Always A Lesson's Empowering Educators Podcast

Matthew is the founder of Academic Approach, an organization that helps schools in underserved communities prepare students for the SAT and ACT, the tests they need to succeed on to gain admission to college. He’s also a former New York City teacher. He says "aligning high-impact test preparation with curriculum and instruction is not easy work, but it’s valuable and necessary. Often this work is approached as an “either-or:” either I focus on test prep or I focus on my curriculum.  If you can approach the challenge as a “both-and” instead, you can find some efficient, creative solutions: I can both teach my curriculum and integrate in skills-based test preparation that teaches my students the high-impact skills they need for success both in my class and on the test.  With the right assessment, reporting, and professional development system in place, we can achieve that all-important “both-and” in teaching and learning." Quotables "Teach beyond the test" "With the proper mentorship, students can fail forward... a lesson in resilience" "The way [students] experience failure can be positive and productive or paralyzing" "If you do take a student centered view of teaching, you never are done because there's always a new student and each student is different" Buzz Words Locus of control Growth mindset Grit Rigorous academic approach Self Conception Matthew's Stamp of Approval Understanding by Design by Grant Wiggins ("backwards design" and "teaching for transfer") Connect with Matthew Website: https://www.academicapproach.com Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-pietrafetta-45558917?trk=extra_biz_connect_hb_upphoto  Academic Approach Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Academic-Approach-107012349498/timeline/ Academic Approach Twitter: https://twitter.com/AcademicApprch Academic Approach LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/academic-approach Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson  Facebook: Always A Lesson  Twitter: @gschultek   Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers  Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers   Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn't Teach You in College    Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in 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’

Matthew is the founder of Academic Approach, an organization that helps schools in underserved communities prepare students for the SAT and ACT, the tests they need to succeed on to gain admission to college. He’s also a former New York City teacher. He says "aligning high-impact test preparation with curriculum and instruction is not easy work, but it’s valuable and necessary. Often this work is approached as an “either-or:” either I focus on test prep or I focus on my curriculum.  If you can approach the challenge as a “both-and” instead, you can find some efficient, creative solutions: I can both teach my curriculum and integrate in skills-based test preparation that teaches my students the high-impact skills they need for success both in my class and on the test.  With the right assessment, reporting, and professional development system in place, we can achieve that all-important “both-and” in teaching and learning." Quotables * "Teach beyond the test" * "With the proper mentorship, students can fail forward... a lesson in resilience" * "The way [students] experience failure can be positive and productive or paralyzing" * "If you do take a student centered view of teaching, you never are done because there's always a new student and each student is different" Buzz Words * Locus of control * Growth mindset * Grit * Rigorous academic approach * Self Conception Matthew's Stamp of Approval * Understanding by Design by Grant Wiggins ("backwards design" and "teaching for transfer") Connect with Matthew * Website: https://www.academicapproach.com * Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-pietrafetta-45558917?trk=extra_biz_connect_hb_upphoto  * Academic Approach Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Academic-Approach-107012349498/timeline/ * Academic Approach Twitter: https://twitter.com/AcademicApprch * Academic Approach LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/academic-approach Connect with Gretchen * Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com * Blog: Always A Lesson  * Facebook: Always A Lesson  * Twitter: @gschultek   * Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers  * Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers   * Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn't Teach You in College    Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.

The field of education is full of amazing moments, but all good things have moments that can tarnish or discourage us. Our destiny has a lot to do with how we handle those rougher moments. They can be the moments that define us and strengthen our resolve or they can destroy us. Tune in to hear how to use these moments so that they are not wasted, but utilized to catapult you into your potential. Quotables You are growing into your potential at your own rate of speed so stop comparing. Hard times are never wasted. These moments are defining moments and you don’t want to miss out on becoming the absolute best you can be. 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  Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers   Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn't Teach You in College    Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in 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 field of education is full of amazing moments, but all good things have moments that can tarnish or discourage us. Our destiny has a lot to do with how we handle those rougher moments. They can be the moments that define us and strengthen our resolve or they can destroy us. Tune in to hear how to use these moments so that they are not wasted, but utilized to catapult you into your potential. Quotables * You are growing into your potential at your own rate of speed so stop comparing. * Hard times are never wasted. * These moments are defining moments and you don’t want to miss out on becoming the absolute best you can be. 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  * Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers   * Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn't Teach You in College    Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? * Search for my show in 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’

To get to the next level in your leadership journey, you need to surround yourself with people who possess the skills that you need to get there. Tune in to hear about 4 categories of people that will help build your tribe towards career success. Quotables Its important for you to know where you are and where you want to be without forgetting those behind you We need to recognize our strength and start gathering tools of a similar kind rather than just random tools You sacrifice to learn from the greats Watch, learn, grow Your are building your skillset by building your leadership tribe Sometimes your destiny is not all about you 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  Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers   Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn't Teach You in College    Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in 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’

To get to the next level in your leadership journey, you need to surround yourself with people who possess the skills that you need to get there. Tune in to hear about 4 categories of people that will help build your tribe towards career success. Quotables * Its important for you to know where you are and where you want to be without forgetting those behind you * We need to recognize our strength and start gathering tools of a similar kind rather than just random tools * You sacrifice to learn from the greats * Watch, learn, grow * Your are building your skillset by building your leadership tribe * Sometimes your destiny is not all about you 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  * Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers   * Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn't Teach You in College    Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? * Search for my show in 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’

Being successful is not easy. It often requires a lot of hard work behind the scenes and the journey tends to not be a straight line. The frustration felt while trying to become successful can seem insurmountable. Tune in to hear two things you can do today to ensure success as an educator! Quotables Prep… it isn’t sexy, but it's necessary “Don’t expect the class to look like the calling” #commit2urpost “You perform based on the level of your preparation, not based on the level of your potential” #owntheoutcome “Are you stuck or did you stop?” 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  Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers   Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn't Teach You in College    Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in 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’

Being successful is not easy. It often requires a lot of hard work behind the scenes and the journey tends to not be a straight line. The frustration felt while trying to become successful can seem insurmountable. Tune in to hear two things you can do today to ensure success as an educator! Quotables * Prep… it isn’t sexy, but it's necessary * “Don’t expect the class to look like the calling” * #commit2urpost * “You perform based on the level of your preparation, not based on the level of your potential” * #owntheoutcome * “Are you stuck or did you stop?” 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  * Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers   * Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn't Teach You in College    Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? * Search for my show in 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 order to be an effective teacher we have to reach our kids. In order to reach our kids we have to be available and receptive to alter our instructional course to meet their needs- whether sung or unsung. Tune in to hear how to push past your comfort zone and really listen to student cues so you can make the best instructional decisions for your students to succeed in your classroom. Quotables Just because you are ready to take incoming signals doesn’t mean you know what to do when you get it Remember when you’re available to receive the cue, you can make the best decisions in your classroom for kids. We gotta reach them. And to reach them we have to know them. And to know them we have to be AVAILABLE and RESPONSIVE. 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  Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers   Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn't Teach You in College    Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in 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 order to be an effective teacher we have to reach our kids. In order to reach our kids we have to be available and receptive to alter our instructional course to meet their needs- whether sung or unsung. Tune in to hear how to push past your comfort zone and really listen to student cues so you can make the best instructional decisions for your students to succeed in your classroom. Quotables * Just because you are ready to take incoming signals doesn’t mean you know what to do when you get it * Remember when you’re available to receive the cue, you can make the best decisions in your classroom for kids. * We gotta reach them. And to reach them we have to know them. And to know them we have to be AVAILABLE and RESPONSIVE. 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  * Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers   * Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn't Teach You in College    Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? * Search for my show in 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’

Clare is an educator who has been learning and leading for quite some time now. Below is a quick list of some of her accomplishments. Founder of the Positive Teacher Network First class degree in Psychology Qualified teacher (over 10 years) Cognitive Behavioral Coach NLP Practitioner (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Teacher of Positive Psychology She believes in the importance of looking after our wellbeing first so that we are able to give our all to our students. Her mission is to make people aware of simple ways they can use to increase their happiness, success and fulfillment. She says: “Making small changes to build resilience and look after our wellbeing can be transformational as a teacher where there are pressures from every angle, not least ourselves. In order to stay motivated, healthy and happy we need to look after ourselves mentally as well as physically.” Quotables We have to focus on looking after ourselves as a priority not as something we pick up on later on Prevention over cure Being selfish is being selfless because if you don't have the energy to look after others you can't make a difference The reactions to what you're feeling is connected to what you're thinking Connect with Clare Website: www.positiveteachernetwork.com Twitter: @PosTeacherNet Facebook: Positive Teacher Network Connect with Gretchen Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com Blog: Always A Lesson  Facebook: Always A Lesson  Twitter: @gschultek   Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers  Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers   Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn't Teach You in College    Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in 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’

Clare is an educator who has been learning and leading for quite some time now. Below is a quick list of some of her accomplishments. * Founder of the Positive Teacher Network * First class degree in Psychology * Qualified teacher (over 10 years) * Cognitive Behavioral Coach * NLP Practitioner (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) * Teacher of Positive Psychology She believes in the importance of looking after our wellbeing first so that we are able to give our all to our students. Her mission is to make people aware of simple ways they can use to increase their happiness, success and fulfillment. She says: “Making small changes to build resilience and look after our wellbeing can be transformational as a teacher where there are pressures from every angle, not least ourselves. In order to stay motivated, healthy and happy we need to look after ourselves mentally as well as physically.” Quotables * We have to focus on looking after ourselves as a priority not as something we pick up on later on * Prevention over cure * Being selfish is being selfless because if you don't have the energy to look after others you can't make a difference * The reactions to what you're feeling is connected to what you're thinking Connect with Clare * Website: www.positiveteachernetwork.com * Twitter: @PosTeacherNet * Facebook: Positive Teacher Network Connect with Gretchen * Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com * Blog: Always A Lesson  * Facebook: Always A Lesson  * Twitter: @gschultek   * Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers  * Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers   * Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn't Teach You in College    Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? * Search for my show in 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’

Change is no stranger to the educational field. When change comes, we need to withhold judgment and emotion until enough time has passed for things to pan out. By this point, we now have perspective and more accurate information for our judgment or opinion to be based upon. At first glance, nothing is ever as it seems. Tune in to hear what you can do to ease frustration and disillusionment on the job. Quotables Let the smoke clear, the fog lift and then draw conclusions It’s hard to build relationships overnight Your attitude contributes to your outcome Be patient as the new unravels Momentum is more accurate of actual results than your first up to bat 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  Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers   Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn't Teach You in College    Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in 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’

Change is no stranger to the educational field. When change comes, we need to withhold judgment and emotion until enough time has passed for things to pan out. By this point, we now have perspective and more accurate information for our judgment or opinion to be based upon. At first glance, nothing is ever as it seems. Tune in to hear what you can do to ease frustration and disillusionment on the job. Quotables * Let the smoke clear, the fog lift and then draw conclusions * It’s hard to build relationships overnight * Your attitude contributes to your outcome * Be patient as the new unravels * Momentum is more accurate of actual results than your first up to bat 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  * Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers   * Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn't Teach You in College    Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? * Search for my show in 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’

We can’t be our amazing educator selves when we are thinking about too many things. We need to simplify our thoughts by clearing our mental cache. Tune in to hear 5 tips that help me remain present and working full throttle to be my best edu-self! Quotables Fix your focus Be present in teaching as every moment counts My negative thoughts became negative emotions I can't be great working on a dying battery Close the filing cabinet The power in being simple Chunk your focus 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  Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers   Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn't Teach You in College    Leave a Rating and Review https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2 Why? 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. How? Search for my show in 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’