“The best way to teach someone how to have helpful cell phone use is by first learning how to function without it .... They really will struggle to know how to be apart from it in a way that’s meaningful in any environment that they’re in.” – Cody Lehman

Most educators have experienced the struggle to keep students’ attention due to personal devices. But what happens when a school moves beyond managing the problem to actually solving it?

Cody Lehman, assistant principal at Hampton Park Christian School, shares their three-year journey implementing Yondr pouches – a phone-locking system that has transformed their school culture. This isn’t just another device management strategy; it’s a comprehensive approach to addressing what Cody calls “school loneliness” and the constant social pressures students face.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Rolling out the Yondr method in the classroom:

• How Yondr pouches work, and why they chose this solution over traditional collection methods
• The practical logistics of implementation and daily management
• Why the rollout gets easier each year as the culture shifts

How to get families’ and students’ buy-in:

• Strategies for communicating with resistant parents and students
• Why the initial two to four weeks of resistance quickly transforms into support
• How to address safety concerns and maintain parent-school communication

Changing the culture of the school:

• The dramatic increase in lunchroom noise levels (in a positive way)
• Improved classroom engagement and sustained discussion abilities
• Stronger teacher-student relationships without constant phone conflicts
• Students learning to be present with their peers

Cody addresses common concerns about liability, logistics, and enforcement while sharing real stories of student transformation. From the senior who initially said it would “ruin her year” to later calling it “the best decision,” the results speak for themselves.

Whether you’re considering a phone-free policy or looking for practical implementation strategies, this episode provides honest insights from a school that took the leap and found remarkable success in helping students be truly present.

Resources Mentioned:

• Yondr Pouches: https://www.overyondr.com/phone-locking-pouch

Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with Yondr; this is just one solution to this growing problem.

Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire through God’s power and grace working in you.

Go do what God has called you to do!

About Our Guest Cody Lehman has faithfully served at Hampton Park Christian School in Greenville, SC, for over a decade. He spent eight years as the athletic director and has served as assistant principal for the past four years. During his time at Hampton Park, he has enjoyed teaching psychology, sociology, and Bible doctrines, while remaining actively involved in coaching varsity athletics. Cody is passionate about people – God’s image bearers. His current role as assistant principal allows him to focus directly on that passion by striving to create a school culture where life can flourish, built on the core values of truth, love, and service. Cody and his wife, Sarah, have four children.

Sponsored By Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. [bjupress.com]

“How do we deal with parents that might have good intentions but they are overly interested in what's going on? And how do you deal with parents that feel that their kid isn't getting a fair shake in your classroom?” – Dr. Renton Rathbun

“Your work as a teacher is to mentor these parents to become partners." – Dr. Renton Rathbun

Teaching would be great if there were no ... what? While hopefully no teacher would say “students,” many might think “parents” when facing challenging family dynamics. But the reality is that parents are meant to be our greatest partners in education, not our biggest obstacles.

Dr. Renton Rathbun returns to help teachers understand and connect with today's parent generation – primarily millennials, who now represent the majority of school families. As both a college professor and a parent himself, Renton shares what makes this generation tick and how their upbringing impacts their approach to their children's education.

During this episode, Jenny and Renton discuss the shifts that have occurred in parent-teacher relationships, moving from a time when parents automatically sided with teachers to today's reality where teachers often feel under scrutiny from well-meaning but highly involved parents.

You'll discover key characteristics of millennial parents, including:

• How growing up as “digital natives” affects their communication styles and expectations
• Why technology has rewired their brains and changed how they process authority
• How dynamics within the home affect how the parent shows up at school
• Why instant gratification culture has affected their persistence and “grit"”

Renton provides practical strategies for teachers, such as how to shift conversations from immediate outcomes to life principles and how to leverage technology and social media for positive connection rather than avoiding it.

Whether you're struggling with helicopter parents, dealing with authority challenges, or simply wanting to build stronger partnerships with families, this episode provides biblical wisdom and practical strategies for connecting with today's parent generation.

Resources Mentioned:

• Paul Tripp Ministries parenting courses (free online with study guides)
• The Renton Rathbun Show podcast (focused on helping parents navigate worldview challenges)

About Our Guest Dr. Renton Rathbun has been a college professor for over 25 years, teaching at both secular and Christian institutions. He frequently speaks on biblical worldview and apologetics topics. He holds a Bachelor of Science in English Education, MA in Interpretive Speech, MFA in Creative Writing, MA in Philosophy, Master of Theology, and PhD in Apologetics. Renton is also the host of The Renton Rathbun Show, a podcast designed to help parents understand the worldviews targeting their children and how to respond biblically. As both an educator and a parent, he brings a unique perspective to the challenges of parent-teacher partnerships in today's culture.

Sponsored By Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. [bjupress.com]

Have a question for the Teacher Edition podcast? We would love to hear from you. Please submit your questions at https://TeacherEditionPodcast.com.

“I challenge our listeners today to write down one or two things they can take action on as we give these ideas on the show, so they will really make it happen in their classroom and not just keep a list of it somewhere and not use it.” — Katie Klipp

School is back in session, and one of the biggest challenges teachers face is getting meaningful participation from all students, not just the eager few who always raise their hands.

In this episode of the Teacher Edition podcast, you will find so many practical ideas to facilitate student participation within the classroom. As Katie Klipp shares multiple ideas, she encourages you to take one idea and implement it in the classroom. Take action on the information given in this episode.

Katie emphasizes the biblical foundation of questioning, noting that God asked questions not because He didn't know the answers, but to help people understand. She challenges teachers to move beyond traditional hand-raising to embrace "total participation," where every student responds simultaneously.

You'll discover innovative techniques including:

• Creative Four Corners variations that work even when students stay seated
• "Whisper Hold" strategies for managing different processing speeds
• Emoji matching and physical response techniques
• Strategic use of whiteboards, magic boards, and simple materials like page protectors
• "Back to Back, Front to Front" partner activities
• "Look, Touch, and Show" color-coded response systems

Katie also provides practical solutions for engaging reluctant participants and motivating students without creating prize dependency. From flying stuffed animals to sound effect boxes, she shares creative motivators that build intrinsic engagement.

Ideas for participation include movement-based responses, visual cues, tactile activities, and digital tools that get every student actively involved in learning.

Ideas for the anxious participants focus on creating safe, supportive ways for hesitant students to share their thinking without the pressure of being singled out.

Every day in the classroom is YOUR day to impact and inspire – not in your own strength – but through God's power and his grace working in you.

Go do what God has called you to do!

Resources Checking for Understanding by Douglas Fischer and Nancy Frey

About Our Guest Katie holds a bachelor's and master's degree in elementary education and has taught first grade at Bob Jones Academy in Greenville, SC, for twenty years. She also assists at BJU Press in writing, revising, and consulting. She enjoys hosting workshops for teachers and assisting teachers with classroom management, technology, and creative instruction.

Sponsored By Now, more than ever, children need a learning experience that enables them to think critically, advances them academically, and encourages them to live biblically. BJU Press serves Christian educators with academically rigorous resources written from a biblical worldview to prepare the next generation to be salt and light in society. We are committed to doing everything we can so Christian education can do everything it must. Visit our website today or contact your Territory Manager to learn more. [bjupress.com]

Have a question for the Teacher Edition podcast? We would love to hear from you. Please submit your questions at https://TeacherEditionPodcast.com.