Enjoy Teaching Again | Elementary, Teacher Burnout, Student Behavior, SEL, Classroom Management
Episodes
94 | The #1 Thing Failing Teachers—and What to Do about It
26 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can we talk about professional development for a minute? Or more specifically: assigned professional development. You know the kind—sessions chosen ...
93 | 8 Reflective Questions to Reignite Your Teaching Spark
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Before we jump into the new year, I’m inviting you to slow down and reflect. In this episode, I’m sharing 8 powerful questions that have helped me...
92 | My December Tradition That Builds Relationships—and Improves Classroom Behavior
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever wondered how to build real connection with your students (especially the tricky ones), or if you’ve felt like student behavior is p...
91 | Can Music Fix Classroom Behavior? 3 Ways to Use It with Purpose
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Music isn’t just a mood-booster—it’s a classroom management tool, a community builder, and a creative way to support your students' emotional re...
90 | Who Said Student Learning Has to Be Neat? Creativity Is Supposed to Be Messy
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s talk about messy projects—you know, the glue-in-your-hair, paint-on-the-desk, “what is this even supposed to be?” kind of mess. It's all...
89 | Why Teacher Burnout Isn’t Your Fault (and What’s Actually Causing It) Interview with Erin Sponaugle
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s be honest—burnout is real, and it’s affecting amazing teachers like you every single day. In this episode, I sit down with Erin Sponaugle,...
88 | Student Behavior in December? 5 Sanity-Saving Ideas that Actually Work
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
December in the classroom can feel like trying to teach in the middle of a snow globe—glitter everywhere, chaos swirling, and you're just trying to ...
Stop Being Student-Centered (and Rediscover the Teacher You Love to Be!)
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This bonus episode is a little different—and a little bold. I’m talking about something that might go against what we’ve always been told as tea...
87 | Teachers, Don’t Let Social Media Steal Your School Vacation: 3 Steps to Ditch the Scroll and Find Time for Joy
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I’m getting real about something most of us are dealing with (whether we admit it or not): our relationship with social media. I’m sharing my pers...
86 | Take a Gratitude Break With Me in This Season of Big Feelings in the Classroom
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s be real—this season can feel like a whirlwind of behaviors, to-do lists, and burnt-out teacher brains. That’s why in this episode, I’m i...
85 | Student Behaviors Got You Down? Flex Those SEL Muscles (with Lori Woodley-Langendorff)
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You know those days when student behavior feels like it’s taking over your classroom—and your peace of mind? In this episode, I’m joined by the ...
84 | Promote Empathy and Kindness in the Classroom with this Formula!
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We hear a lot about building teacher-student relationships—but what about peer-to-peer? In this episode, we're diving into why helping students form...
83 | Why ‘Just Getting Through the Year’ Isn’t the Goal (Anymore)
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Raise your mug if you’ve ever said, “I just need to make it to June.” Yep—me too. But here’s the truth: just getting through the year should...
82 | One Teacher’s Journey Back to Joy: How Doreen Learned to Enjoy Teaching Again
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you've ever felt the overwhelm of "all the things" you do as a teacher, this one's for you! In this special episode, I share parts of my conversati...
81 | Is Burnout the New Normal for Teachers?
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all been there—grading papers during Sunday football, staying late just to stay afloat, and wondering… is this what being a “good teache...
80 | 3 Mistakes Teachers Make When Trying to Fix Classroom Behavior
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m diving into 3 mistakes teachers make when trying to “fix” classroom behavior. Maybe you’ve tried ignoring little disrupti...
79 | 4 Must-Dos to Improve Student Behavior (Before You Burn Out)
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if improving student behavior wasn’t about sticker charts, new systems, or 30-minute SEL lessons… but about a few small but powerful shifts i...
78 | Serving Up the Same Old PD? Let’s Cook Up Something Better for Teachers
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re serving up some truth today—because not all professional development is created equal. Some PD sessions leave you energized but unsure how t...
77 | Teacher Burnout Warning: When “Teacher Talk” Isn’t Helping—Here’s What to Do Instead
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You know those hallway convos or lunchroom rants that start out as harmless venting… and somehow leave you feeling more exhausted? Yeah, me too. In ...
76 | LIVE COACHING: Can a Substitute Teacher Really Build Connection? A Veteran CRT’s Breakthrough with Disruptive Students
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder how you're supposed to connect with students when you're only in the room for a day—or even just a class period? In this episode, I sit ...
75 | Is Teaching Still Worth It in 2025? A Real Talk for Tired Teachers
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I get real about the question so many of us are quietly asking: Is teaching still worth it? If you’ve found yourself living for wee...
74 | 3 Ways Prayer Can Help You Find Peace in Teaching
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This one’s from the heart. In this episode, I’m opening up about something we don’t talk about enough as teachers—prayer. Not affirmations, no...
73 | 3 Ways to Stop Student Behavior Problems Before They Start
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s easy to get swept up in setting up a beautiful classroom—name tags, motivational posters, organized bins—but none of that really solves beh...
72 | Why Teacher Relaxation Is the Secret to Better Student Behavior
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if your calm was actually your most effective behavior strategy? In this episode, we’re flipping the script on traditional behavior manageme...
71 | AI in the Classroom: What Teachers Need to Know (and Why It Matters Now) Interview with Kristina Peterson
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, I’m sitting down with my very first guest—Kristina Peterson, high school English teacher and co-author of the book AI in the Writing Wo...
70 | Too Much Tech in Your Classroom? How to Reclaim Meaningful Engagement
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s talk about the tech elephant in the classroom. 🐘 We’ve got Chromebooks, smart boards, digital tools—and yet, we’re still battling stu...
69 | Not Quite Burned Out Yet ...But Not Excited Either? Every teacher needs to hear this.
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever find yourself wondering, “I still love teaching… but this is really hard!" Maybe you're quite not burned out—but you're definitely not ene...
68 | Dreading Back to School? How to Recover, Reset & Still Enjoy What's Left of Summer
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is that back-to-school dread already creeping in? 😩 You're not alone—and you're definitely not doing anything wrong. In this episode, I share how...
67 | Teaching Isn’t Supposed to Hurt: How to Reset Your Classroom and Beat Burnout
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m diving into something we need to talk about—burnout. Real burnout. The kind that leaves you drained, dreading the school day,...
66 | Frustrated with Student Behaviors? 3 Things That Will Actually Improve Your Classroom Climate
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If behavior charts, clip systems, and pom-pom jars aren’t cutting it anymore, this episode is for you. I’m diving into why these strategies often ...
65 | 5 Questions to Ask Before Choosing Teacher Professional Development Online
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s be real—so much of the PD we sit through leaves us feeling… uninspired. I’ve been there too, nodding along, taking notes, and wondering ...
64 | Teacher Summer Work That Fights Burnout: 3 Powerful Ideas
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling torn between rest, reflection, and planning over summer break? In this episode, I share the reality behind what will work if you want a little...
63 | Is Your Calm-Down Corner Even Working? The Mistakes Teachers Make—and How to Fix Them
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever feel like your calm-down corner is more like a timeout chair—or maybe it’s just gathering dust? In this episode, I'll share creative, teacher...
62 | Sick of Your Teacher To-Do List? Here’s Why You Need a DID List Instead!
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let's flip the script on that never-ending to-do list and introduce something that’ll actually fill you up—a DID List! We’re talking all about h...
61 | Let it Out Before You Burnout! This One Teacher Relationship is the Key
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you tired of carrying the emotional weight that teaching brings? In this episode of Enjoy Teaching Again, I share why having a trusted venting bud...
60 | Are Scripted Lessons Killing Your Creativity? 4 Creative Activities to Bring It Back—Fast.
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling boxed in by scripted lessons and copy-paste curriculum? You’re not alone. In this episode, I'm sharing four simple, actually doable strategi...
59 | What’s an Underground Spirit Week—and Why Are Teachers Secretly Doing It?
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some teachers love it. Some teachers dread it. Spirit Week usually involves some crazy socks, wacky hair, and the occasional coveted Decades Day. But ...
58 | Forget the Gift! 3 Better Ways for Teachers to Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we’re celebrating Teacher Appreciation in a way that's a little different. While I’m all about those lunches and door prizes (can we no...
57 | From Morning Chaos to Classroom Calm - 3 Teacher-Tested Approaches
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the secret to a calmer, more connected classroom started in the first five minutes of your day? In this episode, I share simple, teacher-teste...
56 | 3 Paperless Ideas for Earth Day That Still Hit Your Standards
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m sharing a few of my favorite paperless swaps you can use in your lessons to celebrate Earth Day in a meaningful, creative way—...
55 | Scrambling for ideas for National Poetry Month? 3 Poetry Ideas that Your Students Will Love
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
April is Poetry Month, and if you’re thinking “ugh, not another acrostic…” this episode is for you. I’m sharing three fresh, arts-infused po...
54 | Feeling Uninspired? How a Daffodil Reminds Us Why We Teach
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling burnt out? Wondering if you’ve lost your passion for teaching? In this inspiring springtime episode, I share a story rooted in daffodils: Th...
53 | Struggling with Teacher Overwhelm? 4 Ways to Defeat Teacher Burnout
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You love teaching—but by the end of the day, you’re completely drained. Sound familiar? I’ve coined a name for that: The Daily Teacher Drain and...
52 | Why Being a Superhero Teacher is Wrecking Your Passion for Teaching
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’ve heard it before: “Teachers are superheroes!” But let’s be honest—that cape? It’s heavy. In this episode, I talk about why the “...
51 | Prepping Before State Testing? Don't Skip this Essential Step!
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Standardized testing is stressful—for our students and for us. But what if one of the best ways to help them succeed has nothing to do with test pre...
50 | Want to Use Music in the Classroom? 6 Easy Steps to Making it a Success!
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wish you had a remote control for your classroom’s energy? 🎶 This episode is your first step. Inside, we’re talking about how you can use ...
49 | Teacher Student Relationships: A Simple Way to Build Them, Even with Little Time
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There’s no denying that building relationships is super important in our classrooms. It can help with student engagement, behaviors and academic suc...
Enjoy Teaching Again - Trailer!
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you feel like teaching just isn’t fun anymore? Does classroom management feel like you're playing a game of whack-a-mole? Do you wish you could c...
48 | The Puzzle Pieces for SEL - Part Two
12 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The key to teaching social and emotional skills in the classroom is to do it all the time, every day. And yet, it's helpful to have some kind of fra...
47 | The Importance of a Good Transition - 4 Steps to a Focused Class
01 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive into the crucial role transitions play in creating a productive and engaging classroom environment. We'll explore the four es...
46 | Readjusting to a New School Year!
10 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's a new school year and as exciting as that can be, it's also exhausting. When your new classes start to come in, you can realize that there is a...
45 | The Puzzle Pieces for SEL - Part One
03 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you have a done-for-you social-emotional curriculum or not, it's important to start rethinking how you approach your job as a teacher. Your ...
44 | Struggling in the Classroom? Here’s one way to look at it.
27 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I know you're struggling with aspects of your school day. It's ok. It's normal. It's because you care about your students and you care about the...
43 | 3 Reasons We Need the ARTS in Classrooms
13 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The arts are engaging, yes. And speak to the whole child, absolutely. But why are the arts something that every classroom needs? Listen in as El...
42 | What Self-Care is NOT
23 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Self-Care isn't about the short activities you can add to your life, it's about the long term things you can change to make your life better. Let's ...
41 | Starting small with the ARTS in Early Childhood
16 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While engaging in great conversations during the Soar to Success Summit about the artistic ideas I posed in my session: “A Palette Full of Potential...
40 | Using Process Art in Your Classroom
02 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"Trust the process" is something I was told over and over when I was getting my masters in Arts & Learning. It's a great lesson what we can instil...
39 | Is SEL Political?
25 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It seems as though social-emotional learning is becoming too political and many people are getting concerned about that. You should! Especially when...
38 | The 3 Beliefs That Keep You From Making a Difference in Your Classroom
11 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are you worried that your stduents are shutting down or acting up, causing them not to do the work you know they are capable of? Do you feel unable ...
37 | Students Need Creativity in the Classroom
28 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Yes. Students do need creativity in the classroom and yet, often teachers are hindered by the creative constraints put on them by scripted curriculu...
36 | Schools Need to Invest in Their Teachers!
21 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Districts and schools often spend a lot of time and money on new programs and initiatives that they then require their teachers to implement. Now, i...
35 | Do you suffer from the Daily Teacher Drain?
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we look at some of the ways to know if you might be suffering from what's called the Daily Teacher Drain as well as what you can do t...
34 | Do Teachers Care TOO Much?
30 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Of course, teachers care... but I want to challenge you to think if it just might be too much. In this episode we'll look at ways to know if you D...
33 | Get Your Students to Smile with this Simple Greeting Trick
23 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Check out this amazingly simple way to bring a smile to your students' faces as they enter your classroom so that you can bring some positivity into ...
32 | Getting Others on Board for Arts Integration and SEAL!
02 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A question that is often asked is, "How do I get others on board?" When you want to do something creative or innovative in the classroom, your excit...
31 | 2 Ways Music can Build Community
26 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Music is a powerful tool for the classroom. One very successful way to use it is to build the sense of community in your classroom. In this episod...
30 | Addressing Teachers’ Concerns
19 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Teachers have many concerns when it comes to their students and their ability to be in the classroom to learn. From dealing with "Big Feelings" to t...
29 | Should SEL be taught in Schools?
12 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A teacher messaged me, wondering how to talk to people who were concerned about SEL. With the state of things right now, there are many who are seco...
28 | The Role of the Educator through the Years
05 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The role of the educator has changed so much over the decades. In this episode, I'm talking about my perspecitve on how this role has changed and wh...
27 | SEL as a holistic approach
02 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You can't teach SEL for a couple of days or even a few weeks and then say you're done. Truly effective social-emotional learning happens all year an...
26 | Are we taking creativity out of social-emotional learning?
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With all the creative teachers we have in our schools - creative professionals that strive to bring amazing learning experiences to their students - h...
25 | What is SEL??
26 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There's a lot of debate right now around what exactly social-emotional learning is... I like to get to the bare bones of it and how it should be som...
24 | What it means to be a Caring, Creative Teacher
23 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Being a caring, creative teacher goes far beyond the idea that you can teach your content well. Nowadays, we need to rethink how we approach these t...
23 | Mistakes Caring Teachers Make with Family Communication
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Family communication can feel indimidating at times, but it doesn't have to. Here are a couple mistakes we can keep in mind so that when we do need ...
22 | Even Caring Teachers Make these Mistakes
19 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You can be the most caring, positive teacher and still make these mistakes in your classroom. It's ok... we all do this. (Me included!) But the more w...
21 | Setting Boundaries around your Lunch Time!
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lunch time is YOUR time! How do you use it? In this episode, we'll look at some ideas and reflect on how using your lunch time is part of your Tea...
20 | The School Bag - How to Set Boundaries
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Your loaded school bag is a great place to start setting some boundaries so you can take care of your own Teacher SEL. It's worth a listen so that y...
19 | Setting Boundaries around School Email
12 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Setting boundaries is an important part of Teacher SEL and email is a great place to start. Let's reflect on some ideas of how we can do this! Th...
18 | Step Three: Consider Responsibilities (3 Steps to Prevent Teacher Burnout)
09 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We've looked at our priorities and what we can and can't control. Now, in Step Three of preventing teacher burnout, we are going to talk about all o...
17 | Step Two: Remember Control (3 Steps to Preventing Teacher Burnout)
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In Step Two of preventing teacher burnout, we are going to talk about control. Get ready to brainstorm with me as we look at the things in our lives...
16 | Step One: Set Your Priorities (3 Steps to Preventing Teacher Burnout)
05 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For the next 3 episodes we are looking at how to prevent teacher burnout. Today, your task is to set your priorities. Take a listen for some insig...
15 | Get Teacher-Centered!
02 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We always hear that our teaching needs to be student-centered. . . but what about our professional development? If we want to truly support our teac...
14 | What School Administrators Need to Know about Teacher SEL
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is for the administrators who run our schools! Today, I'm taking a deep dive into what administrators can do to help to keep their teac...
13 | Teacher SEL: The What & Why
29 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Let's begin our episode collection on Teacher SEL by talking about the basics of what it is and why it's so important. Please share this collection ...
12 | Why it’s important to explicitly teach SEL
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Plain and simple: all social-emotional teaching in our classrooms need to be explicit. Let’s take a look at why! Resources: Website: theinsp...
11 | Proactive Teaching for Social-Emotional Learning
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
All good social-emotional learning needs to be proactive. What does that mean? Well, there are to ways to think about this for your classroom: pro...
10 | What is SEAL? (Social-Emotional Artistic Learning)
22 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
SEAL is the only method that empowers caring teachers to calm classroom hehavior issues and ease teacher burnout by embedding creative and artistic s...
9 | Deepening Content Learning: Key Benefit to the Arts in Learning #3 | Arts Integration
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When you integrate the arts into the content you teach (no matter the subject or age), your students will remember and understand the content at a muc...
8 | Build Self-Awareness: Key Benefit to the Arts in Learning #2 | Arts Integration
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Not only can the arts bring people together, but they can help students recognize and regulate the many emotions they bring with them into the classro...
7 | Building Community: Key Benefit to the Arts in Learning #1 | Arts Integration
15 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Building community with your class is important at any time of the school year. Let's look at how the arts can play a part in this! This is part of...
6 | Permission to Dust off an Old Lesson
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a lesson you haven't done for a while, but you really love? Listen in to Part Three of the Permission Trilogy where I talk about how you...
5 | Permission to Create
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What a great way to prevent and even defeat burn out - by giving your students the opportunity to create something meaningful. Part Two of the Permi...
4 | Permission to Pause
08 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Let's start talking about Creative Teacher Self-Care and things that you can do inside your own classroom to prevent burn out. Part One of this Permis...
3 | ...Be Inspiring
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The second part of our motto is to Be Inspiring! It's time to take your experiences and transfer them into your classroom. Listen in and then let ...
2 | Get Inspired...
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our motto at The Inspired Classroom is to Get Inspired, Be Inspiring. In this episode, we will take a closer look at the first part, the action-taki...
1 | No Stress!
01 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Wouldn't it be nice to have no stress in our busy, teacher lives? No stress is the approach I'm taking as I start this podcast - both for me and for...