No Wrong Answers

We speak with the 2019 Teacher of the Year, Rodney Robinson. He doesn’t have a typical teaching assignment. The 19-year veteran of Richmond Public Schools works at a school inside the Richmond Juvenile Justice Center.

Teacher mindset is a buzzword in education right now. But what does it really mean to have the right or wrong mindset in class?

A teenager gets put on blast on social media for peppering her speech with the word “like”. Why our teachers think using verbal fillers is and isn’t a big deal.

Can the adversity that students face be boiled down to a number? The makers of the SAT are going to try. Our teachers say that's both a good and bad idea.

Teaching abroad can have its perks…but are they enough to pull teachers away from America?

After San Francisco’s plan to tackle school segregation actually made it worse, our teachers discuss how our conversation around this issue needs to change.

A high school newspaper’s story about a student sex worker causes a national stir. Now the district is threatening to fire the newspaper’s teacher adviser. We get that teacher’s side of the story.

Schools statistically are safer than they’ve been in years…so why doesn’t it feel like it?

Some say Fortnite, the video game, should be banned. Our teachers say that’s a bad idea. Instead, schools should be learning how to take advantage of kid’s gaming passion.

Teacher shortages have been around for decades, but new research shows it’s getting worse. What impact does that have on kids and classrooms?

WARNING: This episode contains conversations about teen suicide. The number for the National Suicide Helpline is 1-800-273-8255.The specter of teen suicide is again in the news. Do you feel comfortable broaching that topic with your students? Our teachers have advice.

The achievement gap between rich and poor students has hardly budged in 50 years. Our teachers say maybe we need to redefine what “gap” even means. Plus, bathroom access is always a hot topic at schools, but are we hurting student’s health by restricting when they can go?

A college admissions cheating scandal has shocked America. Our teachers say…you think that’s bad…how about all the legal ways the admissions process is unequal. Plus, “grit”…our teachers say there’s a lot wrong with how it’s being used in the classroom.

Dr. Seuss is one of the most beloved children authors of all time, but his place in the literary canon is being challenged. The reason has to do with history and race. Plus, Chicago public schools has a big problem with gangs…but our teachers say what they did to fix the situation only made it worse.

The Denver teacher strike was focused mostly on complaints about incentive pay. Our teachers break down that idea. Plus, standardized testing…what is it good for?

THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE YOU HAVE OR HAVE HAD A STUDENT WITH A LOVED ONE IN PRISON. BUT WE RARELY TALK ABOUT HOW TO HELP KIDS DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF MASS INCARCERATION. WE FIX THAT ON THIS WEEK’S EPISODE.

Many city schools struggle with the g-word. Gentrification. But there are actual steps schools can take to get involved. Plus, norms about manhood are changing but our teachers seeing a difference in their male students? Three female teachers give us their take.

Class size was a big sticking point in the recent LA teachers strike. But how do you know when a class really is too big? And the Covington Catholic mess, some say it’s a teachable moment. If so, who’s getting taught and what are they learning?

If reading is fundamental, why do so many American kids struggle with it? Emily Hanford from American Public Media explains. Plus, we know about the achievement gap, but what about the homework gap.

The national teacher of the year calls the detention of migrant children at the border “abuse” and an “atrocity”. But she says teachers can do something about it. Plus, as American cities are becoming less segregated…are schools following suit?

A Kansas teenager is set to graduate from his high school, and Harvard University this spring…at the same time. We have a whole lot of questions. Plus, is your school a happy place? Does it need to be in order to be successful? Our teacher’s answers might surprise you.

Discipline. Our teachers say their schools are starting to get it right. Now, Betsy DeVos is getting involved. Plus, the old tensions between charter schools and district schools is back in the headlines after a charter school strike in Chicago. And, how what month your child is born in affects whether they’re diagnosed with ADHD.

Can civics class save American democracy? Our teachers say the perennial debate has a new look after Trump’s election. Plus, schools are inequitable but, it turns out, so are PTAs. How this inequality changes the dynamic in schools. Finally, the epidemic of absenteeism.

Retirement. If you’re a young teacher you might not be thinking about it much, but our veteran teachers say you should start right now. Plus, tis the season for snow days. Students and teachers love them, right? Why snow days can be so disruptive. And, homework in kindergarten…is that too young?

There is a growing schism among education reformers. One side says schools should be held account for their performance…even to the point of closing them down. The other believes we should give them more resources and funding to see what happens. This conflict has come to a dramatic point in New York City with an initiative called Renewal. New York Times reporter Eliza Shapiro talks with us about what this all means for education reform efforts across the country.

Now that there are artificial intelligence news anchors…are A.I. teachers on the horizon? Plus, a group nazi salute in a prom photo is the latest subject of internet outrage. But what should educator’s reactions be when their students do dumb offensive things?

The teaching profession notoriously has trouble recruiting and retaining teachers of color. We discuss why that is and what can be done about it. Plus, a new digital divide…it’s not about having too little technology, but having too much.

It’s one of the most difficult topics to discuss in schools: white fragility. And yet, it has major seen and unseen effects on faculty and students. This week, we talk with Robin DiAngelo—the woman who coined the term “white fragility”—about what educators can do to address it in school.

The Trump administration wants to redefine gender. Young trans people and their teachers are ready to fight back. Plus, should teachers stay neutral about controversial topics in class? Is that even possible? One Chicago teacher thought her district’s directive about the Laquan Mcdonald killing wasn’t right. And, teacher effectiveness…it’s not longer just about the test scores. What’s the best way to evaluate a teacher’s work?

Holding back students a grade level is seen by many as a way to uphold rigorous academic standards…but it can also backfire. Plus, we thought after this spring’s rallies that teens were going to be a voting force in the year’s midterms…does that still hold true?

America is argumentative right now…are schools partly to blame? Plus, everyone knows play is beneficial for students, but kids are doing it less and less. Also, acne…it’s still a big deal for teenagers, but maybe not for the reasons you think.

On this episode: what’s the difference between a 0 and a 50 percent…our teacher’s say it could mean everything. Plus, when does your school start…whatever time it is, experts say it’s likely too early.

The sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh feel very familiar to our teachers. They say too many of their kids have similar stories to tell. Plus, should school end their football programs? Those topics and “Kids These Days” on this episode!

America’s students are getting more diverse…but our teaching force is going in the opposite direction. Plus, you know that phrase those who can’t do, teach…well a new piece turns that idea on it’s head. And, as always “Kids These Days”.

Should schools monitor student’s social media to help prevent school shootings and suicides, or is that an invasion of privacy? Also, we like to think schools are making progress when it comes to being inclusive. But the tragic story of a nine year old who came out as gay reminds us we may not have come as far as we want. Those stories plus “Kids These Days”.

As more states require students to take the ACT/SAT, we ask...is that actually a good idea? Plus, kids are not reading for fun as much as they once did, but we're not ready to give up on books just yet. All that and "Kids These Days".

A new study shows that the fight against hate in American schools could be most intense in the suburbs...but are suburban teachers ready for it? Plus, LeBron James opens a public school in his home town. Our teachers say the important word there is "public".

A classroom debate over the confederate flag goes viral, and we sit down with the teacher and student at the center of the conversation.

Gifted and talented education...is it ultimately good? Some advocates are going so far as to say such programs should be eliminated entirely.

Are the migrant children separated from their families at the U.S. border receiving any sort of education, and if so...is it adequate? We speak with a New York Times reporter to get some answers. 

American kids don’t have a constitutional right to a good education. A recent court case in Michigan underscored that fact. It’s a problem says our teachers, but maybe not for the reasons you think. Plus, the Trump Administration is rolling back Obama era guidance in affirmative action in college admissions. That has us asking…who is college for anyway.

We're still in the middle of a brief summer break, but we taped a special episode in response to the US Supreme Court's recent decision which promises to have a major impact on teachers unions. How will the "Janus" case affect our teachers, school and unions. We talk with the experts on this episode.

There's #DrivingWhileBlack, #SittingAtStarbucksWhileBlack, #BBQingWhileBlack...but what about #TeachingWhileBlack?

As Puerto Rico continues to struggle in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, we check in with a school on the island about the challenges that lay ahead for next school year. Plus, Betsy DeVos says a school safety commission formed after the Parkland school shooting won't be talking about guns. Finally, are your students vaping? We talk about how to deal with this new phenomenon in schools.

The 2018 national teacher of the year gave President Trump a stack of letter from her refugee and immigrant students...then the online hate started. Plus, a clash over free speech in schools. Our teachers say a student who wears a pro border wall t-shirt shouldn't have to take it off, but other students should be allowed to debate and criticize it. Also, the surprising trend of students bullying themselves online.

"Thirteen Reasons Why" is back and with it comes fears and handwringing about students dealing with suicidal thoughts. Plus, some people are calling for a nation wide boycott of schools to force legislative change on gun control. Finally, a landmark legal decision regarding which bathrooms trans students can use has our teachers asking if we can finally be done with this debate.

From state funding cuts to school shootings, teachers have a lot of reasons to be angry. But how can they use that anger constructively in schools? Plus, a new book argues Googles' search algorithms are racist, and that should give teachers pause about how they use it in their classes.

Is school choice working in your district? That's the question we asked at a live community forum in Kansas City, MO last week. What we learned reveals a lot about the issue of school choice across the country.

Recent research claims that learning styles are actually totally fake...our teachers say not so fast. Plus, students in America are politically fired up, but does that mean they'll vote in the fall? One school already has a statistically proven impact on student voting rates and we talk with them. All that and "Kids These Days" on this week's episode!

How should schools be teaching America's history with lynching in classrooms? The opening of a new lynching memorial has our teachers reckoning with how to bring this topic to students.

When more than 4,200 teachers responded to The New York Times’ recent callout for images showing their working conditions, it gave readers an insight into the often-frustrating experiences of educators. Plus, one of our teachers pens a powerful op-ed about our current school shooting debate.