Join our insightful conversation with Tennille Martinez, a South Florida middle school teacher with over 20 years of experience, as she shares the daily struggles of grading papers, attending to her personal life, and managing her side hustles. We dig deep into the challenges she faced when transitioning from teaching high schoolers to middle schoolers, and the unique alternative charter school she worked at that offered students the opportunity to get a high school diploma.

In this episode, we explore the impact of COVID on teaching and learning, discussing the struggles of balancing virtual and in-person instruction and how it has changed the way students interact with each other. Tennille also shares her thoughts on the challenges of technology in the classroom, including maintaining her students' focus and preventing them from using AI and chat GPT to pass off other people's work as their own.

But it's not all doom and gloom! Tennille reflects on the rewards of teaching, such as the lessons she's learned from her students and the impact they've had on her life. We also discuss the current teacher exodus and how to make the profession more appealing, while touching on Tennille's side hustles, including a podcast, The Book Advantage, about the power of books and her blog, The Profitable Teacher.

Visit The Book Advantage at:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-book-advantage/id1654267198

Visit The Profitable Teacher at:
https://www.profitableteacher.com/

Connect with Tennille on Instagram:
@thebookadvantage

Learn more about Coach Hall Writes at:
https://coachhallwrites.com/

Listen to Coach Hall's Life Behind the Desk episode:
https://lifebehindthedesk.com/003bethhall/

Support the Show.

Be sure to visit the website at http://www.lifebehindthedesk.com

S02E01

We're back for more! This season brings new guests and new ways to support this project. We may even ask some previous guests to make another appearance.

If you would like to contact Life Behind the Desk for appearance or sponsorship opportunities, email us at:

lifebehindthedesk@gmail.com

Please visit the website and check out the shopping section:

http://www.lifebehindthedesk.com

And of course, don't forget to listen to the first real episode of this season at:

https://lifebehindthedesk.com/0202timmfreitas/

Last, but certainly not least, if you find value in this content and would like to help financially support this project you can toss a few bucks into the tip jar at:

https://pages.lifebehindthedesk.com/products/tip-jar

Support the Show.

Be sure to visit the website at http://www.lifebehindthedesk.com

S02E02

In this episode, we talk to Timm Freitas. Timm has taught in different settings throughout his career. Outside of the classroom, he does a great deal of work with the AP program and even partners with one of our very first guests Beth Hall. Timm and I discuss not just how Covid-19 affected him, or didn't, but how the educational landscape has changed. Especially with the escalation of school shootings and school violence. We touch on the teacher exodus out of the profession that we are regularly hearing about what can keep teachers in the classroom.

Get the full show notes at:
www.lifebehindthedesk.com/0202timmfreitas

To get your 20% off at Match Accessories this month when you sign up for the mailing list:
https://lifebehindthedesk.com/match

Learn more about Coach Hall Writes at:
https://coachhallwrites.com/

Listen to Coach Hall's Life Behind the Desk episode:
https://lifebehindthedesk.com/003bethhall/

Support the Show.

Be sure to visit the website at http://www.lifebehindthedesk.com

#023 - This week we talk to Mealnie D'anna from Mesa, Arizona. In some ways going behind the desk with Melanie didn't yield huge surprises, because she is just as dedicated to her craft as the other teachers I have had the honor of speaking with. Unlike most teachers, however, Melanie came to it a little later than most. She spent the first part of her working life as a newspaper photographer before making the switch to public education. She got a quick baptism in the profession by teaching in a Title One school out of the gate. Though challenging and heart breaking, that experience is what taught her just how impactful she could be as a teacher.

In this episode Melanie and I talk about the challenges of teaching young students to read when everyone is in a mask. We also talk about the importance of reading to a proper education, what it's like when you have to be a child's advocate, and the all the paper work.


Buy me a Coffee (Help fund the podcast)

There are a fair amount of monthly costs associated with keeping the lights on here. Just like in education. So far I have been footing the bill. I am happy and honored to do so. It is a privilege to be able to do. However, I would like to expand our reach. If I can get some of the bills covered here we can do more, we reach more people, share more stories, and maybe even help some deserving people make it into the classroom. Unfortunately, that all costs money. For now I am using Buy me a Coffee. It's an online platform that help people collect financial support for creative endeavors. If you can, please consider going to the link below and throw in a buck, or two, or five. Consider how much a cup of coffee actually costs. It's a one and done setup, so please feel free to make your way back every month or every episode and throw something in the "hat". Every dollar is appreciated. And if you can't, just listening to these teachers share their stories and following them in their endeavors warms my heart. It is more than enough.

Learn more about Coach Hall Writes at:
https://coachhallwrites.com/

Listen to Coach Hall's Life Behind the Desk episode:
https://lifebehindthedesk.com/003bethhall/

Support the Show.

Be sure to visit the website at http://www.lifebehindthedesk.com

#022 - This week we talk to Tess Kraft from Kansas City, Missouri. Tess has taught most of the lower elementary grades and at the end of last year she was working as a reading specialist. When the pandemic hit she had to scramble to figure out how to continue supporting an entire school worth of teachers. Like any good teacher, Tess thought on her feet. She started recording herself reading children's books and brought in authors to speak to her students virtually. Fast forward to this school year where Tess found herself back in the classroom, teaching First Grade before quickly transitioning to Kindergarten.

In this episode we discuss just how important it is for kids to be successful readers. We also talk about what tools parents can use to support their kids in that goal. We get to learn about an amazing lesson that Tess's district is taking away from teaching in this pandemic year.

Learn more about Tess

Like so many teachers today, Tess has a side gig. She produces materials that help teachers prep their reading lessons more efficiently and teach reading more effectively. I highly suggest you check out her work at the links below.

Website: https://www.kraftyteacher.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessthekraftyteacher/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekraftyteachermo/

Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Tess-The-Krafty-Teacher

Buy me a Coffee (Help fund the podcast)

There are a fair amount of monthly costs associated with keeping the lights on here. Just like in education. So far I have been footing the bill. I am happy and honored to do so. It is a privilege to be able to do. However, I would like to expand our reach. If I can get some of the bills covered here we can do more, we reach more people, share more stories, and maybe even help some deserving people make it into the classroom. Unfortunately, that all costs money. For now I am using Buy me a Coffee. It's an online platform that help people collect financial support for creative endeavors. If you can, please consider going to the link below and throw in a buck, or two, or five. Consider how much a cup of coffee actually costs. It's a one and done setup, so please feel free to make your way back every month or every episode and throw something in the "hat". Every dollar is appreciated. And if you can't, just listening to these teachers share their stories and following them in their endeavors warms my heart. It is more than enough.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jonathonmiller

Learn more about Coach Hall Writes at:
https://coachhallwrites.com/

Listen to Coach Hall's Life Behind the Desk episode:
https://lifebehindthedesk.com/003bethhall/

Support the Show.

Be sure to visit the website at http://www.lifebehindthedesk.com

#021 - This week we talk to Erin Ross. Erin teaches orchestra in Springfield, Missouri. When the pandemic hit, all teachers had it rough. I think music teachers had it particularly rough. Not only is it just not possible to be as effective as you were in person, Erin had no way to provide the group environment that is so much a part of being a musician. She has struggled this year with the loss of being able to instill in her students what it means to be a part of something bigger than themselves. And, with trying to keep them motivated when there is no culminating concert at the end of the year.

In this episode we talk about what it’s been like to return to the classroom and the challenges that came with a hybrid schedule when the first returned. Erin is optimistic about what the future holds and is looking forward to the rest of this school year and into the next.

Like so many teachers today, Erin has her side hustle. Not only does she keep private music students, she is also a fitness coach with a wonderful online presence. You feel inspired just scrolling through her feed. To find Erin’s Instagram and learn more about her fitness coaching business follow the links below.

Instagram: @erinruscel

Fitness Coaching: https://mysite.coach.teambeachbody.com/?coachId=1979822&locale=en_US#contact

Learn more at the show notes available at the link below

https://lifebehindthedesk.com/021erinross/

Learn more about Coach Hall Writes at:
https://coachhallwrites.com/

Listen to Coach Hall's Life Behind the Desk episode:
https://lifebehindthedesk.com/003bethhall/

Support the Show.

Be sure to visit the website at http://www.lifebehindthedesk.com

#020 - This week we talk to Samantha Holcomb. Samantha started her professional life in industry as an engineer. This choice was a byproduct of what would fund her college education. Her true passion was to be an educator herself. Samantha teachers in Illinois' largest school district, covering approximately 250 square miles. That size is in direct opposition to the number of people that live there. Samantha serves her school's small student body passionately and with a sense of responsibility to demonstrate that women can be engineers too. Her road to the classroom was unique and challenging. Someone not as committed to being an educator might have given up, multiple times, if faced with the challenges Samantha overcame to get where she is.

In this episode we talk about what it's like to teach in a small school district in the face of uncertainty and the challenges of getting kids back into the classroom as the Covid-19 pandemic continues. Samantha shares her exploits outside of the classroom with her blog and website, Engineer Does Education, where she publishes posts helping teachers run a more efficient classroom and produces tools and lessons to help teach STEM lessons. You can find all of that and more at the links below.

Get involved

https://www.lifebehindthedesk.com/episode020signup

There are a lot of goals I would like to accomplish with this project and I am sure that there are much more that could be done. I also want to fine tune things as we go along, to better serve you, the listeners and our participants. And YOU can help with that. I want your feedback to help guide the future of Life Behind the Desk. To be part of that sign up for the mailing list at this link.

And, if you sign up you can learn about Samantha's most memorable students in a clip I had to cut for time's sake. Sign up at the link below:

https://www.lifebehindthedesk.com/episode020signup

Engineer Does Education

Blog: www.engineerdoeseducation.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/engineerdoeseducation

Teachers pay teachers store: www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/engineerdoeseducation

Other ways to listen

Jump to Life Behind the Desk at popular streaming services below:

https://lifebehindthedesk.com/apple

https://lifebehindthedesk.com/spotify

And you can bookmark the link below so that can always jump to the most current episode available:

https://www.lifebehindthedesk.com/latest

Learn more about Coach Hall Writes at:
https://coachhallwrites.com/

Listen to Coach Hall's Life Behind the Desk episode:
https://lifebehindthedesk.com/003bethhall/

Support the Show.

Be sure to visit the website at http://www.lifebehindthedesk.com

#019 - This week we talk to Megan Browne. Megan started off her teaching career with the littles, spending years teaching Kindergarten. Loving where she was at, it was a rough shock when she got moved to junior high, through no choice of her own. However, she has found that she loves it! She has been able to specialize in teaching science because of the timeline of her move from kinder to adolescences, she gets to see a number of repeat customers. Like so many teachers, Megan has a side gig. With Browne’s Bunch of Stem she provides lessons, techniques and education to help teach STEM subjects effectively in the classroom. To support the current reality that teachers, and the rest of the world, are facing right now she has materials to support teaching STEM in a digital setting.

In this episode we talk about how teaching has changed with Megan’s change in learner groups and how her relationship with students is different. We also touch on topics related to employment. Where some personal decisions are made based on a balance of what you want and where your heart leads, but also with the need to maintain a paycheck.

There are a lot of goals I would like to accomplish with this project and I am sure that there are much more that could be done. I also want to fine tune things as we go along, to better server you, the listeners and our participants. And YOU can help with that. I want your feed back to help guide the future of Life Behind the Desk. All you need to do is click the link below and sign up for the mailing list. It’s never spammy, and I will never give you email away. After that, I’ll send you an email reminding you of the release of each episode and the occasional survey. And by occasional, I mean 3-4 times a year. It’s not a lot, but it will be a huge help for me and a huge help in guiding Life Behind the Desk as we move through 2021. You can take part in that with the link below.

https://lifebehindthedesk.com/Signup001

Browne's Bunch of STEM

Follow Megan on Instagram and check out her other work at Browne's Bunch of STEM.

https://www.brownesbunchofstem.com

https://www.instagram.com/brownesbunchofstem/

To visit the show notes, use the link below:

https://www.lifebehindthedesk.com/019meganbrowne

Learn more about Coach Hall Writes at:
https://coachhallwrites.com/

Listen to Coach Hall's Life Behind the Desk episode:
https://lifebehindthedesk.com/003bethhall/

Support the Show.

Be sure to visit the website at http://www.lifebehindthedesk.com