Teachers Next Door Podcast

🎉 You're almost there!  Put down the pen, close that computer, and grab your iced coffee — because summer is HERE and we are celebrating YOU. In this episode, Michelle and Nicole are diving into the ultimate teacher summer bucket list, and trust us, it's got a little something for everyone. We're talking total relaxation, rediscovering who you are outside of the classroom, and just a sprinkle of low-key inspiration for next year (emphasis on low-key). Nicole is dreaming about time at the lake, and Michelle is already booking massages before the school year is officially over — because why wait until July to start feeling human again? If you're the type who hits June running on fumes and then spends the first two weeks of summer wondering why you still can't relax… this episode is your permission slip to slow down, recharge, and actually enjoy the summer you've been dreaming about. Let’s dive in. You've more than earned it. ☀️ Thank you for being here!   Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast. Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at [email protected]. 

June is here, the energy is off the charts, and teachers everywhere are asking the same question: how do we make these last few weeks memorable while keeping everyone sane? In this episode, Michelle and Nicole dive into their favourite end-of-year classroom activities, games, and traditions — the ones that don't break the bank but create memories that stick. From Floor Is Lava days and glow parties to shaving cream on desks, summer bucket lists, and enjoying popsicles outside, this episode is packed with simple, joy-filled ideas to help you and your students finish the year strong. Whether you keep things routine right until the last bell or go all-out with themed days, there's something here for every classroom. Tune in, get inspired, and send your students off into summer with a smile. You ALL deserve it!   Thank you for being here!   Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast. Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at [email protected]. 

We're keeping it in the family this week! For our very first guest appearance on Teachers Next Door, we're handing the mic to the men who know us best — our husbands. What did they think they were signing up for when they married a teacher? (Spoiler: lots of vacation time.) What do they actually deal with? (Spoiler: late nights, report card season, and a very organized household.) From the real hours teachers put in, to the strict rules, to who's making dinner during parent-teacher interview week — Brandon and Derek hold nothing back. It's honest, it's funny, and it might just make every teacher spouse out there feel very seen. Tune in for a fun and candid conversation about life on the other side of the classroom. Thank you for being here!   Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast. Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at [email protected]. 

This week, Michelle and Nicole are celebrating their 10th episode - with their favourite diet sodas, of course!  Then, they get right into an animated discussion about the hills they will absolutely die on as educators, and the ones they're willing to walk right on past. From the power of relationships and rapport to equitable learning, smaller class sizes, the importance of play and outdoor time, and the sacred phrase "I'll wait" — Nicole and Michelle are drawing their hard lines in the sand and sharing why these beliefs shape everything they do in the classroom. Whether you're a new teacher or a seasoned pro, this episode will have you nodding along — and maybe rethinking a few hills of your own.   Thank you for being here!   💌 What hills will you die on? What hills are you willing to walk right on by?  Drop us a line and let us know! Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast. Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

Behind every breakthrough and every career choice, there is a teacher who saw our potential before we did.  Teachers don’t just deliver curriculum—they help build people. This week, your Teachers Next Door get personal!  Michelle and Nicole reflect on some of the educators and mentors who shaped who they are today—the ones who provided safety, sparked confidence, and showed up when it mattered most. It’s a tribute to the quiet heroes and the legacy they leave behind. Who is the teacher you’ll never forget? Whether they gave you the courage to speak up or the safety to fail, we want to honor them. Join the conversation by sending us a DM on Instagram or an email—we’re sharing your stories of the educators who go above and beyond. Thank you for being here!   Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast. Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at [email protected]. 

Work Smarter, Not Harder: Top Teacher Efficiency Tips Do you ever feel like there aren't enough hours in the school day?  In this episode, Nicole and Michelle swap their go-to strategies for getting more done without burning out. From building rock-solid routines and leveraging student helpers, to the “Three Before Three” method and a paper bin system that will transform your desk — these tips are practical, teacher-tested, and ready to use Monday morning. They also get real about setting boundaries, asking for help, and why working as a team is one of the most powerful efficiency tools you will ever have. Whether you're a first-year teacher or a seasoned veteran, there's something in this episode for everyone. Thank you for being here!   💌 Do you have a teacher efficiency tip you swear by? Please send it to us — we'd love to share it with the Teachers Next Door Podcast community! Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast. Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].  

Have you ever dreamed of writing a children's book but had no idea where to start — or kept telling yourself "someday"?  In this episode, your hosts Michelle and Nicole, get real about their journeys to becoming published children's book authors. They share the light bulb moments that sparked their stories, how they made time to write while juggling full-time teaching and motherhood, and the wild (and vulnerable!) experience of putting their books out into the world. From choosing hybrid publishers and surviving rounds and rounds of edits, to an accidental early book launch and epic book launch parties and signings — this episode is packed with honest behind-the-scenes moments. You'll also get a peek inside both of their books, plus hear their best advice for anyone who has a story inside them waiting to be told. You can purchase our books online through the links on our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com.   Thank you for being here!   Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast. Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].  We love to hear from our listeners!

Ever wonder what really goes on inside a school? Spoiler: it's nothing like the corporate world. In this episode, Michelle and Nicole swap a few of their most unbelievable, hilarious, and downright chaotic school stories — the kind that make you think, there is no way that just happened.   They chat about the difference between school lunches and lunches in the corporate world, the surprises that children sometimes bring in their backpacks and the number of wiggly teeth they see in a day - these are the moments that no job description could ever prepare you for. There are unspoken realities of the teaching profession and they only scratch the surface of the stories they could tell. If you're a teacher, you're already nodding along. If you're not, welcome to the world where anything — and we mean anything — can happen. Bring your sense of humor... hopefully this episode doesn't make you too queasy. Thank you for being here!   Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast. Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

Big changes are happening with one of your favourite Teachers Next Door! After 21 years with the same school board, Nicole is making a leap of faith to a brand new board — and she's calling it the 21-year itch and the new teacher twitch.  In this episode, Nicole gets real about the nerve-cited feelings that come with starting fresh: unwritten parking lot rules, staff room seating, and rebuilding her school cred from scratch. The conversation gets real when Michelle and Nicole talk about leaving behind the comfort of familiar faces, inside jokes, and the colleagues who just get you.   Michelle reflects on her many years at the same school and why she so deeply admires Nicole's courage to embrace change.  To round out the episode, they share some chaotic school moments, ask a few not-so-fast rapid-fire questions, and laugh about the songs that often get them through the week. Thank you for being here!   Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast. Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

In this episode of the Teachers Next Door podcast, Michelle and Nicole dive into the exciting yet exhausting final months of the school year.  They discuss resetting expectations after spring break in April, the emotional rollercoaster of May, and the need to lean on one another during the month of June. They talk about the need to be present with students, taking the time to reflect on how far their students have come, and trying to find balance (is that possible?) amidst the mayhem. Whether you're looking for tips on managing spring chaos or just want reassurance that you will survive this time of year, this episode offers a quick glimpse into an educator's journey from April to June. Remember, you ARE doing enough, and are doing a great job! Thank you for being here!   Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast. Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

In this week’s episode, Michelle and Nicole give you a glimpse inside a “typical” day in the classroom—well, typical… if most things actually go according to plan. As proud Canadians and seasoned sports moms, they compare teaching to a hockey game—complete with pre-game prep, puck drop, intermission, chaotic line changes, and the final push to the end of the game. And just when you think the final buzzer has sounded?  Not a chance.  As a teacher, you’re heading straight into overtime… every. single. day.   Thank you for being here!   Please join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast. Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

Step inside with us - Michelle and Nicole -  in our very first episode of the Teachers Next Door Podcast!  We're two friends, former administrators, teachers, and sports moms sharing the real stories about how we met, why we became teachers, and the how and why behind the Teachers Next Door Podcast.  Reheat your coffee, pull up a chair and get to know us a little better as we launch our first episode. We are glad you are here!   Join our online community: Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com.  

What happens when two veteran teachers, former administrators, and sports moms finally hit "record"? You get the unpolished truth about life in the classroom. Because let’s be honest: no one survives the school day alone. I’m Michelle and I’m Nicole.  Whether you’re looking for a fresh perspective on pedagogy, a safe place to vent, or just a friendly voice to remind you that you’re doing a great job in the trenches, you’ve found your people. Welcome to the Neighborhood. The door is always open. Join our online community: Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com.