Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers

Work/life balance doesn't mean creating a total separation between teaching and everything else. It's about integrating work with the rest of your priorities in a way that allows you to give appropriate time and energy to each. Balance IS possible and worth striving for, even when teaching remotely from home for the first time. If you feel like you're tied to the computer 24/7 and working more now...

During distance learning, look for small, simple ways you can center kids' physical and mental well-being, which will, in turn, be energizing and uplifting for you, as well. I've collected 12 types of ideas from members of the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Club to give you some insight into how other K-12 teachers from around the world are facing the challenges of teaching remotely. Read the whole list...

A sudden switch to teaching remotely is so difficult to manage. But what if it allows us to let go of all our previous assumptions about what we "have" to do with kids? If schools can simplify the curriculum, cancel standardized testing, and put kids' socio-emotional wellness first right now ... why can't we do that all the time? In this episode, I'm offering encouragement to help you let go of th...

With all the COVID-19 upheaval in our world right now, I wanted to do a special check-in with you. We are all struggling with the uncertainty, but this episode shares 5 things I know for sure. I've added calming background music, so this is ideal to listen to when you're anxious and having trouble focusing on getting anything done. I hope it's reassuring. Be safe and well!  Click here to read the...

"You can break motivation barriers for disengaged students by recognizing that motivation is an investment decision. Students have time, attention, and effort, and they are making a decision every single day about whether they want to invest those things in our classrooms or in something else. Making your classroom worth investing in is about creating a space where students' time, energy, and effo...

Lunch can be a surprisingly big stressor for teachers: figuring out what to pack, being scheduled for a 10:30 am lunch slot when you're never quite hungry, having to scarf down a whole meal in 15 minutes or less, or not getting a break for lunch at all. So, by popular request, this episode is all about ways to simplify and streamline. Some of the main strategies we'll explore include: Make conveni...

What career options are available for teachers? Is it true that other industries don't value education degrees or teaching experience? What else is possible when you feel like the "only" thing you know how to do is teach? Daphne Williams of Teacher Career Coach is on this week's episode to provide guidance to those who are considering a career move outside the classroom. Together, we destigmatize...

Sometimes a relatively minor issue — like students not remembering to put their names on their papers — can create an outsized reaction in us. That's certainly been true for me — as a new teacher, I couldn't believe I was having to remind the kids AGAIN to write the proper heading (yes, friends, on EVERY assignment). The real source of my frustration wasn't no-name papers, though. It was my belief...

"Our end goal isn't to be perfect consumers; it's just to have a different mindset about our relationship with the world. In my classroom, the relationship to the planet that I'm modeling is what's going to have the biggest impact. That's what's going to stick with the kids more than one little tip or trick that I use for reducing waste." In this episode, you'll hear 1st grade teacher Heidi Rose o...

We've all had moments where we lose our temper with students and pull rank to get them to comply. So how do you shift from micromanaging, controlling, and punishing students to supporting and guiding them? How do we learn to lead our students instead of ruling over them? In this episode, I'll share how the model of fear-based obedience begins at the top of the school system hierarchy. There are fo...

How can you design learning experiences that help kids understand themselves and their place in the world? A 5th grade teacher shares how she creates inquiry experiences that help kids develop understandings about personal identity, bias, moving beyond a single story, and seeing what isn't there (critically studying history). I've asked Jess Lifshitz to come on the podcast because I love learning...

You can't just positive-think your way into confidence: real confidence comes as a result of consistently taking action, and seeing growth in yourself over time. When I started my podcast 4 years ago, I wasn't confident about it. At all. In fact, I was very self-conscious about my voice, my accent, my ideas, my theme song, my introduction. You name it, I doubted it. And that's how it should be — h...

As we move into 2020, I'm sharing some very personal self-reflections about the course my life has taken over the past 10 years, and new insights I've had about who I am and what I need in order to thrive. A few of the things I touch on in this stream-of-consciousness episode: Learning to set boundaries Becoming a "people person" Why I chose the direction I did for my business What marriage looks...

Jessica H. shares how she balances home and work: "I realized that being a good teacher came at a really high price for me, at the expense of my family, relationships, and health. One day I decided that that price was higher than I was willing to pay. So I asked, "If I were to thrive — not just survive, but thrive — in my professional life, what would that look like? What would I have to do (and s...

The history of the weekend is a fascinating one, and author Katrina Onstad is here to tell us why (and how) workers' rights have evolved over time. She shares the ancient concept of rest from working hours, and describes how the encroachment of work on our personal lives changed with industrialization, and changed again now that technology keeps us connected 24/7. Katrina also shares some systemic...

Why does it take so long to test kids for special education services? What are you supposed to do in the meanwhile? And what exactly does the school psychologist do all day? Dr. Rebecca Branstetter of The Thriving School Psychologist Collective is here to share the hilarious stories and inside scoop on the role of school psychs. They're trained to do far more than just test kids, and your school p...

Do you have co-workers who are passive-aggressive, controlling, or even outright bullying others when you're supposed to be collaborating? Are you appalled at some of the things that come out of some coworkers' mouths, but always feel caught off guard and aren't sure how to respond? This is an off-the-cuff episode where I'm speaking to you directly from the heart, giving the same advice I'd give t...

In this coaching call, a 25-year veteran teacher explores why it's taking her so long to get out the door on Friday afternoons when she's trying to plan for the following week. Rebecca shares, "I'm a really good teacher, but with as long as I take to plan lessons, I should be one of the best in the world!" Together, we explore ways to streamline her planning process so she's spending less time fit...

Are you constantly losing instructional time to minor disruptions and off-task behavior? What if you shifted your focus from eliminating misbehavior and interruptions to maximizing learning time? When the goal is to eliminate interruptions, you feel like you have to address every single one so it never happens again. When the goal is to maximize learning time, you can choose a more constructive re...

"Men and women are far more alike than they are different. And yet in our society, all of the emphasis is put on the difference. Everybody feels anger, everybody feels sadness, and it makes no sense to be gendering these feelings. As a matter of fact, not only does it not make sense, it is definitively harmful to people and to society." "As girls, we are not taught to acknowledge or manage our ang...

How much energy are you wasting complaining about or resisting reality? Radical acceptance can help you deal realistically with the facts of the situation (rather than the story you're telling yourself about the facts) and sitting with the discomfort of the present moment instead of insisting it shouldn't be happening. Radical acceptance doesn't mean you approve of the problems you're facing or de...

Jennifer Gonzalez of Cult of Pedagogy and I are breaking down misconceptions about what effective instruction really looks like. Listen in as we discuss the truths that often get buried among these myths: MYTH #1: Traditional teaching methods should be replaced with more innovative, student-centered approaches. MYTH #2: Lessons should be as creative and fun as possible to increase engagement. MYTH...

What happens when even looking at your to-do list makes you want to shut down? How do you get yourself re-energized when basic adulting feels like too much? I've found it empowering to have a menu of choices — or a toolbox — I can go to when I experience those feelings. It's a collection of strategies I can pick from which have worked in the past, so I can choose whichever one feels easiest to me...

The best way to help students be more empathetic and self-aware is for us to first develop these qualities in ourselves. Dr. Ilana Nankin has created wellness, yoga, and mindfulness resources specifically for teachers through her organization called Breathe for Change. Ilana is spearheading a movement of educators who want to embody principles of wellness and healthy socio-emotional development in...

Your worldview shapes your classroom management and curriculum choices, whether consciously or not. Let's examine and question the belief that "neutral" is the only ethical position for us to take, and interrogate whether being neutral is even possible in certain contexts. To be true advocates for our students and have strong, authentic relationships with them, we have to fully embrace and support...