Join us and Alfonso Mendoza, host of 'My EdTech Life,' as we unravel the secrets of making technology in education both simple and empathetic. From building relationships across 14 buildings to offering military-grade life advice, Fonz shares actionable strategies for reaching every teacher in your district and tips on keeping tech approachable. This episode is a treasure trove for anyone looking to enhance their EdTech strategies with a human touch.
https://www.myedtech.life/
Follow Alfonso on
Instagram | Twitter/X
Podcast Team
Hosts- Katie Ritter & Matthäus Huelse
Editing Team- Michael Roush, Alyssa Faubion, Matthäus Huelse
Social Media/ Promo Team- Annamarie Rinehart, Alyssa Faubion
Creative/Content Team- Matthäus Huelse, Brooke Conklin
Producer- Matthäus Huelse
Edge•U Badges
Edge•U is an anytime, anywhere professional learning platform made for teachers by teachers!
EDU Coach Network
We're former teachers turned instructional coaches. Coaches can change student learning for better
Join us and Alfonso Mendoza, host of 'My EdTech Life,' as we unravel the secrets of making technology in education both simple and empathetic. From building relationships across 14 buildings to offering military-grade life advice, Fonz shares actionable strategies for reaching every teacher in your district and tips on keeping tech approachable. This episode is a treasure trove for anyone looking to enhance their EdTech strategies with a human touch.
https://www.myedtech.life/
Follow Alfonso on
Instagram | Twitter/X
Podcast Team
Hosts- Katie Ritter & Matthäus Huelse
Editing Team- Michael Roush, Alyssa Faubion, Matthäus Huelse
Social Media/ Promo Team- Annamarie Rinehart, Alyssa Faubion
Creative/Content Team- Matthäus Huelse, Brooke Conklin
Producer- Matthäus Huelse
Edge•U Badges
Edge•U is an anytime, anywhere professional learning platform made for teachers by teachers!
EDU Coach Network
We're former teachers turned instructional coaches. Coaches can change student learning for better
Matthaeus Huelse
Calling all instructional coaches, EdTech gurus and classroom innovators. My name is Matthaeus Huelse.
Katie Ritter
And I'm Katie Ritter.
Matthaeus Huelse
Because coaching can sometimes feel like an island we are hitting the airwaves to build bridges of tips, tricks and community support to make your coaching islands a little less isolated.
Katie Ritter
So join us as we learn, grow and bring voices from across the ocean to your coaching island.
Matthaeus Huelse
Today we're diving into the simplicity in educational technology, we often find ourselves overwhelmed with a plethora of tech tools and platforms available. But what if the key to effective teaching integration is keeping it simple. Our guest today is a beacon of simplicity in the often complex world of edtech. We'll explore strategies of simplifying tech in the classroom, bridging the tech gap for teachers and the role of community and keeping texts simple. We are thrilled to welcome Alfonso Mendoza, the mastermind behind My EdTech Life. Alfonso is not just an EdTech coach for the renowned but a respected presenter and advocate for purposeful technology use. Alfonso’s insights help educators cut through the clutter to find the tech that truly enhances learning. Let's dive in with the true EdTech simplifier, Alfonso Mendoza. Welcome to Restart Recharge.
Katie Ritter
Welcome!
Alfonso Mendoza
Hey everybody, thank you so much for the invitation. I appreciate being here with such great wonderful like minded hosts and educators and just wonderful people overall in the education space. Thank you so much for the invite.
Katie Ritter
Yes, absolutely. We're excited to have you here. And I think listening to the introduction, the overview of the episode, I just immediately started thinking, well, so many EdTech tools, I know our teachers feel that way, right, I can't learn one more thing. So I'm excited about this topic, because I think sometimes our coaches, our audience, especially our tech coach, listeners feel like they need to give lots of new ideas, lots of new tools to be relevant to the providing value. So I love I love this, this concept and this idea to kind of help reground us that you're gonna bring here. So we know that a lot of times, technology for whatever reason, it still tends to kind of put people on edge, you either get it really easily and you kind of gravitate toward it. Or are educators, you know often say, Oh, I'm really bad at technology? Oh, I don't know, you know, you're the sit down, and you're gonna have to answer a lot of my questions. I'm gonna have stupid questions, right? And they just like really knock themselves and their ability to use technology. So Alfonso why why do you think that people tend to think of technology as really scary and complicated?
Alfonso Mendoza
Well, it's just like, anything with the unknown comes that you know, and especially like you added, there are some that gravitate towards the tech, and they are the tech innovators. Those can be your best friends, the early adopters, those are the ones that, you know, if you really want to roll something out, you definitely go talk to them, they're going to embrace it, or they're going to allow you to see things in a different way and seeing like, oh, okay, I didn't see that before. So those are a good friend to have. However, let's not forget, also about those that are just a little bit just overwhelmed by the tech. And those are the ones that I really just work with hand in hand and just allowing them to understand that it's okay to not know everything. I think in the intro, Matias did a great job and saying, you know, just really loving to simplify things. And I use the kiss philosophy, which is really keep it straightforward and streamlined. You know, it's not the other kids philosophy, maybe some of us here.
You know, but I changed it up that way. Obviously, you don't want to offend anybody, but it's just keep it straightforward and streamlined. And so with that group of educators, it's really just nurturing and caring, and really taking care of them and allowing them to see, like I mentioned before, that it's okay to not know everything, that it's okay to make mistakes, but that I'm there, or the tech is there, just by clicking the Refresh button or just sign out and sign back in. You're not gonna break anything, just get clicky with it, and have some fun. And it's really just promoting that and they have to feel it from you. Oftentimes, I think many tech coaches can be very overwhelmed because obviously they have responsibilities that they have to do and they have a plethora of teachers that they have to meet with, with different personalities. But one of the things is, is that I guess in a similar way and being in the classroom, you really have to personalize that learning for that particular teachers learning styles, which is interesting because now the teacher also becomes the student. So it's really a lot of caring, and a lot of love and a lot of grace in sharing that. But don't get me wrong, the other side, the early adopters, those are the one ones that can continue to be your Harold as far as what you're trying to implement what you're trying to bring in. And slowly, they themselves too can go ahead and help those other teachers and kind of coach them. So being in a district where it's 14 schools and just one of me, I really have to leverage that. And that's something that has helped in the last seven years in this role, is getting to know who my early adopters are, that I can trust to go and roll something out. And then of course, I've got my other teachers that I really need to care and nurture, and help them with that tech burden. To help them see that although this may feel like plate number 113, that they have to spin, it really is something that can kind of really take some of those plates away. To help them again, like we said, Keep everything straightforward and streamlined.
Katie Ritter
I like how you say Get Clicky with it. I like that, like don't be it, don't be afraid to click. And that's it just made me think we had a previous guest on. But then some graphs, and he gives a presentation. And he was talking to us on the podcast about approaching generational differences and keeping like generational context in mind when we coach. And by no means I do not mean to like stereotype based on age. But the way that he put this in perspective really did make me think differently. Because he talks about how baby boomers and our Gen Xers they grew up in a world where if you didn't hit the save button, and you clicked something wrong, you lost all of your work. So whereas millennials and Gen Zers we always say like, just click around, you're not gonna break it, like just try it, right? Because we grew up in a world with Google Docs is saving our work automatically as we work. And so it just it was a unique perspective, do you have you noticed that sort of parallel of people maybe being afraid to click in try versus not afraid to click and try it out?
Alfonso Mendoza
Yeah, you know, I think at the very beginning, when I first started this role It did, however, then obviously, after everything shut down, and teachers are a little bit more open, and it's been amazing that teachers will reach out to me and be like, Hey, have you heard of this new thing, and so on. So that's really exciting. However, you know, you you are right, there are a certain group of teachers where, like I said, it's really the ones that I kind of care about and nurture, not that I don't care about all of them. But, you know, give them that little extra love, you know, and make it out to their rooms and make it out to their campuses to just help them feel comfortable. And sometimes all they want is just that little reassurance that although they know that they can get clicky with it, and nothing will happen. Just having that that reassurance and somebody saying like, Hey, you're alright, you're doing good, and it's okay to not know everything, and it's okay that you made that mistake. Sometimes that goes a long way in building up their confidence. And, and that's something that I guess in a similar way and being in the classroom, you really have to personalize that learning for that particular teachers learning styles, which is interesting because now the teacher also becomes the student. So it's really a lot of caring, and a lot of love and a lot of grace in sharing that. But don't get me wrong, the other side, the early adopters, those are the one ones that can continue to be your Harold as far as what you're trying to implement what you're trying to bring in. And slowly, they themselves too can go ahead and help those other teachers and kind of coach them. So being in a district where it's 14 schools and just one of me, I really have to leverage that. And that's something that has helped in the last seven years in this role, is getting to know who my early adopters are, that I can trust to go and roll something out. And then of course, I've got my other teachers that I really need to care and nurture, and help them with that tech burden. To help them see that, although this may feel like plate number 113, that they have to spin, it really is something that can kind of really take some of those plates away. To help them again, like we said, Keep everything straightforward and streamlined.
Katie Ritter
I love to use so say Get Clicky with it. I like that, like don't be it, don't be afraid to click. And that's it just made me think we had a previous guest on. But then some graphs, and he gives a presentation. And he was talking to us on the podcast about approaching generational differences and keeping like generational context in mind when we coach. And by no means I do not mean to like stereotype based on age. But the way that he put this in perspective really did make me think differently. Because he talks about how baby boomers and our Gen Xers they grew up in a world where if you didn't hit the save button, and you clicked something wrong, you lost all of your work. So whereas millennials and Gen Zers we always say like, just click around, you're not gonna break it, like just try it, right? Because we grew up in a world with Google Docs is saving our work automatically as we work. And so it just it was a unique perspective, do you have you noticed that sort of parallel of people maybe being afraid to click in try versus not afraid to click and try it out?
Alfonso Mendoza
Yeah, you know, I think at the very beginning, when I first started this role It did, however, then obviously, after everything shut down, and teachers are a little bit more open, and it's been amazing that teachers will reach out to me and be like, Hey, have you heard of this new thing, and so on. So that's really exciting. However, you know, you you are right, there are a certain group of teachers where, like I said, it's really the ones that I kind of care about and nurture, not that I don't care about all of them. But, you know, give them that little extra love, you know, and make it out to their rooms and make it out to their campuses to just help them feel comfortable. And sometimes all they want is just that little reassurance that although they know that they can get clicky with it, and nothing will happen. Just having that that reassurance and somebody saying like, Hey, you're alright, you're doing good, and it's okay to not know everything, and it's okay that you made that mistake. Sometimes that goes a long way in building up their confidence. And, and that's something that I guess in a similar way and being in the classroom, you really have to personalize that learning for that particular teachers learning styles, which is interesting because now the teacher also becomes the student. So it's really a lot of caring, and a lot of love and a lot of grace in sharing that. But don't get me wrong, the other side, the early adopters, those are the one ones that can continue to be your Harold as far as what you're trying to implement what you're trying to bring in. And slowly, they themselves too can go ahead and help those other teachers and kind of coach them. So being in a district where it's 14 schools and just one of me, I really have to leverage that. And that's something that has helped in the last seven years in this role, is getting to know who my early adopters are, that I can trust to go and roll something out. And then of course, I've got my other teachers that I really need to care and nurture, and help them with that tech burden. To help them see that, although this may feel like plate number 113, that they have to spin, it really is something that can kind of really take some of those plates away. To help them again, like we said, Keep everything straightforward and streamlined.
Katie Ritter
Yes. Oh, my gosh, I cannot tell you how many times I see, oh, we have a tech coach. We find embedding technology and instruction really important. Here's our content specialists that don't use any technology. And they're the ones driving all the core content instruction and how instruction should look in the classroom. And I'm like, how this is never going to work. So yes, I love that make BFFs with your content specialists, people, to lean into them and multiply yourself. Love that.
Matthaeus Huelse
Yeah, I think that's that's a great point, I was going to actually ask about how, as a coach, if you're thinking about it, I am out there to talk about technology and tools and give support and build the right tools for them. But I'm not a subject matter expert for every single subject. How do you suggest you you gap that divide there in order to get closer to the teacher and their content? Obviously,
Alfonso Mendoza
not being a subject expert, you know, really more of a ninth grade algebra, and then elementary science, social studies and math. So there's Ela is what I'm missing there, and a couple of other things in different grade levels. But you're absolutely right. And our goal, as a coach is really you have to also see that you're also an instructional designer, we you know, in that sense. So talking to your subject matter experts. That's what I said, it's the importance of making that relationship with your content specialist and say, Hey, let's sit down. What are your goals either for this quarter this semester, this six weeks, this nine weeks, depending on how the school is broken up? What is it that you're working on implementing, and then of course, working alongside them and saying, Okay, this is what, number one what the district has adopted and what we need to use. So please, one thing that I do want to caution and say is always use what your district purchases first, because data drives decisions, and they have to get that data to see if it's something that they're going to reuse next year, it can be very easily exciting for us to just hop from app to app to app. But remember, we want to keep it simple. And we don't want to cause any tech burden or tech burnout for our teachers. So start with that first. And then you can lean into some of those other platforms that work well or complement with what you're trying to do and accomplish. But that's really where it all starts and then slowly roll that out as needed. And you may need to create videos, you know, to share the tech side, but at least now, although you may not be that content or subject matter expert, you've got an expert with you, that is giving you exactly what needs to be seen as an exemplar. And now you're doing what you do best. And now you're marrying both worlds together where a teacher like I mentioned, can go and watch a video on how to implement this see an exemplar or now they feel confident enough that they can say hey, Mr. Mendoza, I saw that you're working with our content specialist and I know you created a video, but can you come by just to make sure that the tech would work that day or just to check and then you can say Yeah, absolutely. I can go ahead and make it over there. And like I mentioned, sometimes it's those teachers that just want that warm body there just to be on the safe side. Yes, exactly. That's the word. Perfect. That's the word. I was looking for the safety net. Thank you. So yeah, and like, like I said, it's it's very powerful to do that. So for coaches out there as well. I want you to also say that it's okay to not know everything. It's okay to not know that subject in and out 100% Because you don't have to however, If what you do need is you definitely need just an open mind to learn from your content specialist and see how you two can work well together and create a wonderful learning experience. Really, you have to think of yourself not only as an instructional designer, but you also have to be that learning engineer, right along with your content specialists and engineer some amazing lessons for your teachers.
Matthaeus Huelse
We definitely wear a lot of different hats. I think you pointed it out, well,
Katie Ritter
engineer is the latest. Yeah. A lesson engineer.
Matthaeus Huelse
I think that number of 14 buildings is still in my head. I mean, I just have so many questions about that. But for coaches, specifically, we go out and we build relationships, we make connections with these people. And you already mentioned, you got to find those, those early adopters, you got to find the ones that a little bit more scared of tech. But do you have anything that you could maybe give our coaches to put in their little tool back that they know how to approach someone, maybe either category, someone that's a little scared of tech and someone that's super excited and how you can come in? I mean, you've got 14 buildings, I'm sure you're talking to people all day long. Yes,
Alfonso Mendoza
absolutely. And one of the things there too, that has helped is being or making that connection with the content specialists, they already know, for example, what teachers are also maybe a little even reluctant, just with the lessons or are having some troubles, they could be new teachers, they could be the older teachers. So you get to know the teachers through them as well. And pretty much it has coincided, I'd say like about a good 96% that the same teachers that I would need to help and need to give that little extra attention to are the same teachers that they themselves are having to give that little extra attention to. So that has really helped marry that relationship that you are seeing right along with them. So here's the thing, at least in my district, what I've seen is sometimes teachers are like, Oh my gosh, he's here, he's here, like, he's gonna dump something on us and so on. But if I go in with my content specialists, they're like, Okay, I'm getting the content, but then they don't see me as more like, Oh, he's gonna dump something on us. But while I'm there, it's like, hey, you know, that, you know, but but they see it in action, they don't see that it's siloed. They don't see that, Oh, I gotta use this, because he's telling me, No, it's like, Oh, I gotta use this, because then this is what's going to make the lesson effective, then you start building those relationships. And then the more that you're seeing, obviously, you're building and you're going out there and just checking in, sometimes they feel intimidated that you're walking through, and so on. But it's really sometimes I just want to go and say, Hi, I'm just here to see how you're doing. And then I'll even throw in like, Do you need a restroom break? Go ahead, I'll watch your class. And they know it, and they love it. For 14 schools, the rapport has been really good. And it's just been a wonderful, wonderful ride. Like I said, it's just really selling yourself. Again, there's another hat that you can aware. And I think coming in from a marketing and business and sales background that has translated very well into education, where you're continually selling yourself and really making yourself be known and be seen. And but yeah, you know, those are some of the best things to do. Once you partner up, you'll see with your content specialist, you're really going to find those connections with the campuses. And the upside of this, too, is that now your content specialists to is very familiarized with the technology that is available within the district or some of those platforms that you're sharing as well. So it's all about sharing, sharing, really, sharing is caring, because you're worried about each other. And it really helps lighten the workload when you're going out to campuses. Because if they may not hear it from you directly, they'll hear it from the Content Specialist, and you're working together on that mission. So it really works out really well. That's
Matthaeus Huelse
great advice. I got one more question is I got one more crazy scenario in my head that I meant to ask you about. So we talked about keeping things simple? How do you approach the teacher that has that one tool in their minds that they are that set on using, and it's probably a good tool, but it's truly a learning curve, you're gonna need to spend some time working on it is the opposite of simple. And you kind of have to play this role now. Like, I want to help you learn this, but at the same time, maybe you have something better maybe have something to, you know, steer in a different direction. Do you have any advice for that? I've run into this situation a couple of times. Yes,
Alfonso Mendoza
absolutely. Just the best advice is really I approach it with caution. Because sometimes, like you said, with as a lot of educators and even ourselves can be very dead set of No, this is the way I want to do it, or this is what I want to use and so on. I just say, Okay, let's go ahead and work on this. But I say look, I want to share with you that we can get the same result with what we already have. So you don't have to duplicate any efforts. But what we can do is let's plan this for the next lesson. And then that way that gives us some time to make sure that the students can log in properly, to make sure that the tech works and so on. I just want to reassure them that, hey, I'm not telling you, you can't. But I'm telling you, like, maybe not this one time, but let's work on it, I still encourage them. Because, again, I want them to see for themselves, you know, and sometimes, I know that that can be very difficult, but sometimes a lot of teachers, they want to try stuff on their own. And it's great. I mean, it's, it's a great way to learn. But at the same time, I also remind them, what is the overall objective of the lesson? What do the students need to leave here learning? And is this going to be an extra step that might hinder that learning because of either extra logins, or the platform may not play nice at that time with you? It's a lot of just working with them. Kindness, a lot of love, a lot of nurturing many times. And of course, they're sometimes they'll just go right ahead and do it. And then they'll realize like, Oh, Mr. Mendoza, you're right. You know, I tried it, it didn't work out, and then be like, Hey, it's okay. No worries, nothing happened. We're gonna be good. And let's just move on. And they will try it again, and so on. It's a people business in everything. You know, we're in the people business, I don't want to discourage them from their excitement. But at the same time, you also have to just kind of nudge them a little bit and just say, hey, let's try it out next time, but I'll be here with you. We'll be I'll be your safety net. So that way, if, if it doesn't go well, so you can blame me. They'll be like, okay, no worries, no worries. That's awesome.
Katie Ritter
I love that sometimes Everybody needs somebody else. They can point finger to me feels wrong every now and then. And
Alfonso Mendoza
yes, I absolutely agree. And I tell them many times, hey, if this doesn't work out, it's okay. Just say Mendoza did it. And I don't mind it at all whatsoever. Because like you said, sometimes you just need that. But more than anything is that connection you make with them. Like they know they're not really going to point the finger at you. But at least they've got somebody on their side that is still cheering them on, even though it didn't go well. And somebody that's going to come back and help and always be there. So that's the main thing. Absolutely.
Katie Ritter
I love that. I am getting this positive feeling. But so we are going to take a quick break from our sponsors. And when we return, we will continue to dig in. Welcome back to the restart recharge Podcast. I'm Katie Ritter, and co host Matthaeus Huelse, and we are interviewing the wonderful Alfonso Mendoza here with us. And now finds you have your own podcast and network. And just this really great community that you have built, I want to take a quick turn from talking about technology and keeping it simple and how you support all of your educators and really bring this amazing human element to your coaching. And before we get into our top three tips, at the end here and just give you an opportunity to share with our listeners in case they're not familiar, a little bit about your podcast and your community. And where can everyone find and connect with you?
Alfonso Mendoza
Yes, thank you so much. I really appreciate the opportunity to share. The name of the podcast is called my tech life. And that started back on April 10 2020. We're going on three years and probably like eight months or so something like that. And it has just been a wonderful ride where at 240 or episodes, sometimes I it's hard for me to remember. But yeah, it has been an amazing ride and helping. Obviously, our educator community, my goal for the podcast permission actually is connecting educators and creators one show at a time. And really, it's the essence of basically what we're doing here. It's you're allowing me to share my experience, you're allowing me to share some advice and amplifying my voice. And that's what I want to do also as well, or what I am doing for the last few years is finding those wonderful educators, education practitioners, creators. Now we even have founders on the show. And CEOs of certain companies and platforms that we currently use today are very popular in our education space and really amplifying their stories. I think it's something that is important to really make those connections to see or to hear the experiences of others. I think that's the best way of learning just like we are doing right now. And so the show has been going strong and we definitely have built up that network of listeners and I'm very thankful and honored for all of their support and I know as you also were a guest yes I was and that was an amazing show and definitely had some amazing sound bites from there and really sharing your passion and what it is that you bring to the table and you know and then obviously the opportunity to meet you in person too as well. Same energy probably twice more the energy week in person. So it was wonderful and amazing. Xen, but yeah, so really what it is, is just making those connections and having those tough conversations. Sometimes there'll be some conversations on there that may not necessarily be completely all tech, but their conversations that are important to our education space. So I don't necessarily just subscribe to just tech only. It's, if anything that is or can affect ourselves as educators in a positive way, or to just to continue learning. That, to me is the most important part.
Katie Ritter
I love the format, too! You're just - I think our listeners have probably gathered, you bring this positive energy when you bring that to your show very much so that when we did it, it was streamed live. So people could essentially be tuning in live and commenting and asking questions live. And then of course, watch the recording if they can't tune in live, but are you still doing it that way? Yes. It's just such a cool format.
Matthaeus Huelse
Kudos, for that, too!
Alfonso Mendoza
Yes, it is live every week. It started off with one show every two weeks, then it started every Saturday. And then I started doing Mondays Wednesdays and Saturdays and then I said, No, no, I need to slow down a bit. So now I only do Mondays and Tuesdays. So I slow down a little bit, but it is completely live. And the format, like you said, allows for audience members that are you know, joining, to ask questions or to make comments. And that's one thing that I love to like I said, it's so important. Oftentimes, we'll hear episodes, and sometimes there might be an audience member that might have a question, but then they're like, oh, I have a question. Oh, how do I ask it? Or who do I reach out to? I mean, you can make those connections on the show notes and so on. But if they have that question, right, then in there, it's like just getting that just in time support. And their question answered, it's definitely great. And it's been really good. I'll be honest with you, I'm gonna throw this out there to all the podcasters. Doing it live has definitely helped me in the editing process, because I always tell my guests and I tell all audience members, hey, what you hear, and what you see is what you get, because it's live. So that saves me on the on the editing side, because I'm talking about keeping it simple, right?
Katie Ritter
Yeah, absolutely. I love it when you're bringing that like human care element to your show to buy with it in moment, you know, just in time questions and letting people ask to so you're bringing that to everything? Where could we go? Is it my entire life.com for people?
Alfonso Mendoza
Yeah, actually, if you visit my Ed Tech dot live, my Ed Tech dot live, that's where you can check out all 244 episodes with wonderful educators and creators that you can take knowledge nuggets from and sprinkle them on to what you are already doing. Great. So make sure you visit and make sure you follow us on all socials to it at my Ed Tech life.
Katie Ritter
Awesome. And then is that your personal social media handle as well? Okay, awesome. Thank you. I know our educators and our listeners are going to want to connect with you after the show
Matthaeus Huelse
for sure. And we're going to add all of the contacts and links as well to our subscriptions. So you'll be able to see those there as well. So let's, let's wrap it up. I want to hear the three pieces of advice we can give to our coaches at the end of this episode. What can you perfect. All
Alfonso Mendoza
right now, I'm going to share this. And this has what honestly, I attribute my success to many, many years ago, I met a gentleman who I had no idea he was in the service, he served as a Marine. But he shared the following three things with me that I have held on to and I've helped attribute like I mentioned to my success, and really not just in education, but in everything is number one, improvise. Number two, adapt. And number three, overcome. I know that that's not just for our coaches, but that applies to really anything. But I always love to share that bit of advice, improvise, adapt and overcome. Being able to improvise, you're out at a campus, maybe the tech isn't working. And because we all know tech happens. It's like, okay, let's go to plan B, being able to improvise if you're in a lesson with a teacher, improvising, making sure that you always have a plan B, you have something on your teacher tool belt, your tech tool belt, something that can go ahead and help you still convey the message. if plan A doesn't go well and obviously adapt adapting to the situation, whether it's at the campus that building that teacher, being able to always have all eyes and ears open and sometimes really having your heart open. Like I said, we're in the people business. And although you may not get the reaction that you are looking for, or maybe a reaction that really surprises you, sometimes you don't know what that person may have gone through there that morning, that afternoon and so on. So try not to take things personally too as well but always have the ability to adapt, and obviously overcoming making sure that Whatever it is that you've done in your improvisation in your adaptation can help you overcome and still feel like you didn't mess up. And I know for me, it was very hard in the beginning that I would be like, oh, man, I messed up that didn't go the way it should have, you know, but overcoming that and saying, hey, it all worked out. Well, we just got clicky with it. We had one little hiccup or trip up whatever the case is. You move on you come back, you revisit, and all is good. And sometimes you'd be surprised that the teacher will be like, Oh, I didn't even notice or I didn't even No, everything was fine. And sometimes we're a lot harder on ourselves than we should be. But again, improvise, adapt and overcome.
Katie Ritter
That is great advice, not only for coaching, but for life.
Matthaeus Huelse
That came from a marine to I never thought of as instructional coaches as Marines, but it does get intense sometimes. Yes, it sure does. Alright, thank you all so so much for being our guest today and for all of your great advice that you've given us. Know, our coaches are all going to appreciate it. Thank you so much.
Alfonso Mendoza
Thank you. You're very welcome.
Matthaeus Huelse
So as you navigate away from today's episode, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at our coach cast and let us know what topics you'd want to discuss.
Katie Ritter
And be sure to subscribe to restart recharge wherever you listen to podcasts or at restart, recharge podcast.com And remember your coaching Island is now a part of a larger map,
Matthaeus Huelse
Recharged and inspired said sales towards fearless coaching and join us next time at restart recharge podcast.
Katie Ritter
A Tech Coach Collective