Stocking Your Shelves with the Right Materials for Your Multi-Age Classroom
All Things Are Possible Teacher Podcast
Release Date: 09/10/2025
All Things Are Possible Teacher Podcast
You’ve been thinking about starting a microschool in 2026. Not out loud. Not on social media. Quietly. Maybe late at night after your family goes to bed. Maybe during your planning period. Maybe on Sundays when the anxiety about Monday starts creeping in. You’ve googled. You’ve listened to podcasts. You’ve followed a few people online. You’ve imagined what it could look like. And at the same time… you’ve talked yourself out of it just as quickly. You’ve thought: “Who do I think I am?” “Is this even realistic?” “What if I fail?” “What if I can’t make it...
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You love teaching. You love kids. You feel called to something more. But at the same time… you’re tired. You’re tired of systems that don’t work. Tired of watching kids fall through the cracks. Tired of giving your whole heart to a job that leaves you drained, underpaid, and questioning if you can keep doing this long-term. And somewhere deep inside of you, there’s a dream that keeps tapping you on the shoulder. A dream of starting a microschool. Or launching a homeschool hybrid. Or opening a tutoring business. Or finally selling the resources you know teachers desperately need. But...
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We're continuing the Mid-Year Enrollment Series on the podcast. You’re posting. You’re sharing photos. You’re showing up when you can. And still… enrollment feels stuck. You might be thinking: “I don’t have time to post more.” “My posts aren’t reaching anyone.” “I don’t have a big following.” “I feel awkward asking people to share.” “I don’t want to sound desperate.” “Why isn’t word-of-mouth working for me?” Word-of-mouth doesn’t just happen. It’s not magic. And it’s definitely not guaranteed just because families love you....
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“Why is it so hard to get families to enroll mid-year? How do I get parents to say yes now instead of waiting for August?” If you’ve ever felt that frustration that “I know my school is amazing, so why aren’t families jumping in?” feeling; you are not alone. Mid-year enrollment is a whole different feel. It’s not like summer, where families are actively school shopping. Mid-year families may be more hesitant. More nervous. More reflective. And honestly… more overwhelmed. They’re asking questions like: “Is it too late to switch?” “Will my child transition well?” ...
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Maybe you’ve already launched your microschool. You’ve done the hard work. You’ve enrolled your first students. You’ve created the space. You’ve built the systems. And now you’re looking at your roster thinking… “Okay… but how do I get more students for second semester? And how do I do it when it feels like no one is paying attention right now?” Maybe your social posts are getting quiet. Maybe your email list is collecting dust because you don’t even know what to write. Maybe you feel like you used up all your excitement in your very first Founding Tribe Launch… and...
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Let's talk about pricing your microschool or homeschooling program. This is the part where the excitement of your vision meets the reality of needing to pay your bills, support your family, and create a school that doesn’t drain you dry. And if you’ve ever felt any of these thoughts… “What if my price is too high?” “Are families even going to pay this?” “I don’t want to seem greedy.” “What if my price pushes people away?” “Who am I to charge anything for this?” …then I want you to know: this episode is exactly for you. Teachers are so used to being underpaid and...
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Let's chat about something that every single teacher founder asks: How do I find my first families? How do I get the word out without feeling awkward or salesy? What if no one signs up? If those thoughts have ever swirled in your head, you are not alone. I remember that feeling so clearly sitting at my kitchen table, staring at my computer, wondering who would actually show up to my first open house. I had the classroom space ready. I had the vision crystal clear. But what I didn’t have were families yet. And that gap between your dream and your first enrollment? That’s what we’re...
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Today, we’re talking about money. Yep, the part that can make even the most passionate teacher pause. Because here’s what I know about you: You’ve got the vision. You’ve got the heart. You can see the classroom setup in your mind, the kids smiling, the families saying, “We’ve been waiting for a school like this.” But when it comes to funding that dream? That’s where fear creeps in. “How am I going to pay for this?” “What if I can’t afford it?” “What if it costs more than I think?” “How can I do this when I’m barely getting by now?” If you’ve...
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Today we’re diving into the phase that most teachers want to skip... but absolutely can’t afford to. It’s what I call The Legal Plan. And if you’ve ever thought things like... “I just want to teach. I don’t want to mess something up.” “I don’t even know what’s required in my state.” “What if I do all this work and it’s not legal?” Then you are exactly where you’re supposed to be. Because I’ve been there too. I remember sitting at my kitchen table Googling phrases like “Do I need a license to teach small groups at home?” and “Is this even...
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If you’ve ever said the words “I don’t even know where to start” then this episode is for you. Because I get it. You’ve got a notebook (or five) full of ideas. You’ve got sticky notes on your desk, screenshots on your phone, and a heart bursting with vision but when you try to piece it all together… it feels like a tangled mess. You start wondering: What comes first — the vision, the location, or the legal stuff? Do I need funding before I can even start? How do I get families to trust me when I haven’t launched yet? And is this dream even realistic for me? If that’s...
info_outlineI want you to picture your classroom shelves for a second. Are they overflowing with random resources you grabbed at a garage sale, donated workbooks, or bins of supplies that don’t quite fit together? Or maybe your shelves are kind of empty and you feel this pressure, like, “I need more stuff to make this work.”
And here’s the truth: stocking your shelves is not about having more. It’s about having the right things. The things that actually build independence. The things that give kids meaningful choices. The things that encourage curiosity and collaboration — without leaving you overwhelmed and drowning in clutter.
Because let’s be honest — when your shelves are chaotic, your classroom often feels chaotic. But when your shelves are thoughtfully stocked with the right materials, suddenly your classroom starts running smoother. Kids know where to go. They know what they can use. They’re engaged in learning, not just asking you “what’s next?” every 5 minutes.
So today we’re going to talk about what to put on your shelves in a multi-age classroom. I want to help you think about categories of materials and the kinds of resources that will actually serve you and your students. This is about stocking your shelves with purpose so your multi-age classroom can truly thrive.