The first time I held a scripted teacher's manual, it felt wrong in every way. (My team and I really did stand in front of our students and read from it.)

In this episode, I'm talking about a different cause of teacher burnout: What happens when scripted curriculum, pacing guides, and endless mandates leave no room for your own creativity.

If you've been wondering where the creative teacher you used to be went, this one is for you.

I'll share why that creative spark isn't a bonus but the very thing that refuels you, and what it can cost when it stays buried. You'll hear stories from teachers who found their passion again, and I'll walk you through a simple four-step plan you can start this week.

I'll also tell you about the overnight Teacher Art Retreat I'm hosting this January in Essex, Massachusetts — a night away to make things with your hands, be the learner for once, and head back to your classroom renewed.

Check out what the Overnight Teacher Art Retreat is by going here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/retreat

~Elizabeth

Mentioned in This Episode:

Grab the free RESET Roadmap that takes you through all 5 steps of the framework that leads to improved student behavior and more teacher joy!!

https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap

Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast

✨ https://theinspiredclassroom.com/the-classroom-reset-sp1 – The online course that helps you improve student behaviors, increase engagement and support students' SEL, so that you can enjoy teaching again.

Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset

Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider

💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on.

It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone.

👉 https://theinspiredclassroom.com/community

✨ Connect with me!

Find me on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizapeterson/

Follow & DM me onhttps://www.facebook.com/theinspiredclassroom

Follow & DM me onhttps://www.instagram.com/theinspiredclassroom/https://www.facebook.com/theinspiredclassroom

Watch & Subscribe onhttps://www.youtube.com/theinspiredclassroomhttps://www.facebook.com/theinspiredclassroom

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 also talk about why building these relationships is especially important for elementary teachers, how technology has changed the way educators think about student relationships, and why healthy boundaries actually help build trust rather than getting in the way of it.

• What “one trusted adult” really means

• Why students need a bench of trusted adults—not just one person

• Brooklyn’s ABC framework: Accessible, Boundaried, and Caring

• How ALL teachers can build meaningful relationships while maintaining healthy boundaries

• Why elementary teachers play such an important role in laying the foundation for student trust

• How technology has changed the way students and educators think about relationships

• Why students may need trusted adults now more than ever

If you’ve ever wondered how to build stronger relationships with your students while still maintaining appropriate boundaries, I think you’ll get a lot from this conversation.

~Elizabeth

Mentioned in This Episode:

Learn more about Brooklyn and her work: https://www.onetrustedadult.com/

One Trusted Adult: Building Relationships That Inspire Achievement and Success by Brooklyn Raney

Grab the free RESET Roadmap that takes you through all 5 steps of the framework that leads to improved student behavior and more teacher joy!!

https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap

Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast

✨ The Classroom Reset – The online course that helps you improve student behaviors, increase engagement and support students' SEL, so that you can enjoy teaching again.

Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset

Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider

💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on.

It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone.

👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community

✨ 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

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 in my own classroom), but there are ways to turn it around!

When you give yourself the opportunity to pause and RESET, great things can happen both for your kids and for you.

I can't wait to share more with you in today's episode.

~Elizabeth

Mentioned in This Episode:

Grab the free RESET Roadmap that takes you through all 5 steps of the framework that leads to improved student behavior and more teacher joy!!

https://theinspiredclassroom.com/roadmap

Are you ready for some Teacher-Centered PD?? Come check out what's in store for you at the Overnight Teacher Art Retreat! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/retreat

✨ The Classroom Reset – The online course that helps you improve student behaviors, increase engagement and support students' SEL, so that you can enjoy teaching again.

Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset

Have a question you want me to answer on the podcast? Record it here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/podcast

Become an Inspired Classroom Insider by joining our email list. You'll get real solutions to calm classroom behaviors delivered to your inbox each week! https://theinspiredclassroom.com/insider

💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on.

It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone.

👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community

✨ 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