In this episode, we share five low-cost, high-yield preventative classroom management strategies that help stop problems before they start. From greeting students at the door to using visual prompts and intentional tone, these simple shifts change the atmosphere in your classroom without complicated systems. When you focus on prevention instead of constant correction, you create a calmer, more engaged classroom, even during the tired final months of the school year.

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/preventative-classroom-management-strategies/

Resources:

• Why It's Important to Welcome Your Students to Class
• How Tone of Voice Shapes Your Classroom Culture
• Allermi allergy spray
• CeraVe Intensive Moisturizing Cream
• Pre-order our book: Structure and Spark
• Join The Teacher Approved Club
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow
• Shop our teacher-approved resources
• Join our Teacher Approved Facebook group
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts!
• Leave a comment or rating on Spotify

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 124. Spring Fever: 3 Tips to Help Your Spring Classroom Management
• Episode 247. 4 Spring Classroom Management Headaches and How To Fix Them
• Episode 177. Help Your Class Kick Bad Habits with These 5 Classroom Management Questions
• Episode 178. 5 Classroom Management Tips for Taming a Chatty Class

Mentioned in this episode:

Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

In this special milestone episode, we’re celebrating 250 episodes and four years of the Teacher Approved podcast. We look back at how the show started, the lessons we’ve learned along the way, and some of our favorite episodes and hidden gems. We also talk about the surprising ways the podcast has evolved, what gives us hope for the future of education, and what we hope the next 250 episodes will bring as we continue helping teachers elevate what matters and simplify the rest!

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/teacher-podcast-for-elementary-teachers

Resources:

1. Luminette 3 Light Therapy Glasses
2. Magnesium L-Threonate
3. Puzzle Table
4. Pre-order our book: Structure and Spark
5. Join The Teacher Approved Club
6. Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow
7. Shop our teacher-approved resources
8. Join our Teacher Approved Facebook group
9. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts!
10. Leave a comment or rating on Spotify

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

1. Episode 200. 200 Episodes Later: These 5 Teacher Approved Tips Still Win
2. Episode 165. Keeping Students Engaged All Year Long, No Matter the Season
3. Episode 158. Back-to-School Classroom Management: Are You Working Smarter or Harder?
4. Episode 48. How to Make Classroom Transitions Simple With Clear Beginnings and Endings
5. Episode 49. Rapid Classroom Transitions: How to Save 45 Hours a Year
6. Episode 50. 3 Guidelines to Make Classroom Transitions Work Smarter Not Harder

Mentioned in this episode:

Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

March is chaotic, but it’s also full of clarity. In this episode, we share five small things you can do right now to make teaching easier and set up a smoother fall, from creating a simple next-year parking lot to saving student work as future models. We also talk about using March as a low-stakes time to test-drive that routine you keep putting off, as well as share about our Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. You can calm spring chatter now, create more mental and physical space, and know that you’ll be ready for next year with systems you’ve already practiced.

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/march-classroom-tasks/

Resources:

1. Proper Mountain Woman Club
2. Join The Teacher Approved Club (free 10-day trial!)
3. Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow
4. Shop our teacher-approved resources
5. Join our Teacher Approved Facebook group
6. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts!
7. Leave a comment or rating on Spotify

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

1. Episode 60. 6 Simple Spring Cleaning Tips for Freshening Up Your Classroom
2. Episode 61. 6 Things Teachers Can Do Now for a Better Back to School
3. Episode 190. Do These 5 Easy Things in April to Make Back to School Easier!
4. Episode 194. Want a Smoother Back to School? Do These 5 Things Now

Mentioned in this episode:

Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

Spring break is magical until Sunday night, when you realize you have no plan for Monday. In this episode, we share our “soft landing” strategy for the first day back, built around three simple phases: reunion, bridge, and re-anchor. You’ll learn how to reconnect before academics, use low-stakes review to ease back in, and restore routines in a way that feels calm, flexible, and community-centered.

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/first-day-back-after-spring-break/

Resources:

1. Flying Wish Paper
2. Die with zero
3. Join The Teacher Approved Club
4. Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow
5. Shop our teacher-approved resources
6. Join our Teacher Approved Facebook group
7. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts!
8. Leave a comment or rating on Spotify

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

1. Episode 181. How To Get Ahead on Your Teacher Tasks For A Stress-Free Spring Break
2. Episode 186. 5 Teacher Tasks You Need to Do Before Spring Break
3. Episode 4. Bouncing Back After A Break
4. Episode 237. Do These 3 Things Before Winter Break To Make January Easier

Mentioned in this episode:

Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

March brings higher energy and lower stamina, and suddenly your classroom feels louder, messier, and harder to manage. In this episode, we explain why spring classroom management isn’t about cracking down harder, but about rebuilding structure. We walk through four common spring trouble spots: transitions, messiness, chattiness, and behavior outside the classroom. We also share practical ways to reset expectations so the environment does more of the work for you. The goal is simple: create structure now so your day requires less of you tomorrow.

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/spring-classroom-management-headaches/

Resources:

1. Pre-order Structure and Spark
2. Stain Striker
3. Clay Moo
4. Join The Teacher Approved Club
5. Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow
6. Shop our teacher-approved resources
7. Join our Teacher Approved Facebook group
8. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
9. Leave a comment or rating on Spotify

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

1. Episode 48. How to Make Classroom Transitions Simple With Clear Beginnings and Endings
2. Episode 49. Rapid Classroom Transitions: How to Save 45 Hours a Year
3. Episode 50. 3 Guidelines to Make Classroom Transitions Work Smarter Not Harder
4. Episode 119. Chatty Class Management: 5 Ways to Handle a Talkative Class

Mentioned in this episode:

Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

Test prep doesn’t have to mean packets or pressure. In this episode, we redefine test prep as helping students remember what they’ve already learned through simple, low-stakes retrieval practice and reflection. We share why traditional review often falls short, how strategies like brain dumps and quick recall prompts strengthen learning, and how starting small right now leads to calmer, more effective test prep later.

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/test-prep-strategies-for-elementary-teachers/

Resources:

1. Powerful Teaching book
2. Bulb subscription
3. Grow light
4. Join The Teacher Approved Club (power questions included!)
5. Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow
6. Shop our teacher-approved resources
7. Join our Teacher Approved Facebook group
8. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts!
9. Leave a comment or rating on Spotify

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

1. Episode 185. 6 Easy Tips for Simplifying Your Test Prep Season
2. Episode 183. 2 Smart Test Prep Strategies You Need to Use with Your Students
3. Episode 182. Boost Your Test Prep with These 3 Retrieval Practice Activities
4. Episode 121. How to Plan Your Test Prep Around What Content Matters Most

Mentioned in this episode:

Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

In this episode, we’re joined by Lindsey from Fashion Fix to rethink the teacher wardrobe from the ground up. We talk about why traditional fashion advice falls flat for educators, how overspending and underbuying leads to closet frustration, and why understanding your body shape and personal style matters more than chasing trends. Lindsey shares a confidence-centered, practical approach to building a wardrobe that works for real teacher life.

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/how-to-build-a-teacher-wardrobe/

Resources:

1. Fashion Fix
2. Tarte mascara
3. Sticker by number
4. Join The Teacher Approved Club
5. Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow
6. Shop our teacher-approved resources
7. Join our Teacher Approved Facebook group
8. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts!
9. Leave a comment or rating on Spotify

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

1. Episode 187. 3 Teacher Approved Episodes, Tips, and Favorites That You Will Love
2. Episode 55. Thriving As A Teacher: One Helpful Strategy
3. Episode 93. Teacher Morning Routine: 10 Tips For Creating Your Perfect Plan

Mentioned in this episode:

Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

We’ve all had those days when dismissal comes and goes, but somehow we’re still at school hours later. In this episode, we break down why teaching work never really “ends” on its own, and how creating a clear system helps you leave work at school. We walk through how to close out the day with intention, reset your brain for focused work, decide what truly needs to get done, and set a hard stop you’ll actually keep, all so you can head home knowing tomorrow is handled and today is done.

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/leave-school-on-time-teacher-tips

Resources:

1. A Gentle Rain
2. Candle wick trimmer
3. Join the Teacher Approved Club!
4. Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
5. Shop our teacher-approved resources.
6. Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
7. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
8. Leave a comment or rating on Spotify.

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

1. Episode 243. How to Protect Your Planning Time (So You Can Stop Working For Free)
2. Episode 242. 6 Small Tweaks that Can Save Your February Teacher Energy
3. Episode 94. A Great Day Before School Even Starts: Your Perfect Teacher Morning Routine at School
4. Episode 169. Our Best Teacher Tips for Finding Pockets of Prep Time to Get Ahead for January

Mentioned in this episode:

Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

In this episode, we break down why teacher planning time so often gets wasted and what actually helps protect it. We share a simple two-pillar framework focused on guarding your prep from interruptions and directing it with intention, so you know exactly what to work on when you sit down. From setting boundaries to choosing tasks that make the rest of your week smoother, this conversation is all about making planning time more productive and sustainable.

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/teacher-planning-time-strategies/

Resources:

1. Join the Teacher Approved Club!
2. February Teacher Survival Kit
3. Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
4. Shop our teacher-approved resources.
5. Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
6. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
7. Leave a comment or rating on Spotify.

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

1. Episode 169. Our Best Teacher Tips for Finding Pockets of Prep Time to Get Ahead for January
2. Episode 91. Start Your Day Strong: Top Tips for Maximizing Your Morning Work
3. Episode 181. How to Get Ahead on Your Teacher Tasks for a Stress-Free Spring Break

Mentioned in this episode:

Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

January is tough, but February can be a surprisingly powerful reset if you know how to use it. In this episode, we share why this month often feels draining, how hidden energy leaks show up across your day, and how a simple February energy audit can help you make small, strategic shifts that protect your time and capacity. Our goal is to help you stop drifting through February and start using it to refill your tank before the rest of the year ramps up.

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/february-teacher-energy-tips/

Resources:

1. February Teacher Survival Kit
2. Join the Teacher Approved Club!
3. BlueAir humidifier
4. Hinge toppers
5. Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
6. Shop our teacher-approved resources.
7. Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
8. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
9. Leave a comment or rating on Spotify.

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

1. Episode 48. How to Make Classroom Transitions Simple with Clear Beginnings and Endings
2. Episode 49. Rapid Classroom Transitions: How to Save 45 Hours a Year
3. Episode 50. 3 Guidelines to Make Classroom Transitions Work Smarter Not Harder
4. Episode 161, How to Get Students Actively Engaged: 5 Teacher Approved Techniques

Mentioned in this episode:

Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial