Master Your Classroom Management with 2nd Grade Teacher Margaret McLellan

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Show Notes:

One thing I always emphasize is that teachers are lifelong learners. They’re constantly evolving, growing, and striving to be their best so that their students can be too. Because this mindset plays such an important role in a teacher’s success and happiness, I love interviewing educators who truly embody it. I think of these conversations as a window into their world, helping us understand the real challenges teachers face today, especially when it comes to classroom management.

Knowing that classroom management is a universal challenge, I wanted to create a space where teachers could discover new strategies and find support in areas where they were struggling. That space became the Classroom Management Club. My guest on today’s podcast, Margaret McLellan, is a perfect example of someone who’s benefited from the Club—and how its resources can be customized to match your unique teaching style and student needs.

Even though Margaret was a veteran teacher when she joined, she recognized there were still areas in her practice she wanted to improve. She was looking for guidance and a place to help her meet those goals. Since becoming a member, not only has she thrived in the classroom, but she’s also been invited to serve as a coach inside the Club! She’s joining me today to share her journey—the challenges she’s faced with classroom management, what she’s learned through the Club, and how she’s grown as an educator.

One thing that really surprised Margaret was how much was included in the Club, such as the variety of resources and strategies she could immediately use in her classroom. She came in wanting to improve routines and organization, but she also found engaging new approaches to motivate her students and foster a love of learning. She talks about how the SEL journals helped her build stronger student relationships, which had a direct impact on her classroom management and overall student behavior.

I always end my episodes by saying, “Just because you’re a beginning teacher doesn’t mean you have to struggle like one.” And Margaret is proof of that. Even with years of experience, she was ready to move past frustration and find the support she needed. Since joining the Club, she’s made phenomenal progress—committed to her craft, open to new strategies, and continuously growing. She’s the epitome of what’s possible through the Classroom Management Club, and I know you’re going to love learning from her and our conversation!

 Inside this week's show, you'll learn:

• Why Margaret joined the Classroom Management Club, even with years of experience as an educator.
• How effective classroom management strategies helped her prevent challenges before they started.
• Margaret’s biggest aha moment since joining the Club, and how the Club equips teachers with the tools and resources they need to succeed.
• Simple ways to keep your teaching fresh, exciting, and fun for students, especially through Margaret’s favorite Classroom Management Club hack.
• One powerful piece of advice for building strong student relationships, and an easy way to implement it daily.

Links & resources mentioned inside this episode: 

• Free Masterclass: Your 5-Step Classroom Management Reset
• Beginning Teacher Talk on YouTube
• Grab a copy of my book, Dear New Teacher, Here's Exactly What to Do: Your 5-Step R.E.A.D.Y. for School Roadmap for Elementary Classrooms
• Lung Cancer Free: One Couple’s Journey Through a “Lungs in a Box” Double Lung Transplant.
• Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card by leaving a review for Beginning Teacher Talk on Apple Podcasts!
• Follow Dr. Lori on Instagram
• Follow Dr. Lori on Facebook
• Follow Beginning Teacher Talk on TikTok

I hope this information is helpful as you prepare for your first, second, or third year of teaching. Until next time, remember, just because you're a beginning elementary teacher, there's no need for you to struggle like one.

💛 Lori

Dr. Lori Friesen | Beginning Teacher Mentor

Creator of the R.E.A.D.Y. for School Academy and The Classroom Management Club, Dr. Lori Friesen has mentored thousands of beginning teachers across the country through her workshops and courses. Host of the popular podcast Beginning Teacher Talk and author of Dear New Teacher, Here's Exactly What to Do, Dr. Lori is dedicated to serving educators and inspiring learners. Learn more at drlorifriesen.com.

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Related episodes you might enjoy:

• Classroom Management Coaches: Advice for Elementary Teachers - Part One
• Classroom Management Coaches: Advice for Elementary Teachers - Part Two
• Get Ready for the School Year with a Second-Year Teacher
• Get Ready for the School Year with First-Grade Teacher Emily Roberts

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