What happens when you're excited about creating something incredible for students—but the people around you just don't seem to get it?
In Episode 359 of Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ and Jenn talk about protecting your creativity as an educator, even when your ideas aren't celebrated by the adults around you. Sometimes the work isn't about getting recognition. It's about creating moments for kids that make school feel different.
We also get into grading policies, scripted curriculum, PBIS, supporting brand-new teachers in tough schools, and what it looks like to build a broadcasting program completely from the ground up.
In this episode:
- What to do when colleagues don't appreciate your creative ideas
- Creating a culture where teachers celebrate one another
- Why CJ disagrees with "no zero" grading policies
- Accountability, retakes, and giving students opportunities to recover
- Making scripted curriculum engaging without changing the required content
- Using atmosphere, novelty, and student interests to transform ordinary lessons
- "Sneak teaching" and making learning so fun students barely notice they're learning
- Building Eagle News Network from the ground up
- Giving students real ownership of a broadcasting program
- Thoughts on PBIS and schoolwide behavior systems
- Why relationships and teacher confidence still matter inside any behavior system
- Helping a brand-new teacher survive an overwhelming first week in an urban school
- Why consistency matters when students are waiting to see if you'll give up
- Using rubrics to show students how to win instead of how they'll fail
- Returning from maternity leave and treating your return like a new first day
- Protecting enough energy for your own family after giving so much at school
The goal isn't to become the teacher with the flashiest classroom or craziest lessons. It's to keep finding ways to make learning matter, create experiences students want to be part of, and become the teacher your students need—even when the adults around you don't understand what you're doing.
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Chapters
00:00 Welcome From the Eagle News Network Studio
04:00 When Other Teachers Don't Get Your Creative Ideas
11:30 Don't Let Other People Dull Your Flame
16:00 Why CJ Disagrees With No-Zero Grading Policies
25:30 Accountability, Retakes & Helping Students Recover
30:00 Making Scripted Curriculum Actually Engaging
39:00 Atmosphere, Novelty & Adding the “Sprinkles”
44:00 Sneak Teaching: Learning Without It Feeling Like Learning
49:00 Building Eagle News Network From the Ground Up
58:30 Giving Students Ownership of the Broadcasting Program
1:04:00 Do PBIS Systems Actually Work in High School?
1:14:30 Why Behavior Systems Can't Replace Relationships
1:22:00 Supporting a Brand-New Teacher in an Urban High School
1:32:00 Why Consistency Matters With Students Who Don't Trust You Yet
1:39:30 Using Rubrics to Show Students How to Win
1:45:00 Returning to Teaching After Maternity Leave
1:52:00 Giving Your Students—and Your Own Kids—the Best of You
1:58:00 Final Encouragement: Keep Showing Up & Doing the Work
