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Have you ever sat through school PD and thought, "This is not what I need right now!" Have you ever been at a teacher workshop and said, "These ideas are even practical or realistic." Have you ever been to a back-to-school event and thought, "This was a waste of time." If you said YES to any of those situations, you are not alone. Teacher professional development is essential, but what we need and want are: Fun, effective, engaging, meaningful, awesome ideas that can actually be used in classrooms these days. But how can schools and staff actually create that type of PD? In this week's episode of This Teacher Life we chat about how to get the attention of your principal or leader in 2 effective ways. This positive, podcast episode is totally going to help with your proactive planning for the next PD in your school or district. Let's Plan AWESOME PD Together in Your School:  http://monicagenta.com/pd Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed  

Have you ever tried to make a decision in your classroom or with your students and started to question everything? Should I say this? Should I try that? Should I go this route? Should I implement this idea? Sometimes, as educators, we can start to question things and don't feel empowered to make best practice decisions. But you may have noticed that your "teacher gut" has changed over time. Parents, principals, and displeased school boards can change the way we approach our passion and our profession. In this week's episode of the This Teacher Life podcast we unpack all of these things with special guest Jack Berckemeyer. I promise it will was cause you to pause, ponder, and reflect in a good way! Episode Links: Looking for Something that CAN Impact Schools and Students in a BIG Way? Check out this SEL Solution:  monicagenta.com/180SEL Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Needing some uplifting, awesome professional development at your school? Let’s Connect:  http://monicagenta.com/pd Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed  

Is calling home one of your least favorite things because it creates stress, anxiety, and frustration? If you said YES, you are not alone and this episode is going to help so much. Is calling home one of your most favorite things because it creates connection, problem-solving, and solutions? If you said YES, you are not alone and this episode is going to bring your next calls to new levels. Calling home can be difficult, but sometimes all we need are a few simple, strategic sentences to save the day! In this week's episode of This Teacher Life podcast we explore how to make these conversations more comfortable. I promise you will be picking up the phone more often (and without growing an ulcer) after you hear this one! Episode Notes: Get Amazing Teacher Books like The Rooted Classroom & 180 Days of Awesome Relationships Here:  monicagenta.com/books Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Needing Engaging, Relevant, Fun PD at Your School? Let’s Connect:  http://monicagenta.com/pd Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed  

Teachers is it time to completely ditch the directions? Giving students support and help is essential to growth, but have we crossed the education line in how we do that? There is a big difference between guiding kids into learning and giving kids the step-by-step directions on how to do or solve things. What does that look like  in your classroom? In this week's episode of the This Teacher Life podcast I give specific examples of major mistakes I've made to get students to give "good products" rather than create "great processes." Examples, solutions, and super fun strategies are shared to level up the academic growth in your classroom community. Episode Notes: Don’t Miss the Game Changers Course Where You Will Learn SO Many Engaging Classroom Ideas: monicagenta.com/courses/ Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Needing Engaging, Relevant, Fun PD at Your School? Let’s Connect:  http://monicagenta.com/pd Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed  

Sometimes the silliest ideas end up being the most strategic ideas! So let me ask you, how is classroom management going in your teacher life right now? Are students getting disorganized? Are students struggling to keep their hands to themselves? Are students simply not turning in work? If you are looking for a solution to solve common teacher problems you are in the right place. On this week's episode of the This Teacher Life podcast we dive into one of the dumbest things I've ever done, but the good news is... it TOTALLY works! It takes no time to prep because all you need is a pen! Trust me, you are going to love this new classroom competition. Episode Notes: Don't Miss the Game Changers Course Where You Will Learn SO Many Engaging Classroom Ideas: monicagenta.com/courses/ Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Needing Engaging, Relevant, Fun PD at Your School? Let’s Connect:  http://monicagenta.com/pd Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed

Have you ever heard or observed a student interaction and asked, "Why did you say that?" or "Why did you do that?" Then the student looks at you like you are crazy and they respond, "They are my friend." or "I was just joking." Peer interactions aren't always as positive as we would like them to be. But, what if I told you there is a strategy called "plunkin'" that could get kids celebrating each other and recognizing all the awesome that happens in your classroom. In this week's episode of the This Teacher Life podcast I share an idea that happened on a "walk and talk" that blew my mind, in a good way! Find out more about "Plunkin' for Pizza" and "Walk and Talks" in this episode that is all about game changing, creative classroom ideas. Episode Notes: Join the Game Changers Course and Get TONS of Engaging Classroom Ideas: monicagenta.com/courses/ Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Needing Engaging, Relevant, Fun PD at Your School? Let’s Connect:  http://monicagenta.com/pd Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed

Teachers love innovative, fun, engaging ideas. But sometimes really dumb ideas work really well too! Simple, strategic classroom changes can make a big impact and that is exactly what we are diving into in this episode. What if I told you kids would show up to class on time, turn assignments  in that are fully finished, AND self-manage their work, all by implementing this one idea. In this week's episode of This Teacher Life all you need is one notecard and a little bit of silly to create a game changing classroom culture. I promise you can implement this strategy in less than 5 seconds and it works in all classroom environments. Episode Notes: Join the Game Changers Course and Get TONS of Engaging Classroom Ideas: monicagenta.com/courses/ Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Needing Engaging, Relevant, Fun PD at Your School? Let’s Connect:  http://monicagenta.com/pd Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed

Do you want to get all of your students participating in class? The answer is probably YES! The question is, how do we actually do that? We have all been teaching and then hit pause to say, "does anybody have any questions" and ZERO hands go up. Then, only moments later, kids are saying things like "I don't get it" "Can you help me?" "This doesn't make sense." So were kids actually engaged? In this week's episode of the This Teacher Life podcast we talk about the pro-active pause that pushes kids to ask really great questions. And all you need for this simple strategy is a dice! I promise this idea will be a game changer for your students and school! Episode Notes: Learn 100's of Classroom Engagement and Motivation Ideas in the Game Changers Course: monicagenta.com/courses/ Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Needing Engaging, Relevant, Fun PD at Your School? Let’s Connect:  http://monicagenta.com/pd Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed

There is SO much hype around goal settings, resolutions, and dreaming big at the start of the new year. Have you ever felt pressure to make a resolution and found yourself giving up only a few days into Jan? Are you in the exact same place, mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, that you were at this time last year? Do you ever get frustrated with progress (or lack of it) because you are so focused on perfection? If you said YES to any of those things, you are not alone and this week's episode of This Teacher Life is for you! Here I am going to be dropping 2 super, strategic ways for you to find success this year. And spoiler alert, these ideas take LESS work with MORE results. Episode Notes:  Make this Year Full of Great Goals & Dreams with a Copy of 365 Days of Awesome: monicagenta.com/books Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Needing some uplifting, awesome professional development at your school? Let’s Connect:  http://monicagenta.com/pd Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed

Paper assignments vs. computer assignments. Which is better for kids? Stern consequences or flexible behavior options. Which is better for kids? To allow AI vs. not allow AI. Which is better for kids. Educators can debate and disagree on SO many education topics. But, at the end of the day we have to ask ourselves, which is better for kids and their future? In this special episode of the This Teacher Life podcast, guest Jack Berckemeyer and I discuss all of the philosophies of school. This episode is challenging, hilarious, controversial, and loving, all wrapped into 30 minutes! How many of the ideas will you agree or disagree with? Take a listen and find out... Episode Notes:  Get TONS of New School and Old School Teaching Ideas Ideas Right Here: https://monicagenta.com/game-changers-course/ Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Needing some uplifting, awesome professional development at your school? Let’s Connect:  http://monicagenta.com/pd Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed

Oprah and Reese Witherspoon are known for their incredible book clubs. Each year millions of people read titles from their award-winning lists. "Teacher Books" rarely make the cut. But what if I told you that there is actually SO much to be learned from New York Times Best sellers that we could use in your classrooms on a daily basis. In this week's episode of This Teacher Life I unpack 3 books that have "nothing to do with teaching" and prove how much we can learn from them. The ideas, analogies, and reflections in this episode are going to blow your mind. So, welcome to Monica's book club. The next 30 minutes is going to feel like a page-turner. Episode Notes:  Add these Awesome Teacher Books to Your Reading List: monicagenta.com/books Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Needing some uplifting, awesome professional development at your school? Let’s Connect:  http://monicagenta.com/pd Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed

Have you ever tried to say one thing in your classroom and it came out completely different? That comment may have cause your whole class to laugh. caused you to be embarrassed, or maybe both. Teacher mistakes are a real thing and when they happen, we have to remember they don't make us bad teachers, they make us humans. But sometimes those mistakes end up being super hilarious! In this episode you will hear about 3 real, raw, really "funny" things that have happened that caused some major laughs and learning for everybody. Episode Notes:  Looking for some Last Minute Holiday Gifts for Teachers? Check out These Awesome Books: monicagenta.com/books Get a free PDF copy of Monica’s Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Needing some uplifting, awesome professional development at your school? Let’s Connect:  http://monicagenta.com/pd Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed