The EDVERYTHING Podcast: For Everything Education

This week, Danielle and Nicole reflect on what it was like to be new to the classroom, and the habits and decisions they made as new and eager teachers. Danielle and Nicole have different levels of teaching experience and roads that led them to the classroom, but, they have one thing in common: the many decisions they made as first year teachers that they simply wouldn’t do again. Having recently made a transition to a new school, Nicole is speaks about the many emotions and challenges associated with being new to a school setting, and how this change has prompted her to revisit what it was like as a first year teacher.  In this episode you’ll hear:  When and why it’s ok to say “no”  The importance of teacher socialization and community  First year teacher habits to avoid  How to utilize your voice and point of view no matter your experience level Links mentioned:  Episode 15: The How and Why of Building Meaningful Student Connections with Janelle Everetts https://anchor.fm/nicole-clark/episodes/Episode-15-The-How-and-Why-of-Building-Meaningful-Student-Connections-with-Janelle-Everetts-e2sb31 Episode 22: Time, Tasks, & Trauma: Troubleshooting Common Teacher Stressors with Amanda Murtaugh, LMHP https://anchor.fm/nicole-clark/episodes/Episode-22-Time--Tasks---Trauma-Troubleshooting-Common-Teacher-Stressors-with-Amanda-Murtaugh--LMHP-e38ur9 Episode 23: From Attending to Presenting: Getting the Most from Education Conferences with Ashlyn Ellsworth https://anchor.fm/nicole-clark/episodes/Episode-23-From-Attending-to-Presenting-Getting-the-Most-from-Education-Conferences-with-Ashlyn-Ellsworth-e3b325 PS - When we asked our listeners to best define their first year of teaching in only a few words, one of our favorite responses was “tomorrow is a new day!” 

We hear so much about personalized learning, but how do we actually achieve this and make that learning visible? Kristin Yann of @Schoolandthecity has figured out how to do just that—in a way that leaves fellow teachers impressed and students begging for more! In this week’s episode, Danielle and Nicole talk to Kristin, a 3rd grade teacher who has drawn upon her background training with gifted students to address the needs of all learners in her elementary ed classroom.  What started as a way to augment the social studies and science resources that were lacking in her own school evolved into an entire year long method of assessment that students loved: choice boards. Since successfully developing choice boards for her own students, Kristin has gone on to create choice boards for other teachers and grade levels. Kristin has become an expert on crafting robust, relevant, and student-centered choice boards that engage all learners and allow students to showcase their own unique talents. She explains how this type of project can empower students, giving them flexibility while allowing teachers the chance to challenge students to reach their own potential.  Kristin shares tips for helping us make our own choice boards so we, too, can watch our students thrive, eager to display the work that they have created. Kristin has generously put together a checklist to help other teachers design choice boards that work for their own classrooms. Kristin shares her system for putting together effective choice boards, and with this handy checklist, you can start making these tools for your own students immediately. Score yours here. In this episode, you’ll hear: The biggest misconception and mistakes teachers make when it comes to choice boards How to make choices that are interdisciplinary and engaging How to address multiple intelligences and utilize Bloom’s taxonomy (and how your students can benefit from recognizing Bloom’s, too) Why students and teachers both benefit from choice boards Links: Kristin's Choice Board Blog Post http://schoolandthecityblog.blogspot.com/2018/07/3-reasons-to-use-choice-boards-in-your.html Kristin’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/schoolandthecity/ Kristin’s website http://schoolandthecityblog.blogspot.com

For most educators, being a classroom teacher is vital to our identity to the extent that it may even seem impossible to imagine our classrooms without us.  However, circumstances may arise when you need to step away from the classroom.  While most teachers have had to use the occasional personal day or sick day, for those dealing with a longer term health situation, like a planned surgery, or stepping into a new life stage, like becoming a parent, you may find yourself coming to terms with the fact that you may be spending weeks or months away from your students and your school. In this week’s episode, Danielle and Nicole discuss what goes into setting your classroom up for success during a long term, planned teacher absence.  With an upcoming maternity leave planned, Danielle shares what her experience has been like as she prepares to leave her classroom in someone else’s hands.    Danielle explains how she and her sub worked together to ensure a smooth transition for her students, and she shares the 7 questions that you should ask yourself so the change occurs as seamlessly as possible for your students, your sub, and yourself. If you loved the 7 questions we’ve outlined in the episode and you want a copy as you prepared for your own leave, get yours for free in our resource library! What you’ll hear in this episode: -Considerations about how to break the news to your students-- and how Danielle did it -How to signal that you and the sub are on the same team, sending signals of trust to your students -What information/documents to share with the sub to make the transition smoother -7 questions to ask yourself to help set yourself, your students, and your sub up for success Links mentioned in this episode: Episode 17: How To Make A Solid Sub Plan In 20 Minutes Or Less With Nicki Dingraudo https://www.edverything.com/podcast/2019/sub-plans-in-20-min-or-less

Are you itching for a change?  If one of the reasons you were initially drawn to education as a profession was that you thrive off of being in an atmosphere that is different every day, just a few short years in, you may start to feel doubt regarding your career choice. While some educators love honing their craft in one grade level and relish the opportunity to iterate year after year, others, like Heather Planchon of The Primary Party find this draining and find themselves questioning what to do next. In this week’s episode, Danielle and Nicole interview Heather regarding how she successfully made the transition from teaching kindergarten to teaching 4th graders.  Heather shares candidly about the struggle she had coming to terms with a lack of satisfaction at a job she was really good at (and one she had known she had wanted for a long time).  She talks about the self doubt she experienced making such a big leap in grade level, the support systems that helped her throughout, and why in the end, she feels like it was the best decision for her.  Heather’s story reminds us not to settle just because something is comfortable and illustrates that by being honest with ourselves and articulating our goals to the right people, we can find ourselves in the places and grades where we feel we belong. In this episode, you’ll hear: -Why you shouldn’t ignore your gut feeling -How transitioning into a new grade can bring up many of those same “first year teacher” feelings all over again -The pros and cons of making a big grade level switch -5 steps to make even the biggest transitions as seamless as possible Links: Heather's Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/stories/theprimaryparty/ Heather's TpT store:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Primary-Party-Heather-Planchon Heather's Blog:  https://theprimaryparty.com/

Whether intentionally or inadvertently, students can be a large cause of teacher stress.  But what causes student stress?  While many teachers might immediately assume homework, friends, and tests— the things that students complain about most— this does not encompass the full scope of the most common stressors that students may be dealing with.  As teachers, we want what is best for our students and to provide them with the tools they need to be successful.  In order to do that, we need to investigate the top sources of student stress and find solutions to troubleshoot each. In this week’s episode, Danielle and Nicole bring back friend of the show Amanda Murtaugh, M.A., LMHP to discuss what is really weighing heavily on the minds of our students.  As a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner who has worked with many students as clients, Amanda explains what she sees as the 4 main sources of student stress.  She provides tons of detail and examples to show how everything from extra responsibilities at home to parental attitudes towards academics to social media addiction and everything in between can play a big role in terms of potential obstacles to student success.   If you loved the Tips for Teacher mentioned in today’s episode, we’ve designed a free template of the questions for you to use with your own students!  Just print and go, already sized for a standard 5 x 3 index card.  Get yours for free in our resource library What You’ll Hear: -Popular misconceptions about student stressors -The top 4 sources of student stress -How to access what resources students can access and truly need -How (and when) to use “Tips for Teacher” or other self-advocacy tools that can empower students -How invitational language and believing what you are told can have a powerful, long-term healing impact -How to incorporate appropriate online etiquette, technology usage, and the 5 C’s of Positive Youth Development in your classroom Links mentioned:  Amanda's LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-murtaugh-b665837a/ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0044118X17697850?journalCode=yasa https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/consumer/family-safety/6-tips-to-help-protect-and-improve-your-childs-online-reputation/ Melissa Diebel 

As teachers, we are always looking to improve our classrooms and our lessons.  While our fellow colleagues at school, images on Pinterest, and suggestions from social media are all a great place to start, there is nothing quite like in-person, live conferences to foster genuine connections and to hear about pioneering practices that can be applied in our school districts.  But attending a conference, let alone presenting your own ideas at one, may seem so intimidating that too many of us don’t give this invaluable professional development experience a chance. In this week’s episode, Danielle and Nicole interview Ashlyn Ellsworth of @TheCreativeClassroom, a teacher, social media influencer, and top-tier conference presenter.  Ashlyn explains how she naturally fell into the world of teaching-- as well as her impromptu journey into the realm of being a teacherpreneur.  From starting a TpT store and helping design t-shirts to fearlessly attending a conference on her own to being recruited to speak at the prominent (and growing) Teach Your Heart Out conference, Ashlyn demonstrates how connection and networking have changed the shape of her career-- and, as a result of her presentations, classrooms around the world.  Ashlyn gives us the roadmap for how to get involved at conferences, from mindset shifts to the logistics of funding a trip to a conference, so new and veteran teachers alike can reap all the benefits that in-person conferences have to offer. In this episode, you’ll hear: -Who is the right type of person to attend/present at a conference -Exactly what to look for when selecting which conferences to attend -Ways to get involved (even if you don’t want to present) at the conference that suits you -How to fund your way to the conference you have your eye on -The importance of networking, both online and in person People and links mentioned: Ashlyn's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecreativeclassroom/ Ashlyn's linkinprofile:  https://linkinprofile.com/thecreativeclassroom The Wright Stuff Chics instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewrightstuffchics/ Apples and ABCs instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/applesandabcs/ https://www.donorschoose.org https://www.teachyourheartoutcon.com

Teaching can be an incredibly stressful profession. Balancing work/home life, consistently and fairly managing your classroom, and creating engaging lesson plans only scratch the surface of the multitude of stressful situations that teachers must navigate daily. Teachers are problem solvers, and as a result, many of us have devised some coping mechanisms to help us deal with the stress that we regularly encounter. Getting the insight of a mental health professional, however, can help us. Danielle’s long-time friend Amanda Murtaugh is a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner specializing in the intersection of psychology and education. Amanda has worked with both the K-12 population as well as in high ed, assisting both students and faculty handle sources of strain and pressure. In today’s episode, Amanda outlines the most common sources of stress for teachers that she has observed from working with clients. For each of the top 3, Amanda provides several different techniques for how to tackle the issues at hand, giving teachers an invaluable set of tools to draw upon for when stress inevitably pops up in our lives and classrooms. In this episode, you’ll hear: -How a lack of boundaries causes burdens on our time and emotions -How the sheer number of voices from students with diverse identities and beliefs can lead to uncomfortable classroom situations -How those in helping fields are susceptible to vicarious trauma -Action steps for creating appropriate boundaries (even in small spaces) -Tips for making classrooms that are inclusive and reflective spaces -Evaluations to assess yourself and the resources you may not even know are at your disposal Links mentioned:  https://socialwork.buffalo.edu/content/dam/socialwork/home/self-care-kit/self-care-assessment.pdf

 How can you set not only your students but also yourself up for long term success in the classroom? How do you create a classroom that you look forward to walking into day after day and year after year?  Emily Aierstok is an educator with an impressive resume that demonstrates that she is both an expert in her subject matter as well as authority on all matters in the classroom. In a field with a reputation for burnout, Emily stands out. She has worked at the same school, teaching 7th grade ELA for seventeen years and her passion for it is evident to this day. Emily is a self-proclaimed “curriculum junkie” and she uses this interest to plan engaging, meaningful lessons that keep challenging her students and to see what they are capable of.  In this episode, you’ll hear -how to adapt to curriculum changes  -how to plan lessons that are both fun and keep students on their toes  -why making something relevant to students doesn’t mean compromising standards or expectations  Links mentioned:  Emily's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/readitwriteitlearnit/ Emily's Blog https://www.readitwriteitlearnit.com/ Emily's TpT Store https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Read-It-Write-It-Learn-It

Cheating in schools is nothing new, but the who and how of cheating seems to be changing. In today's episode, Danielle and Nicole discuss some staggering statistics as awareness is the first step of addressing this widespread problem before delving into some strategies students are using to get away with academic dishonesty. When it comes to cheating, technology can be a double edged sword. While we have more resources to help us detect or prevent cheating, students also have more access to tools that make cheating easier than ever. In this episode, we discuss 5 ways students are cheating right now based on information provided in testimonials given by students and colleagues. For each modern day cheating technique, we feature tips for detecting or preventing this issue before it enters your classroom. In this episode, you’ll hear How rampant cheating is, where it may start, and what types of students are now most likely to be involved (and their justification) What types of work are most susceptible to having answer keys found online What items students absolutely should not have on their desks How to prevent students from changing answers after assessments have been handed back How air dropping photos and AirPods in particular can be used for cheating Links mentioned http://www.glass-castle.com/clients/www-nocheating-org/adcouncil/research/cheatingfactsheet.html  https://www.plagiarism.org/article/plagiarism-facts-and-stats https://www.instagram.com/missconnellsclassroom/ https://www.instagram.com/edverythingeducation bitl.y/edverythinglibrary

 You’ve heard of TeachersPayTeachers. You may have even purchased products from there or downloaded a free piece of content from someone else’s store. Maybe you’ve even flirted with the idea of opening your own—but something has always prevented you from taking that leap. This episode is exactly what you need to hear and gives you the exact steps to take so you can finally start selling your teaching resources on this lucrative platform. Yari Aguilu makes a strong case for why selling on TpT can be a rewarding experience, both financially and personally. With a promotion having removed her from the day to day interactions with students in the classroom, Yari still finds fulfillment when seeing her resources being used by teachers and students around the world. Yari has been a successful seller on the platform for years now. She explains how her process and her skills have evolved and draws upon her own experience to give pointers and confidence to those of us ready to begin our own journey on TpT. What you’ll hear in this episode: -Concerns you have about selling on TpT that are holding you back—and why they are totally unwarranted  -What makes someone a good candidate for opening a store? What kind of person should consider selling on TpT? -How to pick a name, an account type, and a freebie to get you started -Why branding matters (and how to make yours cohesive) -Why growing your social media presence is an essential part of becoming a success on TpT Links mentioned: Yari's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweettoothteaching/ Yari's TpT store:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Sweet-Tooth-Teaching Yari's Blog:  http://www.sweettoothteaching.com/2018/11/getting-started-on-teachers-pay-teachers.html

What is the chapter of the book or the unit in your curriculum map that fills you with a sense of dread—the topic that if you could, you would entirely cut out or skip? While this is sure to vary depending on the age group you serve and the discipline you are in, almost invariably something will have jumped to mind immediately. How do you deal with teaching something that your heart just isn’t in? How do you teach a lesson on something that even you as the instructor dislike? In this week’s episode, Nicole and Danielle discuss exactly that. We have come up with 5 questions to ask yourself to help you diagnose the exact reasons why you are feeling this way towards this topic. By pinpointing the source of the tension, you can apply the tips we provide for how to address the underlying stressors so that way you can plan an effective lesson and leave the negativity behind. In this episode, you’ll hear: -Our definition of what it means to hate a particular topic -Why you need to acknowledge your feeling towards the topic before you start to teaching it -The 5 reasons why you might dislike a topic— and how to troubleshoot each before stepping foot in the classroom Links mentioned: https://www.instagram.com/thetownieteacher/ Episode 11: Our interview with Hayley Cain 

Being a teacher is a stressful job, and this feels especially true when we are experiencing illness. While in most professions informing your employer that you will not be in on a given day is all you need to do before you head back to bed to get the rest your body desperately needs, for classroom teachers, our obligation is typically far from over. Between feelings of guilt over letting down the students who most need us there and overwhelm at the prospect of spontaneously coming up with an effective sub plan, you may feel tempted to just go in as it seems like an easier option than staying home. But it doesn’t have to be this way— and it has nothing to do with falling back on the irrelevant emergency sub plan you had to submit months ago. In today’s episode, Danielle and Nicole interview Nicki of SprinkleToppedTeacher, the second grade teacher behind the 20 Minute Sub Plan. Based on her own health struggles, Nicki developed a system to make sub plans that work—and only take mere minutes to complete. Her process is thorough and adaptable for any grade or class, yet it doesn’t take much effort on your end on a day you need to be out, a complete necessity when you are feeling run down. Whether you need to make these modifications to the sub plan from your bed or a hospital room, all you need is an internet connection and access to the Google template Nicki has made so you can finally rest easy and recover quickly without a second thought about school. What you’ll hear in this episode: -How a one time 30 minute investment of time can help provide the sub with all the extra details they need -How to use the 20 Minute Sub Plan when you didn’t plan on being out (and how to leverage your team members) -Best practices for sub planning (and it doesn’t take extra time) -Actual feedback from subs and teachers alike who have implemented this plan in their own lives Links: Nicki's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesprinkletoppedteacher/ To purchase The 20 Minute Sub Plans:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-20-Minute-Sub-Plans-3465551 Nicki's Blog: www.thesprinkletoppedteacher.com (FREEBIE) Sub Plan Checklist:   http://www.thesprinkletoppedteacher.com/2019/01/the-20-minute-sub-plan-checklist.html Sunday Email List full of freebies and encouragement for the week:  https://mailchi.mp/8e278f85103e/happyteacher

Despite planning engaging lessons, reviewing important concepts in class, and providing students with study guides, there still may be a handful of students that struggle come test time. It is often from these students that we hear the sounds of frustration as they insist that they spent a significant amount of time studying— and still, to their amazement and displeasure, they failed the exam.  In this episode, Danielle and Nicole explore the disconnect that is happening all too regularly when students think they are studying even though what they are spending their time on is the furthest thing from that a teacher could imagine. In this episode, you’ll hear: -How to recognize the language students use when they truly believe they are studying -Some of the most common misconceptions students have about what constitutes studying -4 steps to take to help those students form better study habits immediately

For most teachers, the subject matter is the easy part. Building rapport with the students, on the other hand, might be a far harder task. For Janelle of Ms_Fourth, building real, meaningful connections with her students has always come naturally. Janelle advocates for making student relationships a top priority. Her care and connection with her students manifests itself in her spirited, positive and bright classroom and is only matched by her enthusiastic attitude towards her interactions with students. Janelle explains how we can build these ties from the very start to the closing bell each and every day. Links mentioned:  Janelle, Ms_Fourth instagram  https://www.instagram.com/ms_fourth/ Miss 5th instagram  Brittney Root https://www.instagram.com/miss5th/ Fairchild in Fifth instagram Maddie Fairchild https://www.instagram.com/fairchildin5th/

While nearly everyone at a school, from the students to the faculty, looks forward to long weekends and breaks from the daily grind of school, almost no one likes the task of planning what to do and keeping a classroom running smoothly in those minutes leading up to those days off. In this week’s episode, Danielle and Nicole go over the do’s and don’ts of classroom management during one of the most challenging times of the year: the days right before a long break.  It can be tempting for students and teachers alike to take the days leading up to break less seriously than typical class time. Make the most of that time by planning lessons that work for the time of year, and make sure that students will be able to adapt back to life post-break with ease by keeping consistent with your rule sand expectations.  Need ideas for how to make that happen?  We’ve got tips for not just surviving but thriving in the classroom for those final minutes leading up to break. In this episode you’ll hear: • Why rules and structure need to remain • How to acknowledge the break without letting it ruin your lesson • How to use the upcoming break for inspiration for your lesson • Ideas for what types of lessons work really well (and what to avoid doing) on the days before breaks Links mentioned: Our free, private Facebook community, the Thoughtful Teacher Team: a place to discuss the latest podcast episode and to bounce ideas off of other amazing educators bit.ly/edverythingfb Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edverythingeducation/ Entropy Isn’t Destiny from Moore-English: http://moore-english.com/entropy-is-not-destiny/