Halloween in the classroom can feel like wrangling a troop of caffeinated squirrels, but it doesn’t have to be chaos! In this episode, we share our top Halloween classroom management tips to keep students engaged, routines intact, AND the fun alive. From the lead-up to the big day and the reset afterward, we cover strategies like the “candy rule,” visual schedules, brain breaks, and backup plans, plus ways to handle treats, costumes, and parties so everyone feels included. With these practical tips, you can enjoy the seasonal excitement while keeping your classroom calm, focused, and full of lasting memories.

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

Resources:

• Shop all our Halloween resources here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/product-category/halloween/
• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Leave a comment or rating on Spotify.

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 33, Class Party Success - Our 7 Step Class Party Planning Checklist
• Episode 34, Plan the Perfect Halloween Class Party With 7 Easy Steps
• Episode 96, How to Plan an Amazing 2nd Grade Class Halloween Party

There’s nothing quite like that moment when you stand outside your classroom after being out. Will you walk into calm or chaos? In this episode, we’re sharing six simple strategies to get your classroom back on track after a sub day, whether you’ve been gone for a few hours or a few weeks. You’ll learn a step-by-step approach for resetting routines, reconnecting with students, and addressing behavior concerns in a way that restores calm and strengthens your classroom community. Walk away ready to confidently transition from substitute chaos to smooth sailing...no matter what you find when you open that door!

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

Resources:

• Joshua Radin: One Day Home
• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Leave a comment or rating on Spotify.

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 165, Keeping Students Engaged All Year Long, No Matter the Season
• Episode 219, How to Build a Classroom Community That Lasts All Year
• Episode 223, The Core 4 Routines Every Classroom Needs to Run Like Clockwork
• Episode 226, The October Reset Every Teacher Needs

You’ve just wrapped up an engaging lesson, given clear directions, and most of your class is happily working…except for that one student who just will not pick up a pencil. We know how discouraging it feels when this happens, so this week we’re sharing our best strategies for handling those tough moments with empathy and intention. Discover why work refusal isn’t just defiance, what students might really be communicating, and the simple shifts that can turn resistance into engagement.

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

Resources:

• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• A Fall Day For Bear
• A Visitor for Bear Vocabulary - Read Aloud Lesson
• @nococookiecakes on Instagram
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave your review on Apple Podcasts!
• Leave a comment or rating on Spotify.

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 161, How to Get Students Actively Engaged: 5 Teacher Approved Techniques
• Episode 219, How to Build a Classroom Community That Lasts All Year
• Episode 223, The Core 4 Routines Every Classroom Needs to Run Like Clockwork
• Episode 226, The October Reset Every Teacher Needs

Do you feel like you’re stuck in back-to-school survival mode while the rest of the year flies by? You’re not alone! In this episode, we’re talking about an October Reset for teachers - our favorite way to shift from the September sprint to a sustainable teaching routine. We’ll share five essential strategies to help you recover from the post-September crash, evaluate what’s working (and what’s not) in your classroom systems, and focus your energy where it really counts.

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

Resources:

• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Atmosphere, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love, by India Holton
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave your review on Apple Podcasts!

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 32, 5 Classroom Management Questions to Help Banish Bad Class Habits
• Episode 94, A Great Day Before School Even Starts: Your Perfect Teacher Morning Routine At School
• Episode 176, Our 4 Tried and True Tricks to Reset a Rough Day of School
• Episode 223, The Core 4 Routines Every Classroom Needs to Run Like Clockwork

The back-to-school honeymoon is over, and if your once angelic class is now fidgety and distracted, don’t panic. You haven’t lost your classroom magic! In this episode, we break down the September slump, why it’s normal, and how to use it as an opportunity to boost engagement without burning yourself out. You’ll learn five simple, low-prep ways to bring back the spark, plus how to spot the “check engine” lights that signal it’s time to revisit routines. These micro-novelties keep curiosity alive while maintaining the structure students need.

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

Resources:

• Digital Seating Chart Tool
• Glass pot
• The New York Times Game: Pips
• The Holiday Headstart Podcast
• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave your review on Apple Podcasts!

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 97, 3 Secrets For Using Your Classroom Seating Arrangement to Boost Classroom Management
• Episode 99, Get Students Engaged with 3 Types of Active Participation Strategies
• Episode 156, Starting the School Year with Surprise and Delight: 5 Easy Ideas

Ever planned the perfect lesson only to watch students’ focus vanish? In this episode, we dive into building learning stamina, including why it matters, how to teach it, and 5 key strategies to help students stick with challenging tasks. We share a classroom story showing the power of starting small, celebrating progress, and using tools like timers, breaks, and goal setting to build lasting focus. By the end, you’ll see that stamina isn’t something students either have or don’t have. It’s a skill that can be taught, nurtured, and celebrated in every classroom.

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/building-learning-stamina/

Resources:

• Back-to-School Brain Breaks
• Kindle Page Turner Remote
• Visible - Save $20 with our link!
• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave your review on Apple Podcasts!

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 98, 5 Reasons Your Attention Signal Isn’t Working and How to Improve It
• Episode 164, Why You Need a Classroom Carpet And How to Manage Student Behavior
• Episode 191, Get Moving! Simple Movement Hacks That Save Your Sanity AND Boost Learning
• Episode 223, The Core 4 Routines Every Classroom Needs to Run Like Clockwork

Wouldn't it be nice if your classroom could run like clockwork, with students knowing exactly what to do without constant reminders? In this episode, we’re showing you how to connect your procedures into seamless routines that stick, so everything from morning arrival to end-of-day chaos feels easier. You’ll learn our three-step process (anchor, expand, and reinforce), fun strategies for keeping routines consistent, and the “Core Four” every classroom needs: calm morning starts, orderly hallway movement, smooth transitions, and efficient end-of-day procedures. With these tools, your classroom will practically run itself, freeing you up to focus on teaching and building connections with your students!

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

Resources:

• Ladystacks Book Tracker
• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave your review on Apple Podcasts!

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 48, How to Make Classroom Transitions Simple with Clear Beginning and Endings
• Episode 49, Rapid Classroom Transitions: How to Save 45 Hours a Year
• Episode 50, 3 Guidelines to Make Classroom Transitions Work Smarter Not Harder
• Episode 89, Hallway Behavior Management: 4 Essential Plans for Improving Hallway Classroom Management
• Episode 93, Teacher Morning Routine: 10 Tips for Creating Your Perfect Plan
• Episode 94, A Great Day Before School Even Starts: Your Perfect Teacher Morning Routine at School
• Episode 95, 4 Must-Have Characteristics of Your Classroom Morning Routine
• Episode 120, Supporting New Teachers with Ashleigh From Rainbow Skies for New Teachers
• Episode 160, 4 Dismissal Routine Tips for Teachers to Calm the End-of-Day Chaos
• Episode 173, Getting into the Nitty Gritty of Classroom Procedures and Routines
• Episode 219, How to Build a Classroom Community That Lasts All Year

This week’s can’t-miss classic is all about one of our favorite simple tools every teacher needs: a nonverbal behavior signal. Disruptions are going to happen, but instead of stopping your whole lesson to give a lecture (or raising your blood pressure), you can use a calm little 1-2-3 finger cue to redirect behavior in a low-key, non-shaming way. We’ll walk you through how to teach the signal like any other procedure, practice it so students know exactly what to do, and keep it as chill and predictable as possible. With just a little front loading, this strategy becomes one of those invisible tools that makes your classroom run so much smoother!

Prefer to read? Grab the original episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/teaching-class-consequences/

Resources:

• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave your review on Apple Podcasts!

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 21, Guided Discovery
• Episode 75, Classroom Procedures and Expectations: How They Differ and How to Teach Them
• Episode 92, Teacher Approved Tips: Teaching Recess Games and How to Save Time
• Episode 101, 10 Easy Ways to Prevent Behavior Problems Before They Start
• Episode 102, Classroom Behavior Problems: How to Plan Ahead to Handle Them Effectively
• Episode 155, Mastering the Teacher Look for Nonverbal Classroom Management

Are you constantly swinging between being the “fun teacher” and the “strict teacher”, all before lunchtime? In this episode, we’re tackling one of the trickiest balancing acts in teaching: how to hold high expectations for your students while also making them feel genuinely seen and cared for. We’re diving into the concept of being a “warm demander”, the (unfortunately named but totally essential) teaching strategy where high standards and strong relationships go hand in hand.

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

Resources:

• Editable Classroom Seating Chart Maker
• Milk frother with hook whisk
• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave your review on Apple Podcasts!

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 75, Classroom Procedures and Expectations: How They Differ and How to Teach Them
• Episode 97, 3 Secrets for Using Your Classroom Seating Arrangement to Boost Classroom Management
• Episode 163, The 6 Key Ways to Boost Student Engagement Every Day
• Episode 219, How to Build a Classroom Community That Lasts All Year

If you want to kick off the school year with a classroom full of joy, connection, and just a little magic, this can’t-miss classic is for you! We’re revisiting one of our most-loved episodes, all about the simple but powerful “surprise and delight” strategy for building strong student relationships from day one. In it, we share five teacher-tested ways to sprinkle unexpected fun into your routines, and give loads of easy, low-cost examples you can use right away. These small, intentional moments don’t just make your students smile, they create a positive classroom climate that lasts all year!

Prefer to read? Grab the original episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/back-to-school-surprise-and-delight/

Resources:

• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Website: National Day Calendar
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave your review on Apple Podcasts!

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 148, How to Build Positive Relationships with Your Students at Back-to-School
• Episode 87, 4 Important Ways to Build Classroom Community at Back-to-School
• Episode 73, 4 Reasons Why Affirming Students Is The Most Important Goal for Back-to-School 
• Episode 35, 5 Ways to Increase Student Engagement – Our Secret Weapon for Teachers