Greatest Hits: Beyond Grades, Rewards, and Standardized Testing with Alfie Kohn
Release Date: 03/12/2025
#385 Season 9 Ends
Teach Me, Teacher
Hello everyone! In this closing episode of Season 9, host Jacob Chastain takes a heartfelt look back at the journey so far. We get real about where the show stands today, the challenges and growth behind the scenes, and the exciting direction we’re headed. Looking ahead to Season 10, big changes are on the horizon—new formats, fresh perspectives, and deeper conversations that push the boundaries of what Teach Me, Teacher has always been about: real talk for real educators. If you’ve been with us since the beginning, or just found us this season, this finale sets the stage for an...
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#384 Guiding Your Child’s Athletic Journey with Alex Compton and Kevin Dalafu (pt.2)
Teach Me, Teacher
In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, we delve into the transformative power of sports in shaping young minds. Joining us are Coach Alex Compton and Coach Kevin Dalafu, authors of .With over a decade of experience in coaching, parenting, and education, they offer invaluable insights into how sports can be a powerful tool for teaching young people morals, work ethic, and resilience. Drawing from their extensive backgrounds, Compton and Dalafu discuss how youth sports go beyond physical development, serving as a platform for instilling essential life skills. They share practical strategies...
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#384 Guiding Your Child's Athletic Journey with Alex Compton and Kevin Dalafu (pt.1)
Teach Me, Teacher
In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, we delve into the transformative power of sports in shaping young minds. Joining us are Coach Alex Compton and Coach Kevin Dalafu, authors of .With over a decade of experience in coaching, parenting, and education, they offer invaluable insights into how sports can be a powerful tool for teaching young people morals, work ethic, and resilience. Drawing from their extensive backgrounds, Compton and Dalafu discuss how youth sports go beyond physical development, serving as a platform for instilling essential life skills. They share practical strategies...
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#383 The Politicization of Our Schools (John B. King Jr., Former U.S. Secretary of Education pt.2)
Teach Me, Teacher
In part 2 of this powerful episode, host Jacob Chastain sits down with Dr. John B. King Jr., the 10th U.S. Secretary of Education under President Obama, to discuss his new book . They explore Dr. King’s journey from classroom teacher to national education leader, offering a rare insider’s perspective on the state of American education. Together, they unpack the challenges educators face today, including the growing politicization of the profession and its impact on schools and communities. A must-listen for anyone passionate about teaching, policy, and the future of education. John B....
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#382 Teaching, Power, and Policy with John B. King Jr., Former U.S. Secretary of Education (pt.1)
Teach Me, Teacher
In this powerful episode, host Jacob Chastain sits down with Dr. John B. King Jr., the 10th U.S. Secretary of Education under President Obama, to discuss his new book . They explore Dr. King's journey from classroom teacher to national education leader, offering a rare insider’s perspective on the state of American education. Together, they unpack the challenges educators face today, including the growing politicization of the profession and its impact on schools and communities. A must-listen for anyone passionate about teaching, policy, and the future of education. John B. King Jr. served...
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#381 Building Trust with Parents as a Teacher
Teach Me, Teacher
Hello everyone! In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, we dive into one of the most vital—and often overlooked—elements of teaching success: building genuine, lasting partnerships with parents. Whether you're a first-year teacher or a seasoned educator, gaining parent support can transform your classroom culture, student outcomes, and your overall teaching experience. Join us as we explore five actionable steps to connect with parents on a deeper level: Invite, Communicate, Extend, Follow-Up, and Educate. These steps go beyond surface-level interactions and help foster real trust,...
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#380 My Frustrations and Reflections on Life and Education
Teach Me, Teacher
Hello everyone! What a title for a podcast. But, this is a real one. No guest, just me (Jacob Chastain,) the reality of changes in my life, and my continued frustration with the discussions around education. For followers of the show, you have seen a lot of "Greatest Hits" episodes dropping. This is due for a lot of reasons that I go into, but the short of it is that life has thrown some major curveballs my way and it has been hard to balance everything. I am slowly getting there, but some things take time. This episode details changes in my life and where I am finding it hard to...
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Greatest Hits: Bring the Joy Back (Regie Routman pt.3)
Teach Me, Teacher
Hello everyone! is by far one of the most influential books I’ve read in my teaching career. It’s a book I turn to weekly for advice, insight, and encouragement in my work to bring authentic literacy to my students. So when I was given a chance to talk to Regie herself, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. , we dove deep into the increasingly alarming practice of talking about students as if they are data points and not children. We discussed why we need to humanize our classrooms, and how to think about our school culture in a way that fosters equitable practices....
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Greatest Hits: What’s Wrong and How to Fix It (Regie Routman pt.2)
Teach Me, Teacher
Hello everyone! is by far one of the most influential books I’ve read in my teaching career. It’s a book I turn to weekly for advice, insight, and encouragement in my work to bring authentic literacy to my students. So when I was given a chance to talk to Regie herself, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. , we dove deep into the increasingly alarming practice of talking about students as if they are data points and not children. We discussed why we need to humanize our classrooms, and how to think about our school culture in a way that fosters equitable practices....
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Greatest Hits: We Teach KIDS, Not Data Points! Talking Equity with Regie Routman (pt.1)
Teach Me, Teacher
This episode previously aired in another season. Hello everyone! is by far one of the most influential books I’ve read in my teaching career. It’s a book I turn to weekly for advice, insight, and encouragement in my work to bring authentic literacy to my students. So when I was given a chance to talk to Regie herself, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. To my delight, Regie is just as honest and passionate in person as she is in her many books. She doesn’t waste time in our talk getting to the heart of the matter, which is that if we want to make an impact on kids in...
info_outlineHello everyone! Today, I am releasing what I believe is the most important podcast in the history of the show. Not only is it filled with honest and real world talk, it is filled with research based advice and insight from one of the premier thinkers on education today.
In this episode, I sit down with Alfie Kohn and discuss a range of topics, such as why grading hurts more than it helps,
why rewards do more harm than good, and why the testing obsession leads to bad teaching.
I consider these the three pillars of what holds up an outdated educational model, and Alfie Kohn is the main reason for that perspective. Without a doubt, Alfie has influenced my teaching in such fundamental ways, and I know his thinking, research, and expertise will encourage you to question some of the norms of our educational climate.
Alfie Kohn writes and speaks widely on human behavior, education, and parenting. The most recent of his 14 books are SCHOOLING BEYOND MEASURE…And Other Unorthodox Essays About Education (2015) and THE MYTH OF THE SPOILED CHILD: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom About Children and Parenting (2014). Of his earlier titles, the best known are PUNISHED BY REWARDS (1993), NO CONTEST: The Case Against Competition (1986), UNCONDITIONAL PARENTING (2005), and THE SCHOOLS OUR CHILDREN DESERVE (1999).