Teachers often spend quite a bit of time polishing and perfecting their resumes, but is that what really gets them a job? What if a teacher has limited experience - do they still have a shot when they're up against more seasoned veterans? Resumes are only one small factor in the hiring process (but PLEASE spellcheck!), and personality and fit are the biggest ones. Scott Schwartz discusses which personality traits tend to predict success in any job, as well as how his district eliminates the "gut...
Apr 15, 2019•45 min•Ep 54•Transcript available on Metacast When teachers prepare to apply for jobs, they polish their resume, many create a portfolio of curriculum and experiences, and most scour the internet for interview questions (which you no longer have to do because of this series!). But do you research the schools for which you're interviewing? Do you know the ethos and culture of that school? In today's interview, Asia Cunnigham discusses why you MUST do your due diligence and research a school in the same way that any administrator will researc...
Apr 11, 2019•36 min•Ep 53•Transcript available on Metacast While you're in an interview, a principal is trying to get a sense or whether or not you'd be a good fit for their school. They'll want to know if your personality and teaching style would complement the culture of the school. This involves your ability to handle conflict - with students, parents, and colleagues. Click HERE for a copy of all of the interview questions from this series! 20 years from now, how would you like your current students to remember you as a teacher? I want you to reflect...
Apr 08, 2019•46 min•Ep 52•Transcript available on Metacast When we’re starting out with our teaching careers, we’re overwhelmed with all of the details that go into being a teacher that we often neglect to take care of ourselves. I’m sure you’ve seen so many posts, websites, programs, and even CONFERENCES dedicated to teacher self-care. But part of taking care of yourself is making sure that you and your family are safe and secure. It goes without saying that if you didn’t have to worry so much about your finances, your home, your health, and the well-b...
Apr 01, 2019•50 min•Ep 51•Transcript available on Metacast Effective feedback is KEY to moving students forward, but how what does it actually mean to give good feedback? What does it look like? How can you tell if it's working? Simply correcting students won't lead to improved student outcomes, so here are five steps to up your feedback game. In Part 4 of this 4-part series on feedback, I discuss how to best give feedback so that your students act on it and improve. If you missed the first three parts of this series: TnT 47: How to get truly helpful fe...
Mar 25, 2019•23 min•Ep 50•Transcript available on Metacast Teachers receive a LOT of feedback, and as a new teacher, how you deal with it will determine how successful you’ll be. But what is it about receiving constructive feedback that makes us shut down or ignore it? How do we take something that, from the giver, was well-intentioned, and transform it into an attack? The teachers that are the most receptive to feedback and TAKE ACTION are the ones that grow and improve the fastest. In Part 3 of this 4-part series on feedback, I discuss how to best rec...
Mar 18, 2019•20 min•Ep 49•Transcript available on Metacast You can almost consider students as your “customers” in that they’re the ones that have to sit through your lesson, participate in your activities, and prove whether or not they learned anything. While you don't have to entertain them, I’ve mentioned several times that having engaging and relevant content is crucial and that every activity, handout, lecture, etc. you do has to result in learning. So in addition to having colleagues observe us and give us feedback, it’s important to know the temp...
Mar 11, 2019•20 min•Ep 48•Transcript available on Metacast As teachers, we constantly give feedback to our students. We usually do it verbally or written, and the intent is to help students improve and grow. However, when it comes to receiving feedback, it’s a different monster. How did we progress to a state where we feel we’re too good for feedback? How can we become better at asking and receiving it? In this 4-part series, I’m going to discuss the different aspects of feedback, from asking for it, to how to optimally receive it, and how to craft it i...
Mar 04, 2019•15 min•Ep 47•Transcript available on Metacast Every teacher has had that one student that refuses to do their work. No matter what you do, you just can't get them to do anything. This problem only gets worse when you decide to write them off. The thing is, these students typically have a very logical reason for not working, and it's up to us to figure it out and help them move past that. Here are seven reasons why your students aren't doing their work in your class. Love this show? Become an AWESOME SUPPORTER! Don't forget to leave a voicem...
Feb 25, 2019•23 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast Facing a room of blank stares and unwilling participants is a teacher's nightmare. For some teachers, it happens every year, while for others it might be just one year or one period of students. Either way, it can be really deflating as a teacher when you’re trying to do everything to connect with your students. Here's how I intentionally structure my class to facilitate discussion and participation. Love this show? Become an AWESOME SUPPORTER! Don't forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice b...
Feb 18, 2019•18 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast It's an understatement to say that there just isn't enough time in the day for teachers to get everything done. There are emails to answer, assignments to grade, lessons to plan, and so much more. Naturally, many teachers use their breaks or lunchtime to get work done or check social media, but often to the detriment of their professional growth. Getting out of the classroom is essential to make the necessary connections that all teachers need. Here are ten reasons why new teachers should hang o...
Feb 11, 2019•22 min•Ep 44•Transcript available on Metacast New teachers are repeatedly told to seek out help from their colleagues, but what if it's really uncomfortable for them? What if they suffer from social anxiety and have a hard time talking to anyone at their school? How can they get the support they need if they'd prefer to hide in their classroom? If this describes you, then here are strategies for overcoming those obstacles and becoming a true part of the family at your school. Love this show? Become an AWESOME SUPPORTER! Don't forget to leav...
Feb 04, 2019•27 min•Ep 43•Transcript available on Metacast We often find ourselves slaving over creating lessons, only to feel deflated when it seems like our students didn't understand the lesson at all. What's going on? Is it the lesson? Is it us? Is it the students? How can you tell? Here are three aspects of your teaching to evaluate when trying to figure out whether or not your students are actually learning, and how to improve your teaching if most of them are missing the mark. Love this show? Become an AWESOME SUPPORTER! Don't forget to leave a v...
Jan 28, 2019•20 min•Ep 42•Transcript available on Metacast Here are some questions I frequently see in teacher Facebook groups and on Twitter: I feel bad for using Teachers Pay Teachers. Is this a disservice to my students? How do others deal with unannounced observations? What are your go-to sub plans? Love this show? Become an AWESOME SUPPORTER! Don't forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by telling us your favorite parts of teaching! Listeners who leave a voicemail will b...
Jan 21, 2019•27 min•Ep 41•Transcript available on Metacast When teachers are just starting out, they often feel like they can't do anything right. Many well-laid plans go awry, they struggle with classroom management, and there's always more to do than there are hours in the day. To make things worse, they feel so inadequate and are convinced that they're the only ones with these problems. Here's the thing: they're NOT, and in fact, everyone survives these obstacles in some way. Here are some of the common "screw-ups" that newer teachers face and how th...
Jan 14, 2019•29 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast New teachers often feel stressed out and depressed their first few years. Aside from struggling with so many aspects of the job and worrying about job security and pay, they often feel like they're doing a horrible job. Teaching is definitely tough and it can be difficult to know how to improve, but the best way to do it without going insane is to work on one aspect of teaching at a time. Here are six areas that will make the most impact, but you should only work on ONE per semester. Don't overw...
Jan 07, 2019•49 min•Ep 39•Transcript available on Metacast Second semester or the time after Winter Break is a great time to make adjustments in your teaching. You know your students and have some systems in place, so why not pick something small but significant to change and improve? These small changes add up over time and will lead to longer lasting results. So here’s the process I’ve found to be successful time and again, as well as what I plan to adjust this semester. Are you ready to ditch the teacher tired? Join the 40-hour Teacher Workweek Club ...
Dec 31, 2018•26 min•Ep 38•Transcript available on Metacast You've finally made it to the point where you're ready to student teach! You're filled with excitement, anticipation, and ANXIETY about how to prepare. Yes, your teacher preparation program has prepared you for this moment, but you still can't help but feel like you don't know what to do the weeks leading up to it. Here's practical advice on how to frame your thinking to get the most out of your student teaching experience. Preparing for student teaching GETTING TO KNOW THE STUDENTS Have a clear...
Dec 24, 2018•38 min•Ep 37•Transcript available on Metacast There's never a shortage of teachers who feel overwhelmed and stressed by all of the demands of teaching. It honestly feels like there's no time to get everything done AND have time for family, friends, and self-care. That's about to change. Angela Watson shares her candid insight on how new teachers can finally learn how to prioritize and do what will have the most impact on their teaching. We also discuss how she helped me become the efficient and effective teacher that I am today. Are you rea...
Dec 17, 2018•46 min•Ep 36•Transcript available on Metacast It’s not unusual for a teacher to suffer from a case of the “shoulds” – a ubiquitous and harmful affliction that affects ALL teachers (ok…everyone). When images of Pinterest-perfect classrooms and abundant sharing on social media are paired with less-than-ideal student work or a miserable teaching environment, teachers start thinking about the things they should be doing. Here’s my personal experience as well as how I plan to deal with it. Still figuring out lesson planning? Grab my free Lesson ...
Dec 10, 2018•22 min•Ep 35•Transcript available on Metacast This idea of students needing to fail, it seems counterintuitive, right? But what if it's actually in the best interest of the student? Why should a teacher "allow" a student to fail a class? While teachers are charged with ensuring that all students learn and grow academically, there are times when it's just not possible for a student. In this case, letting a student fail gives an accurate picture of their abilities and deficiencies, and allows them to get the proper support they deserve. Still...
Dec 03, 2018•26 min•Ep 34•Transcript available on Metacast Every teacher is faced with one or several students each year who just refuse to do any work. No matter what they try, these students slouch in their seats and avoid all attempts to produce any evidence of learning. Many teachers give up on these students eventually and just let them fail. But what if they didn't? Here are some reasons why YOU as their teacher deserve much more from these students and why you should keep persisting until they do. Still figuring out lesson planning? Grab my free ...
Nov 26, 2018•26 min•Ep 33•Transcript available on Metacast Do you have piles of assignments that need grading? Are you feeling overwhelmed by it? You're not alone! All teachers find themselves buried in grading at some point, and it can seem like there's no way out of it. While there's probably no way around having to sit down and do the dirty work, here are some tips to do it efficiently as well as avoid getting into this situation again. Steps for getting your grading under control Commit to being organized Stop adding assignments (seriously!) Reconsi...
Nov 19, 2018•24 min•Ep 32•Transcript available on Metacast Math teachers are tasked with teaching students concepts that they'll use for life while also getting past students' fixed mindset of, "I hate math, and I suck at it." How can teachers keep students motivated and engaged in a Common Core world? Ray Steinmetz explains how personalizing learning, setting up strong systems for formative assessment, and using targeted interventions will produce huge math gains. We also discuss advice for new teachers on what to focus those first years of teaching. H...
Nov 12, 2018•49 min•Ep 31•Transcript available on Metacast Regardless of how long you've been teaching, there will be many moments when your lessons just don't seem to be working. This is especially frustrating when you've taken time to plan the "perfect" lesson or unit, and the students still can't grasp the concept! When this happens, it can be a valuable learning experience if you take the right steps to correct your course. 5 steps (in order) to making it better next time: Don't blame the students Take responsibility Reevaluate Use something that ha...
Nov 05, 2018•24 min•Ep 30•Transcript available on Metacast Every teacher will receive at least one (if not more) emailed from disgruntled parents. Regardless of who's at fault, it can be a nerve-wracking experience and have lasting negative effects if not handled properly. How can we address the email in a diplomatic way without having to compromise our class policies and dignity? I provide 10 steps on how to handle the email so that the situation doesn't escalate to the point where the parent becomes angrier and you set off red flags with your administ...
Oct 29, 2018•33 min•Ep 29•Transcript available on Metacast Many teachers come into the profession with one of two extremes - they have no idea what they're supposed to teach and have to plan everything themselves, or they're given a completely scripted and planned curriculum and have no autonomy. Both of these scenarios can be frustrating especially when these teachers are given little to no direction. Here are three areas to consider when determining what your students are expected to learn and demonstrate. They'll help you get a better picture of your...
Oct 22, 2018•20 min•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast All teachers know that they need to differentiate, but what does that look like in a classroom? During the planning stages? In real time? How can a teacher be expected to plan for students performing two grades below and those performing two grades above in the same class? Laura Kebart describes how this doesn't have to be a daunting task, and gives tips on how to streamline and even make grading simpler! Click HERE to grab Laura's resource with 10 Questions and Answers for how to respond to par...
Oct 15, 2018•59 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast The Next Generation Science Standards, or NGSS, have been rolled out the past few years with much confusion and anxiety. Veteran science teachers have been grappling with how to shift their way of teaching while new teachers are still attempting to fit all of the pieces together. Erin Sadler and I discuss the continuing struggles with implementation, as well as how to reframe our idea of how science instruction should be delivered. Resources mentioned in this episode: National Science Teachers A...
Oct 08, 2018•50 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast In this final installment of my series on examining student data, we look at how preassessment data and Lexile scores can really illuminate gaps in learning for students in any subject area. Getting baseline data in the form a preassessment can help teachers know what skills students come prepared with, and what they may need to reteach. Tie this together with Lexile scores, and teachers can fully understand their students' ability to access grade-level material. Click HERE to grab my Data Colle...
Oct 01, 2018•19 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast 
