EP335 How teacher language shapes us—and teaches kids to find their wisest self (with Lily Howard Scott)

“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 feelings (“feelings as visitors”) Understand they are always good inside, even when they make a bad choice Access their wisest self to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting automatically Lily also introduces tools like “outer shells and inner swirls” to help students notice assumptions and guide interactions in more mindful, empowering ways. Whether you’re looking to improve classroom culture, support student self-reflection, or strengthen your own teacher mindset, this episode offers actionable strategies and inspiring reminders about the words we choose and the impact they have. Get the shareable article/transcript for this episode here.

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 yourself to do more. Supporting students who either overextend or under-extend themselves without trying to individualize every message for every learner. Listen in for a simple framework you (and your students) can use to calibrate effort in healthier, more sustainable ways. 🔗 Want to submit a question for a future episode? Share it at truthforteachers.com/podcast. Get the shareable article/transcript for this episode here..

SCHEDULE CHANGE! I’m partnering with Rocket PD to offer a live-virtual cohort called Unlocking Teacher Productivity starting in late January. (Originally when this announcement was released, I mentioned October, but we've pushed things back to accomodate a major release in federal funding that won't reach schools until later this fall.) Unlocking Teacher Productivity 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 TUESDAY for five 90-minute sessions: NEW 2026 DATES: JAN 27, FEB 3, 10, 17, 24 7:00-8:30 PM Eastern / 4:00-6:30 Pacific 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), short periods for quiet reflection—meaning I’ll pause periodically for you to complete exercises so you don’t have to do them afterward on your own time—and opportunities for discussion with other educators during the 90-minute session if that’s something that appeals to you. I’ll also answer questions afterward if you’d like personalized advice. We’re going to cover practical systems and strategies to help you get control over your time and your work. You’ll learn how to: Get your email under control once and for all. Organize your digital files so you can actually find what you need. Build a to-do list system that doesn’t live in your brain 24/7. Plan lessons in advance in a way that’s flexible and responsive to your students—no more scrambling the night before. Prioritize high-impact work so you can spend less time on busywork and more time on what really matters for learning. Explore time-blocking, AI tools, productivity for students, and more. Now, if you’ve taken my 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Full Year course, yes—there’s some overlap in concepts, like the target number planner. But this cohort is live and interactive, rather than self-paced, and has built-in accountability because we meet each week and check in to see how the strategies are working for you. And, it’s only a five-week commitment. I’ll give a variety of options for “homework” between sessions: stuff you can just reflect on if that’s all you have time for, easy actionable steps to try out, and deep dives if you really want to get results. Regardless of which option you choose, you’ll have time each week to reflect, discuss how to apply what you’re learning, and report back the next week. It’s accountability in the best sense—you’re not just consuming information; you’re actively putting it into practice. Remember, you don’t have to attend every live session. You’ll get recordings of every session plus a downloadable workbook. Templates, systems, and strategies are all included—it’s ready to implement immediately. Plus, you’ll receive a nationally recognized PD certificate for CEUs. This cohort is designed to be practical and doable: real solutions that will stick with you for your whole K-12 teaching career, no matter what or where you teach in the future.  This is only offered once per year, so if you’ve been waiting for a chance to finally get your teaching life organized, to feel on top of your time, and to plan ahead without burnout—this is it. Spaces are limited. Sign up below for my cohort or others happening this fall, winter, and spring: https://rocketpd.com/cohorts/unlocking-teacher-productivity-with-angela-watson/

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 engagement is essential for learning and how it primes the brain for retention. Simple strategies like “deploying worksheets differently” to make learning more interactive. How movement, humor, and creative activities reduce behavioral issues and improve focus. How to balance the demands of standardized curriculum pacing with engaging strategies. Practical ways to manage transitions and behavior during high-energy activities. How engagement fosters a sense of belonging, safety, and fun in the classroom. The value of empowering students to understand their own learning needs and self-regulation strategies. How to start with small, manageable shifts to make your teaching more engaging and effective. Our conversation is packed with practical tips and real-world insights to help you make learning fun, meaningful, and memorable. Book link: https://amzn.to/3JamUUJ Website: teachbeyondthedesk.com Get the shareable article/transcript for this episode here.

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. shallow tasks Set realistic work hours and assign tasks to those blocks Get better at estimating how long things actually take Plan for interruptions and adjust when life throws off your schedule If this feels like the kind of support you need right now, there are two ways to go deeper:  Join me for the Unlocking Teacher Productivity cohort through RocketPD fthis winter for a guided experience, or check out the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek if you prefer a self-paced, affordable option. Both can help you create systems that are sustainable long-term. Let’s figure out how to build a schedule that honors your time, energy, and values. Get the shareable article/transcript for this episode here.

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 works, why it works, and how to adapt it for your students’ needs. In this episode, we discuss: How to get started with self-paced learning by taking small, manageable steps. The three core components of a modern classroom lesson: warmups, instructional videos, and mastery-based assessments. Practical strategies for motivating students, including how to encourage those content with “the minimum” to push themselves further. How to use mastery checks as quick, actionable assessments that inform your next steps without creating a data overload. Ideas for creating collaborative group work that ensures all students are engaged and appropriately challenged. Tips for addressing chronic absenteeism and ensuring all students can succeed, no matter their attendance. How schools can support teachers in implementing self-paced learning by providing time, autonomy, and collaboration opportunities. Why relationships are at the heart of any successful approach to personalized learning. Whether you’re looking for ways to individualize learning, reduce stress, or build stronger connections with your students, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical ideas you can use right away. Get the shareable article/transcript for this episode here.

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 littlest ones and the disinterested teens—were capable of taking more ownership than you’ve been led to believe? What if a well-run classroom doesn’t require your constant presence, attention, and redirection? What if you could stop doing so many things your students could actually learn to do for themselves? That’s what this week’s podcast episode is about. It’s not a list of procedures. It’s not a call to tighten control. It’s an invitation to shift the way you think about classroom responsibility. Here’s what I walk you through: Why students want to take ownership—and what’s been getting in the way How we unintentionally train them to be dependent on us What it looks like to release control without lowering expectations How to build routines and roles that don’t rely on reminders or perfection I’m also sharing four practical pillars that prop up the self-running classroom so you know how to take action and empower your students to share the responsibility for daily routines. Listen in, and when you’re ready to go deeper, consider:  The 40 Hour Teacher Workweek program is now open for enrollment. It gives you the tools and structure to design a classroom that runs smoothly—without sacrificing your nights and weekends. https://join.40htw.com/full-year This October, Rocket PD is offering my live virtual training called Unlocking Teacher Productivity. It’s a practical, high-impact session to help you simplify systems and protect your time. https://rocketpd.com/cohorts/unlocking-teacher-productivity-with-angela-watson/ Get the shareable article/transcript for this episode here.

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 safe and ready to learn How a physical binder—even in a digital classroom—can provide structure and support executive functioning What a table of contents can do for student ownership, memory, and task follow-through How teachers can implement this system with minimal prep and maximum impact Whether your students lose work, struggle to start tasks, or seem overly dependent on your directions, this conversation is packed with practical, low-lift solutions you can start using right away. Learn more at OrganizedBinder.com or reach out to Mitch at [email protected]. Get the shareable article/transcript for this episode here.

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 conflicting expectations. You can’t make everyone happy. And trying to please every person or reflect every worldview just leaves you feeling pulled in a dozen directions. So how do you decide how to show up—when there’s no one-size-fits-all answer? For me, it comes back to personal integrity. To who I want to be, even when there’s no rulebook. This episode is an invitation to use this summer season to realign with your inner compass and reflect on what kind of world you want to help build—starting with the small, almost invisible choices you make every day. We’ll reflect on: Why integrity and empathy are more important than ever in a divided world How to center your actions around who you want to be (not who you’re expected to be) Questions to help you define your personal values and vision Ways to leave things better than you found them, even in tiny, almost invisible ways This isn’t about perfection. It’s about intention. It’s about being the kind of person who shows up with clarity, even when no one’s watching. And it’s about using this summer to reconnect with the kind of world you want to help create. Get the shareable article/transcript for this episode here.

“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 onloine hit me hard, because it puts into words what so many teachers have felt for years but couldn’t always articulate. If our kids seem less resilient, less focused, less ready to learn... maybe it’s not them. Maybe it’s the environment we’ve created. The good news? We can change that. We ARE changing it. More schools are rethinking tech. More parents are drawing tech boundaries. More teachers are advocating for what kids truly need. We can bring balance back. Today’s guest is Jonathan Haidt—a social psychologist, professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business, and author of several influential books, including most recently, The Anxious Generation. You may have seen Jonathan in recent interviews talking about how smartphones and social media are impacting kids’ mental health. But I wanted to bring him on the show to go deeper—specifically from an educator’s point of view. This conversation builds on some of the past episodes I’ve done around screen time, attention spans, and how tech is changing the way kids show up in the classroom. It’s a true back-and-forth conversation where we learn from each other, and I think it’s going to validate so much of what you’ve already sensed as a teacher.  Get the shareable article/transcript for this episode here. Later this summer, I'll share a different perspective from someone who sees personalized AI tutoring as the future of school, and I have to admit, I find that vision just as compelling as what Haidt has shared. Stay tuned!