Hello everyone! I cannot believe we are at episode 300 of the Teach Me, Teacher podcast. Truly astounded by their support everyone has had for the show over the years, and am grateful for every guest who has ever come to the show.  But I couldn't just have any guest for episode 300. It had to be a favorite—someone who connects to our audience on a deep level. And someone who is still passionate about the work we all do.  With that, I knew there could only be one person who fit all of that criteria...  Joe Dombrowski—Mr. D—comedian extraordinaire—has returned to Teach Me, Teacher and has done so with full force! We cover A LOT in this episode, but mainly, we discuss why authenticity in your life matters. What it can do for you. What doors it can open...  Joe Dombrowski (aka Mr.D) took the world by storm in 2017 with a viral April Fools’ Day spelling test prank that landed him multiple appearances on the Ellen DeGeneres show. Don't get it twisted though! It takes at least 20 years to be an overnight sensation! Joe has been doing stand up comedy since he was eight years old in his third grade talent show. He's never stopped! Since Joe rise to fame, he has been traveling the globe with his stand-up comedy which often highlights his crazy life as an elementary school teacher. When he’s not getting creative on screens and stages, Joe spends his time in Seattle, Washington producing his podcast “Social Studies” where he recaps absolutely insane stories from teachers all over the world.     This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their new book, A Teacher’s Guide to Mentor Texts, Grades K-5 by Carl Anderson. Using mentor texts in the writing classroom can be a real game-changer for teachers.  But how can we help teachers find mentor texts on their own, analyze them for teaching points, and use them effectively in the classroom? Carl Anderson’s newest book offers a five-step plan for improving student writing using mentor texts. Over 23 classroom videos, annotated samples, student samples, and online resources bring the content to life and give teachers the confidence to find and use mentor texts as powerful teaching tools. Learn more and download a free sample at Hein.pub/MentorK5.