Welcome to the Edu20/20 After Hours Podcast… and yes, we’re ending the season with state testing. Because what better way to wrap things up than revisiting one of the most stressful and chaotic times of the school year?

In this episode, we’re sharing real stories from state testing--the kind that sound made up until you’ve actually lived through it.

We’re talking:
• The rules, the pressure, and the “did I sign in blood?” meetings
• What classrooms actually look like during testing week
• The moments where everything goes sideways (and you can’t do anything about it)
• And how teachers somehow survive it every single year

If you’ve ever made it through testing season, you already know. And if you haven’t… buckle up. Source moments pulled straight from real classroom experiences.

Chapters:
0:00 Why state testing deserves its own episode
2:22 The rules, the pressure, and the setup
4:20 What testing week actually feels like
6:38 When things go wrong (and you’re stuck)
9:32 The story we will never forget
12:01 How teachers survive testing days
14:00 The moments you can’t control
15:34 Ending the year (and season) with perspective

https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome back to the Edu20/20 Podcast… and yes, this is the season finale.

We’re talking about that very specific time of year. Testing? Done. Kids? Done.
Teachers? Definitely DONE.

And somehow, you still have weeks left. This episode is all about what to do with that time-- keeping things meaningful without making it harder on yourself. We’re sharing what we’ve tried, what worked, what didn’t, and how to use this stretch of the year in a way that still feels worth it.

There’s a mix of ideas in here:
• Trying new strategies without the pressure
• Giving students more ownership and voice
• Creative ways to revisit content without it feeling repetitive
• Projects, reflection, and actually building humans (not just finishing standards)

Chapters:
0:00 Last episode energy (and why this time of year is weird)
2:23 What to do after testing ends
3:42 Using this time to try new strategies
5:42 Creative projects that still connect to content
7:30 Letting students give feedback (and actually listening)
10:34 Making review meaningful instead of busywork
13:46 Prioritizing what actually matters
15:07 Ending the year on a high note

https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to the Edu20/20 After Hours Podcast… where we’re nearing the end of the season by going all the way back to the beginning.

In this episode, we’re talking about who we were before education-- the random jobs, weird experiences, and moments that somehow shaped how we show up in classrooms today.

From running errands for executives (yes, including private jets) to Walmart snack bars, call centers, and first-year teaching chaos, this one is a mix of “how did that happen?” and “okay wait, that actually tracks.”

It’s not deep or structured, but it does explain a lot.

Chapters:
0:00 Why we’re going back before teaching
1:24 Favorite teaching years (and why they mattered)
5:37 The jobs that came before the classroom
9:22 The most random job stories (private jets included)
12:46 First-year teaching chaos (and quick exits 😅)
16:44 Jobs we would never do again

#TeacherLife #Education #TeacherOriginStories

https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome back to the Edu20/20 Podcast… where we take the things we’ve all done in classrooms and actually look at whether they’re working.

This episode is all about study guides. We’ve all used them. We’ve all handed them out before a test. We’re talking through what’s actually happening when students “study” and why a lot of it doesn’t last.

This conversation gets into:
• What we’ve done (and seen) with study guides over time
• Why some approaches feel helpful in the moment but don’t stick
• What retrieval and repetition actually look like in real classrooms
• Simple ways to build stronger memory without adding more to your plate

Chapters:
0:00 Why we keep coming back to study guides
2:06 What we’ve seen (and done) in classrooms
4:32 What the research says about studying
6:29 A different way to approach review
9:27 Why students forget so quickly
11:25 Practical ways to build memory over time
13:12 What to watch for during review
15:31 A simple shift you can try

https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to the Edu20/20 After Hours Podcast, where we’re not solving education today, we’re just trying to survive it. This episode is all about teacher life hacks.

We’re talking about:
• The tiny changes that save your sanity during the week
• How to create routines that work for your brain
• Why your people at work matter more than anything
• Systems, boundaries, and protecting your time
• And the things you do outside of school that keep you going

Chapters:
0:00 Why we’re talking survival, not strategy
1:41 The small habits that set your week up right
3:13 Managing stress (without losing your mind)
5:25 Finding your people (your real support system)
10:03 Systems that actually save you time
13:24 Boundaries, routines, and protecting your energy
15:03 Why perspective (and getting out) matters

https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome back to the Edu20/20 Podcast. This episode is all about success criteria and why it’s become one of the most misunderstood (and overcomplicated) things happening in classrooms right now.

After hundreds of classroom observations, we’ve seen it all:
• Success criteria turned into an agenda
• Success criteria that literally gives away the answer
• Success criteria used as a compliance checkbox
• And about five different definitions in the same building

So…what is it actually supposed to be?

We break down what works, what doesn’t, and how to use success criteria in a way that actually helps students instead of overwhelming teachers.

Chapters:
0:00 Why this topic is making us a little spicy
2:18 The biggest problem: no clear definition
5:08 Why success criteria can’t be one-size-fits-all
7:12 When it turns into compliance instead of support
10:02 What success criteria should actually be tied to
11:45 Using student work to build real clarity
14:20 What it looks like when it’s done well
15:44 The takeaway: don’t throw it out… fix it

https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to the Edu20/20 After Hours Podcast. This is your official warning to not listen to this one with your kids in the car.

In this episode, we’re sharing some of the wildest, most unhinged things we’ve heard in the classroom, from students, parents, and situations that no teacher prep program could ever prepare you for.

We’re talking:
• Parent notes that should’ve never been written
• Classroom activities that took a turn real fast
• Things students casually say that stop you in your tracks
• Parent conference moments you cannot make up

If you’re a teacher, you’ve got your own version of these stories. If you’re not, just know we’re out here experiencing things daily.

Chapters:
0:00 Why this episode comes with a warning
1:05 The wild parent notes (yes… those notes)
3:56 Classroom activities gone wrong
6:20 The things students learn at home… and repeat
8:24 Kindergarten stories that should never exist
10:41 The note that got sent to the WRONG person
13:00 The parent conference that went completely off the rails
15:06 Why teachers have stories for days

#edu2020 #podcast #teachingcommunity #theedu2020podcast #teachingopportunities #education #onlineeducator

https://www.edutwentytwenty.com

Welcome to the Edu20/20 Podcast, where we take the things everyone says we “have to do” in education and talk about whether they actually make sense.

This episode is all about goals and why they so often feel like a moving target. We break down why goals feel overwhelming (or unclear), what teachers actually need, and how simplifying your focus will lead to real results.

Chapters:
0:00 Why goals feel like a moving target
4:14 The real problem with unclear goals
7:20 What happens when you actually focus
11:42 Goals during new curriculum implementation
15:25 What leaders should do differently

#edu2020 #podcast #teachingcommunity #theedu2020podcast #podcastclips #teachingopportunities #education #onlineeducator

https://www.edutwentytwenty.com