One Tired Teacher: Teaching Without Burnout
One Tired Teacher: Teaching Without Burnout is a podcast for tired teachers who want to keep teaching without burning out. If you’re exhausted by constant pressure, shifting expectations, and the feeling that you’re never doing enough, this show offers grounded support and a practical perspective to help you teach sustainably.Each episode explores teaching without burnout—from navigating evaluations and testing season to simplifying instruction, setting boundaries, and choosing classroom practices that are calm, humane, and actually work. We talk honestly about what teaching feels like right now, and how to protect your energy, your values, and your studen...
Why Human-Centered STEM Builds Better Classrooms
Send a text
What if STEM wasn’t about bins of stuff, but about the humans in the room? We dig into a human-centered approach that treats STEM as a daily practice of connection—where students learn to collaborate, think critically, and care for one another while they solve real problems. Instead of chasing pricey kits, we start with stories and simple materials, then layer in the engineering design process to make reflection, testing, and revision feel natural and fun.
We share why employers keep naming collaboration, creativity, and community as the missing skills, and how...
Small Humans, Big Work for Teachers
Send a text
When the world shouts at teachers to do more, faster, and perfectly, we choose a different anchor: the small humans in front of us. A seven-year-old’s quiet kindness reframed an entire classroom and reminded us why presence matters more than perfection. From there, we unpack a practical roadmap for building connection that holds steady when mandates and programs feel overwhelming.
We dig into the daily rituals that keep empathy alive—especially read alouds that invite big feelings and brave conversations. Rather than chasing checklists, we talk about selecting stories that help kids...
Trust Yourself, Teacher
Send a text
The outrage machine is loud, but your classroom doesn’t have to be. We’re pulling the focus back to what you can control: the students in front of you, the relationships you build, and the professional judgment that makes learning human. If you’ve felt crushed by scripts, shifting benchmarks, and the demand to standardize every slide, this conversation is a reset—heart first, performance next.
We unpack the tension between uniform systems and diverse learners, exploring why “a year of growth” can’t mean the same thing for every child. From hallway o...
Teachers, Hold On to What You Know: Trusting Yourself During Testing and Evaluations
Send a text
Testing season and evaluations can make even confident teachers question themselves. In this episode, we talk about how to stay grounded, trust your professional judgment, and teach from your values when pressure and opinions get loud.
The volume gets loud this time of year—tests, evaluations, and opinions from people who have never stood in your classroom. We’re turning that noise down and turning your inner voice up. This conversation is a reset for tired teachers who need both reassurance and a plan: you are already enough, and you can teach from...
Simple STEM Activities That Still Build Deep Thinking
Send a text
Overcomplicated STEM lessons don’t lead to deeper learning—they lead to burnout. In this episode, we unpack why simple, well-designed STEM challenges create stronger thinking, better engagement, and more meaningful classroom moments.
Tired of feeling like STEM needs fancy kits, perfect conditions, and a superhuman level of classroom management? We break that myth and show how simple tools, real problems, and a steady structure can unlock big thinking without the overwhelm. Using the engineering design process as our anchor, we walk through a clear path that keeps creativity high and anxiety low—...
Teaching the Engineering Design Process When Failure Is the Lesson
Send a text
Looking for a simple way to teach growth mindset, productive struggle, and the engineering design process—especially during testing season? This episode shares a real classroom STEM challenge that shows how failure becomes feedback when students feel safe to try.
What if the word failure stopped feeling like a verdict and started sounding like a clue? A chaotic testing schedule pushed us to improvise, and a simple Piggy and Elephant story turned into a full-on design challenge with a big mindset payoff. Fifth graders faced a familiar, human problem—Snake wants to play...
You Are Enough: Surviving February Burnout and Evaluation Pressure
Send a text
February burnout hits hard for teachers—testing pressure, evaluations, and the constant push to do more can make even experienced educators question their worth. In this episode, we talk honestly about staying grounded, protecting your values, and teaching authentically during the hardest stretch of the school year.February can feel like a pressure cooker—testing talk, evaluation season, and the quiet drumbeat of “do more” echoing through the halls. We get real about that weight and share a grounded way to protect your energy, your values, and your classroom community without slipping...
Surviving Teacher Evaluations: How to Stay Grounded During Classroom Observations
Send a text
Teacher observations can trigger stress, self-doubt, and overperforming—especially during evaluation season. In this episode, we talk honestly about how to stay grounded, protect your confidence, and remember what actually matters when you’re being observed.
If evaluation season ties your stomach in knots, you’re not alone—and you’re not a score. We take a clear-eyed look at how to stay grounded when someone with a clipboard walks in, and we share a toolkit that turns everyday good teaching into visible evidence without turning your classroom into a performance. You’ll hear why...
Super Bowl Reading Lessons: Engaging Informational Text Without Busywork
Send a text
Looking for Super Bowl reading activities that actually build skills—not just hype? This episode shares practical, low-prep ways to use football culture to strengthen informational text comprehension, media literacy, and engagement for elementary readers.
Big-game buzz is already in the air, and we’re turning that energy into real reading growth. Rather than fighting for attention, we tap into what students are already hearing at home and seeing on TV—Super Bowl storylines, halftime ads, and player talk—to build relevance, stamina, and mastery of informational text skills without adding busywork.
Integrating Reading And Science With Severe Weather
Send a text
The school year restarts, the weather turns wild, and our schedules fill faster than a radar screen during a storm. We’re leaning into a smarter way to teach: integrating reading and science through a focused study on severe weather so every minute pulls double duty. From thunderstorms to hurricanes, we use clear, kid-friendly texts to teach main idea, text features, vocabulary in context, and questioning—while giving students concrete safety steps that lessen anxiety and build confidence.
We walk through how to structure a short severe weather reader so it aligns with...
Back To School Without The Chaos: Simple Routines For A Smoother January
Send a text
The first days back after break don’t need to feel like a sprint through fog. We map out a gentle re-entry that keeps your class connected, your planning sane, and your energy intact. Instead of diving headfirst into new content, we focus on three anchors that make the day feel calm and productive: a purposeful morning meeting, a cozy read-aloud that sets tone and focus, and a respectful reset of routines and procedures.
We start by rebuilding community with short shares and simple goal setting that invite students back into voice wi...
Give Yourself Grace: Simple Ways Teachers Reset And Return Renewed
Send a text
The holidays are done, the calendar is rolling toward a new year, and your energy tank is somewhere between low and blinking. Let’s make winter break feel like it actually refills you. We pull back the curtain on what a real teacher reset looks like when you set aside perfect plans and choose small, human rituals that restore your mind, body, and heart.
We start with the quiet stuff that matters: not setting an alarm, finishing the book that’s been waiting on your nightstand, stepping outside for a slow walk with...
January Without Whiplash
Send a text
If January has ever felt like educational whiplash, this conversation is your warm landing pad. We walk through a practical plan to protect your peace after winter break, built on a few high-impact moves you can set up before you unplug: print-ready sub plans, a back-from-break packet that rebuilds community, and plug-and-play units that spark engagement without draining your energy.
We start by naming why the return feels so jarring—students arrive in holiday mode while new standards wait on the board—and then map out a calm reentry. You’ll hear how fi...
Five Blissful, Low-Prep Classroom Ideas To Survive December
Send a text
December doesn’t have to be a stress test. We unpack five blissful, low-prep strategies that keep kids learning and let you breathe, so you can walk into winter break proud, present, and not wiped out. We start with Elf Diaries, a creative writing approach that turns classroom elf hype into voice, perspective, and narrative skills without the daily setup grind. From there, we pivot to Holiday Would You Rather—fast, funny prompts that spark movement, debate, and opinion writing, with easy extensions like quick writes and class graphs that take minutes to run and...
Turning December Chaos Into Hands‑On Science Kids Remember
Send a text
December doesn’t have to be glitter storms and lost learning. We share a practical, story-driven way to turn holiday energy into real science with a Christmas-themed matter unit that keeps kids focused, curious, and proud of their work. Think stockings and balloons for inferring solids, liquids, and gases. Think hot cocoa tests that make temperature, dissolving, and fair experiment design click. The result is joyful rigor: standards met, mess managed, and students begging for “one more test.”
We start with the real problem—tired teachers, sugar-fueled classes, and lessons that feel cute but...
Ten Christmas Read-Alouds That Teachers and Kids Love
Send a text
December doesn’t have to be survival mode. We’re sharing ten Christmas read‑alouds that bring the room to a cozy hush while still nailing essential skills like character analysis, sequencing, vocabulary, point of view, and fluency. Each pick comes with a clear teaching angle and simple prompts you can use tomorrow, so you can steer into the season’s energy without losing rigor.
We break down why holiday books work so well during the chaotic weeks before break and pair every title with high‑impact strategies. Turkey Claus becomes a mini‑lesso...
Short Week, Full Heart; Sanity Saved
Send a text
The week before Thanksgiving can feel like a carnival on wheels—school-wide feasts, cupcake drop-offs, half the class rehearsing for a turkey play, and attention spans migrating toward grandma’s pie. We lean into that reality with a grounded plan that keeps learning meaningful without draining your last nerve. Instead of cramming a full unit or launching new systems, we focus on survival with purpose: low-prep, high-engagement activities that create calm structure, protect your energy, and still spark joy.
We start with one anchor text—think Molly’s Pilgrim or any gratitude-themed read—and...
A Read-Aloud That Reframes Thanksgiving and Belonging
Send a text
What if the most meaningful lesson in a noisy month is the quietest one? I share the story of a short read-aloud—Molly’s Pilgrim—that shifted my classroom from scattered to centered, and why one complete book can spark more empathy and insight than a week of themed activities.
November often pushes teachers into survival mode: short weeks, sugar crashes, and last‑minute crafts that fill time but not hearts. I walk through how a single, well-chosen chapter book reframed Thanksgiving around identity and belonging, and how one child...
November: The We-Do-Not-Care List
Send a text
The pre‑Thanksgiving stretch can feel like a sprint you didn’t sign up for, and we’re done pretending it’s fine. This candid bonus drop is for every tired teacher who needs permission to step off the hamster wheel, set healthier boundaries, and protect hard‑won peace. We name the pressure points—grading through the parade, last‑minute bulletin boards, “extra PD” masquerading as team building—and swap them for choices grounded in truth and sustainability.
We walk through a November “not‑doing” list that rejects toxic positivity without rejecting hope. That means saying no...
Teaching Real Gratitude in a Burned-Out System
Send a text
Tired of being told to “just be grateful” while you’re juggling a crowded class, endless testing, and a to-do list that never ends? I open up about gratitude without the guilt—how to honor real exhaustion and real care at the same time—so you can model emotional health without faking it. Instead of platitudes, I break down the difference between a scarcity mindset and actual scarcity in schools, and why empathy—not forced positivity—is the thing that helps.
I share classroom-ready ways to make gratitude meaningful: a quick daily journal that t...
Surviving November: Emergency Sub Plans That Protect Your Peace
Send a text
The quiet snap of November hits hard: the adrenaline fades, the sinuses throb, and suddenly “powering through” isn’t noble—it’s costly. We open up about the annual crash so many teachers face and lay out a calm, practical path to protect your peace without sacrificing your students’ progress. No fluff. Just a clear system for calling out with confidence, and a reminder that rest is part of the job, not a privilege you have to earn.
We walk through how to build reliable emergency sub plans that actually match your pacing in No...
The We Do Not Care Club: Finding Power in Saying 'Nope' to Teaching's Endless Demands
Send a text
The birth of "The We Do Not Care Club: Teacher Chapter" might be the most honest conversation about educator burnout you'll hear this year. After discovering a hilarious TikTok creator who gave women permission to stop caring about societal expectations during menopause, I realized teachers desperately needed the same liberation.
What started as a few casual videos quickly erupted into a movement. Teachers everywhere began contributing their own "we do not care" statements—powerful declarations of boundaries that challenge the normalized absurdities of our profession. "We do not care if someone calls in...
Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, and Fables: The October Curriculum Refresh You Need
Send a text
Feeling the October teaching slump? When attention spans dwindle and classroom routines grow heavy, fairy tales, folk tales, and fables offer the perfect remedy. These timeless genres breathe fresh life into your curriculum while delivering powerful standards-based instruction wrapped in enchanting narratives.
Traditional tales work magic in the classroom because they naturally teach moral lessons through engaging stories. "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" demonstrates the value of honesty while "Stone Soup" celebrates community and sharing. The countless cultural variations of tales like Cinderella create natural opportunities for compare and contrast activities while...
Pumpkin STEM: Halloween's Hidden Learning Potential
Send a text
Ever found yourself torn between Halloween excitement and curriculum demands? You're not alone. That tension between creativity and standards alignment represents a false choice we don't need to make.
Remember that administrator who once told me schools shouldn't have crayons and children should practice sight words during recess? That mindset risks creating environments where children learn to hate learning. The truth is, creativity isn't expendable—it's essential. Crafts develop crucial fine motor skills (especially important for today's digital natives), provide visual learners opportunities to shine, inspire meaningful writing, and build classroom community.
When the Back-to-School Sparkle Fades: Navigating Teacher Fatigue
Send a text
Feeling that mid-fall classroom fatigue? You're not alone. The back-to-school adrenaline has faded, student behaviors are surfacing, and those carefully crafted routines are starting to fray at the edges. It's the perfect storm of teacher exhaustion that hits just as the calendar turns to October.
This episode tackles the very real phenomenon of "teacher fog" – that overwhelming fatigue that creeps in when the novelty of the new year wears off but the holidays still feel distant. I'm giving you full permission to recalibrate without guilt. Whether you need a mental health snow da...
Halloween in the Classroom
Send a text
Sugar highs, costume talk, and boundless energy—October's Halloween excitement can quickly derail even the most carefully planned lessons. But this seasonal shift doesn't have to steamroll your learning objectives or your sanity as a teacher.
This episode dives into practical strategies for maintaining classroom stability during the Halloween season. We explore why October presents unique challenges—from increasingly distracted students to disrupted routines and schedules filled with assemblies and special events. Rather than dreading this time, you'll discover how thoughtful preparation can transform your experience.
The key to October succ...
Science in ELA: Your Time-Saving Strategy
Send a text
Ever feel like science gets pushed to the back burner because reading and math dominate your teaching schedule? You're not alone. The struggle to fit everything in is real, especially when administrators sometimes suggest cutting science altogether.
Let me introduce you to a different approach: seamlessly weaving science into your ELA block. This isn't about adding more to your plate—it's about making what's already there work smarter. Your informational text standards (text features, cause and effect, visual literacy, main idea identification) pair perfectly with science content. Instead of teaching these skills th...
Device-Free Moments: Reconnecting Kids with Real Life in a Digital World
Send a text
Remember the days when getting kids to focus in class didn't feel like competing with a digital circus? Today's students—even third graders—are coming to school with phones in hand, already accustomed to constant digital stimulation and instant gratification. The result? Classrooms filled with children struggling to transition, wait, focus, and fully engage with real-world learning.
As teachers, we're facing unprecedented challenges. The dopamine-driven digital world has rewired how our students engage with information, making traditional teaching methods feel increasingly ineffective. But here's the good news: we don't need to perform circ...
Three Simple Ways to Keep Your Reading Routines Strong All Year Long
Send a text
Ever found yourself sacrificing read-aloud time for pre-assessments and curriculum demands? You're not alone. In this heartfelt exploration of keeping reading routines strong, we dive into why those beautiful reading structures we create in August often crumble by September.
The paradox of early-year teaching hits hard when faced with pre-assessments that seem designed to highlight what students don't know. "No kidding they're not on level—they just started second grade!" This frustration resonates with teachers everywhere who see reading time compressed as curriculum demands intensify. But here's the truth we must remember: re...
Wally the Worried Watermelon: SEL Strategies for Your Classroom
Send a text
A worried watermelon might be exactly what your students need to navigate their big feelings this year. Meet Wally – the adorable protagonist of author Erin Waters' new children's book that's transforming how we approach anxiety in the classroom.
Drawing from her seven years as a first-grade teacher and her personal journey with worry, Waters has crafted a story that resonates deeply with both children and adults. "I've been a worrier since I was a kid," she shares, "and now that I have kids of my own, I see that same side of th...
From Teacher to Author: Christine Devan's Journey with Elephant Beach
Send a text
Christine Devane takes us on her journey from classroom teacher to published children's author, revealing how patience and persistence led to the publication of her book "Elephant Beach" after nearly a decade of waiting. What started as a manuscript written during her teaching years perfectly aligned with her current life as a mother of three, creating a beautiful full-circle moment where she now shares her creation with both students and her own children.
Drawing from personal experience with shyness, Christine crafted a story about an elephant who needs time before feeling comfortable...
Building Sustainable Reading Routines That Transform Your Classroom
Send a text
Struggling to establish reading routines that don't leave you exhausted? Discover the magic of sustainable reading practices that transform your classroom culture while building essential literacy skills.
The most powerful reading routines aren't complicated—they're consistent, joyful, and purposeful. In this episode, we explore how simple structures like read-aloud, turn-and-talk, and quick response activities create safe spaces where comprehension flourishes naturally. You'll learn why post-lunch read-alouds can completely reset classroom energy, turning potential chaos into calm, focused learning moments.
We dive deep into practical implementation, showing how character-driven stories naturally in...
Icebreakers That Actually Work: Creating Meaningful Classroom Bonds
Send a text
Ever found yourself cringing through yet another awkward icebreaker activity? You're not alone. As teachers, we know building classroom community is essential, but finding engaging ways to do it can be challenging. The good news? Creating meaningful connections doesn't have to be painful or embarrassing for you or your students.
When students feel safe, seen, and connected, everything improves dramatically. Behavior management becomes easier, learning deepens, and the classroom environment transforms into a space where everyone thrives. This episode explores practical, low-pressure ways to build authentic classroom community without the eye-rolling or...
Sub Plans Survival Guide: Be Ready Before You Need It
Send a text
Every teacher knows the feeling: waking up with a scratchy throat or fever, but dreading the thought of writing sub plans while sick. What if you could eliminate that stress with some smart planning now?
The beginning of the school year brings excitement, fresh starts, and, unfortunately, exposure to countless classroom germs. As someone who battled chronic sinus infections throughout my teaching career (later diagnosed as an autoimmune condition), I learned the hard way that emergency sub plans aren't just helpful—they're essential for your well-being and peace of mind.
Th...
The Back-to-School Questions Every Teacher Secretly Worries About
Send a text
The back-to-school jitters aren't just for students—teachers face them too! As summer winds down and classrooms beckon, even the most experienced educators find themselves wrestling with familiar questions about those crucial first weeks.
This episode dives into three universal teacher concerns. First, we explore which classroom routines deserve immediate attention during those precious opening days. Beyond just covering the basics of lining up and supply management, you'll discover the game-changing "Three Before Me" strategy that transforms student independence while saving your sanity from endless interruptions. You'll learn practical ways to make ro...
The Gentle Teacher's Guide to Starting the School Year Strong
Send a text
Feeling that end-of-summer anxiety creeping in as the new school year approaches? Take a deep breath – you're not alone, and there's a better way to start the year.
The transition from summer relaxation to classroom chaos doesn't have to leave you exhausted by September. In this episode, we explore three gentle, practical approaches that will help you ease back into teaching without burning out in the first few weeks. Rather than diving headfirst into curriculum, discover why a "soft launch" focused on relationships and routines creates a stronger foundation for the entire ye...
Bridging Science and Stories: How STEM Books Spark Reading Joy
Send a text
Ever noticed how some kids love science and building but turn away from books? That disconnect isn't just frustrating—it's a missed opportunity for deeper learning. What if we could harness their natural STEM enthusiasm to ignite a love for reading?
In this episode, we dive into three exceptional STEM-themed books that captivate reluctant readers by connecting directly to their curiosity and creative instincts. Ada Twist, Scientist shows children that reading can be part of the investigation process, encouraging them to develop their own experiments inspired by Ada's adventures. What Do You Do...
Makerspace Magic: Transforming Reluctant Readers into Confident Explorers
Send a text
Ever watched a reluctant reader disconnect from a book before they've even given it a chance? There's a powerful solution hiding in your classroom supply closet.
Today we're diving into the transformative world of hands-on learning for literacy, especially for those students who struggle to see themselves as readers. When we shift from asking children to recall information to inviting them to solve story problems through making and building, something magical happens. Their focus moves from what they can't do to what they can create.
Take a book like "After...
Transforming Story Time: Hands-On STEM Challenges for Young Readers
Send a text
Ever watched a child struggle to connect with a story, only to see their eyes light up when they get to build something with their hands? There's magic in that moment when reading transforms from a passive activity into an adventure of problem-solving and creation.
In this episode, we dive into practical ways to blend beloved children's books with STEM challenges, creating powerful learning experiences for all types of learners. For active kids and reluctant readers especially, these hands-on activities provide the perfect bridge to deeper comprehension and genuine engagement with stories...
Beyond the Page: 3 Simple STEM Challenges That Make Books Come Alive
Send a text
Reading becomes an adventure when students get to build, design, and create alongside their favorite stories. For too many children, books remain distant collections of words rather than doorways to imagination – but that changes when we introduce makerspace elements into our literacy instruction.
The magic happens when we invite students to physically recreate story settings using simple materials like cardboard, pipe cleaners, and recyclables. Suddenly, Mr. McGregor's garden from "Peter Rabbit" or the shifting homes in "The Three Little Pigs" become tangible spaces students can explore with their hands. This transformation from ab...
