Teacher Take The Lead

Have you ever thought about starting a business?  Sharing your expertise and resources in the form of a business is a leadership path that could expand your reach to teachers around the world all while supplementing your income.  Today on the podcast, I want to share with you why I decided to start a business as a pathway to serve and lead teachers and why you can too. 

Here are the highlights of this episode:

• How starting a business positions you as a leader in education without having to leave the classroom if you don’t want to.

Sign up for the FREE Teacherpreneur Systems Challenge - June 14th-16th

Thinking about starting a business this summer? Or maybe you’re ready to level up the systems in your current teacher business?  This challenge is for you. Each day we’ll talk about a different strategy you can use to maximize the valuable time you have to spend in your business.  

We’ll cover :

• How to mind map your content for your blog, podcast, Pinterest posts and social media, 

You’ll get:

• A Free Digital Workbook

You are not going to want to miss out on this free opportunity to meet and learn from other teacherpreneurs. Sign up today!

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Are you enjoying this podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing my show. This helps other teachers find this podcast and get the same strategies that helped you so they can build the workflow and confidence they want!

How to review:

1. Click here.

And if you haven’t yet, click here to subscribe to the show so you don’t miss any new episodes!

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Episode #2 - Five Productivity Strategies that Will Save You Time and Energy

Sign up for the FREE Teacherpreneur Systems Challenge - June 14th-16th

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Do you use time blocking in your business? Whether you create digital products, tutor students, or coach teachers, your time and the systems that you have in place to facilitate your time can be what drives your business forward. So let me ask you?Are you aware of how much time you spend working within your business each week? As a stay at home mom and business owner, time blocking is absolutely essential to help me make space to divide my time between tasks and prioritize the ones that are important to my business and to my family. It’s also something that I teach teachers and teacher entrepreneurs in my group coaching and 1:1 sessions. In this episode, I share how I use time blocking to organize the time I spend in product creation, marketing, and networking, while also being a stay at home mom.

If you haven’t yet, check out the previous episode where I share time blocking strategies that you can use to make the most of your planning time as a teacher.

Here are the highlights of this episode:

• How to identify time blocks in your schedule and set boundaries around your work time

Click here to download your time blocking resource to help you get started with using this time management tool today!

Did you know that you have a productivity style? I believe that productivity is personal and looks different for everyone, especially for teachers. I created the Teacher Productivity Style Quiz to help you get curious about your productivity strengths and ways that you can implement them as strategies in your teaching and daily tasks. Want to learn about your productivity style?

Click here to take the quiz!

Rate, Review and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts!

Are you enjoying this podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing my show. This helps other teachers find this podcast and get the same strategies that helped you so they can build the workflow and confidence they want!

How to review:

1. Click here.

And if you haven’t yet, click here to subscribe to the show so you don’t miss any new episodes!

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Time Blocking Template

Episode 13 - How to Use Time Blocking to Make the Most of Your Planning Time

Let's Connect:

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Twitter @gracemgriffith

Do you use time blocking? Time blocking is a time management strategy that I’ve used to help me prioritize and organize my time - especially for lesson planning, grading, and emails. Without careful planning, these tasks can absorb your time like a sponge. possibly consuming more time for those tasks than they might actually require. In this episode, I’m sharing how I used time blocking to structure my planning time so that I could keep my teacher tasks within the boundaries of my contract hours. I also give you the step by step method that you can implement time blocking as a classroom teacher.

Here are the highlights of this episode:

• How to identify time blocks in your schedule

Click here to download your time blocking resource to help you get started with using this time management tool today!

Did you know that you have a productivity style? I believe that productivity is personal and looks different for everyone, especially for teachers. I created the Teacher Productivity Style Quiz to help you get curious about your productivity strengths and ways that you can implement them as strategies in your teaching and daily tasks. Want to learn about your productivity style?

Click here to take the quiz!

Rate, Review and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts!

Are you enjoying this podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing my show. This helps other teachers find this podcast and get the same strategies that helped you so they can build the workflow and confidence they want!

How to review:

1. Click here.

And if you haven’t yet, click here to subscribe to the show so you don’t miss any new episodes!

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Time Blocking Template

Let's Connect:

Instagram @gracemariegriffith

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Twitter @gracemgriffith

Whether you work from home, you’re a stay at home mom, or an exhausted teacher coming home to find rest and relaxation, having systems and routines at home can be extremely helpful. That’s why in this podcast episode I’m sharing three things you can do to improve your productivity at home. From implementing kids’ and work schedules to figuring out what you’re going to eat that day, these tips will get you started with some ideas to create more structure. 

Here are the highlights of this episode:

• How to assign chore-like tasks to individual days throughout the week like “themes” to take the overwhelm out and so you can start automating your tasks.

• How to integrate your work schedule with your kids’ schedule with personal stories about life as a stay at home mom with a toddler.

• How to use visual cues to communicate routines and cue your rhythms in your workflow and with your kids.

Want to see how I implement these tips in real life? Follow me on instagram @gracemariegriffith. I’m always sharing productivity hacks for home life and I’d love for you to join the conversation. 

Did you know that you have a productivity style? I believe that productivity is personal and looks different for everyone, especially for teachers. I created the Teacher Productivity Style Quiz to help you get curious about your productivity strengths and ways that you can implement them as strategies in your teaching and daily tasks. Want to learn about your productivity style?

Click here to take the quiz!

Rate, Review and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts!

Are you enjoying this podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing my show. This helps other teachers find this podcast and get the same strategies that helped you so they can build the workflow and confidence they want!

How to review:

1. Click here.

And if you haven’t yet, click here to subscribe to the show so you don’t miss any new episodes!

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Fridge White Board for Meal Themes

Paprika App for meal planning

“The Fringe Hours” - book by Jessica N. Turner

Let's Connect:

Instagram @gracemariegriffith

Facebook.com/gracemariegriffith

Twitter @gracemgriffith

Part of my mission for this show is to empower teachers with strategies to take ownership of their time, their mindset and their lives. We talk about productivity and time management a lot because I believe that time is truly the most valuable currency we own. 

Today I wanted to talk about a topic that affects our time in the long run and involves another kind of currency…. saving for retirement. You’ve probably heard me say it before, but I believe that self care is about making decisions that will benefit you not just in the immediate future, but also overtime. 

Saving for retirement is not something you hear teachers talking about very much unless they’re getting close to retirement. That’s why I was so excited when I found Laura Martin and her content about investing.

Laura is passionate about encouraging teachers to explore their options when it comes to saving for retirement. Her instagram account, @theinvestedteacher,  educates teachers with bite-sized and beautiful content about why it's important to plan for retirement, possible options to consider, and tools to equip your conversations with financial representatives. 

That’s not all Laura does though...

Laura went to San Diego State University for undergraduate, master in education and credential program. She taught in the classroom for 5 years, teaching third grade, before taking a position as a math facilitator in her district office. Now, she coaches teachers on math instruction and plans professional learning for her district. She also supports the programs her district uses, such as iReady and ST Math. Next year she will be continuing in her role and work with sites to help make positive changes in math instruction through the CGI philosophy and other student-centered approaches to learning.  

As we talk about saving for retirement we know that money management is a big part of that and that it is extremely personal so we’re not going to get into the weeds of it today. This podcast episode is not financial advice, we are not financial advisors, but our goal with our conversation is to help empower you and give you some of the wisdom and insight we have found useful and can potentially help you research your own options for saving for retirement.  

Here are the highlights of this episode:

• Laura talks about why it’s important to save for retirement

Saving for retirement is something that most people don’t necessarily link to self care but I like to think about self care as decisions that you make that care for you now and in the future. If you’d like to check out more of my tips for how teachers can practice self care, check out my Teacher Self Care Planner. In this resource I share simple and practical strategies that you can care for your time, your mindset, and your energy. 

Rate, Review and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts!

Are you enjoying this podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing my show. This helps other teachers find this podcast and get the same strategies that helped you so they can build the workflow and confidence they want!

How to review:

1. Click here.

And if you haven’t yet, click here to subscribe to the show so you don’t miss any new episodes!

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Questions to Ask a Financial Representative - Free Guide

Let's Connect:

Instagram @gracemariegriffith

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Twitter @gracemgriffith

You have beliefs about your time whether you know about them or not and you can identify them by observing the habits you currently have. Holding yourself accountable to new habits might require that you challenge the beliefs that you’ve been reinforcing through your old habits. 

In this episode I discuss ways we can observe our habits and notice if they are reinforcing a belief. Because once we start paying attention to our actions, we can start deconstructing our beliefs and decide whether or not they support the identity and the life we want to live. 

Here are the highlights of this episode:

• Common feelings and beliefs that most teachers have

• FREEBIE resource to learn more about how to create boundaries, collaborate with colleagues, and budget your energy. - gracemariegriffith.com/selfcare

Rate, Review and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts!

Are you enjoying this podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing my show. This helps other teachers find this podcast and get the same strategies that helped you so they can build the workflow and confidence they want!

How to review:

1. Click here.

And if you haven’t yet, click here to subscribe to the show so you don’t miss any new episodes!

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Episode #3: How to Connect With Other Teachers In Your School Community

Atomic Habits - Book by James Clear

Teacher Self Care Planner - FREEBIE

Instagram @gracemariegriffith

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Twitter @gracemgriffith

When it comes to our time management as teachers - we have to analyze how we are already spending our time  if we want to find ways to change it. Knowing how much time it takes to do even the easiest tasks can affect how we see that task and choose to do that task in the future.

In this episode, I’m sharing my secret technique to building routines which is..…. Time tracking. In this episode I’m sharing my time tracking system that I’ve used for teaching and even in my business.

When you know how much time you’ve got and how you use it, you can make room for creativity find ways to use it more effectively. 

Here are the highlights of this episode:

• How guilt might be impacting your routines and how to be proactive about it.

• How to expect limitations when starting new routines.

• Practical action steps to start and maintain a sustainable new routine.

• FREEBIE resource to learn more about the systems and routines I implemented in my classroom - gracemariegriffith.com/productivity

Rate, Review and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts!

Are you enjoying this podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing my show. This helps other teachers find this podcast and get the same strategies that helped you so they can build the workflow and confidence they want!

How to review:

1. Click here.

And if you haven’t yet, click here to subscribe to the show so you don’t miss any new episodes!

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

#Episode 7 How Decision Making Can Affect Your Time Management

The Teacher’s Productivity Guide - FREEBIE

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Burnout - this word gets tossed around a lot in schools and in groups of teachers. It’s something we feel when we’re not getting results for the amount of work and care that we’re putting into something. 

It’s important to get specific with ourselves about what burnout actually means, what we’re feeling, what’s causing it and how we can avoid it. Because it’s a lot more common than you would think.

That’s why I want to share my experience with burnout today on the podcast. This is after I’ve taken some time to really examine my experience with it and reflect on some of the mindset traps that caused me to feel stuck.

In this episode I share three mistakes that I made that kept me stuck in burnout, how you can avoid them, and if you find yourself making them - how to find a way out.

The information on this podcast is solely for informational purposes and is not medical or counseling advice of any kind. If you have been experiencing stress and overwhelm, consider seeking out professional help. Many insurance plans that districts provide come with some kind of counseling coverage for teachers so I would highly encourage you to explore that route - maybe contact your HR representative and get some information so you can get the support you need.

Here are the highlights of this episode:

• How comparing myself to other teachers made me feel like I had to do it all.

• How I had to learn to budget my time and energy with intentional limits.

• How I needed to ask questions to get clarity on what was most important.

Want to learn more about the systems and routines I implemented in my classroom? Download The Teacher’s Productivity Guide at gracemariegriffith.com/productivity

Rate, Review and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts!

Are you enjoying this podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing my show. This helps other teachers find this podcast and get the same strategies that helped you so they can build the workflow and confidence they want!

How to review:

1. Click here.

And if you haven’t yet, click here to subscribe to the show so you don’t miss any new episodes!

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

#Episode 5: You have More Influence Than you Think

#Episode 7 How Decision Making Can Affect Your Time Management

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

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Teachers make somewhere around 1,500 decisions every day. That’s about 4 decisions per minute! 

Decision-making consumes quite a bit of energy because of how we spend time imagining the outcomes, the pressure to achieve the desired outcome, and imagining what would happen if we made the wrong decision. 

Imagine going through that process 4 times every minute?

In this episode, we’re talking about the specific ways our decision making can affect our energy and our time management and I’ll share some systems that I’ve used to help me make decisions more efficiently so that I can avoid decision fatigue.

Here are the highlights of this episode:

• What is decision fatigue and how do you avoid it? I share some ways that you can be pre-emptive about decision-making

• Filter questions that you can use to help you clarify and simplify your tasks.

• How using the “minimum viable product” method can help you simplify a task.

• How to create “strategic shortcuts” so that you can eliminate unnecessary decision-making when you do encounter decision fatigue.

Rate, Review and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts!

Are you enjoying this podcast? If so, please consider rating and reviewing my show. This helps other teachers find this podcast and get the same strategies that helped you so they can build the workflow and confidence they want!

How to review:

1. Click here.

And if you haven’t yet, click here to subscribe to the show so you don’t miss any new episodes!

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Edutopia Article about Decision Fatigue

Fewer Things, Better - Book by Angela Watson

Decision Filter for Teachers PDF 

Episode #5 Why You have More Influence Than you Think

Episode #2 Five Productivity Systems to Save You Time and Energy

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Twitter @gracemgriffith

Did you know that you can utilize your personality to help improve your productivity?

I’m talking about the things that you love about yourself, that make your approach to teaching and to life stand out, and what other people love about you. Those things can actually be an asset to your workflow and may be the key to where your productivity genius lies.

I think that everyone has a productivity style. What do I mean by that?

When you bring your full self to your job, your character, your interests, your likes and dislikes, the things that bring you joy, it impacts how you get stuff done - like your style.

Today, we’re going to talk about how your style, the things that make you, uniquely you, the things that help you have fun, can actually help you get more done.

Too cheesy? That’s okay, it needs to stick because its true!

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Episode 1: How I Leave School by 3:45 Everyday With My To-Do List Done

Teacher Productivity Style Quiz

Values List - from Dare to Lead by Brene Brown

Dare to Lead by Brene Brown

Happiness Project - book by Gretchen Rubin

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