I didn’t go looking for a breakthrough—I just needed rest. But a week away from my normal routine led to some of the most powerful moments I’ve had in a long time. In today’s episode, I share three unexpected lessons from our annual vacation—how rest deepened my marriage, renewed my mindset, and helped me hear from God more clearly than I have in months. If you’re running on empty, this might be the episode that helps you breathe again.

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Inside this episode:

• Why reading is more than a hobby—it’s a tool for healing

• The power of new environments for true rest and reconnection

• What happened when I stepped away from social media (mostly)

• Why rest is not selfish—and how it restores your soul

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Resources Mentioned:
📌 Join the free Teacher Talk Community — a space for encouragement, truth, and practical tools for educators.
👉 Click here to join now

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🎁 Download the free “5 Days to Restored Energy” video series. It’s your starting point for faith-forward burnout recovery using our 5 R’s Framework.
👉 Get it here

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📺 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly faith-centered content just for educators.
👉 Watch on YouTube

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We’re building a movement.
500 teachers committed to joy over burnout.
10 new leaders to start their own Teacher Talk circles.
And you’re invited.

🎧 Be sure to subscribe, review, and share with another teacher who needs it.

In this episode of Teacher Talk with John, we’re reclaiming what it means to be faithful in education—without sacrificing your soul in the process.

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If you've ever felt like you're only as valuable as your last lesson plan, or that rest is something you have to earn—this episode is for you. We unpack the hustle culture lie, reject the myth of teacher-as-machine, and lean into a faith-forward definition of success that includes you.

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💬 You'll hear:

• Why faithfulness is not the same as perfection

• How boundaries protect your calling

• Why rest isn’t selfish—it’s biblical

• • And what it looks like to stay in the classroom without losing yourself

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  You weren’t meant to do this alone. Connect with fellow teachers who are choosing joy over burnout. Join here:
  ==========================================👉 Teacher Talk Community

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  Ready to break the burnout cycle? Start our free video series and walk through the 5 R’s of recovery—designed for real teachers like you.

  👉 Get Started Now

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  For more encouragement, practical tools, and honest conversations, subscribe to the Teacher Talk with John YouTube channel:
  👉 Watch and Subscribe

  
  

  💡 If this episode helped you…
  Leave a rating and review, hit subscribe, and share it with another teacher who needs the reminder: you’re not finished—you’re being renewed.

  🔗 Join the Teacher Talk Community (Free)🎥 Watch the 5 Days to Restored Energy Series📺 Subscribe on YouTube

If I could go back and talk to myself before my first year of teaching, this is the episode I would want to hear. Today we’re diving into Part 1 of a series for first-year teachers, packed with practical strategies to help you keep your sanity in a chaotic school environment. I share three critical areas that every new teacher must master: intentional planning, classroom culture, and healthy boundaries. You’ll walk away with actionable insights and biblical encouragement to help you build a sustainable, joyful teaching life—starting now.

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• Why planning your first 9 weeks is the smartest move a new teacher can make

• How bell-to-bell teaching minimizes behavior problems before they begin

• Why expectations > curriculum in the first weeks of school

• How to use the 4 P’s to set a strong classroom culture

• Practical ways to set non-negotiable boundaries that prevent burnout

• Why boundaries aren’t selfish—they’re strategic

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• 00:00 – Intro: What I Wish I Knew

• 00:08 – Welcome to Teacher Talk

• 01:05 – Why Planning Matters for First-Year Teachers

• 01:57 – Bell-to-Bell Teaching: What It Is and Why It Works

• 02:59 – Planning Will Save You When Things Go Wrong

• 03:48 – Avoid Overplanning: Stay Flexible

• 04:30 – Setting Clear Expectations (and Why It’s Worth It)

• 05:27 – Teaching Expectations vs. Jumping Into Curriculum

• 06:13 – The 4 P’s of Classroom Culture

• 07:43 – The Power of Setting Boundaries

• 08:40 – Boundaries That Prevent Burnout

• 09:20 – Real-Life Examples of Healthy Boundaries

• 11:21 – Final Takeaways for New Teachers

• 12:10 – Join the Teacher Talk Community + Next Steps

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• 👉 Take the Burnout Self-Assessment

• 👉 Join the 5 Days to Restored Energy Challenge

• 👉 Join the Teacher Talk Community

• Subscribe so you don’t miss Part 2 of this new teacher survival series.

• Share this episode with a new teacher who needs encouragement.

• Leave a Review on Apple or Spotify—it helps more teachers find the support they need.

• “Your success starts with preparation. Your sanity is protected by boundaries. And your classroom won’t thrive without a strong foundation of expectations.”
  Stay strong. Keep teaching.