374. Gratitude that Sticks: Fresh & Inspiring Ways to Teach Thankfulness This Fall
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
Release Date: 11/12/2025
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...
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378. Making After Recess & Lunch Transitions Calm, Fun, and Focused
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
There’s a certain chaos that walks back into your classroom after recess or lunch with the buzzing energy, side conversations, and constant movement in students’ seats. But what if those notoriously tricky transitions could become some of the calmest, most focused moments of your day? With the right strategies, those post-playtime minutes can shift from stressful to smooth...and even a little fun. In today’s episode, I’m sharing simple, effective ideas for creating classroom transitions that help students reset and refocus in ways that feel fun, easy, and enjoyable. Show Notes:...
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377. When Admin Promised Support - But You’re on Your Own
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
The beginning of the year is always full of promise and hope for a successful, smooth school year - and that same optimism often extends to the support we expect from our administration. But when the reality sets in that you’re suddenly navigating everything on your own, the question becomes: What now? In today’s episode, I’m sharing strategic steps you can take to regain your power, protect your boundaries, and build a support system even when your administration isn’t showing up the way you need them to. Show Notes: 5-Minute Field Trips Subscription: “Help!...
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376. When Students Hijack Your Classroom: How to Stay in Control & Still Teach Everyone Else
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
When a handful of students seem determined to derail your lesson plans, it can feel like your classroom is running you instead of the other way around. But the most successful teachers know how to redirect chaos into cooperation by understanding what’s driving the disruption and transforming it into engagement. Doing so not only protects the learning environment for all students but also turns disruptive behavior into positive leadership opportunities. In today’s episode, I’m sharing practical tools and strategies you can use when your energy feels consumed by managing challenging...
info_outlineImagine walking into a classroom where students greet each other with smiles, celebrate one another’s efforts, and notice the small things that make each day special. That’s the power of gratitude - it transforms the classroom atmosphere from ordinary to uplifting. In today’s episode, I’m sharing seven fresh, practical, and engaging ways to weave gratitude into your classroom, and why it matters so much for your students.
Show Notes: https://www.drlorifriesen.com/blog/teaching-gratitude
Free Gratitude Goodies Gift Tags: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Gratitude-Goodies-Gift-Tags-Chocolate-Bar-Gift-Tags-for-School-Staff-7379551
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Lung Cancer Free: One Couple’s Journey Through a “Lungs in a Box” Double Lung Transplant: https://www.lungcancerfree.com/
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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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