This Teacher Life

“I didn’t see that coming.” “Wow! That threw me through a loop!” “Whoa! That’s different.” “Ugh. Another change?” Have you found yourself in an unexpected situation or moment as a teacher? if you said YES (because you find yourself in expected moments all the time) this episode is for you. As teachers, how do we keep moving and keep motiv...

Are you an energetic teacher who has a passion for continuous improvement and looking for a fun, fresh perspective? Are you a new teacher who is looking to start your career with some positive momentum? Are you a veteran teacher who has been in the classroom for years and feel like you are stuck in a rut? Are you a worried teacher who is so concerned about how we can recover from what has happened...

Teachers love a check-list. It feels SO good to cross things off and say… DONE! But sometimes in all the stress and struggles of the school year we realize we need more than just a check-mark. We need our principals to hear us. We need our students to embrace us. We need our community to support us. In this motivational, heart-felt episode we will dive into the difference between a check mar...

Looking for ONE classroom idea that could make your spring awesome? You are in the right place. In this episode we will take a deck of Uno cards and show you how to: increase student motivation, decrease problematic behaviors, boost classroom camaraderie, and create SO much fun. Literally all you need to implement this super simple, but super effective idea is a deck of uno cards and a classroom o...

Do you have a sharpie marker in your classroom?  If so, I’ve got an engaging idea for you! Do you have even one piece of technology in your classroom? If so, I’ve got an engaging idea for you. Do you have students in your classroom for at least 1 minute? Of course you do! So, I’ve for an engaging idea for you. 3 ideas will come your way in this episode that is all about being a Game Changer for ki...

Sometimes we simply don’t need permission to do great things for kids! But, teachers like us seek permission for lots of things. Can I do that? Better e-mail my principal. Am I allowed to use that? Better ask another teacher. Is that a good idea? Better see if teachers on Instagram do it. In this episode I give you the permission, that you don’t need, to do 3 things. And these 3 things will impact...

Sometimes the things we do in our classrooms don’t seem like they are making an impact. Sometimes the things we aren’t doing in our classrooms would make a massive impact. So how we do we figure out the “dos” and “don’ts” in today’s world of education? In this episode you will get 3 super simple things that will make a huge difference for both you and students. And I will share one thing that we s...

Looking for ways to not let one student or one class period ruin your whole day? I’ve got an idea. Looking for ways to not feel super overwhelmed with all the extra roles and responsibilities of this year? I’ve got an idea. Looking for ways to balance or separate home life and teacher life? I’ve got an idea. This episode is all about answer the top 3 biggest questions that we as busy, stressed tea...

My students won’t talk or get engaged in my lessons. My students have a wall up and are impossible to reach. I just need more ideas to add to my teacher tool belt. I wish I had fun, new strategies to try with kids. If you have found yourself thinking or feeling any of those things, this episode is for you! During this insanely dynamic episode you will hear 2 simple, but super powerful ideas to hel...

Spoiler alert: I am sharing an idea that has created a MAJOR decrease in classroom issues. The term “classroom management” is thrown around a lot. We had whole classes dedicated to it in undergrad. Our principals talk about it in our evaluations. And these days some teachers are even saying we need to “ditch it.” Some educators believe that classroom management “isn’t needed” if we just have class...

Want 2022 to be awesome? Tired of creating resolutions that don’t last past January? Feeling like your new year’s goals never get off the ground? If you are truly ready for this year to be different then this episode is for you. We will dive into 4 small habits that will set your morning up for total success so you can have an incredible day in the classroom. These 4 habits will make you a better...

Do you have negative co-workers in your school? Are you having a hard time figuring out what to do and say to make things better? Is the negativity becoming so toxic that it is starting to impact you and your students? Difficult co-workers exist everywhere, but the good news is there are 3 ways that we can make this better. In this episode we will explore the raw, real emotions that come with this...

Do you have a door to your classroom?  If so, I’ve got an engaging idea for you! Do you want to keep kids quiet at the right times? If so, I’ve got an engaging idea for you. Do you want students engaging rather than staring at the wall? Of course you do! So, I’ve for an engaging idea for you. 3 ideas will come your way in this episode that is all about being a Game Changer for kids. If you are loo...

55% of educators admit to considering  a career change in 2022 Are you thinking about leaving teaching? Are you wanting to say goodbye to education? Am I contemplating quitting this year too? In this episode you will find out what you need to do, say, or think before making this big decision. By the end you will know what path is the right path for you, for your purpose, and for your profession. E...

This is not what I thought this school year was going to look like…. That is a statement that has been said by nearly every teacher this year and we are heart-broken about it. If you are struggled to get your footing this year… If you felt this year was your hardest in education to date…. If you are need a big boost…. Then this episode is for you because it’s all about setting re...

It’s time to spring into summer because we all deserve that! But how do we truly maximize this time so we feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and restored? In this episode I give 3 simple ideas on how we can make the most of summer in all areas of our life. This little hacks will help you have the best summer of you teacher career- seriously! Episode Notes:  Early Bird Registration for the 4-Part V...

There is no doubt that education has changed over the past few years. But what do those changes mean for the big picture of schools and students? Are all the changes bad? Will we ever go back to normal? Do we even want to go back to normal? In this real and raw discussion about teaching, Jack and I explore what is to come in the future and what we can do to fix it. If you have found yourself askin...

As I have reflected on this school year, one central theme has come up over and over again. That theme is the power of relationships! Connecting with students, the important of social-emotional learning, and the building of ties with kids have been the cornerstone of the past 180 days. And because of that I have a MASSIVE announcement to make! In this episode we will do a quick reflection on relat...

Schools didn’t forget to buy desks, Schools didn’t forget to hire a janitor. School didn’t forget to install wifi. Schools didn’t forget to write curriculum. But schools HAVE forgotten about this? What is this and why is it essential? You will find out in this super motivational, quick episode. And I promise that THIS would keep educators happy, healthy, and holding on for...

If you like to laugh, remember inflatable furniture, owned a Ti 89 calculator, or stuff snacks from the Dollar Tree in your purse before a movie, this episode is for you! In a special, hilarious interview with Mr. D, education’s funniest teacher, Joe Dombrowski and I talk about how ridiculously funny the internet has become and how we all need to flash back to when school supplies weren&#821...

Sometimes, especially at this point in the school year, we just need a reminder. A reminder that we are good at our job as a teacher. A reminder that we are making a difference in the lives of kids. A reminder that students are hilarious and it’s ok to laugh. A reminder that we are not alone. And in this episode you will get all of those reminders, plus so much more! Get ready to laugh, cry,...

If there was one thing that could improve your mental, physical, and spiritual health as a teacher, would you want to know about it? This year has been hella hard, but there is something really special that we can do to make it better for ourselves both personally and professionally. In this episode, I sit down with educator Kyle Krueger, and talk about teacher health and self-care in a real, raw...

What if I told you that you could be the best teacher you can be and you didn’t have to change, add, or edit anything that you are doing in your classroom. What if I told you that the “secret” here has nothing to do with lesson plans, classroom management, student engagement, or some other philosophy. Well, in today’s episode I am going to share that secret and I think you...

Have a teacher BFF is an important part of the profession! This person knows how to surprise us with our favorite soda from the machine after a rough morning. This person knows when to come into our room and give us a quick hug. And this person can predict our thoughts and feelings (sometimes before we can ) And in this special episode Amanda and Marie, teacher BFFS, put all of this to the test in...

There are 5 secrets to success in education! Do you know what they are? They aren’t about test scores or curriculum data, but they are about CRUSH! What does that mean? Dive into this episode and find out. The strategies, reflections, ideas, and stories shared in this short and sweet audio will totally blow your mind. And you will be ready to CRUSH IT this spring. Boom! Episode Notes:  Need...