The Teacher Time Podcast

Classroom organization is really important for elementary teachers. Solid organization can help you plan and prep more efficiently. As teachers, we have tons of options for how to organize our classrooms. But what are the best options that will make keeping up with classroom organization easy? In this episode, I’m sharing 3 of my favorite tools for teacher organization. What’s Covered In This Episode: Links Mentioned: Monthly Bin Labels10 Drawer CartFree Download: 5 Simple Tools to Organize Your Classroom Ready to be more productive during your limited prep? Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time” Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

Teacher moms, this one’s for you! During the school year, we have a routine every single day. Then summer comes… and while the break is much needed, this big shift in routine can be challenging, especially with kids. In this episode, I’m sharing the very flexible daily routine that I follow as a teacher mom on summer break. What’s Covered In This Episode: Why having a general routine for summer break is helpful How I break up our day Examples of activities we do during each part of our day Links Mentioned: College 2 Classroom Summit is happening TODAY: June 27th. Grab your ticket here! Free Self Care Summer Planner Loving the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. I'll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode, and you'll be helping other teachers decide if The Teacher Time Podcast is going to be their next listen. You can leave your review HERE. Thank you for your support, teacher friend!

If I could go back in time and tell my first year teacher self anything … these would be the first two pieces of advice I would give. And since I can’t go back in time, I’m just recording myself sharing this advice with all of you. Whether you’re a new teacher, seasoned teacher, or somewhere in between, this episode has advice everyone can use! What’s Covered In this Episode: What makes teaching so hard during the first year (my personal experience) The one thing you absolutely must be clear on before students step foot in your classroom How to make teaching sustainable from the beginning Links Mentioned: Grab your ticket to the College 2 Classroom Virtual Summit! I’ll be guest speaking on today’s topic. You’ll gain access to all presentations from experienced educators who are ready to help you be the best teacher you can be! Editable Classroom Handbook

Your school year has been busy and you are ready for summer break. But shutting your teacher brain off is easier said than done. How can you decompress after a busy school year so that you’re able to truly relax this summer? We’ll answer that question in this episode. The rule that will help you actually take a break How routines can be helpful tools for teachers on summer break Ideas that will get your mind off your classroom Links Mentioned: End of Year Teacher Guide

There's so much to do at the end of the school year. You have report cards to complete and a classroom to pack up. But what about your students? Maybe you feel the pressure to plan some extra fancy activities. Maybe you're so overwhelmed by everything else on your to-do list that you have no idea what to plan. I have good news - You can keep your last week plans simple, but meaningful. What's Covered in this Episode: Links Mentioned: End of Year Series PlaylistEnd of Year Checklists and GuideEnd of Year Slideshow Template

It's time for a replay! This week, we're republishing a highly requested episode from our End of Year Teacher Series that went live in 2022. This episode is the second of four in our End of Year Teacher Series. In this episode, we talk all about one thing you should be doing at the end of the school year to make your life easier later. What is it? Decluttering your classroom. Inside the episode, I'll go through 3 steps to make sure you're tidying your classroom so you're scrambling to do it during the back to school season. You can find the full website show notes here. What's Covered In This Episode:

It’s about that time in the school year where you’re going to be packing up your classroom. Maybe you're decluttering a little bit and thinking about what you want to change for the upcoming year. Whether you're making updates to your classroom set up, classroom organization, planning, or even classroom management. In this episode, I'm sharing a big picture of the 4 ways you can make sure to be packed and organized before leaving your classroom for summer break! What's Covered in this Episode: Download the Free End of Year Guide for checklists, tips, and a podcast playlist that will help you leave work at work over the summer.

Does writing report card comments take hours because you’re just not sure what to write? If you dread report card season every quarter and desperately want writing comments to be easier, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s episode, we’re breaking down how to make writing report card comments easy in 3 steps. In This Episode About Report Card Comment Tips, You’ll Learn: Links Mentioned in the Episode: Get Done for You Report Card Comment TemplatesListen to Episode 95 Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

Report cards can be a hefty task, I get it. If report cards have been taking you hours upon hours to do, then you are going to love this episode! I’m sharing 3 mistakes that I’ve made when it comes to writing report cards to help you with what not to do so you can write accurate and objective report cards for your students in less than 2 hours. What's Covered in This Episode: Links Mentioned: Report Card Comment Templates + Guide If you're loving the podcast, leave a review on Apple Podcasts HERE.

We're nearing the end of the year and your students are tired, you're tired, but learning still has to happen. How are you going to keep your students engaged? Today I'm sharing 3 engagement strategies that you can use with your students right away. Not just at the end of the year, but all the time! The best thing about these strategies is they are absolutely no-prep. The only thing you need is yourself and your students! What's Covered In This Episode: Links Mentioned In This Episode: Take the Free Quiz to find out! Send me a DM on Instagram -

This month we’ve been covering topics around teacher burnout and stress management. And I cannot think of a better way to wrap up this month’s episode than with this conversation I had with Jen Rafferty. Talking with Jen truly felt like talking with a friend who just gets it and who understands the importance of teachers taking care of themselves so they cna show up as their best selves, not only in the classroom but outside of the classroom too. There is so much to take away from thos conversation, from how to aim for a work life BLEND, not balance, what’s keeping teachers from true work satisfaction, and so much more. Presenter and author Jen Rafferty started her teaching career as a middle school teacher in Central New York for 15 years. She founded Empowered Educator in 2020 as a response to teacher burnout during the pandemic. Jen is known for bringing her energy, humor and expertise in her presentations while inspiring educators to stay connected to their "why." Jen is a certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. Since its inception, the Empowered Educator has reached teachers and school leaders all over the world. Jen has been featured in Authority Magazine, Medium, Thrive Global, and VoyageMIA. She is the author of the Amazon bestseller, A Place in the Staff: Finding Your Way as a Music Teacher. Jen's insatiable curiosity continues to make the Empowered Educator programs relevant and reflective of the most up-to-date research in mindset, leadership, and cognitive neuroscience. She is committed to inspiring teachers and school leaders to discover their voice and maintain a healthy longevity throughout their careers. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: What your sacrifice/renewal cycle is and how it’s both the problem & the solution for burnout. Why Work/life balance is a lie The difference between positive psychology and toxic positivity. The impact that "Shoulds" and "supposed-to's" have on your work satisfaction Links Mentioned in the Episode: https://empowerededucator.com/resources Ready to be more productive during your limited prep? Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time”

Do you experience the Sunday Scaries as a teacher? Unfortunately, this can be a common experience, but it doesn't have to be your "normal." In this episode, we're talking about understanding what the Sunday Scaries are, why they happen, and some really simple things you can do to help eliminate those feelings. In this Episode, You'll Learn: Links Mentioned: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress CycleDownload this Free To-Do List for Teachers Shop my TPT Store: Teaching Little Leaders for time-saving templates + activities Ready to be more productive during your limited prep? Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time” Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

Teacher burnout is unfortunately a common experience for many. But did you know that your burnout is unique to you? And how you overcome that burnout depends on what kind of burnout you’re experiencing? This week I’m joined by Amber Harper, who shares how she used her teacher burnout as a catalyst for change and how you can too! Amber Harper is a Kindergarten Teacher, author of Hacking Teacher Burnout, podcaster, and Teacher Burnout Coach. She gives struggling teachers a path to follow as they navigate their way out of burnout by helping them grow through their burnout and take their next best steps toward what they want from their career in education and in life. You can learn more about her and the services she offers at www.burnedinteacher.com. In This Episode About Overcoming Teacher Burnout You’ll Learn: Links Mentioned in the Episode: Free Quiz: Identify Your Teacher Burnout TypeHacking Teacher Burnout by Amber Harperhttp://www.burnedinteacher.com/TPT StoreConnect with Amber on Instagram Ready to be more productive during your limited prep? Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time” Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

How often have you heard someone say they're feeling "teacher tired?" More times than you can count, right? We're all excited for Friday afternoon and the weekend break, but more often than not, many teachers spend their entire weekend working ... writing lesson plans and preparing materials.A break never happens. Recharging doesn't happen. And then we re-enter another work week on Monday feeling just as drained as we did when we left work on Friday. It's time to break this cycle! In This Episode, You'll Learn: Links Mentioned in the Episode: Download the Free To-Do List Template for Busy TeachersJoin Prep Time MakeoverBurnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle Ready to be more productive during your limited prep? Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time” Are you a fan of The Teacher Time Podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts and I'll give you a shoutout in an upcoming episode!

As a teacher, it can be frustrating when your students won't stop talking and interrupting your lessons. However, there are effective strategies you can use to manage student talking and create a more productive learning environment. In this episode, Gina from Teaching with Heart joins me to share simple, effective ways to address constant talking in your classroom that will best support your students. Gina is a kindergarten teacher with over 10 years of classroom experience. She is a classroom and behavior management coach for teachers both in person and online through her website, Teaching with Heart. She is passionate about helping elementary educators change challenging student behavior by figuring out the "why" behind it. In this Episode About Managing Student Talking in your Classroom, You'll Learn: Common responses that most teachers have when trying to stop students from talking and why they don't work How you can start decreasing the amount of talking that's happening in your classroom The importance of understanding the "why" behind the talking Links Mentioned in the Episode: Download the Free Guide: The 1 Thing You Need to Know to Stop the Constant Talking Join Teaching Uninterrupted Listen to Episode 62: 5 Parts to an Effective Classroom Management Plan Teaching With Heart Website Connect with Gina on Instagram: @teachingwithheart Teaching with Heart TpT Store

How many times have you sat down during your prep time and felt too exhausted to get anything done? Or by the time you do have the energy to start prepping, your planning time is over? In this episode we address what's causing that teacher tired feeling and a simple strategy that will help you have a productive prep time throughout the week. In This Episode About Teacher Time Management, You’ll Learn: Links Mentioned in the Episode: Join Prep Time Makeover! Listen to episode 87: 5 Essential Time Management Tips for Busy TeachersListen to episode 88: 3 Common Prep Time Problems and Their Solutions Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

So you want to get planned and prepped ahead of time, BUT all of these problems keep popping up during your already limited prep time. How are you ever going to catch up on everything you have to do? Is it even possible to enjoy a weekend without having your teacher bag by your side? In this episode, we are addressing some common prep time problems that elementary teachers experience AND tips and tricks to help you solve them. In This Episode About Teacher Prep Time We Cover: Links Mentioned in the Episode: Join Prep Time MakeoverListen to Episode 86: 5 Essential Time Management Tips for Busy Elementary TeachersListen to Episode 55: Getting Planned with 0 Minutes of Prep Time with Kassandra Ready to be more productive during your limited prep? Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time” Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

You are a busy elementary teacher with a lot on your plate and not a ton of time to do it in. This episode is kicking off our prep time productivity series, where we'll explore time management and prep time tips you haven't been getting trained on, but should be! In this episode, we will talk about essential time management strategies that every elementary teacher needs in order to make the most of their planning time so they can focus more on teaching! In This Episode About Teacher Time Management, You’ll Learn: Links Mentioned in the Episode: Top 10 Time Management Tips for Elementary TeachersPrep Time Makeover Pre-Sale Ready to be more productive during your limited prep? Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time” Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

Ever wonder how to write a small group lesson plan that's effective but also doesn't take a ton of your time? In this episode, we'll walk through a guide to crafting plans for your small group instruction. I'm sharing my best tips and strategies for creating clear and specific objectives, warm-up activities, teaching points, and practice activities. This episode is part 2 of 2 in our small group planning series. In this episode about small group instruction, you’ll learn: Related Links: Listen to Episode 84: 5 Strategies for Meaningful Small Group InstructionSmall Group Lesson Planning Templates Take a screenshot of this episode, share it on social media, and tag me @teachinglittleleaders! Let me know which lesson planning tip was your favorite.

Does planning for small group lessons feel like one more thing on your plate (that often gets pushed to the back burner)? If you’re struggling to fit planning for small groups into your day and looking for effective strategies that will help you keep it simple and get them done, this episode is for you! Small group instruction is a great way to engage students and promote active learning. In this episode, you’ll learn five strategies to make the most of your small-group lessons. This episode is part 1 of 2 in a small group planning series! In this episode about small group instruction, you’ll learn: Takea screenshot of this episode, share on social media, and tag me @teachinglittleleaders! Let me know which strategy you’re most excited to try! In next week’s episode, we’re diving into how to write a small group lesson plan that’s effective in a snap. Make sure to tune in every Tuesday for more time management and planning tips that will help you keep things simple, find joy in teaching, and leave work at work! Related Links: (COMING SOON - Click here to get notified when it's live)