/

Sara sits down for a conversation with playwright Jack Canfora, the first person who helped her on her path to training to be a teacher 15 years ago. They talk a lot about how this film makes it particularly difficult to determine what year it is, and a little about the challenges of being a traditionalist faced with the grave threat of youth and change. All music for podcast is custom produced, provided, and licensed by JAMSPOT Sync Music Productions. Contact: www.JamspotSMP.com

This week's guest is the first school administrator on the show, which allows him a great perspective. Mike Rodgers chose The Breakfast Club because it reminds him that his students are all learning to be themselves, and that they can not do it alone.   

Sara's favorite high school English teacher, and eventual colleague and good friend, joins her to discuss the ways teachers have to mold their styles to make classes dynamic, the way every educator is made up of pieces of their predecessors, and the legacy of Dead Poets Society.   

Sara talks to philosophy PhD candidate, J.D. Singer, about the unreality of teenage life, how school can often feel like a world orchestrated to promote chaos, and the way society loves to embrace tragedy. 

Michael Sackman, English teacher and long-time friend, joins Sara to talk leadership in schools, teacher-student relationships, and Mr. Holland's Opus.  Twitter: @bell2bellpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frombelltobellpod Email: frombelltobellpod@gmail.com   Music for this podcast is custom produced, provided, and licensed by JAMSPOT Sync Music Productions: http://www.jamspotsmp.com/ 

A somewhat information-less introduction to Sara's new podcast in which she will attempt to stay connected to the teaching community by asking teachers to come on the show and discuss a movie or TV show centered around school. Hopefully, this will open up dialogue about the larger issues around the public perception of the educational system. Listen to find out less!   Music for this podcast is custom produced, provided, and licensed by JAMSPOT Sync Music Productions: http://www.jamspotsmp.com/