Teachers on Fire

July 8, 2018

Episode 31 – Jeff Gargas

EdTech, Educational Consulting, Entrepreneurship, Mastery Learning, OH, USA

Jeff Gargas, Progressive Mastery Learning, TeachBetter, Teacher of Teachers, The Grid Method
Jeff Gargas is the COO/Co-founder of Progressive Mastery Learning and The Teach Better Team. Jeff works with teachers across the United States to help them improve their practice and “reach the unreachable student.”

An entrepreneur at heart, Jeff shares about the challenges of hitting walls in the music industry and the educational training space. He shares how he redefined his mission, finding strength in gratitude and the knowledge that as long as he was doing the right thing for learners, the rest would follow. Today, Jeff loves nothing better than to see teachers learn, grow, and take risks to improve their practice. In our conversation, he points to an app that reliably corrects his mindset, recommends some great Twitter accounts to follow, and more.

Follow Jeff on Twitter @JeffGargas & @TheGridMethod, and check out the resources he offers teachers at TeachBetter.com, TeachBetterAcademy.com, and www.facebook.com/thegridmethod.

Find the highlights from our conversation at the timestamps below.
- 1:11 – Jeff’s context in education: educational consultant and teacher of teachers via Progressive Mastery Learning and TeachBetter.com
- 2:29 – He shares about personally challenging moments in the music industry and educational training space, and how he was able to work through them
- 11:10 – Why he’s passionate about education today: seeing teachers who are excited and dedicated to improvement, including the educators who participate in #MasteryChat on Thursdays at 8pm EST
- 16:41 – A personal habit that contributes to his success: The 5-Minute Journal app
- 20:22 – Two accounts to follow on Twitter: @RaeHughart and @TechieTeachOtt
- 21:34 – His edtech recommendation for educators: leveraging social media platforms to build PLNs – and why this opportunity is significant
- 24:28 – Two book recommendations: The Go-Giver by Bob Burg (@BobBurg) & John David Mann (@JohnDavidMann) and Be Real: Educate From the Heart by Tara Martin (@TaraMartinEDU)
- 26:11 – Jeff’s podcast recommendation: Teach Me, Teacher with Jacob Chastain (@JacobChastain_)
- 28:44 – His YouTube recommendation: Amy Landino (by @Schmittastic)
- 30:06 – What he’s watching on Netflix: Blue Bloods & Luke Cage
- 30:47 – The best ways to connect with Jeff online: on Twitter @JeffGargas and @TheGridMethod, on Instagram @_JeffGargas, and on the web at TeachBetter.com and TeachBetterAcademy.com.
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Song Track Credits
- Intro: Relax (by Simon More)
- Outtro: Starley – Call on Me Remix (by DJ Zhorik)
LISTEN to this episode on YouTube and SUBSCRIBE for more episodes!
July 5, 2018

Episode 30 – Nicholas Amaral

EdTech, Gamification, High School, NJ, Secondary, Technology, USA

EdTech, Gamification, New Jersey, Nicholas Amaral, Ramapo Indian Hills, Staff Development
NICHOLAS AMARAL is the district staff development coordinator at the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District in Bergen County, NJ. Nick’s passion is education technology: helping teachers help students create and innovate in their classrooms.

In our conversation, Nick shares about a point early in his teaching career when he faced deep discouragement and a lack of motivation. Rather than turn in the towel, he doubled down, reinvented his practice, and engaged his learners like never before. Today, Nick gets excited about blended, personalized, and mastery learning, and he describes the personal habit that energizes him outside of education. Don’t miss his recommendations in books, Twitter, edtech tools, and more!

Follow Nick on Twitter @NAmaralEDU and check out his blog over at https://edtechforay.wordpress.com/.

TIMESTAMPS. In this episode, Nick discusses …
- 0:51 – his current context in education as a staff development coordinator
- 1:26 – the experience of hitting an emotional wall in his third or fourth year of teaching, and how he overcame it
- 4:13 – what ignites his passion for education: seeing the effects of blended, personalized, and mastery learning; shifting the emphasis from content to skills
- 6:02 – a passion and area of learning outside of education: music
- 6:46 – a personal habit that contributes to his success: being vulnerable, embracing failure, remaining down to earth
- 8:55 – his Twitter recommendations: Chris Aviles (@TechedUpTeacher) and Jeffrey Bradbury (@TeacherCast)
- 9:57 – his choice for learning management systems: Schoology (@Schoology)
- 11:18 – a book recommendation: How We Learn by Benedict Carey (@BenCareyNYT)
- 12:03 – his relaxation viewing content right now: Lost in Space, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Fall
- 12:31 – the best ways to follow his content online (see above)
Song Track Credits

Intro: Relax (by Simon More)
Outtro: Starley – Call on Me Remix (by DJ Zhorik)

LISTEN to this episode on YouTube and SUBSCRIBE for more episodes!
June 30, 2018

Episode 29 – Soney Day

2nd Grade, Elementary, Interviews, Primary, TX, USA

Frisco, Innovator’s Mindset, Seesaw, SEL, Soney Day, Texas
SONEY DAY is a 2nd grade teacher at Coy Miller Elementary School in Frisco, TX. She describes herself as a teacher, mom, tech integrator, proud Texan, and Seesaw ambassador. Soney enjoys advocating for young learners and strives to have an innovator’s mindset.

In our conversation, Soney shares about an emotionally draining challenge she faced in just her second year of teaching. Although it was nightmarish at the time, she calls it a learning experience today and mentors new teachers using some of the knowledge gained from that ordeal. Soney tells us why she’s such a big booster of social-emotional wellness for learners, and encourages teachers to pay more attention to education policy decisions and governance. Finally, she offers some great recommendations for Twitter accounts to follow, books to read, and more.

Follow Soney on Twitter @DaysMrs.

TIMESTAMPS. In this episode, Soney discusses …
- 0:52 – her current teaching situation in Frisco, TX
- 1:46 – a nightmarish experience she survived in her second year of teaching, and some of the lessons she learned
- 6:11 – what really ignites her passion for education: social-emotional learning, relationship-building, the links between emotional wellness and learning
- 10:39 – another area of personal passion and learning: parenting
- 12:31 – a personal habit that has broadened her perspective and interest in education: attending school board meetings, keeping up with policy decisions
- 14:27 – Twitter personalities she recommends following: Todd Nesloney (@TechNinjaTodd), Aaron Hogan (@Aaron_Hogan), Alice Keeler (@AliceKeeler), Kasey Bell (@ShakeUpLearning), and George Couros (@GCouros)
- 15:46 – an edtech tool that just keeps improving and making her practice better: Seesaw (@Seesaw)
- 18:06 – her top book recommendations: The Innovator’s Mindset (by @GCouros), Lead Like a Pirate (by @Burgess_Shelley and @BethHouf), Shake Up Learning (by @ShakeUpLearning), and Culturize (by @Casas_Jimmy)
- 19:43 – her podcast picks: Ditch That Textbook (@DitchThatTxtbk), Google Teacher Tribe (@GTeacherTribe), Kids Deserve It (@KidsDeserveIt), and The Innovator’s Mindset (by @GCouros)
- 21:28 – the Netflix show she recommends for starting difficult but important conversations around mental health: 13 Reasons Why
- 24:55 – the best way to follow her online: on Twitter @DaysMrs
Song Track Credits

Intro: Relax (by Simon More)
Outtro: Starley – Call on Me Remix (by DJ Zhorik)

LISTEN to this episode on YouTube and SUBSCRIBE for more episodes!
June 28, 2018

Episode 28 – Jordan Potrzeba

Dance, Elementary, FL, iPad, Primary, USA

Auburndale, FlipGrid, Florida, Jordan Potrzeba, Nearpod, Walter Caldwell Elementary School
Jordan Potrzeba is a 4th grade teacher at Walter Caldwell Elementary School in Auburndale, FL.

Imagine being told by your principal in your first year of teaching that you were different and didn’t belong. After experiencing just that, Jordan moved from Nebraska to Florida, where he found a school that welcomes his energy, ideas, and unique personality. In our conversation, Jordan shares about his passion to see teachers grow, share, be vulnerable, and take risks. He also describes how travel and music enrich his life, and offers some great recommendations around books to read, Twitter accounts to follow, a great YouTube channel to subscribe to, and more.

Follow Jordan Potrzeba on Twitter and Instagram @JordanPotrzeba, and check out his reflections on education at https://bloggingjungle.blogspot.com/.

TIMESTAMPS. In this episode, Jordan discusses …
- 0:58 – his teaching situation: 4th grade teacher at Walter Caldwell Elementary in Auburndale, FL
- 2:10 – a low moment in his career: being told by an administrator in his first year of teaching that he was different and didn’t fit in
- 7:45 – what gets him excited about education today: seeing teachers stand up, share their voice, be vulnerable, and regain their passion
- 12:22 – another area of personal passion and learning: travel
- 13:36 – a personal habit that contributes to his success: listening to music no matter what the context, dancing when possible
- 15:23 – two accounts we need to follow on Twitter: Nicole Taylor (@GuysBride) and Todd Nesloney (@TechNinjaTodd), co-author of the new Sparks in the Dark
- 16:34 – his favourite edtech tools: Nearpod (@Nearpod) and FlipGrid (@FlipGrid)
- 19:21 – two book recommendations: Refugee by Alan Gratz (@AlanGratz) and Play Like a Pirate by Quinn Rollins (@jedikermit)
- 20:36 – a YouTube channel pick that works well in elementary Math classrooms: NumberRock Math Songs
- 22:44 – his go-to on Netflix (even though he’s currently not a subscriber): The Office
- 23:23 – the best ways to follow him online … see above!
Song Track Credits

Intro: Relax (by Simon More)
Outtro: Starley – Call on Me Remix (by DJ Zhorik)

LISTEN to this episode on YouTube and SUBSCRIBE for more episodes!
June 23, 2018

Episode 27 – Tonya Gilchrist

Elementary, English, ESL, IB, IBL, Inquiry, Japan, Languages

Growth Mindset, IB, Inquiry, Japan, Literacy Coach, Tokyo, Tokyo International School, Translanguaging
TONYA GILCHRIST is a literacy coach and language teacher at Tokyo International School in Tokyo, Japan. An experienced speaker and presenter, Tonya advocates for learner agency, the inquiry mindset, and joyful leaders.

Tonya knew she wanted to become a teacher since she was in third grade, but the daunting pressure and prescriptive directions to teach to standardized tests threatened to make her quit the profession altogether. It was after Googling “What else can I do with a teaching degree?” that she discovered the incredible opportunities in overseas education, and the rest is history. Today, you can hear the passion in Tonya’s voice as she talks about the influences of growth mindset, inquiry-based learning, translanguaging, and the importance of self-care. You’ll also want to hear Tonya’s recommendations for books to read, Twitter accounts to follow, and more.

Follow Tonya Gilchrist on Twitter @Mrs_Gilchrist, check out life at the Tokyo International School @TISLearns, and read Tonya’s latest thoughts on literacy and education at TonyaGilchrist.com.

TIMESTAMPS. In this episode, Tonya discusses …
- 0:56 – her current roles as literacy coach and language teacher at Tokyo International School (@TISLearns)
- 4:11 – a serious crisis of faith in the profession that led to a career-defining decision
- 14:02 – some of the things that ignite her passion for education today: agency for learners, inquiry-based learning, translanguaging
- 20:52 – other learning that energizes her: the work of Byron Katie, positive thinking, growth mindset, the power of yet
- 25:22 – personal habits that contribute to her success: balance, self-care, taking a sabbath day of rest each weekend
- 29:04 – people worth following on Twitter: Kylene Beers (@kylenebeers), Trevor MacKenzie (@trev_mackenzie), George Couros (@gcouros), Bethany Hill (@bethhill2829), Amy Fast (@fastcrayon), and Danny Steele (@SteeleThoughts)
- 31:38 – edtech tool recommendations: FlipGrid (@FlipGrid) and Recap (@RecapThat)
- 33:10 – some book recommendations: Ish (Creatrilogy) by @PeterHReynolds, Disrupting Thinking by @KyleneBeers & Robert Probst, Who’s Doing the Work? by @JanMillBurk & @KimYaris and In the Middle by @NancieAtwell
- 35:29 – her podcast recommendations: The Heinemann Podcast, Truth for Teachers (by @Angela_Watson), My Bad (with @JonHarper70bd), Kids Deserve It (by @TechNinjaTodd), and Innovator’s Mindset (by @GCouros)
- 38:25 – her YouTube channel recommendations: TED Talks and TED-Ed
- 39:23 – what she’s watching for relaxation these days: The Crown, The Hallmark Channel
- 42:04 – the best ways to follow her and see more of her content: on Twitter @Mrs_Gilchrist and on her blog at TonyaGilchrist.com
Song Track Credits

Intro: Relax (by Simon More)
Outtro: Starley – Call on Me Remix (by DJ Zhorik)

LISTEN to this episode on YouTube and SUBSCRIBE for more episodes!

Episode 31 – Jeff Gargas

Episode 30 – Nicholas Amaral

Episode 29 – Soney Day

Episode 28 – Jordan Potrzeba

Episode 27 – Tonya Gilchrist