The Present Teacher Podcast
The Present Teacher Podcast
Helena Hains
Helena Hains from The Present Teacher shares all of her simple and actionable classroom management, social emotional learning and teacher self-care strategies so you can thrive inside and out of the classroom as a first year teacher. As a First Year Teacher Coach she envisions a world where new teachers from around the world can thrive inside the classroom and make the impact they were destined to make within their very first year of teaching. Discover how you can take the latest and greatest teacher tips and strategies from experts in the fields of classroom community, building relationships, creating work-life balance, lesson planning, time management, and conflict resolution so that you can create a lifelong career where you fill empowered and authentically you! Welcome to The Present Teacher Podcast. Where we are stronger together and dreams come to life. Email me [email protected]
#169: The 3 Systems Every Teacher Needs to Leave on Time This Year
Want to leave school at contract time without falling behind? Learn the three essential systems every teacher needs—planning, prepping, and communication—to finally stop staying late, reduce stress, and reclaim your evenings. Download the Ultimate Teacher Prep Guide Here: https://www.thepresentteacher.com/teacher-prep-guide Grab the Book: https://www.thepresentteacher.com/book-2025 Join The Present Teacher Circle Community: https://www.thepresentteacher.com/the-present-teacher-circle ___________________________ ❤️Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thepresentteacher/🔥TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@thepresentteacher🚀Website | https://thepresentteacher.com/💜YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ThePresentTeacher?si=meqMmiDHJN-0Jmlr___________________________// RESOURCES💌 Join our email list for weekly motivation | https://www.thepresentteacher.com/teacher-prep-guide🌼 Join our Community on Facebook | https://www.thepresentteacher.com/offers/QUzcjYLT___________________________//  ABOUTI’m Helena Hains, a coach for new and first-year teachers, sharing knowledge on how to have a thriving career and personal life.The Present Teacher Podcast is a resource for classroom management, classroom organization, time management, and teacher wellness. Follow along and learn how to thrive in the classroom and in life.Subscribe to The Present Teacher Podcast to get inspired by new weekly podcast episodes!
Jan 11
14 min
#168: 3 Things to Stop Doing If You're Feeling Burnt Out Before Break
Feeling burnt out before break? Learn the top three habits contributing to teacher burnout—and what to do instead to protect your energy, work smarter, and finish the semester strong without sacrificing your well-being. Download the Ultimate Teacher Prep Guide Here: https://www.thepresentteacher.com/teacher-prep-guide Grab the Book: https://www.thepresentteacher.com/book-2025 Join The Present Teacher Circle Community: https://www.thepresentteacher.com/the-present-teacher-circle ___________________________ ❤️Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thepresentteacher/🔥TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@thepresentteacher🚀Website | https://thepresentteacher.com/💜YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ThePresentTeacher?si=meqMmiDHJN-0Jmlr___________________________// RESOURCES💌 Join our email list for weekly motivation | https://www.thepresentteacher.com/teacher-prep-guide🌼 Join our Community on Facebook | https://www.thepresentteacher.com/offers/QUzcjYLT___________________________//  ABOUTI’m Helena Hains, a coach for new and first-year teachers, sharing knowledge on how to have a thriving career and personal life.The Present Teacher Podcast is a resource for classroom management, classroom organization, time management, and teacher wellness. Follow along and learn how to thrive in the classroom and in life.Subscribe to The Present Teacher Podcast to get inspired by new weekly podcast episodes!
Jan 4
17 min
#167: What I Wish I Knew Before My First Winter Break as a Teacher
Over winter break, it can be so hard to balance rest and productivity. During my first year of teaching, I made a lot of mistakes when it came to working ahead. Which is why today I am sharing the mistakes I made along my teaching journey. Today, we are diving into what most new teachers get wrong about winter break, the mistakes that lead to deeper burnout, and what to do instead to actually rest and recover. A must-see for first-year teachers feeling guilty for resting. Download the Ultimate Teacher Prep Guide Here: https://www.thepresentteacher.com/teacher-prep-guide Grab the Book: https://www.thepresentteacher.com/book-2025 Join The Present Teacher Circle Community: https://www.thepresentteacher.com/the-present-teacher-circle ___________________________ ❤️Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thepresentteacher/🔥TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@thepresentteacher🚀Website | https://thepresentteacher.com/💜YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ThePresentTeacher?si=meqMmiDHJN-0Jmlr___________________________// RESOURCES💌 Join our email list for weekly motivation | https://www.thepresentteacher.com/teacher-prep-guide🌼 Join our Community on Facebook | https://www.thepresentteacher.com/offers/QUzcjYLT___________________________//  ABOUTI’m Helena Hains, a coach for new and first-year teachers, sharing knowledge on how to have a thriving career and personal life.The Present Teacher Podcast is a resource for classroom management, classroom organization, time management, and teacher wellness. Follow along and learn how to thrive in the classroom and in life.Subscribe to The Present Teacher Podcast to get inspired by new weekly podcast episodes!
Dec 28, 2025
12 min
#166: How to Prep for January Now — So You Actually Rest Over Break
Let’s be honest, December is peak season for many new teachers to reach teacher burnout. It’s easy to feel like, in order to finally break the cycle, you need to work your entire break. But that’s not the case.  Learn how to prepare for January now so you can truly rest over winter break—without burnout or guilt. Discover three simple, sustainable strategies teachers can use to batch lessons, prep materials, and reset routines for a smooth return in the new year. Download the Ultimate Teacher Prep Guide Here: https://www.thepresentteacher.com/teacher-prep-guide Grab the Book: https://www.thepresentteacher.com/book-2025 Join The Present Teacher Circle Community: https://www.thepresentteacher.com/the-present-teacher-circle ___________________________ ❤️Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thepresentteacher/🔥TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@thepresentteacher🚀Website | https://thepresentteacher.com/💜YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ThePresentTeacher?si=meqMmiDHJN-0Jmlr___________________________// RESOURCES💌 Join our email list for weekly motivation | https://www.thepresentteacher.com/teacher-prep-guide🌼 Join our Community on Facebook | https://www.thepresentteacher.com/offers/QUzcjYLT___________________________//  ABOUTI’m Helena Hains, a coach for new and first-year teachers, sharing knowledge on how to have a thriving career and personal life.The Present Teacher Podcast is a resource for classroom management, classroom organization, time management, and teacher wellness. Follow along and learn how to thrive in the classroom and in life.Subscribe to The Present Teacher Podcast to get inspired by new weekly podcast episodes!
Dec 21, 2025
11 min
#165: What No One Tells You About Teacher Burnout (And How I Got Out of It)
First-year teacher burnout is common—but it doesn’t have to be normal. In today’s content, we cover the silent signs of burnout no one talks about, what shifted in my own journey, and how to avoid or recover from burnout through simple, sustainable systems. Teacher burnout does not have to be a rite of passage for first-year and second-year teachers. There is a way out of it, and if it’s possible for m,e it’s possible for you too.   Download the Ultimate Teacher Prep Guide Here: https://www.thepresentteacher.com/teacher-prep-guide Grab the Book: https://www.thepresentteacher.com/book-2025 Join The Present Teacher Circle Community: https://www.thepresentteacher.com/the-present-teacher-circle ___________________________ ❤️Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thepresentteacher/🔥TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@thepresentteacher🚀Website | https://thepresentteacher.com/💜YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ThePresentTeacher?si=meqMmiDHJN-0Jmlr___________________________// RESOURCES💌 Join our email list for weekly motivation | https://www.thepresentteacher.com/teacher-prep-guide🌼 Join our Community on Facebook | https://www.thepresentteacher.com/offers/QUzcjYLT___________________________//  ABOUTI’m Helena Hains, a coach for new and first-year teachers, sharing knowledge on how to have a thriving career and personal life.The Present Teacher Podcast is a resource for classroom management, classroom organization, time management, and teacher wellness. Follow along and learn how to thrive in the classroom and in life.Subscribe to The Present Teacher Podcast to get inspired by new weekly podcast episodes!
Dec 16, 2025
27 min
#164: The Secret to Seamless Center Transitions (Without Saying a Word)
What if I told you I have my students switch centers or stations everyday without me saying anything? Freeing me up to work one-on-one with students or in small groups at the back of my classroom for an average of an hour a day. What could you do with that extra hour? Could you help individual students make the leaps in growth that you've been craving?   Today, I am talking about how my students transition from one center to another without me. All with a little help from music and a timer. Managing a classroom doesn't have to be hard during centers. Especially when students are responsible for their behaviors without you.   We'll be talking about how the use of classroom jobs, how I transition my kids using music, and how my students run centers without me, lead to an enjoyable experience for everyone. So much so that I can teach at the teacher table guilt-free, while sipping my hot cup of chai.    Download the Ultimate Classroom Management Guide Here: https://thepresentteacher.mykajabi.com/classroom-management-guide  Check Out My Classroom Procedure Slides for Inspo: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Nature-Theme-Classroom-Procedures-Slides-11985169  Get Access to the Ultimate Classroom Management Bundle: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ultimate-Classroom-Management-Bundle-12219499?st=94900c5f462cfd33e73369c219124e7a  Get Support inside The Present Teacher Circle Community: https://thepresentteacher.com/present-teacher-circle/  ___________________________ ❤️Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thepresentteacher/ 🔥TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@thepresentteacher 🚀Website | https://thepresentteacher.com/ 💜YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ThePresentTeacher?si=meqMmiDHJN-0Jmlr ___________________________ // ABOUT I’m Helena, a coach for new and first-year teachers sharing knowledge on how to have a thriving career and personal life. The Present Teacher Podcast is a resource for classroom management, classroom organization, time management, and teacher wellness. Follow along and learn how to thrive in the classroom and in life. Subscribe to The Present Teacher Podcast to get inspired by new weekly podcast episode
Nov 16, 2025
16 min
#163: How to Get Students to Run Centers Without You
One of the biggest reasons most teachers don't implement centers or stations in their classrooms is because they think it will take a lot of work and it will be a classroom management disaster. But that couldn't be farther from the truth. The truth is, there's a way to get your students to run centers without you saying a word. And that's what we are diving into today.   Today we will be covering how I get my students to run centers without me using classroom procedures, how long I practice centers before releasing control to my students, how to add in rotations so transitions are seamless, and how to keep students accountable for their work during centers without micromanaging.    The truth is, centers are a great way to meet the needs of your students while reinforcing what you are already learning in class. And it doesn't require hours of your time to make them happen.    Download the Ultimate Classroom Management Guide Here: https://thepresentteacher.mykajabi.com/classroom-management-guide  Check Out My Classroom Procedure Slides for Inspo: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Nature-Theme-Classroom-Procedures-Slides-11985169  Get Access to the Ultimate Classroom Management Bundle: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ultimate-Classroom-Management-Bundle-12219499?st=94900c5f462cfd33e73369c219124e7a  Get Support inside The Present Teacher Circle Community: https://thepresentteacher.com/present-teacher-circle/  ___________________________ ❤️Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thepresentteacher/ 🔥TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@thepresentteacher 🚀Website | https://thepresentteacher.com/ 💜YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ThePresentTeacher?si=meqMmiDHJN-0Jmlr ___________________________ // ABOUT I’m Helena, a coach for new and first-year teachers sharing knowledge on how to have a thriving career and personal life. The Present Teacher Podcast is a resource for classroom management, classroom organization, time management, and teacher wellness. Follow along and learn how to thrive in the classroom and in life. Subscribe to The Present Teacher Podcast to get inspired by new weekly podcast episode
Nov 9, 2025
18 min
#162: How to Set Up Centers So They Practically Run Themselves
Setting up centers for the first time can be hard. Especially when you're not sure where to even start. Today, we'll be diving into my top strategies on how to set up centers so they practically run themselves.   Centers are a great way to meet the needs of individual students while simultaneously reviewing or cementing in concepts you are covering in class. In this week's content, we'll be covering how to plan centers so they run seamlessly. We'll also be talking about how to prep them in a short amount of time without the hustle.    One of the most common misconceptions about centers is that in order to have great running centers, you have to be very hands-on. But the truth is, I don't do a lot when it comes to centers. My students do a majority of the work. And this week I'll be taking you behind the curtain on how I do exactly that.    Download the Ultimate Classroom Management Guide Here: https://thepresentteacher.mykajabi.com/classroom-management-guide  Check Out My Classroom Procedure Slides for Inspo: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Nature-Theme-Classroom-Procedures-Slides-11985169  Get Access to the Ultimate Classroom Management Bundle: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ultimate-Classroom-Management-Bundle-12219499?st=94900c5f462cfd33e73369c219124e7a  Get Support inside The Present Teacher Circle Community: https://thepresentteacher.com/present-teacher-circle/  ___________________________ ❤️Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thepresentteacher/ 🔥TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@thepresentteacher 🚀Website | https://thepresentteacher.com/ 💜YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ThePresentTeacher?si=meqMmiDHJN-0Jmlr ___________________________ // ABOUT I’m Helena, a coach for new and first-year teachers sharing knowledge on how to have a thriving career and personal life. The Present Teacher Podcast is a resource for classroom management, classroom organization, time management, and teacher wellness. Follow along and learn how to thrive in the classroom and in life. Subscribe to The Present Teacher Podcast to get inspired by new weekly podcast episode
Nov 2, 2025
21 min
#161: When You’re Questioning If You’re a “Good Enough” Teacher
It might feel like you are the only teacher questioning if they are cut out for the profession. But the truth is, we've all been there. Even the teachers you look up to down the hall or online have all questioned their worth as a teacher.    Which is why this week, we are talking about how common it is to question your worth as a teacher, my vulnerable experience with this mindset, and what helped me transition to the confident teacher I am today.    At the end of the day, you aren't a bad teacher. You are doing an amazing job and you are exactly where you are meant to be. We'll be talking about the systems and steps I took to go from teacher burnout as a first year teacher, to a teacher coaching thousands of teachers around the world. Because if I can do it, so can you.    Download the Ultimate Classroom Management Guide Here: https://thepresentteacher.mykajabi.com/classroom-management-guide  Check Out My Classroom Procedure Slides for Inspo: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Nature-Theme-Classroom-Procedures-Slides-11985169  Get Access to the Ultimate Classroom Management Bundle: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ultimate-Classroom-Management-Bundle-12219499?st=94900c5f462cfd33e73369c219124e7a  Get Support inside The Present Teacher Circle Community: https://thepresentteacher.com/present-teacher-circle/  ___________________________ ❤️Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thepresentteacher/ 🔥TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@thepresentteacher 🚀Website | https://thepresentteacher.com/ 💜YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ThePresentTeacher?si=meqMmiDHJN-0Jmlr ___________________________ // ABOUT I’m Helena, a coach for new and first-year teachers sharing knowledge on how to have a thriving career and personal life. The Present Teacher Podcast is a resource for classroom management, classroom organization, time management, and teacher wellness. Follow along and learn how to thrive in the classroom and in life. Subscribe to The Present Teacher Podcast to get inspired by new weekly podcast episode
Oct 26, 2025
14 min
#160: How to Handle Halloween Energy Without Losing Your Mind
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, but it can be really hard to navigate as a teacher. So how can you handle the chaotic holiday energy without completely using your mind? This week we are talking about some practical classroom management strategies you can implement to still enjoy this holiday without your class breaking into complete chaos.   It's no secret that disruptive behaviors rise around this time of year. Students are exposed to more sweets, less rest, and just pure excitement for what's to come. Which is why today we'll be talking about how to plan for the high every, still keep routines tight, how to utilize transitions wisely, and how to intentionally channel that magical energy to have an enjoyable week.   The truth is, Halloween doesn't have to be a scary time of year. In fact, it's one of my favorite times of year to bring one of my favorite holidays to life and still maintain a calm classroom with my students.    Download the Ultimate Classroom Management Guide Here: https://thepresentteacher.mykajabi.com/classroom-management-guide  Check Out My Classroom Procedure Slides for Inspo: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Nature-Theme-Classroom-Procedures-Slides-11985169  Get Access to the Ultimate Classroom Management Bundle: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ultimate-Classroom-Management-Bundle-12219499?st=94900c5f462cfd33e73369c219124e7a  Get Support inside The Present Teacher Circle Community: https://thepresentteacher.com/present-teacher-circle/  ___________________________ ❤️Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thepresentteacher/ 🔥TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@thepresentteacher 🚀Website | https://thepresentteacher.com/ 💜YouTube | https://youtube.com/@ThePresentTeacher?si=meqMmiDHJN-0Jmlr ___________________________ // ABOUT I’m Helena, a coach for new and first-year teachers sharing knowledge on how to have a thriving career and personal life. The Present Teacher Podcast is a resource for classroom management, classroom organization, time management, and teacher wellness. Follow along and learn how to thrive in the classroom and in life. Subscribe to The Present Teacher Podcast to get inspired by new weekly podcast episode
Oct 19, 2025
11 min
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