Language Lounge

93. Mindset Shifts in Organization with Lisa McHargue

See All Language Lounge Episodes In this episode of The Language Lounge, Michelle Olah and Lisa McHargue discuss the psychological and practical aspects of starting anew in the new year. They explore the importance of digital organization, the impact of chaos on mental space, and how to define productivity in a way that works for individuals. Lisa shares insights on reframing self-judgment, the significance of future planning, and practical strategies for implementing plans effectively, especially for those with ADHD. Producer’s Notes:  Lisa's Book recommendation: How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis Keep in Touch Connect with Lisa on Instagram and LinkedIn:   https://instagram.com/lisajmch   www.linkedin.com/in/lisamch   Visit the ⁠Language Lounge on X⁠ Connect with ⁠Michelle on BlueSky⁠ Have a comment or question? Email podcast@waysidepublishing.com  Produced by Wayside Publishing 

92. The Emotional Side of Teaching: Classroom Management Unpacked

See All Language Lounge Episodes Summary In this enlightening episode of The Language Lounge, Michelle Olah and Gina Lanfranchi-Grubbs delve into the complexities of classroom management. Gina shares her personal journey as a teacher, highlighting the challenges she faced in creating a welcoming environment for her students. They discuss the importance of understanding emotional responses, building relationships, and addressing teacher fatigue. The conversation emphasizes that effective classroom management goes beyond strategies; it involves fostering a safe learning environment and viewing discipline as a tool for growth rather than punishment. Ultimately, the episode encourages teachers to shift their perspectives and recognize the humanity in both themselves and their students. In this conversation, Gina Lanfranchi-Grubbs and Michelle Olah discuss the challenges educators face in managing their emotions and reactions in the classroom. They emphasize the importance of positivity, mindfulness, and self-regulation, both for teachers and their students. The discussion highlights practical strategies for stress management, the value of seeking help, and the need for gratitude and perspective in education. They also touch on the evolving nature of teaching and the significance of maintaining relationships with students while navigating mistakes and challenges. Producer's Notes: Episode Transcript Gina's Bio: Gina Lanfranchi-Grubbs is a French teacher at Berner Middle School in Massapequa, NY. She has been teaching for the past ten years. During that time, she has gleaned so much wisdom from her teacher friends and mentors and through attending professional organizations at the state, local, national, and international levels. She loves learning from others who are excited to share what they find works in their classrooms and adapting their findings to her own context to make her classes as enjoyable and effective as possible. Contact Us: Visit the Language Lounge on X Connect with Michelle on BlueSky Have a comment or question?Email podcast@waysidepublishing.com Produced by Wayside Publishing

90. Acceptance in All Its Forms with Wesley Wood

Teaching is not easy, and becoming an amazing teacher does not happen overnight. It takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears, times  of vulnerability and others of failure. Join Language Lounge host Michelle Olah and her guest Wesley Wood as they discuss the idea of acceptance. Acceptance of ourselves, of failure, of the vulnerability that comes from  continuously learning and growing on the imperfect journey to mastering our craft.     Bio Wesley Wood is a disability specialist at Georgetown University and a former K-12 Latin and French teacher. A licensed Maryland educator, Wesley has Master's degrees in Classics from the University of Colorado Boulder and in Foreign Language Education from Miami University - Ohio. In 2022, he was named Teacher of the Year by GWATFL (Greater Washington, D.C. Association of World Language Teachers). Wesley is also a NECTFL Mead Innovation Fellow for his work advocating for neurodivergent learners and supporting educators to create more accessible language classrooms and programs.   Producer's Notes Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter - https://twitter.com/langloungepod   Connect with Michelle - https://twitter.com/michelleolah   Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email podcast@waysidepublishing.com Produced by Wayside Publishing - https://waysidepublishing.com Watch this episode on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/wayside Social Media @MagisterWood

89. Laying the Foundation for an Excellent School Year with Kristin Archambault and Amy Marshall

Join teachers Kristin Archambault, Amy Marshall, and host Michelle Olah as they discuss what they do to set themselves us for a successful school year. Kristin and Amy share the importance creating a well-ordered environment of routines, procedures and expectations which in turn build a sense of community and trust within their classrooms. And don't forget to take care of you… Bio Kristin Archambault Kristin Archambault is a veteran French and Spanish teacher. Although most of her experience is at the high school level, she currently teaches middle school French in Storrs, Connecticut. She is also President of RIFLA (th Professional organization for Rhode Island language teachers), a former world language student teacher supervisor at the University of Connecticut, and a frequent presenter at state, regional, and national world language conferences in the US. Amy Marshall Amy Marshall is a dynamic and energetic Spanish teacher who teaches with a variety of techniques that fall under the umbrella of comprehensible input and TPRS. Building community and relationships with her students is one of the greatest focuses of any classroom that she teaches in. To connect and to truly care, building real relationships and community among the students and herself in her classroom is a huge contributing factor in guaranteeing a sense of belonging and as such a successful experience in learning language. Producer's Notes Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter - https://twitter.com/langloungepod Connect with Michelle - https://twitter.com/michelleolah Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email podcast@waysidepublishing.com Produced by Wayside Publishing - https://waysidepublishing.com Social Media Krisitin Twitter: @HeyArchy FB: Kristin Bruno Archambault Amy Marshal Instagram @zonadeprofes LinkedIn: Amy Marshall Pygmalion Effect https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-power-of-the-pygmalion-effect/ CI - Comprehensible Input, Stephen Krashen @skrashen TPRS - Total Physical Response Storytelling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TPR_Storytelling

88. Dealing with the Stress of Going Back to School with Rebecca Aubrey

Going back to school is a stressful, emotional roller coaster, you know what it's going to be like, and you've got to get yourself prepared. Join Rebecca Aubrey and Michelle Olah as they discuss the struggles and anxieties in heading back to school and how you can set boundaries to alleviate the mental and physical toll that teaching demands.    Bio   Rebecca Aubrey has over 20 years of teaching experience at the college level, and 15 years of experience teaching Spanish in grades K-8. Rebecca has presented broadly on topics like differentiation, target language use, and language proficiency. She is the 2019 ACTFL National Teacher of the Year, and is the Immediate Past President of CT COLT, Executive Secretary for NNELL, and the PreK-8 representative to the AATSP Board of Directors. Rebecca is passionate about exploring the cultural and linguistic diversity of our world, and equally passionate about empowering students to do the same.    Producer's Notes   Visit the Language Lounge on Twitter https://twitter.com/langloungepod    Connect with Michelle - https://twitter.com/michelleolah    Have a comment or question? Leave a voicemail at (207) 888-9819 or email podcast@waysidepublishing.com    Produced by Wayside Publishing - https://waysidepublishing.com    Mentions  Leaders Must Address Teacher Well-Being With Action, Not Just Self-Care Talk https://www.edutopia.org/article/leaders-teacher-wellbeing-action