Teaching Saves Lives Podcast

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The Teaching Saves Lives Podcast brings you conversations and discussions about education in 2020, the issues we as educators face, the ways we can empower our students to be stewards of our world, and why teaching is political and necessary to moving our country forward. Join Emily each week while we dig into the issues of education that are not being discussed, and we make plans to upset the system through strong pedagogy, student voice, and community activism.

Emily Alt

  • Dec 14, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
  • every other week NEW EPISODES
  • 38m AVG DURATION
  • 21 EPISODES


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Latest episodes from Teaching Saves Lives Podcast

Doing What's Best For Kids

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2020 26:23


In today's podcast, Emily talks without a script about the ups and downs of remote learning, the importance of a social media break, how we have pivoted as instructors this year, the feelings of burnout that all of us are facing, and how we have modified and continue to adjust our practices to ensure we are meeting our students where they are, during a global pandemic.After this podcast, we will be taking a hiatus until January 2021 to enjoy some relaxation.Enjoy you holiday break, friends. More TSL:Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community hereYou can find the Teaching Saves Lives website hereTeaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

Jet Wash: Teacher Influencers and Social Media Pitfalls

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2020 34:09


Join me this week as I take us on a walk through the world of teacher influencers, discuss why this is just noise and make a plan for emerging from the jet wash so we can continue to do the critical and crucial work of elevating education back to the profession it deserves to be.Links:Kristin Instagram: @MsKennedyReadsOODALOOP infoBig Love by Scott Stabile quotation: “Find people who can handle your darkest truths, who don’t change the subject when you share your pain, or try to make you feel bad for feeling bad. Find people who understand we all struggle, some of us more than others, and that there’s no weakness in admitting it. Find people who want to be real, however that looks and feels, and who want you to be real, too. Find people who get that life is hard, and who get that life is also beautiful, and who aren’t afraid to honor both of those realities. Find people who help you feel more at home in your heart, mind and body, and who take joy in your joy. Find people who love you, for real, and who accept you, for real. Just as you are. They’re out there, these people. Your tribe is waiting for you. Don’t stop searching until you find them.”More TSL:Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community hereYou can find the Teaching Saves Lives website hereTeaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

Poets Love Best: A Conversation with Noheli

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020 105:19


Join me in this powerful conversation between myself and Noheli Hernandez, a former student from my time in Chicago as well as a poet and educator in her own right. Our time today we discuss intersectionality, identity, self care and how we are navigating this pandemic. She also opens up about losing Marlon, her boyfriend of 10 years, in 2019 and how that experience moved her to use poetry as catharsis and healing. I'm so grateful for her, for Marlon, and for the power of writing in difficult times. Links:Carleton CollegeMarlon's SoundCloudPOSSE ScholarshipLouder than a BombLast Day PodcastMore TSL:Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community hereYou can find the Teaching Saves Lives website hereTeaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

Covid Crisis: I'm Right Here With You.

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2020 30:14


Join me in this week's episode as we discuss the COVID 19 crisis facing our schools, our students and our teachers. Teachers are dying and we are screaming for help, for anyone to notice us. I spend time this week giving voice to all of our struggles, and trying my best to buoy y'all as we navigate this very difficult time in our world. Links:Michigan Rural DistrictNEA TrackerMore TSL:Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community hereYou can find the Teaching Saves Lives website hereTeaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

A Conversation with Kindergarten Teacher @teach_finn

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2020 52:10


Join me and Finn (@teach_finn) as we discuss all things back to school, teacher identity, intersectionality, and our educational philosophies. If you don't know Finn, trust me when I tell you, he is one of the BEST humans to exist on the planet, and a Kindergarten teacher of the most amazing variety. Vulnerability and honesty in this week's episode had me in tears of hope and joy. Links:Instagram @teach_finnQ Inclusion: https://www.qinclusion.com/More TSL:Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community hereYou can find the Teaching Saves Lives website hereTeaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

Own Your Own (Radical) Education

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2020 61:00


Join me in this week's podcast as I take a ramble through all things standardized testing, evaluations, patriotic education, the Elvis Year and the constant question of, "Am I doing enough?" We'll cover a lot of topics in a round up of Week 8 of remote teaching, 2 weeks out from the election, and living through a global pandemic. Links:Dr. David Stovall VideoElvis Year Shirts Bonfire Link (you know you want one...)On Tyranny by Timothy SnyderMore TSL:Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community hereYou can find the Teaching Saves Lives website hereTeaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

Walking Each Other Home. A Conversation with Zack.

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2020 93:39


Join me today as I talk with my good friend, Zack, who is one of the students who inspired me to start Teaching Saves Lives. We cover a lot of topics from his journey since high school, the meaning of life to the military industrial complex to toxic masculinity to the importance of friendships.This episode is a sprawling conversation and one not to miss. Links:The Mask You Live In documentaryRam Dass QuotationThe Will to Change by bell hooksMore TSL:Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community hereYou can find the Teaching Saves Lives website hereTeaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

A Conversation with English Teacher @aswrittenbykristen

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2020 73:03


Join me in conversation with Kristen, of @AsWrittenbyKristen (Instagram). We discuss all things virtual teaching, colleagues who challenge us to be better, edu celebrities, choice reading, graduate school and how we find joy in our work during tumultuous times. This conversation is not one to miss!LINKS:University of Michigan MAC program180 Days by Penny Kittle and Kelly GallagherDr. David Stovall of the University of Illinois-ChicagoMore TSL:Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community hereYou can find the Teaching Saves Lives website hereTeaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

Friends Vote Together

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2020 83:40


In today's episode, I'm joined by the inimitable Cate Mayer, founder of Friends Vote Together and we get into all things election 2020, voting, gerrymandering, and Constitutional crisis. If you're looking for some info about what you can do to make significant change and wrench our democracy back from the brink, this is the episode for you!Links:Friends Vote TogetherOMG WTF Constitution Really Say? OMG WTF Is Gerrymandering?Thank You for VotingMarco Polo App Jessica Yellin InstagramMore TSL:Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community hereYou can find the Teaching Saves Lives website hereTeaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

Holding Space

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2020 31:43


In this week’s episode, I dig into quite a bit of what has happened in the past couple of weeks in the country and how that is impacting our work as educators. I talk about living in reality, what it means to allow students the space they need for silence and how we continue to sustain.Notes:James Baldwin Video for reference.More TSL:Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community hereYou can find the Teaching Saves Lives website hereTeaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

I Have So Much To Tell You.

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2020 31:13


This week’s episode continues to dig into our Back to School conversations for 2020, the year a global pandemic rocks American education systems. I share with you insights into how my first week has gone, my successes and struggles, a bit about a few students who have deeply impacted my life, and the idea of teaching as catharsis. Notes:What You Are Feeling is Grief Article:Marlon’s SoundCloud:https://www.soundcloud.com/millymarlonKing Gutter Baby on Instagram:All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven:More TSL:Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community hereYou can find the Teaching Saves Lives website hereTeaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

BONUS EP 5. (Sneak Peak) Choice Reading & Book Talks

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2020 1:54


Join me as I take a tour through how choice reading works in my classroom. I Book Talk a couple books, speak about the value of conferring, and do a bit of a preview into my Writer’s Notebooks. If you have always wanted to know about reading and building a love of books with your students, this is not one to miss!Penny Kittle info here.More TSL:Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community hereYou can find the Teaching Saves Lives website hereTeaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

The 2020 School Year: WTF?

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2020 31:49


This episode feels really important, especially on the eve of my own Back to School experience of the 17th year of my teaching career. This was a frenzied one to write, an emotional one to record, but, I believe, a very important one for you to hear. In today's episode, I dig into the culture of toxic positivity in our schools and how we can manage to work in a world that feels just truly insane. We'll discuss the concept of spiritual bypassing and how we show up as teachers for our students this year. Also, I talk about the 90s TV show Northern Exposure...Notes:Toxic Positivity informationSpiritual Bypassing informationNeil deGrasse Tyson talk here.Northern Exposure "The Quest" episodeAntiMasker Protests at Schools:More TSL:Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community hereYou can find the Teaching Saves Lives website hereTeaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

BONUS EP 4. (Sneak Peak) Abby's Story Continued.

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2020 2:29


In this week's bonus episode, I continue my conversation with Abby, one of the four students who inspired me to start Teaching Saves Lives. Abby and I discuss the impact of the podcast S-town, rural education, her plans for the future and her wonders and worries regarding life in 2020 and beyond. Enjoy!More TSL:Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community hereYou can find the Teaching Saves Lives website hereTeaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

Abby's Story.

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2020 30:39


In this week's episode, I have the opportunity to talk with Abby, a former student and now good friend. Abby is one of the four students who inspired Teaching Saves Lives and is at least 50% of the reason why TSL exists. I have been incredibly lucky to know her and to stay in touch with her over the years, and now I am glad to call her a friend. In this episode we discuss a whole slew of things--her trajectory as a student, her reading prowess, the work we did in her class, her plans for the future, and what it means to grow up in a rural community. This is NOT an episode to miss!Thomas Wolfe Look Homeward, Angel here Shake the Dust by Anis Mojgani: A Thousand Naked Strangers by Kevin HazzardMore TSL:Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community hereYou can find the Teaching Saves Lives website hereTeaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

BONUS EP 3. (Sneak Peak) Shannon's Pride Flag Story

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2020 1:45


In 2018, a science teacher chose to hang a Pride flag in her classroom in a public school. She was disciplined and removed from the classroom for 5 days as a result of her decision. In this week's TSL Bonus Podcast, hear Shannon Fisher's powerful and important story of what happened when trying to create safe and inclusive classrooms for her students, what she learned through this experience and how she processed this as an educator. Resources:Anti-Racism Center link here Book: Waking up White by Debby Irving link here More TSL:Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community hereYou can find the Teaching Saves Lives website hereTeaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

Relationships & Anti-Racism Work with Shannon Fisher

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2020 38:57


This week I sit down with Shannon Fisher, both my colleague and a powerful science teacher. We discuss all things relationship building, anti-racism education, and what it is actually like to teach in conservative communities that might not be supportive of such work. This conversation is one not to miss; you'll find yourself inspired and motivated to begin the work within your own school!Resources:Anti-Racism Center link here Book: Waking up White by Debby Irving link here More TSL:Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community hereYou can find the Teaching Saves Lives website hereTeaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

BONUS EP 2. (Sneak Peak) Let's Talk to the Students.

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2020 1:59


This week I'm joined by 12 students past and present who share what life has been like for them since the pandemic began. Our conversation varies from plans for next year to a lack of American empathy. This is one of the best conversations I've engaged in since the pandemic began and I cannot wait to share it with y'all!For full Bonus podcast access, Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community here You can find the Teaching Saves Lives website here Teaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

Who is Emily and Where Did She Come From?

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2020 29:06


Episode 2 is a deep dive into my background as an educator, a few fun stories of the kids I've encountered over the years and the schools in which I've worked. It's been a journey!Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community here You can find the Teaching Saves Lives website here Teaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

FREE FULL BONUS Episode 1: Lead With Joy

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2020 23:32


This episode digs into the narratives of teaching and education we have faced for years and offers ideas on how to switch that up. We touch on 2020 specific pandemic teaching, Beanie Babies, meltdowns, leading with joy and positivity and discuss the trope of teachers as heroes. Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community here You can find the Teaching Saves Lives website here Teaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

Welcome. We've Got Work to Do.

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2020 13:54


Welcome to episode 1 of the Teaching Saves Lives podcast. In this episode, I'll give you a critical overview of what to expect from this podcast and share some stories of how we got to this point in our TSL journey. Join the Teaching Saves Lives Patreon Community here You can find the Teaching Saves Lives website here Teaching Saves Lives Instagram hereTeaching Saves Lives Twitter here

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