The Teachers Lounge

December often brings unique challenges for elementary teachers, as excitement for the holidays can make classroom management more difficult. Will students in your class be naughty or nice this year? In this festive episode from A Modern Teacher (amodernteacher.com), discover a creative approach one teacher used to keep her students off Santa’s naughty list. With practical tips and holiday cheer, this resource is perfect for maintaining a joyful and focused classroom during the bustling holiday season. amodernteacher.com/classroom-management-during-the-holidays/ May this time with your students be merry and bright!

Teaching is one of the most rewarding professions, yet it often comes with challenges that can feel overwhelming. It’s easy to slip into negativity, focusing on frustrations and struggles. But what if there’s a better way to approach our work and inspire our students? In this episode, we’re joined by Owen Griffith, a veteran teacher and author of the educational blog Spiritually Teaching. Owen shares his transformative journey of teaching gratitude in the classroom. By fostering an attitude of gratitude, he has not only positively impacted his students’ lives but has also found renewed strength and fulfillment in his teaching career. Join us as we explore practical strategies for incorporating gratitude into your teaching practices and discover how it can enhance classroom culture, improve student engagement, and reignite your passion for education.

Are you looking for an effective way to balance your lectures with meaningful student interaction? In this episode, I introduce and comment on the **Ten Plus Two Strategy** from the Let's Teach YouTube channel —a simple yet powerful teaching technique that promotes active engagement while maintaining the structure of your lesson. Perfect for creating a dynamic and interactive classroom, this strategy ensures students stay engaged and retain key concepts. *Let's Teach* YouTube channel [https://youtu.be/Y2udPWz_3vg]

Girls are excelling in schools today—fantastic news, right? But what about the boys who are falling behind? Across the country, millions of boys are struggling with reading and writing, being diagnosed with learning disabilities at unprecedented rates, and increasingly opting out of college altogether. In this eye-opening episode, we’re joined by Peg Tyre, bestselling author of The Trouble with Boys, who will shed light on the challenges boys face in today’s educational landscape. Teachers, school administrators, and parents alike will gain valuable insights into why boys from all backgrounds are underperforming—and, most importantly, how we can support them. Peg offers practical strategies to help educators and families ensure all children, including boys, have the tools they need to succeed academically and beyond. Peg Tyre's website https://www.pegtyre.com

Like Ben Ellis, one day we will all pass from this life. But before that day comes, we have the profound opportunity to leave a lasting legacy through our work as educators. The teaching profession offers countless moments where we can make a real difference—not only in the academic success of our students but in their lives as whole people. We never truly know the depth of the impact we can have on others, but it's there, often quietly waiting to unfold years after they've left our classrooms. What will our students remember about us years from now? It won’t be about test scores or how well we aligned with state standards. The real question is: How did we make them feel? Did we ignite a love of learning? Did we show them kindness, patience, and understanding? Our greatest impact will come from the relationships we build, the encouragement we offer, and the belief we instill in our students that they are capable of greatness. In the end, it’s these human connections that will define our legacy as teac

While teachers naturally expect their students to be attentive and engaged, how often do we prioritize being active listeners ourselves? Listening is a crucial skill for educators, yet many of us find it challenging to fully engage with our students' thoughts and feelings. Join Dr. James Hughey and Bryan as they explore the transformative impact of teachers who truly listen.  For Dr. Hughey's “Power For Positive Living” podcast & blog posts visit PFPL.US

  Parent-teacher conferences often feel like a routine obligation that neither parents nor teachers look forward to. These meetings can become repetitive, with teachers listing off a student's challenges or, in the case of high achievers, simply praising their performance. Unfortunately, this traditional format often fails to spark meaningful change or inspire student growth and it frequently sidelines the most important voice in the conversation—the students. What if, instead of the typical conferences, we reimagine these meetings as student-led goal-setting sessions? These meetings could shift the focus toward proactive, positive collaboration aimed at improving student achievement. By empowering students to take the lead, they can articulate their own goals and take ownership of their learning. This approach also fosters a growth mindset, turning what was once a one-sided conversation into a dynamic opportunity for reflection and future planning. As educators, we know that learning thrives when expec

Remind (@RemindHQ) is a free tool that has helped me to be more effective with classroom communication by sending quick, simple messages to any device that parents and students may use. All phone numbers stay private. I talk with Taylor Chapman about the many benefits of using the Remind platform and how it can make us more effective in communicating with students and parents. Visit Remind at https://www.remind.com/

In this episode, we dive into the reality many teachers face: the struggle to keep creativity alive in a classroom setting that often feels like it’s moving away from innovative teaching methods. Just like a car battery can lose its charge, educators can sometimes find themselves in a rut, losing the inspiration that fuels their passion. Fortunately, these ruts don't have to be permanent. Bryan shares insights from a blog post by "Write On With Mrs. G" that offers practical tips to help teachers recharge their creativity and reignite their passion for teaching. Whether you're feeling burnt out or simply looking for new ways to keep your classroom engaging, this episode will give you the boost you need to stay creative and energized. Check out Mrs. G's post at https://writeonwithmissg.com/2020/03/04/15-ways-to-jump-start-your-creativity-as-a-teacher/ Shout out to the creative Math Teacher/Jedi at https://youtu.be/Z9NQatne0xg?si=ijHpFHPE5xl-1jOy

Discover invaluable insights from Emily Jennette, the 2008 Georgia Teacher of the Year, as she shares her passion for transforming the lives of students and inspiring fellow educators. In this enlightening program, Emily opens up about her journey into teaching, revealing the key moments that fueled her dedication. She also dives into practical strategies that brought success in her classroom—approaches that you can apply to inspire your own students. Whether you're a seasoned teacher or just starting your journey, Emily offers heartfelt encouragement and actionable tips to help you make a lasting impact in education. #teachers #classroom #school #teaching #teachermotivation #education

  We as educators give attention to those who excel in our classrooms and to the ones who disrupt the learning environment.  However, what about our invisible students? They are disappearing and we may not even know it. You know the type. They don't misbehave and we can go through a whole period/subject without engaging them at all. We can't ignore them. Bryan shares some strategies to help us include the invisible students in our classroom.

In this episode, we dive deep into the complexities of shyness and how it impacts students in the classroom. Often misunderstood, shyness isn’t just one emotion—it’s a combination of fear, tension, apprehension, and embarrassment. Many shy students may appear to lack confidence or seem self-conscious, especially in new situations or when they're the center of attention. Environmental changes and school pressures can further amplify these feelings. Shyness isn’t always a negative trait. In fact, many shy students have a unique ability to think for themselves, observe quietly, and please others. Being reserved can even be a valuable personality characteristic. However, when shyness becomes severe, it can hinder a student’s development, and that's when educators need to take notice. Join Bryan and education expert Leah Davies (@Kellybearbooks) as they explore the quiet thinkers/observers in the classroom and discuss how teachers can support them. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or anyone int

"Shut up and sit down!" No, that's not Samuel Jackson acting out a role as a teacher. It's Mr. Ruffen. Several years ago, this teacher went viral in how he handled a conflict between two students in his classroom. Of course, not all classroom conflicts are the same. However, I believe Mr. Ruffen did an excellent job of breaking up these two students and showing his class that he cares. All in record time!

 On this episode, Bryan interviews his mom. Not only did she have an incredible impact on her family, she also made a difference in the lives of many students. Evelyn taught a vast amount of students during three decades. This episode highlights some of what she learned in her teaching journey. 

As many of us start another year of teaching, Bryan shares an article from Mike Roberts (@BaldRoberts) on 20 simple-yet-meaningful things teachers can do every day to improve the classroom atmosphere for themselves and their students. This article can be found on the National Association of Independent Schools website at https://www.nais.org/learn/independent-ideas/august-2018/20-simple-yet-meaningful-things-educators-can-do-every-day/

No smiling till Christmas? Do we need to act like a drill instructor the first few weeks of school? There are many misunderstandings when it comes to being a firm and fair teacher. Fortunately, we have an experienced educator, mentor, and author Robert Ward to help us identify what that looks like in an effective classroom. We also discuss what makes teachers fascinating facilitators to their students. Robert's book "The Firm, Fair, Fascinating Facilitator: Inspire your Students, Engage your Class, Transform your Teaching" can be found on Amazon and his blog is at https://rewardingeducation.wordpress.com

Welcome back to school! It's been awhile since we've had a normal classroom environment. It can be helpful to explain your class procedures. Procedures tell a student what to do. This form of prevention can be an important key to solving discipline problems and make your classroom run more smoothly. For the full article, visit http://www.teachers.net/wong/SEP13/

It's that time of year again! Summer vacation is coming to an end and we're getting ready to start a brand new school year! The start of the year is critical, and so much depends on your attitude. Bryan and Dr. James offer some helpful suggestions about the mindset/attitude you convey the first few weeks. For more of Dr. James content visit ⁠PFPL.US

On this podcast series, Bryan will not only share his own views and experiences but feature the voice of other educators as well. Some are featured in a conversational episode and others are highlighted by having their written words read aloud.    This episode features an article from edutopia.org titled ⁠"How Novice and Expert Teachers Approach Classroom Management Differently"⁠ by Youki Terada—plus 6 takeaways for managing your classroom effectively this year."

For many teachers, it is a struggle to transition from summer to teaching. The beginning of the school year is so full of things to do and can be overwhelming. Educators often make the mistake of complaining about the start of school and focus on all the negative aspects of the job. Guest Owen Griffith (@owenmgriffith) is here to help us have a more grateful mindset about our jobs and life. Owen is not only a classroom teacher but also a public speaker, blog writer, and published author. His book Gratitude: A Way of Teaching will help many discouraged teachers and how they conduct their classrooms. This valuable book will give educators solution-based methods and research-based resources to improve classroom culture, as well as enabling schools to elevate students’ engagement and academic achievement. This highly praised book is currently available at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Gratitude-Teaching-Owen-M-Griffith-ebook/dp/B01CRJ4FNE/ref=mt_kindle?_encoding=UTF8&me=#nav-subnav