The Kids Wellness Podcast is your hub for creating happier, healthier lives for children. Hosted by Giselle Shardlow M.Ed., founder of Kids Yoga Stories, this podcast features inspiring guests from all areas of children’s health and wellness. Whether you’re an educator, pediatric therapist, yoga instructor, counselor, parent, or anyone working with kids, each episode offers practical tools, engaging stories, and expert insights to help children thrive emotionally and physically. Join us as w ...
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The Balanced Educator Podcast: Education | Mindfulness | Growth Mindset
Kailey Lefko and Josianne Barnabé: Teachers and Co-founders of Educalme
Our intention is to equip and empower you to feel more calm, balanced and joyful in all aspects of your life.
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#040 Yoga for Autism and Special Needs with Shawnee Thornton Hardy
51:55
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51:55Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Shawnee Thornton Hardy, founder of Asanas for Autism and Special Needs, as they discuss how yoga practices are making a difference for individuals with autism and special needs. Shawnee generously shares insights and success stories from incorporating yoga into her educational approach with n…
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#039 Essential Tips for Teaching Baby Yoga with Shari Vilchez-Blatt
45:17
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45:17Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Shari Vilchez-Blatt, founder of Karma Kids Yoga, as we talk about a common question that we hear from our kids yoga teacher community: "How do we best teach yoga to babies and toddlers?" After teaching yoga for over 20 years, Shari generously shares her journey in teaching baby yoga and lesso…
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In this special Mindful Monday, Giselle guides you through a simple yet powerful practice to help you ground yourself. Whether you're an educator, parent, or anyone working with children, this meditation is a perfect way to reset, refocus, and manage stress. Take a deep breath, settle in, and let’s begin. 💛…
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#037 Raising Resilient Kids: Trust, Risk, and Free-Range Parenting with Lenore Skenazy
49:30
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49:30Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Lenore Skenazy, founder of the Free-Range Kids movement and president of Let Grow, as they discuss how Lenore’s parenting choices many years ago sparked a national conversation that’s lasted more than fifteen years. In this interview, she breaks down what it means to trust children’s independ…
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#036 How to Teach Tween and Teen Yoga Classes with Claire Louise Smith
23:20
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23:20Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Claire Louise Smith, co-founder of Ambassador Yoga, as they talk about an interesting question for our community of kids yoga teachers and educators-turned-kids-yoga-business-owners: "How do we create effective and engaging tween and teen yoga classes?" Claire draws from her 20 years of exper…
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#035 Mindful Monday - Meant to be Meditation
6:32
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6:32In this special Mindful Monday, Giselle guides you through a simple yet powerful practice to help you accept the moment with grace. Whether you're an educator, parent, or anyone working with children, this meditation is a perfect way to reset, refocus, and manage stress. Take a deep breath, settle in, and let’s begin. 💛…
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#034 Raising Happy, Healthy Kids: The Microbiome, Vagus Nerve, & Gut-Brain Connection with Dr. Elisa Song
52:35
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52:35Discover the keys to raising happy, healthy kids along with Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Dr. Elisa Song, a Stanford-, NYU-, UCSF-trained integrative pediatrician, pediatric functional medicine expert. Learn practical tips and science-backed strategies for optimizing your child’s microbiome and overall wellness. Some highlight…
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#033 How to Apply for a School Yoga Grant with Leslie Wolfe
27:38
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27:38Join Giselle Shardlow (founder of Kids Yoga Stories) and Leslie Wolfe (PE Teacher and founder of Playful Hearts Yoga) as we talk about a popular topic that we hear from our community: How do I apply for a grant for my school yoga program? We talk with Leslie, who applied for a grant through the American Heart Association (AHA) to start up a school …
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#032 Building Confidence and Connection: Essential Tips for New Teachers with Alisha
31:34
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31:34Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Alisha from Rainbow Sky Creations as they talk about how starting out as a new kids yoga teacher can be overwhelming and share invaluable tips and strategies for new teachers. Some highlights: -The importance of keeping lesson plans simple and effective. -How to build strong connections with …
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#031 Simple Mindfulness Tools for Everyday School and Family Life with Sally Arnold
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47:34Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Sally Arnold, founder of Mindful Compass, as they discuss how mindfulness can make a real difference for children, families, and educators in everyday life. In this interview, Sally shares practical techniques and powerful stories from her global experience teaching mindfulness. Some highligh…
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In this special Mindful Monday, Giselle guides you through a simple yet powerful practice to help you foster kindness. Whether you're an educator, parent, or anyone working with children, this meditation is a perfect way to reset, refocus, and manage stress. Take a deep breath, settle in, and let’s begin. 💛…
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#029 Teaching Mindfulness That Sticks: Creative and Culturally Relevant Approaches with Dr. Chris Willard
45:22
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45:22Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Dr. Chris Willard, a clinical psychologist, best-selling author, international speaker, and mindfulness educator, as they discuss how to bring true depth, creativity, and cultural relevance to mindfulness practices for both children and adults. Chris helps cut through common myths and discuss…
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#028 How to Engage Children in your Kids Yoga Class with Laura McEgan
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34:40Join Giselle Shardlow (founder of Kids Yoga Stories) and Laura McEgan (founder of Divine Light Yoga) as we talk about a popular topic that we hear from our community: How do we engage children of different ages in a kids yoga class? From her 20 years experience teaching kids yoga, Laura shares her tips of how to capture the focus and attention of d…
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#027 How to Integrate Yoga and Mindfulness into Summer Camps with Emily Fleming
32:12
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32:12Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Emily Fleming, founder of Yoga in Classrooms and School Consulting, as we discuss how to integrate yoga into educational settings, specifically summer camps. Learn how yoga and mindfulness can transform the learning environment and enhance summer camp culture. Some highlights: -Emily's career…
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#026 Mindful Monday - Ordinary Moments Meditation
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5:53Seek out the ordinary moments in life. In this special Mindful Monday, Giselle guides you through a simple yet powerful practice to help you cultivate inner peace and embrace the ordinary moments in life. Whether you're an educator, parent, or anyone working with children, this meditation is a perfect way to reset, refocus, and manage stress. Take …
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#025 The Importance of Teacher Self-Regulation with Allison Morgan
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50:26Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Allison Morgan, founder of Zensational Kids, as they discuss integrating mindfulness and SEL in education. Discover practical strategies and insights into enhancing both student and teacher wellbeing. Some highlights: -Allison Morgan’s professional background and journey into combining yoga w…
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#024 Overcoming Teacher Burnout: Boundaries and Positive Mindset with Grace Stevens
44:56
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44:56Join us as Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, interviews Grace Stevens, host of the Balance Your Teacher Life Podcast, about essential strategies for setting boundaries in teaching. Learn how to manage stress, promote self-care, and maintain a positive classroom environment. Some highlights: - Importance of self-regulation and control …
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#023 Heartful of Peace: Music, Movement, Mindfulness Resource for Educators with Abby Wills
31:32
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31:32Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Abby Wills, founder of Shanti Generation and co-creator of Heartful of Peace, as they explore the evolution of Abby’s impactful work in kids yoga and mindfulness. Tune in to discover Abby latest project, "Heartful of Peace," a free music, movement, and mindfulness resource for educators. Some…
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Embrace uncertainity in very uncertain times! In this special Mindful Monday, Giselle guides you through a simple yet powerful practice to help you cultivate inner peace and embrace where you are at this moment. Whether you're an educator, parent, or anyone working with children, this meditation is a perfect way to reset, refocus, and manage the wi…
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#021 What the Research Says About Mindfulness for Educators with Susan Dryer Leon
36:47
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36:47Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Susan Dreyer Leon, director of the Mindfulness for Educators and Trauma Informed Education Programs at Antioch University, as they discuss the importance of mindfulness practices in education. Discover practical insights and strategies that can help educators thrive in challenging environment…
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#020 Why Mindfulness Teachers Are Essential in Schools with Liz Frink
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41:24Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Liz Frink, founder of Mindfulness with Miss Liz, as they talk about the transformative benefits of mindfulness in schools based on her own capstone research paper. As a former early childhood educator, Liz shares her journey and insights into implementing mindfulness techniques to enhance stu…
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#019 Building Bridges: Effective Communication Between Parents and Teachers with Kelsey Sorensen
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32:54Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Kelsey Sorensen, founder of Educate & Rejuvenate, as they discuss bridging the gap between teachers and parents. Discover practical advice and insights for fostering better communication and support in the educational community. Some highlights: -Difference between self-abandonment and selfis…
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Cultivate calm and start your week off right. 🌿✨ In this special Mindful Monday, Giselle guides you through a simple yet powerful practice to help you cultivate inner peace. Whether you're an educator, parent, or anyone working with children, this meditation is a perfect way to reset, refocus, and bring more calm into your day. Take a deep breath, …
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#017 Coping Skills for Kids: Practical Tips from School Counselor with Janine Halloran
32:20
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32:20Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Janine Halloran, mental health counselor and founder of Coping Skills for Kids, as they explore effective coping skills for kids. Learn practical strategies to help children manage their emotions and thrive. Some highlights: -Discover the "rainbow grounding" technique to stay present -The imp…
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#016 Meet Kid Conservationist: Kids Yoga Video Creator & Children's Author with Jack Dalton
27:14
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27:14Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Jack Dalton, the fourteen-year-old Kid Conservationist who is making a massive impact in environmental activism. Jack shares his journey that took him from a zoo visit in Tennessee to the jungles of Indonesia in his quest to save orangutans. From his experiences, he created a kids yoga video,…
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#015 How Mindfulness Helps Children Navigate Attention and Distraction with Lindsay Miller
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32:20Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Lindsay Miller from The Stress Nanny (a kids mindfulness coach and host of The Stress Nanny Podcast) as they talk about the significance of mindfulness in helping both adults and children to boost their attention skills. Some highlights: -Attention and Distraction in Kids: Discover the link b…
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#014 Mindful Monday - Set Intention Meditation
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5:07Start your week with intention. ✨ In this special Mindful Monday, Giselle guides you through a simple yet powerful practice to help you set an intention for the week. Whether you're an educator, parent, or anyone working with children, this meditation is a perfect way to reset, refocus, and bring more gratitude into your day. Take a deep breath, se…
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#013 How to Create Inclusive Environments for Black Kids with SonJoria Sydnor
35:57
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35:57Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and SonJoria Sydnor of Our Family's Doing Yoga, and as they talk about an important topic for our yoga community: "How do we create inclusive, accessible spaces for black kids in our kids yoga classes?" Some highlights: - SonJoria's journey from educator to creating a yoga book for black kids. - …
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#012 How To Add Relevant & Meaningful Art to Yoga Classes with Cindy Ingram
36:46
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36:46Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Cindy Ingram of Art Class Curator as they talk about the power of art in enriching the experiences of neurodivergent children in yoga classes. Discover practical insights and the impact of personal connections for learners on the autism spectrum. Some highlights: - Learn how personal connecti…
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Start your week with mindfulness and gratitude. 🌿✨ In this special Mindful Monday, Giselle guides you through a simple yet powerful practice to help you cultivate appreciation, presence, and inner peace. Whether you're an educator, parent, or anyone working with children, this meditation is a perfect way to reset, refocus, and bring more gratitude …
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#010 How To Teach a Boys-Focus Yoga Class with Liz Torres Zocchi
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25:28Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Liz Torres Zocchi, owner of Mindful Yoga with Liz, as they talk about the unique challenges and rewards of running a yoga class exclusively for boys. Discover insights into how Liz connects with her students and fosters a love for yoga in a male-centric environment. Some highlights: - Liz's j…
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#009 How to Cater to Different Learning Styles in Kids Yoga Classes with Rachel Glowacki
19:14
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19:14Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Rachel Glowacki of Move with Me Books, and as they talk about an interesting topic for our kids yoga community: "How do we cater to different learning styles in our kids yoga classes?" Some highlights: - Rachel's background and journey in teaching kids yoga - The importance of catering to dif…
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#008 How To Add Music to Your Kids Yoga Class with Kira Willey
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33:27Join Giselle Shardlow (founder of Kids Yoga Stories) and Kira Willey (Children's Musician and Author Extraordinaire) as we talk about a popular topic that we hear from our community: How do we effectively add music to our kids yoga classes? AND How do we capture the focus and attention of children in our kids yoga classes? We talk with Kira Willey …
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#007 How to Adapt Yoga for Diverse Abilities with Rochelle Jewell
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34:35Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Rochelle Jewell, founder of Yoga in Action, as they discuss valuable insights into teaching yoga to children with diverse abilities. Discover strategies for creating an inclusive and supportive environment in the yoga class. Some highlights: Learn about the importance of flexibility and meeti…
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#006 How Do Adults Practice Self-Care and Self-Compassion with Wendy O'Leary
50:23
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50:23Join us as Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, interviews Wendy O'Leary, award-winning children's author of It's OK and Breathing Makes it Better, educator, and public speaker, about the importance of self-compassion for educators. Join them as they explore practical tips and insights on cultivating kindness towards oneself. Some highli…
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#005 How to Teach in Underserved and Low Income Schools with Shawandra Ford
30:34
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30:34Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Shawandra Ford, of Brwnskn Yoga, as they talk about an important topic: "How do we effectively teach yoga to children in underserved and low-income schools?" Shawandra shares her story of how she grew Brwnskn Yoga while offering yoga to children in various settings, including low-income schoo…
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#004 How to Make Kids Yoga Class Playful, Creative, and Fun with Jaime Andrews
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32:35Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Jaime Andrews of Kidding Around Yoga as they talk about an interesting topic for our community of yoga educators: "How do we make our kids yoga classes creative, playful, and fun, while also being safe, inclusive, and effective?” From her experience as a personal trainer, mom, and kids yoga t…
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#003 How to Teach 15-Minute Mindfulness Sessions in Classrooms with Abigail Wilber
38:49
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38:49Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Abigail Wilber, founder of The Mindfulness Practice, as they discuss practical ways mindfulness can transform classroom dynamics and enhance student wellbeing. Discover proven techniques and valuable insights into how to teach 15-minute mindfulness sessions in classrooms. Some highlights: Set…
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#002 How Do We Teach Emotional Skills to Children with Suzanne Tucker
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38:15Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Suzanne Tucker from Generation Mindful as they talk about how to nurture emotional intelligence in children. Suzanne’s chat includes both insightful stories and practical advice for parents and educators. Some highlights: Explore why understanding and regulating emotions is just as crucial as…
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#001 How to Write Kids Books that Children and Adults Love with Susan Verde
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33:10Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Susan Verde, New York Times bestselling children's book author, as they talk about the art of writing for children and the impact of yoga and mindfulness in storytelling. Some highlights: Susan Verde's writing journey and inspiration from yoga and mindfulness Overcoming self-doubt and negativ…
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Welcome to The Kids Wellness Podcast! I’m Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and I’m so excited you’re here. This isn’t just a podcast—it’s a community of educators, counselors, therapists, parents, yoga instructors, and anyone who’s passionate about helping kids thrive emotionally, physically, and socially. Whether you're here for fre…
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Classroom Management through Yoga & Mindfulness: Teach Emotional Regulation to Kids with Giselle Shardlow from Kids Yoga Stories
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34:15Struggling with classroom management? One powerful solution is teaching emotional regulation through yoga and mindfulness! In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we interview Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, to explore how yoga and mindfulness can help students self-regulate and manage their behaviors in the classroom. We …
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Surviving Your First Year: Tips for New Teachers to Avoid Burnout & Thrive in the Classroom with Alisha from Rainbow Sky Creations
33:45
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33:45Are you a new teacher feeling overwhelmed by the demands of the classroom? Wondering how to avoid burnout and find balance? You’re not alone! In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re joined by Alisha, a seasoned educator and co-host of the Rainbow Skies for New Teachers podcast. Together, we dive into the most common challenges new t…
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How to Avoid Teacher Burnout & Achieve Work-Life Balance: Time Management Tips for Educators with Shawna Lapointe
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49:30Are you struggling with teacher burnout and finding it hard to balance work and life? It’s time to reclaim your personal time and reduce overwhelm! In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we sit down with Shawna Lapointe, teacher, entrepreneur, and mom of four, to learn practical strategies for achieving a healthier work-life balance and …
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Mindfulness in Winter: 10 Easy Activities for Classroom Calm & Self-Regulation
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29:19Winter is the perfect time to bring mindfulness and social-emotional learning into your classroom. In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we explore winter-themed mindfulness activities that help promote self-regulation and improve classroom management. Whether you're teaching elementary or high school students, these no-prep winter mind…
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Mindful Coloring for Kids: Boost Self-Regulation and Classroom Management with Easy, No-Prep Activities
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20:42Looking for Simple Mindfulness Activities for Your Classroom? Mindful coloring is one of the easiest and most effective ways to help students practice self-regulation and improve classroom management. In this practical episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we dive into the benefits of mindful coloring for kids—plus, we’ve got a special treat fo…
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5 Habits of Empowered Teachers: Reduce Stress and Boost Classroom Success with Grace Stevens
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50:04Feeling Stressed and Overwhelmed as a Teacher? If the start of the school year has left you feeling burnt out, this episode is for you! In today’s The Balanced Educator Podcast, we chat with Grace Stevens, a former VP who transitioned into teaching to help educators like you feel less stressed and more empowered. With 20 years of classroom experien…
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How to Improve Student Focus and Classroom Management with Simple Mindfulness Strategies
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26:24Struggling with Off-Task or Distracted Students in Your Classroom? If you're finding it difficult to keep students focused and engaged, you're not alone. Distractions and lack of focus can be a major challenge in K-12 classrooms. But don't worry—help is here! In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we walk you through a simple, no-prep le…
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Managing Stress in Kids: Mindfulness Strategies for Emotion Regulation & SEL with Lindsay Miller from The Stress Nanny
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37:10Feeling overwhelmed by the stress your students face? In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, mindfulness expert Lindsay Miller shares practical strategies to help kids manage stress and build resilience. With over 20 years of child development experience, Lindsay guides us through identifying stress symptoms in children and offers proven…
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Why Your Stress Impacts Student Behaviour & How to Use Emotional Intelligence for Better Classroom Management
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29:50Struggling with Student Behaviour? It Could Be Your Stress Affecting the Whole Classroom! In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, Kailey dives into the neurobiology behind why emotions are contagious and how they impact both teacher and student behaviour. You’ll learn how emotions serve as a form of communication, both internally and inte…
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