Transparency in Teaching (stuff)

Transparency in Teaching (stuff)

Transparency in Teaching

Public education sucks and needs a significant overhaul. Want change? So do we! Real classroom teachers explain the effects of decisions made by the people who “think” they know what’s best for education and what we know would work better. It’s a good dose of reality with a few laughs thrown in. Transparency in Teaching lets you see through the classroom door, so you know what's really happening in today's classrooms. Pull up a chair and join in the conversation.

059 The Rookie Report: Teaching & Parenthood: Balancing the First-Year Struggle

059 The Rookie Report: Teaching & Parenthood: Balancing the First-Year Struggle

In this episode of Transparency in Teaching, host Anne sits down with Zach, a recent intern turned full-time educator, who opens up about the highs and lows of his first year in the classroom—all while adjusting to life as a new parent.Zach shares the realities of teaching, emphasizing that it's far more than a nine-to-five job. From building meaningful relationships with students to navigating the demanding workload beyond school hours, he offers an honest look at what it takes to thrive in edu

Feb 28, • 50:04

058 Public money for Private School Choice: Who Benefits and Who Pays the Price?

058 Public money for Private School Choice: Who Benefits and Who Pays the Price?

In this episode of "Transparency in Teaching," we tackle the hot topic of school choice and its potential impact on public education. On the surface, letting families decide where to spend their educational tax dollars on the school of their choice seems to make sense. But once we pull back the curtain on the consequences of this financial diversion of public funds, the idea seems more like nonsense. Are the potentially devastating effects school choice can wreak on public school resources and t

Jan 28, • 55:43

Navigating the Digital Classroom: Insights from Rookie Online Teacher Steven Arredondo

Navigating the Digital Classroom: Insights from Rookie Online Teacher Steven Arredondo

🎙️ Welcome to Transparency in Teaching! In this episode, Anne reconnects with her first-ever student teacher, Steven Arredondo, now a first-year educator navigating the world of online teaching. Steven shares insights on managing virtual classrooms, acing the CalTPA, and balancing workload, offering fresh perspectives for teachers curious about the digital side of education. Tune in for stories, tips, and laughs, and explore more at TransparencyinTeaching.com. Perfect for educators, from classr

Jan 14, • 48:14

The Rookie Report: How New Music Teacher Mark Inspired a Whole New Band Program

The Rookie Report: How New Music Teacher Mark Inspired a Whole New Band Program

In this episode of the new series The Rookie Report, Transparency in Teaching, host Anne interviews Mark Garcia, a passionate music educator currently teaching at a high school in Rialto. Mark shares his journey from his master's program at the University of Redlands to his current role, where he teaches a diverse range of music subjects, including music education, theory, marching band, jazz band, mariachi, and concert band. The episode aims to provide insights for aspiring educators by highlig

Dec 12, 2024 • 37:34

The Rookie Report: Stories from New Teachers' First Years.

The Rookie Report: Stories from New Teachers' First Years.

Welcome to Transparency in Teaching! In this special episode, Anne introduces an exciting new series that dives into the real-life journeys of brand-new teachers. From navigating the certification process to stepping into their first classrooms, these fresh educators share candid stories, practical tips, and lessons they wish they’d known before starting. Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll hear in this series: Mark’s Advice: Choosing between the student teaching or internship route. Stephan’s

Dec 4, 2024 • 2:41

55 Trump vs. Harris on Education: Who's Got Our Kids Backs?

55 Trump vs. Harris on Education: Who's Got Our Kids Backs?

Ok, it's just a couple of days before we have to decide what some are calling "the fate of our county." Part of that fate is what's on the slate for public education. Both candidates have education as part of their platforms. I went to each candidate's pages to see their education plans. I am bringing my findings to you in a way that is as unbiased as I can manage. Ultimately we all want the same thing-- for our children to have the best education possible that will help them be adults that cont

Nov 1, 2024 • 25:59

054 Why Teachers Quit (3.0): Same themes, Different times

054 Why Teachers Quit (3.0): Same themes, Different times

We've been here before, twice! This is our third episode on this topic. It seems some things don't change. Districts are still struggling to hire and retain educators. This job we do and love comes with a price many aren't willing to pay to stay. We dive deep into the ongoing teacher exodus and explore the multifaceted reasons behind it. Joined by new host, Jimese, a seasoned educator from a continuation high school, the discussion covers: AI and Cyberbullying: Discover what Jen learned on her

Aug 14, 2024 • 1:06:50

053 Losing Faith in Education? Will these Mandates Renew It?

053 Losing Faith in Education? Will these Mandates Renew It?

Hey there, amazing listeners! I'm thrilled to share the latest episode of our Transparency in Teaching podcast. In this episode, my fabulous co-host, Jen, and I dive into some hot topics making waves in the education world. We start by discussing Oklahoma's recent mandate requiring the Bible to be given more credit for helping our forefathers create the foundations of this country. We explore its implications and the controversy surrounding it. Next, we delve into the Louisiana mandate requiring

Jul 17, 2024 • 56:06

052 WTF Education News: Promotion Policies, Armed Teachers, and Mandatory Anthem Singing"

052 WTF Education News: Promotion Policies, Armed Teachers, and Mandatory Anthem Singing"

In this episode of Transparency in Teaching, Anne and Jen discuss three intriguing news stories that could impact schools across the country. The topics include Tennessee's rethinking of its third-grade retention policy, Ohio school districts buying mobile homes to teach teachers how to shoot guns, and Iowa's potential law requiring the daily singing of the national anthem. Tune in to stay informed about these developments in education. Like what you heard? Please rate and review our podcast so

Jun 11, 2024 • 41:58

051 State Testing and Sex Education: Jen explains how it works

051 State Testing and Sex Education: Jen explains how it works

YAY! It's state testing time at schools all over the country. We love the inconvenient schedule changes and the disruption of the end-of-year rush to get through our curriculum, said no teacher ever. In this episode, Jen explains the new way state testing is being implemented and how they are trying to increase student engagement. She also empathizes with the trepidation the PE teachers are feeling about having to teach the new sex education curriculum. Key Topics Discussed: Sex Education

May 23, 2024 • 32:12

050 From Firing Teachers to Scripted Lessons: Unpacking Houston's School District Overhaul

050 From Firing Teachers to Scripted Lessons: Unpacking Houston's School District Overhaul

Welcome back to another episode of TransparencyInTeaching.com. Today, we're diving into the controversial state takeover of the Houston Independent School District (HISD), which has been making headlines. With me, your host, Miss Anne, and my co-host Jen, we're unpacking the drastic changes implemented in HISD and discussing their potential impact. HISD, the largest school district in Texas and the eighth largest in the country, has been underperforming for years. The state's intervention was tr

Mar 11, 2024 • 55:11

049 From Planning to Performance: How Teacher Collaboration Boosts Student Achievement

049 From Planning to Performance: How Teacher Collaboration Boosts Student Achievement

In today's episode, we dove deep into teacher collaboration, discussing the why and how to do it. We explored why teacher collaboration is crucial for both teacher and student performance, and shared personal anecdotes to illustrate our points. Collaboration is not just about meeting once a week; it's about creating a culture where teachers feel supported and are encouraged to share ideas and strategies. It's about building a community within the school that ultimately benefits the students. We

Feb 19, 2024 • 44:12

050 From Firing Teachers to Scripted Lessons: Unpacking Houston's School District Overhaul

050 From Firing Teachers to Scripted Lessons: Unpacking Houston's School District Overhaul

In today's episode, we dove deep into teacher collaboration, discussing the why and how to do it. We explored why teacher collaboration is crucial for both teacher and student performance, and shared personal anecdotes to illustrate our points. Collaboration is not just about meeting once a week; it's about creating a culture where teachers feel supported and are encouraged to share ideas and strategies. It's about building a community within the school that ultimately benefits the students. We

Feb 19, 2024 • 43:45

048 Jen and Anne on the Other Side of the Mic

048 Jen and Anne on the Other Side of the Mic

Jen and I, Anne, sat down for a Zoom interview with Christopher Nesi, the head of the Education Podcast Network. The EPN plays host to a terrific collection of education-related podcasts, which you should definitely check out. Our interview was the first in a series called "Behind the Mic: Voices of the EPN." Christopher is interviewing the podcast hosts and creators of each of the shows you can find on the network. The episodes give listeners a great overview of what each podcast has to offer a

Jan 10, 2024 • 30:06

047 Battling Teacher Burnout: What To Do to Put Out the Fire

047 Battling Teacher Burnout: What To Do to Put Out the Fire

In this episode, Anne and Jen shed light on the issue of teacher burnout and its prevalence in the education system. We discuss teachers' experiences facing challenges such as an intense curriculum without sufficient resources, mold-infested classrooms, and unaddressed disciplinary issues. We explain how teachers are not burned out simply because of their workload but rather because they are set up to fail by systemic issues. We cover the definitions of burnout, highlighting symptoms like exhaus

Dec 9, 2023 • 1:09:19

046 Ed News This Week: To Out or Not To Out: Coming to a School Near You & Move over Covid, The Chronic Absenteeism Epidemic

046 Ed News This Week: To Out or Not To Out: Coming to a School Near You & Move over Covid, The Chronic Absenteeism Epidemic

This week, Anne shares updates and opinions on the ongoing battle of whether to tell or not to tell on Trans kids. Is this trust-busting practice worth fighting about? And she sheds light on the growing academically deadly pandemic affecting our schools, Chronic Absenteeism. To get all the resources and research used to create this episode, head over to TransparencyinTeaching.com. There, you'll find all of our informative episodes and blog posts to give you the information you need to improve y

Oct 2, 2023 • 31:48

045 EdNews This Week: Chess Goes to Class, Grad Requirements Revamp & Teaching Credential Sans Degree

045 EdNews This Week: Chess Goes to Class, Grad Requirements Revamp & Teaching Credential Sans Degree

In this episode of EdNews This Week, Anne announces that she and co-host Jen will be featured guests on another podcast called Behind the Mic, out September 1st on the Education Podcast Network. This week's three news stories from the education world share how New Hampshire teachers are getting paid to teach chess, with the state providing funding for training and equipment, how Rhode Island's realignment of graduation requirements created with input from the community ensures all students will

Jul 31, 2023 • 28:01

The Teacher Workload: Teachers Get Less for More

The Teacher Workload: Teachers Get Less for More

The Teacher Workload: Teachers Get Less for More In this episode, Anne, Jen, and their special guest Maria delve into the multifaceted nature of the teacher workload, shedding light on the fact that the profession entails much more than simply standing in front of a classroom and delivering the curriculum.  We discuss the term "teachering." Anne found this term in a blog post on teachbetter.com’s site. The curriculum coordinator for 21st Century Teaching and Learning, Alexy Valencic’s discus

Jul 11, 2023 • 53:39

Ed News This Week: New Discipline Rules; Congress hears about mental health, A ChatGPT for Students

Ed News This Week: New Discipline Rules; Congress hears about mental health, A ChatGPT for Students

Welcome to another edition of Ed News This Week. This week I’ll share why LAUnifed School District teachers (and a lot of us other teachers) are not happy about mandated discipline changes, What Congress has heard about mental health issues in school (will they finally listen?), and How ChatGPT has a sister AI being born that is supposed to be better for students. This week's question: How does your school or district handle discipline? Is it working? Add your comments below. For links to the s

Jul 3, 2023 • 26:23

042 Summer Planning to Make Fall a Breeze

042 Summer Planning to Make Fall a Breeze

Ah, summer vacation! The time when teachers can finally break free from the clutches of students, exams, and endless lesson planning. It's a time to kick back, relax, and forget about school... Or is it? Many teachers count the days until the last bell before summer vacation sounds. At my school, our science teacher begins writing the countdown on the teacher’s lounge whiteboard the day we return from winter break.  The end of the school year is incredibly stressful, and anticipation of summer f

Jun 26, 2023 • 31:24

Ed News this Week: Mastery learning Ok'd Across US, The Carnegie Unit to Retire, US Ed Funding Summarized

Ed News this Week: Mastery learning Ok'd Across US, The Carnegie Unit to Retire, US Ed Funding Summarized

In this episode of "Transparency in Teaching," host Anne discusses three news stories related to education—the first shares how mastery learning has now been approved in all 50 states in the US. The second story explores why the Carnegie unit, which has defined learning for the past 100 years, is now considered obsolete. And lastly, Anne breaks down how the US spends money on education. Please share any education news stories and links that you'd like to hear covered in the comments section.

Jun 20, 2023 • 28:29

Mastery Learning: What are teachers Really Grading?

Mastery Learning: What are teachers Really Grading?

The current grading system used in education has been in place for over a century, but it is becoming increasingly clear that it needs reform. In this episode, Jen and Anne discuss the current system's flaws, such as grade inflation, subjectivity, and the lack of standardization. They talk about how students are rewarded for completing assignments or even just showing up rather than demonstrating mastery of the material. They highlight the difficulty of determining what exactly to grade and how

Jun 12, 2023 • 1:03:49

News: Book Banning District Gets Hand Slap, Taxpayers Fund Private School, & Struggling Third Graders to Be Held Back

News: Book Banning District Gets Hand Slap, Taxpayers Fund Private School, & Struggling Third Graders to Be Held Back

It's Anne here with a mini-episode of Transparency and Teaching Podcast, the News Edition. We used to start our episodes with education news, but you know, uh, we got so long-winded as we talked about the main topics that we decided to cut that out. Well, lucky for you, I'm retired, so I have all kinds of time to update you on what's happening in the education world. The News Edition will share news about the current policies and politics that affect our teaching world. So this little in-betwee

Jun 5, 2023 • 11:25

Retaining Third Graders Who Can't Read: Right or Wrong?

Retaining Third Graders Who Can't Read: Right or Wrong?

A recent article in “The 74” caught my attention this week. It discussed how Tennessee and Michigan are currently debating removing the statute requiring third graders who are reading below grade level to be retained. With state testing starting, people are worried about holding back the potentially large number of these students who may not pass the test. You see, aside from the average number of students that struggle with reading at this grade level, this year's batch of third graders were in

Apr 5, 2023 • 27:12

Why Student Teaching Needs a Revamp: Exploring the Challenges and Solutions for Effective Teacher Training

Why Student Teaching Needs a Revamp: Exploring the Challenges and Solutions for Effective Teacher Training

I don't think you'll find too many current student teachers who disagree that student teaching needs a revamp. Most teacher candidates spend at least 14 weeks student teaching consisting of 8 hours a day, teaching, lesson planning, and grading; Most teacher candidates attend staff meetings and parent conferences, too. Wait that sounds like what a regular teacher does. Well, that’s the point, to give candidates an idea of what they are getting into. It allows them to hone their lesson-delivery sk

Mar 18, 2023 • 1:05:21

Is it Time to Stop Saying the Pledge of Allegiance?

Is it Time to Stop Saying the Pledge of Allegiance?

Welcome to Season 3 of Transparency in Teaching. Anne, here! Thought it might be nice to start off with a little true story that spurred the topic of this episode: Is it time to stop saying the Pledge of Allegiance? I asked myself this question after visiting a high school class I was observing. When the "Please stand for the Pledge" announcement was given over the loudspeaker, I stood up and placed my hand over my heart. To my surprise, I was the only one standing. Not one student, not even the

Mar 1, 2023 • 43:31

033 Who's Indoctrinating Whom?

033 Who's Indoctrinating Whom?

According to Merriam-Webster, the word indoctrinate originated in the 17th century.  It meant "to teach," as it comes from docēre, the Latin word for teaching.  But by the 19th century, the meaning shifted to signify teaching someone to uncritically accept a particular group's ideas, beliefs, and opinions. The key word is "uncritically."  This is supposedly why public schools and their teachers are now called indoctrinators. They are accused of pushing a liberal agenda about race, gender, equali

Jan 9, 2023 • 57:27

#032 Is Your Child's School Successful? How do you know?

#032 Is Your Child's School Successful? How do you know?

What comes to mind when someone says, "Oh, that's a really good school?" Is it students all sitting in their seats, diligently taking notes? Is it passing along students who can read and do math on grade level? Or is it graduating students who can immediately join the workforce, or go to college, or interact with others with empathy and respect? Common sense would say a combination of all of those things signals a successful product of K-12 education. But is that what schools are actually produc

Oct 30, 2022 • 44:37

Rebroadcast of Episode 028 Is it Time to Stop Promoting Social Promotion? with BETTER audio

Rebroadcast of Episode 028 Is it Time to Stop Promoting Social Promotion? with BETTER audio

When initially released, the audio volume was sooooo low that listeners had to turn the sound way up even to hear it and then got their ears blasted when the interlude music played. I'm sure that was annoying enough to cause people to stop listening, which is a shame because there is a lot of great information in this episode! So I decided to figure out how to correct the audio so that one can listen at a reasonable volume minus the frustration. I'm happy to announce that I was successful! I hop

Sep 2, 2022 • 1:01:28

028 Is It Time to Stop Promoting Social Promotion?

028 Is It Time to Stop Promoting Social Promotion?

Hey, it’s Anne here to introduce today’s episode all about social promotion, you know, that practice where schools promote students to the next grade based on age instead of mastery. The idea is that keeping kids with their peer group is better for their self-esteem, not to mention promoting students with behavior problems provides some relief to the teacher, knowing that the student who made class crazy won’t be back in their class next year. The alternative has been retention. The idea is that

Sep 2, 2022 • 59:41

031 Teachers MIA? The Where, the Why, and What to Do to Solve the Teacher Shortage.

031 Teachers MIA? The Where, the Why, and What to Do to Solve the Teacher Shortage.

Don't be surprised if you find someone named "TBA" teaching your child's class. There will apparently be A LOT of TBAs in charge of classes this fall. School districts across the country report record numbers of unfilled positions at the start of this school year.  My state, California, reports a shortage of 50,000 teachers going into the 2022-23 school year. It's not just teachers either. Madison, Wisconsin, says 199 teacher vacancies along with 124 non-teaching positions. This means districts

Aug 14, 2022 • 1:13:06

030 Back to School Blues (and what to do about them)

030 Back to School Blues (and what to do about them)

Hey, it’s Anne. Welcome to another episode of Transparency in Teaching. As summer vacation is ending, I was wondering if you are beginning to get a nervous tick when you hear, “Back to School Sale?” Or do you find yourself tearing up when you walk by the school supplies aisle? Or do you awaken in the fetal position, gripping the crumpled notification of your preservice professional development days? If any of these situations apply to you, you might be a teacher. I'm retired, but I know Jen, Sha

Jul 31, 2022 • 39:51

029 5 Lessons Learned from the School Year From Hell

029 5 Lessons Learned from the School Year From Hell

Thank goodness teachers can put the 2021-2022 school year behind them! If ever there was a school year that deserved a "middle finger" 🖕🏼🖕🏼that was one! Many teachers felt this year was beyond their job description and called it quits. I'm sure parents and students may have similar stories to tell about what they learned from the school year from Hell. But as with any challenge survived, there are valuable takeaways. In this episode, we discuss 5 lessons learned from the school year from hel

Jul 16, 2022 • 55:03

027 You're Not the Boss of Me...or Are You? Parent Power's influence in the classroom.

027 You're Not the Boss of Me...or Are You? Parent Power's influence in the classroom.

Happy 2022! Let's hope this year makes up for the last two! It's always good to be hopeful. And on that note, I hope public education survives. Last year brought educators and their curriculum under the microscope in a way I don't remember ever seeing. Much of the uproar seems to come from the usual media rabble-rousers and pot-stirrers. Today's episode delves into our side of this twisted narrative. Listen and see where you land. For years, some politicians have claimed to be "education candid

Jan 3, 2022 • 56:20

026 We Are Not Ok: Teachers Struggle to Cope, Too!

026 We Are Not Ok: Teachers Struggle to Cope, Too!

I'll be honest, in 35 years of teaching, this has been the hardest year so far. And that's not just because I'm old and kind of worn out. I think this whole Covid thing did way more damage to kids than just their academic abilities.  A year and a half of unsupervised living and no responsibility to live up to any standards has ruined so many kids' abilities to cope with structure and navigate in a socially productive manner. Distance learners turned off their cameras and microphones and did God

Nov 1, 2021 • 1:09:20

025 Why Teachers Quit 2.0: Find out why Carolyn quit the classroom.

025 Why Teachers Quit 2.0: Find out why Carolyn quit the classroom.

The very first episode we produced remains one of our most popular. Why teachers quit should be something every would-be teacher should ponder before taking out loans to pay for college. You don't want to be one of the 44% of newbies who quit within the first five years, because then what will you do with all that useless college loan debt you accrued?   We contacted a teacher friend of ours who had recently fled the classroom to preserve her sanity. She gave up the wear and tear of teaching for

Sep 18, 2021 • 1:12:24

024 When Did Public Schools become Public Enemy #1?

024 When Did Public Schools become Public Enemy #1?

Critical Race Theory (CRT) has become the latest way to demonize public schools. I admit when I first heard CRT I thought it was some medical test for the heart. Now it has become the fear-raising focus of concern among many people inside and outside of education. To better understand what CRT is I spent a lot of hours looking at where it came from in the first place. The research makes me believe that most people don’t really understand what CRT is or its purpose. An article from The Journalist

Aug 16, 2021 • 1:00:12

(Rebroadcast) Tricks for Cost-Free Travel (or almost free) – With Jackie Sills-Dellegrazie

(Rebroadcast) Tricks for Cost-Free Travel (or almost free) – With Jackie Sills-Dellegrazie

My husfriend and I just got back from a trip to Hawaii. It was his birthday gift to me. Nice huh! We had to jump through a few hoops to get there. Our vaccination cards made it possible to avoid a 10-day hotel quarantine. (Get vaccinated, already!!🙄). It was a quick 7-day trip. Too short, but it’s always too short when I visit the islands. On the plane ride home, the flight attendants, take advantage of people’s recent trip to paradise. They encourage passengers to sign up for the airline’s cre

Jul 29, 2021 • 32:46

023 What Makes an Effective Teacher Effective?

023 What Makes an Effective Teacher Effective?

What makes an effective teacher effective? That's a pretty subjective question, isn't it? I'm beginning to believe that so much of what people think makes education good is subjective. Like, who decides what kids need to know for state tests and how to decipher those scores? Or who decides what is important and should be taught in schools.  Not to mention, who comes up with the best way to prepare college students to become teachers? It's all someone's opinion. Somehow the "Powers the Be" (and w

Jul 4, 2021 • 51:10

022 New Teachers, This One's for You!

022 New Teachers, This One's for You!

This school year is FINALLY ending (thank god for small favors) and we are packing up our minimally used classrooms. For many teachers, this will be their last time having to do this. Covid caused many to throw in the eraser this year and turned in keys. They will look forward to new challenges this coming fall that don't entail lesson plans and students.  But for others, who are holding newly minted diplomas and teaching credentials, this summer offers time to plan for a new classroom and get r

Jun 12, 2021 • 46:57

021 What does a Teaching Credential Really Prove?

021 What does a Teaching Credential Really Prove?

The National Center for Education Statistics reported that in the 2017-18 school year there were 3.3 million full and part-time traditional public school teachers. That is the most recent count available. That's a lot of college tuition and credentialing fees. So does all the investment in a piece of paper that supposedly certifies a person is a competent teacher really mean anything? What does a teaching credential really prove? Every state requires public school teachers to jump through the ho

Apr 26, 2021 • 1:06:30

Minimum Day #4 : Back in the Classroom

Minimum Day #4 : Back in the Classroom

Here's how the school year progressed. It started as "We won't likely be returning to campus this year." Then it changed to  "I doubt it will happen." Which changed to, "Maybe it will happen." Then to, "It's happening," and finally... "It happened!" Last week we were back in our classroom with students!  Well kind of... Families had the choice of returning to campus or continuing with the distance learning protocol we had been following since school started. We weren't sure how many would show u

Apr 14, 2021 • 34:09

020. Tackling Teacher Tenure

020. Tackling Teacher Tenure

In 2005 then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to make changes to California's teacher tenure, increasing the time to achieve tenure from 2 to 5 years. He also proposed that teacher pay be based on merit, not length of tenure, and that continued employment be tied instead to performance, not, as he put it, “just showing up.” He called the system, “an educational disaster” “Our education system,” he said,  “is in desperate need of reform with the current tenure system locking problem teachers

Apr 2, 2021 • 47:17

019 Going Back to School (for real this time)

019 Going Back to School (for real this time)

We are rapidly approaching the end of our 3rd quarter and it looks like a pretty done deal that after spring break, we will be going back to school for real this time!  So what does that really mean? We've been polling our students and so far it seems like most will be opting to stay right where they are, at home on Google Meet. So does that mean I'll have a class of three little people sitting at their desks staring at me through their plexiglass barriers and mumbling answers through their mask

Mar 6, 2021 • 59:00

018 Difficult Discussions Don't Have to be Hard

018 Difficult Discussions Don't Have to be Hard

It should have been expected that the attack on the Capitol last month (has it been that long already?😳) would prompt controversial classroom discussions. Students want to explore their questions and find answers to their concerns. This puts teachers in an awkward space, where discussions must be guided without involving a teacher's implicit biases. But given the current political climate in this country and the seemingly growing divide between sides, educators often wonder if this discussion i

Feb 6, 2021 • 59:21

017 Forget Covid -- There's a Teacher Depression Pandemic Killing Us

017 Forget Covid -- There's a Teacher Depression Pandemic Killing Us

So it's Winter Break and we've had a little time to collect ourselves and get refreshed for round two of Online Learning.  I wish....  I don't know about other teachers but, Sharyn, Jen, and I are feeling a little burned around the edges. Actually, I think a lot of teachers are feeling like toast.   Covid is raging on. Here in California, it doesn't look like the end is anywhere in sight, vaccine, or no vaccine.  But, forget Covid.  A viral teacher depression pandemic is killing us.  Ok, maybe n

Jan 3, 2021 • 1:00:52

016 Bye Bye Betsy - Who Will Be Biden's Pick for Secretary of Education?

016 Bye Bye Betsy - Who Will Be Biden's Pick for Secretary of Education?

So the election is over (or is at least supposed to be over...) and Biden has a lot of work to do to help put the country back together. Of course, being teachers, we're rather focused on Mrs. DeVos's replacement. In this episode, we discuss a few of the possible people who are on the radar to replace her. Sharyn shares a little history lesson on the Department of Education and Biden's education platform.  Biden has pledged to choose a public education teacher to fill the Secretary of Education

Nov 22, 2020 • 49:25

015 The Value of Teacher Evaluations

015 The Value of Teacher Evaluations

Hello Faithful Listeners! So, yeah, this episode is a bit late, (or a bit early if you want to pretend last week didn’t happen). Here’s why: The end of our first quarter of distance learning has just come to a close. If you’re a teacher you know that means it’s student desperation time. The students who never looked at their grades the entire quarter, decide to the night after everything is due. Then it’s the “Huh? How come you gave me a D (or F)?” reaction. (emphasis on the YOU GAVE like it’s m

Nov 1, 2020 • 34:28

014 Minimum Day #3 with Angel

014 Minimum Day #3 with Angel

Our guest co-host, fellow co-worker and single parent, Angel, joins us today to share her unique (or not so unique, depending on your family dynamic) situation of juggling two elementary school aged children during distance learning, while also wearing the seventh grade science teacher hat. She discusses how she often must excuse herself from teaching her junior high students, to help her daughters as they stand just off camera, staring at her, while quietly mouthing the word " Mom...Mom...." an

Oct 5, 2020 • 42:06

013 Minimum Day #2

013 Minimum Day #2

I think distance learning is finally getting to us. We're tired.  We're punchy, We talk about alcohol more than usual.  Today we get into how parents and students are coping with the situation from the teacher's point of view. We talk about how we are dealing with lesson planning and the myriad of emails and virtual meetings.  The situation could be dire, but thankfully we still have a sense of humor.  Ever been in that situation where you start laughing so hard that you almost end up crying? Ye

Sep 18, 2020 • 29:17

012 Back to School Interlude -- Minimum Day Episode #1

012 Back to School Interlude -- Minimum Day Episode #1

We are feeling swamped with back to school Covid Style. Planning lessons for 2 1/2 hour synchronous classes and 150 minutes of weekly asynchronous work is time consuming. So until we find our rhythm we are bringing you mini lunchroom conversations about topics that are on our minds now and updates on how teaching virtually is virtually killing us.  Today we discussed what our first week back in front of our computer monitors was like. We talk about what is good, getting to interact with our stud

Sep 5, 2020 • 34:23

011 Classrooms, and Covid, and Kids, Oh My! with special guest Travel Expert Jackie Sills-Dellegrazie

011 Classrooms, and Covid, and Kids, Oh My! with special guest Travel Expert Jackie Sills-Dellegrazie

There's no more waiting for it to arrive.  It's here! School has started and teachers are in a frenzy to get on board the Distance Learning Train!  In today’s episode, we try to stay optimistic as we talk about what we are thinking about as we get ready to start our own school year next week! What’s the latest with Covid? What are other teachers saying about returning to school? And what do parents wish we would consider when developing our protocols?  Stay tuned as we finish this episode with a

Aug 21, 2020 • 1:42:48

010 Travel Ideas for Teachers (One can dream, can't they?)

010 Travel Ideas for Teachers (One can dream, can't they?)

Today we get into ways teachers can save money on travel (once travel is a "thing" again!) Never too soon to start planning! We discuss ideas for social distancing conscious travel and how to make your "safer at home" quarantine seem more vacation-like.  You'll also get an update on the HEALS Act education funding, which is still being debated. (I want to know who the person is who stays up all night thinking of these "catchy" acronyms!) And Anne and Jen share their own news that's awesome but c

Aug 7, 2020 • 52:18

009 Restorative Practices in the Classroom with Middle School Principal Heather!

009 Restorative Practices in the Classroom with Middle School Principal Heather!

(My sound engineering still sucks, as you'll hear in the beginning. I need a tutor! Any volunteers? See how transparent I am!)  In today's episode, we start with some news about the current bill in the State which is geared toward protecting school districts from Covid related lawsuits, also the reversal of the student visa deportation issue.  Special guest Heather, a middle school teacher from Orange County shares how she brought restorative practices to her school and why they work. --- Send

Jul 24, 2020 • 1:21:16

008 Going Back to School Safely? Truth or Dare?

008 Going Back to School Safely? Truth or Dare?

We are a bit concerned about what August might entail as pediatricians and the president push to reopen schools, but at whose expense? We start the episode with a discussion of what the California state budget holds for education, plus a little history of how education is funded in our state. Then we get into the debate that surrounds what school might look like in the midst of the current rise in Covid cases.  There are so many factors to consider that it seems impossible to be truly prepared.

Jul 10, 2020 • 1:18:12

To be Sick or Not to be Sick? The Sub's the Question!

To be Sick or Not to be Sick? The Sub's the Question!

In Episode 007  you'll hear: Discussion about what we think this next school year will be like Two new education laws that were passed having to do with prohibiting cell phones in schools and incorporating suicide prevention classes for K-6 students What are different states' requirements or lack thereof for becoming a substitute teacher The advantages and disadvantages of subbing Suggestions on how to make subbing better and Jen's sex education 🍆🍑and barforama 🤮 substitute teaching s

Jun 26, 2020 • 1:01:28

006 Racisim in the Classroom? Let's Get the Conversation Started

006 Racisim in the Classroom? Let's Get the Conversation Started

On today’s episode Sharyn and Anne Zoom with co-workers Jimese and Diedre, who bring their perspectives as black educators to the conversation about what we all need to be thinking about and doing differently in our classrooms to ensure equity for our students. As the dialog about race and racism in our country once again comes to the forefront, we felt it was important to have an honest discussion about what teachers need to be aware of when dealing with the diversity within our own classes. We

Jun 13, 2020 • 1:09:15

005 Those Who Can't Do, Teach. Yeah? You Try it!

005 Those Who Can't Do, Teach. Yeah? You Try it!

Jen, Sharyn and I start the show by discussing the latest education news which in this case is what the proposed 10% budget cut might mean for schools (for me, it might mean retirement!) These could be the single biggest cuts to education in the history of California! Write your state representatives people and let them know we need to leave our schools out of this! I’ve included a letter  template you can use.I  feel a fight coming on. Teaching is a tough profession. I’m thinking now that many

May 29, 2020 • 1:02:08

0004. Should We Put a Fork in State Testing?

0004. Should We Put a Fork in State Testing?

Hey Anne here, wanting to thank you again for taking time to give us a listen. We really do hope that you find these episodes informative and hopefully a little entertaining. Too. This week’s episode starts off with personal updates about what we’ve been doing with our Covid time.  Then, in a new segment, we discuss some Education news. We hope to bring to light information about laws and regulations that are currently being discussed federally and at the state level. Today we talk about the 355

May 19, 2020 • 54:07

#003 Teaching in the Time of Corona (Special Lengthy Stuck-In-Your-House Edition )

#003 Teaching in the Time of Corona (Special Lengthy Stuck-In-Your-House Edition )

SHOW NOTES:  Hey, Anne here. Thanks for hitting the “Listen Now” button. I know there are sooooo many other things you could be doing with all your free time now. Glad you chose to spend some of it with us. In this episode Jen, Sharyn and I discuss how we’re keeping sane at home. Then we get into the good, the bad, and the crazy of Emergency Remote Teaching. Finally, I interview two “Teacher Mommies” who are navigating how to manage homeschooling their own small children while trying to teach ev

Apr 7, 2020 • 1:30:58

#002 Grade this!😝

#002 Grade this!😝

In this episode we start with a little about the history, the how and the why, of grading. (Did you know that grades were originally A, B, C, D and E?? Where did F come in?).  Then we get into grading practices used today and how they affect our students. We debate methods like percentage based, standards based, and narrative grading and how they might be implemented in real classrooms (How logical is narrative grading when many of us have 150+ students??). We talk about: the subjectivity of g

Apr 6, 2020 • 44:39

#001 Why Teachers Quit

#001 Why Teachers Quit

Anne, Jen and Sharyn discuss why they became teachers and why they think so many teachers leave the profession. They give their suggestions as to what needs to change and what new teachers should consider when applying for a job.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/transparencyinteaching/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/transparencyinteaching/support

Feb 29, 2020 • 42:14

Transparency in Teaching is Here, (finally)

Transparency in Teaching is Here, (finally)

Anne, Jen and Sharyn share a little about what to expect in their off the wall new podcast that takes you into the "teacher's lounge" and lets you listen in to real conversations from real in the trenches teachers as they discuss the real stuff that happens in today's classrooms. Their "no holds barred" talk and frank uncensored opinions will have you laughing. while getting you to think about what your friendly, neighborhood teacher is really dealing with in the classroom.  --- Send in a voice

Dec 25, 2019 • 2:51

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