Always A Lesson's Empowering Educators Podcast

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165: Differentiating Instruction with Cole Alexander Aug 27, 2018

Show notes

Cole graduated from the University of Houston – Downtown with a bachelor’s degree in Urban Education. She spent the last 7 years teaching Pre-K and Kindergarten in Title 1 schools in Houston, Texas and the last two years teaching in the STEAM lab in an Early Childhood Center. Cole is passionate about giving students hands-on learning experiences and differentiating instruction. When she is not teaching, you can find her chasing around her sweet 1 year old boy, drinking LOTS of coffee, creating products to share with other educators, or catching up on her guilty pleasure – reality TV!

Quotables

Have a passion and love for kids
Show up and do your best for kids every day
Be consistent with the quality of lessons you put out
Kids thrive in an environment when they know what is expected of them
Curveballs are thrown at you all the time…expect the unexpected and roll with the punches
Learn as much as you can, but don’t try to implement what you learned all at once

Cole’s Stamp of Approval

Facebook Group-
Individualized Instruction for Students (Differentiation & Small Group)
STEAM/STEM centers
- Best Seller Example- Fairytales and Nursery Rhymes STEM & STEAM Activities

Gretchen’s Stamp of Approval

Blog Post: The Do’s & Don’ts of Using the Voxer App

Connect with Cole

Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
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

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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’

164: Lead with a Little Grace Aug 13, 2018

Show notes

Effective leaders lead people from a place of grace not from an agenda. Everyone faces stressors on the job and being able to acknowledge the timing and size of such stressors in order to lead others towards effective change requires intention and grace. Tune in to hear how to meet your job requirements while leading others towards beneficial change during the Back-to-School mayhem.

Quotables

Grace is probably the best tool in your tool belt in helping anyone improve
When you know better, you do better
When you build relationships out of grace, you get additional time put on the clock
It’s better to affect long term change with grace, than lead with an agenda for short term change.

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Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
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.”

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’

163: It’s Time for Your Educator Upgrade Jul 30, 2018

Show notes

The hardest thing to do is become better on your own when no one is watching. Staying motivated and clear on your purpose without the pressure of a deadline or request from a member of influence is harder than imaginable. Tune in to hear how you can make a significant upgrade to your edu-self so that you maximize your potential and student achievement for the upcoming school year.

Quotables

When I freed myself from the realization that I wasn’t a bad person or a bad teacher but that I had an opportunity to be a better one, I started to find hope and excitement to make changes
I couldn’t create this caricature teacher of who I wanted to be or who I thought I was … I had to be who I was raw and imperfect
I wanted to be defined by inspiring actions that lead kids to new heights but those landed as ideas in my head instead of outcomes in my classroom

Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter

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Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
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.”

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’

162: Integrate Technology the RIGHT Way Jul 23, 2018

Show notes

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

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Join the New Teacher Support Facebook Group

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Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
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.”

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’

161: Finding Magic in Every Kid, Every Day Jul 16, 2018

Show notes

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/

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When purchasing, enter your Gretchen Bridgers / gretchen@alwaysalesson.com 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

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Join the New Teacher Support Facebook Group

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Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
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.”

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’

160: Love, Support, and Involve with Dr. James Davis Jul 09, 2018

Show notes

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: jdavis9@coastal.edu
Phone: 704-918-8294

Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
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?

159: Snag a Piece of Humble Pie Jul 02, 2018

Show notes

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 / gretchen@alwaysalesson.com 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

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Join the New Teacher Support Facebook Group

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Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
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.”

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’

158: Protect This 4 Letter Word Jun 25, 2018

Show notes

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

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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 / gretchen@alwaysalesson.com 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: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
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.”

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’

157: Don’t Confuse Your E’s Jun 18, 2018

Show notes

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

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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 / gretchen@alwaysalesson.com 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: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
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.”

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’

156: Don’t Rush to the Rescue Jun 10, 2018

Show notes

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

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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 / gretchen@alwaysalesson.com 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: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
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.”

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’

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

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