Episode 12: Designing Original Lessons with Betty Zhang

In this episode of Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast, Chey sits down with Betty Zhang, a dynamic high school educator and practicing artist, to explore the creativity and collaboration behind building original, student-centered lessons from the ground up.

From Angry Birds-inspired parabola graphs to full-scale fashion design and dollhouse builds, Betty shares how her projects blend curriculum with imagination, and how trusting relationships with colleagues fuel some of the most innovative teaching in her school.

Betty emphasizes the importance of finding inspiration everywhere—from professional development sessions to TikTok—and reminds us that great lesson design doesn’t have to be rushed or perfect. Sometimes the best projects unfold over years and with the support of a collaborative team.

This is an empowering and energizing episode for educators at any grade level who are looking to take their lesson planning to the next level—one creative spark at a time.

The conversation also highlights:

• How collaboration and trust between colleagues can lead to ambitious, cross-curricular projects.

• Why starting with your own passions is key to building authentic and engaging learning experiences.

• Tips for balancing tried-and-true lessons with new, creative risk-taking in your course planning.

• Practical strategies for displaying and celebrating student work in meaningful ways.

• The power of transparent teaching—experimenting alongside your students and learning with them.

Plus, Betty shares an inspiring peek into a culminating Grade 10 project that uses red-blue lens art to explore social justice themes, and how it’s sparked the next collaborative idea for her Indigenous-focused Art and English class.

🎧 Listen now! Don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast, and visit ETT.ca for more updates.

If you'd like to reach out to the hosts of Teacher Talk or any of the guests featured on the podcast, please send an email to ⁠⁠⁠teachertalk@ett.on.ca⁠⁠⁠.

Teacher Talk: An ETT Podcast is a Chey and Pav Educational Services, Inc. Production.

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