Episode 025 of the ClassCast Podcast features host and teacher Ryan Tibbens discussing four topics in relation to COVID-19 and school closures: 1) the need for more substitute teachers and blended learning, 2) teacher pay and new responsibilities, 3) Teacher Appreciation Week 2020, and 4) Grading. In each section, Tibbens identifies problems or concerns that all community stakeholders should consider and offers practical insights and solutions. In Part 3, Teacher Appreciation Week 2020, he takes a more personal approach than most ClassCast clips by thanking many of his own teachers and explaining their impacts on his life.
The full episode and all four clips are linked below; plus, as always, they are streaming on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and other major platforms. Write a comment below to let us know what you think and what you suggest. (Note: The four clips cut from this episode contain some additional commentary and information that did not fit into the full episode upload. Most content is the same, but additional details, particularly related to Teacher Appreciation Week in Part 3, are available in the highlight clip.) Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)! Clip 025.1 -- Tibbens -- COVID-19: Substitutes & Blended Learning Are Mandatory
In this clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.025, host Ryan Tibbens addresses one of the most significant challenges facing schools as they make plans to reopen -- substitute teachers. Most school divisions across the country already struggle to hire enough substitutes, and COVID-19 will exacerbate that problem next fall. Most substitutes are older, making them at higher risk of infection and serious illness. How many people are willing to risk their health for a crummy part-time job that pays $11-$14 per hour? As we plan to reopen schools, most people are thinking about separating desks, staggering schedules, and disinfecting buildings. Everyone seems to be overlooking the most obvious problem of all -- the teachers, not the students, are at greatest risk. What will we do when large numbers of teachers are out of work for two weeks or more (even if they are asymptomatic, a positive test will yield a required absence)?
All our preparations and contingency plans must address the need for substitutes and increased blended learning. Host Ryan Tibbens outlines those issues and a path forward in this clip. Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)! Clip 025.2 -- Tibbens -- COVID-19 & Teacher Pay
This clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.025 features host Ryan Tibbens addressing the current problems facing teachers' compensation, largely resulting from the COVID-19 social distancing and business closures which seem likely to set off a recession. Many plans for reopening schools next year call for staggered schedules, more teacher cleaning duties, increased technology dependence, blending learning, and more -- and that's not even considering the health risks many teachers will face. Teachers, school boards, and tax-payers should all be cognizant of the pressures on teacher compensation and how those changes may affect both the short and long-term strength of the profession. With budget cuts coming, most teachers remember pay freezes, furloughs, and other problems from a decade ago; but the current changes in education may require different administrative and fiscal plans if teachers are going to be asked to do even more in the course of providing education and safety for the nation's youth.
Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)! Clip 025.3 -- Tibbens -- Teacher Appreciation Week 2020
In this clip from ClassCast Podcast Ep.025, host and high school English teacher Ryan Tibbens offers some simple suggestions for this year's Teacher Appreciation Week and then reminisces about some of his most influential teachers, offering them thanks for their efforts along the way. If you want to hear more about how teachers impact future teachers, or if you ever attended school with Mr. Tibbens, this clip may have something special for you -- it is far more personal than most ClassCast Podcast discussions.
THANK YOU to all the educators working hard to help others! Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)! Clip 025.4 -- Tibbens -- Grades: If Not Now, Why Ever?
This clip from ClassCast Podcast features host Ryan Tibbens examining grading and arguing for a variation of pass/fail grading at all times. "Any argument you make against grading right now works just as well any other time." Grades distract from learning; promote external, rather than intrinsic, motivation; increase anxiety; and waste time. During COVID-19 closures, many school divisions across the nation have adopted some variety of pass/fail grading, and where the works is made optional, people act amazed at the changes in student motivation and behavior. We need to re-examine our grading systems to increase true learning, student motivation, and equity.
Support the show (http://paypal.me/TibbensEST)!
1 Comment
5/7/2020 10:04:50 pm
Very informative. Many good ideas, especially, getting rid of grading to pass/fail. My most memorable times in school was being afraid that I was not good enough. I am so glad you have memories of great teachers who have helped you become who you are today. I cannot say truthfully that any teacher showed any interest in me. I have no one person to thank. That is quite sad. I don’t know if it was the way we were taught. I spent 12 years in a Catholic School. I always received good grades but it was not easy. Great podcast!
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