Posts by Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
355: Open to Learning with Jennifer Burns
Listen in as Jennifer Burns tells about the importance of being open to learning, and reflecting on the craft of teaching for all students. Having experience in a variety of different avenues in the teaching profession, Jennifer brings a perspective and a tool in this episode that will help teachers in their upcoming lessons. Quotables…
Listen to Episode5 Myths of Student Choice & Ownership
Student choice and ownership is a way of passing the leadership baton to students in the classroom. Of course, this is an earned privilege over time that has required a lot of work on the part of the teacher. For example, teachers must thoroughly plan lessons to prevent misunderstandings and misbehaviors. They then must execute…
Read Full Post354: Routines That Run Themselves
In this weeks episode, we’re diving into the power of consistency in the classroom. Routines don’t just happen overnight — they’re built overtime with patience, practice, and persistence. Gretchen will talk about how setting clear expectations and sticking to them helps create a classroom flow that feels natural and structured for students. Whether you’re a…
Listen to Episode5 Myths of Student Engagement
Student engagement is the art of keep students’ attention while simultaneously involving them in the process of their own learning. Teachers find student engagement to be an inviting challenge year after year as student interests and pop culture change. To be successful in engaging students during a lesson, a teacher has to know their content,…
Read Full Post353: Survival Guide to Teacher Burnout
Burnout isn’t just “being tired” — It’s an emotional, physical, and mental crash that can leave you feeling stuck, unmotivated, and overwhelmed. In this weeks episode, Gretchen discusses the real struggle of burnout and how it can be avoided. Quotables “Life is going to get hard, so get yourself in action to prepare for the…
Listen to Episode5 Myths of Classroom Management
Classroom management is a way to create structure for students to successfully operate in the learning space. The strategies teachers use are in efforts to create a positive and productive learning environment. Some aspects include building relationships, clear expectations, routines and procedures, and positive reinforcement. The goal for implementing a strong system is that it…
Read Full Post352: The September Slump
The school year starts off strong — students are excited, routines are fresh, and momentum is high. But as September rolls on, many classrooms experience what we call the September Slump. In this episode, we talk about why student engagement can dip during this time, why it’s important to address it early, and practical tips…
Listen to Episode5 Myths of Lesson Design
Lesson Design is a foundational process teachers engage in daily to meet the needs of the students they teach. Designing a lesson is not just filling in a lesson plan template. It is thinking through every inch of a lesson from start to finish- transitions, student pairings, higher order thinking questions and so forth. The…
Read Full Post351: Classroom Culture Reset
In this episode, we dive into how educators can intentionally reset their classroom culture at the start of the school year. Whether you’re teaching brand-new students or welcoming back familiar faces, the first weeks are the perfect time to establish the norms, routines, and relationships that will shape the months ahead. We’ll discuss practical strategies…
Listen to Episode5 Ways to Become A Teacher Leader
The term “teacher leader” is used in education to describe any role that supports the growth of teachers. This may include role titles such as instructional coach, PD facilitator, subject area specialist, academic dean, administration, colleague mentor and even a cooperating teacher for student teachers. Regardless of the title, those who support the growth of…
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