How to Engage Students and Thrive as a Teacherpreneur
Welcome back to another inspiring episode of the Digital Product Mama podcast! In this episode, I’m sitting down with Johanna Kuiper, a passionate middle school math teacher by day and a thriving entrepreneur by night. Johanna shares her journey from struggling to engage students in her Title 1 classroom to creating innovative resources that make math enjoyable and accessible. She also discusses how she transitioned from creating digital products to launching a successful online course, all while balancing a full-time teaching career. Whether you’re a teacherpreneur or someone looking to make an impact in education, this episode is packed with actionable insights on how to thrive as a teacherpreneur.
Click the play button below to listen!
In this episode, we discuss:
1. The C.O.M.E.T. Method for Engaging Students
Johanna introduces her innovative C.O.M.E.T. method, which stands for Creativity, Open Problems, Movement, Erasability, and Teamwork. This method is designed to transform how students interact with math, making it more engaging and effective. She explains each component in detail and shares how these strategies can be implemented in any classroom.
2. Balancing Teaching and Entrepreneurship
Johanna shares her secrets to managing a full-time teaching career while growing a successful online business. From using tools like Asana to organize her tasks to setting intentional time aside for her business, she offers practical advice for anyone juggling multiple responsibilities.
3. The Power of High-Quality Content
Johanna emphasizes the importance of creating high-quality resources and content from the start. She discusses how investing time in research and production has helped her build a reputable brand and achieve long-term success.
4. The Value of Mastermind Groups
One of the pivotal decisions in Johanna’s entrepreneurial journey was joining a mastermind group with other teacherpreneurs. She talks about the impact of surrounding herself with like-minded individuals who understand both the teaching and business worlds, providing accountability, inspiration, and motivation.
5. Intentional Business Growth
Johanna encourages listeners to focus on what truly moves the needle in their business. She shares her experience with avoiding shiny object syndrome and how simplifying her efforts allowed her to prioritize what matters most.
Resources Mentioned:
– Asana (https://asana.com/): The project management tool that Johanna credits with helping her stay organized and intentional with her time.
– Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl (https://www.amazon.com/Building-Thinking-Classrooms-Mathematics-Grades/dp/1544374836): A book that inspired the erasability component of Johanna’s C.O.M.E.T. method.
– Grab the Hey Digital Product Playbook™ to learn how to get started with your own digital product business today! (https://www.lindsaybowden.com/playbook)
Connect with Johanna:
– Instagram: @misskuiper (https://www.instagram.com/misskuiper/)
– Solving for the Undefined Podcast (https://misskuipersclassroom.com/podcast/)
– [free training] Building Effective Teams to Engage Your Students (https://www.misskuiper.com/challenge)
Connect with Lindsay:
– Instagram: @lindsaybowden (https://www.instagram.com/lindsaybowden/)
– [free training] Create an Educational Resource in 15 Minutes
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