Episode
387. Low-Prep Ways to Add Surprise to Your Elementary Classroom Without Losing Control
- Published
- Feb 11, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1424
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://www.drlorifriesen.com/
Actions
POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/beginning-teacher-talk-a-podcast-for-new-elementary-teachers-1046804/episodes/387-low-prep-ways-to-add-surprise-to-your-elementary-classroom-without-losing-control/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/beginning-teacher-talk-a-podcast-for-new-elementary-teachers-1046804/387-low-prep-ways-to-add-surprise-to-your-elementary-classroom-without-losing-control.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.
Summary
You can have strong routines and clear expectations and still feel like your classroom energy has gone flat. In this episode, I share how small, intentional moments of surprise (woven into your existing routines!) can spark curiosity, boost engagement, and make classroom management easier, instead of harder. You'll learn practical ways to add mystery and novelty without losing control or overhauling what already works. Show Notes: https://www.drlorifriesen.com/blog/surprise 5-Minute Field Trips Subscription: https://www.drlorifriesen.com/5-minute-field-trips FREE Class at the Virtual Teacher Ski Lodge: How to Prevent 2-3 Students from Derailing Your Entire Day: https://www.drlorifriesen.com/need-this Classroom Management Club Waitlist: https://www.drlorifriesen.com/membershipwaitlist Subscribe to the Beginning Teacher Talk YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@beginningteachertalk Grab a copy of my book, Dear New Teacher, Here's Exactly What to Do: Your 5-Step R.E.A.D.Y. for School Roadmap for Elementary Classrooms : https://amzn.to/3w3zZJ7 Lung Cancer Free: One Couple's Journey Through a "Lungs in a Box" Double Lung Transplant: https://www.lungcancerfree.com/ Check out Lori's TpT store (Beginning Teacher Talk): https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Beginning-Teacher-Talk Connect with Lori on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/drlorifriesen/ Connect with Lori on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beginningteachertalk If the Beginning Teacher Talk podcast is helping you in your teaching and if you're feeling extra loving, I would be so grateful if you would leave a positive review for the show! Your kind words mean the world to me. Just click here to leave your review now (and be entered into our draw for a $25 Amazon Gift Card)! https://podcasts.apple.com/u…