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Teachers' Lounge Teachers' Lounge is a new podcast from WNIJ diving into the issues impacting students and teachers across Illinois, and giving teachers themselves space to tell stories from inside their classroom.
Teachers' Lounge

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Teachers' Lounge

Teachers' Lounge

From Northern Public Radio

Teachers' Lounge is a new podcast from WNIJ diving into the issues impacting students and teachers across Illinois, and giving teachers themselves space to tell stories from inside their classroom.

Most Recent Episodes

Mixed Feelings About Schools Reopening | Teachers' Lounge Podcast

On a new Teachers' Lounge, host Peter Medlin sat down digitally with Ayla Peczkowski. She taught English & Special Ed at the Roosevelt Community Education Center in Rockford. Now she's going to be in an administrative role at East High School, also in Rockford. They talked about Ayla's mixed feelings about schools reopening, teaching her students about news literacy during the pandemic and much more. This episode goes in depth on what goes into a reopening plan. And there's a story

'If You're Not At The Table, You're On The Menu' | Teachers' Lounge Podcast

On a new Teachers' Lounge podcast, host Peter Medlin had a long chat with Huntley Middle School Principal Amonaquenette Parker. Parker talked about the big lessons she learned about education during the pandemic and her perspective as a Black educator and mother as the country has started having more conversations about racial inequality and police brutality. The conversation covered a lot of ground, so they also talked about when Parker's mom was her boss for a few years and her love of cheesy

'If You're Not At The Table, You're On The Menu' | Teachers' Lounge Podcast

Listen · 42:55

'Dear Class of 2020...' | Teachers' Lounge Podcast

This is a special episode of the show we're calling "Dear Class of 2020..." The teachers are gone. This week it's all about the students graduating after the strangest senior year ever. You're going to hear four valedictorians give the speeches they would have given, in a normal year, to an auditorium full of their friends and family. The Class of 2020 valedictorians are: Xavior Hutsell of Roosevelt High School in Rockford Nina Mitchell of DeKalb High School Ashley Althaus of Amboy High School And

Confronting Systemic Racism & Inequity In Education | Teachers' Lounge Podcast

This week, we have our first ever returning guest on Teachers' Lounge: Maurice McDavid. He's been a teacher and administrator in his hometown of DeKalb for about a decade, but, starting next year, he's going to be an elementary school principal in West Chicago. Maurice is a black educator. He talked to host Peter Medlin about what he's been thinking about during this national movement confronting police brutality and systemic racism in America. And Maurice gave his perspective on the racial

Confronting Systemic Racism & Inequity In Education | Teachers' Lounge Podcast

Listen · 27:32

How To Be Present Teaching & Learning To Laugh At Smuggled Toasters |Teachers' Lounge Podcast

Editor's Note: WNIJ and our podcast Teachers' Lounge are giving a platform for you to hear some of valedictorian speeches students may not get to give in person this year. It's called "Dear Class of 2020..." If you want your school to be a part of our special edition show, send us an email at teacherslounge@niu.edu . And thanks! This week Marilyn Moltz is on the show. She's been teaching English in DeKalb for around 30 years! Marilyn and host Peter Medlin covered a lot of ground in their

How To Be Present Teaching & Learning To Laugh At Smuggled Toasters |Teachers' Lounge Podcast

Listen · 34:36

From Language Arts To Rap Battles: The Last Wordbender | Teachers' Lounge Podcast

On a new Teachers' Lounge, seventh grade language arts teacher Justin Saichek AKA The Last Wordbender . Justin is a rapper and spoken word artist who teaches at West Middle School in Rockford. Justin talked to host Peter Medlin about how he got his rap name, teaching in the same building he went to middle school, coronavirus learning challenges, freestyle rap battles, and they dove deep on Justin's hip hop career and music influences. Stay tuned until the end of the episode or click the play

From Language Arts To Rap Battles: The Last Wordbender | Teachers' Lounge Podcast

Listen · 42:46

American Music, Motivation & Education | Teachers' Lounge Podcast

On a new episode of Teachers' Lounge, roots musician, jazz guitarist & music teacher: Jim Kanas. He's retiring from DeKalb Public Schools this year and has been an artist-in-residence with the Illinois Arts Council at schools across the state. Jim talked to host Peter Medlin about e-learning, being an artist outside of the big city, his passion for American music and, obviously, we didn't have him on without making him play a little something. Also, Jim was featured on an episode of Sessions

A Special Edition Student Teachers' Lounge & Learning Art During COVID-19 | Teachers' Lounge Podcast

This week, the Teachers' Lounge is actually a Student Teachers' Lounge. We have DeKalb Founders Elementary student teacher & Northern Illinois University senior, Evadne Bowlin. Evadne talked to host Peter Medlin about how coronavirus affects her both as a student-teacher and just as a college student. We also got into her journey to education and how she's kind of been a student teacher since the 7th grade. Along with that, in this episode we also have stories about prison civics education

A Special Edition Student Teachers' Lounge & Learning Art During COVID-19 | Teachers' Lounge Podcast

Listen · 23:22

Teaching In The Time Of Coronavirus, Silver Linings & Cooking Cabbage |Teachers' Lounge Podcast

On this week's show: John Zuber. He talked with host Peter Medlin about teaching in the time of coronavirus. John is particularly fascinated by how it's impacted his relationships with his students. He thinks so far doing classes online from his couch while traversing technical difficulties has made them more casual and maybe more personable. They also talked about how his rural district is handling e-learning, why high school seniors feel a bit like Hamlet and how having kids changed how he

Teaching In The Time Of Coronavirus, Silver Linings & Cooking Cabbage |Teachers' Lounge Podcast

Listen · 40:05

COVID-19, Class-Sourced Novels & 30 Days to Empathy | Teachers' Lounge Podcast

On this week's show: Jay Rehak. He's an author and Chicago Public Schools language arts teacher. He and his classes at Whitney Young High School are the co-writers of over a dozen student-sourced novels. Host Peter Medlin talked to Jay about how his students are handling coronavirus concerns and the weirdest year of his teaching life. They also covered why empathy is his life's mission, childhood trauma, the writing process and, since he's the author of, "10 Short Plays To Read Before You Die,"

COVID-19, Class-Sourced Novels & 30 Days to Empathy | Teachers' Lounge Podcast

Listen · 38:16

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