Not So Wimpy Teacher Podcast

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!

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

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!

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

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'l

Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast!   Word problems... Yuck! They can be such a struggle.    Today, we are going to be chatting about math word problems and I am going to give you a fantastic strategy to use with your students.  This strategy will become a routine in your classroom that I think will help your students resolve more problems with any operation.    I used this routine in my classroom and it made a huge difference and that’s exactly why I want to share it with you too!    Episode 93 Takeaways:    + Don’t use keywords as a strategy when solving word problems. + Teach your students to use all four steps every time they encounter a math word problem. + Have them read the entire problem without a writing utensil in their hand.  + Tell your students to re-read as they draw a model.  + Don’t let them start writing an equation until they have drawn a model that makes sense. + Answers should be written in a complete sentence.  + Writing math answers in complete sentences is wonderful gramma

Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast!   Today we are talking all about how to give students feedback about their writing.    You know how much I love to talk about writing, but did you know that when I was a new teacher, I actually dreaded teaching writing? I just didn't know how to help my students be better writers. No one taught me that in college.   My lessons were too broad, and I really struggled to give good feedback to my writers that would help them grow and make changes.    Do you also struggle with this? If you do, you’re not alone!    Today I want to share some tips and tricks with you that helped me. I know that they are going to help you give effective feedback as well.   Episode 92 Takeaways:  + Focus more on content than mechanics. + Pointing out every error doesn't help students to become better writers.  + Feedback doesn’t have to be complicated.  + Use a simple rubric to guide feedback.  + Give one positive comment for every negative comment. + Frame feedback as questions.  + Fo

Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast!   Are you excited for Valentine’s Day this year?    If you told me a year ago that I'd be doing a Valentine's episode about socially distant Valentine's Day activities, I probably would have laughed at you. Now it is totally normal though and something we have to talk about!   Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Whether you’re teaching online or in-person this year, it’s going to look a little different. Just because we're socially distant, doesn't mean we can't share the love.   If you need some ideas for virtual or socially distant Valentine’s Day activities, I’ve got you covered in this episode.    Episode 91 Takeaways:    + Do something active because February is also Heart Health Month. + Have students write a couple of sentences about their favorite book.  + Drop off postcards to your students telling them one thing that you love about them. + Have them create a Google slide filled with pictures of things they love.  + Make Valentine’s Day paper

Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast!   Are you looking for a new way to keep your students engaged and motivated?    Today we’re going to be talking about how to use project-based learning in the classroom.    I fell in love with project-based learning when I first started teaching. As a student, I would always ask my teachers these questions: “when would I use this, and why do I need to know it?”   Does this sound familiar?    I know those questions can be super annoying sometimes, but as a learner, I really did need to understand the real-life application for the skills I was learning!    When we help our students to understand when they will use all the skills we are teaching and to practice skills they're learning in school in a more life-applicable way, it motivates and encourages them.   Episode 90 Takeaways:  + Project-based learning (PBL) is a student-centered teaching method that encourages learning through curriculum-based, real-world problems or challenges. + Project-based learning can

Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast!   You asked for an Inauguration Day resource, so I’m delivering.    Today on the podcast, I am walking you through a resource for you to use with your second, third, fourth, or fifth graders on Inauguration Day.   Talking about anything political can seem uncomfortable, but when it comes to the inauguration, you don't have to be political. This is a historical event!   The idea behind teaching isn't to tell students what to believe but rather give them the tools and the opportunities to decide what they believe on their own. That is what this resource will help you to do.    Episode 89 Takeaways:  + It’s important to teach from both sides of the spectrum. + Give your students the tools and opportunities to decide what they believe on their own. + You don’t have to get political when talking about the inauguration. + The inauguration is a great learning opportunity as it only happens every four years.  + Teach the terminology associated with inauguration. + Hav

Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast!   Do your students forget everything over winter break? I think that’s pretty normal for all of us.    You’re likely going to need to review classroom routines and procedures with them anyway, so there is no better time to refresh your writing instruction with them as well.   I want to chat about starting your writing instruction fresh in the New Year. A fresh start is exactly what I want this year. Does that sound good to you too?   Don’t worry about what happened before break because we’re leaving that in the past and taking this opportunity to start fresh.    Here’s to helping your students love writing!   Episode 88 Takeaways:  + Start fresh.  + Focus on procedures.  + Review things that might have been forgotten over the break. + It’s okay to change up things that weren’t working.  + Get input on what’s working and what’s not from your students. + Celebrate good times. + Set writing goals.    I’m super excited to see how your students grow in writing this

Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast!   Do you think of centers as time-wasters?    Today we’re talking about centers and why I’ve loved them ever since my first year of teaching.    I love an activity that stretches my students’ learning, but they also think it is fun, and centers do that for me. I’m going to teach you how to improve the quality of student work in your centers so that you don’t have to worry about them wasting precious classroom time.    By the end of this episode, you’ll know when and how to use centers effectively in your classroom.    Episode 87 Takeaways:  + Take time to model exactly what you want your students to do.  + Review procedures that you taught your students before winter break.  + Make sure your students are confident about what they’re doing. + Add consistency to your centers.  + Use centers as a review.  + Give your students some choice during center time.  + Give students a simple rubric or checklist.  + Make time for corrections. + Celebrate your students’ suc

Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast!   I have a special gift for you today.    I have 60 free writing prompts for you in two different formats. A printable PDF or Google slides that you can use in the classroom.    Now, I know what you’re thinking.   “Jamie, you HATE writing prompts!”   It’s true. I’ve spent years teaching you why I don’t use prompts in my writing workshops. However, I recognize that there is a time and place for them, especially in a year like this.    I also want to help you understand when and how to use them in your classroom, so that’s where this episode comes in.    Episode 86 Takeaways:  + Writing prompts are best used sparingly. + Prompts are awesome to use for pre and post-assessments. + Substitute lesson plans are a great time to use writing prompts.  + Get to know what holidays your students celebrate.  + When you have a fast finisher in your classroom, you can give them a writing prompt to work on.  + Keep bell work short and sweet.    I hope you can see now why I don

Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast!   Are you a teacher who spends a little too much time at school or even a little too much time working at home? Then this is the episode for you.   I want to challenge the idea that the only way that you can be a good teacher is if you work really long hours, and that only the teachers who work really long hours are doing a great job.    News flash: your value is not tied to the number of hours you work. Your value is what you do with those hours.   I’m going to share a little of my own story as well as some strategies that I used to take back my life while still being a great teacher. It doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive.    Episode 85 Takeaways:  + Your value is not tied to the number of hours you work.  + It’s okay if being a mom isn’t your only calling.  + You don’t have to give up your personal life to be a good teacher.  + Taking back time for yourself will actually make you a better teacher.  + Use your calendar wisely.  + Decide on your work hours

Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast!   Do you have students with ADHD in your classroom that you wish you could support better? Well wishes come true.    Today’s guest, Jillian Starr, is a struggling student turned passionate educator. Her dyslexia, ADHD, and sensory/auditory processing issues went undiagnosed for most of her educational career. Now she uses her own experiences to help students in her classroom, as well as help educators have a bigger impact.    She is the teacher behind the website and social media accounts Teaching with Jillian Starr. She has been in education for 15 years and has been a classroom teacher for the past 12 years in grades 1, 2, and 3.    Teaching with Jillian Starr is based on the idea that it's really important that we serve all students, and we’re going to dive deeper into that today. Jillian is sharing her own personal experiences as a student and teacher, as well as some amazing and important information about how we can better serve students with ADHD in our

Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast!   Today we are talking about one of my very favorite topics: writing.    I know that writing isn't everyone's favorite subject to teach, but it is my favorite topic to help teachers with. Whenever I go on social media and ask what your least favorite subject to teach is, writing always wins out.   I'm here to make teaching your least favorite subject so much easier.    I know what it feels like to hate it. I used to hate it too. But I want to give you the tools and strategies you need to build confidence, and maybe even start to love teaching writing.    Today we’re specifically talking about how to get your students to edit their writing. I've got nine tips for you that I think will help you to make the editing time in your classroom more effective.    If writing is the subject that you dread every day, be sure to tune in to this week’s episode!    Episode 83 Takeaways:    + Mistakes happen.  + All writers make errors.  + Reward students for taking time to lo

Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast!   Do you love teaching reading? Whether your answer is yes or no, I know you will find so much value in this episode!   I invited a good friend of mine, Sara Marye, to join us on the podcast today. Sara is a former teacher and administrator and she has a huge love for teaching reading. More specifically, she really wants to help her students find their love for reading and has so many great strategies to share!    Today we are specifically going to talk about using different genres to get our students excited about reading. Yes, genres! Interesting right?    Episode 74 Takeaways:    + We’re all readers, you just have to find the right book for you.   + Give your kids books that make them excited to read. + Let them decide what books they really like.  + Genre helps students identify their reading preferences. + When students have a solid understanding of genre, it gives them a roadmap to understand the texts that they're reading. + Be intentional about using y

Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast!   Do you find teaching grammar kind of a nightmare? Are you scouring the internet for new fun grammar activities every week?   Yeah, I was you once too.    Until I found a much easier way to teach grammar that saved me time and made learning easier for my students. So that’s what I want to share with you today.    This episode is for you if you teach grammar in grades 2, 3, 4, or 5. And be sure to stay tuned until the end, when I’ll be sharing a freebie that I’ve created just for you.    Episode 81 Takeaways:    + Remember that grammar is hard for adults with degrees, so it’s going to be hard for your students.  + There is a lot to memorize when it comes to grammar, and that can be very tricky for your students.  + Trying to teach grammar without a curriculum can be confusing and time-wasting. + Routine makes it easier to plan your time and increase productivity. + When I found a routine for teaching grammar my students started to grow. + Your students won’t a

Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast!   Are you feeling a bit exhausted from perpetually being told what to do as a teacher lately?   Don’t worry, you’re not alone and you deserve a break! That’s why, in this episode, I’m going to be sharing a handful of things that you probably have been doing in the classroom but really don’t need to be doing. Did you just take a sigh of relief?   We’re going to discuss how to decrease your prep and planning time every week, which activities are helping your students the most developmentally, and how to still be an amazing teacher without grading non-stop.   I know it may seem difficult to overcome the pressure of being the perfectionist teacher with the craft filled whiteboard, but stick with me, and I’ll explain exactly why all of that extra stress is not really necessary or even beneficial.   Episode 74 Takeaways:    + Give yourself grace + No need to assign a writing prompt or project every single week + Your room doesn’t have to be filled with craftivities

Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast!   Is teaching math kind of a struggle sometimes?    I have just the girl for you.    Today we are joined by Brittany Hege from Mix and Math. Brittany has a Master’s in Elementary Mathematics Education and she is incredibly passionate about teaching students math, as well as inspiring other math teachers to be more confident in the classroom.    In this episode she is sharing her best tips for helping students with their word problems.    She knows how difficult it can be to get your students to slow down, read the problem, and make a good plan to work through the process. It’s a struggle in classrooms everywhere.   That's why on today's show, we are going to figure it out together.    Episode 79 Takeaways:    + There are ways that you can help students to love math.  + Add meaning to your numbers as early as possible. + You can use problem frames to add meaning to numbers.  + Use numberless word problems to ask what action is happening.  + Problem solving isn’