Hey teacher friend, it’s that time of year when the real holiday stress hits. Not from your students. Not from admin. But from parents (and let’s be honest… ourselves, too).

Between “Will there be a Christmas concert?” emails and “Can you send one more update?” requests, it’s easy to feel like you’re being pulled in a dozen directions.
In this episode, we’re diving into how to handle parent pressure and classroom expectations with grace, clarity, and healthy boundaries.. so you can actually enjoy the season.

• Why parent pressure usually comes from love and worry, not criticism

• How proactive communication keeps things calm and predictable

• Ways to balance festive fun with realistic classroom goals

• Kind but firm responses for “Can you also…?” requests

• Why your calm, consistent energy matters more than perfection

• Send short weekly updates instead of constant replies

• Share student wins before parents ask for progress

• Clearly outline what events will and won’t happen

• Reframe requests: “That’s a great idea, I’ll note it for next term!”

• Keep your classroom “manageable,” not Pinterest-perfect

You don’t owe anyone “extra.”
You owe your students your calm, your care, and your energy, and that’s already more than enough.
Give yourself grace this season, teacher friend. The magic comes from connection, not chaos.

Hey teacher friend, feeling buried under glitter and wrapping paper right now? 🎄
If planning “fun” holiday activities feels more stressful than magical, this episode is for you.

Today, we’re talking about Inclusive Holiday Fun - simple, low-prep activities that actually work for every learner. No chaos, no pressure, no six-hour crafts. Just calm, accessible joy your whole class can enjoy (including you!).

• What makes an activity truly inclusive for neurodivergent learners

• How to balance festive fun with structure and predictability

• Easy classroom ideas that keep engagement high and stress low

• Tips for sensory-friendly crafts, movement, and literacy

• Why connection and calm matter more than perfection

• Predictable crafts: sticker trees, snowman matching, reindeer name crafts

• Errorless learning: sorting, matching, and fine motor holiday tasks

• Sensory play: snow dough, reindeer food bins, Christmas sorting tubs

• Calm movement: snowflake stretching, reindeer run, freeze like a snowman

• Inclusive themes: focus on winter, kindness, or penguins, not just Christmas

Inclusive fun isn’t about doing more... it’s about doing what matters most.
When your students feel safe, capable, and included, that’s the real holiday magic. ✨

Hey teacher friend, picture the scene.. it’s January, the laminator’s jammed, and your students suddenly seem to have forgotten everything.
Coats that used to be zipped? Now open.
Requests that used to be independent? Gone.
Routines that finally flowed? Out the window.

Before you panic, take a breath.
In this episode, we’re talking about why this happens, why it’s completely normal, and what you can do to help your students bounce back - calmly and confidently.

• Why “skill loss” is really just skill dormancy (not failure!)

• How to run a simple “Reset Week” to rebuild structure and confidence

• Which skills truly need reteaching, and which just need reminders

• How to help students re-regulate before diving back into academics

• Gentle ways to reassure parents and set realistic expectations

• Revisit visuals, routines, and familiar activities first

• Focus on regulation before expectation

• Start each day with success, even small wins

• Use short, visual instructions and predictable transitions

• Communicate calmly with families: “It’s not lost, it’s just resting.”

Regression isn’t failure, it’s feedback.
Your students aren’t starting over; they’re remembering how to feel safe and capable again.
Give it a week or two, and you’ll see their skills, and confidence, shine right back through.

Hey teacher friend, the holidays are here! 🎄
The tree’s up, the glitter’s flying, and your classroom smells like glue sticks and cocoa. But between concerts, dress-up days, and schedule changes, things can start to feel a little chaotic.

In this episode, we’re talking about how to bring calm back into your classroom with errorless learning and low-pressure activities, because your students (and you!) deserve success and peace during these busy weeks.

• What errorless learning really means, and why it’s perfect for December

• How it helps neurodivergent students feel safe, confident, and successful

• Practical, low-prep activity ideas that still meet IEP goals

• How maintenance work supports long-term learning

• Why simplifying isn’t “slacking” ... it’s smart, sustainable teaching

• Sorting and matching tasks: ornaments, colors, winter clothes

• Velcro task boxes or file folders: structured and calming

• Simple crafts: stickers, pre-cut pieces, guaranteed success

• Movement breaks: “reindeer yoga” or “snowflake stretches”

• Maintenance tasks: revisit familiar routines and visuals

Low-pressure doesn’t mean low-value.
The goal right now isn’t perfection, it’s preservation of calm, confidence, and energy.
Errorless learning gives your students success and gives you permission to breathe.

Find my favorite errorless learning activities here;

• Errorless Learning Task Boxes
• Errorless Learning Boom Cards
• 0-10 Errorless Learning Adapted Books
• Errorless Learning File Folder Activities

You can find all of my errorless learning activities and resources here.

Hey teacher friend, it’s that time of year when the real holiday stress hits. Not from the students. Not even from admin.
From parents… and from ourselves.

Between “Will there be a Christmas concert?” emails and “Can you send one more progress update?” requests, it can feel impossible to keep up.
In this episode, we’re talking about how to handle parent pressure and classroom expectations before the holidays, with grace, clear boundaries, and a bit of humor.

• Why parent pressure often comes from love (and worry, not criticism)

• How to use proactive communication to reduce stress for everyone

• Ways to balance festive fun with realistic IEP and classroom goals

• Simple boundary phrases that protect your time and energy

• Why your calm, predictable classroom matters more than perfection

• Send short, consistent updates to prevent last-minute questions

• Share wins before parents ask for progress

• Set clear expectations for special events (“No costumes needed”)

• Reframe “Can you also…?” requests with kindness and boundaries

• Remember: purpose beats perfection, simple activities count too

You don’t owe anyone “extra.”
You owe your students your calm, your care, and your energy, and that’s already more than enough.
So give yourself grace, set those boundaries, and remember: your classroom’s magic comes from belonging, not glitter.

Hey teacher friend, let’s get real for a minute.
The holidays are coming, your classroom smells like candy canes and chaos, and somewhere between the glitter and the Christmas concerts… the teacher guilt starts creeping in.

That little voice that says:

“I should be doing more.”
“I feel bad saying no.”
“Maybe I can squeeze in just one more thing.”

In this episode, we’re talking about teacher guilt and boundaries before the holidays.. why guilt shows up, what it’s really trying to tell you, and how to protect your time and energy without feeling bad about it.

• Why guilt hits hardest right before school breaks

• The cost of always saying “yes” (and what it’s taking from you)

• Practical ways to set time, energy, and emotional boundaries

• How saying “no” actually helps your students too

• A mindset shift to replace guilt with grounded self-care

When guilt says “You should be doing more,” reframe it as:

“I’m saying yes to something that matters more right now.”
Whether that’s rest, family time, or simply leaving work on time — it all counts.

You don’t have to make the holidays magical... you just have to make them manageable.
Your students don’t need a perfect teacher; they need a present one.
Rest is productive. Boundaries are brave. You deserve both.

Hey teacher friend, it’s that time of year again! The classroom is buzzing with pre-holiday excitement, glitter is everywhere, and students seem to have collectively decided that rules are optional.

When chaos hits, it’s easy to reach for more consequences... more visuals, more reminders, more “If you don’t do this, you’ll lose that.”
But here’s the truth: our neurodivergent students don’t need more consequences… they need more consistency.

In this episode, I’m sharing why consistency builds safety, why consequences often backfire, and how small predictable routines can make your classroom calmer, happier, and more connected this season.

• Why predictability = safety for neurodivergent students

• The difference between regulating through consistency vs. reacting with consequences

• Simple ways to keep routines steady during chaotic holiday weeks

• How calm, predictable responses build trust and reduce anxiety

• Keep morning and goodbye routines the same, even when the schedule changes

• Show visual reminders for special events or surprises

• Stay calm and steady... your tone is their safety cue

• Replace “Stop or you’ll lose recess” with “I can see this is hard. Let’s take a break.”

Your students don’t need a perfect teacher... they need a predictable one.

Hey teacher friend, it’s Halloween season! 🎃
The lights are flashing, the sugar rush is real, and your classroom suddenly looks like a superhero convention. But amidst all the fun, you might start to notice some big reactions... crying, covering ears, running off, or meltdowns that seem to appear out of nowhere.

So today, we’re diving into how to tell the difference between a sensory overload and a tantrum, because while they might look similar, they come from completely different places.

• What sensory overload actually is (and why it’s not attention-seeking)

• The key differences between overloads and tantrums

• Why Halloween can be a sensory storm for neurodivergent students

• Simple classroom tweaks to reduce overwhelm and build calm

• How empathy (not discipline) changes everything

• Tone down the chaos: Swap flashing lights for soft ones and keep noise levels gentle.

• Offer sensory breaks: A calm corner or quick movement break can save the day.

• Prep for change: Use visuals or mini social stories for costumes and parties.

• Give choices: Participation looks different for every student, and that’s okay.

• Lead with empathy: Replace “He’s being dramatic” with “He’s overwhelmed right now.”

Before your Halloween celebrations, pause and ask:

“What might feel overwhelming in my classroom?”
A few small adjustments can turn potential meltdowns into moments of magic.

Our students aren’t overreacting, they’re overwhelmed.