Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies

Heidi and Emily, Elementary School Teacher and Resource Designer
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Do you ever feel like there’s just not enough time in the day to be the kind of teacher you really want to be? We know that feeling and we’re here to help! Each week on The Teacher Approved podcast, we discuss how to be the teacher you dream of being by elevating what matters and simplifying the rest. Join co-hosts Emily and Heidi of Second Story Window as they share research-based and teacher-approved strategies you can count on to make your teaching more efficient and effective than ever before.  Topics include classroom management, routines for the elementary school classroom, planning, student-teacher relationships, teacher organization hacks, student engagement, classroom management, and more. Whether you’re a new teacher seeking guidance or a seasoned educator looking for fresh ideas, the Teacher Approved podcast is your guide to fostering a thriving elementary classroom! For more teacher approved tips and resources, head to www.secondstorywindow.net and follow along on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.

  1. 4D AGO

    251. 5 Classroom Management Tricks That Do the Work for You

    In this episode, we share five low-cost, high-yield preventative classroom management strategies that help stop problems before they start. From greeting students at the door to using visual prompts and intentional tone, these simple shifts change the atmosphere in your classroom without complicated systems. When you focus on prevention instead of constant correction, you create a calmer, more engaged classroom, even during the tired final months of the school year. Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/preventative-classroom-management-strategies/ Resources: Why It's Important to Welcome Your Students to ClassHow Tone of Voice Shapes Your Classroom CultureAllermi allergy sprayCeraVe Intensive Moisturizing CreamPre-order our book: Structure and SparkJoin The Teacher Approved ClubConnect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindowShop our teacher-approved resourcesJoin our Teacher Approved Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple Podcasts!Leave a comment or rating on Spotify Related Episodes to Enjoy: Episode 124. Spring Fever: 3 Tips to Help Your Spring Classroom ManagementEpisode 247. 4 Spring Classroom Management Headaches and How To Fix ThemEpisode 177. Help Your Class Kick Bad Habits with These 5 Classroom Management QuestionsEpisode 178. 5 Classroom Management Tips for Taming a Chatty Class Mentioned in this episode: Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

    28 min

  2. MAR 23

    250. 250 Episodes Later: Our Biggest Teacher Takeaways

    In this special milestone episode, we’re celebrating 250 episodes and four years of the Teacher Approved podcast. We look back at how the show started, the lessons we’ve learned along the way, and some of our favorite episodes and hidden gems. We also talk about the surprising ways the podcast has evolved, what gives us hope for the future of education, and what we hope the next 250 episodes will bring as we continue helping teachers elevate what matters and simplify the rest! Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/teacher-podcast-for-elementary-teachers Resources: Luminette 3 Light Therapy GlassesMagnesium L-ThreonatePuzzle TablePre-order our book: Structure and SparkJoin The Teacher Approved ClubConnect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindowShop our teacher-approved resourcesJoin our Teacher Approved Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple Podcasts!Leave a comment or rating on Spotify Related Episodes to Enjoy: Episode 200. 200 Episodes Later: These 5 Teacher Approved Tips Still WinEpisode 165. Keeping Students Engaged All Year Long, No Matter the SeasonEpisode 158. Back-to-School Classroom Management: Are You Working Smarter or Harder?Episode 48. How to Make Classroom Transitions Simple With Clear Beginnings and EndingsEpisode 49. Rapid Classroom Transitions: How to Save 45 Hours a YearEpisode 50. 3 Guidelines to Make Classroom Transitions Work Smarter Not Harder Mentioned in this episode: Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

    31 min

  3. MAR 16

    249. 5 Easy Teacher Tasks for March That Pay off Big at Back to School

    March is chaotic, but it’s also full of clarity. In this episode, we share five small things you can do right now to make teaching easier and set up a smoother fall, from creating a simple next-year parking lot to saving student work as future models. We also talk about using March as a low-stakes time to test-drive that routine you keep putting off, as well as share about our Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. You can calm spring chatter now, create more mental and physical space, and know that you’ll be ready for next year with systems you’ve already practiced. Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/march-classroom-tasks/ Resources: Proper Mountain Woman ClubJoin The Teacher Approved Club (free 10-day trial!)Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindowShop our teacher-approved resourcesJoin our Teacher Approved Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple Podcasts!Leave a comment or rating on Spotify Related Episodes to Enjoy: Episode 60. 6 Simple Spring Cleaning Tips for Freshening Up Your ClassroomEpisode 61. 6 Things Teachers Can Do Now for a Better Back to SchoolEpisode 190. Do These 5 Easy Things in April to Make Back to School Easier!Episode 194. Want a Smoother Back to School? Do These 5 Things Now Mentioned in this episode: Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

    26 min

  4. MAR 9

    248. How Smart Teachers Prep for an Easy First Day Back from Spring Break

    Spring break is magical until Sunday night, when you realize you have no plan for Monday. In this episode, we share our “soft landing” strategy for the first day back, built around three simple phases: reunion, bridge, and re-anchor. You’ll learn how to reconnect before academics, use low-stakes review to ease back in, and restore routines in a way that feels calm, flexible, and community-centered. Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/first-day-back-after-spring-break/ Resources: Flying Wish PaperDie with zeroJoin The Teacher Approved ClubConnect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindowShop our teacher-approved resourcesJoin our Teacher Approved Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple Podcasts!Leave a comment or rating on Spotify Related Episodes to Enjoy: Episode 181. How To Get Ahead on Your Teacher Tasks For A Stress-Free Spring BreakEpisode 186. 5 Teacher Tasks You Need to Do Before Spring BreakEpisode 4. Bouncing Back After A BreakEpisode 237. Do These 3 Things Before Winter Break To Make January Easier Mentioned in this episode: Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

    25 min

  5. MAR 2

    247. 4 Spring Classroom Management Headaches and How To Fix Them

    March brings higher energy and lower stamina, and suddenly your classroom feels louder, messier, and harder to manage. In this episode, we explain why spring classroom management isn’t about cracking down harder, but about rebuilding structure. We walk through four common spring trouble spots: transitions, messiness, chattiness, and behavior outside the classroom. We also share practical ways to reset expectations so the environment does more of the work for you. The goal is simple: create structure now so your day requires less of you tomorrow. Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/spring-classroom-management-headaches/ Resources: Pre-order Structure and SparkStain StrikerClay MooJoin The Teacher Approved ClubConnect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindowShop our teacher-approved resourcesJoin our Teacher Approved Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple PodcastsLeave a comment or rating on Spotify Related Episodes to Enjoy: Episode 48. How to Make Classroom Transitions Simple With Clear Beginnings and EndingsEpisode 49. Rapid Classroom Transitions: How to Save 45 Hours a YearEpisode 50. 3 Guidelines to Make Classroom Transitions Work Smarter Not HarderEpisode 119. Chatty Class Management: 5 Ways to Handle a Talkative Class Mentioned in this episode: Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

    26 min

  6. FEB 23

    246. Why Your Test Review Isn’t Working (And What to Do Instead)

    Test prep doesn’t have to mean packets or pressure. In this episode, we redefine test prep as helping students remember what they’ve already learned through simple, low-stakes retrieval practice and reflection. We share why traditional review often falls short, how strategies like brain dumps and quick recall prompts strengthen learning, and how starting small right now leads to calmer, more effective test prep later. Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/test-prep-strategies-for-elementary-teachers/ Resources: Powerful Teaching bookBulb subscriptionGrow lightJoin The Teacher Approved Club (power questions included!)Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindowShop our teacher-approved resourcesJoin our Teacher Approved Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple Podcasts!Leave a comment or rating on Spotify Related Episodes to Enjoy: Episode 185. 6 Easy Tips for Simplifying Your Test Prep SeasonEpisode 183. 2 Smart Test Prep Strategies You Need to Use with Your StudentsEpisode 182. Boost Your Test Prep with These 3 Retrieval Practice ActivitiesEpisode 121. How to Plan Your Test Prep Around What Content Matters Most Mentioned in this episode: Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

    23 min

  7. FEB 16

    245. How to Build a Teacher Wardrobe That Fits Your Life

    In this episode, we’re joined by Lindsey from Fashion Fix to rethink the teacher wardrobe from the ground up. We talk about why traditional fashion advice falls flat for educators, how overspending and underbuying leads to closet frustration, and why understanding your body shape and personal style matters more than chasing trends. Lindsey shares a confidence-centered, practical approach to building a wardrobe that works for real teacher life. Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/how-to-build-a-teacher-wardrobe/ Resources: Fashion FixTarte mascaraSticker by numberJoin The Teacher Approved ClubConnect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindowShop our teacher-approved resourcesJoin our Teacher Approved Facebook groupLeave a review on Apple Podcasts!Leave a comment or rating on Spotify Related Episodes to Enjoy: Episode 187. 3 Teacher Approved Episodes, Tips, and Favorites That You Will LoveEpisode 55. Thriving As A Teacher: One Helpful StrategyEpisode 93. Teacher Morning Routine: 10 Tips For Creating Your Perfect Plan Mentioned in this episode: Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

    43 min

  8. FEB 9

    244. The Teacher-Approved Way to Leave School Earlier and Get Back Your Evenings

    We’ve all had those days when dismissal comes and goes, but somehow we’re still at school hours later. In this episode, we break down why teaching work never really “ends” on its own, and how creating a clear system helps you leave work at school. We walk through how to close out the day with intention, reset your brain for focused work, decide what truly needs to get done, and set a hard stop you’ll actually keep, all so you can head home knowing tomorrow is handled and today is done. Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/leave-school-on-time-teacher-tips Resources: A Gentle RainCandle wick trimmerJoin the Teacher Approved Club!Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.Shop our teacher-approved resources.Join our Facebook group, Teacher ApprovedLeave a review on Apple Podcasts.Leave a comment or rating on Spotify. Related Episodes to Enjoy: Episode 243. How to Protect Your Planning Time (So You Can Stop Working For Free)Episode 242. 6 Small Tweaks that Can Save Your February Teacher EnergyEpisode 94. A Great Day Before School Even Starts: Your Perfect Teacher Morning Routine at SchoolEpisode 169. Our Best Teacher Tips for Finding Pockets of Prep Time to Get Ahead for January Mentioned in this episode: Is your class acting like spring break erased every expectation you've ever taught? Try the Teacher Approved Club free for 10 days and get this month's training on keeping expectations alive — plus last month's Quiet Your Chatty Class Challenge. Join at https://secondstorywindow.net/trial

    26 min
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Do you ever feel like there’s just not enough time in the day to be the kind of teacher you really want to be? We know that feeling and we’re here to help! Each week on The Teacher Approved podcast, we discuss how to be the teacher you dream of being by elevating what matters and simplifying the rest. Join co-hosts Emily and Heidi of Second Story Window as they share research-based and teacher-approved strategies you can count on to make your teaching more efficient and effective than ever before.  Topics include classroom management, routines for the elementary school classroom, planning, student-teacher relationships, teacher organization hacks, student engagement, classroom management, and more. Whether you’re a new teacher seeking guidance or a seasoned educator looking for fresh ideas, the Teacher Approved podcast is your guide to fostering a thriving elementary classroom! For more teacher approved tips and resources, head to www.secondstorywindow.net and follow along on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.

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