Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies

Heidi and Emily, Elementary School Teacher and Resource Designer
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Teacher Approved: Elementary Teacher Tips & Strategies

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. 3 DAYS AGO

    183. 2 Smart Test Prep Strategies You Need to Use with Your Students

    Are your students forgetting everything by test day? In this episode, we’re sharing smart test prep strategies that actually help students retain and apply what they’ve learned—without last-minute cramming. You’ll discover two research-backed methods that make information stick, why some common test prep practices might be doing more harm than good, and an easy way to integrate these strategies into your daily routine. Plus, don’t forget to grab our morning work spiral review pages to reinforce key concepts effortlessly! Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and all resources mentioned in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/smart-test-prep-strategies/ Resources: Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning by Pooja K. Agarwal and Patrice M. Bain Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina GartenSpiral Review Morning WorkFiber Well GummiesConnect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.Shop our teacher-approved resources.Join our Facebook group, Teacher ApprovedLeave your review on Apple Podcasts! Related Episodes to Enjoy: Episode 182, Boost Your Test Prep With These 3 Retrieval Practice ActivitiesEpisode 122, 20 Best Teacher Approved Tips for Surviving Testing SeasonEpisode 121, How to Plan Your Test Prep Around What Content Matters MostEpisode 5, Ditch Your Test Review (This This Instead!)Episode 3, Strengthening the Brain Mentioned in this episode: If you're enjoying this podcast, we would love to hear from you! You can leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teacher-approved/id1613980327

    19 min

  2. FEB 17

    182. Boost Your Test Prep with These 3 Retrieval Practice Activities

    Ready or not, test season is coming, which means it’s time to start thinking about test prep! In this episode, we dive into retrieval practice for test review, a proven strategy that boosts memory and recall. Instead of passive review methods, retrieval practice helps students retain more and feel prepared for the test. We’ll discuss why this technique works and how you can easily implement it in your classroom! Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and all resources mentioned in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/retrieval-practice-test-review/ Resources: Around the Room review Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning by Pooja K. Agarwal and Patrice M. Bain Emily Amick’s Substack The FavoritesConnect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.Shop our teacher-approved resources.Join our Facebook group, Teacher ApprovedLeave your review on Apple Podcasts! Related Episodes to Enjoy: Episode 122, 20 Best Teacher Approved Tips for Surviving Testing SeasonEpisode 121, How to Plan Your Test Prep Around What Content Matters MostEpisode 5, Ditch Your Test Review (This This Instead!)Episode 3, Strengthening the Brain Mentioned in this episode: If you're enjoying this podcast, we would love to hear from you! You can leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teacher-approved/id1613980327

    20 min

  3. FEB 10

    181. How to Get Ahead on Your Teacher Tasks for a Stress-Free Spring Break

    Spring break is almost here, and while you’re excited for the time off, the thought of catching up on work when you return can be stressful. What if you could prep for the first days back before break starts—without the overwhelm? In this episode, we’re sharing top strategies for teacher spring break prep, including how to break tasks into manageable steps and make the most of prep time in small bursts. With these tips, you’ll be able to enjoy your break while feeling ready for a smooth return to school! Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and all resources mentioned in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/teacher-spring-break-prep/ Resources: Bioderma shower oilGavin and Stacey: A Fond FarewellConnect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindowShop our teacher-approved resourcesJoin our Facebook group, Teacher ApprovedLeave your review on Apple Podcasts! Related Episodes to Enjoy: Episode 168, How Teachers Can Get a Jumpstart on a Stress-Free Winter BreakEpisode 169, Our Best Teacher Tips for Finding Pockets of Prep Time to Get Ahead For JanuaryEpisode 172, The 2nd First Day of School: How to Take Advantage of the Week After Winter Break Mentioned in this episode: If you're enjoying this podcast, we would love to hear from you! You can leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teacher-approved/id1613980327

    22 min

  4. FEB 3

    180. Make the Most of Morning Work in Your Classroom with These 5 Tips

    Morning work is more than just busy work! It sets the tone for your day, reinforces important skills, and encourages independence. In this episode, we’re sharing our five best morning work tips to help you create a routine that works for both you and your students. If you're looking to start your day with ease and purpose, this episode is packed with actionable advice you won’t want to miss! Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and all resources mentioned in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/morning-work-tips/ Resources: Spiral Review Morning WorkShrinkingA Man on the InsideConnect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.Shop our teacher-approved resources.Join our Facebook group, Teacher ApprovedLeave your review on Apple Podcasts! Related Episodes to Enjoy: Episode 179, How to Find Fast Finished Success: No More ‘I’m Done, Now What?’Episode 173, Getting Into the Nitty Gritty of Classroom Procedures and RoutinesEpisode 150, Perfect Your Classroom Procedures With the Help of Our Guiding QuestionsEpisode 94, A Great Day Before School Even Starts: Your Perfect Teacher Morning Routine at SchoolEpisode 91, Start Your Day Strong: Top Tips for Maximizing Your Morning Work Mentioned in this episode: If you're enjoying this podcast, we would love to hear from you! You can leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teacher-approved/id1613980327

    22 min

  5. JAN 27

    179. How to Find Fast Finisher Success: No More 'I'm Done, Now What?'

    Teachers pour their time and energy into the major aspects of teaching, but it’s often the smaller, overlooked parts of the job that create uncertainty. One such challenge is managing fast finishers—a topic that doesn’t always get the spotlight but plays a crucial role in the flow of your day. In today’s episode, we’re going to unpack this loaded topic and discuss how fast finishers can find success in the classroom. For all the resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/fast-finishers Resources: Word Family Poems - 1st GradeWord Family Poems - 2nd GradeI’m Done, Now What? How to Challenge Fast Finishers Blog PostNex PlaygroundValari PillowOriental Trading ValentinesTarget Valentines MindWare ValentinesPaper Source ValentinesConnect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.Shop our teacher-approved resources.Join our Facebook group, Teacher ApprovedLeave your review on Apple Podcasts! Related Episodes to Enjoy: Episode 173, Getting into the Nitty Gritty of Classroom Procedures and RoutinesEpisode 165, Keeping Students Engaged All Year Long, No Matter the SeasonEpisode 163, The 6 Key Ways to Boost Student Engagement Every DayEpisode 159, How to Set up Successful Learning Centers at the Beginning of the Year Mentioned in this episode: If you're enjoying this podcast, we would love to hear from you! You can leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teacher-approved/id1613980327

    25 min

  6. JAN 20

    178. 5 Classroom Management Tips for Taming a Chatty Class [Fan Fave]

    By this point in the school year, your class is very familiar with each other. And while you love the community aspect, it can often bring unnecessary or excessive talking amongst your students. If this sounds like your class, we’re replaying a fan favorite episode sharing five teacher approved to help you tame your chatty class! For all the resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/chatty-class Resources: Editable Digital Seating Chart ToolClassroom Procedures and Routines Planning Guide BundleClass Craft noise meterBouncy Balls noise meterThe Seven Year Slip by Ashley PostonConnect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.Shop our teacher-approved resources.Join our Facebook group, Teacher ApprovedLeave your review on Apple Podcasts! Related Episodes to Enjoy: Episode 98, 5 Reasons Your Attention Signal Isn’t Working and How to Improve ItEpisode 97, 3 Secrets For Using Your Classroom Seating Arrangement to Boost Classroom ManagementEpisode 83, Classroom Setup Tips For Success: 8 Guiding Questions for Designing Your Space Mentioned in this episode: If you're enjoying this podcast, we would love to hear from you! You can leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teacher-approved/id1613980327

    25 min

  7. JAN 13

    177. Help Your Class Kick Bad Habits with These 5 Classroom Management Questions [Fan Fave]

    Now that you’re back to school from winter break, you might be noticing that some of your classroom procedures aren’t running as smoothly as they were before break. While this might be caused by multiple reasons, it’s something you want to address right away. In this fan favorite episode, we’re sharing questions that help you identify your classroom management problems and ways to fix them! For all the resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/classroom-management-problems Resources: Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.Shop our teacher-approved resources.Join our Facebook group, Teacher ApprovedLeave your review on Apple Podcasts! Related Episodes to Enjoy: Episode 154, 5 Steps for Classroom Procedure SuccessEpisode 75, Classroom Procedures and Expectations: How they Differ and How to Teach ThemEpisode 32, 5 Classroom Management Questions to Help Banish Bad Class HabitsEpisode 20, Mastering Morning RoutinesEpisode 18, Procedures for Success! Mentioned in this episode: If you're enjoying this podcast, we would love to hear from you! You can leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teacher-approved/id1613980327

    23 min

  8. JAN 6

    176. Our 4 Tried and True Tricks to Reset a Rough Day of School

    Returning from winter break, teachers are well rested and ready to start the second half of the school year. But oftentimes, students come back feeling excited and forgetting all of your procedures and expectations. This can lead to a lot of rough days in the classroom!  We were recently on another podcast, Educate & Rejuvenate, where we discussed four tricks for having a rough day reset in the classroom. With teachers going back after the new year, we thought this information was so valuable that we wanted to share it with our listeners as well. For all the resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/rough-day-reset Resources: Educate & Rejuvenate: The Podcast - Episode 154, 4 Tricks to Reset a Rough Day of School with Heidi and Emily of Teacher Approved Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.Shop our teacher-approved resources.Join our Facebook group, Teacher ApprovedLeave your review on Apple Podcasts! Related Episodes to Enjoy: Episode 167, How Teachers Can Say Goodbye to the Sunday Scaries with Kelsey from Educate & RejuvenateEpisode 132, An Easy Mindset Hack for Teachers with Kelsey of Educate and RejuvenateEpisode 51, 4 Reliable Ways to Hit Reset on a Rough Day of SchoolEpisode 15, Own Your Teacher Wins with Kelsey Sorenson from Wife Teacher Mommy Mentioned in this episode: If you're enjoying this podcast, we would love to hear from you! You can leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teacher-approved/id1613980327

    42 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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