PODCAST · education
We Teach So Hard!
by Tracy, Kathie, Deann & Retta
Four teaching friends from across the country who've discovered that if you don't laugh you cry, and lose sight of your "why." Pour yourself a cup of coffee...or a glass of wine and join us as we talk shop, trash, and mull over our teaching lives. We promise, you'll laugh!
Episodes
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Episode 80 Teacher Summer Read Series: Becoming by Michelle Obama
All of us at We Teach So Hard felt like we needed an uplifting read, and listeners...THIS book inspired us! By the end of Michelle Obama´s memoir, Becoming, we felt like we had just had a fabulous glass of wine and some girl time with the former first lady. In this episode, we unpack our thoughts...
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Episode 79 Tech Apps, Websites and Resources for Your Virtual Classroom
When you have to learn a lot in a short amount of time, it´s not unusual to feel overwhelmed. In fact, we´ve grown to expect those emotions! In this episode, we discuss apps, websites and online resources that we found when teaching in our virtual classrooms this spring. We unpack ideas for how…
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Episode 78 Teacher Summer Read Series: UNTAMED by Glennon Doyle
Our first book in our summer read series, Untamed is the perfect avenue for self-reflection. Most have us have been in our own little physical cages over the last 3 months of shelter-in-place, but what about those metaphorical cages we find ourselves in? In this episode, we explore Doyle´s book...
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Episode 76 Looking Ahead to the Unknown: Making Connections in the New Digital School Year
We know, we know. It feels like you just ended your school year...or maybe you have! But with all the uncertainty, we are already thinking ahead to the new school year. Will we be teaching remotely? Will we be back in our classrooms? Or, will we be teaching in a hybrid situation? No matter what…
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Episode 75 Organizing Your Virtual Classroom for the EOY
Normally, you'd be breaking down your classroom, cleaning off shelves, recycling your piles of paper, and taking bulletin boards down. But in our virtual classroom, how do we close up for the end of the school year? CAREFULLY! If we want to face the possibility that we might be virtual at the…
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Episode 74 Saying Goodbye In Your Virtual Classroom
You don't teach sooooo hard...you've been teaching TOOOOO hard! We Teach So Hard is back with a new podcast episode about saying goodbye to your students in a virtual classroom. This episode is chocked full of ideas for celebrating your students' success with goodbye and gift ideas. With school...
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Episode 73 Book Talk Theme Talk: Poetry Books
Roses are red...violets are blue...we're feeling a little bit anxious, how about you? This past week has been mind-blowing, emotional, and anxiety-ridden for all of us-teachers and students. What better way to reclaim some calm (and maybe sanity) than to wax a little poetry. Poetry reminds us of...
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Episode 72 Trying Classroom Service Projects With Your Students
It seems like everywhere we look on social media, we're seeing article after article about teaching empathy in the classroom. One of our favorite ways to teach empathy is to do service projects with our kiddos. Nothing develops empathy, belonging, and community quite like a service project. In…
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Episode 71 Tackling Project-Based Learning...Like a Linebacker!
Project-based learning is sooooo much fun! Right? But it can be daunting, too. The preparation, the organization, the performance-based assessments- Ugh! Sometimes it feels like we're suiting up for a football game, only to figure out that we forgot the football once we get out on the field! All...
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Episode 70 Fostering a Culturally Responsive Classroom, Part 4: Choice & Differentiated Assessment
Welcome to our last episode in our Fostering a Culturally Responsive Classroom. In this episode, we relive our tragic elementary school cooperative project experiences and pick at the group-grade scabs and scars we all carry. In a culturally responsive classroom, choice is offered to students.…
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Episode 69 Book Talk Theme Talk: Books About Hope
Welcome to our sixth episode of Book Talk Theme Talk. This month, We Teach So Hard is discussing hope-themed books to enrich your reader's workshop. In this episode, we offer a wealth of kidlit recommendations and teaching ideas. Some of these ideas you can implement in your classroom the next…
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Episode 68 Fostering a Culturally Responsive Classroom, Part 3: Changing Attitudes
This episode has got us singing our Patti LaBelle! Some sequins, a few feathers, and a blinged-out mic... "I got a new attitude!" In this 3rd episode of our 4-part series, we explore how culturally responsive practices can provide an attitudinal paradigm shift for our students. We include some…
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Episode 67 Fostering a Culturally Responsive Classroom, Part 2: Motivation & Engagement
In this second episode of a 4-part series on the culturally responsive classroom, we explore how we foster student motivation and engagement. We muck around in four research-based conditions that must be present for student motivation and engagement: Establishing inclusion, developing attitude,...
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Episode 66 Fostering a Culturally Responsive Classroom: A Safe & Respectful Environment
In this first episode of a 4-part series on the culturally responsive classroom we explore how we build a respectful environment where our students feel safe and valued. We answer questions like: How do we make sure that all students feel safe enough to take learning risks? We give tips for...
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Episode 65 Book Talk Theme Talk: We're in the Mood for LOVE!
"Love is a Many Splendored Thing..." "All You Need is Love..." "Love Me Tender..." Love IS in the air at We Teach So Hard! February is just around the corner and there's no time like the present to start gathering books to teach and think about the theme of love with your kiddos. This is the 5th...
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Episode 64 Looking for Some Action? Try a Classroom Action Research!
You're over the hump of the school year. January is here, and it's a new month, new year. If you're anything like us, January is for tweaking ... Sometimes we tweak classroom management strategies; sometimes we tweak instructional strategies. If you're looking to make some changes in your...
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Episode 63 Teaching Your Students to Self-Assess
We've all had those students. When you ask them how they think they did, they always say, "I did awesome!" Sometimes, they ask questions like, "What if we don't really think we need improvement? Then what do we do?" THAT'S CRAZY TALK, isn't it? In this episode, we discuss ways to move your…
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Episode 62 Book Talk Theme Talk: Using Books to Teach About Honesty
Another book list for you because no one has time to hunt for books when you're teaching themes. November's theme is HONESTY. This is We Teach So Hard's fourth Book Talk-Theme Talk post. In this episode, we share fantastic children' books for teaching about honesty, along with tons of lesson…
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Episode 61 4th in The Technology Series: Using Technology to Differentiate
Raise your hand if you have umpteen million learner needs in your one little ole' classroom. Differentiation is the name of the game, and yet it can be one of the most challenging things to implement in your teaching. In this episode we discuss ways to use technology to help you differentiate. We...
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Episode 60 3rd in the Technology Series: Using Technology to Engage Students
What's a teacher to do with her reluctant learners? You plan, you agonize, you teach small group lessons... sometimes the urge to throw up your hands and yell, "I give up!" is overwhelming. Adding technology to your lessons can be that missing link. Our 21st century learners are different than we...
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Episode 59 2nd in the Technology Series: Using Technology for Collaboration
Want an engaging approach to collaboration? Try adding technology. Whether you're teaching kids how to podcast or setting up book discussion skyping sessions across your school district, state, country, or even the world, adding technology to any collaborative lesson can really motivate your...
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Episode 58 1st in the Technology Series: Using Technology That Teaches
What's that we hear? Is that wailing and the gnashing of teeth? Did someone say, "Technology?" All kidding aside, technology is a powerful teaching tool, but it can bring a teacher to his or her knees when it doesn't work the way it's supposed to. In this episode, we explore different apps and...
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Episode 57 Book Talk Theme Talk: Books About Bullying
We love book lists. In fact, we suspect that most teachers do because we have so much on our plates. Looking for books with similar themes so we can work our literary magic with cross-text connections is so time consuming. This is We Teach So Hard's third Book Talk-Theme Talk post. In this…
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Episode 56 Behavior Modification 101: No Bells Needed!
We think behavior modification is like going to Weight Watchers. We plan ahead, set things up for success, buy a new scale, and then fall apart on the third day of the first week. In our classrooms, we plan ahead, put things in place so the behavioral plan is successful, create a new scale or...
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Episode 55 Getting Your Students to Self-Reflect
Sometimes, goal-setting with students can feel like a root canal. You know it's needed, but the time expense, effort, and white-knuckled anticipation can be daunting. We want our students to think about their learning and how it changed their thinking, but often times they're just not there yet....
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Episode 54 Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road? Exploring Humor in The Classroom
The classroom that laughs together, learns together. That's our mantra at We Teach So Hard. Humor is such a powerful teaching tool. Whether we're laughing at ourselves or enjoying a good curriculum-based joke, when our students' eyes are shining, we know we've got them hooked. Listening to this...
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Episode 53 Book Talk-Theme Talk: Books For Teaching About Perseverance
We love book lists. In fact, we suspect that most teachers do because we have so much on our plates. Looking for books with similar themes so we can work our literary magic with cross-textual connections (sounds kind of kinky, doesn't it?) is so time consuming. This is We Teach So Hard's second...
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Episode 52 Just a Bunch of Manic Mornings? Add a Little Zen to Your A.M.
Remember that old Bangles song? "Just another manic Monday...wish it was Sunday..." Sometimes every one of our mornings feels like a manic Monday. If this is your norm, then this episode is just for you. Who wants five Monday mornings in a row? No one we know. In this episode we discuss the...
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Episode 51 Whattaya Mean We Have To Work Together? Cooperative Learning 101
We've all struggled with cooperative learning, either as teachers of students. In this episode we explore ways to get your kids collaborating without waging war. We explore the HOW, laugh a little, and vent a little! It’s the perfect topic for your start of the school year! Like what you hear?...
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Episode 50: Fifty Reason We Love Teaching! Come Celebrate With Us!
There MUST be 50 reasons to love teaching! We are celebrating our 50th podcast episode! Help us celebrate and enter to win the We Teach So Hard teacher bag filled with back-to-school goodies. What's in the bag? Check this list out! 1. A $20 TpT gift card 2. A $100 Arbonne gift certificate 3. A…
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Got Theme? August's Book Talk on Belonging
Welcome to We Teach So Hard's inaugural themed book talk episode! Every 2nd week of the month, we'll be exploring books around a central theme. This month's theme is BELONGING. It seems like the perfect back-to-school focus. In each episode, we'll introduce 4 books and share lesson ideas for…
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Episode 48 Student Discourse 101: Teaching Kids How to Talk
Accountable talk. On-task talk. Turn and talk. No matter what you call it, we can all agree that it's really important that our students learn how to engage in discourse. They need to be able to share their thinking, provide evidence, build on each other's responses, and disagree with their peers...
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Episode 47 When Professional Development Disappoints: It's Time For An Unconference
We've all been there, and it's usually on the day before school. We're trapped in a PD when we have 1,001 other more pressing things to do. Research says, however, that the best teacher professional development is teacher-driven and teacher-centered. We're no different than our students when it...
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Episode 46 Summer Reads Series: Goodbye For Now
It's our last summer read and we're crying in our cocktails, but this one is thought-provoking, we promise! Goodbye For Now by Laurie Frankel is a modern science fiction novel that left us thinking about many "what-ifs." If you had the opportunity to talk with a loved one who has passed, with the...
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Episode 45 Summer Reads Series: Autism in Heels
Join us for our 3rd episode in our Summer Reads Series. In this episode, we discuss a memoir, Autism in Heels by Jennifer Cook O'Toole. As teachers, there's a lot to sink our teeth into with this book. O'Toole writes about her "otherness," about never fitting in and the bond she shared with her...
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Episode 44 Summer Reads Series: Where The Crawdads Sing
Hey lovely listeners! We hope you're enjoying your summer as much as we are. Welcome to the second installment of We Teach So Hard's Summer Reads Series where we suggest pleasure-read books and hold book club discussions. This episode, our title is a recent bestseller, Where the Crawdads Sing by...
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Episode 43 Summer Reads Series: The Samurai's Garden
Ahhhhhhhh... It's summer, finally. Welcome to the first installment of We Teach So Hard's Summer Reads Series where we suggest pleasure-read books and hold book club discussions. This episode, our title is The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama. This is the perfect first read for the summer,...
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Episode 42 Can a Teacher Get a Little Encouragement? Surviving the End of the Year Madness
The end is in sight! Nothing can bring relief and yet instill panic like that statement. We're bedraggled, exhausted, and wishing we had a margarita instead of that third cup of coffee. And, we have miles to go before we sleep. Nothing can be more disheartening than watching online teacher…
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Episode 41 A Teacher's Most Embarrassing Moments: How to Grin and Bear Them
Toilet paper on your shoe? Skirt tucked into your tights? Or maybe, hygiene mishaps? We've all been there. We've all had those moments when we wish the filing cabinet would just swallow us up. This episode is for any and all teachers who've faced embarrassment (or hid from it). Either way, we've...
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Episode 40 How to Keep Your Kiddos Learning Over the Sunmer
Watermelon. Swimming. Barbecue. These are words that come to mind when we think of summer. We don't think "math worksheets" when we think of summer. In this episode, we discuss ways to help your students avoid the dreaded summer slide without a math worksheet in sight. If you're looking for a way...
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Episode 39 The End Is Near: Planning For Your EOY Celebrations
Planning for your end-of-year classroom celebrations doesn't have to feel apocalyptic! We offer tips and suggestions for some great ways to celebrate your kiddos. You won't have to smash your piggy bank, either, we promise! Our EOY mantra is "Keep it simple. Keep it inexpensive. Keep it fun!"…
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Episode 38 Excedrin-Free End-of-the-Year Organization: Get Out Your Packing Tape!
The end is in sight, and you have to think about packing up your classroom for the summer. Whether you're required to pack up your entire room for the summer, or tuck your teaching goodies away in cabinets and closets, this episode is for you. It doesn't have to be a headache. Listen in as we...
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SPECIAL Announcement from WE TEACH SO HARD! It's a Giveaway! Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to YOU!
Calling all listeners! This announcement is JUST for you, because YOU TEACH SO HARD! Listen, and click the link below to enter! https://www.facebook.com/We-Teach-So-Hard-300984973941377
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Episdoe 37 Glue Gun At The Ready? It's Almost Mother's Day!
Looking for the perfect Mother's Day craft for your kiddos to do this week? SO ARE WE! Seriously though, sometimes Mother's Day can be difficult to navigate. We've all had students who have lost mothers, are in foster care, or have absentee moms. This holiday can be emotionally challenging. In…
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Episode 36 So You're Teaching Summer School?
You're tired...bone tired, but someone has got to pay the bills, so you're teaching summer school this year! It doesn't have to be doom, gloom and drudgery. Summer school can be a fantastic time to try out new teaching ideas, themes, projects and lessons. It doesn't have to be worksheet-driven.…
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Episode 35 Outdoor Education: The Antidote for Waning Attention
Do we hear wailing and the gnashing of teeth? The end is near, and your students are squirrely and CHECKED OUT. Don't freak out! Take them outside! In this episode of WE TEACH SO HARD, we share fun end-of-year ideas for taking the learning and teaching outside. Spring is in the air, don't…
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Episode 34 Granola and Peace Signs...Lesson Ideas for Earth Day
We've got the future of the planet in our classrooms. Earth Day is a fantastic opportunity to begin conservation conversations and education with your students with the intent that Earth Day might be celebrated EVERY DAY. This episode is chocked full of ideas to use with your students throughout...
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Episode 33 Interdisciplinary Projects Can Save Your Sanity
We're galloping toward the year's end. There's standardized testing to get through...HOURS of it, in fact. Field trips, assemblies, learning celebrations, and don't forget about your evaluation, report cards, common assessments, and closing up your classroom. When we think about our school life…
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Episode 32 Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue, Sunshine is Yellow & National Poetry Month is COOL!
April is National Poetry Month and we at We Teach So Hard have collectively decided that it is one of our favorite months! Poetry can rock your readers and writers workshops. It doesn't have to be intimidating, and we show you how. This podcast is filled with fabulous ideas for incorporating…
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Episode 31 Maybe It's the Luck of the Irish!
Maybe we'll never find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but we feel dang lucky to be teachers. There's nothing easy about our jobs, but the BEST parts of being a teacher make everything worthwhile. If you're feeling down or your energy is low, this podcast is for you. We're looking for...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Four teaching friends from across the country who've discovered that if you don't laugh you cry, and lose sight of your "why." Pour yourself a cup of coffee...or a glass of wine and join us as we talk shop, trash, and mull over our teaching lives. We promise, you'll laugh!
HOSTED BY
Tracy, Kathie, Deann & Retta
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does We Teach So Hard! have?
We Teach So Hard! currently has 79 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is We Teach So Hard! about?
Four teaching friends from across the country who've discovered that if you don't laugh you cry, and lose sight of your "why." Pour yourself a cup of coffee...or a glass of wine and join us as we talk shop, trash, and mull over our teaching lives. We promise, you'll laugh!
How often does We Teach So Hard! release new episodes?
We Teach So Hard! has 79 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to We Teach So Hard!?
You can listen to We Teach So Hard! on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts We Teach So Hard!?
We Teach So Hard! is created and hosted by Tracy, Kathie, Deann & Retta.
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