Check out the show notes, transcript, and more here: 
https://amandawritenow.com/the-revealing-reality-struggling-readers-face-within-the-u-s-education-system/

In this episode of Empower Students Now, host Amanda interviews her sister Shelly Gonsalves, who opens up about her lifelong struggle with reading and learning difficulties. Shelly recounts her early educational challenges, the lack of support she faced, and the emotional toll it took on her self-esteem. Despite these obstacles, she persevered, exploring various career paths from graphic design to welding, and ultimately finding her place in law enforcement. Shelly's story is one of resilience and determination, as she now uses her experiences to advocate for children with similar struggles and to inspire others through her volunteer work and creative pursuits. The episode is a touching testament to overcoming adversity. But, it is also reveals the heart breaking reality of what happens to struggling readers in a system not built to support them, or their teachers.

81. The Revealing Reality Struggling Readers Face within the U.S. Education System

Check out the episode show notes and Vanessa's book here: 
https://amandawritenow.com/navigating-adult-adhd-a-personal-and-professional-journey/

In this episode, host Amanda interviews Vanessa Jones, an English teacher, writer, and voice actor who has recently authored a guidebook on adult ADHD. Vanessa discusses her personal experience with an adult ADHD diagnosis, the unnoticed symptoms in women, and the impact on her life and career. She shares insights on teaching with ADHD, the benefits of structured environments, and the accommodations that helped her succeed. The conversation also touches on Vanessa's transition to voice acting and entrepreneurship, and the importance of recognizing neurodiversity in education. Both Amanda and Vanessa reflect on the strengths that individuals with ADHD bring to teaching.

82. Navigating Adult ADHD: A Personal and Professional Journey

Ambient Cinematic | Sky by Alex-Productions |
Music promoted by http://onsound.eu/

Reflections - Cello Solo

83. A Guided Meditation for Mothers i.e. Those Who Care for Children

https://amandawritenow.com/finding-calm-amongst-the-chaos-of-life/

Contact Me: https://amandawritenow.com/contact-form/

Amanda returns after a long hiatus, excited to start a new season focused on mindfulness, neurodiversity, equity, and student engagement. In this special episode, Amanda shares a recording of her first mindfulness class from her practicum, which is part of her Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher Training Certification Program(MMTCP). The class includes a 10-minute talk on the challenges of slowing down and using the breath to do so, followed by an 8-minute meditation to practice using the breath as an anchor. Amanda discusses the significance of breath as a tool for calm and peace amid the chaos of life, particularly for teachers. She also introduces various breathing techniques and their benefits. The episode concludes with a guided meditation exercise aimed at helping listeners find tranquility.

00:00 Welcome Back!
01:00 Introducing the Practicum
04:35 The Power of Breath
10:05 Personal Meditation Journey
13:09 Breathing Techniques
19:39 Guided Meditation
28:01 Closing Thoughts

84. Finding Calm Amongst the Chaos of Life Using Your Breath

In this episode, Amanda welcomes Jen Chieco, a former teacher who transitioned into becoming a life purpose coach who specializes in empowering teens. They discuss Jen's teaching background, her reasons for leaving public education, and how she found her true calling through life coaching and breath work. Jen shares insights on the challenges of teaching in public schools, the importance of supportive administration, and the impact of nurturing relationships with students. They delve into breath work as a powerful tool for mental health and personal growth, and Jen offers actionable tips for both educators and students to find purpose and empowerment in their lives.

You'll Learn: 
-How Jen transitioned from teaching full time in a public school to  being coach
-Jen's methodology for supporting teens and adults
-Breathwork techniques you can use in and outside of the classroom
-How to foster positive relationships with students
-Jen's inspiring views on what empowerment is and how to empower yourself as well as your students

Resources Mentioned:

jenchieco.com/services (Free 30 Minute Coaching Discovery Call)
jenchieco.com/breathwork (Breathwork Sessions)
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7lnGKrOWAuKvNoxEleY8Vm?si=asaUZkUsSdCwIRL_7bpEOw (David Elliott Breathwork Healer Spotify)

85. The Art of Empowering Students: An Interview with Jen Chieco

https://amandawritenow.com/finding-calm-amongst-the-chaos-of-life-part-ii-the-body-as-your-anchor/

Contact Me: https://amandawritenow.com/contact-form/

In this episode, part two of an eight-part series, Amanda discusses her journey through the Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher Certification Program (MMTCP) and the profound lessons she learned. She emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, especially for women, teachers, and social justice advocates who often experience overwhelm and self-blame. Amanda defines mindfulness and meditation, highlighting the benefits of body awareness. She shares practical techniques for body scan and walking meditation to help listeners find peace and presence amidst the stressors of modern life. The episode concludes with a guided body scan meditation to practice these principles.

00:00 Introduction to the Series
00:40 Personal Journey into Meditation
01:39 Teaching Mindfulness to Women
03:20 Challenges of Modern Life and Self-Care
09:22 Defining Mindfulness and Meditation
17:16 Body Scan Meditation Techniques
24:23 Beginning of Guided Body Scan Meditation

86. How to Bring More Awareness to Your Body (+ Why This is Important!)

https://amandawritenow.com/navigating-the-complexities-of-our-emotional-lives-with-mindfulness-meditation/

In this episode of the Empower Students Now podcast, the third installment of an eight-part mindfulness series, the focus is on emotions. Drawing on insights from the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program (MMTCP), Amanda, the host of the podcast, addresses how emotions manifest in both mind and body, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and meditation in recognizing and managing them. The episode includes a discussion on the diversity of emotional experiences, the significance of the nervous system in emotional regulation, and practical tips for teachers and social justice advocates to integrate mindfulness into their lives. Additionally, the host guides listeners through a meditative practice to better understand and manage their emotions.

00:00 Introduction to Emotions and Mindfulness Series
02:19 Defining Emotions and Personal Reflections
07:22 Family History and Emotional Conditioning
12:46 Understanding the Nervous System and Emotions
18:12 Naming and Identifying Emotions
24:04 Primary vs. Secondary Emotions
30:20 Guided Meditation on Emotions

87. Navigating the Complexities of Our Emotional Lives with Mindfulness & Meditation

In this fourth episode of an eight-part series on meditation and mindfulness, the discussion focuses on being mindful of thoughts.  Amanda recently received her certification to teach meditation. She explains how thoughts are mental processes influenced by various factors like environment, culture, and emotions. The episode debunks the myth that meditation aims to stop thoughts, highlighting instead the importance of noticing them. It covers the neural basis of thoughts and offers practical advice on using breath as an anchor during meditation. Personal anecdotes and stories from the classroom demonstrate the significance of observing and questioning thoughts to reduce suffering and promote self-compassion and in turn compassion toward others, including students. The episode concludes with a guided meditation exercise aimed at helping teachers and listeners become more aware of their thinking patterns.

00:00 Introduction to Mindfulness of Thoughts
01:08 Understanding Thoughts and Their Influence
03:43 The Practice of Noticing Thoughts
07:16 The Power of Noting and Naming Thoughts
10:03 A Touching Story on Mindfulness
12:46 Judgment and Bias in Education
16:58 Exercise: Counting Your Thoughts
23:18 Guided Meditation for Noticing Thoughts

Resources: 
Meditation Mini Lesson 3rd-5th Grade
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Meditation-Mini-Lesson-for-3rd-5th-Grade-13806933

Meditation Mini Lesson 6th-8th Grade
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Meditation-Mini-Lesson-6th-8th-Grade-13815439

https://amandawritenow.com/a-new-way-to-think-about-thinking/

88. A New Way to Think About Thinking

In this episode of the Empower Students Now podcast, Amanda shares a deeply emotional talk on the importance of compassion, particularly self-compassion, for educators. Through a recounting of her own personal journey and learnings from the MMTCP program, she introduces the RAIN technique—Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture—created by Tara Brach, as a tool for addressing negative self-talk and fostering a kinder inner dialogue. The episode includes a powerful 15-minute guided meditation to help listeners practice self-compassion, complete with actionable steps and gentle reassurances. Amanda also discusses the significance of tears as a healing response and offers resources for teaching mindfulness to children. This episode is part five of an eight-part series aimed at supporting and renewing burnt-out teachers. Listeners are encouraged to share the podcast, visit Amanda's website, https://amandawritenow.com for additional resources, and reflect on their experiences with the series.

00:00 Introduction and Overview
04:21 The Importance of Self-Compassion
08:54 Recognizing Negative Patterns
15:21 Guided Meditation: Practicing RAIN
28:31 Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

Meditation Mini Lesson 3rd-5th Grade:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Meditation-Mini-Lesson-for-3rd-5th-Grade-13806933?utm_source=Podcast%20Episode%20%2389&utm_campaign=Podcasting%20Series%20on%20Meditation%20and%20Minfulness
 
Meditation Mini Lesson 6th-8th Grade:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Meditation-Mini-Lesson-6th-8th-Grade-13815439?utm_source=Podcast%20Episode%20%2389&utm_campaign=Podcasting%20Series%20on%20Mindfulness%20and%20Meditation


89. The Transformative Power of Self-Compassion

Cultivating Loving Kindness: Exploring Metta Meditation

In this episode of the Empower Students Now Podcast, your host, Amanda Werner, delves into the practice of Metta or Loving Kindness Meditation. As part of an eight-part series on meditation and mindfulness for teachers and students, Amanda shares insights from her extensive teaching career and her training as a meditation teacher. She explains the steps to practicing Metta, including starting with those easiest to love, and expanding outward. Additionally, Amanda reads poignant quotes from Sharon Salzberg's book, 'Loving Kindness, the Revolutionary Art of Happiness,' and discusses the importance of boundaries and compassion. The episode concludes with a guided meditation designed to help listeners cultivate loving kindness and a compassionate mindset. Listeners are encouraged to share the podcast, visit Amanda's website, https://amandawritenow.com for additional resources, and reflect on their experiences with the series.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Support
02:52 Episode Introduction: Loving Kindness
05:07 Understanding Metta: Loving Kindness
08:44 Personal Stories and Challenges
15:03 Steps to Practicing Metta
18:11 Guided Meditation on Loving Kindness

Meditation Mini Lesson 3rd-5th Grade:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Meditation-Mini-Lesson-for-3rd-5th-Grade-13806933?utm_source=Podcast%20Episode%20%2389&utm_campaign=Podcasting%20Series%20on%20Meditation%20and%20Minfulness
 
Meditation Mini Lesson 6th-8th Grade:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Meditation-Mini-Lesson-6th-8th-Grade-13815439?utm_source=Podcast%20Episode%20%2389&utm_campaign=Podcasting%20Series%20on%20Mindfulness%20and%20Meditation

90. Teaching and Living from the Heart with the Practice of Loving Kindness (Metta)

Amanda has been a passionate full time classroom teacher for 14 years. She’s worked in a wide range of educational settings teaching students grades 3rd-8th. Amanda worked for a Title I, charter, magnet, and National Blue Ribbon school and now she homeschools her twice exceptional daughter.

No matter what type of school or grade she’s taught, engaging and empowering students has always been at the forefront of her work as an educator and teacher author.

Amanda understands that helping students find their voice is core to being an effective teacher and social justice advocate.

Even with a teacher willing to listen, there are many barriers that exist and hinder movement towards more equitable schools. Amanda has experienced first hand the many problems that exist in K-12 education. Listening to students is only the first step on a long road ahead. Amanda’s website, courses, lesson resources, and podcast are dedicated to supporting teachers and students in this important work for change.

85. The Art of Empowering Students: An Interview with Jen Chieco

Amanda Write Now

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