Chalkboard & Chill

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this episode Larissa and Tom dive into the wonderfully unpredictable world of school work experience, the rite of passage that can either spark a lifelong career ambition… or leave you questioning every life choice you've ever made. From awkward first days and questionable placements to the reality of trying to secure opportunities in today's world, they unpack...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this episode Larissa and Tom dive into the wonderfully chaotic ecosystem that is school staff culture, because every school has types of teachers, and honestly… you can probably picture them immediately. From Golden Retriever energy and hyper-organised planners to the permanently exhausted veteran surviving on caffeine and sarcasm, this episode hilariously break...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this episode Larissa and Tom tackle the age-old question: what actually makes a good teacher? And spoiler alert, it’s not just being terrifying enough to silence a classroom with one look. From strict teachers vs the “nice” ones, to the chaos of teaching subjects you barely feel qualified for, this episode dives into the myths, pressures, and personalities behin...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this episode, Tom and Larissa get brutally honest about the parts of teaching no one really warns you about, the constant mental load and the way the job quietly creeps into every corner of your life. From overthinking every word you say to filtering yourself in everyday conversations, this episode shines a light on the invisible weight teachers carry long after...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this episode of Chalkboard and Chill , Tom and Larrissa gets real about the beautifully chaotic balancing act that is teaching… while also, you know, living an entire life outside of it . From exam-season stress spirals to weddings, house moves, pregnancy, and everything in between, this episode is a candid, honest, and often very relatable look at what happens...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this episode of Chalkboard and Chill , we’re diving headfirst into one of the most important conversations in education right now: how we create classrooms that actually work for every child, not just the ones who neatly fit the system. From SEND support and mainstream inclusion to behavior, burnout, and the difference between equity and equality , this episode...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! This week, Tom and Larrissa dive into the chaos, costumes, and questionable outfit choices that come with World Book Day in schools. From recycled onesies and last-minute costume panic to the teachers who fully commit (top hats, face paint and all), they share their honest thoughts on dressing up for the big day — including why it’s much easier said than done when...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! This week, Tom and Larrissa tackle the great British obsession: snow days . From pyjamas worn inside out to chanting into the freezer (yes, really), they dive into the bizarre internet superstitions supposedly guaranteed to summon snowfall — including spoons under pillows, brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand, and the classic snow dance around the kitche...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this week’s episode, Tom and Larrissa go live (ish) from two very different locations — Tom broadcasting from school, Larrissa dialling in from home after a trampoline park incident leaves her in a single-boot era with two torn ankle ligaments. After catching up on life off sick, cover work chaos, and the unexpected perk of binge-worthy TV, they turn their atten...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this week’s episode, Tom and Larrissa turn the staff room into an advice column, stepping in as the unofficial agony aunt and uncle to tackle real dilemmas sent in by teachers. After a classic catch-up (covering housing stress, renovations, The Sims chaos, and some very niche celebrity chat), they dive into the questions that so many teachers quietly worry about...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this week’s episode, Tom and Larrissa sit down to debunk some of the most common myths about schools and teachers — the ones that refuse to die and seem to resurface at every social event. They dive into a couple of big hitters, including the idea that teachers are “ paid for the summer holidays ” and that the school day neatly runs from 8:45am to 3:30pm. Using...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this week’s episode, Tom and Larrissa talk through a very normal school day —from early starts and half-term exhaustion to meetings, marking, duties, and the quiet chaos that fills every hour in between. The episode kicks off with school cake (courtesy of Larrissa’s mum, officially a friend of the pod 🍰) before the pair ease into an honest conversation about mo...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this week’s episode, Tom and Larrissa talk about one of the most universally dreaded moments in teaching: being asked to teach a lesson that isn’t your subject specialism . They share stories from years of covering lessons and teaching outside their comfort zones — from long-term English classes and PSHE discussions to surprise science cover, maths confusion, fo...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this week’s episode, Tom and Larrissa talk about school trips—the chaotic, hilarious and occasionally traumatising rite of passage for every student and every teacher. They reminisce about their own childhood outings, from Roman wax tablets and Drayton Manor to churning butter, meeting the Weasley twins and being dragged to some very questionable “educational” d...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this week’s episode, Tom and Larrissa dive into the messy, funny and very real world of technology in schools. From the days of paper registers and chaotic interactive whiteboards to today’s touchscreen screens, Google briefings and desperate reliance on Wi-Fi, they chat about how teaching has changed —especially since COVID. They talk about phone bans (which ha...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this week’s episode, Larrissa and Tom dive into the world of teaching abroad, sharing the highs, lows, and everything in between from their teacher friends out in Hong Kong. They chat about the financial perks, the calmer classroom behaviour, and the cultural and political nuances that shape the teaching landscape overseas. From navigating new faculty dynamics t...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this week’s episode, Larrissa and Tom chat about how they each found their way into teaching — the ups, the downs, and everything in between. They swap stories from their training days, compare different routes into the profession , and laugh about the less glamorous parts (like endless lesson observations). From placements that tested their patience to moments...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this week’s episode, Larrissa and Tom dive into the world of teacher friendships , both inside and outside the classroom. They chat about the importance of having a strong support system , why non-teacher friends can offer a much-needed fresh perspective, and how shared classroom experiences often form the foundation of lasting bonds. The conversation also touch...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this week's episode, Larrissa and Tom put a playful spin on teaching by asking: what would happen if Ofsted rated their actual lives? From dodgy trainee-year diets to questionable sleep schedules and the art of looking professional on minimal rest, they laugh their way through the highs and lows of early teaching days. As they compare the “then and now,” they un...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this week's episode, Tom and Larrissa are taking you Down Under! They’re discussing what it’s really like teaching in Australia, from the dreamy work-life balance to the curveballs of student behavior and the quirks of the curriculum. Along the way, they dish on teacher pay, why Aussie schools have surprisingly strict gift-giving rules, and how cultural differen...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! You know those teacher phrases we all swore we’d never use? Yeah… turns out we’re using them. In this episode, Tom and Larrissa crack up (and cringe a little) over the classics like, “ The bell doesn’t dismiss you, I do ,” and “ They behave for me .” But it’s not just about funny one-liners! This chat gets into the real struggles behind those phrases, like how tric...

Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this weeks episode, Tom and Larrissa dive into the challenges and experiences of returning to school after the summer break. From the infamous training days to the excitement (and nerves) of meeting new students, they unpack the highs and lows of a teacher’s first week back. With humour, honesty, and plenty of relatable reflections, the hosts explore the dynamic...

 Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this episode, Tom and Larrissa take a trip down memory lane, diving into the relatable and often hilarious world of school life through the lens of nostalgia. From the awkwardness of being the new kid to the legendary highs and lows of school dinners, they reflect on how these early experiences shaped them both personally and professionally. The conversation a...

 Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this episode, Tom and Larrissa chat about the upcoming and much awaited summer holidays! Touching on subjects such as teacher guilt, finding the right work / life balance in the holidays and somehow running into a student across the globe! So if you've ever wondered what your teachers got up to during summer, here's a secret (and possibly underwhelming) insigh...

 Welcome to Chalkboard and Chill! In this episode, Tom and Larrissa reminisce on teaching during Covid-19! They chat about the troubles that came with teaching virtually, the crazy amounts of absences and catching a student playing XBox during a lesson! From the funny excuses for missing lessons to the difficult reality of trying to maintain the attention span of teenagers, this episode shows the...