
The Teacher Time Podcast
By Stephanie Palovchik, Teacher Time Management

The Teacher Time PodcastJul 04, 2023

My Favorite Tools for Teacher Organization
Classroom organization is really important for elementary teachers. Solid organization can help you plan and prep more efficiently. As teachers, we have tons of options for how to organize our classrooms. But what are the best options that will make keeping up with classroom organization easy? In this episode, I’m sharing 3 of my favorite tools for teacher organization.
What’s Covered In This Episode:
- My favorite tool for digital organization - Google Drive - plus how to keep it organized.
- The best bins to organize your teacher resources
- Why drawers are a versatile tool for classroom organization and how to use them in your classroom.
Links Mentioned:
Ready to be more productive during your limited prep?
Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time”
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

My Daily Routine as a Teacher Mom on Summer Break
Teacher moms, this one’s for you! During the school year, we have a routine every single day. Then summer comes… and while the break is much needed, this big shift in routine can be challenging, especially with kids. In this episode, I’m sharing the very flexible daily routine that I follow as a teacher mom on summer break.
What’s Covered In This Episode:
Why having a general routine for summer break is helpful
How I break up our day
Examples of activities we do during each part of our day
Links Mentioned:
College 2 Classroom Summit is happening TODAY: June 27th. Grab your ticket here!
Loving the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. I'll give you a shout out on an upcoming episode, and you'll be helping other teachers decide if The Teacher Time Podcast is going to be their next listen. You can leave your review HERE. Thank you for your support, teacher friend!

2 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Year of Teaching
If I could go back in time and tell my first year teacher self anything … these would be the first two pieces of advice I would give. And since I can’t go back in time, I’m just recording myself sharing this advice with all of you. Whether you’re a new teacher, seasoned teacher, or somewhere in between, this episode has advice everyone can use!
What’s Covered In this Episode:
What makes teaching so hard during the first year (my personal experience)
The one thing you absolutely must be clear on before students step foot in your classroom
How to make teaching sustainable from the beginning
Links Mentioned:
Grab your ticket to the College 2 Classroom Virtual Summit! I’ll be guest speaking on today’s topic. You’ll gain access to all presentations from experienced educators who are ready to help you be the best teacher you can be!

How Teachers Can Decompress And Actually Enjoy Summer Break
Your school year has been busy and you are ready for summer break. But shutting your teacher brain off is easier said than done. How can you decompress after a busy school year so that you’re able to truly relax this summer? We’ll answer that question in this episode.
The rule that will help you actually take a break
How routines can be helpful tools for teachers on summer break
Ideas that will get your mind off your classroom
Links Mentioned:

What To Do With Students During the Last Week of School
There's so much to do at the end of the school year. You have report cards to complete and a classroom to pack up. But what about your students? Maybe you feel the pressure to plan some extra fancy activities. Maybe you're so overwhelmed by everything else on your to-do list that you have no idea what to plan. I have good news - You can keep your last week plans simple, but meaningful.
What's Covered in this Episode:
- Easy activity ideas for the end of the school year
- Tips that will save you time and energy
- Simple end-of-year gift ideas
Links Mentioned:

REPLAY: Exactly How to Declutter Your Classroom
It's time for a replay! This week, we're republishing a highly requested episode from our End of Year Teacher Series that went live in 2022.
This episode is the second of four in our End of Year Teacher Series. In this episode, we talk all about one thing you should be doing at the end of the school year to make your life easier later. What is it? Decluttering your classroom.
Inside the episode, I'll go through 3 steps to make sure you're tidying your classroom so you're scrambling to do it during the back to school season. You can find the full website show notes here.
What's Covered In This Episode:

How to Pack and Organize Efficiently at the End of the School Year
It’s about that time in the school year where you’re going to be packing up your classroom. Maybe you're decluttering a little bit and thinking about what you want to change for the upcoming year. Whether you're making updates to your classroom set up, classroom organization, planning, or even classroom management. In this episode, I'm sharing a big picture of the 4 ways you can make sure to be packed and organized before leaving your classroom for summer break!
What's Covered in this Episode:
- What to include in your pack up steps
- A rule of thumb that will help you declutter
- The main things to organize at the end of the year
- What you actually want to prep now
Download the Free End of Year Guide for checklists, tips, and a podcast playlist that will help you leave work at work over the summer.

Tips to Easily Write Report Card Comments for Elementary Teachers
Does writing report card comments take hours because you’re just not sure what to write? If you dread report card season every quarter and desperately want writing comments to be easier, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s episode, we’re breaking down how to make writing report card comments easy in 3 steps.
In This Episode About Report Card Comment Tips, You’ll Learn:
- How to make sure you're not writing comments at the very last minute
- The easiest hack to remember what you've written for students each quarter
- The best tip that will save you HOURS on comment writing
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
- Get Done for You Report Card Comment Templates, including editable resources for you to write/save comments and go-to phrases for when you get stuck!
- Listen to Episode 95 for report card mistakes to avoid
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

3 Report Card Mistakes I've Made That You Can Learn From
Report cards can be a hefty task, I get it. If report cards have been taking you hours upon hours to do, then you are going to love this episode! I’m sharing 3 mistakes that I’ve made when it comes to writing report cards to help you with what not to do so you can write accurate and objective report cards for your students in less than 2 hours.
What's Covered in This Episode:
- A quick fix to make sure you're not super stressed during report card season
- How I always know what to write in report card comments (and you can too)
- One thing you need to make grading easier
Links Mentioned:
If you're loving the podcast, leave a review on Apple Podcasts HERE.

No-Prep Student Engagement Strategies to Make Learning Fun
We're nearing the end of the year and your students are tired, you're tired, but learning still has to happen. How are you going to keep your students engaged? Today I'm sharing 3 engagement strategies that you can use with your students right away. Not just at the end of the year, but all the time! The best thing about these strategies is they are absolutely no-prep. The only thing you need is yourself and your students!
What's Covered In This Episode:
- Why easy engagement strategies are the way to go
- 3 super simple ways you can engage your students and make learning fun
- How these engagement strategies help students practice active listening skills
Links Mentioned In This Episode:
- What's Your Secret to Weekend Freedom as a Teacher? Take the Free Quiz to find out!
- Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

Why Teacher Well-being Needs to be a Priority with Jen Rafferty

Simple Ways to Beat the Sunday Scaries
Do you experience the Sunday Scaries as a teacher? Unfortunately, this can be a common experience, but it doesn't have to be your "normal." In this episode, we're talking about understanding what the Sunday Scaries are, why they happen, and some really simple things you can do to help eliminate those feelings.
In this Episode, You'll Learn:
- What causes you to experience the Sunday Scaries
- How proactive planning during the week can help on Sunday
- Simple mindset shifts to decrease feelings of anxiety at the start of a new week
- Why routine is important
Links Mentioned:
Shop my TPT Store: Teaching Little Leaders for time-saving templates + activities
Ready to be more productive during your limited prep? Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time”
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

How to Use Your Teacher Burnout as a Catalyst for Change with Amber Harper
Teacher burnout is unfortunately a common experience for many. But did you know that your burnout is unique to you? And how you overcome that burnout depends on what kind of burnout you’re experiencing? This week I’m joined by Amber Harper, who shares how she used her teacher burnout as a catalyst for change and how you can too!
Amber Harper is a Kindergarten Teacher, author of Hacking Teacher Burnout, podcaster, and Teacher Burnout Coach. She gives struggling teachers a path to follow as they navigate their way out of burnout by helping them grow through their burnout and take their next best steps toward what they want from their career in education and in life. You can learn more about her and the services she offers at www.burnedinteacher.com.
In This Episode About Overcoming Teacher Burnout You’ll Learn:
- Common signs of burnout
- Unconventional, but effective, self care tips
- Different types of burnout that teachers experience
- How that burnout can be a catalyst for change
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
- Free Quiz: Identify Your Teacher Burnout Type
- Hacking Teacher Burnout by Amber Harper
- Visit Amber’s website: http://www.burnedinteacher.com/
- TPT Store
- Connect with Amber on Instagram
Ready to be more productive during your limited prep?
Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time”
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

3 Ways Tired Teachers Can Stop Feeling Guilty and Start Enjoying Breaks
How often have you heard someone say they're feeling "teacher tired?" More times than you can count, right? We're all excited for Friday afternoon and the weekend break, but more often than not, many teachers spend their entire weekend working ... writing lesson plans and preparing materials.A break never happens. Recharging doesn't happen. And then we re-enter another work week on Monday feeling just as drained as we did when we left work on Friday. It's time to break this cycle!
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
- Why and how to let go of the "shoulds" in your life
- The importance of redefining what it means to be a good teacher
- A practical way to use "planful problem solving" to maximize the time you have
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
- Download the Free To-Do List Template for Busy Teachers
- Join Prep Time Makeover
- Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
Ready to be more productive during your limited prep?
Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time”
Are you a fan of The Teacher Time Podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts and I'll give you a shoutout in an upcoming episode!

How to Stop the Constant Student Talking and Interrupting That’s Keeping You From Teaching with Gina from Teaching with Heart
As a teacher, it can be frustrating when your students won't stop talking and interrupting your lessons. However, there are effective strategies you can use to manage student talking and create a more productive learning environment.
In this episode, Gina from Teaching with Heart joins me to share simple, effective ways to address constant talking in your classroom that will best support your students.
Gina is a kindergarten teacher with over 10 years of classroom experience. She is a classroom and behavior management coach for teachers both in person and online through her website, Teaching with Heart. She is passionate about helping elementary educators change challenging student behavior by figuring out the "why" behind it.
In this Episode About Managing Student Talking in your Classroom, You'll Learn:
Common responses that most teachers have when trying to stop students from talking and why they don't work
How you can start decreasing the amount of talking that's happening in your classroom
The importance of understanding the "why" behind the talking
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Download the Free Guide: The 1 Thing You Need to Know to Stop the Constant Talking
Listen to Episode 62: 5 Parts to an Effective Classroom Management Plan
![How to Be Prepped Before the Weekend With Very Little Time and Energy [Prep Time Productivity Series]](https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/production/podcast_uploaded_nologo/12838072/12838072-1642959235316-c182fa2438b32.jpg)
How to Be Prepped Before the Weekend With Very Little Time and Energy [Prep Time Productivity Series]
How many times have you sat down during your prep time and felt too exhausted to get anything done? Or by the time you do have the energy to start prepping, your planning time is over? In this episode we address what's causing that teacher tired feeling and a simple strategy that will help you have a productive prep time throughout the week.
In This Episode About Teacher Time Management, You’ll Learn:
- How decision fatigue plays a role in your ability to get things done during your prep time
- The most common mistake teachers make that's costing time and energy
- What a prep routine is and why it's essential for elementary teachers
- Simple tips for creating your own prep routine
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
- Join Prep Time Makeover!
- Listen to episode 87: 5 Essential Time Management Tips for Busy Teachers
- Listen to episode 88: 3 Common Prep Time Problems and Their Solutions
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management
![3 Common Prep Time Problems Elementary Teachers Have And their Solutions [Prep Time Productivity Series]](https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/production/podcast_uploaded_nologo/12838072/12838072-1642959235316-c182fa2438b32.jpg)
3 Common Prep Time Problems Elementary Teachers Have And their Solutions [Prep Time Productivity Series]
So you want to get planned and prepped ahead of time, BUT all of these problems keep popping up during your already limited prep time. How are you ever going to catch up on everything you have to do? Is it even possible to enjoy a weekend without having your teacher bag by your side? In this episode, we are addressing some common prep time problems that elementary teachers experience AND tips and tricks to help you solve them.
In This Episode About Teacher Prep Time We Cover:
- Solutions for dealing with distractions and interruptions during your prep time
- A practical way to combat feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list
- What to do if you feel like you just don’t have enough time
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
- Join Prep Time Makeover
- Listen to Episode 86: 5 Essential Time Management Tips for Busy Elementary Teachers
- Listen to Episode 55: Getting Planned with 0 Minutes of Prep Time with Kassandra
Ready to be more productive during your limited prep?
Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time”
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management
![5 Essential Time Management Tips for Busy Elementary Teachers [Prep Time Productivity Series]](https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/production/podcast_uploaded_nologo/12838072/12838072-1642959235316-c182fa2438b32.jpg)
5 Essential Time Management Tips for Busy Elementary Teachers [Prep Time Productivity Series]
You are a busy elementary teacher with a lot on your plate and not a ton of time to do it in. This episode is kicking off our prep time productivity series, where we'll explore time management and prep time tips you haven't been getting trained on, but should be! In this episode, we will talk about essential time management strategies that every elementary teacher needs in order to make the most of their planning time so they can focus more on teaching!
In This Episode About Teacher Time Management, You’ll Learn:
- How to instantly decrease mental overwhelm
- Strategies for minimizing distractions
- What to do if you find yourself multi-tasking
- A proven productivity strategy that will help you make the most of your time
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
- Top 10 Time Management Tips for Elementary Teachers
- Prep Time Makeover Pre-Sale - Get more info about the mini-training and join at a discounted rate!
Ready to be more productive during your limited prep?
Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time”
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

What to Include In Your Small Group Lesson Plans
Ever wonder how to write a small group lesson plan that's effective but also doesn't take a ton of your time? In this episode, we'll walk through a guide to crafting plans for your small group instruction. I'm sharing my best tips and strategies for creating clear and specific objectives, warm-up activities, teaching points, and practice activities.
This episode is part 2 of 2 in our small group planning series.
In this episode about small group instruction, you’ll learn:
- How to write clear and specific objectives
- Ideas for different types of warm-up activities to use in small group instruction
- Tips for breaking down new skills into manageable chunks for students to learn
- Ideas for activities that provide students with opportunities to practice the new skill
Related Links:
- Listen to Episode 84: 5 Strategies for Meaningful Small Group Instruction
- Small Group Lesson Planning Templates
Take a screenshot of this episode, share it on social media, and tag me @teachinglittleleaders! Let me know which lesson planning tip was your favorite.

5 Strategies for Meaningful Small Group Instruction
Does planning for small group lessons feel like one more thing on your plate (that often gets pushed to the back burner)? If you’re struggling to fit planning for small groups into your day and looking for effective strategies that will help you keep it simple and get them done, this episode is for you!
Small group instruction is a great way to engage students and promote active learning. In this episode, you’ll learn five strategies to make the most of your small-group lessons.
This episode is part 1 of 2 in a small group planning series!
In this episode about small group instruction, you’ll learn:
- The first thing to do if you’re feeling stuck about what to teach during small groups
- Why having a framework for your lessons will save you tons of time on planning (plus get an example you can use right away).
- An important shift in grouping that will help you plan purposeful lessons
Takea screenshot of this episode, share on social media, and tag me @teachinglittleleaders! Let me know which strategy you’re most excited to try!
In next week’s episode, we’re diving into how to write a small group lesson plan that’s effective in a snap. Make sure to tune in every Tuesday for more time management and planning tips that will help you keep things simple, find joy in teaching, and leave work at work!
Related Links:
- Brand New Small group Template Pack! (COMING SOON - Click here to get notified when it's live) This resource has everything you need to plan lessons for your small groups!

Fun Valentine's Day Activities for Kindergarten
Are you looking for fun valentine's day activities you can use with your students this month? We've got you covered with plenty of fun activities for your kindergarteners! Check out our list of 5 ideas you can use right away.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- 5 activities to use in your Kindergarten Classroom for Valentine’s Day
- How to break down the objectives for each activity into lessons to use all week long!
- Easy ways to differentiate each activity for all learners
Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Ready to be more productive during your limited prep?
Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time”
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management
Did you love this episode? Consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts! I'd love to give you a shoutout on an upcoming episode!

How To Write Lesson Plans with Templates and Weekly Slides
In this episode of the Teacher Time Podcast, we're diving into how to write lesson plans without feeling overwhelmed. Listen in as we share step-by-step tips and strategies for using simple tools to stay organized, focused, and productive while planning for the week ahead.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How to use a long-term planning template to see what you'll be teaching each week and identify any resources you may need to prepare.
- The benefits of breaking down your weekly focus and objectives into daily plans, and why this helps to avoid multi-tasking and decision fatigue.
- How to use frameworks to streamline your lesson planning process, so you can get it done quickly and efficiently.
- The power of using slides in your lessons, and how a pre-made template can save you time and help you stay organized.
Don't forget to grab your lesson plan templates and subject slides from our TpT store! For January 31st and February 1st, we're offering them on sale!
Links Mentioned:
Did you love this episode? Consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts! I'd love to give you a shoutout on an upcoming episode!

How to Plan an Effective Morning Meeting for Elementary Classrooms in 10 Minutes or Less
Around here we're all about helping busy elementary teachers save time on planning and prepping. In today's episode, we're discussing how to plan an effective morning meeting for your elementary classroom in 10 minutes or less. Morning Meeting has been a hot topic in elementary classrooms for the past several years, and for a good reason! They help establish an maintain classroom community, and are a fantastic time to practice social-emotional learning skills with your students. But since they're such a routine part of our day, sometimes planning morning meeting can feel challenging. What should the format be? How can you keep students engaged while teaching important skills? In this episode, we begin to dive into how you can plan an effective morning meeting quickly.
In this episode about Planning Elementary Morning Meetings, you'll learn:- What a morning meeting is and why it's important for the classroom
- How to plan an effective morning meeting in just 10 minutes or less
- The importance of a consistent structure for your morning meetings
- How to save time by creating a bank of ideas for your morning meetings
- How to use visuals to make your morning meetings engaging for both you and your students
We'll also be providing an example of planning for a morning meeting, as well as tips on how to make the most out of your morning meeting routine. Remember, a consistent structure, having go-to ideas, and visuals are key to making planning and teaching morning meeting a breeze.
Resources for Planning Effective Morning Meetings:- Free Morning Meeting Ideas List with 65 ideas for greetings, share topics, and activities!
- Editable Morning Meeting Slides with hundreds of ideas for your elementary classroom!

How to Manage Planning, Prepping, and Teacher Burnout with Maggie Jarvis
In this episode, I'm joined by an elementary teacher, Maggie, who shares her inspiring story, from feeling completely worn down and burnt out, to how she decided to make a change that would allow her to be the productive, happy teacher she always wanted to be.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- How Maggie went from completely overwhelmed and on the verge of burnout to managing her planning time effectively.
- What has had the biggest impact on managing lesson planning, prepping, and teacher guilt
- Maggie's experience as a member of the Teacher Time University Course
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
- Join Teacher Time University and learn how to get planned, prepped, and organized for the following week before the weekend!
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

What Kind of Teacher Will You Be in 2023?
Do you feel like everything in your teacher life is out of control? Today I want to share how a simple, intentional reflection can help you regain control and be on your way to being the teacher you want to be. In this episode, we practice self-reflection and identifying what purposeful changes we can make to be more productive, happier teachers in 2023.
In This Episode About Self Reflection and Improving Productivity for Elementary Teachers, You’ll Learn:
- 2 steps to becoming the teacher you want to be moving forward (even when it feels like everything is out of your control)
- About two teachers who began managing time effectively in the classroom, despite obstacles like lack of time and long to-do lists.
- What reflections and decisions can help you do the same
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
- Listen to this interview with Kassandra: Getting Planned with 0 Minutes of Prep Time
- Sign up for the Free Teacher Time Reset Event: 3 Simple Steps to Reclaiming Your Prep Time and Weekends in 2023!
Ready to be more productive during your limited prep?
Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time”
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

3 Things Teachers Are Allowed To Do (That Will Help with Your Mental Health)
Teacher boundaries and mental health are so important. How often do you wish you could just take something off your plate or you could leave work without feeling guilty about everything that has to get done?
There’s no doubt that teachers have a lot to do and not a ton of time to do it in. It can lead to feelings of stress and overwhelm. But what if I told you there are things you CAN do, things you’re ALLOWED to do, that will help you let go of some of that stress and actually impact your mental health in a positive way?
In This Episode About Teacher Boundaries and Time Management Strategies, You’ll Learn:
- The importance of being proactive (and I’ll share a personal story about putting too much pressure on myself)
- How to take some things off you’re plate
- The boundary that will help you work a schedule you’re happy with
- A common misconception that’s causing you to work more than necessary
Ready to be more productive during your limited prep?
Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time”
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

My Friday Routine As a Teacher: 3 Things To Do Every Friday that Make Taking a Weekend Break Easy
It can be hard to let go of work on weekends because there’s so much on your to-do list, and often limited time to get it done in. When you leave work on Friday, it can be hard to shut your teacher brain off, which then affects your life outside of work - making it hard to be present with family or truly enjoy your “free” time.
In this episode, I’m sharing a practical Friday routine for teachers that will help you truly take a break on the weekends, so you can be a happier, more present teacher, come Monday morning.
In This Episode About Teacher Routines, You’ll Learn:
- The importance of utilizing routines as a teacher
- How to make sure you’re not rushing to get prepped Monday morning
- An easy task that will help you ditch the work temptation over the weekend
Ready to be more productive during your limited prep?
Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time”
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

Fun December Classroom Activities for Elementary Students
Looking for easy and engaging activities for December in the classroom? In this episode, we’ll help you plan faster with fun, low-prep activity ideas you can use in your elementary classroom.
In This Episode About December Classroom Activities You’ll Learn:
- An important shift that will help you find more joy while teaching in December
- A simple way to combine writing and a gingerbread theme in a meaningful way
- How using these common items as math manipulatives can increase student engagement while keeping learning authentic.
- A simple, no prep activity that supports culturally responsive learning.
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
- December Math Tasks - contains gumdrop patterns lesson + more!
- Gingerbread Scavenger Hunt
- December Counting Mats
- Episode 67: October Theme Ideas for Elementary Classrooms - in this episode, we discuss the ways themes can help you simplify lesson planning.
Ready to be more productive during your limited prep?
Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time”
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Simple, Yet Effective, Phonics Routine with Kristina Harrill
Do you know that phonics is important, but are wondering how to plan simple and engaging phonics lessons that work? In this episode, I'm joined by Kristina from Sweet for Kindergarten as she shares exactly how you can plan phonics lessons that are effective, without taking tons of your time!
Kristina taught Kindergarten for 6 years, but now stays home with her little ones. She is passionate about phonics, writing, and fine motor skills and shares simple ideas to make learning fun and engaging.
In This Episode About Planning Engaging Phonics Lessons, You’ll Learn:
- Common problems that elementary teachers run into when teaching phonics
- Simple solutions to help you solve problems (like having limited time!)
- A step-by-step process for teaching phonics in your elementary classroom
Links Mentioned in the Episode:
Connect with Kristina:
- Visit the Sweet for Kindergarten Website
- Shop Sweet for Kindergarten on TpT
- Connect with Kristina on Instagram @sweetforkindergarten
- Join Kristina's Free Facebook Group: Kindergarten Tips and Tricks
Ready to be more productive during your limited prep?
Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time”
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher time management

Why Teachers Shouldn't Take Work Home
You're about to go on Thanksgiving Break, and in a few weeks, winter break. You’re torn between taking a break and bringing work home to “catch up” because you’ll “have more time.” So what should you do? Well, as you can see the answer is in the title but in this episode, I'm going to tell you exactly why leaving work at work over any kind of break is good for your teacher soul.
In This Episode About Using Teacher Boundaries, You’ll Learn:
- Eye-opening statistics about teacher burnout
- The main thing most teachers forget about taking breaks because they have so much on their plates.
- The surprising truth about how taking breaks can actually help you (even when you have more on your to-do list)
- The positive effect that taking breaks and setting boundaries around when you will and won't lesson plan can have on you.
Ready to be more productive during your limited prep?
Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time”
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher boundaries.

Things I Always Include On My Slides To Help Students With Independence
Are your students struggling with being independent during learning activities? Are you dealing with constant interruptions during small groups or off-task students? I can’t promise this episode will solve every problem, but I can share a few things I make sure are always on my slides that have helped my students stay on task and lessen interruptions throughout the day.
In This Episode About Using Teaching Slides to Increase Student Independence, You’ll Learn:
- Why using slides is extremely helpful for teachers and students
- A simple way to personalize your slides and help students remember expectations
- Why adding this ONE type of image will help students with managing materials
- How to help students with transitions (without you having to repeat your directions)
Links Mentioned in this Episode:
- TLL Subject Slides on TpT
- Episode 39: How You Can Use Slides In Your Classroom to Save Time
- Blog Post: How to Add a Timer to Google Slides
Ready to be more productive during your limited prep?
Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time”
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about using slides in the classroom.

What To Do With All Of Your Copies for the Week
Do you find that your teacher desk is constantly covered in papers? Is it hard to keep track of all of the copies and materials that you need throughout the school week for all of your lessons? In this episode, we’ll talk about a simple solution to managing all of your weekly materials with ease so you can be ready to teach instead of searching for materials at the start of your lessons.
In This Episode About Teacher Organization, You’ll Learn:
- An easy way to make sure you have everything you need
- A solution for organizing all of your weekly copies
- What to do with materials that you find yourself passing out all the time
Links Mentioned in this Episode:
Ready to be more productive during your limited prep?
Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time”
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher organization.

7 Tips for Planning Effectively with Other Teachers
Are you and your grade-level team trying to plan together, but struggling to be productive? Maybe you’re frustrated because you know that planning together could be such a time-saver (not to mention reduce your stress) but it’s not going the way you hoped.
You’re left wondering - how can we solve this problem? CAN we solve this problem? What (if anything) can you do that will help you and your teammates get more done during your limited planning time?
In this episode, I’m sharing 7 tips that will help you lesson plan with your teammates so that you can stop taking all the work on yourself and start getting more done together - for you and your students.
In This Episode About Teacher Collaboration, You’ll Learn:
- Why teacher collaboration is important
- What you’ll want to set up with your team
- How to make sure you’re working smarter, not harder, by sharing responsibilities
- Some key things to keep in mind, whether you’re a team that's new to working together, or have been a grade-level team for some time.
Links Mentioned in this Episode:
Ready to be more productive during your limited prep?
Take my FREE Quiz for Elementary Teachers to find out “How YOU Can Get More Done During Your Planning Time”
Send me a DM on Instagram - I love chatting with elementary teachers like you! Send me a message with your thoughts and questions about teacher collaboration.
Ready to take back your weekends for good? My course, Teacher Time University is currently open for enrollment until Sunday, November 6th at 11:59pm!

3 Ways to Make Community Building Sustainable All Year Long with Caitie Cupples
In this episode, I'm joined by Caitie Cupples, who has 3 tips to share that are going to make community building in your elementary classroom feel sustainable all year long. She shares simple tips, mindset shifts, and examples that you can take and use right away in your classroom!
Caitie is a 2nd grade teacher turned instructional coach passionate about helping elementary teachers build kind, inclusive classroom communities where all students feel successful, confident, and like they truly belong.
What's Covered In This Episode:
- Helpful mindset shifts to make around classroom community
- How classroom rituals can help make community building part of your every day routine (plus examples of those!)
- An easy way to integrate community building into your day
- How to keep community building consistent in your classroom without the overwhelm
Links Mentioned:

An Easy Way to Schedule Parent Teacher Conferences Using Google Sheets
How long does it take you to schedule parent-teacher conferences? If you’re still doing this by hand - or maybe you’re just done with the sign up form you have been using - I’m going to share an easy way to get your conferences scheduled using google sheets.
What's Covered In This Episode:
- Why Google Sheets are helpful for scheduling conferences
- How to set up a google sheets document for parent-teacher conference scheduling
Links Mentioned:
- Listen to Episode 25: Parent Teacher Conference Tips for Lower Elementary Teachers
- Be ready for conferences ASAP with this Editable Parent Teacher Conference Pack

When to Write Weekly Lesson Plans So You're Not Working All Weekend
Imagine what it would feel like if you no longer had to worry about writing your lesson plans over the weekend, and instead you could focus on other things that you WANT to be doing?!
It IS possible!
What's Covered In This Episode:
- Lesson Planning reflection questions
- The best day to lesson plan
- WHY this day is a great day to get your lesson plans done
- Examples of how this can work for you, even if you feel like you're constantly playing catch up
Links Mentioned:
- Read this blog post: When is the Best Time to Lesson Plan?
- Watch this 7 minute IG Live Video for more tips: The Best Time to Lesson Plan
- Get on the TTU Waitlist for an exclusive offer when doors open

October Theme Ideas for Elementary Classrooms
Who else has ever sat down to lesson plan and felt totally blank on ideas. Like you know what skill you need to teach but you’re not sure how to break down a lesson plan to teach that skill. In this episode, I’m sharing how using themes can help you get the ball rolling on ideas, and even sharing a few themes and ideas you can use this month.
What's Covered In the Episode:
- 3 Theme Ideas you can use in October
- Why they lend themselves well to lesson planning
- Activity examples for each theme
Links Mentioned:
- October plans done for you?! Check out all TLL October resources here.
- Get on the Teacher Time University Course Waitlist for an exclusive bonus when doors open again

How to Build Better Work-Life Balance and Beat Burnout This School Year with Brittany Blackwell, M.Ed
We all know that burnout is unfortunately too common in the teacher world. And if you're trying to beat burnout, you're likely looking to ditch feeling like you're always in work mode and more like you have the space to be the you that you want to be. this episode, I'm joined by Brittany Blackwell, who shares insight into how teachers can have more of a work-life balance this school year.
Brittany Blackwell, M.Ed. is an award-winning special educator and teacher resilience strategist from South Carolina with over ten years of experience working with elementary and middle school classrooms. Brittany is no stranger to teacher burnout and has a passion for empowering teachers, parents, and students to prioritize self-care and mental health. Brittany's digital approach to self-care through digital planning, vision boards, and sustainable strategies has reached the homes of thousands of educators across the world. Also known as "MsPrincessTeach" on Tiktok, Brittany's social media following grew through her fast-paced, lighthearted tutorials and humorous real life experiences. Brittany helps teachers create their own Individualized Resilience Plan by providing sustainable strategies, personal coaching, mindset shifting, and digital resources to reduce stress, automate the mundane tasks of teaching, and prevent overall teacher burnout. Her approach gives support so that educators can maximize fulfillment and effectiveness in their personal and professional lives.
What's Covered in this Episode:
- Statistics that will blow your mind about teacher work-life balance
- How an unbalanced workload impacts not only educators, but students and communities as well
- Why teachers need better work-life balance
- How do teachers balance work and life during the school year?
- Three ways every teacher can gain better work-life balance
- How to audit your teacher life and tasks so you can be more balance
Links:
Listen to Brittany's Podcast: The Resilient Teacher Podcast
Connect with Brittany on Instagram
Watch Brittany's Free Training: Balance Before Burnout: Audit Your Work-Life Balance in Less than 10 Minutes
Other Links: http://www.teachingmindbodyandsoul.com/links

A Literacy Center You Can Use All Year Long
One thing that makes planning centers easier, is having activities that you use over and over again. In this episode of The Teacher Time Podcast, I’m sharing a literacy center idea that you can use all year long.
If you haven’t listened to episode 63 or episode 64, you’re definitely going to want to listen to those! In those episodes we talked about a consideration that would make prepping easier for you AND increase student independence.
What's Covered In This Episode:
- A reminder about how much you actually need to switch out centers
- A meaningful literacy center you can use in your classroom all year long, including materials you'll need and how to implement it
Links:

A Math Center You Can Use All Year Long
What makes planning center activities a challenge? Is it that you have to differentiate for so many learners? Is it that you need new activities more often than you can keep up with? In this episode of The Teacher Time Podcast, I have a Math Center Activity to share with you that you can use all year long!
What's Covered in this Episode:
- How often you actually need to change your centers out
- A solution to trying to figure out what to plan for your centers
- A simple and meaningful math center that you can use in your classroom all year long! Including what materials you'll need and how to implement
Links:
- Yearlong Counting Mats for K-1
- Center Slides Bundle with Automatic Timers
- Connect with Stephanie on Instagram - @teachinglittleleaders

Center Tips to Help with Student Independence
If you have ever felt like your centers were disorganized or like students struggled to be independent during centers, you're going to love this episode. There are so many amazing ways to organize centers, but it’s most important to find a system that works for you!
When I first started centers in my classroom (as a first year teacher) I was so lost. The idea of my students rotating around the room, where to store centers, how students would get them … I just couldn’t wrap my head around it all. As a result, my centers definitely were not as efficient and effective as they could have been.
Fast forward to today - I have clarity around activity organization and center rotations that helps everything run smoothly. Today, I'm sharing tips that will help you do the same!
What's Covered in this Episode:
- How you absolutely must label your center activities
- How visuals during centers will help your students be independent
- The key to long term center success
Links Mentioned:

5 Parts to an Effective Classroom Management Plan with Gina of Teaching with Heart
Have you tried all kinds of classroom management tricks, only to feel like none of them are working? If yes, you're going to love today's episode! In this episode, I'm joined by Gina of Teaching with Heart, and she is shares the 5 essential parts that make up an effective classroom management plan.
Gina is a kindergarten teacher with over 10 years of classroom experience. She is a classroom and behavior management coach for teachers both in person and online through her website, Teaching with Heart. She is passionate about helping elementary educators change challenging student behavior by figuring out the "why" behind it.
What's Covered in This Episode:
- The one thing you must do at the start of the year to create a positive impact on students and families
- The importance of explicit expectations, routines, and procedures
- The real reason your students might be struggling to follow class routines and what to do about it
- How to reinforce positive behavior in a meaningful and effective way
- The key to addressing challenging behavior in your classroom
Links:
Connect with Gina on Instagram: @teachingwithheart

Tips for Writing Lesson Plans Faster
How long does lesson planning take you? Every time I’ve asked this question on social media, the responses range from about an hour to over 5 hours weekly. I’m here to tell you, that it does NOT have to take hours upon hours to write your lesson plans… and it shouldn’t.
In this episode, I want you to know that you can write effective lesson plans, and it doesn’t have to take you all weekend.
What’s Covered In This Episode:
- The one tool you need to ensure you’re not starting from scratch on your lesson plans each week
- How to avoid writing pages and pages of lesson plans
- An easy trick that will help you complete lesson plans
Links Mentioned:

How to Make Back to School Night a Success
Back to School Night / Meet the Teacher events are important parts of the start of a school year. In this episode I’m sharing tips to make your back to school night a success. I want to help you prep this in a simple and effective way so it doesn’t feel like another thing hanging over your head.
Many teachers have said that they feel really comfortable talking with kids, but presenting in front of adults is a whole different experience. Can you relate? I know I can. On top of just the fact that you have to present to a room of adults, there can be a lot of information to remember for this one day or night.
That’s why today, I’m going to give you a few simple tips that will help you feel confident in what you’re presenting and organized.
What’s Covered in the Episode:
- 5 tips that will help you organize and simplify your back to school night
- The one tool that will help you feel more confident when presenting
- How to share about your classroom wishlist
- What you absolutely must have ready to share with families (and an easy way to do it)
- The simplest way to share back to school forms with families
Links Mentioned In This Episode:

4 Things Elementary Teachers Need for Back to School
Do you ever wonder what resources or activities you actually need to have ready as you head back to school? In this episode, I'm rounding up a couple of resources that will make a positive difference in how prepared you feel at the start of the school year.
What's Covered In This Episode:
- The 4 resources every elementary teacher needs when heading back to school
- Why you need these resources/how they'll save you time
Links Mentioned:

A Reminder That Your Classroom Doesn't Have to Be Perfect
In this episode we are talking about setting up your elementary classroom. I’m giving you some friendly reminders and sharing my top tips for setting up your classroom in a way that’s purposeful!
What's Covered in the Episode:
- Top 5 reminders for elementary teachers when it comes to classroom set up
- Classroom set up tips and tricks to keep things purposeful and less stressful
Ready to set up an organized classroom? Download my FREE Organization Guide for Elementary Teachers!

Start Your School Year Right with These 3 Teacher Tips
In this episode We are continuing talking about all things teacher productivity and how you can stay on top of your game this school year. Today I'm going to be sharing 3 things you can do to make sure that you have a productive week, And the cool thing is this can help you when you head back to school but if you're still on summer break you can start practicing these simple things during your day now too so that they become a part of your daily habits.
What's Covered in the Episode:
- A quick tip for having a workspace that allows you to be productive
- An easy way to decrease distractions at work
- The game-changing strategy that will help you prioritize what matters
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Check out this blog post: 3 Things Teachers Can Do to Have a Productive Week
- Download the Free Productivity Guide

3 Strategies for Simplifying Teacher Time Management
This is a very exciting week on the podcast because for this episode I'm going to be sharing a recap of what we covered during the teacher time management challenge masterclass which happened last night. This masterclass was a very special kickoff event to the opening of my signature program: Teacher Time University.
ACCESS THE FREE MASTERCLASS HERE
JOIN TEACHER TIME UNIVERSITY - Doors open for a limited time
What’s Covered in this Episode:
- What’s actually possible for you this school year
- Why you should decide on a teacher mantra (plus examples)
- 3 strategies for simplifying this school year so you can save time

Getting Planned with 0 Minutes of Prep Time with Kassandra
In this episode, I’m joined by Kassie - a teacher who’s doing exactly that, and all with 0 minutes of provided prep time.
What’s Covered In This Episode:
The “before” of Kassie’s Teacher Transformation
The “after” - how she’s getting planned and prepped without working 24/7
Sign up for the FREE Teacher Time Management Challenge: www.teachinglittleleaders.com/challenge

Make This The Year You’re Organized and Planned Ahead of Time
What if this was the school year that you were finally planned organized and prepped before the weekend? It’s possible, you know, and in this episode, I’m going to tell you how.
We all know teachers tons of to-dos on their plates, and not a lot of time to get them done. On top of all that,
you’re also responsible for educating every unique student in your classroom. It’s easy to feel like you’re becoming the distracted teacher who doesn’t get to focus on the best part of your job (teaching) when there’s so much lesson planning, prepping, and organization that needs to be upheld.
Not anymore!
What’s Covered In This Episode:
- Why you’ve felt distracted and overwhelmed up until now
- Setting goals for the kind of teacher you’ll be this year
- How I started leaving work at work
- How I continue to leave work at work
Links Mentioned in this Episode:
- Free Productivity Guide for Elementary Teachers
- Get on the Teacher Time University Waitlist (doors open July 18th)