You Have Two Seconds

John VanDusenBlog, Connect Better, Engage Better, Innovate Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: You have two seconds to grab and hold your students’ attention. They have conditioned their brains to consume content they wish to consume for short periods of time. Students lacking attention, focus, and respect for elders is not something new so how do we become better teachers tomorrow than we are today? Three principles that help us be better … Read More

But They Won’t Do It if I Don’t Grade It

Mike SzczepanikBlog, Engage Better, Grade Better, Lesson Plan Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Change is hard. Assignment completion is a concern for some if there are no grades. Numerous factors affect student motivation. Not all students are motivated by grades. The carrot-and-stick motivational technique worked for the industrial revolution. Previously, I had discussed my reasons for breaking free from grades. While there are many benefits to going gradeless, there are also some … Read More

Spice Up Your Writing Block

Becky SchnekserBlog, Connect Better, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Innovate Better, Lesson Plan Better

TL;DR: Here is an inspirational, engaging writing activity to spice up your literacy program. Provide images for students to write creative captions. Provide an image for students to craft a news story or article for the newspaper. Compose captions for short stories with photos for students to match. Provide a photo and ask your learners to compose a conversation that … Read More

5 Strategies to Improve Your Time Management

Jeff GargasBlog, Manage Better, Reflect Better, Self Care Better

TL;DR: Managing time effectively and maximizing every minute is essential for personal and professional success. Prioritize tasks with the Eisenhower Matrix to help you assess urgency with importance. Embrace the Pomodoro Technique by working for 25 minutes + 5-minute break intervals. Use the time-blocking technique to schedule specific blocks of time for different types of tasks. Eliminate distractions. Track your … Read More

Real Talk: How to Be a Great Teacher Without Losing Yourself 

Holly BlackBlog, Connect Better, Engage Better, Manage Better, Reflect Better, Self Care Better

TL;DR: Being a great teacher doesn’t mean you have to completely lose yourself in the process. We can sort through what things aren’t serving us and curate a meaningful workplace for ourselves. Learn 9 quick tips for how to be a great teacher without losing yourself. For some reason, the idea of “good” teaching seems to equal a run-down, tired, … Read More