Not So Wimpy Teacher Podcast

This is a podcast for busy teachers who want to engage their students in meaningful hands-on learning. You will receive simple, innovative and practical teaching tips and ideas for teaching math, reading and writing.

Connecting with Students Online with Jennifer Serravallo 02/22/2021

Connecting with Students Online with Jennifer Serravallo Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast! I have a really special treat for you today. If you are teaching students online, whether it’s virtual or hybrid, this is the episode for you. Today’s guest, Jennifer Serravallo, is a literacy consultant and speaker and has three New York Times best selling books! Her latest book is called “Connecting with Students Online: Strategies for Remote Teaching and Learning.” I asked Jen to join me today to talk through the idea of connecting with students online. We’re covering everything from how to form relationships with students to having realistic expectations for yourself and your students during a pandemic. Episode 94 Takeaways: + When the tech isn’t working, stay calm, and remind yourself that you’re doing what you can. + Ask yourself if the things that are challenging you are within your control. + Get your kids working off the screen as much as possible to combat Zoom fatigue. + The more we can get kids off the screen, the more engaged they'll be. + It is possible to build relationships even though you’ve never met your students in person. + Use breakout rooms to give students individual feedback. + Minimize the time you're spending on whole group lessons, and maximize your time with small group lessons. + Make sure that the students in small groups belong together. + Give yourself and your students grace. I really hope that this episode gives you a little bit of hope. Teaching is going to look a little different right now, but you have amazing teaching strategies in your tool belt, and you can take so many of them into a virtual classroom with just a few small tweaks! I’d love to know what other ideas you come up with, so head over to our Instagram to share those with me! Resources Mentioned: Want more Not So Wimpy Teacher tips and tricks? Find tons of resources on our website at and follow me on Instagram where I share daily! /episode/index/show/notsowimpyteacherpodcast/id/17927240

A Simple Problem-Solving Strategy That Works Every Time 02/15/2021

Giving Students Feedback About Their Writing 02/08/2021

Virtual and Socially Distant Valentine's Day Activities for the Classroom 02/01/2021

How to Use Project-Based Learning in the Classroom 01/25/2021

A Fun and Free Inauguration Day Resource 01/18/2021

Starting Writing Fresh at the Beginning of the Year 01/11/2021

Improving the Quality of Student Work in Centers 01/04/2021

How to Use Writing Prompts (and a Year of Free Prompts) 12/14/2020

5 Ways to Spend Less Time At School 12/07/2020

5 Ways to Spend Less Time At School Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast! Are you a teacher who spends a little too much time at school or even a little too much time working at home? Then this is the episode for you. I want to challenge the idea that the only way that you can be a good teacher is if you work really long hours, and that only the teachers who work really long hours are doing a great job. News flash: your value is not tied to the number of hours you work. Your value is what you do with those hours. I’m going to share a little of my own story as well as some strategies that I used to take back my life while still being a great teacher. It doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive. Episode 85 Takeaways: + Your value is not tied to the number of hours you work. + It’s okay if being a mom isn’t your only calling. + You don’t have to give up your personal life to be a good teacher. + Taking back time for yourself will actually make you a better teacher. + Use your calendar wisely. + Decide on your work hours and put them in your calendar. + Batch your lesson planning to save time. + Protect your planning time. + Use routines. + Grade smarter. Here’s what I want you to take away from this episode: your value as a teacher is not determined by the number of hours that you work, but rather what you do with your time when you are working. You were meant to be a teacher. Your students need you, but they need the very best version of you. So rediscover who that is by spending less time at work and more time with friends and family, on hobbies, and just being alone and taking care of yourself. The teacher who has boundaries and balance will have the most energy to teach and make a difference in the classroom. I’d love to know what other ideas you come up with, so head over to our Instagram to share those with me! Resources Mentioned: Want more Not So Wimpy Teacher tips and tricks? Find tons of resources on our website at and follow me on Instagram where I share daily! /episode/index/show/notsowimpyteacherpodcast/id/17037638

Teaching Students with ADHD with Jillian Starr 11/30/2020

Teaching Students with ADHD with Jillian Starr Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast! Do you have students with ADHD in your classroom that you wish you could support better? Well wishes come true. Today’s guest, Jillian Starr, is a struggling student turned passionate educator. Her dyslexia, ADHD, and sensory/auditory processing issues went undiagnosed for most of her educational career. Now she uses her own experiences to help students in her classroom, as well as help educators have a bigger impact. She is the teacher behind the website and social media accounts Teaching with Jillian Starr. She has been in education for 15 years and has been a classroom teacher for the past 12 years in grades 1, 2, and 3. Teaching with Jillian Starr is based on the idea that it's really important that we serve all students, and we’re going to dive deeper into that today. Jillian is sharing her own personal experiences as a student and teacher, as well as some amazing and important information about how we can better serve students with ADHD in our classrooms. Episode 84 Takeaways: + ADHD will show up differently in everyone. + ADHD is not one size fits all. + If you have one idea of what ADHD should look like, you’re going to miss it in your students. + What signs to look for in your students. + Treating ADHD with medication is a personal decision. + The side effects of medication will be different for everyone. + Be on the same team as the parents. + There are strategies besides medication that you can use to help your students. I cannot stress how important it is for us to learn these strategies as educators so that we are better prepared to serve all our students. I’m so grateful to Jillian for opening up about some deeply personal experiences so that we can learn from her. Don’t forget to check out her resources below! I’d love to know what other ideas you come up with, so head over to our Instagram to share those with me! Resources Mentioned: Want more Not So Wimpy Teacher tips and tricks? Find tons of resources on our website at and follow me on Instagram where I share daily! /episode/index/show/notsowimpyteacherpodcast/id/16888997

Teaching Students to Edit Their Own Writing 11/16/2020

Teaching Students to Edit Their Own Writing Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast! Today we are talking about one of my very favorite topics: writing. I know that writing isn't everyone's favorite subject to teach, but it is my favorite topic to help teachers with. Whenever I go on social media and ask what your least favorite subject to teach is, writing always wins out. I'm here to make teaching your least favorite subject so much easier. I know what it feels like to hate it. I used to hate it too. But I want to give you the tools and strategies you need to build confidence, and maybe even start to love teaching writing. Today we’re specifically talking about how to get your students to edit their writing. I've got nine tips for you that I think will help you to make the editing time in your classroom more effective. If writing is the subject that you dread every day, be sure to tune in to this week’s episode! Episode 83 Takeaways: + Mistakes happen. + All writers make errors. + Reward students for taking time to look for mistakes. + Leave room on the page for editing. + Don’t edit too soon. + Set aside a day or two for editing. + Give your students resources to help them edit. + Focus on one type of edit at a time. + Read the writing out loud. + Don’t edit for your students. + Perfection isn’t the goal. I hope this gives you a lot to think about as you help your students to become better writers. Remember, perfection isn’t the goal, growth is. If your student’s paper is better than the last one they wrote, that's a success that deserves to be celebrated. I’d love to know what other ideas you come up with, so head over to our Instagram to share those with me! Want more Not So Wimpy Teacher tips and tricks? Find tons of resources on our website at and follow me on Instagram where I share daily! /episode/index/show/notsowimpyteacherpodcast/id/16772387

Using Genre to Create Highly Engaged Readers 11/09/2020

Teaching Grammar: Free Mini-Course for Teachers 11/02/2020

Teaching Grammar: Free Mini-Course for Teachers Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast! Do you find teaching grammar kind of a nightmare? Are you scouring the internet for new fun grammar activities every week? Yeah, I was you once too. Until I found a much easier way to teach grammar that saved me time and made learning easier for my students. So that’s what I want to share with you today. This episode is for you if you teach grammar in grades 2, 3, 4, or 5. And be sure to stay tuned until the end, when I’ll be sharing a freebie that I’ve created just for you. Episode 81 Takeaways: + Remember that grammar is hard for adults with degrees, so it’s going to be hard for your students. + There is a lot to memorize when it comes to grammar, and that can be very tricky for your students. + Trying to teach grammar without a curriculum can be confusing and time-wasting. + Routine makes it easier to plan your time and increase productivity. + When I found a routine for teaching grammar my students started to grow. + Your students won’t all be on the same level and that’s okay. Remember, grammar is hard for everyone, even us adults. If you could use some help figuring out your grammar curriculum, my team and I have created a to help you out. In this , you're going to learn how to keep students engaged when you're introducing a new lesson or skill, my secrets for using grammar interactive notebooks so they don't take so much time, a quick way to integrate grammar into writing, my favorite ways to use task cards for reviewing grammar, and my simple strategies for differentiating grammar for learners of all levels. The videos in this mini-course are short and easy for you to get through whenever you have time, so you can do it whenever you want! Head to to check it out! Want more Not So Wimpy Teacher tips and tricks? Find tons of resources on our website at and follow me on Instagram where I share daily! /episode/index/show/notsowimpyteacherpodcast/id/16588586

5 Things You Don't Have to Do When Teaching Writing 10/26/2020

5 Things You Don't Have to Do When Teaching Writing Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast! Are you feeling a bit exhausted from perpetually being told what to do as a teacher lately? Don’t worry, you’re not alone and you deserve a break! That’s why, in this episode, I’m going to be sharing a handful of things that you probably have been doing in the classroom but really don’t need to be doing. Did you just take a sigh of relief? We’re going to discuss how to decrease your prep and planning time every week, which activities are helping your students the most developmentally, and how to still be an amazing teacher without grading non-stop. I know it may seem difficult to overcome the pressure of being the perfectionist teacher with the craft filled whiteboard, but stick with me, and I’ll explain exactly why all of that extra stress is not really necessary or even beneficial. Episode 74 Takeaways: + Give yourself grace + No need to assign a writing prompt or project every single week + Your room doesn’t have to be filled with craftivities on every wall + Spelling errors can go uncorrected once in a while + You don’t have to grade-non stop So does that relieve a little bit of perfectionist teacher pressure? There’s no need for you to be stressed with creating a new craft every week that doesn’t really benefit your student’s writing skills. There is also no need to crush their spirit by pointing out every single spelling mistake on the paper they worked so hard on for the last week. We all deserve a bit of relief, especially these days, and this podcast episode is your permission to do so! I’d love to know what other ideas you come up with, so head over to our Instagram to share those with me! Want more Not So Wimpy Teacher tips and tricks? Find tons of resources on our website at and follow me on Instagram where I share daily! /episode/index/show/notsowimpyteacherpodcast/id/16492820

What You Need to Know About Teaching Math Problem Solving with Brittany Hege 10/19/2020

4 Ways to Make Reading Lessons Engaging (Virtually or In-Person) 10/12/2020

Teaching About the Election (Without Getting Political) 10/05/2020

Teaching About the Election (Without Getting Political) Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast! Today we’re going to talk about the election. Did you groan? If you did, I don’t blame you. I get it. But I want this to be exciting for you to talk about, because it is for me! We’re going to explore how to talk to your students about the election without getting political, the importance of having an unbiased lesson about it, and how you can help your students understand the importance and privilege of having elections. I know it can be scary, but stick with me, and we’re going to make it a whole lot more fun. Episode 77 Takeaways: + It is our job as teachers to help kids learn how to think. + It's important to cover the election because voting is a privilege and a duty. + We are shaping what the world will look like in the future. + Kids are going to hear about the election, so we can at least make sure they understand the facts. + Talking about the election leads to meaningful conversations. + There are topics you can cover without telling them who to vote for. + You can use fun activities to teach about the election. So, does that make it a little less intimidating? It’s not your responsibility to tell your students who to vote for, but you can teach them why we vote, and how they can make their voices heard. Don’t forget to take a look at our digital and printable election resource! It gives you a five-day plan for teaching about the election, so if this all feels a little scary to you, this resource is going to make your life so much easier! You can find a link in the “Resources Mentioned” section below. I’d love to know what other ideas you come up with, so head over to our Instagram to share those with me! Resources Mentioned: Want more Not So Wimpy Teacher tips and tricks? Find tons of resources on our website at and follow me on Instagram where I share daily! /episode/index/show/notsowimpyteacherpodcast/id/16231199

Book Clubs in a Virtual Classroom 09/28/2020

7 Ways to Make Virtual Teaching Easier 09/21/2020

7 Ways to Make Virtual Teaching Easier Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast! So…….. virtual teaching. How are you feeling? A little overwhelmed? Yeah, I see you. I know that you feel like you’re drowning with all the new technology, new strategies, and new concerns that come with teaching virtually. I have heard it over and over. Teachers feel like they are drowning, and I don't want anyone drowning on my watch! I'm not a very good swimmer, so I can’t be a good lifeguard, but I got together with my team and we brainstormed some ways to make virtual teaching easier. These tips will give you some of the tools that you need to make it to dry land, and I feel like right now a good tip or two could be our saving grace. In today’s episode, I am giving you seven different ways to make virtual teaching easier. Episode 75 Takeaways: + Use less technology. + Keep a daily schedule. + Create routines with your students. + Batch your lesson recording. + Assign less work. + Stop grading everything. + Give yourself grace. You are growing as an educator every single day. Focus on how far you have come, rather than the bumps in the road. The bumps actually helped you to learn something new, even if it hurt in the moment. You've learned to use all kinds of new technology and have created real relationships with a group of kids that you probably didn't even get to meet in person. You have faced your fear of being on video and you love your class fiercely. As far as I'm concerned, you are highly proficient. And I'd be happy to sign that observation form if you need me to. I’d love to know what other ideas you come up with, so head over to our Instagram to share them with me! Resources Mentioned: Want more Not So Wimpy Teacher tips and tricks? Find tons of resources on our website at and follow me on Instagram where I share daily! /episode/index/show/notsowimpyteacherpodcast/id/16042535

7 Ways to Make Virtual Learning More Fun 09/14/2020

7 Ways to Make Virtual Learning More Fun Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast! Raise your hand if you went to college to major in virtual education. Anyone? No, didn’t think so. In this episode, I want to chat about ways that you can make learning fun, even if you're teaching virtually. In fact, I'm going to be sharing seven different ways to make virtual learning more fun for your students. None of us really went to school and trained for this, but at a moment's notice we all became online teachers, and many teachers are now teaching online AND in person, which is just crazy! So now you’re figuring out how to get into staff meetings on Zoom, trying to learn new technology, and frankly just trying to get your kids to use the mute and unmute button properly. It’s exhausting! And yet, you still want it to be fun for your students. You don't want to do the bare minimum. You don't want your virtual classroom to be boring. You want it to be engaging! My team got together and we brainstormed some ways that you can make this whole virtual education thing more fun-- and in a way that isn’t overwhelming! Let’s talk about seven different (and easy) ways to make virtual learning more fun for your students. Oh- and for you too! Episode 74 Takeaways: + Keep your virtual classroom engaging by using centers. + Use book clubs. + Go on virtual field trips. + Consider adding lunch clubs to your virtual classroom. + Change the location of your virtual classroom. + Use music to keep students engaged. + Don't be afraid to mix in some nonacademic activities. I hope that some of these ideas got you thinking about ways that you could continue to make your virtual classroom even more fun. I want you to know that I am so amazed by what you are doing. You are learning so many new things, jumping in, and just doing the best that you possibly can for your students, even though there's a lot of pressure. I want you to pat yourself on the back and remember that you won't be perfect, your classroom won't be perfect, but you love your students and that's more than enough. I’d love to know what other ideas you come up with, so head over to our Instagram to share those with me! Resources Mentioned: Want more Not So Wimpy Teacher tips and tricks? Find tons of resources on our website at and follow me on Instagram where I share daily! /episode/index/show/notsowimpyteacherpodcast/id/15979412

Teaching Growth Mindset in the Classroom 08/31/2020

Teaching Growth Mindset in the Classroom Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast! Have you ever heard a student in your classroom say something like this? “I'm not good at math” or “it's too hard” or “I can't.” Yep. Me too. Did you know, research shows that students in the US commonly give up quickly on difficult tasks? These limiting mindsets can make it very difficult to teach new and challenging skills in the classroom. In this episode, I want to talk about how you can change their mindset so that your students aren’t afraid to take on challenging tasks or problems. The secret? You have to teach your students how to have a growth mindset. We’ll talk all about what a growth mindset is vs. a fixed mindset and how you can teach it in your classroom. Episode 73 Takeaways: + Recent studies show that the brain grows when we practice new things and give it challenges. + A growth mindset is the opposite of a fixed mindset. Someone with a fixed mindset avoids challenges. + Change your feedback on tasks so students understand that their success is a result of their willingness to work hard on challenging tasks + It’s important to challenge all of your students, not just the high achievers. + Let your students see you try new things and be open about what you are trying and the challenges you are taking. Modeling is the easiest way to teach new things. + Share growth mindset books, and activities with your students. + It’s important to help our students know what a growth mindset is and have conversations about it so it becomes part of our classroom. By focusing so heavily on right and wrong answers, sometimes we forget to teach our students that getting the right answer might not be the most important thing. By teaching them how to have a growth mindset, we teach them to be more resilient, and better equipped to take on new challenges. Don’t forget to check out our that is packed with interactive growth mindset activities. You can use it in your virtual or in-person classroom. I’d love to know what other ideas you come up with, so head over to my Instagram to share those with me! Resources Mentioned: Want more Not So Wimpy Teacher tips and tricks? Find tons of resources on our website at and follow me on Instagram where I share daily! /episode/index/show/notsowimpyteacherpodcast/id/15771251

Hybrid Teaching With A Flipped Classroom 08/24/2020

Teaching Writing Virtually 08/17/2020

Using Digital Math Centers 08/10/2020

3 Simple Ways to Integrate the Arts Into Your Classroom 08/03/2020

3 Simple Ways to Integrate the Arts Into Your Classroom Welcome back to the Not So Wimpy Teacher podcast! In this episode, I'm chatting with long-time teacher and author, Elizabeth Peterson, about how valuable the Arts are to students and how to integrate them into your classroom in simple ways. In her 20 years of teaching, Elizabeth has been a huge proponent of using the Arts to help students with social and emotional learning. Episode 69 Takeaways: + You don't have to be a musician or an artist to integrate the arts into your classroom in a helpful way + Teaching kids active listening is all about being active with your ears and brain, not just active with your body + Have "Listen Alouds" where you play a piece of music during snack time and let your students identify sounds, emotions, themes, etc. + Take "Brain Breaks" with your class and have them stand up, stretch or even dance to get their whole body moving + Try "Friendly Friday" and let your students use their creativity to make an encouraging card or note for another classmate + Consistency with these small additions is key The good news is you can even implement these ideas in a virtual classroom! Do your movement break on a zoom call by sharing your screen with the class and playing a Go Noodle or YouTube video for them to dance to. Do your listen aloud in your virtual classroom. Have kids write encouragements to each other on a google comment thread. The more your students see YOU expressing creativity with confidence, the more they will feel comfortable themselves. Integrating the Arts into your classroom can have a powerful effect on your students, helping them process and express their emotions in a productive way. You can find Elizabeth and grab your free resource at ! Want more Not So Wimpy Teacher tips and tricks? Find tons of resources on our website at and follow me on Instagram @notsowimpyteacher where I share daily! /episode/index/show/notsowimpyteacherpodcast/id/15393191

5 Things Teachers Will Need to Reconsider This Year 07/27/2020

3 Strategies for Classroom Management with Ashley Marquez 07/20/2020

3 Strategies for Classroom Management with Ashley Marquez Welcome back to The Not So Wimpy Teacher Podcast! In this week’s episode we have an amazing guest, Ashley Marquez from Teach, Create, Motivate. Ashley is here to share three strategies to help teachers with classroom management. She brings innovative learning and fun to the classroom. She’ll teach how to calm the chaos while teaching engaging skills that help motivate independent learners. Teach, Create, Motivate was built because of her need for creative resources for her students. This need for her own classroom grew into helping other teachers and continues to grow. Takeaways from this episode: Be consistent with your classroom strategy. Use a tool to take control and manage behavior, but stay consistent in delivery and use. This should be maximizing your teaching time. Create student “buy-in.” Your students should be excited so they’re invested. This is all about presentation; your delivery could make or break this program. Choices! Give your students choices...these student-led programs are more successful when they choose themselves. They have more “buy-in” when they feel like their voice is being heard. Don't be afraid of "classroom management.” Not all classroom management looks the same. Get rid of overwhelm and create more engagement. Create a calm, confident learning environment by making the mindset shift. Ashley’s NEW PROGRAM! Great for any grade and any type of classroom. Access Ashley’s new program; Classroom Management Academy. This is an online course broken down into six modules. These are some of the best classroom strategies, tips, ideas and resources for you to create that positive and calm student-led program you want to achieve in your classroom. Once you’ve purchased, you’ll have unlimited access and can rewatch them any time. Take advantage of learning when it’s best for your schedule and have the tools you need at your fingertips. Maximize your time and see your students flourish in learning. Access a BONUS MODULE on Distance Learning! You can still implement classroom management virtually. This program is only available for a short time and won’t be back again until 2021. Register here: www.notsowimpyteacher.com/classroommanagement Connect with Ashley at or Follow her on Instagram @teachcreatemotivate I hope you are inspired by these tips and create great reading centers for you students this year. Want more Not So Wimpy Teacher tips and tricks? Find tons of resources on our website at www.notsowimpyteacher.com and follow me on Instagram @notsowimpyteacher where I share daily! /episode/index/show/notsowimpyteacherpodcast/id/15235052

Making Reading Centers Easier to Manage 07/13/2020

Making Reading Centers Easier to Manage Welcome back to The Not So Wimpy Teacher Podcast! In this week’s episode I am going to share tips on how to make reading centers easier to manage. Reading centers aren’t just about being busy; they’re about being busy with stuff that is helping to move them forward. Reading centers use activities that review and practice those reading skills that you absolutely need to have them master. Center time can get chaotic, so I learned how to make my center time more meaningful and better managed so I could handle it as a teacher. I know planning for centers can get really time consuming, so here are some tips to help you get some hours back in your life! I hope some of these spark ideas that will make a difference in how you create and run your reading centers. Tips from this episode: Spend all the time up front so you are prepared for the whole year, then review them a couple of times throughout the year. Model your center procedures and then model them again! Use anchor charts that record what it should look and sound like during center time. Have a student model what NOT to do! Then, have the students point out what he did wrong and model the correct behavior. Have students show YOU how to do center time. Get a few of the centers started during your reading groups to help students get started on the right track. Use consistent centers! Don’t waste time digging for new information each week. Use things that won’t change all year like read-to-self, reading response center stations, and center technology! Use centers that focus on a specific skill. Limit the number of transitions. Help yourself out by getting a whole bundle; you’ll thank yourself later! We want your students to do well independently, so plan for a variety of center activities that will set them up for success. I hope you are inspired by these tips and create great reading centers for you students this year. Want more Not So Wimpy Teacher tips and tricks? Find tons of resources on our website at and follow me on Instagram @notsowimpyteacher where I share daily! Will you please take two minutes to leave a review? Reviews are one of the BEST ways to support the podcast because it lets potential listeners know that there is something worth tuning into. to leave a review. Thank you so much for your support! /episode/index/show/notsowimpyteacherpodcast/id/15151718

How to Make Centers Safer 07/06/2020

Not So Wimpy Teacher Podcast

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