• Powerful Productivity Practices for School Leaders – with Rich Czyz

    Powerful Productivity Practices for School Leaders – with Rich Czyz
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    → What hope is there for the school leader who feels constantly overwhelmed?

    → What’s the most common productivity pitfall that school leaders fall into?

    → How can we manage fires and interruptions without burning out?

    Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.

    About this guest, Rich Czyz

    Rich is a school principal, cofounder of fouroclockfaculty.com, and the author of four books on education and leadership. He is dedicated to creating productive environments and engaging all stake-holders in meaningful and relevant learning opportunities.

    Connect with Rich

    In This Conversation

    • 0:00:00 –  Rich Czyz is the principal of an elementary school in New Jersey
    • 1:21 – The vision for school leaders in Autopilot: Practical Productivity for School Leaders
    • 2:45 – A misconception about productivity
    • 4:13 – One immediate shift that education leaders can make
    • 5:29 – A common productivity pitfall for school leaders
    • 8:08 – Being visible on campus as a building leader
    • 9:54 – How to manage interruptions in the weekly calendar
    • 12:00 – How to think about delegation when it feels like only you can do it
    • 13:57 – 5th Grade students do the intercom announcements
    • 15:34 – Doing the work that powers the mission before email
    • 18:08 – How to conduct a personal time inventory
    • 20:33 – Rich’s daily routine, from wake-up to end of day
    • 24:47 – Managing substitute shortages
    • 27:04 – How and where to connect with Rich Czyz

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

  • Just Tell Them: The Power of Explicit Teaching with Dr. Zach Groshell

    Just Tell Them: The Power of Explicit Teaching with Dr. Zach Groshell
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    → How can direct instruction impact student learning and growth

    → Where are schools going wrong with technology in the classroom?

    → Is it possible for every student to succeed without lowering expectations?

    About This Guest: Dr. Zach Groshell

    Zach is a highly distinguished teacher, instructional coach, and education consultant. Based in Seattle, he works with schools nationwide and internationally to develop high quality instruction based on the science of how kids learn. Zach is the author of Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching, and hosts a podcast, Progressively Incorrect.

    Connect with Zach

    In This Conversation

    • 0:00:00 – Introducing Dr. Zach Groshell, author of Just Tell Them
    • 1:23 – The thesis of Just Tell Them
    • 3:00 – The opposite of direct instruction
    • 5:20 – Using examples and non-examples in instruction
    • 8:17 – Zach’s take on success criteria
    • 10:14 – Teaching to a group of students effectively
    • 13:59 – The role of teacher talk in the classroom
    • 18:36 – Can all students succeed without lowering expectations?
    • 21:13 – What is effective classroom management?
    • 24:23 – The value of starting the class on time
    • 26:44 – How schools are getting it wrong with technology
    • 34:54 – Can AI tools support student learning toward mastery?
    • 37:39 – One idea for teachers from the science of learning
    • 39:38 – Resources for teachers at educationrickshaw.com
    • 42:20 – How and where to connect with Dr. Zach Groshell

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

  • Rae Hughart: 5 Professional Boundaries for Teacher Flourishing

    Rae Hughart: 5 Professional Boundaries for Teacher Flourishing
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    → What are some moves that teachers can make to protect their mental health?

    → What’s better: stay at school til the work is done, or leave as soon as possible?

    About This Guest

    This week’s Teacher on Fire is Rae Hughart. Rae is the CEO and Founder of Teachers Deserve It. She’s also a TEDx Speaker and author of two books: Teachers Deserve It and Teach Better. Growing up with IEP support after being diagnosed with Specific Learning Disabilities in Reading, Writing, and Math, Rae has made it her mission to collaborate with educators and districts nationwide to design mastery learning classrooms that reach all learners. Through Teachers Deserve It, she leads a movement dedicated to empowering educators with sustainable, standards-based grading practices that promote clarity, equity, and student success.

    Connect with Rae

    In This Conversation

    • 0:00:00 – Rae Hughart is the founder of Teachers Deserve It
    • 2:39 – Boundary 1: Leaving the building after contract hours
    • 4:07 – How Rae followed this boundary as a teacher
    • 5:49 – Boundary 2: Taking a sick day when we’re sick
    • 11:58 – Boundary 3: Declining voluntary committees that we don’t have capacity for
    • 17:08 – Boundary 4: Taking quiet moments on your lunch break
    • 19:54 – Boundary 5: Setting email hours
    • 23:45 – Should we turn off mobile notifications for email?
    • 27:11 – Resources for teachers available at TeachersDeserveIt.com
    • 31:01 – How and where to connect with Rae Hughart on social media

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

  • Assessment Practices That Build Student Success, Equity, and Growth – with Karley Alleyn

    Assessment Practices That Build Student Success, Equity, and Growth – with Karley Alleyn
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    • How can our assessment decisions increase equity for all learners?
    • Are learning targets actually a valuable part of instruction and assessment?
    • Should teachers give zeros for cheating or deduct marks for late assignment submissions?

    About Karley Alleyn

    Karley is a BC-based assessment consultant, a sessional instructor for the University of Victoria’s BEDILR (Bachelor of Education in Indigenous Language Revitalization) program, and a consultant with the Canadian Assessment Centre. Karley’s research in assessment identity has led her to speak across BC, Hawaii, London, and in 2026, Singapore.

    Connect with Karley

    In This Conversation

    • 0:00:00 – Karley Alleyn is an assessment consultant and former teacher based in BC
    • 1:47 – What IS assessment?
    • 2:40 – What is the purpose of assessment?
    • 4:11 – How can assessment produce greater equity for learners?
    • 5:52 – Making every learner feel good?
    • 6:38 – Assessment identity as an educator
    • 9:54 – Are learning targets valuable or a waste of time?
    • 14:01 – Should teachers ever give zeros?
    • 19:32 – A great formative assessment strategy
    • 23:56 – What does Extending proficiency mean in BC?
    • 32:54 – Assessment resources offered by Karley Alleyn
    • 35:25 – How and where to connect with Karley Alleyn online

    Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.

  • Humanizing Our Parent-Teacher Conferences with Jeff Smith

    Humanizing Our Parent-Teacher Conferences with Jeff Smith

    Teachers should be more than customer service reps.

    🔥 How can we reimagine parent-teacher conferences?

    🔥 What are the issues most responsible for burning out teachers today?

    🔥 What are some rhythms and activities that can keep our fire for teaching alive?

    About Jeff Smith

    Jeff has taught in 12 schools over 32 years, with high school courses including mathematics (Pre-Algebra through AP Calculus), AP Comparative Government, Human Geography, and US History. He writes about teacher whitespace on Substack on Teachers’ Unmuted.

    Connect with Jeff

    In This Conversation

    • 0:00:00 – Jeff Smith is a high school teacher in Illinois
    • 1:46 – Are teachers just customer service representatives?
    • 4:18 – What Jeff means by “whitespace” – where teachers find agency
    • 6:52 – More about whitespace as a metaphor for freedom
    • 7:58 – Bringing one story, one question into our conferences
    • 10:28 – Jeff’s view: what causes teacher burnout?
    • 13:11 – What is the Teachers Unmuted blog on Substack all about?
    • 16:10 – Why Jeff writes about his professional practice
    • 20:08 – The hobbies and interests that keep Jeff on fire
    • 23:38 – Where to connect with Jeff Smith and Teachers Unmuted

    Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.