Surviving February: Staying Inspired During the Longest Shortest Month

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

Show Notes:

No matter how many years you’ve been teaching, February always seems to be one of the toughest months of the school year. Even though it's the shortest month, it can feel like the longest—leaving teachers feeling drained, unmotivated, and stuck in a winter slump. If you’re feeling this way, you’re not alone! In this episode, I’m sharing tips to help you not just survive February but actually thrive.

To stay inspired and motivated this month, focus on three key strategies: infuse joy, take that much needed deep breath, and invest in yourself. These simple but powerful shifts can help you find the positives in your students, celebrate their wins, and create a more connected, joyful, and inclusive classroom environment.

If the winter blues and mid-year exhaustion are hitting hard, don’t worry—brighter days are ahead! By celebrating small moments, bringing surprise and delight into your classroom, and prioritizing your own joy, you’ll power through these last few weeks of winter with renewed energy. If this episode is encouraging for you, I would love for you to write a review on Apple Podcasts and share with a teacher friend!

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

• Why February is a challenging month for teachers, and how to make it easier
• Simple ways to find small moments that matter throughout your day that will help you remember your “why” and celebrate student wins
• The importance of infusing joy into your day and ideas that add excitement and fun for your students
• A reminder to take care of yourself, and examples of ways you can invest in yourself to stay motivated and inspired

Links & resources mentioned inside this episode: 

• Free Masterclass - Your 5-Step Classroom Management Reset
• 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.

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 YouTube.

Click here to listen on iHeart Radio.

Click here to listen on Audible.

Click here to listen on other apps.

Related episodes you might enjoy:

• Classroom Management Hack: Fantastic Hallway Behavior
• Classroom Management Hack: Fantastic Hallway Behavior Part Two
• Practical Self-Kindness for Chronically Tired Teachers
• 10 Research-Backed Ways to Find the Positive in Your Students

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 or on Audible. Each time you leave a review, Apple Podcasts or Audible recommends my podcast to other new teachers so they feel a little less alone as they navigate their first few years of teaching. 

To leave a review on Apple Podcasts, 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!

To leave a review on Audible, just click here. Under "More Options" you can select "Write a review." I so appreciate your support in helping me get the word out to new teachers around the world.