Remembering YOU in Times of Uncertainty and Change

Maggie GiffordBlog, Classroom Management, Self-Care

TL;DR: Embrace the disruption to your routines. Reconnect with yourself by starting a journal, creating fun videos and songs for your students, finding a way to laugh everyday, or using your talents to help someone else. You are important.  I don’t know if anyone has told you that today.  Or yesterday.  Or even in the last week.  But you are, … Read More

Routine vs. Schedule

Teach Better TeamBlog, Classroom Management, Leadership, Self-Care

TL;DR: Establishing a flexible routine for children includes your morning routine, work routine, downtime routine, and evening routine. Kids can either follow a strict schedule or a daily routine. It’s important to remember that life happens—circumstances and emotions change day to day. Now that I am a few weeks into remote teaching with both my students and my own three … Read More

Everything I Know About Leadership, I Learned in First Grade

Teach Better TeamBlog, Classroom Management, Innovation, Leadership, Student Engagement

TL;DR: It is important to lead with a vision and a clear direction. Modeling effective leadership can inspire new leaders. I do not have numerous significant memories of my first grade year at Delight Elementary School. Except for the occasional favorite lunch of square pizza with a side of kernel corn and my introduction to the bizarre cuisine termed Shepherd’s … Read More

6 Steps to Start Your Edupreneur Journey

Jeff GargasBlog, Innovation, Teacherpreneur

TL;DR: Using your strengths and skills as an educator to start an entrepreneurial journey. Finding your passion, planning, building a team, forgetting perfection, reflecting and adapting, and committing are 6 simple steps you can take to become an edupreneur. I’ve been saying it for quite a while now: educators make awesome entrepreneurs. You’re built for it. You’re passionate, driven, educated, … Read More

Upstream Thinking: A Book Study Reflection

Teach Better TeamBlog, Leadership, Reflect Better, Student Engagement

TL;DR: Reflections on a book study of Upstream: How to Solve Problems Before They Happen by Dan Heath. This book provided insights to institutionalized problems and how they can be solved. Each member of the book study shares their favorite quote from the book with their biggest takeaways. In April, I had the pleasure of hosting a virtual book study … Read More