366. When Kids Test You in September: How to Reset Routines Without Starting Over
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
Release Date: 09/17/2025
388. How to Build Curiosity Into Lessons (Even the Boring Ones)
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
Instead of treating engagement as something you’re constantly trying to manage, think of it as something you’re trying to solve, and curiosity is the solution. In this episode, you'll learn simple strategies for building curiosity into your lessons that activate your students’ brains and transform the way they engage during instruction. Plus, you'll gain perspective on how curiosity positively impacts classroom management by turning student compliance into genuine cooperation. Show Notes: 5-Minute Field Trips Subscription: FREE Class at the Virtual Teacher Ski Lodge:...
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387. Low-Prep Ways to Add Surprise to Your Elementary Classroom Without Losing Control
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
You can have strong routines and clear expectations and still feel like your classroom energy has gone flat. In this episode, I share how small, intentional moments of surprise (woven into your existing routines!) can spark curiosity, boost engagement, and make classroom management easier, instead of harder. You’ll learn practical ways to add mystery and novelty without losing control or overhauling what already works. Show Notes: 5-Minute Field Trips Subscription: FREE Class at the Virtual Teacher Ski Lodge: How to Prevent 2-3 Students from Derailing Your Entire...
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386. Why Mystery Works (And Why Kids Are So Bored Right Now)
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
There’s something powerful about not giving students the whole picture right away. The moment you lower your voice, cover part of the board, or hint that something exciting is coming, heads lift and curiosity sparks. Small doses of mystery tap into a child’s natural drive to wonder, question, and discover...and when curiosity is activated, engagement follows. In today's episode, I explore how strategic uses of mystery can transform classroom energy, increase engagement, and make learning feel exciting again. Show Notes: 5-Minute Field Trips Subscription: FREE Class at...
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385. How to Handle Challenging Behaviors Without Burning Out
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
When your nervous system never gets a chance to reset, stress becomes your baseline, patience runs thin, and burnout starts to feel inevitable. Learning how to calm your nervous system isn’t self-care fluff; it’s a foundational skill for protecting your energy, effectiveness, and longevity in the classroom. In today’s episode, I’m sharing why fatigue may be at an all-time high and strategies to support your nervous system before it leads to teacher burnout. Show Notes: 5-Minute Field Trips Subscription: FREE Class at the Virtual Teacher Ski Lodge: How to Prevent 2-3...
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384. When Half Your Class Seems “Checked Out” — Motivation Strategies That Actually Work
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
For many teachers, student motivation seems to disappear after winter break. Energy is low, and students who were once eager are suddenly dragging their feet and checking out. But January doesn’t have to be a slump. With the right reset, it can become the moment you reignite connection, rebuild momentum, and help students rediscover their spark for learning. In today’s episode, I’m sharing simple, effective ways to boost student motivation in ways that feel meaningful and rewarding. Show Notes: 5-Minute Field Trips Subscription: FREE Class: How to Prevent 2-3...
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383. The January Classroom Refresh: Simple Changes That Make a Big Difference
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
If you’re anything like me, walking back into your classroom in January after a much-needed break suddenly makes you notice everything. The colors feel too loud, the table you keep tripping over is still there, and the mountain of papers on top of your filing cabinet seems to have multiplied. When the energy and space feel off, it’s usually a sign that it’s time for a few intentional changes. In today’s episode, I’m sharing four simple ways to refresh your classroom through small changes that make a big impact. Show Notes: 5-Minute Field Trips Subscription: FREE...
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382. What to Do When Kids Just Aren’t Turning in Their Work
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
Even after investing time in designing thoughtful assignments, creating clear rubrics, and building in opportunities for creativity and student choice, the number of missing assignments can still keep climbing. It’s frustrating, and it leaves you wondering: is this a motivation issue, an organizational problem, or something deeper? In today’s episode, I’m sharing simple strategies you can implement to improve student accountability and increase assignment completion through executive functioning support. Show Notes: 5-Minute Field Trips Subscription: FREE Live Event:...
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381. Today’s Apathetic Kids: What to Do When Kids Just Don’t Care
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
You know the look: the blank stare, the shrugged shoulders, the quiet “I don’t care” that shows up no matter how engaging the lesson or activity is. When students feel apathetic, it can be one of the most discouraging challenges in the elementary classroom. But apathy isn’t a lack of ability; it’s a disconnect. In today’s episode, I take a deeper look at why this is happening and share practical, simple strategies you can start using with your apathetic students right away. Show Notes: 5-Minute Field Trips Subscription: FREE Live Event: How to Prevent 2-3...
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380. Documentation: What Every Teacher Needs to Know
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
There’s a moment every elementary teacher experiences - the one where a behavior repeats, a parent asks a question, or an administrator says, “Can you tell me when this started?”. Suddenly, you’re replaying weeks of memories in your head, wishing you had written it down. Documentation may not feel like teaching, but it’s one of the most powerful tools you have to protect your time, your students, and yourself. In today’s episode, I’m sharing clear guidelines for documentation, along with practical ideas for creating a system that’s manageable and sustainable throughout the...
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379. Helping Kids Build Executive Functioning Skills in Your Elementary Classroom
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
If you’ve ever watched a student stare at a messy desk, forget a direction you gave 10 seconds ago, or melt down at the sight of a multi-step task, you’re witnessing something bigger than “behavior” - you’re seeing developing executive functioning skills in action. The good news? These skills can be taught, strengthened, and practiced every single day in the elementary classroom. In this episode, I explain what executive functioning skills are, and share simple, effective ways to strengthen them in your classroom. Show Notes: 5-Minute Field Trips Subscription: How...
info_outlineAt the start of the school year, everything feels fresh. Students are eager, polite, and full of curiosity. But as the weeks go on, that initial sparkle can begin to fade. Routines get tested, boundaries are pushed, and the excitement starts to wear off. For most teachers, this transition tends to happen in September, when reality starts to set in.
That’s why I’m launching a brand-new series called the September Survival Series. Over the next three episodes, you’ll get practical tools and strategies to help you navigate this first big month of school with confidence. In this first episode, I’m diving into how to reset your classroom routines without starting over. You’ll learn how to do it in a way that’s calm, consistent, and reinforces your authority.
Show Notes: https://www.drlorifriesen.com/blog/reset-routines
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Grab a copy of my book, Dear New Teacher, Here's Exactly What to Do: Your 5-Step R.E.A.D.Y. for School Roadmap for Elementary Classrooms: https://amzn.to/3w3zZJ7
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I hope you have a wonderful week, and remember - just because you are a beginning elementary teacher, there is no need for you to struggle like one.
Xo Lori
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