While it can be overwhelming to be a new teacher, there are a lot of things rookies are doing exceptionally well. These 4 life-changing habits are great for all teachers’ own mental health, ideal for communication with parents, and beneficial for students’ learning.  New teachers are doing something that veteran teachers never really did before. […]

Jul 14, 2020 | Positivity & Inspiration Flexibility has always been the survival word for teachers, but this year teacher flexibility is being put to the test more than ever. read more Jul 12, 2020 | Positivity & Inspiration An educator gives her thoughts on school reopening. The unknowns make this a difficult decision in […]

Aug 2, 2020 | Time Out For You Set work boundaries to make your teaching life go more smoothly. When you define your boundaries you gain more control over your work and home life. read more Jul 26, 2020 | Time Out For You Self care is important this school. As you face increased challenges […]

Teachings from the rose bush: growth is not always pretty, but embracing change and a positive mindset will allow your students to bloom in uncertainty. 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

No matter how calm you try to appear on the outside, many people are experiencing stress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone reacts to stress differently, so how are you coping with stress during the pandemic? Worry caused by news reports, fear about the impact the pandemic might have on family members with […]

Use your summer to relax, reflect, and recharge. In a school year fraught with challenges, after you record the last grade and attend the last required meeting, it’s time for you to get in your own 3 R’s.  Forget “reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmatic,” I’m talking about RELAXING, REFLECTING, and RECHARGING. Those 3 R’s will sustain […]

Taking work home with you is not just an occasional experience for teachers. For most of us, it is a work expectation. That expectation grew exponentially in about 2010 when schools began issuing laptops to teachers and learning management systems became the norm. If you taught before that time, you know how much a laptop […]

by Time Out For Teachers | May 14, 2023 | Tips & Tricks By Jennifer Chiaramida, Guest Writer While it can be overwhelming to be a new teacher, there are a lot of things rookies are doing exceptionally well. These 4 life-changing habits are great for all teachers’ own mental health, ideal for communication with… […]

By Susan Jerrell, TOFT Founder As a teacher you are asked to do a hundred different tasks a week. Some of them look pretty on paper but really don’t make that much difference in the grand scheme of your classroom. Prioritize your responsibilities to best serve your students. You have administrator expectations, parent expectations, student […]

Show yourself grace. Teachers are some of the most compassionate, forgiving people I have ever met. They nurture and care for classrooms full of kids daily. Teachers love and support their colleagues. They freely give others second chances and the benefit of the doubt. However, teachers are notoriously hard on themselves. It’s time to stop […]

By Susan Jerrell, TOFT Founder When politicians and parents demand schools to reopen, a majority of them do not have a plan for how it should happen or how to do it safely. As with most mandates, they make a statement, and then throw it to the schools to figure out.  Of course, that protects […]

Everyone needs positive inspiration in their lives, and teachers are no exception. Making a conscious effort to add positivity to your day can make a huge impact on how you interpret and remember your day. You can see the negative, or you can strive to find the positive. Positivity inspires not only you, but also […]

Set work boundaries to make your teaching life go more smoothly. From colleagues, administrators, electronic communication, the demands of your job, and home responsibilities, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and to let one area blur with another.  However when you learn to set boundaries, some of the chaos can disappear, and you begin to […]

By Susan Jerrell, TOFT Founder Get to know you activities are the staple of the first week of school for many teachers. With social distancing protocols, there are still ways you can create classroom culture and get to know your students. These 10 activities are enjoyable to students elementary through high school. This is a […]