Classroom organization is really important for elementary teachers. Solid organization can help you plan and prep more efficiently. As teachers, we have tons of options for how to organize our classrooms. But what are the best options that will make keeping up with classroom organization easy? In this episode, I’m sharing 3 of my favorite tools for teacher organization.  What’s Covered In This Episode: My favorite tool for digital organization - Google Drive - plus how to keep it organized. The best bins to organize your teacher resources Why drawers are a versatile tool for classroom o ..read more

Teacher moms, this one’s for you! During the school year, we have a routine every single day. Then summer comes… and while the break is much needed, this big shift in routine can be challenging, especially with kids. In this episode, I’m sharing the very flexible daily routine that I follow as a teacher mom on summer break.  What’s Covered In This Episode:  Why having a general routine for summer break is helpful  How I break up our day Examples of activities we do during each part of our day Links Mentioned: College 2 Classroom Summit is happening TODAY: June 27th ..read more

If I could go back in time and tell my first year teacher self anything … these would be the first two pieces of advice I would give. And since I can’t go back in time, I’m just recording myself sharing this advice with all of you. Whether you’re a new teacher, seasoned teacher, or somewhere in between, this episode has advice everyone can use!  What’s Covered In this Episode: What makes teaching so hard during the first year (my personal experience) The one thing you absolutely must be clear on before students step foot in your classroom  How to make teaching sustainable from ..read more

Your school year has been busy and you are ready for summer break. But shutting your teacher brain off is easier said than done. How can you decompress after a busy school year so that you’re able to truly relax this summer? We’ll answer that question in this episode.   The rule that will help you actually take a break  How routines can be helpful tools for teachers on summer break  Ideas that will get your mind off your classroom  Links Mentioned: End of Year Teacher Guide ..read more

There's so much to do at the end of the school year. You have report cards to complete and a classroom to pack up. But what about your students? Maybe you feel the pressure to plan some extra fancy activities. Maybe you're so overwhelmed by everything else on your to-do list that you have no idea what to plan. I have good news - You can keep your last week plans simple, but meaningful. What's Covered in this Episode: Easy activity ideas for the end of the school year Tips that will save you time and energy Simple end-of-year gift ideas Links Mentioned: End of Year Series Playlist End of Y ..read more

It's time for a replay! This week, we're republishing a highly requested episode from our End of Year Teacher Series that went live in 2022. This episode is the second of four in our End of Year Teacher Series. In this episode, we talk all about one thing you should be doing at the end of the school year to make your life easier later. What is it? Decluttering your classroom. Inside the episode, I'll go through 3 steps to make sure you're tidying your classroom so you're scrambling to do it during the back to school season. You can find the full website show notes here. What's Covered ..read more

Do you experience the Sunday Scaries as a teacher? Unfortunately, this can be a common experience, but it doesn't have to be your "normal." In this episode, we're talking about understanding what the Sunday Scaries are, why they happen, and some really simple things you can do to help eliminate those feelings. In this Episode, You'll Learn: What causes you to experience the Sunday Scaries How proactive planning during the week can help on Sunday Simple mindset shifts to decrease feelings of anxiety at the start of a new week Why routine is important Links Mentioned: Burnout: The Secret to ..read more

How often have you heard someone say they're feeling "teacher tired?" More times than you can count, right? We're all excited for Friday afternoon and the weekend break, but more often than not, many teachers spend their entire weekend working ... writing lesson plans and preparing materials.A break never happens. Recharging doesn't happen. And then we re-enter another work week on Monday feeling just as drained as we did when we left work on Friday. It's time to break this cycle! In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why and how to let go of the "shoulds" in your life The importance of redefining ..read more

As a teacher, it can be frustrating when your students won't stop talking and interrupting your lessons. However, there are effective strategies you can use to manage student talking and create a more productive learning environment. In this episode, Gina from Teaching with Heart joins me to share simple, effective ways to address constant talking in your classroom that will best support your students. Gina is a kindergarten teacher with over 10 years of classroom experience. She is a classroom and behavior management coach for teachers both in person and online through her website, Teaching w ..read more

How many times have you sat down during your prep time and felt too exhausted to get anything done? Or by the time you do have the energy to start prepping, your planning time is over? In this episode we address what's causing that teacher tired feeling and a simple strategy that will help you have a productive prep time throughout the week. In This Episode About Teacher Time Management, You’ll Learn: How decision fatigue plays a role in your ability to get things done during your prep time The most common mistake teachers make that's costing time and energy What a prep routine is and why it ..read more