Episodes

This week, we're traveling through time to explore how education has changed from the one-room schoolhouse to the age of artificial intelligence. Were schools really better back in the day? Have expectations for students changed? And why does it seem like every new educational advancement comes with another responsibility for teachers? From factory-style classrooms and Scantrons to Oregon Trail, school shooter drills, and AI lesson planning, we unpack the good, the bad, and the downright exhaust...

This week we’re back after a very accidental year-long hiatus, and apparently all we needed was a little time off to remember how to podcast. We’re talking screen time in schools: how much is too much, whether minutes are even the right thing to measure, and why “ban it” might be the least interesting answer. From LA Unified’s new screen-time limits to YouTube bans, EdTech subscriptions, doom scrolling, AI lesson planning, and three completely unnecessary chickens, we dig into what intentional t...

This week guest host Cristal Godina joins us as we tackle one of the most misunderstood (and most necessary) parts of teaching: classroom management. What it really is, why it’s not about control, and how consistency, routines, and relationships quietly do the heavy lifting. From Hogwarts metaphors to heckling audiences, filing cabinet fails to Otterbucks victories, we break down what actually works — and why yelling rarely does. Cool in School: • Otter Stores officially open — and kids cashin...

This week we’re diving into one of the biggest game-changers on any campus: school culture. What it is, how it grows, and why it’s really just a fancy word for belonging. From rallies to hallway rituals, chicken-tender nicknames to Batman headbands, we get into the real stuff that makes a school feel like a community. Cool in School: • Leadership love from parents • A surprisingly perfect Chico State trip • Chill time at Berkeley that turned into joyful memories • Volleyball champs + nonsto...

From slow-claps to GLEAM: grade-level rigor, real talk, and a rainbow pumpkin What happens when two middle-school teachers and their favorite guest crack open UnboundEd’s GLEAM (Grade-Level, Engaging, Affirming, Meaningful) and ask the big question: “Who’s doing the thinking?” Chandler, Russell, and Melissa Robinson-Eagles (aka Mrs. Russell) get candid about teaching at grade level, scaffolding without watering down, and making learning feel sincere and not performative. There’s campus solidari...

Ever wondered what would happen if two teachers actually got to rebuild the entire education system? Chandler and Russell throw out grades, bring back recess, and design the perfect school from scratch. Complete with hoodie weather, Mariners magic, and just a touch of chaos. From Hogwarts halls to AVID calls, this is the episode where they fix it all (you’re welcome). Cool in School: Contexto — the viral word-guessing game that made students scream like they won the lottery Teacher Tips: Secre...

In this episode, Chandler and Russell explore what happens when artificial intelligence strolls into the classroom...without a hall pass. From AI schools with HUGE tuition tags to ChatGPT lesson planning hacks, they tackle how technology can amplify teaching without replacing teachers. There’s laughter, practical advice, and a healthy reminder that while bots can help, real intelligence still runs on coffee and classroom chaos. Highlights: Cool in School: Stop-motion animation with Google Slid...

Joy is contagious in this one. Chandler and Russell swap the moments that keep teachers going from admin who have your back to the everyday magic of the classroom. We celebrate student wins (EL breakthroughs, creative math, and kids who finally beat the teacher at Speed), shout out the WNBA’s Valkyries, and share legendary tales such as: the “ship” incident, the haunted orange wall, and the Great Sticker Heist. Come laugh, nod along, and refill your tank. Highlights: Cool in School: supportive...

When the job swings from rally-day highs to “why am I doing everything?” lows, teacher mental health matters most. We unpack secondary trauma, SEL overload, and the pressure to be everything to everyone—then pivot to doable fixes: permission to set limits, simple play breaks kids actually remember, and low-lift tools (hello, sheet-protector “whiteboards”) that cut stress without cutting learning. Leave with a lighter plan to protect your time, say “not my fight,” and keep the joy in the job beca...

In this episode, Chandler and Russell dive into the wild world of assessments—where grades don’t always measure learning, zeros pack way too much power, and bias sneaks in faster than a kid guessing C on every multiple-choice question. From standards-based grading to standardized testing, floaty potatoes, and why letter grades are the worst alphabet soup, we unpack what assessments are really doing (and not doing) for our students. Along the way, we share classroom stories, teacher tips, and a f...

What makes professional development inspiring, and what makes it fall flat? Chandler and Russell break down their PD wish list and share how to make sessions actually useful for teachers. They also talk about why the best learning often happens at conferences, which ones are worth the trip, and how to bring those ideas back to your school. Also, you’ll get tall tales of imaginary plant parts, epic hydraulic shelf stretcher missions, the mystical power of the “virtual queue,” ukulele jams that de...

Chandler and Russell are one foot in their classrooms and one foot still in summer break. In this episode, they talk all things back-to-school—from classroom setup to personal goals. Classroom prep is all about taking care of “Future You,” but let’s be real—Past You wasn’t always helpful. They unpack what’s working, what’s not, and what they hope to pull off this year—without burning out by October. If you’ve ever mixed up Canvas and Canva, you’re not alone. This one’s for the tech-loving, anxie...

In this chaotic and cathartic summer check-in, Chandler and Brian catch up on all the things: new dogs, new houses, minor power tool injuries, and major feelings about the year that nearly broke us. Come for the cross-eyed rescue pup and cat soundboard—stay for the real talk on group work, burnout, and why restorative justice matters more than ever. It's part therapy, part comedy, and all summer vibes (with a few F-bombs and a stapled dress thrown in for good measure). At its core, this episo...

Chandler and Russell are back—and this time, they’re tackling the monster under the gradebook: traditional grading systems. Join them as they dive into their most spirited (and slightly chaotic) episode yet, featuring meowing soundboards, flying rubber chickens, and the deep truth behind grading for equity. Chandler celebrates not teaching summer school for once, Russell fixes a toilet and feels more adult than ever, and the duo gets real about what grades actually mean (spoiler: it's not what ...

In this episode of Nerducators, Chandler and Russell dive deep into why teachers are leaving the profession in record numbers—and what real, practical changes could help turn the tide. From shocking statistics on burnout to funny moments about moving trucks and "chicken jockeys," they balance heavy truths with humor, hope, and real talk about rebuilding education from the ground up. Whether you're a teacher, administrator, or just someone who cares about schools, this one will leave you thinking...

Chandler and Russell go long—like, longer-than-usual long—to answer real questions from students and listeners in a special Q&A episode! From hidden talents to “do you secretly hate other teachers?”, no question is off limits. They swap stories from the classroom, including Russell’s showdown with the ghost living in his classroom wall and Chandler's kindergarten scavenger hunt for leprechaun gold gone wrong. The ongoing (and completely necessary) battle over cursive rages on. But amidst the la...

Teachers Chandler and Russell hilariously debate phones, social media, and cursive in a post-COVID world—while Chandler reads historical documents as bedtime stories.

Chandler and Russell dive into the rise of post-COVID apathy in students — why motivation feels so low, what’s really behind it, and how educators can help students reconnect with learning. Plus, Chandler can’t resist pressing all the sound effects (including a perfectly timed cat meow), much to Russell’s delight... or not. Tune in for insight, laughs, and a little bit of chaos!