Untidy Teacher

If you’ve ever gotten home from teaching and felt completely drained, like your brain just can’t handle one more thing, this episode is for you.We’re talking about the mental exhaustion that comes with teaching, why it hits so differently than other jobs, and what it actually looks like to try and stay sane outside of school.Because you’re not lazy... You’re just tired in a way that’s hard to explain unless you live it.

Teacher swap day seemed fun… until I found myself teaching 5th grade and completely forgetting how fractions work in real time. A chaotic, humbling, and surprisingly heartwarming hour that reminded me exactly why I love my 2nd graders (and why I should probably stay there).

One day you’re being screamed at to stop talking. The next, you’re “a joy.”In this episode, I’m talking about the emotional whiplash of teaching... How kids can go from arguing with you to loving you in less than 24 hours. If you’ve ever walked out of school questioning everything… only to be someone’s favorite teacher the next day, this one’s for you.

You know those days where you ask nicely… and ask nicely again… and before you know it, you’ve asked nicely 47 times.Yeah. This is one of those days.Here's the very real moment I hit my limit during a math test, what led up to it, and why “losing your cool” as a teacher isn’t as simple as it might seem from the outside.Because it’s never just about the talking.It’s the repetition. The pressure. The feeling of not being heard.If you’ve ever walked away from a moment in your classroom thinking, “Did I overreact?”... This one’s for you.

Every teacher has that kid... the one who tests your patience, disrupts your lessons, and keeps you on your toes all day long. But sometimes those same students end up giving you the biggest wins.In this episode, I’m sharing the story of one student who spent most of the year struggling with behavior and believing he “couldn’t control it,” and the progress that’s made me more proud of him than I ever expected.

Some students act like they don’t care about anything we’re teaching. They argue, refuse to try, and say school is pointless. In this episode, I talk about the students who pretend not to care and share a story from my classroom about a kid I’ve battled with all year and the conversation that finally got through to him.

Teaching isn’t just lesson plans, grades, or classroom management. Sometimes, it’s showing up every day while your heart is breaking.In this episode, I share what it’s like to hold it together for your students while navigating personal loss, grief, and heavy emotions behind the scenes. If you’ve ever had to smile through the pain, keep it together when you’re falling apart, or be the steady adult when you feel anything but steady, this one is for you.

You know the kid who’s perfect in the hallway… and then turns into a full-blown gremlin the second they walk into your classroom? Yep. That kid. Let’s talk about why it happens, how to reframe your thoughts about it, and how to hold boundaries while still being the safe place.

My students think I live at school, never get tired, and always know what I’m doing. In this episode, I’m unpacking the version of me they see, the parts they don’t, and why teaching is so much more than what happens in front of kids.

Warning: may cause excessive laughing, nodding, and sudden validation of your teacher brain. Teaching requires endless smiling while thinking unhinged thoughts. This episode spills everything teachers never can... Staff meetings, late-night emails, and second graders with big feelings.Survive the chaos with us, one meltdown at a time.

Teaching is loud, exhausting, and mentally overwhelming… but every once in a while, everything gets quiet.In this episode, I’m talking about the small, unexpected moments that remind us why we do this job... like a seven-year-old stopping everything just to say, “You’re the best.” The moments no data point can measure. The ones that help you pause, breathe, and remember that even on the hardest days, you matter more than you know.Because teaching isn’t just what we do. It’s the quiet magic in between. 

This episode is the final update on Operation Filling Bellies - a project that stretched me, stressed me out, and reminded me why this work matters so much. From paying for thousands in groceries out of pocket, to late nights at school, missed pickups, and last-minute pivots, this was messy, emotional, and exhausting… but so incredibly worth it. Every box of food ended up exactly where it needed to go. I’m sharing the full behind-the-scenes of how it all unfolded and why I’m so grateful for every single person who supported this mission.

Teachers on Christmas break hit different. After a week in Hawaii with zero thoughts about school or the podcast, I decided to take the entire month of December off, no guilt attached. But between coming home and going full swing into Operation Filling Bellies, rest didn’t look the way people assume it does.In this episode, I’m talking about why teachers need real breaks, why we feel guilty taking them, and why home girl can take breaks too.

Friends… Operation Filling Bellies has been a whirlwind, and I’m spilling it all. From feeling completely overwhelmed when I realized how many families needed help, to the stress of wondering if I could even make it work... This episode takes you behind the scenes of the highs, the lows, and the moments that had my jaw dropping. Insights into the incredible generosity of strangers and companies, and why showing up... even when you’re stressed and unsure, can lead to the most amazing outcomes. 

Let’s be honest: if teachers ran the world, things would function a whole lot better. This episode, we’re breaking down exactly how... with a little humor, a little chaos, and a lot of... low key... “you know I’m rights.”

I’m sharing a story that genuinely melted my heart and reminded me why I love teaching so dang much.A new student joined our class, and what happened next was one of the purest, sweetest displays of kindness I’ve ever seen. My second graders stepped up in ways that made me stop, watch, and think, “Wow… kids are truly better humans than us.” Their empathy, their excitement, their instinct to include... Honestly, adults could never.If you need a little faith-in-humanity boost or a reminder of the magic inside a classroom, this episode is going to hit you right in the feels.

Listen… I love teaching, but there are days where the weight of it all feels heavy in a way I can’t explain.Because teachers aren’t just teaching. We’re therapists, protectors, detectives, comforters, cheerleaders… and sometimes the only safe place a kid has all day.This week, I’m opening up about the real emotional load we carry... the stuff nobody prepares you for, but every teacher knows too well.

Okay friends… buckle up. Because I’ve got some major teacher wins to share and I am not keeping them to myself 😂. You know those moments that seem so small to anyone else... but to us teachers, they’re everything?That’s what today’s episode is all about. The breakthroughs, the goosebumps, the “did that really just happen?” moments. Get ready to celebrate the little wins that keep us going. And... you better be nice about it ;) 

This episode is a heavy one.We’re talking about the teacher who was shot by her first grader.I’ve seen it all over social media, and honestly, it’s shaken me. Between the court case, the details coming out, and the what-ifs running through my head... I can’t stop thinking about it.Because this story isn’t just about one teacher. It’s about all of us. The weight we carry. The fear we hide and the heartbreak that shouldn’t come with the job.

This one’s straight from my heart, Untidy Fam💛. In this episode, I’m sharing a story that completely changed me. One that opened my eyes to what some of our students face when the school doors close for the holidays. No free breakfast. No lunch. Just uncertainty.I’m on a mission to make sure no kid has to go hungry over school breaks, and I need your help to make it happen. Whether you share, donate, or simply listen... you’re part of something bigger.Let’s fill some bellies, spread some kindness, and make a difference together.https://givebutter.com/untidyteacher

Teaching will test your patience, your voice, and occasionally your grip on reality. In this episode, I’m talking about a classroom hack that actually worked and the moments that made me realize I’m not losing my mind... just surviving the teacher life.

WWE fights at recess. Pocket knives. Seven-year-olds saying things that broke my heart.This year opened my eyes to how deeply the world is shaping our kids... and how desperately they need to be sheltered, guided, and loved.

Let’s just say… when a parent drops off their kid with “Good luck,” you know you’re in for it. In this episode, I’m sharing one of those unforgettable years that tested my every ounce of patience (and hair on my head).

Kids don’t just need rules... they THRIVE on them. In this episode, I share why clear expectations and follow-through matter. I share some real stories from my own classroom (desk flips, tears, tantrums, and all) that show just how powerful consistency can be.If you’ve ever struggled with feeling “too strict” or “too soft,” this episode will give you some perspective (and maybe a little encouragement) to hold your ground... with kindness of course!

This week, I’ve got a classroom conundrum that has me completely stumped. One of my students refuses to speak… like, not a single peep. For weeks. Until... plot twist! I find out she’s been talking nonstop in another class. In perfect English.How do you handle a student who chooses total silence with you but won’t stop chatting elsewhere? I share the full story, my total shock, and why this one has me scratching my head more than any kid ever has.

This week’s episode is a little different, Untidy Fam. I had to skip last week because life threw me a curveball. Right in the middle of teaching, I got the phone call no one ever wants to get... my husband was in a motorcycle accident.In this episode, I open up about that day, how my school family rallied around me in the middle of the chaos, and why I’m extra grateful for this community (both at school and here with you). Teaching is exhausting enough, but when life piles on, it’s the people around you that make all the difference.

Every teacher has that story... The one you wish you could erase from memory. Well, this is mine. In this episode, I share the absolute worst day of my teaching career… involving a student, a desk, and yes... poop. From evacuating my entire class (twice), to scrubbing every inch of my classroom at 10:30 pm, this is the day that nearly broke me.If you’ve ever wondered what teachers really go through, buckle up. It’s messy, it’s chaotic, and it will make you want to hug a teacher (and maybe buy them some Clorox wipes).

Year two came in swinging… and it didn’t take long for the chaos to hit. Evacuations, meltdowns, and one empty Prime bottle that nearly broke my classroom. Buckle up, this is just the beginning.

Subs are always a gamble… sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you get Regina George’s mom. This episode is all about the chaos that followed. Plus a little peek at how I’m building something to give back.

Did I really tell a group of crying 7 year olds they couldn’t have suckers because they lost a math game? Why, yes. Yes, I did. 😅 In this second half, the stories keep coming—lice, tough love, a surprise Valentine’s proposal, and the kind of sweet, weird classroom moments that make teaching totally unhinged… but totally perfect.

I didn’t expect my first year of teaching to include impromptu therapy, questionable fashion, and a class full of tiny humans who somehow healed me. In this two-part episode, meet the students who changed everything... and reminded me why teaching is still the greatest (and weirdest) job in the world.

Want an unfiltered reality of a first-year teacher? Where Pinterest "perfect" meets pure chaos and every poster on the wall is one emotional meltdown away from destruction. If you've ever wondered what the first weeks of teaching are really like, buckle up. It's wild. It's messy. And somehow… it's still the best job in the world.

I nearly didn’t make it in, and at one point I was offered $5K to drop out of school. Then came big offers to stay in my comfy marketing job, but I chose teaching... Sort of. Bold? For sure. Messy? Always. This episode dives into the chaos, curveballs and surprises that led me here.

Ever wondered what it’s like to start teaching during a global pandemic? Spoiler: it’s messy, unpredictable, and full of surprises. I’m sharing my wild student teaching story—COVID chaos, unexpected lessons, and how it all shaped me as a teacher.