EP337 Restorative practices aren’t a strategy–they’re a way of being (with Marisol Quevedo Rerucha)
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
Release Date: 11/02/2025
EP341 Everything all at once: what it's like to be a teacher with ADHD (with Andrew Gardner)
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
When he got his ADHD diagnosis at age 30, the first thought Andrew Gardner (https://www.agardner.com/about) had was, "Okay, now what? I'm still an idiot." That negative voice had been with him his entire teaching career, driving him to work 80-90 hour weeks trying to prove he wasn't failing at the basics everyone else seemed to handle easily. In this conversation, Andrew walks us through what it's actually like to teach with ADHD. He shares the invisible struggles no one could see from the outside, the white-knuckling through administrative tasks, the depression that came from years of that...
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EP340 Stay human: Teaching students to protect their brain power in an AI world
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
"If AI can write my essay in 30 seconds, why should I spend 30 minutes doing it myself?" I believe students asking this question deserve a thoughtful response ... or even better, an invitation to think critically about their own values and personal philosophy around artificial intelligence. In this episode, I'm offering some tools to help you facilitate these conversations with students, breaking down the neuroscience of why writing matters in ways AI can't replicate. We'll explore three core principles: 1) Writing is brain-building: When students write, they create neural pathways through...
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EP339: It took me years to realize I'm not lazy. I'm neurodivergent.
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
Growing up, every report card comment and parent conference involved my teachers expressing some version of the following: "Angela is smart, but not working to her potential." "Angela needs to focus and apply herself." "Angela is a capable student but does not put forth effort." "Angela could do the work if she wanted to but she appears lazy and unmotivated." I shared a little of this story a few years back, and how I was labeled as gifted at first, and then diagnosed with a learning disability in math: For years, I believed something was fundamentally wrong with the wiring in my brain....
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EP338 Looking ahead to 2026: A new direction beyond Truth for Teachers
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
It’s the final episode of the 2025 season, and I want to leave you with something meaningful. I’m sharing some personal thoughts as I prepare to step away for my December internet sabbatical. I’m thinking deeply about alignment, presence, and what it means to move forward with clarity and purpose. If you’ve been feeling the tension between what you have to do and what you’re called to do … this episode might resonate. Key highlights: Why I'm shifting directions in 2026 to focus on deeper connections with educators (and serving more than just folks in K-12) How my personal life has...
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EP337 Restorative practices aren’t a strategy–they’re a way of being (with Marisol Quevedo Rerucha)
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
“The adults in the building need healing just as much as the kids do. Self-compassion isn’t soft. It’s the most radical act of self-preservation an educator can practice.” That’s a quote from my guest in this episode, Marisol Quevedo Rerucha. She’s the author of Beyond the Surface of Restorative Practices and the CEO of Heartset Consulting Group. A former teacher, principal, and district leader, she now supports individuals, communities, and systems in building high-trust, equity-centered spaces. Together, Marisol and I explore what a restorative way of being looks like, how...
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EP336 4 routines to help students notice and adjust their thinking
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
Metacognition — “thinking about your thinking” — is one of the most powerful skills we can teach students, and it doesn’t require adding anything new to your already packed schedule. In this episode, you’ll learn four simple, one-minute routines you can weave into your daily classroom flow to help students notice, analyze, and adjust their own thinking. We’ll explore: How to use attention checks so students can redirect focus in the moment Why brain break signals teach learners to connect physical energy with mental clarity (and how to manage them without chaos) How mistake...
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EP335 How teacher language shapes us—and teaches kids to find their wisest self (with Lily Howard Scott)
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
“Giving kids, and yourself, language to wrap around the idea that we have an inner leader (our kindest, best self) is transformative.” Join me as I talk with Lily Howard Scott, a NYC-based parent, educator, and author, who shares insights from her book The Words That Shape Us: The Science-Based Power of Teacher Language. We’re exploring how our internal self-talk shapes our perceptions of students and ourselves, and how intentional language can transform classroom culture. Lily shares practical strategies for helping students of all ages: Notice and separate from their thoughts and...
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EP334 Are you a Type A or Type B teacher? Rethinking effort, expectations, and balance
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
How much effort is enough—for you and your students? In this episode, I’m weaving together three listener questions about navigating effort, expectations, and balance. We’ll explore how to recognize whether you lean more toward Type A (overextending) or Type B (holding back) tendencies, and how to make small, mindful adjustments so you’re not burning out—or stagnating. You’ll hear practical advice for: Reworking your expectations of yourself during seasons of low energy, burnout, or chronic illness. Knowing when to give yourself permission to do less, and when to gently push...
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EP333: Engagement isn't extra: boredom busters that prime the brain for learning (with Katie Powell)
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
Engagement is not the same as "fun." It's the foundation for meaningful and lasting learning. Join me as I talk with Katie Powell, author of Boredom Busters: Transform Worksheets, Lectures, and Grading into Engaging, Meaningful Learning Experiences. Katie shares simple yet powerful strategies that help teachers transform their classrooms into spaces where students thrive. Whether you’re trying to bring more fun into your lessons, address curriculum pressures, or manage student behavior during engaging activities, Katie’s practical advice can help. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why...
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EP332 Time blocking for teachers: Align your priorities, energy, & tasks to create a sustainable schedule
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
Time blocking sounds simple… but if you’ve ever sat down during your prep period with a plan and still ended the day feeling behind, you know it’s not always that straightforward. In this episode, I’m walking you through a flexible, teacher-centered approach to scheduling your time. This isn’t about squeezing more into the day—it’s about protecting time for what matters and letting go of the guilt about what doesn’t. I’ll share how to: Allocate time for high, medium, and low-priority tasks (without spinning your wheels) Match your work to your energy levels using deep vs....
info_outline“The adults in the building need healing just as much as the kids do. Self-compassion isn’t soft. It’s the most radical act of self-preservation an educator can practice.”
That’s a quote from my guest in this episode, Marisol Quevedo Rerucha. She’s the author of Beyond the Surface of Restorative Practices and the CEO of Heartset Consulting Group. A former teacher, principal, and district leader, she now supports individuals, communities, and systems in building high-trust, equity-centered spaces.
Together, Marisol and I explore what a restorative way of being looks like, how to build a classroom culture rooted in belonging and accountability, and why self-compassion is a foundational part of this work. Marisol also shares her personal story of healing, offers real classroom examples, and closes with an unforgettable metaphor about facing life’s hardest moments with courage and community.
In this powerful conversation, Marisol Revucha shares why so many educators feel disillusioned with restorative practices and what needs to shift for true transformation to occur.
Whether your school is fully immersed in restorative practices or you’re just starting to explore what it means, this conversation offers both heart and strategy. You’ll walk away with a clearer vision for what’s possible—not just for your students, but for yourself.
Topics include:
- Why restorative justice often fails in schools
- How to build a culture of repair and accountability
- The role of self-compassion in restorative work
- Real-time responses when students act out
- Restorative practices for staff—not just students
- “Being the buffalo”: facing the storm together
Get the shareable article/transcript for this episode here.
This episode is brought to you by MiaTiagoBooks.com.