Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers

Today I'm finally ready to talk about something that is deeply personal. I'm sharing my personal weight loss journey of losing 30 pounds and keeping it off. Whether you're working from home or at school, it can be super difficult to create and maintain healthy habits as a teacher. If you're feeling discouraged about your health right now, I hope that what I share helps you to see that it's never t...

When I was a beginning teacher, I had a teacher assistant and one of the biggest mistakes I made was not being super clear about what her role would be in my classroom. The thought of telling her what to do was super uncomfortable for me, and that made our relationship difficult. Over the years, I learned all kinds of creative and helpful ways to utilize a TA. Now I'm sharing those ideas with you...

Formal observations are one of the things about teaching that really scares us as new teachers. They can send you right into panic mode, even if you have a really supportive administration. Often, the most nerve-wracking part is the feedback that comes after the observation. Critical observation feedback can immediately cause you to doubt your teaching ability. However, there is a way you can refr...

If you're reading this then you may be an avid podcast listener, but have you ever used podcasts in your classroom? They are such a fun way to connect the real world to what you're doing in your classroom. I'm sharing five fantastic podcasts that you can use with your kids and simple low-prep activities to use with them. You may be surprised at how easily podcasts can be incorporated into any subj...

Returning to school after winter break usually presents several challenges. It can take some time to get back into your normal routines after being away from school for an extended period of time. One of the things that can be especially difficult to get back into is independent reading. To make this process much easier for you, I have a special "gift episode" for you today! It features content or...

I recently was asked a question by a member of my READY For School Academy that sparked the topic of today's episode. One of my members, Rebecca, asked how she can get parents involved in the classroom even though they aren't allowed in her school building right now due to COVID. This is such a great question, and I'm answering it with nine super fun and easy-to-implement ways that you can invite...

When I was in the classroom, it took me a long time to figure out how to best set up learning centers for my students. Now I am so excited to be able to share this information with you so you don't have to go through the same learning curve that I did. Even if it's the middle of the school year and you haven't yet implemented learning centers, it's not too late. While it takes some time and work r...

By the time December rolls around, it's very likely that you have had at least one experience with a difficult parent. Maybe it was during a parent-teacher conference, or maybe it was a nasty email or phone call. Facing a parent who has a complaint or is challenging you in some way is extremely difficult to deal with, especially because you probably haven't had any preparation for these scenarios....

In the weeks leading up to winter break, you are right in the midst of the disillusionment phase. This is the third phase that beginning teachers experience throughout the school year and it is one that comes with lots of emotions. You're likely feeling extremely burnt out and exhausted. You may even be questioning your ability to continue your career as a teacher. You are not alone in feeling thi...

I am privileged to have the most magical and loving holiday memories from my childhood, and this is why I was always so excited to share the joy of this season with my students. Now that I'm no longer in the classroom, I want to pass that magic on to you and your students. One way that I can do this is through a very special project that I have been working on for you called My Sneaky Snowman Adve...

Teaching is challenging. There's no doubt about that. As the holidays approach, your job may even feel more difficult than ever. If you are counting down the days until winter break and desperately need some time off, or maybe even considering quitting, that is very normal. Your feelings about teaching will ebb and flow throughout the year. In fact, you will hear how common it is to experience the...

If you are new to teaching English Language Learners, it can be challenging to navigate. You may wonder how to best support them and ensure that they feel like a valued member of your classroom community, especially if they aren't speaking very much English yet. I have some practical and effective ways that you can provide your ELL students with the tools they need to learn and thrive while they a...

Children spent a lot of time learning from home in the past year and a half. Now that they are back in the classroom, it's a difficult adjustment for everyone. If you are struggling to take control of a chatty class this year, it's not too late to push the reset button on your classroom management. I have three simple and proven strategies for you that will help you regain a sense of order for you...

There's a lot of negativity in the world right now, especially within the education space. Teachers are being challenged like never before, and I get it if that has resulted in you feeling stuck in the heaviness of it all. Today I want to remind you of all the light and joy going on in the world and in your classroom every single day. Practicing gratitude of what we do have, and teaching our stude...

It's easy to get caught up in the constant rush of the day to day. There's always something more to do, but have you ever thought that maybe you're over scheduling yourself? I invite you to pause and give yourself some grace if you're feeling like you have too much on your plate and you're unable to get it all done. When you consistently build more white space into your schedule, you just may find...

There are so many creative Halloween books and activities that you can bring to your classroom during the month of October. You know that I always want to save you time and make things a bit easier for you, so I've done the groundwork by creating a list of my top 10 favorite activities using Halloween literature. This list includes options for book-specific activities as well as activities that yo...

If COVID has taught us anything, it's that we all need connection. We want to feel safe, loved, and that we're a part of a community. The same goes for our students. Holding a morning meeting every day is the perfect way to accomplish these things for our students and start the day off in a peaceful and positive way. Whether you are already implementing morning meetings, or have yet to start, I'm...

Are you feeling like you are too busy and overwhelmed to even listen to this podcast episode? If the answer is yes, then you most definitely need to listen to this podcast episode! Your teacher to-do list may be endless, but you can't work yourself so hard that you reach burn out. When you begin to give yourself grace, prioritize your tasks, and set boundaries, you'll find your mental load a lot l...

It's hilarious that I can devote an entire podcast episode to pencil management, but here we are! Truthfully, having a system in place for students' pencils is a critical piece of classroom management. If you have students who constantly lose their pencils, get up to the sharpen them at inappropriate times, or even eat them (ew, gross), then this episode is for you. :)  Show Notes: https://www.drl...

Teachers, how are you doing? It's the beginning of the year, so I can assume that you are likely feeling a rush of overwhelm. I have been there and I want to help. That's why I am dedicating an entire episode to talking about how to reduce the stress and anxiety that you are experiencing. My hope is that you will be able to use these strategies throughout the entire year, not just at the beginning...

Halloween is coming and I am probably just as excited as your students! As October approaches, I'm giving you my 6 most spooktacular strategies to refresh creativity and engagement for both you and your students. And here's the best part: many of these activities will work for you even if your school doesn't allow you to do any type of Halloween activities. :-)  Show Notes: https://www.drlorifries...

Substitute teaching can be an incredible way to gain valuable experience before securing a full-time teaching position. With the helpful suggestions of one of my listeners, I'm going to share useful tips to make your days of subbing a bit easier and that much more enjoyable! Show Notes: https://www.drlorifriesen.com/blog/top-tips-for-substitute-and-supply-teaching Watch my FREE, On-Demand Mastercl...

As a teacher, you have the unique opportunity to educate your students on all the career possibilities that are available to them! Our special guest today, Holly Sharp, is talking to us about how teachers can purposely help develop kids' career interests without feeling like it's adding more work and stress to your day. Show Notes: https://www.drlorifriesen.com/blog/help-develop-kids-career-intere...

As you begin a new school year, you may feel prepared for classroom set-up, curriculum planning, and even behavior management. But do you feel prepared for helping students process big emotions in a healthy and effective way? Coach and indie-author, Jo Dodd, is on the show today to share her incredibly simple "4-S approach" to supporting your students when they feel anxious, angry, worried, scared...

When you're a beginning teacher, preparing for the first weeks of school can be extremely overwhelming. You don't have endless files to pull from and past experiences to rely on. That's where I step in! Today I'm unlocking my virtual filing cabinet and sharing my seven favorite tips for starting your year off on the right foot. Take a deep breathe, push play, and remember that you've got this!  Sh...