The Classroom Commute

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN… END?I began this podcast in January of 2020 - ya know - before the world as we knew it changed. When I began the podcast almost 3 years ago - I could not have predicted all the changes that have occurred between then and now.There were the obvious changes like the changes brought on by the pandemic. There were so many changes in the way your classrooms were run, and the changes in the way you had to teach your students. But - teachers pivoted...

YOU HAVEN’T EXPERIENCED BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT LIKE THIS BEFORE…But you’re about to.Teachers know that success in the classroom begins with classroom management.And classroom management starts with relationships.Without building positive relationships with students, you’ll be swimming upstream all year long.Shawn Young, CEO of Classcraft (a behavior management tool), knows this all too well. As a student himself, he often felt bored with school and didn’t feel a sense of belonging. W...

FEELING LIKE YOUR CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT STRATEGY COULD USE A LITTLE FINE-TUNING?Well - you’re in luck! Today I’ve brought on Dr. Lori Friesen to share her most effective classroom management hacks that any teacher can implement immediately to start seeing results.And Dr. Lori knows what she’s talking about. She’s been around the (classroom) block a time or two!Dr. Lori Friesen taught for 10 years in Canada and overseas in Hong Kong and Japan before completing her PhD in Elementary ...

CALLING ALL CHROMEBOOK CLASSROOMS!Using classroom technology can be an amazing way to enhance your students’ learning experience — but that doesn’t mean it comes without its challenges.When it comes to using technology with elementary students, teachers often find themselves frustrated and overwhelmed when students lack basic technology skills (20 minutes to login, anyone?), or don’t know where to find important websites needed at a small-group center.That’s why I brought on John Sowash - Chr...

BRAND NEW TO STEM INSTRUCTION?Or - have your tried implementing STEM projects in your classroom but find it results in chaos? (you’re not alone!)Then, allow me to introduce you to Naomi Meredith - former classroom teacher turned K-5 STEM coach.Naomi knows the feeling of overwhelm all to well when it comes to STEM instruction. After accepting a position as a STEM coach, she was thrusted into a new building, a new STEM classroom — and given NO curriculum.But along the way, Naomi has learn...

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT!But you might not have thought to use THIS particular app in the classroom.What is it? Google Keep!If you haven’t thought about using the Google Keep app for your productivity and organizational needs in the classroom - then buckle up - all that is about to change!Today’s guest is none other than the amazing Michelle Emerson from Pocketful of Primary.Michelle Emerson has taught 2nd grade and 4th grade for seven years and now supports teachers around the world by ...

DO YOU EVER HEAR EDUCATIONAL BUZZ WORDS AND THINK “WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?”Am I doing that? Or even… do I HAVE to do that? Am I doing it right? Often times we hear buzz words and teachers groan because they’re afraid that that “buzz word” is likely going to bring about change in their classroom. And change can be scary.Maybe that’s how you feel when you hear the phrase 21st century classroom.I say it all the time here on the podcast and YOU might hear it and think… What does that even...

We’ve heard it said: Relationships are everything.It’s a bold statement, but - man, is it ever true…ESPECIALLY when it comes to teaching!If the pandemic and the past two years have taught us anything, it’s that teaching and the success of students is more than just the academics that are taught. At least - academics are only a piece of the puzzle.And if academics are like a puzzle... then the teacher-student relationship is the table that you build the puzzle on.And, the conversat...

WE ARE ALL GUILTY OF BEING THE LAST CAR IN THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT FROM TIME TO TIME.There’s always one more thing to do. One more set of copies to make. One more…one more.And then it becomes a pattern. Staying late at school night after night… Bringing home work to complete on the weekends becomes the norm.Before you know it - you’re THAT teacher who has no boundaries and feels like their work day as no end and no beginning.Today on the podcast, we’re going to talk about som...

AS TEACHERS, WE ALL HAVE STORIES TO TELL. When you start out as a first year teacher, you're just beginning a the first chapter. And boy, oh boy the story of teaching sure has its turns, its ups and downs, and its surprising events! Sometimes our stories feel like that dark and stormy night ... (2020 anyone?)While other times you get to play the hero and win the battle! My story as a teacher sure has been all that and more. When I first began teaching 2006, I had N...