It is easy to look at all the tasks you have to complete while you are teaching and to be overwhelmed. However, goal setting can be simplified. The old joke goes: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. So how do you tackle those tasks? One step at a time. I […]
Teaching is a one at a time career. It’s easy to get caught up in negativity, poor behavior, piles of papers and endless meetings. When we are drained at the end of the day, it is hard to put the brighter spots of the day into perspective. However, learning to take everything one at time […]
Jun 17, 2020 | New Teachers Tips Teaching can be time consuming and take over your life, but these tips show you how to work smarter, not harder. read more Jun 7, 2020 | Tips & Tricks These resources for talking about race in the classroom will help you prepare for some tough discussions. You […]
Positive actions to survive teaching from home can improve your outlook during this pandemic. As the newness of the first few weeks of teaching from home sinks in, teachers across the country are realizing this is the new reality for now. The novelty is gone, and for some teachers it is causing a new type […]
While teachers are often expected to sacrifice for the sake of their students and the school community, the fact is that a mental health day can be the answer to a host of problems. When you wake up and the idea of facing another day of meetings, lessons, parent emails, playground duty, standardized test prep […]
Taking work home with you means the work day never ends. Wean yourself from your laptop to gain freedom from work and enhance your in home life. Creating a positive tribe is essential for teachers.This creates a deep sense of connection through shared experiences and make for a happier work life Teachers can’t save them […]
Teachers face a wide range of emotions heading back to school from excitement about seeing students and colleagues, worry about their own children, anxiety about the unknowns of how they are going to do their job, and fear about their safety. That is why self care is important this year, maybe more than ever before. […]
A teacher’s life is busy, like 24/7 busy. Finding a way to balance work and home can be a real struggle. You know what it’s like. There are stacks of papers to grade on your desk. Your administrator asks you to head a committee. Students want you to go to their band concert. A colleague […]
By Susan Jerrell, TOFT Founder Any teacher can tell you a story about mistakes they made their first year teaching. It comes with the territory and is to be expected. Welcome to the world of teaching which is also a world of learning, for the teacher as well as for the students. These 5 mistakes […]
Do you find yourself glued to your cell phone? Do you feel anxious when it is not near you? How often do you check your email or new posts on social media? Are you constantly plugged in? If you’re like the average mobile device user you probably spent an average of three hours and 43 […]
Planning lessons without the end in mind is like planning for a trip without knowing the destination. Imagine packing clothes for a ski vacation in Colorado and ending up in Hawaii. You love the beach, but your ski boots aren’t going to be very useful. You want your daily lesson plans to lead you to […]
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. I’m looking at all of you in service careers, the medical personnel, pharmacists, EMS, police officers, teachers, cashiers, grocery store clerks, truck drivers, train conductors, trash collectors, etc. The tireless, often underpaid, overworked people the rest of the world depend on in a crisis are heroes, […]
Young teachers need support and encouragement. New teachers sometimes get a bum wrap, and it shouldn’t be that way. In an era of teacher shortages, young teachers are our strongest assets, and they bring a lot to the educational environment. New teachers are fresh and excited. They cannot wait to meet their students and try […]
Power of Yet: helping students develop a growth mindset
Power of yet. Google those words and you will find posters, songs, videos, and articles. An entire teaching model was built around the idea of an A, B,C, not there yet philosophy. If you’ve been a teacher for half a minute, you’ve heard the buzz word “growth mindset.” The phrase “the power of yet” was […]