This Teacher Life

Looking for a simple, yet powerful tool to boost student participation and spark creativity in your classroom? In this week’s episode of the This Teacher Life podcast, we reveal how you can transform classroom discussions and interactions with just  one small, unexpected tool —a  dice ! We know that getting  all  students engaged in the lesson can feel like a challenge, especially when some studen...

Teachers, if you’ve been searching for a real behavior strategy that actually works (and doesn’t require a magic wand or a daily bribe of candy), this episode is for you. This week on the This Teacher Life podcast, we’re diving into the power of goal-setting with accountability partners — and before you roll your eyes, trust me… this idea is way more game-changing than it sounds. You’ll hear how t...

Teacher Truth: Paper assignments? Easy to make… but not exactly student engagement gold. Also Teacher Truth: Hands-on activities? Way more work… but also way more worth it . So here’s the real challenge—how do we get students pumped about real-world learning without spending every ounce of our “free time” buried in prep? In this week’s episode of the This Teacher Life podcast, we’re diving into cr...

Ready to make 2026 your most inspired, energized, and growth-filled year yet? In this week’s episode of the This Teacher Life podcast, I’m breaking down four legitimately amazing books that will challenge your thinking, spark new habits, and fuel real transformation—personally, professionally, and everything in between. These aren’t just “nice to read someday” picks. These are the book...

What if one simple idea could bring teachers together, spark joy in the hallways, and actually make people want to come to work on Monday? In this week’s episode of This Teacher Life, we dive into a simple, high-energy idea that’s all about helping your school staff connect, celebrate each other, and actually have fun together—no clipboards, no PD, no agendas. Learn how this lighthearted tra...

The holidays can be really stressful in schools. But the holidays are also a perfect time to spread smiles in schools. What is a small but significant want to surprise staff and students? Sometimes all you need is a little sugar and a little support. In this week’s episode of the This Teacher Life podcast I dive into all the details of the “holiday” Little Debbie December, If you haven’t heard of...

Get ready to dive into a hilariously unconventional yet surprisingly effective approach to boosting student reliability. Join us as we explore the wild idea of using a raccoon as a quirky connection for kids. In this episode of This Teacher Life, we’ll discuss how positive signage on the walls and in the halls is some of the best “marketing” that can happen in schools. Whether you’re a seasoned te...

Needing something SUPER fun and SUPER simple to make December sweeter and also less stressful? In this week’s episode of the This Teacher Life podcast, we’re sharing a really dumb idea that’s so simple, it might just work wonders for your school’s culture this December! What’s the secret? A calendar. That’s right—this humble tool can spark excitement, foster connection, and bring a sense of...

Classroom games are a great way to build relationships with kids and create student engagement. But sometimes those games can be complicated, take a ton of prep, and can get chaotic. What if I told you there was a SUPER simple game that is easy to implement, takes practically no time to prep, and creates connection rather than chaos. Would you play that game with students? In this week’s episode o...

Chronic absenteeism can feel both overwhelming and annoying because we understand there is SO much more to the story. But what if I told you there are some silly and significant things we can do to combat it? In this weeks episode of This Teacher Life, we’re showing you how something as simple as a potato can have a BIG impact on your school’s attendance! Tune in as we explore 9 creative and...

Want to boost student achievement data, but it feels way to huge to actually move the needle? What if I told you there was an easy way to boost learning data and it’s by focusing on something totally separate? In this week’s episode of This Teacher Life podcast, we’re bringing some fun and friendly competition to your school with an unexpected twist— a potato ! Discover how something a...

Do staff and students have huge amounts of success in your school? In this week’s episode of This Teacher Life we’re diving into smart, simple strategies that turn group work into real collaboration. You’ll get classroom-tested ideas to help kids communicate, problem-solve, and share responsibilities — while keeping the chaos (and the glue) under control. From quick teamwork games to routine...

Have you ever taught in two different shoes on accident? Have you ever gotten home from school only to realize you taught all day with an unknown child’s throw-up down the side of your shirt? In this hilarious and candid episode of This Teacher Life, we dive into the unspoken, yet very real signs that it’s time to hang up your grading pen (because do we even use pens to grade anymore?)...

Finding balance between teaching life and home life can feel impossible! But what if one small shift could make it easier and more satisfying? In this week’s episode of This Teacher Life, we uncover one powerful idea that helps teachers in their personal life so they can be their best in professional life! If you’ve been searching for a realistic way to balance teaching with family, friends,...

Sometimes the best lessons are the ones that are the easiest…. and just a little corny. In this week’s episode of This Teacher Life, we dive into one classroom activity that is a powerful way to engage students, spark meaningful conversations, and create lasting connections. The best part? It’s simple to try, doesn’t take any prep, and I promise it’s NOT “cornfusing” to implement. Get...

If you use file folders, worksheets, competitions, or quieting techniques in your classroom, this episode is for you! And spoiler alert…. none of those are bad things! But the dialogue in this week’s episode of the This Teacher Life podcast will get you thinking differently about each of them. Here we dive into the 4 things every teacher should promise not to do—but let’s be real, we p...

Is your school culture feeling a little…blah? Is your school culture awesome and you are wanting to level it up even more? In this episode of This Teacher Life, we’re diving into a simple but powerful idea that’s bringing joy, surprise, and connection back to school staffs everywhere: Secret Pals! Learn how this easy-to-implement tradition can boost morale, strengthen team bonds, and make your cam...

Ready to flip the script on school stress by remixing a VERY common thing that happens with students? In this week’s energizing episode of the This Teacher Life, we’re diving into three powerful “F-words” that every classroom and campus should embrace this year. Don’t worry — they’re all school  appropriate   — but they pack a serious punch when it comes to boosting fun, fr...

Let’s be real teachers—there’s a huge difference between a worksheet and a “worksh*t”. One of those is about authentic learning, amazing feedback, and active engagement. The other is about busy work, creating frustration, and a time vampire. The good news is… worksheets CAN be an amazing thing IF we use them correctly. In this episode, we’re cutting through the clutter and breaking down five...

Teaching is tough—but it doesn’t have to feel impossible! If you are ready to kick off the school year with less stress and more joy- I’ve for 6 ideas for you. These aren’t overwhelming, complicated strategies—just small shifts that bring big results in your classroom and for your own happiness as an educator. From boosting student engagement, to setting boundaries that protect your energy,...

Welcome back to a brand-new season! We’re kicking things off with a powerful, practical strategy to boost student engagement, motivation, and classroom culture—all with a little help from the iconic game of Plinko. In this week’s episode of the This Teacher Life, you’ll learn how to turn a simple competition into a classroom climate game-changer. Discover step-by-step ideas for i...

Really dumb ideas can be SO dynamic! But why share “dumb” ideas? Because SPOILER ALERT… they work! I think ideas that take no prep, require no lesson plan, and cost nothing are exactly the kind of thing we are looking for this school year. In this week’s episode of the This Teacher Life podcast I explain a super simple strategy that kids have declared as the GOAT- Greatest of All Time. And you can...

How are you currently handling the stress, emotions, and frustrations of education? How are you currently handling the celebrations, smiles, and successes of education? And maybe the biggest, best question yet, how can we balance those two sets of very different emotions? In this week’s episode of the This Teacher Life podcast we dive into 2 unpopular teacher opinions about teaching being “easy” a...

Want this school year to be your best UNO yet? Sometimes things like classroom management and behavior management cam bog us down. But what if I told you this year can totally be flipped over in a good way?! What if there was one simple way to increase participation, decrease disrespect, get 100% of students organized, and have SO much fun. And all you need for it is a deck of Uno cards? This is n...

When was the last time you asked students questions like… What do you really want teachers to know about you? What would you say to your teachers if you knew they would listen without judgement? What can I do in this classroom this year to help decrease your frustration and increase your engagement. Yes, kids want things like snacks, snapchat, and to sleep in class. But kids actually want WAY diff...