A for Effort
A for Effort
Sage Smith
Hey teacher besties!! Navigating teaching in 2020 was... ROUGH (to say the least). Since then, this job has been an absolute rollercoaster for educators. Luckily, this podcast is a safe space for teachers everywhere, who both absolutely LOVE and *sometimes* get annoyed by their job. On A for Effort we discuss all things education that are unique to the teacher experience. So if you enjoy chats, advice, laughs, and the occasional teacher rant, then stick around! You can tune in every week for new episodes.
Rethinking Read Across America
What does it mean to "Read Across America" and why is everyone wearing red and white striped top hats?  In this episode, we discuss the history of Read Across America Day, how it has evolved over time, and its ties to the infamous Dr. Seuss. I give ALL my opinions on Dr. Seuss and the current celebration that is Read Across America Week.  Diverse Alternatives to Dr. Seuss: 1. One Love by Cedella Marlet 2. Please, Baby, Please by Spike Lee 3. So Much! by Trish Cooke 4. Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora 5. Who? by Robie Harris 6. B Is for Baby by Atinuke 7. In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming 8. Sweetest Kulu by Celine Kalluk 9. I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont 10. Whoever You Are by Mem Fox 11. Round Is A Mooncake by Roseanne Thong 12. Red Is A Dragon by Roseanne Thong 13. Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty 14. Under My Hijab by Hena Khan 15. Black Is A Rainbow Color by Angela Joy 16. The Colors of Us by Karen Katz 17. Holi Colors by Rina Singh 18. Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns by Hena Khan 19. Counting on Community by Innosanto Nagara 20. Counting Ovejas by Sarah Weeks 21. Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang 22. One Is A Drummer by Roseanne Thong 23. How to Two by David Soman 24. The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson 25. Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester 26. All the Colors We Are by Katie Kissinger 27. I Am Enough by Grace Byers 28. You're Here for A Reason by Nancy Tillman 29. Like the Moon Loves the Sky by Hena Khan 30. Be You! by Peter Hamilton Books Written by Dr. Seuss that are no longer published: 1. And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street 2. If I Ran the Zoo 3. McElligot’s Pool 4. On Beyond Zebra! 5. Scrambled Eggs Super! 6. The Cat’s Quizzer
Mar 10, 2022
18 min
Teachers on Break
With Spring Break coming up, we're talking about all the *luxuries* that teachers enjoy while on their break, that just don't fly during the school year. 
Mar 3, 2022
28 min
The Real MVP: The Custodian
In the wake of the passing of my school custodian, I share some personal stories about how he positively impacted my life and our school campus. This episode is a reflection of the importance of community in our schools and a tribute to our campus custodians. Let's be real, our schools would not run without them!!  If you'd like to make a donation to support his family, the link to their GoFundMe page is listed below: https://gofund.me/c06409fb
Feb 24, 2022
29 min
Advice for Teacher Candidates
Interested in becoming a teacher or currently in a teacher preparation program? This episode is for YOU! In this episode, I share my best advice for aspiring teachers, ranging from things I wish I had known when I was a teacher candidate and things I've learned since becoming an educator and mentor teacher for others. 
Feb 10, 2022
42 min
Feminization of Teaching
Ever wonder why the majority of teachers are women? Well, SAME! In this episode, we look at the history of the teaching profession and discuss the process of "feminization" that occurs in many professions including education!
Feb 5, 2022
23 min
BONUS EPISODE- 21 Things We Learned from Teaching in 2021
Hey besties and HAPPY NEW YEAR!! What better time to reflect on the past year than New Years Eve?! On this solo episode I share 21 things that I learned from teaching this year, some of which will *hopefully* stay in 2021. 
Dec 31, 2021
36 min
TikTok Teachers with Marvin Reed
In this episode I am joined by one of my all time favorite people, Marvin Reed. Mr. Reed is a 3rd grade teacher based in Berkeley, CA and a doctoral student. In this episode we chat about the positive and negative effects of TikTok on both teachers and students. You can follow him on Instagram @majorteach.
Dec 30, 2021
32 min
Teacher Trends
Hey teacher besties and welcome to the VERY FIRST EPISODE!! This week I talk popular teacher trends! In this episode, I rate current teacher trends and discuss why they are overrated or underrated. Enjoy and see you next week!
Dec 23, 2021
37 min