1 00:00:00,930 --> 00:00:03,420 Heidi: This is episode 193 of Teacher Approved. 2 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:09,300 You're listening to Teacher Approved, the podcast helping 3 00:00:09,300 --> 00:00:13,080 educators elevate what matters and simplify the rest. I'm 4 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:13,590 Heidi. 5 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:16,980 Emily: And I'm Emily. We're the creators behind Second Story 6 00:00:16,980 --> 00:00:19,920 Window, where we give research based and teacher approved 7 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,560 strategies that make teaching less stressful and more 8 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,950 effective. You can check out the show notes and resources from 9 00:00:25,980 --> 00:00:27,840 each episode at secondstory window.net. 10 00:00:28,770 --> 00:00:31,530 Heidi: We're so glad you're tuning in today. Let's get to 11 00:00:31,530 --> 00:00:32,100 the show. 12 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,600 Emily: Hey there. We're so glad you're here. In today's episode, 13 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:44,400 we're sharing why now, yes, even in May, is actually the perfect 14 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,550 time to start thinking about next school year. Plus, we've 15 00:00:47,550 --> 00:00:51,060 got a free tool to help you do just that without adding more to 16 00:00:51,060 --> 00:00:52,320 your plate right now. 17 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:55,530 Heidi: Let's kick things off with the try it tomorrow, a 18 00:00:55,530 --> 00:00:57,900 quick win that you can try in your classroom right away. 19 00:00:58,290 --> 00:00:59,730 Emily, what is our idea this week? 20 00:00:59,970 --> 00:01:04,260 Emily: Tomorrow, try out a silent transition challenge. So 21 00:01:04,410 --> 00:01:08,250 choose just one transition, like lining up for lunch or switching 22 00:01:08,250 --> 00:01:10,470 from math to reading, and challenge your class to do it 23 00:01:10,650 --> 00:01:12,840 completely silently. 24 00:01:13,320 --> 00:01:16,380 Heidi: You can even set a timer to see how fast they can do it. 25 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:20,220 Tell them their goal is to beat their best time without saying a 26 00:01:20,220 --> 00:01:23,240 word. It adds a little bit of fun and novelty to something 27 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:24,800 that you are already doing every day. 28 00:01:25,170 --> 00:01:27,870 Emily: This is one of those sneaky tricks that helps clean 29 00:01:27,870 --> 00:01:31,710 up your transitions and adds a little end of year energy boost 30 00:01:31,710 --> 00:01:34,080 when you know everyone's feeling a little wiggly. 31 00:01:34,410 --> 00:01:38,070 Heidi: And bonus, it gives you a calm moment in your day too. So 32 00:01:38,070 --> 00:01:39,150 let us know how it goes. 33 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:42,400 Emily: If you like this idea or anything else we share here on 34 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:45,460 the podcast, you know what I'm gonna ask, would you please take 35 00:01:45,460 --> 00:01:48,460 a second and give us a five star rating, because ratings and 36 00:01:48,460 --> 00:01:51,160 reviews are one way that new listeners find us. 37 00:01:52,060 --> 00:01:55,600 Heidi: Today, we are talking about why May is actually the 38 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:59,380 perfect time to start thinking about next school year. And we 39 00:01:59,380 --> 00:02:02,700 know what you're thinking. Are they crazy? I'm just trying to 40 00:02:02,700 --> 00:02:03,780 survive until summer. 41 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:07,740 Emily: I know we get it, and we're not suggesting that you 42 00:02:07,740 --> 00:02:10,500 whip out a fresh teacher planner and start mapping out every 43 00:02:10,500 --> 00:02:13,560 minute of the first week of school right now. But there are 44 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:17,580 some seriously good reasons why a little planning now can save 45 00:02:17,580 --> 00:02:20,840 your future self from that back to school meltdown that we all 46 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:21,860 know so well. 47 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:27,120 Heidi: So let's dive into it. Why is May such a smart time to 48 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:30,090 start planning ahead for next school year? Well, we have got 49 00:02:30,090 --> 00:02:33,480 five key reasons why right now is the sweet spot for this kind 50 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:37,200 of preparation, and I promise none of these reasons involve 51 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:38,100 staying after school. 52 00:02:38,730 --> 00:02:41,340 Emily: So let's start with reason number one, your 53 00:02:41,340 --> 00:02:46,140 classroom pain points are crystal clear right now. We all 54 00:02:46,140 --> 00:02:49,170 have a mental 'the things that make me want to pull my hair 55 00:02:49,170 --> 00:02:53,040 out' list going on right now, right? So, whether we realize it 56 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:54,960 or not, that list is in there. 57 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:58,590 Heidi: Definitely. In May, you have been living with your 58 00:02:58,590 --> 00:03:01,620 classroom routines for what feels like forever, and you know 59 00:03:01,620 --> 00:03:04,770 exactly which ones make you want to scream into your Stanley Cup 60 00:03:04,770 --> 00:03:05,430 every morning. 61 00:03:05,940 --> 00:03:08,520 Emily: In the middle of May, I can pinpoint with laser 62 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,580 precision which parts of my classroom systems are causing 63 00:03:11,580 --> 00:03:15,630 serious friction in my day, and it would still be fresh on your 64 00:03:15,630 --> 00:03:18,420 mind how that new center rotation system turned your 65 00:03:18,420 --> 00:03:20,760 sweet students into tiny tornadoes. 66 00:03:21,180 --> 00:03:24,480 Heidi: But fast forward to July, and most of that clarity has 67 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:29,130 faded into a blur of Wait, what was that problem again? May 68 00:03:29,130 --> 00:03:32,370 gives you the rare chance to make changes based on real time 69 00:03:32,370 --> 00:03:35,850 insight, instead of having to rely on fuzzy memories. Our 70 00:03:35,850 --> 00:03:39,030 teacher brains have this magical ability to block out the painful 71 00:03:39,030 --> 00:03:41,430 stuff once you've had a little relaxation time. 72 00:03:41,850 --> 00:03:45,690 Emily: I know it's like teacher amnesia. I think it's because we 73 00:03:45,690 --> 00:03:48,630 wouldn't come back next school year if we remembered everything 74 00:03:48,630 --> 00:03:49,920 perfectly during the summer. 75 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:51,000 Heidi: Oh, absolutely. 76 00:03:51,510 --> 00:03:53,970 Emily: And that's why, by mid summer, I'm thinking, oh, you 77 00:03:53,970 --> 00:03:57,090 know what, my writing workshop routine wasn't so bad, when in 78 00:03:57,090 --> 00:03:59,640 reality, it made me want to pull my hair out every day. 79 00:04:00,090 --> 00:04:02,400 Heidi: That's why the first thing we recommend is jotting 80 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,700 down your wins, your frustrations and your don't 81 00:04:05,700 --> 00:04:08,730 forget those next year ideas while they are still happening. 82 00:04:09,180 --> 00:04:12,060 It's kind of like leaving yourself a little warning note. 83 00:04:12,540 --> 00:04:17,070 Dear August Heidi, do not try the paper passback system again 84 00:04:17,310 --> 00:04:21,120 unless you enjoy paper avalanches and tears. Love May 85 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:21,600 Heidi. 86 00:04:23,100 --> 00:04:25,290 Emily: Throughout this episode, we're going to be mentioning our 87 00:04:25,290 --> 00:04:28,890 free end of year roadmap resource that can help you end 88 00:04:28,890 --> 00:04:32,340 this school year strong and get prepared for next year. We love 89 00:04:32,340 --> 00:04:35,520 the fix it list in the roadmap. It's a place to capture those 90 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:37,380 thoughts before they disappear. 91 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,470 Heidi: But another reason that May is the right time to start 92 00:04:40,470 --> 00:04:43,230 thinking about back to school is that you are still in your 93 00:04:43,230 --> 00:04:43,890 classroom. 94 00:04:44,710 --> 00:04:47,320 Emily: If you have ever tried to fix a classroom routine in 95 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,770 August, you know how hard it is to remember exactly how things 96 00:04:50,770 --> 00:04:54,370 were set up or where you shoved that pile of math games in a 97 00:04:54,370 --> 00:04:55,720 spring cleaning frenzy. 98 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:59,380 Heidi: But in May, you can look at your supplies and systems 99 00:04:59,380 --> 00:05:02,920 right now, and make smart decisions. Your classroom right 100 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:05,980 now is a complete ecosystem, with everything in its perfect 101 00:05:05,980 --> 00:05:09,970 place, more or less, right? Your library is organized, your 102 00:05:09,970 --> 00:05:12,820 centers are stocked, and your walls showcase all of your 103 00:05:12,850 --> 00:05:14,320 brilliant teaching systems. 104 00:05:14,740 --> 00:05:17,320 Emily: Don't underestimate how much easier it is to make 105 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:20,290 decisions and changes when your class is still set up and 106 00:05:20,290 --> 00:05:22,930 running like usual, versus during the summer, when you're 107 00:05:22,930 --> 00:05:25,360 staring at bare walls and all your stuff is piled into 108 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:25,900 corners. 109 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:30,250 Heidi: That is so true. Take photos now. Take photos from 110 00:05:30,250 --> 00:05:33,280 multiple angles, your reading corner, your small group area, 111 00:05:33,280 --> 00:05:36,820 how you organize your supplies. Seriously, open up your drawers 112 00:05:36,820 --> 00:05:40,210 and cupboards and snap a picture of how things are right now. And 113 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:42,430 even if you're going to be switching rooms next year, 114 00:05:42,700 --> 00:05:45,550 seeing exactly what you did in your current room can make 115 00:05:45,550 --> 00:05:47,560 future room setup so much simpler. 116 00:05:47,890 --> 00:05:51,400 Emily: Absolutely. So take all the photos. And then I think 117 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,280 it's a good idea to keep the photos in a folder or a note on 118 00:05:54,280 --> 00:05:56,830 your phone called classroom setup. Did you know that you can 119 00:05:56,830 --> 00:06:00,460 just paste pictures and screenshots into a note? That's 120 00:06:00,460 --> 00:06:03,250 really handy, too. So when you're a sweaty mess setting up 121 00:06:03,250 --> 00:06:05,860 your classroom in August, you can just pull up those photos 122 00:06:05,860 --> 00:06:09,370 instead of relying on your tired, summer fried brain. 123 00:06:09,730 --> 00:06:12,220 Heidi: Yes, the summer is a sweaty mess because, of course, 124 00:06:12,220 --> 00:06:15,130 they don't have the air on. And don't forget to document your 125 00:06:15,130 --> 00:06:18,610 classroom systems. Nothing worse than standing there in August 126 00:06:18,610 --> 00:06:21,760 wondering, Wait, how did I organize my library last year? 127 00:06:22,390 --> 00:06:25,120 Emily: And that leads perfectly into reason number three that 128 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:28,240 May is the perfect time to plan for back to school, and that is 129 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:30,970 that you still have time to test things out with your current 130 00:06:30,970 --> 00:06:34,630 class. They're like your own little personal guinea pigs, but 131 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:37,780 cuter and with more opinions, I guess. 132 00:06:38,710 --> 00:06:41,590 Heidi: Oh, all the opinions. And at this point in the year, they 133 00:06:41,590 --> 00:06:45,100 have been trained in your ways. They know your expectations, 134 00:06:45,100 --> 00:06:48,910 which makes them perfect for experimenting with those What if 135 00:06:48,910 --> 00:06:50,710 we tried it this way ideas. 136 00:06:50,860 --> 00:06:53,050 Emily: Yeah, your current students are like the beta 137 00:06:53,050 --> 00:06:56,110 testers of your classroom software. So maybe you've 138 00:06:56,110 --> 00:06:58,870 realized your morning routine is taking twice as long as you want 139 00:06:58,870 --> 00:07:01,990 it to. You can try a different approach now and get immediate 140 00:07:01,990 --> 00:07:03,370 feedback on the changes. 141 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:06,490 Heidi: Or maybe your dismissal routine is looking like a game 142 00:07:06,490 --> 00:07:09,940 of hungry, hungry hippos, but with backpacks and lunch boxes, 143 00:07:10,300 --> 00:07:13,150 test out a new system now and work out all of the kinks. 144 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:17,170 Emily: And the best part of this is it often helps refresh those 145 00:07:17,170 --> 00:07:20,680 end of year behaviors that we know are getting so sloppy at 146 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:24,460 this time of year. Nothing like a little novelty to boost 147 00:07:24,460 --> 00:07:25,300 engagement. 148 00:07:25,990 --> 00:07:28,510 Heidi: But don't limit your experimenting to just routines 149 00:07:28,510 --> 00:07:32,080 and procedures. Don't be afraid to dream a little. Did you see a 150 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:35,470 fun reading idea on Tiktok or Instagram? Try it out with your 151 00:07:35,470 --> 00:07:38,260 current kiddos, so you can see if it's worth implementing next 152 00:07:38,260 --> 00:07:38,590 year. 153 00:07:39,100 --> 00:07:41,560 Emily: Yeah, there is nothing worse than spending your summer 154 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:45,580 crafting the perfect plan for science experiments or small 155 00:07:45,580 --> 00:07:49,420 group math or Tinker lab, only to find out that it just doesn't 156 00:07:49,420 --> 00:07:52,120 work, all those summer hours wasted on something you can't 157 00:07:52,150 --> 00:07:53,320 even use. 158 00:07:53,710 --> 00:07:57,040 Heidi: So do yourself a favor and give it a go now, even if 159 00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:59,590 you don't have all the pieces figured out yet, give it a dress 160 00:07:59,590 --> 00:08:03,370 rehearsal with your current class. Not only are this crop of 161 00:08:03,370 --> 00:08:06,370 kids more able to pivot than your new students will be, you 162 00:08:06,370 --> 00:08:09,520 also already have structures in place to fall back on if you 163 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:13,480 need to abandon ship midstream. Experimenting now kind of gives 164 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:17,290 you a safety net, or flotation device, I guess in this 165 00:08:17,290 --> 00:08:17,860 metaphor. 166 00:08:19,180 --> 00:08:22,510 Emily: Plus, as our Grammy used to say, a change is as good as a 167 00:08:22,510 --> 00:08:25,330 rest. Trying something new now just might give you the 168 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,720 energetic boost you need to make it to the end in one piece. 169 00:08:29,620 --> 00:08:32,200 Heidi: Now, for reason number four, why starting back to 170 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:35,740 school in May is a great idea, planning in May lightens your 171 00:08:35,740 --> 00:08:39,070 summer mental load. You know that feeling when you're trying 172 00:08:39,070 --> 00:08:42,400 to relax in June, but your brain is still running with all those 173 00:08:42,580 --> 00:08:44,740 don't forget this for next year tabs open. 174 00:08:45,460 --> 00:08:47,740 Emily: When you take a little time in May to offload those 175 00:08:47,740 --> 00:08:50,770 thoughts onto paper, especially in a low pressure way, it gives 176 00:08:50,770 --> 00:08:52,240 your brain permission to let go. 177 00:08:52,690 --> 00:08:55,810 Heidi: Without a plan, we end up either completely ghosting 178 00:08:55,810 --> 00:08:58,900 anything school related all summer, which leads to a real 179 00:08:58,900 --> 00:09:01,810 nightmare come August, I have been there, or we spend the 180 00:09:01,810 --> 00:09:03,940 whole break working without boundaries, and we end up 181 00:09:03,940 --> 00:09:05,740 checking our emails during beach trips. 182 00:09:06,220 --> 00:09:08,500 Emily: We can speak from our experience that you don't really 183 00:09:08,500 --> 00:09:10,690 want either of those extremes. 184 00:09:10,900 --> 00:09:14,110 Heidi: Yeah neither approach really screams relaxing summer. 185 00:09:14,650 --> 00:09:18,610 But when we identify specific priorities in May, we can 186 00:09:18,610 --> 00:09:21,940 schedule focus work time and then fully unplug the rest of 187 00:09:21,940 --> 00:09:25,870 the time, like actually enjoying that Emily Henry book next to 188 00:09:25,870 --> 00:09:26,980 the pool without guilt. 189 00:09:27,290 --> 00:09:30,320 Emily: Yes, you don't have to do a lot. You just have to get 190 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,740 intentional. It can even be as simple as if you're really 191 00:09:33,740 --> 00:09:37,340 brave, only three work days on your summer schedule, so one in 192 00:09:37,340 --> 00:09:40,850 June, one in July, and one in early August. Now if you know 193 00:09:40,850 --> 00:09:43,730 exactly what you need to accomplish on each today, thanks 194 00:09:43,730 --> 00:09:47,840 to your time spent thinking ahead in May, you can close 195 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:51,110 those teacher work brain tabs out on the other days and get a 196 00:09:51,110 --> 00:09:53,150 ton done on those three days. 197 00:09:53,750 --> 00:09:56,150 Heidi: And our end of year roadmap is a great place to 198 00:09:56,150 --> 00:09:59,600 start listing all of those to do tasks that you'll want to start 199 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:03,200 on during your school work days. And that brings us to our fifth 200 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:08,030 reason, planning in May reduces back to school panic. You know 201 00:10:08,180 --> 00:10:10,280 that day and summer, when you're back to school, nightmares 202 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:11,630 suddenly start up again. 203 00:10:11,930 --> 00:10:14,960 Emily: Oh, the dreams where you show up on the first day and 204 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:18,020 your classroom is still a storage closet, or you're 205 00:10:18,020 --> 00:10:22,070 teaching in pajamas, or my personal favorite, and this is 206 00:10:22,070 --> 00:10:25,220 the one I usually have, which is, I've forgotten that I even 207 00:10:25,220 --> 00:10:28,250 had a teaching job until the morning of the first day of 208 00:10:28,250 --> 00:10:33,110 school, and then I'm just like, in sheer panic trying to get the 209 00:10:33,110 --> 00:10:35,780 class set up, and the students are like, already filing in. Oh 210 00:10:35,780 --> 00:10:39,110 my gosh, it's such a nightmare. It's just as bad as the I wake 211 00:10:39,110 --> 00:10:41,960 up in it and I have a college final, and I never went to class 212 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:42,860 all semester. 213 00:10:43,430 --> 00:10:46,430 Heidi: Oh, my stomach is a knots, even just joking about 214 00:10:46,430 --> 00:10:46,670 it. 215 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:48,380 Emily: They are the worst dreams. 216 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:54,200 Heidi: Why do teachers have this problem? But seriously, a little 217 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,770 intentional planning in May can slice that August panic in half. 218 00:10:58,340 --> 00:11:01,130 Even just having lists of what worked and what didn't, gives 219 00:11:01,130 --> 00:11:01,970 you a roadmap. 220 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,820 Emily: Instead of facing an overwhelming blank slate in 221 00:11:04,850 --> 00:11:08,480 August with nothing but panic and diet coke to fuel you, 222 00:11:08,990 --> 00:11:12,320 you'll be working from a plan that your May self thoughtfully 223 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:16,130 created for you. It's like having a time traveling teacher 224 00:11:16,130 --> 00:11:16,910 assistant. 225 00:11:17,390 --> 00:11:20,090 Heidi: And when you've already documented your classroom setup 226 00:11:20,090 --> 00:11:23,900 and identified your priorities, those August work days become so 227 00:11:23,900 --> 00:11:28,490 much more manageable. You might even, dare I say it, enjoy 228 00:11:28,490 --> 00:11:29,690 setting up your classroom. 229 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:31,610 Emily: Ooh, maybe. 230 00:11:33,230 --> 00:11:35,600 And speaking of making things manageable, this is where our 231 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:39,080 free end of year roadmap comes in. We created this resource 232 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:42,290 because we know that May is not the time for complex planning 233 00:11:42,290 --> 00:11:45,170 systems that require 12 different colored highlighters. 234 00:11:45,650 --> 00:11:48,080 Heidi: The free end of year roadmap includes simple 235 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,830 reflection prompts and our favorite list making tools, the 236 00:11:51,830 --> 00:11:55,520 to da list for celebrating your successes, because you did have 237 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,310 wins this year. And it's important to notice that. The 238 00:11:58,310 --> 00:12:01,550 fix it list for identifying what needs improvement, and your to 239 00:12:01,550 --> 00:12:04,760 do list for planning your summer work. It can help you make a 240 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:08,360 strategic plan for setting work goals while maintaining summer 241 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:12,230 life boundaries. You can assign tasks to each month, sort tasks 242 00:12:12,230 --> 00:12:15,200 by where you do them, when you need to work on them, and how 243 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:18,530 long they take. And you can pinpoint which tasks are most 244 00:12:18,530 --> 00:12:20,780 beneficial for meeting your back to school goals. 245 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:23,360 Emily: And we've designed it to be flexible, so you can fill it 246 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:26,780 in all at once, or fill it in a little at a time between Field 247 00:12:26,780 --> 00:12:29,210 Day and end of year assessments with all your free time. 248 00:12:30,980 --> 00:12:33,470 Heidi: The goal with this roadmap is not to create more 249 00:12:33,470 --> 00:12:36,530 work for you, but to help you organize the thoughts that are 250 00:12:36,560 --> 00:12:40,190 already bouncing around in your brain. Your brain is an 251 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:44,090 excellent idea generator. It's not a great list keeper, so do 252 00:12:44,090 --> 00:12:46,550 your poor brain a favor and get everything written down. 253 00:12:47,030 --> 00:12:49,730 Emily: You can grab your free copy of the end of year roadmap 254 00:12:49,730 --> 00:12:52,670 by clicking the link in our show notes. It's completely free, 255 00:12:52,970 --> 00:12:56,600 just a helpful tool from us to you. Plus, since it's in Google 256 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:59,000 Sheets, you can type what you want and then print it out if 257 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:02,090 you want a paper copy. So much quicker to type things than it 258 00:13:02,090 --> 00:13:03,020 is to hand write them. 259 00:13:03,500 --> 00:13:06,140 Heidi: And if you find the roadmap helpful, you might be 260 00:13:06,140 --> 00:13:09,890 interested in coming to our free teacher summer talk summit at 261 00:13:09,890 --> 00:13:14,000 the end of June. It's the easiest summer PD, but one that 262 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,580 you'll actually enjoy, because it is all about making back to 263 00:13:16,580 --> 00:13:18,110 school easier, not harder. 264 00:13:18,710 --> 00:13:22,130 Emily: But more on that later. For now, let's recap those five 265 00:13:22,130 --> 00:13:25,100 reasons why May is the perfect time to start planning for next 266 00:13:25,100 --> 00:13:25,400 year. 267 00:13:25,970 --> 00:13:27,950 Heidi: Number one, your classroom pain points are 268 00:13:27,950 --> 00:13:31,760 crystal clear right now, like painfully, painfully clear. 269 00:13:32,270 --> 00:13:35,120 Emily: Number two, you still have access to your fully set up 270 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:38,600 classroom. Document it now before it disappears. 271 00:13:39,350 --> 00:13:41,720 Heidi: Number three, you still have time to test things out 272 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:45,020 with your current class. These are your own personal focus 273 00:13:45,020 --> 00:13:45,830 groups right here. 274 00:13:46,250 --> 00:13:48,800 Emily: Number four, planning in May is actually a gift to your 275 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:52,610 summer self. Future You sends thank yous and says you should 276 00:13:52,610 --> 00:13:53,480 treat yourself. 277 00:13:53,690 --> 00:13:56,690 Heidi: Yes, always treat yourself. And number five, 278 00:13:56,690 --> 00:14:00,350 planning in May reduces back to school panic. Sleep through 279 00:14:00,350 --> 00:14:01,760 August without those nightmares. 280 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:04,460 Emily: Remember planning for the new school year in May isn't 281 00:14:04,460 --> 00:14:07,160 about adding to your already overflowing plate, it's about 282 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:09,680 capturing insights that will make your life easier later. 283 00:14:09,980 --> 00:14:12,470 Heidi: Just a few minutes of reflection and planning in May 284 00:14:12,470 --> 00:14:16,340 can save you hours of stress and probably tears in August. 285 00:14:16,970 --> 00:14:19,610 Emily: So download our free end of year roadmap using the link 286 00:14:19,610 --> 00:14:22,190 in our show notes, and start giving your future self the gift 287 00:14:22,190 --> 00:14:23,120 of preparation. 288 00:14:23,810 --> 00:14:26,150 Heidi: We would love to hear how you're planning to set your 289 00:14:26,150 --> 00:14:29,180 future self up for back to school success. Come join the 290 00:14:29,180 --> 00:14:31,910 conversation in our teacher approved Facebook group. Bring 291 00:14:31,910 --> 00:14:35,060 your successes, your struggles and your end of year survival 292 00:14:35,060 --> 00:14:35,870 strategies. 293 00:14:36,950 --> 00:14:39,650 Emily: Now for our teacher approved Tip of the Week, where 294 00:14:39,650 --> 00:14:43,100 we share an actionable tip to help you elevate what matters 295 00:14:43,100 --> 00:14:46,250 and simplify the rest. This week's teacher approved tip is 296 00:14:46,250 --> 00:14:49,790 preview next year's content to boost end of year engagement. 297 00:14:49,910 --> 00:14:51,020 Tell us more about this, Heidi. 298 00:14:51,500 --> 00:14:54,410 Heidi: We all know that may classroom management can be, 299 00:14:55,430 --> 00:14:59,240 challenging, shall we say? One of the reasons is that students 300 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:02,600 feel less invested. They've mentally checked out because 301 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:04,760 they think that they have learned everything they need to 302 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:06,710 know and they don't care anymore. 303 00:15:07,070 --> 00:15:09,500 Emily: Yeah, their level of concern in May has dropped to 304 00:15:09,500 --> 00:15:11,510 like approximately zero. 305 00:15:11,870 --> 00:15:15,560 Heidi: Yeah, but there's a simple way to raise that concern 306 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,560 level again, give them little previews of what they'll need to 307 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,410 know next year. When students know that what they're doing 308 00:15:21,410 --> 00:15:25,400 right now matters for what's coming next, it often gives them 309 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:27,800 a little extra motivation to stay engaged. 310 00:15:28,100 --> 00:15:30,740 Emily: And you can sprinkle in little comments like, Oh, you'll 311 00:15:30,740 --> 00:15:34,460 need to know this for third grade, or your next teacher is 312 00:15:34,460 --> 00:15:36,860 definitely going to love that you already understand this. 313 00:15:37,670 --> 00:15:40,580 It's not to scare them, but just to plant the idea that they're 314 00:15:40,580 --> 00:15:42,620 leveling up soon, and that builds excitement. 315 00:15:43,190 --> 00:15:44,870 Heidi: And if you know what your students are excited to learn 316 00:15:44,870 --> 00:15:47,990 about next year, that can be a great hook too. For example, 317 00:15:47,990 --> 00:15:50,690 second graders might be especially jazzed about learning 318 00:15:50,690 --> 00:15:53,960 cursive or tiptoeing into multiplication, so you might 319 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:56,870 say, you're going to need these skip counting skills when you 320 00:15:56,870 --> 00:15:59,660 start learning real multiplication next year. Or 321 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:02,780 this kind of sentence writing is what gets you ready for cursive. 322 00:16:03,260 --> 00:16:05,960 Emily: It's a light touch strategy, and you don't want to 323 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:08,840 step on any teacher's toes for next year, but it can really 324 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:12,800 help reignite some buy in during those wiggly end of your weeks 325 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:14,180 without adding more to your plate. 326 00:16:14,750 --> 00:16:17,240 Heidi: This strategy works because it taps into students' 327 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:20,870 natural desire to grow up and master new skills. It gives them 328 00:16:20,870 --> 00:16:23,990 a reason to care about reviewing concepts that they think they've 329 00:16:23,990 --> 00:16:27,290 already mastered. So next time your class seems to have checked 330 00:16:27,290 --> 00:16:29,900 out, try giving them a little glimpse into next year's 331 00:16:29,900 --> 00:16:33,260 learning adventures. It might be just the motivation boost they 332 00:16:33,260 --> 00:16:34,610 need to finish this year strong. 333 00:16:35,510 --> 00:16:37,610 To wrap up the show, we are sharing what we're giving extra 334 00:16:37,610 --> 00:16:39,740 credit to this week. Emily, what gets your extra credit? 335 00:16:40,290 --> 00:16:43,020 Emily: I'm giving extra credit to the new picture book Don't 336 00:16:43,050 --> 00:16:47,790 Trust Fish by Neil Sharpton and illustrated by Dan Santat. And I 337 00:16:47,790 --> 00:16:50,340 made Heidi look at this yesterday because I gave it to 338 00:16:50,340 --> 00:16:54,060 my kids for Easter. I had heard it was hilarious and it did not 339 00:16:54,060 --> 00:16:57,750 disappoint. So I made Heidi read it too, when she came over. It's 340 00:16:57,750 --> 00:17:00,540 like a nature guide that goes wrong when it veers into all the 341 00:17:00,540 --> 00:17:03,840 reasons why you shouldn't trust fish, like, they spend all their 342 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:07,920 time in the water where we can't see them. Some are as big as a 343 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:11,820 bus, and that is not okay. We don't know what they're teaching 344 00:17:11,820 --> 00:17:15,930 in their quote unquote schools, and they are likely plotting our 345 00:17:15,930 --> 00:17:19,320 doom. This book is a must have. It would be perfect to launch a 346 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:22,470 writing activity as well. I think it is a delight. 347 00:17:23,130 --> 00:17:26,520 Heidi: It is so funny, very witty. I saw a picture of a fish 348 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:29,880 today, and like, the first thing my brain said was, don't trust 349 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:30,540 fish. 350 00:17:31,740 --> 00:17:34,260 Emily: I saw someone showing this, like, cute fish shaped 351 00:17:34,260 --> 00:17:37,260 basket for target, and I immediately, yeah, thought the 352 00:17:37,260 --> 00:17:39,270 same thing. Oh no, don't trust fish. 353 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:41,910 Heidi: And I think you could have a lot of fun with that at 354 00:17:41,910 --> 00:17:44,310 the end of the end of the school year, especially, you know a 355 00:17:44,310 --> 00:17:47,490 twist on animal reports, why you shouldn't trust ring tailed 356 00:17:47,490 --> 00:17:48,570 lemurs or something. 357 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:51,690 Emily: Yes, I think that would be the most fun activity. Should 358 00:17:51,690 --> 00:17:54,030 we make that activity? Let's drop everything and make a 359 00:17:54,030 --> 00:17:58,710 writing activity today. Stay tuned. Maybe we'll get it 360 00:17:58,710 --> 00:17:59,190 together. 361 00:17:59,370 --> 00:18:02,220 Heidi: It's either that or fifth grade fractions. You can decide. 362 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:07,110 Emily: So hard to pick. Okay, Heidi, what are you giving extra 363 00:18:07,110 --> 00:18:07,620 credit to? 364 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:12,000 Heidi: My extra credit goes to the Ecosia web browser. It's 365 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:15,150 like, you know, a different kind of Google. This is a great 366 00:18:15,150 --> 00:18:18,570 company that plants trees based on how many people use their 367 00:18:18,570 --> 00:18:21,840 site. You can see on the home screen how many trees they have 368 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:24,900 planted, and I just checked, so as of today, the number is 369 00:18:24,930 --> 00:18:28,470 229,612,190 trees. 370 00:18:28,590 --> 00:18:29,670 Emily: Wow. 371 00:18:29,940 --> 00:18:32,760 Heidi: I also really appreciate that they are transparent about 372 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:35,580 where their money goes. Every month on Instagram, they share 373 00:18:35,580 --> 00:18:38,220 how much they earned, how much went to trees, and then how much 374 00:18:38,220 --> 00:18:43,350 went to other costs. It's just so refreshing to see a company 375 00:18:43,380 --> 00:18:47,340 that has transparency and values. Now, I have to admit, it 376 00:18:47,340 --> 00:18:49,950 was a bit of a pain to switch over from Google, because so 377 00:18:49,950 --> 00:18:52,080 much about, you know, Google just already knew what I needed 378 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:56,010 it to do. And I still, I haven't moved completely over on my 379 00:18:56,010 --> 00:18:58,560 phone, but baby steps. I'm moving in the right direction. 380 00:18:58,980 --> 00:19:00,720 Emily: Oh, I'm gonna have to give that a try. 381 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:04,410 Heidi: I've been very impressed. And I feel good doing my Google 382 00:19:04,410 --> 00:19:08,250 searches. It does not work with Rakuten, though, if you do have 383 00:19:08,460 --> 00:19:12,600 a rakuten add on, it doesn't, doesn't work with their browser. 384 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:14,640 But I figure the trees are worth it. 385 00:19:16,020 --> 00:19:20,040 That is it for today's episode. Remember that May is the perfect 386 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:22,710 time to reflect on what worked this year and start planning for 387 00:19:22,710 --> 00:19:26,550 next year. Download our free end of year roadmap using the link 388 00:19:26,550 --> 00:19:29,250 in the show notes to help you get started. And don't forget 389 00:19:29,250 --> 00:19:32,250 our teacher approved tip to preview next year's content to 390 00:19:32,250 --> 00:19:33,480 get your students engaged. 391 00:19:33,990 --> 00:19:36,360 Emily: And stay tuned for information about our upcoming 392 00:19:36,360 --> 00:19:39,660 free teacher summer talks event at the end of June, where we'll 393 00:19:39,660 --> 00:19:41,670 be sharing our best back to school strategies. 394 00:19:43,950 --> 00:19:47,130 Heidi: We hope you enjoyed this episode of Teacher Approved. I'm 395 00:19:47,130 --> 00:19:47,700 Heidi. 396 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:51,030 Emily: And I'm Emily. Thank you for listening. Be sure to follow 397 00:19:51,030 --> 00:19:53,580 or subscribe in your podcast app so that you never miss an 398 00:19:53,580 --> 00:19:54,000 episode. 399 00:19:54,450 --> 00:19:56,760 Heidi: You can connect with us and other teachers in the 400 00:19:56,760 --> 00:19:59,970 Teacher Approved Facebook group. We'll see you here next week. 401 00:20:00,150 --> 00:20:00,960 Bye for now. 402 00:20:00,990 --> 00:20:01,800 Emily: Bye.