Teachers on Fire

PAWAN WANDER, or “Pav,” as she is known around Twitter, is a middle school math and science teacher in Toronto, a co-host of The Staff Room Podcast (@StaffPodcast), and a co-host of The Drive with Chey and Pav, a real-time radio show for educators. FOLLOW Pav … On Twitter @PavWander (https://twitter.com/PavWander) On Instagram @___pav___ (https://www.instagram.com/___pav___/) On The Staff Room Podcast on Twitter @StaffPodcast (https://twitter.com/StaffPodcast) On The Drive with Chey & Pav on Twitter @TheDriveVoicEd (https://twitter.com/TheDriveVoicEd) Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! CONNECT with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter @TeachersOnFire (https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire) On Instagram @TeachersOnFire (https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/teachersonfire Song Track Credits Sunrise Drive by South London Hifi Roots of Legend by Density & Time Anthem by The Grand Affair Memory Rain by Yung Logos Species by Diamond Ortiz *all tracks courtesy of the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/music)

To help educators think strategically about moving from surviving to thriving, Grace Voo (@GraceLoVoo) put together a beautiful graphic that illustrates 50 Strategies to Move from Surviving to Thriving. Inspired by her collage, I’ve decided to share some of the ways that I intend to restore my soul and bring back my fire this summer. Welcome to SPARKS: mini-segments intended to spark your thinking and ignite your practice. These short episodes are based on my written reflections, which you can find on the Teachers on Fire Magazine at Medium.com. Read the blog post featured in this episode at https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire/from-surviving-to-thriving-how-im-finding-my-fire-cd1e022e40b8?source=friends_link&sk=c448efde5515ed0ac9ee71b65221a2a4. My name is Tim Cavey, and I’m proud to contribute to the education conversation through the Teachers on Fire podcast. Make sure to connect with me @TeachersOnFire on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to catch more from me and hear from amazing educators who are bringing growth and transformation to K-12 education today. Connect with me … On Twitter @TeachersOnFire (https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire) On Instagram @TeachersOnFire (https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/c/teachersonfire) Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credits: Sunrise Drive by South London Hifi Roots of Legend by Density & Time Species by Diamond Ortiz Anthem by The Grand Affair *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

DR. FRANCOIS NAUDE is an award-winning teacher, education engineer, co-founder of the Work Integrated Learning tracker, speaker, presenter, author, podcaster, consultant, mentor, entrepreneur, and Crossfit fan. FOLLOW Francois … On Twitter @Super_Teacher_F (https://twitter.com/Super_Teacher_F) On Instagram @Super_Teacher_F (https://www.instagram.com/super_teacher_f/) On Facebook at Super Teachers Unite (https://www.facebook.com/SuperTeachersUnite) On YouTube at Super Teachers Unite (https://www.youtube.com/superteachersunite) On his podcast at Super Teachers Unite (https://www.buzzsprout.com/899437) Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! CONNECT with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter @TeachersOnFire (https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire) On Instagram @TeachersOnFire (https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/teachersonfire Song Track Credits Sunrise Drive by South London Hifi* Anthem by The Grand Affair* Roots of Legend by Density & Time Memory Rain by Yung Logos *tracks courtesy of the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/music)

I’ve taught in schools in four cities. In each context, the student populations have been majority non-white while the staff populations have been majority white. Take my two stepsons, for example. They are finishing tenth and eighth grade. Their father is white and their mother is Filipino, although to see them you might assume that they are not white at all. Yesterday I asked them if they have ever had a teacher of Filipino or East Asian descent from Kindergarten through eighth grade. Nope. Not a one. Think about that. In their first nine years of education, they have never had a teacher or administrator who looked like them. They’ve had a lot of nice teachers and administrators, sure. Great people, even. But compare my experience to theirs. I almost always had teachers who looked like me. They never have. Does that effect privilege white kids? I think it has to. Welcome to SPARKS: mini-segments intended to spark your thinking and ignite your practice. These short episodes are based on my written reflections, which you can find on the Teachers on Fire Magazine at Medium.com. Read the blog post featured in this episode at https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire/schools-should-look-like-their-students-16994d96bf3e?source=friends_link&sk=f37ab415341cd2350f154b5beb61adfa. My name is Tim Cavey, and I’m proud to contribute to the education conversation through the Teachers on Fire podcast. Make sure to connect with me @TeachersOnFire on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to catch more from me and hear from amazing educators who are bringing growth and transformation to K-12 education today. Connect with me … On Twitter @TeachersOnFire (https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire) On Instagram @TeachersOnFire (https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/c/teachersonfire) Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credits: Sunrise Drive by South London Hifi Roots of Legend by Density & Time Species by Diamond Ortiz Anthem by The Grand Affair *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

MIKE WASHBURN is a Microsoft in Education expert, the Director of Engagement at @Participate, co-host of the fabulous @OnEducationPod, and the co-founder of the @OnPodcastMedia podcast network. When you visit Mike’s website you encounter this phrase: Passionately Educating, Constantly Learning - and that really summarizes Mike’s whole attitude and approach to education. FOLLOW Mike … On Twitter @MisterWashburn (https://twitter.com/misterwashburn) On Instagram @MisterWashburn (https://www.instagram.com/misterwashburn/) On Facebook at OnEducation (https://www.facebook.com/OnEducationPod) On Twitch at InsideParticipate (https://www.twitch.tv/insideparticipate) At Mike’s website (https://www.mikewashburn.net/) Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! CONNECT with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter @TeachersOnFire (https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire) On Instagram @TeachersOnFire (https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/teachersonfire Song Track Credits Sunrise Drive by South London Hifi* Anthem by The Grand Affair* Roots of Legend by Density & Time Memory Rain by Yung Logos *tracks courtesy of the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/music)

Recently a friend reached out to me with a question. “I’m thinking of becoming a teacher,” he shared. “What do you think?” I’m 41, and I’ve been teaching for 19 years, so I have a pretty good sense of this profession. But education looks different for everyone. The stakes are high in this field. It takes a lot to get into teaching, and it takes even more to stay in. And the stakes are even higher for students. So instead of giving my friend a flat yes or no, I decided to lay out the pros and cons as well as I could. Welcome to SPARKS: mini-segments intended to spark your thinking and ignite your practice. These short episodes are based on my written reflections, which you can find on the Teachers on Fire Magazine at Medium.com. Read the blog post featured in this episode at https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire/so-youre-thinking-of-becoming-a-teacher-818cb87cceb9?source=friends_link&sk=03167419b7d64493686fb85a44f56a4e. My name is Tim Cavey, and I’m proud to contribute to the education conversation through the Teachers on Fire podcast. Make sure to connect with me @TeachersOnFire on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to catch more from me and hear from amazing educators who are bringing growth and transformation to K-12 education today. And if you’re interested in hearing more audio blog content like this episode, make sure you subscribe to the Teacher Blogs podcast. If you’re hearing this episode on a mobile device, just search for the Teacher Blogs podcast on the very same podcast player you’re using right now. Connect with me … On Twitter @TeachersOnFire (https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire) On Instagram @TeachersOnFire (https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/c/teachersonfire) Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credits: Sunrise Drive by South London Hifi Roots of Legend by Density & Time Species by Diamond Ortiz Anthem by The Grand Affair *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

EVAN WHITEHEAD is a school district administrator, national consultant for the Aha Process, and an advocate for equity, mental health, mindfulness, and the UN sustainable development goals in education. FOLLOW Evan … On Twitter @EvanWhitehead00 (https://twitter.com/EvanWhitehead00) On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/evan.whitehead.794 At the Aha Process at https://www.ahaprocess.com/ Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! CONNECT with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter @TeachersOnFire (https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire) On Instagram @TeachersOnFire (https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/teachersonfire Song Track Credits Sunrise Drive by South London Hifi* Anthem by The Grand Affair* Roots of Legend by Density & Time *tracks courtesy of the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/music)

Back in the normal classroom, I seat students in groups because it’s in their engagement, their interaction, their support of each other’s work that they develop the 5 Cs each and every day. They learn to communicate effectively. They learn to collaborate and negotiate. They learn to critique each other’s work kindly, helpfully, and respectfully. Their creativity inspires their neighbors and their passions spur new curiosities and wonder. So how do we replace all of this in the remote learning environment? Welcome to SPARKS: mini-segments intended to spark your thinking and ignite your practice. These short episodes are based on my written reflections, which you can find on the Teachers on Fire Magazine at Medium.com. Read the blog post featured in this episode at https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire/remote-learning-must-get-horizontal-a5ddff4019e7?source=friends_link&sk=16f1ad39ddbd2bf8bab03a07a6eb5bf4. My name is Tim Cavey, and I’m proud to contribute to the education conversation through the Teachers on Fire podcast. Make sure to connect with me @TeachersOnFire on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to catch more from me and hear from amazing educators who are bringing growth and transformation to K-12 education today. And if you’re interested in hearing more audio blog content like this episode, make sure you subscribe to the Teacher Blogs podcast. If you’re hearing this episode on a mobile device, just search for the Teacher Blogs podcast on the very same podcast player you’re using right now. Connect with me … On Twitter @TeachersOnFire (https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire) On Instagram @TeachersOnFire (https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/c/teachersonfire) Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credits: Sunrise Drive by South London Hifi Roots of Legend by Density & Time Species by Diamond Ortiz Anthem by The Grand Affair *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

SHANNON SCHINKEL is an inclusive BC high school drama teacher, progressive assessment maker, part time actor, blogger, and reader. She is also the creator and administrator of two Facebook groups called Beyond Report Cards and Humanities Zone on Facebook. Follow Shannon on Twitter @DramaQueenBRC, on her blog at https://mygrowthmindset.home.blog/, and on her Facebook group, Beyond Report Cards. FOLLOW Shannon … On Twitter @dramaqueenbrc (https://twitter.com/dramaqueenbrc) On Instagram @DramaQueenBRC (https://www.instagram.com/dramaqueenbrc/) On Facebook at Beyond Report Cards (https://www.facebook.com/groups/beyondreportcardsbc) On Facebook at The Humanities Zone (https://www.facebook.com/groups/812356858974004) On her blog, My Growth Mindset (https://mygrowthmindset.home.blog/) Visit https://teachersonfire.net/ for all the show notes and links from this episode! CONNECT with the Teachers on Fire podcast on social media: On Twitter @TeachersOnFire (https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire) On Instagram @TeachersOnFire (https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/TimWCavey On The Teachers on Fire Magazine: https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/teachersonfire Song Track Credits Sunrise Drive by South London Hifi* Anthem by The Grand Affair* Roots of Legend by Density & Time Jane Fonda by The Grand Affair* *tracks courtesy of the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/music)

Drawing boundaries with our time isn’t easy, and I’ll admit that there are ebbs and flows in the course of the school year. But I believe it’s essential, because Parkinson’s Law is a thing. Give this work more time, and it will take it. I’ve learned to draw boundaries instead. I’ve learned to pursue some personal passions. And the result? I’ve gone from burnout to a teacher on fire. For your sake and the sake of your learners, I hope you’ll do the same. Welcome to SPARKS: mini-segments intended to spark your thinking and ignite your practice. These short episodes are based on my written reflections, which you can find on the Teachers on Fire Magazine at Medium.com. Read the blog post featured in this episode at https://medium.com/teachers-on-fire/here-is-your-permission-to-stop-doing-so-much-e3e289773cea?source=friends_link&sk=bac19e05e0f3774d4b9a787018d59820. My name is Tim Cavey, and I’m proud to contribute to the education conversation through the Teachers on Fire podcast. Make sure to connect with me @TeachersOnFire on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to catch more from me and hear from amazing educators who are bringing growth and transformation to K-12 education today. And if you’re interested in hearing more audio blog content like this episode, make sure you subscribe to the Teacher Blogs podcast. If you’re hearing this episode on a mobile device, just search for the Teacher Blogs podcast on the very same podcast player you’re using right now. Connect with me … On Twitter @TeachersOnFire (https://twitter.com/TeachersOnFire) On Instagram @TeachersOnFire (https://www.instagram.com/teachersonfire/) On Facebook @TeachersOnFire (https://www.facebook.com/TeachersOnFire/) On YouTube @Teachers On Fire (https://www.youtube.com/c/teachersonfire) Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/. Song Track Credits: Sunrise Drive by South London Hifi Roots of Legend by Density & Time Memory Rain by Yung Logos Jane Fonda by The Grand Affair *All songs retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.