TL;DR: A teacher’s impact on the lives of their students can transcend generations. Don’t lose sight of the fact that though they may not be tangible, we are making positive impacts on lives every single day. I wanted to be a teacher my entire life. I have memories as early as kindergarten, coming home from school and teaching my stuffed … Read More
A Lasting Impact: Remembering a Great Teacher
TL;DR: There are teachers in our lives that have had a powerful influence on who we are. Take the time to reach out to them, and let them know it. You never know where their impact will end or where yours is going. For fifteen years, I have been a teacher. It is difficult to believe that much time has … Read More
Teaching Collaboration and Communication
TL;DR: How do students know if they’re doing a great job collaborating? Directly teach students what collaboration looks like. Share feedback with them throughout their class through glows and grows or a rubric. Embed practice into your lessons. Prized Classroom Possession My most prized classroom possession may not be what you’d assume. It’s not a document camera, SmartBoard, or other … Read More
Increasing your IMPACT with Strategic Partnerships
TL;DR: There are federal and state funds that schools and districts have access to. When you have a vision to make a change, don’t do it alone. Find a strategic partner like Teach Better that can help you find funding, apply for funding, and get funding. They can also help execute the plan to grow and reach your goals and … Read More
The Seeds of Self-Compassion
TL;DR: Brad Hughes interviewed Lisa Baylis, the author of the book Self-Compassion for Educators. Compassion is when we see suffering, stress, and struggle, and we have a desire to alleviate it. You are someone who is important to take care of. The first component of self-compassion is mindfulness—being aware of our thoughts and feelings. The second component is loving-kindness—attending to … Read More