Not So Wimpy Teacher Podcast
98 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 204 ratingsThis 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.
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Episodes
Valentine’s Day Activities for the Classroom
January 20, 2020 17:13 - 16 minutes - 23.2 MBWhat kinds of Valentine’s Day activities will you be doing in the classroom this year? I am always looking for new and creative ideas that will interest my students. In this episode, I share some fun activities that your students will love! Valentine’s Day Vocabulary Grab My FREE Valentine’s Day Vocabulary Unit 2. Valentine’s Day Paper Bag Book 3. Valentine’s Day STEM activities. You can learn more about these ideas from Little Bins Little Hands by clicking HERE. 4. Valentine...
3 Ways to Save Time Lesson Planning
January 20, 2020 17:06 - 20 minutes - 29.5 MBHow much time do you spend lesson planning every week? What if you could cut that time in half? Lesson planning is a necessary evil of teaching. Some schools require super specific plans. If we are not careful this process can be a huge time sucker. In this episode I am going to share three tips that made lesson planning quicker and more effective for me. Batching Using Year Long Bundles Collaboration Want to learn more about batching? Check out episode 33!
Super Bowl Classroom Party
January 13, 2020 09:00 - 16 minutes - 23.3 MBI tricked my students into half of a day of review worksheets! They had so much fun, that they didn’t realize how much work they doing. The secret? A Super Bowl party! In this episode I share the activities my students did at our Super Bowl party and the one thing that made my students excited to review! I will also share the fun foods that we enjoyed! Check out my Super Bowl close read passages. They are perfect for your Super Bowl party! Football Close Read Passages: https://www.t...
Teaching Grammar in 10 Minutes Per Day
January 06, 2020 09:00 - 47 minutes - 66.1 MBHow do you teach grammar? Most teachers in my Facebook groups are complaining that grammar takes way too long to teach and their students aren’t remembering the skills that are being taught. We have fourth graders who are still struggling with identifying nouns. That’s tough when they have so many more complex language standards to master! It is true that grammar is a challenge to teach, but it is also true that you can make it easier! In this episode, I am sharing three of my most imp...
Reviewing Classroom Procedures After Winter Break
December 31, 2019 19:33 - 15 minutes - 21.5 MBAre you planning to spend time reviewing classroom procedures during your first week back after break? In a perfect world, we can jump right back into routines in January and pick up right where we left off before winter break. Right?! If your mentality is to jump right back in, you may find yourself pulling out your hair because no one seems to remember your classroom procedures. Some of your students can jump right back in and remember your expectations. However, don’t assume that all ...
Dear Tired Teacher
December 09, 2019 10:00 - 5 minutes - 8.75 MBDecember is a tough month in the classroom. I know that you are busy squeezing in those standards, tests, and conferences. But you are also doing spirit weeks, making gifts for parents, shopping for gifts for students and even making crafts with glitter. It’s nuts! It’s no wonder you are tired and feeling inadequate. Today’s episode is super short and super important. You need to hear this one, my teacher friend! Happy holiday!
Differentiating Vocabulary Instruction
December 03, 2019 18:41 - 20 minutes - 28.2 MBAre you using the Not So Wimpy teacher vocabulary units and daily routine? Monday: Definitions & Sentences Tuesday: Synonyms & Antonyms Wednesday: Prefixes & Suffixes Thursday: Draw Pictures Friday: Games and Assessment In this episode, I quickly review this routine, but if you want to read more details, click HERE. This routine helps the majority of the students in our classroom to be successful learning new tier 2 words, but we always have a few that continue to struggle. We n...
When You Have Students Who Don’t Celebrate the Holidays
November 25, 2019 23:18 - 15 minutes - 21.7 MBDo you have students in your classroom family that do not celebrate the holidays? Initially it can feel so challenging to plan your December classroom activities. You might not be able to put the Christmas tree up or read certain books. I know that can be a bummer when you have classroom traditions that you look forward to every year. However, having a student that doesn't celebrate the holidays can be a huge opportunity. It's an opportunity for you and your students to learn more about d...
Improve Teacher and Staff Moral at Your School
November 19, 2019 21:21 - 23 minutes - 32.5 MBWhat is teacher and staff morale like at your school? Is there a lot of positivity and teachers are happy to come to school? Or, is there a lot of negativity and frustration. Do teachers feel supported or do they feel like no one appreciates them? Sadly many teachers feel like morale is low at their school. There are so many things that we wish admin would do at our school to show that they trust us and appreciate us. But today, we are changing the conversation. Instead of talking about ...
Unique Thanksgiving Activities for the Classroom
November 04, 2019 09:00 - 17 minutes - 24.9 MBHalloween is over and now it is time to start planning Thanksgiving activities for the classroom! Sometimes making these plans can seem redundant or less than lively, because it’s the same thing year after year. We talk about the Thanksgiving story, the Mayflower, and the feast. We have students write about what they are thankful for and make turkeys by painting their hands. It’s the same year after year. Well if you are tired of doing the same Thanksgiving lessons over and over each yea...
Why I Took Grammar Out of Writing Workshop
October 28, 2019 19:19 - 14 minutes - 21.1 MBDo you teach grammar during your writing workshop time? If I were to ask you what you are teaching in writing this week, would it be a list of grammar skills such as capitalization, punctuation, and parts of speech? Grammar and writing go hand in hand, right? And that is why you are wondering why I decided to stop teaching grammar during my writing workshop time. I can honestly say that having a dedicated grammar lesson and a dedicated writing lesson helped my students to improve in bo...
Managing the Stress and Overwhelm of Teacher Life
October 21, 2019 22:46 - 32 minutes - 45.5 MBTeaching is tough work. You just can’t argue with that. It’s easy to get stressed out, overwhelmed and burn out. My guest, Dawn Pensack, was a middle school math teacher. She actually got so stressed out as a teacher that she physically got sick. Dawn learned from her experience and she now focuses on helping adults to manage their stress, improve their overall emotional wellness, and find more happiness in their lives. Dawn shared five simple ways that busy teachers can manage their str...
Communicating with Challenging Parents
October 14, 2019 16:04 - 32 minutes - 45.5 MBIf you have been teaching for long, you have probably had an uncomfortable incident with a parent or two. It’s almost inevitable. Even the greatest teachers out there will have an angry parent from time to time. You certainly are not alone. There are a few things that we can do to help to make it easier to handle these tough situations with parents. In this episode, I share tips about the following: changing your mindset setting boundaries emailing parents calling parents choosi...
Tips for Spiral Review
September 23, 2019 16:02 - 32 minutes - 45.4 MBI am just going to come right out and say it... I HATE worksheets. I don't just dislike them. I literally hate them. I didn't always have a choice. I was required to use certain worksheets. And in the past, I would give more worksheets than I should have. I used to print a spiral review worksheet for my kids to work on as morning work every day. But I have learned and grown as an educator. I am going to challenge you to ditch those spiral review worksheets. Why ditch the spiral rev...
Tips for Teaching Students to Round
September 16, 2019 23:48 - 17 minutes - 24.5 MBDo you start the year with a math unit about place value and rounding? Rounding seems like it would be a simple skill to teach, but those of you who have done it before know that it is anything but simple! In this episode, I am excited to share several strategies and tips that will make your rounding lessons more effective. 1. Ditch the Rhymes 2. Start with Place Value 3. Number Lines 4. Circle and Underline 5. Hundred Chart 6. Real Life Stories Would you like some FREE rounding...
Save Time Lesson Planning With Batching
September 10, 2019 03:08 - 20 minutes - 29.1 MBThere is no time! There is never any time! Do you ever feel this way when you are looking at you long to do list? You're not alone! Years ago I learned the skill of batching and it completely changed the way that I work on tasks. Batching is when you work on one specific task for a long chunk of time until it is complete rather than doing a little of everything with your time. Batching your lesson plans has many benefits. 1. Reduces your start up time. 2. Simplifies your daily to...
Teaching Paragraph Writing
August 12, 2019 23:25 - 12 minutes - 17.9 MBDo you start the year with a unit on how to write a paragraph? It's pretty standard. But I don't do it. I am kind of a rule breaker! Let me tell you the two reasons that I don't start the year with paragraph writing and what I do instead. Want more info about teaching writing? How about joining my online writing professional development course, Not So Wimpy Writing Masterclass? Get more info: www.notsowimpymasterclass.com Questions? Email me at [email protected]
Practicing Classroom Procedures
July 29, 2019 23:46 - 22 minutes - 31 MBCan you believe that we are already getting ready for back to school?! The beginning of the school year is tough. We have so many procedures to teach and that can get boring. I have some fun ways to practice routines and expectations that your kiddos will love! 1. Model What NOT to Do 2. Students Do the Teaching 3. Procedure Board Games 4. Find Someone who Free Printable Resources: https://www.notsowimpyteacher.com/2017/07/fun-ways-to-practice-classroom.html (At the end of the po...
Tips for Setting Up Your Classroom Library
July 22, 2019 22:56 - 21 minutes - 29.7 MBHaving a classroom library is a MUST, but it takes time to collect the right books and get them organized. In this episode I share: -my favorite places to buy inexpensive books -my favorite book series -tips for organizing your books -back to school books Grab FREE book basket labels and check out a list of my favorite books: https://www.notsowimpyteacher.com/2019/07/tips-for-setting-up-your-classroom.html
10 Tips for New Teachers
July 15, 2019 22:01 - 36 minutes - 50.1 MBAre you a brand new teacher? Or are you a newish teacher who still feels brand new? I have some tips to help you to have a fantastic first year! More Info: What to do when you get hired: https://www.notsowimpyteacher.com/2019/07/i-just-got-teaching-job-now-what.html What to buy for your classroom: https://www.notsowimpyteacher.com/2019/07/i-just-got-teaching-job-now-what-should.html Teacher Facebook Groups: https://www.facebook.com/pg/NotSoWimpyTeacher/groups/?ref=page_internal
Favorite Teacher Planner
July 08, 2019 08:00 - 10 minutes - 15.2 MBI am a planner addict and a bit of a planner snob. I admit it! In this episode, I share the pros and cons of four different teacher planners that I have used and which one is my absolute favorite! 1. Happy Planner 2. Planners from Teachers Pay Teachers 3. Erin Condren: https://www.erincondren.com 4. Plum Paper: https://www.plumpaper.com
5 of my Favorite Teacher Professional Development Books
July 01, 2019 19:28 - 27 minutes - 38.3 MBSummer is the perfect time to enjoy a good book! And, call me crazy, but I love reading teacher professional development books. They help me to feel excited and refreshed. In this episode, I am sharing about five of my very favorite teacher books and why I enjoyed each one of them. The Essential 55 By Ron Clark https://amzn.to/2Xd30Lb The Wild Card by Hope and Wade King https://amzn.to/2FKtOfP Learn Like a Pirate by Paul Solarz https://amzn.to/2Xd6dud The ...
What is Not So Wimpy Writing Masterclass
June 17, 2019 16:00 - 12 minutes - 17.6 MBHave you heard about the Not So Wimpy Writing Masterclass? In this podcast, I am giving you all of the important info about the course including the modules, price and bonuses. But act fast because Not So Wimpy Writing Masterclass is only available for a limited time! Enjoy! Get Registered: www.notsowimpymasterclass.com
How to Teach Writing Without Hating It
June 10, 2019 08:00 - 47 minutes - 66 MBDoes teaching writing feel overwhelming? Do you feel like you don't know how to teach writing or even how to fit it into your day? Do you flat out hate teaching writing? You aren't alone! Teaching writing is super challenging and can leave you feeling stressed. But, it doesn't have to be that way! I am going to break through five of the myths that make teachers think that they hate teaching writing. You are going to go from feeling overwhelmed and inadequate to feeling pumped up to g...
3 Things You Can Do Now to Improve Your Writing Instruction Next Year
June 03, 2019 08:00 - 21 minutes - 29.8 MBAre you reflecting on what went well this year and where you want to grow as an educator? So many teachers are wanting to be more effective writing teachers next year. It's such a tough subject to teach, but we are committed to improving! I have three simple steps that you can take NOW (while relaxing by the pool or vegging in your pajamas) that will help you to make positive changes in your writing instruction next year. Free Training: www.notsowimpytraining.com
Teaching Writing in Units of Study
May 27, 2019 08:00 - 24 minutes - 34.3 MBTeaching writing in units is so valuable for our students! Instead of jumping between different genres or writing all year, consider dedicating a longer unit to each type of writing. In this episode, I will share some thoughts about units of study, the units you should teach and the order that I liked to teach my units. Resources Mentioned Free What to Teach Writing Guide bit.ly/NotSoWimpyGuide Writing Units for Grades 2-5 bit.ly/NotSoWimpyWrite
Why You NEED a Writing Workshop
May 20, 2019 08:00 - 27 minutes - 38.4 MBHow do you currently teach writing? Do you give prompts and projects? Do you have a center? Do you just do a little writing in social studies? If that's the case, I want you to hear all of the reasons that you really NEED to add a writing workshop to your routine. (Spoiler Alert: Your students will be far better writers!) Make sure that you listen until the end because I have a BIG announcement! Woot! Free Guide: Bit.ly/NotSoWimpyGuide Writing Units: bit.ly/NotSoWimpyWrite Not So...
Simple Tips for Grading Student Writing
May 13, 2019 08:00 - 15 minutes - 22.1 MBGrading student writing samples can be so time consuming! It was always my least favorite thing to grade. I am sharing four strategies that made grading writing a little more manageable. Plus, I am giving you a FREE copy of my writing rubrics. FREE Writing Rubrics: https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/457803?v=7
Why in the world do you need math centers?
May 10, 2019 08:00 - 15 minutes - 22.7 MBMath centers have always been my jam. I can't think of a better way to teach and practice math skills in a diverse classroom. No matter what curriculum you use, math centers and small guided groups will make differentiation so much easier! In this episode, I share five of my favorite reasons for having math center time in your classroom. Math Center Video Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQFF0pyvywj7B-zUQzKv86ITBfCHTLwyW Math Practice Sites: https://xtramath.org https://...
Simple Ways to Review Grammar Skills
May 09, 2019 08:00 - 14 minutes - 21 MBDo your students need to review all of those language and grammar skills? Are you looking for free, low-prep and engaging ways to give them that review? I have several fun ideas for you! Grammar Units: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Weekly-Grammar-and-Language-Activities-Year-Long-BUNDLE-3639360 Price of Admission: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-1bTt76B52oY25VRDZEaWlHRkk/view Free Posters: https://www.notsowimpyteacher.com/2018/06/free-grammar-posters.html
6 Things I Screwed Up When Teaching Writing
May 08, 2019 08:00 - 33 minutes - 46.9 MBI was the worst writing teacher. It's embarrassing, but I am all about being real. In this episode, I am sharing six of the big mistakes I made in my early years of teaching writing and the changes that I eventually made. If you are struggling with teaching writing, you are NOT alone! There is light at the end of the tunnel. Free Guide: bit.ly/2JdnYaV Facebook Groups: https://www.facebook.com/pg/NotSoWimpyTeacher/groups
3 Tips for Getting the Most Out of a TpT Sale
May 07, 2019 08:00 - 6 minutes - 9.81 MBHappy teacher appreciation day! We are celebrating with a huge sale. On the podcast, I am sharing three tips for getting the most for your dollar during a TPT sale. Enjoy! Promo code: GIFT4YOU Store: bit.ly/NotSoWimpyTeacher
End of Year Tips from 18 Teachers
May 03, 2019 08:00 - 21 minutes - 30.6 MBCheck out these tips for behavior management and activities for the end of the year from 18 different experienced teachers!
5 Things You Need to Do Before Summer Break
May 02, 2019 12:26 - 13 minutes - 18.8 MBI know that it is the end of the school year and you are super tired. However, if you do these five things now, you are going to be able to enjoy your summer break more!
13 End of Year Student Gift Ideas
May 01, 2019 08:00 - 21 minutes - 30.6 MBTeachers in my Facebook groups are starting to ask for end of year student gift ideas. I want you to know that giving a gift to your students is NOT mandatory. Choosing not to give a gift does not mean that you don't love your students! But, if you do want to give a gift, make it meaningful. I have five simple and inexpensive gift ideas for you! Student Awards: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/End-of-Year-Awards-EDITABLE-80-Color-and-BW-1147705
12 End of Year Classroom Theme Days
April 30, 2019 08:00 - 27 minutes - 38.5 MBThe end of the school year can be so busy and stressful. We have so many things on our to do list, but the most important thing should be having fun with our students and making memories that they will cherish! Theme days are the perfect way to have fun and still squeeze in some academic lessons. I have twelve different theme day ideas and suggestions for activities! More information: https://www.notsowimpyteacher.com/2017/04/end-of-year-class-theme-days.html
11 Keeping Students Engaged at the End of the Year
April 29, 2019 08:00 - 22 minutes - 31.9 MBIt's the end of the school year! The end of the year can be super fun, but it can also be incredibly challenging! How will you keep your students engaged at the end of the year? I have ten tips and activities to share with you that are sure to keep the kiddos learning and having a blast. The great news is that none of these activities will require much teacher prep. Need more information about any of the activities that I mentioned? Click on this link to grab all of the details. https...
10 Helping Your Dyslexic Students
April 22, 2019 13:38 - 38 minutes - 53.5 MBDid you know that 1 out of every 5 students has dyslexia? Dyslexic students struggle with basic reading skills, writing, spelling and language. How can you identify a dyslexic student? How can you help your dyslexic students? In this episode, I had the I had the pleasure of interviewing Kelly Hoover. Kelly spent 20 years in the classroom (grades 1, 2 and 3) and now she is a reading therapist. Kelly is passionate about helping dyslexic students and has all kinds of practical advice for any ...
09 Preparing for a Substitute
April 15, 2019 08:00 - 21 minutes - 30.3 MBPreparing for a substitute teacher can be more work than just going to school sick. I have four tips that made my sub prep so much easier and improved my class behavior for the sub.
08 Why I Ditched the Writing Prompts
April 08, 2019 08:00 - 19 minutes - 27 MBI stopped using writing prompts and projects in my classroom. When I stopped telling my students WHAT to write about, amazing things happened in the classroom. Listen for the three reasons I ditched the prompts and answers to common questions including how to prep students for standardized writing tests.
07 Word Problem Solving (FREE POSTERS)
April 01, 2019 08:00 - 18 minutes - 25.5 MBWord problems! Yuck! They can be such a struggle. I'm excited to share my four step word problem solving process with you. Also, be sure to grab the FREE posters to go along with it at www.notsowimpyteacherpodcast.com
06 Seven Ways to Save Money on Teachers Pay Teachers
March 25, 2019 08:00 - 12 minutes - 18.1 MBI love that Teachers Pay Teachers has thousands of resources that save me some valuable time and keep my students engaged and learning. But we aren't raking in the cash, folks. Let me give you some ideas that can save you money on TpT!
05 What to Teach During Writing (FREE GUIDE!)
March 18, 2019 08:00 - 5 minutes - 7.77 MBDo you struggle with what to teach during writing workshop? Do you read student writing and not know how to help them? I've got the perfect FREE resource for you! Grab the guide: https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/454538?v=7
04 How do you find time to teach writing?
March 11, 2019 08:00 - 23 minutes - 32.5 MBDo you wish that you had more time to teach writing? I have some ideas! I hope I can help you to make time for a successful writing workshop.
003 Differentiating Grammar
March 05, 2019 21:20 - 11 minutes - 16.4 MBDo you have any students who struggle with grammar? I have some tips for you! My grammar units: Bit.ly/NotSoWimpyGrammar
002 How to Teach Students to Write About Math
March 05, 2019 18:45 - 23 minutes - 32.4 MBWriting about math helps to deepen your students' math understanding. It also helps them to just get better at word problems in general. But how do you teach students to write more than a word or two? I have a five step process for you! https://www.notsowimpyteacher.com/p/not-so-wimpy-teacher-podcast.html
001 Why bother with test prep?
February 26, 2019 18:17 - 13 minutes - 18.9 MBIs test prep necessary? Do great teachers still need to do test prep with their students? The answer is simple: YES! Let me share some of my thoughts about standardized testing, three reasons why test prep is valuable and a fun test prep activity.
000 Welcome
February 26, 2019 18:09 - 4 minutes - 6.71 MBWelcome to the Not So Wimpy Teacher Podcast.