Last summer, Scholastic Magazines reached out and graciously offered to partner with the blog for the school year. It was a unique opportunity to get an incredible resource in the hands of students, and we wanted to share about the experience. Teacher Takeaways from a Year with Scholastic By far, the biggest takeaway was my ability to reach reluctant readers. We have all had ...
Why You Should Attend a Math Conference
If you are reading this blog, then chances are that you love teaching; more specifically, you love teaching math! Teaching and teaching math are a multi-faceted skills that require us to constantly learn: new strategies, new techniques, new ways to use intervention, new models, and the list goes on and on. Math conferences are a place for teachers to sharpen their skills and learn from ...
Teacher To-Do List: Summer 2018 Edition
Summer is mere weeks away, and I know that the countdowns have already begun. This time last year*, I would wake up and think to myself, “Only 2 more Mondays left...10 school days... 7 instruction days...” You name it; I was counting it down. My summers are shorter than the typical schools’ summers, so I want to make the absolute most of every day. And, in typical teacher fashion, I ...
Using Ebates to Save Money: Teacher Edition
A little-known fact about me is that I used to be a diehard couponer. I am not sure why I started or what compelled me to work the coupon system, but I loved when I was able to get something for free. Now the only problem is when you get something for free that you won't use or don’t have a need for. I mean, how many bottles of shampoo can you really use? But, when I first ...
5 Ideas for Teacher Organization
As teachers, we are always looking for new and better ways to do things. I think it’s part of our nature. I remember in my first year teaching, I bought those office trays that I used for students to collect and turn in papers. The trouble was that the papers would get crammed in there, some would fall out, and oftentimes, students would slip them in the wrong tray! The next ...
Extension Ideas for Early Finishers
Even when working with a 50-minute class period, there will be times when students complete their work quickly and need something “to do” for the last few minutes of class. If you have a longer class period, then likely this happens more frequently, and it’s something to be prepared for. If not, then you will end up saying something like, “Work on something quietly at your desk.” ...
Teaching Interview Tips and Best Practices
When you start applying for jobs, I think everyone starts the Google search with “teaching interview questions” or “what questions are asked on a teaching interview?” There is nothing worse than attending an interview and feeling unprepared when asked a question. While it does help to anticipate the specific questions that might be asked, it is also helpful to consider your interview ...
Change is a Verb
Disclaimer: I am not a trained counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist. I am an educator, I attended public school for 12 years, I spent four years at a public university, received my graduate degree, and I taught nearly 1,000 students over a seven year span in public schools. Most importantly, I am a mom of a little boy. As I watch the news, I hear the details surrounding the ...
Activities for Engagement: The Scavenger Hunt
It should come to no one’s surprise that students like activities. I’m an adult, and I like activities! In fact, I outlined how you could turn any worksheet into an activity here. My particular favorite is the scavenger hunt. Let’s dive into why it is a favorite for both my students and me. ACTIVITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT: THE SCAVENGER HUNT How It Works Scavenger hunts work like this. ...
Time-Saving Tips for the New Year
What I love about being a teacher is that you get two new years every one year -- August and January. Since the new year has just begun, I thought I would share some of my go-to time-saving tips so you can start your new year in your classroom as efficiently as possible. TIME-saving tips for the new year 1. Plan your Planning Period How many times have you looked at the clock ...