Managing the Madness with Jack Berckemeyer Artwork

Ed Soul

Being an educator is not like other jobs. You put your whole self into it – it’s soul work. Each episode, we bring you insights, techniques, and strategies rooted in research that you can put into practice in your K-12 classroom right away. Host Rachel Logan (in education for 16 years and counting) uses interviews, great questions, and stories from her experiences in the classroom to make content come to life. Produced by the Sourcewell Education Solutions team.

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Ed Soul

Managing the Madness with Jack Berckemeyer

May 29, 2026 • Sourcewell • Season 5 • Episode 20

0:00 | 31:17

In this episode of Ed Soul, we hear from educator, author, and speaker Jack Berckemeyer to explore the unique world of middle school learners and the realities of “managing the madness” in today’s classrooms. Jack shares insights from his work on young adolescence, classroom management, and the evolving characteristics of learners, offering practical encouragement for educators navigating the middle level and beyond. From creating safe and engaging learning environments to modeling social skills and ending the school year with intention, this conversation is packed with wisdom, humor, and tangible takeaways for educators.

Resources and ideas from this episode:

In the Sourcewell region? Register for our upcoming 2026 Sourcewell Educator Summit: 2026 Sourcewell Educator Summit | Sourcewell and ask Jack to “finish that story!”

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Rachel Logan

Host