Podcast · Learning

Enjoy Teaching Again | Elementary, Teacher Burnout, Student Behavior, SEL, Classroom Management

by Elizabeth M. Peterson - Teacher, Arts Integration Specialist & Creative SEL Consultant · English · Learning

Do you feel like teaching just isn’t fun anymore? Does classroom management feel like you’re playing a game of whack-a-mole? Do you wish you could clone little Betsy - the only student in class who exudes joy and stays engaged while learning? Ever feel like shutting your door and going off script ju

New episodes: Several times a week
Typical length: 20 min
Latest: 13 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026 · 53 minNew

175 | One Trusted Adult: What It Really Means to Build Relationships with Students (Interview with Brooklyn Raney)

What does it really mean to be a trusted adult for your students? In this episode, I’m joined by Brooklyn Raney, author of One Trusted Adult: Building Relationships That Inspire Achievement and Success, for a conversation about one of the most important things we can offer our students: meaningful relationships with trustworthy adults. But being a trusted adult doesn't mean you have to be everyone's person. Brooklyn explains why the goal is to help students build a whole “bench” of trusted adults—and how teachers can become one of those people by being accessible, boundaried, and caring. We…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

6 Oct 2026 · 18 min
174 | How to Teach with Empathy Even When Student Behavior is Hard
When you're dealing with student behavior all day, it's easy to feel frustrated, depleted, even defeated — and in the middle of all that, it's easy to forget the student in front of you is a human being with something going on underneath. Today, I'm sharing three student stories that I experienced just last week! The one who never speaks up because they're surrounded by classmates who seem to know it all. The one who shut down in the corner of the room And the one in the hoodie sitting quietly and seems angry the whole class. Sometimes we approach the situation in the wrong way (like I did…
29 Sep 2026 · 20 min
173 | 5 Myths About Teacher Burnout — And What You Actually Need to Recover
Let's bust five myths about teacher burnout and the recovery from burnout — the myths that keep good, tired teachers stuck including the idea that burnout is simply inevitable. (Spoiler - it's not!) Because after so many years in education, I've learned that recovery isn't just about doing less or removing yourself from the classroom. It's about having protected time to intentionally step away from what's draining you and reconnect with something that fills you back up. And for me, that includes a little creativity! In this episode, we'll talk about: Why teacher burnout isn't something you…
22 Sep 2026 · 16 min
172 | The Real Reason Group Work Falls Apart (And the Fix Most Teachers Miss)
You set up group work with the best intentions. You create a solid task, explain the directions, assign roles, and maybe even make a rubric. Then five minutes in, one student is doing all the work, another has checked out, and the room is suddenly buzzing with unrelated chatter. If you've ever thought, Why does group work always turn into this?—you're not alone. In this episode, I'm sharing the real reason group work can fall apart, and it has less to do with your assignment or your grouping strategy than you might think. The missing piece is often the peer relationships underneath the…
15 Sep 2026 · 12 min
171 | The Back-to-School Honeymoon Is Over: What to Do When Behavior Starts Slipping
The first few weeks of school can feel pretty good. Kids are polite, routines are fresh, and everyone is still figuring each other out. Then…the honeymoon ends. If behaviors are starting to pop up, don't panic. It doesn't mean your year is headed in the wrong direction. It means the newness is wearing off—and your real classroom culture is beginning to take shape. In this episode, I’m talking about what happens when that early-school-year calm starts to disappear and how to figure out what your students need next. We’ll look at three important areas—connection, regulation, and engagement—and…
8 Sep 2026 · 22 min
170 | 3 Classroom Power Struggles You're Losing Without Realizing It
You’re not trying to get into power struggles with your students. But sometimes, they happen before you even realize what’s going on. In this episode, I’m sharing three common—and often invisible—power struggles that can quietly show up in your classroom. More importantly, we’ll talk about what you can do to step out of the struggle while protecting the relationship. If you’ve ever found yourself arguing with a student and suddenly thought, “Wait...how did we get here?” this episode will help you recognize those moments earlier and respond differently. You’ll walk away with a simple action…
4 Sep 2026 · 17 min
169 | The Redirection Script That Actually Works for Student Behavior Issues
Most redirection sounds like a warning — and kids can tell. AND that can often backfire, especially when the redirection doesn't even work. If you've ever tried to redirect a student only to have to do it again 5 minutes later, this one is for you! In this episode, I'm giving you the exact four-part redirection script to use for student behavior issues. When I use it in my classroom, it works! (And when I forget to use it... well, you know... I'm just repeating myself a few minutes later. Plus, I'll share the most important part of making any redirection effective. (You probably already know…
1 Sep 2026 · 34 min
168 | Addressing Student Behaviors with Tools, Not Rules (Interview with Claudia Bertolone-Smith and Marlene Moyer)
What if the students who challenge us the most aren't asking us to fix their behavior — they're asking us to see past it? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Claudia Bertolone-Smith and Marlene Moyer, authors of Tools Not Rules: Developing Self-Regulation for Improved Student Behavior in Grades K–8. Claudia brings 24 years of elementary teaching experience and now trains pre-service teachers as an associate professor of mathematics education. Marlene has 22 years teaching grades 5–7 and now works as a mentor teacher. We talk about the idea at the heart of their book — that behavior is a…
28 Aug 2026 · 20 min
167 | Students Getting into Trouble? Why Kids Choose Negative Attention Over None
Have you ever had a student who keeps doing the exact thing that gets them in trouble — even after they've told you they don't want to? This episode is about that kind of student behavior. We'll look at why some students need that negative attention and how to bridge those students from seeking negative attention to being a well-regulated student. I'll walk you through exactly how to bridge that gap and what to look out for in the process. Let's go! ~Elizabeth Mentioned in This Episode: Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here:…
25 Aug 2026 · 21 min
166 | Why Consequences Aren't Changing Student Behavior (And What Actually Does)
I used to think that if I just found the right consequence, my classroom would finally calm down. But in many cases that's actually backwards. In this episode, I'm breaking down the three real reasons consequences keep failing — even when we're consistent and even when we're fair. And I'll share a tool that will help you look at student behaviors in a different way so that consequences don't need to be your constant go-to. If you've ever felt like you're giving the same consequence to the same student over and over with nothing changing, this episode is for you. ~Elizabeth Mentioned in This…
21 Aug 2026 · 20 min
165 | Your Classroom Setup Matters More Than You Think: 5 Spaces That Support SEL and Belonging
I'm setting up my classroom this week — in a new, bigger space (with windows!!!) — and it's got me rethinking decisions I've made the same way for years. Setting up your classroom isn't just about deciding where the desks, bookshelves, and supplies will go. Your physical classroom can actually support students' social-emotional learning, regulation, and sense of belonging. So today, I'm sharing 5 simple spaces you can create—or rethink—in your classroom that communicate to students that they are seen and valued. If you're setting up your classroom right now or wondering how to make your…
18 Aug 2026 · 16 min
164 | Could You Be THAT Teacher? How Connection Can Change a Student’s School Experience
Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can give a student isn't another strategy, intervention, or behavior consequence. Sometimes, it's simply being the adult who sees them, knows them, and is genuinely glad they're there. In this episode, I’m talking about the incredible power of a teacher-student connection—not just for students who struggle with behavior or have challenges at home, but for every child in our classrooms. If you're exhausted from managing behavior, trying to reach certain students, or wondering whether your efforts are actually making a difference, this episode will give…
14 Aug 2026 · 13 min
163 | Is Teaching Still Worth It in 2026?
Have you ever found yourself typing “I quit teaching” into Google late at night? With the behavior challenges, burnout, increasing demands, and everything else teachers are carrying right now, it’s understandable to wonder: Is teaching still worth it? In this episode, I’m taking a different look at that question. I’ll share a deeply personal story about my mom, a teacher who once tried to talk me out of becoming a teacher—and something I learned after she passed away that changed the way I think about the impact we have on our students. I’ll also talk about why surviving the school day isn’t…
11 Aug 2026 · 23 min
162 | Teacher Art Retreats Are Back!
What if your professional development actually left you feeling inspired, energized, and excited to get back to your classroom? After years of teaching through screens, Zoom meetings, packed schedules, and increasing demands, I’m bringing my Teacher Art Retreats back—and I couldn’t be more excited. In this episode, I’m sharing what the Overnight Teacher Art Retreat actually is, why I decided the time was right to bring it back, and what makes this kind of teacher-centered professional development so different. I’ll take you behind the scenes of the retreat experience, share why teachers have…
7 Aug 2026 · 13 min
161 | Classroom Set-Up for Calm and Student Belonging
We've all done it — scrolled through classroom set up pictures online and felt that mix of inspired and overwhelmed. Well, whether your classroom looks like it could be in a magazine or not, there are some things that can be added to make sure your environment fosters calm and belonging. So, in this episode, I'm sharing a few specific things I actually put in my own room every year to do just that! ~Elizabeth Mentioned in This Episode: 63 | Is Your Calm-Down Corner Even Working? The Mistakes Teachers Make—and How to Fix Them The Break Box — Calm Down Strategies for Classroom Management:…
4 Aug 2026 · 20 min
160 | Why Classroom Rules Fail (Even When Students Know Them)
It's the first week of school, and if you're like most teachers, your rules are already created, even if it's just in your mind. You're ready to establish clear expectations, get your students on board and be ready to implement consequences when needed. But before you do that, listen in. Today, I'm sharing why rules alone might not be enough to get you through the year — and what actually needs to happen underneath it. I'll share the exact process I use to build a classroom contract with my students and a bonus question I love asking students that can make this even more effective. This is…
31 Jul 2026 · 18 min
159 | Stop Saving Creativity for Friday — It Could Be the Most Powerful Classroom Management Tool You Have
Many teachers have gotten stuck thinking creativity is something you add when there’s time. Let's flip that — because creativity can actually reduce behavioral escalation, increase student engagement, and help YOU reconnect with your joy. It's not a bonus... it's a foundation. I’ll walk you through what happens in a student’s nervous system when you bring movement, storytelling, or visual response into your classroom — and why it addresses all three legs of Your Classroom’s Tripod at once. I’ll also talk about what creativity does for teachers, not just students — because reconnecting with…
28 Jul 2026 · 21 min
158 | Student Behavior Is the #1 Crisis in Teaching Right Now. Here's What Teachers Can Do
If you've ever wondered whether student behavior is harder now than it used to be — the data has an answer. In this episode I'm sharing two more findings from 2025 and 2026 that confirm what teachers across the country have been feeling. And these aren't fringe numbers. This is the profession speaking. I'll walk you through what the data is actually pointing at — and why the answer isn't just more behavior management strategies. It's a foundation shift. Connection, Regulation, and Engagement — the three legs of Your Classroom's Tripod — are what behavior has been pointing at this whole time.…
24 Jul 2026 · 23 min
157 | 2 Things Standing Between You and a Classroom That Runs Smoothly (And It's Not What You Think)
In this episode I’m naming the two things that actually stand between teachers and a classroom that runs smoothly — and neither of them is more information. Because information was never the problem. You know how to teach. You have the strategies, the activities and the know how. So... what's missing?? There's a reason why strategies stop working by October. And a reason why your frustration grows instead of subsides. Let's have to real talk today, shall we? By the end you’ll have a simple three-step way to name your own gap and decide what to do about it before Sunday. ~Elizabeth Mentioned…
21 Jul 2026 · 18 min
156 | You're Losing 14.5 Days a School Year to Student Behavior. The Research Is Telling Us Something.
What if the research confirmed that you’re losing the equivalent of 14.5 school days every year — not to planning or grading, but to managing disruptive student behavior? In this episode, I’m walking through what the data actually says — including a University of Nebraska-Lincoln study that sent trained observers into real classrooms to measure the time and financial cost of behavior management. The findings are striking and worth talking about. I’ll also share what the research says happens when effective classroom management strategies are in place — and it’s not just about reducing…
17 Jul 2026 · 12 min
155 | Does Student Behavior Steal Your Teacher Joy? A Classroom RESET Challenge Preview
The Classroom RESET Challenge starts July 21st, and in this episode I'm walking you through exactly what three days together is going to look like so that you can improve student behavior to eliminate teacher burnout! Come for three days. Leave with more than you came with. And if you want to go further — The Classroom Reset course will be there when you're ready. Save your spot — it's free, PD hours are available, and the replay comes to you if you can't make it live: theinspiredclassroom.com/challenge I cannot wait. Mentioned in This Episode: The Classroom RESET Challenge (free, July…
14 Jul 2026 · 16 min
154 | No Time for One More Thing? The 5-Minute Classroom Management Fix Every Teacher Already Has Time For
If "I don't have time for one more thing" is the thought that keeps you from trying anything new in your classroom, I want you to hear this one before school starts. In this episode, I'm sharing some of my favorite classroom management tips — not because they're clever or complicated, but because every single one of them fits inside time you already have. We talk about three small, specific moves that address Connection, Regulation, and Engagement without adding a single extra minute to your day. I'll also share what shifted for me when I stopped looking for what I could add and started…
10 Jul 2026 · 17 min
153 | Tired of Student Behavior Strategies That Stop Working? Here's Why It Keeps Happening (And What to Do)
If you've ever tried a new classroom behavior management strategy, watched it work for a week or two, and then felt it completely fall apart — this episode is for you. I'm breaking down why strategies stop working, and why it almost never has anything to do with the quality of the strategy itself. The real issue is usually where you're aiming. When you're managing the symptom (the behavior) instead of the source, things will unravel every time — no matter how good the strategy is. I want to walk you through why behavior is always pointing at something underneath, how Your Classroom's Tripod…
7 Jul 2026 · 15 min
152 | The Truth About Lack of Student Effort in Your Classroom
If you've ever thought "they just aren't trying" about a student in your class, I want you to hear this one before you step foot back into school. In this episode, I'm challenging a belief I've held myself — and one I hear from teachers constantly — that a checked-out, unmotivated-looking student is simply choosing not to try. What I've come to realize, in my own classroom and in working with teachers everywhere, is that what looks like a lack of effort is often a lack of access. I'll walk you through why that shift matters, how it connects to Engagement and what to actually do differently…
3 Jul 2026 · 47 min
151 | Exhausted, Burned Out...or Is It Something More? What Every Teacher Needs to Know (with Lori Owens)
Have you ever wondered if you're just exhausted...or if it's something more? In this episode, I'm joined by PTSD expert and resilience trainer Lori Owens as we talk about a question I think so many teachers are asking themselves: How do I know if I'm simply exhaused, burned out—or if my nervous system is trying to tell me something more? You'll hear practical, teacher-friendly strategies to help you recognize the signs of burnout, regulate stress during the school day, and create healthier boundaries so you can care for your students without sacrificing yourself. If you've been feeling…
30 Jun 2026 · 17 min
150 | You Don't Need a Calmer School Year. You Need a Different Plan.
Summer is the perfect time to think about next school year—but if you're simply hoping next year will somehow be calmer, you're going to need to listen to this. In this episode, I'm sharing why hope alone has never fixed classroom management and the three common mistakes many of us make at the end of a difficult school year. I'll walk you through how to stop relying on luck, start learning from last year's challenges, and create a classroom management plan that actually supports the classroom you want. If you've ever caught yourself saying, "Maybe next year's class will be better," this…
26 Jun 2026 · 20 min
149 | 3 Summer Resets Every Teacher Needs (And the One You Might Actually Skip)
If your summers sometimes end up feeling like one big runway into next school year, this one's for you. I'm sharing three resets I actually believe in for teacher summer vacation — and the one thing almost every teacher skips without even realizing it. We'll talk about why your body needs to catch up before your to-do list does, why a real plan beats a wish every single time, and why your phone might be the biggest thing standing between you and an actual break. I'll also walk you through the one belief most of us never question and why that's exactly backwards. Plus, by the end, you'll have…
23 Jun 2026 · 18 min
148 | What a Calm Classroom Actually Looks Like (It's Not What You've Been Sold)
What do you picture as a "calm classroom?" Silent rows of kids working quietly? Only the sound of pencils writing or fingers typing? That might happen every once in a while, but is that really the ultimate goal? Today I'm breaking down the real difference between a calm classroom and a quiet one, and why so many of us have been chasing the wrong picture for years. We'll talk about why calm starts with your own regulation before it ever touches student behavior, and why your best teaching memories probably weren't the silent ones. By the end, you'll learn what Your Classroom Tripod is and…
19 Jun 2026 · 22 min
147 | Our Students Have Changed: Attention Spans, Dopamine Hits, and What We Can Do
You know it's true... maybe you've even said it out loud: Our students have changed! Honestly, our students' brains have genuinely changed. Not because something is wrong with them — but because the world they live in has calibrated them for constant stimulation, instant rewards, and short-form everything. In this episode I talk about: Why student attention spans in the classroom have genuinely shortened — and what's driving it The dopamine connection: what's happening in our students' brains and why school feels so hard to stay in Why the answer is NOT to gamify your curriculum or compete…
16 Jun 2026 · 35 min
146 | What Every ELA Teacher Needs to Know About Struggling Readers and Student Shutdown (with Natayle Brown)
Have you ever had a student who seemed determined to avoid reading, writing, or participating at all costs? In this episode, I sit down with literacy expert and conference host Natayle Brown to discuss what's really happening when students shut down in ELA classrooms. We explore the difference between true defiance and overwhelm, why struggling readers often disengage before they even begin, and how teachers can challenge students without pushing them into shutdown. Natalie shares practical insights about attention spans, dopamine, skill deficits, student engagement, and the Zone of Proximal…

About Enjoy Teaching Again | Elementary, Teacher Burnout, Student Behavior, SEL, Classroom Management

Enjoy Teaching Again | Elementary, Teacher Burnout, Student Behavior, SEL, Classroom Management is a English learning podcast from Elizabeth M. Peterson - Teacher, Arts Integration Specialist & Creative SEL Consultant. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Elizabeth M. Peterson - Teacher, Arts Integration Specialist & Creative SEL Consultant
Language: English
Category: Learning
New episodes: Several times a week
Typical length: 20 min
Latest episode: 13 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1662280027

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