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