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.