Joyful in Primary Podcast

Teacher friend, your time is PRECIOUS. You can make a big impact in your classroom, but if you're trying to do all the things, you won't be able to focus on any one area with the attention it deserves.

If you feel like your to do list is getting the better of you, but you aren't sure how to take back control, I can help!

Today, let me explain exactly why it's so important to focus on the most important tasks we have and how to eliminate what isn't absolutely essential. Spoiler alert: this is how entrepreneurs get so much accomplished.

Are you ready?

Links in today's episode:
Blog post (with free Finish With Joy downloadable workbook)

Can you believe that we are actually in the end of the year season of this historical and absolutely crazy year? We did it, we're almost there almost to the finish line. That doesn't mean we are not still stressed and overwhelmed with all of the things that are on our plate. But what if we could finish with more joy, a brighter spirit and ensure that our upcoming year will have a fresh, well planned beginning? That is my hope for you.

I actually go through a process each year that gives me this hope, energy and sustainability to finish the year with joy. In this four part series, we're going to harness the positivity needed to finish this year out joyfully. If that sounds like a plan, you need to stick with me today. Are you ready?

Be sure to grab the downloadable workbook from the link below!

Links in today's episode:
Blog post (with downloadable Finish With Joy workbook)
Joyful Teacher Academy

I really believe that relationships in the workplace have a big impact on our joy. And definitely, definitely having great relationships with the people who care for our students at home can aid us in being more effective teachers. So today, we're going to talk all about how to make parents love you.

Having the support of parents is very important to me. I spend a lot of time working on it and reading about it. Having parents on our team gives us support for our students' educational goals, but it also is a way we can find much needed cheerleaders to help us sustain in this challenging career.

That's why I'm going to share three rules that will help you build positive relationships with parents and make them love you! Anyone can follow these tips. They do take patience and some thought, but they'll have you on your way to families who rally around you!

Links in today's episode:
Today's blog post
Cheerleaders blog post
Hard to Love Students blog post
Students' Pride in Their Work (and positive notes home download) blog post
Primary Teacher Friends Facebook Group

Sometimes, small things have big magic. Like my daughter's toy penguin. It's not fancy, and it doesn't even have pupils anymore! I'll tell you all about that too.

But for some reason, that tired penguin is magic to my daughter. Just like that penguin, word families may seem insignificant, but they hold magic for our little learners who are trying so hard to become readers.

In today's episode, I'll share four strategies that will help you harness the magic of word families. I'll also share a free Word Families poster set, and I'll tell you how to get one of the paid resources I designed for free.

Are you ready?

Links in today's episode:
Word Families Blog Post (with free Word Families posters!)
My Bag of Word Families
Writing CVC Words Blog Post

Teacher, do you feel like you are running out of steam as this year winds down? It's been one strange, difficult year.

In the few weeks that are left in this school year, we still have a chance to make a positive impact on our little learners. We can still instill in them the joy that learning can bring. That can last their entire lives and motivate them to continue to build their lives into bright futures.

So today, I'm going to share with you my end of the year prayer for us tired primary teachers.

We can finish this year with passion, focus, and joy. Let's remember what motivates us and remind ourselves how important this work is. 

Links mentioned in today's episode:
Today's blog post
The Joyful Teacher Academy information sign up

Teacher, do you notice students rushing through their work and not really taking pride in what they're doing? It's a trend I've noticed in my classroom, and we need to nip that in the bud!

The good news is, because primary students are so awesome, there are some simple ways we can manage this behavior. It is possible to help students take pride in their work and let their true abilities shine.

It all comes down to the fact that primary students love their teachers! I've got three simple strategies you can start using today to boost students' pride in their work. Are you ready?

Links in today's episode:
Today's Blog Post (Scroll to the bottom for a link to today's freebie!)
Joyful Teacher Academy
Classroom Cheers Blog Post
Classroom Games Blog Post

Ready to up your phonological awareness game?

Get ready to spread this secret sauce all over your teaching!

More and more people are recognizing the importance of phonological awareness. It's vital to our little learners achieving their literacy goals.

Maybe your experience with phonological awareness so far is like my initial experience with avocado. I thought it was a disgusting waste of 98 cents and couldn't believe humans actually consumed it!

Then my doctor asked if I put a little salt on it. In the mountains, we like to put salt on everything from tomatoes to watermelon, but it never crossed my mind to put it on avocado. Once I did, I found a love for avocado.

Without salt, avocado is kind of bland, mushy, and boring.

Maybe a little like phonological awareness instruction? Maybe all it needs is a little secret sauce.

I'm a complete phonological awareness geek, so I'm more than happy to share the secret ingredient that can turn your instruction around and demolish deficiencies in this skill.

Links in today's episode:
Phonological Awareness Training

Do you have primary students who are struggling to blend words? Maybe most of the class has mastered this skill. Your activities and instruction have gotten many students over this big finish line!

But what about the rest?

Some students are behind in this skill, and it is vital to literacy. If your high quality instruction, which was effective with most of the class, didn't work for everyone, the answer isn't to continue the same approach.

It's time for something different!

Today, I'm going to share some advice to assess if your students are ready to blend words. If you decide they are, but that skill just isn't coming along, I have three strategies that have worked for me during my ten years of teaching experience.

You can help those struggling students gain the word blending skill! Let me show you how.

Links in today's episode:

Blending blog post
Letter and Sound Fluency blog post
Writing CVC Words blog post
Primary Teacher Friends Facebook group

Teacher, are you ready for SPRING? The birds are singing, the sun is warmer, and it's a perfect time to do a little cleanup. Today I'm going to show you how to get that fun, fresh feeling your house has after a good tidy up and bring it to your classroom management game.

I've said it before, I'll say it now, and I'll say it again in the future: classroom management can make or break your joy as a teacher. I keep talking about it because it's so important. This is not an easy career to continue in, and our students need dedicated teachers like you to show up for them every day.

I'm going to share some of my best classroom management tricks and strategies so you can have that fresh, just cleaned up feeling in your primary classroom! Are you ready?

Links in today's episode:
Today's blog post
Video demonstration of three classroom management tricks
Happy Bag post
Sounds post
Virtual Rewards Bundle
Joyful Teacher Academy
Primary Teacher Friends Facebook Group

Teacher, have you debated whether teaching is still the right profession for you? Maybe you have another goal you're considering chasing and leaving teaching behind.

Today, I'm going to share three signs you should definitely quit teaching. If any of these apply to you, leave your highlighter collection behind and just run for the door!

But here's a warning. If you're looking for reasons to leave, you might accidentally find reasons to stay!

Links mentioned in today's episode:
Today's blog post
Joyful Teacher Academy
Primary Teacher Friends Facebook group