Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers

In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk , Dr. Lori speaks directly to art, music, PE, library, STEM, and other specials teachers who often feel overlooked when it comes to classroom management advice. She explains why classroom management for specials teachers is fundamentally different from homeroom teaching and shares simple strategies to reduce behavior challenges through stronger transitions...

In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk , Dr. Lori sits down with veteran teacher Jodie Culpepper , who shares how years of classroom management challenges, student behavior concerns, and overwhelming stress nearly led her to resign after 22 years in education. Jodie opens up about what helped her regain confidence , find hope again, and rediscover the joy of teaching through stronger classroom...

In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk , Dr. Lori sits down with fourth-grade teacher Amanda Muri to talk about how small elements of surprise can create big shifts in classroom management. Amanda shares her journey from feeling confident at the start of the school year to struggling with student engagement after winter break, and how a simple podcast episode helped her rediscover the joy, conn...

In this episode of  Beginning Teacher Talk , Dr. Lori sits down with pre-K and kindergarten teacher Lindsay Parsons to talk about what classroom management really looks like with today's students. Lindsay shares how  simple shifts   completely changed the energy in her classroom and helped her feel hopeful again after struggling with student behavior, social-emotional skill gaps, and teacher overw...

In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori Friesen breaks down the five hidden classroom patterns that quietly drain teachers day after day. If you've ever felt exhausted by constant reminders, difficult transitions, student behavior interruptions, or feeling like you're always playing catch-up, this episode will help you understand why classroom management can feel so overwhelming and wh...

What if next year doesn't feel easier… not because of your students, but because nothing actually changed? In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk , Dr. Lori Friesen shares a powerful mindset shift that can completely transform your classroom management and systems before the new school year even begins. If you're hoping for a fresh start, this episode will show you how to actually create one. W...

Before you pack up your classroom for summer, there's one simple step that can make next year dramatically easier. In this episode, Dr. Lori Friesen shares a powerful Teacher Debrief Framework to help you reflect with purpose, capture what truly worked, and turn this year's experiences into stronger classroom systems for next year. What You'll Learn: How to identify the classroom routines that cre...

As spring fever sets in and the school year winds down, it's tempting to rush through classroom pack-up just to be done. But in this episode of  Beginning Teacher Talk , Dr. Lori Friesen shares a powerful shift in thinking that can transform how you end the year so next year feels dramatically easier. Learn how a simple, system-based approach to packing up your classroom can reduce overwhelm, stre...

If you've ever felt like your classroom success depends on having the perfect lesson, this episode may shift everything for you. In this heartfelt and practical episode, Dr. Lori Friesen shares 10 powerful lessons she wishes she had known in her first year, revealing how strong classroom systems and routines are the true foundation of effective classroom management. What You'll Learn: In this epis...

If your classroom suddenly feels noisier, slower, or harder to manage this spring, you're not imagining it, and you're not doing anything wrong. In this episode, Dr. Lori Friesen shares exactly why spring behavior shifts happen and walks you through five simple classroom systems you can tighten right now to restore calm and focus. You'll also get a practical 3-day reset plan to help you finish the...

As the school year winds down, many teachers feel like they're just trying to make it to summer. But what if May is actually the most powerful month for improving your teaching? In this episode, Dr. Lori Friesen explains why this final stretch of the year is the perfect time for reflection, and how capturing what worked and what didn't can make next year dramatically easier. You'll learn a simple...

Many students struggle with accountability, empathy, and boundaries due to "lawnmower parenting," where obstacles are removed before they can learn independence. In this episode, I share a five-step framework to navigate these behaviors with calm, clear strategies that protect your classroom and your nervous system. You'll learn how to hold boundaries, teach students to repair harm, reinforce cons...

What if the most powerful academic shift you could make during your day wasn't a new curriculum, but a change of scenery? Stepping outside softens energy, sparks curiosity, and helps even restless students regulate, but many teachers worry about losing control. In this episode, I share how taking learning outdoors doesn't mean sacrificing structure. With clear expectations, strong boundaries, and...

Every day, teachers walk into buildings shaped by policies they didn't choose. They're asked to function while understaffed, under-resourced, and held to expectations that often feel impossible to meet. Today's episode is raw, real, and an honest conversation about what teachers are actually experiencing in their classrooms. Because in reality, most teachers are in survival mode. So in this episod...

What if the secret to student engagement wasn't new curriculum, more resources, updated materials, or the teacher entertaining at the front of the room all day, but a sprinkle of surprise? A predictable classroom may feel safe, but a classroom infused with purposeful novelty feels electric. In this episode, I'm sharing how you can implement novelty in your classroom in a way that supports you rath...

Instead of treating engagement as something you're constantly trying to manage, think of it as something you're trying to solve, and curiosity is the solution. In this episode, you'll learn simple strategies for building curiosity into your lessons that activate your students' brains and transform the way they engage during instruction. Plus, you'll gain perspective on how curiosity positively imp...

You can have strong routines and clear expectations and still feel like your classroom energy has gone flat. In this episode, I share how small, intentional moments of surprise (woven into your existing routines!) can spark curiosity, boost engagement, and make classroom management easier, instead of harder. You'll learn practical ways to add mystery and novelty without losing control or overhauli...

There's something powerful about not giving students the whole picture right away. The moment you lower your voice, cover part of the board, or hint that something exciting is coming, heads lift and curiosity sparks. Small doses of mystery tap into a child's natural drive to wonder, question, and discover...and when curiosity is activated, engagement follows. In today's episode, I explore how stra...

When your nervous system never gets a chance to reset, stress becomes your baseline, patience runs thin, and burnout starts to feel inevitable. Learning how to calm your nervous system isn't self-care fluff; it's a foundational skill for protecting your energy, effectiveness, and longevity in the classroom. In today's episode, I'm sharing why fatigue may be at an all-time high and strategies to su...

For many teachers, student motivation seems to disappear after winter break. Energy is low, and students who were once eager are suddenly dragging their feet and checking out. But January doesn't have to be a slump. With the right reset, it can become the moment you reignite connection, rebuild momentum, and help students rediscover their spark for learning. In today's episode, I'm sharing simple,...

If you're anything like me, walking back into your classroom in January after a much-needed break suddenly makes you notice everything . The colors feel too loud, the table you keep tripping over is still there, and the mountain of papers on top of your filing cabinet seems to have multiplied. When the energy and space feel off, it's usually a sign that it's time for a few intentional changes. In...

Even after investing time in designing thoughtful assignments, creating clear rubrics, and building in opportunities for creativity and student choice, the number of missing assignments can still keep climbing. It's frustrating, and it leaves you wondering: is this a motivation issue, an organizational problem, or something deeper? In today's episode, I'm sharing simple strategies you can implemen...

You know the look: the blank stare, the shrugged shoulders, the quiet "I don't care" that shows up no matter how engaging the lesson or activity is. When students feel apathetic, it can be one of the most discouraging challenges in the elementary classroom. But apathy isn't a lack of ability; it's a disconnect. In today's episode, I take a deeper look at why this is happening and share practical,...

There's a moment every elementary teacher experiences - the one where a behavior repeats, a parent asks a question, or an administrator says, "Can you tell me when this started?". Suddenly, you're replaying weeks of memories in your head, wishing you had written it down. Documentation may not feel like teaching, but it's one of the most powerful tools you have to protect your time, your students,...

If you've ever watched a student stare at a messy desk, forget a direction you gave 10 seconds ago, or melt down at the sight of a multi-step task, you're witnessing something bigger than "behavior" - you're seeing developing executive functioning skills in action. The good news? These skills can be taught, strengthened, and practiced every single day in the elementary classroom. In this episode,...