The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast

Send us Fan MailAt both the local and national levels PBS stations are facing serious challenges. Yet, they keep providing some of the most helpful and robust resources for educators. In this conversation local PBS educator Robyn Stringfellow shares how PBS stations support the work of teachers-and will continue to do so in the future!LinksWTCI TV Chattanooga-the local PBS station we discussPBS Kids website PBS Learning Media website-specific for Tennessee teachers, may need to change for your locationPBS Supporting Teachers-informational website

Send us Fan MailEvery interaction with every student is important, but how we structure (and yes, even plan) our conversations have an enormous impact on how students learn and achieve. In this conversation Erika Bare and Tiffany Burns, authors of Connecting Through Conversation: A Playbook for Talking with Students, share their strategies building connecting relationships with students.

Send us Fan MailEnglish teacher and author Matthew R. Kay shares how to build the classroom ecosystem for having meaningful conversations in the classroom, especially conversations about race in America. In this conversation he shares several interventions he uses and discusses how to craft great questions that lead to quality conversations in the classroom.

Send us Fan MailMatthew Hawn used to be a social studies teacher until he was fired. He had his day in court and won, but instead of being reinstated the school board appealed. In this conversation, Matt shares his story, his thoughts on teaching controversial issues and how the community and particularly his former students have reacted. Despite many setbacks, he continues to be optimistic about the future and his desire to return to the classroom.

Send us Fan MailHave you ever noticed that tree-lined streets and neighborhoods with lots of trees seem appealing? Have you ever thought that your school or the area around campus could use more trees? Well, it turns out that trees do more than just make things look nice: having a lot of trees on campus and near a school actually improves achievement (yes for real!). In this episode of The Thoughtful Teacher Podcast Albert Garcia shares research that directly connects a fuller tree canopy with improved student achievement and he tells why planting trees is one the strategies for student success. 

James Determan is an architect and researcher who specializes in learning space design, while William Browning focuses on biophilic design's impact on human environments. They discuss how thoughtful school architecture enhances student wellness and learning outcomes. Listeners learn practical strategies for creating engaging classrooms filled with natural elements. Real-world examples, such as a newly designed school in South Carolina, illustrate how biophilic principles can transform educational spaces, highlighting the importance of design in fostering curiosity and better academic performance.

Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, self-described "bad student" Jerry Kolber shares insights from his work producing kid friendly media and how good storytelling can help teachers connect with students. Jerry is co-founder of Atomic Entertainment which produces kid-friendly programming like Brain Games and the podcast Who Smarted.

Send us Fan MailDr. Maggie Brodkerick shares her past experiences as a music teacher and her current work as a professor to tell how teachers can create a culture of caring in their classrooms-while also maintaining academic rigor. Many students are sometimes not connected to teachers or other students for a variety of reasons, but teachers can integrate the arts and social emotional learning to reach and engage all students.LinksMaggie Broderick’s faculty page at National UniversityNational University homepageHarmony Academy resource mentioned in conversationSir Ken Robinson’s well known TED Talk 

Send us Fan MailWhile still a teenager, Sydney Guerette founded a nonprofit where youth run the show solving problems within their communities and promoting mental health. In this conversation Sydney and Scott Lee discuss how she got started on this journey and how educators and caring adults can support youth who are making a difference in their communities.

Send us Fan MailAmy Richter founder of Music Workshop shares how music education can be transformative experience for students. In this conversation, Amy shares that funding cuts at her children's school meant no more music education. She decided to take action and find a solution by founding the non-profit Music Workshop. Now Music Workshop is available to 6 million students around the world and it is completely free! Listen as Amy shares her story and how how music education impacts students.