Engaging Early Learners

Instructional assistants play an important role in supporting students and teachers every day, but their perspective is not always talked about. In this Summer Guest Series episode, Rachel talks with Stacey about her experience as an instructional assistant, what her day-to-day work looks like, and the importance of building strong partnerships within the classroom. This episode offers a closer lo...

Together, they talk about what student teaching prepared her for, what she didn't expect, and the lessons she's learned along the way. It's an honest conversation filled with encouragement, perspective, and advice for both student teachers and the teachers who mentor them. In this episode, Rachel and Jess discuss: • What the transition from student teacher to classroom teacher was really like • Th...

Supporting English Language Learners with Mackenzie In this episode of the Summer Guest Series, Rachel is joined by Mackenzie, an elementary ESL teacher who shares a behind-the-scenes look at her role, classroom routines, and the strategies she uses to support multilingual learners. From building relationships to collaborating with classroom teachers, Mackenzie offers practical ideas that can be i...

The end of the school year is the perfect time to reflect on what this year taught us. In this episode, Rachel shares a candid look at her day-to-day experiences, the challenges and successes she encountered, and the lessons that brought her back to the core beliefs that guide her teaching. She explores what she's choosing to carry forward into next year and what she's ready to leave behind. In th...

Extended School Year doesn't have to feel overwhelming. In this episode, Rachel shares her experience teaching ESY and breaks down what it looks like in practice. She explains who qualifies for ESY services, why some students need support over the summer, and what makes teaching ESY manageable for educators. Rachel also walks through her daily schedule, how she uses weekly themes to keep students...

The end of the school year can feel chaotic. Between wrapping up the classroom, packing everything away, and trying to survive the final days, it’s easy to shove things into cabinets and hope for the best in August. In this episode, Rachel shares practical steps for closing down your classroom with your future self in mind. From purging what you no longer need to creating systems that make back to...

The end of the school year often brings mixed emotions for teachers. You can love your students and still feel overwhelmed. You can love teaching and still need a break. In this episode, Rachel shares an honest conversation about the emotional weight of this season and why the final weeks of the school year can feel especially challenging. From decision fatigue to overstimulation and exhaustion, m...

Teacher interviews and demo lessons can feel overwhelming, especially when the goal feels like sounding perfect. In this episode, Rachel breaks down what schools are actually looking for during the hiring process and how to show up in a way that feels confident, prepared, and real. Schools are not just trying to see if you can teach. They are paying attention to how you handle stress, whether you...

Rachel shares her teaching journey from her first year in the classroom to where she is now, and how her experience has evolved over time. She starts with the early years of teaching, reflecting on long days, building classroom resources, and learning what the day-to-day reality of the profession actually looked like. Through her transition into co-teaching, her decision to leave a district she wo...

If you feel like you can’t sit down without getting interrupted, this episode will feel very familiar. In today's episode Rachel talks about what it really takes to build student independence and why so many students rely on us for everything. It’s not their fault. They just haven’t been given the tools yet. She shares how to shift from doing everything for your students to helping them take owner...

If you feel like you can’t sit down without getting interrupted, this episode will feel very familiar. In today's episode Rachel talks about what it really takes to build student independence and why so many students rely on us for everything. It’s not their fault. They just haven’t been given the tools yet. She shares how to shift from doing everything for your students to helping them take owner...

If you feel like you’re constantly running out of time, this episode is going to hit home. Because it’s not that you need to do more, it’s that the systems you’re using aren’t supporting you. In this episode, Rachel breaks down why “being more productive” isn’t the fix and what’s actually causing you to feel behind. From over-grading to overcomplicating lessons, a lot of what’s draining your time...

Rachel knows how exhausting teaching can be. In this episode, she shares her experience with burnout and the changes she made to protect her energy and well-being. She talks about the toll of long hours, feeling guilty for resting, and the pressure of caring so much about students. Rachel explains what boundaries really look like and gives practical strategies you can start using right away. You’l...

Even with strong systems and well planned schedules, challenging behaviors and difficult moments are still part of the day. A hard morning can quickly turn into a heavy, overwhelming day if there is no intentional way to shift out of it. In this episode Rachel walks listeners through what it looks like to pause, reset, and move forward instead of pushing through dysregulation. The goal is not perf...

If your classroom feels chaotic, it’s not about being louder or adding more consequences. It’s about your systems. In this episode, Rachel walks through a systems deep dive and shows you what it actually looks like to build a classroom that runs smoothly without constant reminders and corrections. She breaks down five high-impact systems that take the pressure off you and create more consistency f...

In the very first episode of Engaging Early Learners , Rachel is starting with a shift that can change your entire day. Instead of focusing on consequences or trying to manage behavior in the moment, she walks through how stronger classroom systems can prevent many of those struggles from happening in the first place. If the same behaviors keep showing up, it’s usually not about the child. It’s a...

Hi, I’m Rachel, and welcome to Engaging Early Learners , the podcast for teachers who want practical, no-nonsense strategies to help their students actually learn and remember. Every week, I share tips, ideas, and classroom tested strategies you can use right away to make teaching easier and learning stick. Find me on my social media platforms: Instagram: @EngagingEarlyLearners Facebook: Engaging...