In this episode, I sit down with one of the show’s favorite guests, Dr. Brian Plante, a licensed naturopathic physician from the Amen Clinics. Dr. Plante shares invaluable insights into preventing and managing burnout—something so many teachers grapple with in their quest to balance teaching responsibilities and personal lives.

From understanding the difference between stress and burnout to discovering practical strategies for replenishing energy, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you move from surviving to thriving in your classroom and beyond.

In this episode, we'll talk about...

• The key differences between stress and burnout—and how to recognize the early warning signs.
• Why boundaries matter and how to set them with courage and compassion.
• Practical mindfulness and relaxation techniques for reducing daily stress.

Show Links

Join Dr. Plante on Instagram
Psychology Today
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One of my favorite ways to learn new teaching strategies is to watch OTHER teachers teaching. That’s why I’m so excited about today’s guest. MeQuel Bolden spends her days supporting teachers in classrooms throughout Washington DC and today she’s sharing her best lessons learned with US so that we can take literacy centers to the next level.

In this episode, we'll talk about...

• How much time is TOO much time for literacy centers.
• The most common challenges teachers face with literacy centers and how to overcome them.
• Tips for setting up literacy centers on a budget.

Show Links

Early Literacy Center Observation Sheet
Follow MeQuel on Instagram//LinkedIn
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Rate, Review, and Follow

If you loved this episode, please take a minute to rate and review my show! That helps the podcast world know that this show is worth sharing with other educators just like you.

Scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review". Then let me know what you loved most about the episode!

While you're there, be sure to follow the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and I don't want you to miss out! Follow right here.

Teaching advanced phonics can feel like a daunting leap—vowel teams, r-controlled vowels, diphthongs, multisyllabic words... where do you even begin? In this episode, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about teaching phonics to advanced readers.

Whether you’re supporting students who are ready to level up or those who need extra scaffolding to decode tricky words, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help every reader succeed.

Discover how to take your phonics instruction to the next level—because your students are ready, and you’ve got the tools to guide them!

In this episode, we'll talk about...

• What advanced phonics really is and why it’s critical for fluency and comprehension.
• Common challenges students (and teachers!) face when tackling complex phonics patterns.
• Proven strategies, like syllable division rules and morphology that make advanced phonics instruction effective and manageable.

Show Links

Scope and sequence
Join Malia on Instagram.
Become a Science of Reading Formula member!

Rate, Review, and Follow

If you loved this episode, please take a minute to rate and review my show! That helps the podcast world know that this show is worth sharing with other educators just like you.

Scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review". Then let me know what you loved most about the episode!

While you're there, be sure to follow the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and I don't want you to miss out! Follow right here.