Send us a text

Teacher Self-Care: Setting Your Substitute Teacher Up for Success 🍎✨

Are you dragging yourself to school when sick because writing sub plans feels overwhelming? Discover how to set yourself (and your substitute teacher) up for success with these practical strategies from a former teacher-turned substitute!

Episode Highlights:

• The Self-Care Connection: Why creating effective sub plans is essential for your wellbeing
• Substitute Teaching Insights: Lessons learned from 5 months of subbing in various schools and grade levels
• 7 Key Strategies to ensure your classroom runs smoothly in your absence

The Self-Care Connection

Taking time off when needed is essential for teacher wellbeing, but many educators avoid absences because preparing for a substitute feels more stressful than working while ill. This episode reframes substitute preparation as a crucial self-care practice.

A Substitute's Perspective

After 20+ years of classroom teaching, Grace gained valuable insights from substitute teaching across:

• Grade levels from TK through 11th grade
• 11-12 different schools
• Various school cultures and resource levels

7 Strategies for Substitute Success

1. Create a template with your master schedule, important routines, and student information
2. Plan review activities rather than new content
3. Provide clear tech instructions or designate student tech helpers
4. Establish a buddy teacher system who can check in and support with challenging students
5. Set up incentives or consequences for student behavior during your absence
6. Have emergency activities available for unexpected situations
7. Document policies in writing regarding phones, computers, seating, and other classroom procedures

Final Thoughts

Remember: You are a human first and a teacher second. You deserve to take time off when needed without stressing about classroom chaos. With proper preparation, both you and your substitute can succeed!

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

For free and paid resources to help students of all ages deal with test anxiety visit:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Grace-Stevens-Happy-classrooms

Feeling overwhelmed by school testing season? Dread seeing students suffer from crippling test anxiety? This podcast episode for educators of all grades is for you!

🌟 Learn the one skill you should be teaching all year to ensure test-taking success!

💡 Discover how to create a calm, supportive testing environment in your room.

🎯 Shift the focus to what students can control and where you can find the "done for you" lesson plans to support you.

📣 Understand how to effectively communicate with parents to set students up for success without excessive pressure.

🥳 Learn the best strategies to boost student confidence and eliminate surprise testing stressors.

🎙️ You will find all this and more in this podcast episode for teachers of all grade levels to help your students overcome testing anxiety and perform at their best.

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 eye-opening episode, we dive into the science behind limiting beliefs and how they specifically show up in education and the lives of passionate teachers. Learn practical strategies to identify, challenge, and transform the unhelpful stories you tell yourself about teaching that keep you stuck in burnout cycles.

Key Points

• 🔍 Limiting beliefs are thoughts that restrict our potential and happiness
• 🧠 Our brains are pattern-seeking devices that filter information based on our beliefs
• ⚠️ We should evaluate beliefs on whether they're resourceful, not whether they're "true"
• 💡 With awareness comes choice - we can reframe unhelpful beliefs
• 🔄 Your brain will find evidence to confirm what you already believe (confirmation bias)

Common Teacher Limiting Beliefs

1. "I have to do it all to be a good teacher" → "I am most effective when I focus on what I do well"
2. "Saying no makes me selfish or unhelpful" → "Setting boundaries is an act of self-respect"
3. "If I rest, I'm lazy" → "Rest fuels my ability to show up as my best for students"
4. "If students/parents aren't happy, I'm failing" → "I can do my best, but I can't control others' feelings"
5. "It's my responsibility to fix everything" → "I can provide guidance and support, but I can't fix everything"

3-Step Process to Overcome Limiting Beliefs

1. Identify the limiting belief when it appears
2. Challenge it by seeking contrary evidence
3. Replace it with a more empowering belief

Quote to Remember

"We see the world not as it is, but as we are. Most of us see through the eyes of our fears, our limiting beliefs, and our false assumptions." - Robin Sharma

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

Ready to cut through the noise and focus on what really matters in education? Dr. David Franklin, creator of The Principal's Desk community (230,000+ educators strong!), shares his candid take on what schools need to leave behind in 2025 - and spoiler alert: teachers, you're going to want to hear this!

🌟 Episode Highlights:

1. 📊 Stop Blaming COVID
- It's time to move past using COVID as the default explanation for challenges
- Focus on current solutions and moving forward
- Different regions had vastly different experiences - some schools only closed for 2 weeks

2. ❤️ Relationships vs. Rigor Debate
- The false dichotomy needs to end
- Good teaching has always included relationship building
- Need to restore focus on professional expertise and academic excellence

3. 🎯 Quick-Fix SEL Solutions
- $$ Multi-million dollar business pushing packaged solutions
- Can't change school culture with 20-minute programs
- Good teachers naturally create positive classroom cultures

4. 📝 Behavior Management Matrix
- Clear, consistent consequences are crucial
- Matrix helps everyone know what to expect
- Supports both teachers and students
- Creates safer learning environments

5. 🤖 AI in Education
- Stop avoiding AI - it's here to stay
- Need to teach responsible use
- Prepare students for real-world applications
- Similar to calculator and Google adoption

💡 Key Leadership Tips for Administrators:
- Be visible on campus
- Do supportive classroom walkthroughs (not evaluations)
- Leave positive post-it notes with specific feedback
- Let teachers take risks and innovate
- Stop requiring lesson plan submissions
- End restrictive dress codes

🔗 Connect with Dr. David Franklin:
- Facebook: The Principal's Desk
- Website: principalsdesk.org
- Email: [email protected]
- Book: "Advice from the Principal's Desk"

💪 Bottom Line: Creating positive school cultures isn't about quick fixes or checklist items - it's about supporting teachers as professionals and focusing on what truly impacts student learning.

#TeacherPodcast #EducationalLeadership #TeacherSupport #SchoolCultur

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

Teacher pop-quiz: If you could never wear a t-themed t-shirt again, would your wardrobe empty? In this powerful encore episode, we dive deep into the dangers of making teaching your entire identity and how to reclaim balance in your life. Whether you're struggling with burnout or feeling guilty about setting boundaries, this episode provides practical strategies to help you separate your worth from your work.

Key Takeaways:

• Why wrapping your whole identity in teaching leads to burnout and relationship strain
• The problem with attaching your self-worth to measurable outcomes in education
• How to maintain your sense of self when transitioning out of teaching
• Practical steps to create more balance and nurture non-teaching interests

🎯 Action Steps:

1. Create your personal role inventory beyond "teacher"
2. Schedule non-teaching activities with the same commitment as school obligations
3. Find 15 minutes daily for self-care and personal development
4. Conduct a simple time audit of teaching vs. non-teaching activities

💫 Quote of the Episode:
"Teaching is a verb. It's what we do, not who we are. It's not an identity." Yep. You can quote me on that!

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 powerful episode, Grace Stevens addresses the growing concerns in education and provides practical strategies for teachers to maintain their influence and effectiveness, regardless of external challenges. ICE raids, potential elimination of the Dept. of Education ... student and teacher anxiety is at an all-time high. Grace talks about the importance and empowerment that come from focusing on what you can control, including the critical areas of classroom culture, explicitly teaching media literacy and critical skills, and navigating professional relationships with people who have very different politics and opinions.

Episode Highlights 🎯

Inside the Classroom

• Building inclusive classroom communities that celebrate diversity
• Teaching critical thinking and bias evaluation (including the CRAAP test framework)
• Empowering students to fact-check and evaluate information sources
• Creating stability through positive teacher-student relationships

Outside the Classroom

• Managing your mental diet and information consumption
• Balancing awareness with emotional wellbeing
• Finding positive developments in education globally

Professional Relationships

• Navigating partnerships with colleagues holding different viewpoints
• Maintaining professionalism in polarized environments
• Focusing on shared goals for student success

Key Takeaways 💡

"You are not just an educator; you are a force for stability, hope, and change. No policy, no funding cut, no political shift can take that power away from you."

Resources Mentioned 📚

• The Social Dilemma (Netflix documentary)
• CRAAP Test Framework
• Media Bias/Fact Check website
• AllSides news comparison tool
• Educational news sources: 
  • Education Week
  • The Hechinger Report
  • Edutopia

Get Your FREE Guide 🤝

 For instant access to the media literacy resource guide mentioned in this episode (lesson plans and site suggestions), Click Here

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

🎯 Transform Your Teaching with These Powerful Questions That Change Everything

Are you feeling overwhelmed in your classroom? Discover how asking the right questions can completely shift your teaching experience from stressed to empowered! In this episode, learn practical strategies to handle challenging student behavior, navigate workplace negativity, and maintain professional boundaries - all through the power of empowering questions.

🎧 Episode Highlights:

• 🧠 Why "why" questions drain your energy and what to ask instead
• 👩‍🏫 Real-world examples for handling challenging student behavior
• 🤝 Strategies for dealing with negative colleagues
• 📱 Smart solutions for parent communication
• 💪 Tools for maintaining professional boundaries with administration

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Transform "why" questions into empowering "how" and "what" questions
• Focus on unmet student needs instead of problematic behaviors
• Redirect negative conversations with solution-focused thinking
• Implement proactive communication strategies with parents
• Set professional boundaries while maintaining positive relationships

🔑 Action Steps:

1. Choose one empowering question to practice this week
2. Identify positive collaborators on campus
3. Create proactive communication strategies
4. Practice the "validate and bounce" technique with negative situations

This episode is part two in my deep dive into concepts from the best new educator's manual: The Empowered Teacher's Toolkit. 

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

If there were one word separating joyful, impactful teachers from those stuck in overwhelm, and burnout, wouldn’t you want to know it? 🚀 Spoiler alert: It’s Empowerment. In this foundational episode, we’ll unpack how you can claim it, why it’s essential for thriving in your teaching career, and how it transforms every part of your life. 

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• The #1 Word You Need: Empowerment isn’t something given—it’s something you claim. Discover how this mindset shift changes everything.
• 3 Core Components of Empowerment:
  1. Decision: Recognize the power of owning your choices.
  2. Mindset: Ditch disempowering thoughts and embrace empowering questions.
  3. Action: Learn actionable strategies to reclaim control over your time, energy, and passion.
• The Burnout Connection: Understand how disempowerment drives burnout—and how to reverse it.

🎧 Listen Now:
Don’t wait to feel empowered. Start reclaiming your time, energy, and passion today!

This episode is an introduction to a four-part series on the best new educator manual for success: The Empowered Teacher Handbook - get your copy today, and for a limited time, it will come with a free workbook!

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

Finally! An educational podcast for your classroom that you and your students will enjoy AND helps with listening comprehension. 

In this week's episode, I sat down with Jerry Kolber - the Emmy-nominated creator of Brain Games (yes, THAT Brain Games!) - and he shared an incredible FREE resource that's perfect for:

• Building listening comprehension skills
• Those tricky transition times
• When you need a quality 15-minute activity
• Getting kids excited about learning

Plus, he's offering all teachers FREE ad-free access to his wildly popular educational podcast "Who Smarted" (we're talking 50 million downloads!).

➡️ To learn more and get immediate access, go to:
www.whosmarted.com/educator/

The best part? These episodes are insanely fun to listen to.

Other parts of this inspiring conversation include:

🍎 How Jerry went from struggling student to Emmy nominee
🍎 His experiences growing up with a mother who taught high school and was a school counselor
🍎 How Jerry took a chance and moved from reality TV producer to producing National Geographic's TOP series for science edutainment.

🎧 I loved my conversation with Jerry, and I bet you will, too!

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

🌟 Teacher Growth Reimagined: Why "Being" Beats "Doing" - A Fresh Take on New Year's Resolutions

Are you one of the 80% of teachers whose New Year's resolutions have already fallen apart? Don't worry - you're not alone! Let's ditch the "new year, new you" pressure and focus on something more powerful: identity-based growth. 🌱

Key sections of this episode:

Identity Over Actions 💫

Focus on WHO you want to be rather than WHAT you want to do

Your personality isn't fixed - you can intentionally shape it to align with your goals

Remember, "Your energy teaches more than your lesson plans." How you show up matters.

Creating Your Teacher Avatar 👩‍🏫

Visualize your ideal teaching self

Define how you want to show up in the classroom

Example attributes: 

Prioritizing connection before correction

Bringing joy to learning

Building students up, not breaking them down

Maintaining healthy boundaries

The 3-Minute Morning Practice ⏰ That Can Transform Your Growth

Power Questions for Self-Reflection 🤔

• "What would my ideal teacher-self do right now?"
• "How do I want to be remembered?"
• "Do my actions match my intentions?"

Remember: You don't need a "new you" - you just need to reconnect with the amazing educator you were before stress and overwhelm took over. Simple doesn't mean easy, but focusing on who you want to BE rather than what you want to DO creates lasting, meaningful change.

#TeacherGrowth #TeacherLife #TeacherWellness #EducatorBalance #TeacherSelfCare #TeacherMindset #TeacherTips #TeacherSupport #TeacherMentalHealth #TeacherEmpowerment

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!)