Educate & Rejuvenate: The Podcast

If you’re like me, you think the same thing at the beginning of every single school year: I’m going to rock my classroom management this year! And while you might start with good intentions, it never seems to go the way you thought it would. If this sounds like you, or you just need to tweak a few management techniques in your classroom, this episode is for you! On today’s episode, Dr. Lori Friesen is sharing her top smart classroom management hacks.Dr. Lori Friesen taught for 10 years in Canada and overseas in Hong Kong and Japan before completing her PhD in Elementary Education with a specialization in Language and Literacy. She taught pre-service teachers at the University of Lethbridge and published The Beginning Teacher’s Handbook for Elementary School as the culminating project for her M.Ed. Dr. Lori completed her PhD at the University of Alberta and has been inducted into the Golden Key International Honor Society in recognition of her outstanding academic achievement and excellence. Dr. Lori’s work has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, including The International Journal of Learning and Childhood Educational International as well as the popular online Edutopia. Host of the popular Beginning Teacher Talk podcast with more than a quarter of a million downloads and creator of the R.E.A.D.Y. for School Academy with 1,600+ students, Dr. Lori is dedicated to supporting and inspiring educators around the world.Even though you might be a month or so into the new school year, you might be noticing some gaps in your management. Throughout the episode, Dr. Lori shares seven smart classroom management hacks that will keep your students engaged, listening, and following directions with such ease. With Dr. Lori’s explanation of each classroom management hack, you’ll find that each hack is simple, yet effective, and can be implemented and adapted for any grade level. A key to that? Making them a game or competition that can include problem solving for more interaction and keeps students engaged. That’s the whole point, right? 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. Dr. Lori’s mission is to be the mentor to beginning teachers that she didn’t have starting out, which is exactly what she’s doing with these smart classroom management hacks she shares on the podcast today. Resources Mentioned:Dr. Lori’s Ultimate Classroom Management Checklist FreebieLife Coaching Facebook ReplayJoin the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/smart-classroom-managementAttend 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.

How many times have you said to yourself, it’s easier to just go to school sick? I would guess more times than you can count. Teachers make so many sacrifices, and one of those is going into school, even when we don’t feel good. But is that always the right decision? I think there’s a way for you to think differently that will create a different result. So in today’s episode, I’m sharing a mindset shift that gets teachers taking a day off with less guilt. According to a study, an astonishing 1 in 5 teachers don’t take their sick days. While that probably doesn’t surprise most of us, it’s time to start doing something about it. I’ve come up with two ideas on how to get teachers taking a day off. My first idea might surprise you, but it aligns with our mission and passion at Wife Teacher Mommy: creating a mindset shift. You’ve heard me mention this, especially in our Life Coaching program inside Wife Teacher Mommy Club, but it’s because I truly believe in it. During the episode, I outline Brooke Castillo’s mindset strategy of the CTFAR Model. By understanding the mindset strategy, it changes the decision surrounding teachers taking a day off. After changing your mindset, the next thing is to make sure you have plans done ahead of time. Having items prepped and prepared for when you need them, allows you the path of least resistance in taking a day off. One thing to reinforce is these emergency sub plans don’t need to be fluff or a waste of your students’ time while you’re gone. Instead, make them engaged and standards-aligned, by maybe incorporating spiral review. We’re not saying it’s always easy for teachers to take a day off, but it’s definitely necessary for when you’re sick or need a mental health day. Instead of feeling guilty or stressed about teachers taking a day off, if you create a mindset shift and plan ahead with your sub plans, you will take the much needed day, knowing everything is taken care of! Resources Mentioned:Tutorial of The Life Coaching Model by Brooke CastilloFree Sub Planning Starter KitEditable Sub BinderCheck out more sub resources.Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/teachers-taking-a-day-offAttend 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.

We’re so busy and focused on teaching and making sure our students achieve and meet each of our content and grade level standards, but is that all we want them to learn? As teachers, we know we’re teaching the whole child and helping develop and learn skills that are necessary for outside the classroom as well. One of those important lessons is gratitude, and I have the perfect person to help us with this topic. I met today’s guest at a conference in Utah, knew I had to meet her, accidentally ran into her at a restaurant, and the rest is history! She embodies gratitude and created a way to involve kids in the process. So in today’s episode, we’re discussing cultivating gratitude with kids featuring guest Elle Rowley, author of Agnes and the Sheep.Elle Rowley is a writer, investor in family-owned businesses, and founder of the award-winning baby carrier company Solly Baby. She lives in Bonsall, California with her husband and four children on a small, three-acre farm with a barn that they have turned into a one room schoolhouse for the community. Teaching skills outside the curriculum might be easier than you think. Elle gives two tips on cultivating gratitude with kids in your classroom, and they both involve you! She also wrote a book, Agnes and the Sheep, which will be a series that is surrounded by the idea of gratitude. Therefore, Elle provides ways for parents and teachers to utilize Agnes and the Sheep to help teach gratitude, for cultivating gratitude doesn’t just have to be learned in the classroom. Throughout the episode, we also discuss a wide range of topics beyond gratitude, but honestly, they all end up going back to cultivating gratitude in some way. Elle has so many different experiences that she shares from homeschooling her kids with a community, how her first business impacted her second career, and her journey to becoming an author. With each topic discussed, you can’t help but notice the wisdom and gratitude she expresses. With the current stressors of our job, life, and world, it’s easy to slack off when practicing gratitude and instead have our minds wander to the negative. But after listening to this episode, I hope you see the beauty in every day. By cultivating gratitude for ourselves, students, and kids, we’re going to see the positive and be grateful for the things in our everyday lives. Resources Mentioned:Activities for Agnes and the SheepJoin the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/cultivating-gratitudeAttend 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.

When you’re so excited about something, are you one that plans ahead and makes it a priority? I’m raising my hand high because that definitely describes me, especially when it comes to today’s topic: Halloween! Halloween is a big holiday in my family and always something we look forward to, which is why this episode is coming out earlier than you might have expected. By getting this episode out earlier, it gives you time and opportunities to prepare and plan ahead! So in today’s episode, I’ll be sharing my 10 absolute kid-favorite Halloween classroom ideas and resources.As I’ve mentioned, Halloween is a favorite in my family, but it’s also a great opportunity for you to implement some fun ideas and activities into your curriculum and classroom. Kids enjoy Halloween, which is really the first major holiday of the school year. So why not do something fun and engaging with your students?!I’ve put together 10 of my favorite Halloween classroom ideas and activities that I know your students will enjoy. They’re all based on the Wife Teacher Mommy resources, so be sure to check those out! However, these ideas can also be used without the resources, but why not save you time and use something that has already been created for you? My 10 Halloween classroom ideas are:Halloween “BOO”Candy mathHalloween spelling listHalloween alphabet and numbersHalloween directed drawingsHalloween I SpyHalloween-related reading passagesHalloween candy opinion/persuasive writingHalloween board gamesComparing numbers I have no doubt that your students will be engaged and learn from all of these Halloween classroom ideas and activities. There really is an activity for everyone that meets all your different academic needs and levels that students will enjoy! Resources Mentioned:Halloween “BOO” Writing UnitSweet N’ Treats Candy Math & More BundleHalloween Candy Math Activities & MoreHalloween Spelling ActivitiesHalloween Alphabet Worksheets PracticeHalloween Number Worksheets PracticeHalloween Directed Drawings PackMonthly I Spy Monthly Differentiated Reading Comprehension Passages Growing BundleReady to Go Sub Plans Mega BundleJoin the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/halloween-classroom-ideasAttend 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.

In life, we take on so many roles, most of which become our biggest identities. Our Wife Teacher Mommy community identifies with two major roles: teacher and mom. We take on these roles with a passion and desire to be the most perfect version of each role. However, no matter how hard you try, perfectionism will never be attained, and that’s okay! On today’s podcast, we’re discussing being the okayest teacher and mom with Heather from The Okayest Moms. Heather is the co-host of Okayest Moms: The Podcast. Every week, she and co-host, Brittany, discuss topics relevant to modern motherhood. They strive to normalize imperfect motherhood, and help other moms recognize the importance of being more than "just mom.”One of the things I love about our Wife Teacher Mommy community is everyone’s ability to be vulnerable and share their real moments and emotions, which is what Heather and her Okayest Moms podcast is all about. Being a former teacher herself, Heather relates to the stress teachers are constantly under and their need to be the perfect teacher with the perfect classroom teaching the perfect lessons. But again, does that describe anyone? Instead, Heather shares tips and advice on how to let go of your perfectionist tendencies. Along with her advice, we talked a lot about how to simplify a teacher’s life, ways to avoid burnout, and how to prioritize self-care. With both of us being teachers and moms, we had a lot to share since supporting both roles is a major passion for us. In the end, we believe and emphasize there’s a way to be successful at being a teacher and mom, but not perfect, and learning to be okay with that. I applaud Heather’s vulnerability and her mission to stay real when it comes to the biggest role in her life: motherhood. There’s pride in the roles we take on, but my hope is after this episode, you learn that being the okayest teacher and mom is sometimes the most perfect identity to have. Resources Mentioned:36 Weeks of Social Emotional Learning BundleJoin the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/teacher-and-momAttend 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, we care about our students not only academically, but also about their social emotional well-being. We have previously talked about academic gaps in the classroom, but another big component are the social emotional gaps students are facing. Two episodes ago, we started our two part mini series involving the various gaps in education. That episode revolved around academic gaps and included responses from our Wife Teacher Mommy community, which we did the same for this episode. In today’s episode, we’re talking about social emotional gaps in education, which again, includes tips from real teachers like you. Before jumping into words from our community, I provide my own thoughts and tips on how to navigate through the social emotional gaps in the classroom. Those three tips are recognizing and accepting the circumstances the way they are, looking at growth versus where you think students should be, and what to do about it, which involves teaching social emotional learning. Some of those tips might sound familiar. That’s because two of them are also tips you should follow when navigating academic gaps.The community of Wife Teacher Mommy is incredibly supportive, knowledgeable, and provides helpful advice to fellow educators, which is evident in this episode. Their responses help others feel they’re not alone in their struggles, while providing tips and strategies to use in their own classroom.The issues we’re seeing in our classrooms are things we’re not facing alone, so it’s important to remember we’re in this together. As I’ve mentioned before, there’s power in coming together and learning from each other, which is exactly what we’ve done during this mini series. After learning and hearing advice from fellow teachers, I hope it helps you close the social emotional learning gaps in your classroom this school year. Resources Mentioned:36 Weeks of Social Emotional Learning BundleJoin the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/social-emotional-gapsAttend 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 you all know, one of my favorite things is supporting teachers and finding ways to help them with their current needs and struggles. With a lot of teachers getting into the full swing of school, routine, and procedures, I’ve gotten a lot of questions regarding small group instruction, how it’s structured, and what they need to do to keep their students engaged. To help answer these questions and so many more, I’ve brought in an expert, Sara Marye. In today’s episode, Sara is sharing all her tips on how to streamline small group instruction. Sara Marye has over a decade of experience working as a classroom teacher and school administrator, but is now CEO of The Stellar Teacher Company and a literacy specialist passionate about helping elementary teachers grow their students into lifelong readers. Sara's mission is to make teachers' lives a little easier by providing them with endless encouragement, effective strategies, and engaging no-fluff resources. Being a literacy specialist, Sara has a lot of experience with small group instruction and how to be successful when setting up small group time. However, before even thinking about what activities to do with your small group, Sara wants you to think about three things: the time and frequency of your small group and how to keep the rest of your class engaged. Once those are established, then the types of activities your students do within your small group instruction will be more effective. However, the bulk of our conversation revolves around how to keep the rest of your students engaged while you’re conducting small groups. Sara points out, there’s more than one way to be an effective reading teacher and how to keep your students engaged in meaningful work. Nevertheless, the idea of students being independent is essential before you even start your small group instruction. Throughout the episode, Sara shares invaluable and effective tips that range from how to set up your small groups to keeping your students independently engaged during small group instruction. Whether you implement these strategies right away or farther along in the school year, you are certain to have successful small group instruction! Resources Mentioned:Small Group Teacher Guide Freebie Life Coaching inside Wife Teacher MommyJoin the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/small-group-instructionAttend 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.

The past several years have been difficult and exhausting for teachers, to say the least. There are so many struggles and difficulties teachers face every day, which have been magnified since 2020. Students are entering classrooms with a variety of gaps, but particularly educational and social emotional gaps.I wanted to bring light to our current situation, so I have reached out to our community at Wife Teacher Mommy for answers, suggestions, and advice for their fellow teachers. In this two part series, I’m going to shed light on the gaps teachers are up against in the classroom. Today’s episode is part 1 on the achievement gap in education, which includes tips from real teachers like you.Before jumping into words from our community, I provide my own thoughts and a mindset shift on the achievement gap in education. I came up with three tips that I find helpful when it comes to navigating the educational gap. Those tips are accepting the current circumstances as they are, don’t compare students to where the standards say they should be, and find resources to help make differentiation easier for you. During the episode, I go deeper into these ideas that will help you find success.Our Wife Teacher Mommy community has a lot of great advice on how to navigate the achievement gap in education. Their words provide encouragement, strategies, and a feeling like you’re not in this alone or the only one facing this problem. Not only do they give advice on differentiating and how to meet the educational gaps, but they also give solutions. I believe there’s power in coming together and learning from each other, which is exactly what this episode embodies. After hearing from real teachers like you, I hope that you feel heard and learned new strategies that will help close the achievement gap in education. Stay tuned for next week’s episode on the social emotional gaps in education. Resources Mentioned:Monthly Differentiated Reading Comprehension Passages BundleDifferentiated Reading Comprehension and Fluency BundleShare a voice recording with us at Wife Teacher Mommy Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/achievement-gap-in-educationAttend 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.

Teachers need support. I’ve said it many times before and I’ll keep saying it, which is why it’s one of my passions to provide you with support in various ways. One of my favorite ways to provide teachers with support is through the Life Coaching program in Wife Teacher Mommy. It has helped so many teachers and in order to expand the program, we’ve created a guest workshop event with my guest on today’s episode, Jon Osborn. While he’ll talk about something different at the workshop, our conversation today is on how to build mental toughness for teachers and students.Jon graduated with a Masters in Sport & Performance Psychology and as a professional, Jon works to improve mental toughness through the use of mental skills. He teaches unforgettable lessons & techniques to help others be more resilient, in control, and confident. Jon helped found RJ Performance Group in 2020 and works there as a Mental Performance Coach. Throughout our conversation, Jon gave so much insight and knowledge on building mental toughness for teachers, what that looks like, and how it’s accomplished. Just in life coaching, building mental toughness roots from your thoughts, way of thinking, and learning to change what you were doing before. Jon praises teachers for their grit, resilience, and drive to go above and beyond what’s expected, all of which build mental toughness. But while he praises teachers for all of their passion, he also provides some advice for teachers that he hopes will bring them more individual success, or really, their perception of what success looks like in their classroom. Talking with Jon left me feeling empowered to help better the next generation and the ability to change my thoughts to being more positive and productive. There’s so much to unpack in this episode, but worth the time for personal growth. With the tools and strategies Jon provides, it definitely builds mental toughness for teachers, and students, in a positive way.Don’t forget that Jon is going to host a guest workshop for Wife Teacher Mommy Club members on September 8th at 6pm MTN! Join the Club so you don’t miss this, and many more, amazing opportunities! Resources Mentioned:Life Coaching inside Wife Teacher MommyJoin the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/mental-toughness-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.

In education, we put more of an emphasis on the subjects language arts and math, but there’s so much value that comes from other subjects, such as social studies. On today’s episode, I have guest Megan Osborn, who is one of my team members on Wife Teacher Mommy, and she helps shed some light on the value of teaching social studies. More specifically, we’re discussing 4 tricks to captivate kids while teaching social studies. ​​Megan is a former middle school social studies teacher and a graduate of Utah State University. She stopped teaching when her first daughter was born, but has continued working in education working with homeschool families, and later coming to work at Wife Teacher Mommy. With the big two subject areas (language arts and math) taking up a lot of time during the school day in an elementary classroom, Megan reveals how teaching social studies can open up a new world for students. She explains that it allows students to make connections to the world around them, provide a different perspective on ideas, and teaches them how to be a good citizen. By teaching students our history in a way they understand how that’s related to modern day, is a powerful idea of thinking. While Megan admits that social studies might not be everyone’s favorite subject, she provides 4 tricks to captivate kids while teaching social studies. Those tricks are: organization of the content, telling stories, use of different media, and field trips. During the episode, Megan breaks down each trick and how to effectively use it in your classroom. She provides simple ways to incorporate them whether you teach in a traditional classroom or homeschool your kids. Throughout our conversation, Megan emphasizes that teaching social studies doesn’t have to be an isolated event. In fact, using language arts concepts alongside your social studies content actually pair very well together. We discuss the idea of research as a way to incorporate both content areas, but there are many other ideas to merge the two together.There’s a lot of value to teaching social studies and learning about the history and culture of the world around us. In this episode, Megan brings her knowledge and passion for the subject and shares ways to engage your students in the process. By incorporating her 4 tricks to captivate kids while teaching social studies, you’ll see a shift in engagement and outcome of learning. Resources Mentioned:Life Coaching inside Wife Teacher MommySocial Studies Research Unit Bundle Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/teaching-social-studiesAttend 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.

When starting a new school year it’s important to think of routines, procedures, expectations, and how to set up your classroom - all the basic and foundational aspects. But as some have already started school and are diving into lessons and curriculum, it’s time to start thinking of the next aspect of teaching: differentiating instruction. To help give further insight, on today’s episode, I have guest Karel Dimalanta and we’re discussing how to differentiate instruction to meet every child. Karel is currently a curriculum designer at Wife Teacher Mommy, but before that, she taught resource special education for 7 years in junior high and elementary schools. Now, she helps create resources for fellow educators so that they can enjoy life to its fullest! With Karel’s expert background knowledge in special education, she gives a fresh perspective on how to differentiate instruction that best fits each child’s needs. She first recommends getting to know the needs of your students, which will then assist you in determining what skills they need help with and what tools and strategies to use with them. Sounds like a simple recommendation, but she admits that many educators skip this step and provide more general accommodations that sometimes don’t help those students who need them the most.The first part of our conversation revolves around specific ways to differentiate instruction for different subject areas because the skills vary depending on the subject matter. Karel does a great job at answering all of my questions around whole group vs. small group and how to differentiate if you’re a general education or special education teacher. She naturally explains ideas and strategies that meet the needs of each student. Our goal as educators is to teach and meet the needs of each child, knowing that each child learns differently. So the way to accomplish that goal is through differentiating instruction. After listening to my conversation with Karel, you’ll know how to differentiate instruction successfully for each of your students. Resources Mentioned:Monthly Reading Passages BundleI Spy BundleJoin the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/how-to-differentiate-instructionAttend 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.

When it comes to teaching any content area, or really learning anything in life, it’s important to always start with the basics. Having a solid foundation allows you to build on those skills in order to achieve a higher understanding. This is especially important as it pertains to math skills. In today’s episode, I’m sharing why math fluency is important and how to do it with your kids.Math fluency is the ability to recall basic math skills quickly and efficiently, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division through conceptual learning. Focusing on math fluency in elementary school greatly benefits students as they start learning higher level math. When students are able to quickly recall information about simple math problems, it reduces the cognitive load in their brains when they are doing more complicated problems. One of the best ways to teach the concepts behind the skills is through hands-on learning. This idea involves modeling (lots of modeling!), the use of manipulatives, showing their work and how they got their answer, and focusing on accuracy of problems rather than speed. Throughout the episode, I also share how students can work on their math fluency skills, with some of those being math fluency pages and various online games and apps. I provide fun and engaging ways to make it fun for your students, while also putting an emphasis on the importance of learning math skills. I also explain how to keep track of your students’ progress throughout the year, which will help them feel more confident about their math fluency abilities the more they learn.Building a students’ math foundation early makes the road to learning and understanding higher level skills later on easier. But as you’ll learn in this episode, that doesn’t have to be boring or mundane for your students. By reinforcing math fluency practice in your classroom, your students will quickly become more efficient with their math skills! Resources Mentioned:Math Fact Fluency: Print & DigitalCheck out all of our math fluency resourcesI Spy BundleMonthly Math Sub PlansMonthly Homeschool Lessons36 Weeks of Math Fluency BundleMath Homeschool Lesson PlansJoin the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/math-fluencyAttend 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.

Are you thinking about being a member of the Wife Teacher Mommy Club, but just not sure if you’ll use the life coaching? Or are you already a member and hesitant to be a participant in life coaching, or just unsure of what life coaching is in general? Well if you raised your hand to any of the questions, 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 with Chrissy Nichols. 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. I love having Chrissy on the podcast because she always brings a calming and positive perspective to any situation, which is why she’s Wife Teacher Mommy’s life coach expert. Throughout the episode, Chrissy explains what it means to be a life coach, particularly if you’re a member of the club. 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! Resources Mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Connect with Chrissy Nichols:Check out her website for free resourcesTeacher Talk with Chrissy Nichols PodcastFollow her on Instagram @the.chrissyconceptFollow her on FacebookHead to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/life-coachingAttend 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 25th episode, my friends! This is a huge milestone for me and I’m so excited to be celebrating with you! I’ve mentioned it before, but I love doing this podcast, bringing you relevant and effective content, and connecting with my community of listeners. We’ve got some exciting things coming up and it really wouldn’t be possible with all of you, so thank you!This is a fun episode I have planned for you because the topic is fun, but I also incorporate suggestions and examples from my listeners, which I love doing. In today’s episode, I’ll be sharing some insanely clever classroom attention getters from real teachers for you to use this school year.Just imagine your classroom, full of students, busy working on a group project, there’s lots of talking and moving around, but you need to get their attention to share some important information. How do you do it? Just saying, “Class, I need your attention” or trying to yell over them are both ineffective. That’s where classroom attention getters come in!Classroom attention getters are a way to quickly engage students and get their attention back to you or another task at hand. While most of you probably use attention getters, it might be time to add to your toolbox and change your attention getters more frequently throughout the year. Throughout the episode, I share six categories of call and response attention getters to use in your classroom. Some are traditional call and response, while others incorporate music, movement, or no words at all.Looking for fun and new attention getters this school year? This is the episode for you! With suggestions from our community and ideas from others, your classroom attention getters toolbox will be overflowing and guaranteed to get the attention of even the loudest and largest group of students!Resources Mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Visit wtmgiveaway.com for more details on our giveawayVisit wtmpodcastinbox.com to share your thoughts on the educational gaps in educationWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/classroom-attention-getters

I’ve said it again and again, but I truly love connecting with members within Wife Teacher Mommy, so I’m continuing this idea by having another member, Kimberly Lock, on the podcast today. She brought up a unique topic that we’ve never talked about on the podcast or done any blog posts on, so I jumped at her idea! Today Kimberly and I are talking about the key benefits of flexible seating and how it helps students learn.Kimberly shares her story with us, but she had a windy path to get to her current role as an educator today. She has worn many hats, but this past year was her first classroom at a new school. Kimberly’s passion lies in reading intervention and differentiation so that all students can make progress and feel successful in reading.Another passion of Kimberly’s is creating flexible seating for students, which she explains as accommodations or modifications for students with behavior or focus issues. Kimberly points out that as educators, we believe in the philosophy that not all kids are equal and we have accommodations when it comes to academics, but we tend to not feel the same way about behavior.As someone who uses it, Kimberly reveals the many benefits of flexible seating in her classroom. Not only is it something fun and different from the old and boring traditional desk and chair, but it provides students an opportunity to move around, can’t sit still, or need to wiggle in order to focus.Since flexible seating isn’t the traditional way of sitting in a classroom, we discuss certain procedures that need to be implemented. Kimberly promises that if it’s introduced in the right way, it can be a useful tool that eliminates behavior that shouldn’t be a problem in the first place. While there are many benefits of flexible seating, she does caution some potential problems that could arise. But don’t worry, she has some solutions for that!Looking for something new and different, yet effective for your students this school year? Flexible seating could be the solution for you! With the many benefits of flexible seating, why not give it a try in your classroom? We promise you won’t regret it, and neither will your students!Resources Mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Visit wtmgiveaway.com for more details on our giveawayI Spy Math BundleWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/benefits-of-flexible-seatingAttend 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 first Friday in August! I’m so glad you’re joining me today because 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 Najah Lambert on the podcast, who is a member of the Wife Teacher Mommy community and (virtually) raised her hand at being a guest on this podcast. She is a wealth of knowledge and we’ll be discussing advice for new teachers and mentorship programs within a school. Najah has taught for 10 years as a Pre-K/Kinder private school teacher, but is a second-year 4th grade public school teacher. She loves teaching, but admits she could do without the stress! Najah has a vision and passion for helping new teachers and also explains how other teachers can mentor and support new teachers. Throughout our conversation, Najah is open about her experience as a new teacher. She explains that even though she’s considered a veteran teacher, her experience in a new school as part of their mentorship program wasn't very positive. She attributes various factors into her conclusion, but has now created something meaningful and passionate about improving mentorship programs. As a result, Najah came up with 10 ideas that every teacher mentorship program should incorporate. Those 10 ideas are: Passionate mentors Compatible pairings Allocate time for mentor-mentee PLC Allocate time for mentor to observe mentee Allocate time for mentee to observe mentor Provide constructive and positive feedback Open communication with administration The duration of the mentorship program Celebrate successes Team building As first year teachers, or veteran teachers in a new building or district, shouldn’t be left to their own accord, which is why it’s important not to overlook the training aspect for them. Najah and I revolve our discussion around how to support new teachers that will leave them surviving and thriving. As the new school year begins, think about how you can be a friendly face to new teachers or ensure your new teacher mentorship program is a positive experience for your new teachers. Resources Mentioned: Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Visit wtmgiveaway.com for more details on our giveaway I Spy Math Bundle Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List  Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/advice-for-new-teachersConnect with Kelsey: Join 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 school just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about what your classroom open house is going to look like. As I’ve learned, every district and school calls it something different, but it all means the same thing - meeting the teacher for the first time and scoping out the classroom before the first day of school. For this episode, I’ve compiled my own tips, along with YOUR tips from various social media platforms to create the content for this episode. So in today’s episode, I’m sharing 10 steps to rock your classroom open house or back to school night. Having a classroom open house is a great way to accomplish a lot of goals for the beginning of the school year and start to connect and make relationships with your students and their parents. While this idea might seem overwhelming and stressful, it’s a great way to start the school year off right, even before the first day of school. The 10 steps I share are: Always start by thinking of the end result you want to achieve Decide the setup and flow that you want to utilize Make a plan to invite parents and get families showing up Get setup before the parents and students arrive Greet each family and make them feel welcome Go over rules, procedures, and expectations in your classroom, as well as your teaching philosophy Try and chat with each student’s parents and introduce yourself Have a wish list for donations Include a special treat or gift (optional) Have fun A lot happens throughout the school year, so it’s important to begin the year on the right foot, and a way to do that is through a classroom open house or back to school night. Whatever your district calls this type of event, by incorporating these 10 steps, it will leave you rocking your classroom open house and your students ready to be a part of your classroom community. Resources Mentioned: Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Share your experiences with Social Emotional Learning with me here.  Back to School Open House Resource Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List  Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/classroom-open-houseConnect with Kelsey: Join 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 episode is really centered around you and with you in mind. You’ve noticed that we have a new intro to the episodes, which is part of a full song dedicated and written with teachers in mind. Another bonus to the song? It was written by Kristine Cox, who happens to be my mom! In today’s episode, we’re uncovering the message behind the song and learning how to incorporate classroom music ideas with Kristine Cox.Kristine studied Vocal Performance at the University of Utah. She has been a vocal coach, music director and leading actress in many theater productions. Kristine is also an inspirational speaker and was recently featured at The Viridian Event Center for the motivational and musical event, “Change Your Story – Change Your Life.” She also loves writing music for brands and herself.This song, “Bridge the Gap”, was a very personal song because it was not only written by my mom, Kristine Cox, but she wrote it for teachers. I had multiple conversations with Kristine, she had access to emails, and comments from teachers and noticed a common theme: teachers were constantly giving their all, but also trying to fill or bridge the gaps of their students and with work and personal life.When discussing the song, our conversation revolves around what teachers need the most support in bridging the gap and how to take time for themselves. Kristine mentions the word hero and what that idea looks like in the many roles you play in life.Our conversation transitions to classroom music and how to incorporate it throughout your day. As we discuss, music in your classroom has many benefits for you, as well as your students. We provide a variety of examples of how classroom music can be utilized in your classroom or with your own kids if you homeschool.Everything we do at Wife Teacher Mommy is with you, the teachers in whatever form, in mind. You play so many roles in life that the song “Bridge the Gap” is a love song to all that you do. Having Kristine be involved was a bonus and so was having her on this episode. Her passion for music will inspire you to incorporate classroom music for the many ways you support students in your classroom.Resources Mentioned:Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club!Kristine Cox Music Freebie“Bridge the Gap” Music VideoWife Teacher Mommy YouTube ChannelFree Sub Planning Starter KitReady To Go Sub Plans Pre K – 6th Grade Mega BundleWife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List Connect with Kristine:Check out her websiteFind her on FacebookListen to her music on YouTubeHead to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/classroom-musicConnect with Kelsey:Join Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

When it comes to selecting reading materials for your class or kids, it can be overwhelming trying to find a selection that fits your needs. Or even worse, you select resources that are a lot of fluff and not what you were expecting them to be. So how do you make sure you’re choosing the right resources? That’s where I come in! In today’s episode, I’m sharing the 8 step test to choose high-quality reading materials. If you look at your class of students, or your own kids if you’re homeschooling, you know that there’s a variety of academic levels, backgrounds, and literacy skills. That makes it hard in selecting the right reading materials. This 8 step test helps you evaluate the materials you’re choosing for your classroom to ensure they’re high-quality reading materials. The 8 step test is: Leveling and differentiation Quality of writing and content Appropriate for students Response space and types of responses Variety of topics Types of writing Diversity and representation Fluency tracking Each of these steps allows you to meet the needs of all your students, while also being enjoyable, a way for them to grow their knowledge on various topics, understand other cultures and backgrounds, and track their reading growth. Finding high-quality reading materials can feel like an impossible task, but with this 8 step test, you’ll find exactly what you were looking for! Resources Mentioned: Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Differentiated Reading Comprehension and Fluency Google + Printable Mega Bundle Monthly Differentiated Reading Comprehension Passages Growing Bundle Monthly Reading Passages Freebie Data Tracking - Reading Fluency and Accuracy Free Sub Planning Starter Kit Ready To Go Sub Plans Pre K - 6th Grade Mega Bundle Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List  Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/high-quality-reading-materialsConnect with Kelsey: Join Wife Teacher Mommy Club.  Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite. Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

When heading back to school, teachers think about a variety of things to get ready: content plans, gathering materials and resources, how to set up and decorate their classroom, all the procedures and routines they need to go over, behavior systems, and so much more. But do you know what’s missing from that list? Making plans for when you have a substitute! Even if you think that’s low on your to-do list, it’s something that should actually be moved towards the top of your list. In today’s episode, I’m talking about substitute teacher plans with guest Sarah Gates. Sarah has actually been a member of our community and part of our Wife Teacher Mommy Club for a long time now. She’s everything our membership entails - she’s a wife, mother of three young children, and a teacher for 12 years, ranging from grades 1st to 6th! She has used Wife Teacher Mommy’s resources, particularly our substitute resources, so she has a lot of information to offer! Let’s be real, making substitute teacher plans can be overwhelming, especially in the beginning. Throughout the episode, we discuss a variety of topics from what to include in your sub plans, why honesty is the best policy with your sub, how spiral review can be a positive for your students, and where to start for the new school year. Another bonus is that Wife Teacher Mommy is here to help you with all your substitute teacher plans! We’ve created so many useful resources and materials that will help make this process so much easier. No one ever wants to take a day off of work because it’s a lot of work to put everything together and make sure your classroom still runs smoothly without you being there. This episode will help ease your mind when it comes to making substitute teacher plans, and Sarah provides a great outlook on how to use our Wife Teacher Mommy resources in your favor! Resources Mentioned: Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Free Sub Planning Starter Kit Editable Sub Binder  Check out more sub resources Differentiated Reading Comprehension and Fluency Google + Printable Mega Bundle Monthly Differentiated Reading Comprehension Passages Growing Bundle Monthly Reading Passages Freebie Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List  Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/substitute-teacher-plansConnect with Kelsey: Join Wife Teacher Mommy Club.  Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite. Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Yay, I’ve got another bonus episode! The reason I’m recording this extra message for you today is that if you’ve been listening to and enjoying this podcast, there is so much more available to you! If you're willing to take the next step with me towards living your BEST teacher life, we would love to have you in the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Join us by July 6 for the extra bonuses- mini notebook for any membership, custom cut and engraved pencil holder (along with your tumbler) for annual members. I hope to see you in Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Feel free to DM @wifeteachermommy or email [email protected] with any questions you have! You can join the club here: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/sp/wife-teacher-mommy-club/Connect with Kelsey: Join Wife Teacher Mommy Club.  Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite. Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Welcome back to another episode! Don’t get me wrong, summer is a time for you to relax, rejuvenate, and take some time to do all the things you didn’t have time for during the school year. However, it can also be an opportunity for you to make your teacher life easier for the future. In today’s episode, I’m sharing 7 things teachers need to do before the new school year. One of the reasons now is the perfect time to change for the upcoming school year is because of the amount of time you can dedicate to these changes. Most of these suggestions need a plan and time to implement, but will create a lasting impact on both your personal and work life. These changes include: Sub plans Doing an audit Choosing a fresh classroom theme Making sure you have a support system Starting a new habit Creating “you” time Looking at your wins When thinking about how to make things easier for you, I like to think of it this way: do something today that will make your future self thankful. We know that returning back to the classroom can be overwhelming and stressful, but after implementing these 7 things, you’ll not only feel refreshed to take on a new school year, but will help put your in a more positive and grateful mindset. Resources Mentioned: Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Free Sub Planning Starter Kit Editable Sub Binder  Adventure Classroom Decor Pack Amusement Park Classroom Decor Pack Boho Rainbow Classroom Decor Pack Bright Colors Classroom Decor Pack Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List  Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/new-school-yearConnect with Kelsey: Join Wife Teacher Mommy Club.  Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite. Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Educate & Rejuvenate is going to be THE educational event of the year and it starts TOMORROW, June 28th, 2022! In this bonus episode, I'm giving you the inside scoop about this event + a day of early access to something very exciting! Grab your general admission ticket to Educate & Rejuvenate (June 27, 2022 is the last day to purchase a $5 ticket!). Grab your Platinum Pass to Educate & Rejuvenate. Join us in Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Connect with Kelsey: Join 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 teacher friends! If you’re anything like me, being organized isn’t one of my strong suits, but it’s something that I value, especially in the classroom. But I usually get overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin or what to do. So on today’s episode, I have guest Kristen Donegan who will be sharing some easy classroom organization and systems that you can implement in your classroom in the fall. Kristen Donegan has been an elementary school teacher and Reading Specialist since 2005. She founded Easy Teaching Tools that has helped over a thousand busy teachers implement classroom hacks to save time, implement research-based practices to meet the needs of their students, and focus on work-life balance. What’s funny is, as teachers, organization seems to be the last thing on our minds or our to-do list, but it’s really an essential aspect to running a smooth classroom. Most people think of organization as keeping things together or putting items in a bin, but it’s so much more than that. Organization can also be systems and routines that help provide a purpose for that particular task. Everyone wants to achieve the perfect work-life balance, and having the right classroom organization will help you with achieving that goal. It doesn’t matter if you’re a novice or veteran teacher, there’s a classroom organization tip that will resonate with you. Kirsten helps easily identify areas of improvement for more efficiency in your classroom. Throughout the episode, Kristen gives a variety of easy classroom organization tips, tricks, and hacks that will ultimately make your classroom run smoothly and your life simpler! Next week 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 and tickets are only $5! Resources Mentioned: Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Event Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List  Connect with Kristen: Check out her website Connect with her on Instagram Find her on Facebook Listen to her on Real Teacher Talk Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/classroom-organizationConnect with Kelsey: Join 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 summer officially in full swing, I’ve planned a few family vacations, and one of those includes a road trip! I loved going on road trips when I was younger, but everyone hates the dreaded, Are we there yet? question. In order to avoid that question throughout your road trip, I’ve found a solution to keep your kids engaged! In today’s episode, I’m going to be sharing some fun road trip learning activities, while also giving you a sneak peek into one of my sessions at Educate & Rejuvenate. Resources Mentioned: Lower and Upper Grades Road Trip Vacation Resources Lower and Upper Grades Vacation Resources Growing Bundle  Pokemon Mad Libs The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Event Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List  Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/road-trip-learning-activitiesConnect with Kelsey: Join Wife Teacher Mommy Club.  Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite. Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Recently, we’ve been talking all about how to get ready for the next school year. If we want next school year to look different, we need to take some time to plan ahead for our next school year, in addition to making time to rejuvenate, which is what this episode is all about. On today’s episode, I have guests Heidi and Emily who will be sharing how to effectively design your dream summer. Resources Mentioned: Design Your Summer Challenge Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Event Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List  Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/dream-summerConnect with Kelsey: Join 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 past school year has been really difficult. That’s a phrase that I’ve heard over and over from so many teachers. And it’s no wonder based on all of the various obstacles, tasks, and expectations that teachers deal with on a daily basis. On today’s episode, I have guest Bri Richardson from Honest Teacher Vibes to discuss the realities of teaching and the importance of listening to your physical and mental health. Resources Mentioned: Check out Bri’s Tik Tok Honest Teacher Vibes Follow Bri on Instagram @honestteachervibes Subscribe to Bri’s YouTube channel Teachers Off Duty Podcast Misspelling Tik Tok Video Bored Teachers Comedy Tour Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Event Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List  Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/honest-teacher-vibesConnect with Kelsey: Join Wife Teacher Mommy Club.  Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite. Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

When we’re struggling as a teacher, we often feel like we’re the only one with that particular problem or situation. But in reality, that’s not the case at all. Here in my Wife Teacher Mommy Club, there’s a category called "Ask a Coach", in which any member can post a question and we have someone who will answer your individual question! So on today’s episode, I’m sharing some of the biggest teacher questions and answers from the club! Resources Mentioned: Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Event Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List  Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/ask-a-coachConnect with Kelsey: Join Wife Teacher Mommy Club.  Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite. Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

After the last couple of years, teaching and being in the classroom or school setting has been extremely difficult. Teachers are overwhelmed, exhausted, and quite frankly, burned out. But what can you do about it? On today’s episode, I have guest Amber Harper and we’re having an honest conversation about how to recognize teacher burnout and strategies you can use to move forward. Resources Mentioned: Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Event Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List  Check out Amber’s book: Hacking Teacher Burnout Take the Burnout Quiz Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/teacher-burnoutConnect with Kelsey: Join Wife Teacher Mommy Club.  Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite. Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

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 summer review strategies that will keep kids learning and engaged through reading, language arts, and math. Resources Mentioned: Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Event Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List  Summer Review Bundle: Pre-K - 5th Grade Summer Learning Freebie for Pre-K -5th Grade Summer Reading Challenge Reading Challenge Bookmarks FREEBIE Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/summer-review-strategiesConnect with Kelsey: Join Wife Teacher Mommy Club.  Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite. Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

You’ve almost done it - made it to the end of the year! You’ve taught so many new concepts, your students have accomplished and learned new skills, you’ve gone on field trips, you’ve had celebrations, and now you’re exhausted and feel like you can’t cross the finish line to summer. I have one of my favorite guests on today, Chrissy Nichols, to talk about end of year fatigue and what to do about it. Resources Mentioned: Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Free Coaching Call for Teacher Appreciation Week May 10 Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Event Wife Teacher Mommy: Mentioned on Podcast Amazon List  End of Year Activities and Awards, Secret Student Writing End of the Year Awards Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/end-of-year-fatigueConnect with Kelsey: Join 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 Teacher Appreciation Week coming up, I started thinking about the impact that teachers have on their students’ lives. How one small or big thing you do in your classroom can help shape their future, career path, or their attitude towards something. It reminds me of the quote from the musical Hamilton - What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see. I love that quote because it perfectly defines the role of the teacher and the difference they make in their students. So today’s episode is all about the legacy of a teacher. The funny thing about a legacy is that in the moment, you don’t know the impact you’re having until it’s months or even years later. The day to day grind of teaching is exhausting. From lesson planning, gathering materials, finding resources, grading, dealing with behaviors, communication with parents, differentiating assignments, and so much more, it’s hard to see the positive changes you’re making. Resources Mentioned: Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Free Coaching Call for Teacher Appreciation Week May 10 Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Event Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/legacy-of-a-teacherConnect with Kelsey: Join 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 think today’s topic will resonate with you all. It’s a topic that hits close to home for me regarding my son, which is all about reluctant writers. I’m so excited because we have the literacy guru on today’s show: Megan Polk, who is also a presenter at our summer virtual conference, Educate & Rejuvenate! Both Megan and I have a great conversation regarding reluctant writers and how to boost their engagement, interest, and motivation when it comes to writing. One of the things Megan specializes in is bridging the educational gap of content through grade levels. We’ve talked on previous podcasts before about the learning gaps due to COVID, and writing is no exception. Not only are students reluctant to write, but adding in their gaps, makes it seem impossible for our students. The majority of our conversation was surrounded by building a student’s confidence and celebrating the small victories in their writing that will eventually lead to big victories. Other solutions include modeling how to write, providing scaffolds, establishing routine one-on-one writing conferences, focusing on one writing skill at a time, and sharing their writing with peers or younger grade-level classes. Resources Mentioned: Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Event Megan Polk’s Monthly Writing Prompts Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/reluctant-writersConnect with Kelsey: Join Wife Teacher Mommy Club.  Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite. Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Today is a special episode for me. We have a guest on today’s podcast, but it’s not just any guest, it’s Tori La Rue, who happens to be my sister! In today’s episode, we’re talking about crucial reading comprehension skills and how you can differentiate them. Throughout the episode, we discussed a lot of different strategies to help students improve their reading comprehension, but the one way we find the most important is activating background knowledge. While this is a set that some teachers might skip due to time restraints, but think about it. You can’t learn anything without previously connecting it with something you’ve already learned. That’s background knowledge! Other skills that work on reading comprehension are finding the main idea, figuring out the meaning of words through context clues, and drawing conclusions and comparisons from the text. Based on our conversation, we realized that this skill is not only used in the classroom, but are life skills that can grow and develop. Resources Mentioned: Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Event Monthly Reading Passages FREEBIE Monthly Differentiated Reading Comprehension Passages Growing Bundle  Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/reading-comprehensionConnect with Kelsey: Join Wife Teacher Mommy Club.  Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite. Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Welcome back and happy Friday! Fridays always make me happy, and another thing that makes me happy is talking about everything sub plans. This is something I’m very well known for here at Wife Teacher Mommy, and it’s something I’m passionate about. That's why in today’s episode, we’re talking about how to write sub plans that actually keep subs coming back to your classroom! One of the biggest stressors as a teacher is creating sub plans, but an even bigger stressor for a sub coming into your classroom is not having sufficient or easy-to-find sub plans and other important information. Throughout this episode, I unpack all the ways to easily write sub plans and have materials ready for any time you need to be away from your classroom. Resources Mentioned: Grab your FREE Sub Planning Starter Kit Educate & Rejuvenate Summer Event Sub Planning Made Simple Ready to Go Sub Plans Pre-K - 6th Grade Bundle Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/how-to-write-sub-plansConnect with Kelsey: Join Wife Teacher Mommy Club.  Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite. Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Thank you for joining me for another episode! This week’s topic may not be everyone’s favorite, or it may seem too daunting of a task for you to think about doing with your students, but it’s an important unit to cover. Today I’m talking about research skills for elementary students. It’s towards the end of the school year and you’ve worked all year on your students’ reading, writing, and math skills, but may have put science and social studies on the backburner. Well that changes today! I have created a five step research unit that will not only have your students learning, but be engaged in what they’re learning! My five step research skills for elementary students includes: modeling research skills, a research journal, written report, a hands-on project, and showing off their work. Resources Mentioned: Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! Research Freebie Free Training: The 5 Step Research Unit Process Science and Social Studies Research Unit Google Bundle Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/research-skills-for-elementary-students/Connect with Kelsey: Join 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 week’s topic on social-emotional learning is so important because I truly believe it’s a vital part of a child’s development. In this episode, I’ll be discussing the 5 pillars of social-emotional learning and how you can teach them to your students or at home with your own children. To celebrate the launch of Wife Teacher Mommy: The Podcast, we're doing an amazing giveaway that we have never done before! We are giving away an entire year of Wife Teacher Mommy Club and a stainless steel tumbler to one of our listeners! Here’s how to enter: Write a review on Apple podcasts. Screenshot your review before submitting. Send us your screenshot at [email protected] or DM us on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. If you don't use Apple podcasts, you can just send us a message with your review. Giveaway closes April 1, 2022. Resources mentioned Join the Wife Teacher Mommy Club! 36 Weeks of Social Emotional Learning Kiersten Kaboodle website Head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/5-pillars-of-social-emotional-learningConnect with Kelsey: Join 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 very excited about today’s episode because it’s a topic I strongly believe in: ways to give you your time back. One of those ways is to stop grading on the weekends. As teachers, we are more than committed to our job, but that can sometimes lead to losing ourselves during the school year. To help shift your mindset and thinking, I asked Chrissy Nichols to join the podcast to help you re-evaluate your work/life balance. 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. To celebrate the launch of Wife Teacher Mommy: The Podcast, we're doing an amazing giveaway that we have never done before! We are giving away an entire year of Wife Teacher Mommy Club and a stainless steel tumbler to one of our listeners! Here’s how to enter: Write a review on Apple podcasts. Screenshot your review before submitting. Send us your screenshot at [email protected] or DM us on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. If you don't use Apple podcasts, you can just send us a message with your review. Giveaway closes April 1, 2022. For all the resources mentioned in this episode head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/stop-grading-on-the-weekendsConnect with Kelsey: Join 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, 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 sub plans than actually be at school, I need to prioritize my job over my health, and so much more. In our current world and situation, teachers are feeling guilty about not being at school now more than ever, especially with the rise of sub shortages. However, I’m here to tell you NOT to feel guilty! Just like we can’t control how many students we have in our classroom, the resources provided by our district, or the schedule of our day, we also can’t control the lack of substitutes in our buildings. Unfortunately, these are the cards we’ve been dealt with as a school system. Meaning, this guilt does not fall on YOU! Taking a day off to attend to your health, the health of a loved one, or whatever your reason is, does not mean you’re not a good teacher or doing your job. In fact you’re doing the exact opposite. In today’s episode, I further outline reasons why you shouldn’t feel guilty about sub shortages and how not taking days can lead to teacher burnout. Remember, you are more than just your job, so begin by prioritizing yourself! To celebrate the launch of Wife Teacher Mommy: The Podcast, we're doing an amazing giveaway that we have never done before! We are giving away an entire year of Wife Teacher Mommy Club and a stainless steel tumbler to one of our listeners! Here’s how to enter: Write a review on Apple podcasts. Screenshot your review before submitting. Send us your screenshot at [email protected] or DM us on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. If you don't use Apple podcasts, you can just send us a message with your review. Giveaway closes April 1, 2022. For all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/guilty-about-sub-shortages Connect with Kelsey: Join Wife Teacher Mommy Club.  Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite. Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

We all wear so many hats on a day to day basis. Maybe you’re a wife, husband, teacher, mommy, daddy, grandparent, sibling, or friend. The list goes on and on and on. While all of these roles are special and rewarding in their own way, there’s no denying that it’s a lot to juggle! We spend so much time showing up for everyone in our life, that sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves. In fact, if you tracked everything you do each day as a teacher, parent, or homeschooler, you might be shocked at how long the list would be. Your time is worth so much, and it’s something that you can never get back once it’s gone. So, I want you to ask yourself, what do I want to do with my time? Today we’re looking at ways that you can simplify pieces of your life in order to maximize teaching time and personal time. There are so many practical things you can do to reduce the amount of time it takes to accomplish the tasks on your to-do list. After all, the goal is to work to live and not the other way around, right? To celebrate the launch of Wife Teacher Mommy: The Podcast, we're doing an amazing giveaway that we have never done before! We are giving away an entire year of Wife Teacher Mommy Club and a stainless steel tumbler to one of our listeners! Here’s how to enter: Write a review on Apple podcasts. Screenshot your review before submitting. Send us your screenshot at [email protected] or DM us on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. If you don't use Apple podcasts, you can just send us a message with your review. Giveaway closes April 1, 2022. Join Wife Teacher Mommy Club: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/club For all resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.wifeteachermommy.com/podcast/maximize-teaching-timeConnect with Kelsey: Join Wife Teacher Mommy Club.  Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy. Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite. Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.

Welcome to Wife Teacher Mommy: The Podcast! I'm Kelsey Sorenson, a former teacher and substitute turned homeschool mom. In this trailer, you will hear what you can expect from this weekly podcast. Be sure to hit the follow or subscribe button so that you never miss an episode. Thank you for being here! You can learn more at www.wifeteachermommy.com.Connect with Kelsey:Join Wife Teacher Mommy Club. Follow her on Instagram @wifeteachermommy.Join our Facebook group: Wife Teacher Mommies Unite.Follow on Pinterest for more helpful resources.