You want to get planned and prepped ahead of time, BUT problems keep popping up during your already limited prep time. How are you ever going to catch up on everything you have to do? In this episode, we are addressing common prep time problems that elementary teachers experience AND tips to help solve them.

You are a busy elementary teacher with a lot on your plate and not a ton of time to do it in. In this first episode in the prep time productivity series, we will talk about essential time management strategies that every elementary teacher needs in order to make the most of their planning time so they can focus more on teaching!

Ever wonder how to write a small group lesson plan that's effective but also doesn't take a ton of your time? In this episode, we'll walk through a guide to crafting plans for your small group instruction. I'm sharing my best tips and strategies for creating clear and specific objectives, warm-up activities, teaching points, and practice activities.

Does planning for small group lessons feel like one more thing on your plate (that often gets pushed to the back burner)? If you’re struggling to fit planning for small groups into your day and looking for effective strategies that will help you keep it simple and get them done, this episode is for you!

Are you looking for fun valentine's day activities you can use with your students this month? We've got you covered with plenty of fun activities for your kindergarteners! Listen to the episode to hear our list of 5 ideas you can use right away! You'll also learn how to break down the objectives for these activities into lessons you can use all week.

In this episode, we're diving into how to write lesson plans and create slides to go along with them, without feeling overwhelmed. Listen to this episode for step-by-step tips and strategies for using simple tools to stay organized while lesson planning and preparing slides for the week ahead. 

Around here we're all about helping busy elementary teachers save time on planning and prepping. In this episode, we're discussing how to plan an effective morning meeting for your elementary classroom in 10 minutes or less. Listen to this episode for tips. that will help you save time and plan engaging morning meetings for your classroom.

Listen to the episode for tips to help overcome teacher burnout: In this episode, I'm joined by an elementary teacher, Maggie, who shares her inspiring story, from feeling completely worn down and burnt out, to how she decided to make a change that would allow her to be the productive, happy teacher she always wanted to be. 

Listen to the episode for 2 steps to achieving your goal as a teacher: Do you feel like everything in your teacher life is out of control? Intentional reflection can help you regain control and become the teacher you want to be. In this episode, we practice self-reflection and identify purposeful changes we can make to be happier teachers.

Listen to the episode for 3 tips that will help with boundaries: Teacher boundaries and mental health are so important. How often do you wish you could just take something off your plate or you could leave work without feeling guilty about everything that has to get done? In this episode, I’m sharing will help you let go of some of that stress.

Listen to the episode for a simple, Friday afternoon routine: When you leave work on Friday, it can be hard to shut your teacher brain off, making it challenging to be present with family or truly enjoy your “free” time. In this episode, I’m sharing a practical Friday routine that will help you take a break on the weekends, so you can be more present on Monday.

Listen to the episode for easy and engaging activities for December in the classroom: In this episode, we’ll help you plan faster with fun, low-prep activity ideas you can use in your elementary classroom. From a simple way to combine writing and a gingerbread theme, to using common items as math tools, this episode. has what you need for December.

Listen to the episode for a simple, effective phonics routine: Do you know that phonics is important, but are wondering how to plan simple and engaging phonics lessons that work? In this episode, I'm joined by Kristina from Sweet for Kindergarten as she shares exactly how you can plan phonics lessons that are effective, without taking tons of your time!

Listen to the episode to find out why it's important to take a break: You're about to go on Thanksgiving Break, and in a few weeks, winter break. You’re torn between taking a break and bringing work home to “catch up” because you’ll “have more time.” In this episode, I'm going to tell you exactly why leaving work at work over any kind of break is good for your teacher soul.

Listen to the episode to know what to add to your teaching slides: Are your students struggling to be more independent in the classroom? In this episode, I'll share exactly what I include on my weekly teaching slides to help students know what they're working on, where they need to be, and more, so that you can decrease interruptions and increase independence. 

Listen to the episode for ideas on how to organize your copies: Is your teacher desk often in a state of chaos? No worries, teacher friend, we've all been there. In this episode, I'll share simple ways you can keep all of your weekly copies and materials organized so you're not scrambling to find everything you need at the start of your lessons. 

Listen to the episode for 7 tips that will help you plan effectively and collaborate with teacher teammates: Are you and your grade-level team trying to plan together, but struggling to be productive? In this episode, I walk you through 7 things you can do to be more productive with your team so that each of you can work smarter, not harder during your prep time.

Listen to the episode for simply ways to build classroom community all year: Struggling to keep up with classroom community building all year? Or maybe you're looking for easy ways to enhance your classroom community building. In this episode, Caitie shares three easy and meaningful ways to make community building sustainable all year long.