Tell your students you trust them w/ Zak Champagne

Math Therapy

Longtime listeners (like today’s guest, as you’ll discover…) will recall one name popping up in almost every interview last season, so Vanessa needed to find out for herself: who is Zak Champagne & why do people like him so much?! Through today’s rollercoaster episode she discovered a teacher with boundless enthusiasm for the joys of teaching, grounded in a deep respect for his students.
They unpack what we really mean by terms like “student voice” and “building trust”, offer practical advice on how to actually integrate those ideas into the classroom when teachers are already so strapped for time, and discuss how giving students a sense of purpose and community doesn’t just help them learn - it could even save their lives.

About Zak (Website, Twitter)
Zak Champagne began his career as an elementary school teacher in Jacksonville, Florida, receiving many state and national awards including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Zak then spent six years as a researcher at the Florida Center for Research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (FCR-STEM) at FSU before serving as the Director of Teacher Leadership at the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. Zak returned to the classroom in the fall of 2019 as a Lower Elementary Teacher (grades 3 and 4), Director of Mathematics, and Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) at The Discovery School.
Show notes:

• Zak’s Blog: Control vs. trust in the classrom

Connect with us:

• Vanessa Vakharia: @themathguru (Insta, Twitter, TikTok)
• Math Therapy: @maththerapy (Twitter)

Chapters

1. Intro (00:00:00)

2. Another awkward hello ... (00:01:55)

3. The joy of teaching (00:03:15)

4. Does Zak have haters? (00:09:56)

5. But teachers don't have time!!! (00:13:01)

6. How to truly value "student voice" (00:17:43)

7. Building genuine trust in class (00:22:48)

8. Giving students purpose in class & life (00:29:48)

9. Why are they called "Blue Zones"? (00:32:13)

10. Q1 (00:34:42)

11. Q2 (00:35:56)

12. Why isn't Zak your best friend? (00:37:43)

13. Outro (00:40:34)