In this practical episode of New Teacher Talk, second-grade teacher Dr. Jacqueline J. Cleven from South Prairie Elementary shares her expert strategies for managing the hectic end of the school year. Discover the innovative A to Z Book Countdown that transforms traditional countdowns into meaningful literacy experiences, keeping students engaged right up to the final bell.

Download her Resource: A-Z Book Countdown Handout

Dr. Cleven tackles common end-of-year challenges including increased student energy levels, managing schedule disruptions, and completing administrative tasks without burning out. Learn about simple visual systems to communicate schedule changes, creating effective to-do lists for year-end responsibilities, and preparing smartly for next fall.

Get practical advice on classroom organization, proper library storage, and thoughtful ways to acknowledge support staff and students as the year concludes. Whether you're a first-year teacher or a veteran educator, these actionable strategies will help you finish the school year strong while preparing for a successful return.

Action Items:

#newteachers #endofschoolyear #studentengagement #newteachertalk #podcast

Join Dr. Anna and Dr. Beth as they tackle one of teaching's biggest challenges: maintaining student engagement when motivation begins to fade. Perfect for early career and aspiring educators, this episode offers practical strategies to reinvigorate your classroom during the dreaded "spring slump."

Learn how to implement quick engagement activities, hold effective one-on-one conversations with disengaged students, and utilize field trips (both traditional and creative alternatives) to spark curiosity and connection. From creating "motivation emergency kits" to conducting meaningful class meetings, our hosts share battle-tested approaches that balance high expectations with genuine student support.

Whether you're teaching in a rural area, the suburbs, or the city, you'll walk away with concrete tools to keep your students—and yourself—in the game all year long.

Field Trip Article:   https://www.edutopia.org/article/student-driven-field-trips-montessori

Field Trip Checklist:   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yPbVTJRCSAqPtZxnfBggk75FZnMOW4N2/view?usp=sharing

#TeacherLife #ClassroomManagement #StudentEngagement #TeacherTips #NewTeachers #TeacherMotivation #EducationPodcast #TeachersOfInstagram

In this episode, Dr. Anna and Dr. Beth engage the inspiring educators behind Lyons Township High School's BIPOC Educators Supporting Teaching (BEST) Affinity Group. In episode 127, we talked with the administrative team that created conditions for collaboration in their school community. Now we will hear how those intentions are brought to life. Dr. Jennifer Rowe, Mimi Yong, Teriauna Bland, and Michael Archbold share their personal experiences building a supportive community for educators of color. Listen as they discuss the importance of authentic spaces, professional development opportunities, and the powerful metaphor of "taking off armor" in affinity spaces. This episode offers valuable insights into creating sustainable support systems that benefit both educators and students alike.

#TeacherSupport #DiversityInEducation #AffinityGroups #EducatorRetention #BIPOC #EquityInEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment #TeacherCommunity #AuthenticLeadership #NewTeacherTalk

Join host Dr. Ken King, education professor at Aurora University, as he explores the fascinating world of student misconceptions and why they're so resistant to change. In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. King unpacks how higher knowledge interference and cognitive biases like confirmation bias create persistent learning obstacles for students. 

Discover how social media algorithms reinforce these biases by creating echo chambers, and why surface-level learning without conceptual understanding leaves misconceptions unchallenged. Dr. King provides practical, classroom-ready strategies including eliciting misconceptions, creating cognitive conflict, scaffolding new information, and developing metacognitive awareness to help your students build accurate mental models.

Whether you're a new teacher struggling with student misconceptions or a veteran educator looking to refine your approach, this episode offers evidence-based techniques to transform how your students think and learn.

#NewTeacherTalk #EducationMisconceptions #TeachingStrategies #CognitiveScience #EducatorResources #CriticalThinking #TeacherDevelopment #ClassroomStrategies #DeepLearning #ConceptualUnderstanding

In this illuminating episode of New Teacher Talk, Dr. Beth and Dr. Anna host the administrative team from Lyons Township High School as they share their groundbreaking approach to recruiting, supporting, and retaining diverse educators. Superintendent Dr. Brian Waterman reveals how their community-driven strategic planning process led to concrete diversity goals with measurable outcomes. HR Director Ed Piotrowski details their equity-focused hiring practices, while Dr. Jennifer Rowe explains the power of affinity groups like BEST and SEED in creating spaces where BIPOC educators can thrive professionally.

Learn how this Illinois district is reimagining traditional mentorship by empowering new teachers to choose mentors based on their specific needs rather than just curricular alignment. Whether you're an administrator looking to diversify your staff or an educator seeking inclusive environments, this episode offers practical strategies for creating educational spaces where all teachers can succeed.

LINKS

Illinois Affinity Group Network: https://www.isbe.net/Pages/LR-Affinity-Groups.aspx

Lyons Township High School: www.lths.net

Dr. Brian Waterman: [email protected]

Dr. Jennifer Rowe: [email protected]

Mr. Ed Piotrowski: [email protected]

#LyonsTownshipHighSchool #induction #mentoring #affinitygroups #voice #belonging #newteacher #earlycareereducators #newteachertalk

Feeling overwhelmed in your classroom? You're not alone! Join Dr. Anna and Dr. Beth on this essential episode of New Teacher Talk featuring Jolee Jones, an expert in organizational development who understands what you're going through.

Discover why teaching has become the #1 profession for burnout and learn practical strategies to protect your wellbeing. Jolee breaks down stress into four dimensions—spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical—and introduces the game-changing concept of "just-right stress" that can help you find your teaching flow.

This episode offers the "Three L's Framework" (Limit, Learn, Listen) with real-world applications you can implement tomorrow. Hear Jolee's personal burnout story and how she transformed her professional life using these very techniques.

Whether you're struggling to make it to Friday or simply want to build sustainable teaching practices, this conversation provides the support and strategies you need to thrive, not just survive, in education.

Books referenced during the podcast:

#TeacherWellness #TeacherLife #NewTeachers #StressManagement #TeacherBurnout #EducatorSupport #SelfCareForTeachers #TeacherTips

SPECIAL NOTE: This is the second of a two-part series to be offered during the month of March, as part of a partnership between AAEE and New Teacher Talk.  Be sure to get your copy of the 2025 Job Search Digital Handbook for Educators.

Join Dr. Beth and Dr. Anna as they dive into the critical world of teacher preparation with special guests Hannah Putman, Director of Research and and Ron Noble, Chief of Teacher Preparation, at the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ).  This illuminating conversation explores how quality clinical practice experiences directly impact teacher effectiveness and retention rates. 

Our guests unpack NCTQ's mission to ensure every child has effective teachers and share practical insights from successful programs like Chicago Public Schools' Teach Chicago initiative. Discover how strategic mentor matching and demographically similar student teaching placements can set new teachers up for success, plus learn about NCTQ's resources for evaluating over 700 teacher preparation programs.

Whether you're an aspiring teacher, education leader, or policy advocate, this episode offers valuable perspectives on strengthening the teacher pipeline through intentional clinical practice.

National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ): www.nctq.org

Hannah Putnam:  [email protected]

Ron Noble:  [email protected]

American Association for Employment in Education (AAEE):  www.aaee.org

#TeacherPrep #ClinicalPractice #NCTQ #AAEE #NewTeachers #EducationPolicy #MentorTeachers #TeacherRetention

SPECIAL NOTE: This is the first of a two-part series to be offered during the month of March, as part of a partnership between AAEE and New Teacher Talk.  Be sure to get your copy of the 2025 Job Search Digital Handbook for Educators.

In this timely episode, Dr. Anna and Dr. Beth tackle the notorious "March slump" that many educators experience. They provide practical strategies for navigating standardized testing season, managing work during spring break, handling job uncertainty, maintaining work-life balance, and keeping both teacher and student motivation high during this challenging month.

Our education experts share their proven "preparation without panic" approach to standardized testing, introduce the effective "bookend method" for spring break work management, and discuss "strategic imbalance" as a realistic approach to work-life integration during high-stress periods.

Action Items:

Listen now to transform your March from madness to manageable!

#NewTeacherTalk #TeacherLife #EducatorSupport #MarchMadness #TeacherBurnout #WorkLifeBalance #TeacherMotivation #StandardizedTesting #SpringBreak

In this enlightening episode of New Teacher Talk, Dr. Amy Howerton sits down with Abby Bartle, a second-year teacher who took the bold step of joining a curriculum committee just weeks into her first teaching position. Abby shares her transformation from curriculum novice to knowledgeable participant, offering valuable perspectives for other early-career educators.

Listen as they explore how curriculum development extends far beyond daily classroom activities, the power of backwards design, and why keeping student needs at the center of all curriculum decisions is essential. Abby reveals how her committee experience provided a broader understanding of educational frameworks and directly improved her classroom practice.

Whether you're a first-year teacher feeling overwhelmed by curriculum demands or a veteran educator looking for fresh perspectives, this conversation offers practical insights on how engaging with curriculum development can enhance your teaching journey.

#newteachers #earlycareerteachers #curriculum #curriculumcommittee #backwardsdesign #podcast

Join Dr. Anna and Dr. Beth as they dive into the transformative power of mentorship in education with special guests Shelby Green Owusu and James Scheffers. Shelby shares her fascinating journey from environmental studies to special education, highlighting how mentorship through programs like Golden Apple and Teach Plus shaped her teaching career. With 16 years of experience, district mentor James Scheffers offers valuable insights into supporting new educators. Together, they explore how strong mentorship relationships not only boost teacher retention but also foster professional growth. This episode delivers practical wisdom on maintaining work-life balance and the essential role of self-care in sustaining a fulfilling teaching career.

Golden Apple: https://www.goldenapple.org/

Teach Plus+: https://teachplus.org/

Shelby Green Owusu: [email protected]

James Scheffers: [email protected]

#TeacherMentorship #EdChat