Shows / Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
Do you ever feel like there’s just not enough time in the day to be the kind of teacher you really want to be? We know that feeling and we’re here to help! Each week on The Teacher Approved podcast, we discuss how to be the teacher you dream of being by elevating what matters and simplifying the rest. Join co-hosts Emily and Heidi of Second Story Window as they share research-based and teacher-approved strategies you can count on to make your teaching more efficient and effective than ever…
Episodes
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
294. Use Your Teacher Skills to Simplify the Holidays
December can feel overwhelming when your school responsibilities collide with gifts, gatherings, and everyday tasks at home. In this episode, we’re shifting…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
293. 3 Things Smart Teachers Do Before December Hits
December has a way of sneaking up on you, and suddenly your classroom routines are unraveling while your energy and to-do list are stretched to the limit. In…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
292. 5 Reliable Steps to Stop Classroom Behavior Problems
When classroom behavior starts to slide, it can feel like your only options are to ignore it or stop everything to shut it down. In this episode, we’re sharing…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
291. Can't Miss Classic: Halloween Classroom Management That Actually Works
Halloween in the classroom can be a whole lot of fun, but when the excitement starts climbing, it can feel like you’re trying to teach a room full of…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
290. How to Read the Room When Student Behavior Feels Off
What if the behavior you’re seeing in your classroom is actually giving you useful information? In this episode, we’re looking at how to read the energy in…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
289. How to Boost Engagement and Keep Students Thinking with Guided Notes
There’s nothing quite like looking around your classroom mid-lesson and wondering, “Are they learning, or am I just talking?” In this episode, we’re talking…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
288. Can't Miss Classic: Your Seating Chart Could Fix Classroom Behavior
Once you’ve had a few weeks to get to know your students, it’s the perfect time to take another look at your seating chart. In this replay episode, we’re…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
287. The Friday Teacher Routine That Makes Monday Easier
Mondays can feel overwhelming when you’re carrying unfinished tasks and trying to remember EVERYTHING that needs to happen! In this episode, we’re sharing a…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
286. 6 Simple Steps for Smoother Classroom Transitions
Transitions can quietly eat up valuable instructional time, especially when students start moving before directions are finished. In this episode, we’re…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
285. Positive Classroom Culture is Your Management Secret Weapon
Your classroom culture is what teaches students how to behave, whether you’re the one doing the teaching or not! In this episode, we’re talking about how to…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
284. Want Better Classroom Behavior? Start in the Hallway
Hallway procedures might seem like a small part of classroom management, but they can have a much bigger impact on classroom success than you might expect. In…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
283. Can't Miss Classic: Why Reaching for a Reward System Might Be the Wrong First Move
Rewards might feel like an easy classroom management solution, but are they actually making your life harder? In this Can't Miss Classic, we’re taking a closer…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
282. 3 Ways to Hold Students Accountable to Your Classroom Expectations
By the third week of school, the novelty starts to wear off and classroom expectations can begin to slip. In this episode, we explore how to hold students…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
281. Can't Miss Classic: The Two Hours That Shape Your Entire First Day
The first day of school doesn’t have to leave you completely wiped out! In this replay episode, we’re talking about the “back-to-school sandwich” and the…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
280. 4 Teacher Lessons We Wish We'd Learned Sooner
As our book Structure and Spark gets ready to go out into the world, we’re looking back at four lessons we wish we had learned much earlier in our teaching…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
279. Can't Miss Classic: What Every Student Needs to Hear in the First Three Days
The first few days of school set the tone for everything that follows, so how can you intentionally build a classroom where students feel safe, seen, and…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
278. Want Better Behavior? Start with Relationships
Strong teacher student relationships are the foundation of effective classroom management! In this episode, we share practical ways to build trust from the…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
277. Can't Miss Classic: 10 Questions That Make Your Classroom Procedures Actually Work
Ever wonder why some classroom procedures seem to run effortlessly while others constantly need reminders? In this replay episode, we're sharing how a few…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
276. The Real Reason Teachers Are Exhausted in August
Back-to-school exhaustion isn't just about long hours or a heavy workload! In this episode, we explore the surprising reason behind back-to-school fatigue and…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
275. Can't Miss Classic: The Most Important Back-to-School Prep Teachers Usually Forget
This week we're replaying one of our favorite back-to-school episodes because it's a reminder every teacher needs: don't just prepare your classroom, prepare…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
274. The Overwhelm Buster: 3 Steps to Beat Back-to-School Stress
We’ve learned the hard way that panic-prepping for back-to-school season isn’t the answer. It can leave teachers feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and still…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
273. Can't Miss Classic: The Reason Most Teacher PD Ideas Never Make It to Your Classroom
Have you ever left a conference or PD full of inspiration... only to realize you never actually used any of those great ideas? In this replay episode, we’re…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
272. Your Free Backstage Pass to Teacher Summer Talks
In this special episode, we share a sneak peek at our upcoming Teacher Summer Talks Summit with quick, practical tips from eight expert educators! From writing…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
271. Can't Miss Classic: The 6 Lists That Tell You If You're Really Ready for August
Back-to-school prep doesn't have to feel like an endless, overwhelming to-do list! In this replay episode, we're sharing the six areas we believe every teacher…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
270. The Smart Way to Tackle Your Back to School To-Do List
If your back-to-school overwhelm is ramping up, this episode will help calm the stress and tackle those to-do lists. We share a simple framework for…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
269. Can't Miss Classic: The Power Hour Trick That Beats Back-to-School Panic
Summer can cause teachers to either put off school prep and then panic when August arrives, or miss out on a restful summer break because they’re too focused…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
268. Why You Should Add More Whimsy to Your Teacher Summer
Recovery is about more than just rest, so in this episode we’re making the case for adding a little whimsy to your summer. We share how playfulness can help…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
267. Can't Miss Classic: 20 Teacher TV Tasks for Your Couch Productivity Era
Are you enjoying your summer lounge time but feel that itch to get ahead for back-to-school? We’re revisiting 20 simple “TV tasks” that teachers can tackle…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
266. 7 Low-Effort Ways to Get Ahead, Whenever You Feel Like It
In this episode, we revisit one of our favorite summer philosophies: recovery and readiness. To focus on the ‘readiness’ side of things, we share seven simple…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
265. Can't Miss Classic: Your Permission Slip to Skip These 6 BTS Pressures
In this episode, we revisit the six back-to-school pressures we’re saying no to this summer: elaborate classroom themes, laminating everything, chasing every…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
264. From Romance to Research: Our Summer Reading Picks for Teachers
In this special summer reading episode, we’re sharing some of our favorite recent reads that will inspire you to kick back with a good book on your break. From…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
263. Can't Miss Classic: Stop Letting Guilt and Panic Steal Your Teacher Summer
In this replay episode, we’re exploring why boundaries are the secret ingredient to a joyful, restorative summer and a smoother transition back to school. We…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
262. Crashing Isn't Resting: The Summer Teacher Mistake to Skip This Year
In this episode, we explore why crashing on the couch isn’t the same as true recovery and share our four-part framework for summer restoration: relax, refresh…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
261. Can't Miss Classic: Why Teacher Summer Feels So Weird (And What to Do About It)
In this episode, we revisit the 10 emotional stages of summer break for teachers, from the pure joy of the first day of freedom and relaxation, to productivity…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
260. A 7-Day Teacher Decompression Plan for First Week of Summer
The start of summer feels like it should instantly refresh teachers, but too often we find ourselves wondering how to spend our time. In this episode, we share…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
259. The Decide Once Strategy That Will Save Your Teacher Brain Next Year
The end of the school year is the perfect time to notice the recurring problems in your work day, and to plan new systems to make next year easier. We’re…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
258. Can't Miss Classic: 10 End-of-Year Celebration Ideas Your Students Will Love
As the school year winds down, it’s important to find meaningful ways to celebrate the year with intention. Drawing on ideas from our Teacher Approved…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
257. 5 Smart Switch-Ups for May Classroom Management
May can be a tough stretch for teachers, with high emotions, routine pushback, and packed calendars. In this episode, we share why the mid-May slump feels so…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
256. Can’t Miss Classic: How to Save Hours at Back-to-School Time by Prepping in May
May might feel like the worst time to think about next year, but we’re sharing simple, low-effort ways to get ahead while everything is still fresh. In this…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
255. 4 Smart Ways to Make End-of-School-Year Group Work Actually Work
Late April energy is real, so we’re sharing how to use group work to channel that energy into structured, meaningful collaboration. We break down a simple…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
254. Why Your Students Get Chatty During Transitions (And How to Stop It)
Transitions don’t have to feel chaotic. In this episode, we share simple classroom transition strategies to reduce chatter by intentionally designing what…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
253. Can’t Miss Classic: Stop Fighting the Wiggles and Do This Instead
In this replay, we’re circling back to some simple, effective classroom movement strategies that boost focus, improve behavior, and make learning stick, all…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
252. Can’t Miss Classic: April Planning That Makes August Easier
We’re taking advantage of April to get a head start on back-to-school prep with five simple, low-stress tasks you can do right now. From creating helpful lists…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
251. 5 Classroom Management Tricks That Do the Work for You
In this episode, we share five low-cost, high-yield preventative classroom management strategies that help stop problems before they start. From greeting…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
250. 250 Episodes Later: Our Biggest Teacher Takeaways
In this special milestone episode, we’re celebrating 250 episodes and four years of the Teacher Approved podcast. We look back at how the show started, the…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
249. 5 Easy Teacher Tasks for March That Pay off Big at Back to School
March is chaotic, but it’s also full of clarity. In this episode, we share five small things you can do right now to make teaching easier and set up a smoother…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
248. How Smart Teachers Prep for an Easy First Day Back from Spring Break
Spring break is magical until Sunday night, when you realize you have no plan for Monday. In this episode, we share our “soft landing” strategy for the first…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
247. 4 Spring Classroom Management Headaches and How To Fix Them
March brings higher energy and lower stamina, and suddenly your classroom feels louder, messier, and harder to manage. In this episode, we explain why spring…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
246. Why Your Test Review Isn’t Working (And What to Do Instead)
Test prep doesn’t have to mean packets or pressure. In this episode, we redefine test prep as helping students remember what they’ve already learned through…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
245. How to Build a Teacher Wardrobe That Fits Your Life
In this episode, we’re joined by Lindsey from Fashion Fix to rethink the teacher wardrobe from the ground up. We talk about why traditional fashion advice…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
244. The Teacher-Approved Way to Leave School Earlier and Get Back Your Evenings
We’ve all had those days when dismissal comes and goes, but somehow we’re still at school hours later. In this episode, we break down why teaching work never…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
243. How to Protect Your Planning Time (So You Can Stop Working For Free)
In this episode, we break down why teacher planning time so often gets wasted and what actually helps protect it. We share a simple two-pillar framework…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
242. 6 Small Tweaks That Can Save Your February Teacher Energy
January is tough, but February can be a surprisingly powerful reset if you know how to use it. In this episode, we share why this month often feels draining…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
241. What Smart Teachers Do Before a PD Event (So It Actually Sticks)
Inspiration is fun, but momentum is what really matters! In this episode, we share how to use Teacher Winter Talks to spark change you can carry back into your…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
240. 7 Quick Teacher Approved Tips for a Better January
January hits differently, and we want this episode to feel like a deep exhale as you head back into the classroom. We’re sharing a sneak peek of Teacher Winter…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
239. Can't Miss Classic: January Classroom Jumpstart
This can’t-miss classic is the cozy January reset teachers love coming back to. We walk you through four simple, low-stress ways to refresh your routines…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
238. Can't Miss Classic: 8 Reflection Questions to Help Teachers Start the New Year Strong
We’re bringing back a can’t-miss Teacher Approved classic episode to help you ease back into school with intention and clarity. In this replay of our January…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
237. Do These 3 Things Before Winter Break to Make January Easier
Looking for a smoother January? In this episode, we share our three favorite strategies for a classroom reset before winter break so you can return feeling…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
236. Your Tired Teacher Guide to January Prep from Your Couch
Ready to make January feel like a gentle start instead of a cold plunge? In this episode, we’re sharing our January launch plan, designed so you can get…
- Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies
235. 4 Teacher-Approved Ways to Manage Classroom Behavior in December
December has officially arrived, and we’re sharing the December classroom behavior strategies that help keep things calm when student energy is sky-high. In…