Regulated Classrooms: SEL Chats for Elementary Teachers

Your well-being as a teacher matters — not just for you, but for your students. In this episode, I dive into the research and real-life classroom examples that show how teacher wellness directly impacts student behavior, engagement, and learning outcomes. You’ll learn about emotional contagion, co-regulation, and why taking care of yourself is a form of classroom leadership. I share simple strateg...

Discover 5 simple mindfulness activities you can use in your classroom to reduce stress, increase focus, and support student regulation—all in just a few minutes a day. Mindfulness doesn’t have to mean long meditations or total silence. In this episode, we’ll explore how short, practical mindfulness activities can transform the energy in your classroom, strengthen coregulation, and even improve ac...

Our words matter. They can regulate or dysregulate, motivate or manipulate, build trust or create resistance. In this episode, I break down Mike Anderson’s What We Say and How We Say It Matter , a book I loved for its practical examples and immediately usable teacher talk strategies. Key takeaways include: Why sarcasm can backfire with students Why “hope” is not a management strategy—and what to s...

Ever catch yourself saying, “Stop that!” or “How many times do I need to say…” and wish you could rewind and say it better? Kinder? Clearer? More effectively? This episode is for you.  We’re outlining the ABCDs of Positive Language —my signature language framework that helps you use your words to lead with clarity, kindness, and calm. Learn how to acknowledge student emotions, set boundaries, offe...

Let’s talk about circles—yes, literally sitting in a circle with your students. Whether you’re already using community or restorative circles, have tried them a few times, or are just circle-curious, this episode gives you the foundation you need to get started with confidence. I’ll walk you through why circles work, how they support trauma-informed and restorative practices, and the five key elem...

What happens during the first 10 minutes of your school day sets the tone for everything that follows. In this episode, we’re talking about arrival routines —and how creating a predictable, connected, and calming start can transform your classroom climate. I’ll break down the 3 essential elements of a strong arrival (Predictability, Connection, and Regulation), share some of my favorite low-lift i...

The first few weeks of school are your golden window for setting the tone—so let’s make them count. In this episode, we talk about how to prioritize social-emotional learning from Day 1, why regulation and connection come before curriculum, and how to build a classroom where students feel safe, seen, and ready to learn. I’m sharing three big ideas you can use right away to build calm and connectio...

In this very first episode, I’m pulling back the curtain to share who I am, why I created Regulated Classrooms , and how this podcast will support you throughout the school year. From my roots in theater to my work in inclusive classrooms and coaching teachers on SEL practices, this is a look at the heart behind it all. I’ll share what I believe about the emotional demands of teaching, how regulat...