Episode 326: Building Culture from Scratch, Group Work That Works, and Faith in the Classroom

This week on Sunday Night Teacher Talk, we’re unpacking what it really looks like to build a classroom and school culture from the ground up—especially when you’re new to the building. CJ shares updates on how shared experiences like lunch invites, Spirit Week, and hallway antics are shaping connection at his new school.

Other big topics this week include how to use ChatGPT to streamline grading while still giving meaningful feedback, what to do when group work falls apart, how to scaffold large writing tasks for struggling students, and why you don’t need to post the Ten Commandments to live your values in the classroom.

As always, we’re getting real about the teacher life, student behavior, faith, and showing up with joy—one week at a time.

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Chapters

0:00 – Show Intro & Reflections on Community
4:10 – Spirit Week, Lunch Culture & Connection
7:00 – How Fun Builds Classroom Momentum
10:00 – How to Maintain Classroom Management on Costume Days
15:15 – Novels vs. Projects: Rethinking What Matters Most
19:30 – Book Ideas for Reluctant Readers + ChatGPT Book Match Strategy
24:00 – Using AI for Grading, Rubrics & Workload Reduction
30:00 – AI Detection, Google Docs History & Sneaky Professor Hacks
34:00 – 3 Things I’ve Learned Since Returning to the Classroom
38:30 – When Personal Loss Meets the Classroom (Message to Mrs. J)
44:30 – Changing School Culture One Moment at a Time
52:00 – Should Teachers Get a Master’s Degree?
56:30 – National Board Certification & Pioneering vs. Settling
1:00:00 – Handling the New Law to Display the Ten Commandments
1:06:00 – Restoring Peace in a Toxic Classroom
1:10:00 – Should I Hire a Mentor or Coach?
1:12:00 – Group Work: Accountability, Grading, and Growth
1:17:00 – Scaffolding Big Writing Assignments for Struggling Students
1:22:00 – Final Words on Faith, Presence & Calling