Engaging Early Learners

Rachel is sharing practical tips for helping students navigate classroom schedule changes and disruptions to their daily routines. From preparing for holiday celebrations and special events to using visual schedules and communicating with families, she's talking about simple ways to help students feel more comfortable when their school day looks different. This episode offers helpful strategies fo...

Rachel is sharing practical tips for welcoming new students into your classroom mid-year. From introducing classroom routines to helping students build friendships and feel included, she's talking about simple ways to make the transition easier for both teachers and students. No matter what grade you teach, welcoming a new student mid-year can come with its challenges. This episode offers practica...

Rachel is taking a closer look at her Amazon storefront and sharing some of the products she uses in her classroom. From classroom essentials to sensory regulation tools, she's talking about the items that have worked well for her and made everyday routines a little easier. If you've checked out her storefront before, this episode gives you a better look at some of her favorite finds and why she r...

The podcast is back, and we’re kicking things off with a deeper look at FriYAY Café. FriYAY Café is a student run coffee cart that gives students the chance to practice functional life skills in a real setting. Students can take orders, handle transactions, communicate with customers, and build independence while having something to look forward to each week. In this episode, we’re talking about w...

Rachel sits down with Lindsey to talk about changing roles, maternity leave, and the many transitions that come with being a teacher. Lindsey shares her experience switching schools, teaching in a 5th-grade-only school, and what it’s like working in a school with strong resources and support. They also talk about mentoring new teachers and the advice they would give teachers heading into a new sch...

When you think about an elementary school counselor, you might picture individual student check-ins or small groups but there is so much more happening behind the scenes. In this episode, Rachel sits down with Jenn, an experienced and incredibly hands-on school counselor, to take us inside the day-to-day role of a counselor in an elementary school. Jenn shares her journey into school counseling an...

What does a BCBA actually do in an elementary school? In this episode, Rachel sits down with her good friend Courtney, a school-based BCBA, to talk about behavior support, working alongside teachers, and what the role really looks like in a school setting. Courtney shares what led her to pursue a career beyond teaching, her personal connection to autism, and how she found her way into behavior sup...

Occupational therapy plays an important role in helping students build the skills they need to participate and succeed in the school environment. In this conversation, Rachel chats with Marissa about what school-based occupational therapy really looks like, who qualifies for services, and some of the common misconceptions surrounding OT. Marissa breaks down how occupational therapy supports studen...

What does it actually take to teach preschool special education? Rachel sits down with Amy, a preschool special education teacher with 11 years of experience, to talk about the systems, routines, and mindset behind a successful classroom. They discuss what makes preschool different from other special education settings, how teachers support students with IEPs, and why helping students learn to com...

In this episode, Rachel sits down with two friends and coworkers, Steph and Sophie, who are 4th grade co-teachers, to talk about the realities of co-teaching. They share what a successful co-teaching partnership actually looks like, from dividing responsibilities and finding a rhythm to navigating challenges and staying flexible. Together, they discuss the misconceptions around co-teaching and why...

Teaching is one of those careers where it’s easy to pour everything you have into your students and forget to leave anything for yourself. In this episode, Rachel sits down with Lucy to talk honestly about burnout, making difficult career decisions, and what happens when you realize something has to change. Lucy shares her experience in preschool special education, navigating school changes, and f...

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...