Making the Grade is an education podcast for current & former teachers to share notes, define success & assess their own happiness in the classroom and beyond. Throughout history in the US, teaching has been an essential profession that supports the next generation. However, as the world continues to evolve, the education system seems to be years behind in many ways. “Making the Grade” explores the metrics of success in the modern-day classroom with current and former educators. We dive into ...
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Failure Free Reading: a Conversation with Author & Reading Researcher Dr. Joe Lockavitch
36:49
36:49
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S2 EP 032 | Failure Free Reading: A Conversation with Author & Reading Researcher, Dr. Joe Lockavitch On the 32nd episode of Making the Grade Podcast, Georgia and Christine connect with Dr. Joe Lockavitch, a former classroom teacher, school psychologist, university professor, special education director, and applied reading researcher who is the aut…
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Slow Living & Productivity: a conversation with Productivity Coach & Consultant, Dr. Kate Henry
38:30
38:30
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S2 EP 031 | Slow Living & Productivity: a conversation with Productivity Coach & Consultant, Dr. Kate Henry In Episode 31 of Making the Grade, Georgia & Christine chat with Dr. Kate Henry, a former academic turned independent scholar and productivity coach. A local colleague of Christine’s, Kate shares her account of shifting her career goals once …
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Student Advocacy & Activism: a Conversation with Advocate & Consultant, Kristen
54:06
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S2 EP 030 | Student Advocacy & Activism: a Conversation with Advocate & Consultant, Kristen For the 30th episode, a local MA teacher shares how she successfully fulfilled her dream of becoming a business owner. Kristen, a fellow MA teacher, transitioned from special education teacher to building an advocacy and consulting company focusing on studen…
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Next Step Education: a Coversation with Former Classroom Teacher & Co-Founder, Meghan
36:48
36:48
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S2 EP 029 | Next Step Education: a Conversation with Former Classroom Teacher & Co-Founder, Meghan On this next episode, a local guest from the Boston podcast scene (thanks Kim!) shares how she successfully founded and scaled her learning center, "Next Step Education”. Meghan’s journey from the classroom to entrepreneurship is a testament to the po…
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Encouraging Creativity in Early Childhood Education: a Conversation with Pre-K Teacher, Hannah
35:20
35:20
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S2 EP 028 | Encouraging Creativity in Early Childhood Education: a Conversation with Pre-K Teacher, Hannah In this episode of Making the Grade Podcast, Georgia & Christine sit down with Hannah, a passionate PreK teacher from Fort Worth, Texas. With eleven years of experience in both public and private settings, Hannah brings a wealth of knowledge a…
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Beautiful Stuff Project: a Conversation with Former Teacher & Founding Executive Director, Marina
46:32
46:32
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S2 EP 027 | Beautiful Stuff Project: a conversation with former teacher & founding executive director, Marina On the 27th episode of Making the Grade Podcast, Georgia and Christine connect with Marina, a former teacher & executive director of the Beautiful Stuff Project. The Beautiful Stuff Project increases access to play and the arts through the …
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Teacher Career Transition Academy: a Conversation with Co-Founder, Lisa
31:38
31:38
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MAKING THE GRADE S2 EP 026 | Teacher Career Transition Academy: a Coversation with Co-Founder, Lisa With teacher burnout being a buzzword in the news lately, it’s nothing new that teachers are considering new careers after many struggles in the classroom. What would it be like for teachers if they had a playbook of how to handle the stress & a way …
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Motivating Minds: a Conversation with Educational Consultant & Author, Ivana
33:57
33:57
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S2 EP 025 | Motivating Minds: a Conversation with Educational Consultant & Author, Ivana In this next episode of Making the Grade, Georgia & Christine talk with Ivana, the founder of Motivating Minds & Achievement Solutions. Formerly of Georgia & currently in DC, Ivana didn’t always know that she wanted to become a teacher. Prior to consulting, she…
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Believing Beyond You: a Conversation with Education Entrepreneur, Rebecca
57:23
57:23
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S2 EP 024 | Believing Beyond You: a Conversation with Education Entrepreneur, Rebecca In this episode we’re chatting with Rebecca, an incredible educator and entrepreneur, and basically sunshine in human form. We recorded this episode back in October (eek!) but reliving our conversation with Rebecca was exactly what we needed during a cold February…
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Aspiring to Lead: a Conversation with Training & Development Specialist, Josh
46:35
46:35
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S2 EP 023 | Aspiring to Lead: a Conversation with Training & Development Specialist, Josh In this next episode of Making the Grade, Christine & Georgia are joined by Josh, the Training and Development Specialist for the Teach Better Team and manager of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Prior to Joshua's current position, he was a middle school Admi…
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Chat GPTeacher - Exploring AI: a Coversation with 7th Grade History Teacher, Jack
40:22
40:22
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S2 EP 022 | Chat GPTeacher - Exploring AI: a Coversation with 7th Grade History Teacher, Jack With AI being the buzz over the last year in all industries, have you wondered about how this could translate (in a positive way) to education? Florida 7th grade history teacher & AI enthusiast, Jack, shares the unique moment when he knew he wanted to be a…
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Starting Before You’re Ready: a Conversation with Business & Life Coach, Sandy
37:42
37:42
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S2 EP 021 | Starting Before You’re Ready: a Conversation with Sandy Making the Grade podcast is back for Season 2 with the 1st episode of 2024 coming at you from sunny San Diego with the lovely Sandy Patterson! After 14 years as an elementary school teacher, Sandy realized that she was in need of some guidance and sought out a life coach. And littl…
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EP 020 | Georgia & Christine: Recap Season 1 On the last episode of Season 1 of Making the Grade podcast, Georgia & Christine recap season 1: what they have learned, surprising takeaways, & what’s to come in season 2! Their journey into podcasting has been an eye-opening & surprisingly liberating experience - and in helping other educators elevate …
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Finding Life & Teacher Balance Through Overcoming Overwhelm: a conversation with teacher & life coach, Krystal
47:58
47:58
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MAKING THE GRADE EP 019 | Finding Teacher & Life Balance Through Overcoming Overwhelm: a Conversation with Teacher & Life Coach, Krystal On the 19th episode of Making the Grade Podcast, Georgia and Christine connect with Krystal, a middle school teacher & life coach who has over 18 years of experience in the classroom. A fellow educator from Canada…
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KaiPod Learning: a Conversation with Microschool Founder & CEO, Amar
45:14
45:14
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EP 018 | KaiPod Learning: a conversation with founder & CEO, Amar “I want to try something different” is the sentiment that began a new classroom model & organization for educators. With experience teaching in the US & India, Amar has spent many years in many different classroom models and roles. A fellow Boston-based founder, Amar Kumar, shares ho…
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Modern Classrooms Project: a Conversation with CEO & Co-Founder, Kareem
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EP 017 | Modern Classrooms Project: a Conversation with CEO, Kareem This week Georgia & Christine chat with Kareem Farah, CEO and co-founder of the Modern Classrooms Project. Kareem spent his teaching career as a math educator in Hawaii and Washington, DC. Instead of using a traditional lecture model, Kareem taught math through a blended model wher…
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Teacher Training, Montessori Modeling & Classroom Community: a Conversation with Dr. Lisa Kuh
57:38
57:38
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EP 016 | Teacher Training, Montessori Modeling & Classroom Community: a Conversation with Dr. Lisa Kuh After 6+ months of recording podcasts in different states, Georgia & Christine record in the same room for the 1st time for some great conversation with educator of all trades & author, Dr. Lisa Kuh. Currently practicing in Washington state, Lisa …
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Behavior Analaysis: a Conversation with BCBA, Ben
59:24
59:24
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EP 015 | Behavior Analysis: a Conversation with BCBA, Ben We hear so frequently about student behaviors interfering with learning in the classroom, but what can we do to help stop this growing problem? On this next episode of Making the Grade podcast, Georgia & Christine chat with BCBA Ben about how his journey in studying behavior analysis led him…
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Cultivating Courage & Connection: a Conversation with Coach & Consultant, Kelly
1:04:57
1:04:57
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EP 014 | Cultivating Courage & Connection: a Conversation with Coach & Consultant, Kelly “I have this crazy idea!” is a sentence that Kelly loved hearing as a former director. An educator from New Hampshire with 28 years of experience & an entrepreneurial spirit, Kelly is thinking outside the box in supporting educators’ mental health in workshops,…
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Marketing & Sales for Edupreneurs: a Conversation with Consultant, Christina
53:25
53:25
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EP 013 | Marketing & Sales for Edupreneurs: a Conversation with Consultant, Christina When teachers get used to signing a contract each year, it’s no surprise that pricing services is an area where educators need support. Georgia & Christine speak with Christina, an education consultant and former teacher / administrator from Texas. A self-describe…
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Changing your Classroom Calling: a Conversation with Early Literacy Coach, Amaris
46:09
46:09
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EP 012 | Changing your Classroom Calling: a conversation with Early Literacy Coach, Amaris Have you ever felt like your heart belongs in the classroom but you’re itching to try something new? Baltimore ESOL teacher -> early literacy coach, Amaris, took a chance in a new role and shares her motivation to stay in education (and why she doesn’t want t…
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Mastering your Math Mindset: a Conversation with Math Teacher, Mona
45:03
45:03
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EP 011 | Mastering your Math Mindset: a conversation with math coach, Mona “I’m just not a math person” is a common expression, but have you ever wondered why? Chicago teacher & math specialist, Mona, shares how she shifted from being a math avoider -> math master! With 15 years of experience as a classroom teacher, Mona shares some insights from a…
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Finding the Right Fit: a Conversation with International Teacher, Greg
1:04:35
1:04:35
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EP 010 | Finding the Right Fit: a Conversation with International Teacher, Greg In the 10th episode of Making the Grade Podcast, Georgia and Christine connect with Greg, an international teacher who has over 20 years of experience. Avid scuba diver, technology guru, author…& most importantly, a teacher at heart. A fellow podcaster from Wisconsin, G…
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Transatlantic Teaching: a Conversation with Transitioning High School Teacher, Li
48:05
48:05
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EP 009 | Transatlantic Teaching: a Conversation with Transitioning High School Teacher, Li From the UK to Indiana, Li has taught high school health and social care in London for 8 years in a prestigious cosmopolitan school. She has spent the last decade teaching culinary classes in inner city -> rural districts in the US for the last few years. In …
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Side Hustles & Podcast Management: a Conversation with Learning & Development Specialist Ethan
41:19
41:19
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EP 008 | Side Hustles & Podcast Management: a Conversation with Learning & Development Specialist, Ethan Tuning in from Texas for this episode, Georgia & Christine chat with Ethan, Making the Grade’s podcast launch manager & fellow educator. Ethan truly embodies the essence of a teacher - encouraging, knowledgeable, and always honing his skills. A …
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1st Class Educator: a Conversation with Consultant Locha
54:55
54:55
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EP 007 | From the moment we connected with Locha, we could just feel her passion. After a decade in the classroom as an English Language Arts teacher, Locha realized that her goals for herself and how she wanted to impact the education world needed to shift. And she is now doing the work…bringing school communities together by having critical conve…
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Thinking Like a Teacher: A Conversation with former Principal Matt
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41:51
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EP 006 | Thinking Like a Teacher: a Conversation with Matt Georgia & Christine are coming at you from Florida today in a really candid conversation with former principal turned curriculum designer, Matt. It’s clear why Matt was an effective educator & principal - his story feels like listening to a really motivating TED Talk! Matt shares how leavin…
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It Takes a Village: a Conversation with 1st Grade Teacher Meghan
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EP 005 | On this next episode of Making the Grade podcast, Georgia & Christine are back in the classroom talking to 1st-grade teacher of 10 years (& Georgia’s cousin!), Meghan. This episode really gets into it - as passionate as Meg is about what she does, she also gives her hot takes on the struggles she & other educators are facing as an educator…
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Experimenting in the Classroom & Pursuing your Passions: a Conversation with Interior Designer Kristen
39:38
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EP 004 | On this next episode of Making the Grade podcast, Georgia & Christine chat with transitioned teacher Kristen about her unique perspectives as a mom & educator who knows the importance of taking a step back (three times!) from the classroom to reflect & explore. Kristen’s journey is “bumpy” or not linear, and it’s a good reminder for all ed…
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From ESL Student to Successful Educator: a Conversation with Bilingual Teacher Andrea
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EP 003 | "I teach, what's your superpower?" This is a phrase that many of us have heard, or have maybe even seen on teacher-themed decor or a gift one of our students gives us during the holidays. When you hear it so often, it loses its meaning-- but on today's episode, Georgia and Christine are talking to Andrea, who seems to embody the phrase all…
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Empowering Educators: Defining Success In & Out of the Classroom
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EP 001 | In the debut episode of the Making the Grade Podcast, educators Christine and Georgia share their insights on classroom success and the challenges and rewards of teaching. Christine’s personal experience with an exchange program is discussed, providing a unique perspective on education and expanding one’s worldview. Listeners will gain val…
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Teaching Abroad and Empowering Communities: a Conversation with International Teacher Amanda
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EP 002 | On the second episode of Making the Grade podcast, Christine and Georgia talk to Amanda, an international teacher who took a chance and moved from Massachusetts to Southeast Asia to teach kindergarten at an international school. Amanda shares how the international teaching community is welcoming and supportive, and how she found comfort in…
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Welcome to Making the Grade, an Education podcast for current and former teachers to share notes, define success, and assess their own happiness in the classroom and beyond. We are your hosts, Christine and Georgia. The problems in education may seem endless, but so are the possibilities. Listen, laugh, and leave our episodes empowered. Find your o…
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