00:00:00
before I got my teaching position, I
00:00:02
kind of was like third grade, you know,
00:00:03
they kind of had me everywhere, [music]
00:00:06
but I really just gravitated toward
00:00:08
those younger grades. [music] I mean, to
00:00:10
me, I thought, oo, kinder through third,
00:00:12
I would definitely want to be in that
00:00:13
space. And so, I think when they get to
00:00:16
second grade [music] is a lot of
00:00:18
independence. Like, these kids are proud
00:00:20
of everything they can do on their own,
00:00:22
they're so excited about school. So, you
00:00:24
kind of see this shift of like, oh, they
00:00:26
need a lot of help to, oh, they're doing
00:00:28
it on their own. That's amazing. Like
00:00:30
once you've shown [music] them, they
00:00:31
they they go off on their own and then
00:00:33
you start to see that growth happen in
00:00:35
second grade where [music] they really
00:00:36
know what they they like.
00:00:41
[music]
00:00:42
All right, welcome welcome back my
00:00:44
fellow exhomies. It is your boy Jacob G
00:00:46
and we are back for another week of the
00:00:48
Ex Homeschoolers Club. The place where
00:00:49
we talk about the good, the bad, and the
00:00:51
ugly of growing up a homeschool kid.
00:00:53
[music] Today I've got a very special
00:00:54
guest, someone who's near and dear to my
00:00:56
heart. my cousin Amanda is joining me
00:00:59
and uh we are going to touch on she
00:01:01
she's a public school teacher and so
00:01:02
we're going to talk about just public
00:01:04
school and and what it means to be an
00:01:06
educator, what it looks like, how things
00:01:08
have changed in her career as an
00:01:10
educator and kind of just some thoughts
00:01:12
on the education space in general. Maybe
00:01:15
we'll we'll get her her thoughts on the
00:01:17
homeschool experience as well. Um so
00:01:19
Amanda, welcome to the exhomeschoolers
00:01:22
club.
00:01:22
>> Thank you. I'm excited. I'm very
00:01:24
excited. Um, I'm so I'm so stoked to
00:01:27
have you. We recently reconnected at a
00:01:29
family reunion and I I felt like we had
00:01:31
a good conversation around education and
00:01:33
I was like, "Oh my gosh, I feel like
00:01:35
this needs to be on the podcast." So, so
00:01:38
thank you for coming on.
00:01:40
>> Yes, absolutely.
00:01:41
>> Let's let's kick things off kind of with
00:01:42
your education background because you
00:01:44
were not a homeschool kid. And so, were
00:01:47
you public schoolled all the way through
00:01:48
or did you do private charter school?
00:01:50
Anything unique or different? I was in
00:01:54
public school throughout all my years
00:01:56
and so yeah, I no homeschooling, no
00:01:59
charter school, no um anything other
00:02:02
than public school.
00:02:03
>> I mean, how was that experience? I know
00:02:05
like I I did public school for two
00:02:07
years. Like I remember somewhat of the
00:02:09
dynamics of it a little bit, but like
00:02:11
did you enjoy your time in school or you
00:02:14
know or would you have wished something
00:02:17
different?
00:02:17
>> I did enjoy school. Um, I was like
00:02:21
always just a learner. I was a reader. I
00:02:24
I had wonderful teachers. I mean,
00:02:26
there's like specific teachers. I can
00:02:27
like tell you their name and like things
00:02:29
we did in their class and um so I I had
00:02:32
a great like just school um background
00:02:37
and um so I did really enjoy it. And is
00:02:41
that like where does your heart for
00:02:45
wanting to be a teacher like come into
00:02:47
like how does it fit into that? Did you
00:02:49
know go I mean you obviously went to
00:02:51
school to be an educator, went to
00:02:52
college to be an educator, but like when
00:02:54
did when did that light bulb click on
00:02:56
for you of like I think this might be
00:02:58
what I want to do?
00:02:59
>> For me it was pretty early on. I mean, I
00:03:02
specifically had like second, third
00:03:05
grade teacher that like just really um
00:03:09
made a big impact in my life. So, second
00:03:12
grade is like and it's just funny cuz
00:03:13
now I teach second grade, but second
00:03:15
grade was just like the year where I'm
00:03:17
like it's like I watched my teacher
00:03:18
like, "Wow, you know, this is so
00:03:20
awesome." And as I continued, a great
00:03:23
third grade teacher, a great fourth
00:03:25
grade teacher, fifth grade teacher. And
00:03:27
so pretty early on I knew like I think
00:03:29
I'm interested in this. I did kind of go
00:03:31
through do I want to be a nurse or a
00:03:34
teacher? You know, I kind of debated
00:03:36
both of those. But as the years went on,
00:03:38
you know, I think each year just kind of
00:03:39
solidified this is what I want to do. I
00:03:42
of course also had some background in
00:03:44
like babysitting and like working at a
00:03:46
preschool. So I just think everything I
00:03:49
did after that uh really solidified that
00:03:52
I think I do want to be an educator. And
00:03:54
then of course I just continued on that
00:03:56
path.
00:03:56
>> What's funny is like as I was kind of
00:03:58
prepping for this conversation, I I had
00:04:00
a talk with my my mom and
00:04:03
>> when I was a baby, we lived with your
00:04:05
family for a few months in there and my
00:04:08
mom always was tells the story of she's
00:04:10
like Amanda just would come home and she
00:04:13
just was like she just wanted to play
00:04:14
with you and [laughter] and you know and
00:04:17
that led to even when we were young
00:04:18
kids, you babysat us quite a bit and
00:04:20
hung out with us. we would come stay
00:04:22
with you guys and I'm sure you know
00:04:25
maybe there was some annoying times in
00:04:26
there for from us as well but [laughter]
00:04:29
uh but you know there's a reason that
00:04:32
the the Ortega 3 are like our favorite
00:04:35
cousins. Um [laughter]
00:04:37
and yes I just put that out on the
00:04:38
internet so I'm sorry I know if you guys
00:04:41
hear this
00:04:41
>> now all our other cousins are going to
00:04:43
hear you say that. [laughter]
00:04:45
>> Yeah. Yeah. But um yeah, but I I have
00:04:48
always known you as such a loving and
00:04:49
caring person. So it just makes sense
00:04:51
that you would go into like you said
00:04:53
either nursing or teaching or something
00:04:54
like that because I remember even as a
00:04:56
kid you the way you played with us and
00:04:58
the things you did with us always felt
00:04:59
like it had this
00:05:01
>> level of like an education or a a a real
00:05:05
life experience that kind of like
00:05:06
mattered if that makes sense. It wasn't
00:05:08
just a like oh let's just waste time. It
00:05:10
was there was always this
00:05:11
>> additional element to it and so I think
00:05:14
that's really cool. So, walk me through
00:05:17
getting like a teaching degree. Is it
00:05:20
just like a four-year program or I know
00:05:22
some people go on to do like masters and
00:05:23
stuff, but
00:05:24
>> Yes.
00:05:24
>> What did that look like for you?
00:05:26
>> Um, I I did transfer. I started out at
00:05:29
the junior college there in Ventura and
00:05:30
then transferred to Calpali Sano. That's
00:05:33
how I landed in this area. Um, it was a
00:05:35
4-year program and then I continued on
00:05:38
an extra year to do my teaching
00:05:40
credentials. So, then that's where like
00:05:42
you start your student teaching. that's
00:05:44
where um you're working towards you know
00:05:47
with the state to get your credentials.
00:05:49
So for me it was about 5 years. Um I did
00:05:53
not continue on with my masters. I still
00:05:55
to this point don't have my masters and
00:05:57
I think I'm fine with that. You know
00:05:59
some people do continue and that's
00:06:01
awesome but um so for me it was about
00:06:04
about five years that until I was then
00:06:06
ready to go and
00:06:08
>> out in the real world. [laughter]
00:06:10
>> Yeah.
00:06:12
No, I know that that like yeah I I
00:06:14
remember having friends in college who
00:06:15
were getting their teaching degrees and
00:06:17
I know some of them were doing that
00:06:18
student teacher experience and I know
00:06:21
some people now who are doing that and I
00:06:23
think it's I think that's one of the
00:06:25
cool things about the education like
00:06:27
degree programs
00:06:29
>> is that you have to kind of go get this
00:06:30
like real world like lived experience
00:06:34
almost like an internship. And
00:06:36
>> so, um, so in those positions, are you
00:06:39
primarily like a TA, a substitute
00:06:42
teacher? What is like, what does student
00:06:45
teaching really look like?
00:06:47
>> Well, with student teaching, I that's
00:06:49
where, you know, they they for me, they
00:06:52
found an assignment for me. I had two
00:06:53
assignments and going into those, I
00:06:55
said, I do not want kindergarten. I do
00:06:57
not want sixth grade. And those are the
00:06:59
two that I got. I was like, oh, great.
00:07:01
And I loved both of them. Um, I started
00:07:03
off with kindergarten. So, it's like my
00:07:06
first assignment was I was like watching
00:07:08
the teacher. I was gradually taking
00:07:10
over. She would say like, "Hey, maybe
00:07:12
take over the morning routine or and
00:07:14
then uh my second assignment in sixth
00:07:16
grade and it was a gate class. I was
00:07:18
like, "Oh my gosh." Like I would have to
00:07:20
like study the math before I taught the
00:07:22
math the next day cuz I was like, "Oh my
00:07:24
gosh." Uh, a great group of kids. And
00:07:27
that was a full takeover. So, I mean, it
00:07:30
was eventually the mentor teacher in the
00:07:33
classroom. She would just sit and watch
00:07:35
at times. Um, sometimes take breaks cuz
00:07:38
that's what mentor teachers do, too.
00:07:39
They're like, "Oh, someone's teaching my
00:07:41
class. I'm going to go take a break."
00:07:42
Um, but it is a full takeover and you're
00:07:45
creating um you create an a unit within
00:07:49
your student teaching. So, it's really
00:07:51
So, um mine was like on Greek culture
00:07:53
and so like we just did some awesome
00:07:56
things with those sixth graders. So the
00:07:58
second assignment is like a lot but it's
00:08:01
exciting
00:08:02
>> because you you really do feel like ah
00:08:04
I'm a I'm doing it like I'm a teacher
00:08:07
and I feel like that's the best learning
00:08:09
experience. sitting at Calpali in a
00:08:12
classroom
00:08:14
was nothing compared to being in the
00:08:16
classroom dealing with these students
00:08:18
that are right in front of you, you
00:08:20
know, grading paper like just it's what
00:08:22
you're doing that I learned most when I
00:08:24
was just in the classroom and it didn't
00:08:26
matter. Eventually from there I went on
00:08:28
to uh work in that district and it was
00:08:31
more of like a teacher tutor position
00:08:33
where hey kids that are struggling in
00:08:35
reading would come to me. Um even though
00:08:38
it wasn't a credentialed teacher
00:08:40
position. I mean I was still working
00:08:42
with what I would be doing. You know
00:08:45
you're going to have kids that have
00:08:46
challenges. You're going to have kids
00:08:48
that like just get it. Um so it was neat
00:08:51
to work with, you know, all different
00:08:53
types of backgrounds, learning
00:08:55
backgrounds.
00:08:56
>> Yeah. I can definitely attest to like
00:08:57
the the hands-on thing because I mean
00:08:59
one being homeschooled like got a lot of
00:09:01
hands-on experience doing a bunch of
00:09:03
different stuff but even in college like
00:09:05
>> the college that I chose even though I
00:09:07
did a business degree
00:09:08
>> my emphasis was in entertainment wanted
00:09:10
to work events and so we just did that
00:09:13
at school we ran all kinds of events
00:09:15
whether it was concerts or we did like
00:09:17
school events uh like we brought in a
00:09:19
bunch of like the board members and we
00:09:21
were like we go pick them up at the
00:09:22
airport we you know make sure they got
00:09:24
fed into the hotels and stuff like that
00:09:25
which, you know, not not the most
00:09:28
glamorous job, but um but like I totally
00:09:30
relate in that aspect of like when
00:09:32
you're actually doing it, it's like one
00:09:34
thing to
00:09:34
>> Yeah. to talk about it in a in a
00:09:36
classroom, but then when you're just
00:09:37
like actually living it, it's like this
00:09:39
is way better. This is I'm I'm hooked
00:09:42
now. I want to do this.
00:09:43
>> So, how long have you been teaching now?
00:09:46
So I've been um in my district I've been
00:09:50
in the same district actually for about
00:09:51
15 years and credent like as a
00:09:54
credential teacher 13. So I'm going on
00:09:56
my 13th year. I know you you brought up
00:09:58
that you like are currently like second
00:10:00
third grade teacher, but like have you
00:10:04
done all sixth grades in that span of
00:10:06
time or have you primarily stuck in
00:10:08
those early years?
00:10:10
>> Besides student teaching being in in
00:10:12
sixth grade and then before I got my
00:10:16
credential, you know, before I got my
00:10:17
teaching position, I kind of was like
00:10:19
third grade, you know, they kind of had
00:10:21
me everywhere. Um, but I really just
00:10:25
gravitated toward those younger grades.
00:10:27
I mean, to me, I thought, oh, kinder
00:10:29
through third, I would definitely want
00:10:31
to be in that space. Um, so, uh, and
00:10:35
then I landed on second grade and I've
00:10:37
been in second grade for 13 years. So, I
00:10:40
mean, and that's what they kind of say.
00:10:42
They said second grade teachers once
00:10:44
you're there, they don't leave cuz it's
00:10:47
great.
00:10:48
>> Why do you think that is? like do what
00:10:50
is the I don't want to say like
00:10:52
attachment to it but like what I get
00:10:54
like what is the hook there of like you
00:10:56
know that age demographic of kids that
00:10:58
for you like just seems to like be the
00:11:00
thing. I think when these kids are in
00:11:02
first grade, um it's a lot of modeling,
00:11:05
a lot of, you know, they're still like
00:11:07
little babies, you know, coming from
00:11:09
kindergarten. And so I think when they
00:11:12
get to second grade is a lot of
00:11:14
independence. Like these kids are proud
00:11:16
of everything they can do on their own.
00:11:18
They're so excited about school. Um and
00:11:21
I think I think that's what kind of
00:11:24
keeps teachers there is like, man,
00:11:26
they're excited. They're more
00:11:27
independent. I mean, obviously there's
00:11:29
things that we definitely have to really
00:11:31
help them with and show them and of
00:11:34
course a lot of modeling, but they um
00:11:37
they love that independence, like they
00:11:39
want to do it themselves. So, you kind
00:11:41
of see this shift of like, oh, they need
00:11:43
a lot of help to oh, they're doing it on
00:11:45
their own. That's amazing. Like, once
00:11:46
you've shown them, they they they go off
00:11:49
on their own. And then you start to see
00:11:50
that growth happen in second grade where
00:11:52
everything in first grade that they've
00:11:54
learned kind of really solidifies in
00:11:56
second grade. And you know, for the most
00:11:59
part, you know, kids start reading and
00:12:01
they start finding like their interest
00:12:03
and or not even just reading, like, oh,
00:12:05
I really like science. And so, it just
00:12:08
gets really exciting. I think I think
00:12:10
kids get to a space in second grade as
00:12:12
seven and eight year olds where they
00:12:14
really know what they they like. They
00:12:16
really know what they want to do. And,
00:12:19
you know, I think it starts to shift in
00:12:20
second grade for them.
00:12:22
>> That's like spot on. I like I I was as
00:12:24
you were talking I was thinking about
00:12:25
like that's second grade is when I
00:12:27
started my homeschool experience
00:12:29
>> and I think about that first year of
00:12:31
like it was tough partly because my mom
00:12:35
was trying to mimic like a traditional
00:12:36
school setting and just like not very
00:12:38
successfully doing it. Um, sorry mom.
00:12:41
Uh, she knows this. Um, [laughter]
00:12:43
but like I remember like the things that
00:12:45
I was interested in like I loved space
00:12:48
at that point and so like getting a
00:12:50
telescope and like that was what I drove
00:12:53
my education in that area because I was
00:12:55
just like this is what I'm interested in
00:12:56
and so like I'm going to just like
00:12:58
pursue it with everything that's in me.
00:13:00
Um, but I to yeah I'm like thinking back
00:13:03
I'm like yeah I was super proud of
00:13:05
everything I would do because it was
00:13:06
like
00:13:07
>> like you said you're you kind of you
00:13:09
already kind of know how to read. You
00:13:10
kind of know some basic math and then
00:13:12
like
00:13:13
>> yes
00:13:13
>> you you're it's just growing like you
00:13:15
got the you have the base layer and now
00:13:17
it's like it's just growing which like
00:13:19
hopefully continues throughout the rest
00:13:21
the remainder of your grades. But
00:13:22
>> yes. So, are the teachers in your
00:13:24
district like
00:13:26
do do you guys universally agree that
00:13:28
like second, third grade is like the
00:13:30
best grades to teach or like do each of
00:13:32
you kind of have this like no, I just
00:13:34
love fifth grade for some reason?
00:13:37
>> I mean, I think it it's different
00:13:39
because if you talk to someone at my
00:13:41
school as a fourth and fifth grade
00:13:42
teacher, they're like, I could never do
00:13:44
second grade. You know, it's like where
00:13:47
everyone's at is is, you know, your
00:13:52
fourth, fifth, sixth grade teachers,
00:13:54
they more so are like, I I could go to
00:13:56
junior high. Me, I'm like, never. I
00:13:59
could I could never go to junior high.
00:14:01
I'm like, they would be taller than me
00:14:03
for sure, and I couldn't do that. You
00:14:06
know, the the attitude even in fourth,
00:14:08
fifth, and sixth grade, I'm like, I see
00:14:09
the attitude and I'm like, oh yeah, I
00:14:11
couldn't do that. I couldn't do that.
00:14:13
And not to say in second grade we don't
00:14:15
get that with, you know, some kids that
00:14:17
come in, but it's not the whole class,
00:14:20
you know, it's not, you know, they're
00:14:22
just going through a lot. So it depends
00:14:24
who you talk to because if you talk to a
00:14:26
sixth grade teacher, they're like,
00:14:27
"Second grade, no thank you. Anything
00:14:28
lower than fourth, I'm not doing it." So
00:14:31
[laughter]
00:14:32
>> yeah, I always wonder that because I I I
00:14:35
obviously I've never been like a teacher
00:14:37
teacher, but like I've taught dance
00:14:39
lessons and music lessons and those
00:14:40
types of things. And so and and I worked
00:14:42
at a toy store for a number of years and
00:14:44
ran birthday parties for all age gra all
00:14:46
age ranges.
00:14:47
>> And so my sweet spot has always been
00:14:49
like
00:14:51
junior high boys specifically. Um I
00:14:54
think mostly because like my maturity
00:14:56
level matches theirs. Um [laughter] but
00:15:00
uh but I yeah I think I totally relate
00:15:03
with that of like you put a bunch of
00:15:05
second graders in my room I'm like ah
00:15:07
this is not this is not my thing like
00:15:09
it's it's a little bit of torture for
00:15:10
me. Um [laughter] where yeah like that
00:15:13
junior high level I think is just like
00:15:14
that's my sweet spot. Um
00:15:16
>> yes
00:15:16
>> as far as relating to kids I guess. But
00:15:20
um I'm wondering so
00:15:23
obviously you've been an educator for a
00:15:24
while and and um I wonder just what your
00:15:28
thoughts are on like homeschooling and
00:15:30
the homeschool movement. Like
00:15:32
>> you obviously
00:15:33
>> you grew up watching my sister and I be
00:15:34
homeschooled. Like
00:15:36
>> did you think that my mom was crazy?
00:15:39
Well, I can say it's it's interesting
00:15:42
because you talk about um you know
00:15:45
homeschooling myths or you know kind of
00:15:48
things how you guys view public school
00:15:50
and you know it's like there's the other
00:15:53
side of that you know as as you know a
00:15:55
public school like I went through public
00:15:57
school I I'm a public school teacher and
00:16:00
how I've always viewed homeschooling and
00:16:03
for me years ago and around you know
00:16:06
when you and Madison were being
00:16:07
homeschooled
00:16:09
to me I'm like are like do they have
00:16:12
friends like how you know cuz you just
00:16:14
think of like you go to school with your
00:16:16
friends you know and kind of observing
00:16:19
it I'm like h I don't know you know so I
00:16:21
had all you know different thoughts then
00:16:24
like I don't know how this works you
00:16:26
know and and um but as time has gone on
00:16:30
I've just seen how and I'm I'm
00:16:33
surrounded by a lot of public educ um
00:16:36
you know educators But I'm also
00:16:38
surrounded by a lot of homeschool moms
00:16:41
and I've just seen how it can be
00:16:43
different for everyone. You know that
00:16:45
it's not every homechool looks the same.
00:16:48
Um they kind of run it a little bit
00:16:50
different. And then I think a lot of
00:16:51
things have developed since you guys
00:16:53
were even homeschooled is you know all
00:16:56
these you know cohorts that I mean kids
00:16:59
I mean you can really tap into a kid's
00:17:01
interest and I've seen that. So, I've
00:17:04
changed along the years with just I just
00:17:08
see it in a different light and I see
00:17:10
how it can really benefit, you know,
00:17:13
when kids have those certain interests.
00:17:16
Um, it can benefit kids that are in
00:17:18
public school that are like, I just
00:17:19
don't like this. You know, it's not for
00:17:22
everyone. I I mean, I'm sure homeschool
00:17:24
can probably also have the clicks, too,
00:17:26
but you know, public school is so many
00:17:28
clicks. I see it in second grade. It's
00:17:30
like you start to see the making those
00:17:33
groups and you know not allowing others
00:17:36
to come into your group. It's just it's
00:17:38
hard to see as the educator and a mom. I
00:17:41
just see how maybe some kids gravitate
00:17:43
towards homeschool. So I definitely know
00:17:45
my view has changed um for sure um about
00:17:48
homeschooling. I'm not quite like uh I
00:17:50
don't know. It's kind of weird because
00:17:52
that's kind of [laughter] you know kind
00:17:54
of seems a little weird. But I think
00:17:56
when your mom and dad were doing it, you
00:17:59
know, of course your mom's starting off
00:18:00
first. Um I I just didn't quite
00:18:03
understand it. I think that was it too
00:18:05
is that I didn't have quite an
00:18:06
understanding of it
00:18:08
>> and um and know the full scoop, you
00:18:11
know, the whole scope of it that it was,
00:18:15
you know, it was probably just not a
00:18:17
great understanding of how it works.
00:18:19
>> The thing is it it transitioned over
00:18:21
time, too. like we granted we got
00:18:24
connected very early on with like co-ops
00:18:26
and things like that. So, like we did
00:18:27
have we did have friends. Um, but it was
00:18:32
it was hard. Like I mean those first I
00:18:34
would say the first three years like it
00:18:36
felt a lot more isolating. And like I I
00:18:40
mean I had gone to public school so I I
00:18:42
was used to 15 kids in a room, you know,
00:18:46
and we ride the bus to school together.
00:18:48
We ride the bus home, you know, a couple
00:18:50
of them lived in my neighborhood. So
00:18:52
then we play in the afternoon, you know.
00:18:53
I was used to that to to go from that to
00:18:55
literally like
00:18:57
>> I mean my closest friend lived 20 30
00:18:58
minutes away when we started
00:19:00
homeschooling. That's a big that was a
00:19:02
big shift and and and a struggle but
00:19:04
definitely by the time it shifted over
00:19:06
time and by the end I mean
00:19:08
>> helped when I got a driver's license cuz
00:19:10
then I could just go. Uh but I made more
00:19:12
friends and you know and found those
00:19:14
like those passion project things that I
00:19:17
was into and so I think that helped a
00:19:19
lot. But it's it's interesting because I
00:19:22
was I'm also I think a lot about the
00:19:24
difference of like the dynamic of who I
00:19:26
am as a person versus my sister.
00:19:29
>> And I don't think that she would have
00:19:31
thrived in a traditional class setting.
00:19:33
I would have been fine.
00:19:34
>> Yeah.
00:19:35
>> I'm the firstborn. I got like
00:19:37
>> I got the analytical brain. I just I I
00:19:39
work well with the checklist kind of a
00:19:41
thing. And so public school to me sounds
00:19:43
like something that would be fine for
00:19:45
me.
00:19:46
>> She doesn't operate that way. And so she
00:19:48
needs to be able to to bounce up and
00:19:50
down on a trampoline or knit or do
00:19:52
something while she's listening. And
00:19:54
that's,
00:19:55
>> you know, that's fine. And so at the
00:19:57
time, public school just couldn't afford
00:19:58
that for her. Um, but
00:20:01
>> I'm I'm interested to know kind of also
00:20:04
like how you've seen now being in the
00:20:06
education space for 15 years,
00:20:08
>> the shift in that because I think I I've
00:20:12
been hearing more and more from from
00:20:13
parents that they're
00:20:16
there's kind of this like I don't know
00:20:18
totally how to describe it, but there's
00:20:19
like this hopeful
00:20:21
>> there's like a hopefulness and like a
00:20:23
dread within the public school system of
00:20:25
like there are services that have become
00:20:27
available for kids who have
00:20:29
educational needs. Um, but there but
00:20:32
there's also whether it's a lack of
00:20:34
funding, it's not available to everybody
00:20:36
always. And so anyway,
00:20:39
>> without feeding you too much, I mean,
00:20:41
what what has shifted in the last 15
00:20:43
years as you've like worked in that
00:20:44
space and seen things evolve?
00:20:46
>> Um, it has shifted quite a bit. And you
00:20:48
think I mean I'm going on my 13th year.
00:20:51
You think, okay, in 13 years it I mean
00:20:53
from my first year to now, um, it's it's
00:20:57
different. And like you said, funding
00:20:59
absolutely, you know, it depends on the
00:21:01
district. Um, the district I work for,
00:21:04
you know, they they do receive a lot of
00:21:07
funding and we do have a lot. Is it
00:21:09
allocated in the correct spaces?
00:21:12
Absolutely not. And
00:21:15
it it's hard. And it's also hard now
00:21:17
having kids of my own because I look at
00:21:20
my class differently. I look at this
00:21:22
class and I see students who have family
00:21:25
support. I see students that have no
00:21:27
family support. I see students that have
00:21:30
learning disabilities and I, you know, I
00:21:33
I see a lot in my classroom and I come
00:21:35
from a space of like an educator but
00:21:37
also kind of like a mama bear. Like I
00:21:40
want to help these kids, but I could
00:21:42
only do so much, you know? And I and I
00:21:44
feel like I really become like an
00:21:46
advocate for these kids in meetings
00:21:48
where I have to sit and I have to sit in
00:21:49
front of this group of people and I have
00:21:53
to tell them like they're not getting
00:21:55
what they need and they they can only do
00:21:58
so much. It's like well this is all we
00:22:00
have. So
00:22:03
to say that each kid gets exactly what
00:22:06
they need, I I don't I can't say they
00:22:09
do. And you know, if you have a kid in
00:22:12
public school and if you have like in my
00:22:13
classroom that you know doesn't have
00:22:16
challenges, you know, they learn to
00:22:17
read, they they can do math and, you
00:22:20
know, it it's easier for them um because
00:22:24
they're not having to like we're not
00:22:26
having to, you know, um put in in
00:22:30
paperwork for hey, they, you know, need
00:22:33
to go to resource or they need speech or
00:22:35
they need all these services, but the
00:22:38
kids that are not there, you know, and
00:22:40
and the services take a while. It's like
00:22:43
you put in the paperwork, you wait, but
00:22:46
then you have to have all this data for
00:22:48
a good six months, and then once you
00:22:50
have the data, and you're and I'm like
00:22:53
I've I really have become more bold in
00:22:57
saying like, "No, I I know what I see.
00:23:00
Come into my classroom, sit next to this
00:23:01
kid, watch this kid,
00:23:03
>> and and then tell me you're going to
00:23:05
wait six months for data." It becomes
00:23:07
quite frustrating. Like I said, I come
00:23:09
not just from educator. I come as like a
00:23:11
mama to these kids. Like if and
00:23:14
especially when I see that they don't
00:23:16
quite have that support at home where
00:23:18
their parents are like fighting for,
00:23:19
hey, some of these parents don't even
00:23:21
know what their kid is doing. They don't
00:23:24
even quite understand what's going on
00:23:26
with their kid. And so I just feel like
00:23:30
I have to fight harder for these kids,
00:23:33
but then again, I can only do so much.
00:23:36
And so it's it's hard to see that. And
00:23:38
that's where I've kind of seen the shift
00:23:39
is that, you know, sometimes we do have
00:23:42
the money, but is it used in the right
00:23:45
place? No. I think, you know, it's
00:23:47
shifted over here and, oh, it's, hey,
00:23:50
let's build a new school, you know,
00:23:52
we're up to 22 schools in my district.
00:23:55
It's like, did we really need that new
00:23:57
school, you know, or could we have used
00:23:59
that for more services? Could we had you
00:24:01
could we have used that for more aids,
00:24:04
more speech teachers, more resource
00:24:06
teachers where more kids would get um
00:24:09
the help that they need? So, I I've seen
00:24:12
a shift in that. You know, we do have um
00:24:15
full inclusion now in my district. Not
00:24:18
all districts do. It's a district by
00:24:20
district um decision. And it's I mean
00:24:25
we're going on probably 5 years now of
00:24:28
inclusion, maybe four or five years. And
00:24:32
I can't say it's working well. And you
00:24:35
know, I love having these these kiddos
00:24:37
in my class, but it's it's tough to see
00:24:40
that um you know, they're not getting
00:24:45
the the aid that they need. you know,
00:24:47
they're getting some of it at times and
00:24:49
then at other times I'm like, "What are
00:24:52
we doing?" Like, "What are we doing for
00:24:54
these kids?" And it becomes quite
00:24:56
frustrating. Um, and you, you know, you
00:24:59
you speak up. I do speak up. I do, but
00:25:02
like I said, it's you can only do so
00:25:05
much.
00:25:06
>> That's that's the thing. And and really
00:25:08
quickly for anyone who doesn't know what
00:25:10
uh incl the inclusion piece means, it's
00:25:12
basically like this special ed special
00:25:15
ed and traditional school combined in
00:25:18
one classroom. Correct.
00:25:19
>> Yes.
00:25:20
>> Okay.
00:25:20
>> Yes.
00:25:20
>> And so yeah, I mean that can be
00:25:23
frustrating and like I I applaud you for
00:25:26
for advocating and going before boards
00:25:28
or you know whatever meetings you have
00:25:30
to be in because like we need people
00:25:32
like that. Um I I live in a state where
00:25:36
there is a lot of talk among people of
00:25:38
like the educa the public education
00:25:39
system doesn't work. It's broken. It's
00:25:41
all these things. And
00:25:44
it's hard because I don't I think there
00:25:46
are broken elements like you were
00:25:47
describing of like
00:25:49
>> do these resources go to the correct
00:25:50
places? Those types of things. But I
00:25:52
don't think that it's broken as a whole.
00:25:55
I just think that there are broken
00:25:57
pieces to it. And that's where people
00:26:00
like yourself can advocate and you know
00:26:03
I know one of the things we were going
00:26:04
to talk on too is like also how parents
00:26:08
can get involved and be you know support
00:26:11
and then you know and even people like
00:26:13
myself who don't have kids like where
00:26:15
what are the things that we can be doing
00:26:17
to kind of help you um voice those
00:26:21
concerns.
00:26:22
>> The biggest thing I think of for parents
00:26:24
is just getting involved. You know, I
00:26:27
come from both. You know, I am a public
00:26:29
school educator. I am a mom of three.
00:26:32
And now, you know, I have a second
00:26:34
grader, I have a kindergartener, and
00:26:36
then a little preschooler. So, I I am
00:26:40
very involved. I know their teachers.
00:26:43
I'm talking to their teachers. I'm
00:26:45
emailing their teachers. I know their
00:26:47
principal. I've set up meetings with
00:26:50
people. I'm very involved. Now I'm in a
00:26:53
space with my own kids that, you know,
00:26:55
they they do fairly well in school. You
00:26:57
know, we haven't seen any like major
00:26:59
challenges. Um, and of course, if those
00:27:02
came about, we would, you know, of
00:27:05
course work with them. But
00:27:08
I if there was, I mean, you would best
00:27:10
believe I would I would want to know
00:27:12
everything. And I think that's where it
00:27:15
could be so different is that if parents
00:27:17
were involved, if parents knew,
00:27:19
especially like, hey, you have a kid in
00:27:20
speech and resource. Okay, what does
00:27:23
that look like? What is he doing? Okay,
00:27:25
maybe take a half a day from work. Go
00:27:27
sit in your kid's classroom. Watch
00:27:30
what's happening. You know, how how is
00:27:32
my kid, you know, in class? How is my
00:27:35
kid with this teacher? How just watching
00:27:37
to see what your kid is doing? I would
00:27:41
do that, you know, and knowing, you
00:27:43
know, I think parents don't know like
00:27:45
you could walk into an office, a school
00:27:48
office and say, "I want a meeting." And
00:27:51
they have to make a they have to give
00:27:53
you a meeting. Like you can call for
00:27:55
meetings. You can call for um you know
00:27:58
th those times to say, you know, I want
00:28:02
to talk about this. I want, you know,
00:28:03
they they have to do it. It's legally
00:28:05
they have to do it. And I think parents
00:28:07
don't know that. Um, I think sometimes
00:28:10
parents like kind of send their kids.
00:28:12
It's like it's a teacher's job, you
00:28:13
know? And I've seen a difference in the
00:28:16
parents that are not involved at all cuz
00:28:18
I feel like I have to really fight, but
00:28:20
then it it's it's hard.
00:28:22
>> I've also seen how when I'm working with
00:28:25
a parent that's fighting for their child
00:28:27
and I'm fighting for their child, what a
00:28:29
big difference that makes. I mean, some
00:28:32
of these kids get services that they
00:28:33
were not getting before. If [snorts] a
00:28:36
you know if a if a school is saying they
00:28:37
don't need speech services and you as a
00:28:39
parent are saying yes they do then you
00:28:42
see that you see that the difference in
00:28:45
that you see that they receive speech
00:28:48
services you see um so when we're like
00:28:50
on the same team and I tell parents at
00:28:52
conferences like we have to work
00:28:54
together like you have to do your part
00:28:56
and I'll do my part and so parents
00:28:59
getting involved asking questions you
00:29:01
know and it and it doesn't matter I'm in
00:29:03
a district where it's, you know, uh, you
00:29:06
know, mainly Spanish speaking. We also
00:29:08
do have like a high percentage of
00:29:09
Miksteeco,
00:29:11
um, the Mixsteeco language. Um, and
00:29:14
that's hard, too, because some parents
00:29:16
that speak Mikco don't speak Spanish.
00:29:18
So, there's a lot going on, but there's
00:29:20
so much education out there. You know,
00:29:22
our district provides a lot of parent
00:29:24
classes that you can go to in their home
00:29:26
language. So there there's just really
00:29:29
no excuse, you know, even if you are
00:29:31
coming over for another another country,
00:29:33
you know, getting acclimated, but
00:29:35
knowing that this is your kid and you
00:29:38
get one chance with your kids. So, um,
00:29:40
and then those of you that don't have
00:29:42
kids yet, like you never know if
00:29:45
eventually you will have kids or if you
00:29:47
have nieces and nephews, just being
00:29:49
involved, like knowing like what kind of
00:29:52
propositions and bonds are coming
00:29:54
through that may eventuallyffect affect
00:29:57
you guys or affect your nieces and
00:29:58
nephews or affect, you know, just just
00:30:01
knowing what you're voting for is is
00:30:03
absolutely important. and um being you
00:30:06
know going to a board meeting you know
00:30:08
more people are showing up at board
00:30:10
meetings and you know that's where you
00:30:12
really get to see like is that board you
00:30:15
know on board with us you know to help
00:30:17
these kids or is it you know a job for
00:30:20
them it's is it just something that they
00:30:23
do so and it's nice to hear people's
00:30:25
voices you know parents are showing up
00:30:27
teachers are showing up to those board
00:30:29
meetings and so just really being
00:30:31
involved in that way
00:30:32
>> something that popped in my brain as you
00:30:34
were talking too is earlier you had
00:30:36
mentioned like the myths the homeschool
00:30:38
myths of like what we believe public
00:30:40
school is like and I think one of the
00:30:41
big ones tends to be this thought of
00:30:44
like well when you send your kid to
00:30:46
public school you put them on a bus they
00:30:48
go off they come home and that's and
00:30:51
that's that and then it's just rinse and
00:30:52
repeat 5 days a week and like you were
00:30:55
saying I think that that's a big that's
00:30:58
a big mistake right it's like the
00:31:00
education doesn't just stop just because
00:31:01
school is over you know it still happens
00:31:03
at home and as parents, I mean, who
00:31:06
better to recognize what's going on with
00:31:07
their children than than them, right?
00:31:10
Yes. Um,
00:31:11
>> and so I Yeah, I I agree with you. I
00:31:14
think that that's been a big shift in me
00:31:16
too of like realizing in the last couple
00:31:18
years of like when I'm going to vote,
00:31:20
I'm like, who am I voting for? um really
00:31:23
cuz like you know of course there's like
00:31:25
the top tiers of like you know we're
00:31:26
voting for the president and we're
00:31:27
voting for our senators and things like
00:31:29
that but voting for the school board I'm
00:31:31
like I don't
00:31:32
>> I don't know any of these people and so
00:31:34
actually taking the time to research
00:31:36
them
00:31:36
>> um has helped and ask questions of those
00:31:39
people I do know who who have kids um
00:31:41
who are in school and things like that
00:31:43
and it's just been like
00:31:44
>> is this a good person? Should we be
00:31:46
voting for them? Is this who you like?
00:31:48
um and what what changes do you want to
00:31:50
see in the school districts
00:31:51
[clears throat] in our area and things
00:31:52
like that? So,
00:31:53
>> I I'm with you 100% on on those things
00:31:56
because
00:31:57
>> yeah, I it takes it takes everybody to
00:32:00
make to make a change. So,
00:32:02
>> yes, absolutely.
00:32:03
>> I wanted to ask you this, too. Um
00:32:06
obviously your kids are in the the early
00:32:09
ages of their career. Has homeschooling
00:32:12
ever been something you've considered
00:32:14
doing for your kids or are you like,
00:32:16
"No, we're doing traditional school."
00:32:18
[laughter] Um there, you know, like I've
00:32:20
told you, it there's definitely been a
00:32:22
shift and um it's definitely something
00:32:27
um Harvey I've really been praying on
00:32:30
because as that shift has happened as an
00:32:32
educator, you know, I just see um a lot
00:32:35
of things happening in the classroom,
00:32:37
but then I'm also watching my own kids
00:32:39
attend public school now and just being
00:32:41
really involved in that. Um and then I
00:32:44
just see I see their interest. I see the
00:32:46
things that they love to do and I think
00:32:49
like man how and and we do expand on it.
00:32:51
My husband and I, you know, we do expand
00:32:54
on it, you know, on the weekends, but in
00:32:56
the evenings like we do a lot here at
00:32:58
home and we carry on that learning. Um
00:33:03
but sometimes I think gosh to provide
00:33:06
them more. So it definitely is has been
00:33:09
many conversations between us. um we'll
00:33:12
see what happens in the near future. But
00:33:14
it's definitely something that we are um
00:33:17
discussing and you know kind of trying
00:33:20
to figure out and you know and my own
00:33:22
kids have seen like hey so and so is not
00:33:24
at school anymore because now they're
00:33:26
being homeschooled. So, you know, my
00:33:28
daughter Ava's like, "What's
00:33:29
homeschooling?" You know, so I'm I'm
00:33:31
trying to explain it to her and stuff
00:33:33
and, you know, and also I'm not going
00:33:36
into it thinking like, "Oh, then we're
00:33:38
just going to be home and together and
00:33:39
everything's going to be peaches and
00:33:41
cream." Um, I don't think you really
00:33:44
know until you're in it. Um, but I, you
00:33:46
know, I've heard stories. You know, I've
00:33:48
heard your podcast and, um, you know,
00:33:51
I've I've talked to your mom and your
00:33:53
parents and, you know, just other
00:33:54
people. And so I I I don't go into it
00:33:57
knowing or being like, "Oh, it's going
00:34:00
to be wonderful and we're just going to,
00:34:01
you know, we're just going to learn
00:34:03
every day." And
00:34:04
>> there will be days where you want to
00:34:06
kill each other. That's just the reality
00:34:08
of the situation. But [laughter]
00:34:10
>> yeah, I I it was funny when when CO
00:34:14
happened. I remember I remember having a
00:34:16
conversation with my parents and being
00:34:17
like, "Imagine if we had to homeschool
00:34:19
right now." I was like, "We would we
00:34:21
would literally kill each other."
00:34:22
Thousand square foot home. Yes,
00:34:24
>> on top of each other. We were already on
00:34:26
top of each other, but it was like we
00:34:28
would have literally killed each other.
00:34:30
Um,
00:34:30
>> yes. [laughter]
00:34:32
>> Nobody would have come out of that
00:34:33
scot-free.
00:34:34
>> But um
00:34:35
>> Oh, man. But yeah, I
00:34:37
>> And then I think what I think of also is
00:34:40
>> if I moved into that homeschooling space
00:34:44
>> for me, it would be quite a shift
00:34:45
because
00:34:47
>> I teach in a traditional setting. I
00:34:49
mean, my students sit at desk. I mean
00:34:51
I'm I try to be very like flexible like
00:34:54
hey you are just like all over the place
00:34:57
like yeah get up like lay on the floor
00:35:00
you know go grab a wobble chair you know
00:35:02
I'm not like one of those teachers like
00:35:04
you have to be in your seat
00:35:06
>> but I also have 25 students this year
00:35:09
and so I can't always have you just be
00:35:13
wherever you want in the classroom. So
00:35:15
for me it would be quite a shift because
00:35:17
I'm so used to that traditional setting
00:35:20
whereas that's probably not what we
00:35:23
would do for homeschool you know I don't
00:35:24
think and I don't think even my own kids
00:35:27
I don't you know they would be like no I
00:35:28
don't want to do this you know this is
00:35:30
where we were at you know um so that
00:35:34
would be quite a shift.
00:35:35
>> Yeah. What one of the things that's come
00:35:36
up on this show a couple times too is
00:35:38
this
00:35:39
>> kind of separation of like teacher
00:35:42
mother and how like
00:35:46
>> it gets really blurry when you
00:35:48
homeschool because you know I mean
00:35:51
>> there were days I would do school till
00:35:53
10:30 at night and you know but I wasn't
00:35:55
I wasn't doing school for the first four
00:35:57
or five hours of the day
00:35:59
>> and so it was very interesting to try to
00:36:02
get to a balance place where it was like
00:36:03
okay mom is taking the teacher your hat
00:36:05
off, she's putting the mom hat back on.
00:36:07
And you know, same with dad eventually
00:36:09
is like those types of things. And and
00:36:11
so it's interesting to talk to some of
00:36:12
my friends because their parents very
00:36:14
much struggled. I think my parents did
00:36:16
too, but they really struggled with
00:36:17
that. Like how do you find that balance
00:36:20
between the two because currently for
00:36:23
even though like you were saying you and
00:36:25
Harvey educate your kids at home still
00:36:27
to some degree?
00:36:28
>> Yes.
00:36:29
>> You still are putting on you're just mom
00:36:30
and dad to them. And so
00:36:32
>> Exactly. You know, it is a it is a shift
00:36:35
to think like all of a sudden they're
00:36:36
going to have to be like, "Oh, mom is my
00:36:38
teacher and my mom." That's okay.
00:36:41
[laughter]
00:36:42
>> It's a little different.
00:36:43
>> Yeah, exactly.
00:36:45
>> I was going to ask you too just about
00:36:48
>> kind of the curriculum building at in
00:36:50
like a public school setting. You
00:36:51
mentioned earlier that when you were
00:36:52
student teaching, you got to build like
00:36:54
a unit around uh Greek history. And so
00:36:57
[clears throat] I was wondering because
00:36:59
I think another misconception that a lot
00:37:01
of homeschoolers have is this this like
00:37:04
well public school teachers are just
00:37:06
they're told everything that they have.
00:37:07
You know they're given all the resources
00:37:08
and they're kind of told this is what
00:37:10
you have to teach and and yada yada
00:37:11
yada. And so I'm wondering like is there
00:37:14
a degree to customization in the public
00:37:17
school system of like teachers being
00:37:18
able to like you know switch in and out
00:37:22
of stuff or how does that look? I mean,
00:37:25
we definitely have to follow state
00:37:27
standards. You know, we have we're going
00:37:29
over those all the time. And, you know,
00:37:31
like for second grade has a specific set
00:37:33
of state standards that um, you know,
00:37:36
that we do have to follow. Um, our
00:37:38
district also has somewhat of a pacing
00:37:41
guide, you know, to kind of so you're
00:37:44
not, you know, already on unit four and
00:37:46
you're supposed to be on unit two, you
00:37:48
know. So um there there is definitely
00:37:50
and we're given textbooks you know we do
00:37:52
have to more so follow them but we
00:37:55
adjust them. I mean we we can you know
00:38:00
you know change and kind of gear them
00:38:02
towards our class. You know if if I'm
00:38:04
given a very dry you know story
00:38:10
I'll find the real you know they also
00:38:12
like chop up stories. That's I always
00:38:14
tell my students I said I I don't like
00:38:16
this because they give you a portion of
00:38:18
the story but there's this whole story
00:38:20
with like details and you know so I go
00:38:23
by the the the full novel you know the
00:38:26
story that we're reading and so we'll
00:38:29
read the one that they've given us
00:38:30
through curriculum but then I'll read
00:38:33
like the actual story you know and the
00:38:34
kids are always like oh that one's way
00:38:36
better. I'm like, "Yeah, right." Because
00:38:38
it's like it gives you more, you know,
00:38:41
they just chop it up. So, you know,
00:38:43
things like that. Yes, you can adjust.
00:38:45
Uh, of course, you know, as um there's
00:38:47
five of us second grade teachers on my
00:38:49
team and, you know, we try to take
00:38:52
things that can be kind of dry and make
00:38:54
it more exciting, you know, maybe do a
00:38:56
project with it. So, there's definitely
00:38:58
room for um, you know, changing it in
00:39:02
that way. But I mean, of course, you
00:39:05
can't change what you're teaching. You
00:39:08
know, you have to really stick to, okay,
00:39:10
we're learning about fantasy right now.
00:39:12
We have to stick to fantasy or we're
00:39:14
learning about, you know, you know, the
00:39:18
three states of matter, you know? So,
00:39:20
you really have to like stick with what
00:39:22
you're teaching like as the basis, but
00:39:24
how you teach it can pretty much become
00:39:27
your own. the ability to add that
00:39:30
secondary level like like storytelling
00:39:31
for instance like like I think about
00:39:33
like I read Robert Sin Caruso the a
00:39:35
bridged version when I was a young kid
00:39:37
and then I read the full version which
00:39:39
if anyone's read that book you know that
00:39:40
that book is a grammatical nightmare um
00:39:43
just run on sentence after run on
00:39:45
sentence after run on sentence. I think
00:39:46
there's a point where there's like four
00:39:48
pages of just one sentence um kind of a
00:39:50
deal but [laughter]
00:39:51
>> I'm like this this needs a little bit of
00:39:53
editing. Um, but the the the full
00:39:56
version is like such a richer story like
00:39:59
you were saying. It tells, you know, it
00:40:01
is and and there's so many books like
00:40:02
that. Um,
00:40:03
>> yes.
00:40:04
>> And I was thinking about too like
00:40:05
>> I remember being in public school and
00:40:07
there being
00:40:08
>> I I want I think we were learning about
00:40:10
like uh the states of water, right? So
00:40:13
like vapor, liquid,
00:40:14
>> and solid. And I remember I I don't
00:40:17
remember exactly what we did, but I just
00:40:19
remember her giving showing us
00:40:21
something. And I don't remember what
00:40:23
exactly it was, but it was just this
00:40:24
like activity that we got to do. And
00:40:26
like
00:40:27
>> again, like I don't remember the
00:40:29
activity. So obviously, how hard did it
00:40:30
stick? But like I remember the day
00:40:32
though and I remember the excitement
00:40:33
around it because it was like, okay,
00:40:34
we're not just reading a textbook and
00:40:36
learning about this thing. We're
00:40:37
actually like
00:40:38
>> seeing it play out in real life. And I
00:40:40
think
00:40:41
>> in my experience that's where that's
00:40:42
where education in general just like it
00:40:45
actually like hooks into you is just
00:40:46
that like you know it's one thing to
00:40:48
read it but then to see it to touch it
00:40:50
to feel it it's like
00:40:52
>> whoa you know it becomes a whole another
00:40:55
solidified thing in the brain. So
00:40:57
>> yes, and that's true what you say. It's
00:40:58
like that's what kids remember. Like
00:41:01
kids are not going to remember if I
00:41:03
taught them standard S.14
00:41:06
dot, you know, and that's where, you
00:41:09
know, education can get frustrating is
00:41:11
like that's not what what do I remember
00:41:13
about my second grade teacher? I
00:41:15
remember that she said if you read a
00:41:18
hundred books this year that she would
00:41:21
take a group of us um to go have dinner
00:41:24
with her family. Uh, I ended up getting
00:41:26
I was like so motivated that year and
00:41:28
you could see the process. You would
00:41:29
have it on the wall and four of us got
00:41:32
to go ride in her car like how cool
00:41:35
you're in your teacher's car. We got to
00:41:38
go have ice cream and then we had dinner
00:41:40
with her family, her husband and her
00:41:42
son. That's what I remember. I remember
00:41:45
reading a hundred books in second grade
00:41:47
and h getting that experience. Like
00:41:50
that's what I remember. Do I remember
00:41:51
the lesson she taught? No, I don't.
00:41:54
>> Yeah. you know, it's what what do I
00:41:56
remember about those times and it's like
00:41:58
I don't remember those times. You know,
00:42:00
they had to you had to take a test for
00:42:02
the state. Like kids don't remember that
00:42:04
stuff. That's not what sticks in their
00:42:06
mind. That's not what's solidified. You
00:42:08
know, they do remember like you said,
00:42:10
the hands-on, the you know, doing those
00:42:12
projects. Like that's what that's what
00:42:14
they stick with. That's what the one
00:42:16
thing they'll remember about second
00:42:17
grade or whatever grade it is. So,
00:42:20
>> I don't know. This is making me long for
00:42:21
second grade again. Um [laughter]
00:42:24
an easier time in life. Um, but
00:42:27
>> yeah, exactly.
00:42:29
>> Amanda, this has been this has been
00:42:30
super fun. Is there anything else we
00:42:32
haven't touched on in the education
00:42:33
space that you feel we've missed?
00:42:37
>> I think whatever it is, however it is
00:42:39
that you whether you're in public
00:42:41
school, homechool, charter, um like
00:42:43
you've kind of mentioned all all
00:42:45
different um aspects of learning,
00:42:47
education
00:42:48
is like whatever works best for you. And
00:42:51
and there's always a shift like
00:42:53
education is always shifting like you
00:42:57
know it it's always changing and and
00:43:00
like I've told you my different views on
00:43:02
on homeschooling because I've learned
00:43:05
more you know it's I see and I get one
00:43:08
chance with my kiddos. You know I think
00:43:10
of my own kiddos at home. I get one we
00:43:12
get one chance with our kids and I just
00:43:15
want to give them the best. Um, but it's
00:43:19
like when if public school works for
00:43:22
people, yes, but get involved, you know,
00:43:25
don't ever ever just send your kids
00:43:28
somewhere and just, well, I hope I pray,
00:43:32
you know, no, you have to be involved.
00:43:34
Like, you have to know what your child
00:43:36
is doing, you know, wherever it is
00:43:39
they're going and whatever, you know,
00:43:41
aspect of education that your child's
00:43:43
involved in, you know, just get
00:43:44
involved. You know, that's my biggest
00:43:46
thing. Um, you know, I just wish more
00:43:49
parents would do it. You know, I it's
00:43:51
it's sad to see that part of it.
00:43:53
>> No, I think that's a great kind of
00:43:55
message to end on is like just get
00:43:57
involved. Like
00:43:58
>> it it's timeconuming, but it's worth it.
00:44:00
It it pays off in the end. And so,
00:44:03
>> and I think that's it, too. You know,
00:44:04
parents are tired, people are tired,
00:44:06
everyone, whether you have kids or not.
00:44:08
We're busy and we're tired.
00:44:10
>> We're busy. We're exhausted. Yeah.
00:44:11
>> Yes. But in the long run, you'll, you
00:44:15
know, you'll pat yourself on the back
00:44:16
for it. Absolutely. You know.
00:44:19
>> Yeah. I mean, hey, we're talking about
00:44:20
the next generation of humans. Some
00:44:22
point they're going to run this place.
00:44:24
>> Yes.
00:44:24
>> We got to make sure they're the smartest
00:44:25
they possibly can be, you know.
00:44:27
>> Yes. Yes. Absolutely.
00:44:29
>> Well, Amanda, once again, thank you so
00:44:31
much for coming on and uh and sharing
00:44:34
about the public school experience.
00:44:36
>> Maybe, who knows, maybe we'll maybe
00:44:38
you'll be a homeschool parent at some
00:44:39
point. Come back on. We'll talk about
00:44:41
that experience for you. We'll see.
00:44:43
[laughter]
00:44:44
And um yeah, and to my audience, I hope
00:44:46
you guys enjoyed this one. If you did,
00:44:48
do all of the internet things you know
00:44:49
how to do. Leave a comment, like,
00:44:51
subscribe, all that stuff. Share it with
00:44:53
a friend. Uh if you got anything
00:44:55
meaningful out of this, please like, let
00:44:57
me know. I I want to know. I want to
00:44:59
know what you liked about it. And uh
00:45:01
yeah, with that, we'll see you next
00:45:04
week. All right. [music] Peace.
00:45:11
>> [music]
00:45:16
[music]
