I stopped using writing prompts and projects in my classroom. When I stopped telling my students WHAT to write about, amazing things happened in the classroom. Listen for the three reasons I ditched the prompts and answers to common questions including how to prep students for standardized writing tests.

08 Why I Ditched the Writing Prompts

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   Welcome to the podcast for elementary teachers who often feel burnt out and overwhelmed! In this episode, we are going to discuss the number one way to get more done during your prep time. As teachers, we are experts at planning every moment of our students' day, but we often forget to plan our own plan time. Instead of creating endless to-do lists that can make us feel busy instead of productive, we will be using a calendar and a 6 step process to help us prioritize our tasks and accomplish more.   By following this 6 step process, you can increase your productivity, decrease the number of hours you work, and still watch your students thrive.   Don't forget to order the brand-new book How to Love Teaching Again by visiting notsowimpyteacher.com/book. This book is a practical guide full of strategies that will help you beat teacher burnout and rekindle your love for teaching.   Thanks for listening to our podcast, and have a Not So Wimpy Day! 

From Overwhelmed to Accomplished: The Ultimate Guide to Making the Most of Your Prep Time

  Welcome to the Not So Wimpy Teacher Podcast, where we empower and inspire elementary school teachers to love teaching again! In this episode, we’re going to discuss how to define success as a teacher and work smarter, not harder. If you’re tired of feeling like you’re never doing enough, working too many hours, and sacrificing your personal life for your job, then this episode is for you. So, grab your coffee, take a seat, and let’s get started.  Segment 1: What Does It Mean to Be a Good Teacher? There are many misconceptions about what it means to be a good teacher. In this segment, we’ll explore some of these misconceptions and why they’re wrong. We’ll also discuss the importance of defining success as a personal goal, not a societal one.  Segment 2: How to Define Success as a Teacher in 5 Steps In this segment, we’ll walk through the 5 steps to defining success as a teacher. We’ll discuss how to identify the type of teacher you want to be, what results you want to achieve, and how many hours you want to work. We’ll also talk about how to find your “why” and use it as a motivator to work towards your definition of success.  Segment 3: Take Action to Achieve Your Definition of Success In the final segment, we’ll discuss how to take action to achieve your definition of success. We’ll talk about how to prioritize tasks and set boundaries with parents and administrators. We’ll also explore ways to spend less time lesson planning and grading, and more time focusing on what matters most.  I hope this episode has inspired you to define success on your terms and work smarter, not harder. If you want to learn more about how to love teaching again and get actionable strategies to increase productivity and work fewer hours, be sure to check out Jamie’s new book How to Love Teaching Again, available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Target.com. For more information about the book and to grab some free bonuses, visit notsowimpyteacher.com/book. Have a Not So Wimpy Day! 

Unleashing Your Potential: How to Be a Great Teacher on Your Own Terms

  Are you tired of spending hours upon hours lesson planning each week? In this episode, we're sharing 5 time-saving hacks that can help you cut the time it takes to lesson plan in half.  From batching your lesson plans to using routines, year-long bundles, lesson plan templates, and pacing guides, we've got you covered with strategies that can make lesson planning faster and easier.  Plus, don’t forget to check out my new book, How to Love Teaching Again, which is packed with hands-on strategies to help you be more productive, eliminate classroom chaos, and bring back the joy of teaching. You can find more information at  notsowimpyteacher.com/book.     Tune in to this episode to learn how to save time on lesson planning and enjoy teaching again! 

How to Cut Your Lesson Planning Time in Half: Time-Saving Strategies for Busy Teachers

  Welcome to this episode of our podcast for burnt out and overworked elementary school teachers. Today, we'll be discussing the importance of celebrating your wins each week and how this can be a catalyst for continued success in the classroom.  As teachers, it's easy for us to celebrate others but much tougher to celebrate ourselves. At the end of the day, we often find ourselves focusing on the negative - the unfinished to-do list, a student's poor assessment, or a rude email from a parent. It's important to remember that society, admin, and parents may not always remember to celebrate us, and even our own brain may not remember if we aren't intentional about it.  So, what's the solution? Creating an "accomplishment bank" and making a deposit into it every week. In this episode, I will give you simple directions for to get your accomplishment bank started.   Recognizing wins each week becomes a catalyst for continued success in the classroom. Our brain loves to tell us when we aren't good enough. It's time to remind your brain how incredibly amazing you really are. So, start making your own accomplishment bank and deposit into it every week.  And if you're looking for more practical strategies to beat teacher burnout and rekindle your love for teaching, be sure to check out my brand-new book, How to Love Teaching Again. Learn more at notsowimpyteacher.com/book.   This hands-on guide is full of strategies that will help you stay in the classroom while still having time for a personal life. You can find it wherever books are sold online or head to notsowimpyteacher.com/book to read more about the book and some fun bonuses we've created for you.  Thanks for tuning in and we'll catch you on the next episode. 

Become a Happier Teacher: Start Your Accomplishment Bank Today

Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast!   I have a really special treat for you today. If you are teaching students online, whether it’s virtual or hybrid, this is the episode for you.   Today’s guest, Jennifer Serravallo, is a literacy consultant and speaker and has three New York Times best selling books! Her latest book is called “Connecting with Students Online: Strategies for Remote Teaching and Learning.”   I asked Jen to join me today to talk through the idea of connecting with students online.    We’re covering everything from how to form relationships with students to having realistic expectations for yourself and your students during a pandemic.    Episode 94 Takeaways:  + When the tech isn’t working, stay calm, and remind yourself that you’re doing what you can. + Ask yourself if the things that are challenging you are within your control.  + Get your kids working off the screen as much as possible to combat Zoom fatigue.  + The more we can get kids off the screen, the more engaged they'll be. + It is possible to build relationships even though you’ve never met your students in person.  + Use breakout rooms to give students individual feedback. + Minimize the time you're spending on whole group lessons, and maximize your time with small group lessons.  + Make sure that the students in small groups belong together.  + Give yourself and your students grace.   I really hope that this episode gives you a little bit of hope. Teaching is going to look a little different right now, but you have amazing teaching strategies in your tool belt, and you can take so many of them into a virtual classroom with just a  few small tweaks!   I’d love to know what other ideas you come up with, so head over to our Instagram @notsowimpyteacher to share those with me!    Resources Mentioned:  www.jenniferserravallo.com  Join The Reading and Writing Strategies Community Facebook Group  Follow @JSerravallo on Twitter  Follow @jenniferserravallo on Instagram    Want more Not So Wimpy Teacher tips and tricks? Find tons of resources on our website at www.notsowimpyteacher.com and follow me on Instagram @notsowimpyteacher where I share daily! 

08 Why I Ditched the Writing Prompts

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