Teachers Next Door Podcast

Remember in July when you thought, "This year, I'm going to have it all together"? Welcome to September — where lesson plans are scribbled on sticky notes, to-do lists multiply by the hour, and teachers are running on pure caffeine and survival instincts. In this episode of The Teachers Next Door, Michelle and Nicole get brutally honest about the September overwhelm they promised themselves wouldn't happen this year. From compound stress that rolls like a snowball down a hill, to the relentless routine fatigue of walking that hallway for the fourth time, nothing is off the table. They dig into decision fatigue, the urgency that never lets up, and the hilarious (and humbling) moments that come with being an educator in what can seem like the hardest month of the year. Michelle and Nicole also share the small promises they've kept to stay sane and what they plan to keep, toss, and add as they head into October. If you’re looking forward to wrapping this month up, this episode is for you. September is not the whole story. It just feels like the loudest chapter.   Can you please help us grow the Teachers Next Door Podcast? Please rate & review on Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teachers-next-door-podcast/id1887084571 Please rate & review on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/7bBmnnzYtjqIa4IdHjJqgZ?si=cf8d766e8c5a4759 Join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast. You can also find us on Facebook, Youtube and Tiktok! Please like and subscribe! Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

What happens when two teacher besties decide to share a classroom and a business? We're sitting down with Kaila and Kristi, the duo behind Teachers Tea, to talk about the magic of team teaching, how they strive to keep the joy in this demanding profession and how they have built a business from an Instagram page to a full-fledged brand. We dive into how their three-teacher double classroom actually works, why they believe collaboration is the secret to thriving and not just surviving, and how working part-time helps them protect themselves from burnout. They share the real origin story of Teachers Tea, from free choice boards during COVID to a growing business serving teachers across Alberta with plans to expand across Canada. We also get into the stuff every teacher needs to hear including why you need to take email off your phone, stop comparing your classroom to Pinterest, and just do the hard thing, even when it's messy. Plus, they talk about their favorite resources they've created, how they divide the workload between teaching and business, and what building community means to them including their legendary annual Teacher Appreciation Week giveaways. Grab your coffee, because despite the name, Kaila and Kristi do not drink tea! Join us for a conversation about finding joy in the chaos of teaching. Thank you for being here!   Can you please help us grow the Teachers Next Door Podcast? Please rate & review on Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teachers-next-door-podcast/id1887084571 Please rate & review on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/7bBmnnzYtjqIa4IdHjJqgZ?si=cf8d766e8c5a4759 Join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast. You can also find us on Facebook, Youtube and Tiktok! Please like and subscribe! Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

Every educator carries an emotional backpack into the classroom, filled with the stories, struggles, and life events we may not always see in each other. In this episode, Nicole opens up about navigating her family member's recent cancer diagnosis while returning to the classroom, the guilt of putting work before family, and the hard lessons she's learned about setting boundaries and asking for help. Michelle shares her own experience of loss and the moment she knew she had to step away from school entirely. Together they explore the unspoken side of teaching: writing sub plans from hospital beds, showing up when you're barely holding it together, and reminding themselves that family comes first. It's an honest, vulnerable conversation about the weight we all carry and the permission to ask for what we need. Thank you for being here!   As Amazon Associates, we do earn commission from purchases made through these links. https://linktr.ee/teachersnextdoorpodcast Can you please help us grow the Teachers Next Door Podcast? Please rate & review on Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teachers-next-door-podcast/id1887084571 Please rate & review on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/7bBmnnzYtjqIa4IdHjJqgZ?si=cf8d766e8c5a4759 Join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast. You can also find us on Facebook, Youtube and Tiktok! Please like and subscribe! Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

What if the most powerful thing in your classroom only has a few pages? In this episode, Michelle and Nicole share some of their favorite picture books for the classroom, the ones they return to year after year for building community, supporting social-emotional learning, sparking big conversations, and helping students dream big. From The Circles All Around Us to A Good Thing Happened Today, The What Ifs to Millie Fleur's Poison Garden, they dive into how each book opens doors to empathy, growth mindset, self-discovery, and classroom connection. You'll hear practical ideas for using mentor texts in writing, morning meetings, and beyond, plus a few heartwarming stories along the way, including one involving a vintage kindergarten book and another that includes a wake surfing montage. Whether you're a teacher building your classroom library, a parent looking for meaningful reads, or just someone who believes picture books are pure magic, this one's for you. Come for the book recommendations, stay for the inspiration!   Thank you for being here!   All of the books that were shared on this episode have been added to our shop!  As Amazon Associates, we do earn commission from purchases made through these links. https://linktr.ee/teachersnextdoorpodcast Can you please help us grow the Teachers Next Door Podcast? Please rate & review on Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teachers-next-door-podcast/id1887084571 Please rate & review on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/7bBmnnzYtjqIa4IdHjJqgZ?si=cf8d766e8c5a4759 Join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast. You can also find us on Facebook, Youtube and Tiktok! Please like and subscribe! Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].

No matter where you are at with back to school set up, or how many days you have had curious learners in your care, this back to school episode is for you. Nicole is heading back into the classroom. She is teaching grade three for the first time and feeling like a first-year teacher all over again. Michelle is returning to an associate principal role, a position that feels like a homecoming but comes with a whole new playbook. Together, they reflect on the wisdom from the trending two-part series with Laurie McIntosh, carrying her reminders about boundaries, relationships, and the truth that "clear is kind" into the new school year. They share what their new spaces look like, from Nicole's intentionally organized classroom with subject-area zones to Michelle's student-friendly office designed to be a welcoming space. They dig into the reality and necessity of setting up systems and routines in August that will pay off all year, and why relationships matter more than diving straight into curriculum.  Here’s to fresh starts, new routines, and giving ourselves permission to go slow to go fast. You’ve got this.   Thank you for being here!   You can still browse our LinkTree Shop!  As Amazon Associates, we do earn commission from purchases made through these links. https://linktr.ee/teachersnextdoorpodcast Can you please help us grow the Teachers Next Door Podcast? Please rate & review on Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/teachers-next-door-podcast/id1887084571 Please rate & review on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/7bBmnnzYtjqIa4IdHjJqgZ?si=cf8d766e8c5a4759 Join our online community on Instagram @teachersnextdoorpodcast. You can also find us on Facebook, Youtube and Tiktok! Please like and subscribe! Do you have a question or a topic you would like us to explore?  Please visit our website www.teachersnextdoorpodcast.com or email us at [email protected].