In this conversation with art teacher Patricia Chavez, we discuss her life as an artist, how therapeutic art can be for educators, and how to get started with an art practice.

She encourages us to maintain a beginners mindset, where we feel free to experiment and play with this practice without judgment. I encourage everyone to give it a try!

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*Want help prioritizing your own wellbeing? Get your copy of my book, the Happy While Teaching Workbook: Practical Tools to Help Maintain Your Joy & Wellbeing While Teaching

Get it on Amazon: https://a.co/d/axWixoV

Check out my instagram and tiktok for bonus Happy While Teaching tips, videos and content!

https://www.instagram.com/happywhileteaching?igsh=MTRmeGp0NTc5Y3hhaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

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In this episode, I explore my own dilemma of being too busy and overbooking myself. This can be a recipe for burnout, so I share the steps I took to change this pattern. Here they are in a nutshell:

1. Notice how you are feeling.

2. Hit the pause on saying yes to anything.

3. Explore how much activity is ideal for you.

4. Have a ritual of looking at your calendar before the week so you can avoid overbooking yourself.

Hope this helps! Leave a comment. I love to hear from my listeners!

*If you liked this episode, hit subscribe so you will be notified when new episodes come out.

*Want help prioritizing your own wellbeing? Get your copy of my book, the Happy While Teaching Workbook: Practical Tools to Help Maintain Your Joy & Wellbeing While Teaching

Get it on Amazon: https://a.co/d/axWixoV

Check out my instagram and tiktok for bonus Happy While Teaching tips, videos and content!

https://www.instagram.com/happywhileteaching?igsh=MTRmeGp0NTc5Y3hhaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

www.tiktok.com/@happywhileteachin

In this episode, I speak with my dear friend and Montessori School owner and educator, Florence Kramer. She shares her wisdom from decades of being a Montessori educator, as well as ways we can incorporate these student-centered principles into non-Montessori classrooms. I walked away feeling inspired to create more community in my classroom and to bring back the joy and wonder into learning!

Check out Green Tree Montessori :

*If you liked this episode, hit subscribe so you will be notified when new episodes come out.

*Want help prioritizing your own wellbeing? Get your copy of the Happy While Teaching Workbook: Practical Tools to Help Maintain Your Joy & Wellbeing While Teaching

Get it on Amazon: https://a.co/d/axWixoV

**Also, check out my instagram and tiktok for bonus Happy While Teaching tips, videos and content!

https://www.instagram.com/happywhileteaching?igsh=MTRmeGp0NTc5Y3hhaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

www.tiktok.com/@happywhileteachin

In this short episode, I discuss the importance of taking care of ourselves when we are sick. We all know how challenging it can be to take time off from this profession, but our health needs to come first.

If you need a pep talk, this is the episode for you. I share my own recent bout with illness and how, even for me, it was challenging for me to make the decision to put my health first. I am so glad I did!

*If you liked this episode, hit subscribe so you will be notified when new episodes come out.

*Want help prioritizing your own wellbeing? Get your copy of the Happy While Teaching Workbook: Practical Tools to Help Maintain Your Joy & Wellbeing While Teaching

Get it on Amazon: https://a.co/d/axWixoV

**Also, check out my instagram and tiktok for bonus Happy While Teaching tips, videos and content!

https://www.instagram.com/happywhileteaching?igsh=MTRmeGp0NTc5Y3hhaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

www.tiktok.com/@happywhileteachin

In this episode, we explore the benefits of a pilates practice with Tara Jeffery, owner of Ojai Pilates and Fitness. We discuss what made her want to become a pilates instructor and studio owner and how the practice can benefit teachers and anyone!

Check out her studio: https://ojaipilates.com/

If you want to get started with online mat classes, check out Jessica Valant's YouTube channel. She is a conscientious and terrific teacher!

https://www.youtube.com/jessicavalantpilates

*If you liked this episode, hit subscribe so you will be notified when new episodes come out.

*Want help prioritizing your own wellbeing? Get your copy of the Happy While Teaching Workbook: Practical Tools to Help Maintain Your Joy & Wellbeing While Teaching

Get it on Amazon: https://a.co/d/axWixoV

**Also, check out my instagram and tiktok for bonus Happy While Teaching tips, videos and content!

https://www.instagram.com/happywhileteaching?igsh=MTRmeGp0NTc5Y3hhaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

www.tiktok.com/@happywhileteachin

Are you curious about starting a meditation practice but don't know where to begin? In today's episode I discuss how I started my meditation practice, what resources helped me and the personal and researched benefits of doing so. I provide a number of free resources to get you started.

Free Resources for Getting Started:

1. YouTube Daily Calm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZToicYcHIOU
2. Happy While Teaching Podcast Episode 3: 3-Minute Meditation Starter Kit (Spotify and Apple Podcasts)
3. Insight Timer: https://insighttimer.com/
4. CALM: (URL is too long - easy to find)
5. Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/

*Some of the above have paid versions, but you can access free meditations on all without paying anything.

UC Davis Health Article: 10 Ways Meditation Can Improve Your Health:

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/10-health-benefits-of-meditation-and-how-to-focus-on-mindfulness-and-compassion/2022/12

*If you liked this episode, hit subscribe so you will be notified when new episodes come out.

*If you want help prioritizing your own wellbeing, check out my book the Happy While Teaching Workbook: Practical Tools to Help Maintain Your Joy & Wellbeing While Teaching

Get your copy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/axWixoV

**Also, check out my instagram and tiktok for bonus happywhileteaching videos and content!

https://www.instagram.com/happywhileteaching?igsh=MTRmeGp0NTc5Y3hhaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

www.tiktok.com/@happywhileteachin

In this episode, I interview my school districts IT Coordinator, Adam Stirrat, about how we can approach AI with wisdom and a human touch. That way we can guide our use, and that of our students, in the best possible way. This is a much needed and terrific conversation!

*If you liked this episode, hit subscribe so you will be notified when new episodes come out.

*If you want help prioritizing your own wellbeing, check out my book the Happy While Teaching Workbook: Practical Tools to Help Maintain Your Joy & Wellbeing While Teaching

Get your copy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/axWixoV

**Also, check out my instagram and tiktok for bonus happywhileteaching videos and content!

https://www.instagram.com/happywhileteaching?igsh=MTRmeGp0NTc5Y3hhaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

www.tiktok.com/@happywhileteachin

In this episode, I dive into the research about the importance of getting enough sleep and the impacts when we do not get the sleep we need. I also share their research-based recommendations for setting yourself up for healthy sleep habits.

Sources reference in the podcast:

From Harvard Medical School:

https://sleep.hms.harvard.edu/education-training/public-education/sleep-and-health-education-program/sleep-health-education-41

From Stanford Medicine:

https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2025/08/sleep-mental-health-connection-what-science-says.html

From Yale School of Medicine:

https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/sleeps-crucial-role-in-preserving-memory/

Finally!

*If you liked this episode, hit subscribe so you will be notified when new episodes come out.

*If you want help prioritizing your own wellbeing, check out my book the Happy While Teaching Workbook: Practical Tools to Help Maintain Your Joy & Wellbeing While Teaching

Get your copy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/axWixoV

**Also, check out my instagram and tiktok for bonus happywhileteaching videos and content!

https://www.instagram.com/happywhileteaching?igsh=MTRmeGp0NTc5Y3hhaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

www.tiktok.com/@happywhileteachin

In this episode, I share evidence-based strategies to formatively assess student learning that do not involve more grading for teachers! In a field with constantly increasing demands, teachers need to find ways to diminish their workload while still supporting student learning. Here are the five strategies:

1. Self-evaluating rubrics that include student effort

2. Visual formative feedback

3. Think-Pair-Share-Restate

4. Essence of lesson reflection journals and pair-share

5. Student re-teaching in groups of 3

*If you liked this episode, hit subscribe so you will be notified when new episodes come out.

Also, check out my instagram for bonus happywhileteaching videos and content!

https://www.instagram.com/happywhileteaching?igsh=MTRmeGp0NTc5Y3hhaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

**Also, check out my book the Happy While Teaching Workbook: Practical Tools to Help Maintain Your Joy & Wellbeing While Teaching ! It will help you prioritize your own wellbeing in 2026!

Get your copy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/axWixoV

In this episode, I interview Brenda Wilson about teaching at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, where she works with teenagers to keep them on-track and connected to their education.

She highlights the importance of building relationships with our students and finding out what they need to learn and grow, as well as prioritizing her own wellbeing to be the most effective teacher. It is such an inspiring interview!

*Also, check out my new book the Happy While Teaching Workbook: Practical Tools to Help Maintain Your Joy & Wellbeing While Teaching ! It will help you prioritize your own wellbeing in 2026!

Get your copy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/axWixoV

*If you liked this episode, hit subscribe so you will be notified when new episodes come out.

Also, check out my instagram for bonus happywhileteaching videos and content!

https://www.instagram.com/happywhileteaching?igsh=MTRmeGp0NTc5Y3hhaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr