Send us a text Why Campus-Wide Book Studies Might Backfire (And What to Do Instead) In this candid episode, educator and author Grace Stevens shares an unconventional perspective: why mandating her own book for campus-wide studies might do more harm than good. She explores the psychology behind teacher resistance to mandatory professional development, the difference between gifts and assignments, and offers practical alternatives that respect teacher autonomy while genuinely supporting wellb...
Send us a text In this episode of the Teacher Self-Care and Life Balance Podcast, we’re diving deep into a topic every educator needs to hear: the warning signs that you need stronger, healthier boundaries. If you’ve been feeling exhausted, resentful, or like teaching is bleeding into every corner of your life, this episode is your wake-up call. 🚨 Inside, I’ll share 17 red flags—10 from your personal life and 7 from your school life—that reveal when your boundaries are slipping. Plus, I’ll wa...
Send us a text In This Episode: 🎧 Grace shares 8 powerful habits that can transform your teaching experience and help you become that "offensively cheerful" teacher who stays calm even when chaos strikes. The 8 Happy Habits: 🌟 Set Healthy Boundaries 🚧 Protect your energy like it's $24,000 a dayIt's okay to disappoint people sometimesPrioritize Relationships Over Perfection 💝 Use the "2-10 Rule" (2 minutes for 10 days with struggling students)Create student shoutout circlesBuild insi...
Send us a text Whether you're facing a Program Improvement Plan (PIP) or dealing with a challenging administrator, this episode provides practical strategies and mindset shifts to help you navigate these difficult situations with grace and professionalism. Grace shares her own story of working with a demanding administrator and how changing her perspective transformed the experience. What You'll lEarn: 1. Mindset Shifts Other People's Experiences Don't Have to Be Yours - Don't let colleague...
Send us a text Welcome to Part 5 of our Back-to-School Series! 🎒 But let’s be real: this one isn’t just for teachers and it’s definitely not just for back-to-school season. If you’re a human navigating life, relationships, or tough workdays — this episode is for you. 🙌 Grace shares 4 powerful mindset shifts that can completely transform how you experience teaching, parenting, and life. These simple (but not always easy!) reframes will help you feel more empowered, less triggered, and more in ...
Send us a text If you've ever opened an email from a parent and instantly felt your stomach drop — this episode is for you. In today’s episode, Grace unpacks practical and empowering ways to improve your communication with families — without burning out, over-explaining, or bending over backwards. You’ll walk away with mindset shifts and strategies to help you: De-escalate tough parent conversationsCommunicate clearly and proactively to avoid confusionSet healthy boundaries without guiltBuild...
Send us a text Hey teacher friend — you’re back in school, and guess what’s making its rounds again? Yep… the dreaded adjunct duty list 😬 In Part 2 of our Back-to-School 2025–2026 series, we’re tackling one of the most exhausting parts of a teacher’s year: having to sign up for extra duties you didn’t actually sign up for. From lunch supervision to leading yearbook, organizing graduation, or being “voluntold” to coach a sport, these adjunct duties can quickly turn your week upside down. But i...
Send us a text LIMITED TIME OFFER MENTIONED: www.gracestevens.com/lifeback Use coupon code BBB27 at checkout Welcome to part one of our five-episode Back to School Special for the 2025-26 school year! In this foundational episode, Grace breaks down her proven ECHO Framework for Educator Empowerment - four essential pillars that will help you crush this school year, create your own path, and bring your own sunshine no matter what challenges come your way. The ECHO Framework Explained G...
Send us a text In this power-packed episode of our Back to School 2025 series, Grace breaks down the ONE thing that can make or break your entire school year - and it's not your bulletin boards or seating charts. It's your boundary plan. You're spending hours on classroom decorations while ignoring the foundation that will determine whether you thrive or barely survive this year. Grace reveals the 6 critical areas every teacher needs to address to create sustainable work-life balance and prot...
Send us a text Breaking Free from the Sunk Cost Fallacy: Why Smart Teachers Stay Stuck 🌱That voice in your head saying "I've invested too much to quit now"? It's lying to you. Summer is the perfect time to identify what's keeping you stuck - and it's probably not what you think. What's Really Keeping You Trapped 🔍 The Perfect Lesson Plan Prison 📖 Why that Gold Rush unit you spent years perfecting might be choking the life out of your classroom The Toxic School Trap 🏫 How tenure and "years ...
Send us a text 🧠 Why SEL Curriculum Isn't Working (And What Teachers Should Do Instead) In this episode, Grace Stevens dives deep into Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and reveals why scripted curricula often fall flat. She shares real classroom observations that expose the gap between checking boxes and authentic emotional intelligence building. This episode provides actionable strategies for teachers to develop genuine EQ skills in themselves and their students without adding to their alrea...
Send us a text 🌞 4 Essential Strategies for Teacher Summer Recovery & Burnout PreventionEpisode Summary You made it through another school year! 🎉 But summer break doesn't automatically fix teacher burnout. Host Grace Stevens shares 4 proven strategies to help teachers truly disconnect, recover, and prepare for renewal during summer break. 🔑 Key Takeaways Strategy #1: Create a Closing Ritual ✅ Stop, Start, Continue Reflection (30 minutes) 🛑 STOP: What drained your energy without resu...
Send us a text 🎉 Summer is almost here, and I'm dropping some serious truth bombs about why your sweet summer break should be about HEALING, not hustling. If your summer to-do list is longer than a CVS receipt (I see you! 😅), this episode is your roadmap to setting the limits you need for a joyful back-to-school season. 🎯 What You'll Learn The Four Essential Areas to Set Limits This Summer: 1. 👪 Set Limits with Your Family Just because you're "off" doesn't mean you're available 24/7How to h...
Send us a text How to Transform Your Teaching Career Into Something New This week I'm chatting with Lisa Harding, CEO of Teacher Career Transitions Academy, about how educators can successfully transition to careers outside the classroom. Born into a family of teachers but taking a different path herself, Lisa shares her journey from educational technology executive to certified career coach dedicated to helping teachers recognize their transferable skills and overcome imposter syndrome...
Send us a text 4 Flexibility Options Schools Need NOW to Retain Great Teachers In this week's episode, I share something deeply personal that has been on my mind since I left the classroom full-time two years ago. The truth? I never stopped loving teaching or my students - I simply needed more flexibility than traditional school structures could offer. The Flexibility Crisis in Education Let's be honest - teaching has become an all-or-nothing profession. You're either in the classroom ful...
Send us a text Why Your Smartphone Policy May Be Destroying Your School Culture 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 fo...
Send us a text Teacher Self-Care: Setting Your Substitute Teacher Up for Success 🍎✨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 wellbeingSubstitute Teaching Insights: Lessons learned from 5 months of s...
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...
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 o...
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 - D...