Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers

LAST EP OF SEASON 15! We're wrapping up with thoughts on processing, healing, dreaming, and rebuilding as we find our path  toward whatever is next for schools. So in this unscripted episode, I share my broad observations, loosely-held conclusions, and partially-formulated ideas about what might be possible. What is the future of public education? How do we keep the dream alive with so many forces...

The job of a teacher is not designed to be completed within 40 hours a week. It's assumed that teachers will provide additional labor by coming in early, staying late, and bringing work home on a regular basis….all without compensation. So, how can we change this norm? One way is to amplify the work of teachers who have resisted that pressure to be the last person out of the building each evening,...

We all want to work smarter, not harder … and that doesn't require a complete overhaul of your teaching practice or a brand new innovative workflow. Small changes in daily habits and mindset shifts can add up to big results, and I've invited 4 teachers to share what's made the difference for them: The MVP principle and timer when lesson planning (LB Blackwell) Using a turn-in sheet for student wor...

Teachers are often told to "focus on the positive and ignore the negative" when it comes to student behavior. While providing positive reinforcement and specific praise is good practice, it's NOT the only thing we need to do, and consequences are a part of learning behavioral expectations. So how do we get the outcome of better behavior? Classroom teacher Amy Stohs is here to share how her teachin...

No, the answer is not throwing the whole stack in a recycling bin. (Although it's perfectly fine to toss out some assignments from time-to-time.) And, the answer isn't to give more assignments digitally. That can help make assessment more effective and efficient, but the pile-up of student work awaiting feedback online can feel just as daunting as a stack of papers. This episode will help you expl...

If you're ready to reevaluate your job, and decide if you want to return next school year or explore other options, this episode will help you consider the possibilities. I'm talking with Daphne Williams Gomez of The Teacher Career Coach about what's changed in the job market for teachers since she was a guest on the show back in March 2020. She'll share trends she's noticing, as well as questions...

Finally — a sustainable model for self-paced learning and mastery-based grading! Kareem Farah of the Modern Classrooms Project (MCP) shares how ANY teacher of any grade level or subject area can maximize class time and connect with students one-on-one. If you feel like you never have enough time to truly differentiate or personalize learning, try the MCP approach. Kareem's sharing 3 strategies tha...

How do you show up each day as the best version of yourself? Kyle Cohen, a 4th grade teacher in Cleveland OH, is here to share his contagious positive energy. Listen as Kyle talks about what keeps him motivated, how he taps into his patience and empathy when working with students, and how implementing fun, engaging lessons helps him keep energy levels high throughout the school day. Click here to...

"When I leave school, I'm not only ready for the next day, I'm ready for the rest of the week. I almost never do planning or preparation the day before." These are the words of high school social studies teacher Megan Faherty, who's sharing her lesson planning strategy in today's episode. Megan's overall strategy boils down to making decisions about planning early, so her day-to-day work consists...

The constant pressure to achieve more, work harder, increase results, generate more money, and so on can be exhausting. In this episode, I wanted to share some things I've been mulling over in terms of holistic wealth and wellbeing, and what it means to use our time well. What if we didn't try to maximize EVERY moment, and instead allowed for some moments of rest, daydreaming, and moving slowly wi...

Teachers are expected to pack way too much into a school day, and it can be tricky to sift through everything in the curriculum and figure out what's most important (and relevant for your particular students). Sally Berquist, a teaching veteran with 24 years of experience and writing instruction specialist, is going to share some strategies to help you identify clutter in your curriculum and simpl...

The instability and unpredictability that students have experienced in this third school year impacted by COVID has definitely taken a toll on kids … but the impact can look very different from student to student. High school teacher Jessica Kirkland is here to share what she's observed in her students and discussed with them in terms of their mindset, behavior, and socio-emotional wellbeing. If y...

You know your students and who's struggling, and you can prepare lesson scaffolding even without data "proof" that students need it.   Tia Butts, teacher and Truth for Teachers writer, is joining me for a relaxed, upbeat conversation about 4 ways she's simplified tiered instruction and differentiation in her classroom.   Tia shares how she uses a relationship-based approach with students to assess...

I wanted to kick off Season 15 of the podcast with an update on what I've been up to during my time off, and what I have planned for you in the coming year. If you're new here, this episode is NOT our normal vibe: this episode is much more Angela-centered and our regular eps are centered on YOU and resources/ideas for your life and teaching practice. I just like to do some personal updates every n...

What might be possible if you use some of your days off this December to take a true rest from not only DOING school work, but THINKING about school? This episode is an invitation to join me in taking a sabbatical from everything school-related during some portion of your winter holiday break. Click here to read the transcript and participate in the discussion or, join our podcast Facebook group h...

Although each day holds the same 24 hours, there is something that we have come to accept as being innately different between "5:00pm on a Friday" compared to "5:00pm on a Wednesday." Not only is it untrue that the weekend is the only time to exhale after the impact of the workweek, but this also skirts around an important truth: The way that we choose to spend a weeknight has a more immediate imp...

If you're among the educators who find 2021-2022 is shaping up to be even more challenging than last school year, this episode is for you. I want to validate your experiences and challenges, and point you to a path forward even when it feels like you're powerless to make things better. There ARE positive developments happening, and it's due in large part to educators speaking up and speaking out a...

ELs don't earn differently from native-English speakers, but they do have specific needs that are often misunderstood. Today I'm sharing 6 myths about English Language Learners I wish I'd debunked sooner. These are beliefs and assumptions I held at the beginning of my teaching career, and unlearned them slowly over time. I think you'll find that they're super common myths, and in fact my guest tod...

There are 5 overarching principles that can help you streamline and simplify your workload so that you feel less overwhelmed. I call these principles "The Big 5 Tips for Teacher Productivity", and I've woven them all throughout the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek program (both the Full Year version that kicks off each summer as well as the self-paced Fast Track version, which you can begin any time). I'v...

If your cultural, racial, or socio-economic background is different from that of your students, there can be a learning curve as you build rapport. In today's episode, I'm talking with Sara Singer, a high school special education teacher on Chicago's South Side. Sara loves to co-teach and support students with disabilities in the general education classroom. She is also passionate about equity and...

This episode is going to be a game changer! I'm talking with Megan Faherty, a long-time user of the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek program who's currently in her 17th year of teaching. Megan shares tons of practical strategies and a whole new approach to thinking about how you grade that has helped her reclaim her nights and weekends: Shift 1: If you don't have time to grade it, students don't have time...

If you're feeling jaded or frustrated with how little systemic change you believe you can make as a teacher, this episode is for you! I'm talking with educator Jay Benedith, who noticed unhelpful patterns in her own thinking and is here to share how she's unpacked them. Together, we'll explore how to examine your beliefs and assumptions that prevent you from cultivating and exercising full equity...

Differentiating learning for every student in your classroom can be incredibly exhausting and time-consuming. So, I've invited Dr. Laura Fitzpatrick on the show to talk about some streamlining tips. Laura has been a 6th grade English Language Arts teacher for the past 8 years. She earned an M.A. in Special Education and Ed. D. in Inquiry-Based Learning, where her research primarily centered on tea...

We're losing some of our best educators (particularly educators of color) due to pushback from community members who say teachers are brainwashing and indoctrinating kids. So what should you do if a parent or caregiver of a student believes you are teaching kids to hate themselves, hate each other, or hate America? I'm offering 7 practical tips to open the door for honest, transparent conversation...

Inefficient, unproductive meetings can drain so much energy. If you find that meetings to discuss student progress always turn into complaining and defeatist rants...here's help. You can make necessary meetings less painful and perhaps even valuable. Fellow teacher Mellissa Forbes has some really practical tips and mindset shifts to help you. We'll talk about what to do before data meetings, durin...