Ever feel like your calm-down corner is more like a timeout chair—or maybe it’s just gathering dust? In this episode, I'll share creative, teacher-tested ways to transform your calm-down corner into a powerful tool that helps students self-regulate and re-engage in learning. You’ll learn how to set it up with the right stuff, teach kids to use it, and build it into your classroom culture—without adding more stress to your day.

If you’re tired of dealing with constant classroom disruptions, or you’re not sure how to handle those BIG emotions that pop up, this episode is your answer for how to successfully implement a student-centered spot to chill out!

~Elizabeth

✨ Let’s keep the INSPIRATION going:

👉 Want to take these calm-down corner ideas—and so much more—to the next level? Join me inside The Classroom Reset, my brand new group coaching program where you’ll get step-by-step strategies to transform your entire classroom. We’ll work together to build routines, foster student ownership, and create a learning space that’s calm, creative, and connected. Let’s hit that reset button and make your classroom a place where you enjoy teaching!

👉Join my Inspiring Teachers Facebook Community: theinspiredclassroom.com/community

👉Website: theinspiredclassroom.com

✨ Connect with me!

Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson

Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom

Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Let's flip the script on that never-ending to-do list and introduce something that’ll actually fill you up—a DID List! We’re talking all about how to reflect on what you’ve accomplished, big and small, so you can finish the school year feeling proud instead of overwhelmed.

I’m sharing why making a DID List is a powerful mindset shift (especially during the crazy end-of-year rush), how it can help you set more meaningful goals, and why it’s the best way to start next year strong.

Inside this episode, you’ll discover:

• A simple way to reclaim your sense of accomplishment as a teacher

• How to reflect on what worked (and what didn’t) so you can plan for a more inspiring year ahead

• A teacher-friendly tool you can use anytime you need a boost

If you’re tired of feeling like you’re never caught up—and always behind—this episode is for you.

~Elizabeth

Become an INSIDER at The Inspired Classroom!

theinspiredclassroom.com/insider

When you are an INSIDER, you get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors, create a caring classroom and bring joy back to teaching!

✨ Let’s keep the INSPIRATION going:

👉 Learn more about SEAL, the only method that empowers caring teachers to calm classroom behavior issues and ease teacher burnout by embedding creative and artistic social-emotional strategies into their current content without requiring them to implement an entire program that takes up precious class time.

Go to teachSEAL.com

👉Join my Inspiring Teachers Facebook Community: theinspiredclassroom.com/community

👉Website: theinspiredclassroom.com

✨ Connect with me!

Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson

Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom

Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Are you tired of carrying the emotional weight that teaching brings? In this episode of Enjoy Teaching Again, I share why having a trusted venting buddy isn't just helpful—it's essential. You’ll hear real talk about what healthy venting looks like, who makes the best venting partner, and how to avoid the common traps that can turn necessary release into foot-in-your-mouth moments.

Whether you’ve accidentally let it all out in the hallway (oops!) or you’re bottling it up to the point of snapping over a pencil sharpener, this episode is your reminder that you’re not alone—and you can stay grounded without going it alone.

This isn’t about gossip. It’s about connection, care, and staying sane in the work you love.

Teacher burnout is real—and venting the right way might be the missing piece to feeling human again. If you’ve ever ended your school day emotionally drained and mentally fried, this episode is for you.

~Elizabeth

✨ Want to be the first to hear about the BIG new thing I’m working on for teachers who need a reset? Join the Insider List! theinspiredclassroom.com/insider

Become an INSIDER at The Inspired Classroom!

theinspiredclassroom.com/insider

When you are an INSIDER, you get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors, create a caring classroom and bring joy back to teaching!

✨ Let’s keep the INSPIRATION going:

👉 Join my free class, so that I can help you foster a classroom of Calm, Connection & Creativity! theinspiredclassroom.com/class

👉 Learn more about SEAL, the only method that empowers caring teachers to calm classroom behavior issues and ease teacher burnout by embedding creative and artistic social-emotional strategies into their current content without requiring them to implement an entire program that takes up precious class time.

Go to teachSEAL.com

👉Join my Inspiring Teachers Facebook Community: theinspiredclassroom.com/community

👉Website: theinspiredclassroom.com

✨ Connect with me!

Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson

Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom

Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Feeling boxed in by scripted lessons and copy-paste curriculum? You’re not alone. In this episode, I'm sharing four simple, actually doable strategies that bring creativity—and student engagement—back into your day, without piling on extra prep. 🙌

I use these strategies every week. They are tried, tested and work!

We’ll cover:

✔️ How to use music to transform the vibe of a lesson

✔️ A drama strategy so quick it fits in your reading block

✔️ A movement break you can use anytime, anywhere

✔️ A visual art idea that doesn’t require an art cart

Whether you’re trying to reach more learning styles or just bring some joy back into your teaching—these creative moves will help you love teaching again (even with a script in hand).

Try just one of these ideas this week and let us know how it goes inside the Inspiring Teachers Facebook group. You’ll be surprised how much a little creativity can shift the energy—for you and your students.

~Elizabeth

Resources Mentioned:

Become an INSIDER at The Inspired Classroom! theinspiredclassroom.com/insider

When you are an INSIDER, you get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors, create a caring classroom and bring joy back to teaching!

✨ Let’s keep the INSPIRATION going:

👉 Join my free class, so that I can help you foster a classroom of Calm, Connection & Creativity! theinspiredclassroom.com/class

👉 Learn more about SEAL, the only method that empowers caring teachers to calm classroom behavior issues and ease teacher burnout by embedding creative and artistic social-emotional strategies into their current content without requiring them to implement an entire program that takes up precious class time.

Go to teachSEAL.com

👉Join my Inspiring Teachers Facebook Community: theinspiredclassroom.com/community

👉Website: theinspiredclassroom.com

✨ Connect with me (and share what you try from this episode!)

Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson

Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom

Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

Some teachers love it. Some teachers dread it. Spirit Week usually involves some crazy socks, wacky hair, and the occasional coveted Decades Day. But what if we put a twist on this and sent it… underground?

This kind of Spirit Week is designed just for teachers—to build connection, creativity, and joy in a way that keeps you smiling all week. And the best part? Students love it just as much.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

✔️ What Underground Spirit Week actually looks like—and why teachers are secretly loving it

✔️ Creative, teacher-centered ideas you can use to start your own version (without a ton of chaos!)

✔️ How to turn it into a surefire morale booster for you and your teacher besties

If you're craving a little fun with your teacher buddies and want to do something just for YOU (ain't no shame in it)—this is your episode.

~Elizabeth

Resources Mentioned:

Become an INSIDER at The Inspired Classroom! theinspiredclassroom.com/insider

When you are an INSIDER, you get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors, create a caring classroom and bring joy back to teaching!

✨ Let’s keep the INSPIRATION going:

👉 Join my free class, so that I can help you foster a classroom of Calm, Connection & Creativity! theinspiredclassroom.com/class

👉 Learn more about SEAL, the only method that empowers caring teachers to calm classroom behavior issues and ease teacher burnout by embedding creative and artistic social-emotional strategies into their current content without requiring them to implement an entire program that takes up precious class time.

Go to teachSEAL.com

👉Join my Inspiring Teachers Facebook Community: theinspiredclassroom.com/community

👉Website: theinspiredclassroom.com

✨ Connect with me (and share what you try from this episode!)

Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson

Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom

Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

This week, we’re celebrating Teacher Appreciation in a way that's a little different. While I’m all about those lunches and door prizes (can we normalize surprise snacks every month?), this episode invites you to reflect on something even more meaningful—the teachers who have impacted you.

Whether it’s a colleague who lifted you up, a mentor who shaped you, or a teacher from your past who still inspires you today, we’re taking time to honor them. I’ll share a few personal stories and introduce you to some fun ways to spread that appreciation in simple, creative and heartfelt ways.

💛 This isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about real connection. You’ll leave this episode with something you can do right away to make a fellow teacher feel seen, valued, and appreciated.

PLUS - I'm giving you a free gift... 🙂

~Elizabeth

Resources Mentioned:

Become an Inspired Classroom Insider: theinspiredclassroom.com/insider (and get the free gift!)

Add your own tribute to a teacher you have had: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/2010/05/teachers-we-have-had/

✨ Let’s keep the INSPIRATION going:

👉Join my Inspiring Teachers Facebook Community: theinspiredclassroom.com/community

👉 Join my free class, so that I can help you foster a classroom of Calm, Connection & Creativity! theinspiredclassroom.com/class

👉 Learn more about SEAL, the only method that empowers caring teachers to calm classroom behavior issues and ease teacher burnout by embedding creative and artistic social-emotional strategies into their current content without requiring them to implement an entire program that takes up precious class time.

Go to teachSEAL.com

👉Website: theinspiredclassroom.com

✨ Connect with me!

Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson

Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom

Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

What if the secret to a calmer, more connected classroom started in the first five minutes of your day? In this episode, I share simple, teacher-tested ways to set the tone for a day that flows—with less chaos and more connection.

If mornings in your classroom feel rushed, noisy, or just plain off, this one’s for you. These aren't major overhauls—just small, intentional shifts that can lead to big changes.

~Elizabeth

Episodes & Resources Mentioned:

49 | Teacher Student Relationships: A Simple Way to Build Them, Even with Little Time

50 | Want to Use Music in the Classroom? 6 Easy Steps to Making it a Success!

Get your own set of "doodle" soft starts! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Soft-Starts-Transition-Activities-for-Social-Emotional-Learning-SEL-9097051

✨ Let’s keep the INSPIRATION going:

👉 Join my free class, so that I can help you foster a classroom of Calm, Connection & Creativity! theinspiredclassroom.com/class

👉 Learn more about SEAL, the only method that empowers caring teachers to calm classroom behavior issues and ease teacher burnout by embedding creative and artistic social-emotional strategies into their current content without requiring them to implement an entire program that takes up precious class time.

Go to teachSEAL.com

👉Join my Inspiring Teachers Facebook Community: theinspiredclassroom.com/community

👉Website: theinspiredclassroom.com

✨ Connect with me!

Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson

Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom

Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom

In this episode, I’m sharing a few of my favorite paperless swaps you can use in your lessons to celebrate Earth Day in a meaningful, creative way—without printing a single worksheet.

You’ll hear ideas that work for math, ELA and science—all hands-on, tech-free, and totally doable. These are the kinds of ideas that make teaching feel fun again, while still hitting your standards and supporting your students’ SEL growth.

If you’ve been craving something fresh that doesn’t require extra planning (or a trip to the copy room), this one’s for you.

Pick just one of the ideas I shared and give it a try. You’ve got this—and I’d love to hear how it goes!

~Elizabeth

Resources Mentioned:

https://theinspiredclassroom.com/2010/04/go-paperless-write-on-your-desk/

✨ Let’s keep the INSPIRATION going:

👉 Join my free class, so that I can help you foster a classroom of Calm, Connection & Creativity! theinspiredclassroom.com/class

👉 Learn more about SEAL, the only method that empowers caring teachers to calm classroom behavior issues and ease teacher burnout by embedding creative and artistic social-emotional strategies into their current content without requiring them to implement an entire program that takes up precious class time.

Go to teachSEAL.com

👉Join my Inspiring Teachers Facebook Community: theinspiredclassroom.com/community

👉Website: theinspiredclassroom.com

✨ Connect with me (and share what ideas you try!)

Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson

Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom

Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom

Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom