Fill Up Your Mental Health Toolkit

Bobbi WiechersBlog, Leadership, Reflect Better, Self-Care, Teach Happier

TL;DR: Teaching requires balancing curriculum with social and emotional support for students. Strategies for maintaining mental health include organization, routines, and self-reflection. Connection, positivity, and making daily joyful choices contribute to a healthy teaching environment. Teaching is a rewarding, yet challenging profession. Not only are you responsible for teaching the curriculum to a classroom full of students, but for facilitating … Read More

Unlocking Creativity: National Arts in Education Week

Suzanne RogersBlog, Innovation, Reflect Better, Student Engagement

TL;DR: Arts education boosts student engagement, literacy, and aspirations. It fosters a positive school environment with fewer disciplinary issues. There is no negative effect on standardized test scores, dispelling myths about arts programs. Let’s unlock the power of creativity! When surveyed by the nonprofit organization Americans for the Arts, members of the U.S. public overwhelmingly agreed that the arts are … Read More

Co-Teaching: The Mythical Creature That Actually Exists

Rebecca HuffBlog, Differentiation, Reflect Better, Student Engagement, Teach Happier

TL;DR: Co-teaching can bring apprehension or excitement; the key is equality between teachers. Successful co-teaching requires open communication, shared classroom space, and mutual respect. Both teachers should be seen as equals by students, with shared responsibility and visibility. When educators hear the word co-teaching, a couple of emotions immediately surface. For some, there’s apprehension. For others, it’s excitement! I was … Read More

Dress Rehearse Success This School Year

Suzanne DaileyBlog, Reflect Better, Self-Care, Teach Happier

TL;DR: Start the school year by focusing on what could go right, instead of what could go wrong. Document moments when things went better than expected to combat negative thinking. Actively engage in positive thinking to feel more grounded and resilient. Here we are in early September. Some of us have been back at school for a few weeks and … Read More

Lessons from the Beach: How to Keep Students Enthusiastic About Learning

Jeremy RinkelBlog, Innovation, Reflect Better, Student Engagement, Teach Happier

TL;DR: Engage students by incorporating hands-on activities and integrating technology with purpose. Build a supportive classroom environment to foster excitement and investment in learning. Focus on creating impactful educational experiences for the upcoming school year. I go to the beach every summer to help me relax and recharge for the next school year. This year I was sitting in my … Read More