Teacher Authenticity: Be You, Not Them

Teach Better TeamBlog, Connect Better, Engage Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better

TL;DR: Be authentic in the classroom. Make connections with children through purposeful activities such as games. Develop classroom norms together and review them often. Take time daily to self-reflect and make a plan for the next day. Justin joined Rae on the Daily Drop In to chat about teacher authenticity. Click here to watch! Be Authentic We often hear about … Read More

Classroom Management Then and Now

La-Shanda WestBlog, Manage Better, Self Care Better

TL;DR: Classroom management has changed quite a bit since the days of Harry Wong. Today’s classrooms have shifted physically and philosophically to empower students in their learning. Consider including wellness breaks in an instructional period to allow for meditation, hydration, or socialization. La-Shanda joined Rae on the Daily Drop In to chat about classroom management and including wellness practices with … Read More

Creating Norms with My Students Changed My Classroom

Carrie LaRueBlog, Connect Better, Manage Better

TL;DR: Students really do want ownership in how their classroom runs. When they understand the why behind expectations, they can value those even when they don’t agree with them. Mutual trust is a necessary component before students can reliably set and follow their own norms. Creating Norms with My Students Changed My Classroom For 16 years, most of the students … Read More

4 Tips for Classroom Management

Kari PitstickBlog, Connect Better, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Lesson Plan Better, Manage Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Routines and structures are key to strong classroom management. Consider your first 5 minutes of class and intentionally decide how you will spend that time. What works one day might not work the next; what works for one class may not work for another. Classroom management will always be a work in progress; not every single day will go … Read More

Rule-Breakers & Risk-Takers

Sanam EdwardsBlog, Manage Better

TL;DR: We’ve noticed recently how often adults don’t follow the rules. Treat students with compassion when they break rules. We ought to produce a generation of ‘risk-takers’ who understand how to analyze their decisions and understand consequences. Uncharted Territory School has just moved back on-campus for us despite a bloom of COVID cases. It feels like we’re entering unchartered territory … Read More