Written by Amy Candler (Laura’s daughter and collaborator.)
Back in ye olde 2018, my mom discovered podcasts and became an avid podcast listener! By the summer of 2019 she had decided to start her own podcast, “Inspired Teaching Made Easy.” Laura hasn’t recorded any episodes in many, many years, so it had essentially been packed away in the attic of the website, in a cardboard box labeled “old podcast.”
Discovering a Hidden Gem
Recently, while working on the website I stumbled onto the podcast. I’d been aware of its existence, but in an ‘I don’t need it now, but I know where to find it if I do need it,’ sorta way. When I read Laura’s original blog post from 2019 introducing the podcast, I got the feeling that now’s the time, NOW we need it. What immediately stood out to me was this:
“As I reflected on my 30 years of classroom experience, I realized that I felt most inspired when I used my heart AND my mind to guide my teaching practice. Building a caring classroom community is just as important as teaching academic skills, and this theme runs through all of my teaching resources. That’s why I’m excited to be able to have another opportunity to share teaching strategies and classroom management tips that will make it easier to find inspiration in the classroom.”
Reading Laura’s statement.. my mom’s statement, it reminded me of that passionate teacher I grew up knowing my mom to be. Teaching was always her true love. What she wrote, I knew it to be exactly at the heart of everything she does here!
Bringing back the podcast.. Sort of
The idea began forming, I knew this could be something. “But the podcast is 7 years old..” I thought to myself, “pre-covid times..things were different.” Is it completely irrelevant now? So I set out to listen to the episodes. How specific was the information shared? So specific that 7 years later, it was no longer helpful? Is this something I can share in this current year of 2026? I began listening to the first episode, and right away, knew I had to share it! As it turns out, teaching from the heart is pretty much timeless.
These recordings are full of light, passion, and inspiration, all of which I cannot allow to disappear into the ether because the pod never continued. So this is Amy, reaching into the past, picking up the pod and dusting it off. Eager to share it with you all! Eight episodes recorded seven years ago.. A podcast it does not make. Though, eight episodes does make for a great mini-series!
Inspired Teaching Made Easy: The Podcast Mini Series
Thus, let me introduce, “Inspired Teaching Made Easy: The Podcast Mini Series.” That’s all, it’s the exact same thing except we’re now presenting it as a mini series! The only difference is that I removed Episode 5 because it refers to a Scholastic deal that is no longer offered. Fortunately there are still seven excellent episodes to listen to and they will be available in the box below! You can also visit the podcast home page to access all of the episodes as they were originally recorded. Additionally, I compiled the seven mini-series episodes into a single YouTube video so that you can listen as if it’s one long podcast.
I envision this compilation to be perfectly suited to listen as you set up your classroom for back to school!
Amy's Extras
As the child to a dedicated teacher, I have many fond memories of being enlisted to come help set up the classroom at the beginning of the year. On the very first day my mom was able to get back into her classroom, we’d walk in to the sight of a flip-flopped school! A sight exclusive to staff and any children of the staff that had been enlisted to help. All classroom furniture lined up on the walls outside each classroom, the smell of fresh wax coating the floor.. And I imagine the sound of a janitor waxing the floors elsewhere in the building.
I’d like to note that this podcast used to have an accompanying facebook page. At the end of each episode Laura would ask the teachers/listeners a question and direct them to the Facebook page to answer and discuss. As the podcast is no longer running, the page is no longer active. For ease of listening I’ve lightly edited each episodes’ ending to remove references to the now inactive page. Note that only the YouTube compilation has been edited. Each of the episodes on Apple podcasts and the built in players below are as originally recorded.
To be clear, this is not a revival of the podcast. Technically, this could be viewed as a “rebrand” of the podcast, but I personally don’t view it that way. Rebrand feels far too corporate.. sterile. As if, the podcast flopped, and now we’re trying to market it as something new and interesting! Absolutely not! As well, there’s nothing corporate about what my mom and I do here on her website! Far from it.. We’re a mother and a daughter who love every opportunity to work together on whatever inspires us. With all that said, please enjoy “Inspired Teaching Made Easy: The Mini Series”!
Inspired Teaching Made Easy: The Podcast Mini Series
Inspired Teaching Made Easy
What is “inspired teaching,” and how can we find inspiration in our teaching practice? In this introductory episode, I dive into these topics and explain why I started this podcast. I also explain what you can expect from future episodes of Inspired Teaching Made Easy.
View Episode 1 Page for Resources & Links
How to Get Energized for a New School Year
Do you get the back-to-school blues when you think about starting a new school year? In episode 2 of Inspired Teaching Made Easy, I share several actionable tips and strategies you can use to get yourself excited and energized for the coming school year!
View Episode 2 Page for Resources & Links
Why You Need a Class Handbook
Have you ever thought about creating a handbook for your classroom? In this episode, I explain how creating a class handbook now can help you kick off a great year and prevent future problems. I also share loads of ideas about what to include in your handbook, plus tips for introducing it to your class.
View Episode 3 Page for Resources & Links
I Wish My Teacher Knew
“I Wish My Teacher Knew” is a simple activity developed by 3rd grade teacher Kyle Schwartz that transformed her classroom. In this episode, I share how this simple strategy has helped thousands of teachers build relationships with their students, including the story of a 4th grade teacher who put a unique spin on the activity to make it even more effective. I wrap up by sharing tips for using this strategy in your own classroom and offering ways to adapt it to meet the needs of your students.
View Episode 4 Page for Resources & Links
Tips for Using Attention Signals Effectively
Attention signals are essential tools for classroom management, and learning to use them effectively might be one of the most important keys to inspired teaching! In this episode, I explain why attention signals are so essential and share examples of signals that teachers love. I also discuss how to evaluate attention signals to ensure that you choose the right one for your classroom. The episode wraps up with a simple, step-by-step lesson plan that includes tips for teaching any new quiet signal to your students.
View Episode 6 Page for Resources & Links
How to Teach Social Skills for Working Together
When students have trouble working together, it’s often because they lack the social skills needed to interact effectively with others. Fortunately, social skills can be taught just like academic skills. In this episode, I share a 6-step process for teaching social skills that will help your students get along better with their classmates and learn to work more productively in cooperative learning teams.
View Episode 7 Page for Resources & Links
Teaching with Children’s Magazines
Children’s magazines are excellent teaching tools for integrating literacy across the curriculum. In this episode, I discuss the advantages of using magazines in the classroom, as well as where to find them and how to use them to supplement your regular instruction.
View Episode 8 Page for Resources & Links
Do you plan to listen to the podcast? We love to hear from you all so please feel free to let us know how you liked the mini series!
