Tag Archives: teaching

Margins in the Classroom

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Yet Another Farming Metaphor 

Poem: from “The Church Porch” by George Herbert 

When thou dost purpose aught, within thy power, Be sure to do it, though it be but small: Constancy knits the bones, and makes us stour / When wanton pleasures beckon us to thrall. Who breaks his own bond, forfeiteth himself: What nature made a ship, he makes a shelf. 

Statement of the Whole:  In agriculture, every farmer knows you need margins: spaces between your fields.  The carefully planted crop needs some wildness, some weeds, some room about it to flourish.  So goes the classroom as well.  In this episode, Jason and Steve walk out into the fields to see what can be learned about the margins of the classroom.  Put your boots on and come with us. 

What to do When a Student Does Not Get It

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Poem: “The Master Speed,” by Robert Frost 

Statement of the Whole:  Every teacher knows that moment when one or many students demonstrate that the lesson was not learned, or misunderstood, or missed.  What do we do when this happens?  What are the common causes for such?  What are strategies for our teaching that will help us in these murky waters?  Jason and Steve discuss such things in this episode. 

Honoring Teachers?

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Our Annual Teacher Appreciation Week Episode

Poem: “Like Snow” by Wendell Berry 

Statement of the Whole: In our annual “Teacher Appreciation Week” show, we discuss what it means to appreciate, to show honor to, our teachers.  What is the difference between a gift of honor and a gratuity?  Why did Socrates warn against paying teachers for their teaching?  What does Christ’s distinction between the shepherd and the hireling have to do with teaching?  All this and more is discussed in an attempt to appreciate what teachers do. 

How to Have a Great First Month of School

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The panic before school episode 

Poem: Interrogative by Sister M. Therese 

Statement of the Whole: As soon as summer starts, the clock starts clicking loudly.  What do good teachers do with their summers?  How do you start a new school year off better than ever before?  Jason and Steve dig into what makes the first month of school so special and important on this “Back to School Special” episode of the Backporch Education podcast. 

The Joys of Research

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Poem: Nuns Fret Not at Their Convent’s Narrow Room, by William Wordsworth  

Statement of the Whole: Research this!  The dust clouds billow up and the sneezing begins.  Most students unfortunately have been taught to despise the task of research.  Jason and Steve beg to differ, viewing it as inquiry into the unknown, the natural result of wonder and questing for truth.  Join them for some thoughts on how to turn this task into a life-long pursuit.  No Googling going on here! 

Resources: 

TED on procrastination 

Help with Boontling

A Math Story Retold

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A story with Craig Conticchio 

Quote: by G.K. Chesterton — “The difference between the poet and the mathematician is that the poet tries to get his head into the heavens while the mathematician tries to get the heavens into his head.” 

Statement of the Whole: There are moments in Jason and Steve’s lives when something is said and they think, “that has to go on the podcast.”  This is one of those moments taking form.  Steve’s boss shows up to tell a story about his studies in math during college and then discusses some of the ideas coming from the story with Steve.  In the end, it all adds up. 

Resources: 

Work on chaos theory that Craig mentioned: https://www.wolframscience.com 

Folks who think number is beautiful: https://www.goldennumber.net/ 

Reading Retention Re-examined

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Season Two, Episode 18 

Reading Retention Re-examined 

Another question from our listening audience 

Poem: “To Sleep” by William Wordsworth 

Statement of the Whole: Good reading is a good work.  It is not simple.  Many have experienced the sinking feeling of reading something, and shortly thereafter not remembering what they read.   

Resources: 

Goodreads 

Adler, How to Read a Book

Adler, How to Mark a Book 

Commonplace book:  How To Keep A Commonplace Book – YouTube 

The Role of Seminar in Education, with John Donohue

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Poem: none 

Statement of the Whole: Talking.  Conversation.  Dialectic.  Can words that pass between us really change the world?  In this podcast, Steve brings in a guest, John Donohue, to chat about the use of Seminar in education.  What are the benefits and possible pitfalls of just having a conversation be the central method of a classroom?  Join in the conversation. 

Resources: 

Great book on using Seminar with younger readers: Socratic Circles 

Steve’s written description of his high school Seminar Course 

Old video about Steve’s community roundtable, an evening type of Seminar for high schoolers in his town 

Whatcha Got in the Steam Pot? How Do Teachers Relax?

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Our Annual National Teacher Appreciation Day Show 

Poem: “Italian Food” by Shel Silverstein 

Statement of the Whole:  This is our second annual National Teacher Appreciation Day Show.  To celebrate, Jason and Steve have fun discussing what “down time” looks like for a teacher.  What does one who loves to teach all day do to take it easy?  Because they both find cooking relaxing, that is what is in the pot for this episode.  Try some of their relaxation stew. 

Resources: 

Link to Steve’s infrequent foray into food blogging: Bringing It to the Table 

Jason’s Onion Ring recipe: click here 

For those who want to enter the fragrant and soothing scene of offset smoking, click here. 

Salt: A World History 

The Art of Teaching 

Should Teaching Be Fun?

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Poem: none 

Statement of the Whole: Fun is a fun word to define.  It is even funner to try and inculcate into today’s educational world.  Jason and Steve play around with the word for a while in this episode on how enjoyable learning can be and what the expectations for today’s classroom imply about good learning and teaching.  Come join in the fun; you may be surprised by the experience.