The Present Teacher Podcast

Setting up centers for the first time can be hard. Especially when you're not sure where to even start. Today, we'll be diving into my top strategies on how to set up centers so they practically run themselves.

Centers are a great way to meet the needs of individual students while simultaneously reviewing or cementing in concepts you are covering in class. In this week's content, we'll be covering how to plan centers so they run seamlessly. We'll also be talking about how to prep them in a short amount of time without the hustle. 

One of the most common misconceptions about centers is that in order to have great running centers, you have to be very hands-on. But the truth is, I don't do a lot when it comes to centers. My students do a majority of the work. And this week I'll be taking you behind the curtain on how I do exactly that. 

It might feel like you are the only teacher questioning if they are cut out for the profession. But the truth is, we've all been there. Even the teachers you look up to down the hall or online have all questioned their worth as a teacher. 

Which is why this week, we are talking about how common it is to question your worth as a teacher, my vulnerable experience with this mindset, and what helped me transition to the confident teacher I am today. 

At the end of the day, you aren't a bad teacher. You are doing an amazing job and you are exactly where you are meant to be. We'll be talking about the systems and steps I took to go from teacher burnout as a first year teacher, to a teacher coaching thousands of teachers around the world. Because if I can do it, so can you. 

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, but it can be really hard to navigate as a teacher. So how can you handle the chaotic holiday energy without completely using your mind? This week we are talking about some practical classroom management strategies you can implement to still enjoy this holiday without your class breaking into complete chaos.

It's no secret that disruptive behaviors rise around this time of year. Students are exposed to more sweets, less rest, and just pure excitement for what's to come. Which is why today we'll be talking about how to plan for the high every, still keep routines tight, how to utilize transitions wisely, and how to intentionally channel that magical energy to have an enjoyable week.

The truth is, Halloween doesn't have to be a scary time of year. In fact, it's one of my favorite times of year to bring one of my favorite holidays to life and still maintain a calm classroom with my students. 

As a new or first-year teacher, it's easy to do everything you can to avoid being the mean teacher in class. But sometimes the opposite can happen. Sometimes we can find ourselves being a little 'too' nice. To the point where our students see us more as a friend than a leader.

If this happens to you, don't worry, you're not alone. Today we will be diving into why this occurs more often than you think and the exact steps you can take to find your own unique balance to a leader and building strong relationships in the classroom.

The truth is you don't have to decide between nice teacher and mean teacher. It's all about finding your own unique balance between the two. Which is exactly what we are doing in this week's content. 

Around this time of year, it seems like disruptive behavior is on the rise, and the honeymoon period is over. So what can teachers do about it?

This week, we will be diving into why the honeymoon period ends with your students around this time, and some practical steps you can take to maintain a calm classroom. 

October doesn't have to be the hardest month for classroom behaviors. Today I'm pulling back the curtain and showing you exactly how I actually get my students to run the classroom without me by the end of October with minimal disruptions.