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In This Episode: 🎧 Grace shares 8 powerful habits that can transform your teaching experience and help you become that "offensively cheerful" teacher who stays calm even when chaos strikes.

The 8 Happy Habits: 🌟

1. Set Healthy Boundaries 🚧 
   • Protect your energy like it's $24,000 a day
   • It's okay to disappoint people sometimes
2. Prioritize Relationships Over Perfection 💝 
   • Use the "2-10 Rule" (2 minutes for 10 days with struggling students)
   • Create student shoutout circles
   • Build inside jokes and laugh with your students
3. Practice Micro Moments of Calm 🧘‍♀️ 
   • Try "Starfish Breathing" (trace your hand while breathing)
   • Use hallway resets (pause at doors, one mindful breath)
   • Create calm classroom environments with soft music/lighting
4. Stay Organized with Simple Systems 📚 
   • Remember: "You don't rise to your goals, you fall to your systems"
   • Delegate routines to students (they're more capable than you think!)
   • Have daily reset routines before leaving
5. Reframe Your Challenges 🔄 
   • Apply growth mindset to yourself, not just students
   • See behavior issues as opportunities to reteach
   • Model mistakes and problem-solving
6. Celebrate the Small Wins 🎉 
   • Write down 3 best parts of your day before leaving
   • Use a "joy jar" in your classroom
   • Tune your radar to good stuff, not annoyances
7. Separate Your Worth from Your Work 👤 
   • Be a complete person beyond just "teacher"
   • Schedule non-negotiable time for YOUR interests
8. Run Your Own Race 🏃‍♀️ 
   • Stop comparing yourself to Pinterest perfection
   • Stay out of staff room drama that doesn't concern you
   • Protect your peace at all costs

Key Takeaway: 💡 Don't try all 8 habits at once! Pick one, make it routine, then add another. Happiness can be synthesized - it's a skill you can learn!

Resources Mentioned: 🔗

• Happy Classroom Habits Course

Back to school special 2025/6 Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries Course is everything you need to thrive in the upcoming school year. LIMITED TIME: Use code BBB27 at checkout for a special discount.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

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Whether you're facing a Program Improvement Plan (PIP) or dealing with a challenging administrator, this episode provides practical strategies and mindset shifts to help you navigate these difficult situations with grace and professionalism. Grace shares her own story of working with a demanding administrator and how changing her perspective transformed the experience.

What You'll lEarn:

1. Mindset Shifts

• Other People's Experiences Don't Have to Be Yours - Don't let colleagues' negative stories shape your reality
• Focus on Facts, Not Feelings - Write down what has actually happened vs. what you've heard or assumed
• This is Temporary - A PIP is a chapter, not your whole story
• Assume Best Intentions - Approach the plan as a tool for improvement, not punishment

2. Practical Strategies

• Document Everything - Keep daily logs and confirm conversations via email
• Request Specific Feedback - Ask for concrete examples of what success looks like
• Find a Thought Partner - Get support from a trusted mentor or colleague (without gossiping)
• Focus One Thing at a Time - Don't try to overhaul everything at once
• Maintain Professionalism - Stay calm, neutral, and professional even when provoked

3. Setting Boundaries

• Time Boundaries - Don't let the PIP consume your entire life
• Emotional Boundaries - Respond, don't react; pause before responding to feedback
• Communication Boundaries - Don't overexplain, overjustify, or constantly seek reassurance

4. Growth Opportunities

• Use the experience to evaluate if this district is right for you
• Learn what you can, even if the situation isn't ideal
• Build resilience and professional skills
• Remember: most teachers outlive their administrators

Key Quotes

"Other people's experience doesn't need to be your experience.""This is not a personal indictment - it's often a reflection of a broken system or poor communication."

These aren't just for teachers on improvement plans.

Back to school special 2025/6 Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries Course is everything you need to thrive in the upcoming school year. LIMITED TIME: Use code BBB27 at checkout for a special discount.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

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Welcome to Part 5 of our Back-to-School Series! 🎒 But let’s be real: this one isn’t just for teachers and it’s definitely not just for back-to-school season. If you’re a human navigating life, relationships, or tough workdays — this episode is for you. 🙌 Grace shares 4 powerful mindset shifts that can completely transform how you experience teaching, parenting, and life. These simple (but not always easy!) reframes will help you feel more empowered, less triggered, and more in control of your peace and purpose.

💡 In This Episode You’ll Learn:
🌟 Mindset Shift #1: Assume Best Intentions

People are doing the best they can with the skills they have in the situation they’re in. Whether it's a student meltdown, a snippy coworker, or a frustrated parent — extend grace, not judgment.

🧠 Mindset Shift #2: "That Was Then, This Is Now"

Don’t drag old stories into new chapters. Past experiences (like dental trauma or difficult parents) don’t have to dictate your future. You’re different now. Let that count.

⚠️ Mindset Shift #3: Question Your Absolutes

“These kids never try.” “Parents always complain.” 🚫 If you're hearing "always" or "never," you’re probably stuck in a limiting belief. Try this reframe:
“What else could be true?”

🤯 Mindset Shift #4: Don’t Catch Every Ball

Not every complaint, drama, or venting session requires your energy. Validate and bounce.
 You don’t have to attend every negativity party you’re invited to. 🥳🚫

📌 Share This Episode
Know someone who needs this message today — educator or not? Hit that share button and be the reason someone feels more grounded, more empowered, and more hopeful today. 💛

Back to school special 2025/6 Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries Course is everything you need to thrive in the upcoming school year. LIMITED TIME: Use code BBB27 at checkout for a special discount.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
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Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

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If you've ever opened an email from a parent and instantly felt your stomach drop — this episode is for you. In today’s episode, Grace unpacks practical and empowering ways to improve your communication with families — without burning out, over-explaining, or bending over backwards.

You’ll walk away with mindset shifts and strategies to help you:

• De-escalate tough parent conversations
• Communicate clearly and proactively to avoid confusion
• Set healthy boundaries without guilt
• Build trust and goodwill from day one

Grace also shares real talk about what doesn’t work, how to recover when you’ve made a mistake, and why improving parent communication makes everything — yes, everything — easier.

Whether you’re dealing with a challenging parent, hoping to reset after a rocky start, or just want to feel more confident heading into a new school year — this episode will help you reclaim your calm and lead with connection.

Back to school special 2025/6 Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries Course is everything you need to thrive in the upcoming school year. LIMITED TIME: Use code BBB27 at checkout for a special discount.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

Hey teacher friend — you’re back in school, and guess what’s making its rounds again? Yep… the dreaded adjunct duty list 😬

In Part 2 of our Back-to-School 2025–2026 series, we’re tackling one of the most exhausting parts of a teacher’s year: having to sign up for extra duties you didn’t actually sign up for. From lunch supervision to leading yearbook, organizing graduation, or being “voluntold” to coach a sport, these adjunct duties can quickly turn your week upside down.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. 🙅‍♀️

In this episode, I’ll show you how to strategically approach the adjunct duty list so you can:

✅ Align duties with your passions
 ✅ Avoid energy-draining commitments
 ✅ Use your voice (and contracts!) to advocate for better boundaries
 ✅ Learn to say "yes" with limitations or confidently say "no" without guilt
 ✅ Shift your mindset from “I have to” ➡️ “I get to”

Plus, I’ll tell you the true story of how I unknowingly gave up YEARS of unpaid extra work… only for someone else to get a stipend and a sub when I finally stepped away. (Yep. That one stung.) 😅

🎯 This isn’t about being difficult — it’s about being intentional. You deserve to feel fulfilled, not frustrated.

🔥 You’ll Also Learn:

• Why saying no is actually saying yes to something better
• How to reframe the “martyr teacher” mindset
• The “Tale of Two Duties”: how one teacher’s dream duty is another’s nightmare (and vice versa)
• How to advocate for equitable duty distribution (especially if you're the newbie 🐣)
• What to do if you’ve always had the same duty and want OUT
• Scripts + mindset tips for negotiating your way to better balance 💬🧠

🎯 Binge These Related Episodes:

• 🎙️ Ep 2: How to Say No Without Sounding Like a Jerk (And Still Be Student-Focused)
• 🎙️ Ep 48: How to Say Yes With Limitations and Keep Your Sanity
• 🎙️ Ep 60: What to Do When Your Class List Feels Totally Unfair
• 🎙️ Ep 62: Why You Must Double Down on Classroom Management NOW

Back to school special 2025/6 Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries Course is everything you need to thrive in the upcoming school year. LIMITED TIME: Use code BBB27 at checkout for a special discount.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

LIMITED TIME OFFER MENTIONED:

www.gracestevens.com/lifeback   Use coupon code BBB27 at checkout

Welcome to part one of our five-episode Back to School Special for the 2025-26 school year! In this foundational episode, Grace breaks down her proven ECHO Framework for Educator Empowerment - four essential pillars that will help you crush this school year, create your own path, and bring your own sunshine no matter what challenges come your way.

The ECHO Framework Explained

Grace introduces her comprehensive framework that encompasses everything she's taught over 12 years of writing, speaking, and podcasting about teacher empowerment.

E - Energy Teaches More Than Your Lesson Plans

• How you show up matters more than perfect lesson plans or classroom decor
• The power of co-regulation in the classroom
• Creating a positive vibe that promotes learning and risk-taking
• Self-care as a professional responsibility, not selfishness

C - Control What You Can Control

• Stop wasting energy on things outside your influence
• The connection to Mel Robbins' "Let Them Theory" and Stephen Covey's timeless principles
• Focusing on your responsibilities rather than managing everyone else
• Creating empowerment through intentional focus

H - Happiness Can Be Synthesized

• Research-backed truth: Only 50% of happiness is genetic baseline
• Life circumstances contribute just 10% to your happiness quotient
• The powerful 40%: intentional habits you can cultivate and control
• Reference to Harvard research and happiness experts

O - Other People's Experience Doesn't Need to Be Your Experience

• Creating your own path despite difficult narratives in education
• Why teachers in the same building can have vastly different experiences
• Taking responsibility for your unique teaching journey

Key Takeaways

• You can change your "operating terms and conditions" anytime - don't wait for next year
• Personal development is YOUR responsibility (it won't come from admin PD)
• Y

Back to school special 2025/6 Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries Course is everything you need to thrive in the upcoming school year. LIMITED TIME: Use code BBB27 at checkout for a special discount.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

In this power-packed episode of our Back to School 2025 series, Grace breaks down the ONE thing that can make or break your entire school year - and it's not your bulletin boards or seating charts. It's your boundary plan.

You're spending hours on classroom decorations while ignoring the foundation that will determine whether you thrive or barely survive this year. Grace reveals the 6 critical areas every teacher needs to address to create sustainable work-life balance and protect their energy.

💪 What You'll Learn:

The 6 Essential Areas of Your Teacher Boundary Plan:

1. Time Boundaries - Your Non-Negotiable Schedule ⏰

2. Physical & Emotional Space Boundaries 🏠

3. Toxic People Boundaries - Protecting Your Energy 🛡️

4. Coworker Boundaries - Professional Relationships 🤝

5. Parent Communication Boundaries 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

6. Student Boundaries - Professional Relationships 📚

✨ Key Takeaways:

💡 Boundaries are skills - not personality traits. They can be learned and improved.

💡 The boundary inventory - Most teachers don't realize where their boundary blind spots are hiding.

💡 "Classroom policy" magic - Remove the personal element by framing boundaries as policies.

💡 Consistency is everything - Your boundaries only work if you apply them fairly to everyone.

💡 Plan before you need them - Don't wait for boundary violations to figure out your response.

🎯 Action Steps:

1. Audit these 6 areas - Where are your biggest boundary gaps?
2. Write your boundary plan - Don't wing it, create intentional policies
3. Find an accountability partner - Share your plan for better success
4. Practice the scripts - Know what you'll say before you need to say it

🔥 Why This Matters:

Every day you operate without clear boundaries, you're conditioning others to expect unlimited access to your time, energy, and emotional labor. This isn't just about work-life balance - it's about creating a sustainable career that doesn't burn you out before you can make the impact you're meant to mak

Back to school special 2025/6 Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries Course is everything you need to thrive in the upcoming school year. LIMITED TIME: Use code BBB27 at checkout for a special discount.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

Breaking Free from the Sunk Cost Fallacy: Why Smart Teachers Stay Stuck 🌱

That voice in your head saying "I've invested too much to quit now"? It's lying to you.

Summer is the perfect time to identify what's keeping you stuck - and it's probably not what you think.

What's Really Keeping You Trapped 🔍

The Perfect Lesson Plan Prison 📖

Why that Gold Rush unit you spent years perfecting might be choking the life out of your classroom

The Toxic School Trap 🏫

How tenure and "years invested" keep teachers miserable in environments that are destroying their wellbeing

The Struggling Student Spiral 💔

The painful truth about overcommitting to students who aren't progressing (and why it's hurting everyone)

The Superhero Teacher Identity Crisis 🦸‍♀️

What happens when your need to be "the teacher who does everything" becomes your prison

The Question That Changes Everything 💡

"Who would you be if you let that story go?"

This isn't just about your classroom - it's about the limiting stories keeping you stuck in relationships, hobbies, and life decisions.

Why This Matters Right Now ⏰

Every hour you spend watering dead plants is time stolen from nurturing what could actually bloom in your life.

Your master's degree isn't a prison sentence. Your years of service don't have to keep you miserable.

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is walk away.

🎧 Ready to break free? Listen now and discover the 7 ways this trap shows up for teachers - plus the one mindset shift that changes everything.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
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Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

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🧠 Why SEL Curriculum Isn't Working (And What Teachers Should Do Instead)

In this episode, Grace Stevens dives deep into Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and reveals why scripted curricula often fall flat. She shares real classroom observations that expose the gap between checking boxes and authentic emotional intelligence building. This episode provides actionable strategies for teachers to develop genuine EQ skills in themselves and their students without adding to their already overwhelming workload.

🎯 Key Takeaways

❌ What's NOT Working:

• Scripted SEL curricula that feel like checkbox exercises
• Reflection worksheets that require CBT training teachers don't have
• 40+ emotion posters that overwhelm even adults
• Performative approaches that don't build real classroom community

✅ What DOES Work:

• Authentic modeling of emotional intelligence
• Stop, breathe, ask strategy for overwhelm
• Name it to tame it - improving emotional vocabulary
• Emotional check-ins that are genuine, not scripted
• Perspective taking exercises that build empathy

Listen now and learn how to authentically model and teach emotional intelligence, even if you don't have a designated "SEL block."

To automatically receive the free resources that accompany this episode, sign up for Grace's bi-weekly newsletter. The easiest way is to download her free guide to saying "no" without guilt and ditch your least favorite adjunct duty at this link www.gracestevens.com/sayno

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

🌞 4 Essential Strategies for Teacher Summer Recovery & Burnout Prevention

Episode Summary

You made it through another school year! 🎉 But summer break doesn't automatically fix teacher burnout. Host Grace Stevens shares 4 proven strategies to help teachers truly disconnect, recover, and prepare for renewal during summer break.

🔑 Key Takeaways

Strategy #1: Create a Closing Ritual ✅

• Stop, Start, Continue Reflection (30 minutes) 
  • 🛑 STOP: What drained your energy without results?
  • ➡️ START: New approaches you want to try
  • ✅ CONTINUE: What worked well this year
• Set an "August Problem" date - no school thoughts until then!
• Embrace the clean slate opportunity teachers have each year

Strategy #2: Complete the Stress Cycle 🧘‍♀️

Teaching = constant assault on your nervous system. Your body needs intentional recovery:

• 💤 Sleep without alarms
• 💧 Hydrate properly (no more classroom dehydration!)
• 🚶‍♀️ Move your body (walking, stretching, yoga)
• 🎨 Create (quilting, painting, writing)
• 👥 Socialize with non-teacher friends

Strategy #3: Triage Your Summer To-Do List 📝

Your list is too long (we know it is!). Apply medical triage principles:

• 🚨 Must Do: Critical & time-sensitive only
• 💭 Nice to Do: Not urgent
• 🤝 Delegate: Stop doing everything yourself
• ❌ Eliminate: Some things don't need doing

Pro Tip: Listen to Episode 50 for setting boundaries with family who think you're "free all summer"

Strategy #4: Rebuild Your Identity Outside Teaching 🌱

Remember who you are beyond the classroom:

• List 5 things you love doing (non-teaching related)
• Challenge: List 5 things you love about yourself (not related to serving others)
• Reconnect with neglected hobbies and interests
• Read books that aren't about education!

Key takeaway: Remember: August is coming whether you worry about it or not - you might as well enjoy your summer! 🌞

#TeacherBurnout #SummerRecovery #TeacherWellness #EducatorSelfCare #TeacherLife

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand self-study course, Balance Your Teacher Life. Complete details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

My TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/grace-stevens-happy-classrooms

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)