Always A Lesson's Empowering Educators Podcast

Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Naomi Hall, also known as The Recovering Educator, as she shares invaluable insights on navigating the challenges of being an educator. Naomi reminds us that while the teaching profession can be stressful, there are numerous factors within our control that can positively impact our well-being.In this episode, Naomi offers practical strategies for managing stress and reclaiming control over various aspects of our professional and personal lives. Discover how to effectively address the stressors inherent in education and cultivate a healthier, more balanced approach to teaching.Tune in to empower yourself with tools and techniques to navigate the demands of the teaching profession with resilience and grace. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from Naomi's expertise and embark on a journey towards greater well-being and fulfillment in your career!Quotables*All quotables are from the interviewee It’s that recognition of; there are external stressors and there are internal stressors...and I have to work on the internal stressors and mindsets that contributed to my burnout.I'm not the only educator struggling with burnout. I'm not alone in this.”I don’t know who I am without students, lessons...without a classroom.”About NaomiNaomi has spent years learning how to manage stress, prevent burnout, and make a comeback from burnout...and now she's teaching others. She offers realistic stress management techniques that are important to your effectiveness and happiness in your classroom. She works to help educators be their best and provide the support you need. Learn more about Naomi atMy goal has never been to leave education. It has been to help educators be their best and provide the support school districts forget to give you.Learn more about her at https://www.therecoveringeducator.com/Connect with Naomi:Instagram and Facebook: naomihallfiteducatorEmail: therecoveringeducator@gmail.comYouTube: The Recovering EducatorJoin the Always A Lesson NewsletterJoin here and grab a freebie!Connect with GretchenEmail: gretchen@alwaysalesson.comBlog: Always A LessonFacebook: Always A LessonTwitter: @gschultekInstagram: Always.A.LessonLinkedin: Gretchen Schultek BridgersBook: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in CollegeGretchen's latest book, Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, is now available on Amazon. Leave a Rating and Review:This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future.

Join us for a transformative episode as Gretchen delves into the strategies for leveraging student engagement through the incorporation of student voice. Discover practical tips and simple techniques that can be implemented right away to enhance classroom dynamics and empower your students.In this episode, Gretchen shares a compelling story that underscores the importance of student involvement in the learning process. Learn how to amplify student voices effectively and create an inclusive classroom environment where every student feels heard and valued.As highlighted in this discussion, Gretchen's latest book, Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, is now available on Amazon. Dive into this invaluable resource for a wealth of additional insights on increasing student engagement and fostering academic success!Don't miss out on this enlightening episode that promises to revolutionize your teaching approach and inspire meaningful connections with your students. Tune in now and embark on a journey towards greater student empowerment! QuotablesIf we don't nail engagement, then we've really let students down...we've really minimized their future success because we're limiting the amount of knowledge and skills they can acquire.Student voice is gonna look different for each of your students, depending on what their needs are.There were so many tiny ways throughout the day that students could exercise their voices.Join the Always A Lesson NewsletterJoin here and grab a freebie!Connect with GretchenEmail: gretchen@alwaysalesson.comBlog: Always A LessonFacebook: Always A LessonTwitter: @gschultekInstagram: Always.A.LessonLinkedin: Gretchen Schultek BridgersBook: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in CollegePre-Order: Always a LessonLeave a Rating and Review:This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher.Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in infoLeave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best)Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcastClick ‘Send’

Join us for an insightful discussion with Gretchen as she delves into the secrets of differentiating and personalizing learning to maximize student engagement. Discover how to streamline your teaching approach by eliminating time-wasting techniques and focusing on strategies that truly resonate with learners.In this episode, Gretchen unveils the concept of "Swiss Cheese Understanding" and its profound implications for educational planning. Tune in to gain valuable insights that will revolutionize the way you structure your teaching methods!Don't miss out on this transformative episode that promises to enhance your teaching toolkit and empower your students. Tune in now and embark on a journey towards more effective and impactful teaching strategies! QuotablesEvery level of what I'm gonna call "The House of Learning" is build with the support necessary so that new learning above it can actually stick.It's not that kids can't understand on their grade level. They need to work with the material long enough to make sense of it....the point is...they understand where they're going and why they need to have these skills..."Join the Always A Lesson NewsletterJoin here and grab a freebie!Connect with GretchenEmail: gretchen@alwaysalesson.comBlog: Always A LessonFacebook: Always A LessonTwitter: @gschultekInstagram: Always.A.LessonLinkedin: Gretchen Schultek BridgersBook: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in CollegePre-Order: Always a LessonLeave a Rating and Review:This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future.https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher.Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in infoLeave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best)Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcastClick ‘Send’

Investigate the power of positivity in the classroom and its impact on student engagement through this episode! From fostering inclusivity to promoting collaboration, uncover practical strategies for creating a supportive learning environment that empowers students to thrive and participate actively in their education journey. You'll walk away with 10 ideas for easy and immediate implementation! Quotables: Explicitly teach the why behind the what. ...before we can start tweaking instruction, we have to nail the environment... Stressed brains can’t learn. Access the Thrive Framework by Ed Connective referenced in this episode, here! Gretchen Has a New Book Coming Soon! Pre-order Gretchen's NEW book HERE Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

Tune in and be empowered by our listeners as they share innovative teaching strategies for student engagement. Explore cutting-edge teaching methods to captivate students' attention and foster deeper learning. From gamification to interactive technology, discover strategies that ignite curiosity and enhance engagement in the classroom. In this episode, Gretchen reminds us as educators that "...we don't always need the physical work sample--sometimes listening to the words they're using and the level of complexity of the topic they're able to talk about will determine how much knowledge has been consumed..." Quotables: You are going to hear from folks all over the United States with what is working for teachers and students in classrooms...in regards to engagement! ...we don't always need the physical work sample--sometimes listening to the words they're using and the level of complexity of the topic they're able to talk about will determine how much knowledge has been consumed... We know when students are more involved in the learning process, their learning outcomes will soar. Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

Tune in and be empowered by Rebekah Shoaf. Rebekah shares all about her experiences in education and the valuable lessons she has learned along the way. Rebekah shares about burnout, the different types of burnout and the best way to avoid it. This episode will truly reignite your passion so be sure to tune in today! Quotables *All quotables are from the interviewee  Having a burn out is really a sense of having lost your purpose, your power, and your passion. Every teacher has the potential to be a leader.  As an educator, stay connected to who you are as a learner and find the things that excite you and drive you and keep you connected to what you teach.  About Rebekah Rebekah Shoaf is an author, educational consultant, and social entrepreneur. In addition to being the founder and CEO of the Bronx-based bookstore-without-walls Boogie Down Books and What If Schools, Rebekah’s first book, Educating with Passion and Purpose: Keep the Fire Going without Burning Out, was published in 2023 by Jossey-Bass. Rebekah has been an educator for more than two decades as a high school English teacher, founding faculty member, teacher leader, university instructor, and instructional and teacher leadership coach with the New York City Department of Education. She currently works with schools, districts, and other organizations across the country to promote transformative, innovative, learner-centered practices that advance educational justice. A Miami native, Rebekah graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and is a culinary school alum, a marathon runner, the owner of a pink Vespa, and everyone’s favorite aunt. Learn more about her at rebekahshoaf.com. Resources Mentioned by Alissa: Book by Rebekah: Educating with Passion and Purpose: Keep the Fire Going without Burning Out  Website: www.rebekahshoaf.com Connect with Alissa: IG @whatifschools and @boogiedownbooks Email rebekah@whatifschools.com Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: This helps my show remain active in order...

Have you ever ran into a problem that you just can't seem to hack? This episode is for you! Tune in as Gretchen shares a practical story about a problem she had trouble hacking and how she overcame it. You'll walk away with tangible steps to hack your own problems and you'll leave this episode feeling empowered to take it on! Quotables Some problems aren’t meant to be solved by you. Say to yourself, “I’m not dumb. I’m not lazy. I’ve just run out of tools and that’s okay.” Trust that hindsight is 20/20. It will make sense later.   Gretchen Has a New Book Coming Soon! Pre-order Gretchen's NEW book HERE Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

It's a new year! Tune into this special episode of the Empowering Educators Podcast as Gretchen shares three ways to grow your potential in the upcoming year. You'll walk away from this podcast with a list of three tangible things you can do to level up your teaching whether you are working with students or coaching teachers. Quotables The only way we are going to become better is if we shift our behaviors into better behaviors. We want application. That is the only thing that is going to change us and allow us to transform into something better.  If some of the foundational stuff has cracks in it, it’s just going to fall flat.  Links Mentioned: Episode 256: Habits over Resolutions Simply Coaching Summit Teacher Leader Mastermind Gretchen Has a New Book Coming Soon! Pre-order Gretchen's NEW book HERE Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

It's the last podcast of the year! In this special episode, Gretchen reflects over the behind the scenes work of the podcast. She talks about who she intended the podcast for: new teachers, teachers in a slump and teacher leaders and how it has evolved over time. Gretchen shares how she has used the head, heart, hands strategy to plan every episode- a strategy that will serve you well in planning for professional developments that you may lead. Be sure to tune into this fun episode of the Empowering Educators Podcast. Quotables It’s important that you hear from other people what’s working.  Am I being true to what I originally intended? If you revisit your mission statement and your core values, that might light that fire back up.  Podcasts Mentioned: Melissa Emler Episode 20 Melissa Emler Episode 210 Gretchen Has a New Book Coming Soon! Pre-order Gretchen's NEW book HERE Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

Do you have credibility with the teachers that you lead? It may just be the secret sauce that you are missing. In this episode of the Empowering Educators Podcast, Gretchen talks all about credibility and what that looks like. Lacking in the credibility area? No worries! Gretchen shares tips and tricks on how you can gain credibility with teachers. Quotables Credibility sets the tone. You can be successful and imperfect. Be caring and invested in other people. Gretchen Has a New Book Coming Soon! Pre-order Gretchen's NEW book HERE Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

Meet and be empowered by Alissa Crabtree in this special interview episode of the Empowering Educators Podcast. Alissa shares great, tactile advice about how to effectively work with teachers as an instructional coach. She also discusses the importance of the instructional coach/administrator relationship and how that relationship can be a powerhouse for change within a district. Get your pen and paper out and hit play! Quotables *All quotables are from the interviewee  As coaches and administrators, we are in the business of fostering motivation in adult learners. Sit down one on one with the people you lead and understand them as a person. When I slowed down, it sped my kids up. About Alissa Alissa is an advocate for educators everywhere! As a 16+ year veteran, she has been exposed to numerous instructional strategies, district and campus initiatives, and professional learning opportunities. Through her experiences, she has recognized what has a lasting impact and who truly benefits. Alissa believes in the power of growing teacher and student efficacy. She has spent the last eight years of her career coaching teachers, administrators, and district leaders so that both teachers and students harness their power and abilities. Her approach to coaching is simple: it is a collaboration, not a one-and-done experience. Alissa works alongside leaders, teachers, and stakeholders to analyze areas for growth, establish clear and attainable goals, facilitate learning, track student and teacher development, and pivot when necessary. Change occurs from the top down, so she meets with leaders to ensure goal understanding and support before coaching teachers and professional learning communities. Her coaching style is collaborative, and to make the most impact, everyone involved must have a clear picture of coaching. Resources Mentioned by Alissa: Online Course: Launch Your Instructional Coaching Style Email List: Crabtree Coaching Collaborative Newsletter Website: crabtreecoachingcollaborative.org Connect with Alissa: IG @crabtree_coaching_collab Twitter @alissa_crabtree Facebook Crabtree Coaching Collaborative Linked-In: Crabtree Coaching Collaborative Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek...

When hardship arrives, it can be used as an opportunity to propel you forward. Tune into this episode of the Empowering Educators Podcast as Gretchen shares a personal story about hardship and then gives you practical steps that you can apply to your own hardships in order to use them as a stepping stone to move forward. You're not going to want to miss this one! Listen in and get ready to be empowered. Quotables When we are clear on what we want or need… it’s easier to brainstorm a solution.  How can I use this situation in my favor? Hardship is a an opportunity to showcase great leadership and critical thinking skills. Gretchen Has a New Book Coming Soon! Pre-order Gretchen's NEW book HERE Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

Accountability partners! Do you have one? In this episode of the Empowering Educators Podcast, Gretchen shares the importance of having an accountability partner. She shares why an accountability partner just might be the secret sauce to level up your success! Gretchen also shares 8 practical tips on how to be an effective accountability partner. Tune in today and learn how an accountability partner just might be the solution you need to add to your growth strategy! Quotables Accountability is the secret sauce of dreamers and planners to actual achievers. An accountability partner is just the solution you need to add to your growth strategy. Your goals are only as great as your follow through. Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Pre-order Gretchen's NEW book HERE Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

Comparing yourself to others takes all the joy out of growth. Tune into this episode of the Empowering Educators Podcast and listen as Gretchen shares her experience of comparing herself to others and the lessons she learned along the way. Listen until the end as Gretchen shares 4 tips to help you out of the comparison trap. Quotables It’s unfair to look at your colleagues and compare yourself. I was taking the joy out of the growth because I was too busy looking at the wrong people and comparing myself.  The only data point that makes sense is comparing yourself to you in the same situation.    Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Pre-order Gretchen's NEW book HERE Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

In this episode of the Empowering Educators Podcast, Gretchen lays out the four key bricks, in the order needed, so that instruction can be improved. She provides practical tips in order to make sure you are laying each brick securely before moving onto the next brick. Tune in today and leave empowered to improve teacher instruction. Quotables Sometimes we find solutions by just doing the dang thing.  Classroom Management. This is prevention over being reactive. You gain so much time for instruction and learning because of how you set up your physical space and how you and your students operate within it.    Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Pre-order Gretchen's NEW book HERE Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

The Science of Reading has replaced Guided Reading. Switching to something new can feel hard and frustrating. Tune into this episode and become encouraged and empowered by Linda Rhyne. She talks about what Science of Reading is, why it’s replaced Guided Reading and how you can implement it. Tune in now! Quotables *All quotables are from the interviewee  In order to become a proficient reader, children need and require direct, explicit, and systematic instruction.  Educators know, understand and feel to their core a deep understanding of the impact that they have or could have.  I can use what I’m learning now to propel myself forward.  About Linda Linda Rhyne is the owner of Linda Rhyne Consulting, a company focused on helping teachers and leaders connect research to practice in a safe & supportive environment. Linda is an award-winning and National Board Certified educator with 15 years of experience in education with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, one of the nation’s 20 largest urban school districts located in Charlotte, NC. She served in multiple positions in CMS: classroom teacher, literacy facilitator, new teacher support coordinator, and Southeast Learning Community coordinator, with 10 years of experience as an instructional coach. In her free time, you can find her playing with her two boys, hanging with her husband, reading, and working out. Resources Mentioned by Linda: The Reading League- The Science of Reading Connect with Linda: IG @lindarhyneconsulting Twitter @lindaschultzie FB LindaRhyneConsulting Website: http://lindarhyneconsulting.com Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future.

In this episode of the Empowering Educators Podcast, Gretchen talks about the importance of critical thinking. She shares relatable stories, a lesson and then four keys to building critical thinking that lasts. Tune into this episode and leave empowered to support critical thinking skills within yourself and your students. Quotables Critical thinking is the biggest clue of what’s to come. Everyone is going to have a problem or an obstacle. It’s not about how big that thing is but how you react to it. We have to teach kids and adults how to think.   Blog Post Mentioned in the Episode https://alwaysalesson.com/guiding-questions-that-move-teacher-performance-forward/ Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best) Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast Click ‘Send’

In this Summer Series episode, you'll hear from Sam Shields. Sam shares the highs and lows of her education journey. She'll encourage you and empower you to just keep going, even when it's hard. Quotables *All quotables are from the interviewee  We are all learning no matter where we are at in our journey. That first year of a coach is going to be worth it. A lot of times teachers don’t see or feel how appreciated they are. About Sam Samantha Shields is a Product Owner at Torsh. Prior to Torsh, Sam served as an Early Learning Specialist supporting early childhood educators, a district instructional coach, a classroom teacher, and is a published author. She is passionate about the outcomes that true, authentic coaching can deliver for student and teacher success. Sam became a part of the Torsh team after Torsh acquired Your Coaches Corner, a company she founded and ran for the past several years. Books by Sam: Daisy's Unperfect School Year Every Educator Speaks their own Languages: The Unique Love and Appreciation Languages of Educators  Connect with Sam: IG @samshieldscoach Twitter @samshieldscoach Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie! Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College Leave a Rating and Review: This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher. Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’ Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.” Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5...

Gretchen interviews Laura Williams in this special Summer Series episode. Laura shares about her journey into the field of education. Laura has a passion for creativity in the classroom and a desire to help teachers empower students to think more deeply.Quotables*All quotables are from the interviewee  When you’re a yes person and you’re a go getter and you do things, opportunities just come your way. Be a motivator.  We’re trying to move the bar and we are going to move it a lot further if we move it together. About Laura:Laura Williams (MAT, M.ED ELPS) is your resident authentic learning expert, co-facilitates the Iowa Authentic Learning Network for the Iowa AEAs, and is the founder of the Authentic Learning Alliance. She also is a Project Manager on a statewide project board for PK-12 Students across Iowa as part of her AEA role. Her educational background includes: B.A. in Interdepartmental Health Studies: Emphasis on Multidisciplinary Sciences, M.A.T. in Secondary Science Education, and Principal Licensure and M.A. in Ed. Leadership and Policy Studies and is currently a doctoral student. Laura is a certified Scrum Master, Product Owner and Agile Classrooms Trainer. Over the past 10 years, she’s dedicated herself to transforming education through incorporating authentic learning experiences with area partnerships into PK-12 classrooms as an educator, consultant, and 21st Century Learning Specialist. She believes that education can be “the great equalizer” if we can leverage our student’s interests and passions. “We have ~6.5 instructional hours a day and I believe we can be the difference. We just have to dedicate the time, space, and connections to "up the ante" for students. I believe we can help each learner find their superpowers and help them develop 21st Century skills to be successful in living, learning, and working. We can help students develop a mindset that they can be and do whatever they want in order to find their greatest human potential and live in their element.”Resources mentioned: Agile Classrooms Live Event Sir Ken RobinsonConnect with Laura: Website: https://www.authenticlearningalliance.org/ Twitter: @mrswilliams21c Email: laura@authenticlearningalliance.orgJoin the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie!Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: 

You'll enjoy this special summer interview series as Jana Lee shares about all the unique hats she's worn in education and how her journey in education has evolved. Get ready to be empowered as Jana shares how everyone has an X-factor and something unique to bring to the world of education.Quotables*All quotables are from the interviewee  Teachers have it really hard. It doesn’t have to be like that.  Sometimes we forget that there’s so much out there in the impact we can have as educators.  Never underestimate the power of building relationships. About Jana:Jana Lee is the proud founder of New Jersey's first all-girls, district, public school, she has spent the last 15 years surrounding herself with forward-thinkers in the educational space. As educator, leader, adjunct instructor, literacy specialist, and Executive Director of Jana Lee Consulting, LLC, Jana has gained valuable insight into the significance of collaboration, strategic teacher-leadership, and data-driven approaches for effecting transformative change within classrooms, schools and districts. Jana, who will complete her Doctor of Philosophy in Reading, Language, and Literacy in winter, 2023, continues to be most impressed by the people who work in and support our schools- the ultimate champions of student learning.Connect with Jana: Website: janaleeconsulting.com Instagram: @misslee_edconsulting Twitter: @misslee_ed Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/janacleeJoin the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join here and grab a freebie!Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson Facebook: Always A Lesson Twitter: @gschultek Instagram: Always.A.Lesson Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in CollegeLeave a Rating and Review:This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future.a