Enjoy Teaching Again | Elementary, Teacher Burnout, Student Behavior, SEL, Classroom Management

If "I don't have time for one more thing" is the thought that keeps you from trying anything new in your classroom, I want you to hear this one before school starts.   In this episode, I'm sharing some of my favorite classroom management tips — not because they're clever or complicated, but because every single one of them fits inside time you already have. We talk about three small, specific moves that address Connection, Regulation, and Engagement without adding a single extra minute to your day.   I'll also share what shifted for me when I stopped looking for what I could add and started looking at what I could redirect — and why the first five minutes of class might be the most important classroom management tip nobody talks about.   By the end, you'll have a simple three-step plan to find the moments in your day that are already there — and give them one clear job.   And if you want to dig deeper into more strategies like these, join me at The Classroom RESET Challenge — three days, one hour a day, completely free, July 21st–23rd. On Day 2 I do a live micro-engagement demo that shows you exactly what this can look like in your classroom. PD hours available.   Save your spot: theinspiredclassroom.com/challenge   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   Join The Classroom RESET Challenge (free, July 21-23): theinspiredclassroom.com/challenge   Ready to take it all the way? The Classroom Reset course is where we take everything in this episode and build it into a full, supported RESET plan for your classroom. You know how to teach - now let's make sure your classroom and your students are ready! Learn more and enroll at https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   Free community: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/community   Connect with Elizabeth: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizapeterson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinspiredclassroom Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinspiredclassroom/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theinspiredclassroom

If you've ever tried a new classroom behavior management strategy, watched it work for a week or two, and then felt it completely fall apart — this episode is for you. I'm breaking down why strategies stop working, and why it almost never has anything to do with the quality of the strategy itself. The real issue is usually where you're aiming. When you're managing the symptom (the behavior) instead of the source, things will unravel every time — no matter how good the strategy is. I want to walk you through why behavior is always pointing at something underneath, how Your Classroom's Tripod helps you figure out exactly what that is, and what changes when your energy is finally going to the right place. By the end, you'll have a simple three-step plan to carry into fall (or next week) so you stop managing the same thing over and over — and start actually changing it.   And if you want to do this live with me, I'd love for you to join The Classroom RESET Challenge — three days, one hour a day, completely free, July 21st–23rd. We'll work through improving student behavior without clip charts or consequences, preventing burnout, and creating a classroom you actually love. PD hours included.   Save your spot: theinspiredclassroom.com/challenge Can't wait to see you there! ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   Join The Classroom RESET Challenge (free, July 21-23): theinspiredclassroom.com/challenge   Ready to take it all the way? The Classroom Reset course is where we take everything in this episode and build it into a full, supported RESET plan for your classroom. You know how to teach - now let's make sure your classroom and your students are ready! Learn more and enroll at https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset     Become an Inspired Classroom Insider: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   Free community: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/community   Connect with Elizabeth: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizapeterson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinspiredclassroom Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinspiredclassroom/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theinspiredclassroom

If you've ever thought "they just aren't trying" about a student in your class, I want you to hear this one before you step foot back into school. In this episode, I'm challenging a belief I've held myself — and one I hear from teachers constantly — that a checked-out, unmotivated-looking student is simply choosing not to try. What I've come to realize, in my own classroom and in working with teachers everywhere, is that what looks like a lack of effort is often a lack of access. I'll walk you through why that shift matters, how it connects to Engagement and what to actually do differently with the student you're picturing right now. By the end, you'll be equipped with a simple three-step process to catch yourself before making any assumptions...and how to be the teacher that kids has been needing for so long! ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Join me this July 21-23, 2026 for the Classroom RESET Challenge. Learn how to improve student behaviors to eliminate teacher burnout! Go to https://theinspiredclassroom.com/challenge to reserve your FREE spot!     Other Resources: Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – The online course that helps you improve student behaviors, increase engagement and support students' SEL, so that you can enjoy teaching again. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Have you ever wondered if you're just exhausted...or if it's something more? In this episode, I'm joined by PTSD expert and resilience trainer Lori Owens as we talk about a question I think so many teachers are asking themselves: How do I know if I'm simply exhaused, burned out—or if my nervous system is trying to tell me something more? You'll hear practical, teacher-friendly strategies to help you recognize the signs of burnout, regulate stress during the school day, and create healthier boundaries so you can care for your students without sacrificing yourself. If you've been feeling emotionally drained, dreading Monday mornings, or wondering why a weekend never seems to be enough, this conversation is for you.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Lori's free Boundary-Setting Worksheet: https://practicalsolutionsforptsd.com/podcast   Coaching discount: Use code GUEST10 for 10% off your first coaching session with Lori.   Join me this July 21-23, 2026 for the Classroom RESET Challenge. Learn how to improve student behaviors to eliminate teacher burnout! Go to https://theinspiredclassroom.com/challenge to reserve your FREE spot!     Other Resources: Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – The online course that helps you improve student behaviors, increase engagement and support students' SEL, so that you can enjoy teaching again. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Summer is the perfect time to think about next school year—but if you're simply hoping next year will somehow be calmer, you're going to need to listen to this. In this episode, I'm sharing why hope alone has never fixed classroom management and the three common mistakes many of us make at the end of a difficult school year. I'll walk you through how to stop relying on luck, start learning from last year's challenges, and create a classroom management plan that actually supports the classroom you want. If you've ever caught yourself saying, "Maybe next year's class will be better," this episode will help you replace wishful thinking with a simple, intentional plan that can truly change your year.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Join me this July 21-23, 2026 for the Classroom RESET Challenge. Learn how to improve student behaviors to eliminate teacher burnout! Go to https://theinspiredclassroom.com/challenge to reserve your FREE spot!     Other Resources: Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – The online course that helps you improve student behaviors, increase engagement and support students' SEL, so that you can enjoy teaching again. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

If your summers sometimes end up feeling like one big runway into next school year, this one's for you. I'm sharing three resets I actually believe in for teacher summer vacation — and the one thing almost every teacher skips without even realizing it.   We'll talk about why your body needs to catch up before your to-do list does, why a real plan beats a wish every single time, and why your phone might be the biggest thing standing between you and an actual break. I'll also walk you through the one belief most of us never question and why that's exactly backwards.   Plus, by the end, you'll have three small, doable steps to make sure this summer actually feels different. You've earned a real rest. Let's make sure you actually get one.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Join me this July for the Classroom Reset Challenge to improve student behavior and eliminate teacher burnout!  It's FREE! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/challenge    Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – The online course that helps you improve student behaviors, increase engagement and support students' SEL, so that you can enjoy teaching again. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

What do you picture as a "calm classroom?" Silent rows of kids working quietly? Only the sound of pencils writing or fingers typing? That might happen every once in a while, but is that really the ultimate goal? Today I'm breaking down the real difference between a calm classroom and a quiet one, and why so many of us have been chasing the wrong picture for years. We'll talk about why calm starts with your own regulation before it ever touches student behavior, and why your best teaching memories probably weren't the silent ones. By the end, you'll have a simple three-step plan to carry into fall — without overhauling everything you already do.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: The Cocktail Party Philosophy (blogpost): https://theinspiredclassroom.com/2011/02/conversations-in-the-classroom-the-cocktail-party-philosophy/    Ready to learn about the RESET Framework?  Get your free PDF: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap    Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – The online course that helps you improve student behaviors, increase engagement and support students' SEL, so that you can enjoy teaching again. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

You know it's true... maybe you've even said it out loud: Our students have changed! Honestly, our students' brains have genuinely changed. Not because something is wrong with them — but because the world they live in has calibrated them for constant stimulation, instant rewards, and short-form everything. In this episode I talk about: Why student attention spans in the classroom have genuinely shortened — and what's driving it The dopamine connection: what's happening in our students' brains and why school feels so hard to stay in Why the answer is NOT to gamify your curriculum or compete with TikTok (and what to do instead) This one is for every teacher who has a student who checks out before they even start — and who is ready to understand what's actually going on underneath that.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode:   Be sure to listen to the interview with Natayle Brown — #146 What Every ELA Teacher Needs to Know About Struggling Readers and Student Shutdown   Get your ticket to The Unstuck Literacy Conference (free! June 23–25): theinspiredclassroom.com/unstuck   Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – If this conversation resonates with you, you'll love The Classroom Reset. Inside, you'll learn how to build the foundation that helps students feel safe enough to participate, take risks, self-regulate, and engage in learning. Because before students can succeed with our strategies, they need the conditions that make learning possible. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

You have years of experience. You have the degree. You've put in the extra time to reach the kids who need it most. You know how to teach. So why does classroom management feel so much harder than it used to? I want to get honest about something — what every seasoned teacher deserves to hear: the reason your classroom management tools aren't working the way they used to has nothing to do with your skill as a teacher. Your students have genuinely changed. And nobody told you, retrained you, or handed you anything new to work with. Let's look at three specific things we are seeing in today's students that are different from even five years ago and return to the core of what has always worked in education — with a framework built for the classroom you're actually in right now. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Video: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs for Teachers Free RESET Roadmap — Walk through the full RESET Framework in one place, with podcast episodes built right in: theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap   Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – The online course that helps you improve student behaviors, increase engagement and support students' SEL, so that you can enjoy teaching again. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

You rest over the summer. You genuinely step away. And then September arrives — and within two weeks, you are right back in it...like you never left. If the exhaustion keeps coming back no matter what you do, this episode is for you. I'll walk you through 3 signs that what you're experiencing isn't just teacher burnout — it's what happens when you've been working without the right framework underneath you. Not a personal failure. A structural problem.  Luckily, structural problems have real solutions. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Grab the whole RESET Framework in this free PDF: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap   ✨ The Classroom Reset – The online course that helps you improve student behaviors, increase engagement and support students' SEL, so that you can enjoy teaching again. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

The school year is over. Summer is here! But if you're still feeling exhausted, you're not alone. In this episode, I'm sharing why summer break doesn't automatically fix teacher burnout—and why some teachers return in August feeling refreshed while others feel like they never really recovered. I'll walk you through three simple steps that can help you so more than just rest, but actually recover and be ready for the next school year. If you've ever found yourself thinking, "I need this summer to feel different," this episode is for you. Let's make this summer one that helps you truly recover so you can enjoy teaching again.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – The online course that helps you improve student behaviors, increase engagement and support students' SEL, so that you can enjoy teaching again. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Can we just acknowledge that the end of the school year feels like one giant emotional roller coaster sometimes? In this episode, I’m sharing some personal stories about the teacher friendships that helped shape my teaching journey — the people who made hard years manageable, made me laugh when I needed it most, and reminded me I wasn’t alone. From hallway eye contact emergencies to late-night team vent sessions over nachos and gin and tonics, this episode is a love letter to the teacher besties who help us stay in this profession. If you’ve ever had a teacher friend who helped you survive a hard year, this episode will make you laugh, reflect, and maybe tear up just a little. And as you head into summer, I hope you’ll keep listening to the podcast for encouragement, support, and just enough school talk to help you feel grounded without pulling you back into overwhelm.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – The online course that helps you improve student behaviors, increase engagement and support students' SEL, so that you can enjoy teaching again. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

If you’re limping your way to summer break feeling emotionally exhausted, overstimulated, and one bad email away from wanting to face plant into the couch for three straight days… this episode is for you. In this episode, I’m sharing a few simple but powerful ways to transition into summer without carrying the stress, frustration, and survival mode of the school year right along with you. We’ll talk about why teachers often crash hard in June, the difference between intentional rest and avoidance, and how to start recovering before burnout convinces you teaching just isn’t for you anymore. I’ll also share my personal “Two Week Rule” for the start of summer! Because here’s the truth: You don’t need more to do.  You need a RESET. And no… that doesn’t mean spending your entire summer finding new activities to try and reorganizing classroom bins at midnight. Just listen in... I want this podcast to be just enough school talk to help you feel grounded, supported, and encouraged through the summer without pulling you back into overwhelm. So make sure you subscribe and KEEP listening all summer long. And if you want extra support, encouragement, and insider updates join my insider email community here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – The online course that helps you improve student behaviors, increase engagement and support students' SEL, so that you can enjoy teaching again. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Feeling like your students are mentally checked out lately? Need a quick way to boost engagement without adding more prep to your plate? In this short episode, I share a simple creative activity you can use at the drop of a hat with almost any age level: Circles. This easy, low-pressure activity helps students: practice flexible thinking, spark creativity, increase focus and participation, and reconnect with learning in a fun, engaging way. Most importantly, it reminds us that creativity doesn’t have to be complicated to make a BIG impact on classroom energy and student engagement. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast     Want to experience the calm and connection in your classroom again? You will inside ✨ The Classroom Reset – theinspiredclassroom.com/reset It’s like your dream PD day—but no sub plans, no stress, and everything applies directly to your classroom.   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

It's May and teachers are exhausted. Students are checked out. And by this point in the school year, it can feel like you’re managing behavior more than you’re actually teaching. In this episode, I share why creativity is about so much more than art projects or “fun activities.” You’ll discover how the creative process helps students think flexibly, stay engaged, and regulate emotions — especially during the chaotic end-of-year season. If your classroom energy feels flat, frustrating, or completely fried right now, this episode will help you rethink engagement in a way that feels practical, supportive, and doable.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in this Episode: Do you have a question for me? Record it here and I'll answer it on the podcast! https://www.videoask.com/f42f127z8   Download my free RESET Roadmap! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Have you ever felt stuck in teaching—but also not quite ready to walk away from education completely? In this quick episode, I’m sharing a perspective that might completely shift how you think about burnout, frustration, and finding joy in your work again. Sometimes getting unstuck doesn’t mean quitting… sometimes it means changing how you show up in education. I’m talking about the power of trying something different, stepping into a new challenge, and giving yourself permission to evolve as an educator. If teaching has started to feel overwhelming, repetitive, or like you’re just surviving the days until the next break, this episode will give you something hopeful to think about. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Are you considering a change and want to run your thoughts by someone? Record it here: https://www.videoask.com/f42f127z8   Ready to stop the burnout cycle? Visit theinspiredclassroom.com/reset to learn more about The Classroom Reset. It’s like a spa day for your teacher soul—but with a strategy that transforms your classroom. 📍 theinspiredclassroom.com/reset     Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Ever find yourself carrying everything in your classroom? The reminders. The behavior management. The motivation. The emotional energy. The responsibility for whether students engage… or don’t. And... does it drive you crazy like it does for me? Somehow, teachers take on more of the load while students carry less and less. And while it may feel necessary—it’s also exhausting. So, let's talk about it!   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Check out Episode 135 | Student Effort Is Low… And It’s Burning Teachers Out   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community   ✨ You don’t have to keep reacting to behaviors all day. Inside my course, The Classroom RESET, I’ll help you shift what’s underneath it all—so your classroom becomes calmer, more connected, and actually manageable again. You don't need a new initiative, you need a RESET! Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset     Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

What’s draining your energy the most right now? For so many teachers, it’s not just behavior—it’s the lack of effort. The constant reminders. The students who won’t take responsibility. The feeling that you’re the one holding everything together just to get through the day. And over time… that’s exhausting. In this episode, I’m unpacking what’s really going on when student effort is low and a few small but powerful shifts to help you start changing the pattern. If you’ve ever felt like you’re managing everything instead of actually teaching, this episode will help you understand why—and what you can begin to do differently.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: ✨ You don’t have to keep reacting to behaviors all day. Inside my course, The Classroom RESET, I’ll help you shift what’s underneath it all—so your classroom becomes calmer, more connected, and actually manageable again. You don't need a new initiative, you need a RESET! Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   👉 If you’re ready to move from reacting to behaviors to actually rebuilding a calm, engaged classroom, I’ve got something for you. Grab your free RESET Roadmap here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community   Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast       ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Some students are hard to reach. And if you’ve been teaching long enough, you know exactly the kind of student I’m talking about—the one who seems completely shut down, disengaged, or like they just don’t care. In this episode, I’m sharing the story of a 7th grade student who challenged me in a way I didn’t expect. He came into my classroom with a tough exterior and very little interest in what we were doing… and for a while, nothing seemed to work. But then something shifted. And it wasn’t a big strategy or a complicated plan. It was something much simpler—and much more powerful. If you’re working with a student who feels unreachable, this story will remind you that there’s often more going on beneath the surface—and that small shifts can make a big difference. Because it’s not always about fixing behavior. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: ✨ You don’t have to keep reacting to behaviors all day. Inside my course, The Classroom RESET, I’ll help you shift what’s underneath it all—so your classroom becomes calmer, more connected, and actually manageable again. You don't need a new initiative, you need a RESET! Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   👉 If you’re ready to move from reacting to behaviors to actually rebuilding a calm, engaged classroom, I’ve got something for you. Grab your free RESET Roadmap here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community   Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast       ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

You’re not imagining it - teaching is harder. Today I’m talking honestly about what so many of us are seeing right now—more behaviors, less stamina, bigger emotions—and how that can leave you feeling like what used to work just isn’t working anymore. But you don’t have to become a different kind of teacher to handle it. Instead, you may just need to see a different path forward. One that feels more aligned. More doable. And a whole lot more like you.   ✨ FLASH SALE: This week only (through Thursday), enrollment is open for The Classroom RESET—and it’s available at a special discounted rate with some exciting bonuses. I can’t share all the details here in the show notes, so be sure to head to the website to check it out before it closes. Go here for all the details: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   If you’re ready to stop guessing and start building a classroom that feels calm, connected, and actually works for you… 💛 This is your moment to take that step.   ~Elizabeth     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Have you ever had a class that just felt… so hard?! In this episode, I’m sharing a real story from my own classroom about a group of students that challenged me in a completely different way. No matter what I tried, nothing seemed to stick—and at one point, it honestly felt like me vs. them. But what I realized changed everything. If you’ve ever found yourself questioning why one class feels so much harder than the others, this episode will help you see what might actually be going on beneath the surface—and why it’s not just about behavior. I want to help you to stop second-guessing yourself and start looking at your classroom through a new lens—one that actually leads to change.     ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: ✨ You don’t have to keep reacting to behaviors all day. Inside my course, The Classroom RESET, I’ll help you shift what’s underneath it all—so your classroom becomes calmer, more connected, and actually manageable again. You don't need a new initiative, you need a RESET! Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   👉 If you’re ready to move from reacting to behaviors to actually rebuilding a calm, engaged classroom, I’ve got something for you. Grab your free RESET Roadmap here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community   Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast       ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

If you feel like you’re constantly managing behavior instead of actually teaching… this episode is for you. Because here’s the truth: most teachers aren’t doing anything wrong—they’re just stuck in patterns that keep them reacting all day long. In this episode, I’m breaking down two common mistakes that can keep you trapped in “behavior mode”… even when you’re doing everything you know how to do. If you’ve ever thought, “Why does this keep happening?” or “Why isn’t anything working?”—this episode will help you start connecting the dots. Because once you see the pattern, you can finally start changing it.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: ✨ You don’t have to keep reacting to behaviors all day. Inside my course, The Classroom RESET, I’ll help you shift what’s underneath it all—so your classroom becomes calmer, more connected, and actually manageable again. You don't need a new initiative, you need a RESET! Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community   Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast       ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Ever have one of those days where nothing works… and you’re left wondering what just happened? Today, I’m sharing a real classroom experience and the shift that changed how I see student behavior completely. Because what if it’s not just a behavior problem? Inside, I’ll help you: Look at those overwhelming days through a different lens Understand what might actually be causing the chaos And learn a simple way to start shifting things—without trying to fix everything at once If you’ve been feeling frustrated, reactive, or like you’re constantly putting out fires, this episode will help you take a step back and see what’s really going on underneath it all.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: ✨ You don’t have to keep reacting to behaviors all day. Inside my course, The Classroom RESET, I’ll help you shift what’s underneath it all—so your classroom becomes calmer, more connected, and actually manageable again. You don't need a new initiative, you need a RESET! Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   👉 If you’re ready to move from reacting to behaviors to actually rebuilding a calm, engaged classroom, I’ve got something for you. Grab your free RESET Roadmap here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community   Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

If you've been feeling like you’re managing behavior more than you’re actually teaching, this episode is for you. I’m breaking down what’s really going on when your classroom feels out of control and 3 clear signs your classroom foundation might be… wobbling. If you’ve been repeating yourself all day, putting out fires, or watching engagement slip right in front of you—this episode will help you see your classroom in a whole new way. More importantly, it will show you where to start so things can begin to feel calmer, more connected, and more manageable again.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: ✨ You don’t have to keep reacting to behaviors all day. Inside my course, The Classroom RESET, I’ll help you shift what’s underneath it all—so your classroom becomes calmer, more connected, and actually manageable again. You don't need a new initiative, you need a RESET! Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   👉 If you’re ready to move from reacting to behaviors to actually rebuilding a calm, engaged classroom, I’ve got something for you. Grab your free RESET Roadmap here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community   Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Have you ever had a student who seemed completely checked out? You know the kind… Head down on the desk. Avoiding work. Finding every possible way to not engage. It’s easy to look at that student and think, “They just don’t care.” In this episode, I share the story of one of my own students this year—a student who showed all the signs of total apathy and lack of engagement in the classroom. From the outside, it looked like he had no interest in math… or school… or anything happening in the classroom. But what I discovered changed everything. And slowly, over time, I watched him go from head down to hands up. This episode isn’t about a perfect transformation or a magic fix. Instead, it’s about the small, intentional shifts that helped one student begin to re-engage—and what that means for us as teachers. I'm excited to share one of my own recent success stories in my classroom!   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: 120 | Why Student Apathy Isn’t Always Laziness: The Story of One Student Who Proved Me Wrong https://theinspiredclassroom.podbean.com/e/120/   98 | I Told My Students, “I Want You to Fail” – Here's What Happened Next https://theinspiredclassroom.podbean.com/e/98/     Ready to reset the foundation that will help you reach your students? Visit theinspiredclassroom.com/reset to learn more about The Classroom Reset. It’s like your dream PD day—but no sub plans, no stress, and everything applies directly to your classroom. 📍 theinspiredclassroom.com/reset       💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

If you're feeling unsupported in your classroom, you’re not imagining it—and you’re definitely not alone. In this episode, I’m digging into what so many teachers are experiencing: escalating student behaviors, testing pressure, parent demands… and that feeling of having to carry it all without consistent support. Today, let's name the reality and help you find your footing again. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, reactive, or like you’re doing this all on your own… this episode will help you breathe a little easier—and remind you where your power and influence still is. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Episode 61: Let It Out Before You Burnout https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/61-let-it-out-before-you-burnout-this-one-teacher-relationship/id1662280027?i=1000710075639   Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast     Want to experience the calm and connection in your classroom again? You will inside The Classroom Reset Group Coaching Program. It’s like your dream PD day—but no sub plans, no stress, and everything applies directly to your classroom. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset     💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Ever feel like you’re constantly behind on your curriculum pacing guide . . . no matter how hard you try to keep up? I’m sharing a truth that many caring, creative teachers quietly wrestle with: the pressure to follow every lesson exactly as written—even when your students need something different. If you’ve ever: Paused a lesson to reteach or go deeper Given students extra time to truly understand Felt guilty for not “keeping pace” with others …let's talk. It's time to trust your professional judgment again—without losing sight of the content your students need.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   Let's face it: You don't need a new curriculum to teach, you need a RESET! Come join us and take that first step toward teaching with more clarity and confidence. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset     Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Are you feeling the pressure to cram in every last bit of content before testing… while also trying to keep your students calm, focused, and ready? Or maybe you're ready to just throw your hands up and walk away... You’re not alone and this episode will help you find some middle ground—so you can support your students and feel better in your teaching. This episode will help you: Refocus on what actually matters Support your students in a more meaningful way Approach testing season with more calm, clarity, and confidence Let's do this!   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   If you’re ready to stop bouncing between cramming and giving up, and start teaching with intention, I want to support you. Inside The Classroom RESET, we focus on creating calm, connected classrooms where both you and your students can thrive—even during testing season. Come join us and take that first step toward teaching with more clarity and confidence. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Ever feel like your creativity has to take a backseat to your curriculum? In this episode, I’m sharing a conversation I had with Erin Sponaugle on her podcast. It is an honest conversation about teacher autonomy, creativity in the classroom, and the pressure of scripted curriculum. If you’ve ever felt like you know what your students need—but don’t feel like you have the freedom to do it—this one is for you. We’re diving into how to stay creative even when the expectations feel rigid, and how small, intentional shifts can help you reconnect with your teaching and your students… without breaking the rules or adding more to your plate. Because here’s the truth: creativity isn’t extra—it’s essential. And when you start to reclaim even a little bit of autonomy, you can enjoy teaching again.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – A 6-month RESET experience to help you reconnect with your students, calm behaviors, and enjoy teaching again.  Visit theinspiredclassroom.com/reset to learn more about The Classroom Reset. It’s like your dream PD day—but no sub plans, no stress, and everything applies directly to your classroom.     💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

With high stakes testing, parent conferences, observations, curriculum demands and spring student behavior, this time of year can feel like a LOT… and let’s be honest, the pressure is coming from every direction. If you’ve been feeling the weight of it all and wondering if you’re heading straight toward teacher burnout, this episode is for you. I’m sharing what’s really causing that overwhelming pressure (hint: it’s not because you’re not doing enough), why so many teachers get stuck in the burnout cycle, and most importantly—how you can start taking back control in simple, practical ways that actually work in your real classroom. Because here’s the truth: you can’t control everything happening around you… but you can control what’s happening inside your classroom—and that’s where everything begins to shift. If you’re ready to stop just “pushing through” and start feeling more calm, confident, and in control again—you’re in the right place.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Episode 61 |Let it Out Before You Burnout! This One Teacher Relationship is the Key    Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   Ready to stop the burnout cycle? Visit theinspiredclassroom.com/reset to learn more about The Classroom Reset. It’s like a spa day for your teacher soul—but with a strategy that transforms your classroom. 📍 theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

In this short episode, I share a real classroom story—one that reminded me (and will remind you, too) that even on the days we don’t feel like showing up, something meaningful can still happen. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, questioning your impact, or stuck in the Daily Teacher Drain, this is a reminder that what you’re doing matters, and that joy in teaching isn’t gone… it’s just waiting to be noticed again. And if you’re ready for more of those moments—more connection, more calm, more joy in your classroom—I want to invite you to take the next step with me inside The Classroom Reset. This is where we take these kinds of experiences and make them part of your everyday teaching life with simple, creative, teacher-centered strategies that truly work. ~Elizabeth   Other Resources: Do YOU a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – If you’re tired of managing behavior and ready to prevent it instead, I would love to support you inside The Classroom Reset. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

What could 30 minutes of real support do for you? For one teacher, she was able to walk away feeling lighter, clearer, and ready to move forward with confidence. That’s the power of coaching. And now… it’s your turn. 💛 I’m celebrating this amazing community by giving away THREE coaching prize packs—and you could be one of the winners!   🎁 What You’ll Win: ✨ A 30-minute 1:1 coaching call with me ✨ A $25 Amazon gift card (because you deserve a treat!) ✨ 10% off everything in my TpT store   📝 How to Enter: Step 1: Leave a positive review of the Enjoy Teaching Again podcast. (If you've already done that, then share your favorite episode!) Step 2: Post a screenshot of your review or share inside our Facebook community 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community Step 3: Use the hashtag #giveaway so I can find your entry!   ⏰ Entries close: March 26, 2026 (Thursday) at midnight 🎉 Winners announced: March 27 inside the Inspiring Teachers Facebook Community 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community   💛 If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or just unsure what your next step is—this is your chance to get personalized support from someone who’s in the classroom, coaches other teachers and truly gets it. In our 30 minutes together, we can talk through: Student behavior challenges Creative lesson ideas Classroom management strategies Setting boundaries Or honestly… anything that’s been weighing on you I can't wait to schedule these calls!! ~Elizabeth     Do YOU a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Do you ever feel like you’re spending more time managing behavior than actually teaching? Like you’re constantly redirecting, correcting, and putting out fires… and by the end of the day, you’re completely drained? In this episode, I’m diving into why so many of us feel stuck in “referee mode”—and more importantly, what we can do about it. Because here’s the truth: It’s not about needing better behavior management strategies. It’s about what’s happening underneath the behavior. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Do YOU a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – If you’re tired of managing behavior and ready to prevent it instead, I would love to support you inside The Classroom Reset. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Have you ever looked at a student and thought, “They just don’t care”? In this episode, I share a story about a student in my math class who seemed completely checked out. He came in late, wandered around, asked for snacks and bathroom breaks, and eventually put his head down on the desk like nothing in class mattered. From the outside, it looked like student apathy. But what I discovered changed the way I approached him—and it slowly changed his engagement in class too. If you’ve been feeling frustrated by students who don’t participate, refuse to work, or seem like they’ve completely checked out, this conversation will remind you of something important: Teachers have real influence in their classrooms. And sometimes the smallest things can begin to turn things around.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Episode 119: Student Apathy Is Getting Worse (What Teachers Can Do)   💛 The Inspired Classroom Community If this episode resonated with you, come continue the conversation inside our free teacher community. It’s a space for caring, creative teachers who want support, fresh ideas, and encouragement from others who truly understand classroom life. Join us here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/community     Do YOU a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – If you’re tired of managing behavior and ready to prevent it instead, I would love to support you inside The Classroom Reset. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Have you been feeling the weight of student apathy in your classroom lately? You know the signs… Students who won’t start their work. Students who complain about everything. Students who seem completely checked out. It’s easy to assume they just don’t care. But in this episode, I share a different perspective: student apathy is often a sign of disconnection. When students don’t feel connected, they naturally disengage. The good news? There are some simple shifts teachers can make that start rebuilding those connections. In this episode, I walk you through three practical ways to reconnect students so engagement becomes easier and student apathy starts to fade away. If you're feeling discouraged by students who seem like they just don’t care, this will help you rethink what might actually be happening—and give you some ideas you can try right away.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Episode 108: For Teachers Who Dread Partner Work: Let’s Talk Student Relationships Episode 84: Promote Empathy and Kindness in the Classroom with this Formula!   Do YOU a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – If you’re tired of managing behavior and ready to prevent it instead, I would love to support you inside The Classroom Reset. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Teacher are tired, but that doesn't mean you don't care. Teachers are frustrated, but that doesn't mean you want to give up. Over and over again, I hear that teachers are searching... searching for fresh ideas and inspiration, support and connection with other educators and a positive space in the middle of a challenging profession. Well, what if that actually existed?? In this episode, I talk about how we can build something better together. Because teaching shouldn’t feel like survival mode. If you’ve been craving inspiration, encouragement, and real conversations with other educators who get it, this episode is for you. ~Elizabeth   Join the Community If this conversation resonates with you, I’d love to invite you into the community where these conversations are happening every day. Come connect with other teachers who are working to create calmer, more engaging classrooms together. 👉 Join the community here: theinspiredclassroom.com/community   Other Resources: Do YOU a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – If you’re tired of managing behavior and ready to prevent it instead, I would love to support you inside The Classroom Reset. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset     💬 We just RELAUNCHED our amazing community of Creative Teachers Building Calm & Engaged Classrooms. Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Join us here: 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Does your classroom feel out of control… again? If it feels like student behaviors keep resurfacing week after week, you’re not imagining it—and you’re definitely not alone. In this episode, I’m talking about why classrooms can start to feel like constant storm season and the deeper reason behavior problems keep regenerating, even when you’re doing all the “right” things. I’ll walk you through a simple 5-step Micro Reset you can use to pause and begin rebuilding the kind of classroom culture that actually supports calm and cooperation. If you’re tired of putting out behavior fires all day, this episode will help you start shifting the atmosphere in your classroom. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Do YOU a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – If you’re tired of managing behavior and ready to prevent it instead, I would love to support you inside The Classroom Reset. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset     💬 We just RELAUNCHED our amazing community of Creative Teachers Building Calm & Engaged Classrooms. Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Join us here: 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Do you remember when classrooms had themes? When units of study connected — the bulletin boards, the writing, the projects — and students were completely invested? Thematic teaching may not be “a thing” anymore in the age of scripted curriculum, but connection still matters. And when learning feels connected, behavior improves naturally. I can't wait to share these 3 simple ways you can bring back connected learning starting this week. You don’t need permission to bring back the spark.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Do YOU a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – If you’re tired of managing behavior and ready to prevent it instead, I would love to support you inside The Classroom Reset. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   💬 We just RELAUNCHED our amazing community of Creative Teachers Building Calm & Engaged Classrooms. Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Join us here: 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Are your students spending more time on devices than at recess? Are you seeing more conflict, more frustration, and more behavior issues — and wondering what’s changed? In this episode, I share a conversation I had with a kindergarten teacher who is feeling the tension between curriculum demands and the lack of play in her classroom. And honestly? What she’s seeing in kindergarten is showing up in upper elementary too. If you’re tired of constantly managing student behavior and feeling like you’re putting out fires all day, you'll love this conversation and the 3 simple, realistic ways I share to bring playful learning back — without throwing out your curriculum. This isn’t about adding more to your plate. It’s about shifting what’s already there so your classroom feels calmer, more connected, and more manageable. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Do YOU a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – If you’re tired of managing behavior and ready to prevent it instead, I would love to support you inside The Classroom Reset. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset     💬 We just RELAUNCHED our amazing community of Creative Teachers Building Calm & Engaged Classrooms. Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Join us here: 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

What does a simple piece of cardboard have to do with student engagement? In this episode, I’m sharing a small classroom story that turned into a big reminder: our creativity as teachers matters more than we think. If you’ve been feeling stuck in scripted lessons, frustrated by student behavior, or just plain drained, this episode is your invitation to reconnect with the creative spark that brought you into teaching in the first place. When we allow ourselves to teach creatively — even in small ways — something changes. The stress eases. Students lean in. And the joy returns. And after you've listened, please JOIN ME inside our FREE community!   We just RELAUNCHED our amazing community of Creative Teachers Building Calm & Engaged Classrooms. Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Join us here: 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Do YOU a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – If you’re tired of managing behavior and ready to prevent it instead, I would love to support you inside The Classroom Reset. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset         ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Before you walk into your classroom today, what if you paused for just three minutes...and prayed? In this episode, I’m sharing a simple 3-minute prayer practice you can use before you even leave your car and walk into the school — not to fix your students, not to magically erase behavior challenges — but to steady yourself. If you’re tired of walking into school already bracing for battle… this episode will help you reset your heart before you even reset your classroom.   ~Elizabeth   Not Even Mentioned in This Episode: You were called to this work for a reason. And you don’t have to rely on your own strength to do it well. Take the first step. Pray first. Then teach. And if you need support, I’m here. Come join me inside The Classroom RESET. It’s the easier path to calm, connection, and confidence. 📍 theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast     💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Testing week can feel like a tidal wave of pressure — for our students and for us. If you’ve ever found yourself pushing harder, printing one more practice test, or telling students “Don't worry. They're really testing to make sure I'm doing my job,” this episode is for you. In today’s conversation, I’m sharing three common testing week mistakes teachers make — and what to do instead to create a calmer classroom, reduce student anxiety, and protect your own nervous system during test prep season. Testing season can often leave you feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, and responsible for everything, but this episode will help you reset your mindset and approach so you can lead with clarity instead of panic. Because testing pressure is real — but it doesn’t have to run the show. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode:   Mathapalooza! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/2015/04/mathapalooza/   Visualization with Athletes https://www.verywellfit.com/visualization-techniques-for-athletes-3119438   Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – Inside this 6-month RESET experience we focus on proactive behavior strategies, calm classroom routines, and creative systems that make the whole year feel more manageable — not just testing week. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset     💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

A number of years ago, I had a fourth grader who could not stay focused during independent math work. She wasn’t defiant. She wasn’t lazy. She just didn’t know how to get herself back on track. And that experience completely changed how I think about off-task behavior. In this episode, I share her story, the powerful lesson it taught me and doable shift you can start using immediately.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: 50 | Want to Use Music in the Classroom? 6 Easy Steps to Making it a Success! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/50-want-to-use-music-in-the-classroom-6-easy-steps-to/id1662280027?i=1000701682147   110 | Testing Season Stress? How to Regulate Your Classroom Nervous System Before Test Day     If Cindy’s story made you think, “Some of my students need this,” I want you to know — this is just one small shift. Inside The Classroom RESET, we identify one reset that will make the biggest difference in your classroom… and then we build from there. 📍 theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Testing season has a way of turning even the calmest classroom upside down. That's why today, I’m talking about the nervous system and how much it applies to our classrooms — especially this time of year. If you’re feeling the pressure to cram curriculum, rearrange schedules, pause creative subjects, and just “get through” the standardized test… you are not alone. And your students feel it too. In this episode, I’ll walk you through: What the nervous system actually is (in simple, practical terms) Why behavior often spikes during testing season Why practicing regulation before test day matters Three simple, classroom-ready strategies you can start using tomorrow (including drawing, soundtracking, stretching, and breathing) This isn’t about adding more to your plate. It’s about creating calm on purpose. If you want students who are focused and steady during testing, it starts now — with small, predictable regulation practices that support both you and your class.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode:   50 | Want to Use Music in the Classroom? 6 Easy Steps to Making it a Success! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/50-want-to-use-music-in-the-classroom-6-easy-steps-to/id1662280027?i=1000701682147   Soft Starts (resource) - Transition Activities for Social-Emotional Learning SEL https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Soft-Starts-Transition-Activities-for-Social-Emotional-Learning-SEL-9097051   Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – A 6-month RESET experience to help you reconnect with your students, calm behaviors, and enjoy teaching again. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Have you ever taught a kindness lesson only to see the same rude behavior show up days later? Ya... me too! In this episode, I talk about why kindness activities don’t always lead to lasting behavior change and what students actually need in order to develop kindness in real, everyday moments. We’ll look at how classroom environment and culture play a much bigger role than one-off lessons—and why this shift can lead to calmer behavior and fewer social disruptions. I share real classroom stories and simple, practical ways teachers can support kindness every day. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   If you’re tired of correcting tone, managing hurt feelings, and feeling like kindness “isn’t sticking,” I invite you to check out The Classroom RESET—a supportive, teacher-centered way to build a caring classroom culture that improves behavior over time. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider     💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Do you tense up every time it’s time for partner work or group work? The hurt feelings, the drama, the behavior issues—it can make even the best lesson feel exhausting. In this episode, I’m talking about student-to-student relationships and why they play a much bigger role in classroom behavior than we often realize. While teacher–student relationships matter, peer-to-peer relationships are often the missing piece behind stressful group work, exclusion, and social conflict. If you’re tired of managing group work drama and want your classroom to run more smoothly, this episode will help you rethink what’s really going on—and where to focus your energy. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   ✨ The Classroom Reset – A 6-month RESET experience to help you reconnect with your students, calm behaviors, and enjoy teaching again. Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider     💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

If math time in your classroom feels scattered, off-task, or frustrating, this episode is for you. Today, I’m sharing simple math engagement strategies that help students focus, make sense of word problems, and truly understand what numbers represent. You’ll hear about my favorite strategy for math and I'll share how these engagement ideas help improve student behavior, reduce confusion, and make math feel more manageable for everyone.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: ✨ Want guided support using engagement to improve behavior and understanding? The Classroom Reset walks you step-by-step through engagement strategies that help students regulate, connect, and learn — so teaching feels better again. Learn more at https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

If your students feel disengaged, off-task, or restless, this episode is for you. I’m sharing how simple classroom engagement ideas can make a real difference in student behavior, focus, and understanding. I’ll take you inside a real classroom story and show you how engagement isn’t about entertaining students — it’s one of the most effective classroom management tools we have. You’ll hear how small, creative shifts can help students better understand content while reducing power struggles and daily frustration.   If you’re tired of constantly redirecting behavior or re-teaching the same concepts, this episode will help you see engagement in a new, calmer, more effective way.       ~Elizabeth ✨ Want support putting this into practice? Inside The Classroom Reset, I guide you through proven engagement strategies that improve behavior, build connection, and help you enjoy teaching again — without doing it alone. Learn more and join us at theinspiredclassroom.com/reset.   Interested in a Strategy Call? We can discuss engagement strategies that truly fit your students and help bring content to life. I’d love to think it through with you. https://theinspiredclassroom.com/strategy   Ask a Question and get it answered on the podcast! Go to https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast, scroll and find the button to press record!   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Student behaviors is the number 1 thing teachers tell me their struggling with. So today, I want to share the #1 secret that will help. Can you guess what it is? Take a moment, think and then press play! Inside I'll share the secret and then 3 ways to put it into practice so that you can improve student behaviors in your classroom.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: 57 | From Morning Chaos to Classroom Calm - 3 Teacher-Tested Approaches   Behavior Blueprint: Grab all the resources, videos, templates and tools you need today  to Navigate Disruptive Behaviors with 100% Confidence! Go to https://theinspiredclassroom.com/behavior   Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   Want to experience the calm and connection in your classroom again? You will inside The Classroom Reset Group Coaching Program.   💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Do you deal with extreme student behaviors? Or how about those behaviors that aren't extreme, but just constant (and annoying!) They disrupt the flow of a lesson, disrupt the classroom environment and take time away from your teaching and your students' learning! Well, if that is frustrating to you, then this episode will be very helpful. I'm sharing the 5 steps to navigate disruptive behaviors so that you can improve student behaviors. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Behavior Blueprint: Grab all the resources, videos, templates and tools you need today to Navigate Disruptive Behaviors with 100% Confidence! Go to https://theinspiredclassroom.com/behavior   Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   Want to experience the calm and connection in your classroom again? You will inside The Classroom Reset Group Coaching Program.       💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on. It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone. 👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community     ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom