Shannon Martin Shares Earned Wisdom: Technology Integration, Classroom Management, and Podcasting

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Every person has a story that teaches valuable lessons. Here is the Earned Wisdom of Shannon Martin from the Tech Tools for Teachers Podcast. Shannon's journey through traditional, charter, and project-based learning environments has equipped her with practical insights on technology integration, classroom management, and preparing students for an ever-changing future.

Her perspective on trying new approaches without fear of failure and her commitment to student-centered learning offer valuable lessons for educators at any stage of their career.

Tell us a little about yourself, including your experience in education and anything else you’d like to share.

Hello! I’m Shanna Martin, and for the last 21 years, I have had the opportunity to teach in traditional, charter, and project-based classrooms. Currently, I serve as a middle school teacher and instructional coach in Wisconsin. In addition to my teaching roles, I have certifications in FANUC robotics, Project Lead the Way (PLTW), and a variety of tech tools. Beyond the classroom, I am the host of the Tech Tools for Teachers Podcast, where I share insights and resources to support fellow educators.

I originally created the Tech Tools for Teachers Podcast to help local teachers. I was not able to reach everyone who needed tech coaching in my district and the surrounding area. Many teachers had similar questions, so I thought I could deliver the content in a podcast format and then answer their questions individually. It was really helpful that my husband, Fuzz, was a former radio host and had a lot of experience with recording and editing audio. We started the show in January 2018 and have been sharing free tech tools ever since. Now educators listen from all over the world!

The whole goal of my show is to help educators build a collection of free tools that enhance student learning in their classrooms. Education budgets are tight, and if there is a free tool out there, I am all for it! I use a majority of the tech tools with my own students and also while coaching other teachers. The tools are collected on smartinwi.com, so that you can search and find what tools you need for the content you are working on. Educators get a little extra support, and I get to have fun while sharing the information!

What have you learned from a colleague that has made you a better teacher?

I am always learning from my colleagues. There is not one in particular that stands out. I have had fabulous mentors and conversations with so many educators that it is hard to pinpoint one lesson. I am a firm believer that if we don’t grow and evolve with our students, we are not going to meet their needs or support their future.

What “earned wisdom” do you have that other teachers can benefit from?

Just try it. You don’t know if the lesson/tech tool/strategy/conversation/idea is going to work if you don’t attempt it. The great thing about education is that if something does not work, you have a clean slate the next day. While I am coaching, my go-to line is, “Well, let’s see what happens!” Then you have a starting point to work with. You can change or adjust parts of what you did, or scrap the whole thing. You will never know if something will be successful if you don’t try.

Can you share a moment in your teaching career that fundamentally changed how you approach your work?

When I first started teaching, I struggled with classroom management. Sitting students in rows and filling in workbooks was not what I felt comfortable with. Since I was the new teacher and I didn’t have much experience, I just did what I saw others doing.

Then I took a “distance learning course” because online classes didn’t really exist. I watched a DVD and wrote a paper on teaching in groups and student motivation. After realizing that, that is what I wanted my classroom to feel like, I never taught in rows again.

Students in my classroom do not always work in groups, but they sit together and learn how to collaborate and be a part of our community. We communicate with one another and solve problems together.

What’s something about teaching/education that you wish more people understood?

I think most educators know this, but it is always on my mind: we are teaching for the future. We are teaching students to prepare them for an ever-changing world. Our students need to be flexible, adaptable, and creative all the time. The jobs our students will have may not exist yet. By modeling these skills to my students, hopefully, they will be a little more prepared for the future.

What’s one thing you’ve done in your education journey that you’re really proud of?

In 21 years, I have been in 3 different districts and taught in a variety of classrooms. I have attended training, presented at many conferences and I host a podcast. However, I am most proud of student success! It is not about what I have done but if It is not about what I have done, but whether students are successful members of society once they leave my room.

What personal or professional development book (or both) would you recommend? Why?

It is so hard to choose one so, I will share two professional development books.

My favorite book for Social Studies teachers is Becoming Active Citizens - Practices to Engage Students in Civic Education Across the Curriculum by Tom Driscoll, Shawn W. McCusker. It shares ideas of building in more civic skills across content areas and connects the ideas with community service.

My other favorite book for any teacher or parent is The Anxious Generation (*ad) by Jonathan Haidt. While this book has received media attention, it accentuates how our students are growing up in a world fundamentally different from previous generations. It gives perspective and reasoning behind changes that need to happen to help our kids.

What is your favorite song on your morning commute to work? (or in general)

It depends on the day! Fridays are usually music I can dance to.

Feel free to add anything else that you think would be helpful to educators.

Teaching is hard! Take time for yourself and find small things that bring joy to your day.

🗄️Explore the Why Edify Wisdom Archives - you'll find inspiring ideas, lessons, and resources there.