Educators are giving the teaching profession a low grade. Why is that?

On today's bite-sized episode, we will be zeroing in on educator's top concerns, their views of the profession, and what we can do to make it better. We'll dive into HMH's Educator Confidence Report, which surveys educators about the issues that impact them daily and asks them how we can improve the profession going forward.

Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.

Ms. Barnes encourages students to see math challenges as stepping stones to mastery.

Today we are joined by middle school math teacher, Camyrea Barnes from Michigan. Camyrea believes that with the right mindset and community support, students can take on any math problem. As a leader on her school's positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) team, Camyrea is also dedicated to fostering a supportive classroom environment. In this episode, Camyrea shares strategies for fostering a growth mindset, like journaling and one-on-one conferencing. Plus she discusses how to build a supportive community for both teachers and students.

Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.

One Washington school district is putting AI into practice.

Today we're joined by Peninsula School District leaders Kris Hagel and John Yellowlees, who together are making education more accessible using artificial intelligence. Kris and John discuss their AI integration efforts: from helping teachers leverage AI tools for lesson planning and differentiation to encouraging students to explore AI and hone skills like prompt engineering. Plus, they provide insight on getting started with AI and setting principles for using it ethically.

Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.

Missy believes, "there will always be joy in teaching."

Today we are joined by 2024 National Teacher of the Year Missy Testerman. Missy serves as at K-8 English as a second language specialist and program director for her school in rural Rogersville, Tennessee. In this episode, Missy reflects on her education career and offers words of inspiration and practical advice to nurture the joy in teaching. Plus, she shares tips on teacher mentoring, getting ready for the back-to-school season, and supporting multilingual learners.

Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.

Monday morning football lessons can spark student engagement. Just ask Mary.

We’re kicking off our season with third-grade teacher Mary Martinez Crippen from Miami, Florida, joined by Teachers in America host, Kailey Rhodes. Mary became a viral sensation when she began tracking football stats with her class and sharing their journey on social media. Throughout the football season, her students learned grit, perseverance, and other life lessons. In this episode, Mary gives advice on how to incorporate personal passions into your instruction, how to connect classroom learning to the real world, and how to include football into your own lessons.

Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.

With emerging advancements in education, like AI, how do you keep up with what's new in the classroom?

Join us for a fresh season of Teachers in America and learn from educators and ed leaders, like you, who are embracing innovations, sharing instructional strategies, and discussing the latest trends. Tune in to hear classroom ideas that will influence the future of your teaching, inspire your leadership, and build learning momentum for every student.

Teachers in America profiles K–12 educators and education leaders across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.

Writing can serve as means of empowerment and healing.

Today we are talking to Briana Morales, 2024 Illinois State Teacher of the Year and high school English teacher at Gordon Bush Alternative Center in East St. Louis. Throughout her career, she has empowered her students through storytelling. In this episode, Briana will share how she uses healing-centered engagement and writing to help students process trauma and reveal their purpose. Plus she shares writing activities to engage students in identity work and how to start a classroom dignity closet to help students in need.

Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.

Content Warning: Please note that this episode mentions examples of trauma, gun violence, and attempted suicide.

Vocabulary can be the catalyst for building reading comprehension skills.

Today we are exploring vocabulary instruction and how it ties to comprehension with K-12 curriculum integrator Abbey Behnke. In this episode, Abbey shares instructional strategies and activities to engage students in vocabulary learning. Plus, she’ll discuss how to incorporate vocabulary instruction into all subject areas, how to help multilingual learners build vocabulary, and how to address students’ use of digital language in the classroom.

Teachers in America profiles K–12 teachers across the country. Hear firsthand from the people who are shaping young lives in the classroom every day. If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for Teachers in America, please email us at shaped@hmhco.com.