Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers

413. A Back-to-School Pep Talk for the Teacher Who Already Feels Exhausted

If the school year has barely begun and you already feel exhausted, there is nothing wrong with you. In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori offers a reassuri

412. I Built a Classroom Management App in 24 Hours… and THIS Happened

What if classroom management could feel a little more positive and a lot more fun? In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori introduces Feed the Monster, a free

411. Who Threw the Eraser? What to Do When Misbehavior Happens Behind Your Back

What should you do when classroom misbehavior happens but you do not know which student was responsible? In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori shares a calm

410. An Inspirational Song for Teachers to Start the Year

Episode Summary: As you step into a new school year, you may feel excited, hopeful, nervous, and unsure of yourself all at once. In this special episode, Dr. Lori share

409. I Feel Like a General with All These Strict Rules and Expectations

Many teachers want calm, well-managed classrooms, but they also want students to feel trusted, creative, and independent. In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. L

408. When Students Refuse to Work: How to Use Reflection Forms Without Creating a Power Struggle

When a student refuses to work, it's easy to feel like you have to win the battle, but power struggles rarely lead to lasting change. In this episode of Beginning Teacher

407. Classroom Mascots: An Amazing First-Weeks Community Builder

In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori shares one of her favorite back-to-school community-building strategies: using a simple classroom mascot to help stude

406. If Last Year Was the Hardest Year of Your Teaching Life, Listen to This

In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori Friesen shares an encouraging message for every teacher who ended the last school year feeling overwhelmed, discourage

405. Before You Quit Teaching, Listen to This: With Middle School Teacher Amber Duane

In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori Friesen sits down with middle school teacher Amber Duane to share how she went from nearly leaving teaching after her

404. Specials Teachers: Why Classroom Management Feels So Different (And Why Most Advice Doesn't Work)

In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori speaks directly to art, music, PE, library, STEM, and other specials teachers who often feel overlooked when it comes

403. Teaching Today's Kids with 22-Year Veteran Jodie Culpepper

In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori sits down with veteran teacher Jodie Culpepper, who shares how years of classroom management challenges, student behav

402. Adding Elements of Surprise to Engage Your Students with 4th Grade Teacher Amanda Muri

In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori sits down with fourth-grade teacher Amanda Muri to talk about how small elements of surprise can create big shifts in

401. How Small Changes Lead to Big Results in Pre-K Classroom Management With Special Guest Lindsay Parsons

In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori sits down with pre-K and kindergarten teacher Lindsay Parsons to talk about what classroom management really looks lik

400. 5 Reasons Your Classroom Felt So Much Harder Than It Needed to Be

In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori Friesen breaks down the five hidden classroom patterns that quietly drain teachers day after day. If you've ever felt

399. Why Next Year Will Feel Exactly the Same (Unless You Do This First)

What if next year doesn't feel easier… not because of your students, but because nothing actually changed? In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori Friesen sha

398. What to Write Down Before You Leave Your Classroom for Summer

Before you pack up your classroom for summer, there's one simple step that can make next year dramatically easier. In this episode, Dr. Lori Friesen shares a powerful Tea

397. How to Pack Up Your Classroom for the Summer (So Next Year Feels 10x Easier)

As spring fever sets in and the school year winds down, it's tempting to rush through classroom pack-up just to be done. But in this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr

396. 10 Things I Wish I Had Known During My First Year of Teaching

If you've ever felt like your classroom success depends on having the perfect lesson, this episode may shift everything for you. In this heartfelt and practical episode,

395. The 5 Spring Systems to Tighten (To Make Next Year Easier)

If your classroom suddenly feels noisier, slower, or harder to manage this spring, you're not imagining it, and you're not doing anything wrong. In this episode, Dr. Lori

394. Why May is the Most Important Month of the Year for Teachers

As the school year winds down, many teachers feel like they're just trying to make it to summer. But what if May is actually the most powerful month for improving your te