Teaching through Emotions

From Teacher of the Year to burnout and depression to “the best year of school that I’ve ever done.” In this conversation, you’ll hear the story of physics and math teacher Stephanie Watroba’s dramatic journey through burnout — what it was like, why it happened, and how she got through it.It’s an informative and intense conversation.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.Teaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.We talk about* the ebb and flow of daily burnout* a possible meaning of negative talk in the teachers’ lounge* the role of the internal critic in burnout* warning signs of burnout* how to “make friends” with burnoutIt’s not just teachers who experience burnout, of course. This episode is for everyone who gets depleted and cannot care for themselves when they’re not meeting their own and others’ high expectations. Stephanie’s experience and insights are universally valuable.* Ms. Stephanie Watroba started working at Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School in 2013 as a physics teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics with a minor in Mathematics from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and is a proud member of Sigma Pi Sigma, the physics honors society. She has held the titles of math team leader, science team leader, and teacher of the year in her prior years at BART. She currently teaches physics, calculus, and pre-calculus. In her spare time, she enjoys video games, dungeons and dragons, horseback riding, and ballet. *CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering TroutTeaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.comI’m on a roll with the boys-and-men-in-trouble theme here. My last rant dropped two weeks ago, on November 7th. It was about a bunch of youngish Republicans (all over 30 years old, apparently) who texted each other racist, misogynistic, anti-Semitic and generally hate-filled messages with evident glee. Today’s rant is about school-age boys and their rel…

Here is a guarantee: You will never hear an interview like this one anywhere else. Because it’s a family affair! A Holiday Family bonus episode of TTE! In which my beloved daughter and I chit-chat about basically the things that matter the most to us.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We talk about* living attached to your soul* how school teaches us to sin* why hatred isn’t bad* how the divine works* what organismic learning isAnd much, much more. Listen to the very end where Mae gives us an assignment and I invite you to share your work right here in the comments:If you’re not a teacher and you look at the list above, you’ll agree that this conversation is relevant to everyone. I mean, souls? sin? hatred? the divine? organismic learning? Who wouldn’t want to listen in?If you do, thank you. As always.Note: A regular TTE podcast episode will not drop next Thursday because it is, of course, Thanksgiving. The next regular episode will appear in your inboxes the following Thursday, December 4th. And it’s a(nother) good one! About burnout! Be sure to tune in!Have a loving Thanksgiving.CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe

This episode is really fun because the teacher whose story we wrestle with, Donna, is actually in the virtual studio with us! What you get to hear is a simulation of a (very small) Teacher Support Group where Joe and I ask the types of questions we would ask in a real TSG and work with the data Donna’s answers provide. Listening will bring you into the world of TSGs, where teachers and I get to unpack difficult experiences with curiosity, compassion, and perspective-changing psychodynamic insights! Wahoo!!!Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.Teaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.We talk about* what sarcasm might mean (you won’t want to miss Joe’s analogy)* how students can use teachers as proxies for their parents* the “amazing” value of detaching from hurtful experiences* whether or not teachers should be “bullet proof”* managing the desire to get revenge* how teachers can be superheroesNot a teacher? This episode is for you, too. If you’ve been hurt by sarcasm yourself, our conversation with Donna will turn your head around.Got your own stories of student sarcasm? Of the surprising hurt? Of your effective — or, better yet, ineffective — response to it? Let us hear it! Call the TTE hotline at413.239.4158.Thanks for listening, as always.CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe

Yep, I’m biased: I am certain that teaching is spiritual. Not because teachers need to be religious but because the tasks of teaching human beings require heart-based skills: faith, care, love, “unconditional positive regard for difference” — skills that do not necessarily come naturally all the time and therefore demand care and attention themselves. How can teachers (hell, and parents and other caregivers) develop and sustain these skills amidst the chaos of everyday life?In this episode, I explore this question and others with Mark Longhurst, an inspiring pastor, writer, and publications manager for Richard Rohr’s Center for Action and Contemplation. We talk about teaching, parenting, and just living as a spiritual practice, how seeing the “holy ordinary” in daily classroom moments can activate deeper meaning and aliveness for teachers and students.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.Teaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.We talk about* Flowing with the chaos of parenting and teaching* Detaching from identities to promote healthy attachment* The benefits and perils of viewing the classroom as a sacred space* Embracing the quest for aliveness in teachers and students* The importance of “settled bodies” in classroomsFor my non-teachers out there: The “holy ordinary” is everywhere! Where can you tune into it in your own lives? What keeps you from it?Got a story about your own holy ordinary? Send me your thoughts:(413) 239-4158.If you found something valuable here, consider leaving a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts. And share this episode with your friends! All of it really helps.External Linksthe holy ordinary by Mark Longhurst (Substack)The Holy Ordinary: A Way to God (Book)My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa MenakemFierce Love: A Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule-Breaking Kindness that Can Heal the World by Dr. Jacqui LewisCreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian AndrokaeAudience Development: Andreea CoscaiMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe

This episode takes us back to a Teacher Support Group I led over a decade ago at a school steeped in chaos. What seemed like an unproductive, blame-filled space was actually an unconscious mirror of the school’s deep dysfunction—a fascinating concept called parallel process. Joe and I examine how systemic issues infiltrate individual classrooms and what teachers can do to cultivate a healthy learning environment against incredible odds.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.Teaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.We talk about* how the group’s dynamic echoed the school’s wider culture of chaos * what makes school holding environments chaotic* a gendered pattern of blame* empowering strategies for teachers to cultivate healthy classroom culturesFor my non-teachers out there: The dynamics of group behavior, the impact of leadership, and the power of individual action within a dysfunctional system apply far beyond school walls.Have a story about your school’s culture, or a time you navigated chaos? Share it with me: 413.239.4158. If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving a review or rating on your podcast app. It helps us reach more teachers!External Linksteachingthroughemotions.comCreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian AndrokaeAudience Development: Andreea CoscaiMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering TroutThanks for reading Teaching through Emotions! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.comHappy World Mental Health Day! Given that we’ve got 24 hours to focus on mental health the world over, I thought I’d offer a bonus episode for TTE’s paid subscribers. This one celebrates the day by sharing a story of an unbelievably dysfunctional school administration. A story that might sound sadly familiar to some of you.But it’s not just a story of dysfunction! This episode offers suggestions for busting through the bullshit in which mentally unwell administrators can steep their employees. You might have a wacko running your school, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do something.You’ll hear me* define “defensiveness” and “aggression” in ways that might surprise you* suggest ways to address accusations that are meant to shut you down* talk about scapegoats in schools* offer some advice to assholes

In this episode, I chat with two phenomenal leaders: Meg Kenny, Associate Head of School, and Jen Hyatt, Academic Dean, from a unique town academy in Vermont. We hear about their journeys to senior administration, daily challenges, and the fine balance between accountability and human connection. Listen for a real conversation about how to build thriving school cultures.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.Teaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.We discuss* Cultivating a culture of belonging, care, and trust* Gender dynamics in schools* The power of giving honest negative feedback* The roles of courage, presence, and love in administrationFor my non-teachers out there, you can hear two good humans talk about having difficult conversations in effective, honest, caring ways. I know there is a lot of conflict-avoidance out there! Holding anyone accountable, holding the line, can be scary because we fear the consequences. People will consider us rude or bossy or controlling or mean. We won’t be liked. If you’ve had a negative experience with holding someone at your school (or any other place) accountable, leave us a message about it. 413.239.4158. Or share a positive experience you’ve had. We can play it on the air and maybe add a comment or two that might be helpful. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review or rating wherever you listen. It really helps.External linksBennington CollegeJoin me on Substack: Teaching Through Emotions.CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisProducer: Jullian AndrokaeAudience Development: Andreea CoscaiMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering TroutThanks for reading Teaching through Emotions! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe

In this co-hosted episode, Joe and I unpack a teacher's struggle with feeling "too judgmental" after her classroom space was taken over. We explore how what seems like a simple annoyance can reveal critical needs. We describe how a teacher moved beyond self-blame to embrace her emotions as signals that allowed for more intentional, connected teaching.We discuss* The importance of personal boundaries in a busy classroom* Why we mislabel our annoyance as "being judgmental"* How conflicts are not “failures”* The power of asking for what you need rather than internalizing blameYou don’t have to be a teacher to enjoy this episode! Too many of us turn our legitimate annoyance against ourselves. Hearing how someone (who happens to be a teacher) reframed her negative experience into open-hearted understanding is good for everyone!Got a story to share about a moment you felt you might have misunderstood your feelings? Leave me a voicemail at (413) 239-4158. Joe and I can unpack it in one of our episodes and maybe, maybe offer a different and helpful perspective!If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Credits:Founder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe

It is so fun to talk with kindred spirits! That’s what the inaugural episode of TTE’s Season 3 is: an interview with Jim and Story Leonard, founders of Coaching@Altitude and two extraordinary coaches who share a lot of wisdom and insight into the lives and worlds of school administrators (and, therefore, of teachers, students, and schools)We talk about* working with senior administrators in independent schools (relevant for public school leaders, too)* working with school trustees!! (God, boards can be so difficult)* the energy model* combating toxic school cultures* managing interpersonal conflictEven non-teachers will enjoy this discussion. Because managing relationships, being our best selves especially under conditions of stress, and getting life-changing support are relevant for everyone! I hope you like it — and…welcome to a new school year and TTE’s Season 3!!External LinksCoachability: The Leadership Superpower: thecoachableleader.comSaboteurs assessment: www.positiveintellience.com/saboteurs/Marita Fridjhon, relationship systems intelligence: crrglobal.comShirzad Chamine, positive intelligence: positiveintellience.comCoaching@Altitude: coachingaltitude.comCreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Thom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe

Season 3 of Teaching through Emotions, a Women Who Podcast award-winner, begins in two weeks! Get ready for thought-provoking interviews, mind-bending discussions of difficult teaching moments, and pithy stories about teacher successes made possible by the invaluable psychodynamic perspective.And, starting this season, we’re eager to hear from you! Give us a call at 413.239.4158 and leave a message telling your own terrible teaching story. We’d love to put your voice on the air! And we’d love to think through your experience in hopes that it might help you and other teachers who are dealing with similar situations. That’s what we’re about here at TTE: working together to help teachers feel better. We can’t do it without you!We’re really excited about Season 3. To get a sense of all that you’re in for this year, listen to the trailer!CreditsFounder and host: Betsy BurrisCo-host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian AndrokaeAudience development: Andreea CoscaiMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe

Ever considered visualizing your entire teaching day before you even get to school? Thinking it can make it so!Ohm, baby!Joe and I cooked up this special episode just for you, dear listeners, as you move into another wonderful and stressful school year. We know that the first day back can be… well, lots of things. That’s why we cut right to it, offering quick, actionable ways to get your mind right, manage the classroom, and even understand those tricky student dynamics before the school year gets rolling. We’ve pulled some great ideas from our teaching friends, mixed in our own thoughts, and kept it short and sweet.Know a teacher? They might appreciate your sharing these tips with them!You’ll hear about* creative approaches to the first day* self-care on and after the first day* what to do with dread* what psychodynamic shenanigans to look forTeaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.For my non-teachers out there: Get some good tips on how to approach any new beginning. Self-care, planning, managing dread, applying psychodynamic wisdom — it’s all relevant to all of us all of the time!CreditsFounder and host: Betsy BurrisCo-host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian AndrokaeAudience development: Andreea CoscaiMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe

But first: Introducing the TTE podcast as a winner of the 2025 Women Who Podcast Award!!We here at TTE are thrilled at this honor!! Especially since Season 3 is about to drop (September 4th) and we’re excited about all the great new content we’ll be sharing throughout the school year.And now for today’s terrific episode:I have always pooh-poohed Disney, mostly because of its wildly unrealistic (and interchangeable) animated princesses. But this podcast episode has, amazingly, caused me to reconsider.That’s because of an inspiring conversation from the Arts Educators Save the World podcast that we’re sharing today. It features L. Steven Taylor, who plays Mufasa in Broadway’s The Lion King, and Dr. Lisa Mitchell, Director of Education for Disney Theatricals. They discuss the profound impact of the Disney Musicals in Schools program.They share* how Disney Musicals in Schools trains teachers to put on a full-fledged (free) Disney musical* how students respond to the program, including performing for Broadway actors!* online resources available to support musical theater in schools* future visions for the Disney Musicals in Schools initiativeThe whole point of the Arts Educators Save the World podcast is to give listeners a peek into the profound impact mentors — that is, teachers — can have on students. In every episode, interviewers Erica, Alek, and Douglas find a student-mentor pair and interview them. On top of being interesting, each episode gives us all a chance to hear what teachers so rarely hear but so fulsomely deserve: how deeply influential they have been on students who went on to succeed in their chosen professions. (In this case, the arts.)Give it a listen!For my non-teachers out there: Hear how creative experiences can build confidence and collaboration among young people, far beyond academic subjects. And how easy and rewarding it is for adults (like teachers) to learn new tricks, like how to mount and direct a Disney musical!External LinksDisney Musicals in SchoolsArts Educators Save the World podcastCreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisProducer: Jullian AndrokaeAudience Development: Andreea CoscaiMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe

Many years ago I took an online marketing course with Seth Godin. I learned a lot, but honestly? The one benefit I gained was to meet Danny Bauer, founder of Better Leaders Better Schools and early podcaster. He asked to interview me about Teaching through Emotions! I was amazed! And this episode is the result.The interview took place in 2018, but it still perfectly captures the work I do and the reasons for it,including* what inspired me to go into education* why I focus on teachers (and administrators)* lots on healthy holding environments* the genesis of my book The Feeling of Teaching* what my ideal school would look likeUhh! It’s all about me, but really it’s about my work. My great hope is that more and more teachers learn about and understand this work so they can get the support I know makes such a big difference in educators’ and students’ lives. If you feel like you or someone you know or your entire school needs help in teaching through their emotions, get in touch with me!Teaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.External link: Better Leaders Better SchoolsCreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisProducer: Jullian AndrokaeAudience Development: Andreea CoscaiMusic: Thom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe

There are some good podcasts out there about education, but this one takes the cake. And the prize. (It has won a Top of the Rockies award from the Society of Professional Journalists and was nominated for an Ambie Award, which celebrates excellence in podcasting.) For your listening pleasure this summer, we’ve teed up Episode 5 of Those Who Can’t Teach Anymore. You’ll hear Charles and the people he interviewsdiscussing* the downsides of standardized testing* the upsides of process over product* the “tourist problem” in education* the intense irony of policies governing teachers and teaching* one of my favorite quotes ever, spoken by a state legislator (it’s in the intro)I chose this episode because, while I listened to it the first time, I kept saying, “Yes!!” “Right on!” and “Absolutely!!” So many of the points Charles and his guests make resonate with me, so I know they’ll resonate with you, too.I love this podcast on its own merit, but full disclosure here: Charles lives in Wyoming, and his podcast is centered on Wyoming. And Wyoming, dear readers, runs through my blood, as my father grew up there. Charles himself has visited the gas station and convenience store in Centennial where my dad actually lived and worked! (FYI, it’s called The Friendly Store now.) So I share this awesome episode with a heart full of fondness and pride.I hope you enjoy it!Teaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.External linksThose Who Can’t Teach Anymore Season 1Those Who Can’t Teach Anymore Season 2CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisProducer: Jullian AndrokaeAudience Development: Andreea CoscaiMusic: Thom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe

In this special season finale, I speak with Charles Fournier, creator of the award-winning podcast Those Who Can’t Teach Anymore. Charles is a teacher — a really good, creative, passionate teacher, from what I can tell! — whose insights about what drives teachers out of the profession and what keeps them in are interesting and often surprising.We talk about* the multi-dimensional, culturally sanctioned disrespect for teachers* the pitfalls of quantifying learning* teaching content vs emphasizing relationships* my ideal teaching and learning “space”* a surprising characteristic of many teachers who stay in the professionFor my non-teachers out there: See where you stand on your assumptions about teachers and teaching — and maybe consider how to support the diehard teachers students need!External LinksThose Who Can’t Teach AnymoreTeaching TexasTeaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisProducer: Jullian AndrokaeAudience Development: Andreea CoscaiMusic: Thom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe

This one’s about me, folks! Joe and I dissect a story from long ago in which I caved to my conflict aversion — and then doubled back to engage with the conflict. Because it felt just too awful to continue to avoid it! In addition to sharing the surprising outcome of my conflict engagement,we talk about…* the subtle dynamics of self-erasure and avoidance* power grabs in collaborative settings* the transformative practice of repair* the pervasive nature of parallel process in all human interactions, from classrooms to personal life* why we hate group work (added bonus.)For my non-teachers out there: Engaging with rather than avoiding conflict is a sure-fire way to strengthen any relationship — if you go about it with authenticity and clear boundaries. This episode relates to you, too!As always, send me your crazy teaching story. If it’s juicy enough, we can work on it and put it on the podcast! (Completely confidentially, of course.) And, if you like the podcast, please write a review on whatever app you use. Thanks so much for listening!Credits:Founder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian Androkae Music: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe

In this episode, I talk with Arthur Chiaravalli, an educator at the heart of an organization called Grow Beyond Grades. Arthur shares his deeply personal journey away from traditional grading, revealing how it can undermine learning, sideline classroom relationships, and lead to passivity and apathy. He also talks about how freeing it is to deep six grades while focusing attention on meaningful, collaborative assessment — that is, on truly human-centered teaching.We talk about:* grades as handcuffs to products; how can we honor our students’ (and teachers’) processes?* the calamity of students who (for good reasons) simply chase the grade* the passivity that has taken over so many students and teachers* the question of who tells the story of student learning and how that story gets told* ways teachers can grow beyond grades in their own teachingWould you go grade-less or move beyond grades? Would you find it helpful or more challenging for your classroom?For my non-teachers out there: listen to a compelling vision of what your schooldays could have been like!External Links:Explore resources and stories at: growbeyondgrades.orgFind my podcast and writing at teachingthroughemotions.comTeaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Feel free to share this episode as well.Credits:Founder and Host: Betsy BurrisProducer: Jullian AndrokaeMusic: Tom Burris This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe

This is another episode in our inadvertent series on teachers who handle badly behaving classes in novel ways! This time Pamela brings her wrath at a class of all boys to a Teacher Support Group and, after exhibiting her own resistance to different interpretations, decides to try something she would never have tried if left to her own devices.Listen to hear about* different types of neglectful parenting and the surprising ways they can manifest in a classroom* the joys — and limitations — of “revenge fantasies”* the perils of fusing one’s reputation as a teacher to the behavior of one’s students* how to turn wrath into calm, effective action* the type of support that can help teachers “drain the swamp” and bring their better selves back to the classroomI’d love to hear your story of a class’s abominable behavior towards a sub or anyone else! Just click on Share a Story on my Substack home page and write to your heart’s content. It’s totally confidential! And maybe we can work together to come to a completely unexpected understanding of your situation.Teaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Credits:Founder and Host: Betsy BurrisProducer: Jullian AndrokaeMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe

Thinking about self-care — and, importantly, figuring out how to be cared for — is always good for every teacher any time. In this episode, I talk with Deb Calderara, a teacher who knows what it feels like to be completely overwhelmed. After facing burnout, a serious health crisis, and the confusing and exhausting pandemic, Deb had to figure out how to find strength and keep going, both for herself and her students.This conversation is about navigating those impossible moments and discovering unexpected ways to care for ourselves when it feels like there's no room.We talk about* the crisis moment that made Deb rethink everything and recommit to teaching* how focusing inward anchored her during a life-threatening event* why 'health' for teachers means looking way beyond diet and exercise* what student behavior is really telling us when we shift our perspective.Taking care of yourself isn't selfish; it's truly the foundation of resilient teaching. Better yet, being cared for by trusted colleagues and others can make all the difference in the world. And students' most challenging behaviors? They're often vital data points about their world, waiting for us to create the space to see them.Teaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.I know many of you have your own wellness practices. Please share them!And, please, if you enjoyed this episode, leave a review on your podcast app. Your endorsement can help spread the word! Which might make a big difference for a struggling teacher somewhere!Credits:Founder and Host: Betsy BurrisProducer: Jullian AndrokaeMusic: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe