Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What do you do when the school year has barely started—and you're already struggling to find your motivation?
In Episode 356 of Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ and Jenn talk about navigating the reality of the beginning of the school year: tough first days, challenging students, lack of motivation, overwhelming workloads, and figuring out how to keep showing up without running yourself into the ground.
CJ also breaks down practical strategies for small-group instruction, differentiation, grade inflation, working with difficult parents, making repetitive content exciting again, and helping students who are several grade levels behind.
In this episode:
Rebounding after a difficult first few days of school
Finding motivation when you're not excited to go back
Giving yourself grace during a difficult personal season
Small-group strategies that build communication skills
Using Think-Pair-Add to get every student talking
Differentiating for students who are multiple grade levels behind
Making phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency more engaging
Advice for first-time substitutes and brand-new trade teachers
Transitioning to a new school without waiting to be yourself
Handling students and parents who push back against consequences
Why CJ pushes back against grade inflation
Making the same content feel new again
Bringing experts and real-world experiences into your classroom
Knowing when NOT to take on another teacher's workload
Classroom libraries vs. a centralized school library
Taking care of yourself so you can keep showing up for students
A rough beginning doesn't determine the rest of your year. Keep showing up, get curious about what's underneath student behavior, invest in yourself, and remember: most of the problems you're facing right now won't still be problems once you've had time to build relationships and establish your classroom culture.
🛒 Teacher resources:
shop.teachyourclassoff.com
🌐 Learn more:
teachyourclassoff.com
📧 Questions?
hello@teachyourclassoff.com
Chapters
00:00 Welcome Back & Surviving the Busy Season
05:30 What Great Professional Development Should Actually Do
13:30 Small Groups That Build Communication Skills
22:00 Finding Motivation When You're Not Feeling It
31:30 Not Excited to Go Back to School? You're Not Alone
39:00 Giving Yourself Grace During a Tough Season
48:00 Advice for a First-Time Substitute Teacher
55:30 Grade Inflation & Why CJ Pushes Back Against It
1:05:30 Podcasts That Help Teachers Grow
1:11:30 Differentiating for Students Several Grade Levels Behind
1:19:00 Making Reading & Vocabulary More Engaging
1:27:00 Advice for Trade Professionals Becoming Teachers
1:35:00 Transitioning to a New School
1:40:00 Handling Students & Parents Who Fight Consequences
1:50:00 How to Make the Same Content Exciting Again
2:00:00 Don't Take On a Broken System's Problems
2:05:00 Classroom Libraries vs. School Libraries
2:10:00 Rebounding From a Tough Start to the School Year
2:18:00 Final Encouragement: Invest in Yourself
What do you do when the school year has barely started—and you're already struggling to find your motivation?
In Episode 356 of Sunday Night Teacher Talk, CJ and Jenn talk about navigating the reality of the beginning of the school year: tough first days, challenging students, lack of motivation, overwhelming workloads, and figuring out how to keep showing up without running yourself into the ground.
CJ also breaks down practical strategies for small-group instruction, differentiation, grade inflation, working with difficult parents, making repetitive content exciting again, and helping students who are several grade levels behind.
In this episode:
Rebounding after a difficult first few days of school
Finding motivation when you're not excited to go back
Giving yourself grace during a difficult personal season
Small-group strategies that build communication skills
Using Think-Pair-Add to get every student talking
Differentiating for students who are multiple grade levels behind
Making phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency more engaging
Advice for first-time substitutes and brand-new trade teachers
Transitioning to a new school without waiting to be yourself
Handling students and parents who push back against consequences
Why CJ pushes back against grade inflation
Making the same content feel new again
Bringing experts and real-world experiences into your classroom
Knowing when NOT to take on another teacher's workload
Classroom libraries vs. a centralized school library
Taking care of yourself so you can keep showing up for students
A rough beginning doesn't determine the rest of your year. Keep showing up, get curious about what's underneath student behavior, invest in yourself, and remember: most of the problems you're facing right now won't still be problems once you've had time to build relationships and establish your classroom culture.
🛒 Teacher resources:
shop.teachyourclassoff.com
🌐 Learn more:
teachyourclassoff.com
📧 Questions?
hello@teachyourclassoff.com
Chapters
00:00 Welcome Back & Surviving the Busy Season
05:30 What Great Professional Development Should Actually Do
13:30 Small Groups That Build Communication Skills
22:00 Finding Motivation When You're Not Feeling It
31:30 Not Excited to Go Back to School? You're Not Alone
39:00 Giving Yourself Grace During a Tough Season
48:00 Advice for a First-Time Substitute Teacher
55:30 Grade Inflation & Why CJ Pushes Back Against It
1:05:30 Podcasts That Help Teachers Grow
1:11:30 Differentiating for Students Several Grade Levels Behind
1:19:00 Making Reading & Vocabulary More Engaging
1:27:00 Advice for Trade Professionals Becoming Teachers
1:35:00 Transitioning to a New School
1:40:00 Handling Students & Parents Who Fight Consequences
1:50:00 How to Make the Same Content Exciting Again
2:00:00 Don't Take On a Broken System's Problems
2:05:00 Classroom Libraries vs. School Libraries
2:10:00 Rebounding From a Tough Start to the School Year
2:18:00 Final Encouragement: Invest in Yourself
