Welcome to Episode 1 of Season 2!Every episode in season two will be one of four segmentsThis segment is called Successful Signs. Successful signs is when Coach Toni interviews someone who is successful in their own right and discusses how grade school was for them.This way we will start to create a blueprint for what should be kept in schools, what should be initiated in schools, and what practices we should eliminate.Our guest today is THE DJ AONE known for his iconic set with Xscape on Verzuz. Also, does THE DJ AONE have an internal monologue?Internal Monologue guest count so far: Yes: 1; No: 1Enjoy the interview!Support the show

What is going on in Indiana? Why is HB 1134 even a thing? Coach Toni dons clown face as she talks about the proposed mandate and what it means for teachers. Visit her on youtube to see her clownface!Support the show

Should we be holding students back? What do we do with students who are academically ahead of their peers?Join Coach Toni as she discusses the following anonymous submission: "Unpopular opinion: we need to go back to holding students back a grade if they do not show the requisite skills to move on, regardless of how it emotionally impacts them (this is the most common argument I hear against holding students back. I'm not encouraging that we emotionally hurt students). I'm getting really depressed reading reports about how many high school students can't read above a kindergarten level. I'm talking specifically about students that have spent elementary through high school in American public school systems. If they are falling behind, why push them on? Thoughts on the matter?"Support the show

Is it worth it to give up your prep for the sake of covering another class? Are you in a school who 'Voluntells' (tells you its optional but you don't have a choice) you for coverages? What would a district have to pay you for you to accept loosing your prep and subbing for another class?Join Coach Toni as she discusses the following anonymous submission: "It’s getting really bad out here when teachers don’t even want the incentive pay to cover classes anymore. My district gives you $30 for every class you have to cover, but no one even volunteers anymore. It’s easy money right? Everyone is out, the money is untaxed, little to no prep…..but no, it’s not. Taking away my planning every single day for a few extra dollars just isn’t worth it anymore. I don’t have time to deal with another teacher’s kids, lose any time to make copies and prep for the day, or to lose the only moments peace I get all day. Sounds ungrateful, but everyone is TIRED. I was really hoping for a new semester pep-in-my-step but I am just as tired as I was before we left for holiday break. This year is something else."Support the show

How did we get to the place where schools in some neighborhoods become more than just schools for students?  Coach Toni and Yari Mercedes (@yari.mercedes on IG) sit down to organically discuss a submission made by a teacher who expressed concerns about schools going from being a hub for education to a hub for all things parenting. Also, does Yari have an internal monologue?Internal Monologue guest count so far: Yes: 1; No: 0Buy TWOTB Merch: (www.thewritingontheboard.com/merch) Support the show

Is it possible to develop a meaningful relationship with many students in a short period of time?Join Coach Toni as she discusses the following anonymous submission  "We need to have a discussion about the sustainability of all these relationships. It is not natural to invest in dozens of relationships each academic year and then start from scratch the next year."Support the show

Are teachers supposed to be entertaining students or just plain teaching them?  Coach Toni and Art Aviña (@schooledbyarturo) sit down to organically discuss a submission made by a teacher who expressed concerns about students always being bored in his classroom. Also, does Art have an internal monologue?Buy TWOTB Merch: (www.thewritingontheboard.com/merch) Support the show

Are students nationwide technologically ready to participate in virtual school if needed again?Join Coach Toni as she discusses the following submission made by @PrincipalRahh on Instagram: "Schools and District leaders are terrified at possible lockdowns again because they went back to pre-pandemic Pedagogy and now they will be faced with failing with the technological gap again that separates learning experiences!"Support the show

Should we be allowed to pull students out of class to learn other subjects? Is giving and actually getting homework back a lost art? How many students in the math classroom are ACTUALLY on grade level? Coach Toni and Mr. Roger Hamilton sit down to organically discuss a submission made by a teacher who expressed concerns about students being pulled out of class for math intervention.Support the show

Should teachers be switched out of what they're teaching every single year? Join Coach Toni as she discusses the following anonymous submission: "I worked with a teacher who was moved to very different classes every year. Every year his evaluation dinged him for not being very knowledgeable in his subject area. One year, they opened a new department (environmental sciences), made him the head of the department (unwanted/only $500 per year), then dinged him because a department that's been around more than 20 years has better documentation systems."Support the show