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The school year restarts, the weather turns wild, and our schedules fill faster than a radar screen during a storm. We’re leaning into a smarter way to teach: integrating reading and science through a focused study on severe weather so every minute pulls double duty. From thunderstorms to hurricanes, we use clear, kid-friendly texts to teach main idea, text features, vocabulary in context, and questioning—while giving students concrete safety steps that lessen anxiety and build confidence.

We walk through how to structure a short severe weather reader so it aligns with standards and still feels human. That means building sections on watches vs warnings, lightning safety, tornado tips, and flood awareness, then layering close reads and partner talk for evidence gathering. Along the way, we open space for feelings: drills can be scary, and kids need words for fear, routines for safety, and practice showing empathy to communities facing storms different from their own. We also tackle author’s purpose and bias, using real passages to show how word choice and structure shape understanding and influence.

If your region sees snow and ice, we turn that gap into inquiry with a simple research blueprint students can follow—definition, formation, risks, safety—so they practice nonfiction skills while expanding the class weather map. And because flu season and admin pop-ins are real, we share how to build reliable sub plans that keep learning moving: a tight reading sequence, a text-feature hunt, scaffolded questions, and a quick-write on safety tips. It’s all about intentional routines that reduce stress and make room for the conversations that matter.

Want the materials we mention? We’re linking the Severe Weather Reader, plus ready-to-use January and February sub plans that blend literacy and science. If this approach helps you breathe easier on stormy days, follow the show, share it with a teammate, and leave a quick review so more teachers can find calm in the chaos.

Links Mentioned in the Show:

Severe Weather Reader

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🌿 You can’t pour from an empty cup — but with the Sub Survival System, you’ll never have to panic when you need a day.
Ready-to-go sub plans designed by a teacher who’s been there.
Because rest isn’t a luxury — it’s part of the job.

👉 [Explore the Sub Survival System on TpT]

Subscribe and Review:

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. Click here for iTunes.

Now, if you’re feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review. Reviews help other teachers find my podcast. Click here to leave a review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

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The first days back after break don’t need to feel like a sprint through fog. We map out a gentle re-entry that keeps your class connected, your planning sane, and your energy intact. Instead of diving headfirst into new content, we focus on three anchors that make the day feel calm and productive: a purposeful morning meeting, a cozy read-aloud that sets tone and focus, and a respectful reset of routines and procedures.

We start by rebuilding community with short shares and simple goal setting that invite students back into voice without draining attention. A few playful “would you rather” prompts create laughter and momentum, while a shared text becomes the day’s steady heartbeat. We talk through choosing a story that highlights perseverance, empathy, or problem solving, then show how to draw out quick comprehension without turning it into a heavy lesson. When students return sleepy and dysregulated, narrative focus and light structure are your best friends.

From there, we walk through a practical routine review: modeling what lining up looks like, clarifying how to ask for help, smoothing transitions, and patching the small systems that frayed in December. We explain why review before new content is not a delay but a performance boost, and how avoiding overplanning protects both you and your students. By the end, you’ll have a simple three-step plan you can run tomorrow: morning meeting, meaningful read-aloud, and routine reset, with optional spiral review if time allows.

If this gentle start resonates, share it with a colleague who needs permission to slow the pace, then subscribe and leave a quick review so more teachers can find the show. Your work matters—and a calm January begins with a single steady day.

Links Mentioned in the Show:

Would You Rather

January Sub Plans

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🌿 You can’t pour from an empty cup — but with the Sub Survival System, you’ll never have to panic when you need a day.
Ready-to-go sub plans designed by a teacher who’s been there.
Because rest isn’t a luxury — it’s part of the job.

👉 [Explore the Sub Survival System on TpT]

Subscribe and Review:

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. Click here for iTunes.

Now, if you’re feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review. Reviews help other teachers find my podcast. Click here to leave a review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

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The holidays are done, the calendar is rolling toward a new year, and your energy tank is somewhere between low and blinking. Let’s make winter break feel like it actually refills you. We pull back the curtain on what a real teacher reset looks like when you set aside perfect plans and choose small, human rituals that restore your mind, body, and heart.

We start with the quiet stuff that matters: not setting an alarm, finishing the book that’s been waiting on your nightstand, stepping outside for a slow walk without turning it into a task. From there, we offer five simple reflection prompts—what worked, what felt heavy, what made you smile, what you want more of, and what lights you up—plus an easy way to use voice memos if writing feels like one task too many. This is reflection for you, not your students, not your admin, and not social media.

Then we take the pressure off January. If prepping a welcome-back routine feels soothing, do it. If not, log off and rest. You’ll hear why presence beats perfection, how a light-touch back-from-break packet can ease re-entry without the Sunday Scaries, and why choosing grace over goals is the most strategic move you can make for your classroom and your own nervous system. Expect practical tips, warm encouragement, and permission to reset without guilt so you return with a clearer mind and a steadier heart.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a teacher who needs a gentle nudge, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more tired teachers find a softer, saner way back to school.

Links Mentioned in the Show:

Welcome Back From Winter Break Packet

Free Sub Survival Guide

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🌿 You can’t pour from an empty cup — but with the Sub Survival System, you’ll never have to panic when you need a day.
Ready-to-go sub plans designed by a teacher who’s been there.
Because rest isn’t a luxury — it’s part of the job.

👉 [Explore the Sub Survival System on TpT]

Subscribe and Review:

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. Click here for iTunes.

Now, if you’re feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review. Reviews help other teachers find my podcast. Click here to leave a review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

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If January has ever felt like educational whiplash, this conversation is your warm landing pad. We walk through a practical plan to protect your peace after winter break, built on a few high-impact moves you can set up before you unplug: print-ready sub plans, a back-from-break packet that rebuilds community, and plug-and-play units that spark engagement without draining your energy.

We start by naming why the return feels so jarring—students arrive in holiday mode while new standards wait on the board—and then map out a calm reentry. You’ll hear how five-day sub plans focused on review can save you from sickness, delays, and surprise meetings. We share what to include in a sub binder, how to structure time-stamped blocks, and why “familiar, not new” content keeps classes on track. From there, we unpack a $3 back-from-break kit full of reflection prompts, “find someone who” social mixers, gratitude pages, and a quick snow globe craft that nudges kids back into routines while giving you space to breathe.

For content, we line up two easy wins: force and motion or severe weather for science, and fairy tales, folktales, and fables for ELA. These choices pair naturally with reading comprehension, anchor charts, and short texts that build stamina and invite rich talk about theme, structure, and evidence. Copy what you need now, label a few folders, and walk into January with a plan you can run on low battery—because calm, consistent structure beats last-minute hustle every time.

Want the resources we mention? Grab a free day of sub plans, a Sub Survival Kit, and January-aligned plan packs you can print today. If this helped you feel lighter about the return, follow the show, share it with a teacher friend, and leave a quick review so more tired teachers can find their soft start, too.

Links Mentioned in the Show: 

January Sub Plans

Monthly Sub Plans

Free Sub Pla

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🌿 You can’t pour from an empty cup — but with the Sub Survival System, you’ll never have to panic when you need a day.
Ready-to-go sub plans designed by a teacher who’s been there.
Because rest isn’t a luxury — it’s part of the job.

👉 [Explore the Sub Survival System on TpT]

Subscribe and Review:

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. Click here for iTunes.

Now, if you’re feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review. Reviews help other teachers find my podcast. Click here to leave a review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

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December doesn’t have to be a stress test. We unpack five blissful, low-prep strategies that keep kids learning and let you breathe, so you can walk into winter break proud, present, and not wiped out. We start with Elf Diaries, a creative writing approach that turns classroom elf hype into voice, perspective, and narrative skills without the daily setup grind. From there, we pivot to Holiday Would You Rather—fast, funny prompts that spark movement, debate, and opinion writing, with easy extensions like quick writes and class graphs that take minutes to run and deliver big engagement.

When the energy spikes, we lean into Christmas STEM story stations that transform chaos into purposeful collaboration. Pair a seasonal read-aloud with design challenges—free Santa from a chimney, build a sleigh that moves without reindeer—and watch force, motion, iteration, and teamwork click with cardboard, tape, and recyclables. For the days when your bandwidth is gone, we talk sub plans as self-care: printable, standards-based packets that cover you for a mental health day, a longer staff-lunch window, or a simplified week that still moves learning forward.

The heart of the conversation is permission to pause. You’re allowed to do less. Say no to extras that drain you, lean on backup plans, and trust that rest is a teaching strategy—one that helps you show up better for your students. As a bonus, we share why Readers Theater is December’s sweet spot: group rehearsals that build fluency and expression while giving you time to finish report cards, prep January, or finally clear that closet shelf. You’ll leave with practical, joyful ideas and the confidence to protect your energy when it matters most.

If this helped you feel lighter, subscribe, share with a teacher friend, and leave a quick review. Tell us: which idea will you try first?

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

Elf Diaries 

Christmas Would You Rather

Support the show

🌿 You can’t pour from an empty cup — but with the Sub Survival System, you’ll never have to panic when you need a day.
Ready-to-go sub plans designed by a teacher who’s been there.
Because rest isn’t a luxury — it’s part of the job.

👉 [Explore the Sub Survival System on TpT]

Subscribe and Review:

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. Click here for iTunes.

Now, if you’re feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review. Reviews help other teachers find my podcast. Click here to leave a review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

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December doesn’t have to be glitter storms and lost learning. We share a practical, story-driven way to turn holiday energy into real science with a Christmas-themed matter unit that keeps kids focused, curious, and proud of their work. Think stockings and balloons for inferring solids, liquids, and gases. Think hot cocoa tests that make temperature, dissolving, and fair experiment design click. The result is joyful rigor: standards met, mess managed, and students begging for “one more test.”

We start with the real problem—tired teachers, sugar-fueled classes, and lessons that feel cute but shallow. Then we map a simple structure that works: characters who pose questions, low to mid prep stations, clear roles, and data sheets that guide talk and writing. Randy Reindeer anchors states of matter with hidden items in balloons. Santa explores solubility and rate of change using cocoa and controlled temperatures. A snowman station tackles floating and sinking with familiar treats, gently introducing density concepts. An elf narrator nudges property observations—texture, size, weight, volume, and temperature—so students use accurate vocabulary while they explore.

To knit it together, we fold in short nonfiction reading and claim-evidence-reasoning writing, so science time stretches into ELA without breaking your schedule. Behavior improves because each station has a purpose, a reveal, and a shared goal; setup stays sane thanks to reusable stockings, simple supplies, and a ready-to-send family letter. You can run it all in a day or spread it across a week, and the format adapts to other units like force and motion with “sleigh tests,” keeping the seasonal spark while protecting content.

Want to try it without the heavy lift? Grab the free Randy Reindeer experiment at TrinaDeboriTeachingandLearning.com/ChristmasMatter, then decide if you want the full unit with anchor charts, prompts, and more labs in our TPT shop. If this approach helps, subscribe, share the episode with a teammate who needs a December win, and leave a quick review so more teachers can find it.

Links Mentioned in the Show:

Free Randy Reindeer Explores Matter FREEBIE

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🌿 You can’t pour from an empty cup — but with the Sub Survival System, you’ll never have to panic when you need a day.
Ready-to-go sub plans designed by a teacher who’s been there.
Because rest isn’t a luxury — it’s part of the job.

👉 [Explore the Sub Survival System on TpT]

Subscribe and Review:

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. Click here for iTunes.

Now, if you’re feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review. Reviews help other teachers find my podcast. Click here to leave a review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

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December doesn’t have to be survival mode. We’re sharing ten Christmas read‑alouds that bring the room to a cozy hush while still nailing essential skills like character analysis, sequencing, vocabulary, point of view, and fluency. Each pick comes with a clear teaching angle and simple prompts you can use tomorrow, so you can steer into the season’s energy without losing rigor.

We break down why holiday books work so well during the chaotic weeks before break and pair every title with high‑impact strategies. Turkey Claus becomes a mini‑lesson on perseverance and how illustrations build meaning. Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus opens rich conversations about perspective, story structure, and author’s purpose, complete with a free five‑day close reading unit. Hurry, Santa! and Santa Is Stuck are tailor‑made for sequencing and problem–solution, and they double as quick STEM challenges—design a morning routine, prototype a rescue device, then write the steps.

We also lean into inclusion and visual literacy with Are You Grumpy, Santa?, where unexpected illustrations spark empathy and careful noticing. Christmas Trolls by Jan Brett invites close reading of borders and background details, while Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh supports character comparison across a beloved series. The Polar Express serves as a mentor text for theme and vocabulary with a film comparison to analyze medium and tone. Finally, The Night Before Christmas turns into a fluency workshop and a gentle lesson on multiple‑meaning words.

If your December feels like glitter in a wind tunnel, let these stories do the heavy lifting. Grab the free Yes, Virginia unit from the show notes, explore our STEM Story Stations for easy extensions, and subscribe to get more cozy, standards‑aligned ideas each week. Share your favorite holiday read‑aloud with us and leave a review to help other teachers find the show.

Links Mentioned in the Show: 

Yes, Virginia There is a Santa Claus Companion Unit Freebie

10 Christmas Read-Aloud STEM St

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🌿 You can’t pour from an empty cup — but with the Sub Survival System, you’ll never have to panic when you need a day.
Ready-to-go sub plans designed by a teacher who’s been there.
Because rest isn’t a luxury — it’s part of the job.

👉 [Explore the Sub Survival System on TpT]

Subscribe and Review:

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. Click here for iTunes.

Now, if you’re feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review. Reviews help other teachers find my podcast. Click here to leave a review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

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The week before Thanksgiving can feel like a carnival on wheels—school-wide feasts, cupcake drop-offs, half the class rehearsing for a turkey play, and attention spans migrating toward grandma’s pie. We lean into that reality with a grounded plan that keeps learning meaningful without draining your last nerve. Instead of cramming a full unit or launching new systems, we focus on survival with purpose: low-prep, high-engagement activities that create calm structure, protect your energy, and still spark joy.

We start with one anchor text—think Molly’s Pilgrim or any gratitude-themed read—and build simple, reflective responses that reinforce comprehension and connection. Then we channel restless energy into hands-on STEM story stations using easy materials like cardboard, tape, and craft sticks. From designing parade floats after Balloons Over Broadway to quick engineering challenges, students collaborate, iterate, and share, while you finally take a breath. To cap it off, a short reader’s theater provides a shared goal with big payoff in fluency, expression, and classroom community—assigned Monday, practiced Tuesday, performed Wednesday with zero busywork.

Along the way, we share a ready early-finisher kit, guardrails that keep transitions smooth, and a firm list of what to skip: tests, parent conferences, new behavior systems, and any guilt about reusing resources. The core message is simple—reuse what works, download what’s ready, and give yourself grace. You’re a good teacher even when you choose rest and ease. Want ready-to-use materials? I point you to Thanksgiving Readers Theater, Thanksgiving STEM story stations, Molly’s Pilgrim activities, and even Christmas STEM options if you want to pivot early.

If this helped, follow the show, share it with a teacher friend who needs permission to breathe, and leave a quick review telling us your favorite short-week strategy. Your future self—post-pie—will thank you.

Links Mentioned in Show:

Thanksgiving Time and Sanity Savers 

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🌿 You can’t pour from an empty cup — but with the Sub Survival System, you’ll never have to panic when you need a day.
Ready-to-go sub plans designed by a teacher who’s been there.
Because rest isn’t a luxury — it’s part of the job.

👉 [Explore the Sub Survival System on TpT]

Subscribe and Review:

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. Click here for iTunes.

Now, if you’re feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review. Reviews help other teachers find my podcast. Click here to leave a review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

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What if the most meaningful lesson in a noisy month is the quietest one? I share the story of a short read-aloud—Molly’s Pilgrim—that shifted my classroom from scattered to centered, and why one complete book can spark more empathy and insight than a week of themed activities. 

November often pushes teachers into survival mode: short weeks, sugar crashes, and last‑minute crafts that fill time but not hearts. I walk through how a single, well-chosen chapter book reframed Thanksgiving around identity and belonging, and how one child’s whisper—“That’s like my grandma”—opened the door to a deeper conversation about journeys, culture, and home.

You’ll hear a simple framework you can lift tomorrow: light pre-reading prompts that invite personal connections, gentle pauses during the text to name feelings and evidence, and a post-reading reflection that turns insight into action. I talk candidly about the trend toward excerpts and quick hits, and why finishing a complete story builds stamina, joy, and a shared sense of accomplishment. Instead of politics or platitudes, I focus on language that honors nuance and humanity: a pilgrim as a seeker of home, identity as an asset, and story as a safe place to practice empathy.

If you’re tired, overbooked, or just craving calm, this is your reminder to trust the power of a good book. Let the room breathe. Let the story do the heavy lifting. Then tell us what happens when your students see themselves on the page. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a teacher friend, and leave a quick review—your notes help more educators find a little quiet and a lot of heart.

Links Mentioned in the Show:

Molly's Pilgrim Companion Resource

Molly's Pilgrim on Amazon (Affiliate Link)

Support the show

🌿 You can’t pour from an empty cup — but with the Sub Survival System, you’ll never have to panic when you need a day.
Ready-to-go sub plans designed by a teacher who’s been there.
Because rest isn’t a luxury — it’s part of the job.

👉 [Explore the Sub Survival System on TpT]

Subscribe and Review:

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. Click here for iTunes.

Now, if you’re feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review. Reviews help other teachers find my podcast. Click here to leave a review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

Send us a text

The pre‑Thanksgiving stretch can feel like a sprint you didn’t sign up for, and we’re done pretending it’s fine. This candid bonus drop is for every tired teacher who needs permission to step off the hamster wheel, set healthier boundaries, and protect hard‑won peace. We name the pressure points—grading through the parade, last‑minute bulletin boards, “extra PD” masquerading as team building—and swap them for choices grounded in truth and sustainability.

We walk through a November “not‑doing” list that rejects toxic positivity without rejecting hope. That means saying no to performative joy and yes to real joy, the kind that fits into your day without stealing your energy. It looks like keeping the break a break, using emergency sub plans when you’re sick, and choosing light‑lift, purposeful activities that actually support learning. If you want something festive, we talk about gratitude prompts and a Molly’s Pilgrim reader response—both engaging, standards‑aligned, and kind to your bandwidth. Along the way, we remember what we still love about teaching, even if we don’t love the system, and we find solidarity in the beautiful, messy reality of the work.

You don’t have to do it all. You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. You get to choose less guilt, more truth, and only what truly matters. If you’re planning to not plan over Thanksgiving week, grab the free sub plan day mentioned, breathe, and let yourself rest. If this resonated, follow for more real‑talk teacher support, share it with a colleague who needs it, and leave a quick review so others can find the show. Your peace matters—and you’re not alone.

Links Mentioned in the Show:

Thanksgiving Teaching Ideas

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🌿 You can’t pour from an empty cup — but with the Sub Survival System, you’ll never have to panic when you need a day.
Ready-to-go sub plans designed by a teacher who’s been there.
Because rest isn’t a luxury — it’s part of the job.

👉 [Explore the Sub Survival System on TpT]

Subscribe and Review:

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. Click here for iTunes.

Now, if you’re feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review. Reviews help other teachers find my podcast. Click here to leave a review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!