Send us a text

Feeling overwhelmed by all the prep work for centers, games, and task cards? You’re not alone! In this episode, I introduce you to the idea of starting a Future Teachers Club (or Teacher Assistant Club)—a simple, effective way to involve your students in prepping materials while giving them a sense of pride and responsibility. I share how to recruit student helpers, organize tasks, and keep it fun with tips that can make a huge difference—especially as test prep season looms. Tune in to learn how this win-win strategy can lighten your load and create a more engaging, learning-centered classroom!

Visit us at Podcast.minds-in-bloom.com

Send us a text

Hey there! In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my wildly popular mystery readers’ theaters and how they all started—with my daughter’s unforgettable murder mystery birthday party! 🎉 From the flapper-themed surprise to writing 20 extra characters by hand (yes, really!), I’ll share how these experiences inspired me to create engaging, low-prep classroom activities that students LOVE. Plus, I’ll spill the details on my Valentine's Day favorite, Who Gave Us Cupcakes?—a fun, educational way to celebrate with your class. 🍩 If you’re looking for an exciting way to boost reading and inferencing skills while keeping students hooked, you won’t want to miss this.

Tune in now and let’s chat mystery, fun, and making learning unforgettable!

https://minds-in-bloom.com/product/reader-theater-solve-a-mystery-valentines-day-activities-readers-theatre-scripts/ -- 50% OFF with coupon code: CUPCAKE

Visit us at Podcast.minds-in-bloom.com

Send us a text

In this episode, I’m joined by the amazing Caroline Koehler, a former kindergarten teacher and special educator with 20 years of experience. Caroline shares her journey from the classroom to becoming a successful teacher author, with hundreds of digital resources, a thriving teacher membership, and over 50,000 customers across 81 countries.

Caroline's passion for helping teachers stay organized, especially when working with high-needs students, shines through in our conversation. We dive into the biggest challenges general education teachers face when it comes to supporting students with special needs and managing the overwhelming amount of paperwork that comes with it.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Caroline's journey into special education and how she found her passion.
• The top 3 challenges gen ed teachers face when working with special needs students.
• Practical tips for staying organized and managing paperwork efficiently.
• How to create a behavior toolkit that actually works.
• Preventive classroom strategies to avoid future problems before they arise.

And of course, we wrap up with a fun farm-inspired game, where Caroline compares common teaching challenges to farm animals—trust me, you won’t want to miss her take on paperwork being like a baby donkey! 🐴

Links & Resources:

• Sign up for Caroline’s free special education training: celavora.com/special-education-trainings
• Visit Caroline's website: celavora.com
• Follow Caroline on social media:
  • Follow me on Facebook for updates and inspirationhttps://www.facebook.com/CarolineKoehler
  • TPTstore https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/caroline-koehler
  • Visit me at Pinteresthttps://www.pinterest.com/carolinemsk/
  • See me on TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@caroline.koehler
  • Send me a message on IGhttps://www.instagram.com/carolinemsk/
  • Swing by my YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCATkgk3-fK42QTXE-rCX5zw

Whether you're a special education teacher or a general ed teacher with special needs students in your class, this episode is packed with practical advice and encouragement to help you feel more confident and organized.

Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:20 Caroline's Background and Experience

02:43 Challenges in Special Education

07:45 Tips for Teachers

13:47 Seeking Support and Community

18:15 Upcoming Free Training

20:01 Fun Farm Animal Game

25:14 Conclusion and Farewell

Visit us at Podcast.minds-in-bloom.com

Send us a text

Welcome back to another episode of the Triple T Podcast! In today's episode, we are talking about teaching one of the most essential reading skills: inferencing. Using a fun and engaging method of analyzing found receipts, we explore how to help your students read between the lines and make educated guesses. Gathering discarded receipts, students can practice inferencing and characterization by creating backstories, writing letters, and even coming up with outrageous scenarios. This episode offers a range of creative exercises that will not only boost inferencing skills but also make learning incredibly fun and memorable. Join us for a nosy neighbor-inspired adventure that transforms an ordinary day into a great one!

00:00 Introduction to Inferencing

00:36 The Nosy Neighbor Approach

01:03 Using Receipts for Inferencing

02:19 Analyzing and Characterizing from Receipts

03:24 Creative Writing and Fun Activities

05:10 Extending the Lesson Beyond Receipts

06:57 Encouragement and Conclusion

Visit us at Podcast.minds-in-bloom.com

Send us a text

Welcome back, teacher friends! In this first episode of 2025, I'm excited to share a fun and easy no-prep activity to inspire your classroom: Goal Setting Bingo. Inspired by the viral '2024 bingo card' trend, this activity engages students in setting and achieving goals in a gamified way. It’s perfect for New Year’s resolutions and keeps students motivated throughout the year. I'll guide you through creating custom bingo cards that can include academic, personal growth, and kindness goals. This interactive and visual method ensures that goals are consistently worked towards and celebrated. Join me to start the year off strong with this meaningful classroom activity!

00:00 Welcome to the New Year 2025!

00:20 Introducing Goal Setting Bingo

01:04 Why Goal Setting Matters

02:23 How to Play Goal Setting Bingo

02:47 Customizing Your Goals

04:01 Kickstarting the Activity

04:45 Maintaining and Motivating

05:34 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Visit us at Podcast.minds-in-bloom.com

Send us a text

In today's episode, let's talk about the Million Dollar Project—a beloved classroom activity for December. Originating from my first year at Hassler, this project involves students spending a fictional million dollars by clipping and calculating their dream purchases, initially using magazines and later transitioning to digital options like Amazon. The activity enhances fourth-grade skills in subtracting decimals and evolves to include a social-emotional dimension where students buy thoughtful gifts for loved ones. Tune in for creative variations of this project that incorporate taxes and gift parameters to make it more engaging and educational for students.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:30 The Million Dollar Project: An Overview

01:45 Evolution of the Project: From Magazines to Digital

02:30 Adding a Social-Emotional Learning Component

04:00 Creative Variations and Challenges

06:06 Conclusion and Encouragement

Visit us at Podcast.minds-in-bloom.com

Send us a text

In this episode of The Teachers Teaching Teachers Podcast, Cassi chats with Melissa Campbell, a K-5 Math Specialist with the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI). Melissa shares her unique approach to blending math and literature to help students develop perseverance and problem-solving skills.

From using the humorous picture book Stuck by Oliver Jeffers to brainstorm strategies for getting “unstuck” in math, to her favorite tips for integrating reading into STEM lessons, Melissa’s insights are practical, inspiring, and easy to implement. Plus, hear about her favorite books to use in the classroom and how they can transform the way students see math.

Whether you’re looking to enhance your math lessons, explore cross-curricular connections, or simply get inspired by fresh teaching ideas, this episode has something for you!

Links and Resources:

• Connect with Melissa on Twitter: @MelAGCampbell or @AMSTI4all
• Learn more about AMSTI: amsti.org

00:00 Introduction and Special Guest Announcement

01:01 Melissa Campbell's Background and Role

03:32 Integrating Reading and Math in the Classroom

06:55 Favorite Books for Teaching Math

10:28 Incorporating Literature into Math Lessons

21:24 Fun Math Story Problems Based on Books

25:21 Final Tips and Contact Information

Visit us at Podcast.minds-in-bloom.com

Send us a text

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow educator, Mikey Sivert, a passionate fifth-grade teacher and expert in Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). With November here, we’re chatting all about the theme of gratitude and exploring how to make it a genuine and lasting part of our classrooms.

Mikey shares practical ways to introduce gratitude to students, build buy-in, and keep the practice alive beyond just the holiday season. From creative activities like gratitude circles to tying gratitude into other subjects, Mikey’s insights are both easy to implement and deeply impactful.

Plus, he’s offering a special set of resources to help you bring these ideas into your own classroom. Join us for a conversation filled with inspiration, laughter, and actionable ideas to create a more thankful classroom all year long.

@MikeyDTeach
www.MikeyDTeach.com
FREE RESOURCES: https://hello.mikeydteach.com/the-science-of-gratitude

Time Stamps:

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

01:43 Mikey's Background and Passion for SEL

02:23 The Importance of Gratitude

03:58 Teaching Gratitude to Students

05:08 Integrating Gratitude into Daily Routines

10:00 Gratitude Projects and Activities

16:03 Gratitude in Science Lessons

20:03 Final Thoughts and Farewell

21:21 Fun Gratitude Game

26:54 Closing Remarks and Resources

Visit us at Podcast.minds-in-bloom.com

Send us a text

Are you struggling to fit science into your already-packed classroom schedule? 🌟 
In this episode, I chat with science expert Shari Stewart, Science Coordinator at Manzano Day School, who shares her tried-and-true tips for making science fun, engaging, and easy to manage! With over 20 years of experience, Shari reveals her secrets to hands-on labs that don’t require tons of prep or materials, plus clever ways to integrate science with other subjects like reading and math. 🧪✨

Join us as we discuss practical ways to prioritize science, engage students with everyday materials, and keep the joy of discovery alive in the classroom. We even play a fun game where Shari shows how to turn household items into mini science labs that students will love. Don't miss this episode if you're looking for tips to make science an exciting and achievable part of your curriculum! 🎧

🔗 Download a list of ways to integrate science content into your lesson plans!
https://bit.ly/ShariScience
🔗 Download a Weather vs Climate Activity
https://bit.ly/ShariWeather
🔗 Download a Fossils Activity
https://bit.ly/ShariGummyBears

Visit us at Podcast.minds-in-bloom.com

Send us a text

In this episode, I’m joined by Jeannine Schneider, a teacher with 20 years of classroom experience and a master at adding seasonal fun to her lessons—without sacrificing learning. Jeannine shares all about Boo-grams, a creative way to spread kindness and build community in the classroom that might not be what you think! 

If you’re scrambling for a last-minute, no-prep Halloween idea that won’t add stress to your day, this episode is for you.

Plus, stick around for a fun game of ‘What’s Scarier?’ where Jeannine and I talk about some of the spookiest moments teachers face. Let's get started!

Visit us at Podcast.minds-in-bloom.com