The Art of Teaching Business

Episode 36 of The Art of Teaching Business podcast!

Are you looking for a way to get students off their screens and back to using pen and paper? In this episode, I’m sharing some of the tips I learned from using interactive notebooks in my own business classroom for years. I’ll talk about how I organized notebooks, handled supplies, used bell ringers, kept teacher copies handy, and why my students’ notebooks never left my classroom. I’ll also share a few simple tricks—like attaching a pen, color coding classes, and doing all the cutting at once—that can make interactive notebooks much easier to manage all year long.

I sell no prep, ready-to-print-and-use, interactive notebook on my webshop and TPT.

1️⃣ Interactive Notebooks - Web Shop

2️⃣ Interactive Notebooks - TPT

If you liked this episode, please give me a like and leave a comment!

Visit my website at ⁠⁠⁠http://www.business-ed.com⁠ for 15+ FREE resources to help you save time lesson planning.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

-Denise Leigh

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. From sector managers and analysts to accountants and marketing leaders, students operate like a professional investment firm. We discuss how this passion project navigated legal hurdles, built community partnerships, and created powerful experiential learning. This episode is a masterclass in authentic financial education. Kudos to you Mrs. Miller and your fine students!

If you liked this episode, throw me a like and leave a comment!

Visit my website at ⁠⁠⁠http://www.business-ed.com⁠ for 15+ FREE resources to help you save time lesson planning.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

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 student-designed apparel and in-house food production to a state-of-the-art Spirit Box vending machine and community pickup lockers, this store models real-world business education in action. You’ll hear how collaboration, compliance, technology, and student leadership come together to create a dynamic, revenue-generating learning lab.

If you liked this episode, throw me a like and leave a comment!

Visit my website at ⁠⁠⁠http://www.business-ed.com⁠ for 15+ FREE resources to help you save time lesson planning.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

-Denise Leigh

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 repeatable structures, aligning content to real-world business skills, and protecting your time can help you teach smarter, not harder. If you’re a high school business teacher looking for sustainable lesson planning systems that actually work, this episode is for you.

Here is the FREEBIE mentioned in this podcast.

If you liked this episode, throw me a like and leave a comment!

Visit my website at ⁠⁠http://www.business-ed.com for 15 FREE resources to help you save time lesson planning.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

-Denise Leigh

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 when time and energy are limited. If you’re teaching multiple preps with little to no planning time, this episode offers practical strategies you can use immediately to streamline lesson planning, lower stress, and get your evenings back—without sacrificing quality instruction.

If you liked this episode, throw me a like and leave a comment!

Visit my website at ⁠⁠http://www.business-ed.com⁠⁠ for some FREEBIES.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

-Denise Leigh

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 burnout, and how I used low-prep, low-decision instructional strategies to protect my energy while keeping students learning. If you’re looking for a realistic way to work differently—without lowering expectations—this episode is for you.

My Snip Notes are great fo solt off days

⁠Accounting Snip Notes™⁠

⁠Personal Finance Snip Notes™⁠

⁠Career Class Snip Notes™⁠

⁠Business Essential Snip Notes™⁠

⁠Business Law Snip Notes™⁠

⁠Marketing Class Snip Notes™⁠

⁠Business Plan Snip Notes™

My career research and coloring activities are also great for soft off days:

Accounting Career Exploration Research and Coloring Activity

Marketing Career Exploration Research and Coloring Activity

Careers Research Exploration Coloring Activity

If you liked this episode, throw me a like and leave a comment!

Visit my website at ⁠⁠http://www.business-ed.com⁠⁠.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

-Denise Leigh

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 students use AI to support learning without replacing critical thinking.

If you liked this episode, throw me a like and leave a comment!

Visit my website at ⁠⁠http://www.business-ed.com⁠⁠.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

-Denise Leigh

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, focus on essential standards, and give yourself grace as you build routines, relationships, and momentum—without needing everything perfectly planned.

If you liked this episode, throw me a like and leave a comment!

Visit my website at ⁠⁠http://www.business-ed.com⁠⁠.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

-Denise Leigh

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, brain-friendly way to support retention and engagement, this episode will give you a fresh perspective on how note taking can become a true learning tool rather than a classroom interruption.

Here is the Snip Notes YouTube video mentioned in the podcast.

Resources mentioned in (or related to) this podcast:

Accounting Snip Notes™

Personal Finance Snip Notes™

Career Class Snip Notes™

Business Essential Snip Notes™

Business Law Snip Notes™

Marketing Class Snip Notes™

Business Plan Snip Notes™

If you liked this episode, throw me a like and leave a comment!

Visit my website at ⁠http://www.business-ed.com⁠.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

-Denise Leigh

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, vision, and code of ethics. I also share some heartfelt stories of former students to remind teachers that sometimes, true impact emerges long after students leave the classroom.

Resources mentioned in (or related to) this podcast:

1️⃣⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Taylor Swift Marketing Lessons

2️⃣⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Pumpkin Spice Seasonal Marketing Class & Economics Case Study Activity Lesson

3️⃣ ⁠Google Earth - Computer Applications

4️⃣ Personal Finance Quest Fun Learning Activity

5️⃣ Business Quest Activity

6️⃣ ⁠'Map Your Taxes' - Personal Finance Class Lesson

7️⃣⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Business Ethics Unit

If you liked this episode, throw me a like and leave a comment!

Visit my website at ⁠http://www.business-ed.com⁠.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

-Denise Leigh