We’re bringing back a can’t-miss Teacher Approved classic episode to help you ease back into school with intention and clarity. In this replay of our January Reset Reflection, we guide you through eight thoughtful questions designed to help you reflect on what’s working, identify what needs a refresh, and keep that fresh-start energy alive long after winter break ends! This episode is meant to be listened to slowly and casually (hot cocoa encouraged!) so the ideas can simmer until you’re ready to step back into your classroom feeling grounded, focused, and energized for the second half of the year.

Resources:

• Classroom Procedures and Routines Editable Slides
• Parent Teacher Conference Course
• Editable Classroom Seating Chart
• Spiral Review Morning Work
• Spiral Review Homework – 2nd Grade
• Rechargeable Screwdriver
• Glass Pot
• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Leave a comment or rating on Spotify.

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 3, Strengthening the Brain
• Episode 18, Procedures for Success!
• Episode 45, January Classroom Jump Start
• Episode 76, Teacher Approved Tips: Make Time for Spiral Review and Use SOPs to Save Time in the Classroom

Looking for a smoother January? In this episode, we share our three favorite strategies for a classroom reset before winter break so you can return feeling calm, prepared, and confident. We walk you through simple ways to spark excitement for the new year, set up future you for success, and plan a gentle, soft start that makes the transition back feel easier for you and your students.

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/classroom-reset-before-winter-break/

Resources:

• December Teacher Survival Kit
• Adventures with Friends
• @Engineerdoeseducation on Instagram
• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Leave a comment or rating on Spotify.

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 27, Your One Word Theme for the Year
• Episode 40, 2 Easy Things All Teachers Should Do Before Winter Break
• Episode 209, The Most Important Back-to-School Prep No One Talks About
• Episode 217, 3 Things to Do Before Students Arrive and After They Leave on the First Day
• Episode 233, The Smooth December Framework Every Teacher Needs (And It Starts in November)

Ready to make January feel like a gentle start instead of a cold plunge? In this episode, we’re sharing our January launch plan, designed so you can get prepped for the new term from the comfort of your couch. Whether you’re catching up on Hallmark movies or just sneaking in a bit of planning before the break, these tips will help you go back with confidence and calm!

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/january-prep-tips-for-tired-teachers/

🔗 Resources:

• December Teacher Survival Kit
• Classroom Procedures and Routines Bundle (Tell, Try, Tally, Talk)
• Digital Seating Arrangement Tool
• Free Resource: Goal Setting Pages
• Spin to Survive book
• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Leave a comment or rating on Spotify.

❤️ Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 39, Our Top 20 Christmas Books For Your Classroom
• Episode 146, Never Pick Up Another Stray Crayon: Why We Love Guided Discovery
• Episode 172, The 2nd First Day of School: How to Take Advantage of The Week After Winter Break
• Episode 201, 20 Easy Back-to-School Teacher Tasks You Can Totally Do From The Couch
• Episode 233, The Smooth December Framework Every Teacher Needs (And It Starts in November)

December has officially arrived, and we’re sharing the December classroom behavior strategies that help keep things calm when student energy is sky-high. In this episode, we walk through the routines and mindset shifts that make the biggest impact, from daily expectation check-ins and protecting your mornings to using our “swiss cheese strategy” when the schedule is full of holes. We also highlight how simple festive breaks can add just the right amount of seasonal fun without sacrificing structure, and when a short-term reward system (like the reindeer system that saved one of Heidi’s wildest Decembers) can give your class the boost they need. With the right balance of consistency and intentional fun, you really can stay grounded and enjoy the magic of the season!

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/december-classroom-behavior-strategies/

Resources:

• December Teacher Survival Kit
• Festive Break Pack
• Reindeer Reward System [December Behavior Help Set]
• Podcast Playlist: Teaching in December
• Solar fairy lights
• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Leave a comment or rating on Spotify.

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 105, Festive Fun in December: Engaging Holiday Activities to Do With Your Class
• Episode 106, The December Survival Kit: 3 Essential Tips to Help Teachers Thrive
• Episode 233, The Smooth December Framework Every Teacher Needs (And It Starts in November)
• Episode 234, How to Plan Teaching in December So January Feels Easy

December in the classroom brings joy and chaos in equal measure, and in this episode we share a smarter way to navigate it with your sanity intact. We walk you through choosing your “stop new content” date, mapping out your December must-do’s, and using unpredictable pockets of time for meaningful review and reflection so December lesson planning becomes less about surviving and more about creating steady structure!

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/december-lesson-planning-for-teachers/

Resources:

• December Teacher Survival Kit
• Podcast Playlist: Teaching in December
• Herbivore Coconut Milk Bath Soak
• Nexcare Maxhold Waterproof bandages
• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Leave a comment or rating on Spotify.

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 105, Festive Fun in December: Engaging Holiday Activities to Do With Your Class
• Episode 106, The December Survival Kit: 3 Essential Tips to Help Teachers Thrive
• Episode 230, How To Keep Students Engaged Through Every Season Of The School Year
• Episode 233, The Smooth December Framework Every Teacher Needs (And It Starts in November)

Feeling stuck in that mid-November limbo? This episode kicks off our Smooth December Series so that you can head into January feeling calm and confident. We break down four core focus areas (pockets of prep, classroom reset, student engagement hook, and a teacher comfort plan) along with simple ways to find small windows of time, organize materials with easy systems, and plan meaningful activities that help students return refreshed. You’ll learn how small steps, from prepping welcome slides to stocking your snack drawer, can make your first week back feel lighter. Next week, we're talking all about planning December lessons that work with the chaos, so make sure you’re subscribed!

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/teacher-prep-for-december/

Resources:

• December Teacher Survival Kit
• Podcast Playlist: Teaching in December
• Hero Cheese and Herb Croissant Rolls
• Woobles
• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Leave a comment or rating on Spotify.

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 17, 5 Tried and True Tips For Teaching in December
• Episode 107, Get Ahead For January Now With 4 Easy Steps
• Episode 105, Festive Fun in December: Engaging Holiday Activities to Do With Your Class
• Episode 169, Our Best Teacher Tips for Finding Pockets of Prep Time To Get Ahead For January

November can feel gray and sluggish in the classroom. This episode shares five simple classroom energy boosters to re-energize both you and your students. We walk through the five Cs of classroom re-energizing: Change, Connect, Create, Celebrate, and Center. Each C is full of practical ways to add small sparks of novelty. You’ll learn how tiny shifts, like tweaking your classroom ambiance or building connection through gratitude, can make a big difference. These strategies break routines just enough to rekindle excitement, boost engagement, and bring warmth and delight back to your classroom - one tiny shift at a time!

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/classroom-energy-boosters/

Resources:

• Relax Kids: The Wishing Star: 52 Magical Meditations for Children
• Relax Kids - Aladdin's Magic Carpet: Let Snow White, The Wizard of Oz and Other Fairytale Characters Show You and Your Child how to Meditate and Relax
• The Brick
• Instagram: James Cook @jamescookartwork
• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Leave a comment or rating on Spotify.

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 37, Holiday Behavior Management Tips to Help You Survive Until Winter Break!
• Episode 51, Teacher Work Smarter Tip: Plan for Inside Recess Now
• Episode 53, How Teachers Can Name What Matters to Survive the Mid Year Slump
• Episode 230, How to Keep Students Engaged Through Every Season of the School Year

If the school year’s starting to feel a little messy and your routines aren’t hitting like they used to, this episode is your cue to pause for a mid-year classroom reset! We’re using the K.I.S.S. Retrospective (Keep, Improve, Stop, Start) to help you reflect on what’s working in your classroom and what needs a refresh. From routines and student behavior to differentiation and teacher workload, you’ll get practical questions, real-life examples, and permission to simplify. Tune in to reflect, reset, and head into the rest of the year with confidence and a renewed sense of joy.

Prefer to read? Grab the episode transcript and resources in the show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/mid-year-classroom-reset/

Resources:

• Classroom Procedures and Routines Editable Slide Decks
• If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia
• A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
• Join the Teacher Approved Club!
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow.
• Shop our teacher-approved resources.
• Join our Facebook group, Teacher Approved
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Leave a comment or rating on Spotify.

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 150, Perfect Your Classroom Procedures with the Help of Our Guiding Questions
• Episode 173, Getting into the Nitty Gritty of Classroom Procedures and Routines
• Episode 176, Our 4 Tried and True Tricks to Reset a Rough Day of School
• Episode 223, The Core 4 Routines Every Classroom Needs to Run Like Clockwork