Top 10 Tips for Managing Spring Fever in Elementary

Click the play bar below to listen to this week's show now:

Show Notes:

We’re hitting the time of year when, for most of us, we have been in cold weather for a long time. As the weather is warming up, the sun is shining, and the birds are chirping, teachers everywhere begin to experience the same thing - spring fever!

Students are ready to get up and get moving. They are restless, and if we’re being honest, we’re probably feeling the same way. Summer is in sight and we are all ready to just get outside and start enjoying the weather.

But here’s the thing. You still have a few months left in the school year, and with spring fever often comes challenging behaviors and even shorter attention spans. It can be hard to get your students to focus and be fully present during class time if they’re feeling distracted or have lost their motivation because they’ve been working so hard for so long. You may suddenly feel like all the hard work that you put into your systems and routines has gone out the window.

If you’re having an extra difficult time reigning in behaviors, you are most definitely not alone. Spring fever is a natural part of the school year that affects every student, every class, and every teacher. It’s important to redirect the excess energy that comes with spring fever towards something positive, like outdoor learning or new activities. This way, you can help your students stay focused and engaged in their learning for the remainder of the school year.

I’ve dedicated this entire episode to giving you ten fun and simple tips to manage spring fever. By implementing these strategies, you can help your students manage their restlessness, tune into their creativity, and stay engaged and motivated. I have a feeling these things will be just as helpful for you as they will be for your students!

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

• Why you need to get students outside, examples of learning activities you can do outdoors, and tips for pre-teaching your expectations so everything goes smoothly.
• Different ways that you can get your kids up and moving inside your classroom throughout the day to get their wiggles out.
• How to give your kids plenty of opportunities to be creative, and the benefits of making time for this.
• The magic that can happen when you switch things up, such as rearranging your classroom, creating new class jobs, or letting students do something special for one day only.
• What an ABC countdown is, and how you can involve your students in planning one.
• The importance of breaking up your lessons into small chunks and incorporating more collaborative work.
• Why it may be necessary to review your rules and procedures if behaviors are getting out of hand.
• How you can use ‘Mystery Motivators’ to turn things around and get positive energy flowing back into your classroom.

Links & resources mentioned inside this episode:

• Sign up for my FREE masterclass, What They Don't Teach You in College About Setting Up and Organizing Your Classroom, Preparing for the School year, & Creating a Positive Classroom Management Plan That Works.
• Spring Mystery Motivator
• Student joke resources
• GoNoodle
• Cosmic Kids Yoga
• Practice spelling words with Sparkle.
• Reference: Tips for Teaching on Overcoming Spring Fever (When You Have it Too!)
• Reference: Tips and Tricks for Outdoor Classroom Management
• Reference: 5 Simple Ways to Improve Spring Fever
• Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card by leaving a review for Beginning Teacher Talk on Apple Podcasts!
• Join our Beginning Teacher Talk Private Facebook Group. 
• Follow Dr. Lori on Instagram.
• NEW! 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, 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 creator of the innovative literacy program for 1st and 2nd grade, Dogs Help Kids Read and Succeed, Dr. Lori is dedicated to serving educators and inspiring learners. Learn more at drlorifriesen.com and at howdogshelpkids.com.

Want to listen on a different platform? Here are the links:

Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts.

Click here to listen on Spotify.

Click here to listen on Stitcher.

Click here to listen on iHeart Radio.

Related episodes you might enjoy:

• 25 Fun and Easy Ways to Manage Spring Fever
• 4 Keys to Ultimate Student Engagement
• Natural Consequences: What Do You Do When Kids Don’t Listen?
• Spring New Teacher Training Series #1: 7 Creative Class Jobs
• Spring New Teacher Training Series #2: Setting Up (or Re-Imagining) Your Classroom

Follow:

Are you following my podcast? I release fresh, new content every single week and I don't want you to miss out! 💛  Click here to follow on Apple Podcasts.

Leave a Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you are loving the podcast, I would be so grateful if you would leave me a review over on Apple Podcasts. Each time you leave a review, Apple Podcasts recommends my podcast to other new teachers so they feel a little less alone as they navigate their first few years of teaching. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know how this podcast is helping you inside your classroom!