Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers

EP162 My best advice on 10 sticky situations in schools

21 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I get a lot of listener-submitted questions that could be tough for me to offer advice on without knowing the specifics. I'm going to answer a bunch o...

EP161 Thriving as an introverted teacher (with Betsy Potash of Spark Creativity)

14 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

An introvert isn't necessarily quiet or shy. For an introvert, being alone provides the energy that's needed to enjoy being with people. (For an extro...

EP160 Fewer things, better: 4 beliefs to help you focus on what matters most

07 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There are 4 core beliefs that can help you strengthen the courage to focus on what matters most: ✔️I am worthy of change and better is possible fo...

EP159 No, you don't have to consume yourself to light the way for others

31 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Let's debunk 10 of the most annoying — and dangerous — teacher platitudes. In this episode, I'll share my thoughts, along with the opinions of oth...

Get my new course FREE when you pre-order the book!

29 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On April 10th, I'm releasing my new book, "Fewer Things, Better"! To celebrate, I'm giving away a FREE course + downloadable workbook to EVERYONE who ...

EP158 We got this: Cornelius Minor on teachers as agents of change

24 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

"We live in a specific kind of America that offers an okay education for some kids, and then a totally subpar education for other kinds of kids. That ...

EP157 The Warm Demander: How to raise expectations (and have students rise to meet them)

17 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How do you SHOW students through body language, facial expressions, and tone that you believe in their ability to succeed and won't settle for less th...

EP156 Five syndromes that overcomplicate your teaching—here's the cure

10 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you relate to any of these 5 mindsets? They're super common, but make it harder to draw boundaries and prevent us from doing the most impactful wor...

EP155 How to curate an easy teaching wardrobe that's comfortable and feels like "you"

03 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The secret to getting dressed quickly in the mornings and feeling comfortable (and confident!) all day long is to have a closet that consists ONLY of ...

EP154 My current book-writing process (and what scares me about book #5)

24 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you're interested in publishing your own books or just curious what happens behind the scenes of mine, today I'll be sharing how I write and p...

EP153 Why teachers are historically overworked & undervalued, and how to disrupt the pattern (with Jenn Binis)

17 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There's no doubt that teacher compensation, along with the unrealistic demands of the profession, are both hot topics right now. How did we end up her...

EP152 Six ways to (mentally) leave work at work

10 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes, it feels like we're always working because we're always thinking about work. It's like we never truly get to relax and decompress. Today, I...

EP151 What's considered "enough" lesson support to help kids be successful? (Ericka's coaching call)

03 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The questions of What is enough reteaching? Am I doing enough in my lessons? Are my interventions sufficient? tend to weigh perpetually on teachers. ...

EP150 How to keep overbearing, micromanaging parents from stressing you out

27 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A listener asks, "How do I stop focusing on parents and worrying how they will affect my job security and my choices as an educator? How can I teach w...

EP149 Living an organized life (with Lisa Woodruff of Organize 365)

20 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Lisa Woodruff of the Organize 365 podcast is a former classroom teacher who now teaches organizational skills for a living, including practical tips a...

EP148 Letting go instead of trying harder

13 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We're kicking off Season 9 of the Truth for Teachers podcast with the transformative practice of letting go — a small mindset shift that can transf...

EP147 Always feel rushed in class? How to let go of the GOOD to make time for the GREAT

18 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Wrapping up Season 8 with this episode! Always feel days and weeks behind in your lesson plans? Let's talk about doing fewer things, better, and elimi...

EP146 Habits of self-care when you have no time

11 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is for all teachers who put everyone else's needs before their own, never have enough time or energy for everything, and know they need ...

EP145 When you can't (or don't want to) stick to routines: How to create flexibility within structure (Amy's Coaching Call)

04 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is coaching call with Amy, a graduate of the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Club. We're talking about what happens when you create routines...

EP144 Why are most teachers white women, and how can we attract and support a diverse faculty?

28 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Join me today as I interview Dr. Travis Bristol, where we discuss how we can attract, support, and build relationships with diverse faculty members, a...

EP143 Who else is dealing with anxiety & drowning in work?

21 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode centers on educators who feel like they're drowning in work and struggling with anxiety. I'll walk you through different aspects of te...

EP142 A crash course on trauma-informed teaching

14 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Trauma is an epidemic right now, affecting kids across racial and socio-economic lines. And I'd bet that every teacher is working with kids that have ...

EP141 Twelve ways to deal with colleagues who constantly complain

07 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Truth for Teachers podcast, we're talking strategies for dealing with complainers at work so negative colleagues don't impact ...

EP140 Five habits that help me automate & simplify my life

30 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

By now, you've probably heard me talk a lot about strategies for work-life balance and productivity as a teacher. Join me today in this episode of th...

EP139 How to keep teaching from ruining your marriage

23 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Truth for Teachers, we're talking about how to keep teaching from ruining your marriage (or any relationship you have with a signi...

EP138 Five ways to simplify prep for substitutes

16 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Do you feel like it's less work to go into school sick than to write plans for a sub? If I wasn't contagious, I showed up to my classroom every day, b...

EP137 Why great teachers get saddled with the biggest workload (and how to advocate for yourself)

09 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Join me today and listen in on a conversation I had with Shawnta Barnes, where she shares her very honest and transparent thoughts and feedback on wh...

EP136 Ask me anything: Quick answers to 12 teacher questions

02 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's episode, I'm excited to try this new episode format because I get a lot of questions from teachers which I haven't been able to answer ...

EP135 Real talk on how to make differentiation less time-consuming

26 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

One of the issues I'm most passionate about is making teaching more effective, efficient, and enjoyable, so I've gathered a group of educators to crea...

EP134 Five things I'm embarrassed to tell you

19 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I decided to put myself out there and tell Truth for Teachers listeners some facts that are embarrassing for me to admit. I've heard...

EP133 A quick trick to lessen anxiety during the first weeks of school

12 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We are back from our summer hiatus and kicking off a new season of the Truth for Teachers Podcast! Are you in the middle of the back-to-school crazine...

A few changes coming for this season…

05 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Season 8 of the podcast will be back next Sunday, August 12th! Here's a quick sneak peek of what you can expect and what will be different. If you're ...

I *am* podcasting this summer (just not here)...

28 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We're in between seasons of the Truth for Teachers podcast, but I have lots of new info and ideas for you in the meanwhile. I'm highlighting the best ...

EP132 How to make a (realistic) plan for summer that will leave you feeling rejuvenated

20 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The first few weeks of summer are almost always blissful, and the time seems to stretch ahead endlessly. We have plenty of days off in which we can af...

EP131 What would life look like if you valued your time as much as you value your money?

13 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the Truth for Teachers podcast, join me as I talk about what your life would look like if you gave the same level of thought and consid...

EP130 Hacks, tips, and tricks for digital organization & saving time with tech (Productivity Roundtable)

06 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Join me today for the second session of the Productivity Roundtable, a group of master teachers gathered together to hash out some of their toughest c...

EP129 How to take charge of your teaching evaluation

29 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

My guest on the Truth For Teachers podcast today is Jennifer Ansbach, a National Board Certified™ English teacher. She is currently in the classroom...

EP128 Daily routines makeover: How to maximize your time at school so you can work less at home

22 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Join me today as I help one teacher make over her daily schedule so she can maximize her time in school and work less at home based on a coaching cal...

EP127 Four steps to deconstructing your classroom in just ONE day

15 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The end of the school year can feel super crazy because it means lots of close out tasks for the teacher. We've got tons of paperwork, plus bulletin b...

EP126 How YOUR response to student behavior can change the trajectory of a child's life & disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline

08 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

One of the toughest parts of teaching students who enter our classrooms with a lot of personal and behavioral issues is that feeling of helplessness t...

EP125 Seven ways for teachers to beat the Sunday blues

01 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wasted half the weekend worrying about the week ahead? Even if you love your job, you might still wake up on Sunday mornings with a feel...

EP124 Four ways teachers with chronic pain or illness can maximize their productivity

25 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Almost everyone will experience the challenge of struggling with chronic pain and illness at some point in the career, whether it be from a difficult ...

EP123 Gretchen Rubin on how teachers can use the 4 tendencies to help students (and themselves) to meet goals & expectations

18 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

I'm talking today with New York Times best-selling author Gretchen Rubin. I've learned so much from Gretchen's research on happiness from her book The...

EP122 Your #1 job when you don't feel motivated (don't stress over anything else!)

11 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do when you're just not motivated to get things done? Many of us try to force ourselves to be productive and slog through the day.   Toda...

EP121 How to streamline assessment & spend less time grading (Productivity Roundtable)

04 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

One of the issues I'm most passionate about is making teaching more effective, efficient, and enjoyable, so I've gathered a group of educators to crea...

EP120 Engagement, excellence, & equity: A conversation with Regie Routman

25 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Join me today for an interview with Regie Routman, as we discuss engagement, excellence, and equity in the classroom. Regie has over 40 years of exper...

EP119 Why I let 2 kids' behavior ruin my school year (and what I wish I'd done differently)

18 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I'm sharing one of the biggest mistakes I made as a teacher. I have a feeling it's something you'll be able to relate to, particularl...

EP118 A stress-free system for summarizing student progress & generating awesome report card comments

11 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The biggest pitfall that most teachers face with report card comments is overcomplicating the task, which creates overwhelm. I want to help you keep t...

EP117 Three trends from the positivity movement that are stifling teacher growth

04 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There are a lot of trendy phrases from popular culture and the positivity movement which have infiltrated our thinking and practices as educators. The...

EP116 How to create a morning routine that gets you energized to teach

28 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There's a lot of talk about the importance of morning routines; however, it's not something that I commonly hear discussed in teaching circles. I thin...

BONUS EXTENDED EPISODE: How to trim 3 (or more!) hours off your workweek starting NOW

17 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this special extended episode between podcast seasons, I'm sharing practical time-saving strategies and simple mindset shifts that will help you:...

EP115 Goodbye, "Teacher Tired": 5 days to doing fewer things, better

19 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What do you want your life to look like? When you look back on it all at the end, what do you want to feel like you've accomplished? How do you want t...

EP114 Seven ways teachers can push past imposter syndrome

12 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever felt like an imposter? Or the feelings that you have no idea what you're doing as a teacher or that you're not capable of doing everythi...

EP113 How teachers can conquer anxiety, overwhelm, and the pressure to always do more (with Dan Tricarico)

05 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

During today's episode, I am excited to feature an interview with Dan Tricarico as part of my Truth for Teachers podcast. Dan and I met when we we...

EP112 How to earn trust with families in poverty & empower parents as education partners (with Tamara Russell & Sarah Plumitallo)

29 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in on the second half of my interview with Tamara Russell and Sarah Plumitallo on building trust and relationships with families! I've invited ...

EP111 Three things real teachers focus on in high poverty classrooms that actually get results (with Tamara Russell & Sarah Plumitallo)

22 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Today I've invited two current teachers, Tamara Russell and Sarah Plumitallo, onto my Truth for Teachers podcast to talk about what they're doing...

EP110 6 ways to stop worrying about problems before they happen

15 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, I'll talk about 6 steps to stop worrying about problems before they happen. Teachers are faced with an enormous amount of stressor...

EP109 How to reduce work hours & streamline parent communication without looking like a slacker (Kristen's coaching call)

08 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The episode of the Truth for Teachers podcast featured here is a free coaching call I conducted with a graduate of the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Club....

EP108 4 teaching mistakes that drained my energy (and the solutions that changed everything)

01 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

I am always looking for ways to save energy. I shared in my book Unshakeable that energy is one of our most precious resources because unlike time, en...

EP107 6 simple ways to infuse growth mindset into daily classroom routines

24 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Growth mindset has been a buzzword in education for quite awhile and I think a lot of teachers and kids are already familiar with it. But I've noticed...

EP106 3 beliefs that damage teacher relationships with black male students (and how to connect instead)

17 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The majority of the Truth for Teachers podcast episodes are on topics that will help improve your teaching practices with ALL of your students, but in...

EP105 How to move out of the day-by-day lesson planning trap and think big picture (Rachel's coaching call)

10 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this coaching call with a teacher named Rachel, I think you'll recognize a very common dilemma for teachers: spending exorbitant amounts of time do...

EP104 When experienced teachers are suddenly deemed ineffective: How to adapt or exit gracefully

03 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

I receive emails on almost a daily basis from veteran teachers who are completely overwhelmed at how the job they signed up for 20, 30, or 40 years ag...

EP103 Five total participation techniques to make every student an active learner

27 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode I'm talking with Persida Himmele about how teachers can provide access to higher-order thinking opportunities for all students. We'll...

EP102 How to get student buy-in for your class cell phone policy (Jim's coaching call)

20 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Listen in on a coaching call I conducted with a graduate of the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Club. His name is Jim, and he's entering his 4th year of teac...

EP101 Your classroom does not have to be Pinterest-worthy: Stay reflective on the WHY & avoid comparison

13 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This is the time of year when classroom set-up photos are everywhere. Each photo we see has more clever ideas and adorable decorations than the last. ...

EP100 What if my students don't like me and we don't connect? Overcoming the back-to-school teacher jitters

06 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The first day jitters are real, and most teachers have butterflies the night before. I think it's okay to embrace that a little bit: give yourself a ...

S5EP15 Season 5 Wrap Up: Use your summer to tackle time-wasting practices and rethink what's necessary

14 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The episode you're about to hear is a free coaching call I conducted with a graduate of the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Club. It's a combination of instr...

S5EP14 How to respond to rude, disrespectful student attitudes (with Robyn Jackson)

07 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Today we're going to talk about the little things students do that are rude, disrespectful, or just annoying. The things that don't necessarily warran...

S5EP13 The simplest way to stop feeling overwhelmed and overscheduled

30 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

I want to use this episode to dive more deeply into a topic that I've touched on quite a few times, which is problem of overwhelm. Overwhelm is a huge...

S5EP12 How to find balance with social media and still be a connected educator (April's coaching call)

23 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The episode you're about to hear is a free coaching call I conducted with a graduate of the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Club. It's a combination of instr...

S5EP11 Hacking project-based learning: tips for management, assessment, & more from Ross Cooper & Erin Murphy

16 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

For many teachers, PBL is a very different way of facilitating learning, where kids are identifying a real-world problem and developing its solution....

S5EP10 How to figure out if you should change schools (and other big teaching decisions)

09 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This is the time of year when many teachers are facing huge decisions about their careers. You may not be sure if you're even going to have a job nex...

S5EP09 Which aspects of teaching can you eliminate to free up more time? (Taylor's coaching call)

02 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Today I'm going to let you listen in on a coaching call I did with a 9th and 10th grade ELA teacher named Taylor. Like all the teachers I'm conducting...

S5EP08 Re-imagining classroom spaces and schedules with Jodi Fletcher

26 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

If you're a regular listener of Truth for Teachers, you know I like to focus on very practical, actionable strategies that every person listening can ...

S5EP07 Ten things every white teacher should know when talking about race

19 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

86% of teachers in the U.S. are white. Most of you listening to this episode are therefore white. Conversations about race are super prevalent right ...

S5EP06 How to hold onto hope in a dismal school climate (Daniele's coaching call)

12 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Today I'm going to let you listen in on a coaching call I did with a 3rd grade teacher named Daniele. Like all the teachers I'm conducting these free ...

S5EP05 Preventing bullying in the classroom (with Dr. Marcie Beigel)

05 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Today I'm talking with Dr Marcie, a child behavioral specialist and author of the book Love Your Classroom Again: Realistic Behavior Strategies for Ed...

S5EP04 Twelve structures to keep kids focused when using the internet in class

26 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Today I want to talk about one of the most common problems teachers face when integrating technology into their lessons, which is keeping kids focused...

S5EP03 Four ways time management habits get derailed and how to get back on track (Kendall's coaching call)

19 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Every couple of episodes on this season on the Truth for Teachers podcast, I'm going to be featuring coaching calls. I'm answering teachers' specific ...

S5EP02 From burnout to Teacher of the Year: Pam's story of loving her job again

12 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

I got an email a few months ago from a woman named Pam Gresser. She wrote, "I'm starting my 20th year teaching and 2 years ago, I didn't know how much...

S5EP01 Teachers, you are on the front lines as defenders of truth. Our students need you.

05 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

I can't begin a new season of a podcast called TRUTH for teachers without acknowledging the changes that have occurred since Season 4 ended two months...

S4EP18 Season 4 Wrap Up: Habits are stronger than willpower, and creating change is easier than you think

04 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Season 5 will be back in February, and I want to leave you with some powerful ideas for the weeks ahead. Right after the holidays, we tend to be think...

S4EP17 Leonard Sax's Truth: What teachers need to know about the gender gap, disengaged boys, and girls in crisis

27 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Today I've invited Dr. Leonard Sax to the show. Leonard is board-certified in family medicine and currently practices in suburban Philadelphia, and al...

S4EP16 Five of your trickiest teacher co-worker problems solved

20 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This is an "Ask Angela Anything" style episode where I attempt to answer 5 coworker-related questions in 15 minutes. However, I'm going to format thi...

S4EP15 How to undo your classroom management mistakes

13 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Listen as I share the story of a classroom management mistake that made a huge impression on me many years ago. We all have examples of procedures a...

S4EP14 How to use Genius Hour to transform student motivation & ignite creativity (with AJ Juliani)

06 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Genius Hour is a movement to empower kids to uncover their passions, skills, and strengths through designing projects they care about. In this week's...

S4EP13 Four ways to stop procrastinating and get things done

30 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

I've spent a lot of time observing what causes procrastination and what prevents it because this is such a deep and pervasive problem for me personall...

S4EP12 Nine ways to make your commute more productive and enjoyable

23 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

I LOVE my alone time in the car, and also the time I spend walking to my destinations. I have so many good options for things to listen to and do that...

S4EP11 Ten tips for avoiding technology overwhelm

16 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

There's one complaint about technology that I hear from almost every single person I talk to: it's just plain overwhelming. There's too much to learn....

S4EP10 Dan Tricarico's Truth: How to create focus, simplicity, and tranquility in the classroom

09 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Dan Tricarico is a high school English teacher in California, and the author of two books, the most recent being "The Zen Teacher: Creating Focus, Si...

S4EP9 How to fight disillusionment when the school year isn't going as planned

02 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The first roadblock of discouragement tends to hit a little sooner than most teachers are expecting. You might be surprised when it only takes a week...

S4EP8 Five classroom management questions in 15 minutes (Ask Angela Anything)

25 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

This season, I thought it might be fun to structure the Ask Angela Anything episodes a little differently, and answer a couple questions briefly in o...

S4EP7 What to do when a student constantly refuses to work

18 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Though it's a common problem that happens in pretty much every classroom in America, there isn't any clear cut solution. Obviously you want to make th...

S4EP6 Why teacher-authors don't give everything away for free (and neither should you)

11 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Every now and then I get a comment saying, "It's a shame that teachers charge money for everything now. I remember the days when teachers would give ...

S4EP5 Zaretta Hammond's Truth: Supporting and advocating for students in poverty

04 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Zaretta is the author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain, and has so much helpful info to share about supporting students in poverty. Lis...

S4EP04 How to deal with a principal who just doesn't "get it"

28 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is inspired by a lot of different emails I've gotten from teachers about a wide range of problems with administrators. Some of these t...

S4EP03 Overcoming decision paralysis: how to make better choices more quickly

21 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We have a paralyzing number of choices in our culture today. In teaching you may get hung up on decisions like: What planner or grade book should I bu...

S4EP02 Ten things you should throw out in your classroom NOW

14 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

As a new teacher, I was totally a hoarder. I didn't believe I had the resources I needed to teach, and therefore had to hold onto everything that cro...

S4EP01 Five back-to-school time traps and how to escape them

07 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

If you're feeling overwhelmed by all that needs to be done and exhausted by not only the long hours but also the physical labor of rearranging and set...