Be A Funky Teacher Podcast
Real conversations for educators who care deeply about the work.
Classroom stories, practical ideas, teacher well-being, leadership, student voice, and honest reflection from Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve.
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309 episodes
Feb 5, 2026
Holding High Expectations with Grace
High expectations and grace are often treated like opposites, but they are meant to work together. In this episode, I unpack the tension teachers feel between holding the…
Feb 4, 2026
Why Connection Is Not a Soft Skill
Too often, connection gets labeled as a soft skill, something extra that comes after the real academic work. In this episode, I challenge that assumption and argue that…
Feb 3, 2026
Kids Who Push Back Need Us Most
Pushback in the classroom can feel personal, especially when it happens publicly. In this episode, I unpack why the instinct to tighten control isn’t always the most effective…
Feb 2, 2026
Seeing the Child Before the Behavior
Behavior shows up in every classroom, but what matters most is the child underneath it. In this episode, I slow the conversation down and explore why behavior is…
Feb 1, 2026
Sunday School for Teachers: Peter Walks on Water — Faith in Uncertainty
This week on Sunday School for Teachers, I reflect on the story of Peter walking on water and what it means for educators living and teaching in uncertain…
Jan 31, 2026
Saturday Stories — Leadership Kit: Excitement in Everything — Aaliyah Tries Again
This Saturday Story from the Leadership Kit focuses on enthusiasm and the skill of bringing excitement into everything. Through the story “Aaliyah Tries Again,” I explore how students…
Jan 30, 2026
When Culture Breaks, Learning Stops
I explore why classroom culture is the emotional foundation that makes learning possible. When trust erodes, when students no longer feel safe or seen, even the strongest lessons…
Jan 29, 2026
Trust Is the Real Curriculum
In this episode, I unpack a truth that took me years to fully understand: you can have strong standards, engaging lessons, and well-designed curriculum, but without trust, it…
Jan 28, 2026
Relationships Over Rules
Rules matter in my classroom. Structure matters. Consistency matters. But I have learned that rules without relationships only create compliance, not connection. In this episode, I unpack why…
Jan 27, 2026
Safety Before Standards
In this episode, I talk about something that can feel almost rebellious in education but shouldn’t: safety has to come before standards. I make it clear that standards,…
Jan 26, 2026
Belonging Comes First
In this episode, I talk about something that sits underneath every lesson plan, every standard, and every behavior conversation: belonging. I say clearly that belonging is not a…
Jan 25, 2026
Sunday School for Teachers: Mary and Martha — Presence Over Pressure
In this episode, I reflect on the story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10 and what it reveals about the tension I often live in as a…