Beating the Winter Blues: Teacher Well-Being

Free Online Tools for When You Lack the Will to Teach

“You can’t pour from an empty cup.”

“You’re a better teacher for your students when you take care of yourself first.”

That’s crap.

Here’s why: It’s not selfish to care for yourself. You don’t need a reason to care for yourself. And you don’t need to care for yourself just so you can take better care of others.

Don’t get me wrong, the sentiment of these statements is wonderful and inspiring, but it’s just not what a teacher needs to hear when going back to school in January or when they’re burnt out after September.

Teacher self care is about more than bettering yourself for others because you already give so much of yourself to your kids and your community.

So, when you’re lacking the motivation and the will to get back in the classroom day after day, here are some free online tools that are actually helpful.

For When You’re a Disorganized Mess

Notion

If you’re a fan of color-coded notes and detailed to-do lists, this app is for you. With Notion, you can create easily customizable documents and store them by category to avoid all the clutter of paper or endless tabs of Google Docs. And better yet, you can access it on your desktop and on your phone or iPad through the app.

Creately

If your brain is really, and I mean really, a disorganized mess, if your thoughts move faster than your hands, or if you just have a lot of ideas you want to keep track of, then Creately may be for you. Here, you can create roadmaps of all your fun ideas and lesson plans. Organize tasks by color, by stage, or however your mind works. You can work in webs, lists, sticky notes, and more!

Remind

Teacher self-care, oftentimes, can just be having all your ducks in a row. Do you have a lot of forgetful students (or parents) and it’s driving you crazy? Try Remind! The trick here is getting parents to download the app, but once you get past that hurdle, you can communicate freely. Either send out class-wide reminders or one-on-one chats to make sure everyone’s on the same page.

For When Your Classroom (or Your Mind) is a Circus

Headspace

Breathe in. Breathe out. Sometimes that’s all you need to ground yourself. Sometimes you need a little help, and that’s why I love Headspace. It’s a completely beginner-friendly introduction to meditation that you can do in minutes, or in seconds if you’re really short on time. Relaxing voices will guide you through breathing and clearing your mind and even help you sleep at night!

Tap In

If you’re free any day at 3 p.m. ET, you can catch a free, virtual, guided meditation class right from your home or even your classroom. All it takes is ten minutes. Every day the class is broadcasted live from the app, so if you miss it today, you can catch the next one tomorrow.

Finch

This app steals the show if only because it’s so adorable. If you need a friend to keep you on track with your teacher self-care, try adopting your very own Finch. Once you get started, you’re given your little creature to name and prompted to select your self-care goals. Every day, as you complete your goals, take quizzes, and do reflections, your baby Finch grows—and so do you!

For When You Need To Let Someone Else Do The Teaching

Virtual Class Pet

Charlie’s Acres, a farm animal sanctuary, offers virtual class pets that you can adopt with your students. There are a small supply of spots available for free, and even more spots available if you or your students’ parents can offer a donation. Each program includes an animal of your choosing with a certificate, photo, and information on your pet. You’ll then have four 30-minute calls with a caregiver and your pet to learn about humane care for animals.

Discovery Education - Virtual Field Trips

Sit back and relax while you and your students explore the frozen tundra or even the science of DNA sequencing. You can watch the nearly hour-long field trip on-demand for free and, if you have access to the Discovery Education platform, you can use the bonus materials provided by grade level. Don’t forget to have popcorn on hand!

Student Podcast Tool

Let your students take the reins here with an interactive podcasting lesson. Students of all grade levels can work independently or in groups to create a podcast episode. These can be relevant to your lesson or on a topic of their choosing. While students draft their scripts and record, you can freely catch up on your own work. Then, once everyone is finished, you can enjoy listening to each episode as a class. Don't forget to take advantage of downloading Heather Campbell's classroom podcast tools - free from members only!

Free for Members-Only: Heather Campbell's Podcast Resources

Download Heather Campbell's Podcasting Lesson Plans and Activities FREE!

Resources for Students to Create Their Own Podcast Episode

Resources for Listening and Understanding Podcasts for Kids

Podcast Shows You Can Use in the Elementary, Middle, and High School Classroom

Podcasts can be a powerful and engaging way to bring the classroom to life. With the rise of digital media, podcasts have become increasingly popular among students, teachers, and parents alike. Using podcasts in the elementary school classroom provides a fun and interactive way to engage students in learning.

Podcasts can be used to supplement traditional classroom topics, such as science, history, and language arts. Podcasts can also provide students with an opportunity to explore topics beyond the scope of their typical coursework. For example, podcasts can be used to introduce students to topics such as current events, global cultures, and the environment.

Podcasting isn’t just for supplemental learning - just ask Heather Campbell, a learning coach from Utah:

We are great at teaching reading comprehension but don’t teach students listening comprehension. I love podcasts and I thought my students would also find them engaging.

— Heather Campbell, Instructional Coach

Heather uses podcasts to teach comprehension while also emphasizing content for social studies, science, and language arts.

Be mindful of the content presented to get the most out of podcasts in the elementary school classroom. Podcasts should be appropriate for the age group and should provide content that is both educational and entertaining. As a teacher, you know how to provide guidance and structure for students to ensure they listen to and comprehend the content.

Podcasts can also provide an excellent opportunity for students to practice their listening skills. Listening to podcasts can help students to become more comfortable with hearing and understanding different accents, dialects, and tones of speech.

Finally, podcasts can be used to foster a sense of community in the classroom. By encouraging students to share their thoughts and opinions on the podcast content, teachers can create an environment that encourages collaboration and critical thinking.

Using podcasts in the elementary school classroom can be a great way to engage students in learning. Here’s a list of our favorite podcast for each level:

Elementary School and Middle School (PreK - 8th)

Brains On! – A science podcast for kids that covers a different topic each episode.

But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids - an award-winning podcast that takes questions from kids around the world and seeks out the most interesting experts to answer them.

Ear Snacks – A fun, creative podcast featuring music, stories and sound effects that help kids learn about the world.

Story Pirates – A podcast that turns kids’ ideas into wild, funny stories. 

The Past and the Curious – A podcast that explores stories from the past to help kids understand the present.

The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel – A mystery podcast with a fun storyline that keeps kids engaged.

But Why? A Podcast for Curious Kids – A podcast that answers questions from kids about the world around them.

The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian – A science fiction podcast about a group of friends exploring space.

Short & Curly – A podcast about ethical dilemmas for kids to explore and discuss.

Storynory - stories for kids read aloud for a fun and exciting listening experience

The Show About Science for Kids - a podcast for younger children that explores the world of science in an age-appropriate way

Adventures in Science - a podcast that introduces kids to the exciting world of science

Science Friday - a fun and informative podcast for kids that features interviews with scientists and interesting topics.

Wow in the World – A podcast that takes children on a journey to explore the wonders of the world around them.

High School and Beyond

Science Friday - Science Friday is a weekly podcast that covers interesting stories and topics related to science and technology. Each episode features interviews with scientists and experts in their field, as well as discussions and debates about the latest scientific developments.

The TED Radio Hour - This podcast is a collection of TED talks from some of the world's most influential thinkers and doers. The TED Radio Hour features interviews, stories, and talks from a variety of experts on a range of topics such as science, technology, art, culture, and more.

The History of Rome - This podcast takes a look at the history of Rome from its founding in 753 BCE to its fall in 476 CE. Host Mike Duncan covers a range of topics such as Roman politics, culture, and military history.

The Memory Palace - This podcast dives into the past to explore the stories of forgotten figures in history. Each episode features stories from a range of topics such as science, literature, and art.

Planet Money - Planet Money is a podcast that covers economics and current events. Each episode explores different aspects of the economy, from how global trade works to the stories behind the headlines.

The Allusionist - This podcast focuses on language and etymology, exploring the history and meaning of words and phrases. Host Helen Zaltzman takes listeners on a journey through the English language with topics ranging from slang to regional accents.

Freakonomics Radio - Freakonomics Radio is a podcast that looks at the hidden side of everyday life. Host Stephen Dubner and guests explore the economics of everything from sports to crime to parenting.

The Story Collider - The Story Collider is a podcast that features personal stories from scientists and non-scientists alike. Each episode features stories that explore the intersection of science and everyday life.

The Anthropocene Reviewed - Host John Green takes listeners on a journey through the Anthropocene, reviewing aspects of our world on a five-star scale. This podcast covers topics such as technology, nature, and culture.

The Lonely Palette - Host Tamar Avishai takes a deep dive into art history with this podcast. Each episode focuses on a single artwork, exploring the history and cultural context of the piece.