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Jess here! A while back, Sarina and KJ talked about how much they enjoyed Tess Gerritsen's novel, The Spy Coast, and Sarina reassured KJ she'd enjoy book two of the series even more. I had never read a Tess Gerritsen novel, and while I'd heard her name before and vaguely understood she wrote thrillers, I was starting from square one when I downloaded the audio version of The Spy Coast. Now, I'm not an international spy thriller kind of gal. In the abstract, I understand the allure of books like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy or Six Days of the Condor. Spies! Intrigue! International [almost exclusively men] of mystery! But they have never really floated my proverbial boat. That said, I loved Tess Gerritsen's spies and the world they inhabit. There's a sense of place - nay, a downright LOVE of place - and a retiring, rural New England domesticity that spoke to this retiring, rural New England reader. Book two, The Summer Guests, is even more rooted in Maine, on its history and the social dynamics of its natives and its summer people. Once I tore through those first two books, I went back to Gerritsen's first book, The Surgeon, one of Time Magazine's top 100 thriller/mystery books of all time and the first in the Rizzoli & Isles series, consequently made into a long-running television series. Gerritsen has a fascinating career trajectory, lots to talk about regarding pantsing and plotting, where the ideas come from, and lots of other geeky details about the writing life. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Find Tess at Tessgerritsen.com, or on Bluesky, @TessGerritsen Transcript below!EPISODE 462 - TRANSCRIPTJennie NashHey everyone, it's Jennie Nash, founder and CEO of Author Accelerator, the company I started more than 10 years ago to lead the emerging book coaching industry. In October, we'll be enrolling a new cohort of certification students who will be going through programs in either fiction, nonfiction, or memoir, and learning the editorial, emotional, and entrepreneurial skills that you need to be a successful book coach. If you've been curious about book coaching and thinking that it might be something you want to do for your next career move, I'd love to teach you more about it, you can go to bookcoaches.com/waitlist to check out the free training I have—that's bookcoaches.com/waitlist. The training is all about how to make money, meaning, and joy out of serving writers. Fall is always a great time to start something new. So if you're feeling called to do this, go check out our training and see if this might be right for you. We'd love to have you join us.Multiple SpeakersIs it recording? Now it's recording, yay. Go ahead. This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone. I don't remember what I'm supposed to be doing. All right, let's start over. Awkward pause. I'm going to rustle some papers. Okay, now—one, two, three.Jess LaheyHey, this is Jess Lahey, and this is the Hashtag AmWriting Podcast. This is the podcast about writing all the things—short things, long things, poetry, prose, narrative nonfiction, fiction, creative nonfiction, queries, proposals. This is the podcast about writing all the things. More than anything else, this is the podcast about the writing life and about getting the work done. I am Jess Lahey. I'm the author of The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation. And you can find my journalism at The Atlantic and The Washington Post, and my bi-weekly (formerly bi-weekly) column at The New York Times, The Parent-Teacher Conference, ran for about three years I am joined today by Sarina Bowen, who has written 50-odd books. She has written lots and lots of romance, and her most recent addition to the world of publishing has been her thrillers, Dying to Meet You and The Five Year Lie. And she has a book coming out this fall called Thrown for a Loop. The reason I am recording this intro on my own—which, as you may know if you've been listening, is highly unusual for us—is because I know myself. And I know when I'm really excited to talk to someone on the podcast; I'm going to flub the intro. I'm going to forget something. I'm going to forget to introduce them altogether. So today, I'm doing that first, so I don't mess it up. A while ago on the podcast, you may have heard Sarina and KJ read some books by an author named Tess Gerritsen. I had heard of Tess Gerritsen, but I had never read any of her books. I just hadn't yet. I haven't read Nora Roberts yet. I haven't read—there are lots of authors I haven't read yet. And sometimes you don't even know where to start. So when Sarina and KJ recommended Tess Gerritsen's new series set in Maine—the first one being The Spy Coast and the second one being The Summer Guests—I figured I had a good place to start. And you know, as a New Englander, I love a good book about New England, and that was the start of my interest in Tess Gerritsen's work. I have gone back to the beginning and started with her book The Surgeon, which was her first book in the series that became the Rizzoli and Isles Series, as well as a television show. Tess Gerritsen has a—she's written through 33 books at this point. And as I now know, she has also directed a documentary called Magnificent Beast about pigs, which I listened to this morning while I was vacuuming the house. I loved it. She also—she has a lot to say about genre, about publishing, about second careers, about a writing place, and about process. So let's just jump right into it. I am so excited to introduce to you today, Tess Gerritsen. So from the perspective of what our listeners love—this podcast, the Hashtag AmWriting Podcast —is super geek. People who love the nuts and bolts and the dorky details of the writing life. Sarina has a past life in finance, and so she tends to be, like, our “no, but let's talk about the numbers” kind of person. I'm just the research super dork, which is why I spent my morning watching your documentary about pigs.Tess GerritsenOh my god! (Laughing)Jess LaheyMagnificent Beast. I—I've joked in the past that if I could, I would probably just research things in—in, you know, maybe there'll be a book out there, maybe there won't, but I would research things and—and just learn as much as I could. And so I loved—loved—your Magnificent Beast documentary. I thought it was fantastic. But one of the reasons that we wanted to talk to you, just from the very beginning, is that we feel like you do some pretty incredible world-building and relationship-building with your places and your characters. And so I just—I would love to start there, mainly with the idea of starting with the real nuts and bolts stuff, which is, like, what does an average writing day look like for you? And how do you, sort of—how do you set that up? What does it look like, if you have an average writing day? Maybe you don't.Tess GerritsenWell, it's hard to describe an average writing day, because every day is—there are days when you sit at your desk and you just, you know, pull your hair. And there are days when you get distracted by the news. And there are many days when I just do not want to write. But when I'm writing, the good days are when my characters are alive and talking to me. And it's—it's—you talked about world-building and character-building. That is really key to me. What are they saying to me? Can I hear their voices? And it sounds a little—a little crazy, because I am hearing voices. But it's those voices that really make characters come alive.Jess LaheyI—You have said in other interviews that you are very much—sorry to those of you who hate the terms—that you are very much a pantser. And you are sitting on this interview with a consummate plotter. Sarina is our consummate plotter. So could you talk a little bit about how those character—how those voices—influence, you know, the pantsing of the—of the book, and—and how that works for you?Tess GerritsenWell, I mean, it is weird that I am a pantser. And it's funny—I think that people who are plotters tend to be people who are in finance or in law, because they're used to having their ducks lined up, you know. They—they want everything set up ahead of time, and it makes them feel comfortable. And I think a large part of becoming a pantser is learning to be comfortable with unpredictability. Learning to just let things happen, and know you're going to take wrong turns, know you're going to end up in blind alleys—and yet just keep on forging ahead and change direction. So I suppose that what helps me become a pantser, as I said, is hearing a character's voice. If, for instance, when I wrote The Spy Coast, the first thing I heard about that book was Maggie Bird's voice. And she just said, “I'm not the woman I used to be.” And that's an opening there, right? Because you want to find out, Maggie, who did you used to be? And why do you sound so sad? So a lot of it was just—just getting into her head and letting her talk about what a day-to-day life is, which is, you know, raising chickens and collecting eggs and becoming—and being—a farmer. And then she does something surprising in that very first chapter. There's a fox that's killing her chickens, so she grabs her rifle and kills it with one shot. And that opens up another thing, like—how are you, a 62-year-old woman, able to take out a rifle and kill a fox with one shot? So it's—it's those things. It's those revelations of character. When they come out and they tell you something, or they show you they—they have a skill that you weren't aware of, you want to dig deeper and find out, you know, where did they get that skill?Sarina BowenAnd that is a really fun way to show it. I mean, you're talking today with two people who have also kept chickens.Multiple Speakers(All laughing)Jess LaheyAnd had foxes take their chickens, actually.Sarina BowenOh yes, because the two go together.Tess GerritsenYes.Sarina BowenBut yes, I admit I have never shot a fox, and maybe wouldn't.Jess LaheyI have yelled very loudly at a fox, and he actually—I have to say—really mad respect for the fox, because he took one look at me—he did drop the chicken that I was yelling at him for grabbing—and then he went across the street, around the neighbor's house, around the back of the other neighbor's house, and came at the exact same chicken from the other side of the house, where I couldn't see him out the window.Tess GerritsenOh, they are so smart. They are so smart.Jess LaheySo smart. Sarina, it sounded like you had something— you had something you wanted to add, and I interrupted you when we were talking about pantsing and we were talking about world-building and characters speaking to you.Sarina BowenWell, I just had thought that it was a lovely moment to explain why I was so excited to read this book after I heard Tess speak at Thriller Fest 2024, in a packed room where there was nowhere to sit except on the floor. You told the audience a little bit of a story from your real life that—that made you want to write that book. And I wonder if you could tell us what that was, because for me—I mean, we were only five minutes into your talk, and I'm like, oh, I'm—I'm going to download that tonight.Tess GerritsenWell, yes, it was. A lot of my books come from ideas that I've been stewing over for years. I have a folder called the ideas folder. It's an actual physical manila folder. And if I see something in an article or a newspaper or a magazine, I'll just rip it out and stick it in there, and it sometimes takes a long time before I know how to turn this into a book. So the idea for The Spy Coast is a little bit of obscure knowledge that I learned 35 years ago, when I first moved to Maine. My husband is a medical doctor. He opened up a practice, and when he would bring in new patients, he would always get an occupational history. And he used to get this answer—this very strange answer—from his new patients. They would say, “I used to work for the government, but I can't talk about it.” And after he heard that three times, he thought, what town did we land in? And who are these people? And we later found out that on our very short street, on one side of us was a retired OSS person, and on the other side was retired CIA. A realtor told us that our town was full of CIA retirees. So, I mean, of course you want to ask, why did they get here? What are they doing here? What are their lives like? I knew there was a book in there, but I didn't know what that book was. I needed 35 years to come up with the idea. And what I really needed to do was become old and—and realize that as you get older, especially women, we become invisible. People don't pay attention to us. We are over the hill. You know, everybody looks at the young, pretty chicks, but once you start getting gray hair, you fade into the background. And with that experience myself; I began to think more and more about what it's like to be retired. What is it like to be retired from a job that was maybe dangerous, or exciting, or something that you really risked your life to—to achieve? So that was—that was the beginning of The Spy Coast. What happens to CIA retirees—especially women—who are now invisible? But that makes them the best spies of all.Jess LaheyYeah, and we have—we did this really cool thing, this really fun thing for us on the Hashtag AmWriting Podcast. It's like a supporter-only thing, where we call First Pages, where very brave authors—very brave writers—submit their first page to us, and we talk about it and decide whether or not we'd want to turn the page. And you have an incredible skill on your first pages. You're very, very good at first pages. And I was thinking about The Summer Guests, that you had this wonderful line that I'm going to read now:Purity, Maine, 1972. On the last day of his life, Purity police officer Randy Pelletier ordered a blueberry muffin and a cup of coffee at the Marigold Café,Which immediately reminded me of my very, very favorite line from all of literature—my very favorite first line—which is Irving's first line from A Prayer for Owen Meany, in which he ruins the story for you right there in the first line:I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice—not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death, but because he is the reason I believe in God.There is this incredible power to first lines. And I'm sort of wondering where—how first lines happen for you. Do they happen first? Do they happen last? Do they happen along the way?Tess GerritsenFirst lines usually happen last. I—it's—I will write the whole book, and I'll think, something's missing in that first chapter. How do I open this up? And, you know, there are things that make lines immediately hypnotic, and one of those things is an inherent contradiction—something that makes you think, wait, okay, you start off this way, but then all of a sudden, the meaning of that line switches. So, yeah, it starts off with, you know, this guy's going to die. But on that last day of his life, he does something very ordinary. He just orders coffee at the local café. So I think it's that contradiction that makes us want to read more. It's also a way to end chapters. I think that—that if you leave your reader with a sense of unease—something is about to go wrong, but they don't know what it is yet—or leave them with an unanswered question, or leave them with, as I said, a contradiction—that is what's page-turning. I think that a lot of thriller writers in particular mistake action for—for being—for being interesting. A car chase on the page is really very boring. But what's interesting is something that—you could feel that tension building, but you don't know why.Sarina BowenI have joked sometimes that when I get stuck on a plot, sometimes I will talk at my husband and—and say, “you know, I'm stuck here.” And he always says, “And then a giant squid attacked.” And it—of course I don't write books that take place where this is possible, so—but it never fails to remind me that, like, external action can sometimes be just, you know, totally pointless. And that if you're stuck, it's because one of your dominoes isn't leaning, you know, in the right spot. So...Tess GerritsenYeah, it's—it's not as much fun seeing that domino fall as seeing it go slowly tilting over. You know, I really learned this when I was watching a James Bond movie. And it starts off—you know, the usual James Bonds have their cold open to those action and chasing and death-defying acts. I found that—I find that really, in that movie anyway—I was like, Ho hum. Can we get to the story? And I found the time when I was leaning forward in my theater seat, watching every moment, was really a very quiet conversation aboard a train between him and this woman who was going to become his lover. That was fascinating to me. So I think that that transfers to book writing as well. Action is boring.Jess LaheyYou and Sarina do something that I feel, as a writer; I would probably not be very good at, which is creating that unease. I—Sarina in particular does this thing... I've read every one of Sarina's books, as a good friend is supposed to do. And I text her, and I say, Why don't they just talk about it and just deal? Get it out in the open! And she's like, you know, we just got to make these people uncomfortable. And you both have this incredible talent for helping—keeping the reader, uh, along with you, simply because there is this sense of unease. We're slightly off-kilter the whole time. And yet in me, as a people pleaser, that makes me very uncomfortable. I want people to be happy with each other. So how do you—if you get to a place where you feel like maybe things aren't off-kilter enough, or things aren't off-balance enough—how do you introduce a little bit of unease into your—into your story?Tess GerritsenWell, I think it comes down to very small points of conflict—little bits of tension. Like, we call it micro-tension. And I think those occur in everyday life all the time. For instance, you know, things that happen that really don't have any big consequence, but are still irritating. We will stew about those for—for a while. And, you know, I used to write romance as well, so I understand entirely what Sarina is doing, because romance is really about courtship and conflict. And it's the conflict that makes us keep reading. We just—we know this is the courtship. So there's always that sense of it's not quite there, because once the characters are happy, the story is over, right?Sarina BowenYeah.Multiple Speakers(All laughing)Sarina BowenAlso, writing the ends of romance novels is the least interesting part. Like, what...? Once the conflict is resolved, like, I cannot wait to get out of there.Tess GerritsenRight, exactly. You know, I—I pay attention to my feelings when I'm reading a book, and I've noticed that the books that I remember are not the books with happy endings, because happiness is so fleeting. You know, you can be happy one second, and then something terrible will happen. You'll be unhappy. What lasts for us is sadness, or the sense of bittersweet. So when I read a book that ends with a bittersweet ending—such as, you know, Larry McMurtry Lonesome Dove—I ended up crying at the end of that book, and I have never forgotten that ending. Now, if everybody had been happy and there had been nobody to drag all those miles at the end, I would have forgotten that book very quickly. So I think—I try—I always try to leave the end of the book either bittersweet—I mean, you want to resolve all the major plot points—but also leave that sense of unease, because people remember that. And it also helps you, if you have a sequel.Sarina BowenThat's so interesting you've just brought up a couple of really interesting points, because there is a thriller—I actually write suspense now—and one of the books that so captured my attention about five years ago was killing it on the charts. And I thought it was actually a terrible book, but it nailed the bittersweet ending. Like, the premise was solid, and then the bittersweet ending was perfect, and the everything between the first chapter and the last chapter was a hot mess, but—but—um, that ending really stuck with me. And I remember carrying it around with me, like, Wow, they really nailed that ending. You know, and—and maybe that has, like, legs in terms of, like, talking about it. And, you know, if it—if—if it's irritating enough, like, the tension is still there—enough to, like, make people talk about it—it could actually affect the performance of that book. But also, um, one thing that I really love about this series—you have—what is the series title for the...?Tess GerritsenMartini—The Martini Club.Sarina BowenThe Martini Club, right? So The Martini Club is two books now. I inhaled the first one last summer, and I inhaled the second one this summer. And The Martini Club refers to this group of friends—these retired spies. And of course, there are two completely different mysteries in book one and book two. And I noticed a couple of things about the difference between those mysteries that was really fun. So in the first case—or in one of the two cases, let's see—in one of them, the thing that happens in their town is actually, like, related to them. And in the other one, it's kind of not. So to me, that felt like a boundary expansion of your world and your system. But also, I just love the way you leaned into the relationship of these people and their town in such a way. And how did you know to do that? Like, how—what does your toolbox say about how to get that expansiveness in your character set? Like, you know, to—to find all the limits of it?Tess GerritsenThat—you know, so much is like—it's like asking a pole-vaulter how they do it. They just—they have just—I guess its muscle memory. You don't really know how you're doing it, but what I did know was—with age, and because I love these characters so much—it really became about them and about what is going to deepen their friendship? What kind of a challenge is going to make them lean into each other—lean on each other? That's really what I was writing about, I think, was this circle of friends, and—and what you will do, how much you will sacrifice, to make sure your friends are safe. No, you're right—the second book is much more of a classic mystery. Yeah—a girl disappears. I mean, there was—there were—there were CIA undertones in that, because that becomes an important part of the book. But I think that what people are—when people say they love this book—they really talk about the characters and that friendship. And we all want friends like this, where we can go and—and—and have martinis together, and then if we—one of us needs to—we'll go help them bury a body.Multiple Speakers(All laughing)Tess GerritsenThat's—they all have shovels, and they're willing to do it. That's the kind of friendship—friends—we want.Jess LaheyWell, and that's funny you mention that—I had an entire question—it wasn't even a question, it was a statement—in here about friendships and being grateful to you for the reminder about the importance of relationships. And this entire podcast was born out of the fact that we were talking writing all the time, and we just wanted an official way to sit down once a week and actually talk about the work. And your work is suffused with just these incredible relationships—whether that's the Rizzoli and Isles—you know, in your first—in the one of your other series—and I'm just—I'm very grateful for that, because we—especially—I think I re—I really crave books about female relationships, especially about older female relationships. And I have been loving your books, and I've—like, as I may have mentioned to you in my initial email—I had—I'm so sorry—never read your books before. And I admitted in the introduction that there are lots of very, very famous authors whose books I have never read. And it's always so exciting to me to dive into someone's series and realize, oh, this person really touches on themes that mean a lot to me, and I can already tell that I'm going to be enjoying a lot of their books to come forward. So thank you for all of the great descriptions of relationships and how we do rely on each other for various aspects of just how we get through all of this stuff.Tess GerritsenYeah—get through life. But you know what's funny about it is that it didn't start that way. For instance, let's go back to Rizzoli and Isles. The very first time they both appear in a book is in The Apprentice. And they don't start off being friends. They start off being—they're so different. As the TV producer once said, “you've really written about Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock.” That's okay—they are—in the books. They are not natural friends. But like real-life friendships, sometimes—just kind of develop slowly, and—and they have their ups and downs. So there are times when—when Jane and Maura are barely speaking to each other because of conflicts they have. But by the time book twelve comes around—or maybe book seven comes around—you know that they would risk their lives for each other. So I think that if you're writing a series like Rizzoli and Isles, or like The Martini Club, it really helps to develop the friendship on the fly and see how they react to certain stresses. The next book, which I just turned in, called The Shadow Friends—it even put—pushes them even further, and it really—it really strains a marriage, because it's—it's more about Ingrid, and an old lover comes back into her life. She used to—they were both spies—and he is, like, hot, hot, hot—Antonio Banderas kind of guy. And here's Ingrid, married to Lloyd, you know, who's just a sweet analyst who cooks dinner for her every night. And I—when I was coming up with that story, I thought, I want to write a book about their marriage. So it wasn't—the plot wasn't about, oh, you know, international assassinations, even though that does occur in the book. It's really about the story of a marriage.Jess LaheyAnd it gives you, it gives you added unease. You know, if you have your two characters not speaking to each other, and you know your readers love those characters and crave those characters to be getting along at some point, then that's just another reason that we're following along. I was just thinking about, uh, Michael Connelly, uh, book the other day, because I really, really like the series he did with Renée Ballard and her relationship with the Bosch character, and how that series is totally about crime, but yet it's also very much about the relationship. And I think I follow—I continue to read those because of the relationship between those two human beings, and less so because of the murder mystery sort of stuff.Tess GerritsenI think it really becomes important if you're dealing also with Hollywood television series. I still remember what the producer first said when he called me up about Rizzoli and Isles. He said, "I love your girls, and I think they belong on TV.” He didn't say, I love your plots. He didn't say, I love your mysteries, you know, all your intricate ups and downs. It was really about the girls. So if you hope to sell to a television series, really, it's about characters again.Jess LaheyAbsolutely.Sarina BowenI was going to ask about longevity, because you have so many books, and you're so obviously still invigorated by the process, or there wouldn't be a book three that you just turned in. So how have you been able to avoid just being sick to death of—of writing suspense novel after suspense novel?Tess GerritsenI refused. That's what it is. You know, I—I don't—I guess I could say that I have a little bit of ADHD when it comes to—to the books I write. I cannot—after 13 books of Rizzoli and Isles, I just had a different idea. And it takes—it takes a certain amount of backbone to say no to your publisher, to your editor, to people who are going, well, when's the next one in this series coming out? And to be able to say, I need a break. I need to do something completely different. So over—how many years I've been a writer—almost 40 now—I've written science fiction and historicals and a ghost story and romantic suspense and spy novels and medical thrillers and crime novels. I've been all over the place, but each one of those books that took me out of what I was expected to do was so invigorating. It was a book that I needed to write. As an example, I wrote a book called Playing with Fire. Nobody wanted that book. Nobody expected that book. It was a historical about World War II, and about music—about the power of music—and having to do with the death camps. I remember my publisher going, "What are you doing?" And, you know, it's—it's true—they're—they—they are marketers, and they understood that that book would not sell as well, and it didn't. But it still remains one of my favorite books. And when you want to write a book, you need to write that book. That's all—even—even if nobody wants it.Jess LaheyI actually was—I'm so pleased that this came up, because that was actually going to be my question, because both you and Sarina have done this—done, you know, 90 degrees—whether it's out of, you know, one genre into another—and that, to me, requires an enormous amount of courage. Because you know you have people expecting things from you. And you in particular, Tess, have people saying, "No, I want the next one. I love this relationship. I want the next one." And—and dealing—you're not just dealing with the disappointment of whether it's an agent or an editor, but the disappointment of fans. And that's a pressure as well. So when I used to do journalism, I remember a question I asked of another journalist was, "How do you continue to write without fear of the comment section?" And essentially, for us, that's our—you know, those are our readers. So how do you find that thing within yourself to say, no, this really is the thing that I need to be writing now?Tess GerritsenWell, that is a really—it's a really tough decision to buck the trend or buck what everybody's expecting, because there's a thing in publishing called the death spiral. And if your book does not sell well, they will print fewer copies for the next one. And then that won't sell well. So you start—your career starts to go down the drain. And that is a danger every time you step out of your tried and true series and do something out of—you know, completely out of the ordinary. I think the reason I did it was that I really didn't give a damn. It was—it was like, Okay, maybe this will kill my career, but I've got to write this book. And it was always with the idea that if my publisher did not want that, I would just self-publish. I would just, you know, find another way to get it out there. And I—I was warned, rightly so, that your sales will not be good for this book, and that will—it will hurt the next contract. And I understood that. But it was the only way I could keep my career going. Once you get bored, and you're—you're trapped in a drawer, I think it shows up in your writing.Jess LaheyI had this very conversation with my agent. The—my first book did well. And so then, you know, the expectation is, I'll write like part two of that, or I'll write something for that exact same audience again. And when I told my agent—I said, "You know, this book on substance use prevention and kids—I—it's—I have to write it. And I'm going to write it even, you know, if I have to go out there and sell it out of the trunk of my car." And she said, "Okay, then I guess we're doing this." And yes...Tess Gerritsen(Laughing) They had their best wishes at heart.Jess LaheyAnd honestly, I love—I loved my book that did well. But The Addiction Inoculation is the book I'm most proud of. And, you know, that's—yeah, that's been very important to me.Tess GerritsenI often hear from writers that the book that sold the fewest copies was one that was—were their favorites. Those are the ones that they took a risk on, that they—I mean, they put their heart and soul into it. And maybe those hurt their careers, but those are the ones that we end up being proud of.Jess LaheyI like to remind Sarina of that, because I do remember we text each other constantly. We have a little group, the three of us, a little group text all day long. And there was—I remember when she first wrote a male-male romance, she was scared. She was really scared that this was going to be too different for her readers. And it ended up being, I think, my favorite book that she's ever written, and also a very important book for her in terms of her career development and growth, and what she loves about the work that she does. And so I like to remind her every once in a while, remember when you said that really scared you and you weren't sure how your readers were going to handle it?Sarina BowenRight? Well, I also did that in the middle of a series, and I went looking for confirmation that that is a thing that people did sometimes, and it was not findable. You know, that was...Jess LaheyWhat? Change things up in terms of—change things up in the middle of a series?Sarina BowenIn the middle of a series. And anyway, that book still sells.Tess GerritsenThat is a great act of courage, but it's also an act of confidence in yourself as a writer. There are ways to do it. I think some writers will just adopt a different pen name for something that's way out there.Jess LaheyIt's funny you should say... it's funny you should say that.Sarina BowenWell, no, and I never have done that, but, um—but anyway, yeah, that's hard. I, uh...Jess LaheyYeah.Sarina BowenIt's hard to know. Sometimes...Jess LaheyWe entertain it all the time. We do talk about that as an option all the time. Shouldn't we just pick up and do something completely different? One of the things that I also—I mentioned at the top of the podcast about, you know, you went off—not only have you done lots of different things in terms of your writing—but you went off and you did an entire documentary about pigs. I have—I have to ask you where on earth that came from and why. And it is a total delight, as I mentioned, and I have already recommended it to two people that I know also love the topic. But, you know, to go off—and especially when you usually, as some of us have experienced—our agents saying, so when am I going to see more pages? or when am I going to see the next book? And you say, I'm really sorry, but I have to go off and film this documentary about pigs.Tess GerritsenYes. Well, you know, I was an anthropology major in college, and I've always been interested in the pig taboo. You know, back then, everybody just assumed it was because, yeah, it was disease or they're dirty animals—that's why they're forbidden food. It never quite convinced me, because I'm Chinese-American. Asia—you know, Asia loves pork. Why aren't they worried about all that? So I was in Istanbul for a book tour once, and I remember I really wanted bacon, and, you know, I couldn't get bacon. And then I thought, okay, I really need to find out why pork is forbidden. This is a—this is a cultural and historical mystery that never made sense to me. The explanations just never made sense to me. It cannot be trichinosis. So I told my son that—my son is—he does—he's a filmmaker as well. And he just said, "Well, let's do it. Let's—we will pose it as a mystery," because it is a mystery. So it took us probably two years to go and—you know, we interviewed anthropologists and pet pig owners and archaeologists, actually, just to find out, what do they say? What is the answer to this? And to us, the answer really just came down to this cultural desire for every—every tribe—to define us versus them. You know, they eat pigs. They're not us, so therefore they're the enemy. And it was fascinating because we—we ended up finding out more about pigs than I was expecting, and also finding out that people who have pet pigs can sometimes be a little unusual.Jess LaheyAnd the people who purchase the clothes for the pigs are also crazy.Tess GerritsenYes. Sew outfits for their pigs and sleep with their pigs. And there was—there was one woman who had—she slept on the second floor of her house, so she had an elevator for her pig who couldn't make it up the stairs, and, you know, ramps to get up onto the bed because they've gotten so fat—they've been overfed. But it was—for me, at the heart of it was a mystery.Jess LaheyAs a nonfiction author whose whole entire reason for being is, "I don't know—let's find out," I think that's just the most delightful thing. And I loved your framing as, "I don't know, we have this question, let's go out there and just ask people about it and find the experts." And that's—oh, I could just live on that stuff. So...Tess GerritsenSo could I. You know, research is so enticing. It's enticing. It is—it can get you into trouble because you never write your book. Some of us just love to do the research.Jess LaheySarina actually has taken skating lessons, done glass blowing—what else have you done? Yoga classes and all—all kinds of things in the pursuit of knowledge for her characters. And I think that's a delight.Sarina BowenYes. If you can sign up for a class as part of your research, like, that is just the best day. Like, you know, oh, I must take these ice skating lessons twice a day for five months, because—yeah—or twice a week, but still.Tess GerritsenYou must be a good ice skater then.Sarina BowenI'm getting better.Tess GerritsenSo you never gave them up, I see.Jess LaheyWell, it's fun because she usually writes about hockey, but she has a figure skater coming up in this book that's coming out this fall. And she's like, "Well, I guess I'm just going to have to learn how to figure skate."Tess GerritsenYeah.Sarina BowenI also—one time I went to see Rebecca Skloot speak about her big nonfiction The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.Tess GerritsenOh, okay.Sarina BowenAnd she said that all her best ideas had come from moments in her life when she went, "Wait, what?!"Tess GerritsenYes. Yep.Sarina BowenIncluding for The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Like, she learned about the cells in high school—she was in high school biology class—and the teacher said, like, "This woman died in the '60s, but we're still using her cells," and she said, "Wait, what?!" And that's—that's what you made me think of with the pigs. Like, I think...Jess LaheyWell, and also your folder of ideas. I mean, I immediately texted Sarina after listening to a podcast where I heard an ad, and the ad made me go, "Oh that could be creepy." And then I'm like, "Okay, this is—this is a plot. This is going in the folder somewhere." And so you have to just think about how those things could unfold over time. And I love the idea of—and even in journalism—there are articles that I've written where I said, this just isn't their time. And then, like, five years later, I'll hear something out there, and I'm like, okay, finally, it's the time for this thing. And there's a reason you put that article in your idea—in your paper—manila folder of ideas.Tess GerritsenWell, I think writers are—we have to be curious. We have to be engaged in what's going on around us, because the ideas are everywhere. And I have this—I like to say I have a formula. It's called "two plus two equals five." And what that means is, sometimes you'll have a—you'll have a piece of information that, you know, there's a book here, but you haven't figured out what to do with it. And you wait for another piece of information from some completely different source, and you put them together, and they end up being like nuclear fusion—bigger than the…Sarina BowenYes!Jess LaheyYes!Tess GerritsenSome of the parts.Sarina BowenMost every book I've ever written works like that. Like, I have one idea that I drag around for, like, five years, and then I have this other idea, and one day I'm like, oh, those two things go together.Tess GerritsenYep.Jess LaheyYeah, absolutely. I think Stephen King mentioned that about Carrie. I think it was like, telekinesis, and that usually starts about the time of menstruation, and it was like, boom, there was Carrie. You know, those two things came together. I love that so much. So you mentioned that you have just handed in your next book, and we don't—we do not, as a rule, ask about what's next for an author, because I find that to be an incredibly intimidating and horrifying question to be asked. But I would love to hear; you know, is this—is this series one that you hope to continue working on? The main series, mainly because we have quite fallen in love with your little town in Maine—in Purity, Maine. Fantastic name for your town, by the way. It's really lovely. It creates such a nice dichotomy for these people who have seen and heard things during their careers that maybe are quite dark, and then they retire to a place called Purity. Is this a place where we can hopefully spend a little bit of time?Tess GerritsenWell, I am thinking about book number four now. I have an idea. You know, it always starts with—it starts with an idea and doodling around and trying to figure out what—you know, you start with this horrible situation, and then you have to explain it. So that's where I am now. I have this horrible situation, I have to explain it. So, yeah, I'm thinking about book four. I don't know how—you never know how long a series is going to go. It's a little tough because I have my characters who are internationally based—I mean, they've been around the world—but then I can't leave behind my local cop who is also a part of this group as well. So I have to keep an eye out on Maine being the center of most of the action.Sarina BowenRight, because how many international plots can you give Purity, Maine?Tess GerritsenThat's right, exactly. Well, luckily…Jess LaheyLook, Murder, She Wrote—how many things happened to that woman in that small town?Tess GerritsenExactly, exactly. Well, luckily, because I have so many CIA retirees up here, the international world comes to us. Like the next book, The Shadow Friends, is about a global security conference where one of the speakers gets murdered. And it turns out we have a global security conference right here in our town that was started by CIA 40 years ago. So I'm just—I'm just piggybacking on reality here. And—not that the spies up here think that's very amusing.Sarina BowenThat is fantastic, because, you know, the essential problem of writing a suspense novel is that you have to ground it in a reality that everyone is super familiar with, and you have to bring in this explosive bit of action that is unlikely to happen near any of us. And those two things have to fit together correctly. So by, um, by putting your retired spies in this tiny town, you have sort of, like, gifted yourself with that, you know, precise problem solver.Tess GerritsenYeah, reminding us.Sarina BowenYeah.Tess GerritsenBut there's only so far I can take that. I'm not sure what the limits... I think book four is going to take them all overseas, because my local cop, Jo, she's never been out of the country—except for Canada—and it's time for her dad to drag her over to Italy and say, "Your dead mom wanted to come to Italy, so I'm taking you." And, of course, things go wrong in Italy for Jo.Jess LaheyOf course, of course. Well, we're going to keep just banging on about how much we love these books. I think we've already mentioned it in three podcast episodes so far in our “What have you been reading lately that you've really loved?” So we're—we're big fans. And thank you so much for sitting down to talk with us and to—you know, one of the whole points of our podcast is to flatten the learning curve for other authors, so we hope that that's done a little bit of that for our listeners. And again, thank you so much. Where can people find you and your work if they want to learn a little bit more about Tess Gerritsen—her work?Tess GerritsenYou can go to TessGerritsen.com, and I try to post as much information there as I can. But I'm also at Bluesky, @TessGerritsen, and what is now called “X”—a legacy person on X—@TessGerritsen, yes.Jess LaheyThank you so, so much again. And for everyone out there listening, keep your butt in the chair and your head in the game.The Hashtag AmWriting Podcast is produced by Andrew Perella. Our intro music—aptly titled Unemployed Monday—was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output, because everyone deserves to be paid for their work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

Do you get 100% attendance at your parent teacher conference? Do you get 100% of people engaged at the table during those conferences? I've got an idea that can make BOTH of those happen. And the best part these conferences will create LESS work and LESS stress in your teacher life. Sometimes in order to make parent-teacher conferences between, we just need to remix them with raisins! Because this year, we can all be hosting raisin reunions! Are you ready to find out more on how to host the best conferences of your career? You are in the right place! Episode Notes: Resource Bundle For Raisin Reunions: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Parent-Teacher-Conference-Bundle-Raisin-Reunions-Host-BEST-Conferences-Ever-10241241 Get a free PDF copy of Monica's Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Needing some uplifting, awesome professional development at your school? Let's Connect:  http://monicagenta.com/pd Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed

The only job where someone might flirt with you, fight you, and file a complaint—all before lunch. _________________________________ BIG NEWS!!! Our 2025 Bored Teachers Comedy Tour FALL SHOWS go on presale WEDNESDAY 5/1 - exclusive for our followers! Don't miss this exclusive chance to grab the BEST SEATS before tickets go on sale to the public this Friday. Rally your teacher besties TODAY and lock in your spots for the night of laughter you NEED to make it through the first semester! https://bit.ly/TODBTCT   We're coming to Australia, New Zealand and Canada! We'll be heading your way this fall, and tickets are already selling fast! Grab yours NOW: https://bit.ly/TODBTCT   Check out our MERCH! https://shop.boredteachers.com Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.beacons.ai/teachersoffdutypod Send us a voice message: https://bit.ly/3UPAT5a Listen to the podcast anywhere you stream your favorite shows: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/69pLuB4cKPCP8UG3eCImfP Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teachers-off-duty/id1602160612 _________________________________  What happens when a mom uses a parent-teacher conference as her alibi for murder? Or when a dad shows up to school ready to throw hands—with boxing gloves? Yeah… it's that kind of episode. Join Bri, Anna, and Tyler as they dive into the most chaotic, cringeworthy, and just plain wild parent-teacher conference stories you've ever heard. From a grinding mom at the staff party to plagiarism turned protest, they're sharing it all—with plenty of laughter, relatable rants, and ADHD detours along the way. We also get a peek into Peyton's sass (Bri's daughter), teacher karaoke strategies, and how SpongeBob is somehow connected to murder mysteries in the classroom. Plus, Tyler might be a rock-paper-scissors genius. Who knew? If you're a teacher, a parent, or someone who loves a good “wait, that really happened?!” story, you don't want to miss this episode. Let us know—do you prefer when we stay on topic or go full ADHD mode?   And don't forget to grab your tickets for the Bored Teachers Comedy Tour—we're coming to a city near you! https://bit.ly/TODBTCT Listen now & don't forget to subscribe! Follow your hosts: Tyler Jackowski @TylerJackowskiOfficial Briana Richardson @HonestTeacherVibes Anna Kowal @RreadAwayWithMissK _________________________________ Teachers get your perks!! This episode is brought to you by: Brooklyn Bedding | Go to https://brooklynbedding.com to get 30% off today using CODE: TOD Warby Parker | Go to https://www.warbyparker.com/tod and get FREE shipping and a 30 day return Naked Wines | Go to https://www.nakedwines.com/tod and get six bottles of wine for $39.99 using CODE: TOD _________________________________ Follow us on all platforms @TeachersOffDutyPodcast Get Teachers Off Duty Premium to access EXCLUSIVE content at: https://teachersoffduty.supercast.com/ Check out our MERCH! https://shop.boredteachers.com/collections/teachers-off-duty _________________________________ Teachers Off Duty - A Bored Teachers©️ Podcast

Crossover episode of Pewside Perspective. Hope the listeners of the Parent Teacher Conference enjoy. Let me know what you think at pewsideperspective@gmail.comI did a thing...I was kicked out of a Middle School History Teacher's Group on Facebook. In this cross over episode with his old podcast The Parent Teacher Conference, Coach shares the reasoning for his removal (at least he thinks the reason because none was ever given) and shares how in K-12 history education the progressive view is seen as the correct view and anything that is not in support of their view is seen as "far-right". For example anything by Howard Zinn & the Zinn Institute is seen as "unbiased" and appropriate for the classroom while anything by Prager U is seen as inappropriate even though Prager U declares its conservative bias and Zinn withholds sharing its Marxist bias.The last "lyric" of the hymn, Coach shares the importance of history in the Christian faith (rather than holding a view of a "spiritual" Jesus and resurrection and the importance of it happening in real time and space) and shares how more historians are now in agreement of a historical Jesus (some support from Wes Huff and Dr. Gary Habermas below) ⁠Bill Joel's We Didnt Start the Fire MTV Video⁠⁠Prager U TBH History on the Scientific Revolution ⁠⁠Wes Huff on the Joe Rogan Podcast⁠⁠Dr. Gary Habermas on the Resurrection⁠

As a Valley veteran, Tom Steenson has seen patterns emerge from his two decades of parent-teacher conferences. He invites us to sit down for a not-so-hypothetical conference featuring the recurring advice he offers to the parents of his lower school students. In short, Mr. Steenson hopes to encourage parents in their parental authority and to help them identify (or sometimes even invent) opportunities for growth in their young men. Chapters: 3:25 Encourage parental instincts 7:03 Trust in the long game 9:02 “Better late than early”TM 11:38 Exercise his accountability 20:05 Let him help others 22:48 Don't eliminate friction 24:05 Beware the schedule 26:36 Help him want to read Featured opportunities: Parents Conference: Fostering Our Sons' Faith at The Heights School (April 12, 2025) Teaching Essentials Workshop at The Heights School (June 16-20, 2025) Also on the Forum: A Guide to Parent-Teacher Conferences by Kyle Blackmer Partnering with Parents by Michael Moynihan Communicating with Parents by Kyle Blackmer Dumb Phones, Feature Phones, and the New Tech Landscape featuring Alvaro de Vicente

In this episode, Dr. Becky shares a vulnerable moment at home when her son confesses his schoolyard transgressions—just as she prepares for his parent-teacher conference. She walks us through a play-by-play of what happens next, offering valuable insights into how to navigate these conversations with our kids and their teachers.Do you also have a kid who is 0% people pleasing? Then you won't want to miss "Why Is Everything a Battle?" Dr. Becky's Live Workshop on Power Struggles, Defiance, and Strong-Willed Kids happening on Thursday, Apr 17 from 01:30 PM - 02:45 PM EDT. RSVP here: https://bit.ly/3RqW7nUGet the Good Inside App by Dr. Becky: https://bit.ly/4fSxbzkFollow Dr. Becky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbeckyatgoodinsideSign up for our weekly email, Good Insider: https://www.goodinside.com/newsletterOrder Dr. Becky's book, Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be, at goodinside.com/book or wherever you get your books. Plus, check out her new children's book, That's My Truck!: A Good Inside Story About Hitting.For a full transcript of the episode, go to goodinside.com/podcast.Today's episode is brought to you by Ritual. You know that feeling when you're going a million miles an hour, jumping from one thing to the next? You're trying to finish an email when you remember the laundry's still in the washer, your kid is shouting about needing poster board for a project due tomorrow, your pone won't stop buzzing, and—oh, great—you forgot that tonight is parent-teacher conferences. Sometimes, life is just… a lot.Stress doesn't have an off-switch. And we can support our body's natural response to it. That's why I love Ritual's Stress Relief, featuring BioSeries technology. It's designed to work with your body to help manage everyday stress.If you feel like daily stress is taking a toll on your body and mind, you might want to give them a try. Get Ritual Stress Relief and save 25% on your first month at ritual.com/goodinside.This episode is brought to you by Airbnb. Recently, I've been on the road spreading the word about my new children's book, That's My Truck: A Good Inside Story About Hitting!. I'm so grateful and excited to be on this book tour, connecting with our community in person. And it's also true that being away from home can feel hard. That's why I love Airbnb–I can find and book a place that feels just a little bit more like home away from home, somewhere I can come back to at the end of the day and recharge. Something else I love about Airbnb is that you can become a host while you're away by offering your home to someone traveling to your town!  Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com/host.

Links in this episode:  Sign up to attend Christine's session for teachers on Friday, April 11th at 9am pacific all about holding parent-teacher conferences in your program HERE You can read this episode in article format HERE Find Christine's Books on Bookshop.org HERE  Connect with Christine on Instagram  

If you liked the Parent Teacher Conference, try out Pewside Perspective, where Coach looks at a wide range of issues from a Christian perspective including educational thoughts like this episode...Hymn #7 Everyday People.On this crossover episode...On January 29th, 2025, President Trump signed the Executive order called "ENDING RADICAL INDOCTRINATION IN K-12 SCHOOLING". Many people, especially teachers, were angry. On this episode, Coach discusses 3 points from the executive order; patriotic education, gender transitioning of children without parental knowledge, and diversity, equity, and inclusion or Critical Race Theory messaging in the K-12 classroom from the perspective of a teacher, parent, and Christian. He defines terms in order to achieve understanding and shares how many people in opposition to the E.O. are creating a hyperbolic straw man rather than address reasonable concerns as presented here.

As Coach prepares the first episodes of his new podcast endeavor Mixtape Manifest (with three episodes dropping on January 2nd), he was missing commentating on his favorite time of year, Christmas. In this extra episode of the Parent Teacher Conference, Coach talks about one of his daughter's favorite Christmas movies, Christmas with the Franks, and shares what it teaches us about Jesus' sacrifice, 1st in his coming to earth and in his walk to the cross. Please look for the Mixtape Manifest on January 2nd. You can stay up to date by emailing mixtapemanifest411@gmail.com, or follow Mixtape Manifest on Facebook or Twitter (X).

In Episode 59 of Teach Task Box Inspire, I'm diving into five common mistakes special education teachers often make during parent-teacher conferences — and what you can do instead. We'll cover everything from starting off with positives to keeping your language clear and simple. These practical tips will help you turn conferences into productive, collaborative conversations. Whether you're new to teaching or have years of experience, this episode will help you build better relationships with families and set your students up for success!Resources Mentioned:Free training: 3 Simple and Powerful Ways to Cultivate Independence in Your Special Education Classroom Show Notes: https://chalkboardsuperhero.com/episode59

Beat Migs! And we chat about nicknames.

This week, I recapped my hijinx (and white limo rides!) at my pal Amanda's wedding, plus I got into another fight with another door...and thought I may be having an aneurysm. Then, the team and I headed to Miami for Bravo's Fan Fest where I squeezed in Ben's first Parent/Teacher Conference and I started Part One of the Cher memoir on the plane! For more interviews and behind-the-scenes tea, tune in to Andy Cohen Live weekdays on Radio Andy by subscribing to SiriusXM. Use my link https://sxm.app.link/AndyCohen for a free trial! Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to new episodes ad-free and a whole week early.

Morgan White Jr. fills in for Dan!It's almost time to sit down with your child's teacher for an update on their progress. Are you asking the right questions? Morgan spoke with Teacher Terri who outlined what you should be asking the educators.Ask Alexa to play WBZ NewsRadio on #iHeartRadio and listen to NightSide with Dan Rea Weeknights From 8PM-12AM!

Allison & Brian discuss their first "Parent-Teacher Conference" for their 3 year old preschooler. Also, yet again- a NEW SEGMENT- is introduced, called "AITA?" where Allison questions the excuses her friends give to avoid hanging out with her. Lastly, Allison's encounter with another mom at the library leaves us all wondering what the heck is going on.... Please listen and us know if you think she's in danger.

If you would like updates on the new podcast Coach is creating please get on the mailing list ptcpodcast@gmail.com of following him on Twitter @coachKcullen our following The Parent Teacher Conference page on Facebook After over 200 episodes and many discussions with listeners over the past 2.5 years, the Parent Teacher Conference's last episode is here. Coach begins discussing the Beatles Abby Road album and then shares the reasons he first began the podcast in the 1st place (to allow more moderate to conservative educators and parents to know they were other voices of agreement out there rather than the more progressive thoughts that were being pushed in education and how that would effect him as a teacher and parent. He then shares that the show fulfill its purpose; the evidence 1) the end of progressive domination in edu Twitter and decline of edu Twitter as seen in the current of exodus to Blue Sky (and the reasons why Coach is sticking with edu Twitter, its promotion of diversity of thought) 2) the post-mortem of the election of Trump as nicely summed up by liberals such as Bill Maher where the problem was the Democratic track further left than to the center Clip of Real Time with Bill Maher referenced in episode 3) The future...plans for where the new podcast that Coach will create will focus on, life through the lens of faith

CLIP- Klein's Parent Teacher Conference full 396 Wed, 13 Nov 2024 15:55:07 +0000 IvsCMQtqC0RouUDyA7LW71uNRp3CapWQ society & culture Klein/Ally Show: The Podcast society & culture CLIP- Klein's Parent Teacher Conference Klein: This east coast transplant, has built and hosted successful morning radio shows on both coasts. He has also written jokes for Comedy Central Roasts and Howard Stern. His biggest claim to fame, however, was when he was born eight minutes after midnight on January 1st and named ‘Baby New Year.' Ally: Sketch comedian, voice-over artist, and comedy writer. Ally has co-hosted radio shows in San Francisco and Los Angeles and had her voice featured in numerous commercials, cartoons, and video games. DJ OMAR KAHN: Audio specialist and ‘self-made millionaire.' Omar spent years as part of the Hall of Fame Kevin & Bean Show. 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. Society & Culture False https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?feed-link=http

There were some parent teacher conferences that Chelsea attended. And Tim is unimpressed with Shawnessy's dating. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What else, but sports!

There were some parent teacher conferences that Chelsea attended. And Tim is unimpressed with Shawnessy's dating. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Parent/Teacher Conference 11/06/24

It is time for the November mailbag, and Amanda Heyn is back with Tim to answer listener questions and offer advice. They begin with some recommendations for art-related streaming shows, then move on to a conversation on how we keep multiple classes aligned on the curriculum schedule. Finally, they tackle the debate on whether we should be taking of points when students turn in their work past the due date. And stick around for some of Amanda's unhinged food takes during This or That: Thanksgiving Foods Edition. Resources and Links Find and Join the Art of Ed Community Between the Folds documentary See the Art21 website Made You Look on Netflix And the corresponding Made You Look podcast Get The Picture by Bianca Bosker What to Do When You've Only Got a Pencil and Paper Resources from AOEU on One-Day Lessons Resources from AOEU on Parent-Teacher Conferences

这期播客介绍有简体中文和英语。由于空间限制，录音稿没有放在下面的描述栏。但您可以在我的播客网站上每一集的下面找到录音稿。网址是https://www.buzzsprout.com/1868166。如果找不到，请告诉我。如果您有任何问题，请随时通过电子邮件联系我，邮箱是TheLoneMandarinTeacher@outlook.com。祝您有美好的一天！This podcast introduction is in both Simplified Chinese and English. Due to space constraints, the transcript is not available in the description below. However, it's easily accessible on my podcast website, where you will find the transcript under each episode. The web address is https://www.buzzsprout.com/1868166. Let me know if you can't find it. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at TheLoneMandarinTeacher@outlook.com. Have a great day!中文简介：欢迎收听新一期的《五分钟中文》。今天，我想和大家聊聊中美两地家长会的不同。正好这周是我们学校的家长会，所以想跟大家分享两国家长会的安排、形式差异以及各自的特点和原因。English Introduction:Welcome to a new episode of “5-Minute Chinese.” Today, I'd like to talk about the differences between parent-teacher conferences in China and the U.S. This week happens to be conference week at my school., so I want to share how the conferences are arranged, the different formats, and what makes them unique and why.发短信给我！ Send me a text!Support the show如果您喜欢我的播客，您可以通过成为订阅者来支持我。您的支持对我来说是巨大的鼓励。但无论您是否选择捐款，我都很感激有您成为听众。能够每周与您分享几分钟的时间，对我来说是莫大的荣幸。❤️If you enjoy my podcast, you can support me by becoming a subscriber. Your support is a huge encouragement to me. But whether or not you choose to donate, I'm grateful to have you as a listener. It's an honor to share a few minutes with you each week. ❤️

10 - 25 - 24 ARE PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES STILL NECESSARY by Maine's Coast 93.1

More parent-version calls of the teachers revealed to them during conference time!

It's that time of year…parent/teacher conferences are happening in many districts. Kendra's going today…what did the teachers say about YOU?

This week, we welcome New York Times Bestselling author, Jessica Lahey to The Hamilton Review!  In this conversation, Jessica discusses her two books: The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed and The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence. Enjoy this conversation! Jessica Lahey is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed and The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence. Jess was awarded the Research Society on Alcohol's Media Award for “outstanding journalistic efforts of writers who cover empirical research on alcohol” […] “for her book The Addiction Inoculation and advocacy for the recovery community.” Over twenty years, Jess has taught every grade from sixth to twelfth in both public and private schools, and spent five years teaching in a drug and alcohol rehab for adolescents in Vermont. She has written about education, parenting, and child welfare for The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and her biweekly column “The Parent Teacher Conference” ran for three years at the New York Times. She designed and wrote the educational curriculum for Amazon Kids' award-winning animated series The Stinky and Dirty Show, and was a 2019 Pushcart Prize nominee. Jess holds the dubious honor of having written an article that was later adapted as a writing prompt for the 2018 SAT. She co-hosts the #AmWriting podcast from her empty nest in Vermont   How to contact Jessica Lahey: Jessica Lahey Official Website   How to contact Dr. Bob: Dr. Bob on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChztMVtPCLJkiXvv7H5tpDQ Dr. Bob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroberthamilton/ Dr. Bob on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.hamilton.1656 Dr. Bob's Seven Secrets Of The Newborn website: https://7secretsofthenewborn.com/ Dr. Bob's website: https://roberthamiltonmd.com/ Pacific Ocean Pediatrics: http://www.pacificoceanpediatrics.com/    

Parent-teacher conferences are just around the corner, and like many teachers, Jenna is unsure of what to expect. Will parents be supportive? Will they challenge her methods? During the height of COVID-19, remote learning turned parents into makeshift educators. This increased parental involvement but also led to heightened scrutiny of schools. For new teachers like Jenna, this added pressure made parent-teacher conferences especially daunting.In this episode, she comes face-to-face with the fact that teaching is about much more than working with students. Resources:Listen to Jenna's interview on That's Total Mom Sense: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/janet-irwin-and-jenna-macnulty-educating-our-nations/id1463443667?i=1000671647592 Learn  more about Year One and get free classroom resources:  https://yearonepodcast.com/ Follow Miss MacNulty's journey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miss.macnulty/ Follow Miss MacNulty's journey on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@miss.macnultyLearn more about Carnegie Learning: https://www.carnegielearning.com/ 

Jill and Robin are full of laughter this week after being away from each other for a couple of weeks. They dig into the good, bad and ugly of October at school. They will talk about all things from weather changes, parent/teacher conference, full moons and quarter assessments. You do not want to miss out this funny episode.Support the showFollow Us:FacebookInstagramTikTok

In this episode, we explore five actionable ways to make the most of your parent-teacher conference (at any age), from preparing with your child to tracking progress afterward. Learn how to turn these short meetings into powerful tools for your child's academic and personal growth! Please click the button to subscribe so you don't miss any episodes and leave a review if your favorite podcast app has that ability. Thank you! For more information, visit the Evolved Education website at: https://evolvededucationcompany.com/category/podcast/ © 2021 - 2024 Mary Miele

Let's talk. Send me a text message! Are you ready to make the most of parent-teacher conferences and open house this fall?

Welcome to the latest episode of the Paulding County Cast with your host, Melissa Carter! Dive into Paulding County news as we cover crucial dates for the Paulding County School District, including Digital Learning Day and Parent-Teacher Conferences. Discover all the spooky details about the upcoming Trick or Treat Village at Earl Duncan Park. Get the latest Hurricane Helene update and learn about its devastating impact across Georgia. Plus, catch up on local crime reports and what's happening in your community. Stay informed and engaged with all the updates you need in this packed episode. SOCIAL: Facebook YouTube Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Palden County Cast02:24 Community Events and Updates05:58 Cultural Events and Activities06:28 Community Engagement and Church Announcements07:39 Sports Highlights and Weather Updates08:06 Podcast Promotions and Closing RemarksSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Play On Words from big city readers, we're diving deep into the world of school reading support with a reading specialist and a parent who's been through the process. If you've ever wondered what a universal screener is or how Response to Intervention (RTI) and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) work, this episode is for you. We'll also explore: What happens if your child needs extra help at school. The truth behind "words per minute" — does it really matter? How to make sense of your child's report card and what their reading challenges may mean. Preparing for parent-teacher conferences and how to effectively communicate with your child's support team.Tune in for practical tips, expert advice, and reassurance that you're not alone in navigating this journey.More info: bigcityreaders.com

When it comes to the profession, a lot of teachers get nervous and struggle to communicate with parents, so when parent-teacher conferences come around, it makes a lot of teachers anxious. We felt the same way when we were in the classroom but have since learned a few tips and tricks along the way. In today's episode, we're troubleshooting some common problems with parent-teacher conferences and sharing our favorite parent conference tips. For all the resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/parent-conference-tipsResources:Conferences with Confidence CourseParent Survival Guide to Student-Led Conferences Teacher Approved: Parent Conference PlaylistMaybe This Time by Cara Bastone AudibleBlueland Body WashConnect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindowShop our teacher-approved resourcesJoin our Facebook group, Teacher ApprovedLeave your review on Apple Podcasts!Mentioned in this episode:Do you have a question or concern that could use a teacher-approved solution? We'd love to answer your question on the podcast! Submit your question to hello@secondstorywindow.net and put "podcast question" in your subject line.

Do you look forward to conferencing with your child's teacher, or do you feel anxious just thinking about it? This week, Sarah and Tennille help you prepare to make the most of those few minutes spent in the classroom.

Do you get 100% attendance at your parent teacher conference? Do you get 100% of people engaged at the table during those conferences? I’ve got an idea that can make BOTH of those happen. And the best part these conferences will create LESS work and LESS stress in your teacher life. Sometimes in order to make parent-teacher conferences between, we just need to remix them with raisins! Because this year, we can all be hosting raisin reunions. Are you ready to find out more on how to host the best conferences of your career? You are in the right place! Episode Links: Resource Bundle For Raisin Reunions: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Parent-Teacher-Conference-Bundle-Raisin-Reunions-Host-BEST-Conferences-Ever-10241241 Get a free PDF copy of Monica's Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Needing some uplifting, awesome professional development at your school? Let's Connect:  http://monicagenta.com/pd Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed

(Re-release) On this special episode, join Mel & Miranda as Mel discusses illnesses often faced by first responders, and the long-term impacts still felt by those who survived and responded to the 9/11 Tragedy over 20 years ago. Miranda shares some tips on how to prepare for a successful parent- teacher conference... even though she may have missed one or two on accident... oops! SPOTLIGHT:World Trade Center Health Program The WTC Health Program is dedicated to helping those who were there during and after the attacks of September 11, 2001. The Program provides services to individuals who meet their requirements.https://www.cdc.gov/wtc Feal Good FoundationThe mission of the FGF includes educating elected officials and private entities on the various problems, concerns and issues faced by First Responders in their everyday duties. The FGF is therefore dedicated to advocating for First Responder rights and illuminating, to proper authorities, the serious issues they encounter.https://fealgoodfoundation.com/ SOURCES:Mel-https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_arising_from_the_September_11_attacks https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/health-effects-of-9-11-still-plague-responders-and-survivors/ Miranda-https://www.verywellfamily.com/expect-at-parent-teacher-conference-3545346 https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/parent-conferences.htmlhttps://www.edutopia.org/article/5-strategies-successful-parent-teacher-conferencehttps://www.varsitytutors.com/blog/5+things+to+do+after+a+parentteacher+conference https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/parent-engagement/articles/surviving-difficult-parent-teacher-conference Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Concha, Fox News Contributor and author of Progressively Worse: Why Today's Democrats Ain't Your Daddy's Donkeys, joined to discuss Kamala Harris' interview last night, where Joe gave her and VP candidate Tim Walz a "C-" overall. Concha compared the tone and attitude of CNN interviewer Dana Bash when speaking with Kamala Harris to her combative approach with Trump VP candidate JD Vance. Joe and Guy discuss many important follow-up questions that Bash missed and Harris' less than stellar answers, and you can listen to the full interview below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I can't believe it! It's the 200th Parent Teacher Conference. First, thanks to the small, but loyal listeners who have shared with me and talked with me about some of the topics I've presented. You don't know how I valued all the conversations. On this episode, Coach goes a bit deeper on the reason he created this podcast; a place for a moderate to right, traditionalist, voice to be heard during a time when progressive voices in education & parenting were dominating. Coach realized there were many parents and teachers who needed to know there were more of us out there. Also thoughts coming from a teacher who was still in the trenches rather than one with a few years "in the game" who left to tell the ones left in the fight how to be a teacher. Be looking on Twitter (@coachcullen411) and Facebook (The Parent Teacher Conference Page and Group) for postings of Coach's favorite of his 200 episodes this week. Coach also mentions one of his favorite Youtube teacher channels TeacherTherapy. Take a listen Youtube Channel Spotify Channel

Planning for your own demise can be a real downer, but one writer says her parents are busy drawing up plans. Why she says she's grateful. Also, epic parent teacher conferences gone wrong. You gotta read these to believe them. Plus, your daily caffeine fix is costing you. One mom adds up the hidden costs of random little treats and it's astounding. Or is it? Some moms say leave their splurges alone.MUMS the word: KiwiCo Find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE, rate and review!Want more mommy talk? Find us HERE on Facebook!AnchorMOMS: The Podcast is a product of WLOS News 13 of Asheville, N.C.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Parent-Teacher conferences can be a little stressful for both the parents and the teacher. Often times they take a lot of time and effort. Often times the parents don't even show up! But what if I told you there was a structure and a strategy that would change all of that? In this episode you will hear about WHAT I call my conferences, HOW I am proactive about them, WHO is actually at the table, and WHY I get parents to sign up AND show up. I'm confident if you implement this easy plan you will have the best conferences of your career! Episode Notes:  Get 180 Days of Awesome SEL Curriculum Here: monicagenta.com/180SEL Want Access to the Whole Raisin Reunion Bundle? Get it Right Here Needing Some Awesome PD for Your School? Let's Connect:  monicagenta.com/PD Get a free PDF copy of Monica's Book Crushing It For Kids Here: monicagenta.com/freebook Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us their best parent-teacher conference story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell us their best parent-teacher conference story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While conferences are a great time to connect with parents, celebrate student achievements and also provide a space to express concerns - it's not easy. Most of us are extremely comfortable talking to young children, but talking to parents can feel like a totally different experience! In this episode of the Lovely Preschool Teachers podcast, you will get tips on how to make conferences go more smoothly and actual examples that you can use when talking to parents! Topics Discussed:Positivity FirstGiving SpecificsFocusing on SkillsProviding SupportConnect with AshleyFollow on Instagram @lovelycommotionJoin the Lovely Preschool Teachers Facebook GroupMore About the Lovely Preschool Teachers PodcastAre you a busy preschool teacher who loves gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your classroom? The Lovely Preschool Teachers Podcast is here to help you up your confidence in educating early learners in a quick, actionable way!As an early educator who is still in the classroom, Ashley Rives will share the ins and outs of how she runs her classroom in a play-based, child-centered way. Each week, expect a new episode focused on actionable strategies to level up your abilities and confidence as a preschool teacher.Ashley Rives is an early educator with over 17 years of experience and a strong passion to help teachers implement child-centered learning in preschool classrooms all over the world. You can follow her on Instagram @lovelycommotion or learn more at the Lovely Commotion Preschool Resources website: www.lovelycommotion.com

Instead of a Parent Teacher Conference apparrently Barrett's new school does "Student Led Conferences" where they hear from the child instead of the teacher.  But doesn't he already hear from his child every day? Where is the teacher!

Am I the Genius? on

Am I the Genius? on

When your date turns into a parent teacher conference!

On episode 212, Emily Kircher-Morris and Jess Lahey discuss the importance of understanding and supporting neurodivergent students. Jess highlights the need for teachers to question traditional teaching methods and adapt their practices to meet the diverse needs of their students. They talk about the value of formative assessments, peer-to-peer teaching, and creating an inclusive learning environment. They also explore the overlap between substance abuse and learning differences, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and support. They discuss the need for teachers to gradually release responsibility to students, and empower them to advocate for themselves. Open-minded, reflective, and responsive classrooms best serve the individual needs of students. Takeaways: Question traditional teaching methods and adapt practices to meet the diverse needs of students. Use formative assessments to gauge student understanding and provide targeted support. Create an inclusive learning environment that values peer-to-peer teaching and individual learning styles. Recognize the overlap between substance abuse and learning differences, and provide early intervention and support. Gradually release responsibility to students and empower them to advocate for themselves. This episode is brought to you by the Council for Exceptional Children, dedicated to high-quality education that is inclusive and equitable for individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. Attend their Annual Convention & Expo, March 13-16, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas. Register now at cecconvention.org/, and if you're a school principal, receive free registration by using the code 24CEC100. If you see value in rethinking education and building a stronger classroom, consider joining the Neurodiversity University Educator Hub! It's a group built for educators, and we'll open registration again soon! Sign up to be alerted, and join us for the learning, sharing, and fun! Jessica Lahey is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed, and The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence. Over twenty years, Jess has taught every grade from sixth to twelfth in both public and private schools, and has written about education, parenting, and child welfare for The Washington Post and The Atlantic, and her biweekly column, The Parent Teacher Conference, ran for three years at the New York Times. She also designed and wrote the educational curriculum for Amazon Kids' award-winning animated series The Stinky and Dirty Show, and was a 2019 Pushcart Prize nominee. She co-hosts the #AmWriting podcast from her empty nest in Vermont. BACKGROUND READING Jessica's website Instagram Threads Facebook LinkedIn The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com