Our education podcast Teachers' Lounge is also on the radio. We feature interviews with Illinois teachers and education stories you love, along with exclusive segments, in a monthly, hourlong show on WNIJ.
On this episode, it's Jennifer Burdette. She teaches social studies and civics at the Spoon River Valley School District in western Illinois.
We had a great conversation about what it means to DO social studies. You go to science class to do science. You go to math class to do math. What does doing social studies look like?
For her, it means learning how to take action in society and in your community. That is why she has a class called "Taking Action." In it, students do not just learn how local and state government works. They do not just research problems they think need to be solved. They try to solve them, whether it is fixing potholes or improving school lunches.
We also sit down with Dr. Nour Al Naber, a business professor at Waubonsee Community College. She shared her journey to the U.S. from Jordan.
"I talk about myself as an immigrant. I came to the U.S. in 2005 with my husband and my son. Back then, I was struggling. English is not my first language," she said. "I'm proud to talk about my struggle when I started here, my financial struggle, because they're also struggling."
Her goal is to build real, lasting relationships with her students, including through extracurriculars such as the business club, where students compete in national entrepreneurial competitions like SkillsUSA. Last year, the Waubonsee team won the whole thing!
We also have a "classroom correspondent" on the show. This is the teacher we interview each month during the school year to follow their experiences over time.
This year, our correspondent is Caio Gomes! He teaches English as a second language at Clinton Rosette Middle School in DeKalb.
This month, we talked about a familiar frustration students often express: "When am I ever going to use this when I'm an adult?" He hears this when students do not want to read assigned books or write essays. It can be a challenge to show them the value of learning for its own sake, and that money is not everything.
Finally, we check in with our student correspondents for the spring: students from the Whiteside Area Career Center's CEO program who are starting their own businesses!
If you have never listened before, the show is based on a simple idea: We have all had teachers who shaped who we are. We want to hear about the educators who inspired you. Every guest on Teachers' Lounge — whether a teacher, coach, counselor or professor — is nominated by listeners.
So, tell us about the person who comes to your mind. Send us an email to nominate an educator at teacherslounge@niu.edu, and they could be on the show!
Don't worry — the podcast is still available. You can catch episodes every other Friday on WNIJ.org or wherever you get podcasts.
Copy Edited by Eryn Lent
