406. If Last Year Was the Hardest Year of Your Teaching Life, Listen to This
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
Release Date: 07/22/2026
409. I Feel Like a General with All These Strict Rules and Expectations
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
Many teachers want calm, well-managed classrooms, but they also want students to feel trusted, creative, and independent. In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori explores why strong classroom routines and student autonomy don't compete with one another. Instead, she explains how thoughtful structure gives students the confidence, clarity, and support they need to become more independent. What You'll Learn: • Why structure and student autonomy are not opposites, and how thoughtful routines actually build independence • Questions you can ask yourself to evaluate whether your...
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408. When Students Refuse to Work: How to Use Reflection Forms Without Creating a Power Struggle
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
When a student refuses to work, it's easy to feel like you have to win the battle, but power struggles rarely lead to lasting change. In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori shares how refusal-to-work reflection forms can help teachers respond calmly, protect instructional time, and guide students toward accountability without escalating the situation. What You'll Learn: • How to use refusal-to-work reflection forms without creating a power struggle • When a student needs support versus when they are choosing to refuse an assignment • Why calm accountability is more effective...
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407. Classroom Mascots: An Amazing First-Weeks Community Builder
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori shares one of her favorite back-to-school community-building strategies: using a simple classroom mascot to help students feel connected, safe, and excited to be part of your classroom family. She explains why classroom mascots are about so much more than a stuffed animal; they're a powerful tool for building relationships, teaching routines, supporting emotional regulation, and creating a strong classroom community during the first weeks of school. What You'll Learn: • How a classroom mascot can build community during the first weeks of...
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406. If Last Year Was the Hardest Year of Your Teaching Life, Listen to This
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori Friesen shares an encouraging message for every teacher who ended the last school year feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or questioning whether they were cut out for teaching. Through three powerful mindset shifts, she explains how a growth mindset for teachers can transform the way we view classroom management challenges, difficult seasons, and our own ability to grow. What You'll Learn: • How a growth mindset can help you move forward after a difficult school year • Why classroom management is a set of skills and systems that can be...
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405. Before You Quit Teaching, Listen to This: With Middle School Teacher Amber Duane
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori Friesen sits down with middle school teacher Amber Duane to share how she went from nearly leaving teaching after her first year to feeling confident and excited about heading back to school. Amber opens up about the classroom management struggles she faced as a beginning teacher, the mindset shifts that changed everything, and the practical strategies that helped her build a calmer, more successful classroom. What You'll Learn: • Why strong classroom management starts before students ever walk through your door • How preparing your...
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404. Specials Teachers: Why Classroom Management Feels So Different (And Why Most Advice Doesn't Work)
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori speaks directly to art, music, PE, library, STEM, and other specials teachers who often feel overlooked when it comes to classroom management advice. She explains why classroom management for specials teachers is fundamentally different from homeroom teaching and shares simple strategies to reduce behavior challenges through stronger transitions, predictable routines, and effective classroom systems. What You'll Learn: • Why classroom management for specials teachers requires a different approach • How transitions—not behavior—are...
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403. Teaching Today's Kids with 22-Year Veteran Jodie Culpepper
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori sits down with veteran teacher Jodie Culpepper, who shares how years of classroom management challenges, student behavior concerns, and overwhelming stress nearly led her to resign after 22 years in education. Jodie opens up about what helped her regain confidence, find hope again, and rediscover the joy of teaching through stronger classroom routines, simple behavior strategies, and a renewed focus on relationships with students. What You'll Learn: • Why many experienced teachers feel like beginning teachers in today's classrooms • How...
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402. Adding Elements of Surprise to Engage Your Students with 4th Grade Teacher Amanda Muri
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori sits down with fourth-grade teacher Amanda Muri to talk about how small elements of surprise can create big shifts in classroom management. Amanda shares her journey from feeling confident at the start of the school year to struggling with student engagement after winter break, and how a simple podcast episode helped her rediscover the joy, connection, and excitement that transformed the energy in her classroom. What You'll Learn: • Why classroom routines and student engagement often begin to slip after winter break • How simple surprises...
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401. How Small Changes Lead to Big Results in Pre-K Classroom Management With Special Guest Lindsay Parsons
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori sits down with pre-K and kindergarten teacher Lindsay Parsons to talk about what classroom management really looks like with today’s students. Lindsay shares how simple shifts completely changed the energy in her classroom and helped her feel hopeful again after struggling with student behavior, social-emotional skill gaps, and teacher overwhelm. What You'll Learn: • Why so many teachers feel like traditional classroom management strategies are no longer working • How whole class motivators can improve student behavior and classroom...
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400. 5 Reasons Your Classroom Felt So Much Harder Than It Needed to Be
Beginning Teacher Talk: A Podcast for New Elementary Teachers
In this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori Friesen breaks down the five hidden classroom patterns that quietly drain teachers day after day. If you’ve ever felt exhausted by constant reminders, difficult transitions, student behavior interruptions, or feeling like you’re always playing catch-up, this episode will help you understand why classroom management can feel so overwhelming and what actually needs to change to make teaching feel calmer, smoother, and more sustainable. What You'll Learn: • Why small classroom breakdowns create major teacher exhaustion over time • The...
info_outlineIn this episode of Beginning Teacher Talk, Dr. Lori Friesen shares an encouraging message for every teacher who ended the last school year feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or questioning whether they were cut out for teaching. Through three powerful mindset shifts, she explains how a growth mindset for teachers can transform the way we view classroom management challenges, difficult seasons, and our own ability to grow.
What You'll Learn:
• How a growth mindset can help you move forward after a difficult school year
• Why classroom management is a set of skills and systems that can be strengthened
• Three mindset shifts that will help you build confidence and leave self-doubt behind
• How to learn from last year's challenges without letting them define your future
• Why small, intentional changes can create a calmer, more joyful teaching experience
Resources Mentioned:
• Learn more about Dr. Lori's programs
If last year left you feeling exhausted, discouraged, or wondering if teaching was still the right path, this episode is a reminder that one difficult year does not define you. Be sure to listen, subscribe, and share this episode with a teacher who needs a little hope before the new school year begins.
Need to set up an elementary classroom? Save your seat at Dr. Lori's new, free class:
Discover how to start the next school year calm, confident, and fully in control (without working all summer). Even if you haven't been hired yet, you can't set foot in your school, or you don't know what grade you'll be teaching.
Click here to save your seat! https://www.drlorifriesen.com/ready
Need to regain control of your classroom? Save your seat at Dr. Lori's new, free class:
Save your seat at the tropical island virtual teacher retreat, where we'll talk about how to prevent challenging behaviors from derailing your entire day—even if you feel like you've already tried everything, you don't have admin support, and parents don't seem to care.
Click here to save your seat! https://www.drlorifriesen.com/need-this
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Warmly,
Dr. Lori