With textbooks taking a back seat, many teachers now turn to the internet for lesson materials. But what happens when a resource that looks “good enough” ends up hindering learning instead of supporting it?

In this episode of Empowering the Educator Within, Christina shares a classroom story that highlights why ease and effectiveness aren't always the same—and why it’s time to rethink how we select online resources. If you've ever hit “print” before pausing to reflect, this one’s for you.

🎧 Read the related article or share your experience in the comments: Are Internet-Based Teaching Resources Doing More Harm Than Good?

🛠️ Explore more episodes and free teaching resources at shalabooks.com

Is your school struggling with inconsistent instruction, teacher frustration, or unclear expectations? The culprit might be hiding in plain sight—your planners. In this episode of Empowering the Educator Within, we explore how the design of unit and day planners can make or break a school’s cohesion. From split-class challenges to specialist integration and daily planning missteps, we walk through common pitfalls—and offer concrete strategies for creating tools that actually support teaching. Whether you're a school leader or classroom teacher, this episode will help you move from paper to purposeful practice.

🎧 Learn more and explore related visuals, frameworks, and planners at shalabooks.com.

📘 Also available: the Empowering the Educator Within book and companion workbook.

What happens when foreign language instruction isn’t aligned with the way students are learning language in their mainstream classrooms? In this episode of Empowering the Educator Within, we explore four key insights that can help foreign language teachers make their lessons more relevant, connected, and effective.

While the strategies were originally developed for a dual-stream school setting, the takeaways apply to any educator aiming to strengthen their language program.

🎧 Tune in and discover how teaching in tandem can create a more cohesive language learning experience.

Explore free resources at shalabooks.com

Teachers are following research-based phonics programs. Students are participating, practicing, and progressing. So why—when it’s time to read—do they struggle?

In this episode of Empowering the Educator Within, we explore a common but often overlooked problem: the misalignment between early literacy programs and the readers used to assess learning. Could the very tools we rely on be contributing to the gaps we’re trying to close?

Join me as we unpack how this mismatch affects instruction, assessment, and most importantly—student confidence.

🎧 Visit shalabooks.com to explore our free collection of Emergent and Transitional Readers designed to align with your phonics instruction.

How do you capture a curriculum that’s constantly evolving? This episode explores a practical framework that helps early years educators document emergent learning using Reggio-inspired class planners. From inquiry-based documentation to integrating specialists and foreign language lessons, discover how to turn your school into a living, breathing community of learners.

🎧 Read the full article + see visuals of the planners at shalabooks.com 📘 Explore Empowering the Educator Within: A Guide to Enabling Yourself and Those You Serve – our book and workbook for designing your own framework and planners.

What if spelling wasn’t just one thing—but two? In this episode of Empowering the Educator Within, we explore the idea that spelling for English Language Learners might need to serve more than one purpose.

As students move through school, the vocabulary they encounter becomes more complex and subject-specific. So how should our spelling instruction evolve—especially for students learning English midstream?

Join Christina as she reflects on the difference between foundational and academic spelling, and what this means for designing more effective support for ELL students.

💡 This episode is inspired by the blog article: Learning to Spell—Life Skill vs. Academic 🎧 Subscribe now and visit shalabooks.com for more tools and resources to support your teaching.

What if you could see your classroom through your students’ eyes?

In this episode of Empowering the Educator Within, we explore a practical, eye-opening strategy that helps teachers do just that. By stepping into the learner’s role, you might just uncover surprising insights about your teaching, your planning—and your students.

Ready to experience your classroom from a new perspective? Tune in and discover the power of one simple shift.

🔗 Read article: How to Become a More Empathetic Teacher

What if your classroom walls could do more than just decorate? In this episode of Empowering the Educator Within, we explore how educators can turn wall space into purposeful learning tools. From interactive displays to thought-provoking question walls, discover creative ways to make every inch of your classroom count.

📘 This episode is inspired by an article from The Education Blog at shalabooks.com, and pairs perfectly with our book and workbook Empowering the Educator Within: A Guide to Enabling Yourself and Those You Serve—your guide to designing meaningful frameworks and planners that align with your teaching space.

🎧 Subscribe for more insights to help you bring your educational vision to life.