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Playing Teacher
đď¸ What is a teacher, really?
And whatâs it actually like inside a New York City school?
Welcome to Playing Teacher, where veteran educators Matt and Robâwith over 40 years of combined experience teaching in NYCâpull back the curtain on the myths, realities, and moments that make education unforgettable (for better or worse). From the mysterious teacherâs lounge to the myth of âsummer off,â they explore what really happens when the classroom door closes.
This isnât a shiny brochure version of school. Itâs the real deal:
đ§ Learning vs. schooling.
â¤ď¸ What kids actually carry with them.
đĽ How teachers and counselors survive systems built to burn them out.
And when weâre lucky enough to have her, weâre joined by Beanieâschool counselor, educator, and recurring co-hostâwho brings powerful insight, grounded compassion, and the kind of perspective only someone who's worked both inside and around the classroom can offer.
đĽ Guests range from teachers, students, and administrators to learning scientists, former kids (yes, really), and other unexpected voices from the world of education.
Whether you're in the classroom, supporting from the sidelines, or just trying to make sense of how we learn and why it mattersâthis is your hallway pass to the inside.
Playing Teacher
Episode 12: Teacher Headlines, DOE Dreams & The 50-Minute Flop
đ Episode Description:
In this episode of the Playing Teacher Podcast, we debut a brand-new segment: đ¤ Teacher Headlines with Janine Brugge, where we explore whatâs really going on in the world of educationâboth the serious and the absurd.
This week, we take a hard look at the NYC Department of Educationâs failed initiative known as âInquiryâ or the â50-minuteâ planâan attempt to create time for professional development and student support that went sideways due to a critical failure: not involving teachers in the process.
We unpack:
- Why top-down educational mandates often backfire
- What actually helps teachers help students
- The importance of autonomy, voice, and classroom-informed planning
đĄ Key Message: If you want authentic student support and better PD, trust the teachers.
Plus, we lighten things up with some funny classroom moments and analogies from our weekâbecause if youâre not laughing, youâre probably crying into a stack of ungraded papers.
