265. Can't Miss Classic: Your Permission Slip to Skip These 6 BTS Pressures

In this episode, we revisit the six back-to-school pressures we’re saying no to this summer: elaborate classroom themes, laminating everything, chasing every social media trend, overspending on classroom decor, making our rooms look picture-perfect, and comparing ourselves to other teachers online. We share practical reminders for staying grounded during back-to-school season by focusing on meaningful instruction, simple systems, and our own well-being instead of panic-driven prep. We’re here to remind you that your small wins are worth celebrating, and a calm, rested teacher will matter more to your students than a Pinterest-worthy classroom.

Prefer to read? Grab the original episode transcript and show notes here: https://www.secondstorywindow.net/podcast/back-to-school-teacher-stress/

Resources:

• First Day of School Lesson Plan and Planning Guide
• Colton Gentry's Third Act, by Jeff Zentner
• Check out our book Structure and Spark
• Join The Teacher Approved Club
• Connect with us on Instagram @2ndstorywindow
• Shop our teacher-approved resources
• Join our Teacher Approved Facebook group
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts!
• Leave a comment or rating on Spotify

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 81. 20 Teacher Approved Back to School Tips From Listeners
• Episode 143. The Easiest Back to School Tip
• Episode 194. Want a Smoother Back to School? Do These 5 Things Now
• Episode 201. 20 Easy Back-to-School Teacher Tasks You Can Totally Do From the Couch

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the Teacher Approved Club, where members get seasonal morning work pages for grades K–5 this month to add fall and holiday fun without throwing off their routines: https://secondstorywindow.net/club