I think all teachers would love to feel like they are thriving instead of just surviving in their career.   I see a couple of ways to feel thriving and successful sometimes, and I share these ideas with you in this podcast! 

On this episode, I dish on my international trips with Bookbag Tours  and share my big takeaways from visiting Egypt this last summer.  Egypt was nothing like I imagined!  It was so different and in this episode I attempt to share my experience! 

This episode is all about why I left this podcast hanging for over a year!  Teaching is so hard and we all have a different story. This is mine. 

I recently transferred from a 4th grade classroom position to a position in an elementary school library where I teach grades K-5 daily!  Here are the ups and downs of my journey so far as a licensed librarian. 

There are so many problems in the teaching career right now.  Every source of media complains about the world of education constantly, and it can be hard to see any positive aspects to the teaching career right now. 

In this episode, Jess (the whimsical teacher) talks about how to identify problems and use 4 different activist- based pathways to living your best teacher life. 

So many avenues, so little time~!  Let's get on with the show! 

Show Outline:


How will I survive this school year!  Another pandemic year?!  EEEK 
My Self Care comes first

Daily self care

Meal Planning/shopping on weekends

Fixing my breakfast, and my lunch

Preplanning all my outfits for the week

Doing a toiletry/personal care check on the weekends

Spending time with my dogs and husband phone free

Practicing things that lower my blood pressure

Shoe check - because of gout/etc, 

In school 

At school.  It’s inevitable- contract hours are not enough to lesson plan and copy all the things.  So you need a plan

I like choosing late or early.  Will I come in early or stay late.?  But never both.  Or a balance of both. 

Check to see if your school’s pta or something like it will make you copies?  This can save a ton of time. 

Embrace activities that don’t feel like work.  Don’t guilt yourself over that time.  The job is so diverse there are things that don’t feel like work, and I just let myself feel that FLOW. 

Each week, fix your space. Clean organize, beautify an area. 

 I start the week asking.. What can I do to make this week easier for myself and my students?

So much drama over papers, and work, and grading, streamline the processes. 

PEOPLE WILL SURVIVE I”””F YOU DON’T MICROMANAGE AND PLAN EVERY LITTLE THING FOR THEM!!!!  
Everything will work out.  Sometimes we need to let go.  Duder always says “why do you care about that?”  She’ll just keep asking me why until I run out of answers and I realize that everything I’m worried about is just stuff that I’m imposing on my own belief system 

If you need a little paper with 180 days, that you can shade in each day to see progress.. Do it. 

In this episode, I dish all about setting boundaries at school.

**Here are tips for speaking up for yourself**

Write down on paper why you need to do this. 

What are your feelings if you don't do it?  Will you be resentful? 

Honor these feelings as being valid.  They are real. They are yours. 

**Setting boundaries at any job**

Know your limits

Check in with your feelings

Give yourself permission

Consider the environment and consequences. 

++Take time off- use technology to cut corners, tpt hello!  Google forms for surveys, less paper, less stress. ++

I did it!  I survived!  I hope my tricks and tips for surviving the first week will help you survive as well!  WE got this teachers! 

In this episode, Jess discusses the year of pandemic teaching and how it impacted her teaching and career. 

The episode is chalked full of insight, healing, and lessons learned. 

Teacher Life is not for the faint of heart.  There are a lot of hard parts.  If you struggle, listen to this episode, and you might walk away with something that can help your daily routine! 

I am coming up on the one year anniversary of buying a house in Las Vegas, so I thought that I'd give an honest review of the city and my teaching situation.