S2:E1 - Starting STRONG w/ Michael Bonner
S2 #1

S2:E1 - Starting STRONG w/ Michael Bonner

Season 2 of the Innovative Schools Podcast kicks off with a dynamic and encouraging conversation featuring educator and speaker Michael Bonner. With over a decade of classroom experience and a passion for building student relationships, Michael shares how educators can prepare both mentally and practically for the first day of school. From the energy of the first morning to the importance of expectations, systems, and rest, this episode offers inspiration and actionable tools to help teachers of all experience levels start strong and stay grounded.

🔑 Key Takeaways

✔️First Day is Foundational: Set the tone early—students will rise to the energy and expectations you bring.
✔️Balance Fun & Firmness: Joyful classrooms and clear boundaries can—and should—coexist.
✔️Rest is Productive: Stepping away before the school year helps you show up refreshed and fully present.
✔️Systems Create Consistency: Plan responses for both good and challenging behaviors before day one.
✔️Veteran Teachers Lead Culture: Experienced educators should model joy, support, and mentorship.


💬 Memorable Quotes

🗣️ “Progression over perfection. There are going to be lessons that go wrong—but it’s how you respond that matters.”
 🗣️ “Students are brilliant. If they can make 14 TikToks a day, they can rise to the expectations you set.”
 🗣️ “The first day should feel like magic—it’s not about the syllabus, it’s about setting the tone.”
 🗣️ “Rest is productive. Your nervous system needs to learn how to slow down before you ramp up again.”
 🗣️ “Life is short. If you’re alive, live—and make the most of this school year.”


🧠 Strategies You'll Learn
  • How to build an unforgettable first day with music, themes, and interactive rituals
  • Ways to foster classroom community using creative team-building activities
  • How to establish behavioral systems that support clarity and consistency
  • What it looks like to lead with vulnerability and build emotional safety
  • Why personal care and mental clarity matter just as much as lesson prep

👁️‍🗨️ Additional Practices
  • Let students co-create a classroom playlist—clean and connection-centered
  • Begin the year by modeling mental check-ins and healthy emotional expression
  • Use activities like the “cup tower challenge” to reinforce teamwork and norms
  • Draft a clear behavior plan: one for rewards, one for consequences
  • If you’re a veteran, mentor a first-year teacher—they need you more than you know
📚 Resources and Links

🔗 Michael Bonner Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelbonner_/
🔗 Connect with Michael Bonner: https://www.michael-bonner.com/
🔗 See Michael Bonner at the Innovative Schools Summit: https://innovativeschoolssummit.com/

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💡 Innovative Schools Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativeschoolspodcast/