Reflections from the Fresh Professor

Teach Better TeamBlog, Differentiation, Student Engagement

TL;DR: James shares his story about his childhood experience with surgery on his eyelids and how it changed him. Edutainment was a calling that was sparked by a conversation with Michael J. Fox. Follow his journey below. James joined Rae on the Daily Drop In to chat about aligning values, beliefs, and actions. Click here to watch! My first memory … Read More

Independence is Messy: Student Independence

Teach Better TeamBlog, Differentiation, Student Engagement

TL;DR: It’s often easy to judge what students will be able to do for themselves. Teaching behaviors may help students master life skills within the classroom. Check to see if there is a missing skill that is preventing them from learning the next steps. Supporting independence builds students up! New Student I had the opportunity of gaining a new student … Read More

Collaborative Planning: 3 Teacher Truths

Teach Better TeamBlog, Student Engagement

TL;DR: Research shows that teams who effectively use collaboratively planning models boast a sizable increase in student growth. When planning, put yourself out there and try something new. Take a risk! Elevate the ideas of your teammates and make them feel valued. Your voice has value so use it! Collaborative Planning: 3 Teacher Truths I Learned from the Beatles So, … Read More

Engage in Reading Madness!

Bobbie FrenchBlog, Student Engagement

TL;DR: Tournament brackets are a great way to engage students in school. March is the perfect time to use brackets for a book tournament. Holding a March Madness tournament for books in your school can be highly engaging and involve all of your students and the community. Let’s Get Ready to Rumble…. OK, maybe not rumble exactly….   Let’s Get Ready … Read More

The Gift of Happiness: 6 Keys to Cultivating Happiness

Livia ChanBlog, Classroom Management, Reflect Better, Self-Care, Student Engagement, Teach Happier

TL;DR: Happiness can be cultivated in simple ways in the classroom. There are 6 keys to cultivating happiness. Happiness is a mindset and a heartset. It is a gift you can give to yourself and others. Happiness is something you can protect. In my experience, when I ask young children how they feel, many will say “happy.” When I ask the … Read More