1 00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:06,390 Heidi: This is episode 276 of Teacher Approved. 2 00:00:06,390 --> 00:00:09,420 You're listening to Teacher Approved, the podcast helping 3 00:00:09,420 --> 00:00:13,200 educators elevate what matters and simplify the rest. I'm 4 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:13,950 Heidi. 5 00:00:13,950 --> 00:00:17,100 Emily: And I'm Emily. We're the creators behind Second Story 6 00:00:17,100 --> 00:00:19,350 Window, where we give research-based and 7 00:00:19,350 --> 00:00:22,470 teacher-approved strategies that make teaching less stressful and 8 00:00:22,470 --> 00:00:25,905 more effective. You can check out the show notes and resources 9 00:00:25,905 --> 00:00:28,815 from each episode at secondstorywindow.net. 10 00:00:28,815 --> 00:00:31,665 Heidi: We're so glad you're tuning in today. Let's get to 11 00:00:31,665 --> 00:00:36,525 the show. 12 00:00:36,525 --> 00:00:39,765 Emily: Hey there! Thanks for joining us today. In today's 13 00:00:39,765 --> 00:00:43,845 episode, we are talking about why back to school drains you in 14 00:00:43,845 --> 00:00:47,010 a way that no other season does, and it's probably not for the 15 00:00:47,010 --> 00:00:50,220 reason you think. Plus, we have a teacher-approved tip for 16 00:00:50,220 --> 00:00:53,250 adding a little joy to a stressful time of year. 17 00:00:53,250 --> 00:00:55,920 Heidi: But first, let's start with a try it tomorrow, where we 18 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,620 share a quick win that you can try right away. Emily, what is 19 00:00:58,620 --> 00:01:00,090 our suggestion this week? 20 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:03,390 Emily: Okay, so this week, take a minute to consider your 21 00:01:03,390 --> 00:01:07,140 teacher bag. I feel like most teachers have bags, but if you 22 00:01:07,140 --> 00:01:09,570 haul back and forth with something besides a bag, think 23 00:01:09,570 --> 00:01:14,580 about that too, and then think about is this bag or whatever 24 00:01:14,580 --> 00:01:17,370 you're using something that you chose on purpose, or did you 25 00:01:17,370 --> 00:01:20,610 just grab it because it was handy? And then, more 26 00:01:20,610 --> 00:01:24,300 importantly, is it working for you? Because if it's not, we 27 00:01:24,300 --> 00:01:26,745 want you to think about what would make it a better fit for 28 00:01:26,745 --> 00:01:28,275 what you need. 29 00:01:28,275 --> 00:01:31,365 Heidi: And if your bag is not working, decide if you need to 30 00:01:31,365 --> 00:01:34,935 buy something new, or more likely, if there's something in 31 00:01:34,935 --> 00:01:37,725 that stash of bags in the back of your closet that could work 32 00:01:37,725 --> 00:01:38,895 even better. 33 00:01:38,895 --> 00:01:41,595 Emily: Or maybe you don't even want a bag at all, and you would 34 00:01:41,595 --> 00:01:45,225 rather have a bin or a tote that you can wheel around. I mean, 35 00:01:45,225 --> 00:01:48,960 I've talked on here before, I freaking love my Hulken bag, and 36 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,230 if I had had this when I was in the classroom, it would have 37 00:01:52,230 --> 00:01:57,210 been so amazing for hauling to and from my car and my house. 38 00:01:57,210 --> 00:02:01,020 And now they do have a cheaper version from Costco. I will say 39 00:02:01,020 --> 00:02:04,110 the reviews are mixed. Some say that the wheels are not as good 40 00:02:04,110 --> 00:02:07,560 and they don't hold up as well, but it's affordable enough. It 41 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:11,685 might be worth a try. And there's just no right answer 42 00:02:11,685 --> 00:02:14,805 here, though. The key is just knowing what works best for you. 43 00:02:14,805 --> 00:02:18,705 So take a look at what you're using, decide if it's meeting 44 00:02:18,705 --> 00:02:22,005 your needs or if something else would be better. 45 00:02:22,005 --> 00:02:24,615 Heidi: And if you like this idea or anything else we share here 46 00:02:24,615 --> 00:02:27,675 on the podcast, would you take a second and give us a five-star 47 00:02:27,675 --> 00:02:30,105 rating and a kind review? 48 00:02:30,105 --> 00:02:33,420 Emily: So, have you ever noticed that during back to school you 49 00:02:33,420 --> 00:02:37,440 can work for eight hours in your classroom, but it feels like you 50 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:42,120 were digging ditches for 16 hours? You are so tired, but 51 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:45,300 somehow the rest of the year you can teach all day, answer 52 00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:49,680 emails, you know, work with your team, and you're tired, but you 53 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,770 can still function after. It's not that kind of tired that you 54 00:02:52,770 --> 00:02:54,510 are in the back to school season. 55 00:02:54,930 --> 00:02:58,845 Heidi: Yeah, I know that feeling well, and yes, the start of the 56 00:02:58,845 --> 00:03:02,355 year brings endless meetings, the room set up, and the work of 57 00:03:02,355 --> 00:03:06,105 planning for kids that you have never even met, and that all 58 00:03:06,105 --> 00:03:09,465 contributes to the exhaustion. But those things don't fully 59 00:03:09,465 --> 00:03:10,635 explain it. 60 00:03:10,635 --> 00:03:14,415 Emily: Yeah, right now it takes you out, but in a few months you 61 00:03:14,415 --> 00:03:17,475 can have a week that's just as packed, and don't feel like you 62 00:03:17,475 --> 00:03:20,190 come home and need to lie down on the floor. 63 00:03:20,270 --> 00:03:22,790 Heidi: I've spent time on that floor. The couch is just too far 64 00:03:22,790 --> 00:03:27,350 away. So I would say that it's more than just the workload 65 00:03:27,350 --> 00:03:31,040 creating that back to school exhaustion. For example, for me, 66 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,880 the last week of October used to just knock me flat. It was the 67 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:38,120 end of our first term, and so after all of the work that goes 68 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:40,940 into teaching all day, I then had to manage conferences and 69 00:03:40,940 --> 00:03:44,465 report cards, and inevitably spend several evenings panic 70 00:03:44,465 --> 00:03:49,145 grading because I was never on top of that task. Even as 71 00:03:49,145 --> 00:03:54,155 overloaded as I was, that level of October tired could not touch 72 00:03:54,155 --> 00:03:57,095 the exhaustion of the first weeks of school. You know, at 73 00:03:57,095 --> 00:04:00,875 least I made it to the couch before I collapsed. 74 00:04:00,875 --> 00:04:04,265 Emily: Okay, so it's obviously not the workload. So what else 75 00:04:04,265 --> 00:04:09,110 is contributing to that back to school collapse? It turns out 76 00:04:09,110 --> 00:04:13,400 that the culprit is the lack of automaticity. 77 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:15,800 Heidi: Maybe you recognize that word from your literacy 78 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:19,640 training. Automaticity means being able to do a task without 79 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,310 having to think through every step. When we are teaching 80 00:04:22,310 --> 00:04:25,670 reading, we want students to have a large bank of sight words 81 00:04:25,670 --> 00:04:29,030 that they can read fluently. If they have to stop and figure out 82 00:04:29,075 --> 00:04:31,685 every word they come to, it really hinders their 83 00:04:31,685 --> 00:04:32,945 comprehension. 84 00:04:32,945 --> 00:04:36,725 Emily: But automaticity applies to more than just reading. If 85 00:04:36,725 --> 00:04:39,665 you can brush your teeth without needing to stop and think 86 00:04:39,665 --> 00:04:43,445 through every step, then that's automaticity in action. If you 87 00:04:43,445 --> 00:04:46,595 can drive a car without having to consciously remember which 88 00:04:46,595 --> 00:04:49,925 pedal is the gas and which is the brake, that's automaticity 89 00:04:49,925 --> 00:04:50,675 too. 90 00:04:50,675 --> 00:04:52,730 Heidi: And you've had experience with that teaching a new driver 91 00:04:52,730 --> 00:04:53,390 this year. 92 00:04:53,750 --> 00:04:57,350 Emily: Yeah, she was having to think which was which for longer 93 00:04:57,350 --> 00:05:00,740 than I preferred. 94 00:05:00,740 --> 00:05:04,280 Heidi: But besides helping us drive safely, automaticity has 95 00:05:04,280 --> 00:05:07,400 the benefit of freeing up our brains. When you don't have to 96 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:10,820 manage every minute step, you can focus on the big picture 97 00:05:10,820 --> 00:05:11,720 stuff. 98 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:13,970 Emily: Okay, so what does all of this have to do with the start 99 00:05:13,970 --> 00:05:16,685 of the year? Well, in the first few weeks of school, you are 100 00:05:16,685 --> 00:05:20,975 missing the automaticity. You don't yet have internal 101 00:05:20,975 --> 00:05:24,965 automaticity, which tells you exactly what to do next. 102 00:05:24,965 --> 00:05:28,595 Heidi: Plus, you're missing the external automaticity, where the 103 00:05:28,595 --> 00:05:32,405 kids know the routine, because no one is in the flow of things 104 00:05:32,405 --> 00:05:37,235 yet. Every single minute of the day has to be planned, prepared, 105 00:05:37,235 --> 00:05:39,920 and explained by you. 106 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:43,370 Emily: Yeah, and that is a monumental task. You know, we 107 00:05:43,370 --> 00:05:46,100 love to talk about the balance of structure and spark. 108 00:05:46,100 --> 00:05:48,230 Structure is all the predictability that makes your 109 00:05:48,230 --> 00:05:50,810 room run, and spark is the novelty that keeps it 110 00:05:50,810 --> 00:05:52,160 interesting. 111 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:54,560 Heidi: Now, you might think that the back to school season is 112 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:58,100 heavy on structure because you are spending so much time 113 00:05:58,100 --> 00:06:01,070 teaching policies and procedures, but you have to 114 00:06:01,070 --> 00:06:04,325 spend all that time on those tasks, not because of structure, 115 00:06:04,325 --> 00:06:05,915 but because of spark. 116 00:06:05,915 --> 00:06:10,055 Emily: Right. Everything is 100% new in those first few days, 117 00:06:10,055 --> 00:06:13,985 which means the level of spark is off the charts. It's as high 118 00:06:13,985 --> 00:06:18,605 as it will ever be. And what do we do when spark is high? We 119 00:06:18,605 --> 00:06:21,575 reset the balance by adding structure. 120 00:06:21,575 --> 00:06:25,460 Heidi: And unfortunately, in the first few weeks, you are the 121 00:06:25,460 --> 00:06:29,690 structure. There are no rules, expectations, or habits to hold 122 00:06:29,690 --> 00:06:32,360 the day together. It's just you. 123 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,990 Emily: Well, just you, and then the herd of confused kids that's 124 00:06:35,990 --> 00:06:40,490 waiting for you to shepherd them through every second of the next 125 00:06:40,490 --> 00:06:44,090 six hours, anything that happens in those first days happens 126 00:06:44,090 --> 00:06:46,640 because you are personally making it happen. 127 00:06:47,150 --> 00:06:50,675 Heidi: And that is why you go home and collapse. We often talk 128 00:06:50,675 --> 00:06:53,465 about the toll and imbalance of structure and spark takes on the 129 00:06:53,465 --> 00:06:57,455 kids, but it also takes a toll on teachers. Correcting an 130 00:06:57,455 --> 00:07:00,365 imbalance takes a lot of effort from you. 131 00:07:00,365 --> 00:07:03,275 Emily: Unfortunately, you're going to have to build a lot of 132 00:07:03,275 --> 00:07:05,915 structure from the start of the school year. There's just no way 133 00:07:05,915 --> 00:07:09,785 around that. But if we can't escape this problem, then we 134 00:07:09,785 --> 00:07:11,450 need a way through it. 135 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:14,360 Heidi: And that means making sure that you are not the sole 136 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,450 source of structure for an entire classroom. You need to 137 00:07:17,450 --> 00:07:20,090 borrow some external structure to get you through the first 138 00:07:20,090 --> 00:07:23,720 weeks, but unfortunately, this is another thing you're going to 139 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:24,860 have to build. 140 00:07:24,860 --> 00:07:27,710 Emily: But the good news is that this is all stuff you can do 141 00:07:27,710 --> 00:07:31,250 ahead of time, maybe even from the comfort of your couch, so 142 00:07:31,250 --> 00:07:34,625 that lifts the burden a little bit. You do all the thinking 143 00:07:34,625 --> 00:07:38,285 before the big day, so you can concentrate on what's unfolding 144 00:07:38,285 --> 00:07:41,585 in front of you when you're actually there in the classroom. 145 00:07:41,585 --> 00:07:44,315 Heidi: This is actually a principle used in a lot of 146 00:07:44,315 --> 00:07:48,575 high-performance fields. Pilots use pre-flight checklists. Event 147 00:07:48,575 --> 00:07:51,695 planners use run-of-show documents. Restaurants use 148 00:07:51,695 --> 00:07:54,995 opening and closing routines. None of these professionals rely 149 00:07:54,995 --> 00:07:58,700 on memory during their busiest, highest stakes moments. 150 00:07:58,700 --> 00:08:01,850 Emily: And all this comes down to one idea: don't carry it in 151 00:08:01,850 --> 00:08:04,910 your head if you don't have to. So the goal at the start of the 152 00:08:04,910 --> 00:08:07,430 year is to get as much information as possible out of 153 00:08:07,430 --> 00:08:11,720 your brain and into some kind of system. 154 00:08:11,780 --> 00:08:13,790 Heidi: If you're not sure where to start, you are in luck 155 00:08:13,790 --> 00:08:16,940 because that is exactly what we're talking about today. We've 156 00:08:16,940 --> 00:08:19,580 got six systems that can help you create some external 157 00:08:19,580 --> 00:08:23,330 structure, so it's not all on your shoulders, and we're 158 00:08:23,330 --> 00:08:26,540 starting with an oldie but a goodie. Write a first day 159 00:08:26,540 --> 00:08:29,000 script. Tell us about this, Emily. 160 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:31,310 Emily: Well, if you've been with us for a while here on the 161 00:08:31,310 --> 00:08:35,045 podcast, or if you joined us for Teacher Summer Talks and you 162 00:08:35,045 --> 00:08:38,915 joined in on the first day plan challenge, then you've heard all 163 00:08:38,915 --> 00:08:43,535 of this before, but it's worth a revisit. The idea is that you 164 00:08:43,535 --> 00:08:47,885 need to write out everything that has to happen in order, in 165 00:08:47,885 --> 00:08:51,275 as much detail as possible for that first day. So everything is 166 00:08:51,275 --> 00:08:53,945 ready to reference when you need it. 167 00:08:53,945 --> 00:08:56,345 Heidi: This is an idea from Harry Wong's First Days of 168 00:08:56,345 --> 00:09:00,590 School book, and it is a game changer. It's basically like 169 00:09:00,590 --> 00:09:04,490 writing subplans for yourself, really the more detail you use, 170 00:09:04,490 --> 00:09:09,260 the better. My first day script was usually eight pages. 171 00:09:09,260 --> 00:09:12,290 Emily: And that probably sounds like overkill until you start 172 00:09:12,290 --> 00:09:15,200 listing out every detail you have to remember for the first 173 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,590 day, and then you're like, "Oh, okay, maybe I need 10 pages. 174 00:09:18,590 --> 00:09:20,090 There's so many things." 175 00:09:20,690 --> 00:09:23,285 Heidi: Yeah, you really don't realize how much goes into a 176 00:09:23,285 --> 00:09:26,855 school day until you start listing it all out. You know, 177 00:09:26,855 --> 00:09:29,465 because your students don't know the morning routine yet, you 178 00:09:29,465 --> 00:09:33,005 need a detailed outline for your welcome activity. You need a 179 00:09:33,005 --> 00:09:35,525 reminder to stop for a class bathroom break because the 180 00:09:35,525 --> 00:09:38,195 bladders are still on summer break. You need to plan what 181 00:09:38,195 --> 00:09:40,835 time to start teaching lunch procedures so you're not having 182 00:09:40,835 --> 00:09:44,540 to rush through the 25 steps it takes to get everyone fed. 183 00:09:44,540 --> 00:09:48,290 Emily: And then you also need to think of backup activities for 184 00:09:48,290 --> 00:09:52,430 all of the planned activities in case things end really quickly. 185 00:09:52,430 --> 00:09:55,940 We did a whole episode on how to build a detailed script back in 186 00:09:55,940 --> 00:09:59,870 episode 77, so go grab that for the full walkthrough of creating 187 00:09:59,870 --> 00:10:01,490 your first day plan. 188 00:10:01,420 --> 00:10:04,060 Heidi: I'm kind of liking the idea of calling it a run of show 189 00:10:04,060 --> 00:10:07,720 instead of a script. I think that paints a clearer picture of 190 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:11,290 what it does. Teachers sometimes hear script and think it's 191 00:10:11,290 --> 00:10:14,770 locking them into a rigid plan, but it's really doing the 192 00:10:14,770 --> 00:10:15,850 opposite. 193 00:10:15,850 --> 00:10:18,820 Emily: Right. A script, or I guess we can call it a run of 194 00:10:18,820 --> 00:10:23,980 show, lets you offload the details, like remembering which 195 00:10:24,025 --> 00:10:27,115 pedal is the brake, so that you can focus on the important 196 00:10:27,115 --> 00:10:29,785 stuff, like being present and connecting with your new 197 00:10:29,785 --> 00:10:30,745 students. 198 00:10:30,745 --> 00:10:33,985 Heidi: Yeah, it's really hard to build that connection with a kid 199 00:10:33,985 --> 00:10:37,105 who's, you know, pouring their heart out about their pet dog, 200 00:10:37,105 --> 00:10:39,565 but all you're doing is thinking through everything you need to 201 00:10:39,565 --> 00:10:43,165 remember for dismissal. So do yourself a favor and just write 202 00:10:43,165 --> 00:10:44,575 down the details. 203 00:10:44,575 --> 00:10:46,915 Emily: And think how happy you'll be next year when you go 204 00:10:46,915 --> 00:10:49,900 to plan the first day, and you already have a detailed list of 205 00:10:49,900 --> 00:10:52,480 everything you did the year before. You just need to maybe 206 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,840 update a few things, and you're all ready to go. 207 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:58,810 Heidi: I actually planned my whole first week in this kind of 208 00:10:58,810 --> 00:11:02,530 detail. It was such a relief to be able to consult my list 209 00:11:02,530 --> 00:11:06,070 anytime I needed a reminder. It really made the whole first week 210 00:11:06,070 --> 00:11:07,690 a lot smoother. 211 00:11:07,690 --> 00:11:10,795 Emily: And I am so guilty of thinking when I when I'm about 212 00:11:10,795 --> 00:11:14,695 to teach something of like, I don't need the play by play. I 213 00:11:14,695 --> 00:11:17,845 know what I'm going to do. I'm flexible. I'll wing it, and it 214 00:11:17,845 --> 00:11:21,835 will be fine. And it's never fine. I always end up in some 215 00:11:21,835 --> 00:11:24,025 awkward moment of like, oh shoot, I didn't think through 216 00:11:24,025 --> 00:11:26,755 that. You know, like, just don't set yourself up for that, 217 00:11:26,755 --> 00:11:28,645 especially at the beginning of the year, because you're out of 218 00:11:28,645 --> 00:11:32,335 practice. The kids, everything's new to the kids. Do yourself a 219 00:11:32,335 --> 00:11:36,250 favor and just get that external structure on your clipboard with 220 00:11:36,250 --> 00:11:39,130 those daily scripts for as many days as you think it would be 221 00:11:39,130 --> 00:11:41,770 helpful at the start of the school year. 222 00:11:41,770 --> 00:11:44,860 Our next suggestion will not come as a surprise, but that is 223 00:11:44,860 --> 00:11:48,820 to plan your procedures in advance. You knew that we were 224 00:11:48,820 --> 00:11:51,880 going to mention that at some point in this episode. 225 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:55,900 Heidi: Yeah, it's inescapable with us. Your goal at the start 226 00:11:55,900 --> 00:11:59,035 of the year is to know the exact steps you need students to 227 00:11:59,035 --> 00:12:02,905 follow, and then have a plan for how to teach them. It's a lot to 228 00:12:02,905 --> 00:12:06,475 take on, but it is one of the best investments you can make at 229 00:12:06,475 --> 00:12:08,215 the start of the school year. 230 00:12:08,210 --> 00:12:10,490 Emily: And if you want some help with this, we're here to help. 231 00:12:10,490 --> 00:12:13,310 We've got a procedures and routines planning guide and 232 00:12:13,310 --> 00:12:16,940 checklists to guide you through each step in the process. 233 00:12:16,940 --> 00:12:19,520 Heidi: And there are links to all of that in the show notes. 234 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:22,400 And then we have maybe my favorite product we've ever 235 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:27,500 made, our Tell Try Tally Talk slide decks. This is as close as 236 00:12:27,500 --> 00:12:29,870 we can get to showing up and teaching your procedures for 237 00:12:29,870 --> 00:12:33,125 you. All you have to do is add the steps you want students to 238 00:12:33,125 --> 00:12:36,875 follow, and then you can add a photo if you want. And then the 239 00:12:36,875 --> 00:12:39,995 rest of the lesson is already prepared for you. 240 00:12:39,990 --> 00:12:42,420 Emily: And make sure you come back to the podcast on Thursday 241 00:12:42,420 --> 00:12:45,690 for our Can't Miss Classic episode, because this week it's 242 00:12:45,690 --> 00:12:49,080 all about how to plan procedures step by step, and that is a 243 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:52,620 great resource if this is a new process for you. 244 00:12:52,620 --> 00:12:55,560 Heidi: But also, don't forget to check out last week's Can't Miss 245 00:12:55,560 --> 00:12:58,890 Classic episode where we talked about how to soften the back to 246 00:12:58,890 --> 00:13:02,850 school landing. Simplifying and automating your personal life is 247 00:13:02,850 --> 00:13:05,925 another way to get some external structure. 248 00:13:05,925 --> 00:13:08,835 Emily: Anything that you can put on autopilot before school 249 00:13:08,835 --> 00:13:12,375 starts becomes one less decision you have to make in a moment 250 00:13:12,375 --> 00:13:16,305 when you are so overloaded with decisions. So if you can pick 251 00:13:16,305 --> 00:13:18,885 out all your clothes for the first week or plan to eat the 252 00:13:18,885 --> 00:13:23,145 same lunch for a few days, you free up time and energy that go 253 00:13:23,145 --> 00:13:24,975 toward getting the school year up and running. 254 00:13:24,975 --> 00:13:29,220 Heidi: So make sure to grab that episode if you missed it. All 255 00:13:29,220 --> 00:13:31,740 right, you are working on your first day script. You're 256 00:13:31,740 --> 00:13:34,530 planning your procedures. You're automating decisions in your 257 00:13:34,530 --> 00:13:38,490 personal life. All of those systems are giving you a huge 258 00:13:38,490 --> 00:13:42,570 boost of external structure, so you don't have to carry so much. 259 00:13:42,570 --> 00:13:45,300 Emily, what is next on our list? 260 00:13:45,300 --> 00:13:49,245 Emily: Our fourth system is to use checklists. This is 261 00:13:49,245 --> 00:13:53,745 different from your to-do list. These checklists are to help 262 00:13:53,745 --> 00:13:57,165 ensure you're remembering every step in your process. Even if 263 00:13:57,165 --> 00:13:59,355 you're stepping into the same routines you were using last 264 00:13:59,355 --> 00:14:02,925 May, it is still worth writing down each step. 265 00:14:02,925 --> 00:14:05,145 Heidi: Yeah, because it's been a few months. You're probably a 266 00:14:05,145 --> 00:14:08,775 little rusty, and if you're like me, it's really easy to overlook 267 00:14:08,775 --> 00:14:13,830 a step or two. So consider these like your pre-flight checklist. 268 00:14:13,830 --> 00:14:16,380 And a fair warning: I'm not a pilot. I'm basing this 269 00:14:16,380 --> 00:14:20,430 information off the internet. But if Google is to be believed, 270 00:14:20,430 --> 00:14:23,460 pilots are supposed to run through a checklist before every 271 00:14:23,460 --> 00:14:26,760 flight, no matter how experienced they are. 272 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:29,250 Emily: Now, obviously, the stakes of forgetting a step in 273 00:14:29,250 --> 00:14:32,190 your end of day routine are not quite as high as forgetting a 274 00:14:32,190 --> 00:14:36,255 step before flying a plane, but you still don't want to be left 275 00:14:36,255 --> 00:14:39,225 scrambling when a sticky note could have saved the day. 276 00:14:39,225 --> 00:14:41,745 Heidi: So let's think about sometimes when one of those 277 00:14:41,745 --> 00:14:45,075 checklists can come in handy. I am a big fan of having a morning 278 00:14:45,075 --> 00:14:48,465 routine for tasks to do before the kids arrive, and then 279 00:14:48,465 --> 00:14:51,855 another routine to do after they leave. And both of those are 280 00:14:51,855 --> 00:14:54,105 great candidates for a step-by-step checklist. 281 00:14:54,690 --> 00:14:57,480 Emily: And you can expand that to an end-of-week checklist for 282 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:00,810 everything you need to do on Friday to set up for Monday. Or 283 00:15:00,810 --> 00:15:03,240 a checklist of what to remember when you start pulling small 284 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:05,820 groups or introducing centers. 285 00:15:05,900 --> 00:15:07,940 Heidi: Remember, the goal is to keep from carrying details in 286 00:15:07,940 --> 00:15:11,360 your head if you don't have to. So grab some post-its and draft 287 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:15,140 a few checklists. It's a simple way to keep everything on track. 288 00:15:15,140 --> 00:15:17,750 And if you want some support with that, we have a whole set 289 00:15:17,750 --> 00:15:20,630 of back-to-school checklists to help you walk through all of 290 00:15:20,630 --> 00:15:23,060 this. Really, it's tons of details. Probably more 291 00:15:23,060 --> 00:15:26,600 checklists than you need, so it can give you the right structure 292 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:30,095 to get your ideas all organized and in one place. 293 00:15:30,095 --> 00:15:31,955 Emily: Plus, you'll get the satisfaction of going through 294 00:15:31,955 --> 00:15:34,415 them, being like, "Oh, check, check, check! I don't need that. 295 00:15:34,415 --> 00:15:38,555 I already thought of that, and that's just such a boost. 296 00:15:38,555 --> 00:15:41,885 Okay, our next system is to put your room to work, like the 297 00:15:41,885 --> 00:15:45,575 actual room, not the kids in it. Although they should definitely 298 00:15:45,575 --> 00:15:49,265 be helping too. But the goal here is to make the structure as 299 00:15:49,265 --> 00:15:50,405 visible as possible. 300 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:53,390 Heidi: So here we're going to think labels. These are a great 301 00:15:53,390 --> 00:15:57,200 tool. Label the pencil cup and the lunchbox station and the bin 302 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:01,130 for homework folders. Label anything that has a designated 303 00:16:01,130 --> 00:16:02,090 spot. 304 00:16:02,090 --> 00:16:04,100 Emily: And even if you don't want to keep those labels up all 305 00:16:04,100 --> 00:16:07,670 year, having them out for a few weeks can greatly reduce the 306 00:16:07,670 --> 00:16:10,400 number of questions that you will be asked. 307 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:13,745 Heidi: And you can also get your walls involved, make lists for 308 00:16:13,745 --> 00:16:17,405 how you want things done, and then post them. It's even better 309 00:16:17,405 --> 00:16:21,125 if you can include an image, either clip art or a photo, of 310 00:16:21,125 --> 00:16:24,815 exactly what's expected. That way, before it's time to line up 311 00:16:24,815 --> 00:16:28,295 on day three, you can post the list as a reminder. 312 00:16:28,295 --> 00:16:31,025 Emily: This is a great tip for any time of day. So pull out 313 00:16:31,025 --> 00:16:34,175 your list and review the steps before having students turn and 314 00:16:34,175 --> 00:16:37,940 talk during a lesson, or before walking through the halls to get 315 00:16:37,940 --> 00:16:42,230 to music class. Again, you don't have to leave these up all year. 316 00:16:42,230 --> 00:16:45,080 Heidi: But you will probably be really glad you have them all 317 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:48,080 year. In January, when the lineup routine is getting 318 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:51,020 sloppy, you're going to be so glad that you can reach for a 319 00:16:51,020 --> 00:16:53,990 lineup poster that's already done, so you can review your 320 00:16:53,990 --> 00:16:57,080 expectations right in the moment when it's needed. 321 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,885 Emily: All right, that brings us to our last system for getting 322 00:16:59,885 --> 00:17:02,945 the details out of your head. One of the kindest things you 323 00:17:02,945 --> 00:17:06,785 can do for yourself is to stop expecting future you to remember 324 00:17:06,785 --> 00:17:11,585 everything. Future you will be busy teaching, redirecting, 325 00:17:11,585 --> 00:17:15,425 answering questions, solving problems, and making 100 tiny 326 00:17:15,425 --> 00:17:20,495 decisions. So leave behind some breadcrumbs to show future you 327 00:17:20,495 --> 00:17:21,275 the path. 328 00:17:21,275 --> 00:17:24,140 Heidi: Yeah, you can't assume that you're going to remember 329 00:17:24,140 --> 00:17:28,400 the details when you are at max capacity, as Emily pointed out. 330 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:31,790 So think of breadcrumbs as trail markers in the woods. They are 331 00:17:31,790 --> 00:17:34,130 small cues to help you stay on track. 332 00:17:34,130 --> 00:17:36,590 Emily: An easy one here is to grab a highlighter in your first 333 00:17:36,590 --> 00:17:41,060 day script. Ask what will future me have a hard time remembering. 334 00:17:41,060 --> 00:17:44,180 Mark any key details like the time to switch between 335 00:17:44,180 --> 00:17:47,135 activities or the steps for teaching students how to log 336 00:17:47,135 --> 00:17:49,085 into their Chromebooks. 337 00:17:49,085 --> 00:17:52,115 Heidi: Or the one I always forgot on the first day: submit 338 00:17:52,115 --> 00:17:55,235 attendance. If you need something to jump off the page, 339 00:17:55,235 --> 00:17:58,985 highlight it. You can even make it cute. Those mild liners come 340 00:17:58,985 --> 00:18:02,135 in lots of fun colors if neon is not your thing. 341 00:18:02,135 --> 00:18:05,465 Emily: Another breadcrumb is alarms. This is my go-to. You 342 00:18:05,465 --> 00:18:08,675 probably need to offer more bathroom breaks in the first 343 00:18:08,675 --> 00:18:12,320 days of school before anyone has an accident. Schedule some 344 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:15,530 alarms so that you remember to pause for a break. 345 00:18:15,530 --> 00:18:18,590 Heidi: And I had to leave my lunch early for the first few 346 00:18:18,590 --> 00:18:21,440 days so I could be outside before the bell ring because we 347 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:24,200 had to pick up our kids and take them inside. Otherwise, my 348 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:26,420 students would get nervous about when and where they were 349 00:18:26,420 --> 00:18:28,190 supposed to line up because it was different than what they 350 00:18:28,190 --> 00:18:32,285 were used to in first grade. So setting an alarm meant I could 351 00:18:32,285 --> 00:18:35,555 inhale my sandwich in the 15 minutes I had for lunch without 352 00:18:35,555 --> 00:18:37,595 having to watch the clock the whole time. 353 00:18:37,595 --> 00:18:41,225 Emily: Or forget to go out early because you're so tired. 354 00:18:41,225 --> 00:18:44,885 Heidi: Yes, and another breadcrumb is gathering your 355 00:18:44,885 --> 00:18:48,785 materials. In the first few days of school you're probably using 356 00:18:48,785 --> 00:18:52,685 a lot of supplies that you won't use during a normal school day, 357 00:18:52,685 --> 00:18:55,730 so make it easier to stay in the flow by having everything you 358 00:18:55,730 --> 00:18:58,400 need for the day in one place. 359 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:01,880 Emily: And if you really want a gold star for organizing. Try 360 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:05,420 stacking your materials in the order that you will need them. 361 00:19:05,420 --> 00:19:08,780 So put end of day materials at the bottom and start of the day 362 00:19:08,780 --> 00:19:09,650 at the top. 363 00:19:09,650 --> 00:19:12,350 Heidi: And then after you do that, grab your end of day 364 00:19:12,350 --> 00:19:16,970 checklist and add "put away today's materials" to the list. 365 00:19:16,970 --> 00:19:19,205 We're not starting day two with a pile of clutter. 366 00:19:19,205 --> 00:19:23,825 Emily: Yes, say no to clutter, at least at the start. There's 367 00:19:23,825 --> 00:19:27,695 only so much you can do once the year starts going on. 368 00:19:27,695 --> 00:19:31,325 Okay, those are our six systems for creating external structure, 369 00:19:31,325 --> 00:19:35,225 so that you don't have to carry every detail in your head. Write 370 00:19:35,225 --> 00:19:39,395 a first day script or a run of show document. Plan your 371 00:19:39,395 --> 00:19:42,950 procedures in advance. Simplify and automate your real life 372 00:19:42,950 --> 00:19:46,520 during back to school. Use checklists, put your room to 373 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:50,840 work, and leave breadcrumbs to show yourself the path. 374 00:19:50,930 --> 00:19:53,810 Heidi: Each of these systems work because they reduce demands 375 00:19:53,810 --> 00:19:57,530 on prospective memory. That's our ability to remember to do 376 00:19:57,530 --> 00:20:01,220 something in the future. Prospective memory is especially 377 00:20:01,220 --> 00:20:04,670 vulnerable when we are interrupted, stressed, juggling 378 00:20:04,670 --> 00:20:07,580 multiple tasks, or in a new environment. 379 00:20:07,580 --> 00:20:09,800 Emily: So yeah, all of that sounds like the first day of 380 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:13,955 school. And the goal here is not to become better at juggling all 381 00:20:13,955 --> 00:20:18,275 of that. The goal is to stop juggling as much. So until the 382 00:20:18,275 --> 00:20:21,245 automaticity is in place, do yourself a favor and create the 383 00:20:21,245 --> 00:20:24,605 extra structure you need so that you can enjoy the magic of 384 00:20:24,605 --> 00:20:27,335 getting to know your new students. 385 00:20:27,335 --> 00:20:30,155 Heidi: If this discussion was helpful, you definitely want to 386 00:20:30,155 --> 00:20:33,695 grab our soon-to-be-released book, Structure and Spark. In 387 00:20:33,695 --> 00:20:36,680 it, we walk you through every season of the school year and 388 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:39,710 offer you all of our best tips for meeting the specific needs 389 00:20:39,710 --> 00:20:41,510 of that season. 390 00:20:41,510 --> 00:20:44,000 Emily: comes out august 18, and so you still have time to 391 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:49,220 pre-order. And once you do, come to secondstorywindow.net/book, 392 00:20:49,220 --> 00:20:52,310 and there's a form there so that you can tell us you pre-ordered. 393 00:20:52,310 --> 00:20:55,730 And then we have some really fun bonuses for you if you 394 00:20:55,730 --> 00:20:57,230 pre-order. 395 00:20:57,230 --> 00:20:59,885 Heidi: There's a link to the book in the show notes, and if 396 00:20:59,885 --> 00:21:03,815 you have already pre-ordered, thank you so much. Pre-orders 397 00:21:03,815 --> 00:21:06,335 tell booksellers that our book is worth recommending to 398 00:21:06,335 --> 00:21:09,575 readers, so they really are a huge help, and we appreciate 399 00:21:09,575 --> 00:21:10,925 every single one. 400 00:21:10,925 --> 00:21:13,055 Emily: And if you pre-ordered but you haven't submitted the 401 00:21:13,055 --> 00:21:16,835 form, go ahead and do that because you can still get your 402 00:21:16,835 --> 00:21:18,905 bonuses. 403 00:21:18,905 --> 00:21:21,425 Now for our teacher-approved tip of the week, where we share an 404 00:21:21,425 --> 00:21:24,290 actionable tip to help you elevate what matters and 405 00:21:24,290 --> 00:21:27,710 simplify the rest. This week's teacher-approved tip is to add 406 00:21:27,710 --> 00:21:30,140 some joy. Tell us about it, Heidi. 407 00:21:30,140 --> 00:21:32,720 Heidi: Well, if you remember a couple months ago, back to our 408 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,690 summer reading episode, I mentioned that the smallest of 409 00:21:35,690 --> 00:21:39,950 joys by Diane Schiffer was on my TBR list. I have finished it 410 00:21:39,950 --> 00:21:44,240 now, so gold star for that, I guess. And it is as lovely and 411 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:47,465 comforting as she is, but she has an idea that I want to 412 00:21:47,465 --> 00:21:51,995 borrow for today. She recommends setting happy traps, and I'm 413 00:21:51,995 --> 00:21:53,915 just going to read how she describes them because I can't 414 00:21:53,915 --> 00:21:55,595 do it justice. 415 00:21:55,595 --> 00:21:59,405 So she says, "Happy traps are little gifts to yourself. They 416 00:21:59,405 --> 00:22:02,915 are sweet surprises you prepare for yourself, a gentle sort of 417 00:22:02,915 --> 00:22:06,035 trickery meant to coax a smile on a hard day, or give your 418 00:22:06,035 --> 00:22:09,800 weary spirit something kind to land on. Creating happy traps 419 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:12,500 isn't about buying expensive treats or curating someone 420 00:22:12,500 --> 00:22:15,830 else's idea of the perfect lifestyle. It's about tuning 421 00:22:15,830 --> 00:22:19,310 into what makes you feel light and warm and delighted. What 422 00:22:19,310 --> 00:22:21,650 gives you relief from the stress, or the boredom, or the 423 00:22:21,650 --> 00:22:24,980 heartbreak, or whatever it is that is blocking your own joy, 424 00:22:24,980 --> 00:22:26,390 do that." 425 00:22:26,390 --> 00:22:28,700 And I think that's such a beautiful way to show compassion 426 00:22:28,700 --> 00:22:32,855 for yourself. And if anyone is in need of some self-compassion, 427 00:22:33,065 --> 00:22:35,915 it's teachers at the start of the school year. So before you 428 00:22:35,915 --> 00:22:39,095 get too lost in the thick of things, what surprises can you 429 00:22:39,095 --> 00:22:41,225 tuck away to lift your heart on a long day? 430 00:22:41,735 --> 00:22:45,515 Emily: Oh, I love this! It's so cute. It's like that feeling of 431 00:22:45,515 --> 00:22:49,895 finding like $5 in your coat after you take it back out in 432 00:22:49,895 --> 00:22:51,935 the fall and you put it on for the first time. And it's like 433 00:22:52,055 --> 00:22:56,870 ooh! But you're just going to be creating that feeling on purpose 434 00:22:56,870 --> 00:22:58,640 with your happy traps. 435 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:01,460 Heidi: And I think, like for me, an easy way to do this would be 436 00:23:01,460 --> 00:23:05,090 to get one or two favorite treats and then hide them. You 437 00:23:05,090 --> 00:23:07,970 could, you know, tuck them in the back of your desk or in a 438 00:23:07,970 --> 00:23:10,430 closet where no one in your family is going to stumble on 439 00:23:10,430 --> 00:23:13,460 them and take them. And then when you come home after 12 440 00:23:13,460 --> 00:23:15,620 hours at school putting up bulletin boards and arranging 441 00:23:15,620 --> 00:23:18,755 desks, you know you've got something lovely waiting for 442 00:23:18,755 --> 00:23:19,805 you. 443 00:23:19,810 --> 00:23:21,940 Emily: And it doesn't even have to be a physical treat. You 444 00:23:21,940 --> 00:23:24,940 could create a folder on your phone and add all the photos 445 00:23:24,940 --> 00:23:28,240 that make you smile, or write yourself a note of encouragement 446 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:30,550 to read on a hard day. 447 00:23:30,550 --> 00:23:33,070 Heidi: I keep meaning to save like all those videos that make 448 00:23:33,070 --> 00:23:36,250 me laugh, so I have them all in one place. You know, when I need 449 00:23:36,250 --> 00:23:39,250 a little boost. So maybe this will be my my kick to get that 450 00:23:39,250 --> 00:23:40,270 going. 451 00:23:40,270 --> 00:23:41,800 Emily: Yeah, that's a good idea. 452 00:23:42,130 --> 00:23:44,725 Heidi: All it takes is thinking about what you love and then 453 00:23:44,725 --> 00:23:48,145 finding a way to add more of it to your life. Everyone needs 454 00:23:48,145 --> 00:23:51,475 more of those kinds of tasks on their to-do list instead of what 455 00:23:51,475 --> 00:23:53,695 we spend so much time on. 456 00:23:53,695 --> 00:23:55,795 Okay, to wrap up the show, we're sharing what we're giving extra 457 00:23:55,795 --> 00:23:58,135 credit to this week. Emily, what gets your extra credit? 458 00:23:58,135 --> 00:24:01,615 Emily: Well, I'm giving extra credit to another boring thing 459 00:24:01,615 --> 00:24:05,710 that proves that we're just old perimenopausal ladies over here, 460 00:24:05,710 --> 00:24:10,420 because I'm giving extra credit to the new redesign of travel 461 00:24:10,420 --> 00:24:11,890 tissues. So. 462 00:24:11,890 --> 00:24:13,990 Heidi: You showed me these; they are fancy. 463 00:24:13,990 --> 00:24:17,530 Emily: They are so smart. Like I can't believe it took this long. 464 00:24:17,530 --> 00:24:22,060 So you know, those little travel packs of tissues are always the 465 00:24:22,060 --> 00:24:24,910 worst because when you first like take one out, it's all 466 00:24:24,910 --> 00:24:27,610 right, and the little flap will tape back. But before long, it 467 00:24:27,610 --> 00:24:30,835 won't stick anymore. And then as more gets out of it, the more 468 00:24:30,835 --> 00:24:35,695 like loosey goosey it gets, and so it just sort of falls apart 469 00:24:35,695 --> 00:24:38,185 in your purse, and the tissues are half hanging out, and it's 470 00:24:38,185 --> 00:24:39,115 just the worst. 471 00:24:39,115 --> 00:24:41,155 Heidi: Or then all the crumbs at the bottom of your purse end up 472 00:24:41,155 --> 00:24:43,945 in the bag with the tissue, so you go to pull out a tissue, and 473 00:24:43,945 --> 00:24:45,115 it's already gross. 474 00:24:45,115 --> 00:24:48,475 Emily: I know it's so stupid. So these are basically now they 475 00:24:48,475 --> 00:24:52,210 look like itty bitty little baby wipes containers, is what I 476 00:24:52,210 --> 00:24:56,650 would liken it to. They're so cute, and so the the shape of it 477 00:24:56,650 --> 00:24:59,080 has been given a little bit more structure in the way it's 478 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:02,530 designed, to begin with, and then the top is like a baby 479 00:25:02,530 --> 00:25:08,080 wipes opener, so it keeps it very firmly closed in your bag. 480 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:11,860 So you have the satisfying pop when you open it, then reach in 481 00:25:11,860 --> 00:25:15,025 and get your nice little towel, and then snap it shut again. 482 00:25:15,175 --> 00:25:17,785 This is so brilliant, considering that baby wipes have 483 00:25:17,785 --> 00:25:22,495 been that way for quite a while with those kind of lids, I'm 484 00:25:22,495 --> 00:25:25,165 surprised that it took travel tissues this long to get on 485 00:25:25,165 --> 00:25:26,965 board. But I'm a fan. 486 00:25:27,115 --> 00:25:28,705 Heidi: Well, we're glad they got there in the end. 487 00:25:28,945 --> 00:25:31,975 Emily: All right, what are you giving extra credit to? 488 00:25:32,245 --> 00:25:35,155 Heidi: Okay, well this is kind of niche, but I just finished 489 00:25:35,155 --> 00:25:40,180 the audio book of When Gavin Met Stacy, and I I think I smiled 490 00:25:40,210 --> 00:25:42,040 the whole time I was listening to it. 491 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:46,870 Emily: This is probably very niche. I don't know how much, we 492 00:25:46,870 --> 00:25:51,280 watched this back in the mid 2000s, but I don't know if a lot 493 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:53,980 of Americans did. But hopefully, there's some out there. 494 00:25:54,190 --> 00:25:56,800 Heidi: I debated it even saying this, but I thought if someone 495 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:59,590 has watched it and loved it, they would definitely love this 496 00:25:59,590 --> 00:26:02,095 book. So I'd feel sad not saying it, or maybe this will be your 497 00:26:02,095 --> 00:26:06,775 push to start watching it. If you got a BritBox subscription, 498 00:26:06,775 --> 00:26:09,205 so you could watch the Other Bennett Sister, all of Gavin and 499 00:26:09,205 --> 00:26:11,155 Stacey's on BritBox, so you could catch up. 500 00:26:11,215 --> 00:26:13,495 Emily: Oh, but we should probably give a disclaimer that 501 00:26:13,495 --> 00:26:17,695 this is very British humor, so the language and the jokes are a 502 00:26:17,695 --> 00:26:20,905 little bit wild by American standards. So just go in with 503 00:26:20,905 --> 00:26:22,855 that in mind and don't hold it against us. 504 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:26,440 Heidi: I think it's considered family viewing over there, like 505 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:30,280 everyone's sitting around on Christmas watching this. But 506 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:33,700 it's it's a little more grown up. Think Ted Lasso. I think 507 00:26:33,730 --> 00:26:36,310 that's a very good comparison. 508 00:26:36,310 --> 00:26:39,130 Emily: I'm remembering a few specific things from Gavin and 509 00:26:39,130 --> 00:26:41,680 Stacy that might be a little farther over the line than Ted 510 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:42,670 Lasso. 511 00:26:42,670 --> 00:26:45,040 Heidi: Well, Ted Lasso had way worse language, though. 512 00:26:45,250 --> 00:26:46,540 Emily: Okay, true, true. 513 00:26:46,735 --> 00:26:49,135 Heidi: Yeah. Anyway, let's come around all the way back to the 514 00:26:49,135 --> 00:26:52,375 beginning here. Gavin and Stacy is a British sitcom, and it 515 00:26:52,375 --> 00:26:57,625 started in 2006, and then true BBC fashion it ended in 2025. 516 00:26:57,625 --> 00:27:01,285 Now, in 19 years, how many episodes do you think they made? 517 00:27:01,285 --> 00:27:05,095 22. They made 22 episodes. 518 00:27:05,095 --> 00:27:07,045 Emily: What is with British TV? 519 00:27:07,285 --> 00:27:12,280 Heidi: Don't get it. But this is the love story of Gavin, who's a 520 00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:16,150 boy from West England, and then Stacy is a girl from Wales. And 521 00:27:16,150 --> 00:27:18,490 if you don't know your UK geography, that's on the 522 00:27:18,490 --> 00:27:22,750 opposite side. And because these two fell in love, two very 523 00:27:22,750 --> 00:27:26,710 different families now have to mesh their lives, and it's just 524 00:27:26,710 --> 00:27:30,010 quirky with a big heart, which is my go-to. It's all written by 525 00:27:30,010 --> 00:27:33,295 Ruth Jones and James Corden, who play the best friends to Gavin 526 00:27:33,295 --> 00:27:36,655 and Stacy, and it's just it's just lovely. 527 00:27:36,655 --> 00:27:40,405 Emily: It has a lot of heart, and it is just so funny. 528 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:44,590 Heidi: Yes. So if you enjoyed the show, I cannot recommend 529 00:27:44,590 --> 00:27:47,500 this book highly enough. Ruth Jones and James Corden narrate 530 00:27:47,500 --> 00:27:50,530 it, and it's basically like getting to eavesdrop on the two 531 00:27:50,530 --> 00:27:52,810 of them chatting. I don't know if you would enjoy it as much if 532 00:27:52,810 --> 00:27:56,140 you read it, because listening to them talk like they make each 533 00:27:56,140 --> 00:27:59,290 other cry, they make each other laugh. Plus, in the audio book, 534 00:27:59,290 --> 00:28:01,660 they include like snippets from the show when they're talking 535 00:28:01,660 --> 00:28:04,645 about writing a scene or you know something like that. So it 536 00:28:04,645 --> 00:28:07,255 was just it was the kind of experience you want from an 537 00:28:07,255 --> 00:28:10,345 audio book about a favorite TV show. 10 out of 10, perfect. 538 00:28:10,345 --> 00:28:12,475 Emily: Well, I will have to listen now because that sounds 539 00:28:12,475 --> 00:28:14,425 amazing and I haven't read it. 540 00:28:14,425 --> 00:28:16,525 Heidi: Yes, you're in for a treat. 541 00:28:16,525 --> 00:28:20,065 Okay, that is it for today's episode. Make time to work on a 542 00:28:20,065 --> 00:28:22,165 system that can lend you structure as you start the 543 00:28:22,165 --> 00:28:24,745 school year, so you don't have to carry it all. And don't 544 00:28:24,745 --> 00:28:27,490 forget to plan some happy traps, so you have some fun surprises 545 00:28:27,490 --> 00:28:30,220 to look forward to. 546 00:28:30,220 --> 00:28:34,090 We hope you enjoyed this episode of Teacher Approved. I'm Heidi. 547 00:28:34,090 --> 00:28:37,390 Emily: And I'm Emily. Thank you for listening. Be sure to follow 548 00:28:37,390 --> 00:28:39,880 or subscribe in your podcast app so that you never miss 549 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:40,660 episode. 550 00:28:40,660 --> 00:28:43,090 Heidi: You can connect with us and other teachers in the 551 00:28:43,090 --> 00:28:46,480 Teacher Approved Facebook group. We'll see you here next week. 552 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:47,290 Bye for now. 553 00:28:47,290 --> 00:28:49,030 Emily: Bye.