Podcast
Be A Funky Teacher Podcast
Hosted by Mr Funky Teacher Nicholas Kleve · EN
Join Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve, for creative learning techniques, joyful teaching tips, and practical classroom ideas! This podcast inspires educators to stay motivated and empowered while building a positive classroom culture. Discover innovative education methods and effective teacher leadership development strategies that make learning exciting for both students and teachers. Whether you’re looking for inspiration or new ways to engage your class, this podcast is packed with resources to help you become a more fun, dynamic educator. Tune in and learn how to bring creativity and leadership into every lesson – because everyone can be a funky teacher!
42episodes
Episodes
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Summer Check-In 4: Gratitude for Family and Looking Ahead
1w ago00:12:37Tap to summarizeEpisode SummaryIn this episode, I reflect on how quickly summer has passed and the importance of slowing down to appreciate the people who matter most. As my family prepares for an eight-day cruise with friends we first met on a cruise two years ago, I’m reminded how simple conversations can grow into lifelong friendships.I share why family memories require intentionality and how every season of life teaches us something. This summer has been filled with lessons from travel, family gatherings, professional learning, and watching my children continue to grow into young adults.I also reflect on the importance of balancing excitement for the future with gratitude for the present. A new school year is approaching, and while I’m looking forward to new students and new opportunities, I don’t want to rush through the moments that make today meaningful.As I close this final summer check-in, I encourage you to invest in relationships, make memories, and appreciate the season you’re living in. The greatest blessings in life are rarely destinations—they’re the people who share the journey with us.Show NotesPreparing for a family cruiseHow friendships can begin unexpectedlyLessons from a summer of experiencesThe importance of intentional family memoriesLooking ahead without rushing todayEpisode 300 is just around the cornerKey TakeawaysEvery season of life has something to teach us.Family memories are created intentionally.Friendships often begin with simple conversations.Gratitude helps us appreciate the present.Relationships are life’s greatest investment.
Transcribe →Summer Check-In 3: Learning Never Stops
2w ago00:08:54Tap to summarizeEpisode SummaryIn this episode, I reflect on one of the beliefs that has shaped my entire career: learning never stops. As I prepare to travel to Lincoln to help write science assessment items for the state of Nebraska, I’m reminded that even after more than two decades in education, I still have so much to learn.I share how learning happens in many different places. Conferences, classrooms, family experiences, travel, podcasts, outdoor adventures, and conversations all continue teaching me important lessons. Some of the most meaningful learning in life happens far beyond a traditional classroom.I also reflect on the connection between curiosity, humility, and growth. Experience matters, but experience alone is not enough. Great educators continue reading, asking questions, listening, reflecting, and remaining open to new perspectives.As I look ahead, I’m grateful that I have not figured everything out. Learning keeps life interesting, keeps us humble, and helps us become better educators, parents, leaders, and people. The goal is not to arrive. The goal is to keep growing.Show NotesPreparing to write state science assessmentsWhy great teachers remain learnersLessons from conferences and experiencesStudents and family members as teachersThe relationship between humility and growthStaying curious throughout lifeKey TakeawaysLearning does not end when school ends.Experience matters, but curiosity drives growth.Some of life’s greatest lessons happen outside classrooms.Humility creates room for continued learning.The goal is not arrival—the goal is growth.
Transcribe →Summer Check-In 2: Celebrating Milestones and Making Memories
3w ago00:10:07Tap to summarizeEpisode SummaryIn this episode, I reflect on how quickly life moves and why milestones give us an important opportunity to pause. This summer, Kristine and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary while our daughter Mya traveled to Washington, D.C., to present a children’s book project at a national conference.I share how moments like anniversaries, competitions, birthdays, graduations, and family trips help us recognize how far we have come. They remind us that the years move faster than we expect and that our children grow up before we are ready.I also reflect on how meaningful memories are often created through ordinary experiences. Road trips, family dinners, conversations, photographs, and shared adventures may not feel significant in the moment, but they often become the stories we treasure later.As I look back on this summer, I keep returning to one message: make the memory. Celebrate the milestone, take the trip, attend the event, make the call, and spend time with the people who matter. Someday often arrives much sooner than we expect.Show NotesCelebrating 20 years of marriageMya’s national conference experienceHow quickly children growWhy milestones help us pauseOrdinary moments that become lasting memoriesMaking time for the people who matterKey TakeawaysLife moves faster than we often realize.Milestones give us a reason to pause and reflect.Meaningful memories are often created in ordinary moments.Relationships matter more than possessions.Don’t wait for someday to make the memory.
Transcribe →Summer Check-In 1: The Power of Shared Experiences
4w ago00:10:02Tap to summarizeEpisode SummaryIn this episode, I begin a new series of weekly summer check-ins by reflecting on a family canoe trip through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota. With nine family members carrying everything we needed, paddling across lakes, and navigating difficult conditions, the experience reminded me that meaningful memories are not always built through comfort.I share how the trip required everyone to contribute, work together, and depend on one another. The physical challenges, changing weather, portages, and simple routines of wilderness life helped strengthen our connection and showed me once again that shared challenges often bring people closer together.I also reflect on what the experience taught me about young people, resilience, gratitude, and growth. My children were capable of more than I sometimes realized, and the trip reinforced that resilience develops when people are given opportunities to face challenges and work through them.As I look back, I am grateful we took the trip—not because it was easy or convenient, but because it was meaningful. My hope is that this episode encourages families and educators to create experiences that stretch people, build connection, and become part of the stories they carry for years.Show NotesBeginning weekly summer check-insA family trip to the Boundary WatersShared challenges and stronger relationshipsHelping children build resilienceGratitude for simple thingsCreating meaningful family memoriesKey TakeawaysDifficult experiences often become meaningful memories.Shared challenges can strengthen relationships.Young people are capable of more than we realize.Resilience develops through real experience.Growth often happens beyond comfort.
Transcribe →What’s Next for Be a Funky Teacher?
Jul 300:13:05Tap to summarizeEpisode SummaryIn this episode, I pause to reflect on how far Be a Funky Teacher has come and where this journey is headed next. What began a little over a year ago on my way to the National Teacher Leadership Conference has grown into nearly 300 episodes centered on teaching, leadership, relationships, humanity, student voice, and hope.I share why I’ve decided to slow the podcast down for a few weeks and move from daily episodes to weekly summer check-ins. I’m not stopping or disappearing. I’m simply giving myself space to rest, spend time with my family, reflect, and prepare for the next season of this work.I also share updates about my upcoming books. I’m now working toward releasing the first Be a Funky Teacher book in late October, followed by Teaching in an Age of AI in the spring. These projects are another way for me to encourage educators and remind them that their humanity and influence still matter.As I look ahead, my mission remains the same. I want to help educators feel encouraged, supported, and hopeful while continuing to make a difference in my classroom, my school, and the larger education community. The conversation isn’t ending. It’s continuing in a new way.Show NotesReflecting on nearly 300 podcast episodesMoving to weekly summer check-insChoosing rest without abandoning the missionUpdates on two upcoming booksContinuing to encourage educatorsLooking ahead to the next seasonKey TakeawaysSlowing down can support long-term growth.Rest is not the same as giving up.The mission of serving educators remains unchanged.Teachers still need encouragement, hope, and community.The next chapter can look different without ending the journey.
Transcribe →What Happens When You Take a Leap of Faith?
Jul 200:13:49Tap to summarizeEpisode SummaryIn this episode, I reflect on what happened when I took one of the biggest leaps of faith in my teaching career. After spending 22 years in South Sioux City, I stepped away from a place filled with relationships, memories, credibility, and comfort to begin again at Winnebago Public Schools.I share the uncertainty that came with starting over and the lessons I learned along the way. I discovered that experience travels with you, relationships still matter most, trust must be earned again, and some of life's greatest opportunities are waiting on the other side of uncertainty.I also reflect on two deeply meaningful gifts—a seed bead necklace from a student and his mother and a Mr. Funky Teacher beaded medallion created by my students with help from Ms. Shipman. Those gifts represented far more than objects. They represented connection, trust, belonging, and acceptance.As I look back on the year, I'm grateful I was willing to take the leap. My building changed, my community changed, and my routines changed, but my purpose came with me. This experience reminded me that when we genuinely care, serve others, and believe in young people, we can make a difference wherever we are.Show NotesLeaving South Sioux City after 22 yearsBeginning again at WinnebagoExperience and purpose travel with youEarning trust in a new communityMeaningful gifts of belongingGrowth on the other side of uncertaintyKey TakeawaysLeaving something good can still be the right decision.Experience travels with you when you begin again.Trust must be earned through consistent relationships.Meaningful gifts can represent belonging and acceptance.Some of life's greatest blessings wait beyond uncertainty.
Transcribe →The BAGO Mic Student Podcast: How Student Voice Changed My Teaching
Jul 100:19:31Tap to summarizeEpisode SummaryIn this episode, I reflect on one of the most meaningful projects of my teaching career—the BAGO Mic Student Podcast. What began as an experiment to help students develop communication and leadership skills quickly became something much bigger. It transformed the way I think about student voice and reminded me just how capable young people really are.I share how giving students a microphone, a platform, and authentic leadership opportunities allowed them to interview guests, tell their stories, celebrate their community, and grow in confidence. Along the way, I discovered that students don't just need opportunities to answer questions—they need opportunities to ask them, listen deeply, and share experiences that matter.I also reflect on the incredible growth I witnessed throughout the year. Students became stronger communicators, more confident leaders, and thoughtful interviewers. Most importantly, they learned that their voices matter, and I learned that trusting students with meaningful work often leads to outcomes that exceed our expectations.As I look ahead, I'm excited that the BAGO Mic has become more than a classroom project. It's now a student leadership legacy that future fifth graders will continue building. My hope is that this reminds all of us to create more opportunities for students to lead, share, and discover the power of their own voices.Show NotesThe story behind the BAGO MicStudent voice and authentic leadershipBuilding communication skills through podcastingConfidence, curiosity, and storytellingCreating a lasting student legacyLessons I'll carry into the futureKey TakeawaysStudent voice deserves to be heard.Leadership grows through authentic experiences.Students often exceed our expectations.Confidence develops through meaningful opportunities.Lasting legacies begin with one courageous idea.
Transcribe →Looking Back on My First Year at Winnebago: What I Learned
Jun 3000:15:53Tap to summarizeEpisode SummaryIn this episode, I reflect on my first year at Winnebago Public Schools after spending 22 years in South Sioux City. Starting over wasn't easy, but looking back, I realize this year changed me in ways I never expected. It challenged me, stretched me, and reminded me why I became a teacher in the first place.I share the biggest lessons I learned throughout the year, including the importance of earning trust, building authentic relationships, listening before leading, and embracing a new community with humility. I also reflect on the incredible students, families, colleagues, and team members who made this transition such a meaningful experience.One of the greatest gifts of this year was gaining a deeper appreciation for Native culture, student voice, and the power of collaboration. Whether through our fifth-grade team or the BAGO Mic student podcast, I was reminded that education is at its best when people work together and every voice is valued.As I close this chapter and prepare for another school year, I'm filled with gratitude. This experience reminded me that where we teach may change, but our purpose remains the same—to serve students, build relationships, continue learning, and make a positive difference wherever we're planted.Show NotesReflecting on my first year at WinnebagoStarting over after 22 yearsBuilding trust and relationshipsStudent voice and the BAGO MicLearning from Native culture and communityLessons I'll carry forwardKey TakeawaysStarting over creates opportunities for growth.Trust is earned through consistency.Relationships remain at the heart of teaching.Every student's potential is greater than their circumstances.Great educators continue learning alongside their students.
Transcribe →What I'm Taking Back from the PLC at Work Institute in Las Vegas
Jun 2900:17:54Tap to summarizeEpisode SummaryIn this episode, I take a step back after the PLC at Work Institute in Las Vegas to reflect on what I'm actually bringing home with me. Attending a conference is one thing, but I believe the real value comes when the notes become action and the inspiration becomes implementation.As I look back, I realize there wasn't one speaker or one session that stood above the rest. Instead, I noticed common themes that surfaced throughout the conference—culture, relationships, collaboration, wellness, collective efficacy, reflection, and hope. Those are the ideas I want to carry into my classroom, my team, and my school community.I also reflect on how these themes connect to my own experiences as an educator. Whether it's helping students believe in themselves, working alongside an incredible fifth-grade team, or remembering that relationships are at the heart of everything we do, this conference reminded me why I love teaching and why our work truly matters.As I head into another school year, I'm challenged to move beyond simply collecting ideas and instead focus on putting them into practice. My hope is that these reflections encourage you to think about what you're taking back from your own learning experiences and how those lessons can make a difference for your students.Show NotesReflections from the PLC at Work InstituteCulture vs. climateRelationships and collaborationCollective efficacy and student growthWellness and educator reflectionTurning conference learning into actionKey TakeawaysCulture is built intentionally every day.Relationships remain at the heart of education.Collaboration produces stronger outcomes.Reflection helps make growth visible.Learning matters most when it leads to action.
Transcribe →Sunday School for Teachers: Bloom Where You're Planted
Jun 2800:10:00Tap to summarizeEpisode SummaryIn this episode, I look at Joseph's story through the lens of faithfulness instead of focusing on injustice or forgiveness. I'm reminded that no matter where Joseph found himself—in a pit, in slavery, in prison, or eventually in the palace—he continued to serve God faithfully and grow where he was planted.I reflect on how easy it is to wish away difficult seasons, especially in education. Whether it's a challenging class, a difficult school year, or an unexpected transition, Joseph's life reminds me that I may not control where I'm planted, but I do control how I choose to grow.I also explore the truth that character is often developed long before opportunity arrives. Joseph didn't become faithful when he was promoted. He was already faithful in the hardest places, and those seasons prepared him for the responsibilities that would come later.As I prepare for another week of teaching, I'm challenged to bloom where God has planted me today. I pray that I'll remain faithful in every season, trusting that God is using both the easy and the difficult moments to shape the teacher—and the person—He is calling me to become.Show NotesJoseph's journey from Genesis 37–50Bloom where you're plantedCharacter before opportunityFaithfulness during difficult seasonsClassroom application for educatorsClosing prayer for teachersKey TakeawaysFaithfulness is built before success.Character grows during difficult seasons.We can't always choose where we're planted.Students learn from how we live each day.God can use every season for His purpose.
Transcribe →