Beginning Teacher Talk

There is something so comforting about hearing another teacher share about their struggles, what they’ve gone through, and how they worked through the challenges they’ve faced. It helps us feel less alone when we’re navigating the confusion and pressure that comes along with being a beginning teacher. 

That’s why I am so grateful to have Kelsey Moody join me today to share about how she had imposter synd...

You got your first year of teaching out of the way but you are realizing that you just survived the year and you are ready to up your game in year two. Been there, done that! That is why I am so excited to be joined by my guest today, Teresa Grosboll, who is sharing all about her experiences, insights, and what made a huge impact on her second year teaching.

Show Notes: https://www.drlor...

You’ve spent four years at college in a teacher prep program but you still aren’t feeling prepared to handle all the non-academic tasks that come along with having your own classroom. You’re absolutely not alone! There is so much that goes into setting up a classroom, running a classroom, and effectively teaching your students, that there’s no way it can all be covered in four years. And unfortunately, the practical i...

It’s always so exciting and inspiring to hear other teachers share their experiences, struggles, and accomplishments. That’s why I am so excited for our New Teacher Spotlight Series that we’re launching this month! 

Jenna Barron is our first guest as we kick off this series. In this episode, she is sharing all about her experience teaching abroad, why she is so ...

One unexpected but real change that comes with moving into a classroom teacher role is the importance of being professional on social media. Up until now, you likely haven’t had to be too concerned with your social media presence. But as teachers, we must be proactive and aware of what we post online. That’s why I’m sharing best practices for social media as an elementary teacher, and creative ways to use social media...

The first year of teaching is so memorable and exciting, but also challenging. Nothing can fully prepare you for the realities and responsibilities of having your own classroom but there are things that you can do to prepare yourself for being solely in charge of your own classroom. I am sharing some tips to help you feel successful and confident as you head into your first year of teaching.

Has the overwhelm and struggle of the last few months left you wondering if you are actually cut out for teaching? If you’re feeling defeated, frustrated, or discouraged with having your own classroom, you are not alone. Unfortunately, many new teachers (including me!) have felt this way when they realize that there is very little support for new teachers at their school. I’m sharing what you can do today if you’re lo...

Improving and preventing challenging behaviors starts with creating a safe and consistent, caring space for all students. As much as we love fun seasonal classroom management strategies and a good classroom management hack, they won’t be successful unless there is already a foundation of respect and consistency. A great way to establish a safe and consistent classroom is to implement restorative circles. I’m sharing t...

Social-Emotional learning is here to stay and we can expect to see it become a more formal part of our curriculums in the near future. SEL is so incredibly beneficial to our students and incorporating it into the classroom has such a positive impact. But how are you going to find time to add another thing to your already packed schedule? In this episode, I’m sharing eight ways that you can easily incorporate SEL into ...

It’s the time of year when we start thinking ahead to the next school year and maybe this is the year you’ve decided you'll be transferring schools. You might be moving, looking to switch to a different grade, or don’t feel supported by your current team or admin. Whatever the reason is, there can be so many emotions that come along with deciding to transfer schools. 

The excitement that you’re feeling a...

Spring fever is hitting classrooms everywhere. The warmer the weather gets, the more restless students are becoming. If we’re being honest, as teachers, we’re probably feeling the same way! 

With spring fever often comes challenging behaviors and very short attention spans. You still have a few months left in the school year, so how can you push forward and keep...

What do I do with my students for the rest of the day after taking a big test? Should I play a movie? Have extended recess? Review content? 🤔

If these are questions that you have, today’s episode is for you. This marks part four in a four-part series about how to prepare your students for standardized testing.  Throughout the episode, I’m sharing five ideas on...

This week on the podcast, we’re continuing our conversation about how to prepare your students for state standardized testing. In part one of this series, episode 232, we talked about test-taking strategies in language arts. In part two, episode 233, I shared test-taking strategies in math. I recommend going back and listening to those episodes first if you haven’t alre...

Does the idea of standardized testing leave you feeling stressed? You’re not alone, and that’s why this week we are going to be continuing our four-part series on test taking strategies for second to fifth graders. 

Last week, inside episode 232, we focused on effective and simple test taking strategies for students in Language Arts. Thi...

It’s that time of year again. Spring is quickly approaching, and that means that all kinds of testing is just around the corner. With testing comes long days, anxious students, and stressed out teachers. 😵‍💫

I want you to have all the tools you need in order to feel confident in teaching your students effective test taking strategies. That’s why this episode is kicking off a 4-part series all about sup...

Teaching a class full of students means that you’re always going to have a wide range of ability levels. Over the years, we’ve talked on this podcast about effective ways to support your students who are struggling academically. However, I’ll bet that you also have students who are high-achieving, which can lead to a new set of challenges for you as the teacher.

I have ten fun, simple, and creative ways ...

You are only one person leading a class of 20-30 students. How can you ensure that some students aren’t falling behind in their understanding of the concept that you’re teaching? Exit tickets just may be your answer!

Exit tickets measure how well your students understand specific concepts as you teach them inside your classroom. They are a very valuable teacher tool because they are quick to implement, a...

Today we’re talking about a topic that many of you may currently be planning for, or will be planning for in the near future, and that is maternity leave. Maybe you’ve just finished college, recently gotten married, and landed your dream teaching job. Day by day, you're checking off all the boxes, and your next hope and dream might be to start a family. This is such an exciting time, but it can also be a bit stressful...

There are two words that can quickly turn any teacher’s day upside down. Indoor recess. 😳 If you know, you know! 

Indoor recess often comes with a lot of noise, chaos, and stress. It’s in these moments that you realize the importance of having some tips and tricks up your sleeve that you can pull out when indoor recess has to happen. It requires some upfront wo...