Why do we let ourselves feel guilty for "taking time off work"? It's our weekend or evenings, we *should* be taking them off anyway! This episode is a pep talk to remind you that you don't need to feel guilty as well as some strategies and tips to help you take some well deserved time off on the weekends and evenings. There will always be more to do and there will always be judgements from others. So definitely don't let even the most important person's opinion (yours!) make you feel guilty for actually having a life!

I'm back to school and the reality has hit! There is always so much to do at the beginning of the school year that I found myself feeling overwhelmed... So I stopped and reflected on what I could do to reduce these feelings and still do all the things I need to get done.

Join me in today's episode where I share a journey with you on a new strategy I have discovered. I share how it is working out for me over a week's period via pod-vlog entries as I drive to and from work and you will hear the ups and the downs and how this really works for teachers!

This method has revolutionised how I get things done while still remaining sane, I hope you try it out and that it helps you too.

Oh hey, I'm back! I hope you had a restful break if you were off and that you're raring to go this school year!

This episode is all about the secret to well-being for teachers. "Well-being" has become a bit of a buzz word recently, but in some cases the true essence has been watered down to basic advice like "have a bubble bath and drink wine" that isn't actually helpful...

In fact, well-being is so much more than just unwinding at the end of the day. In this episode you will learn what well-being really is and you'll gain actionable tips for how you can take control to maintain a positive well-being this school year! 

This is lesson 1 of a brand new pod-course on the topic well-being for teachers. The rest of the lessons will be launched every week elsewhere.

​If you want to access all 7 lessons for free and you're here before August 25th 2019, you can sign up here:

courses.TRF.one/TOTS

It's so important to switch off when we get home from school. If you keep thinking about school and working on lessons and grading long after you leave the building, eventually you will get less and less productive, inspired or enthusiastic as the years go on. You get burned out. You don't let yourself switch off or reignite your passion for teaching.

I've been on a quest to tackle this recently, so follow along with me as I take you on a vlog style journey where I record my experiences, struggles and triumphs as I aim to switch off from teaching when I leave school!

What do you do when you're in that weird transition phase of knowing it's time for you to leave your current job but you've not got secured your next one yet? You've mentally and emotionally checked out but physically you're stuck! In this episode you will learn how to use your current position to your advantage to help catapult you to the next level, while maintaining your integrity and doing right by everyone!

In a recent poll I saw of online what teachers feel they cannot live without, teacher besties was right up there at the top. While I see why, another part of me couldn't help but think about all those teachers who haven't found their teacher BFF and how they must be feeling seeing this feedback. In today's episode, I aim to balance out the cosmos and offer you some huge perks to NOT having a teacher bestie at school! #controversial 

Ending the school year on a positive note is a tricky art form. Many teachers go nuts with the games and sweet treats but that gets students all riled up and hyper! Many teachers love a countdown but that can get students feeling anxious or in a hurry to leave and get out of this "hell hole". So how do you end the school year on a positive note? How do you encourage your students to be reflective and bond as a class? Listen to this episode to learn how!

As I wrap up my 13th year of teaching, I wanted to share 13 lessons I have learned so far! Make sure you share your own top tips in the comments section below:

A lot of us teachers can relate to the internal struggle of taking sick days. Many of us have big issues around knowing that there is so much we are responsible for and not wanting to let our classes down or have colleagues have to cover our lessons. It’s during times like these when we realise just how important we are and how much lies on our shoulders! Sometimes though, it’s not healthy to push yourself to go in and this episode will give you the pep talk that you, and I, need to do what is best.

Behaviour management is a tricky business. It's not something anyone truly prepares us for when we're training, and there is no guaranteed strategy or formula that will work every time. However, in my 13 years of experience including working in an extremely challenging London school for the first half of my career, I have determined some fundamental codes of conduct that I stick to regarding behaviour management that I really believe make a difference. Listen in to today's episode to learn more!

Admittedly we probably don’t spend much time at our desks during the school day, but once the kids leave, we still have a lot of work to do. Somehow we need to find the motivation to knuckle down and get productive, be that in lesson planning, grading / marking, going through emails etc.

In order to get that stuff done, be it at school or once we get home, it’s important to have a motivational and inspiring work space - it makes all the difference! So listen to today's episode to learn 6 ways that you can make your teacher desk or work space more motivational and inspiring.

One of the wonderful things about teaching, is that effectively we are our own CEOs of our classroom or lessons. We’re the boss. We decide how to run it. And like all CEOs, we develop and improve when we reflect on our practice.

So I have developed a 4 step process that I try to do on a regular basis, that will challenge you to ask specific questions in order to help you improve your practice in order to help you become an even better teacher!

Since doing these meetings, I have got my lunchtimes back, had more patience, tackled projects I have been putting on and am working towards my goals every day. Listen to today's episode to learn how you too can hold these effective CEO dates with yourself!

Staying organised as a teacher can be exceptionally hard. We have so many responsibilities and hats to wear, unpredictable events happen and so many deadlines to keep on top of! In this episode, you will learn a range of different ways you can organise your teacher life in just 10 minutes!

Job hunting is a two way street. Sure, you want to make sure you're impressing the school and are showing them you're perfect for the role, but you also want to know you're applying for a school that is right for you to be working in. After gaining more experience in my career, I soon learned what kind of culture I'd like to work in and staff morale plays a significant role in this. Listen to today's episode to learn my top signs to look for to determine staff morale when applying for jobs.

Have you noticed the rise of the teacherlebrity (teacher "celebrity"), particularly on Instagram over the past few years? There is so much amazing content being shared online that is so inspirational, but I've also noticed that it's having a detrimental effect on some new teachers in particular. In this episode I share with you my thoughts on this new phenomenon and tips on mindset to keep ourselves grounded.