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Do you feel like teaching just isn’t fun anymore? Does classroom management feel like you’re playing a game of whack-a-mole? Do you wish you could clone little Betsy - the only student in class who exudes joy and stays engaged while learning? Ever feel like shutting your door and going off script just so you can teach in a way that you know your students need?
You’re not alone—and you’ve just found your people. (YAY!)
In this podcast, you’ll find real solutions to bring joy back to teaching, create a caring classroom, and finally find some balance between school and home. Teaching doesn’t have to feel like you’re in survival mode. Here, you’ll discover creative learning strategies that engage your students, practical ways to build a connected and caring classroom culture, and mindset shifts that help you take back control of your own classroom.
If you’re ready to stop drowning in scripted lessons, behavior struggles, and the Daily Teacher Drain—and start teaching with creativity, confidence, and purpose—you’re in the right place!
Hey there, I’m Elizabeth, a teacher since 1999, a mentor, consultant, arts integration specialist and creator of SEAL: Social-Emotional Artistic Learning. Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how creativity can transform a classroom—not just for our students, but for us teachers, too! I’ve always leaned into creative teaching strategies to build relationships, engage students, and keep myself loving what I do—even on the toughest days.
(And, let’s face it - there are some tough days!)
I’ve worked with teachers who are exhausted, stuck in survival mode, and struggling with behavior issues that drain their energy. But when you start tapping into your own creativity—using the arts to connect with students, to bring meaning into lessons, and to shift the classroom dynamic—something changes. The stress eases. The engagement rises. The joy returns.
That’s what I want for you.
If you’re ready to finally enjoy teaching again—to create a calm, connected classroom, engage your students in meaningful learning, and reclaim your personal time—WELCOME – this is the podcast for you. My solutions are simple, effective, and built to inspire the teacher—because you don’t need more on your plate, you just need what works.
So go find your coffee (it’s around here somewhere), grab your favorite pen, take a deep breath, and get ready to Enjoy Teaching Again!
More Resources:
✨ Join the Teacher Community: www.theinspiredclassroom.com/community
✨ Learn more about SEAL: www.theinspiredclassroom.com/seal
✨ Sign up for my FREE Class: www.theinspiredclassroom.com/class
✨ Contact: support@theinspiredclassroom.com
✨ Visit my website: www.theinspiredclassroom.com
Episodes
Tuesday Jan 20, 2026
Tuesday Jan 20, 2026
Teaching is tough. There's no doubt about it and yet... here you are coming back day after day, year after year. There's a reason. In fact, I would dare to say there are 3 really great reasons for you to stay in this amazing, (even if sometimes draining) profession.
Ready to explore? Take a listen!
~Elizabeth
Mentioned in This Episode:
✨ The Classroom Reset – A 6-month RESET experience to help you reconnect with your students, calm behaviors, and enjoy teaching again.
Learn more and enroll here: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset
💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on.
It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone.
👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community
✨ Connect with me!
Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson
Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom
Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom
Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
Thursday Jan 15, 2026
Teaching can feel harder than it used to — even when you love it and know you’re good at what you do. In this episode, I’m talking directly to the experienced, caring teacher who feels exhausted, disconnected, and unsure why classroom behavior and engagement feel so off right now.
I share the story of a teacher I call Carol — a teacher who loves her students, feels the pressure of scripted curriculum, and is wondering if she can keep doing this for another 5, 10 or 15+ years. If any part of that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.
We’ll talk about why another initiative or program isn’t the answer — and why The Classroom RESET might be. I’ll explain what it really means to reset your classroom through culture, engagement, and social-emotional learning, and how support (not more effort) is often the missing piece.
~Elizabeth
Mentioned in This Episode:
Get The Classroom Reset and receive personalized 1:1 support as you thoughtfully reset your classroom culture and move from managing behavior to building connection with care and creativity!
Go to theinspiredclassroom.com/reset
✨ Connect with me!
Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson
Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom
Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom
Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom
Wednesday Jan 14, 2026
Wednesday Jan 14, 2026
If the idea of “another course” makes you feel tired before you even start, this episode is for you.
In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what The Classroom RESET is — and what it’s not. I talk honestly about why so many courses and programs leave teachers feeling overwhelmed, behind, or alone, and why support (not more content) is often what experienced, caring teachers are really missing.
You’ll hear how The Classroom RESET is structured, why it’s designed as a guided reset experience with ongoing support, and who it’s meant for. If you love teaching but feel like your classroom needs calm, connection, and clarity again, this episode will help you decide if TCR is the right next step for you.
I hope this inspires you today. 💛
~Elizabeth
Mentioned in This Episode:
Get The Classroom Reset and receive personalized 1:1 support as you thoughtfully reset your classroom culture and move from managing behavior to building connection with care and creativity!
Go to theinspiredclassroom.com/reset
💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on.
It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone.
👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community
✨ Connect with me!
Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson
Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom
Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom
Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom
Tuesday Jan 13, 2026
Tuesday Jan 13, 2026
You care deeply about your students—but if classroom behavior still feels heavy, exhausting, or harder than it should be, this episode is for you.
Today, we’re going deep...and getting real.
This is a reflective conversation about classroom culture—not the posters on your wall, but how your students actually feel when they walk through your door. I’m sharing real stories from my own classroom, thoughtful questions to help you pause and reflect, and a few simple strategies that can begin shifting behavior by strengthening connection and belonging.
If you’re tired of putting out fires, managing instead of teaching, or wondering why your caring heart doesn’t always translate into calm behavior—this episode will help you see what might be missing and what’s possible instead.
~Elizabeth
Mentioned in This Episode:
Get The Classroom Reset and receive personalized 1:1 support as you thoughtfully reset your classroom culture and move from managing behavior to building connection with care and creativity!
Go to theinspiredclassroom.com/reset
💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on.
It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone.
👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community
✨ Connect with me!
Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson
Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom
Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom
Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom
Friday Jan 09, 2026
Friday Jan 09, 2026
Yep—I said it to my class: “I want you to fail.”
Their jaws dropped. But what happened next turned into one of the most meaningful classroom moments we've had all year.
In this episode, I’m sharing a quick story about how I used a surprising statement to encourage risk-taking and help my students actually embrace struggle as part of learning. Because here’s the truth: we tell kids that mistakes are how we learn, but are we showing them that it’s safe to try?
If your students are hesitant, checked out, or terrified of getting the answer wrong—and if your classroom doesn’t quite feel like the safe space you wish it could be—this one’s for you.
You’ll walk away with:
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One powerful phrase you can use this week to shift your classroom energy.
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Encouragement to let go of perfection—for you and your students.
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A reminder that rebuilding your classroom culture is possible—and you don’t have to do it alone.
~Elizabeth
Mentioned in This Episode:
✨ The Classroom Reset – A 6-month RESET experience to help you reconnect with your students, calm behaviors, and enjoy teaching again.
👉 Ready to build a classroom culture where risk-taking and growth actually happen? Check out The Classroom Reset and join us today:
https://theinspiredclassroom.com/reset
💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on.
It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone.
👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community
✨ Connect with me!
Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson
Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom
Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom
Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom
Tuesday Jan 06, 2026
Tuesday Jan 06, 2026
Teaching has seasons—and your classroom plan needs to move with them. In this episode, I’m talking about why revisiting your RESET plan is just as important as creating it in the first place.
I’m sharing what I’ve noticed as teachers inside The Classroom Reset begin their scheduled check-ins after completing the framework—and how powerful it is to pause, reflect, and decide what comes next instead of pushing through on autopilot.
Inside this episode, I’ll walk you through:
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The most natural times during the school year to revisit your RESET plan
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Three simple ways to reflect on what’s now part of who you are as a teacher, what got pushed aside, and what still needs support
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How to move forward with intention—without starting over or feeling behind
If you’ve ever written goals at the beginning of the year and wondered where they went, this episode will help you reconnect to them with clarity and confidence.
~Elizabeth
Mentioned in This Episode:
If you’re realizing that what you really need isn’t more ideas—but support implementing the ones that matter most—I’d love to invite you into The Classroom Reset. It’s where we build, revisit, and refine your RESET plan together with coaching and personalized support so you don’t have to guess what comes next.
Visit theinspiredclassroom.com/reset for all the info and to enroll.
💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on.
It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone.
👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community
✨ Connect with me!
Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson
Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom
Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom
Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom
Friday Jan 02, 2026
Friday Jan 02, 2026
In this episode, I’m joined by Christine Devane, author of Elephant Beach, a book that follows a shy girl who slowly comes out of her shell. Together we talk about what shyness really is (and isn’t), how participation doesn’t always have to look like speaking out loud, and how you can thoughtfully support your shy students.
If you’ve ever worried about the students who rarely raise their hands…
If you’ve felt unsure whether to call on them or leave them alone…
Or if you’ve sensed that your shy students are engaged but just not in the way school typically expects—this episode is for you.
~Elizabeth
Mentioned in This Episode:
You can purchase your copy of Elephant Beach by following the link on my "Elizabeth Recommends" page: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/elizabeth-recommends/
You can find Christine onInstagram: @stined13
Want to experience the calm and connection in your classroom again? You will inside The Classroom Reset Course.
And new starting this month - you get Personalized 1:1 Support when you enroll! Want to learn more? Go to theinspiredclassroom.com/reset
💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on.
It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone.
👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community
More about Christine ~
Christine Devane grew up in North Andover, Massachusetts, and graduated from Merrimack College in 2006 with a degree in English and a minor in Elementary Education. She went on to earn her master’s in Elementary Education from Merrimack in 2008. Over the next 13 years, Christine taught at St. Augustine Elementary in Andover and Plympton Elementary in Waltham. She now lives in Wilmington with her husband, John, their three children—Joey, Nick, and Adeline— and their dog, Sophie. Christine has also volunteered and taught English in Costa Rica, and she is an active member of the SCBWI, regularly attending conferences in New York City and Springfield.
✨ Connect with me!
Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson
Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom
Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom
Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom
Tuesday Dec 30, 2025
Tuesday Dec 30, 2025
The New Year can be exciting, but walking back into school can be a mix of anticipation, overwhelm, and lack of inspiration. You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing three powerful steps that will help you leave burnout behind and head into the new year feeling reignited—not just as a teacher, but as a creative, capable human being.
You deserve to start a new year with more than a feeling you need to survive. There's a better, more inspiring way to head back to school in January (or even next week!) without burning out in the process.
~Elizabeth
Mentioned in This Episode:
The Vault of Teacher-Centered Workshops — packed with inspiring PD for YOU (self-care, arts integration, classroom culture, and more).
We are in the LAST DAYS of getting into the VAULT of teacher-centered workshops, including:
The Behavior Blueprint
The One Word Workshop
Reignite Your Passion For Teaching
Self-Care Solutions
Virtual Teacher Art Retreat - includes 10+ arts integration workshops!
Grab your workshops now: https://theinspiredclassroom.com/pd
💬 Let’s keep this conversation going! (There's so much to talk about!) Come join our free Inspired Classroom Community where creative, passionate teachers connect, share ideas, and cheer each other on.
It’s your safe space to be inspired, supported, and reminded you’re not in this alone.
👉 theinspiredclassroom.com/community
✨ Connect with me!
Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson
Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom
Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom
Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom