Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers

This AMA is a follow-up to the 3 part summer series I created for the podcast to celebrate 20 years of sharing teaching ideas online and reflect on my personal and professional growth during that time. In the final ep of that series, I included a link to an anonymous Google form for folks to submit questions about things I didn’t answer in the series that they’re curious about. Your questions were absolutely wonderful and you’ve brought up some super interesting things for me to discuss! Here are the questions you'll hear me answer in this episode: Childfree or childless? "If it's not too personal, I wondered about your infertility journey. I remember praying for you when you shared about it before. Having gone through IVF myself, I know it may be too sensitive, and I respect that." (NOTE: If this is a triggering topic for you, skip to the 13:30 minute mark.) Blowback from taking a stand? "Your message about how the train was leaving the station (you can't keep waiting to convince everyone to go with you, and you are just going to move forward with what you thought was right) has really stuck with me, maybe moreso than anything else you've ever said and I've been following you since 2003. It's really been impactful on my life because I really cared way too much about making sure every possible person would be happy with every possible thing I did. I have been wondering, what were the repercussions of that? Did you have a drop in followers, angry emails, anything like that? Enneagram number? "Have you done any work with the Enneagram system? In the last few years, I have heard you speak in a way that sounds as though you may have. If so, I would love to hear about it." Highly-sensitive teachers? "How does being an empath impact your work! Can you explain with some examples?" and "As an introvert and empath myself (happily married, but no kids), I have found it hard to make friends in the teaching world. Many teachers are strong personalities who either don’t seem to understand or relate to me or I feel drained by. Any tips for introverts and empaths regarding surviving and thriving in teaching?"and "You talked about how as an introvert & empathetic person, you had to find ways to get energy from your students instead of it just being a drain. Would you share some? I related to this immensely and wanted to hear more! Thanks! Mental health struggles? "Do you have any advice for teachers who struggle with anxiety and depression and did you struggle with either of those things as a teacher? I love your work and appreciate your perspective so much! I am also an introvert and a highly sensitive person and sometimes I don't think I am cut out for this career because of my personality and mental health struggles." Admin who don't share the 40 Hour workweek vision? "Hi Angela, I love all you do and I loved your three-series podcast this summer. Thank you very much. Would you consider doing an episode about how teachers can work alongside administrators who DON'T share the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek vision? I'm talking about the administrators who routinely expect overworking as a part of the job (and some colleagues, too!)" Connecting with local advocacy groups? "Beyond putting this hope out into the universe and sharing it with you, I wanted to ask — as someone connected to many education justice and activist groups and orgs in the city — if you have any desire to get involved in our local work to make the NYC schools more equitable, culturally responsive, and democratic? Your voice is so powerful and we need all hands on deck. Let me know if you have any desire to get involved and I’m happy to connect you to folks who will find ways your unique gifts can serve the fight for education justice in NYC and beyond." Click here to read the transcript and participate in the discussion or, join our podcast Facebook group here to connect with other teachers and discuss the Truth for Teachers' podcast episodes.

If you need an uplifting conversation to get you energized for the new school year, this episode is a can’t-miss! I’m talking with Dr. Deonna Smith about the ideas behind her new book, Rooted in Joy: Creating a Classroom Culture of Equity, Belonging, and Care.” Listen in as we discuss: What it means to be “rooted in joy” and how Deonna uncovered the meaning of that phrase in her own work as a teacher The types of internal work we can do as educators to create school-based practices that are rooted in joy What it looks like to have a classroom that is rooted in joy How joy arises naturally in equitable, humanizing environments How a classroom can be understand as an ecosystem in which every person and practice are interconnected Specific practices teachers can implement to create a classroom culture of equity, belonging, and care Learn more about Dr. Deonna Smith here: https://www.deonnasmithconsulting.com Get her new book here: https://amzn.to/3qdOLKB  Click here to read the transcript and participate in the discussion or, join our podcast Facebook group here to connect with other teachers and discuss the Truth for Teachers' podcast episodes.

I’m concluding the 3 part podcast series this summer offering a deep dive into my personal story: where I’ve been, where I’m at, and where I’m going. Usually you can listen to my podcast episodes in any order you want, but since this is basically my life story, what I’m sharing in this episode will make a lot more sense if you’ve heard the beginning of what happened: EP278 How I got here: Reflections on 20 years of sharing teaching ideas online EP280 Where I’m at: Reflections on who I’ve become as a person and educator In this final installment of the three part series, I'm looking forward, and talking about what's next: How I grapple with imposter syndrome, maintaining relevance, and criticism of my work Why I view my work in terms of years-long problems I'm trying to solve over the course of a lifetime How I plan to translate my experience and accumulated wisdom into my next big project Why I plan to focus more on connecting with educators via my email list and podcast instead of social media A dream my husband and I have for supporting educators in a way that leaves a lasting legacy How rediscovering lost parts of myself, childhood interests, and hobbies apart from work shapes the perspective I bring to teaching Why I think the future of schools is nearly impossible to predict, but I’m committed to uncovering new possibilities and finding the good How I stay hopeful amidst so much bad news, and the perspective that keeps me feeling balanced, energized, and optimistic Anything you're still curious about? If there's anything I didn't talk about in this podcast series that you're still left wondering, I'm doing an AMA (ask me anything) episode next month! Use this form to submit a question about a personal or professional aspect of my life that you'd like to hear more about. https://forms.gle/CNWQT7Y8ccT66phS6 Click here to read the transcript and participate in the discussion or, join our podcast Facebook group here to connect with other teachers and discuss the Truth for Teachers' podcast episodes.

It’s a myth that “having a plan” means locking yourself into a rigid schedule from which you can’t deviate. Knowing the things you want to experience and accomplish (and carving out time for them) is one of the most powerful ways to craft a fulfilling life! Lisa Woodruff recently interviewed me for her Organize365 podcast, and I wanted to play an excerpt of that conversation for you here. Listen in as we talk about how we each fell in love with planning and how our individual planning processes have changed throughout our various seasons of life. We each share how we schedule our time and manage our to-do lists, and what our summer schedules look like. You’ll also hear us illuminate a few key truths we’ve uncovered through developing various productivity systems: Why working toward being “finally done” with a tasks is not necessarily the goal How to enjoy the never-ending process of tending to your own life, needs, and healthy habits How planning ahead creates freedom and allows presence in whatever experiences arise Why the goal isn’t to execute your plan perfectly but to re-evaluate priorities You can listen to the full conversation on the Organize365 podcast, or check out her organizational tools, such as the Education Friday workbox, which is a system that helps teachers get organized and reduce the amount of time spent on administrative tasks. Click here to read the transcript and participate in the discussion or, join our podcast Facebook group here to connect with other teachers and discuss the Truth for Teachers' podcast episodes.

This is the 2nd episode in my 3 part summer podcast series offering a deep dive into my personal story: where I’ve been, where I’m at, and where I’m going. Usually you can listen to my podcast episodes in any order you want, but since this is basically my life story, what I’m sharing in this episode will make a lot more sense if you’ve heard the beginning of what happened. In this second installment of the three part series, I'm sharing more about the lived experiences and personality traits that shape who I am, how I interact with the world, and the kinds of resources I create. Content warning: In the second half of the episode, I will share how my religious and spiritual beliefs have changed over the last 20 years. If you're not interested in hearing my experiences in this area, you can listen to the first half of the episode, and I'll let you know when I'm about to shift into discussions of religion. Listen in as I share: My honest answer about whether I miss being in the classroom How the focus area I choose for my Masters degree lit a spark that led to the work I'm doing now What I discovered about myself through the National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) process What my close friendship with the teacher next door taught me about my own strengths and weaknesses as an educator The ways being an introvert and empath impact my work and how I see the world How I rebounded from religious trauma as a teenager and found a new way back to the Christian faith in my mid-20s How spending years doing prison ministry and mentoring the incarcerated has shaped my thinking Why I began to feel pushed out of the Christian faith and disillusioned with the doctrine Where I'm at now spiritually and what brings me a sense of peace and joy How these changes in my belief system, personality, and identity shifts have impacted my marriage Click here to read the transcript and participate in the discussion or, join our podcast Facebook group here to connect with other teachers and discuss the Truth for Teachers' podcast episodes.

The first FREE online summit focused entirely on saving teachers time is happening July 10th and 11th! The 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Online Summit is: Entirely online Completely FREE Beneficial for all K-12 teacher Includes 30+ presentations and roundtable discussions Opening and closing keynotes by 40 Hour founder Angela Watson (that’s me) No fluff, filler, icebreakers, or pitches: each session is just 15-20 minutes long All session presenters are current K-12 classroom teachers + 40 Hour members! In this podcast episode, you’ll get to listen to excerpts of 8 different presenter’s time-saving tips! Tip #1: Use learning contracts to transfer ownership of assignments to your students. Tip #2: Carve out time buckets for life, career, relationships, and self so you can ensure your life isn't just about work. ' Tip #3: Share the grading load with a coworker. Tip #4: Give fewer assignments and fewer grades. Tip #5: Give yourself (and your students) something to look forward to when you return to school after the weekend. Tip #6: Delegate responsibility to students through classroom jobs. Tip #7: Get ahead in your lessons by batching the task. Tip #8: Create theme days for specific tasks so you can focus without feeling pulled in so many directions. If you enjoy these excerpts from the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Online Summit, sign up to join us for the full FREE live event happening July 10th and 11th! And if you can’t attend a session or want to watch and rewatch at your convenience, the Forever Access Pass will get you the recordings, plus a note-taking guide, summary of key ideas for each session, full transcripts, and special bonuses. It’s just $19 right now (the price will increase once the event begins.) See you at the Summit — sign up to join us here! Click here to read the transcript and participate in the discussion or, join our podcast Facebook group here to connect with other teachers and discuss the Truth for Teachers' podcast episodes.

I’m getting deeply personal and vulnerable in this 3 part summer podcast series, and sharing things with you that I’ve NEVER talked about publicly before! This was sooo hard for me to do … but it’s the 20 year anniversary of my teaching website (I built the first iteration back in July 2003) and I didn’t want to let the occasion pass without reflecting on all that’s happened over the past two decades. Some of you have actually been on this journey with me for the entire 20 years I’ve been sharing ideas online, which is just mind-blowing! I think you’ll really enjoy this look back on the previous two decades together. Others of you have come along more recently, and I hope this series gives you the backstory and context to connect with me on a deeper level. Here’s the release schedule for these episodes: May 28: How I got here: Reflections on 20 years of sharing teaching ideas online June 25: Where I’m at now: Reflections on who I’ve become as a person and educator July 23: Where I’m going: Reflections on what excites me about my work and the future of schooling Content warning for this first episode: I will briefly allude to sexual assault, and also talk about my personal experiences with race and religion. This episode will be very different from what you’re used to on Truth for Teachers, so make sure you’re in the right headspace before pressing play. Listen in as I answer the following questions: How did your childhood experiences shape the person you've become today? Why did you always want to be a teacher even though you weren't a good student yourself? You've mentioned before that your teenage years were rough — what happened? What was your college experience like, and how did you get your first job as a teacher? What happened when you started feeling burned out and decided to change grade levels? How did you get started sharing ideas online? Why did you relocate and transition to instructional coaching and working for BrainPOP? How do you process your legacy among the very first wave of educators in the early 2000s to share their resources online? I hope listening to this episode gives you more insight into my “origin story” and what has shaped my worldview and fueled my passions.  Click here to read the transcript and participate in the discussion or, join our podcast Facebook group here to connect with other teachers and discuss the Truth for Teachers' podcast episodes.

If you’re constantly covering for absent colleagues, supporting temporary hires in your building, or otherwise taking on additional duties because there aren’t enough people on staff … you’re not alone.  Teacher shortages have been one of the most difficult lingering effects of the pandemic, and unfortunately, we’re continuing to see things trend downward. There’s no way around it: when some folks are gone, it creates more work for the people who remain. Click here to read the transcript and participate in the discussion or, join our podcast Facebook group here to connect with other teachers and discuss the Truth for Teachers' podcast episodes.

We all want students to be self-directed in their learning and take initiative to figure things out for themselves. We want them to think critically and engage in the struggle of understanding so they come out on the other side truly owning their own learning, ideas, and beliefs. Two of the most powerful ways to help students experience this kind of learning are: Explicitly teaching students how to optimize concentration, time, and energy Model these strategies for students with enthusiasm, curiosity, and intellectual humility That’s exactly what this episode is designed to help you do. The first and most important step is to shift from viewing learning as something that you’re trying to get students to do and they’re resisting, and instead view learning as something that you experiment with together. Listen in to learn more about flow theory, and why I prefer its focus on joy and ease over just “managing time” or “getting more done.” You and your students can internalize this way of thinking about time, energy, and attention, and establish the goal of finding flow in the classroom whenever possible. Learn more about FINDING FLOW Solutions and check out curriculum previews: http://findingflowsolutions.com/ Download the free Foundations of Flow unit for teens Purchase the complete set of 6 units for teens as a beta tester Get notified when elementary resources are ready Get notified when middle school resources are ready Click here to read the transcript and participate in the discussion or, join our podcast Facebook group here to connect with other teachers and discuss the Truth for Teachers' podcast episodes.

Who you ARE matters just as much as what you DO. How can you show up as the best version of yourself each day, not only for students, but in every aspect of life? I’m talking today with Elena Aguilar, a writer, leader, teacher, coach and the author of seven highly acclaimed books including The Art of Coaching, (2013) Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators (2018), Coaching for Equity (2020), and The PD Book: 7 Habits that Transform Professional Development (2022). Elena is the founder and president of Bright Morning Consulting, and host of The Bright Morning podcast (which is a phenomenal listen, by the way.) She also collaborated with Dr. Rebecca Branstetter and I on the Reversing Educator Burnout course–you can hear her as a special guest expert in Module 2.  Listen in as Elena and I discuss: Why “bringing your best self” brings ease rather than “one more thing” to your plate The power and simplicity of being fully present in challenging moments Trying harder vs letting go The traits and dispositions we display when we are our best selves What to do when you’re too exhausted to bring your best self to the classroom Click here to read the transcript and participate in the discussion or, join our podcast Facebook group here to connect with other teachers and discuss the Truth for Teachers' podcast episodes.