As the school year winds down, teachers find themselves with a laundry list of things to do and not a lot of energy. So how do teachers end the year while celebrating learning and getting to all the tasks required of them? They have to get creative! That’s for sure.

Natasha Nurse Clarke has so much to share with us today! She talks about her past as a nurse and how it has prepared her for college-level teaching. She also reveals many methods to get her students to open up and get the creative juices flowing. She stresses the importance of getting students involved in class and how it can lead to a future passion for them. Whether you teach elementary or college, you don’t wanna miss this episode!

Loren Thorpe joins us today all the way from Australia! She is sharing her ideas for choice boards and shares her “50 Ways of Using Choice Boards in your Classroom.” She also shares the different options you could use on your choice board for different grade levels. Join us as we explore the benefits of choice boards!

What does having a growth mindset mean in your classroom for you as the educator? We talk about growth mindset for our classroom with the terms of our students and what we want for our students, but what about ourselves?

Today we have s special guest, Sabrina Crews from Ms. Crews Classroom Creations. Sabrina has been teaching students with special needs for eight years. Ms. Crews has two MEd’s in curriculum and instruction with a focus on special education and literacy.

Teaching is at an all-time level of difficulty. Throw behavior challenges into the mix and you have a recipe for disaster. How can teachers keep their sanity and also better understand where these behaviors are coming from and why they are occurring. Join Leslie Belvins and me or a conversation on behavior function and how to look at the behavior with empathy and grade while also taking care of the rest of the class and yourself. I hope you will join us.

Today I sit down with Brian from the dynamic duo Wise Guys. Brian and I talk about how to engage students while online with connections, games, fun technology, and more. We also have a great discussion about the importance of providing equal access to education for all students. I hope you will join us.

Today I have a special guest Amy Mezni from Teaching Ideas 4U. And we are going to talk all about the magic of hands-on integrated units. Hope you stick around.

Amy shares information on integrated units. You may be thinking, is that a thematic unit, is it an intradisciplinary unit or is there a difference? Amy's going to explain the differences to us, so that is really helpful.

Halloween is one of the major celebrations that kids love! I mean what kid doesn’t love candy and to dress up as their favorite character or person?!

Mary Anne and I spoke several months ago about a very important topic- social-emotional learning. Our conversation was very special to me, as Mary Anne shares her raw uncensored responses to teaching, learning, and her very first steps into the world of being a teacherpreneur.

This week we are jumping into classroom management, building rapport, behavior management, and discipline. We will cover it all!

Taking time to recharge is vital for teachers. It clears our minds, nourishes our soul, and prepares us for the year ahead. Today, I gathered answers from teachers on what they do over the summer. I hope you are reminded to take a breath.

Today I am talking with Jackie Waldman about recharging over the summer. She asks us to think about recharging over the summer for teachers as a way to get back what we have lost or let go of through the year that has left us depleted.  What can we do to get just a little of that back. So powerful! I hope you’ll join us. 

Talking curriculum, professional development, and building a community of teachers is one of my favorite things to do. That probably explains why Deedee Wills from the Facebook group Primary Collaborative and I speak for over an hour! It's a long one, but I loved every moment of it.

There is a love hate relationship with the end of the school year for teachers. We often hate all the tedious tasks we are asked to do like pack up our entire classroom just to unpack 2 months later, create class lists, and say goodbye to our kids and co-workers. We also love the idea of starting fresh in August, organizing our things, and getting a much needed break from the daily grind.

Today’s show takes a look at a system that is holding children to standards that are causing them to believe that their worth resides only in being college and career ready. Is this the message we should be sending to the next generation? Preparing kids to think and learn and problem solve is crucial, but it doesn’t have to be in college.  I hope you will join me as I share a letter that I wrote to my daughter when she didn’t get into the colleges she chose due to the message we sent her based on a test score.

Hey! So today I am so excited to have my dear friend Andrea here to welcome new teachers into the tribe of teaching. Andrea has always been a gift to other teachers, most notably for me. She offers practical advice for teachers who are just starting out in this big world of education. We hope you will join us as we pay tribute to our graduating teachers!

This week on One Tired Teacher, I sit down with Amanda a 2nd-year teacher who has begun her teaching journey in an alternative school 6th-8th grade. Amanda shares some of her challenges with students who are often feeling left behind or overlooked. The ESE population is substantial, and many students struggle with ADHD and or Anxiety. We as listeners, get a brief look at a challenging situation.

Teaching can be a lonely field in which to work. Besides the kids, it is so vital to have co-workers who have your back. In episode 7, I speak with Stefania, a middle school art teacher who shares the beauty of working with people who are the family we choose.

Self-care is one of those topics that we know is so important for our mental well being, yet we feel like we never have enough time. It’s kind of like I need gas in my car, but I don’t have time to stop! Eventually, we run out, and we are left stranded on the side of the road.