The beginning of the school year can be stressful. The beginning of THIS school year is stressful for many more reasons than usual! The good news is that you aren’t the only one in this boat. Teaching during COVID will require us to address some of these challenges together, and what you can do to make this year the best one yet! TEACHING & PLANNING During a Pandemic Challenge ...
Organizing a Substitute Binder
Update 8/01/2020: This post was originally written many years before a pandemic changed everything about being a teacher. Many of the same concepts for substitute preparation still remain. However, for clarity, I am going to do my best to be a thought-partner as we navigate this trying time. You can find that information by scrolling down to #5. I will never forget the first time I ...
Technology Routines and Procedures
When teachers were tasked with the huge responsibility of teaching students remotely, it was like the rug had been pulled out from under our feet. Many teachers had never taught remotely, and even the most tech savvy teachers experienced the pains of trying to hold the attention of an 11-year-old through a screen. Well, teachers and students (and parents!) came out on the other side, ...
Tips for Teaching from a Cart
Back in February, a new teacher asked me for ideas for teaching from a cart. She would be rotating rooms and needed to figure out a way to do this. We used our best resource -- the teachers in our FB group -- to think tank a solution. Little did we know that many teachers would be going back to the classroom this fall with plans to work from a cart. TIPS for Teaching FROM A ...
The Flipped Classroom and Hybrid Learning
Hybrid learning - I had never heard this term until about a month ago, and now, it seems to be the type of learning environment that thousands, if not millions of teachers (and their students), are trying to navigate. The hybrid model functions both online and in the physical classroom. Students will be expected to complete some of their learning at home, some of their learning at ...
20 Must Have Teacher Supplies
If I had to draw one very broad generalization about teachers, it would be that teachers love school supplies. To this day, I am exhilarated by walking down the school supply aisle. I have compiled a list of my favorite teacher supplies, all priced under $20. These are all supplies that I have found useful in my classroom, along with some great ideas for incorporating them. Some ...
Back-to-School Round Up
If you are already thinking about your classroom and gathering ideas on Pinterest for a classroom management system, this post is for you. We have rounded up some of our favorite back-to-school blog posts and put them in one spot for your ease and enjoyment. Back-to-School Round Up On Preparing your Mindset Prepare yourself to lead your classroom confidently and effectively. Back ...
20 Must Teach Middle School Routines
With almost 30 years in the middle and high school classroom between the Maneuvering the Middle team, we have many thoughts on the routines and procedures necessary to run a successful classroom. This list is not exhaustive but will hopefully provide you with a place to start. One recommendation is to think backwards. Start by thinking about how you want your classroom to look and ...
20 Technology Gadgets for Teachers
Teachers love school supplies! And we love technology gadgets. Basically, school supplies for the 21st century. When compiling this list, I asked myself, “What would make my job as a teacher easier?” If it runs on electricity and I answered “yes” to the above question, then on the list it went. 1. Hue Doc Cam Crystal clear picture and super easy to use. One cord to plug into your ...
Online Courses for Middle School Math
Even without the historical end to the 2019-2020 school year, I think teachers can agree that most students experience the ‘summer slide’ when they return to school in the fall which means there is a need for online math courses this summer. If you are not familiar with the term summer slide, here is Scholastic’s explanation: “The concept of the summer slide has been on researchers’ ...