The first week back can feel chaotic, but it doesn’t have to. In this episode, we chat with returning guest, mentor teacher, and Plan Z coach, Nicole Dissinger to map out a calm, practical January reset that rebuilds classroom culture, clarifies expectations, and makes space for real learning to take root. Instead of sprinting into content, we focus on the moves that prevent weeks of chasing behaviors: reteaching core routines, reconnecting as a community, and designing short, high-success tasks that restore confidence.

Nicole brings 15 years of global experience as a teacher, coach, and curriculum developer, and she shares why students often return with surprising growth—sometimes academic, sometimes emotional—and how that shift should guide your next unit, groups, and supports. We talk about reflective practice for newer teachers, how to loosen the grip of the pacing guide without losing rigor, and why planning narrowly for the first few days can open the door to faster progress later. Snow days, indoor recess, and midwinter fatigue are real; a steady reset plan is your buffer.

We also get candid about behavior systems. Sticker charts and token economies can create short-term compliance but often escalate and distract from learning. We offer a minimalist alternative: simple, transparent expectations, consistent follow-through, and explicit modeling of what success looks like. For students who need more, we explore co-created goals, visual checklists, and short-interval supports that build ownership instead of dependence. The throughline is clarity—teach less, impact more by making the essentials unmistakable.

If you’re ready to start the year lighter and more focused, this conversation will help you plan the first week back, steady your routines, and re-energize your teaching. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs a reset, and leave a review to tell us what you’re reteaching on day one.

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