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

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  172 | The Real Reason Group Work Falls Apart (And the Fix Most Teachers Miss) 22.09.2026 16min

  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
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  171 | The Back-to-School Honeymoon Is Over: What to Do When Behavior Starts Slipping 15.09.2026 11min

  The first few weeks of school can feel pretty good. Kids are polite, routines are fresh, and everyone is still figuring each other out. Then…the honeymoon ends. If behaviors are starting to pop up, don't panic. It doesn't mean your year is headed in the wrong direction. It means the newness is wearing off—and your real classroom culture is beginning to take shape. In this episode, I’m talking about what happens when that early-school-year calm starts to disappear and how to figure out what your students need next. We’ll look at three important areas—connection, regulation, and engagement—and how each one can affect what you're seeing in your classroom. I’ll also walk you through my simple Classroom Tripod Check-In so you can identify which area needs attention and take one proactive step before behaviors start to tip. If you're thinking, “Things were going so well. What happened?” this episode will help you stop seeing those early behavior changes as a warning sign—and start seeing them as useful information. You'll leave with a simple way to identify where to focus your energy without trying to fix everything at once. ~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   ✨ 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
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  170 | 3 Classroom Power Struggles You're Losing Without Realizing It 08.09.2026 21min

  You’re not trying to get into power struggles with your students. But sometimes, they happen before you even realize what’s going on. In this episode, I’m sharing three common—and often invisible—power struggles that can quietly show up in your classroom. More importantly, we’ll talk about what you can do to step out of the struggle while protecting the relationship. If you’ve ever found yourself arguing with a student and suddenly thought, “Wait...how did we get here?” this episode will help you recognize those moments earlier and respond differently. You’ll walk away with a simple action plan to help you stay calm, step out of the power struggle, and follow up in a way that builds connection instead of wearing it down. Because this isn’t about winning the argument. It’s about keeping your authority and winning the relationship.   ~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   ✨ 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
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  169 | The Redirection Script That Actually Works for Student Behavior Issues 04.09.2026 16min

  Most redirection sounds like a warning — and kids can tell. AND that can often backfire, especially when the redirection doesn't even work. If you've ever tried to redirect a student only to have to do it again 5 minutes later, this one is for you! In this episode, I'm giving you the exact four-part redirection script to use for student behavior issues. When I use it in my classroom, it works! (And when I forget to use it... well, you know... I'm just repeating myself a few minutes later. Plus, I'll share the most important part of making any redirection effective. (You probably already know this in your gut, but a reminder every now and again can't hurt!)   ~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   ✨ 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
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  168 | Addressing Student Behaviors with Tools, Not Rules (Interview with Claudia Bertolone-Smith and Marlene Moyer) 01.09.2026 34min

  What if the students who challenge us the most aren't asking us to fix their behavior — they're asking us to see past it? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Claudia Bertolone-Smith and Marlene Moyer, authors of Tools Not Rules: Developing Self-Regulation for Improved Student Behavior in Grades K–8. Claudia brings 24 years of elementary teaching experience and now trains pre-service teachers as an associate professor of mathematics education. Marlene has 22 years teaching grades 5–7 and now works as a mentor teacher. We talk about the idea at the heart of their book — that behavior is a symptom, not the underlying issue — and what it actually looks like to separate a student from their behavior without letting anything slide. Claudia and Marlene share the real classroom strategies that came out of their own team-teaching experience, including their "magic fuzzy numbers" approach to shifting a whole class's dynamic, and a star chart method built around noticing the positive things about a struggling student. We also get into a moment that hit close to home for Claudia, and how this approach helps students choose different behaviors without ever being made to feel small. If you've got a student this year who feels defined by their hardest moments, this conversation is for you. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode:   Learn more about Claudia and Marlene's book at toolsnotrules.com.     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
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  167 | Students Getting into Trouble? Why Kids Choose Negative Attention Over None 28.08.2026 20min

  Have you ever had a student who keeps doing the exact thing that gets them in trouble — even after they've told you they don't want to? This episode is about that kind of student behavior. We'll look at why some students need that negative attention and how to bridge those students from seeking negative attention to being a well-regulated student. I'll walk you through exactly how to bridge that gap and what to look out for in the process. Let's go! ~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 take the ideas from this episode a little deeper? Grab the free RESET Roadmap! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap   OR, jump right in and join The Classroom RESET! 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
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  166 | Why Consequences Aren't Changing Student Behavior (And What Actually Does) 25.08.2026 20min

  I used to think that if I just found the right consequence, my classroom would finally calm down. But in many cases that's actually backwards. In this episode, I'm breaking down the three real reasons consequences keep failing — even when we're consistent and even when we're fair. And I'll share a tool that will help you look at student behaviors in a different way so that consequences don't need to be your constant go-to. If you've ever felt like you're giving the same consequence to the same student over and over with nothing changing, this episode is for you.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode:   Grab the 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
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  165 | Your Classroom Setup Matters More Than You Think: 5 Spaces That Support SEL and Belonging 21.08.2026 19min

  I'm setting up my classroom this week — in a new, bigger space (with windows!!!) — and it's got me rethinking decisions I've made the same way for years. Setting up your classroom isn't just about deciding where the desks, bookshelves, and supplies will go. Your physical classroom can actually support students' social-emotional learning, regulation, and sense of belonging. So today, I'm sharing 5 simple spaces you can create—or rethink—in your classroom that communicate to students that they are seen and valued. If you're setting up your classroom right now or wondering how to make your space work a little more for your students and you (instead of simply making it look nice), this episode will give you practical ideas you can put into place right away. You just may see your classroom setup a little differently—and hopefully realize that you don't need a bigger budget or a perfectly decorated classroom to create more calm, connection, and belonging.   Let's get into it together. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode:   63 | Is Your Calm-Down Corner Even Working? The Mistakes Teachers Make—and How to Fix Them   Create Your Own BREAK BOX System in Your Classroom!   Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   Want to take the ideas from this episode a little deeper? Grab the free RESET Roadmap! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap   OR, jump right in and join The Classroom RESET! 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
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  164 | Could You Be THAT Teacher? How Connection Can Change a Student’s School Experience 18.08.2026 15min

  Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can give a student isn't another strategy, intervention, or behavior consequence. Sometimes, it's simply being the adult who sees them, knows them, and is genuinely glad they're there. In this episode, I’m talking about the incredible power of a teacher-student connection—not just for students who struggle with behavior or have challenges at home, but for every child in our classrooms. If you're exhausted from managing behavior, trying to reach certain students, or wondering whether your efforts are actually making a difference, this episode will give you a different way to think about connection. You’re already a good teacher. And sometimes, simply being THAT teacher who is glad a child is there is more powerful than you realize. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast   Ready to move beyond quick behavior fixes and create a classroom rooted in calm, connection, and creativity, I'd love to invite you into The Classroom RESET. You don't need a new initiative. You need a RESET—and you don't have to figure it out alone. Learn more and enroll: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   Check out the entire Classroom RESET Framework in this free Roadmap: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap    Become an Inspired Classroom Insider: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider   Join our Community of Creative Teachers! 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
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  163 | Is Teaching Still Worth It in 2026? 14.08.2026 12min

  Have you ever found yourself typing “I quit teaching” into Google late at night? With the behavior challenges, burnout, increasing demands, and everything else teachers are carrying right now, it’s understandable to wonder: Is teaching still worth it? In this episode, I’m taking a different look at that question. I’ll share a deeply personal story about my mom, a teacher who once tried to talk me out of becoming a teacher—and something I learned after she passed away that changed the way I think about the impact we have on our students. I’ll also talk about why surviving the school day isn’t enough, how connection and creative learning can help us create something more meaningful in our classrooms, and why your impact may be much bigger than you can see right now. If you’re exhausted, discouraged, or wondering whether all of this is still worth it, this episode is for you. In this episode, I’ll help you: Reframe the question of whether teaching is “worth it” Recognize the impact you may be having even when you don’t see it Think differently about connection, creativity, and student engagement Start noticing the small moments that remind you why you became a teacher   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode:   Article about my mom and her impact: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/2019/07/starfish-in-the-hospital/   Join me at the Overnight Teacher Art Retreat! Learn more here: 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   Grab the 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     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
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  162 | Teacher Art Retreats Are Back! 11.08.2026 22min

  What if your professional development actually left you feeling inspired, energized, and excited to get back to your classroom? After years of teaching through screens, Zoom meetings, packed schedules, and increasing demands, I’m bringing my Teacher Art Retreats back—and I couldn’t be more excited. In this episode, I’m sharing what the Overnight Teacher Art Retreat actually is, why I decided the time was right to bring it back, and what makes this kind of teacher-centered professional development so different. I’ll take you behind the scenes of the retreat experience, share why teachers have returned to these retreats again and again, and help you decide whether this is the kind of experience you’ve been craving. This isn’t just about learning another strategy for your students. It’s about making time for you to create, connect, recharge, and remember why you love being an educator. The January 2027 Overnight Teacher Art Retreat 📅 January 22–23, 2027 (Friday evening through Saturday) 📍 Essex Woods, Essex, Massachusetts 🎨 Hands-on, arts-based professional development 🏡 Overnight retreat experience 🍽️ Meals and materials included 📚 12 hours of PD credit 🎓 Optional graduate credit available There are only 25 spots, so if something in you just lit up hearing the words teacher retreat, go check it out. Save your spot here: theinspiredclassroom.com/retreat I would absolutely love to see you there. ❤️ ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode:   Join me at the Overnight Teacher Art Retreat! Learn more here: 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   Grab the 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     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
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  161 | Classroom Set-Up for Calm and Student Belonging 07.08.2026 13min

  We've all done it — scrolled through classroom set up pictures online and felt that mix of inspired and overwhelmed. Well, whether your classroom looks like it could be in a magazine or not, there are some things that can be added to make sure your environment fosters calm and belonging.   So, in this episode, I'm sharing a few specific things I actually put in my own room every year to do just that!   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: 63 | Is Your Calm-Down Corner Even Working? The Mistakes Teachers Make—and How to Fix Them The Break Box — Calm Down Strategies for Classroom Management: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calm-Down-Strategies-for-Classroom-Management-The-Break-Box-10348201   Grab the 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 onhttps://www.youtube.com/theinspiredclassroomhttps://www.facebook.com/theinspiredclassroom
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  160 | Why Classroom Rules Fail (Even When Students Know Them) 04.08.2026 20min

  It's the first week of school, and if you're like most teachers, your rules are already created, even if it's just in your mind. You're ready to establish clear expectations, get your students on board and be ready to implement consequences when needed.   But before you do that, listen in. Today, I'm sharing why rules alone might not be enough to get you through the year — and what actually needs to happen underneath it.   I'll share the exact process I use to build a classroom contract with my students and a bonus question I love asking students that can make this even more effective.   This is the type of work that shifts behavior from "don't do this" to "I am a learner."   Plus I'll leave you with a simple action plan — RULE — to help you carry this into your own classroom this week. Let's build something that lasts past October!   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Article: How to Create a Classroom Contract With Your Students (and not for them)   Grab the 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
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  159 | Stop Saving Creativity for Friday — It Could Be the Most Powerful Classroom Management Tool You Have 31.07.2026 17min

  Many teachers have gotten stuck thinking creativity is something you add when there’s time. Let's flip that — because creativity can actually reduce behavioral escalation, increase student engagement, and help YOU reconnect with your joy. It's not a bonus... it's a foundation.   I’ll walk you through what happens in a student’s nervous system when you bring movement, storytelling, or visual response into your classroom — and why it addresses all three legs of Your Classroom’s Tripod at once. I’ll also talk about what creativity does for teachers, not just students — because reconnecting with the joy of creative teaching is one of the most underrated antidotes to the Daily Teacher Drain.   And by the end, you’ll have the END Framework — a simple three-step structure that takes 60 seconds and can go at the close of any lesson, any day, any subject.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Grab the 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
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  158 | Student Behavior Is the #1 Crisis in Teaching Right Now. Here's What Teachers Can Do 28.07.2026 20min

  If you've ever wondered whether student behavior is harder now than it used to be — the data has an answer. In this episode I'm sharing two more findings from 2025 and 2026 that confirm what teachers across the country have been feeling. And these aren't fringe numbers. This is the profession speaking.   I'll walk you through what the data is actually pointing at — and why the answer isn't just more behavior management strategies. It's a foundation shift. Connection, Regulation, and Engagement — the three legs of Your Classroom's Tripod — are what behavior has been pointing at this whole time.   By the end you'll have a simple three-step plan to claim the data, name your leg, and decide what to do about it.   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: Devon's Story: 145 | Stop Redirecting Your Students - It Just Doesn't Work Anymore   ✨ 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   Sources: RAND Corporation (2026). State of the American Teacher Survey. NEA (2025). "The Survey Says: We're at a Crisis Point." Love & Logic summary: loveandlogic.com/blogs/our-blog/teacher-burnout-classroom-management EAB District Leadership Forum (2019), as cited by Gormley et al., University of Nebraska-Lincoln.   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
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  157 | 2 Things Standing Between You and a Classroom That Runs Smoothly (And It's Not What You Think) 24.07.2026 22min

  In this episode I’m naming the two things that actually stand between teachers and a classroom that runs smoothly — and neither of them is more information. Because information was never the problem. You know how to teach.  You have the strategies, the activities and the know how.  So... what's missing?? There's a reason why strategies stop working by October.  And a reason why your frustration grows instead of subsides.  Let's have to real talk today, shall we? By the end you’ll have a simple three-step way to name your own gap and decide what to do about it before Sunday. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: ✨ 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.  Our "Challenge Sale" is going on now through SUNDAY!  Be sure to get in while we have over $600 in bonuses and savings happening!  https://theinspiredclassroom.com/yes    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   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
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  156 | You're Losing 14.5 Days a School Year to Student Behavior. The Research Is Telling Us Something. 21.07.2026 18min

  What if the research confirmed that you’re losing the equivalent of 14.5 school days every year — not to planning or grading, but to managing disruptive student behavior? In this episode, I’m walking through what the data actually says — including a University of Nebraska-Lincoln study that sent trained observers into real classrooms to measure the time and financial cost of behavior management. The findings are striking and worth talking about. I’ll also share what the research says happens when effective classroom management strategies are in place — and it’s not just about reducing behavior. It’s about improving student engagement, academic performance, social-emotional skills, and yes, getting more of your teaching time back. ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode:   The Classroom Tripod is discussed here: 148 | What a Calm Classroom Actually Looks Like (It's Not What You've Been Sold)   Behavior management time statistic based on research reported by Gormley, M. J., Overfield, R. A., Spradlin, C., Scanlan, L., & Sheridan, S. M., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, citing EAB District Leadership Forum (2019), Breaking Bad Behavior: The Rise of Classroom Disruptions in Early Grades and How Districts Are Responding. Additional source: Jonson, A. & Witte, A. L. (2025). Reducing Classroom Disruptive Behaviors to Improve Academic Performance: An NeMTSS Research Brief. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349570451_The_Time_and_Cost_of_Classroom_Behavior_Management https://nemtss.unl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/25-Reducing-Student-Disruptive-Behaviors.pdf   Are you ready to jump into The Classroom RESET course? It's the natural next step to improving student behavior and getting those 14.5 days back! Let's do this! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/yes     Have a question? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast The Classroom Reset course: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset 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
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  155 | Does Student Behavior Steal Your Teacher Joy? A Classroom RESET Challenge Preview 17.07.2026 12min

  The Classroom RESET Challenge starts July 21st, and in this episode I'm walking you through exactly what three days together is going to look like so that you can improve student behavior to eliminate teacher burnout! Come for three days. Leave with more than you came with. And if you want to go further — The Classroom Reset course will be there when you're ready. Save your spot — it's free, PD hours are available, and the replay comes to you if you can't make it live: theinspiredclassroom.com/challenge I cannot wait.   Mentioned in This Episode: The Classroom RESET Challenge (free, July 21-23, 2026): https://theinspiredclassroom.com/challenge   Join me for a free, live 3-day challenge built for teachers who already know how to teach and are ready to walk into this school year with an actual plan for student behavior — not just hope. 📅 Tuesday–Thursday, July 21–23, 2026 🕠 5:30pm PST / 6:30pm MST / 7:30pm CST / 8:30pm EST ⏱️ One-hour workshop each day 🎓 PD hours available 📼 Can't make it live? No problem — replays go out after each session. workshops ~ community ~ prizes ~ FUN!   ✨ 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     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
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  154 | No Time for One More Thing? The 5-Minute Classroom Management Fix Every Teacher Already Has Time For 14.07.2026 16min

  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
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  153 | Tired of Student Behavior Strategies That Stop Working? Here's Why It Keeps Happening (And What to Do) 10.07.2026 17min

  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