Shaping Little Minds

I'm tearing up as I write this.  This school year has been extraordinarily tough on me and I have to make some hard decisions as I go into the craziness of the last few weeks. I've struggled with mental health (depression and anxiety), I've struggled with a lot of resentment toward the classroom, and really struggled to show up the way I wanted to.  I'm taking an extended break...

This time of year can feel like a lot for so many teachers. It's almost the end of the school year, the students are even more chaotic than they were at the start, everyone is ready for summer vacation, BUT there are still a few weeks left before you are officially on summer vacation. Today, I dive into 3 habits that will help make teaching more sustainable during this time of year. Consisten...

It can be really hard to hear the news of non-renewal. It makes it hard to show up to work each day. It makes you question whether or not you were meant to be teaching. In today's episode, I have Stephanie on the podcast.   She speaks from prior experiences of being non-renewed more than once and gives those in this position some incredible advice to get through; especially if you want to sta...

It can feel challenging being in a mainstream classroom and having to support neurodivergent students. Today, Dr. Tara Williams shares what she’s learned as a professor and an academic executive functioning coach and will help you to support your neurodivergent students in your classroom in a way that isn’t overwhelming or stressful. 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS: Doing something for a neurodivergent student ca...

In society today, we learn to believe that we are only worthy when we do the thing, when we get all the things done, when we achieve a huge goal, etc. But what if I told you you can cultivate a worthy based mindset that doesn't base you worthiness on what you've gotten done?!  Today's episode is a little different than the others. And the reason is I am reading an excerpt of my newe...

Something so many teachers struggle with in a sense of identity outside of the classroom and many times, that can go back to the fact that they don't keep promises to themselves. Research shows that when a person stop keeping even the smallest promises to themselves, it can affect their self-efficacy; the way they see themselves.  In today's episode, we dive into why it's so importa...

It's the last stretch before summer vacation and there's always lots to do. With that also comes feeling like we're constantly in survival mode. Survival mode, many times, comes from become consumed with the workload and letting all other things go to the wayside. In today's episode, I'll break down 5 habits to upkeep, even in the busiest seasons so you're not constan...

If literacy comes easily to you, but you struggle to teach it... you're not alone. Today's guest was in your shoes once and dives into what she found once she became a literacy consultant (or as she calls it, a traveling teacher). 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS: Correcting a child's mistakes doesn't actually help them to learn When you know something really well, it can be harder to teach Lit...

Nervous system regulation has become a hot topic but it's also something I've focused on for myself and with clients. Today, you'll 4 ways to help you regulate your nervous as a busy full-time teacher. 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS: Regulating your nervous system brings you back to state of homeostasis where you're able to handle what's being thrown at you. Regulating your nervous syste...

As I was writing the outline for this episode, I googled: "what do you teachers need to hear right now?"  I wanted to show up here with intention. I know that this time of year can be really tough for teachers. Between parent-teacher conferences, spring break coming up, and the end of the school year being around the corner, this is a time where teachers can feel burnt  out and anxious....

When you change your mind, you can change your life. That honestly sound cliche but it's true. At the start of the school year, I was showing up burnt out and overwhelmed. I thought the only way to make things better for myself was by quitting teaching. Sounds familiar, right? Maybe that's the answer for some, but it wasn't the answer for me. I had to make the decision to do things...

My coach recently reflected something back to me that is unbelievably true -- Teachers are comfortable with burnout.  You are comfortable with burnout because it's become normalized. You're comfortable with burnout because it's all you've ever known. You're comfortable with burnout because you believe that it's just a part of teaching.  I'm going to challenge you...

Mentorship is one of my favorite topics to talk about and it’s something I have spoken about in length. I’ve even given presentations on the topic.  We’ve got a special guest today talking to us about mentorships and the gaps that have been discovered over the years. Kerry Drake is the founder of KD Talks, a Canadian-based professional development company dedicated to empowering early childhood ed...

If you're a teacher who is sick of living paycheck to paycheck but really don't want to go and get that 2nd or 3rd job, this episode is for you!  I have been coaching teachers to help them start side hustles inside of my signature program, Passion to Profit . I walk my clients through a 3 step process that helps them to not only come up with their side hustle idea and offer but also attr...

If you've dreamt of building community in your classroom, but it feels impossible or overwhelming... you're in the right place. In today's episode, I had an incredible guest who guides and mentors teachers in the classroom and helps them build community.  Donna is a full time tenure teacher at Vanier College. She has been teaching mentoring and supporting educators for more than 25...

We forget to bring JOY into our classrooms, especially when we feel that sense of overwhelm and stress. This is just as much a reminder for me as it is for you. It's something I've struggled with and wanted to bring to the podcast. 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS: We tend to forget was fun and joy is when things get busy because we start to think of fun as irresponsible and unprofessional. When you brin...

If you've ever wanted to make a difference beyond your classroom walls, this is the perfect episode for you to dive into.  Today, I had my incredible friend Carla Ward on the podcast to talk to you about building influence beyond the classroom; specifically by starting your very own podcast. Carla is the creator and host of The Everything ECE Podcast , a top-rated show that’s become a go-to r...

I had the pleasure of having Dr. Sheila Bishop on the podcast to talk about how to think about and use money differently. Dr. Sheila is a public health scientist and creator of Piggy Bank Pathways, a financial literacy program that helps teachers and families raise money - smart kids. She blends research, real life experience, and joyful storytelling to make financial education simple, practical,...

It's so easy to fall into doing all the things once we go back to school from winter break. We feel motivated because we've had the time off. We have a lot more energy than we did before. But is that really is a reason to end up in burnout?  Today, Adva discusses the importance of doing less. It doesn't mean don't work hard BUT it does emphasize the importance of not doing it A...

Adva shares about pressing pause on the podcast with so many other factors needing her attention. Although Adva loves to share with you each week and give you the little nuggets you need inside your classroom, Adva had to make the hard decision to pause until 2026.  But don't worry! There are SO many amazing guests already lined up for 2026. Get ready for another incredible season of the Shap...

I have seen many teachers posting about their colleagues disrespecting them at school and decided to do an episode on this so that you can approach these situations with grace and without having to be confrontation. In this episode, we dive into: why it hurts so much  a mindset shift that will change everything tactical ways to respond to someone who is being disrespectful and the importance of pr...

December is a month that can bring about stress and overwhelm in many teachers lives. It can be a month that just feel never ending and when teachers end up just counting down the days. I've definitely been there!  In today's episode, I break down 3 tools and strategies you can use as we near the end of November, to help you prepare for a December of EASE.  Bringing creativity back into...

The holiday season is quickly approaching and it can start feel like you're running on empty. In my weekly support session with my Passion to Profit clients, this was the theme this past week. My clients came into the session feeling depleted and like they are running on empty constantly. In this episode, I give you 3 strategies that I shared with my clients to help you as you navigate the up...

It's November... which means holiday season is approaching and that could bring up stress and overwhelm for many teachers. It is no secret that I was struggling at the beginning of the school year and during fall break, I put systems into place that would create a semblance of calm. As I've said many times, the energy you bring into your classroom is the energy your students will feed of...

Rest is something so many use as a reward for all the hard work they do -- never listen to their body when it's screaming it needs rest. There's this belief in today's society that being busy makes a person worthy of all the things they want to achieve in life. Unfortunately, the only thing that creates is a case of severe burnout. In today's episode, Adva discusses the phrase...