Archives: Episode

#19- Do you find it hard to connect with your students online? It’s already challenging enough to connect with them in person. Online makes it even more challenging. For the past few months, I have learned a few strategies that have helped me to better connect with my students online that I lay out in this episode. These simple but powerful strategies that any teacher, whether you are a veteran or just starting, can get immediate results in your classes. 

If you have received value from today’s episode, please consider subscribing and leaving a review. Also, please share this with someone who needs to hear it. 

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#18 – Storms come and go. It’s a stormy time on a global, national, and local level. The educators who get on in this world all have one thing, one habit in common that set them apart from all the rest. In this episode, you will learn how to respond properly during this time that will enable you to be a stand-out educator. Please consider sharing today’s episode with someone who needs to hear it and subscribing and leaving a five-star review if you receive value. 

Unleash You Zebra! 

#17- Are you struggling to manage it all? How’s your work-life balance? There’s so much to do. Teachers have a million and one things to do. In this episode, Nick Zizi shares his struggle with juggling all that he does a parent, teacher, and professional speaker. You will learn about the 3 Ps that will lead you to a life of productivity and balance.

Let’s continue the conversation with other zebra educators from around the nation. Join our Facebook group for educators today here: www.facebook.com/groups/zebraeducators

Contact Nick:

www.nickzizi.com

#16 – What is the one thing that you could do to help your students reach their potential and achieve whatever they want in life? What about an agriculture program that will help them succeed not only in class but also in their lives as well?

FFA is a dynamic youth organization that changes lives and prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agriculture education at middle school and high school level. James Woodard is the national FFA advisor, board chair, and the former superintended of Morgan Charter School Systems in Madison, Georgia. His 7th and 10th-grade teachers plus his parent’s guidance led him to agriculture education when he was a troubled kid heading in the wrong direction. 

The role of the teacher is to engage students while helping them to realize and work towards their full potential. James has a philosophy of touching and motivating through the heart using the three Rs (rigor, relevance, and relationship). He believes that the educator has to first create a relationship with their students and then motivate them to be what they intend to be. He shares a story of how his teacher encouraged him to take on public speaking after noticing his speech impediment.

Students of agriculture education receive a basic certification. There is a network in the agriculture education program that educators can find competition through FFA. Friendships and mentorships can be formed through these networks.

There is a power in conducting servant leadership– leading your team with your support and guidance as opposed to assigning them tasks. James explains the qualities he believes make a power teacher- those that separate them from the crowd in dealing with students, colleagues, and their leaders.

Key Moments:

[1:51] He explains the role of FFA in preparing young people with their careers.

[3:13] How James’ troubled youth, his two teachers, and his parents’ guidance led him to FFA. 

[8:43] The role of the teacher in engaging students to reach their potential.

[11:34] How to build a relationship and engage with your students individually.

[16:35] James narrates a story of how his teacher encouraged him to participate in public speaking to improve his speech impediment. 

[19:06] He explains some of the initiatives that have expanded the academic aspect of the FFA program making it successful. 

[23:39] How educators can benefit from the FFA agriculture program.

[25:40] The clipboard leadership vs. towel leadership– the importance of servant leadership.
 
[29:56] James explains the qualities that make a powerful teacher. 

Quotes:
“It is the relationship that builds the heart for a servant type leadership.”– James Woodard [27:32]

“Improvement is a process. I don’t expect anyone to be perfect, but I do expect them to improve, and to reflect.”– James Woodard [32:18]

Find Dr. Woodard on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-woodard-543a1863/

Website: https://www.ffa.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NationalFFA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nationalffa/

 

Contact Nick:

Website: https://nickzizi.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickzizi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickzizi/?hl=en

 

What do you think of technical education as an educator? Is it something you would advise your student to consider when choosing their career path as compared to a four-year degree program? 

Technical skills are an important part of the workforce in America today. They equip students with more than just adaptability and flexibility skills which enable them to change with time.

Today we have Chelle Travis, the executive director of Skills USA, a leading a career and technical student organization. She has over 17 years of leadership experience in career and technical education and the fourth ever leader of Skills USA. Skills USA serves middle schools, high schools, and college plus secondary students that are preparing careers and trade technical and skills service occupations. 

There are misconceptions in our society that technical education is less than the four-year degree education, which is simply not true, it can be just as lucrative if not more. Educators need to dispel this idea by educating parents on the impact of technical careers while allowing students to think for themselves on what they’re passionate about.

Students need to be given tools they need to be successful and be provided with confidence and strength to achieve their dreams. Educators need to show students their value and give them the opportunities and tools and mentorship that is necessary for their success. As a student on the other side, you need to explore available career opportunities and find a mentor who will guide you through your career journey.

Key Moments:

·       [2:39] She explains the meaning of the skills gap and how the work as Skills USA to reduce it in the workforce. 

·       [4:20] The impact of technical education on a students’ life, their families, and the community.

·       [5:55] Dispelling the misconception that technical education is less than a four-year degree career.

·       [9:06] How to find more about Skills USA and join.

·       [10:44] Chelle explains the skills that are programmed into their teaching framework at Skills USA.

·       [12:24] How students and instructors have shifted their focus to help fight COVID-19 in 2020.

·       [17:33] She explains what led her to pursue a passion for technical education and student organization. 

·       [21:24] How her mother provided her with the confidence and tools to be successful.

·       [24:47] The steps that you need to take as a student when choosing the education path to your future career.

·       [27:09] How as a parent you can get involved in your child’s career exploration journey.

·       [29:53] Why passionate educators that invest in their students stand out from the rest. 

Quotes:

·       “Employers are desperate for field workers and so the jobs are there and they pay well.”– Chelle Travis [6:58]

·       “I do believe in providing students with opportunities and tools and the mentorship that they need to be successful.”– Chelle Travis [24:20]

·       “Many things that appear to be stumbling blocks upon first glance are often things that lead us to success.”– Chelle Travis [26:01]

Contact Nick:

Website: https://nickzizi.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickzizi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickzizi/?hl=en

Find Chelle on:

#14- How to Be a Game-Changer by Empowering Your Students for a Better Future with FCCLA Sandy Spavone

Have you heard of the FCCLA? Are you passionate about empowering and engaging your students as an educator? On the show today, we have Sandy Spavone, the executive director of FCCLA as she offers the value of the organization and the power of engaging and empowering students as a teacher.

FCCLA is a career and technical student organization that stands for Family Career and Community Leaders of America. It is based on family and consumer sciences courses in middle and high schools across the country. It was initially formed 75 years ago for future homemakers to arm students with life skills they would need to be successful in their families.

Their purpose is to empower and engage the youth to explore their career interests in the future. The organization advocates for you as a teacher through legislation and with education leaders about the importance of family consumer sciences in the education system. The program also provides opportunities for teachers to grow as an educator and caring adults for youths.

Sandy enjoyed the peace of being in the student government leadership as an English teacher in high school and hence pursued applying for a job at FCCLA. She began as a program assistant and worked herself up to be the executive director of the FCCLA organization she is today. She has used her burning passion to bring partnerships that support what they do in preparing students in their career journeys.

This COVID-19 period is the best time to keep on learning as educators and reflect that to our students and show them that even as we stumble, we can rise up and continue with the journey. Your job should be to empower students especially after you get past your first year of teaching which is the toughest.

Learn to make your students safe with you before they can get comfortable outside of it. You can achieve this by giving many assignments that will give you an opportunity for one on ones where you can talk to them about their dreams and goals. Use the pandemic and virtual education space as a good opportunity for you to connect with your students and be a more caring adult.

She talks about the FCCLA at the table competition that they held a few years ago. It involved students talking about alcohol use with their families during dinner that they had prepared themselves. It was a great opportunity for students to engage with their parents and inspire them to do the same in the future. She shares how they substituted their in-person conference celebrating their 75th anniversary with a virtual one due to Coronavirus. It was challenging but they did it and was successful and had an impact.

Many students join FCCLA to travel since most of them are from rural areas. The ‘new normal’ as Sandy explains is for a while but the virtual world will last and has many advantages. The virtual world has come with its issues and everyone has their opinion on how it is working or not working for them especially in the education sector.

Servant leadership is what you should be striving for as a leader- delegating tasks that you can willingly do yourself. Learn to be caring and compassionate towards those you’re leading for them to respect and inspire them.

The teachers that stand out from the rest are not afraid to speak out and empower their students while allowing them to take on leadership opportunities. They are not stopped by hard circumstances like COVID-19 and find a way even when there’s no way. These are the game-changers in the classroom and the education system. 

• Key Moments:
  • [0:25] She explains the meaning of FCCLA and the purpose behind it.
  • [2:50] Learn the importance of both students and teachers joining the FCCLA.
  • [6:24] She shares her journey from a classroom teacher to the executive director of the FCCLA.
  • [10:42] The opportunity to grow that the COVID-19 period is providing you as a teacher.
  • [12:19] How to add value to the lives of your students by learning and sharing what you learn.
  • [16:05] How to touch the lives of your students outside of the classroom by showing interest and care.
  • [19:30] She shares some of the programs the FCCLA has conducted that she believes have had immense success.
  • [24:14] The advantages and disadvantages of the virtual world on organizations and the education system at large.
  • [31:13] Learning to develop and embrace the spirit of servant leadership.
  • [33:33] The qualities of teachers who change the classroom and education game- the standouts.
  • [36:13] Sandy answers some random fun questions.

  Quotes:

  “Students have to feel safe with you first in the classroom before they’re going to work with you outside of the classroom.” – Sandy Spavone [16:05]

  “If you’re asking anyone else to do something, you should be willing to do it yourself first.”– Sandy Spavone [31:26]

  Contact FCCLA:

  Website: https://fcclainc.org/

  Contact Nick:

  Website: https://nickzizi.com/

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickzizi/?hl=en

#13- How to Be A More Engaging Teacher

We have to admit that some teachers are engaging more than others. Let’s be honest, even back when you were a student, I’m sure there were classes that you looked forward to attending while you dreaded attending others, right? This is because students like to be engaged for them to perform better during a class lesson.

Nick shares the five ways he uses to engage his audience. When you incorporate at least three of these in your lessons, you are sure to start getting results. But keep in mind that you have always the end goal and these techniques are only tools.

Set clear lesson goals. This is where you start with the end in mind- look for the desired result that you want to achieve during the lesson. These are the two questions you should ask yourself:

1. What will students accomplish during this lesson?
2. What does success look like to me?

Make the lesson challenging enough but also achievable.

Open strong and finish strong. We remember the beginnings and endings more than the middle. This applies to the start and finish of a lesson, which means you should try to engage your students as they’re entering the class. Make it an experience by starting strong with an interesting fact or a story and repeat it at the end of the lesson. You can also come up with a creative way like reciting a poem- this is to make sure you end just as strong as you started.

Turn lessons into stories. Storytelling has been proven to be the best way to captivate and engage an audience’s logical and emotional side of the brain.  Look for a way to include a short story during your lesson to pull your students in. Remember to keep the end goal in mind by keeping the story related to the topic of the lesson.

Get them to move. It is boring to just sit there and listen, even you would want to move around to break the monotony, right? Students tend to want to move so it is wise to keep them moving. You can get them moving around the class if it is an in-person class or send them to the breakroom or ask them to move their body parts if the lesson is virtual. Find other creative ways that you can keep your students engaged.

Gamify the educational process. This will keep them interested! You can even make it a fun competition. Students like games and will in fact ask for more instead of turning the idea down.

Key Moments:

• [2:22] How to set clear lesson goals by starting with the end in mind.
• [3:55] Open strong and finish strong by making both the start and finish interesting and interactive.
• [8:45] How to turn lessons into short interesting stories that keep the students wanting more.
• [11:20] How to get your students to move, in both the in-person or virtual lesson settings.
• [15:10] Learn to gamify the educational process to make it easier and fun.
• [18:37] Nick narrates a story of how he kept his audience engaged during a speaking event.

 

Quotes:

“Setting clear lesson goals, knowing what that is, and working towards that in every part of your lesson.”  [7:57]

“We remember the beginnings and endings more than we do the middle.” [4:15]

If you receive value, subscribe and leave a review. Also, join our Facebook Group, Zebra Educators, to connect with other zebras across the country.

www.facebook.com/groups/zebraeducators

#12 – The Best Side Hustles For Teachers To Earn Extra Money 

Are you overworked and underpaid? Are struggling to make ends meet with your teacher’s salary? In this episode, Nick Zizi shares the best side hustles that you as a teacher can do easily to generate extra money. Please share in our Zebra Educators group your feedback and any other side hustles teachers can consider.

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#11 – How Educators Are Thinking About Schools Reopening

Recently I posted a poll in an educator group asking educators from around the nation if school should reopen. You won’t believe what the majority thinks. In this episode, I also share what you can do now to better prepare for the fall. 

If you receive value, please subscribe and leave a review. 

Join our Zebra Educators Group on Facebook for additional support from educators from across the country. 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/zebraeducators

#10 – In episode 10, Nick Zizi, the host of Z-Rated Success shares what you can do to get the most from your summertime even in a pandemic. This is no summer like never before. In this episode, you will learn the 3 Rs so that you can maximize your summertime. By implementing these strategies, you will be a standout success on and off-campus. 

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