Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers

Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers episodes:

• 04.14.2024

  EP299 A spring cleaning classroom guide: what if you didn’t need all that STUFF to teach well?

  Do you refuse to throw anything out because you MIGHT need it one day, or find yourself holding on to worthless stuff “just in case” you need it? In this episode, I’ll share 10 things you can get rid of...

  
• 03.31.2024

  EP298 Clock out confidently: 5 tips to get out the door at contract time (with June Link)

  This episode features a sneak peek from one of the upcoming 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Online Summit sessions. You’ll hear from a teacher named June Link, whose session is called, “Clock out confidently: 5 tips to get out the door...

  
• 03.24.2024

  Join us for the FREE 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Online Summit in April

  It's the only event focused entirely on saving teachers TIME! Learn from current K-12 teachers as they share their best tips for working more effectively, efficiently, and enjoyably. The 40 Hour Teacher Workweek program is an online course I first...

  
• 03.17.2024

  EP297 Feedback first: How 2 different teachers help students focus on learning, not grades

  Teachers spend so much time giving feedback to students, but often kids don’t internalize it. They tune out the carefully-crafted written comments on their work, briefly register the grade they earned, and move on. So how can we help students...

  
• 03.03.2024

  EP296 Thinking creatively about tough problems: the power of diffuse thinking for you and your students

  Have you ever noticed how breakthroughs often come when you're not actively trying to find a solution? That's diffuse thinking at work: a relaxed state in which creativity flourishes. On today’s episode of Truth for Teachers, I’ll share how stepping...

  
• 02.18.2024

  EP295 Can banning phones in school help solve the youth mental health crisis? (with Dr. Jean Twenge)

  There has been a significant increase in mental health issues among young people in America since 2012, including anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide attempts, and suicide. Contrary to popular belief, these trends started before the pandemic, with rates of major depression...

  
• 02.04.2024

  EP294 What does it mean to “teach like yourself’ in 2024? (with Dr. Gravity Goldberg)

  “Making a conscious and intentional effort to tap into your own personal power and being courageous” is the way today’s guest defines “teaching like yourself.” I’m talking with Dr. Gravity Goldberg, whom you might remember from a 2019 interview I...

  
• 01.21.2024

  EP293 When students don’t want to think for themselves or put in effort, try this.

  Do you feel like self-advocacy among students is a pervasive problem? As in, if students don’t know what to do, they won’t ask questions or seek out more information … they’ll just sit there and do nothing. If something is...

  
• 01.07.2024

  EP292 How I'm planning and setting goals this year

  I’m back from my sabbatical and excited to share how I used my time off and what I’m planning for 2024! I’m sharing more about my personal daily art practice in December (which I plan to continue) and time with...

  
• 11.26.2023

  EP291 Creating space this winter for dreaming and radical reimagination

  This episode is the last for 2023, and Truth for Teachers will be back in January.  If you want to learn more about my sabbatical process or how you can take one with me on your break, read or...

  
• 11.12.2023

  EP290 The surprising research about how talent is developed (with Dr. Rishi Sriram)

  What if there was no such thing as innate talent? That’s the argument my guest today is making: that talent is not a cause, but an outcome. It is cultivated, developed, and learned. I’m talking with Dr. Rishi Sriram, who...

  
• 10.29.2023

  EP289 A practical guide to building students’ attention stamina and ability to focus

  How long can you read a book without getting distracted? Do you swipe through TikToks or reels before they’re over because you’ve gotten impatient? Do you find it hard to just stream a TV show or movie without also looking...

  
• 10.15.2023

  EP288 Mindful moment: Finding the calm amidst chaos

  Let’s try something new together! I started offering guided “mindful moments” on my new Truth for Teachers Daily Encouragement podcast about once per week, interspersing them with the main content of uplifting and motivational messages. I don’t plan on incorporating...

  
• 10.01.2023

  EP287 Bell-to-bell instruction is NOT best practice. Here's the research.

  The expectation that students be fully engaged in learning tasks from the first minute of the class period until the last is known as “bell-to-bell instruction.” It’s a widely-accepted practice in education, but does neuroscience actually support it? Bell-to-bell instruction...

  
• 09.17.2023

  EP286 Student-centered learning sounds great, but what’s the reality? (with Erika Walther)

  Need a practical roadmap for increasing student ownership? So much of teaching now revolves around teacher accountability, but the same accountability and ownership can be transformative for students as well! Students who have opportunities to increase their ownership over their...

  
• 09.10.2023

  Announcing the NEW Truth for Teachers Daily Encouragement Podcast!

  I’m starting a brand new show with short episodes dropping each week from Monday-Friday! The purpose of the Truth for Teachers Daily Encouragement Podcast is to offer an exclusive message each day for educators who want to show up...

  
• 09.03.2023

  EP285 Why boys are struggling (and what educators can do about it)

  I recently read a powerful book called, “Of Boys and Men: Why They’re Struggling, Why We Should Care, and What We Can Do About It” by Richard Reeves. It’s not the first piece of media I’ve consumed about the crises...

  
• 08.20.2023

  EP284 Ask me anything: Listener questions about my personal + professional life

  This AMA is a follow-up to the 3 part summer series I created for the podcast to celebrate 20 years of sharing teaching ideas online and reflect on my personal and professional growth during that time. In the final ep...

  
• 08.06.2023

  EP283 Rooted in joy: Creating a classroom culture of equity, belonging, and care (with Dr. Deonna Smith)

  If you need an uplifting conversation to get you energized for the new school year, this episode is a can’t-miss! I’m talking with Dr. Deonna Smith about the ideas behind her new book, Rooted in Joy: Creating a Classroom Culture...

  
• 07.23.2023

  EP282 Where I’m going: Reflections on what excites me about my work & the future of schools

  I’m concluding the 3 part podcast series this summer offering a deep dive into my personal story: where I’ve been, where I’m at, and where I’m going. Usually you can listen to my podcast episodes in any order you want,...

  
• 07.09.2023

  EP281 Why planning ahead can be a form of self-care (with Lisa Woodruff)

  It’s a myth that “having a plan” means locking yourself into a rigid schedule from which you can’t deviate. Knowing the things you want to experience and accomplish (and carving out time for them) is one of the most powerful...

  
• 06.25.2023

  EP280 Where I’m at: Reflections on who I’ve become as a person and educator

  This is the 2nd episode in my 3 part summer podcast series offering a deep dive into my personal story: where I’ve been, where I’m at, and where I’m going. Usually you can listen to my podcast episodes in any...

  
• 06.11.2023

  EP279 Summit sneak peek: K-12 teachers share their favorite timesaving tips & tricks

  The first FREE online summit focused entirely on saving teachers time is happening July 10th and 11th! The 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Online Summit is: Entirely online Completely FREE Beneficial for all K-12 teacher Includes 30+ presentations and roundtable...

  
• 05.28.2023

  EP278 How I got here: Reflections on 20 years of sharing teaching ideas online

  I’m getting deeply personal and vulnerable in this 3 part summer podcast series, and sharing things with you that I’ve NEVER talked about publicly before! This was sooo hard for me to do … but it’s the 20 year anniversary...

  
• 05.14.2023

  EP277 Can you do "fewer things, better" when there's a staff shortage?

  If you’re constantly covering for absent colleagues, supporting temporary hires in your building, or otherwise taking on additional duties because there aren’t enough people on staff … you’re not alone.  Teacher shortages have been one of the most difficult lingering...

  
• 04.30.2023

  EP276 Finding flow: How to teach productivity strategies to students

  We all want students to be self-directed in their learning and take initiative to figure things out for themselves. We want them to think critically and engage in the struggle of understanding so they come out on the other side...

  
• 04.16.2023

  EP275 What does it mean to “bring the best version of yourself” to the classroom? (with Elena Aguilar)

  Who you ARE matters just as much as what you DO. How can you show up as the best version of yourself each day, not only for students, but in every aspect of life? I’m talking today with Elena Aguilar,...

  
• 04.02.2023

  EP274 Unlocking new ways to see learning—and ourselves—through STEM practices (w/ Jason McKenna)

  As a child, I didn’t think I was a “math and science” person. But you know what I did like? Robots. Robotics would have been an easy inroad into science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) practices that would have piqued...

  
• 03.19.2023

  EP273 The power of asking better questions for self-reflection

  When it feels like there’s no good answers, that may be a sign that we’re not asking useful questions. If we can frame our thinking with better questions, we can uncover better answers. There are so many ways you can...

  
• 03.05.2023

  EP272 The neuroscience of co-thriving with students (with. Dr. Rebecca Branstetter)

  Want some practical strategies backed by brain research that can help you and your students co-thrive together? My guest today is Dr. Rebecca Branstetter, Ph.D. She’s a school psychologist, speaker, and author on a mission to help children thrive by...

  
• 02.19.2023

  EP271 What could be possible if you aimed for B+ work?

  “Just do your best” is not always helpful advice for perfectionists, people-pleasers, and folks struggling with anxiety. The phrase is meant to offer comfort, but can create pressure, because you know what your best looks like, and how much time...

  
• 02.05.2023

  EP270 How ChatGPT can reduce your teacher workload (with Dr. Monica Burns)

  Artificial intelligence can help you work more efficiently and save hours each week! Listen in as I talk with Dr. Monica Burns, an author, speaker, and former New York City public school teacher. Monica shares incredibly practical ideas for teachers...

  
• 01.22.2023

  EP269 Why YOU always seem to be right (and how to tell if you're not)

  Truth for Teachers is back for Season 17! We’re kicking things off with a powerful concept that can help transform your relationships with others (and yourself) in 2023. I’ll share how to examine the usefulness of your thought system, and...

  
• 11.06.2022

  EP268 A message of encouragement and call to rest: You. Are. Still. Here.

  It’s the LAST EP of season 16, and per usual, I want to be a little more informal as I close out the podcast season. I’m sharing some personal reflections and a recap of my projects from the fall. I’ll...

  
• 10.30.2022

  EP267 How to release unrealistic standards and change the stories you’re telling yourself

  When we feel responsible for controlling students' behavior and work habits, the classroom environment, the way parents/caregivers and other faculty behave, and how the school and district make decisions, we are destined to be miserable. Other people will rarely meet...

  
• 10.16.2022

  EP266 Creating change in education without burning out (w/ Dr. Nadia Lopez)

  Revolutionaries and visionaries can get exhausted. They often sacrifice their own needs because they believe so strongly in the cause. Today I’m asking aloud: Does it have to be that way? Is there a sustainable approach to fighting for liberatory...

  
• 10.09.2022

  EP265 Why I’m pulling some of my books out of print & rewriting "Awakened"

  Here’s a little insider knowledge into the publishing world and how I make decisions to ensure all 5 of my books are current and relevant... I’m planning to release a second edition of Awakened: Change Your Mindset to Transform Your...

  
• 10.02.2022

  EP264 Help students do more with less effort using cognitive load theory (with Jennifer Brinkmeyer)

  When students struggle to focus, follow directions, and stay on task, it may be helpful to consider cognitive load theory. Classroom teacher Jennifer Brinkmeyer’s my guest in this episode to talk about how she’s utilized her research in this area...

  
• 09.25.2022

  EP263 How to reframe a negative situation when you just can't move on

  We’ve all had hurtful or upsetting incidents with colleagues, parents, and students that we can’t seem to move past. How do you change your thinking in order to move on? How do you stop carrying around the weight of...

  
• 09.18.2022

  Introducing NEW Truth for Teachers playlists!

  I first started this podcast back in 2015, and nearly 300 episodes later, I’m proud to say there’s a wealth of helpful information available to you. But… you don’t have time to listen to 300 episodes. How do you know...

  
• 09.11.2022

  EP262 The 3 day weekend mindset

  What if you were able to have a 3 day weekend EVERY week? Obviously you still need to show up to school 5 days a week and give your best each day. But you can shift your perception of how...

  
• 09.04.2022

  EP261 The Swiss Cheese Model: letting go of “all or nothing” thinking

  This short, encouraging episode explains how you can tackle really difficult problems using layers of imperfect solutions, rather than giving up doing anything altogether. This approach is used in healthcare, aviation safety, computer security, and more…why not uncover a...

  
• 08.28.2022

  EP260 Three ways to create teaching templates that will save you 5-10 hours a week (with Marguerite Rendelfs)

  Save yourself huge amounts of time by reusing your own work! Teacher Marguerite Rendelfs has developed a plan to create reusable resources that saves her between five and ten hours every week. One major shift in my mindset that she...

  
• 08.21.2022

  EP259 Set a target number of hours to work...and stick to it

  You can decide this school year to find a sustainable approach to your workload. How? By not trying to work until everything is done. It’s NEVER all going to be done, which means you’re always either going to be working...

  
• 07.02.2022

  Burnout, work/life balance, and supporting teachers (with Lisa Woodruff of Organize 365)

  I recently had an upbeat, fun conversation with Lisa Woodruff of Organize 365 for her podcast, and thought I'd share an excerpt of it here with you! We're talking all about the state of education today, what we're hearing from...

  
• 06.14.2022

  "Nothing short of a revolution": What's happening in the 40 Hour programs

  In this in-between-seasons bonus ep, you’ll hear some quick audio clips of teachers sharing how they are challenging norms in education and creating a sustainable workload through the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek program. I’ll also share how 40 Hour is...

  
• 05.15.2022

  EP258 Envisioning what’s next for schools: my personal reflections & hope for the future

  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,...

  
• 05.08.2022

  EP257 How to work ONLY your contractual hours as a teacher (with Samantha Smith)

  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....

  
• 04.24.2022

  EP256 Four teachers' small changes that made BIG reductions in their workload

  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,...

  
• 04.17.2022

  EP255 Student behavior, grace, & consequences in the final weeks of school (with Amy Stohs)

  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...