I am joined by CJ Reynolds, former teacher, author of Teach Your Class Off, and YouTube creator of Real Rap with Reynolds.  

This is a master class on how to connect with the hardest to reach students.  “Your experiences in life shape the person you are today.” 

Listen to how losing his dad to brain cancer at age 4, his mother being an emergency foster parent, becoming a monk (not a typo), and then a professional clown in Zambia (also not a typo), lead him to become a teacher in an inner-city classroom in Philly.

CJ explains how giving attention is far more important than giving advice and being able to show a student that you care and that you are seen are so important.  

We talk about when we know our students, really know them, we are able to build lessons that are important to them.  Fitting our curriculum into “their world” is a game changer. 

This was one of my favorite episodes ever, enjoy!