Remember those classroom routines you worked so hard to establish at the beginning of the school year? If they're starting to slip, especially now that the holiday season is here, you're not alone!

Between holiday excitement, days off, and choppy school schedules, even the most well-established classroom routines can start to fall apart. And suddenly, you're repeating yourself all day instead of actually teaching. UGH!

And honestly, this can happen just about any time of the school year.

In this episode, I'm sharing three classroom routines that tend to fall apart first and practical teaching tips to get them back on track. You probably know the ones...

There are the morning routines that help students settle in and get started without all the wandering and extra conversations. There are the transitions you use to get students moving from one activity to the next without a simple 30-second transition turning into three minutes. And of course, clean-up time is always important to make sure supplies get put away, the floor gets picked up, and your classroom is ready for the next day.

You don't have to keep reminding students what they're supposed to do, and that's where the 10-Minute Reset comes in. It's a simple process you can use anytime of the school year.

Plus, I'll share the four-step action plan you can use this week to notice what's slipping so that you can implement the 10 Minute Reset and get things back on track.

Because when a routine starts to slip, it doesn't mean you failed back in September. It means you're teaching real kids who need a teacher who cares enough to reteach them. And you can absolutely bring those routines back!

~Elizabeth

Mentioned in This Episode:

Episode 178 | 5 Signs Holiday Excitement Is Taking Over Your Classroom (And What to Do)

Grab the free RESET Roadmap that takes you through all 5 steps of the framework that leads to improved student behavior and more teacher joy!!

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

November can be exciting — and exhausting! Between days off, schedule changes, Thanksgiving, and the countdown to winter break, classroom behavior can start to feel harder to manage.

In this episode, I’m sharing 5 signs holiday excitement is taking over your classroom and practical classroom management strategies to help you get ahead of it. You’ll learn how to make transitions smoother, help students settle back in after days off, give their excitement a place to go, and protect your own energy when your patience is running low.

Plus, I’ll walk you through a simple four-step plan you can start tonight, so you can bring more calm, connection, and joy into the weeks ahead.

Let's go!!

~Elizabeth

Mentioned in This Episode:

Grab the free RESET Roadmap: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap

Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast

https://theinspiredclassroom.com/the-classroom-reset-sp1

Learn more and enroll: 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

Have you ever noticed that classroom management feels SO much harder when you're exhausted?

When you're running on empty, it's harder to stay patient, think clearly, and bring the creativity that keeps students engaged. And when engagement drops, challenging behaviors can rise.

Today I'm sharing why your own energy matters more than you might think, why another behavior chart may not be the answer, and how creativity can help you and your students find more calm and connection.

I'll also walk you through my simple CALM action plan with practical ideas you can start using this week — without adding a ton of prep to your already-full plate.

Because you don't need to be a perfect teacher. You deserve to feel more like yourself again, and when you are able to do that, your classroom can benefit too!

~Elizabeth

Mentioned in This Episode:

🎨 Ready to refuel your creativity?

Join me for the Overnight Teacher Art Retreat, January 22–23, 2027, in beautiful Essex, Massachusetts. Come away with fresh ideas, renewed energy, and space to reconnect with the creative teacher inside you.

👉 Learn more and save your spot: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/retreat

Other Resources:

Grab the free RESET Roadmap that takes you through all 5 steps of the framework that leads to improved student behavior and more teacher joy!!

https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap

Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast

✨ https://theinspiredclassroom.com/the-classroom-reset-sp1 – 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.

👉 https://theinspiredclassroom.com/community

✨ Connect with me!

Find me on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizapeterson/

Follow & DM me onhttps://www.facebook.com/theinspiredclassroom

Follow & DM me on https://www.instagram.com/theinspiredclassroom/https://www.facebook.com/theinspiredclassroom

Watch & Subscribe on https://www.youtube.com/theinspiredclassroomhttps://www.facebook.com/theinspiredclassroom

The first time I held a scripted teacher's manual, it felt wrong in every way. (My team and I really did stand in front of our students and read from it.)

In this episode, I'm talking about a different cause of teacher burnout: What happens when scripted curriculum, pacing guides, and endless mandates leave no room for your own creativity.

If you've been wondering where the creative teacher you used to be went, this one is for you.

I'll share why that creative spark isn't a bonus but the very thing that refuels you, and what it can cost when it stays buried. You'll hear stories from teachers who found their passion again, and I'll walk you through a simple four-step plan you can start this week.

I'll also tell you about the overnight Teacher Art Retreat I'm hosting this January in Essex, Massachusetts — a night away to make things with your hands, be the learner for once, and head back to your classroom renewed.

Check out what the Overnight Teacher Art Retreat is by going here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/retreat

~Elizabeth

Mentioned in This Episode:

Grab the free RESET Roadmap that takes you through all 5 steps of the framework that leads to improved student behavior and more teacher joy!!

https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap

Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast

✨ https://theinspiredclassroom.com/the-classroom-reset-sp1 – 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.

👉 https://theinspiredclassroom.com/community

✨ Connect with me!

Find me on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizapeterson/

Follow & DM me onhttps://www.facebook.com/theinspiredclassroom

Follow & DM me onhttps://www.instagram.com/theinspiredclassroom/https://www.facebook.com/theinspiredclassroom

Watch & Subscribe onhttps://www.youtube.com/theinspiredclassroomhttps://www.facebook.com/theinspiredclassroom

What does it really mean to be a trusted adult for your students?

In this episode, I’m joined by Brooklyn Raney, author of One Trusted Adult: Building Relationships That Inspire Achievement and Success, for a conversation about one of the most important things we can offer our students: meaningful relationships with trustworthy adults.

But being a trusted adult doesn't mean you have to be everyone's person. Brooklyn explains why the goal is to help students build a whole “bench” of trusted adults—and how teachers can become one of those people by being accessible, boundaried, and caring.

We also talk about why building these relationships is especially important for elementary teachers, how technology has changed the way educators think about student relationships, and why healthy boundaries actually help build trust rather than getting in the way of it.

• What “one trusted adult” really means

• Why students need a bench of trusted adults—not just one person

• Brooklyn’s ABC framework: Accessible, Boundaried, and Caring

• How ALL teachers can build meaningful relationships while maintaining healthy boundaries

• Why elementary teachers play such an important role in laying the foundation for student trust

• How technology has changed the way students and educators think about relationships

• Why students may need trusted adults now more than ever

If you’ve ever wondered how to build stronger relationships with your students while still maintaining appropriate boundaries, I think you’ll get a lot from this conversation.

~Elizabeth

Mentioned in This Episode:

Learn more about Brooklyn and her work: https://www.onetrustedadult.com/

One Trusted Adult: Building Relationships That Inspire Achievement and Success by Brooklyn Raney

Grab the free RESET Roadmap that takes you through all 5 steps of the framework that leads to improved student behavior and more teacher joy!!

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

When you're dealing with student behavior all day, it's easy to feel frustrated, depleted, even defeated — and in the middle of all that, it's easy to forget the student in front of you is a human being with something going on underneath.

Today, I'm sharing three student stories that I experienced just last week!

The one who never speaks up because they're surrounded by classmates who seem to know it all.

The one who shut down in the corner of the room

And the one in the hoodie sitting quietly and seems angry the whole class.

Sometimes we approach the situation in the wrong way (like I did in my own classroom), but there are ways to turn it around!

When you give yourself the opportunity to pause and RESET, great things can happen both for your kids and for you.

I can't wait to share more with you in today's episode.

~Elizabeth

Mentioned in This Episode:

98 | I Told My Students, “I Want You to Fail” – Here's What Happened Next

Grab the free RESET Roadmap that takes you through all 5 steps of the framework that leads to improved student behavior and more teacher joy!!

https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap

Are you ready for some Teacher-Centered PD?? Come check out what's in store for you at the Overnight Teacher Art Retreat! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/retreat

✨ 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

Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast

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

Let's bust five myths about teacher burnout and the recovery from burnout — the myths that keep good, tired teachers stuck including the idea that burnout is simply inevitable. (Spoiler - it's not!)

Because after so many years in education, I've learned that recovery isn't just about doing less or removing yourself from the classroom. It's about having protected time to intentionally step away from what's draining you and reconnect with something that fills you back up.

And for me, that includes a little creativity!

• Why teacher burnout isn't something you simply have to accept

• Why "doing less" isn't always the answer

• The quiet belief that taking time for yourself is selfish

• Why professional growth and recovery don't have to be separate

• What teacher-centered, hands-on professional development can look like

• My simple R-E-S-T action plan for taking your next step toward recovery

If you've been wondering whether you can actually feel that spark again — I hope this episode gives you a reason to believe you can.

~Elizabeth

Mentioned in This Episode:

Your Oxygen Mask (article) https://theinspiredclassroom.com/2011/06/put-your-oxygen-mask-on-first/

Setting Boundaries (podcast trilogy) https://theinspiredclassroom.com/2026/09/setting-boundaries/

Stop Being Student-Centered (article and video) https://theinspiredclassroom.com/2021/05/stop-being-student-centered/

The Overnight Teacher Art Retreat! Learn more here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/retreat

Other Resources:

Grab the free RESET Roadmap that takes you through all 5 steps of the framework that leads to improved student behavior and more teacher joy!!

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 set up group work with the best intentions. You create a solid task, explain the directions, assign roles, and maybe even make a rubric.

Then five minutes in, one student is doing all the work, another has checked out, and the room is suddenly buzzing with unrelated chatter.

If you've ever thought, Why does group work always turn into this?—you're not alone.

In this episode, I'm sharing the real reason group work can fall apart, and it has less to do with your assignment or your grouping strategy than you might think.

The missing piece is often the peer relationships underneath the group.

When students don't know or trust one another, even a well-designed group task can create tension, disengagement, and behavior issues. But when students have opportunities to genuinely connect with their peers, something changes. They're more patient, more willing to work together, and more accountable to one another—not just to you or the assignment.

I'll share why I used to focus so much on better group structures and strategic grouping, what I eventually realized was missing, and how intentionally building peer relationships can make group work smoother and more rewarding.

You'll also get three simple steps you can use to start strengthening those relationships before your next academic group task.

If group work has become something you dread—or something you avoid because you know how quickly it can turn into managing behavior—this episode will give you a different way to look at the problem.

~Elizabeth

Mentioned in This Episode:

Want to learn more about Friendly Friday? Go to this article here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/2017/02/friendly-friday-notes-sel-activity-for-your-students/

💬 Grab the silly debate questions inside 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

Grab the free RESET Roadmap that takes you through all 5 steps of the framework that leads to improved student behavior and more teacher joy!!

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

✨ 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