This is
Teachable Moments – a podcast about why teachers teach. In
this series we’ll hear directly from educators about important and
sometimes challenging moments in their careers, and ultimately, what
brings them joy in teaching. These are deeply personal stories that
we hope will inspire you.
Subscribe to the show on SoundCloud or iTunes
Monica is a 20-year veteran public radio reporter and the founder of Listenwise, an award winning tool for middle and high school students. Listenwise uses public radio to build and assess students’ critical listening skills to prepare them for the CAASPP and ELPAC. Get a free 30-day trial at Listenwise.com.
Sydney is an assistant editor for EdSurge HigherEd, where she writes about the role and influence of technology and business in higher education. Prior to joining EdSurge, Sydney earned a B.A. and from University of California, Berkeley. She has written for San Francisco magazine, the East Bay Express, the Oakland Post and others.
Teaching isn’t a simple one-way exchange. Often there are lessons to be learned from the very act of teaching, whether it’s an instructor finding new ways to reach—or not reach—students, to watching students grow before your eyes to discovering what makes collaborative learning so successful. Those are some of the examples educators shared with us on this week’s podcast.
In this episode we hear about how educators or their students were
empowered with technology. Four educators share how technology tools
engaged their students and expanded their classrooms, including one
teacher whose students connected virtually with learners from around
the world, and overcame language barriers through technology. Listen
to hear what this taught him about student agency and engagement.
The stories in this episode are about reflecting on teaching moments that don’t always happen in a classroom. You’ll hear from four educators who share how their philosophies around teaching were shaped by things that happened when they weren’t in front of the classroom. Some of these moments were experienced not as an instructor, but as a parent or a coach.
In our first episode we hear from four teachers who all had personal impactful experiences connecting with a student and building new bridges of understanding. You’ll hear how one asking a simple question “Are you happy?” led to a deeper understanding of her student. Another connected with a student as a human being during recess. In each case teachers were surprised by an unexpected result.
