Educate & Rejuvenate: The Podcast

What if I told you that how we've been teaching reading to students might not be the best way to teach reading to kids? Today's episode is all about the science of reading and it is so fascinating!For parents and educators, understanding the science of reading can be a game changer in helping kids develop this crucial skill. In this episode of Wife Teacher Mommy, I'm talking with Amy Nielsen, founder and CEO of Planning Playtime, about the Scarborough's Rope model and how language comprehension and word recognition work together to support literacy. We discuss the importance of activities that build phonemic awareness, systematic phonics instruction, vocabulary instruction, background knowledge, and comprehension skills. We also dive into the neuroscience behind reading, including brain scans and the development of neural networks, and explore how cognitive science principles can inform effective reading instruction, how neuroscience shows the importance of play in learning, how to focus on training specific skills, and why a growth mindset is crucial in effective reading instruction.This episode is sure to provide insight into how to teach children to read effectively and in a way that empowers every child with the ability and love of reading. Whether you're a homeschool parent or a classroom teacher, join Kelsey and Amy for invaluable insights into the science of reading.Head on over to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/science-of-reading/In this episode on the science of reading with Amy Neilson I discuss:The importance of phonemic awareness, decoding skills, and vocabulary instruction in building reading abilityThe Scarborough's Rope model and how it explains the different pieces involved in effective reading instructionInsights from cognitive science and neuroscience about how the brain develops reading ability and what strategies can be used to support this developmentThe role of background knowledge and information in reading tests and reading abilityAmy's reading program, Play to Read, and how new science of reading research has led to efforts to improve and up-level the programResources mentioned:Wife Teacher Mommy ClubPlanning PlaytimePlanning Playtime FreebieEducate and RejuvenateWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List 

Summer break is an opportunity for teachers and educators to recharge, reflect, and prepare for the upcoming school year. But how can you make the most of this precious time off? In this episode, I explore the secret to a purposeful teacher summer, offering practical tips and strategies for making the most of your time off.I dive into the importance of reflection and goal-setting, offering tips for reflecting on the previous school year and setting goals for the upcoming year. While summer is a time for relaxing, it is also the perfect time for reflection.Summer is also the perfect time for self care. I provide practical tips and strategies for prioritizing self-care and offer recommendations for resources and tools to support your well-being.Whether you're a new teacher or a seasoned educator, this episode will provide valuable insights and practical strategies for making the most of your summer break as a purposeful and rejuvenating time. Sit back, relax, and discover the secret to a purposeful teacher summer!Head over to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/teacher-summerIn this episode on how to have a purposeful teacher summer, we discuss:The importance of reflecting during summer breakThe benefits of setting goals and intentions for the upcoming school year while on summer breakTips on how to practice self care during summer breakHow to have a purposeful teacher summerOur upcoming summer Educate & Rejuvenate conferenceResources mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Educate & Rejuvenate Summer EventWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List 

Have you ever worked with a student that had problem behavior or experienced a situation in the classroom that was difficult to manage? As educators, we all have experienced this! We all have come across problem behaviors. Our episode today is all about managing challenging behavior in students, particularly those with special education needs. Our guest, Dr. Christine Reeve Christine Reeve, is a behavior specialist, consultant, and director of a program serving students with autism and behavioral issues. She shares her experience as a behavior specialist and consultant for special education needs. We talk about her journey towards founding the Special Educator Academy, a community that helps prevent teachers from feeling isolated and shares the challenges they face in special education. We will then discuss our team's resources, and how having a community with different areas of expertise can be beneficial for all educators.To understand challenging behavior, we need to focus on why it happens rather than the behavior itself. Many times, behavior is a mismatch between the child and the context in which they are interacting. We will dive into the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) approach and discuss how it can improve a child's quality of life and teach them appropriate behavior.There could be several reasons why a child may exhibit problematic behavior, such as communication difficulties, poor social skills, and an inability to self-regulate. To help address these behaviors, we talk about taking a skills-based approach that teaches appropriate behaviors and ways to gain attention or escape. By teaching and reinforcing appropriate behavior, the same level of attention can be given to both positive and negative behaviors, allowing for a reduction in negative behavior over time.This episode is FULL of insight, inspiration and actionable tips you can implement in your classroom to positively impact how you respond to problem behaviors. You DON'T want to miss it!Head over to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/problem-behavior/In this episode on how to address problem behavior, I discuss:How to most effectively respond to problem behaviorThe benefit of understanding "difficult" students and problem behaviorUnderstanding the WHY behind a student's problem behaviorWhy it is important to have creative responses for different problem behaviorOur student's beliefs ie what is REALLY going onPractical tips on how to respond to problem behaviorRelated episodes and blog posts:Smart Classroom Management Hacks with Dr. Lori Friesen [episode 38]The Social Emotional Gaps in Education- Tips From Real Teachers Like You (Part 2) [episode 33]Stress Management for Teachers: Understanding the Stress Cycle with Brittany Blackwell [episode 54]The 3 Learning Styles You Need To Know if You Teach Kids with Richie Soares from Homeschool and Humor [episode 55]The Achievement Gaps in Education- Tips From Real Teachers Like You (Part 1) [episode 31]How to Encourage Positive Behavior with JoAnn Crohn from No Guilt Mom [episode 40]

How to make an intentional schedule… and ACTUALLY stick to it!? Is it possible. You bet it is!Are you somebody that struggles with making a schedule or sticking to your to-do-list? The struggle is real! Looking at what we didn't do or what we didn't stick to can be disappointing. That's why it's necessary to know how to make an intentional schedule. This episode is full of tips on how to do it. On today’s episode, I'm talking all about how to make an intentional schedule and stick to it!What is intentional scheduling?Teachers often have a lot of responsibilities and tasks to manage, and it can be easy to become overwhelmed or overworked without a clear plan. An intentional schedule can help teachers prioritize their tasks, set realistic goals, and manage their time more effectively.By having a clear plan, teachers can reduce stress and increase their productivity and effectiveness in the classroom.How can I be intentional with free time?Start with a realistic assessment of your workload and responsibilities, including both teaching and non-teaching tasks. Do what I call a "brain dump"! Identify your priorities and goals, and determine which tasks are most important for achieving them. Here is a quick list of ideas I share on the podcast:Use a calendar or planner to schedule your time and set specific deadlines for each task.Allow for flexibility and build in time for unexpected events or emergencies.Break larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps to make them more achievable.Leave some open space for the unexpected as you time block. This is for rest and also for when unexpected things come up.Creating an intentional schedule takes time and effort, but it can have a significant impact on your teaching effectiveness and overall well-being.By following these tips and strategies, you can create a schedule that works for you and your goals and helps you stay on track and actually stick to it! Don't miss this episode on how to make an intentional schedule.Head over to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/intentional-schedule/In this episode on how to make an intentional schedule:The benefits of creating an intentional schedule and how to stick to itHow to do an effective "brain dump" and why it is necessaryThe benefit of breaking down your day to make your schedule workWhy you should leave some open space for the unexpected as you time block.The Eisenhower matrix: URGENT and IMPORTANT / NOT URGENT and IMPORTANT / URGENT and NOT IMPORTANTA simple and easy way to time blockResources mentioned:Wife Teacher Mommy ClubThe Teacher PlannerEducate & RejuvenateWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List 

Have you ever wondered about life coaching? What it is and what it can offer you? If you answered yes to either of those questions then this episode is for you! On today’s show, I’m opening the curtains and giving you a sneak peek inside Wife Teacher Mommy life coaching. I'm talking with Chrissy all about life coaching and how we can help you as your teacher life coaches inside the Club! Chrissy Nichols has been teaching for over twenty years in both independent and public schools in the US and Europe. She is the founder of the coaching group The Chrissy Concept which serves smart, dynamic teachers who want to feel better about their lives and relationships at school. Chrissy specializes in helping teachers who feel overwhelmed and burned-out with tools to master time and improve any challenging relationship. Throughout the episode, Chrissy and I explain what it means to be a life coach, particularly if you’re a member of the club or are attending our upcoming Educate and Rejuvenate event. Within life coaching, there are so many different platforms to get coaching and surround yourself with the community.We also dive further into the role of the coach versus the role of the participant, which actually might surprise you! Part of the coach’s role is to give practical and real tools for you to apply to your life, and also asking questions - lots of questions! Another positive component to this feature within the club is the community of people. Everyone in there is looking for something, whether it’s the same thing or something completely different. However, the environment is supportive of others and nurturing that ultimately helps you feel safe and welcomed.On the fence about joining the Wife Teacher Mommy Club or showing up for a live life coaching call? By the end of the episode, we will have answered all of your questions and put any fears or uncertainties to rest. Life coaching has definitely changed our lives for the better, and we know you’ll be able to benefit from it as well! Head over to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/teacher-life-coaches/In this episode on getting to know your teacher life coaches, we discuss:A brief overview of what life coaching is and how it can help with all aspects of your lifeMy personal journey with life coaching and how I came to be a life coachOur upcoming Educate and Rejuvenate event that will get you excited about life coachingHow everyone can get what they want out of life coachingThe most powerful result or change is through a personal mindset shift How Chrissy and I can help you as your teacher life coachesResources mentioned:Educate and Rejuvenate Summer 2023 Check out Chrissy's website for free resourcesTeacher Talk with Chrissy Nichols PodcastFollow Chrissy on Instagram @the.chrissyconceptJoin the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List 

“Are you trying to have it all? That question makes no sense. It’s a stupid question. Stop asking it. Don’t ask it. Do you miss your kids while you’re at work? Yes, of course, I do. Everybody does. And then, you know, sometimes I don’t” – Leslie KnopeThank you, Leslie Knope. I won’t pose the question of having it all but here is another, similar question that a lot of us ponder.Does teacher work life balance actually exist? Honestly, probably not. What I mean is, I don’t think there is a way to perfectly balance the time each day. Some days work will need more attention, some days your kids will, your spouse will, or YOU will.  Even though the perfect balance may not exist, there are ways to set boundaries so that work doesn’t overtake other aspects of your life and vice versa. That's what we're diving into on today's episode: how to find balance in a "Wife Teacher Mommy" life.I offer tips to help you find balance in all the roles you take on. I talk about how organization increases your balance, why being flexible and prioritizing matters, how to listen to your body and the importance of slowing down.One of the most effective ways to achieve work-life balance as a teacher is to remember that you deserve to have a life outside of work and duties. Your value doesn’t go away when you leave the classroom or the house. You need your positive influence and support just as much as your students and children do. When you take time for yourself, you’re able to show up better for your students, children and family. You can't pour from an empty cup.Whether you're feeling stressed out and need inspiration to find relief or just need a reminder to slow down, this episode is perfect for moms and teachers everywhere.Head over to the show notes: www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/find-balanceIn this episode on how to find balance as a Wife Teacher Mommy we discuss:How organization increases your overall work life balanceWhat does balancing your work life with your home life look likeHow to effectively plan and schedule your work along with you home responsibilitiesThe importance of slowing downWhy you should listen to your bodyDifferent activities you can do to reduce stress when the mental load feels like to muchResources mentioned:Wife Teacher Mommy ClubEducate and RejuvenateWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List 

One of my favorite things we do at Wife Teacher Mommy with creating exciting and engaging resources and activities for students. Because let’s be real, there are some concepts that students need to learn, but aren’t engaging enough. We have a real treat for you today that will give you some fun ideas in the classroom. On today’s episode, I’m talking with Teresa Kwant about gamification in the classroom and escape rooms. Teresa Kwant is a former teacher turned teacher-author business owner. She graduated from the University of Utah in 2009 with a degree in elementary education. After graduation, she taught 6th grade in an elementary school for 5 years. Along the way, she found TPT and started dabbling in product creation. She now creates full-time and specializes in gamification in the classroom with products like escape rooms and game shows with PowerPoint and Google Slides.Teresa is a pro at gamification and shares so much knowledge on gamification in the class room on this episode. Gamification in the classroom is when you integrate game elements into a learning environment. It takes an experience that students might have a hard time staying engaged with—like a whole-class lesson—and makes it more engaging. Teresa has done this with escape rooms.Students learn best when they can get engaged in the activity and lesson. What better way to break away from the classic, “sit-n-listen” learning environment than with a classroom escape room? Escape are an engaging and unique lesson that students will learn from. Escape room classrooms teach:CreativityProblem-solvingCommunication and teamworkAnd so much more!If you're looking for new classroom actives, don't miss this episode! And if you love what you hear from Teresa today… be sure to join us at E&R where she will be speakingGamification in the classroom is the incorporation of game elements into a learning environment. When implemented well, it takes an experience that participants might otherwise not find fun—like a whole-class lesson—and makes it more engaging!Head over to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/gamification-in-the-classroom/In this episode on escape rooms and gamification in the classroom, I discuss:What gamification in the classroom is and what it looks likeWhat an escape room activity is and how to do it in the classroomTeresa's history and how she began creating escape room resourcesThe benefits of doing engaging and active lesson plans in the classroomHow an escape room activity works in the classroomResources mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Teresa Kwant WebsiteTeresa Kwant FreebieWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List 

Want to help your students or your own kids avoid the summer slide? A summer reading challenge is one great way to do that and if you use these 3 summer reading challenge tips, the kids will LOVE it!Although school is almost out, does that mean learning needs to stop? To all of the kids’ disappointment, it does not! According to Summer Learning Academy, an average student loses about two months of grade level equivalency over the summer. Therefore, in today’s episode, I'm sharing 3 summer reading challenge strategies that will keep kids learning and engaged through the summer. Engagement Strategy #1: A variety of texts Summer Reading ChallengeInstead of reading the same types of books all summer, your child could be reading a graphic novel one week and a biography about a “cool” scientist the next week. That’s some great variety! Offering a variety of texts also gives kids choices. Children prefer to make their own decisions instead of being told what to read. I can not stress enough how important it is to help children to learn to LOVE reading!Engagement Strategy #2: Setting Goals in your Summer Reading ChallengeGoals can be very motivating for children, especially when you help them to set their OWN goals. Autonomy is a HUGE motivator for kids! When children set reasonable goals for themselves, they will be more motivated to try and reach them.Engagement Strategy #3: Reading Together for the Summer Reading ChallengeWhen children read together with their families, it is a lot easier for children to create habits than if they are simply reading on their own. Reading together can be encouraged in several ways. Just because school is ending for the year, doesn’t mean kids' learning has to stop. Implementing these summer reading challenge strategies will help create a love of learning through those summer months! There are so many exciting things happening at Wife Teacher Mommy, and one of those is our virtual summer event: Educate & Rejuvenate. This is an event we’re hosting and it’s going to be so fun! We have sessions including life coaching skills, talking teacher burnout, and learning amazing teaching strategies that you can implement in your classrooms. Another bonus is you can get PD credit. Check out the links below for more information!Head over to the show notes: www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/summer-reading-challangeIn this episode on summer reading challenge strategies for kids:Summer reading challenges strategies that keep kids learning and engaged Why providing a choice engages kids’ learningHow family participation increases kids' engagement levelCreative ways to include family into summer readingWays to get kids to have more buy in on a summer reading challengeResources mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Educate & Rejuvenate Summer EventWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Summer Review Bundle: Pre-K - 5th GradeSummer Learning Freebie for Pre-K -5th GradeSummer Reading ChallengeReading Challenge Bookmarks FREEBIE

Do you find yourself so engulfed in your role of homeschool mom (or teacher) that you forget what you even used to like to do or what your passions are? Or are you just not finding the time for them that you’d like? This episode is for you! Today I'm talking all about self development for homeschool moms with special guest Bonnie Wiscombe. I met Bonnie while certifying to life coach. We instantly hit it off. I'm so excited to have her on the podcast today and to have her present at Educate and Rejuvenate this summer.Bonnie Wiscombe is a certified life coach, serial entrepreneur and homeschool mom of 10 children. She coaches moms of faith who are feeling called to share their talents with the world through building a business but don’t know where to start. In her (hard won) free time, she enjoys roller coasters, reading and running. We really dive into how to find self development not only as a homeschool parent, but as a teacher and parent. We cover how to figure out what your innate talents and strengths are and how to developing them, how to find make time for hobbies while being busy, why it is important for homeschool moms (and, our teacher listeners also) to find ways to develop themselves and so much more!Those are just a glimpse of what we dive into on this episode that is full of methods to help you find self development for homeschool moms, teachers, and parents. Whether you are feeling stagnant or are just looking for new tips on how to improve your self development, this episode is for you! Don't miss it.Head over to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/self-development-for-homeschoolIn this episode on self development for homeschool moms:How to be find self development for homeschool parents, teachers and parentsThe problem with falling into the roles of "wife", "teacher", and "parent"Why homeschool parents are more likely to burn out than parents who send their kids to public schoolsThe reason why we owe it to kids, community, world and ourselves to become the best version of ourselvesFiguring our what your innate talents and strengths are and developing themselvesResources mentioned:Wife Teacher Mommy ClubBonnie Wiscombe FreebieEducate and Rejuvenate Summer 2023Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List 

If you want to hear the time I totally bombed my classroom observation… listen up. On today's episode, you'll hear what I learned from that experience and also the tips I have for you now that I've helped tens of thousands of teachers on my blog and podcast… PLUS quotes from members of our Wife Teacher Mommies Unite Facebook group, too! Check out these 8 tips for your teacher observation!We asked the awesome members in our Wife Teacher Mommy Unite facebook group some questions about teacher observation and we got back over 100 responses! Here are some of their responses to those questions.How do you prepare for classroom observation?"Teach your children non-verbal behavior queues beforehand, that way if they are misbehaving during a lesson, they will know what the hand signals and eye looks mean so you can quickly and quietly carry on with your actual lesson."-Tara S.What do you do during teacher observation?"I always think of the saying “Dance like nobody is watching” but change it to “Teach like nobody is watching. have found over the years that if I stress myself out prior to my observation I stumble over my words, forget certain things that I wanted to mention and/or do, etc. I just carry on with my normal routine and act as if it is just myself and my students in the room; it is much easier said than done though!"-Shannon M.What do principals look for during observation?"Don't do something big and fancy. Stick with how you normally teach. Administration wants to see YOU and how you teach. Not the dog and pony show that can happen when observations occur. Kids will pick up on the change and some will act out because it is off routine."-Betsy S.How do you stay calm during an observation?"Be the teacher you know how to be, and give yourself grace. Things are going to happen and go wrong; it’s only natural. Sometimes the best feedback you can receive from others is the feedback based on how you handled unexpected situations!"-Amber J.These are just a few tips and questions we go over on this episode of the podcast. We offer 8 tips for teacher observations in this episode, so there is a lot more inspiration that will help you feel confident and ready for your teacher observation.Head over to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/teacher-observation/In this episode on 8 tips for your teacher observation:How to Prepare Ahead for Teacher ObservationHow to Brush Up That Confidence for Teacher ObservationWhat to Do During Teacher ObservationWhat Things You Should Avoid During a Teacher ObservationHow to Calm Nerves During ObservationAnd So Much MoreResources mentioned:Wife Teacher Mommy ClubEducate and Rejuvenate Summer 2023Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List 

This is one of my favorite podcast episodes that I've ever done! I have been a fan of today's guest for a long time, so this interview was a pinch me moment. Our guest today is Kristina Kuzmic! You may know her from Instagram, TikTok, Oprah or as author of the best selling book "Hold On But Don't Hold Still". Chances are you've seen Kristina.Kristina Kuzmic is a cheerleader for her fellow humans. It’s not something she ever anticipated doing, but after immigrating to America from Croatia during the war in her homeland and later facing more challenges (divorce, single parenting, poverty, depression…), Kristina wanted to be for others what she wished someone had been for her during her darkest hours.In 2011, when Oprah crowned Kristina the winner of Mark Burnett’s reality TV competition “Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star,” Oprah said, “What is that THING…that’s so charming and charismatic and connected to the audience that makes you feel like, ‘I know her, I want to be her, I’m like her’… Kristina has all of that. She is an ‘IT PLUS’ girl… I wanna watch her!” Since working with Oprah, Kristina has branched out on her own, creating videos about juggling all of life’s challenges, and encouraging her audience to prioritize their mental health. She has quickly become a viral sensation with 2.9 million Facebook followers and well over half a million Instagram followers. Now, with over one billion video views, Kristina is providing her audience with encouragement, hope and humor in a role she never expected to fill.Typically Kristina offers support and insight on parenting, but on this episode she dives into subjects and insight that is applicable not only parents but to teachers as well. This episode will give you inspiration, motivations and laughs. You don't want to miss it!If you enjoy this interview, be sure to join us at Summer Educate and Rejuvenate! You'll get to be there live interacting in zoom with Kristina and other teachers enjoying the conference. Get your tickets here!Head over to the show notes- https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/inspiration-for-teachersIn this episode on inspiration for teachers with Kristina Kuzmic:Kristina's story from immigrating from war torn Croatia to AmericaThe origins of some of Kristina's funny videosHow to combat overwhelm as a teacher and parentKristina's advice for teachers who don't have a "teacher bestie"Why you shouldn't compare yourself to othersThe downfall of pretending to be perfectAnd so much more!Resources mentioned:Wife Teacher Mommy ClubKristina Kuzmic InstagramKristina Kuzmic FacebookKristina Kuzmic TourHold On, But Don't Hold Still: Hope and Humor from My Seriously Flawed LifeWhy Would Anyone Make this Choice Video?The Things We Tell Ourselves VideoKristina's Teacher VideoEducate & RejuvenateWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List 

It's that time of year again! The final stretch of the school year. This is the time of year where teachers decide to stay with their school or go on the job hunt. So today, we're going to be talking all about how to nail your teacher interview.  We are going to be giving you some awesome tips for how to best prepare for your teacher interview so that you can walk in feeling confident and prepared.While preparing for this episode, I came across the top internet searches around teacher job interviews. What better way to dive into how to do a teacher interview than by answering the questions teacher's ask most? Here are the top searched questions about teacher interviews and some quick tips.How to Prepare for a Teacher Interview:Research the school! Know things like mission statement, demographics, and educational programs. Demonstrate your interest in the school and to prepare relevant questions to ask during the interviewReview the job description to identify the skills, qualifications, and experience that the school is looking for in a candidate and to prepare examples of how you have demonstrated those skills in the pastBring a detailed teaching portfolioHow to Introduce Yourself in a Teacher Interview:Dress professionally but something you feel fabulous and confident wearing.Use confident body language, such as sitting up straight, making eye contact, and avoiding fidgetingConfidence in YOURSELF. Self confidence, your ability in your beliefs to do the job wellHow Impress During Your Teacher Interview:Discuss how to give specific examples of your experience, such as sharing stories of successful teaching experiences, describing your approach to classroom management, or explaining how you differentiated instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners.Play on strengths- tech, art, music, endorsements or special qualifications others may not have. This tends to be what impresses ME when I interview peopleAsk thoughtful questions, such as asking about the school's culture, professional development opportunities, or support for new teachersBe enthusiastic, positive, and engaging during the interviewHow to Sell Yourself as a Teacher:Highlight your strengths and skills, such as explaining your teaching philosophy, discussing your experience with technology or project-based learning, or describing your experience working with diverse learnersBe authentic, honest, and personable during the interviewDemonstrate your passion for teaching, such as sharing stories of how you have made a positive impact on students, explaining why you became a teacher, or describing your vision for your future classroomRemember to be yourself your passion will come through. Think about the things that you are passionate about and definitely research the programs and talk about the experiences you were part of in student teachingWhat Teachers Should NOT Do in an Interview:Do not speak negatively of past employers. Speaking negatively about previous employers or colleagues can make you appear unprofessional or difficult to work with.Avoid common interview mistakes, such as being unprepared, appearing disinterested, or failing to follow up after the interview.Be respectful, courteous, and professional throughout the interview process.Always be yourselfDon't focus on your past negative work experienceThese are just a few tips that we talk all about on this episode of the podcast. Whether you are just finishing student teaching and looking for your first job or looking for a change, you want to be prepared. Have no fear because you'll feel confident and ready after listening to this episode!Head over to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/teacher-interviewIn this episode on how to nail your teacher interview:How to Prepare for a Teacher InterviewHow to Introduce Yourself in a Teacher InterviewHow to Impress During Your Teacher InterviewHow to Sell Yourself as a TeacherWhat Teachers Should NOT Do in an InterviewHow to Nail Your Teaching InterviewResources mentioned:Wife Teacher Mommy ClubEducate and Rejuvenate Summer 2023Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List 

As teachers, we have a lot of tasks to do each day. Whether it's grading, assessments, or just general classroom management, teachers have so much to do. With how much teachers have to do, it can feel like there is not enough time in the day.It is really easy to get overwhelmed when you look at your classroom and all you have to teach throughout the year. THEN, think of all the school activities and all those little things that take time out of your classroom teaching schedule. Talk about no time for everything!That's what this episode is all about- how to simplify your teacher work day and work less! And we have a very special guest on the show with us today. Jamie Sears from Not So Wimpy Teacher joins us to talk all about how to simplify your teacher work day and work less.Jamie Sears is a wife, mother of 5 children, a former 3rd grade teacher, and creator of “The Not So Wimpy Teacher”, an education blog that spans across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, email, and similarly named podcasts. With half a million teachers and administrators in her tribe, she teaches educators how to better help their students and themselves.Whether you feel like you have no time, are stressed out or or just need some pointers on how to simplify your work day, this episode is the perfect listen for classroom inspiration and how to shift your mindset to simplify your work day and stress less. You won't want to miss it!Head over to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/work-day-work-less/In this episode on how to simplify your teacher work day and work less. we discuss:How teachers can cut back on time spent on planningSmart classroom management hacks to implement in your classroomDeciding what assignments you should and shouldn't gradeHow to decide how many hours you are going to workJamie's new book "How to Love Teaching Again"How teachers can save time on their lesson planning and gradingResources mentioned:The Not So Wimpy TeacherHow to Love Teaching AgainEducate & Rejuvenate Summer ConferenceJoin the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List 

If you're feeling less than confident about yourself as a teacher, listen up. On today's podcast, we're going to be talking about two ways to look at your confidence in yourself as a teacher… starting today! These two strategies and perspectives will help teach you how to be confident as a teacher.Everyone needs a confidence boost from time-to-time, whether you're a new teacher or are a veteran teacher, especially when you meet new challenges. It's great when someone else gives you support, but you can't depend on others to keep you feeling confident.  You are responsible for developing and nurturing your self-confidence. Having confidence as a teacher can improve your overall effectiveness as well as your wellbeing.Confidence as a Teacher comes down to TWO THINGS:1) Self Confidence: Belief in ourselves and our thoughts. Believing that we’re already amazing and acknowledging how far we’ve come is essential to increasing self confidence. If we believe in where we are going, then feedback and "criticism" will become “learning moments”. They won't be a "bad thing" but rather a gift to help us improve.2) External Confidence in Capability- You can look at your wins to see what skillsets you already have confidence in. When you do this, you can see all the areas that you lack confidence in and begin to do practice and repetition to grow your confidence in those areas that you are lacking confidence.Those are just two tips we dive into on this episode that is full of methods to help you begin owning your wins and growing your confidence. Whether you're new to the classroom or a veteran teacher, you won't want to miss this episode that is sure to help you feel more confident in the classroom.Head over to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/how-to-be-confident-as-a-teacherIn this episode on how to be confident as a teacher:How to be more confident as a teacherThe benefit of believing in yourself and external confidence in your capabilityWhy owning your wins is essential to self confidenceHow to manage your mind when “sticky moments” come upThe theory of 10,000 hours of practiceHow shifting your mindset to positivity can increase your confidenceA simple and easy way you acknowledge your daily and long term winsResources mentioned:Wife Teacher Mommy ClubEducate and Rejuvenate Summer 2023Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List

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Have you noticed that teaching and being in the classroom or school setting has become extremely difficult? Does it feel like you've lost the enjoyment you once experienced in teaching? This, as you may have heard, is called "burn out".Teachers nowadays are overwhelmed, exhausted, and burnt out. But what can you do about it? On today’s episode, I have guests Ashley and Roberta of the Teacher Mamas Podcast and we’re having a discussion about how to recognize teacher burnout and strategies you can use to prevent burnout with teacher mom self care. Ashley and Roberta are both mamas and teachers and hosts of the Teacher Mamas Podcast. Together they discuss various topics like: routines, health, habits, self-care and so much more. They believe that living a healthy lifestyle is for every member in the family from young children to adults. We're covering all things burn out on today's podcast. We dive into what burnout is and how to identify it. What self-care means and what it looks like. How your mindset, thoughts, feelings, beliefs about your career and education effect your burnout and how being ready to make a change means you need to be intentional in order to understand what your next steps are for you personally and professionally. Whether you’re at the point of wanting something different, or just feeling the stress of another school year, this episode is for you! Ashley and Roberta give so much insight into how to prevent teacher burnout with teacher mom self care and give actionable tips and strategies that will help you prevent burnout and handle it when it happens.Head over to the show notes: wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/prevent-burnoutIn this episode on how to prevent burnout, we discuss:How to prevent burnout with teacher mom self care strategiesWhy your mindset is the key to dealing with teacher burnoutWhat self-care is and what it can look likeDifferent types of self-care Ashley and Roberta give a sneak peek into their keynote for the upcoming Summer Educate & Rejuvenate conferenceResources mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!The Teacher Mamas PodcastEducate & Rejuvenate Summer EventWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Related episodes and blog posts:Episode 10, End of Year Fatigue with Chrissy NicholsHow To Calm Teacher Sunday Scaries [Episode 60]Stress Management for Teachers: Understanding the Stress Cycle with Brittany Blackwell [episode 54]How to Achieve Work Life Balance as a Wife Teacher Mommy with Sarah Snider [episode 47]How to Achieve Work Life Balance as a Wife Teacher Mommy with Sarah Snider [episode 47]How To Practice True Self-Care as a Teacher and/or Parent [episode 56]Don’t Consume Yourself with Teacher Burnout and StressTeacher Burnout: The Big Mistake Teachers Make

BONUS #1- Clues for Keynote #1: Educate & Rejuvenate is Coming Back!

You THINK you know about weight loss… the common thought is that it's all about calories in/calories out… but then why do so many of us struggle with it? A lot of the time we ask HOW to lose weight instead of asking WHY do we struggle with weight loss. That is the subject of this special episode of the podcast. And we're so excited to have weight loss expert Corinne Crabtree of The No BS Weight Loss Program on the podcast today to talk weight loss tips for teachers.Corinne has helped tens of thousands of women with weight loss- many of whom have been teachers. She is one of THE top life coaches who certified with the Life Coach School and her focus is on weight loss. She LOVES helping teachers with weight loss and as you'll see in this episode she's familiar with many of our unique challenges- like lack of bathroom breaks for drinking water and weird/short lunch times, faculty room treats, and all the stressors etc. Corinne has all sorts of weight loss tips for teachers.We're looking into the ROOT CAUSE of why we think we can't help ourselves with treats in the faculty room, why we emotionally eat when we're stressed out with teaching… AND most importantly…. where we go from there.We share lots of weight loss tips and strategies that are very DIFFERENT than what you've previously heard before using programs like Weight Watchers or doing calorie tracking. We're diving into the ROOT CAUSES of the why behind emotional eating, treats in the faculty room, and SO MUCH MORE. You don't want to miss this special episode on weight loss tips for teachers.Head over to the show notes: wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/weight-loss-tips-for-teachersResources mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!The No BS Weight Loss Free CourseThe No BS Weight Loss WebsiteThe Phit N Phat PodcastWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Related episodes and blog posts:How To Practice True Self-Care as a Teacher and/or Parent [episode 56]Stress Management for Teachers: Understanding the Stress Cycle with Brittany Blackwell [episode 54]How to OWN Your Wins & Set Intentional Teacher Goals [episode 52]Teacher Mindset: The 5 Step Framework That Will Change the Way You Think About Teaching and Life [Episode 39]Don’t Consume Yourself with Teacher Burnout and Stress: 9 Tips to Help You

Whether you are a first-year teacher or a veteran teacher, chances are that you have run into classroom management issues and wondered how to minimize class disruptions. Managing the behavior, social emotional, and learning needs of a classroom full of students is one of the biggest challenges most educators face. That's why we're diving into how to minimize classroom disruptions and create a classroom management plan on today's podcast. And we have a very special guest with us today.Linda Kardamis of Teach 4 the Heart is an expert on classroom management and our guest on today's podcast! Linda taught middle school math in a Christian school in Ohio before starting Teach 4 the Heart, which currently supports over 100,000 teachers a month via the website. She is the author of Create Your Dream Classroom, and the creator of the All-New Classroom Management 101, Beyond Classroom Management, Reclaim Your Time 101, and Teach UpliftedWe talk all about classroom management, how to minimize classroom disruptions and even answer questions from REAL teachers like you! Our Wife Teacher Mommy Unite Facebook Group members submitted questions for this episode and we answer them all. We answer questions like:How to handle impulsivity?How to handle constant—- “I need to go to the bathroom”How and why do you feel classroom management has changed in the last decade?How to deal with a class that constantly talks over the teacher?And SO MUCH MORE!Whether you’re a novice or veteran teacher, having effective classroom management can be a struggle. It’s an aspect of teaching that needs to be changed and tweaked throughout the year, until you find the right strategy for your classroom and students. This episode is FULL OF INSPIRATION. You won't want to miss it!Head over to the show notes: wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/minimize-classroom-distractionsIn this episode on how to minimize classroom disruptions and create a classroom management plan we discuss:Smart classroom management hacks to implement in your classroomHow to minimize classroom disruptionsQuestions from REAL teachers and give them actionable adviceThe benefit of involving students with classroom managementIn-depth info about how to create a classroom management planUnderstanding behavior of students and where it is coming fromResources mentioned:Teach 4 the HeartTeach 4 the Heart WebinarJoin the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Related episodes and blog posts:Episode 25, Insanely Clever Classroom Attention Getters From Real TeachersHow to Motivate Lazy Students or the “Bad” Kids [episode 63]Episode 17, Easy Classroom Organization & Systems with Kristen DoneganSmart Classroom Management Hacks with Dr. Lori Friesen [episode 38]Favorite Classroom Management ItemsAmazing Classroom Management for Substitute TeachersWhat To Do When Students Misbehave For a Substitute

Have you noticed a trend with students' behavior in the classroom? Are you wondering what to do with unmotivated students that you may feel are the "lazy" kids or the "bad" kids? Then you're not going to want to miss this podcast episode all about how to motivate lazy students.On today's episode of the podcast about how to motivate lazy students. We're diving into what could be the root cause of the behavior we are observing with our students… and what to do when we feel like we've tried everything. And guess what parents- this applies to us with our own kids, too! Chances are there is something today you haven't tried just yet!I've worked with MANY of our members inside the Club with 1:1 coaching sessions while I was working on my life coach certification with the life coach school. While this was far from the only topic, I've noticed a trend on the topic of student motivation, how to motivate lazy students and classroom management.We go into what it means when we label students "lazy" or "bad". What does "lazy" or "bad" mean? "Lazy" and "Bad" or whatever word we might use have negative connotations that come with the label and the harm it can cause to a student's self-esteem and motivation. I also dive into our own beliefs as teachers. If we believe a student is "lazy", this more than likely affects how we treat them, which then affects their motivation and attitude towards school. This episode discusses how to reflect on these students and offers actionable tips you can do in the classroom to help motivate lazy students and "bad" kids.This episode is FULL of insight, inspiration and actionable tips you can implement in your classroom to positively impact your classroom management. You DON'T want to miss it!Head over to the show notes: wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/motivate-lazy-studentsIn this episode on How to Motivate "Lazy" Students or the "Bad" Kids, I discuss:The benefit of understanding the "lazy" labelThe power of our beliefs and how we can reassess our belief when it comes to "lazy" studentsWhat the CTFAR Model is How we can use the CTFAR Model to help us inside of the classroomOur student's beliefs ie what is REALLY going onPractical tips on how to motivate lazy students once we've done/are working on the mindset workResources mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!The Self Coaching ModelWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Related episodes and blog posts:Smart Classroom Management Hacks with Dr. Lori Friesen [episode 38]The Social Emotional Gaps in Education- Tips From Real Teachers Like You (Part 2) [episode 33]Stress Management for Teachers: Understanding the Stress Cycle with Brittany Blackwell [episode 54]The 3 Learning Styles You Need To Know if You Teach Kids with Richie Soares from Homeschool and Humor [episode 55]How to OWN Your Wins & Set Intentional Teacher Goals [episode 52]The Achievement Gaps in Education- Tips From Real Teachers Like You (Part 1) [episode 31]How to Encourage Positive Behavior with JoAnn Crohn from No Guilt Mom [episode 40]

St. Patrick’s Day is such a fun holiday in the classroom! After all, who doesn’t love wearing green? 😉 Your students are so lucky to have you as a teacher, especially in the month of March when the theme is St. Patrick’s Day, and everything lucky! We are diving into Lucky Charms St. Patrick's Day Activities and More in this week's episode. You can incorporate lucky leprechaun-esque activities in each content area. Every teacher, classroom, and school will do holidays differently, AND THAT’S OK! Find the groove that works best for you. We cover hands on Lucky Charms St. Patrick's Day Activities, fill in the blank stories, Irish History lesson ideas, March themed math board games and so much more. This episode full of lots of different ideas of content related St. Patrick’s Day classroom activities from math to writing to history that you can use to incorporate the holiday into your classroom.We also go over exciting news and updates about our upcoming Summer Educate & Rejuvenate 2023 Conference, our ongoing Sub Plan sale and so much more!Your students will fall in love with these St. Patrick’s Day classroom ideas! There is something for every grade and content area. Check out this episode and get inspired for St. Patrick's Day with these Lucky Charms St. Patrick's Day activities!Head to the show notes: www.wifteachermommy.com/podcast/lucky-charms-st-patrick's-day-activitiesIn this episode on Lucky Charms St. Patrick's Day Activities, I discuss:Lucky Charms St. Patrick's Day Activities and MORE! Engaging, hands on cereal activities for math, writing, art and moreSt. Patrick's Day class activities and resources that will engage your studentsAn explanation of each St. Patrick's Day class activity or ideaDifferent St. Patrick's Day resources for math, english, art and moreHow each idea is not only engaging, but involves learning at each students’ academic levelResources mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Cereal Marshmallow Activities PackSt. Patrick’s Day Math Center Games BundleMarch’s Sub PlansMarch-Themed Reading PassagesSt. Patrick’s Day Directed DrawingsSt. Patrick’s Day Spelling Activities Secret Student Activities Writing BundleNational Geographic KidsWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List 

"It's impossible to take a day off!"Have you ever said this to yourself?  As teachers, we often feel an obligation to be at school instead of taking a day off. We come up with every excuse in the book: my class won’t be okay, it’s harder to make emergency sub plans than actually be at school, I need to prioritize my job over my health, and so much more. Because of this reasoning, we so often don't bother putting together emergency sub plans.Have you ever asked yourself, "what if it isn't impossible?"  That's the question we address in today's episode all about the top 7 myths about emergency sub plans.I've been helping teachers with their sub plans for over 8 years at this point, and I've heard every reason why not to take a day off and why they can't leave emergency sub plans. From, the sub shortage, to letting down the students, to not having time!  In this episode I talk about all the reasons you SHOULD have emergency sub plans and give actionable advice on how to be prepared with emergency sub plans.One of the biggest stressors as a teacher is creating sub plans. Throughout this episode, I unpack all the ways to easily write sub plans and have materials ready for any time, as well as the mental work you can do to begin allowing yourself to take days off when you need to.Being prepared with emergency sub plans and binder, how to efficiently write sub plans, and keeping these items organized and available will ensure your sub and your class will have a smooth and successful day.  The first step is to debunk the myths that are stopping you from taking a day off.  Listen to this episode for all the reasons why you should have emergency sub plans!Head to the show notes: www.wifteachermommy.com/podcast/emergency-sub-plansIn this episode on myths about emergency sub plans, I share:Ways you can make time to prepare emergency sub plansQuestions you can ask yourself to help you be comfortable with taking days offMyths about emergency sub plans and taking time offActionable tips that you can do to help you enjoy the time you take off and prepare your classDisprove the myth about subs not wanting to teach on their day in your classroomOur current Sub Plan sale that is going on- use code PODCAST10 for 10% discountResources mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Educate & Rejuvenate Summer EventGrab your FREE Sub Planning Starter KitSub Planning Made SimpleReady to Go Sub Plans Pre-K - 6th Grade BundleSub Plan Sale

Do you find yourself with feelings of anxiety and dread on Sunday? You’re not alone! They’re called the Sunday Scaries, and they can ruin your weekend and your time away from work. We are going to dive into what they are, where they come from and how to cope with them and more in today's episode!For teachers, Sunday can become an extra day of the regular workweek. Instead of enjoying time with loved ones or relaxing, the weekend can become more work and stress thinking about student papers that need grading, lesson plans, paperwork and more! As I researched "Sunday Scaries" I found these some of the most popular questions on Google on this topic were:"What are teacher Sunday Scaries?""How do I get rid of the Sunday Scaries teacher?""How do you calm Sunday Scaries?"So I wanted to not only answer these questions on today's podcast, but I also wanted offer easy and actionable tips on how you can can identify and calm Sunday Scaries. These are tips that will help you handle any anxiety you have come up in your life and are SUPER simple- once you learn it, you can't UN-learn it! Don't miss this insightful episode!Head over to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/sunday-scariesIn this episode about how to calm the sunday scaries we discuss:What are teacher Sunday Scaries and what might be causing them for youHow do to get rid of the Sunday Scaries as a teacher and enjoy your weekendsHow to calm Sunday Scaries and ways to identify where the stress is coming fromActionable tips that will help handle the anxiety of Sunday ScariesWays you can identify your feelings and respond to them in a healthy wayResources mentioned:Self Coaching Guide for TeachersJoin the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Related episodes and blog posts:How To Practice True Self-Care as a Teacher and/or Parent [episode 56]Stress Management for Teachers: Understanding the Stress Cycle with Brittany Blackwell [episode 54]Teacher Mindset: The 5 Step Framework That Will Change the Way You Think About Teaching and Life [Episode 39]Episode 30, How to Build Mental Toughness for Teachers (AND students!) with Jon OsbornHow to Achieve Work Life Balance as a Wife Teacher Mommy with Sarah Snider [episode 47]How To Be An Effective Teacher By Taking Care of Yourself with Lizzie Langston [episode 43]

SURPRISE Tuesday bonus full episode! I just thought it would be a FUN episode to share as Valentine's is coming up this week. This episode is not just about teacher self care, but is also about self care and the OTHER ROLES we have. If you're needing a bit of self love on Valentine's Day- for any reason- I think the most important person for us to LOVE is ourselves. I talked about this a lot recently on the podcast… because it is really so important and for some reason something many of us struggle to do. And we dive into self care during Valentine's Day season on this episode.We go over 3 topics: Valentine's Day, Galentine's day and Self Love. I share some of my tips and advice and we also hear from real teachers and some of our Wife Teacher Mommy team members as well. We hear ideas for date nights, writing a Valentine's Day letter to yourself, Galentine's Day ideas and so much more in this quick bonus episode.You will get so much inspiration across the board for this Valentine's Day season. Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/galentines-dayIn this episode on Valentine's Day, Galentine's Day & Self Love Tips for Teachers & Moms, I discuss:Tips on how to show yourself self care during Valentine's Day like writing yourself a Valentine's Day cardIdeas for date nights with your significant otherIdeas for doing a Galentine's Day with your friends, like movie nights, craft nights etc.We advice from hear from real teachers on how to do self care and nights out with friendsOur Valentine's Day Mega Bundle that is on sale right nowResources mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Valentine's Day Mega BundleWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Related episodes and blog posts:7 Activities to Help You Add Holiday Themes Into Your Homeschool7 Valentine’s Day Class Activities Kids Will LOVE! [episode 57]16 ENGAGING VALENTINE’S DAY CLASSROOM IDEAS KIDS WILL LOVE10 Spelling Activities & Games Kids Will Love [episode 41]

Pregnancy… such an exciting time! Whether it's your first, second, or fifth child, it is always something to look forward to adding another little one into your family. BUT there's a lot of planning that goes into it- not only on the parenting side with baby registries and … but also if you're a teacher there's a lot to do to prepare for taking a maternity leave. That's why this episode is all about teacher maternity leave tips!Preparing maternity leave as a teacher can be challenging. You’re anticipating your new arrival, but you want to make sure your kids are in good hands and your guest teacher has everything he or she needs to make the weeks or months you’re away easy.  As teachers (and as moms) we tend to put the needs of children above our own. When you are pregnant, you need to be sure that your health is a priority- and this includes not only your physical health but also your mental, emotional, and spiritual health.  Don't miss this episode for some awesome tips for teacher maternity leave that will help you be more prepared, stress less and help your students transition from full-time teacher to substitute.Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/teacher-maternity-leaveIn this episode on teacher maternity leave, I discuss:How to prepare for teacher maternity leaveStrategies to take care of your physical, mental and emotional health while pregnantWhy planning ahead will give you a path of least resistance when it comes to maternity leaveResources to help aid the maternity leave processHow clear communication with parents about maternity leave helps the processResources mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Maternity Leave Sub PlansGender Reveal ResourceEditable Maternity Leave LetterMore Maternity Leave ResourcesFree Sub Planning Starter KitEditable Sub BinderCheck out more sub resourcesWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Resources mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Maternity Leave Sub PlansGender Reveal ResourceEditable Maternity Leave LetterMore Maternity Leave ResourcesFree Sub Planning Starter KitEditable Sub BinderCheck out more sub resourcesWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List 

Can you believe January is almost over? February is right around the corner, which means Valentine's Day is coming up! Do you have any Valentine's Day class activities ready? We've got you covered on today's episode all about 7 Valentine's Day class activities kids will LOVE!Valentine’s Day is a time for love and joy and a great opportunity to bring these Valentine’s Day class activities kids will love to your classroom or homeschool! From math to Black History Month to writing Valentine’s Day classroom activities, there’s something for every content area!We discuss so many incredible Valentine's Day class activities like Valentine’s Day Number Handwriting Practice, Valentine’s Day Candy Heart Math Activities, Valentine’s Day Directed Drawings, Valentine’s Day Spelling Activities, Valentine’s Day Punny Cards and so much more!Be sure to listen all the way through this episode so you can take advantage of all of these ideas and start your Valentine party planning on the right foot!I share SO MANY ideas on this episode of the podcast. You're bound to to take something away to help you to celebrate Valentine's Day in the classroom. Try some new Valentine’s Day classroom activities by integrating math, writing, and art with fun, candy, love-themed projects and MORE. Your students will thank you for the love and care you put into the plans in February and all year!Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/valentines-day-class-activitiesIn this episode on Valentine's Day class activities and ideas, I discuss:Our HUGE discount on our Valentine's Day Mega Bundle worth over $250 (only $27) Party ideas for the perfect Valentine's Day celebrationValentine's Day class activities and resources that will engage your studentsAn explanation of each Valentine's Day class activity or ideaDifferent Valentine's Day resources for math, english, art and moreHow each idea is not only engaging, but involves learning at each students’ academic levelResources mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Valentine's Day Mega BundleDon't Eat Pete GameValentine’s Day Writing Activity- Secret Valentine Writing PromptsValentine’s Day Cards, Punny Gift TagsValentine’s Day Alphabet WorksheetsValentine’s Day Number Worksheets (Write, Circle, Draw)Valentine’s Day Party PackValentine’s Day Directed Drawings for Lower GradesValentine’s Day Directed Drawing for Upper GradesFebruary-Themed Reading Passages.February Math Sub PlansFebruary Sub PlansWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List 

What is true self-care? What do you do for self-care?We're talking all about true self-care in today's episode. Self-care is an important part of a teacher’s mental health, but there are misconceptions about what it is. Some teachers dismiss self-care as “selfish”. But for teachers, self-care is a lot more than taking a bath or treating yourself to a spa day and that's what we're talking about today. True self-care is about taking care of your mental health so that you’re prepared to be the best teacher you can be for yourself and your students. True self-care is about doing things to make you more healthy so you can show up better for the people that need you.For this episode, I asked REAL members of our Wife Teacher Mommy community for their thoughts and advice on what true self-care looks like to them. We get to hear real responses and tips from real teachers just like you! Some teachers like to get their nails done. Others like to just be at home around their family and dog. True self-care doesn't look the same for everybody.Not only do we hear from real teachers about true self-care, we also talking about what you can do to reframe how you think about self-care, so that we can view it as not being selfish, but as being self-FULL. The more we fill our cup, the more we have to offer to others. So how do we fill our cup? We talk all about it in this episode.The most important thing when it comes to helping others, is to take care of yourself first. While taking a bubble bath, reading a book for enjoyment, or meeting friends for coffee might work immediately, sometimes more work needs to be done. Through using the tools necessary to take care of yourself, you’re ultimately making yourself a more effective teacher for you and your students. Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/true-self-careIn this episode on practicing true self-care as a teacher and/or parent, we discuss:What true self-care is and why it is importantHow self-care is actually self full not selfishTips and advice from real teachers about what true self-care is to themWhy you should treat yourself with the same amount of care that you treat your students withHow true self-care decreases stress in the classroom and increases longevity in your careerResources mentioned:January JumpstartHomeschool Mom SummitJoin the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Related episodes and blog posts:Episode 42, Why My Panic Attack Was the BEST Thing That Ever Happened to MeStress Management for Teachers: Understanding the Stress Cycle with Brittany Blackwell [episode 54]How to OWN Your Wins & Set Intentional Teacher Goals [episode 52]How to Achieve Work Life Balance as a Wife Teacher Mommy with Sarah Snider [episode 47]Teacher Mindset: The 5 Step Framework That Will Change the Way You Think About Teaching and Life [Episode 39]How To Be An Effective Teacher By Taking Care of Yourself with Lizzie Langston [episode 43]Episode 35, 10 Absolute Kid-Favorite Halloween Teaching Ideas & Resources

Have you ever had a student that just couldn't "grasp" a concept? No matter how hard you tried they just did not learn what you were teaching. Did you know it could actually be because the student has a different learning style than what was being taught? On today’s episode, I have guest Richie Sores from Homeschool and Humor and we’re discussing different learning styles for students and how we can we can learn different teaching styles to meet every child. Richie is a devout homeschool mom of 3 kiddos and the owner and creator of Homeschool and Humor, where she shares learning tips along with many other goodies. Homeschool and Humor is a place for homeschool moms to go to for resources and information about all things homeschool. Along with homeschooling, she creates and hosts Homeschool Moms Summits for homeschool parents to come together and be inspired. You can catch two of my workshops at her upcoming Homeschool Mom Summit: Winter Refresh Edition on January 23rd-27thWith Richie's expert background knowledge on education and homeschooling , she gives a fresh perspective on how to differentiate instruction that best fits each child’s learning style.Students learn though visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Visual is having to see it in order to understand it, auditory is having to hear how it is to understand it, kinesthetic is hands on. Now no student is going to be 100% one learning style, but by knowing the learning styles, we can recognize what is the more dominant and adjust our teaching.That's just one subject we discuss on this episode. We dive into the 3 learning styles and discuss what they are, how to learn what each students' learning style is and different tips to teach the learning styles. As educators, we want to teach and meet the needs of each child, knowing that each child learns differently. So the way to accomplish that goal is through learning the different learning styles. After listening to my conversation with Richie, you’ll know how to teach the different learning styles and how to to recognize what each student needs. Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/stress-management-for-teachersIn this episode on different learning styles for students, we discuss:The three learning styles and how to teach themVisual learning and how to teach in this styleAuditory learning and how to students learn this wayKinesthetic learning and different tips for hands on learningThe "why" behind teaching and homeschooling and what fuels us as educatorsThe upcoming Homeschool Mom Summit: Winter Refresh EditionResources mentioned:Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Humor and HomeschoolHomeschool Mom Summit: Winter Refresh EditionHumor and Homeschool Learning Styles BlogLearning Styles FreebieWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Related episodes and blog posts:Episode 20, The 8 Step Test to Choose High-Quality Reading Materials3 Simple Ways to Differentiate Reading Instruction [episode 46]10 Spelling Activities & Games Kids Will Love [episode 41]How to Differentiate Instruction to Meet Every Child with Karel Dimalanta [episode 28]Episode 7, Activate and Differentiate - Reading Comprehension Skills with Tori La Rue4 Tips You Need For Using Differentiated Reading PassagesAttend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

I have a question for you. Have you ever been stressed? I know that seems like a silly question, because obviously being an educator, we get stressed ALL the time! But in order to find stress management for teachers, the first step is to acknowledge that we ARE stressed.I have a follow up question for you. Do you know there's such thing as a stress cycle and that it more than likely affect YOU as a teacher or homeschool parent? That's what we're talking all about on today's episode with my very special guest, Brittany Blackwell host of "The Resilient Teacher Podcast"Brittany Blackwell, M.Ed. is an award-winning special educator, podcast host of "The Resilient Teacher Podcast", and teacher resilience strategist from South Carolina with over ten years of experience working with elementary and middle school classrooms.  Brittany is no stranger to teacher burnout and has a passion for empowering teachers and educational leaders to prioritize their mental health and develop stress management for teachers.Brittany is incredibly experienced when it comes to understanding stress and the stress cycle, as well as educating teachers about the stress we take on as educators and techniques we can use to manage our stress. We dive into books and resources that teach about stress management, breathing techniques, the origins of the stress cycle and SO MUCH MORE!if you're ever feeling stressed out with planning lessons or balancing teaching and everyday life and other roles-- this episode on stress management for teachers is for you!Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/stress-management-for-teachersIn this episode on stress management for teachers we discuss:What the stress cycle isHow stress is a response to fight or flightHow teachers can determine the best ways to end the stress cycle so they don’t burnoutWhy understanding the stress cycle is such an important topic for teachers to be aware ofHow the stress cycle impacts teachers and how it is the catalyst to burnout!Different resources and books that discuss the topic of stress management for teachersA simple and easy way to learn stress management for teachers!Resources mentioned:Wife Teacher Mommy ClubTeaching Mind Body and SoulThe Resilient Teacher PodcastTeaching Mind Body and Soul Instagram Breath Work FreebieVision Board FreebieThe Self Coaching ModelBurnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress CycleCome as You AreAtlas of the HeartWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Related episodes and blog posts:How To Be An Effective Teacher By Taking Care of Yourself with Lizzie Langston [episode 43]Cultivating Gratitude with Kids feat. Elle Rowley, Author of Agnes and the Sheep [episode 36]How to Build Mental Toughness for Teachers (AND students!) with Jon Osborn [episode 30]Real Teacher Talk with Gaspare Randazzo [episode 51]Honest Teacher Vibes [Episode 14]How to Achieve Work Life Balance as a Wife Teacher Mommy with Sarah Snider [episode 47]Teacher Mindset: The 5 Step Framework That Will Change the Way You Think About Teaching and Life [Episode 39]Attend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/math-fluency/Attend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

“Read a book.”How often have you said that to your fast finishers? I am SUPER guilty of this one! I’m always looking for new ideas for fast finisher activities! Too often, I catch myself repeating that phrase…  “just read a book.”It’s not that reading a book is NOT a bad option, it’s just something kids get tired of doing, especially those kids who ALWAYS finish first. That's why in today's episode I'm diving into easy ways to engage fast finishers! From graphic organizers to engaging writing prompts to play dough stations, this episode is FULL of ideas!There are many challenges to you as a teacher when trying to find your fast finishers activities. How do you challenge students without making it feel like a burden or punishment on them?How do you do it without adding extra work for you?How can it be student-led so that they can work independently and you can help the students who are working on the regular assignments?How do you make it meaningful learning?If you've ever asked yourself any of these questions, then this episode is for you! I offer 15 EASY ways to engage the fast finishers in your classroom. Your fast finishers will love having a greater variety of activities to pick and choose from!Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/engage-fast-finishersIn this episode on how to engage fast finishers we discuss:The benefits of having a variety of resources to offer fast finishersHow a utilizing a graphic binder with a book helps fast finishers stay engagedFun activities you can have your fast finishers do ie Backwards Story Problems, Play Dough Station, Color by Number and much more!Online Learning Enrichment Activities such as A Google A Day, The Critical Reader, Mathopolis and more!How to do a research topic for fast finishers and why you should let them do a topic of THEIR choiceA simple and easy way to do engaging fun activities like puzzles, math and ELA board games and more!Attend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/how-to-write-sub-plans/Attend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

With the new year approaching, it's that time where we start reviewing our year and our teacher goals that we made at the start of the year. Did you accomplish everything you wanted to? I know I didn't! Looking at what we didn't know can be disappointing... but what about what we did do? Do you ever sit down and acknowledge all the things that you did do? On today’s episode, I'm talking all about how to own your wins and set intentional teacher goals!We're all human. It’s our nature to always be striving to do more. However, when we do this, we tend to always be looking at where we can improve instead of looking at what we have done. Sometimes we think our wins need to be life-changing, but what about our small wins?! We do so much as teachers, parents and whatever other hat you wear, that it is easy to overlook our every day wins. Start thinking about our teacher goals as a journey rather than the destination. I also discuss the concept of past, present and FUTURE self. Over time we really change into different people, so thinking about what your FUTURE self would tell your PRESENT self will help you see how much you're capable of. By thinking in this way, you can set specific teacher goals from a place of love for yourself and keep positive momentum. Throughout this episode, I give insight to shift the perspective of focusing on the "Gap" to focusing on the "Gain". These are simple, yet effective solutions to overcome your doubts so you will soon own your teacher wins.Throughout this episode, I give insight that I have learned on my journey, to help shift the perspective of focusing on the "Gap" (what we we think we're lacking) to focusing on the "Gain" (what we have achieved). These are simple, yet effective solutions to overcome your doubts so you will soon own your teacher wins.This episode is full of different methods to begin owning your wins. From spreadsheets, to vision boards, to books that have helped change my mindset, to simple questions you can ask yourself to readjust your perspective. All of these techniques will help you reach your teacher goals and truly OWN your wins.Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/teacher-goalsIn this episode on how to own your wins & set intentional teacher goals we discuss:The benefits of owning your teacher wins and how to reach your teacher goalsThe concept of making your FUTURE SELF happyHow having a vision board can help you visualize and reach your teacher goalsWhy shifting your mindset to positivity can increase your motivation towards your teacher goalsHow to notice the difference between the gap and the gainA simple and easy way you acknowledge your daily winsAttend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/research-skills-for-elementary-students/Attend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

From balancing teaching, stand up comedy and dad life, to birth stories, to teacher maternity and paternity leave, to stand up comedy, teacher influencers, and how to pronounce Mario, we talk about it all on today's hilarious interview that you do not want to miss.Because today on the podcast, I'm talking with NYC teacher, stand up comedian and Winter Educate & Rejuvenate keynote speaker, Gaspare Randazzo.You may know him from Instagram, TikTok, or as Co-Host of "The Social Studies Podcast with Joe Dombroski and Gaspare Randazzo"And let me tell you, he is HILARIOUS! Once we confirmed him for our event, I spent some time scrolling his Instagram (@standuprandazzo) and laughing at his videos. In fact, he's so good at stand-up that people are traveling to see him go on tour. (but pssst... you don't need to... skip the hundreds of dollars on a flight and join us virtually here!). Here is a little more background about Gaspare.Gaspare Randazzo is a teacher in his 11th year in the classroom. When he's not in the classroom, you can find Gaspare doing Stand Up Comedy where he talks about his life as a teacher and his experiences dealing with students from all walks of life. His stories range from students hating him and wanting to punch him in the face to them loving him and bringing him school lunch trays to eat during every period. These non conventional teaching stories will have teachers and non teachers alike finding themselves laughing and scratching their heads at just how outrageous they are!If you enjoy this interview, be sure to join us at E&R! He's so funny- full stand up at our event. You'll get to be there live interacting in zoom. You do not want to miss it!Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/real-teacher-talkIn this episode on real teacher talk with Gaspare Randazzo:How Gaspare balances teacher life, being a parent and a stand up comedianThe story of Gaspare's experience with his children's' births and maternity/paternity leaveGaspare's experience in the classroom and his thoughts on the current climate of classroomsHow humor can help us relate and feel connected to othersThe high prices of Taylor Swift ticketsHow to properly pronounce MarioAnd so much more!Resources mentioned:Wife Teacher Mommy ClubGaspare Randazzo InstagramThe Social Studies PodcastWinter Educate & RejuvenateTrue Warrior JewelryWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Related episodes and blog posts:How To Be An Effective Teacher By Taking Care of Yourself with Lizzie Langston [episode 43]Being the “OKAYEST” Teacher Mom with Heather from The Okayest Moms [episode 34]How to Build Mental Toughness for Teachers (AND students!) with Jon Osborn [episode 30]Honest Teacher Vibes with Bri Richardson [episode 14]Attend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Attend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Hey friend! This week's episode is a special one because it is our 50th episode! I am so excited to have made it this far and thankful for YOU for listening and making this possible. “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” And also one of the busiest! You have so much on your plate from family time to shopping to holiday parties, that’s not even your school duties! It is hard to find a balance between classroom and all the holiday things you have going on in your life. With the holidays in full swing and Winter Break approaching fast, this episode is all about how to survive the week before winter break. We wanted to hear tips from real teachers JUST LIKE YOU, so we we gathered ideas, direct quotes, and even voice recordings from OVER 50 teachers in our community to share insight and ideas for the week before Winter Break! There is so much insight and advice in this one episode! We hear from Kirsten of Kirsten's Kaboodle, Tara from Teaching on Lemon Lane, Heidi from Second Story Window and so much more! You'll even get to hear insight from members of the Wife Teacher Mommy Team!I gathered all of these submissions, found common "THEMES" and broke them down into "7 Ways to Survive the Week Before Winter Break". You'll be hearing tips from over 50 teachers in this podcast episode, so you're bound to find something that resonates with you and will help you make this the "most wonderful time of year"!Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/winter-breakIn this episode on how to survive the week before winter break:How keeping a routine can help you manage your stress and classroomThe benefits of using the holiday to your advantage to make the most of the seasonWhy we should be intentional with our OVERALL planning during this time of yearHow lowering exceptions for you and your students can lower your holiday stress levelFinding humor and how it can help us relax and connectThe magic of taking a day off and why you shouldHow to find self care and why it's worth it to do even if you feel too busyResources mentioned:Wife Teacher Mommy ClubReady-to-Go Sub PlansDecember Reading PassagesDecember Writing PromptsDecember I SpySnow Day Resources Winter ResourcesSecret Santa Writing PromptsWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Other Contributors:Second Story WindowKirsten's KaboodleSmith Curriculum and ConsultingLittle Lady Bug ShopTeresa Kwant Escape Room ResourcesTeaching on Lemon LaneAsleep the Snow Came Flying by Tim StoryRelated episodes and blog posts:Smart Classroom Management Hacks with Dr. Lori Friesen [episode 38]How to Prepare for Teacher Snow Days [episode 49]How to Do a Secret Santa in the Classroom or Homeschool [episode 45]4 Steps To Teach Winter Holidays Around the World [episode 44]What is Your Time WorthSNOW DAYS: HOW TO BE PREPARED FOR THE UNEXPECTEDPERFECT DECEMBER ACTIVITIES FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTSAttend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Attend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Can you believe it's already December? That means the holidays and winter are in full swing too! One thing is certain, winter brings unexpected weather. With that being said, this episode is here just in time because on today's podcast we are talking all about how to prepare for teacher snow days!In many places snow days are inevitable and so are the disruptions they bring to everyone’s plans. And as many places are moving to remote learning days that may mean a quick change from in-person lessons to online. Teacher snow days can be difficult and frustrating to navigate, so listen up because I share tips and resources on how to best prepare for snow days.I discuss several fun and engaging activities for different subjects that you can use. For writing, you can do a FUN writing prompt- "If I were Stuck in a Snow Globe?" or use our snow themed passages. For math, you can do a snow themed math board game or our snow math review resource. For science, you can do an engaging "Life Cycle" of a Snowflake" activity where you have students dance out the different steps of the water cycle.These are just a few examples of the fun ideas that I share that will help you with teacher snow days and the best part is you’ll be prepared and won’t have to worry about what you are going to do when a snow day does happen.A few other exciting topics that I touch on are my Life Coaching certification journey! I share some of the advice that I have learned so far, which I am so excited about. And I share about our upcoming virtual Winter Educate & Rejuvenate event! We will have Bri Richardson of Honest Teacher Vibes doing a comedy presentation, life coaching and more! This event is December 29th. You will not want to miss it!Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/teacher-snow-daysResources mentioned:Wife Teacher Mommy ClubSnow Day Lesson PlansSnow Math ReviewJanuary Reading PassagesDecember Sub PlansDecember Monthly Art ActivityWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Related episodes and blog posts:How to Do a Secret Santa in the Classroom or Homeschool [episode 45]4 Steps To Teach Winter Holidays Around the World [episode 44]SNOW DAYS: HOW TO BE PREPARED FOR THE UNEXPECTEDPERFECT DECEMBER ACTIVITIES FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTSAttend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Hey friends! This episode is a special one. With this past weekend being Black Friday and Cyber-Monday, we know you probably have been in shopping mode. And these days saving money can be stressful, so we wanted to drop an EXTRA episode this week all about money saving tips for teachers.We all know school budgets are tight and often teachers purchase classroom supplies out of their own pockets. Whether spending your own money or school budget money, as teachers, we need to make every penny count. I have compiled a list of money-saving tips for teachers (& homeschool parents) to use to help you make your pennies go farther.In this special episode I go over 10 money saving tips that I have learned for teachers. Some of the tips are even suggestions from real teachers within our Wife Teacher Mommy Community! These tips might help relieve some of that stress while still making sure you can enjoy your life too.These 10 saving tips for teachers cover all sorts of areas you might be looking to save in! This episode dives into saving on groceries, books, audio books, clothes, school supplies and MORE. Are you feeling a PINCH in your wallet right now in the current state of the economy? Check out this special episode and you just might get inspiration that will help you save more and stress less!Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/saving-tips-for-teachersResources mentioned:Wife Teacher Mommy ClubWife Teacher Mommies Unite Facebook GroupWife Teacher Mommy FreebiesScribdSheinWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Related episodes and blog posts:Smart Classroom Management Hacks with Dr. Lori Friesen [episode 38]Our Teacher MembershipWhat is Your Time WorthMoney Saving Tips for TeachersAttend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend, friends! I hope you're having an amazing weekend with family and loved ones. We have a special episode for you this week and I can't wait for you to hear it! I’ve said it before, I LOVE connecting with my listeners and community within Wife Teacher Mommy. I’m so excited because in today’s episode, I’m doing just that.I have guest Sarah Snider on the podcast, who is an active member of the Wife Teacher Mommy community and Club. Sarah has been enjoying our products for years and has been a Club Member since the Club first opened! She is a wealth of knowledge and we’ll be discussing how to achieve work life balance as a Wife Teacher Mommy.Sarah has a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education as well as a Masters Degree in Special Education. She has been an educator for many years, teaching Pre-K all the way up to 12th, but currently teaches 3rd and 5th Grade special education. Along with being an educator, she is married with two children. Between school, work and family, Sarah has a very busy life and is a well of knowledge for achieving work life balance.Throughout our conversation, Sarah is open about her experience as both a seasoned educator, wife and mom. She gives us high quality tips and expertise about specific ways she balances all of the different hats that she has to wear.Sarah dives into her scheduling techniques and what she does to maintain a stress free calendar. She also offers ideas and examples of how to utilize support from coworkers, both in your district and outside your district and even within the Wife Teacher Mommy community. We also discuss the importance of proper self care and how putting yourself first helps you show up better for the people in your life that need your support.It was so fun connecting with Sarah. Hearing all her wonderful advice on how to achieve work life balance truly was an inspiration. I hope you enjoy this episode and learn a thing or two!Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/achieve-work-life-balance/Resources mentioned:Wife Teacher Mommy ClubReading Passages Black Friday DealSub BinderDifferentiated Reading PassagesHoliday Party PackSecret Santa ActivityWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Related episodes and blog posts:Episode 20, The 8 Step Test to Choose High-Quality Reading MaterialsEpisode 43, How To Be An Effective Teacher By Taking Care of Yourself with Lizzie LangstonEpisode 34, Being the “OKAYEST” Teacher Mom with Heather from The Okayest Moms4 Tips You Need for Using Differentiated Reading PassagesOur Teacher Membership: Take Advantage and Avoid Teacher BurnoutHow to Save Time Lesson Planning with 15 Proven Methods from Teachers!The Best Communities for Elementary Teachers and Homeschool MomsAttend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Happy Friday, Friends! I have two questions for you! 1 ) Do you teach varying levels of children? 2) Are you looking for easy tips on how to teach differentiated reading effectively? I bet your answer to both of those questions is yes! Finding ways to effectively teach reading to every learning level in the classroom is a tough task and we hope to help you do just that! That's why our episode today is all about 3 simple ways to differentiate reading instruction!No matter what grade level you are teaching, you’re bound to have varied levels of readers in your class. A 3rd-grade class, for example, may have students reading at a 2nd-grade level (or below), and at a 4th-grade level (or above!) With such a variety of students, it’s difficult to figure out how to use differentiated reading passages (while still teaching the same skills), but it’s possible with these tips.The first tip I discuss in this episode is books by level and implementing literature circles in the classroom. One of the ideas that I share is splitting groups into reading level specific "book clubs" or "literature circles". This helps to avoid students being called out because of their reading level. After dividing into groups you can have students take different jobs to study different comprehension strategies. For example, our Literature Circles/Book Club resource has these adorable job names that you can use in your own literature circles:Super SummarizerIllustratorConnection ConstructorCharacter AnalyzerAnd more!Next I talk about a super helpful website that one of our Wife Teacher Mommy team members has used in the classroom. Students pick their reading level and this website gives them the news passage at their level. Every student can read the same news story at their level so you can have great class discussions about what they read! It's a great tool (this isn't an ad I promise!) and helps with differentiating in the classroom.And last I dive into our Reading Comprehension and Fluency Passages. For these resources, I teamed up with my sister Victoria La Rue, who is a professional writer. She has always amazed me with her writing skills, so I was thrilled to work together on this project that is much needed for the diverse needs in our classrooms. Our differentiated reading comprehension passages are available for Kindergarten through 6th grades. These differentiated reading comprehension passages include a low, medium, and high passage for each grade. Each passage has the SAME title and questions- and covers the same skills. The difference is only in the passages themselves- to meet each student at their own reading level.That's just a brief overview of what you'll learn in this awesome episode that covers everything you need to know to differentiate reading instruction in the classroom! Thanks for listening! Resources mentioned:Wife Teacher Mommy ClubReading Passages Black Friday DealLiterature Circles ResourceReading Comprehension & Fluency ResourceReading Passages FreebieNewslea WebsiteWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Related episodes and blog posts:Episode 20, The 8 Step Test to Choose High-Quality Reading MaterialsEpisode 7, Activate and Differentiate - Reading Comprehension Skills with Tori La Rue4 Tips You Need for Using Differentiated Reading PassagesHead to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/differentiate-reading-instruction/Attend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Christmas can be such a busy time of year, and sometimes it can be tricky to find time to do the “fun stuff” with your class along with everything else that needs to be done before the holiday break. So on today's episode of the podcast I want to share an activity with you that will make it so you can walk away from this podcast and be less stressed this holiday season. In this episode I share all about our Secret Santa Writing Activity! This Secret Santa activity isn't only a fun way to integrate writing into the curriculum during Christmas time, but also as a unit to build classroom community- AND bring in Christmas cheer! I also want to note for the homeschool mamas or dads- you know I love you as a homeschool mom now myself! You could ALSO use this activity as a family if you homeschool.For the intro lesson, I read the students a fictional story I wrote. As I read, I have students hold up the pictures to go along with it. The story is about a child named Andy who was not being very kind to his classmate, Carl. Santa had written him a letter telling him that since Santa couldn’t be there himself, he needed Andy to be his “Secret Santa” and look after him, this leads to introducing the “Secret Santa” unit.I explain that students will draw the name of a classmate, and they will be writing letters and doing kind things for this person for the next couple of days or weeks, depending on how much time we have. Once students are all assigned, I give them their first writing prompt. The students are to write a compliment to their Secret Santa. It is so much fun to read the student’s clever responses!That's a just brief overview of what I dive into with this episode. This Secret Santa Activity is a wonderful unit to add to your curriculum this holiday season and you'll hear all about why in this today's episode.Resources mentioned:Wife Teacher Mommy ClubSecret Santa Writing Activity BlogSecret Santa Writing PromptsDecember Homeschool LessonsDecember Ready-To-Go Sub PlansWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Related episodes and blog posts:Episode 44, Holidays Around the WorldEpisode 5, Skyrocket Research Skills for Elementary StudentsCreate Ways to Add Holiday Themes in the Classroom Blog PostSecret Santa Letter Ideas Blog PostHead to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/classroom-secret-santa/Attend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

This was our top requested topic for holiday podcasts in our Facebook group! Members wanted it so they got it. This episode is bound to be a new favorite!I’m excited about this episode because it is our FIRST holiday season on the podcast so this is our first ever holiday themed episode!In this episode I teach 4 steps to teach students winter holidays from around the world. I discuss all the different ways people celebrate Christmas and winter holidays around the world. I believe teaching holidays around the world is important because it offers our students a chance to think learn about diversity and gain an appreciation for holidays and traditions. In this podcast, I cover everything from Christmas in Germany to Chinese New Year to Diwali, Hanukkah and more!Along with learning more about how different cultures celebrate Christmas and winter holidays, I discuss how teaching our students about these different traditions expands their world view and offers a great way to integrate reading, research, social studies, AND holidays all-in-one. I discuss how teaching these holiday traditions to students is the perfect opportunity for them to research, collaborate and exercise team work skills by presenting what they have learned. Learning more about the world is so beneficial to ourselves and our students in so many different ways and we dive into it all on our very first Holiday themed episode with 4 SIMPLE steps to teach winter holidays around the world!Resources Mentioned:Holidays Around the World Research UnitJoin the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Secret Santa Writing PromptsDecember Homeschool LessonsDecember Ready-To-Go Sub PlansWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/winter-holidaysAttend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

As teachers, our personal goal every day is to be an effective teacher that helps students grow and learn. With that in mind, you’re probably thinking we’re going to talk about PD and learning new strategies to keep students engaged, but actually, we’re going in a different direction that will still provide the same results. I’m excited about this episode because we’re combining two of my passions: coaching and helping teachers. In today’s episode, I’m sharing how to be an effective teacher by taking care of yourself with special guest Lizzie Langston. Lizzie Langston is a Certified Postpartum Life Coach, podcast host of The Postpartum Coach Podcast, and advocate for postpartum mothers, helping postpartum women feel more passionate, playful, and full of purpose. She uses her experience in family studies, human development, communication, psychology, and her story to facilitate women develop a deeper relationship with their bodies, minds, and wellbeing.Another fun fact about Lizzie is she was my first Life Coach after I had my panic attack a few years back. She is a wealth of knowledge, passionate, and has seen first-hand how much I’ve grown from the work I’ve done through coaching. Therefore, Lizzie is sharing a lot of actionable tips and insights that will shift your thinking right away in order to make you a more effective teacher, wife, mom, friend, and person.We discussed many things throughout this episode, but our biggest topic was how coaching tools can help you become a more effective teacher. By using coaching tools, which include mindfulness, therapy principles, questioning, how the brain works, and the nervous system, they work together to bring more awareness to yourself. Having awareness first is the catalyst for change within your body and mind patterns. With that at the forefront, Lizzie explains how that helps you become an effective teacher.The most important thing when it comes to helping others, is to take care of yourself first. While taking a bubble bath, reading a book for enjoyment, or meeting friends for coffee might work immediately, sometimes more work needs to be done. Through the work of coaching and using the tools necessary to take care of yourself, you’re ultimately making yourself a more effective teacher for you and your students. Resources Mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/effective-teacherAttend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Throughout life, I believe we have moments that change the trajectory of our life, happen so we can gain a new perspective, or an experience that truly changes our life for the better. While most of those moments are happy and positive, some can be scary and tragic, which is exactly what happened to me. In today’s episode, I’m sharing the story of my panic attack and explaining what I learned from it and why it was the best thing that ever happened to me. In sharing my story, I’m telling you the real, raw, and vulnerable moments, thoughts, and feelings of when I experienced my panic attack in hopes you will gain some insight and learn from it. But it’s more than just repeating the story to you. I dive deeper into the reasons that led to my panic attack, which might surprise you. More importantly, the purpose of this episode is to share what I learned and how it can apply to your life, even if you haven’t had a panic attack or have the same anxious feelings as I do. In order to help others, I share my 3 biggest takeaways from my panic attack experience that will resonate with any circumstance that you’re currently going through. And finally, I explain the biggest reason why it was the best thing for me, which led me to something that I needed all along, but didn’t know I needed. It’s not easy being vulnerable and sharing a terrifying experience, but if the result is helping others, I’m all in. While my story may not be exactly like yours, there are elements that you can relate to and apply to your life. My hope is that after this episode, you will have learned something that will help you make tiny adjustments that will ultimately help you live your best teacher life. Resources Mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/panic-attackAttend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

One of my favorite things we do at Wife Teacher Mommy with creating resources is making mundane activities exciting and engaging for students. Because let’s be real, there are some concepts that students need to learn, but aren’t engaging enough. Therefore, we have a real treat for you today that will enhance your literacy content. In today’s episode, I’m sharing 10 spelling activities and games that your students will love. Before getting into the actual spelling activities and games, it’s important to know the why behind the practices and how to effectively teach those instructional practices. A key component to meaningful spelling practice is the understanding and use of phonemic and phonological awareness, which are two ideas that I provide background knowledge on during the episode. Having that understanding helps students build reading skills, along with the relationship between letters and sounds. Creating meaningful and engaging activities increases your students’ knowledge and interest level, which is exactly what these 10 spelling activities and games will be for your students. While some of these activities are designed through Wife Teacher Mommy resources, many others you can take and implement in your classroom today! The 10 spelling activities and games kids will love are:Spin & spellVowels & consonantsWriting words in alphabetical orderWord boxesHoliday & seasonal spelling listsWord focusRoll itTrivia cardsShaving cream spellingPlaydough wordLong are the days where spelling is all about memorization. We now have a better understanding of best instructional practices, which are integrated in these 10 spelling activities and activities. Each activity helps students practice and dissect words in a meaningful way. Once implemented in your classroom, your students will not only learn, but have fun while doing it!Resources Mentioned:36 Weeks of Phonemic AwarenessPre-K Phonemic AwarenessKindergarten Phonemic Awareness36 Weeks of SpellingSpelling Words Games for Lower & Upper GradesSpelling Games & Activities for Any Word ListJoin the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/spelling-activities-and-gamesAttend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Let’s get real. Raising kids can be challenging, especially during these current times. With so many behavior issues going on in the classroom and at home, it’s important to focus on their positive behaviors. In today’s episode, I have an open and vulnerable conversation with JoAnn Crohn from No Guilt Mom where we discuss kids and how to encourage positive behaviors to provoke change. JoAnn Crohn is a parenting educator who helps moms feel confident in everything from raising empowered, self-sufficient kids to dropping the anxiety and guilt out of modern parenthood. She's an accomplished writer, author, podcast host of the No Guilt Mom podcast, and founder of the company, No Guilt Mom. Her specialty is talking to both parents and kids, focused on kids handling big emotions, getting kids to help out more, creating a morning routine and conquering the homework drama.While most of our episodes are geared toward teachers, this episode will benefit both parents and teachers. Throughout our conversation, we organically shift from discussing behavior issues within the classroom to within our own homes because we feel sharing those experiences will only benefit each other. Some of the main topics we discuss in the episode are what’s actually causing more behavior issues and how to come to some sort of resolution. JoAnn reiterates getting to the root of the problem, rather than seeing their challenging behavior overall. Once that’s learned, we can then assess on how to better encourage positive behavior. JoAnn also suggests encouraging those types of behaviors through example and focusing on yourself to benefit your students or kids. A unique topic discussed was the way we were raised versus how we’re raising our own kids. Or simply said, how things are different then versus now, pertaining to the classroom as well. We want you to stop and think about if the things you’re doing are really improving their behavior or not. Instead, in order to encourage positive behaviors with kids, building relationships, listening, and allowing them to express their emotions will all lead to improved and positive behaviors.As educators, we’re seeing gaps in students academically and socially, which are ultimately affecting their behaviors in the classroom and at home. As educators and parents, we want to close those gaps by encouraging positive behaviors. JoAnn is a wealth of knowledge in this area, so you are sure to gain some perspective, tips, and strategies on how to encourage positive behaviors amongst our students and kids.Resources Mentioned:Free Happy Parent ChecklistAttend JoAnn’s Be Resilient SummitJoin the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/encourage-positive-behaviorAttend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

I'm SO excited for you! You know why? Because we've got something for you in this episode that will change the way you think about teaching and life!Last week we did a special FREE open coaching call with our certified life coach, Chrissy Nichols. This call was for anyone that wanted to come and it ended up being SO amazing. We discussed the 5-Step Framework that will CHANGE the Way You Think About Teaching (And Life!). So we turned this amazing Coaching Call into today’s episode all about the 5-Step Framework!When I discovered this 5-Step Framework almost 3 years ago... it was a game changer for me. I wish I could go back and "discover" it all over again. It was so fun and special to be able to watch hundreds of other teachers tune in and watch as four other teachers experienced this framework for the first time! We got to watch them start change the way they think about teaching and life.This framework is SUPER simple- once you learn it, you can't UN-learn it!Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/teacher-mindset/Attend the Wife Teacher Mommy Mindset MasterclassJoin Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.