Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies

Mondays can feel overwhelming when you’re carrying unfinished tasks and trying to remember EVERYTHING that needs to happen! In this episode, we’re sharing a 5-step weekly reset to help you wrap up loose ends, prepare for the week ahead, and create a clearer starting point for Monday. It’s not about getting everything done, it’s about being prepared with a plan!
Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/weekly-reset-for-teachers/
Resources:
Order our book: Structure and Spark
TheraICE Migraine Relief Cap
Muse Apothecary Pillow Ritual: Calming Pillow Mist
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Related Episodes to Enjoy:
Episode 93. Teacher Morning Routine: 10 Tips for Creating Your Perfect Plan
Episode 243. How to Protect Your Planning Time (So You Can Stop Working For Free)
Episode 147. Teacher Approved Tips: How to Plan Ahead for Future Problems!
Episode 228. The Simple 6-Step Plan for Resetting After a Sub

Transitions can quietly eat up valuable instructional time, especially when students start moving before directions are finished. In this episode, we’re breaking down a simple framework for making prompted transitions smoother, more efficient, and easier to manage by standardizing your approach. We’ll walk through the key steps and how they can help students know when to listen, when to move, and what to do next. With a consistent format in place, transitions can become a smoother, more predictable part of your classroom day.
Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/smooth-classroom-transitions/
Resources:
Order our book: Structure and Spark
Ungodly Rich
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Related Episodes to Enjoy:
Episode 48. How to Make Classroom Transitions Simple With Clear Beginnings and Endings
Episode 49. Rapid Classroom Transitions: How to Save 45 Hours a Year
Episode 50. 3 Guidelines to Make Classroom Transitions Work Smarter Not Harder
Episode 254. Why Your Students Get Chatty During Transitions (And How to Stop It)
Episode 282. 3 Ways to Hold Students Accountable to Your Classroom Expectations

Your classroom culture is what teaches students how to behave, whether you’re the one doing the teaching or not! In this episode, we’re talking about how to intentionally shape a positive classroom culture that makes classroom management easier. We break down five practical steps and explain how social skills, positive peer pressure, and clearly reinforced expectations can help students take more ownership of how your classroom works.
Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/positive-classroom-culture/
Resources:
Order our book: Structure and Spark
Hangers
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Related Episodes to Enjoy:
Episode 283. Why Reaching for a Reward System Might Be the Wrong First Move
Episode 245. How to Build a Teacher Wardrobe That Fits Your Life
Episode 150. Perfect Your Classroom Procedures with the Help of Our Guiding Questions
Episode 278. Want Better Behavior? Start with Relationships
Episode 87. 4 Important Ways to Build Classroom Community at Back to School

Hallway procedures might seem like a small part of classroom management, but they can have a much bigger impact on classroom success than you might expect. In this classic replay episode, we’re breaking down how to create effective hallway procedures by planning strategically, responding to disruptions, and teaching and practicing expectations with your students. With a little intentional planning and practice, your hallway procedures can become a simple but powerful foundation for a calmer, more successful classroom.
Prefer to read? Grab the original episode transcript and show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/hallway-behavior-management/
Resources:
Order our book: Structure and Spark
Classroom Procedures and Routines Teaching Slides Bundle
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Related Episodes to Enjoy:
Episode 150. Perfect Your Classroom Procedures with the Help of Our Guiding Questions
Episode 173. Getting into the Nitty Gritty of Classroom Procedures and Routines
Episode 75. Classroom Procedures and Expectations: How they Differ and How to Teach Them
Episode 18. Procedures for Success!
Episode 98. 5 Reasons Your Attention Signal Isn’t Working and How to Improve It

Rewards might feel like an easy classroom management solution, but are they actually making your life harder? In this Can't Miss Classic, we’re taking a closer look at when rewards help, when they can backfire, and how to use them more intentionally. We’re sharing why you probably don’t need a reward system from day one, how to use short-term and surprise rewards strategically, and simple ways to build classroom community without turning every positive behavior into a transaction.
Prefer to read? Grab the original episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/back-to-school-classroom-management/
Resources:
Order our book: Structure and Spark
Join the Teacher Approved Club!
December Teacher Planner
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink
Skylight Calendar
Dr Scholl’s Women’s Sneaker
Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
Shop our teacher-approved resources.
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Related Episodes to Enjoy:
Episode 148, ​​How to Build Positive Relationships with Your Students at Back-to-School
Episode 114, Elementary Teacher Questions Answered Part 1
Episode 103, When to Use Rewards to Boost Your Behavior Management – And When Not To
Episode 87, 4 Important Ways to Build Classroom Community at Back to School
Episode 73, 4 Reasons Why Affirming Students Is The Most Important Goal for Back to School