Denise Leigh

The Art of Teaching Business

Education EN ↓ 36 episodes

Welcome to the 'Art of Teaching Business' Podcast, where we explore the world of teaching business education classes. I'm your host, Denise Leigh, a veteran business education teacher with over 25 years in the classroom and a finalist for the 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award. I'll be sharing my insights, tips, and philosophies on how to effectively teach business education to today's students. Whether you're a new teacher just starting out or a seasoned educator looking for fresh ideas, this podcast will offer practical advice and thought-provoking discussions on teaching business.

Author

Denise Leigh

Episodes

35. Teaching Stocks & Investments Through a Student-Run Fund 06.03.2026 11:36

Episode 35 The Art of Teaching Business podcast! In this episode of The Art of Teaching Business , I sit down with Jenny Miller at State College Area High School to explore one of the most impressive investing programs I’ve ever seen. Her students manage a real investment portfolio with REAL MONEY through the Little Lion Fund, gaining true fiduciary responsibility and hands-on financial experience...

34. From Classroom to Commerce: School-Based Enterprise Success Story 28.02.2026 18:47

Episode 34 of The Art of Teaching Business podcast! In this episode of The Art of Teaching Business , I take you inside the Roar Store at State College Area High School to spotlight a truly stellar school-based enterprise. I sit down with Mrs. Bridget Ciolkosz and her student managers to explore how their program blends retail operations, food service, branding, and experiential learning. From stu...

33. How Business Teachers Can Plan Smarter and Save Time 30.01.2026 15:16

Episode 33 of The Art of Teaching Business podcast! Teaching multiple preps doesn’t have to mean constant overwhelm. In this episode of the Art of Teaching Business podcast, I share my SMART Systems Framework —a practical approach I created after teaching five, six, and even seven preps while balancing family life and limited planning time. I break down how simplifying lessons, using modular and r...

32. 5 Lesson Planning Systems for Overwhelmed Business Teachers 23.01.2026 16:36

Episode 32 of The Art of Teaching Business podcast! Lesson planning shouldn’t steal your nights and weekends. In this episode of the Art of Teaching Business podcast, I share five (5) realistic lesson planning systems I used as an overwhelmed, multi-prep business teacher. I talk about how to plan faster, reduce decision fatigue, reuse what you already have, and create flexible plans that work even...

31. My Burnout Prevention Strategy for Teachers 18.01.2026 12:03

Episode 31 of The Art of Teaching Business podcast! Teaching at full intensity every single day isn’t sustainable—especially as a multi-prep teacher. In this episode of the Art of Teaching Business podcast, I share the strategy I used for years but never told my students about: the Soft Off Day. I explain what a Soft Off Day is (and what it isn’t), why it helped me reduce Sunday scaries and avoid...

30. 10 Tips for Teaching AI to Teens 11.01.2026 17:50

Episode 30 of The Art of Teaching Business podcast! Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere—and students are already using it. In this episode of the Art of Teaching Business podcast, I share 10 essential tips for teaching teens to use AI cautiously, ethically, and responsibly. Learn how to frame AI as a tool (not a decision-maker), protect student privacy, address bias and ethics, and help stu...

29. New Semester Stress: How to Focus on What Really Matters 04.01.2026 15:31

Episode 29 of The Art of Teaching Business podcast! Feeling overwhelmed by a new semester or juggling multiple preps in business education? In this episode of the Art of Teaching Business podcast, I share real-world insights from my 28 years in the classroom to help you manage overwhelm, prioritize what truly matters, and start the semester with confidence. Learn how to identify anchor classes, fo...

28. Teaching the TikTok Generation: Bite-Sized Note Taking That Actually Works 20.10.2025 15:14

Episode 28 of The Art of Teaching Business podcast! In this episode, I share my approach to note taking has evolved over the years and why I no longer ask students to write while I’m teaching. I introduce the Snip Note System—small, visual graphic organizers that help students listen first, then record what matters in a meaningful and memorable way. If you're looking for a more student-centered, b...

27. 5 Creative Ways to Motivate Unmotivated Students (That Actually Work) 24.09.2025 35:19

Episode 27 of The Art of Teaching Business podcast! In this episode, I share my experiences and practical strategies for motivating unmotivated students in the classroom. I outline five key approaches: triggering curiosity (through storytelling and Google Earth), using pop culture, gamifying lessons, incorporating props and hands-on activities, and letting students help create class mission, visio...

26. How Project-Based Learning Is Transforming Business Education 05.09.2025 29:47

Welcome to Season 4 - Episode 26 of The Art of Teaching Business podcast! In this exciting episode, I have my first guest ever! I interview Norman, a veteran business educator with over 35 years of experience at Keene High School's Cheshire Career Center in Keene, New Hampshire. Discover how Norman transformed Business classes and skyrocketed enrollment by implementing the City Collaborative™—...

25: Teacher Appreciation in May: Finding Grace Amid End-of-Year Burnout 07.05.2025 13:58

Welcome to Season 3, the 25th episode of 'The Art ofTeaching Business' Podcast, where we explore the world of teaching business education classes. I'm your host, Denise Leigh, a veteran business education teacher with 28 years in the classroom. In Episode 25 of The Art of Teaching Business Podcast, I get real about what May feels like for teachers—the chaos, the burnout, and the overlo...

24: Why I Ditched the Year-End Test 23.04.2025 31:25

Welcome to Season 3, the 24th episode of 'The Art ofTeaching Business' Podcast, where we explore the world of teaching business education classes. I'm your host, Denise Leigh, a veteran business education teacher with 28 years in the classroom. In Episode 24 of The Art of Teaching Business Podcast, I dive into how I totally flipped my approach to end-of-year assessments. Back in the da...

23: Enhancing Student Engagement: Teaching Active Listening in Your Classroom 05.02.2025 10:00

Welcome to Season 3, the 23rd episode of 'The Art of Teaching Business' Podcast, where we explore the world of teaching business education classes. I'm your host, Denise Leigh, a veteran business education teacher with 28 years in the classroom, a finalist for the 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award, and a nationally known speaker at business education conferences. In Episode 2...

22: 5 Tips to Promote Your Business Education Program and Recruit New Students 10.01.2025 22:58

Welcome to Season 3, the 22nd episode of 'The Art of Teaching Business' Podcast, where we explore the world of teaching business education classes. I'm your host, Denise Leigh, a veteran business education teacher with 28 years in the classroom and a finalist for the 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award. In Episode 22 of The Art of Teaching Business Podcast, host Denise Leigh delves into ef...

21: Instructional Strategies for Teaching Computer Applications 02.01.2025 26:03

Welcome to Season 3, the 21st episode of 'The Art of Teaching Business' Podcast, where we explore the world of teaching business education classes. I'm your host, Denise Leigh, a veteran business education teacher with 28 years in the classroom and a finalist for the 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award. This podcast is the final podcast of a 3-part series about instructional strategies for...

20: Strategies for Teaching GOOGLE Applications in Computer Applications 13.12.2024 32:17

Welcome to Season 3, the 20th episode of 'The Art of Teaching Business' Podcast, where we explore the world of teaching business education classes. I'm your host, Denise Leigh, a veteran business education teacher with 28 years in the classroom and a finalist for the 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award. In this podcast I talk about the essential Google Applications that are so important fo...

19: Strategies for Teaching Microsoft Office in Computer Applications 22.11.2024 23:28

Welcome to Season 3, the 19th episode of 'The Art of Teaching Business' Podcast, where we explore the world of teaching business education classes. I'm your host, Denise Leigh, a veteran business education teacher with 28 years in the classroom and a finalist for the 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award. In this podcast I talk about the essential Microsoft Office applications that are so im...

18: My #1 Teaching Hack - Grade "Over the Shoulder"! 07.11.2024 18:23

Welcome to Season 3, the 18th episode of 'The Art of Teaching Business' Podcast, where we explore the world of teaching business education classes. I'm your host, Denise Leigh, a veteran business education teacher with 28 years in the classroom and a finalist for the 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award. In this podcast I offer some tips on making a teaching career more manageable by gradin...

17: Think Outside the Test 23.10.2024 11:50

Welcome to Season 3, the 17th episode of 'The Art of Teaching Business' Podcast, where we explore the world of teaching business education classes. I'm your host, Denise Leigh, a veteran business education teacher with 28 years in the classroom and a finalist for the 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award. In this podcast I challenge you to 'think outside of the test' and use projects and act...

16: 10 Tips for Better Classroom Management 08.10.2024 21:12

Welcome to Season 3, the 16th episode of 'The Art of Teaching Business' Podcast, where we explore the world of teaching business education classes. I'm your host, Denise Leigh, a veteran business education teacher with 28 years in the classroom and a finalist for the 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award. In this podcast I share 10 tips and strategies to help keep your classroom 'normal' and...

15: Overcoming the New Semester Scaries - 3 Tips for Business Educators 06.01.2024 14:59

Welcome to Season 2, the 15th episode of 'The Art of Teaching Business' Podcast, where we explore the world of teaching business education classes. I'm your host, Denise Leigh, a veteran business education teacher with over 25 years in the classroom and a finalist for the 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award. In this podcast I share three valuable strategies to help business edu...

12: Surviving the Multi-Prep Business Education Teacher Schedule 30.12.2023 17:55

Welcome to Season 2, the 12th episode of 'The Art of Teaching Business' Podcast, where we explore the world of teaching business education classes. I'm your host, Denise Leigh, a veteran business education teacher with over 25 years in the classroom and a finalist for the 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award. This podcast is about surviving the multi-prep business education life...

11: 5 Mistakes I've Made at the Beginning of the School Year 30.12.2023 19:03

Welcome to Season 2, the 11th episode of 'The Art of Teaching Business' Podcast, where we explore the world of teaching business education classes. I'm your host, Denise Leigh, a veteran business education teacher with over 25 years in the classroom and a finalist for the 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award. This podcast is about five mistakes I have made at the beginning of th...

13: 4 Types of Business Education Field Trips 30.12.2023 19:38

Welcome to Season 2, the 13th episode of 'The Art of Teaching Business' Podcast, where we explore the world of teaching business education classes. I'm your host, Denise Leigh, a veteran business education teacher with over 25 years in the classroom and a finalist for the 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award. This episode is about planning business education field trips. I talk about the 4...

14: 8 Classroom Management Tips for Business Teachers 30.12.2023 28:05

Welcome to Season 2, the 14th episode of 'The Art of Teaching Business' Podcast, where we explore the world of teaching business education classes. I'm your host, Denise Leigh, a veteran business education teacher with over 25 years in the classroom and a finalist for the 2022 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year award. In this podcast I share some valuable classroom management tips. As a seasoned edu...