Teaching through Emotions: psychological strategies and resources for educators

So something happens that irritates you and you berate yourself for being too judgmental, eh? It might be time to rethink that judgment.Teaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.In this episode, which is the one you, dear listeners, listened to the most this season, Joe and I talk about a simple, probably all-too-common story of a teacher who condemns herself for having negative feelings in school. You might be surprised by our conclusions! Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discuss* Psychology of Boundaries: Why personal space in a busy classroom isn’t just a preference, it’s a psychological need.* Reframing “Judgment”: Why we mislabel valid annoyance as a character flaw.* Failure: How to view conflict as data instead of a disaster.* Overcoming Self-blame: The power of asking for what you need rather than internalizing the problem.Beyond the classroom? You 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!Connect & ShareGot a story to share? Ever had a moment when you might have misunderstood your feelings? Leave me a voicemail at (413) 239-4158. Joe and I can unpack it confidentially in one of our episodes and maybe, maybe offer a different and helpful perspective!Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]It’s summer summer summertime! I hope you’ve already begun relaxing. If you’re looking for ways to reflect on your year, consider re-listening to other TTE podcast episodes. There’s lots of food for thought here just waiting for you!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

In this episode, I sit down with Jesse Dukes, producer of the magnificent podcast on AI in schools called The Homework Machine. We discuss the findings his podcast team lays out about the complicated ins and outs of a “drunk guy” (as I put it) who has “crashed the party” (as Jesse and The Homework Machine puts it). Jesse (not the drunk guy) is so articulate and so sensitive to the information his team’s research gathered and reported that listening to him talk is just plain enjoyable! Whether you care about AI in schools or not!But you should care.This is a super important and complicated issue. Please listen. It’s food for thought we really need to digest.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discuss:The “Drunk Guy”: Why AI feels so intrusive and chaotic right now.More Than Tech: Unpacking the “disruptions” hitting schools (it’s not just the bots).The District: The shocking reality of how school districts are (or aren’t) handling the AI wave.The Kids: How students are actually using and responding to AI, and why their perspective might just give you hope.Feeling hopeless about the future? Jesse’s advice is simple: “If you want to feel hopeful, talk to a teenager.” If you’re not an educator but if you’re a parent, a boss or just someone trying to keep up, this episode will give you a grounded perspective on navigating an increasingly artificial world.External linksRand report: “AI Use in Schools Is Quickly Increasing but Guidance Lags Behind”Stanford article: “Cheating: The AI Elephant in the Classroom”Teaching Systems Lab, MITTeach Lab podcastThe Homework MachineConnect & ShareGot a story to share? What’s your experience with AI in the classroom? in your kids’ lives? in your own life? Add to the crucial conversation about the social and educational impacts of this insidious technology. Leave us a message about it. 413.239.4158. We’d love to play it on the air, confidentially if you prefer, so others can gain from your thoughts.Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]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

In this episode, I’m joined by physics and math teacher Stephanie Watroba. You’ll get to hear her dramatic journey through burnout — what it was like, why it happened, and how she got through it. She went from Teacher of the Year to burnout and depression to “the best year of school that I’ve ever done.” It’s an informative and intense conversation.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discuss:- Daily Burnout: Understanding that exhaustion isn't a straight line, and how to recognize the shifts in your energy.- The Psychology of the Teachers' Lounge: What negative talk among staff reveals about systemic stress and the need for support.- The Internal Critic: How high-achieving teachers use self-criticism as fuel until it leads to burnout.- Warning Signs: Identifying the red flags before they spiral into depression.- "Making Friends" with Burnout: Why fighting your burnout doesn't work, and how Stephanie learned to listen to her burnout as a signal for change.It’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.About Stephanie: 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.Connect & ShareGot a story to share? Does Stephanie’s story resonate? What’s your story of burnout? Leave me a voicemail at (413) 239-4158.Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]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

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 discuss:* The Soul in Teaching: What it means to live (and teach) in a rigid system while staying in touch with your soul.* The Sin of Schooling: An interesting definition of “sin” and how traditional education encourages it.* The Benefits of Hating: Why feeling hatred isn’t inherently wrong.* The Divine Nature of Teaching: How spirituality shows up in the messy, everyday moments of teaching.And 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:For my non-teachers out there: The topics in this episode aren’t limited to teaching. I mean, souls? sin? hatred? the divine? 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.Connect & ShareGot a story to share? Has a system ever asked you to compromise your soul? Or have you had a moment of “organismic learning” where everything just clicked? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave me a voicemail at (413) 239-4158 and we might feature your perspective in a future episode!Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]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.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. Together, we explore how to view teaching (and parenting) not just as a task list, but as a spiritual practice.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discuss:Flowing with Chaos: How to stay grounded when the classroom (or home) feels out of control.The “Holy Ordinary”: Why the most mundane moments hold the most spiritual weight.Detachment for Connection: The paradox of detaching from our “teacher identity” to develop healthy attachment with students.Somatic Teaching: The importance of bringing a “settled body” into the classroom.Sacred Spaces: The benefits, and perils, of viewing your classroom as holy ground.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 LewisConnect & ShareGot a story to share? Where are you on your spiritual journey? How do you notice and celebrate the holy ordinary in your everyday life? How do you make your classroom a sacred space? Leave us a message! 413.239.4158. This is an underappreciated perspective on teaching (and living). We’d love to share your wisdom!Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]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 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

Do you feel guilty when you get annoyed at a fellow teacher or student? Do you label yourself as “too judgmental” when, actually, you just want personal space?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 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.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discussPsychology of Boundaries: Why personal space in a busy classroom isn’t just a preference, it’s a psychological need.Reframing “Judgment”: Why we mislabel valid annoyance as a character flaw.Failure: How to view conflict as data instead of a disaster.Overcoming Self-blame: The power of asking for what you need rather than internalizing the problem.Beyond the classroom? You 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!Connect & ShareGot a story to share? Ever had a moment when you might have misunderstood your feelings? Leave me a voicemail at (413) 239-4158. Joe and I can unpack it confidentially in one of our episodes and maybe, maybe offer a different and helpful perspective!Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]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

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