New Teacher Talk

Ep 126: Teachers...Check Your Stress Before You Wreck Yourself!

Feeling overwhelmed in your classroom? You're not alone! Join Dr. Anna and Dr. Beth on this essential episode of New Teacher Talk featuring Jolee Jones, an expert in organizational development who understands what you're going through.

Discover why teaching has become the #1 profession for burnout and learn practical strategies to protect your wellbeing. Jolee breaks down stress into four dimensions—spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical—and introduces the game-changing concept of "just-right stress" that can help you find your teaching flow.

This episode offers the "Three L's Framework" (Limit, Learn, Listen) with real-world applications you can implement tomorrow. Hear Jolee's personal burnout story and how she transformed her professional life using these very techniques.

Whether you're struggling to make it to Friday or simply want to build sustainable teaching practices, this conversation provides the support and strategies you need to thrive, not just survive, in education.

Books referenced during the podcast:

• Unstressable: A Practical Guide to Stress-Free Living, Mo Gawdat & Alice Law
• Trust Factor: The Science of Creating High-Performance Companies, Paul Zak

#TeacherWellness #TeacherLife #NewTeachers #StressManagement #TeacherBurnout #EducatorSupport #SelfCareForTeachers #TeacherTips

 

SPECIAL NOTE: This is the second of a two-part series to be offered during the month of March, as part of a partnership between AAEE and New Teacher Talk.  Be sure to get your copy of the 2025 Job Search Digital Handbook for Educators.

Ep 125: Clinical Practice: The Key to Teacher Success

Join Dr. Beth and Dr. Anna as they dive into the critical world of teacher preparation with special guests Hannah Putman, Director of Research and and Ron Noble, Chief of Teacher Preparation, at the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ).  This illuminating conversation explores how quality clinical practice experiences directly impact teacher effectiveness and retention rates. 

Our guests unpack NCTQ's mission to ensure every child has effective teachers and share practical insights from successful programs like Chicago Public Schools' Teach Chicago initiative. Discover how strategic mentor matching and demographically similar student teaching placements can set new teachers up for success, plus learn about NCTQ's resources for evaluating over 700 teacher preparation programs.

Whether you're an aspiring teacher, education leader, or policy advocate, this episode offers valuable perspectives on strengthening the teacher pipeline through intentional clinical practice.

National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ): www.nctq.org

Hannah Putnam:  hputnam@nctq.org

Ron Noble:  rnoble@nctq.org

American Association for Employment in Education (AAEE):  www.aaee.org

#TeacherPrep #ClinicalPractice #NCTQ #AAEE #NewTeachers #EducationPolicy #MentorTeachers #TeacherRetention

 

SPECIAL NOTE: This is the first of a two-part series to be offered during the month of March, as part of a partnership between AAEE and New Teacher Talk.  Be sure to get your copy of the 2025 Job Search Digital Handbook for Educators.

Ep 124: March Madness for Teachers

In this timely episode, Dr. Anna and Dr. Beth tackle the notorious "March slump" that many educators experience. They provide practical strategies for navigating standardized testing season, managing work during spring break, handling job uncertainty, maintaining work-life balance, and keeping both teacher and student motivation high during this challenging month.

Our education experts share their proven "preparation without panic" approach to standardized testing, introduce the effective "bookend method" for spring break work management, and discuss "strategic imbalance" as a realistic approach to work-life integration during high-stress periods.

Action Items:

• Start integrated test prep 6 weeks before testing
• Practice short mindfulness exercises to reduce testing anxiety
• Implement the "bookend approach" for spring break work
• Review classroom procedures before break
• Document your accomplishments and student growth
• Schedule one joy-bringing classroom activity weekly

Listen now to transform your March from madness to manageable!

#NewTeacherTalk #TeacherLife #EducatorSupport #MarchMadness #TeacherBurnout #WorkLifeBalance #TeacherMotivation #StandardizedTesting #SpringBreak

Ep 123: Beyond Lesson Plans: A Second-Year Teacher's Journey into Curriculum Development

In this enlightening episode of New Teacher Talk, Dr. Amy Howerton sits down with Abby Bartle, a second-year teacher who took the bold step of joining a curriculum committee just weeks into her first teaching position. Abby shares her transformation from curriculum novice to knowledgeable participant, offering valuable perspectives for other early-career educators.

Listen as they explore how curriculum development extends far beyond daily classroom activities, the power of backwards design, and why keeping student needs at the center of all curriculum decisions is essential. Abby reveals how her committee experience provided a broader understanding of educational frameworks and directly improved her classroom practice.

Whether you're a first-year teacher feeling overwhelmed by curriculum demands or a veteran educator looking for fresh perspectives, this conversation offers practical insights on how engaging with curriculum development can enhance your teaching journey.

#newteachers #earlycareerteachers #curriculum #curriculumcommittee #backwardsdesign #podcast

Ep 122: Mentors Matter: Navigating the Path to Teaching

Join Dr. Anna and Dr. Beth as they dive into the transformative power of mentorship in education with special guests Shelby Green Owusu and James Scheffers. Shelby shares her fascinating journey from environmental studies to special education, highlighting how mentorship through programs like Golden Apple and Teach Plus shaped her teaching career. With 16 years of experience, district mentor James Scheffers offers valuable insights into supporting new educators. Together, they explore how strong mentorship relationships not only boost teacher retention but also foster professional growth. This episode delivers practical wisdom on maintaining work-life balance and the essential role of self-care in sustaining a fulfilling teaching career. Golden Apple: https://www.goldenapple.org/ Teach Plus+: https://teachplus.org/ Shelby Green Owusu: accel.affinity1@gmail.com James Scheffers: jscheffers@sps186.org #TeacherMentorship #EdChat

Ep 121: Children on the Autism Spectrum: How to Build a Strong Relationship Across Parents, Student, and Teacher Student, and Teacher

Join Dr. Anna and Dr. Beth as they welcome Ryan Lamping, an educational staffing professional and father of a child with nonverbal autism, for an insightful conversation about parent-educator partnerships. Ryan shares his family's journey supporting his 7-year-old son Maddox through school transitions, offering practical strategies for building strong relationships between parents and teachers. Learn about innovative communication approaches, including the use of one-page student profiles and technology tools. Drawing from both his personal experience and his wife Jordan's perspective as an assistant principal, Ryan provides valuable insights for educators working with students on the autism spectrum. Whether you're a new teacher or seasoned professional, this episode offers essential guidance for creating supportive educational environments for students with special needs.

All About Me Template: https://tinyurl.com/4je27bvv

#NewTeacherTalk #EducationPodcast #AutismAwareness #SpecialEducation #TeacherResources #InclusiveEducation #ParentTeacherPartnership

Ep 120: Mythbusters about Teaching & Learning: Assessment (2 of 3 episodes)

Join us as Dr. Ken King from Aurora University unravels the complex relationship between student confidence and actual content mastery. Discover why students might feel they understand something when they don't, and learn practical strategies to bridge this gap. From the illusion of knowledge to metacognitive blindness, Dr. King explores common cognitive biases that impact learning. This episode equips teachers with actionable techniques—including active learning approaches, strategic feedback methods, and innovative assessment strategies—to help students develop more accurate self-awareness and achieve deeper understanding. Whether you're a new teacher or a seasoned educator, this conversation offers valuable insights to transform your classroom practice.

#NewTeacherTalk #TeacherTips #EducationalPsychology #Teaching #StudentSuccess #TeacherLife #EducatorResources #ProfessionalDevelopment

Ep 119: Navigating Fragile February

Are you a teacher feeling overwhelmed and burnt out this February? You're not alone. In this heartfelt episode of New Teacher Talk, Dr. Beth and Dr. Anna tackle the mid-year slump that many educators face. They share honest conversation about maintaining work-life balance, fighting burnout, and most importantly - finding your way back to joy in teaching. Whether you're a first-year teacher or a veteran educator, this episode offers practical strategies for reclaiming your personal life while staying passionate about your profession. Tune in for real talk about teacher wellbeing and learn why putting yourself first isn't just okay - it's necessary.

Ep. 118: Oral Language Acquisition through Read Alouds

Dive into the world of literacy with Leana Malinowsky, the 2022-2023 Middlesex County Teacher of the Year, as she unveils the transformative power of read-alouds in language acquisition. In this compelling episode of New Teacher Talk, Leana breaks down the complex components of reading comprehension, exploring how strategic read-alouds can be a game-changer for students of all backgrounds and abilities. From decoding skills to vocabulary expansion, discover how this 17-year veteran educator illuminates the critical role of oral language development in educational success. Whether you're a new teacher, a seasoned educator, or simply passionate about literacy, this episode offers invaluable insights into creating rich, engaging learning experiences through the art of reading aloud.

Remember, World Read Aloud Day is on February 2nd!

Helpful Links

Reading Rockets: www.readingrockets.org

International Dyslexia Organization: https://dyslexiaida.org

#TeacherPodcast #LiteracySkills #EducationTips #ReadAlouds #TeacherDevelopment #LearningStrategies #LanguageAcquisition #SpecialEducation #ClassroomTips

World Read Aloud Day is on February 2nd. It's great that future teachers can hear a bit about oral language and connect it with World Read Aloud Day.

Ep 117: Mythbusters about Teaching & Learning: Learning Styles (1 of 3 episodes)

Ready to challenge what you thought you knew about teaching? In this eye-opening episode of New Teacher Talk, Dr. Ken King from Aurora University tackles one of education's most persistent myths: learning styles. Discover why this popular concept might be holding back both teachers and students, and learn what cognitive science actually tells us about effective learning. Dr. King breaks down the evidence (or lack thereof) behind learning styles and offers practical, research-based strategies you can implement in your classroom tomorrow. Whether you're a new teacher or a veteran educator, this episode will transform how you think about student learning. Join us as we separate fact from fiction and explore what really works in education.

KEYWORDS:  #learningstyles #teachingstrategies #mythbusters #learning #newteachers #aurorauniversity