"Class Act" with Ken Newton & Juliet Gunn
What's happening, what should happen, and what you don't want to happen in Elementary, Middle, and High School for the 21st Century Student, Teacher, and Parent. Everything you should know and then some from the people on the "front line". :-).
"Class Act" with Ken Newton & Juliet Gunn
Episode 3- Teaching: The Best Job with a Few Big Butts
Teaching is full of moments that elevate the spirit, creating unforgettable memories that sustain educators through the ups and downs of their profession. In this warm and insightful episode, we explore what drives passion in teaching and the heartfelt joys of witnessing student growth. You'll hear poignant stories about students achieving their learning goals, creating core memories that last a lifetime.
Yet, teaching is not without its challenges. We delve into the realities of large class sizes that hinder personalized learning, the struggles with dwindling parental involvement, and the frequently encountered burnout faced by educators. Our candid discussion sheds light on the vital need for support, community, and understanding within the education sector.
As we share laughter and heartfelt reflections, we invite teachers and parents alike to contribute to the transformations that our classrooms desperately need. Join us for humor, inspiration, and a commitment to fostering improved educational environments for our children. Don’t miss this episode, and share your thoughts on the challenges you face. Together, we can work toward a brighter future in education. Subscribe, share, and leave your feedback!
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Speaker 2:Oh, and I remember the last time we were talking, we were talking about how awesome this profession is. It is we, we love it. What anything happened this week that, um, kind of made you feel, oh my god, this is my calling and I love teaching. Was there anything off the top of your?
Speaker 1:head. I do have to say one of my students made a really awesome ela goal and that's awesome and just hearing them read clearly and loudly and just more words and being proficient, it just made my week.
Speaker 2:I love it. And friends, miss Juliette is a special ed teacher, don't forget, and she is an angel, along with her aides, and she works really really hard. That's amazing. And remember, friends, she was my old student. I feel really old, just kidding. How long ago, oh my goodness, it feels like a thousand years. Yes, this is audio and radio so you can't see. But looking at old pictures of her, when we went to that movie, premiere was kind of funny when Juliet was 10 years old.
Speaker 1:The best memory of my life and I have to thank you so much for that, because that was a core memory right there.
Speaker 2:Dab, dab, I love it.
Speaker 1:That was a core memory right there.
Speaker 2:Dab dab. I love a core memory. I love ooh fancy. I love it. So, oh, what's a highlight for me this week? I agree when the light goes on and they're learning about whatever they're learning about. But when the lights go on and they're just, you get that like I call it that teacher high. Yeah, but, friends, there are so many things about that we love about education, but I hate to say, friends, there are butts.
Speaker 1:And lots of butts.
Speaker 2:Lots of butts Even my six-year-old will laugh at me Even big butts of education. So that's what we're going to talk about today. Keep it short and sweet. But yes, friends, education and teaching is the best job in the universe. But yes, there are butts, so we'll chat about those after the next break. All right, friends, don't you remember that song? That was a fun song, that was 80s song. So we're both 80s junkies. Friends, welcome back and talk about the butts of education. Yes, I thought that'd be kind of a funny song to bring up. Lord knows, there's so many butts. Some are small, some are big. So one thing we I think Miss Juliet and I talk about is the amazing things you can do with like a small number of kids. So much you can do, so much you can do. 15 students in the class, 20 students in the class God bless Miss Juliet, she has how many in her class.
Speaker 1:I have 18, but that's a cap 18.
Speaker 2:But friends, but back to the buts, that's equal to like 50. I'm just teasing, yeah, probably like 36. On some days, I think Miss Juliet might say it does feel like 100. For sure. But large class sizes, friends, friends, they cram a lot of kids in our classes, well to the point we can't even fit all the desks. We can't fit all the desks. We can't fit all the desks, friends. And trying to manage a high number of students really, really, really makes it hard to give individualized attention that your kids definitely deserve. So I think we both agree that large class sizes is a big butt, friends, a big butt. So after the next break we're going to throw in a, a couple more butts, maybe a small or maybe a big.
Speaker 2:Oh, I've seen this movie, juliet, probably a hundred times. Thank you to my beautiful daughter, emma. But this makes me laugh and the music it's pretty awesome. So, hey again, friends, this is just the best job in the universe and I think Juliet would agree. This is our calling. We have our good days, we have our bad days. I remember when my parents in elementary school they were involved and I love your family, love them, and I know your mother would always volunteer, and I know traditionally it would always be the mother to volunteer. But parental involvement, oh man, I remember the good old days when you were in elementary school.
Speaker 1:We had, almost like a parent, every Friday come in and do or more than that A parent every Friday and friends.
Speaker 2:I think we agree this is a big, but that now we see like parents Are you there. Are you there? Are you? Hello, are you? Are you? Do you care their father?
Speaker 1:or mother?
Speaker 2:Do you there? Are you, hello? Are you? Are you their father or mother? Do you care? And some parents, I know, can be overly involved and very critical. I get it, I get it, but I think we see how disengaged they are and I know, like you send notes and I send notes through our messaging center, parent Square, and like, do they read it? Do they care? Do they respond?
Speaker 1:You definitely have those parents that respond and are always involved and know exactly what's going on in that student's backpack. But you've got the parent that has no idea what that child is doing in class Exactly and check the backpack.
Speaker 2:people Check the backpack.
Speaker 1:It's the one thing we ask. Exactly the one thing we ask is check the backpack. People Check the backpack. It's the one thing we ask.
Speaker 2:Exactly the one thing we ask is check the backpack. I check my kindergartner's backpack, friends. So we need to check the backpack to stay involved, friends. So, hey, one more break and we'll end with one more, but all right. Hey, friends, we are back for our final segment of the butts of education and a little dedication shout out to Mr Gunn. Mr Gunn, I love Michael Jackson too. I'm going to age myself that I feel, channeling my inner Michael Jackson. I bet you are a better moonwalker than me. I heard that your daughter taught you and were was your your moonwalker judge.
Speaker 2:That's so funny. Hey, our last big butt of education, friends, is we love our job, we love what we do. We are passionate, passionate. I even have signs in here. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. And we love what we do. We wake up for it. However, the burnout, and the emotional burnout is truly real. I'm mad enough to say I have cried this year. I've cried more this year than I have probably in the last 28 years of teaching.
Speaker 1:Hey, it's okay though.
Speaker 2:I never cried when Juliet was in my class, I promise.
Speaker 1:Well, I hope not, because I was the best student ever.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:But I'm going to say something to you, Mr Newton.
Speaker 2:Yes, please.
Speaker 1:I think I've cried every single day this year oh what a year it has.
Speaker 2:I'm not gonna say that you taught me, but but you know what I? I find what brings me joy um whether it's dancing you look at the positive your friends, your family. I am blessed beyond the leaf to teach with my old students, so it still freaks me out.
Speaker 1:Freaks me out too, don't worry.
Speaker 2:Your family, your friends, but really the emotional burnout is real, friends, and I hate to say more and more is asked of us, more and more is expected of us, and I hate to say, friends, we're on the front line, feel like I'm in the military. We're on the front line, yeah, and we are the first ones to be blamed when there are many other layers that go into this. And, yes, as when things go wrong, we're the first ones to be blamed. But at the end of the day, again, you've got to have peace of mind. Go home, it's a Friday, remember. Happy Friday, friends. Woo-hoo, woo-hoo, what. I live vicariously through Miss Juliet because, yes, I have a little six-year-old, I love her to death. But I live vicariously through Miss Juliet when she goes out and has fun with her friends and family.
Speaker 1:Do you like all the stories I tell you?
Speaker 2:about. I love all the stories.
Speaker 1:How my weekends go Shh.
Speaker 2:I won. No See you at Pinky's Wear. Ha ha, but enjoy your weekend, friends. We look forward to episode five because Miss Juliet, episode four is my class giving their Black History Month presentations. I love that. Awesome job, awesome job for Black History. So, friends, you get a double dose of our podcast, episode 3 today and Episode 3 tomorrow, and we'll download them and look for it online. So we love you. Thanks for listening.
Speaker 1:Pass it on to your friend Peace, bye.