Real Teacher Talk

We are so close to the end of the school year! Can you smell the sunscreen and freedom? 

If you’re counting down the days and ready to close out the school year easily so that you can kick back, relax, and recharge this summer, you’re going to love this episode of Real Teacher Talk! 

The end of the year is an incredibly busy time between all of the cleaning, report cards, filing, reminders, and everything else going on. It can feel a little chaotic. Luckily there are some simple and easy things you can do now that will make those last couple of days of school as laid back as possible. 

The end of the school year is supposed to be fun for students. It should be about themed days, popsicle parties,  fun activities, movie days, and just relaxing after all of our hard work. You should be able to enjoy that with your students without the stress of your enormous to-do list lingering over your head.

These simple tips will help you get a head start on your to-do list so you are not left scrambling at the last minute to get ready for the end of the year. Tune in to hear my top cleaning tips, organization ideas, and my favorite resources for making it all as smooth as possible. 

I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/EasyTeachingTools & Instagram: instagram.com/easyteachingtools!

Resources Mentioned:

Join the waitlist for the 3 PM Teacher Training: https://easyteachingtools.com/podcastwaitlist

Create a Class Instagram account: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Class-Instagram-1785067

End Of The Year Life Saver: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Teacher-Lifesaver-End-of-the-Year-Activities-countdown-awards-memory-book-1842015

Show notes available at easyteachingtools.com/episode7

Register for the 3 PM Teacher Training at www.easyteachingtools.com/3pmteacher!

I would also appreciate it if you would leave me a review on Apple and a rating on Spotify!

I read each of them, and they help me make sure I am providing the content that you love to hear! Plus, you get to pay it forward because it will allow other teachers like you to find the podcast!

Click here to review, then select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”.

It’s almost the end of the year! 

At this point, you may just be counting down the days until you are floating on a flamingo with a piña colada in your hand and eating warm meals in peace. I get that! What if I told you that you could do all that and easily prepare a few simple things for the next school year? 

In this week’s episode of Real Teacher Talk, I am sharing my top time-savers that you can do now so that you can enjoy your summer break without worrying about preparing for the next school year. 

Trust me, these things are so simple. When it comes time to head back to the classroom and you’re trying to keep up with your massive list of things to get done, you’re going to be so grateful that you planned ahead. I promise they will make your life so much easier come August when you’re in back-to-school mode. 

One of the best reasons to start now? You still have helpers! Put your current students or parent helpers to work getting your class prepped. You already have so much on your plate, so there’s no shame in getting help when you need it. 

Tune in to learn more of my top tips for getting your classroom ready for next year now so that you can relax this summer and have a more easy-going back-to-school experience in August. 

I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/EasyTeachingTools & Instagram: instagram.com/easyteachingtools!

Resources Mentioned:

Check out The Great Pencil Challenge: https://easyteachingtools.com/thegreatpencilchallenge.html

Memory Book blog post: https://easyteachingtools.com/memory-book.html

Get on the waitlist for my free training: https://easyteachingtools.com/podcastwaitlist

4 Teacher-Approved Strategies from K-5 Teachers: https://easyteachingtools.com/3PMPodcast

Show notes available at easyteachingtools.com/episode6

Register for the 3 PM Teacher Training at www.easyteachingtools.com/3pmteacher!

I would also appreciate it if you would leave me a review on Apple and a rating on Spotify!

I read each of them, and they help me make sure I am providing the content that you love to hear! Plus, you get to pay it forward because it will allow other teachers like you to find the podcast!

Click here to review, then select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”.

Are you ready to finally clear classroom clutter? 

We are almost to summer break, so it’s time to start thinking about clearing all that clutter so you can start the summer knowing you’ll have a fresh and clean classroom to come back to. I know many teachers are in survival mode this time of year and lots of things are piling up. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and ready to clear the clutter for good, this episode is for you. 

In this episode of Real Teacher Talk, I am diving deep into 5 simple things that you can do to declutter your classroom or your home so that you can ditch all of your overwhelm and get ready for a fresh start. 

I know how hard it can be when there’s so much clutter around. For me, I feel like I am suffocating in my own space, and I just can’t do my best work. This simple process for clearing the clutter is what I use anytime I start to feel anxiety. 

The best way to do this is by simply getting started. Put it on your calendar with a due date and stick to it! You will feel so much better and lighter without all of that stress weighing you down. You have enough to worry about with work, you don’t need to add the stress of a cluttered classroom to the list. 

Tune in to learn more about my simple steps to start organizing your classroom and clearing all that clutter for good! 

I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/EasyTeachingTools & Instagram: instagram.com/easyteachingtools!

Resources Mentioned:

Keep it or Toss It Labels: https://easyteachingtools.com/episode5clutter

Join the FREE 3 PM Teacher Waitlist: https://easyteachingtools.com/podcastwaitlist

Get the 4 Teacher-Approved Strategies from K-5 Teachers e-book: https://easyteachingtools.com/3pmpodcast

Show notes available at easyteachingtools.com/episode5

Register for the 3 PM Teacher Training at www.easyteachingtools.com/3pmteacher!

I would also appreciate it if you would leave me a review on Apple and a rating on Spotify!

I read each of them, and they help me make sure I am providing the content that you love to hear! Plus, you get to pay it forward because it will allow other teachers like you to find the podcast!

Click here to review, then select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”.

Have you noticed how many teachers are leaving the profession lately? 

It’s incredibly disheartening to see how many are leaving, but I don’t blame them! They are burned out and demoralized. If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place. 

I know many of us are just counting down until break or may not even want to go back next year, so in this episode of Real Teacher Talk, I am sharing six steps that you can use in your life right now if you are dealing with burnout. 

To understand this issue, we have to get clear on what burnout is and what demoralization is. They are two different things, but they both have to do with work dissatisfaction and are very real issues that need to be addressed. 

I know you’re doing your very, very best and you deserve to be treated with respect and paid appropriately for all of your hard work. The goal of this episode is to help you feel powerful and like you have a voice when things feel out of control. I want you to be supported and heard and feel like you have some semblance of work-life balance. 

Make sure to tune in to learn more about why teachers are leaving, what has changed in the teaching profession in recent years,  and six tips to battle teacher burnout. 

I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/EasyTeachingTools & Instagram: instagram.com/easyteachingtools!

Resources Mentioned:

Get on the waitlist for my 3 PM Teacher Training: https://easyteachingtools.com/podcastwaitlist

Download my freebie: 10 Things You Can Do To Rest and Relax: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YLWjx5GwFchjsFEZdZU1B7fJTvPm-p_8/view

Show notes available at easyteachingtools.com/episode4

Register for the 3 PM Teacher Training at www.easyteachingtools.com/3pmteacher!

I would also appreciate it if you would leave me a review on Apple and a rating on Spotify!

I read each of them, and they help me make sure I am providing the content that you love to hear! Plus, you get to pay it forward because it will allow other teachers like you to find the podcast!

Click here to review, then select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”.

Do you ever feel like it’s impossible to catch up in your classroom? 

It can be overwhelming to try to stay on top of everything, and in the rare instances that you do, you have laundry piled up at home and dirty dishes overflowing in the sink. We’ve all been there! It’s a never-ending cycle. 

So how can you finally get off the hamster wheel? The answer is simpler than you think. All you have to do is learn to say no. 

In this episode of Real Teacher Talk, I am sharing five simple steps to use when making decisions about whether to take on time-consuming classes, before and after school care, or other extra responsibilities. 

It all starts with you asking yourself the simple question- is this something that you want to do? And I don’t mean do you feel obligated to do it, I mean is it something you want to do? It’s a simple yes or no question. 

If you do decide to say no, it can be a no with a period. You don’t need an explanation. You are the one who decides what to take on. You don’t need to feel guilty for setting healthy boundaries with your time and energy and sticking to them. 

It’s time to start putting your needs first! Make sure to tune in to hear the top things you need to keep in mind when deciding what to take on, and how to finally start saying no without teacher guilt. 

I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/EasyTeachingTools & Instagram: instagram.com/easyteachingtools!

Show notes available at easyteachingtools.com/episode3

Register for the 3 PM Teacher Training at www.easyteachingtools.com/3pmteacher!

I would also appreciate it if you would leave me a review on Apple and a rating on Spotify!

I read each of them, and they help me make sure I am providing the content that you love to hear! Plus, you get to pay it forward because it will allow other teachers like you to find the podcast!

Click here to review, then select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”.

Have you ever experienced teacher guilt? 

Chances are that you have because it is very real and very common. The truth is, teachers have such big hearts! We want to help everyone. Whether that’s our team, our admin, our students, or their families, we are always there, even if it’s at the expense of our own happiness or our time with our family. 

Teacher guilt is often the result of things like the pressure to not let anyone down, not wanting our team to think we are lazy, or not wanting to add on any work for anyone else. Sound familiar? We are so worried about everyone else, but what about us? 

What can we do to overcome that? In this episode of Real Teach Talk, I’m sharing how you can conquer teacher guilt for good.

You can choose teacher guilt or you can choose family guilt because by saying yes to everything the admin asks of you, you are saying no to your family and mental health. Do you really want to do all those extra tasks? You might be surprised about what actually happens when you start prioritizing yourself. 

Tune into this episode to learn more about why it’s time to start prioritizing yourself, setting boundaries, and why saying no to extra tasks may actually pay off in the long run. 

I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/EasyTeachingTools & Instagram: instagram.com/easyteachingtools!

Resources Mentioned:

Join the Easy Teaching Tools Primary Teachers Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/easyteachingtoolsprimaryteachers/

Join the 3 PM Teacher Training Waitlist: https://easyteachingtools.com/podcastwaitlist

Show notes available at easyteachingtools.com/episode2

Register for the 3 PM Teacher Training at www.easyteachingtools.com/3pmteacher!

I would also appreciate it if you would leave me a review on Apple and a rating on Spotify!

I read each of them, and they help me make sure I am providing the content that you love to hear! Plus, you get to pay it forward because it will allow other teachers like you to find the podcast!

Click here to review, then select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”.

It’s no surprise that so many amazing teachers are experiencing burnout. Here’s the honest truth about that: it’s not their fault!

In this episode of Real Teacher Talk, I am going to be sharing five simple secrets that your principal won’t tell you, and these secrets will help you fall in love with teaching again. 

When I first began teaching, I absolutely loved it. I signed up for everything I could and spent all my time thinking about it. By the time I reached 8 years in, I realized that my health was suffering and I had no social life or hobbies to speak of. I realized I just couldn’t keep going at that pace for another 30 years until I retired. 

If you are experiencing that, you may be dreading work or counting down until the end of the day or the school year. It doesn’t have to be that way though. You don’t have to only live for summer breaks or the weekends! You can enjoy your life for the present. 

Tune in to hear all about five easy things that you can do to bring that joy and inspiration back into teaching today. I cover things like boundaries, making time for fun, systems, and so much more. 

You don’t want to miss this episode! 

I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/EasyTeachingTools & Instagram: instagram.com/easyteachingtools!

Resources Mentioned:

Sign up: 3 PM Teacher Training Waitlist: https://easyteachingtools.com/podcastwaitlist

Download my FREE E-book: 4 Easy Organization Ideas for Busy Teachers To Save You Time: https://easyteachingtools.com/3pmpodcast

Full show notes are available at easyteachingtools.com/episode1.

Register for the 3 PM Teacher Training at www.easyteachingtools.com/3pmteacher!

I would also appreciate it if you would leave me a review on Apple and a rating on Spotify!

I read each of them, and they help me make sure I am providing the content that you love to hear! Plus, you get to pay it forward because it will allow other teachers like you to find the podcast!

Click here to review, then select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”.

Do you feel like you are being pulled in a dozen different directions as an elementary school teacher? Are you constantly overwhelmed because you can’t get caught up? Do you ever get the feeling that no matter how hard you work, you still aren't doing enough for your students or for your family at home?

If your answer is yes to any or all of these questions, you need a better way. You simply can't go on like this.

Join Kristen Donegan of Easy Teaching Tools and The 3 PM Teacher as she talks about how to make teaching sustainable so you can finally say goodbye to grading papers after-hours and missing out on time with family and friends.

While she can't fix the education crisis, each week Kristen will help you work smarter, not harder, have time to focus on the curriculum, enjoy teaching again, and still have plenty of time outside of the classroom to do what you love.

Tune in to Real Teacher Talk and listen closely because it’s time to take back your power, finally leave school at 3PM, and enjoy your life!

To find out more, visit www.easyteachingtools.com!

Register for the 3 PM Teacher Training at www.easyteachingtools.com/3pmteacher!

I would also appreciate it if you would leave me a review on Apple and a rating on Spotify!

I read each of them, and they help me make sure I am providing the content that you love to hear! Plus, you get to pay it forward because it will allow other teachers like you to find the podcast!

Click here to review, then select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”.