Send us a text When something lands the right way in a classroom, it doesn’t just teach—it transforms. But in today’s climate, that transformation can come at a cost. In this episode, Jake shares a personal story he's never fully told publicly—about the time a group of parents tried to get him fired for teaching a novel. Not because it was inappropriate. But because it made students think, ask questions, and feel something real. Read the full story on Substack: Teaching What They’...

Send us a text When the tools, tasks, and teaching all start to change—at what point do we stop and ask: Is this still education? In this mini episode, Jake Carr dives into the ancient thought experiment known as the Ship of Theseus to unpack what's happening in our schools today. From medieval monks copying texts by candlelight to students copy-pasting AI-generated responses, he asks: What makes learning authentic? What planks are we swapping out without realizing it? And what should teacher...

Send us a text A brand-new student walks into a San Diego classroom—fresh across the border, speaking only Spanish. No prep. No warning. Just dropped off mid-morning with a “good luck.” What happened next? It’s the kind of story that reminds us why AI, when done right, can be the ultimate scaffold. In this episode, Jake shares the real story of a fifth-grade student who used Snorkl’s AI-powered translation tools to not only access a classroom assignment—but outperform every other kid in the r...

Send us a text AI isn’t storming the gates of education — it’s swimming quietly across the moat. In this episode of What Teachers Have to Say, Jake unpacks how the traditional moats that once protected education — content, pedagogy, and institutional processes — are quietly eroding as AI reshapes the landscape. Inspired by a thought-provoking LinkedIn post by Steven Bartlett (FlightStory, Thirdweb, The Diary of a CEO), Jake explores how these shifts parallel what’s happening in business and a...

Send us a text In this episode, Jake Carr discusses the impact of artificial intelligence on education and how a shift from control to connection can enhance teaching using a recent article by Carlo Iacono. He introduces the EduProtocols Triple Play, which includes adaptations of the Frayer Model to foster student engagement, collaboration, and reflection. The conversation emphasizes the importance of witnessing student growth and creating a supportive learning environment, ultimately advocat...

Send us a text In this conversation, Jake, and guest call-in Maria, cover the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, focusing on how it can enhance teaching and learning. He explores the distinction between automation and augmentation, practical strategies for teachers to implement AI, and the importance of fostering a creative culture around AI usage in schools. The discussion emphasizes the need for clear AI philosophies, teacher training, and transparency in AI adoption ...

Send us a text How do you teach computational thinking to kids without screens? In this episode, recorded live atTCEA in Austin, Texas, I sit down withNik from Sphero to talk aboutIndi, the screen-free coding robot that’s helping even the youngest learners develop problem-solving skills. But Indi isn’t just for coding—teachers are using it inELA, math, and more. 🎧Listen to hear: ✅ HowIndi teaches codingwithout screens ✅ How afirst-grade teacher used Indi forsentence-building ✅ Whyhands-on lea...

Send us a text Jake & Nathan explore two ways to motivate students toward better learning habits by valuing their learning process, not just the products of their learning, and connecting their skills to real world applications. Your teacher besties return to ideas from two previous episodes on procrastination and the EduProtocols mindset, and dig deeper into Adam Grant’s work in his book Hidden Potential, to find solutions to the age old problem of procrastination. Grades are often hig...

Send us a text In this episode Jake explores Wicked Hydra, a dynamic EduProtocol from The EduProtocols Field Guide: ELA Edition, that transforms classroom inquiry by putting questions first. In conversation with Courtney, a passionate middle school social studies teacher from Texas, we learn how Wicked Hydra shifts the responsibility for inquiry from teacher to student. Rather than delivering a single, predetermined answer, this protocol creates a question-only mind map where every query ope...

Send us a text Jake and Matt Miller from Ditch That Textbook dive into the power of AI’s imperfections as a teaching tool. They explore how the quirks and mistakes in AI-generated content, like extra fingers or misshapen images, can sharpen students’ critical thinking, media literacy, and observation skills. Instead of fearing AI’s flaws, teachers can turn them into opportunities for deeper learning and classroom engagement. Matt shares how he uses AI-generated images in his Spanish classroom...

Send us a text Can you be excellent at your job without letting it consume your life? The education system thrives on unpaid teacher labor, but at what cost? In this episode, we discuss cruel optimism—the idea that if teachers just work harder, they can fix systemic issues. Spoiler: They can’t. More hours don’t equal better teaching, and burnout isn’t a badge of honor. Hans Tullman kicks off the discussion with a hard truth: the system depends on teachers working for free. Jake unpacks how se...

Send us a text We’re back! Our real-talk educator dynamic duo, Jake & Nathan are back in action: complete with career and life updates and a return to form discussing real life uses of AI tools to beat burnout and have more fun in your classroom tomorrow! Visit https://www.mrcarrontheweb.com/ and sign up with your email for Jake’s newsletter to receive a PDF guide on when students should and should not use AI in the classroom. Resources discussed in the episode: Jake’s ELA Editi...

Send us a text Are we really preparing students for their future? Educators are tasked to teach state standards, but are we also teaching the skills that students really need to be successful in the “real world”? State standards and standardized tests often test rote memorization more than real world application. The struggle is real and how will they get a job when they can’t turn in homework on time?!?! is a common refrain in the staff room, but what are the real life skills we need to be t...

Send us a text Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Move into the weekend with an incredible, inspiring, hope-filled conversation about the immense cultural value teachers have as problem solvers and keepers of democratic ideals. Don't wait for acts of Congress, act with your conscience. Dr. Fred Mednick is a teacher changemaker, global educator, thought leader, and founder of Teachers Without Borders. Awarded the Champion of African Education Award, the Luxembourg Peace Prize, and the Ahmadiyya ...

Send us a text Pat Yongpradit is a nationally recognized computer science education advocate and thought leader working at the policy level to make sure ALL students have the opportunity to learn computer science. You can't talk CS in education without talking CODE.org! Pat has been at CODE since the beginning and is currently the Chief Academic Officer. Before CODE, Pat was a high school computer science teacher. At CODE, he made it his mission to reshape the way that computer science is ta...

Send us a text Jake & Nathan are joined by Tracey Allen, Janet Brownell, and Anna Johnson from the Butte County Office of Education to talk about the future of Computer Science in schools. BCOE has been innovating in the sphere of EdTech integration in Northern California for years and has a VERY successful, cutting-edge library model with their EdTech Exchange so that all educators and all students can access creative, innovative, and engaging EdTech tools to use in their classes. Did yo...

Send us a text If you want to be on the bleeding edge of current AI+Education discourse, this episode is for you! Jake & Nathan break down Stanford's 2024 AI+Education Summit held by Stanford HAI (Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence). Follow the link to explore a selection of recorded sessions from the day and get in on the conversation. AI promises us limitless potential to shape our students' educational experiences, and personalized learning is more possible than ever: but at what c...

Send us a text Current research on the psychology of procrastination tells us it’s A LOT more complex than just "laziness" ... Leveraging the work of psychologist, author, and fellow podcaster Dr. Adam Grant, from his recent appearance on an episode of the Huberman Lab podcast, and his latest book Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things, Jake & Nathan challenge the notion that this behavior in students (and teachers) is somehow related to what we keep calling "laziness....

Send us a text Jake just returned from a whirlwind professional development tour, dropping the mic at a keynote in LA, and facilitating his first AI-in-education training in New York. It’s time for a What Teachers Have to Say debrief and special announcement! Jake & Nathan, along with friend and fellow EduProtocols author for the Social Studies Edition, Adam Moler! have been invited to serve on a team of consultants to integrate artificial intelligence in education for the Successful Pra...

Send us a text Respectfully borrowing a term from LGBTQ+ culture, the classroom is often a closet for teachers, who do not feel safe to share much (if any) of their authentic human selves in their teaching without facing unjust disciplinary action or community backlash. Jake & Nathan approach this difficult topic to draw attention to this unspoken requirement of the career path of teaching. We need to talk about the cognitive dissonance of being in a profession that talks a big game about...