Teaching to the TOP

Teaching to the TOP episodes:

• 04.25.2024

  226. Dealing With Decision Fatigue: 4 Ways to Defog Your Brain

  According to data from busyteacher.org, teachers make an average of at least 1,500 educational decisions each school day. This means that in a six-hour day, teachers make four educational decisions every minute. Seems hard to believe? Well, when you consider...

  
• 04.18.2024

  225. Panic Attacks: A Vulnerable Chat About Our Experiences

  Increased work loads, frustration, overwhelm can all lead to the one thing we never want to experience: panic attacks. We get real vulnerable and talk about our own experiences with panic attacks and the steps we’ve taken to help overcome...

  
• 04.11.2024

  224. 10 Stress Busters for Teachers

  This time of the year brings on a LOT of stress. You’ve got testing around the corner, assessments, standards that need to be taught before the end of year, field trips, and so much more! So it’s important to have...

  
• 04.04.2024

  223. #GOALS Check-In: First Quarter Review of Our Goals for 2024

  Goals are a great way to make sure you are on the right track to what you want to accomplish in 2024. This year we are approaching our goals a little differently in hopes that we are more likely to...

  
• 03.28.2024

  222. How to CURE Spring Fever as a Teacher

  The birds are chirping, days are getting longer, and the leaves are beginning to fill the trees once again. Spring is officially in the air that means we are not only battling allergies but also fatigue. Spring fever is a...

  
• 03.21.2024

  221. The Power of Journaling to Stay Productive

  Journaling is a topic we often hear for maintaining a healthy wellness of mind/ spirit, but how does journaling effect our productivity? After all, we need our minds to stay sharp in order to tackle the everyday tasks. In this...

  
• 03.14.2024

  220. Get In Our Brains: How We Each Approach Life Differently as "Goal-Oriented" and "Free Flowing" People

  They say opposites attract and in the case of Michelle and Bridget’s friendship and partnership, this could not be more true. It is clear that with over 200 episodes, Bridget and Michelle approach many things the same and many other...

  
• 03.07.2024

  219. A Weekend in BOTH our lives: How Do We Structure Our "Downtime" and Enjoy Our Weekend?

  Michelle and Bridget are changing things up with the week in the life episodes and instead bringing you a weekend in the life! In this episode, Bridget and Michelle will unpack their weekend plans, how they organize their free time...

  
• 02.29.2024

  218. Google Chrome HACKS for Teachers to Increase Efficiency and Make Life Easier

  We are back with the BEST hacks you might not have known about for Google Chrome. In this episode, Michelle walks Bridget through 10 simple but impactful hacks for using google chrome to its maximum. From restoring your exited tasks...

  
• 02.22.2024

  217. Information Overload: Our Best Tips and Tricks for Managing All the "New" Education Initiatives

  With education taking a complete overhaul with its practices and districts feeling the need to add too many initiatives onto the plate of their teachers, everyone is feeling overwhelmed. While this push for improving the education of students is not...

  
• 02.15.2024

  216. How to Manage All of the Behind the Scenes of Your Teacher Life

  Feeling effective and in control of your classroom is much more than planning lessons, having an organized space, and building a relationship with your students. You also need to manage the behind the scenes that helps build success in the...

  
• 02.08.2024

  215. Recess Digress: AI, What Education Truly Needs, & TPT Drama

  Back by popular demand, we are doing another Recess Digress episode. In this series we unpack three topics (within the field of education or not) and share our honest thoughts. Picture us as your teacher buddies, standing out during recess...

  
• 02.01.2024

  214. Plan With Us: Preparing for the Month Ahead With Goals, Habits, and Schedules

  Come plan with us as we look at the month ahead and determine our goals, habits and schedules! You either love planning or hate it, but there is no argument that sitting down with your planning and being intentional with...

  
• 01.25.2024

  213. A Week in Bridget’s Life: Behind the Scenes Prioritizing What Truly Matters

  Bridget is back with her week in her life. Join her as she shares her biggest takeaways from the book Essentialism by Greg McKeown. She shares her motto for hot to prioritize the essentials in life, how her mindset has...

  
• 01.18.2024

  212. A Week in Michelle’s Life: Behind the Scenes Prioritizing What Truly Matters

  Join Michelle Emerson in a week in her life as she works to tackle her to-do list and prepare for her upcoming trip. You’ll hear how she has taken the strategies from the book, Essentialism by Greg McKeown, and implemented...

  
• 01.11.2024

  211. BOOK REVIEW: Essentialism (How to Prioritize What Truly Matters)

  It’s January and that means a new book review! Every year we have 2 book reviews that we share on the podcast. The first book is done in January and the second in July. For this month’s book review we...

  
• 01.04.2024

  210. #GOALS: What We Are Doing Differently in 2024 to Get #RESULTS

  There are so many different twists on “New Year's Resolutions' '... Some people don’t do them at all because they think you should start fresh every day. Some people pick one big goal for the year, some people create mini...

  
• 12.28.2023

  209. Celebrating 4 Years of TOP TEACHING!

  We are celebrating FOUR years of Teaching to the TOP by reflecting on 2023. Thank you to everyone who is subscribed and supporting us on this journey. It truly would not be possible without your support.  In this episode we are...

  
• 12.21.2023

  208. Bridget and Michelle’s Secret Santa Gift Exchange

  Tis’ the season for another gift giving episode. We are continuing with our yearly tradition where we each send our gifts via the mail. It’s time to get a little bit festive, so put on your Christmas sweater, grab a...

  
• 12.14.2023

  207. Our 2023 TOP Favorites for Time Management, Organization, and Productivity

  We are getting close to wrapping up the 2023 year and what better way to do it than by reflecting on our TOP favorites! In this episode we each share our favorite strategies or products for helping to better maintain...

  
• 12.07.2023

  206. Setting Boundaries During the Holidays & Winter Party Hacks

  We’ve got a two for one special today!  We all need reminders just like our students need reminders with how to perform the simplest of tasks. In this case, we want to share some simple reminders that will help get you...

  
• 11.30.2023

  205. Current Trends: Must or Bust (Are They Worth Your Time and Effort?)

  TikTok, Reels, and Facebook have us all trying new things that we’ve never seen before. But are these “hacks” even good? From productivity, organization, to food hacks, there are so many trends that are taking over our feeds. In this possible...

  
• 11.23.2023

  204. This or That: Thanksgiving Themed Chat

  Happy Thanksgiving Y’all!! In this special holiday episode we are getting chatty with a game of This or That. Join us  as we share our favorite holiday foods and activities. Thank you to this community for supporting and following our...

  
• 11.16.2023

  203. Tackle the Paper Monster: Step-By-Step Tutorial for Digitizing Physical Papers

  Is paper ever going to make its way out of education? The answer to that question is probably not. Dealing with piles of paper is inevitable but it can absolutely be maintained and minimized. We’ve talked a lot about going...

  
• 11.09.2023

  202. Welcome to Our Cribs: A Behind the Scenes Look at Our Home Work Spaces

  You are personally invited to our CRIBS. Not literally, but in this episode we are giving you a behind the scenes of our personal work space. Getting a peek into various types of work spaces can give you inspiration and...

  
• 11.02.2023

  201. How to Get a Zero Inbox (& Keep It Clear)

  Open up your laptop and look at how many emails you have in your inbox. 10? 20? 50? 100? More? Emails can feel incredibly overwhelming. You have responses to send, action items to tick off your list, and some that...

  
• 10.26.2023

  200. Bridget and Michelle Play 20 Questions: Celebrating 200 Episodes

  HAPPY 200 EPISODES!!!

  
• 10.19.2023

  199. The Consistency Conundrum: Why It’s So Hard to Stick To Our Habits

  Consistency is a word that we hear on a daily basis. We need consistency in our routines, in the habits that we want to build, and with the projects we are working on. It seems like everything around us requires...

  
• 10.12.2023

  198. Recess Digress: Back to School Shopping, Professional Development, & Must Watch Shows

  New series… who dis!? One of our favorite times we had while in the classroom was recess. It was a time to decompress, relax, and get chatty with our coworkers. In this new series of Recess Digress, we want to...

  
• 10.05.2023

  197. Stop Self-Sabotaging: How to Get Out of Your Own Way

  How many times have you started to work on a project, or even considered a new project, and quickly felt that self-doubt that you are not the right person to be doing this? Yup, we’ve all experienced this in some...

  
• 09.28.2023

  196. Our FAVORITE Systems for Keeping Your Life Together as a Teacher

  We made it to the end of the month and we are wrapping up our series on systems with what we think will be your favorite episode from the series. In this episode we break down our individual favorite systems...

  
• 09.21.2023

  195. 3 Must-Have Teacher Systems for an Efficient Classroom

  “I’m stressed.” “I can’t get it all done.” “I don’t know how other teachers do it all.” Are these sentences that you may have said or even thought? Chances are that one big reason you are thinking these things is because you lack...

  
• 09.14.2023

  194. 3 Must-Have Student Systems for an Efficient Classroom

  Teachers are not the ONLY ones who need systems! Helping your students learn 21st century skills that will help them throughout their time in school and beyond (Buzz Lightyear moment), should always be something we strive to incorporate into our...

  
• 09.07.2023

  193. Systems 101: How to Increase Your Efficiency Through Step-By-Step Processes

  If you’re someone who has started a new position, teaching a new grade level, or even was introduced to something “new '' that you are required to implement into your classroom, this episode is just the thing to help you...

  
• 08.31.2023

  192. The 3 Step Secret to Mastering Your Motivation

  For many, motivation can come in waves. There are days when you feel like you’re getting everything on your list done and there are other days when you can barely manage to open up your to-do list. But why does...

  
• 08.24.2023

  191. A Week in Bridget’s Life (Summer Edition): Starting a New Position!

  Starting a new position can be overwhelming. It means change and bumpy times as you learn to how to navigate new waters. In this episode join Bridget as she shares her new position and the steps she is taking to...

  
• 08.17.2023

  190. Set Up Your Planner for the School Year in 10 Easy Steps!

  It’s back-to-school season and that means that it is time to break open your planners and start planning! Setting up your planners can not only give you the nostalgia of going back to school as a kid, but also set...

  
• 08.10.2023

  189. Your Ultimate Guide to Teaching Procedures at the Beginning of the Year

  The beginning of the year has a mixture of emotions that come along with it. You can feel excited to build a routine, sad to be losing your summer time, and anxious because you have a lot to do in...

  
• 08.03.2023

  188. A Week in Michelle’s Life (Summer Edition): Bridget’s Visit to Austin!

  Bridget is in Austin! In this week in the life, Michelle shares how she gets some things check off her list while prepping for Bridget to come to stay in Austin. Join her as she shares the shenanigans that are...

  
• 07.27.2023

  187. How Monthly Menstrual Cycles Affect Your Productivity

  This episode is definitely one that is geared towards our menstruating friends, but it can also serve those who live with, work with women who menstruate. We totally understand this might be an uncomfortable topic but the truth is that...

  
• 07.20.2023

  186. Goal Check In: The Halfway Point (Are We On Track to Meet Our Goals?)

  We talk a lot about setting goals on this podcast, and it’s because creating goals (both personally or professionally) act as a lesson plan for your year. You’re able to focus on the things that matter the most to you...

  
• 07.13.2023

  185. The Best Strategies for Staying Focused Without Getting Distracted (Implementing the Deep Work Book)

  Taking theory and putting it into practice is a lot harder than it looks. Oftentimes we are left with the big question… but where do we go next? We recently read the book Deep Work by Cal Newport and we...

  
• 07.06.2023

  184. BOOK REVIEW: Deep Work (Our Honest Thoughts)

  How much are you able to truly focus on the task at hand? Do you feeling like your attention is constantly being pulled in a million directions? We all experience what it is like to "multi-task" (although this has been...

  
• 06.29.2023

  183. Books We Are Reading This Summer!

  Summer is the time of the year when we get to catch up on all the books we were not able to read during the school year. And this year, we’ve been enjoying reading more than ever before. From leisure...

  
• 06.22.2023

  182. Top 5 Tips for Structuring Your Summer With Kids

  We’ve got a new episode on a topic that we have never covered before on Teaching on the Double, but we recognize that many of our TOP Teachers are also moms. While we love spending time with our kids over...

  
• 06.15.2023

  181. Our Summer Morning Routines: What We Do Differently

  We often talk about the seasons in life that we experience. These can be BIG events like having a baby, moving to a new state, or even experiencing a loss. Then again, seasons can have a slight change. For example,...

  
• 06.08.2023

  180. Quick Tips for Teacher Time Sucking Hurdles (Part 3)

  We’ve been collecting Time Sucking Hurdles for 3 years now! For those of you that are new to our podcast, a time sucking hurdle are the tasks or distractions that suck up all of our time from what we really...

  
• 06.01.2023

  179. What Are We Up to This Summer? (2023)

  Every year we take some time at the start of summer to share the things we are doing. Think of this as a little goal setting moment between friends.  This year, is no different, but we do have some very exciting...

  
• 05.25.2023

  178. Make Sure You Do THIS Before the School Year Ends

  As the school year approaches, you're busy cleaning up your classroom, managing students, and submitting all your final paperwork. This time of the year can be stressful, but we want you to pause and think for a moment. What about...

  
• 05.18.2023

  177. What to Let Go Of When You’re Feeling Exhausted (& Can’t Do It All)

  It's that time of the year where exhaustion is setting in. We are getting to the final few weeks of school and it might seem more and more challenging to do even the smallest of tasks.  In this episode we are...