Engaging Early Learners

Together, they talk about what student teaching prepared her for, what she didn't expect, and the lessons she's learned along the way. It's an honest conversation filled with encouragement, perspective, and advice for both student teachers and the teachers who mentor them.

In this episode, Rachel and Jess discuss:

• What the transition from student teacher to classroom teacher was really like

• The things that prepared Jess well and what she learned through experience

• Advice for student teachers and cooperating teachers

Resources mentioned:

Student Teacher & Cooperating Teacher Advice: https://engagingearlylearners.com/student-teacher-and-cooperating-teacher-advice-tips/

Connect with Jess:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdWqCSTNmMR/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdZdaO3pKi7/

Supporting English Language Learners with Mackenzie

In this episode of the Summer Guest Series, Rachel is joined by Mackenzie, an elementary ESL teacher who shares a behind-the-scenes look at her role, classroom routines, and the strategies she uses to support multilingual learners. From building relationships to collaborating with classroom teachers, Mackenzie offers practical ideas that can be implemented right away.

In this episode, Rachel and Mackenzie discuss:

• Why Mackenzie became an ESL teacher and the routines and procedures that help her classroom run smoothly

• The importance of collaboration between ESL and classroom teachers, including the benefits of push-in support

• Favorite resources, tools, and strategies that help English language learners feel successful and supported throughout the school day

Whether you're an ESL teacher, classroom teacher, or school leader, this conversation is packed with practical ideas and encouragement for supporting multilingual learners.

Connect with Mackenzie:

Instagram: @earlyenglishexplorers

Teachers Pay Teachers: Early English Explorers

Resources Mentioned:

• WordReference

• DeepL Translator

• ESL Newcomer Nurse Visit Support Kit

The end of the school year is the perfect time to reflect on what this year taught us. In this episode, Rachel shares a candid look at her day-to-day experiences, the challenges and successes she encountered, and the lessons that brought her back to the core beliefs that guide her teaching.

She explores what she's choosing to carry forward into next year and what she's ready to leave behind.

In this episode, Rachel shares:

• The lessons from working with students with Emotional Regulation Impairment (ERI), including the power of being intentional, consistent, and responsive to individual student needs

• Why building relationships and trust is the foundation for supporting students and creating meaningful growth

• Reflection questions and practical takeaways to help you refine your practice, strengthen what worked, and move into the next school year with purpose

Whether you're wrapping up your first year or your twentieth, this episode will help you reflect with purpose and head into the next school year.

Regulation Check-In

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Instagram: @EngagingEarlyLearners

Facebook: Engaging Early Learners

Facebook Group: Engaging Early Learners Community

Website: EngagingEarlyLearners.com

Extended School Year doesn't have to feel overwhelming.

In this episode, Rachel shares her experience teaching ESY and breaks down what it looks like in practice. She explains who qualifies for ESY services, why some students need support over the summer, and what makes teaching ESY manageable for educators.

Rachel also walks through her daily schedule, how she uses weekly themes to keep students engaged, and the planning systems that help her stay organized throughout the summer.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What ESY is and how it works

• Why some students qualify for Extended School Year services

• Simple strategies for staying organized during ESY

If ESY is on your schedule this summer, this episode will give you a clearer picture of what to expect and how to make it work for both you and your students.

ESY bin for this summer:

ESY setup last summer:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

ESY Schedule last summer:

Cooking during ESY:

Lucky Little Learners All Access Membership

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Instagram: @EngagingEarlyLearners

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Facebook Group: Engaging Early Learners Community

Website: EngagingEarlyLearners.com

The end of the school year can feel chaotic. Between wrapping up the classroom, packing everything away, and trying to survive the final days, it’s easy to shove things into cabinets and hope for the best in August.

In this episode, Rachel shares practical steps for closing down your classroom with your future self in mind. From purging what you no longer need to creating systems that make back to school easier, these are realistic tips teachers can actually use.

If you want to avoid walking into classroom chaos after summer break, this episode is full of simple ways to reset your space now so future you will be thankful later.

Amazon Links

Packing Up At The End Of The Year: Part 1

Packing Up At The End Of The Year: Part 2

Packing Up At The End Of The Year: Part 3

Packing Up At The End Of The Year: Part 4

Packing Up At The End Of The Year: Part 5

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Instagram: @EngagingEarlyLearners

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Facebook Group: Engaging Early Learners Community

Website: EngagingEarlyLearners.com

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Email: [email protected]

The end of the school year often brings mixed emotions for teachers. You can love your students and still feel overwhelmed. You can love teaching and still need a break.

In this episode, Rachel shares an honest conversation about the emotional weight of this season and why the final weeks of the school year can feel especially challenging. From decision fatigue to overstimulation and exhaustion, many teachers are simply trying to make it to summer.

This episode is part encouragement, part survival guide, and a reminder that you are not alone in what you’re feeling. Rachel discusses the emotional complexity of this time of year, including how it’s possible to feel both sadness and excitement as summer approaches.

She also shares practical ways to make these last few weeks more manageable, including permission to stop striving for perfection. You do not have to earn exhaustion to prove you care.

If you’re counting down the days to summer while carrying the emotional weight of the school year, this episode will leave you feeling seen, supported, and a little more prepared to finish strong.

Get access to the Free Resource Library

Shop Engaging Early Learners on Teachers Pay Teachers

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Instagram: @EngagingEarlyLearners

Facebook: Engaging Early Learners

Facebook Group: Engaging Early Learners Community

Website: EngagingEarlyLearners.com

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Email: [email protected]

Teacher interviews and demo lessons can feel overwhelming, especially when the goal feels like sounding perfect. In this episode, Rachel breaks down what schools are actually looking for during the hiring process and how to show up in a way that feels confident, prepared, and real.

Schools are not just trying to see if you can teach. They are paying attention to how you handle stress, whether you are coachable, and how you fit into a team. That shift in perspective alone can completely change how you walk into an interview.

Rachel shares practical strategies to help you stand out, from how to prepare and practice ahead of time, to how to research the school so your answers feel intentional instead of generic. She also walks through how to approach common interview questions in a way that feels natural, not rehearsed.

This episode is packed with actionable tips and real examples from Rachel, including specific questions and how to answer them so you feel more confident going into both interviews and demo lessons.

Read the Blog: https://engagingearlylearners.com/teacher-interview-tips-and-example-questions/

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Shop Engaging Early Learners on Teachers Pay Teachers

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Instagram: @EngagingEarlyLearners

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Facebook Group: Engaging Early Learners Community

Website: EngagingEarlyLearners.com

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Email: [email protected]

Rachel shares her teaching journey from her first year in the classroom to where she is now, and how her experience has evolved over time.

She starts with the early years of teaching, reflecting on long days, building classroom resources, and learning what the day-to-day reality of the profession actually looked like. Through her transition into co-teaching, her decision to leave a district she worked in for years, and what it was like stepping into a new district with a different structure and approach.

She also shares the questions she was asked along the way and what it felt like to navigate those decisions while still working within education.

This episode shifts from Rachel’s teaching timeline into a more personal reflection on who she is as an educator, what has shaped her approach in the classroom, and the experiences that continue to inform her work. She also shares insights that may be meaningful for other teachers navigating their own journeys.

Get access to the Free Resource Library

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Find me on my social media platforms:

Instagram: @EngagingEarlyLearners

Facebook: Engaging Early Learners

Facebook Group: Engaging Early Learners Community

Website: EngagingEarlyLearners.com

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Email: [email protected]

If you feel like you can’t sit down without getting interrupted, this episode will feel very familiar.

In today's episode Rachel talks about what it really takes to build student independence and why so many students rely on us for everything. It’s not their fault. They just haven’t been given the tools yet.

She shares how to shift from doing everything for your students to helping them take ownership, and why independence has to be taught, modeled, and practiced with a lot of patience.

You’ll walk away with simple, realistic strategies you can start using right away, like “ask three before me,” encouraging students to try first, and using visuals to support routines throughout the day, even during those in-between moments like snack time.

And if things feel a little out of control right now, Rachel reminds you it’s never too late to reset. A few consistent systems can completely change how your classroom runs.

Get access to the Free Resource Library

Shop Engaging Early Learners on Teachers Pay Teachers

Find me on my social media platforms:

Instagram: @EngagingEarlyLearners

Facebook: Engaging Early Learners

Facebook Group: Engaging Early Learners Community

Website: EngagingEarlyLearners.com

Pinterest: Engaging Early Learners

Email: [email protected]

If you feel like you can’t sit down without getting interrupted, this episode will feel very familiar.

In today's episode Rachel talks about what it really takes to build student independence and why so many students rely on us for everything. It’s not their fault. They just haven’t been given the tools yet.

She shares how to shift from doing everything for your students to helping them take ownership, and why independence has to be taught, modeled, and practiced with a lot of patience.

You’ll walk away with simple, realistic strategies you can start using right away, like “ask three before me,” encouraging students to try first, and using visuals to support routines throughout the day, even during those in-between moments like snack time.

And if things feel a little out of control right now, Rachel reminds you it’s never too late to reset. A few consistent systems can completely change how your classroom runs.

Get access to the Free Resource Library

Shop Engaging Early Learners on Teachers Pay Teachers

Find me on my social media platforms:

Instagram: @EngagingEarlyLearners

Facebook: Engaging Early Learners

Facebook Group: Engaging Early Learners Community

Website: EngagingEarlyLearners.com

Pinterest: Engaging Early Learners

Email: [email protected]