Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies

By Heidi and Emily, Elementary School Teacher and Resource DesignerEducation Self-Improvement How To

Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies episodes

November 02293. 3 Things Smart Teachers Do Before December Hits
December has a way of sneaking up on you, and suddenly your classroom routines are unraveling while your energy and to-do list are stretched to the limit. In this episode, we’re sharing how to use November to get ahead of the December chaos by prioritizing what matters, letting go of what can wait, and creating a realistic plan. Our goal is to prepare for the predictable so you have room for the unpredictable and can head into the holiday season feeling more prepared.
Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/december-teacher-planning/
Resources:
National Park puzzle badge banner
Barebells Corn Crunch Protein Bars
Reclaim Your Winter Break Challenge
Order our book: Structure and Spark
Join The Teacher Approved Club
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Leave a review on Apple Podcasts!
Leave a comment or rating on Spotify

Related Episodes to Enjoy:
Episode 36. How Teachers Can Plan Lessons The Week Before a Holiday Break
Episode 105. Festive Fun in December: Engaging Holiday Activities to Do With Your Class
Episode 171. 5 Tried and True Tips for Teaching in December
Episode 233. The Smooth December Framework Every Teacher Needs (And It Starts in November)
Episode 234. How to Plan Teaching in December So January Feels Easy
Episode 235. 4 Teacher-Approved Ways to Manage Classroom Behavior in December

Mentioned in this episode:
Reclaim Your Winter Break: a free 4-day challenge with Heidi and Emily, November 15–18. Get ahead of January now so you can leave school behind and enjoy your time off: https://secondstorywindow.net/winterbreak
19 min
October 26292. 5 Reliable Steps to Stop Classroom Behavior Problems
When classroom behavior starts to slide, it can feel like your only options are to ignore it or stop everything to shut it down. In this episode, we’re sharing our four-step behavior response ladder, plus how to use consequences that teach instead of punish. We talk about avoiding power struggles, creating predictable expectations, and recognizing signs that a student needs more support. Disruption in the classroom will inevitably happen, but when you already have a plan to deal with it, you’ll be able to respond to off-task behavior while you keep the learning going!
Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/classroom-behavior-management-strategies/
Resources:
Trashie Take Back Bags
Card Shuffler
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 102. Classroom Behavior Problems: How to Plan Ahead to Handle Them Effectively
Episode 164. Why You Need a Classroom Carpet and How to Manage Student Behavior
Episode 282. 3 Ways to Hold Students Accountable to Your Classroom Expectations
Episode 285. Positive Classroom Culture is Your Management Secret Weapon
Episode 290. How to Read the Room When Student Behavior Feels Off

Mentioned in this episode:
Reclaim Your Winter Break: a free 4-day challenge with Heidi and Emily, November 15–18. Get ahead of January now so you can leave school behind and enjoy your time off: https://secondstorywindow.net/winterbreak
27 min
October 19291. Can't Miss Classic: Halloween Classroom Management That Actually Works
Halloween in the classroom can be a whole lot of fun, but when the excitement starts climbing, it can feel like you’re trying to teach a room full of caffeinated squirrels! In this classic replay episode, we’re sharing our Halloween survival guide for keeping the fun without letting your classroom structure fall apart. We talk about how to keep your core routines intact while sprinkling in just enough seasonal magic, how to plan ahead with a Plan B schedule, and how to manage parties, costumes, treats, brain breaks, and all that extra energy. The big idea? Follow the candy rule: a handful of fun can create some pretty magical classroom moments, but a whole bucket can lead straight to chaos.
Prefer to read? Grab the original episode transcript and 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/
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 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

Mentioned in this episode:
Reclaim Your Winter Break: a free 4-day challenge with Heidi and Emily, November 15–18. Get ahead of January now so you can leave school behind and enjoy your time off: https://secondstorywindow.net/winterbreak
25 min
October 12290. How to Read the Room When Student Behavior Feels Off
What if the behavior you’re seeing in your classroom is actually giving you useful information? In this episode, we’re looking at how to read the energy in your classroom, use (you guessed it!) structure and spark to understand what students need, and make small, targeted adjustments instead of changing the whole lesson. We’re sharing real classroom examples and talking about why observing before intervening can help you respond to student behavior in more effective ways.
Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/classroom-management-strategies/
Resources:
Darling Desi on YouTube
My Moonstone Kitchen
Ghost figurines
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 282. 3 Ways to Hold Students Accountable to Your Classroom Expectations
Episode 175. 10 Easy Ways to Prevent Behavior Problems Before They Start [Fan Fave]
Episode 161. How to Get Students Actively Engaged: 5 Teacher Approved Techniques
Episode 165. Keeping Students Engaged All Year Long, No Matter the Season
Episode 35. 5 Ways to Increase Student Engagement – Our Secret Weapon for Teachers
Episode 246. Why Your Test Review Isn’t Working (And What to Do Instead)

Mentioned in this episode:
Reclaim Your Winter Break: a free 4-day challenge with Heidi and Emily, November 15–18. Get ahead of January now so you can leave school behind and enjoy your time off: https://secondstorywindow.net/winterbreak
25 min
October 05289. How to Boost Engagement and Keep Students Thinking with Guided Notes
There’s nothing quite like looking around your classroom mid-lesson and wondering, “Are they learning, or am I just talking?” In this episode, we’re talking about student engagement and how guided notes can keep students thinking during instruction. We break down five steps for creating guided notes that encourage students to make connections and show what they understand, plus ways to use those notes for study guides, retrieval practice, warm-ups, and exit tickets. The goal isn’t simply to keep kids busy. It’s to create meaningful opportunities for students to think and stay engaged while you teach!
Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/guided-notes/
Resources:
Order our book: Structure and Spark
Halloween Resources
Victoria Magazine
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 161. How to Get Students Actively Engaged: 5 Teacher Approved Techniques
Episode 165. Keeping Students Engaged All Year Long, No Matter the Season
Episode 35. 5 Ways to Increase Student Engagement – Our Secret Weapon for Teachers
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

Mentioned in this episode:
Reclaim Your Winter Break: a free 4-day challenge with Heidi and Emily, November 15–18. Get ahead of January now so you can leave school behind and enjoy your time off: https://secondstorywindow.net/winterbreak
22 min
September 28288. Can't Miss Classic: Your Seating Chart Could Fix Classroom Behavior
Once you’ve had a few weeks to get to know your students, it’s the perfect time to take another look at your seating chart. In this replay episode, we’re sharing our best strategies for choosing a seating arrangement, using proximity to keep students on task, and recognizing when a seating setup that worked at first is no longer working for your classroom. We’ll help you make strategic seating changes that support smoother classroom management and a more productive learning environment.
Prefer to read? Grab the original episode transcript and show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/classroom-seating-arrangements/
Resources:
Order our book: Structure and Spark
Editable Seating Chart Maker
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 102. Classroom Behavior Problems: How to Plan Ahead to Handle Them Effectively
Episode 164. Why You Need a Classroom Carpet and How to Manage Student Behavior
Episode 285. Positive Classroom Culture is Your Management Secret Weapon
Episode 282. 3 Ways to Hold Students Accountable to Your Classroom Expectations

Mentioned in this episode:
Reclaim Your Winter Break: a free 4-day challenge with Heidi and Emily, November 15–18. Get ahead of January now so you can leave school behind and enjoy your time off: https://secondstorywindow.net/winterbreak
22 min
September 21287. The Friday Teacher Routine That Makes Monday Easier
Mondays can feel overwhelming when you’re carrying unfinished tasks and trying to remember EVERYTHING that needs to happen! In this episode, we’re sharing a 5-step weekly reset to help you wrap up loose ends, prepare for the week ahead, and create a clearer starting point for Monday. It’s not about getting everything done, it’s about being prepared with a plan!
Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/weekly-reset-for-teachers/
Resources:
Order our book: Structure and Spark
TheraICE Migraine Relief Cap
Muse Apothecary Pillow Ritual: Calming Pillow Mist
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 93. Teacher Morning Routine: 10 Tips for Creating Your Perfect Plan
Episode 243. How to Protect Your Planning Time (So You Can Stop Working For Free)
Episode 147. Teacher Approved Tips: How to Plan Ahead for Future Problems!
Episode 228. The Simple 6-Step Plan for Resetting After a Sub

Mentioned in this episode:
Reclaim Your Winter Break: a free 4-day challenge with Heidi and Emily, November 15–18. Get ahead of January now so you can leave school behind and enjoy your time off: https://secondstorywindow.net/winterbreak
26 min
September 14286. 6 Simple Steps for Smoother Classroom Transitions
Transitions can quietly eat up valuable instructional time, especially when students start moving before directions are finished. In this episode, we’re breaking down a simple framework for making prompted transitions smoother, more efficient, and easier to manage by standardizing your approach. We’ll walk through the key steps and how they can help students know when to listen, when to move, and what to do next. With a consistent format in place, transitions can become a smoother, more predictable part of your classroom day.
Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/smooth-classroom-transitions/
Resources:
Order our book: Structure and Spark
Ungodly Rich
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 48. How to Make Classroom Transitions Simple With Clear Beginnings 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 254. Why Your Students Get Chatty During Transitions (And How to Stop It)
Episode 282. 3 Ways to Hold Students Accountable to Your Classroom Expectations

Mentioned in this episode:
Reclaim Your Winter Break: a free 4-day challenge with Heidi and Emily, November 15–18. Get ahead of January now so you can leave school behind and enjoy your time off: https://secondstorywindow.net/winterbreak
24 min
September 07285. Positive Classroom Culture is Your Management Secret Weapon
Your classroom culture is what teaches students how to behave, whether you’re the one doing the teaching or not! In this episode, we’re talking about how to intentionally shape a positive classroom culture that makes classroom management easier. We break down five practical steps and explain how social skills, positive peer pressure, and clearly reinforced expectations can help students take more ownership of how your classroom works.
Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/positive-classroom-culture/
Resources:
Order our book: Structure and Spark
Hangers
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 283. Why Reaching for a Reward System Might Be the Wrong First Move
Episode 245. How to Build a Teacher Wardrobe That Fits Your Life
Episode 150. Perfect Your Classroom Procedures with the Help of Our Guiding Questions
Episode 278. Want Better Behavior? Start with Relationships
Episode 87. 4 Important Ways to Build Classroom Community at Back to School

Mentioned in this episode:
Reclaim Your Winter Break: a free 4-day challenge with Heidi and Emily, November 15–18. Get ahead of January now so you can leave school behind and enjoy your time off: https://secondstorywindow.net/winterbreak
25 min
August 31284. Want Better Classroom Behavior? Start in the Hallway
Hallway procedures might seem like a small part of classroom management, but they can have a much bigger impact on classroom success than you might expect. In this classic replay episode, we’re breaking down how to create effective hallway procedures by planning strategically, responding to disruptions, and teaching and practicing expectations with your students. With a little intentional planning and practice, your hallway procedures can become a simple but powerful foundation for a calmer, more successful classroom.
Prefer to read? Grab the original episode transcript and show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/hallway-behavior-management/
Resources:
Order our book: Structure and Spark
Classroom Procedures and Routines Teaching Slides Bundle
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 150. Perfect Your Classroom Procedures with the Help of Our Guiding Questions
Episode 173. Getting into the Nitty Gritty of Classroom Procedures and Routines
Episode 75. Classroom Procedures and Expectations: How they Differ and How to Teach Them
Episode 18. Procedures for Success!
Episode 98. 5 Reasons Your Attention Signal Isn’t Working and How to Improve It

Mentioned in this episode:
Reclaim Your Winter Break: a free 4-day challenge with Heidi and Emily, November 15–18. Get ahead of January now so you can leave school behind and enjoy your time off: https://secondstorywindow.net/winterbreak
26 min

About Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies

From the publisher's feed

Do you ever feel like there’s just not enough time in the day to be the kind of teacher you really want to be? We know that feeling and we’re here to help! Each week on The Teacher Approved podcast, we discuss how to be the teacher you dream of being by elevating what matters and simplifying the rest.