PODCAST · education
The Joyous Classroom
by brandyg
Two teachers sharing their love of education with the world. Angela and Brandy share positive tips, thoughts, insights, encouragement, and passion for all classroom teachers and education professionals. Their shared 60+ years in the classroom and beyond will leave you inspired, energized, and joyous!
Episodes
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Ditch the Worksheet, Ignite the Wonder
In this episode of The Joyous Classroom, veteran teachers Brandy and Angela explain why teachers — not curricula — create classroom magic and offer practical strategies to make lessons more engaging. They discuss pacing, multimodal learning, reducing overreliance on worksheets, and the importance...
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Season 2 is Here; What Gerry Brooks Said, Classroom Makeovers & Summer Recap
Brandy and Angela kick off Season 2 with a warm summer recap — vacations, classroom makeovers, and the bittersweet feelings of leaving the classroom. They reflect on adopting new curriculum, leading with joy, and the power of small acts of dignity for students and school staff. They also share...
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Ep. 27: Tips for March Madness & Test Prep Season
Join Angela & Brandy, two veteran teachers, as they share practical, uplifting strategies to survive testing season and pre and post-spring break without losing your joy. Learn the five biggest mistakes to avoid, five actions to replace them, and quick pre- and post-break routines to reset your...
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Ep. 26: Bring Clarity to Your PLC’s with Guest Casey Watts
Join host Brandy (sans Angela tonight) as she explores how clarity transforms teams, PLCs, and classrooms. Casey Watts, author of The Craft of Clarity, shares practical strategies to move from faux collaboration to authentic teamwork, ask the right questions, reduce resistance, and celebrate...
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Ep. 25: From Chicks to Conferences: Finding Joy During Teacher Exhaustion
Two veteran teachers share a candid episode about post-conference exhaustion, hatching chicks, and the pressure of STAAR testing season. They reflect on passionate moments from TCEA, creative workshop ideas (including a choose-your-own-adventure PD), and how their practical, no‑prep strategy...
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Ep. 24: Small Moments, Big Joy: Finding Light in January
Two veteran teachers share how tiny wins — shorter weeks, homecoming fun, a simple STEM night, and presenting at TCEA — bring joy during a chilly January. They also reflect on students facing hardship during school closures, the importance of community and caring adults, and encourage educators…
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Ep.23: Scoot, Roll, Build: Creating Classroom Joy with Games & Engineering
A bonus solo episode celebrating "Joy in January" with short, heartwarming classroom moments including poetry debates, an audiobook read-aloud of Harry Potter, math games (scoot and dice multiplication), and a hands-on cardboard robot engineering project that practices area and perimeter. We…
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Ep. 22: Joy in January: Permission to Begin Again
In this episode, veteran teachers Angela & Brandy reframe January as a month of permission to begin again, not pressure. They discuss slowing down to reconnect with students, reteaching routines, and using small, intentional steps to build momentum for the rest of the year. Practical ideas…
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Think Alouds Made Easy: Build Readers Who Write with Confidence
Join veteran teachers Angela and Brandy as they unpack insights from Kristina Smekens on the power of read-alouds, think-alouds, and scaffolded writing. Learn practical, classroom-ready strategies—start small, model thinking voices, use pictures and cross-modal experiences, and teach students to...
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E20:Hit the Reset: Simple Classroom Refreshes That Work
Angela and Brandy discuss practical, and quick ways teachers can reset their classrooms at the end of the first grading period. From visiting other rooms for fresh ideas to re-establishing routines, positive behavior incentives, and small organizational systems that save time, you’ll be set to…
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Heartfelt Classrooms: Nikki Jordan on Relationships, SEL, and Teacher Joy
Hosts Brandy and Angela open with light Halloween jokes before welcoming Nikki Jordan, an alt-certified teacher turned entrepreneur, inspirational speaker, consultant, personal business coach, and founder of Confidence at Any Size. Nikki shares her journey into education, her belief in building...
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Beat the ECR Blues: Creative Strategies for Stronger Student Writing
Veteran teachers Angela and Brandy share joyful, research-backed strategies to make writing less scary and more effective—especially for Texas ECRs. Learn quick creative writing routines like Color Your Sentence, Spoken Word, Figurative Language Friday, and the Because–So–Which Means expansion...
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Ep. 17: Get Kids Hooked on Reading: Creative Reading-Engagement Ideas
Join veteran teachers Angela and Brandy on The Joyous Classroom as they share playful, practical strategies to get kids excited about reading. Great tried & true reading engagement & Interest-building ideas are shared on this episodes. Everything from Mystery Bags to build inference skills…
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When Classrooms Become Stages: Teaching as Live Theater
Veteran teachers and community thespians pull back the curtain on the surprising connections between teaching and live theater — presence, improvisation, empathy, and collaboration — sharing stories from rehearsals, moments of hilarity & flexibility from live productions, and the importance of...
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Positive Parent Communication--Building Partnerships that Can Transform Your Year
In this episode of The Joyous Classroom, veteran teachers Angela and Brandy explain how intentional positive communication with families can transform your school year. They emphasize starting early to build trust so parents are more receptive when challenges arise. It's short and to the point,...
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Teacher Tired; Surviving The Beginning of the Year: Part 5 of Our Back to School Series
Angela and Brandy candidly discuss the special exhaustion of the early weeks of being back at school—migraines, tech issues, drills, extra duties, and decision fatigue—and remind teachers they are not alone. They share simple, realistic recovery tips like five-minute resets, lowering weekday...
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The Science Behind Building Rapport: Part 4 of Our Back to School Series
This episode explains why greeting students at the door matters and reviews the neuroscience behind rapport—dopamine for motivation and oxytocin for safety—plus research showing long-term benefits like reduced aggression and improved engagement. Hosts share practical actions (assess, address,...
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Routines & Procedures; Part 3 of our Back to School Series
Welcome to The Joyous Classroom, a podcast dedicated to educators passionate about fostering a positive learning environment. Join veteran teachers Brandy and Angela as they share practical tips and insights to help you establish effective routines, teach essential procedures, and build a…
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Teacher Self-Care: Part 2 of our Back to School Series
In this enlightening episode of "The Joyous Classroom," Angela and Brandy dive deep into the importance of teacher self-care, especially during the hectic back-to-school season. They discuss simple, yet effective ways educators can take care of themselves without sacrificing much time or…
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Conquering Back-to-School Anxiety
Welcome to The Joyous Classroom, Episode 10, where veteran educators Angela and Brandy help teachers navigate the overwhelming back-to-school season with heart, humor, and practical advice. Join them as they share tips on resetting your mindset, preparing with purpose, and embracing grace during...
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From Novice to Pro: 20 Classroom Secrets Shared by Teachers
Welcome to The Joyous Classroom, a podcast crafted for passionate educators by two veteran teachers with a collective experience of over 60 years in the field. In this episode, we delve into the valuable advice and insights shared by our own Facebook group members, aimed at helping both new and...
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Busting Myths About Tier 1 Instruction: Unveiling the Truth
Join veteran educators Angela and Brandy in this exciting episode of "The Joyous Classroom" as they unravel eight common myths surrounding Tier 1 instruction. Discover what Tier 1 truly entails beyond the buzzwords of RTI and MTSS meetings, and learn how it serves as the bedrock of effective...
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Conference Chronicles: Highlights from Get Your Teach On Nat'l Conference in Dallas, Texas
Welcome to an exciting episode of The Joyous Classroom, where veteran educators Angela and Brandy share their experiences and insights from the Get Your Teach On conference in Dallas, Texas. With over 6,500 attendees from around the globe, this national event brought teachers, leaders, and...
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Tech in Schools: Best Takeaways from the Elementary Technology Conference
Welcome to the Joyous Classroom podcast, where veteran educators Angela and Brandy share their passion for teaching and learning. In this episode, join them as they dive into the highlights and key takeaways from the recent Elementary Technology Conference in Galveston, Texas. Featuring insights...
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Embracing Inclusivity: Strategies for Teaching Students with Autism with Author Eliza Rudston
Welcome to The Joyous Classroom, where veteran educators Angela and Brandy, alongside their guest Eliza Rudston, explore effective strategies for teaching students with autism. In this episode, Eliza, an experienced teacher and author of 'Confidently Teach Students with Autism', shares her…
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Unlocking Affordable PD: Solutions for Every Teacher
In this episode of The Joyous Classroom, veteran educators Angela and Brandy tackle a pressing concern for teachers: the high cost of professional development (PD). They explore the challenges faced by educators in accessing valuable PD due to limited funds and share innovative and affordable...
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"Why We Still Teach: Celebrating Over 60 Years of Joyous Education"
Welcome to The Joyous Classroom, a podcast for passionate educators led by seasoned teachers Angela and Brandy. With a combined 60+ years of experience, they delve into why they choose to keep teaching, sharing their passion and wisdom along the way. This episode explores their unique journey in...
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Surviving May Madness: RESTORE Your Classroom Atmosphere!
Welcome to The Joyous Classroom podcast, where passionate educators Angela and Brandy bring you over 60 combined years of educational wisdom and positivity. In this episode, they introduce RESTORE, a practical system designed to help teachers navigate May Madness with peace and sanity. From…
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"Building Joy in the Classroom: Essential Tips for Educators"
Welcome to the premiere episode of The Joyous Classroom, where veteran educators Angela and Brandy share their passion for teaching and insights into creating a more joyful classroom environment. With over 60 combined years in education, they are excited to share practical tips to transform your...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Two teachers sharing their love of education with the world. Angela and Brandy share positive tips, thoughts, insights, encouragement, and passion for all classroom teachers and education professionals. Their shared 60+ years in the classroom and beyond will leave you inspired, energized, and joyous!
HOSTED BY
brandyg
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Joyous Classroom have?
The Joyous Classroom currently has 29 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Joyous Classroom about?
Two teachers sharing their love of education with the world. Angela and Brandy share positive tips, thoughts, insights, encouragement, and passion for all classroom teachers and education professionals. Their shared 60+ years in the classroom and beyond will leave you inspired, energized, and...
How often does The Joyous Classroom release new episodes?
The Joyous Classroom has 29 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Joyous Classroom?
You can listen to The Joyous Classroom on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Joyous Classroom?
The Joyous Classroom is created and hosted by brandyg.
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