Looking to go into next school year being the best teacher ever? This post is chock full of 10 practical, helpful tips to help you become the best teacher you can be!

Is the existence of happy teachers a myth? Do they actually exist, or are they just something that we aspire to? We all have them. You know what I am talking about. Those habits that hold

Teaching can be really hard. So much is expected of teachers in so little time and with so few resources. Sometimes we find ourselves facing problems which we just can’t unravel, no matter how hard we try. And there are days when we ask ourselves why we persist. Each year I choose a word

I still can’t believe I have been in the same profession for over a decade. There have certainly been some high highs and low lows during my career, but in

I remember a particular year of teaching quite vividly, and not for the right reasons. As teachers, we don't discuss often enough the years we struggle. Or, the years that bring us heartache, and yes,

Ever looked at the teacher down the hall or in the classroom next door and wondered, how do they have it all together? What is their secret sauce to getting

Wondering how you're going to survive your first years of teaching? This list provides 33 top tips for beginning teachers to help you thrive!

Discover how to be a more effective teacher and have a better behaved class by knowing how to balance these two critical components of successful teaching.

These 25 quick and easy tips for new teachers will help you create a positive, engaging, and effective learning environment for your students.

Are you considering to become a tutor? Well, here are 7 reasons why becoming a tutor or teacher is one of the most rewarding careers!

Inside: A seasoned classroom teacher reveals her secrets to work smarter as a teacher and what to do to be more productive in the classroom. Tip No. 1 will surprise you! Do you ever ask yourself how you can work smarter as a teacher? I ask myself this question all the time. In the years

Before rushing headlong into summer, it’s instructive to take a look back. To reflect on what went well during the past school year and what didn’t. Because, unless you know where you need to improve, you’re destined to experience the same frustrations year after ... Read more

The Three Little Pigs ranks way at the top of my “Favorite Fairy Tales/ Fables” list. I loved reading the story, in its many different versions, to my students every year. I especially loved the third little pig – his wisdom, work ethic, and courage to do things differently. I always believed that if everyone really paid …

HELLO, FRIENDS! With tomorrow being Random Acts of Kindness Day, I was inspired to create a challenge for myself and my fellow teachers! I bring you..... The Random Acts of Kindness Teacher Challenge

Do you want to know how to get it all done, be an organized teacher, and avoid wasted time? Yeah, me too! Find out 6 things you can do today to get started.

You’ll learn the 13 rules which help you to teach ESL effectively, together with info on how to become an ESL teacher in no time.

One of the strangest things about being a college professor is that no one ever teaches you how to teach. Unlike K-12, college faculty have no required instruction when it comes to teaching. My first teaching experience was similar to many – I arrived at grad school a few weeks before the semester started, was...Read More

Teacher Burnout Explained in Two Pie Graphs This is a non-scientific (but probably pretty accurate) graphic I have created using my experience as a teacher. Another title for this chart could be "Teacher Burnout Explained

The view from the student desk will give you a new perspective.

If you're a teacher, then you're probably familiar with the idea of teaching being compared to acting. On any given day, teachers may be tired, depressed, anxious, or generally unhappy, but when the students walk in, they have to be "on." You might hear the teacher's voice and energy go up, a smile plastered on

In my classroom, I’m always looking for ways to improve. To grow as a teacher, I reflect on my lessons and consider what went well, what could have been better, and different methods to try in the future. In addition to self-reflection, I welcome feedback from others—administrators, mentors, other teachers, and my students. I’ve even participated in Great Teachers, Great Feedback, which is a virtual coaching service. I’ve been observed countless times during my teaching career. My first year teaching I was observed by my mentor multiple times each month and my program director several times a year. A couple of years later when I was a part of Teach for America I had advisers in and out of my room on a regular basis in addition to visits from the principal and vice principals. While I’ve never enjoyed being observed (who does, right?), I looked forward to hearing their thoughts and ideas. Whether the feedback was good or bad, I wanted to hear all about it. I grew into a strong teacher quickly because I was so eager to learn from others. I’ve always been naturally reflective, but the comments from administrators, advisers, mentors, and fellow teachers showed me where to place my concentration. No matter how often you’re observed and receive feedback, you won’t grow as a teacher unless you are willing to listen to advice and try out new ideas. Don’t shut down when an observer shares a criticism. Ask questions about turning things around instead. True, not all of the advice you’ll receive will be helpful. For example, one of my observers always told me to rank my students from highest performers to lowest performers and create an elaborate seating chart based off of that ranking system. It was such a time consuming process with seven classes of around 30 students each. However, I tried it anyway. For several weeks, I used this new seating chart system. When no benefits of the new seating chart showed themselves I went back to my old arrangements. Out of all of the advice I received and tried over the years, this was the only one that stands out as impractical. While the idea didn’t work out, it did get me thinking about other options for seating charts and table arrangements. Not every idea will be beneficial, but most of them are worth considering. I’ve discovered a lot of wonderful teaching methods this way. Self-reflection and routine observations aren’t the only things that shaped me into the teacher I am today. Some of the best feedback came from the people who were in my classroom every day: my students. Simply watching your students can tell you so much about the efficacy of your lessons and teaching methods. I think most teachers can tell when their students are bored. There are many hard to miss signs there—slouching, open mouths, excessive doodling, drooling, sleeping, acting out... You can tell when your students are engaged, eager to learn, and excited. A quick assessment can tell you how much each student understood the content. There are many informal ways to learn from your students. Besides observing students’ behavior and assessing their work, you can do something as simple as asking questions. Ask your students how you’re doing. Ask what they liked and didn’t like about a lesson. Ask them what was clear and what was confusing. Ask them what helps and what doesn’t. Many students will be hesitant to answer, especially at first. Not many teachers ask their students’ opinions on lessons and teaching practices. If you can get them talking, you might be surprised at their insight. One version of my teacher report card Several times a year I have my students give me a more formal assessment. Most students are more candid about their thoughts when they don’t have to express themselves in front of a classroom full of students and their teacher. To give the formal assessment, I have my students grade me at the end of each quarter. Basically, whenever my students get report cards I get one too. Or, in particularly challenging classes, I have students complete a formal assessment ASAP to help identify the problem and get students back on track to learning as much as they can in the short amount of time they have in my class. When my students “Grade the Teacher” they fill out the answers to questions on a piece of paper. It’s fairly quick: between five to ten minutes. You can ask questions about whatever you think would be useful like classroom management, lesson pacing, types of homework, how students feel in your class, clearness of expectations, etc. I often change up the questions each quarter. I always include a portion about what letter grade I deserve and why. I usually include a question about what unit they learned the most from and why. If you’re considering letting your students grade you like this, I recommend you read through the advice below. Explain to the students that you are giving them the feedback form because you want to know how to improve your teaching. Encourage details and examples because those will give you a better idea of how to improve. Tell students to focus on your teaching, the lessons, and the classroom environment. Not your clothing choices or appearance or other irrelevant things! When students first started grading me, I got comments about how I’m stylish and have beautiful eyes. Flattering, yes. A little creepy, also yes. Helpful, no. Clarify that students should be completely honest but not hurtful. Giving examples of what is and isn’t acceptable is helpful. Example: Mr. Dude sometimes seems mad and yells and it makes students feel uncomfortable. Non-example: Mr. Dude is a mean teacher and everyone hates him. If you want, you can have students complete their evaluations anonymously. This might help them be more comfortable being honest. Personally, I like to have students put their names on the evaluations so I can follow up with them if I have any questions or need clarification. Consider having a question about the student’s level of effort in class. I’ve found this helps the students consider their role in how class goes on a daily basis, and this causes them to be more fair and reasonable in their evaluation of me. This part is hard: Try not to take criticisms personally. Not every student will give you glowing reviews. That’s okay! Remember, you gave them this evaluation to improve and their ideas can often help you with that goal. You can use the Grade the Teacher feedback form I created with your students. I use some version of this with my students every quarter. It’s in English and Spanish so all the voices in my classroom are heard. If you’re serious about improving as a teacher you should reflect on your lessons, invite people into your classroom to observe you, try new teaching methods, and get feedback from your students. Want to get feedback from your students? Try my "Grade the Teacher" reflection tool. Get a "Grade the Teacher" form for your own classroom! Are you a middle school science teacher? You might be interested in my newsletter. Sign up for my newsletter here. Just for signing up you'll receive an exclusive freebie that you can't get anywhere else.

In today's society saying that you are a teacher can get many responses. Responses ranged from amazement to pity. I have thought a lot about why I became a teacher. I want to share my story with you.

Is it OK if teaching is just your job or does it have to be your calling?

Teachers work hard. It's not unusual for teachers to put in long hours, to have teaching constantly on our minds and to put our work before other things. That's not always a good thing, though. Overwork can lead to exhaustion, illness and burnout - leaving us as less effective teachers. So what can

Here's how authors’ lives change for the better when they’ve completed writing a book so you can get inspired to write something yourself:

Dread planning meetings that are crucial to your success? We outline the qualities of a good facilitator for a great strategy planning meeting group facilitator

Learning how to set boundaries as a teacher is crucial. These same boundaries you're creating now will carry over into your next career.

How do you run a differentiated classroom, where each student is working on separate tasks at different speeds? See how one teacher manages a self-paced class.

Standout teachers know what they are teaching in and out, know when to bring it up on a personal level, and know if they have need to learn how to be a memorable teacher.

This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you click the links and make a purchase I may receive compensation at no additional cost to you. I do not recommend any companies that I do not persoanlly use and love. Please read our disclaimer for more info. Teaching can take a lot out of you. This Friday I came home from school and I was so drained that I think I was beginning to make myself sick. Every day at school, you have to give so much of yourself to others that it can be depleting. This is why we all need to be careful that we are taking care of ourselves. I find when I am not taking care of myself, I have less energy, I have a shorter temper, and I am not living up to my full potential. To be the best teacher you can be, you need to make sure that you’re putting yourself first. Learn to Say No This is my personal biggest struggle. I want to do everything for everyone. Some days, I work late into the evening correcting papers for the teacher down the hall who is out sick. I run around the school trying to make sure that everyone has the right schedule because we changed it. Sometimes, I go from classroom to classroom hand taking a teacher’s homeroom attendance because the substitute didn’t submit it correctly and the students are no longer in homeroom. And I will admit that these all happened on the same day… last week. Helping other people truly brings me joy. I feel better knowing that I have done something to make another person’s day easier. Look up Enneagram Type 2 because I am such a type two it’s scary! But, when you are doing everything for everyone else, and you go home and you’re junk, you are doing a disservice to yourself. I get home some nights and I make a mess, I don’t want to cook, I can’t bring myself to do anything but veg in front of the TV and then go to bed early. And then I get up the next day, realize my house is a mess and start my day off in a negative way. This isn’t fair to me and this is a quick way to get burnt out. You have to learn to prioritize the important things. Do what you can to help other people, but don’t do it at a detriment to yourself. Before you agree to do something (or in my case offer to do something) think to yourself, “what negative impact will this have on me?” And if you think that the negative impact is worth it, then do it! But make sure you’re saying no when you don’t think it’s worth it. Get Sleep Sleep is so important! Getting 8 hours of good sleep is crucial to our physical and mental health. Newer articles that I have read have said that sleep is more important to losing weight than working out. While I am not a doctor and can not confirm or deny that, I enjoy a good excuse to put down my work and go to bed early! Getting sleep I find makes me function better, my mood is better, I make healthier decisions. Exercise This is my least favorite of the group. As much as I despise getting up at 5 am and sweating my butt off in front of Autumn Calabrese… it makes me so much happier in the long run. I am not the type of person who will work out after work. To get the workout done, I have learned that it has to be the first thing or it won’t happen. But then not only does my body appreciate the movement, but my brain is also happier for the day because I feel like I’ve accomplished something. It took a while to get in the groove but after 2 months of regular workouts, it has become less painful, and a part of my routine. Working out regularly boosts my confidence because I’ve started to see gains. But, it also boosts my energy, helps me lose weight, and just makes me feel proud of myself. Eat Healthily I have found, as sad as it is, that when I have an unhealthy lunch I spend the rest of the day paying for it. A few years ago I did a Whole30. There were a lot of things that I wanted to gain from that Whole30 that I didn’t it disappointed me. But one thing that I did learn was that too many carbs during the day make me so sleepy!!! I have learned that when I have a nutritious, low-carb lunch, I stay energized and productive throughout the rest of the day. Take Time for Yourself Like I said earlier in this post, I have been so overwhelmed and spending too much time on other people. For me to be my best self, I have learned that I have to take a night in once in a while. My favorite night includes tea and a Hallmark movie. As much as I do love a good glass of wine on a self-care night, I always regret it the next day. When I go more than a week without taking a night to just be home and recharge, I find that I am lethargic, depressed, more anxious, and have less patience. Learn What Replenishes You I am slowly learning which activities replenish me. I have found that as much as I love spending time with my family, often it takes so much of my energy that it is not a replenishing activity. Sometimes I do my best “replenishing” when I take a night at home to myself and go to bed early. Another thing that replenishes me is a quiet night with a girlfriend. We all have friends that balance us and the friends that deplete us. I am not saying that those depleting friends are bad, but know that when you are at your wit’s end, that you need to call a replenishing friend and not a depleting friend. This week when I was at the end of my rope and ready to explode, I made plans with a teacher friend. It was a simple night with apps and wine. It wasn’t a wild night and it wasn’t anything special, but having time with that friend who just seems to know you and get where you’re coming from is what replenishes me. Also, check out: My Favorite Self-Care Books 5 Tips for Self-Care for Teachers FREE co-teaching checklist Subscribe to receive a free co-teaching checklist! Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and download the checklist. There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again. First Name Email Address We use this field to detect spam bots. If you fill this in, you will be marked as a spammer. Get the Checklist! We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

Learn how to be more organised as a teacher and plan for the new term with these 5 easy organisation tips. Are you already worried about how busy the new term will be? Do you need some tips how to be more organized as a teacher? As you know, the teacher-life is hectic and it

How to be a good online trainer, teacher or freelance corporate trainer. 10 tips and advice on becoming a more effective teacher online.

Maybe you’re considering beginning a career in education. Maybe you’ve been teaching for years and are feeling a little burnt out. Maybe you’re not sure if you want to keep teachi…

(This post contains some affiliate links. Thanks for your support.) Looking to start out 2019 with new techniques, ideas or a more refreshed teacher brain (and heart)? Me too!! Being a teacher can be emotionally and physically draining. Sometimes you need to be reminded why you became a teacher and need some new techniques to ... Read More about 8 Best Professional Development Books for Teachers

Wondering if an introverted teacher can thrive in the profession? I've come to think of it as a gift - find out how!

Inside: Read to find out some easy and practical tips to increase teacher productivity and help work through the list of to-dos more efficiently. Do you feel like you need to increase your productivity as a teacher? Many teachers often feel overwhelmed with the huge workload they face each and every day. All these to-dos

When I think about the qualities of the most effective teachers I know, either from my own education or from colleagues I've had the pleasure of working with, these are ten things they all have in common. Be fair and consistent Communicate regularly with parents and guardians Have rules and enforce them Differentiate to meet the needs of all students Care Make the most of every class period Be willing to learn from others and try new teaching strategies Have a routine that students can count on Connect learning to real life Make time for themselves What are some other things the best teachers do? Add your ideas to the comments section. Read the 10 Things Teachers Should Never Do. Are you a middle school science teacher? Sign up for my newsletter! You'll get a free science resource just for joining.

We are surrounded by great teachers every day. But what makes an exceptional teacher?! We polled our colleagues from the Fearless First Grade Teacher

This post contains affiliate links. That first year of teaching. The joys of getting your first "real job" offer! I can remember that phone call-my stomach twisted into knots! I got my first teaching job 5 days before school started. I was fresh out of college and desperate for a job. I had no clue what to expect as I had gotten my Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education and my first teaching job would be teaching remedial math to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. I truly believe that with each passing year you get better if you continue to stay current with new teaching methods and adapt to your current classroom's needs. I am no superstar teacher that knows it all but I DO know what has worked for me. My hope is maybe some of these tips will help you be successful with your first year changing lives! 1. Do NOT take work home. I had a veteran teacher give me this advice my first year with a stern voice. She said, "It will all be there when you get here in the morning". I could count the number of times I have taken papers home to grade on both hands. I have coworkers that love taking home papers and grading in front of their favorite Netflix series, but that doesn't bring me joy. I truly believe that you cannot pour from an empty cup. I have watched teachers get so tired because they never "leave work at work". They are constantly stressed feeling as though they are never caught up. This can lead to teacher burn out and this is NOT what you or your students need. Sometimes it is necessary to bring home something and I get this. I'm only suggesting you do not make this a habit and do it every single night. Please don't think I'm bashing anyone who does take work home each night-remember this is what worked for me! Stay organized with your time management. Utilize your planning periods to the full extent! Do not go to your team teachers and gossip and waste precious minutes you could be using to grade that giant stack of papers. For me, I had to be honest with my coworkers that come planning time I meant business and to not bother me unless it was an emergency. You can always email me and I'll respond! Even five minutes here and there means another 10 papers graded. Remember that stack will be in the exact same spot when you open your classroom door. You could even stay after school and work for a little bit to get caught up. I find I am exhausted by the end of the day and I'm not as efficient. I would rather get to school early and hit the ground running because I've had a large cup or two of coffee! Try this instead of taking it home! 2. Use a Planner. Your life is going to get busy really quick with so many deadlines and dates to remember! I love a paper planner! Have you seen "The Happy Planner"? Amazon has Box Kits that includes the 12 month planner and coordinating stickers, sticky notes, pen, and a pocket folder! There are some really good ones at your big box retailers as well. First thing I do is sit down with our district calendar and write every single date for the entire year. Every time you get an email with a deadline write it immediately in your planner. Open your planner first thing in the morning while waiting for the computer to start. Refer to it throughout the day and always look ahead to the next day before leaving school. I have recently been moving towards strictly using Google Calendar. I'll admit I'm becoming slightly obsessed. My district uses Google as their email platform so I can sync multiple calendars. I can easily color-code my events. I can set reminders to repeat as needed. I never miss a deadline. I can access this calendar from anywhere without having to carry a paper planner around. Whatever method you use just remember to actually use it. In order for it to work you must use it! Plum Paper Planner 3. Don't worry if your classroom isn't "Pinterest-worthy". This should not be your main concern your first year(or ever!). You need to be sure you have some type of decorations that make you happy to be there as well as your students but you don't have to have it all your first year. Work on having designated areas for multiple trash cans, pencil sharpeners, and where students will turn in their work. Your classroom will evolve over time as will your style. I'll share this picture from my first classroom. I took anything I could that other teachers were getting rid of. I was so proud of that room and each year something changes with my decor that I thought I loved the previous year but am passing it on for next year. 4. Establish your Rules and Procedures on Day One. Ever heard of "Fake It 'till You Make It"? Try not to let your students see that you are nervous and/or have no clue what to expect your first year teaching. Students will feel it the moment you let that show. I never liked being told "don't smile until Christmas". I don't agree with this but I do feel that you must let students know how you will run your classroom with high expectations each day. You absolutely MUST have a classroom management strategy in place before school starts. You are going to have a classroom full of multiple children with all various parenting styles at home. How you set the tone with your expectations for your classroom each day is so important. This is important for your own sanity. You can walk up and down the hallways and see the teachers that do not have control over their classroom. It is pure chaos day in and out. This also can lead to teacher burn out. Remember we do not want to get burned out on what we love to do! My biggest tip for the new teachers at our school is to go through your Rules and Procedures on Day One. I have used this PowerPoint presentation since my first year. I do not read every single thing on each slide. This is to help guide me in what I show the students. I quickly scan through this presentation and remind students we will work on these as the specific situations arise. Remember to be consistent and follow through with your expectations and consequences. 5. Build Relationships. You are going to feel like you are alone in that everyone else knows what they are doing. They don't. Do not be afraid to ask questions! You have to reach out to those teachers around you. Get their cell phone number and add them on Facebook. If you are feeling lost or confused about something-ASK! Teachers are busy and you may have to be the one to go to them. Make friends with your coworkers! They are one of your greatest resources! You also need to work on building relationships with students(appropriately). This was one of my professional goals for the previous couple of years. I will be the first to admit I was terrible at this. I felt that I showed my students that I cared, but I wasn't doing my best. I vowed to stand at my door every single morning the entire time during homeroom, as well as every single class change and greet every single student by their name. My first couple of years I was nervous to hug my students. I was so young(22 years old when I started teaching) and it felt weird. I wanted my students to take me seriously as a teacher(some of my students were 16 years old), so I didn't want to get too personal. I think this changed after having two kids of my own. Remember, even your worst student is someone's baby. Stand at your door and say "Good Morning!" with a smile on your face. Do this even if you are having a stressful day. You are modeling so many things to your students and I want to model positivity! 6. Call Parents. Calling parents can be a frightening thing! Parents will be concerned that you are a new teacher and are not going to teach their child what they need to know. You have no credibility. Yet! Get on the phone and call parents. You will probably meet a lot at Open House which a great time to introduce yourself. The older the students get, the less phone calls that happen. You will recognize the students on day one that might be the unruly ones. Call those parents first. Get them on your team. Explain to them that you are so excited about the opportunity to teach their child and that you can't wait to see what the year holds. This initial contact is SO important! It needs to be very positive! Parents talk to other parents. You want a positive message to be attached with your name. Talking on the phone is the way to go! Be sure that parents know you are there for them and can be reached when needed. This will be a game-changer for your classroom management. If you wait until that unruly student has driven you off the edge to make the first contact you will have more difficulty with getting their parents to be on your side. Trust me-you want parents on your side. What is your best tip? Leave a comment below with your favorite tip for First Year Teachers! I hope you have a FABULOUS first year! I promise you will survive and you will get better every year! I cannot wait to hear all about it and remember that you are changing the world one student at a time! If you have any questions or need help with something please don't hesitate to ask! [email protected]

Whether you're new to teaching or a veteran, there's always room for development so you can better serve your students. Try these ideas today

What are the Qualities of a Good Teacher? “Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.” - John Steinbeck, American Author Great teaching is more than a nine-to-five job where you clock in and clock out. Effective teachers maintain a delicate balance between instructi

Being a teacher means being a leader. Are you leading the right way?

No, teachers. The quote is wrong. You do not need to consume yourself to light the way for others. Instead, follow these tips to avoid teacher burnout.

Hey teacher! As an educator, it's easy to become so engrossed in the daily responsibilities of teaching that you forget to take care of yourself. However, in order to provide the best learning environment for your students, it's essential to prioritise your own wellbeing. In this blog post, we will explore some strategies for recharging and protecting your energy as a teacher. 1. Prioritise Self-Care Self-care is often thought of as indulgent or optional, but in reality, it's crucial for maintaining overall health and wellbeing. As a teacher, make sure you're taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. This may include getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, and practicing mindfulness or meditation. 2. Set Boundaries It's easy to get caught up in the demands of teaching and put your own needs on the back burner. However, setting boundaries is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Consider setting limits on your workload, saying

Earn LAUSD salary points, PD credits, and graduate-level credits with our 100% online professional development classes designed for teachers.

Is the existence of happy teachers a myth? Do they actually exist, or are they just something that we aspire to? We all have them. You know what I am talking about. Those habits that hold

Teaching can be really hard. So much is expected of teachers in so little time and with so few resources. Sometimes we find ourselves facing problems which we just can’t unravel, no matter how hard we try. And there are days when we ask ourselves why we persist. Each year I choose a word