Bad Teacher Tales: Real talk stories and advice for teachers and those who love them.
Welcome to Bad Teacher Tales, where each week we share the good, the bad, and the “what the hell?!” of daily teacher life. We’ll expose workplace woes that range from unrealistic to impossibly asinine. We’ll postulate on parental problems and admin antics. We might even learn a helpful tip or trick, and while we may be “Bad” teachers, we will always leave remembering our Why…those beautiful, bright, baffling, students!
Episodes
62 episodes
Series: Parent Emails, Ep. 1
Welcome to the first episode of our special series: Parent Emails.If you’re an educator, you already know that some of the most memorable moments of the school year don’t just happen in the classroom—they show up...
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17:03
S.1 Ep. 3 | Re-teach Pt 2
✨ Welcome to Bad Teacher Tales The storytelling podcast where teachers finally get to say the things they can’t (but want to) say at PD, staff meetings, or parent conferences. Every week, we share real teacher stories that a...
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17:07
S1 Ep. 3: Can He Hold a Banner | Re-Teach
What would you do if you were asked to prepare a full performance for the school board… with only four days’ notice? No long planning period. No weeks to rehearse. Just four days to organize, practice, and somehow create something meaningful en...
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25:02
Ep. 41 - The Power of a Student, Part 2
Have you ever had a student who stayed with you long after they left your classroom?In this episode, we’re talking about something powerful — the impact students make on us. As teachers, we spend so much time thinking about the ...
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7:38
Ep. 41 - The Power of a Student, Part 1
Have you ever had a student who stayed with you long after they left your classroom?In this episode, we’re talking about something powerful — the impact students make on us. As teachers, we spend so much time thinking about the ...
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13:40
S1 Ep. 2 Pt. 2: Pokémon & A Culture of Respect | Re-Teach
Every teacher has that moment, the one that reminds you why we do this. Sometimes it doesn’t come during a lesson you spent hours planning. Sometimes… it comes from something as unexpected as Pokémon.In this episode, we shar...
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19:54
S1 Ep. 2: Unfortunate Last Day | Re-Teach
What do you do when a student wishes harm for you and your unborn child?In this full-length "re-teach" of Episode 2 one teacher shares her what last day in education looked like. When educators imagine their final da...
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20:39
S1 Ep. 1: Maybe I Should Stay | Re-Teach
What do you do when you’re left alone in a classroom full of kids before you’ve even officially started the job? Panic? Power through? Question every life choice that led you there?In this full-length "re-teach" of Episode 1, “Maybe ...
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29:30
Ep. 40 - Why Discipline and Admin "Support" Is Often Frustrating
One student. One year. Zero real consequences.In this episode of Bad Teacher Tales, I read through an actual discipline record and unpack how “nothing happening” keeps behavior going and burns teachers out. If you’ve ever wonder...
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39:37
Ep. 39 - "Bench", Please
Scara brought a very special book to the table: The B Word by Joe Lampe. And before you clutch your pearls, the actual B word has been cleverly swapped out for “bench”… because nothing softens the blow of hard truths quite like playgro...
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10:12
Ep. 38 - MS Pick Up Lines - Ew
What happens when an 8th grader brings a handwritten list of pickup lines to school… and a teacher confiscates it? Scara and Sly read through a real list of middle school pickup lines that absolutely should not exist in the...
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19:04
Got Questions? We’re Asking a Principal and Superintendent
Teachers, parents, and school staff. This one’s for you.In an upcoming episode of Bad Teacher Tales, I’ll be sitting down with a former principal and an area superintendent, and I want your questions leading the ...
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1:23
Ep. 37 - What DO Librarians do all day?!
People think librarians sit quietly and read all day.Jess is here to gently… and accurately… destroy that myth.From managing chaos to supporting students in ways no one sees, this clip breaks down what librarians actually do during ...
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24:51
BONUS - Field Trip to Antarctica!
Welcome to a special bonus episode of Bad Teacher Tales where things get a little… chillier than usual. 🧊 Today, I’m putting my son in the hot seat — or frozen tent — and asking him questions about one very serious topic: if he could plan a fie...
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10:31
Ep. 36 - Lockdown Drill Disaster
In this episode of Bad Teacher Tales, Scara shares a teacher's experience with a lockdown “drill” that wasn’t. Teachers and students panicked, and the chaos was 100% real — even if the danger wasn’t. Scara breaks down the fallout, the frantic t...
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29:35
Ep. 35 - Is it Burnout or Disillusion? - BONUS
Are teacher's leaving due to burnout or disillusionment? We are now on YouTube!!! CLICK HERE to watch!IT'S YOUR TURN! To submit your own story to be feature...
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6:48
Ep. 34: Overworked and Underpaid! NOW ON YOUTUBE!
What must you do to be paid your worth?We are now on YouTube!!! CLICK HERE to watch!IT'S YOUR TURN! To submit your own story to be featured use this lin...
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25:03
Best Of Season 1: "Things Aren't Always What They Appear"
What do you do when the tapping Just. Won't. Stop.IT'S YOUR TURN! To submit your own story to be featured use this link: BTT SubmissionsEmail us: badteach...
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25:06
Best Of Season 1: "Wooooah"
What happens when a parent thinks their child can do no wrong?IT'S YOUR TURN! To submit your own story to be featured use this link: BTT SubmissionsEmail us:<...
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37:39
Best Of Season 1: "Will You Smell My Hand"
What do you do when a student brings a baggie full of change for a class party but an unwanted bonus is included?IT'S YOUR TURN! To submit your own story to be featured use this link:
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24:50
Best Of Season 1: "Can He Hold a Banner"
What do you do when you're asked to prepare a performance for the school board in four days, then asked to include a special guest on the day of performance?IT'S YOUR TURN! To submit your own story to be featured use this...
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39:15
S.3 - Ep. 8: Goodbye? and Kids Say the Darndest Things
Goodbye? This might be our final regular episode. We want to thank all our supporters for three fun seasons!Stories include:WWDT: Sometimes, what we do saves lives.Elementary Art: 1. "Fighting Over N...
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50:48
S3 - BONUS - Student Episode #1/3
What do you do when your favorite teacher assigns a research assignment? Make a podcast about it! This is the first of three student written, recorded and edited episodes based on a research assignment. Hope you...
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18:16