Send us a text

Is your classroom filled with anxious, distracted students who can't handle minor setbacks? Research shows technology is rewiring their brains, and not in a good way.

In this essential episode, discover the stark difference between phone-free and phone-accessible schools, learn how the "attention economy" deliberately creates addiction, and get practical strategies for every grade level to build resilience and focus without fighting constant battles over devices.

Key Insights:

• Why the "attention economy" is deliberately engineered to hook young minds
• Four neurological impacts: social deprivation, sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, and addiction
• Grade-specific strategies that work even without school-wide phone bans
• Evidence-based activities that build resilience through appropriate risk-taking

Whether you're witnessing technology's toll firsthand or concerned about rising student anxiety, these actionable approaches will help you create an environment where students can develop the social skills and emotional regulation they desperately need.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand course, Balance Your Teacher Life. You can go the self-study route or join a cohort with group coaching for Summer 2025.

Check out all the details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

Are you dragging yourself to school when sick because writing sub plans feels overwhelming? Discover how to set yourself (and your substitute teacher) up for success with these practical strategies from a former teacher-turned substitute!

Episode Highlights:

• The Self-Care Connection: Why creating effective sub plans is essential for your wellbeing
• Substitute Teaching Insights: Lessons learned from 5 months of subbing in various schools and grade levels
• 7 Key Strategies to ensure your classroom runs smoothly in your absence

The Self-Care Connection

Taking time off when needed is essential for teacher wellbeing, but many educators avoid absences because preparing for a substitute feels more stressful than working while ill. This episode reframes substitute preparation as a crucial self-care practice.

A Substitute's Perspective

After 20+ years of classroom teaching, Grace gained valuable insights from substitute teaching across:

• Grade levels from TK through 11th grade
• 11-12 different schools
• Various school cultures and resource levels

7 Strategies for Substitute Success

1. Create a template with your master schedule, important routines, and student information
2. Plan review activities rather than new content
3. Provide clear tech instructions or designate student tech helpers
4. Establish a buddy teacher system who can check in and support with challenging students
5. Set up incentives or consequences for student behavior during your absence
6. Have emergency activities available for unexpected situations
7. Document policies in writing regarding phones, computers, seating, and other classroom procedures

Final Thoughts

Remember: You are a human first and a teacher second. You deserve to take time off when needed without stressing about classroom chaos. With proper preparation, both you and your substitute can succeed!

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand course, Balance Your Teacher Life. You can go the self-study route or join a cohort with group coaching for Summer 2025.

Check out all the details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

For free and paid resources to help students of all ages deal with test anxiety visit:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Grace-Stevens-Happy-classrooms

Feeling overwhelmed by school testing season? Dread seeing students suffer from crippling test anxiety? This podcast episode for educators of all grades is for you!

🌟 Learn the one skill you should be teaching all year to ensure test-taking success!

💡 Discover how to create a calm, supportive testing environment in your room.

🎯 Shift the focus to what students can control and where you can find the "done for you" lesson plans to support you.

📣 Understand how to effectively communicate with parents to set students up for success without excessive pressure.

🥳 Learn the best strategies to boost student confidence and eliminate surprise testing stressors.

🎙️ You will find all this and more in this podcast episode for teachers of all grade levels to help your students overcome testing anxiety and perform at their best.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand course, Balance Your Teacher Life. You can go the self-study route or join a cohort with group coaching for Summer 2025.

Check out all the details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

In this eye-opening episode, we dive into the science behind limiting beliefs and how they specifically show up in education and the lives of passionate teachers. Learn practical strategies to identify, challenge, and transform the unhelpful stories you tell yourself about teaching that keep you stuck in burnout cycles.

Key Points

• 🔍 Limiting beliefs are thoughts that restrict our potential and happiness
• 🧠 Our brains are pattern-seeking devices that filter information based on our beliefs
• ⚠️ We should evaluate beliefs on whether they're resourceful, not whether they're "true"
• 💡 With awareness comes choice - we can reframe unhelpful beliefs
• 🔄 Your brain will find evidence to confirm what you already believe (confirmation bias)

Common Teacher Limiting Beliefs

1. "I have to do it all to be a good teacher" → "I am most effective when I focus on what I do well"
2. "Saying no makes me selfish or unhelpful" → "Setting boundaries is an act of self-respect"
3. "If I rest, I'm lazy" → "Rest fuels my ability to show up as my best for students"
4. "If students/parents aren't happy, I'm failing" → "I can do my best, but I can't control others' feelings"
5. "It's my responsibility to fix everything" → "I can provide guidance and support, but I can't fix everything"

3-Step Process to Overcome Limiting Beliefs

1. Identify the limiting belief when it appears
2. Challenge it by seeking contrary evidence
3. Replace it with a more empowering belief

Quote to Remember

"We see the world not as it is, but as we are. Most of us see through the eyes of our fears, our limiting beliefs, and our false assumptions." - Robin Sharma

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand course, Balance Your Teacher Life. You can go the self-study route or join a cohort with group coaching for Summer 2025.

Check out all the details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

Ready to cut through the noise and focus on what really matters in education? Dr. David Franklin, creator of The Principal's Desk community (230,000+ educators strong!), shares his candid take on what schools need to leave behind in 2025 - and spoiler alert: teachers, you're going to want to hear this!

🌟 Episode Highlights:

1. 📊 Stop Blaming COVID
- It's time to move past using COVID as the default explanation for challenges
- Focus on current solutions and moving forward
- Different regions had vastly different experiences - some schools only closed for 2 weeks

2. ❤️ Relationships vs. Rigor Debate
- The false dichotomy needs to end
- Good teaching has always included relationship building
- Need to restore focus on professional expertise and academic excellence

3. 🎯 Quick-Fix SEL Solutions
- $$ Multi-million dollar business pushing packaged solutions
- Can't change school culture with 20-minute programs
- Good teachers naturally create positive classroom cultures

4. 📝 Behavior Management Matrix
- Clear, consistent consequences are crucial
- Matrix helps everyone know what to expect
- Supports both teachers and students
- Creates safer learning environments

5. 🤖 AI in Education
- Stop avoiding AI - it's here to stay
- Need to teach responsible use
- Prepare students for real-world applications
- Similar to calculator and Google adoption

💡 Key Leadership Tips for Administrators:
- Be visible on campus
- Do supportive classroom walkthroughs (not evaluations)
- Leave positive post-it notes with specific feedback
- Let teachers take risks and innovate
- Stop requiring lesson plan submissions
- End restrictive dress codes

🔗 Connect with Dr. David Franklin:
- Facebook: The Principal's Desk
- Website: principalsdesk.org
- Email: david@theprincipalsdesk.org
- Book: "Advice from the Principal's Desk"

💪 Bottom Line: Creating positive school cultures isn't about quick fixes or checklist items - it's about supporting teachers as professionals and focusing on what truly impacts student learning.

#TeacherPodcast #EducationalLeadership #TeacherSupport #SchoolCulture #EdChat

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand course, Balance Your Teacher Life. You can go the self-study route or join a cohort with group coaching for Summer 2025.

Check out all the details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

Teacher pop-quiz: If you could never wear a t-themed t-shirt again, would your wardrobe empty? In this powerful encore episode, we dive deep into the dangers of making teaching your entire identity and how to reclaim balance in your life. Whether you're struggling with burnout or feeling guilty about setting boundaries, this episode provides practical strategies to help you separate your worth from your work.

Key Takeaways:

• Why wrapping your whole identity in teaching leads to burnout and relationship strain
• The problem with attaching your self-worth to measurable outcomes in education
• How to maintain your sense of self when transitioning out of teaching
• Practical steps to create more balance and nurture non-teaching interests

🎯 Action Steps:

1. Create your personal role inventory beyond "teacher"
2. Schedule non-teaching activities with the same commitment as school obligations
3. Find 15 minutes daily for self-care and personal development
4. Conduct a simple time audit of teaching vs. non-teaching activities

💫 Quote of the Episode:
"Teaching is a verb. It's what we do, not who we are. It's not an identity." Yep. You can quote me on that!

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand course, Balance Your Teacher Life. You can go the self-study route or join a cohort with group coaching for Summer 2025.

Check out all the details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

In this powerful episode, Grace Stevens addresses the growing concerns in education and provides practical strategies for teachers to maintain their influence and effectiveness, regardless of external challenges. ICE raids, potential elimination of the Dept. of Education ... student and teacher anxiety is at an all-time high. Grace talks about the importance and empowerment that come from focusing on what you can control, including the critical areas of classroom culture, explicitly teaching media literacy and critical skills, and navigating professional relationships with people who have very different politics and opinions.

Episode Highlights 🎯

Inside the Classroom

• Building inclusive classroom communities that celebrate diversity
• Teaching critical thinking and bias evaluation (including the CRAAP test framework)
• Empowering students to fact-check and evaluate information sources
• Creating stability through positive teacher-student relationships

Outside the Classroom

• Managing your mental diet and information consumption
• Balancing awareness with emotional wellbeing
• Finding positive developments in education globally

Professional Relationships

• Navigating partnerships with colleagues holding different viewpoints
• Maintaining professionalism in polarized environments
• Focusing on shared goals for student success

Key Takeaways 💡

"You are not just an educator; you are a force for stability, hope, and change. No policy, no funding cut, no political shift can take that power away from you."

Resources Mentioned 📚

• The Social Dilemma (Netflix documentary)
• CRAAP Test Framework
• Media Bias/Fact Check website
• AllSides news comparison tool
• Educational news sources:
  • Education Week
  • The Hechinger Report
  • Edutopia

Get Your FREE Guide 🤝

For instant access to the media literacy resource guide mentioned in this episode (lesson plans and site suggestions), Click Here or https://www.gracestevens.com/media-bias-sheet

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand course, Balance Your Teacher Life. You can go the self-study route or join a cohort with group coaching for Summer 2025.

Check out all the details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)

Send us a text

Are you feeling overwhelmed in your classroom? Discover how asking the right questions can completely shift your teaching experience from stressed to empowered! In this episode, learn practical strategies to handle challenging student behavior, navigate workplace negativity, and maintain professional boundaries - all through the power of empowering questions.

🎧 Episode Highlights:

• 🧠 Why "why" questions drain your energy and what to ask instead
• 👩‍🏫 Real-world examples for handling challenging student behavior
• 🤝 Strategies for dealing with negative colleagues
• 📱 Smart solutions for parent communication
• 💪 Tools for maintaining professional boundaries with administration

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Transform "why" questions into empowering "how" and "what" questions
• Focus on unmet student needs instead of problematic behaviors
• Redirect negative conversations with solution-focused thinking
• Implement proactive communication strategies with parents
• Set professional boundaries while maintaining positive relationships

🔑 Action Steps:

1. Choose one empowering question to practice this week
2. Identify positive collaborators on campus
3. Create proactive communication strategies
4. Practice the "validate and bounce" technique with negative situations

This episode is part two in my deep dive into concepts from the best new educator's manual: The Empowered Teacher's Toolkit.

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life?
Check out my signature on-demand course, Balance Your Teacher Life. You can go the self-study route or join a cohort with group coaching for Summer 2025.

Check out all the details here: www.gracestevens.com/balance

📘 My latest (and greatest!) book:
The Empowered Teacher Toolkit
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

Wanna get social?
https://www.tiktok.com/@gracestevensteacher
https://www.facebook.com/GraceStevensTeacher
https://www.Instagram.com/gracestevensteacher

Old school: Website : www.GraceStevens.com (courses, blog & freebies!)