Part II: Top Ten Takeaways from Teacher TalkBy Jackie Wilber, Ed.D.
In 2023, Gina Benz and I met for coffee, and we said that we wished people could hear us talk about education. About one week later, SDPB’s Teacher Talk was born. Since then, we’ve shared over 80 podcasts and companion blogs, under the guidance of our fearless leader and host: Lori Walsh.
To say that I am grateful for this experience is an understatement. It has been nothing short of transformational. I didn’t know that this was one of my dreams, until it came true.
Gina is a difficult act to follow (although if you haven’t already – read and/or listen to Part I of this series: Boundaries, bans and best friends in the classroom), but I will do my best. Without further ado, here are my top ten takeaways from Teacher Talk:
#10 – It depends.
In every episode, Lori asks me a brilliant question that catches me off guard. Nine times out of ten, my answer is: it depends.
Rarely is there a “right answer” when it comes to the nuanced and very human experiences of educating the youth of America. In nearly all instances, it depends on the circumstances, on where you are teaching, on the age of the student, on their reading level, if they have an IEP or 504 Behavior Plan, on their culture, if they ate breakfast that morning, if you as the teacher ate breakfast that morning, if it is snowing or looks like it might snow. It all depends.
#9 – More people talked to me about the AI in Education episode than any other episode.
I don’t know if it was the algorithm, the zeitgeist, or if we were particularly famous that week, but so many people told me that they heard us on SDPB. It was great to talk to people about their experiences with AI in and out of the classroom.
#8 – Become a teacher.
The Teacher Pathway program, founded in partnership with the Sioux Falls School District and the University of South Dakota School of Education, aims to encourage students into the profession. Since it began in 2017, the program has expanded to include districts across the state and is now funded in part by a federal grant. It is the momentum and spirit of the Teacher Pathway program – of which Gina is a founding teacher and one of the projects I direct at USD – that called us to broaden our audience to SDPB. One of the main aims of Teacher Talk is to inspire people to consider a career in education.
#7 – Grit research is evolving (and impacts cellphone bans!)
I will write another post about this in the future, but I wanted to highlight the ongoing research about Grit from Angela Lee Duckworth, as we discuss her work in many episodes. Her recent findings about cellphones bans helps to parse out the difference between the definition of grit: long-term stamina, passion and perseverance to accomplish long-term goals, vs. willpower: the short-term ability to resist temptation. Duckworth contends that successful students and people have grit, but few of us have any willpower. She argues that relying on willpower alone to manage distractions like cellphones is ineffective. Instead, Duckworth advocates for "situation modification," such as keeping phones in another room, to enhance focus, academic performance, and long-term success.
#6 – All reading is good reading.
Librarians taught me this phrase, and I’ve tried to use it as often as possible. I disagree with the sentiment that some books are “good” and others are “bad.” Reading is good. And all reading is good reading. (I do, however, wholeheartedly support adults talking to children about what they are reading. I applaud parents and guardians who help young people learn to self-determine what content they take in.)
#5 – Teachers are famous.
Next time you are out in public, notice who gets recognized. We met a bonafide famous teacher in Gabe Dannenbring on our Teacher Famous episode (what a delight!), but I see teachers who are swarmed by fans (their students) at the grocery store on a regular basis. Famous.
We, too, became a little famous when the Late Show with Stephen Colbert mentioned Teacher Talk on air during his interview with Katherine Maher.
#4 – Stories matter.
I had so many takeaways from our talk with National Teacher of the Year Rebecka Peterson, but I was most impacted by her story of the power of story. By telling students about herself – by sharing her story – and allowing them the space to do the same, she transformed her mathematics classroom into a sanctuary of learning and intellectual risk-taking.
#3 – We need to reduce stress in schools.
A 2022 Gallup Poll found that K-12 Workers Have Highest Burnout Rate in U.S. – I cited this poll in countless episodes because I care deeply about addressing this issue. Stress in schools is my area of research interest, largely because I came to this topic from personal experience. I am committed to supporting schools in stress reduction, and I am grateful for the Teacher Talk platform to discuss solutions to stress.
#2 – Abbott Elementary is the best show about teachers. Ever.
That is all.
#1 – Teacher Talk is an honor.
It has been the greatest honor to have this microphone, which gives voice to the experiences of educators in South Dakota. It is made all the more meaningful that this podcast is supported by SDPB. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting gave me Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, Mathnet (Square One), Reading Rainbow, Ms. Frizzle, and countless other outstanding educational programs. I am humbled to be part of the same public service, and I am grateful for listeners like you. Thank you for supporting public broadcasting.
The views and opinions expressed on Teacher Talk are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of South Dakota.
