The technological myth in classrooms today is a trifecta: 1) if students aren’t learning on a technological device, then they aren’t learning at all 2) if teachers aren’t incorporating technology into a lesson, then they aren’t effective 3) if schools aren’t outfitted with the latest technology devices then they are behind, broke or operating on an old-school mentality. These assumptions couldn’t be further from the truth. Tune in to hear how to integrate technology the RIGHT way, not just in today’s world but in any classroom, anywhere at any time.

Quotables

• You invest in technology because of what it can do for student learning
• Students are capable of learning at high levels regardless of tech integration
• Your students will be just fine if they do not have access to the latest and greatest tech trends because they will have a fabulous teacher who can design powerful lessons
• Kids are capable of showing astronomical growth in academics without touching a device
• Is there a tech tool that can teach this better than I can?
• The presence of tech doesn’t make a school GREAT. It’s how the tech is used that makes a school GREAT.

Gretchen’s Stamp of Approval

• International Society for Technology in Education- https://www.iste.org/
• Dave Carty on Twitter (@davecarty) and website https://www.schooledintech.com/
• Perry Marshall Website: https://www.perrymarshall.com
• https://shakeuplearningbook.com/ by Kasey Bell

Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter

• http://eepurl.com/lJKNn

Join the New Teacher Support Facebook Group

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/1872455209751203

Connect with Gretchen

• Email: [email protected]
• Blog: Always A Lesson
• Facebook: Always A Lesson
• Twitter: @gschultek
• Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
• Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
• Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
• Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Leave a Rating and Review:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2

• Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

• How?

Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher.

Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’

Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”

Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info

Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best)

Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast

Click ‘Send’

There are moments throughout the day where kids reach out to an adult hoping to make a connection. Oftentimes, these attempts are not recognized by busy adults and in the end opportunities go unnoticed for a child to fulfill their potential. Tune in to hear a powerful story about Les Brown who defied all odds to become his best self all because of a special teacher in his life.

Quotables

• We as educators are in such a powerful position to help or hinder a child’s future
• If you open yourself to the possibility that it can happen, do the work so that when the opportunity strikes you are ready, then you will become more than ever imagined
• It’s not going above and beyond your job title, it is your job title
• Nothing can impact a kid more than a connection with an adult

Gretchen’s Stamp of Approval

• Les Brown Video: https://www.facebook.com/JayShettyIW/videos/1351105801701127/

Need to Balance Your Life Better? Join the 40 Hour Work Week Club!

• Instructions to Join:
• http://40htw.com 
• When purchasing, enter your Gretchen Bridgers / [email protected] as the person who referred them.
• Early bird access = June 5th
• Access to all the June club materials (summer planning, home organization, bonus materials, sharing ideas in the Facebook group.)
• Official open dates = July 1-18

Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter

• http://eepurl.com/lJKNn

Join the New Teacher Support Facebook Group

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/1872455209751203

Connect with Gretchen

• Email: [email protected]
• Blog: Always A Lesson
• Facebook: Always A Lesson
• Twitter: @gschultek
• Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
• Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
• Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
• Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Leave a Rating and Review:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2

• Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

• How?

Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher.

Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’

Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”

Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info

Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best)

Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast

Click ‘Send’

 

Dr. James Davis has been an educator for the past 17 years, serving as a Professor, Principal, Assistant Principal of Instruction, and classroom teacher. He has his Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Urban Education. His areas of expertise include school turn-around, elementary education, middle grades education, increasing student achievement, and teacher effectiveness. Dr. Davis has presented and been published at both the state and national level. As a former Principal of the Year and Teacher of the Year, Dr. Davis works daily in an enthusiastic manner on his personal mission statement, to Love Kids, Support Teachers, Involve Parents, and Pass it on.

Quotables

All effective leaders will be looking for teammates who can step up and take on challenges

To support every stakeholder is easy to say and hard to do

Seeking consensus needs to take a back seat to seeking understanding

Live it, do it, pour into it

Make relationships meaningful and authentic

Love kids, support teachers, involve parents, and pass it on

We have to know what we believe about relationships, what’s within our control regarding relationships, and we have to be purposeful

There is something magical about year 4 or 5

If you always do what you have always done, you’ll always get what you have always gotten

Keep showing up

There is more value in face-to-face (and authentic) conversations

James’ Stamp of Approval

NCMLE (North Carolina Association for Middle Level Education)

ICUE (International Conference on Urban Education)

7 Steps to School Transformation book

Daybook for teachers

Mission Board in the office

Read, write, speak, or create teaching method

Connect with James

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 704-918-8294

Connect with Gretchen

Email: [email protected]

Blog: Always A Lesson

Facebook: Always A Lesson

Twitter: @gschultek

Instagram: Always.A.Lesson

Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers

Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers

Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Leave a Rating and Review:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2

Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

How?

Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher.

Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’

Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”

Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info

Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best)

Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast

Click ‘Send’

No one arrives at greatness haphazardly. It takes time, dedication, patience and FEEDBACK. But, feedback can be hard to swallow, especially if it points out a weakness. It’s important to remember that even the best of the best receive feedback on a daily basis and because of that they are effective. Without the perspective and honesty of feedback, it is hard to perfect our craft. Tune in to hear 4 steps for how to snag a piece of humble pie and enter into your greatness!

Quotables

• Feedback [is] the difference between you rising to the top or tanking to the bottom
• Get it out of your head that being a great educator means you earn the right to wear feedback earmuffs
• Oftentimes, people listen [to feedback] as a passive activity
• Being great is work…it’s hard work…it’s daily hard work.
• the attitude of the receiver determines if the message transforms them into greatness or disaster
• Feedback doesn’t have to be the dreaded F word in your professional career

Gretchen’s Stamp of Approval

• Follow the folks mentioned in this episode:
• @davidgeurin
• @simonsinek

Need to Balance Your Life Better? Join the 40 Hour Work Week Club!

• Instructions to Join:
• http://40htw.com 
• When purchasing, enter your Gretchen Bridgers / [email protected] as the person who referred them.
• Early bird access = June 5th
• Access to all the June club materials (summer planning, home organization, bonus materials, sharing ideas in the Facebook group.)
• Official open dates = July 1-18

Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter

• http://eepurl.com/lJKNn

Join the New Teacher Support Facebook Group

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/1872455209751203

Connect with Gretchen

• Email: [email protected]
• Blog: Always A Lesson
• Facebook: Always A Lesson
• Twitter: @gschultek
• Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
• Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
• Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
• Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Leave a Rating and Review:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2

• Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

• How?

Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher.

Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’

Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”

Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info

Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best)

Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast

Click ‘Send’

There comes a time in your career when you need a respite in order to keep going, as if you are running a marathon and need a quick water or walk break. Too often the education profession loses great teachers because they do not get the respite they require to continue on in this career. Tune in to hear 4 tips to recharge your batteries so that you can continue using your talent to impact students for many years to come!

Quotables

• By giving ourselves permission to be spontaneous we are allowing our bodies to recoup, lessening anxiety and stress, and giving us a boost of energy and happiness
• There will come a day where rest just won’t cut it.
• You are not less of an educator because you need a break

Listener Feedback

Gretchen’s Stamp of Approval

• Follow the folks mentioned in this episode:
• @loveteachbless
• @craiggroeschel
• PD Conferences:
• Happy Go Teach
• Get Your Teach On 

Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter

• http://eepurl.com/lJKNn

Need to Balance Your Life Better? Join the 40 Hour Work Week Club!

• Instructions to Join:
• http://40htw.com 
• When purchasing, enter your Gretchen Bridgers / [email protected] as the person who referred them.
• Early bird access = June 5th
• Access to all the June club materials (summer planning, home organization, bonus materials, sharing ideas in the Facebook group.)
• Official open dates = July 1-18

Join the New Teacher Support Facebook Group

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/1872455209751203

Connect with Gretchen

• Email: [email protected]
• Blog: Always A Lesson
• Facebook: Always A Lesson
• Twitter: @gschultek
• Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
• Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
• Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
• Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Leave a Rating and Review:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2

• Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

• How?

Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher.

Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’

Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”

Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info

Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best)

Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast

Click ‘Send’

Engagement and empowerment not only have different meaning, but they hold different values in the classroom as students become leaders of their own learning. Fine tune your definition of engagement and empowerment by listening to this episode as well as gain tips and tricks to upgrade your teaching efficacy in the classroom.

Quotables

• The more I passed the baton to my kids, the better they did in the classroom
• Teachers just assume if their class is engaging that their kids are empowered to take ownership in their learning but that couldn’t be further from the truth
• We as educators have to be intentional about what we are doing and why
• It takes a lot of energy and a lot of effort to build a class where the goal is for students to run it
• There’s no reason for you to do something for kids that they can do for themselves

Gretchen’s Stamp of Approval

• Twitter (Me = @gschultek / George Couros= @gcouros)
• George Couros Ted Talk

Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter

• http://eepurl.com/lJKNn

Need to Balance Your Life Better? Join the 40 Hour Work Week Club!

• Instructions to Join:
• http://40htw.com 
• When purchasing, enter your Gretchen Bridgers / [email protected] as the person who referred them.
• Early bird access = June 5th
• Access to all the June club materials (summer planning, home organization, bonus materials, sharing ideas in the Facebook group.)
• Official open dates = July 1-18

Join the New Teacher Support Facebook Group

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/1872455209751203

Connect with Gretchen

• Email: [email protected]
• Blog: Always A Lesson
• Facebook: Always A Lesson
• Twitter: @gschultek
• Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
• Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
• Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
• Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Leave a Rating and Review:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2

• Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

• How?

Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher.

Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’

Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”

Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info

Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best)

Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast

Click ‘Send’

It is easy to categorize student’s potential based on their misbehaviors, but we miss opportunities to help students develop critical skills in order to reflect, adjust and become their best selves. Burgess and Houf state, “separate the deed from the doer and work to change the deed.” Tune in for tips on how to do just this!

Quotables

• Kids make mistakes and they shouldn’t be defined by them
• We have to be present without being pushy
• Learning to recover from a misstep is a crucial life lesson every kid should have the pleasure of learning- and the earlier the better
• It’s not hands on or hands off, but hands nearby
• Those hard falls are what create great humans

Book Recommendation

• Lead Like a Pirate– Shelley Burgess and Beth Houf

Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter

• http://eepurl.com/lJKNn

Need to Balance Your Life Better? Join the 40 Hour Work Week Club!

• Instructions to Join:
• http://40htw.com 
• When purchasing, enter your Gretchen Bridgers / [email protected] as the person who referred them.
• Early bird access = June 5th
• Access to all the June club materials (summer planning, home organization, bonus materials, sharing ideas in the Facebook group.)
• Official open dates = July 1-18

Join the New Teacher Support Facebook Group

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/1872455209751203

Connect with Gretchen

• Email: [email protected]
• Blog: Always A Lesson
• Facebook: Always A Lesson
• Twitter: @gschultek
• Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
• Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
• Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
• Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Leave a Rating and Review:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2

• Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

• How?

Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher.

Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’

Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”

Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info

Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best)

Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast

Click ‘Send’

ANGELA WATSON (formerly Powell) has earned international recognition for her unique contributions to the field of education.  A pioneer and trailblazer of modern teacher blogging, she was first known for Ms. Powell’s Management Ideas for Teachers, a website she created in 2003 to share behavior management strategies, teaching techniques, and organizational tips. The site was expanded and renamed TheCornerstoneForTeachers in 2008.

Since then, Angela’s ideas have been featured in thousands of magazine articles, newsletters, and internet resources, and are utilized in teacher preparation and support programs throughout the nation. Having earned a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and National Board Certification as an Early Childhood Generalist, she currently works as an instructional coach and educational consultant based in Brooklyn, New York.

Angela has 8 years experience as a K-12 instructional coach and 11 years experience in the PreK-3 classroom. As founder of Due Season Press and Educational Services, she has created printable curriculum resources, online courses, 4 books, the Truth for Teachers podcast, and the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Club.

Quotables

You have a lot of responsibility, but not a lot of autonomy

Traditional time management advice doesn’t really apply to teaching

Teaching is a complex job

If you do not have enough time, that is not your fault

What teaching looks like now is completely different from what it looked like 5 years ago

Envision a better way

Does the amount of hours worked equate with effectiveness?

It’s not about how long you are working or how hard you are working, but are you working on the right things?

As teachers we are waiting for permission

Mind shifts happen over time

I am not satisfied with the status quo

Small changes add up to big results

40 Hour Teacher Work Week Club

Check out this podcast episode (and blog post) related to the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek:

What would life look like if you valued your time as much as you value your money?

Instructions to Join:

http://40htw.com 

When purchasing, enter your Gretchen Bridgers / [email protected] as the person who referred them.

Early bird access = June 5th

Access to all the June club materials (summer planning, home organization, bonus materials, sharing ideas in the Facebook group.)

Official open dates = July 1-18

Connect with Angela

Website: Angela Watson’s The Cornerstone for Teachers

Podcast:  Truth for Teachers

Books:  (affiliate links)

Unshakeable: 20 Ways to Enjoy Teaching Every Day…No Matter What

Awakened: Change Your Mindset to Transform Your Teaching

The Awakened Devotional Study Guide for Christian Teachers

The Cornerstone: Classroom Management That Makes Teaching More Effective, Efficient & Enjoyable

Social Media:

Facebook: Angela Watson The Cornerstone for Teachers

Twitter: Angela Watson

Instagram: @Angela.Watson

Pinterest: Angela Watson’s Teaching Ideas

Contact: https://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/contact/

Connect with Gretchen

Email: [email protected]

Blog: Always A Lesson

Facebook: Always A Lesson

Twitter: @gschultek

Instagram: Always.A.Lesson

Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers

Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers

Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Leave a Rating and Review:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2

Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

How?

Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher.

Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’

Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”

Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info

Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best)

Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast

Click ‘Send’

Programs don’t teach kids, teachers do. We have to protect teaching talent by empowering teachers to take the important pieces of a curriculum and spend more time personalizing their lessons with their passion, talent, and creativity so that students can receive a personalized learning experience to become their best. Tune in to hear how teacher leaders can empower teachers so that their talent leads the way in the classroom.

Quotables

• It’s the responsibility of the teacher to take a program and bring it to life with their own talent and expertise
• We educators can’t be replaced by robots who just Charlie Brown at the front of the classroom
• We have to apply ourselves, every day, just like we ask of our kids. Those are the tools within us utilizing the tools given to us to make an impact
• Without us educators, a program is only a program, but with us it becomes learning
• As a teacher leader your responsibility is to help teachers get through to students in the most efficient and effective way
• Be the guide on the side and exercise patience
• We as teacher leaders have a job to do to empower teachers to remember their innate ability is most important in teaching kids
• Each day of learning is a day to save a child. We make them more capable and confident than ever before and that allows them to go out into this world and become whatever it is they are meant to become

Book recommendation

• Lead Like a PIRATE: Make School Amazing for your Students and Staff by Shelley Burgess and Beth Houf

Join the New Teacher Support Facebook Group

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/1872455209751203

Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter

• http://eepurl.com/lJKNn

Connect with Gretchen

• Email: [email protected]
• Blog: Always A Lesson
• Facebook: Always A Lesson
• Twitter: @gschultek
• Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
• Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
• Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
• Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Leave a Rating and Review:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2

• Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

• How?

Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher.

Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’

Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”

Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info

Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best)

Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast

Click ‘Send’

Teachers are busy people and oftentimes don’t realize that every interaction they have with a child shapes the self-concept of their students. Regardless of intention, what teachers THINK about a child can be expressed as an expectation that can damage or restore a child’s passion and potential. Tune in to hear solutions for how all teachers can ensure every interaction with students communicates sincere adoration and high expectations.

Quotables

• Every interaction sends a message
• Send the expectation that we are spending our time wisely
• It’s not that the other teacher is better than you, they just figured out how to jive with that kid
• Every kid needs to know they have potential, end of story
• No matter what our kids want to be or do, we have to encourage them to chase it
• You want kids to leave your classroom thinking, “My teacher always believed in me, even when I dreamed crazy”

Book recommendation

• ‘Better than Carrots or Sticks’ by Dominique Smith, Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey

Join the New Teacher Support Facebook Group

• https://www.facebook.com/groups/1872455209751203

Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter

• http://eepurl.com/lJKNn

Connect with Gretchen

• Email: [email protected]
• Blog: Always A Lesson
• Facebook: Always A Lesson
• Twitter: @gschultek
• Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
• Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
• Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
• Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College

Leave a Rating and Review:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2

• Why?

This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.

• How?

Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher.

Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’

Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”

Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info

Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best)

Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast

Click ‘Send’