EP323 Teacher leadership: growing your impact in–or beyond–the classroom (with Starr Sackstein)
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
Release Date: 03/20/2025
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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Join me for live PD this winter: Unlocking Teacher Productivity
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
I’m partnering with Rocket PD to offer a live-virtual cohort called Unlocking Teacher Productivity starting in late January. (Originally the date was in October, but we've pushed things back to accomodate a major release in federal funding that won't reach schools until later this fall.) This isn’t a self-paced course you sign up for and maybe forget about. It's a deep-dive, interactive experience where we’ll meet every Thursday for five 90-minute sessions. Here’s how it works: each week, we’ll meet over Zoom. There will be a mix of my teaching (you’ll see my face and slides),...
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EP332 Time blocking for teachers: Align your priorities, energy, and 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....
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EP331 Want to individualize learning without overwhelm? Try this self-paced approach (with Rob Barnett)
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
How can you meet the needs of every learner in your classroom while keeping your workload manageable? In this episode, Robert Barnett shares how self-paced learning can transform your teaching and create a more personalized, effective, and sustainable experience for both you and your students. We dive into the Modern Classrooms approach, breaking it down into actionable steps that any teacher can take—whether you’re ready to fully embrace self-paced learning or just want to try one small change tomorrow. From recording simple instructional videos to using mastery checks, Rob shares what...
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EP 330 Design a self-running classroom that frees you to teach
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
One of the most exhausting parts of teaching is the constant decision-making. You’re answering questions like: Where do I turn this in? Can I go to the bathroom? What do I do when I’m done? My pencil broke—what now? Over and over. All day long. You’re managing behavior, passing out materials, troubleshooting tech, resetting the room, redirecting energy, keeping everything afloat. And underneath all of that is the belief—often unspoken but deeply ingrained—that YOU have to be the one holding it all together. But what if that’s not true? What if your students—yes, even the...
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EP 329 How a daily binder routine teaches students the skills behind academic success (with Mitch Weathers)
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
We often assume students should already know how to stay organized, manage their time, and start tasks independently—but these are skills that need to be taught, modeled, and practiced. In this episode, I’m talking with Mitch Weathers, a former high school teacher and creator of Organized Binder, about how a consistent daily routine anchored by a physical binder can help students build the habits they need to succeed. You’ll learn: Why organization isn’t a one-time fix, but a daily skill that must be practiced How predictable routines reduce cognitive load and help students feel...
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EP328 The crumb story: following your inner compass when you can’t please everyone
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
In this summer reflection episode, I’m sharing a small story—just a quiet moment at an airport breakfast counter—that brought me back to the kind of person I want to be. It’s a simple action, one that no one asked for or expected. But it reminded me that our small choices matter… especially now. Because let’s be honest: it’s not always clear what the “right” choice is anymore. Social norms are shifting fast. Families have vastly different beliefs about what should be taught in school. Everyone’s following their own path, and as educators, we’re constantly navigating...
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EP327 Screens, schools, and the future of childhood: a candid dialogue with Jonathan Haidt
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
“We have overprotected kids in the real world and underprotected them online.” Jonathan Haidt believes we have bubble-wrapped childhood: cut back on recess, banned kids from walking to school alone, and filled every spare moment with structured, adult-led activities. But at the same time, we gave kids 24/7 access to social media, smartphones, and one-to-one devices—with very little guidance or boundaries. And now, we’re seeing the results. Rising anxiety. Fragmented attention. Lost confidence. Social disconnection. This quote about overprotecting in the real world and underprotecting...
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EP 326 My top ways to use AI for scaffolds, supports, and differentiated tasks
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
I’m pulling back the curtain on how I use AI in my work with teachers as an instructional coach. I’ll show you how I collaborate with AI to brainstorm ideas, reflect on lesson design, and help teachers build scaffolds and supports that truly meet students where they are. This is an honest, behind-the-scenes look at how educators are already partnering with AI in powerful and practical ways, as well as the limitations of these tools and what’s NOT working. You’ll learn: What it means to treat AI as a reflective collaborator, not just a resource generator How tools like Diffit, Brisk...
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EP325 How to find your voice and self-advocate, even if you’re conflict-avoidant (with Neelu Kaur)
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers
Self-advocacy can feel like a challenge, especially if you’re conflict-avoidant, culturally conditioned to prioritize group harmony, or simply unsure how to speak up without fear of being labeled “difficult.” In this episode, we’ll explore how to advocate for yourself effectively while balancing cultural expectations, professional norms, and personal boundaries. Neelu Kaur brings her unique expertise to the discussion. With a business degree and a masters in Social & Organizational Psychology along with her experience as a coach and master practitioner certified in NeuroLinguistic...
info_outlineAre you considering stepping into a leadership role in education but feeling unsure of where to start? In this episode, I sit down with Starr Sackstein, an experienced educator, consultant, and author, to talk about the journey from teacher to leader. Starr shares her personal story of leaving the classroom, the challenges she faced in leadership, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
We dive into practical steps for preparing yourself for leadership, how to balance progressive ideas with system demands, and the importance of staying connected to the heart of teaching—your students. Starr offers honest advice on overcoming imposter syndrome, advocating for yourself, and navigating the unexpected responsibilities that often come with leadership roles.
Whether you’re aspiring to lead your department, take on an instructional coach role, or simply want to grow your influence within your school, this episode is packed with insights to empower you to take the next step with confidence.
Tune in to discover:
• How to know when you’re ready to leave the classroom for leadership.
• Strategies for building credibility and trust with your peers.
• Ways to stay connected to students and avoid “initiative fatigue.”
• Practical tips for advocating for your goals and protecting your time.
If you’ve ever wondered whether leadership is the right move for you, this conversation will leave you inspired and ready to take action.