Paper assignments vs. computer assignments. Which is better for kids? Stern consequences or flexible behavior options. Which is better for kids? To allow AI vs. not allow AI. Which is better for kids. Educators can debate and disagree on SO many education topics. But, at the end of the day we have to ask ourselves, which is better for kids and their future? In this special episode of the This Teacher Life podcast, guest Jack Berckemeyer and I discuss all of the philosophies of...

Oprah and Reese Witherspoon are known for their incredible book clubs. Each year millions of people read titles from their award-winning lists. "Teacher Books" rarely make the cut. But what if I told you that there is actually SO much to be learned from New York Times Best sellers that we could use in your classrooms on a daily basis. In this week's episode of This Teacher Life I unpack 3 books that have "nothing to do with teaching" and prove how much we can learn from them. The ideas,...

Have you ever tried to say one thing in your classroom and it came out completely different? That comment may have cause your whole class to laugh. caused you to be embarrassed, or maybe both. Teacher mistakes are a real thing and when they happen, we have to remember they don't make us bad teachers, they make us humans. But sometimes those mistakes end up being super hilarious! In this episode you will hear about 3 real, raw, really "funny" things that have happened that caused some...

Thanksgiving break is over and winter break is coming soon! During this time of the school year we are SO excited because we have made it through nearly half of the academic calendar. As teachers, we are probably day dreaming about things like sleeping in, family time, watching cheesy Lifetime movies, and staying in our pjs. And let's be serious, a majority of our students are excited about that too. But, before that final bell of 2023 rings we have an awesome opportunity to capitalize on...

How awesome would it be if you could get 100% of students participating? The answer is really awesome! However, you might be thinking, is that even possible? The answer is YES it's 100% possible with THIS idea. The full ideas is described in this week's episode of This Teacher Life and I promise even your "difficult" "hard to reach" and "quiet" students will LOVE this. Not to mention, this idea is perfect for both relationship building and creating strong connections to your classroom...

Classroom games are an awesome way to get students engaged, connecting, and participating. Classroom games are also one of my favorite ways to dive deep with kids and build really strong relationships. In this week's episode of the This Teacher Life podcast we explore a remix of the super popular game I created called Class Connections. But in this version we had students dropping their jaws and saying things like, "NO WAY!" in laughter and also expressing compassion in huge ways ans...

Teachers deserve free gifts and free resources that are going to make our classrooms even better. In this fun and festive episode of the This Teacher Life podcast I share 7 FREE things that I use in my school and with my students that I'm confident you will love! This episode is also a celebration and includes fun flashbacks like skating rinks, overalls, sketchy arcades, fanny packs, Weight Watches, and other awesome 80s + 90s references. I promise when you are done listening you will have...

How is balance going in your teacher life? More specifically, how is the balance between smiles and systems in your school? We all know that schools are under a lot of stress right now and when stress comes into play we forget about balance. Not sure how to solve the stress? Unsure on how smiles and systems can help> In this week's episode of the This Teacher Life podcast we unpack the most common problem that schools, staff, and students are facing. AND we dive into super simple,...

Do you struggle to get kids to turn in work? Do you wish students put forth more effort on the work they turn in? Do you feel like students are failing and they don't care? If you answered YES to any (or all of those) questions then this week's episode of the This Teacher Life podcast is for you! We will dive into my #1 way to get students putting for their best effort on the first try and the amazing system my school in place if kids don't. This idea will take you from stressed to...

"Things aren't like they used to be when I started teaching." Have you said or heard that statement lately. The reality is, yes, things in education have changed. But, the big question is, have students changed or is it the teachers? What if it's neither? What if it's both? What if change isn't actually the problem? Education is hard, but it can be easier. In this week's episode of the This Teacher Life podcast we have an honest conversation with special guest Jack Berckemeyer This audio...

Sometimes in life we get stuck in a rut Here are the common problems many of us as teachers are facing: Why do I keep trying things and giving up a few days in? How can I maximize my time better? What is it going to take to get my priorities aligned? How can I feel like me again? What can I do to excel in every area of my life? There are 8 pillars of life that connect back to most problems and when we better understand those pillars they can take our problems and transform them into...

If we aren't laughing everyday in our school or with our students, we should be. But sometimes we fail as teachers and these aren't small fails, they are epic. In this episode of the This Teacher Life podcast we are sharing some hilarious, huge teacher fails that will totally get you laughing and learning. Warning #1: Your jaw could hit the floor on a few of them so prepare your heart. Warning #2: The greatest, most ridiculous Vera Bradley story of all time is told in this episode Let's...

Want students to be prepared for class? This episode is for you! Want students to listen in class? This episode is for you? Wants students to have respectful attitudes? This episode is for you! Want students to have charged Chromebooks? This episode is for you! Creating classroom competitions is one of the easiest, most engaging, most beneficial ways to help manage a classroom and it can be SO fun for us as teachers too. In this week's episode of This Teacher Life I explain how you can...

Do you love to laugh? Do you love to learn? I think that schools should be a place where we are laughing and learning on a daily basis. And in this episode of the This Teacher Life podcast we are celebrating 3 hilarious ways to connect with your teacher pals and have some fun in your classroom and with your colleagues. This light-hearted episode features by teacher BFF, Jack Berckemeyer, and I promise you will have a blast listening to our conversation and also learning 3 easy pranks to...

Parent-Teacher conferences can be a little stressful for both the parents and the teacher. Often times they take a lot of time and effort. Often times the parents don't even show up! But what if I told you there was a structure and a strategy that would change all of that? In this episode you will hear about WHAT I call my conferences, HOW I am proactive about them, WHO is actually at the table, and WHY I get parents to sign up AND show up. I'm confident if you implement this easy plan...

We know as teachers that classroom management is essential, but we also understand that it can be very difficult. Sometimes students are defiant. Sometimes students don't want to work. Sometimes students are antsy and energetic. Sometimes this causes stress and struggles in school. But what if there was a simple solution to create a classroom where things were both predictable and positive? In this week's episode of the This Teacher Life we tackle all of this and more to help get your...

Sometimes as teachers we just need a fresh start! We need some new ideas that are going to make this school year awesome. We need some ways to help build strong relationships with students. We need some strategies that engage and motivate kids. We need some motivation to remind ourselves we are making a huge impact. If you want this school year to be a fresh start and have all of those keys to success, this episode is for you. Let's unpack 4 ways to make the 2023-2024 school year your...

Want to start off this school year with some practical, easy to implement ideas? This is the place for you If you need help with the dreaded "calling home" or fun, effective ways to build relationships with kids, or a quick tip on classroom management, I've got you covered. In this exciting episode we talk about the pros of Google Voice, how I make difficult phone calls, ways to incorporate real life skills, and we hear about a massive teacher fail. The episode will have you laughing so...

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 mark and actual change. At the end, I promise you will have a teacher mantra and have laser focus on...

There are lot of things that educators are thinking and feeling right now, but they aren’t all getting talked about. We know education had changed. But… is there way more to that? We know that there is a lot of new leadership and teachers. But… how is that impacting us? We know that we are struggling at time. But… is there something essential to remember. In this episode of the This Teacher Life podcast we are diving into 3 big secrets that have answers that you won’t expect. By the end...

Last year was your classroom a tornado of disorganized, disrespectful, or disengaged students? Is your teacher heart currently a tsunami of frustration, fear, or  freaking stressed? If you said YES to any of that I hear you. And I have the exact strategy to solve it! In this episode of the This Teacher Life podcast I share a super simple classroom management hack that will make the start of this school year awesome. I’m confident you will be clapping and praising the profession when you...

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 the past few years? If you answered “YES” to any of those questions, you are not alone. We are...

Is there a behavior or classroom expectation that drives you crazy? Would you like to increase student motivation and decrease problems with students? Do you want to add a little bit of fun while also creating organized, effective, and engaged kids? If you said YES to any (or all) of those things then you are in the right place! And all you need for this idea is a dice. Seriously! Get everything “rolling” in the right direction for your school and your students with this simple, but...

“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 motivated when it feels like unexpected is knocking on our door each day. This monthly motivation episode will be just the boost you need to keep going and...

I did an activity with my students where 100% of students were participating, smiling, and excited to learn. Sound too good to be true? It’s not! And guess what, I planned this lesson in less than 1 minute! The idea that I’m sharing in this episode is PERFECT for advisory, morning meeting, SEL time, or just a great relationship building lesson. It will no doubt be one of your favorite new activities of the year! Episode Notes:  Get 180 FULL SEL Ideas For Your Morning Meeting &...