Teaching Matters 101 Podcast

Welcome to a brave space to discuss teaching matters through the belief that good, soulful teaching really does matter.   In this space, we are curators of culturally responsive teaching and leadership spaces where we believe in the power of student engagement, teacher self-efficacy, and strong professional development that matters!

In this episode, Dr. Mel breaks down the definition of good teaching:  attending to peoples' needs, experiences, and feelings.  

Tap in and listen to how we can align our intentions to meet impact through soulful teaching.  

How do we attend to the needs of the emotional brain? 
What is the connection between culturally responsive teaching and information processing in the brain? 
Why are establishing and sustaining boundaries important to soulful teaching? 

Referred text: Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond


Dr. Melanie Battles leads professional development workshop series in the areas of brain based teaching, social emotional learning, student and adult wellness, and strategic planning and implementation of culturally responsive leadership.  

Visit our website at www.scholarsforthesoul.com.

Follow us on Instagram at https://instagram.com/scholars4thesoul.
Follow us on Facebook at https://facebook.com/scholars4thesoul.

 Welcome to Teaching Matters 101: a podcast for folks who are passionate about educating diverse students with compassion, care, and courage.  I am your host, Dr. Mel, lifelong learner and educator and CEO of Scholars for the Soul: An Educational Solutions Firm.  We are here to talk about all things education: from teacher identity to teaching strategies, we unpack it all and invite you to join us on this journey of discussing teaching matters that impact education and make real teaching matter.

In this space, we are curators of culturally responsive teaching and leadership spaces where we believe in the power of student engagement, teacher self-efficacy, and strong professional development that matters!

Listen in on who this podcast is for and who it is NOT for.  We know that we're not for everyone, but for those who we are designed to reach...WELCOME SOUL SCHOLAR! 

Dr. Melanie Battles leads professional development workshop series in the areas of brain based teaching, social emotional learning, student and adult wellness, and strategic planning and implementation of culturally responsive leadership.  

Visit our website at www.scholarsforthesoul.com.

Follow us on Instagram at https://instagram.com/scholars4thesoul.
Follow us on Facebook at https://facebook.com/scholars4thesoul.

We're taking it back this week with a BANGING episode from renowned scholar, Dr. Shaun Woodley of @teachhustleinspire.  This was one of my FAVORITE conversations because we got down to the core of what really make

This conversation blessed my soul with concepts ranging from shifting our educator mindset for the uplifting of ourselves and our students,  unlocking intellectual treasure, how to Move the Class, and the essence of culturally responsive teaching.   As a teacher educator, Dr. Woodley will definitely bless your soul too as you listen in to this week's episode of The Soul Scholar Podcast. 

We're in the final episode of our self-excavation work as we have discussed the concept of perfectionism and how our bias and white supremacy may have defined the way in which we view ourselves and hold ourselves up to certain standards.

During the last episode, we discussed the process of uprooting.  Now we're going to get into the art of replanting after we have excavated and uprooted those seeds of perfectionism.  

• Embracing the Rain (6:30) 
• The Journey to Healing (15:07)
• Prepare our Mindset for Change (16:25)
• Choose JOY for the Journey (17:58)
• Positive Self-talk (24:37)
• Mindfulness & Gratitude (25:00)
• Self-love, Self-compassion, and Self-acceptance (26:25)

Check out our newest designs Joy for the Journey and I Choose Joy  at our shop by clicking here.  All podcast listeners can use code PODCAST15 to receive 15% off your order.

The Soul Care Journal is coming soon...STAY TUNED!!!

Until next week...LOVE, PEACE, and SOUL!!!!

We've been discussing the trope of perfectionism and particularly, how it shows up for black educators, influencers, and those who are ambitious in their purpose of serving others.  If you've missed the first episodes on self-excavation and perfectionism, be sure to go back to those episodes and listen for some foundational knowledge of the identity and characteristics of perfectionism and the importance of self-excavation.

Don't forget that our Acknowledge What You Feel, Act on What You Know is available in our shop.  Click here to purchase your statement tee.

Here are a few vital points in this episode that are sure to bless your journey

1)  Eliminate comparisons (4:55)
2)  Admire, but don't idolize.  (5:26)
3)  Shift your negative mindset (7:05)
    a)  Eliminate unrealistic expectations.
    b)  Understand what is for you is for you.
    c)  Accept that every ambition may not be aligned with what you should pursue.
    d)  Seek the divine God for guidance and clarity.
    e)  Don’t rush...take your time. 

The 30 day guide to cultivating your soul care routine journal is still available for FREE.  Click here to get your copy while time has been extended. 

NEW TEE ALERT:  I’m the self-loving, meditating, deep breathing, water drinking, soul care type. 
 

See you all next week!  

We've been tackling this falsified idea of perfectionism and how soul care and soul work can help to rid us of this ineffective and counterproductive mindset.  This information can be super valuable in building our own and our students' social emotional (learning) development.  Remember, to implement SEL with fidelity, we must model it first...meaning we must embody the work of soul care so that we can model and directly teach this work to our students.  

This episode focuses on three different types of perfectionists:

1. Self-oriented perfectionist (3:00)
2. Other-oriented perfectionist (4:10)
3. Socially prescribed perfectionist (5:45)
4. Journal prompts to help with perfectionism (14: 15)
5. Acknowledge what you feel...act on what you know (20:40)

Click here to get your Acknowledge what you feel...act on what you know statement tee.  It's time to spread the message and the good news of what it means to be a soul scholar and one who is doing the soul work.  Use code SOULFEEL to receive 25% off  this tee (free shipping on Saturday and Sunday).  

I suggest that you teach these things to our students, especially for those who deal with anxiety. 

The 30-day soul care challenge is almost over.  I hope you were able to get the FREE guide to cultivating your soul care routine journal.  Since I posted this episode a bit late, I will open it up for the next 7 days (ending May 17th).  Click here to get your copy before it's gone.

I am working to have this resource available for purchase soon with more affirmations and journal space to help us sustain this soul care practice. 

I'd be so honored if you would subscribe, rate, and leave a review.  Thank you for listening. 

Weekly episodes will be uploaded each Monday at 12 noon. 

This episode will be the beginning of four more episodes focused on defeating perfectionism and doing the soul work through one aspect of self-excavation.  In case you missed the discussion self-excavation, go back an episode to hear part one and learn more about what this term means and how it is essential for your journey of soul healing and liberation.

We will also dive into the meaning and characteristics of perfectionism, specifically as it connects to the manifestation of white supremacy within our mindset and the way we think about ourselves as soul scholars, educators, parents, community members, and...HUMANS!

***This is the last week for you to receive the FREE 30 day guide to cultivating a soul care routine.  It is filled with 30 days affirmations, a journal writing connection guide, and helpful tips to sustaining your soul care.  We are in this life together and stand a higher chance to THRIVE (not just survive) in this world plighted to destroy us as a melanated people. 

Feel free to check out our website or go to our Soul Scholar Apparel shop to check out our new designs we've dropped this week.  Use code SOUL25 to receive 25% off your entire order on anything from the site.  "Liberation Loading" and "Soul Scholars...speak up, disrupt, dismantle, and rebuild" are our newest designs and definitely set off those abolitionist and equity minded folk.  

The importance of doing the soul work is at the heart of my work as an educator and transformative impactor for those with whom I engage.  This episode will dive deeper into a component of soul work, which is self-excavation.  I refer to the field of archaeology as a reference, or analogy, for visualizing and understanding how self-excavation works 

During this episode, I focus on the following: 

1. Acknowledging the need for self-excavation and  recognizing as a pathway to healing  (7:58)
2. Identifying our triggers>>>Self-loathing, procrastination, and fear (9:09)
3. Are you rejecting the expression or impression of love? (20:46) 

Disclaimer:  This episode was uploaded later than I originally anticipated so the free webinar has already passed.  Join the soul scholar tribe at scholarsforthesoul.com to be in touch for our next FREE monthly webinar. 

In this episode, I'm talking about the educational and LIFE implications from the movie "Judas and the Black Messiah", available on HBO Max.  

The major points discussed are as follows: 

•  (4:19) The power of affirming language “I am a revolutionary” 
• (12:14) There’s danger in your influence if your influence leads to liberation.
• (19:04) The revolution starts with self-evolution. 

Listen in with me, Dr. Mel B, as I connect the power in this movie to the soul work we, as soul scholars, must reflect upon and enact with our young soul scholars. 
 
And after much consideration, I am only releasing the Revolutionary Soul Scholar design.  It will be available for purchase at scholarsforthesoul.com/shop Saturday, February 27, 2021.  If you're revolutionary, and of course you're a soul scholar, then this design is PERFECT for you!!!  I can't wait to see you guys rocking your gear.  Let's keep this revolution televised (or social media posted).