Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers

Latest Episodes:

EP308 How (and why) schools should support neurodivergent educators Aug 18, 2024

Show notes

Yes, we're talking about accommodations FOR TEACHERS…

I recently asked educators on social media if neurodivergent staff were being offered any support, and folks had a LOT to say! In this episode I'll share:

What we mean when we talk about neurodivergence
Why neurodivergence isn't a deficiency, just a difference
What teachers say about accommodations that are (and aren't) happening in their schools
The legal rights that U.S. teachers have under the Americans with Disabilities Act
The types of supports you can request and the logistics of making them happen

From there, I'll share the commonalities and patterns in the response from educators about what's been helpful and what's needed.

I'll talk about the 5 ways schools can offer support to neurodivergent educators and what these recommendations look like in practice:

#1: Allow for flexibility and autonomy, especially within breaks #2) Designate quiet areas and mitigate the effects of overstimulating environments #3) Communicate proactively about scheduling and changes #4: Give clear directives, so the invisible expectations become visible #5) Differentiate PD and offer topics related to executive function and organization Additionally, I'll make the case for universal design: that's what good for neurodivergent educators also benefits neurotypical educators, and that these practices can (and should) be implemented school-wide.

Listen in to hear more about what's helping neurodivergent teachers thrive, and how to advocate for the support YOU need in your school.

EP307 Creating conditions for transformation (with Elena Aguilar) Aug 04, 2024

Show notes

"Transformative change means feeling different, having different experiences every day, not just little changes that feel like a band-aid."

These are the words of today's guest, Elena Aguilar, an instructional coach whose latest book is called Arise: The Art of Transformation Coaching. (https://amzn.to/3Srseot) Through her book and our conversation today, you're invited to teach in a "human-centered, compassionate, wildly optimistic way."

Listen in as we discuss:

What "transformation" looks like and how it applies to the work of classroom teachers
Why transformation results from addressing the Three Bs: beliefs, ways of being, and behavior…
and why that order matters Which conditions allow for beliefs to change and how we can implement them in our classrooms
How our "ways of being" as teachers tie to transformation

As we look toward the start of a new school year, I hope that Elena's thoughts will help you reimagine what's possible in your classroom, and create conditions for both student transformations and your own.

Get the shareable article/transcript for this episode here.

EP306 How to get TRUE student buy-in for your "no phone" policy (with Ashly HIlst) Jul 21, 2024

Show notes

Here's an innovative way to get student buy-in for your cell phone policy, reduce distractions, and maximize class time.

Today you're going to hear from Ashly Hilst, a secondary teacher at North Clackamas Christian School in Oregon City, Oregon. Ashly has taught high school English for 7 years in both public and private schools.

For the 2024 Summit for the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek, Ashly unveiled her innovative approach to managing cell phone use in the classroom, and it was so impactful I wanted to make sure more teachers had a chance to hear about it.

Her method focuses on conveying the message that "phones don't make good moments, people do," drawing from personal experiences to connect with students.

In this episode, you'll learn from Ashly how to establish clear expectations and consequences for phone use while allowing flexibility and gentle reminders.

Discover for yourself how Ashly's approach reduces stress levels and enhances the teaching experience by promoting responsible phone habits in the classroom.

Get the transcript + free copy of Ashly's slideshow here: https://truthforteachers.com/truth-for-teachers-podcast/how-to-get-true-student-buy-in-for-your-no-cellphone-policy/

EP305 5 ways to automate teaching tasks to save you time Jul 07, 2024

Show notes

It seems like every tech tool we use has now integrated generative artificial intelligence. Open a Google Doc, you're prompted to use Gemini to help you write. Read a post on Facebook, Meta prompts you to "ask anything" via their AI. It's powering our phones and our email, and the customer support chatbots on nearly every website when shopping online and even with utility companies.

AI is everywhere, and it's designed to help save everyone time. So, why not let it help you in your role as a teacher, too?

I talked at length in episode 304 about the pros, cons, and drawbacks of AI, so if you're worried about AI, please make sure you listen to that episode for the context.

In this episode, though, I want to show you possibilities. That's my job. Your job is to decide what's right for you and your classroom.

So let's talk about possibilities.

Listen in for 5 easy ways I see currently for AI as a tool to automate teachers' workloads:

Differentiation
Assessment
Writing
Tedious tasks
Creative expression

And if you'd like to stay up-to-date on all the latest with artificial intelligence, check out the new 40 Hour AI membership.

Get the shareable article/transcript for this episode here.

EP304 Is artificial intelligence the key to a 40 hour teacher workweek? Jun 23, 2024

Show notes

We know there's potential…but let's talk about the larger implications for the profession.

In this episode, I'm sharing how AI has already transformed the way many teachers work, and exploring the ethics, best practices, and future trends for AI in schools.

Listen in to hear:

What surprised me in a survey about schools' AI policies
3 principles that guide my approach to AI
Why educators MUST shape the direction of AI (and not leave this to tech companies)
My favorite ways to use AI to streamline teaching tasks, including differentiation and assessment
When you might want to use ChatGPT in place of a search engine
My recommendations for the best free AI tools for teachers
3 crucial mindsets to develop as you plan how to incorporate AI in your work

Let's explore the big picture overview of AI's impact, its strengths and weaknesses as a tool for teachers, and specific ways fellow educators have used it to reduce their workload responsibly.

Get the shareable article/transcript for this episode here.

Learn about 40 Hour AI here.

EP303 How Danish schools embrace the slowdown and foster work/life balance (with Pernille Ripp) Jun 09, 2024

Show notes

As an educator who's lived and taught in both the US and Denmark, Pernille's story is a revealing look into two vastly different education systems. Let's unpack her journey and what it tells us about work-life balance, societal values, and teaching philosophies.

You'll hear:

Why Pernille's family moved to Wisconsin from Denmark when she was a teenager, how she became a teacher in the U.S., and why she and her American husband made the decision in 2022 to move with their four children to Denmark
The cultural differences Pernille has noticed living in Denmark, particularly in relation to families, children, work, and school
How the Danish school system is set up, including how students are not formally taught to read until the equivalent of 2nd grade in the U.S, and how high school (as Americans understand it) ends around age 15 so students can focus on career training
What the school day looks like for Pernille, who is looping with her students through multiple grade levels, including how much instructional vs planning time she has and why Danish teachers are not permitted to work more than 40 hours a week
The aspects of the Danish approach to work/life balance that U.S. educators might replicate to make teaching more effective, efficient, and enjoyable

She shares, "In Denmark, being a teacher is about nurturing well-being first—both for students and educators. It's about giving your best within working hours and then fully embracing life at home."

"And, education here isn't just academics; it's learning through play, community building, and practical skills that prepare children for real-world challenges from an early age."

I'm always curious about what it's like to teach in different countries, and if you feel the same, I think you'll find this informal conversation is a fascinating deep dive into values, priorities, and what it means for kids and teachers to co-thrive.

Click here to read the transcript and participate in the discussion.

EP302 Education trends, predictions, and hope for the future of teaching May 26, 2024

Show notes

As the school year comes to a close, we're taking a step back from practical strategies, and looking at the big picture of K-12 education. Until summer, there's not a lot of time or mental bandwidth to consider questions like, "What are the larger factors impacting our work? How are other schools handling these challenges? How do we proactively prepare for what's next and create a vision for where we're heading, instead of just trying to put out fires all the time?"

In an era of student disengagement and teacher disillusionment, it's crucial for us to envision a better way of doing school and collectively work to make that vision a reality.

So, in this episode, I'm sharing the statistics around teacher vacancies, student enrollment declines, and budget forecasts, along with the implications for schools.

I'll then analyze the trends and focuses that we'll be seeing more of in education in the coming years. Topics covered include:

Artificial Intelligence
Student safety and mental health
Rationalizing and consolidating curriculum
Hybrid learning and multi-classroom models
The 4-day school week
Vocational-technical training and non-college prep
Microschools and "schools within a school"

You'll be invited to reflect on what else might be possible for schools and use your expertise as a teacher to help shape the future of education. Together, we can change the narrative around the profession and find the overlap between what's best for teachers and what's best for kids.

Read the blog post for this article here.

EP301 5 ways to make an old lesson feel fresh and interesting again (with Betsy Potash of Spark Creativity) May 12, 2024

Show notes

Bored with your curriculum or instructional routines? I'm talking with Betsy Potash of the Spark Creativity Podcast about easy ways to make things feel fresh and interesting again.

Often we switch things up in our teaching to keep ourselves from getting bored. But, too much change can create unnecessary work for us. It can also waste class time for students as they spend more energy on figuring out how to complete an assignment than on practicing the skills we want them to learn.

So, Betsy's identified 5 open-ended activities that you can add to your rotation of go-to strategies, and incorporate them in unique ways throughout the year. We're talking about how to use the following in gr. 2-12 classrooms:

• podcasts • stations • hexagonal thinking • escape room design • one-pager

Betsy will definitely spark your creativity as you listen to these easy-to-understand activities which you can plug into the lessons you're least excited to teach. These ideas will get students actively engaged in learning and boost your energy and enthusiasm as a teacher.

Click here to read the transcript, see photos of the lesson ideas, and get links to Betsy's templates.

Resources mentioned:

Spark Creativity website and podcast
Learn about student podcasting in a free PD series
Free Digital Toolkit for Hexagonal Thinking
Video: Using hexagons to build critical thinking skills
Free escape room toolkit
Guide to creating one-pagers
Angela's Teachers Box of Tricks on TPT / Truth for Teachers shop

EP300 Teaching through hormonal changes: post-partum, perimenopause, and beyond (with Dr. Jen Gunter) Apr 28, 2024

Show notes

This topic is definitely new territory for my Truth for Teachers podcast, and I was initially hesitant to include it because I didn't want to overshare. However, as I began to talk to other women about this, I realized how many of us really didn't have a good grasp on the way hormones impact our daily function. The experience is so individualistic, and no two bodies are alike. I realized that the more folks talk about this, the better informed we'll be. So in this episode, I'm sharing my own journey with perimenopause and brain fog. It took me many months to recognize what was changing in my body and why, and I misdiagnosed the brain fog as simply pandemic-related stress. At age 43, menopause wasn't on my radar yet, and I didn't know pre-menopausal symptoms were a thing. Once I sought guidance from my OB-GYN, I was able to find relief from my symptoms, and I want to help other women understand their options, too. So, I've invited Dr. Jen Gunter to shed some light on this topic for us. Jen is an obstetrician, gynecologist, and author known for her advocacy work in women's health and her efforts to debunk health misinformation. She is a prominent voice on social media and shares evidence-based information about women's health issues and challenges pseudoscientific claims, and has authored several books, including "The Menopause Manifesto," in which she addresses common myths and provides accurate information about women's health. In this interview, Jen and I discuss the impact of hormonal changes on energy and focus, throughout different stages of life, emphasizing that hormones should be viewed as a symphony of factors rather than isolated elements. Jen also dispels negative stereotypes about hormonal changes and challenges patriarchal concepts around women's competence related to hormones and aging. She encourages women to embrace their capabilities, and make informed decisions about how and when to utilize medical experts for support.

Click here to read the transcript and participate in the discussion.

EP299 A spring cleaning classroom guide: what if you didn't need all that STUFF to teach well? Apr 14, 2024

Show notes

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 in your classroom this spring to make space for what you actually need and use.

And, I'll help you establish a mindset of abundance rather than scarcity, so you can approach spring cleaning with a perspective that will help you feel good rather than apprehensive about getting rid of the things you worked so hard to accumulate:

I like to streamline and simplify how my classroom runs.
I don't keep things I don't really need.
I could still teach well with a fraction of the materials I've accumulated.
If there is something that I need later and don't have, I trust that I will be able to find it again, or borrow it, or be able to do without it just fine.
The foundation of my classroom is my energy, enthusiasm, and know-how, not my stuff.
I feel good about clearing away the things that drain my energy and enthusiasm by creating a cluttered, disorganized work space.
I can let go of things I don't need in order to make space for things I do.

Click here to read the transcript and participate in the discussion.

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