The Joyous Classroom

brandyg

Tips & thoughts for passionate educators wanting to share the JOY of teaching.

  1. 26 JAN

    Small Moments, Big Joy: Finding Light in January

    Two veteran teachers share how tiny wins — shorter weeks, homecoming fun, a simple STEM night, and presenting at TCEA — bring joy during a chilly January. They also reflect on students facing hardship during school closures, the importance of community and caring adults, and encourage educators to look for one small joyful moment each day. Join us on fb at: The Joyous Classroom on fb Message us at: hello@thejoyousclassroom Learn More About Us & Work with Us: The Joyous Classroom Website

    20 min

  2. 19 JAN

    Ep.23: Scoot, Roll, Build: Creating Classroom Joy with Games & Engineering

    A bonus solo episode celebrating "Joy in January" with short, heartwarming classroom moments including poetry debates, an audiobook read-aloud of Harry Potter, math games (scoot and dice multiplication), and a hands-on cardboard robot engineering project that practices area and perimeter. We invite you to a FREE evening Zoom every Monday from January 19th - April 6th as we kick-off The Joyous Journey course — a faith-centered class on finding more joy, gratitude, and healthier habits for this year. Rewrite your year with us in a supportive community where we share our lives, our goals, encourage & support each other, and celebrate the small wins along the way. As always, we’d love for you to join The Joyous Classroom fb group AND share feedback on how the podcast has inspired you,  and leave us a 5⭐️ review to help us grow the podcast and serve you even better!  The Joyous Classroom fb Group:  https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1ANczvoTds/?mibextid=wwXIfr The Joyous Journey fb group: (links to the zoom will be posted there) https://fb.me/g/3MjWajXyX/k2QqIvDo Reach us at: Help@thejoyousclassroom.com  Website: https://thejoyousclassroom.com/

    16 min

  3. 6 JAN

    Ep. 22: Joy in January: Permission to Begin Again

    In this episode, veteran teachers Angela & Brandy reframe January as a month of permission to begin again, not pressure. They discuss slowing down to reconnect with students, reteaching routines, and using small, intentional steps to build momentum for the rest of the year. Practical ideas include community-building activities, goal-setting with students, and simple classroom projects. The hosts also invite listeners to join a 12-week Joyous Journey Bootcamp focused on mindset, gratitude, achievable goals, and supportive community. The Joyous Journey Bootcamp Link

    21 min

  4. 28/11/2025

    Think Alouds Made Easy: Build Readers Who Write with Confidence

    Join veteran teachers Angela and Brandy as they unpack insights from Kristina Smekens on the power of read-alouds, think-alouds, and scaffolded writing. Learn practical, classroom-ready strategies—start small, model thinking voices, use pictures and cross-modal experiences, and teach students to choose the best text evidence. This episode shows how making thinking visible turns readers into confident writers and offers simple steps teachers can implement tomorrow to create a more joyous classroom. Smekens Reading Comprehension: https://www.smekenseducation.com/reading-comprehension-strategies/ Smekens Free Resources: https://www.smekenseducation.com/free-resources/

    22 min

  5. 03/11/2025

    E20:Hit the Reset: Simple Classroom Refreshes That Work

    Angela and Brandy discuss practical, and quick ways teachers can reset their classrooms at the end of the first grading period. From visiting other rooms for fresh ideas to re-establishing routines, positive behavior incentives, and small organizational systems that save time, you’ll be set to make the most out the next part of your year.  The episode emphasizes starting small, prioritizing high-impact changes, balancing expectations with relationships, and sharing tips to renew teacher energy and classroom culture. Random Name Picker: Claw Machine & More: https://www.online-stopwatch.com/random-name-pickers/crane-machine-name-picker/full-screen/

    32 min

  6. 29/10/2025

    Heartfelt Classrooms: Nikki Jordan on Relationships, SEL, and Teacher Joy

    Hosts Brandy and Angela open with light Halloween jokes before welcoming Nikki Jordan, an alt-certified teacher turned entrepreneur, inspirational speaker, consultant, personal business coach, and founder of Confidence at Any Size. Nikki shares her journey into education, her belief in building authentic relationships with students and colleagues, and practical social-emotional strategies—like greeting students at the door and 60-second intentional moments—that improve classroom culture, behavior, and learning. She also describes her workshops (Art of Teaching, Art of Mentoring, From Vision to Victory) and where listeners can connect with her on social media. Connect with Nikki:  Fb: https://www.facebook.com/share/16UtwGjfgP/?mibextid=wwXIfr IG: https://www.instagram.com/confidenceatanysize?igsh=YWxiN3gzejRlbHYx LN:@nikkiordan or @nikki-jordan-dfw Workshop From Vision to Victory: https://www.confidenceatanysize.com/event-details/from-vision-to-victory-2026-planning-experience?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwNuVglleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp1X0Ty9eILQEoalHdm2gTqiG4oS7JuVnbnRgSTmhvQsCcL4RNtYnuDCzOCL5_aem_thz1cIJCZJzl-Wxfb0b_Ag

    44 min

  7. 20/10/2025

    Beat the ECR Blues: Creative Strategies for Stronger Student Writing

    Veteran teachers Angela and Brandy share joyful, research-backed strategies to make writing less scary and more effective—especially for Texas ECRs. Learn quick creative writing routines like Color Your Sentence, Spoken Word, Figurative Language Friday, and the Because–So–Which Means expansion technique for depth, PLUS organization ideas like storyboard planning to build voice, clarity, and stamina in student writing. See how building classroom community with peer “WOW” cards and leaning into spotlighting student work can lead to joy as a pathway to rigor, increased participation, and better student writing.  Leave us a note, or join our fb group and share how these ideas helped your classroom sparkle at writing! We'd love to have you join us at The Joyous Classroom on fb Writing Strategies Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eoMxH0gPJ1R1_gLee4hVSRs0Ce6DgG_d5zmYNUBA3uI/edit?usp=sharing

    22 min

  8. 09/10/2025

    Ep. 17: Get Kids Hooked on Reading: Creative Reading-Engagement Ideas

    Join veteran teachers Angela and Brandy on The Joyous Classroom as they share playful, practical strategies to get kids excited about reading. Great tried & true reading engagement & Interest-building ideas are shared on this episodes. Everything from Mystery Bags to build inference skills, running a digital 'Elite Eight' book bracket to inspire school wide reading engagement, and ideas like Read Around the School, Reading Under the Stars, and hands-on book activities. Book Challenge Article with Timelines:  https://blog.tcea.org/digital-book-challenge-2025/

    18 min
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About

Tips & thoughts for passionate educators wanting to share the JOY of teaching.

Information

  • Creator
    brandyg
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Joyous Classroom