How to use Google Forms Choice Eliminator
Over the past 4 years, I’ve had many visitors come to this site seeking information on how to use Google Forms Choice Eliminator. You see, people want a free digital sign-up form for events like parent-teacher conferences that allows them to indicate how many openings for a certain time and day, and as those times […]
Episode 96: How a classroom economy can strengthen your classroom management and culture
Click here to sign up for Thom’s course on running a classroom economy How to reach Thom: His website Instagram Twitter Youtube Sign up for the New Educator Conference in Santa Clara, CA! Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here to […]
Episode 95 How new teachers can start saving for retirement
Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by asking a question! Listeners who leave a voicemail will be eligible to receive a FREE Teachers Need Teachers sticker! Click HERE […]
Episode 94 How new teachers can dig themselves out of financial holes
Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by asking a question! Listeners who leave a voicemail will be eligible to receive a FREE Teachers Need Teachers sticker! Click HERE […]
Episode 93 Ways to avoid quitting teaching when you’re overwhelmed
Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by asking a question! Listeners who leave a voicemail will be eligible to receive a FREE Teachers Need Teachers sticker! Click HERE […]
Episode 92 First-year teacher struggles we all have and overcome
Sign up for the New Educator Conference in Santa Clara, CA! Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by asking a question! Listeners who leave a voicemail will be […]
Episode 91 The best way to handle emails from upset parents
Sign up for the New Educator Conference in Santa Clara, CA! Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by asking a question! Listeners who leave a voicemail will be […]
Episode 90 The best way to tackle grading when you’re behind
Sign up for the New Educator Conference in Santa Clara, CA! Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by asking a question! Listeners who leave a voicemail will be […]
Episode 89: How to fix a broken lesson
Sign up for the New Educator Conference in either San Diego or Santa Clara, CA! Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by asking a question! Listeners who leave […]
Episode 88: What to focus on when planning lessons
Sign up for the New Educator Conference in either San Diego or Santa Clara, CA! Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by asking a question! Listeners who leave […]
Episode 87: Organization for the disorganized teacher
Sign up for the New Educator Conference in either San Diego or Santa Clara, CA! Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by asking a question! Listeners who leave […]
Episode 86: Open Middle Math will make your students love math
Where to find Robert: Open Middle Math RobertKaplinsky.com Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook Sign up for the New Educator Conference in either San Diego or Santa Clara, CA! Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here to find out how you can be […]
Episode 85: How to make station rotations work for you
Where you can find Laura: languageartsteachers.com The station rotation freebie: languageartsteachers.com/easystations Sign up for the New Educator Conference in either San Diego or Santa Clara, CA! Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here to find out how you can be a […]
Episode 84: Why you should try out station rotations
Where you can find Laura: languageartsteachers.com Sign up for the New Educator Conference in either San Diego or Santa Clara, CA! Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by […]
Episode 83: How new teachers can survive in tough teaching situations
Where to find Prac-E: Website/Blog: www.prac-e.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjYZnQTe_bVQz4TbyhmxwZA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/praceproductions/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prac_e/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/prac_e LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/prac-eproductions/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prac-e-podcast/id1353493632?mt=2 Sign up for the New Educator Conference in either San Diego or Santa Clara, CA! Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here […]
Episode 82: Ways you can support LGBTQ students in your classroom
Where you can find Cody: Twitter Links mentioned in this episode: Importance of being visible Doing what you can Queering critical literacy and numeracy Sign up for the New Educator Conference in either San Diego or Santa Clara, CA! Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your […]
Episode 81: How to support LGBTQ colleagues and students
Where you can find Cody: Twitter Links mentioned in this episode: Reading the Rainbow Article in Slate Sign up for the New Educator Conference in either San Diego or Santa Clara, CA! Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here to find […]
Episode 80: Do this to quickly pay down your student loans
Where you can find Travis The Student Loan Planner website The Student Loan Planner Podcast More information on what we discussed today Sign up for the New Educator Conference in either San Diego or Santa Clara, CA! Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be […]
Episode 79: Here’s the least expensive way to pay off your student loans
Where you can find Travis The Student Loan Planner website The Student Loan Planner Podcast More information on what we discussed today Sign up for the New Educator Conference in either San Diego or Santa Clara, CA! Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be […]
Episode 78: How to understand what motivates the teens in your class
Where you can find Andy: Talking to Teens website Talking to Teens podcast Talking to Teens Instagram Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by asking a question! […]
Episode 77 How to plan so you hit as many standards as possible
Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by asking a question! Listeners who leave a voicemail will be eligible to receive a FREE Teachers Need Teachers sticker! Click HERE to find […]
Episode 76: Making the most out of group work
Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by asking a question! Listeners who leave a voicemail will be eligible to receive a FREE Teachers Need Teachers sticker! Click […]
Episode 75: How to build strong parent-teacher relationships
Sign up for Tailor-Ed and receive 3 months FREE! Just use the code TEACHERSNEEDTEACHERS Love this show? Want to ask a question and be featured on the podcast? Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by asking a question! Listeners who leave […]
Episode 74: How to implement a classroom management plan
Sign up for Tailor-Ed and receive 3 months FREE! Just use the code TEACHERSNEEDTEACHERS Love this show? Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by telling us your favorite parts of teaching! Listeners who leave a […]
Episode 73: Crafting an effective classroom management plan
Sign up for Tailor-Ed and receive 3 months FREE! Just use the code TEACHERSNEEDTEACHERS Love this show? Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by telling us your favorite parts of teaching! Listeners who leave a […]
Episode 72: How to be successful as a second-career teacher
Sign up for Tailor-Ed and receive 3 months FREE! Just use the code TEACHERSNEEDTEACHERS Love this show? Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by telling us your favorite parts of teaching! Listeners who leave a […]
Episode 71: Back-to-school tips for new elementary teachers
You can find Gretchen at alwaysalesson.com Gretchen’s interview with me on her podcast Love this show? Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by telling us your favorite parts of teaching! Listeners who leave a voicemail […]
Episode 70: How to be an engaging teacher
How to be an engaging teacher Have a developmentally appropriate teacher presence The teacher does less talking and the students do more Develop strong relationships with your students Learn how to respond to them without shutting them down Read the room Love this show? Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! […]
Episode 69: How to create more engaging lessons
5 ways to create an engaging lesson or unit Give them an essential question/challenge Give student choice Connect the work to student interests Give them real-world scenarios – Make them demonstrate their learning rather than just completing a worksheet Showcase student work Love this show? Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be […]
Episode 68: Tips on how to get your DonorsChoose.org project funded
Get started with DonorsChoose.org If this is your first project Look for match offers Get in touch with the DonorsChoose.org team Sign up for Angela Watson’s 40-Hour Teacher Work Week Club (mention that you heard about it from ME!) Love this show? Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here […]
Episode 67: How to write a killer teacher resume
Where you can find Lauren: LaunchPoint Resume website Facebook Etsy Twitter LinkedIn Click here for Lauren’s article on follow-up emails after an interview Love this show? Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by telling […]
Episode 66: How to use technology purposefully
Where to find Jennifer: Cult of Pedagogy website Cult of Pedagogy podcast Twitter Instagram Love this show? Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by telling us your favorite parts of teaching! Listeners who […]
Episode 65: How to use your summer break to adopt a healthy lifestyle
Love this show? Pretty much everybody has good intentions to implement healthy habits after January 1, but for teachers, the BEST time to do this is when school is out for the summer! We have more time to think about it, more time to plan, and more time to gently adopt a new lifestyle without […]
Episode 64: Busy teachers CAN fit in exercise and stay healthy
Love this show? Click here to get Sheri’s FREE guide, How to Overcome the Guilt and Shame of Diets, and Get Fit the Sane Way Where you can find Sheri: The ViREO Life website Facebook: The ViREO Life Instagram: The ViREO Life Youtube: The ViREO Life Her exercise playlist Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! […]
Episode 63: How teachers can eat intuitively and repair their relationship with food
Love this show? Click here to get Sheri’s FREE guide, How to Overcome the Guilt and Shame of Diets, and Get Fit the Sane Way Where you can find Sheri: Facebook: The ViREO Life Instagram: The ViREO Life Youtube: The ViREO Life The ViREO Life website Click here to get your FREE preview lesson of […]
Episode 62: Why rebuilding your relationship with THAT student is important
Love this show? Click here to get your FREE preview lesson of the End-of-the-year Sanity Saver! Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by telling us your favorite parts of teaching! Listeners who leave a […]
Episode 61: How do you know if teaching is right for you?
Click here to get your FREE preview lesson of the End-of-the-year Sanity Saver! Another podcast episode to listen to (with admittedly similar information) is Episode 20 where I ask questions so you can determine if you have the right mindset to survive as a teacher. In Episode 30 I discuss what you can do when […]
Episode 60: Don’t let burnout lead to quitting
Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by telling us your favorite parts of teaching! Listeners who leave a voicemail will be eligible to receive a FREE Teachers Need Teachers sticker! Click HERE to find out […]
Episode 59: We can all relate to foreign language teaching struggles
Click here to sign up for the End-of-the-year Sanity Saver! [spp-player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/teachersneedteachers/TnT_59_Foreign_language_teaching_struggles_are_relatable_to_all_of_us.mp3″] Where you can find Elena: @SrtaSpathis Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by telling us your favorite parts of teaching! Listeners who leave a […]
Episode 58: Let’s start planning for the end of the year
Click here to sign up for the End-of-the-year Sanity Saver! Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by telling us your favorite parts of teaching! Listeners who leave a voicemail will be eligible to receive a […]
Episode 57: How to illuminate your strengths when answering any question in an interview
Click HERE for a copy of all of the interview questions from this series! Tell us about yourself and what brings you here today. Why are you a good fit for our organization? How do you grow professionally? Talk to us about a time in which you learned from an experience via a mistake. What […]
Episode 56: How to answer honestly and still impress in interviews
Click HERE for a copy of all of the interview questions from this series! Tell me your story, how did you end up here today wanting to be a teacher here at Winget Park? What’s the best lesson you ever taught, and tell me why it was the best lesson? It’s the first week of […]
Episode 55: Why telling the truth in an interview is important
Click HERE for a copy of all of the interview questions from this series! What do you know about our school? What’s more important to education in the success of our students – tradition or innovation? Defend your answer. What perspectives outside of a Euro-centric curriculum can you bring to our classrooms? Can you give […]
Episode 54: Your resume isn’t the most important factor in the hiring process
Click HERE for a copy of all of the interview questions from this series! Tell me about a difficult circumstance that you handled, what action did you take, and what were the results? What is the difference between a good teacher and a great teacher? A student in your class consistently causes disruptions. Explain the […]
Episode 53: Be sure to always Google the school for which you’re interviewing
Click HERE for a copy of all of the interview questions from this series! Tell me about you and your teaching experience with your cooperating teacher. Tell me about how you empower students to become involved in their learning process in the classroom. As a teacher, how do you build relationships equitably with all the […]
Episode 52: Your ability to handle conflict will make or break your interview
Click HERE for a copy of all of the interview questions from this series! 20 years from now, how would you like your current students to remember you as a teacher? I want you to reflect on a situation where you were given criticism for an instructional or behavioral approach in your classroom. How did […]
Episode 51: Let’s make homeownership a reality for teachers
How to contact Wes: (858)888-5270, wes.shaw@movement.com Wes Shaw NMLS # 272036 / CA-DBO272036 | Movement Mortgage, LLC supports Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS ID# 39179 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) | Movement Mortgage, LLC is licensed by “CA Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act”# 4131054. Interest rates and products are subject to change without notice […]
Episode 50: 5 ways to improve how you give feedback
If you missed the first three parts of this series: Episode 47: How to get truly helpful feedback to inform your teaching Episode 48: Student feedback can completely change your teaching Episode 49: Why you might be wasting that valuable feedback If you have a moment this week, please complete this Google Form. This will […]
Episode 49: Use the feedback you’re getting and TAKE ACTION!
If you missed the other three parts of this series: Episode 47: How to get truly helpful feedback to inform your teaching Episode 48: Student feedback can completely change your teaching Episode 50: 5 ways to improve how you give feedback If you have a moment this week, please complete this Google Form. This will […]
Episode 48: Why student feedback is crucial for your teaching
If you missed the other three parts of this series: Episode 47: How to get truly helpful feedback to inform your teaching Episode 49: Why you might be wasting that valuable feedback Episode 50: 5 ways to improve how you give feedback If you have a moment this week, please complete this Google Form. This […]
Episode 47: How to get better feedback
If you missed the other three parts of this series: Episode 48: Student feedback can completely change your teaching Episode 49: Why you might be wasting that valuable feedback Episode 50: 5 ways to improve how you give feedback If you have a moment this week, please complete this Google Form. This will help me […]
Episode 46: How to figure out why your students won’t do your work
If you have a moment this week, please complete this Google Form. This will help me know if it’s worth the time to create it, as well as what you think I should include. If you complete the form and leave your email, then if I create it, you’ll be invited to beta test it […]
Episode 45: Why your students may not be participating in class
If you have a moment this week, please complete this Google Form. This will help me know if it’s worth the time to create it, as well as what you think I should include. If you complete the form and leave your email, then if I create it, you’ll be invited to beta test it […]
Episode 44: Why hiding out in your classroom is a bad idea
If you have a moment this week, please complete this Google Form. This will help me know if it’s worth the time to create it, as well as what you think I should include. If you complete the form and leave your email, then if I create it, you’ll be invited to beta test it […]
Episode 43: Overcoming social anxiety so you can the support you need
If you have a moment this week, please complete this Google Form. This will help me know if it’s worth the time to create it, as well as what you think I should include. If you complete the form and leave your email, then if I create it, you’ll be invited to beta test it […]
Episode 42 Ever wonder if your students are actually learning?
I’m thinking of making a comprehensive online beginning teacher course. As a new teacher, would you sign up for that? How much would that be worth to you? If you wouldn’t sign up for it, why not? If you have a moment this week, please complete this Google Form. This will help me know if […]
Episode 41: Is buying from TpT bad? How do I deal with unannounced observations? No clue on sub plans!
Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by telling us your favorite parts of teaching! Listeners who leave a voicemail will be eligible to receive a FREE Teachers Need Teachers sticker! Click HERE to find out […]
Episode 40: Rookie mistakes we all make and learn from
Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by telling us your favorite parts of teaching! Listeners who leave a voicemail will be eligible to receive a FREE Teachers Need Teachers sticker! Click HERE to find out […]
Episode 39: New teachers should focus on these six aspects of teaching when starting out
Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by telling us your favorite parts of teaching! Listeners who leave a voicemail will be eligible to receive a FREE Teachers Need Teachers sticker! Click HERE to find out […]
Episode 38: Plan out one small change to improve your teaching
Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by telling us your favorite parts of teaching! Listeners who leave a voicemail will be eligible to receive a FREE Teachers Need Teachers sticker! Click HERE to find out […]
Episode 37: How to prepare for student teaching
Preparing for student teaching GETTING TO KNOW THE STUDENTS Have a clearly thought-out Day One. That first day is REALLY important. You truly only get one chance to make a good first impression. Learn every student’s name by the end of week one, and use their name every time you see them. You aren’t teaching […]
Episode 36: What to do when teaching is sucking up all of your time
Don’t forget to leave a voicemail! Let your voice be heard! Click here how to find out how you can be a part of the podcast by telling us your favorite parts of teaching! Listeners who leave a voicemail will be eligible to receive a FREE Teachers Need Teachers sticker! Click HERE to find out more! Got questions, feedback, […]
Episode 35: Stop beating yourself up with the ‘shoulds’
I love hearing your stories and positive messages about teaching! So I’m asking my listeners to answer the following questions by leaving me a message on my Google voicemail. I’ll air these in upcoming episodes so that my community of listeners can celebrate each other wins! Questions: 1) Your name, where you live/teach, and the […]
Episode 34: Why your students need to fail
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, or Stitcher Join my Facebook Group where I occasionally podcast live Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 33: Why letting your students just sit there and not work cheats you and them
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, or Stitcher Join my Facebook Group where I occasionally podcast live Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 32: What to do when you’re seriously behind on grading
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, or Stitcher Join my Facebook Group where I occasionally podcast live Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 31: Can your personalize math? Absolutely!
How to get in touch with Ray: His website, BlendedLearningMath On Twitter: @Blended_Math His podcast, Instant Relevance Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, or Stitcher Join my Facebook Group where I occasionally podcast live Message me […]
Episode 30: How to recover when nothing seems to be working in your lessons
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, or Stitcher Join my Facebook Group where I occasionally podcast live Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 29: The best way to handle angry parent emails
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, or Stitcher Join my Facebook Group where I occasionally podcast live Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 28: Tips for maximizing the impact of your lesson planning
What’s your why? Go back to your why for the lesson: what do you want students to learn vs. what you want students to be able to show you. How do you get to that why? What are the logical steps to get there? What are the gaps in knowledge that you need to fill? […]
Episode 27: Laura Kebart shares her methods for simple and effective differentiation
Click HERE to grab Laura’s resource with 10 Questions and Answers for how to respond to parents or administrators who want to know what you’re doing to differentiate, which includes a link to her hands-on workshop! How to get in touch with Laura: Middle School ELA Teachers Community for Grades 6-7-8 Her Language Arts Teachers […]
Episode 26: Erin Sadler explains how NGSS is a better way to teach science
Resources mentioned in this episode: National Science Teachers Association: https://www.nsta.org/ iExplore Science: https://iexplorescience.com/ San Diego Unified School District’s Science Resources: https://sites.google.com/a/sandi.net/ngss-draft-lessons/ Oakland Unified School District’s Science Resources: https://sites.google.com/ousd.k12.ca.us/science HHMI: https://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive PHET at the University of Colorado in Boulder: https://phet.colorado.edu/ How to reach Erin: Instagram: sadlerscience Twitter: @sadlersci Blog: Sadler Science Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You […]
Episode 25: Why you need to collect preassessment and Lexile scores in the beginning of the year
Click HERE to grab my Data Collection Contact Sheet to help you remember the key people in your school who manage the different types of student data! Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, or Stitcher Join […]
Episode 24: What teachers must do to best serve their students with IEPs
Click HERE to grab my Data Collection Contact Sheet to help you remember the key people in your school who manage the different types of student data! Want to connect with Latisha? Anacostia High’s website: Anacostiahs.org Anacostia High’s social media accounts: @AnacostiaHigh Find Latisha on Twitter and Instagram Got questions, feedback, or want to be […]
Episode 23: How using student demographics will make you a better teacher
Click HERE to grab my Data Collection Contact Sheet to help you remember the key people in your school who manage the different types of student data! Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, or Stitcher Join […]
Episode 22: Collecting data at the beginning of the year is crucial to student success
Click HERE to grab my Data Collection Contact Sheet to help you remember the key people in your school who manage the different types of student data! Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, or Stitcher Join […]
Episode 21: What preservice teachers should focus on while they’re still in college
Click here go get your copy of Edumagic! Where to find Sam: Her website: sfecich.com Twitter: @Sfecich Instagram: @Sfecich Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, or Stitcher Join my Facebook Group where I occasionally podcast […]
Episode 20: Your mindset becomes your reality in the classroom
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 19: How to use Twitter as your on-demand professional development
The giveaway is over, but you can still get your copy of Mari’s second book, Fueled by Coffee and Love: The Refill. Still not sure how to participate in a Twitter chat? Click here for a thorough guide from Gretchen at Always a Lesson! Sentence frames for tweeting about teaching: One new thing I tried in […]
The truth about what parents really want to hear at Open House
It’s back-to-school season, which always means one thing: Open House. Parent Night. Back-to-school Night. Welcome Back Night. Regardless of what your school calls it, the intention of this evening is to introduce parents to their student’s teacher(s) while allowing teachers to highlight various aspects of their classroom and teaching. For teachers, the purpose is to […]
Episode 18: Back-to-school essentials for elementary teachers
Carolyn has a FABULOUS freebie just for my listeners to help you prepare and organize for back-to-school. Click on this link to grab her FREE back-to-school planning guide! Where you can find Carolyn: Her website: The Proactive Teacher Twitter: @ProactiveTchr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheProactiveTeacher/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theproactiveteacher/ Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me […]
5 types of data you must collect to move your students forward
The beginning of the school year is probably right around the corner for you. You might be thinking about how you want to decorate your classroom, looking for back-to-school activities and getting-to-know-you ideas, and making copies of your syllabus. You may meet with your school and/or department prior to that first day, and then proceed […]
Episode 17: What to include on your syllabus
Here’s my syllabus: Click HERE for an editable copy of this syllabus, as well as other free resources. Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message […]
Episode 16: New teacher myths busted
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 15: How you can nail your next teaching job interview
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 14: Why teachers should always grow and learn as an educator
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 13: Why new teachers shouldn’t worry about their lack of experience during an interview
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 12: Why you should be honest in job interviews
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 11: How one district uses data to find the right teacher
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 10: Epic tips for teacher interviews
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 9: Why your classroom management style can determined if you get that job
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 8: 6 revealing reasons why you didn’t get that teaching job
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 7: Using close reading to reach all learners in all subjects
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 6: Evaluating your classroom management policies
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message me through Instagram or Twitter
How I get more done with the little time I have
New teachers often wonder how they’re supposed to do all of the things involved in teaching within a limited amount of time. It’s like packing for a ski trip with only carry-on luggage – you can try to shove everything into that small compartment, but eventually, your snowsuit is going to bust everything open. As […]
Episode 5: Be clear about your expectations
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 4: It’s time to grade how you grade
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 3: Set up your classroom to maximize student learning
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 2: Observations, best grades to teach, and taking time off
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Episode 1: Why you should collect end-of-the-year student feedback
Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can email me at kim@teachersneedteachers.com Connect with me Subscribe to Apple Podcasts or Google Podcast Join my Facebook Group and let’s chat about this episode Message me through Instagram or Twitter
Why me? Why this podcast? Why now?
Being a new teacher is tough as it is, especially if you don’t have a mentor and have to go at it alone. There are so many questions you want to ask but feel stupid doing so. There are situations in which you SHOULD ask questions, but you’re so confused and overwhelmed. Who am I […]
Introducing Teachers Need Teachers
What is the Teachers Need Teachers podcast about and who is it for? Why should you subscribe? What makes this different from other teaching podcasts? How will this change your teaching? Listen in and get all of the details in 106 second flat. Got questions, feedback, or want to be on the show? You can […]
When panic leads to a podcast for new teachers
I think we all need a virtual hug because these past couple of weeks have probably been busy/crazy/hectic/stressful for you. I feel you – I’ve completely lost track of what day it is! Plus, in addition to wrapping up my school year, I’ve been immersed in a project. You know what? I’m ALWAYS working on […]
What to expect from your students at the end of the year
Nine days before the last day of school, Mrs. Richardson stands at the front of the room, trying to review for the final. In the middle of a discussion about the parts of a cell, she notices Jenna mouthing something to Aiden, who is four rows up and making faces at her. Mrs. Richardson asks […]
How to ensure that your summer planning prepares you for success
As another school year winds down, many teachers are envisioning all of the things they want to do (or NOT do) over the summer. With an extended student-free block of time and no assignments to grade, lessons to plan, or parents to call, the time off during summer offers so many opportunities for catching up! […]
How to keep your students from going insane after finals
We’re fast approaching the end of the school year, and for many districts, this means a week of finals/end-of-course exams (EOCs). Since my school is already on a block schedule, we don’t modify the classes at all. However, I know that some non-block schools change to two-hour blocks for each period to allow extra for […]
Do you have the right mindset to make it as a new teacher?
Near the end of the school year, many new teachers ask themselves a simple yet crucial question: Did I make the right decision to go into teaching? Is it worth the low pay lack of respect lack of resources unreasonable expectations disrespectful students rude parents and much, much more? Then, they begin wondering: Did I […]
Epic collaboration between students made simple with Google Docs
I remember “back in the day” when I would do an assignment – be it an essay, math worksheet, science lab, etc. – and if I wanted to have someone proofread it for me, I had to physically give it to them. Or if we were doing a group assignment, we’d have to all copy […]
Does using tech in your teaching make you a better teacher?
Many schools across the world have been given the gift of technology. While tech in classrooms is nothing new (I mean, we had computers back in MY day), the scale and magnitude of its deployment has transformed the way many of us teach. Quite a few classrooms have adopted a 1-to-1 model where every student has […]
How to plan a lesson that will keep your students engaged and on-task
As a beginning teacher mentor, I have the privilege of helping our future educators wrap their brains around the many components of teaching. This requires me to get my own brain back into what it felt like to start out – the details I would miss, what I struggled the most with, and the mistakes […]
Why effective lesson planning leads to good classroom management
The average teacher probably handles classroom management and lesson planning as separate entities. I know I do, especially since it seems like once you have your classroom management plan in place, you just have to worry about enforcing it. This leaves open the mental space to tackle everything else involved with teaching. I was recently […]
6 foundations of teaching to focus on in your first year
I’ll bet that some of you are reading this blog post in an attempt to distract yourself from the crushing amount of work you need to do. Perhaps it’s 10:00 PM, and you still don’t know what you’re teaching tomorrow. Even worse, it’s now 11:00 PM, you don’t know what you’re teaching tomorrow, and you […]
What to do when you get an angry parent email
Like many of you reading this, I’m both a parent and a teacher. Wearing these hats has given me a unique perspective while also a disadvantage – I just might think I know more than my daughter’s teachers. Admittedly, this sounds terrible, but every parent/teacher is guilty of this. You look at the work they take […]
How to conquer assignment grading and take back your weekends
So we need to talk…about grading. You’re thinking, AGAIN? Didn’t you tell me how to grade less while improving student outcomes, and then how to attack that pile of grading? I sure did! But in the past month or so I discovered yet another amazing tool that has cut down the amount of time I spend […]
How to approach other teachers when you have social anxiety
In my last post, I urged teachers to get out of their figurative shells and classrooms by outlining 10 things to remember when they wanted to hide out in their classrooms. To my delight, it received more attention than I’d anticipated! Several teachers left comments on the blog, Facebook, and even Instagram thanking me for […]
10 things to remember when you want to hide out in your classroom
Being a teacher is definitely one of the most rewarding professions, but it can also be quite lonely. Overburdened with the workload, many teachers isolate themselves, both out of choice and necessity. Staying in the classroom to work through lunch is normal, late afternoons and evenings grading is nothing new, and walking the long way […]
How Google Photos will free up space in your life for all of your random pics
Do you use Google Photos to store images for school or even home? I discovered it a couple of years ago and have really depended on it to save and store all of my family photos from my phone, plus random images I find on the web. Why it’s awesome Whether you have the app […]
Why staying organized is the biggest teacher challenge I have yet to overcome
I get asked quite a bit how I manage to teach full time during the day, plan lessons, grade essays, start a side-biz, do webinars and Facebook Lives, spend time with my family, and still maintain my sanity. People wonder if my husband and child are neglected (they’re not), if I have a virtual assistant […]
30 critical blogging tools I use to keep my blog safe, secure, and fast
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO. I’ve previously mentioned how I started blogging a couple of years ago, and am finally taking it seriously. It’s been quite a journey that I think other bloggers can learn from. Many teachers entertain the thought of starting a blog, but it […]
Why your students have the right to fail
It’s the end of the semester, and you’re crunching numbers for grades. During this time you’ve: Spent valuable time giving effective feedback Figured out which assignments are worth grading, as well as How to streamline grading, and Finally hunkered down and practically FORCED your students to do their work. Yet despite all of your hard […]
Why now is the time to ramp up your grit and MAKE your students work
On a sleepy Monday morning, I pause at my desk to quickly input attendance. After two clicks, I slowly walk toward the room while peeking at different students’ journal responses. The class, collectively hunched over their desks and silently crafting their response, doesn’t notice as I weave through the groups to where Eric sits. He […]
Here’s an effective way to get organized and tackle that pile of grading
Raise your hand if you have a pile of assignments that still need grading. Raise your hand if that pile is giving you anxiety. Perfect, let’s tackle this head on. Commit to being organized I’m sure you’ve learned or know about time management, but are you actually implementing it? We get so caught up in […]
How to grade LESS while improving student outcomes
Whenever someone learn that I’m a teacher, I get asked about the endless stream of grading. I also get looks of pity whenever I tell someone what grade level I teach (Oh wow!), and then the subject (Oh you poor thing!). It’s common knowledge that when you sign up to be a teacher (especially an […]
Your feedback to your students isn’t working…here’s how to fix it.
Have you ever labored over grading assignments, and find that your students keep making the same mistakes every time, even after you reteach it? Do you take the time to write thoughtful feedback, only to learn that your students never read any of it? Are you able to identify where students are struggling, but feel […]
The biggest mistake new teachers can make
You may have noticed from my previous posts that I’m a fairly reflective teacher I’ll admit when I make a mistake in teaching I like to pass on the wisdom gleaned from those mistakes. I especially feel a sense of duty to share everything I’ve learned these past 16 with new teachers. I mean, let’s […]
The ONE THING teachers can do (but refuse to) that will instantly improve their teaching
If you’re a teacher, then you’re probably familiar with the idea of teaching being compared to acting. On any given day, teachers may be tired, depressed, anxious, or generally unhappy, but when the students walk in, they have to be “on.” You might hear the teacher’s voice and energy go up, a smile plastered on […]
5 things I wish I knew when I started teaching
Every seasoned teacher will tell a new one that the first year is the hardest, and understandably so. First-year teachers face an insurmountable challenge of trying to balance classroom culture, classroom management, teaching to the standards, assessment, professional development, staff responsibilities, and home life, to name a few. However, part of surviving that first year […]
How to transform your students from online gawkers to bloggers
Are you currently a blogger? I know that there are many teacher bloggers out there, and I’m proud to say that I subscribe to several for inspiration and ideas. While I haven’t always been a blogger, I’ve been dabbling in it off and for the past 2-3 years. I’m definitely more consistent now, and have […]
7 reasons why your students won’t do their assignment
Picture this: you’ve planned out the perfect unit, and today is when students really need to buckle down and get down to work. You disseminate the assignment, give the students directions, and send them off to learning land. While 30 sets of heads hover over their worksheet, you notice one looking out the window. Another […]
Reflect, revise, and refresh after your first grading period
While some teachers are just embarking on their school year, my district just wrapped up its first grading period! For the past 16 years, I’ve taken the time to reflect on several areas of my teaching that are essential to my students’ success. Where am I at in my pacing in relation to where I’d […]
Digging into data: identifying the needs of struggling students
This is my final installment of my Digging into Data series, so I’m going to give an example of how this data has helped me identify struggling students, and how it helps me differentiate for all of students. If you haven’t already read the other posts in the series, I encourage you to do so, […]
Digging into data: two teachers’ perspectives on demographic data
In my previous post, I discussed the merits of administering a baseline assessment and how I interpret that data. Today, I’m looking at student demographic data as another way of creating a complete picture of who my students are. While it doesn’t sound like the most exciting way to spend an hour of planning time, […]
Digging into data: your pre-assessment data is the rudder to your ship
We are a month into the school year, and my data collection is coming along quite nicely. In fact, I’m elbow deep in it, a.k.a., grading my first pre-assessment. I usually take my time with the first one because I’m really trying to learn my students and their writing styles. It’s definitely a labor of […]
Digging into data: how Lexile scores can help to inform educational decisions
It’s time for a vlog post! This week I’ve taken to video format to show you how to use students’ Lexile scores and reading levels to inform educational decisions. I’ve included a breakdown of two of my classes’ Lexile scores and how I plan to use them for groups and seating charts. A quick note: […]
Digging into data: Analyzing IEPs to be an effective teacher for students with disabilities
In my previous post, I discussed the 5 types of data that every teacher needs to collect to move their students forward. Today, I’m going to focus on one type of data mentioned in that post – Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). All teachers – whether they teach accelerated or special education students – will come across […]
When ignoring data drives teachers down the wrong path
Data. Analyzing data. I remember that I would literally groan and face palm when I heard an administrator mutter those words. At my previous school, the discussion of data was always paired with bad news regarding test scores. Or targeted populations. Sometimes the doom of program improvement, and teaching to the standardized test. At the […]
Grading your gradebook: reconsidering grading methods to improve student outcomes
For many teachers, summer has commenced, while for others such as myself, the beginning of a school year is right around the corner. I’ve seen so many teachers on various social media sites using their summer to plan for new and exciting things they want to do the next school year – new labels, bulletin […]
Trying to balance creating content with social media marketing
MAKING PROGRESS For those of you that are established bloggers and solopreneurs, you probably recall when you first began and had to wade through the waters filled with terms such as squeeze page, SEO, meta, keywords, evergreen, content, and marketing. These have inundated my brain this past week to the point that I’ve been unable […]
Unconventional ways to spend summer – starting a side business!
I’m officially a seller/solopreneur! I’d already planned to spend my summer break dedicated to this goal, which has culminated into my first two products on my Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) store! While I haven’t made any money yet, my free R.A.C.E. Paragraph Writing Strategy has been downloaded five times at the time of this post. Baby steps […]
Why I choose to strike a balance between paper and digital learning
Are you someone that uses worksheets in your teaching? I am, despite the fact that I’ve read different blog posts and articles from educators that eschew the practice for more “hands-on” and “real” learning experiences. Don’t get me wrong – I believe that much of the learning should be a real-world experience for an authentic […]
Pivoting – a brand new school year and insight
It’s been a year since I last posted, and honestly feel like I’m talking to an empty room that once held a handful of people. In the blogosphere, a year is a lifetime. So much has happened in that year, and while I’m not going to rehash all of it, I have to admit that I feel […]
A simple way to keep your students’ files organized on their device
It’s that time of the year when my students reflect on what they’ve learned and present it at our annual Portfolio Night. During this digital showcase, they’re expected to gather artifacts from throughout the year that demonstrate how they exhibited our program’s learning outcomes, as well as what standards they’ve mastered in each content area. It’s […]
Checking for understanding by having students create products
It’s that time of the year….TESTING! At my site, the English and Math teachers test students while the other classes teach on a block schedule. This may not be a big deal for you if you already teach that way, but the transition can be tough for some. One of the best ways to make this […]
Accessing FREE eBooks with the Open eBooks app
Back in February, the amazing Open eBooks program began offering thousands of free eBooks to low-income students in America. The New York Public Library developed an e-Reader app that comes loaded with eBooks for students ages 4-18, which can be read without any checkouts or holds. While hundreds of books are already in public domain, the […]
How keyboard shortcuts will make your life easier
I have mixed feelings about shortcuts. As a driver, a shortcut to a destination can either be a timesaver or a frustrating “tour of the city.” Google Maps has taken me down some interesting routes, with the only benefit being that I now know where certain roads end. When it comes to my students, I’m not fond […]
Creating a table of contents in Google Docs
Yesterday I ruminated on the subject of this week’s blog post. I finally decided that it’s time to go over how to create a table of contents in Google Docs. This is more of an intermediate tutorial geared for those of you who are already well on your way with the app. Why a table of contents? There […]
Some Google Sheets fun
For the past several weeks I’ve been writing about Google Docs and a little bit about Google Forms. For those of you who are familiar with Google Apps for Education (GAFE), you know that there are other apps in the suite that are amazing. Today I want to highlight a few functions I use in […]
Collaborate and create with Google Apps
During this past 4-day weekend, I spent some of my time working on various tasks. One of them was creating a trip packing list, and another was grading some of my students’ performance task essays. For both, I took advantage of the collaborative nature of Google Apps for Education (GAFE). I know I’ve written about this […]
How to getting rid of that pesky Microsoft Word formatting
I have blogged several times about one of my new tech best friends, Google Docs. Ever since I discovered it and forced myself to use it, I find that I prefer it over Microsoft Word. Don’t get me wrong; I still love Word. I’ve been using it forever, and before that WordPerfect (did I just age […]
How to use four popular presentation apps for the iPad
And we’re BACK! After a luxuriously long and restful three weeks of Winter Break, the staff at my school came stumbling back yesterday morning. We got right to business with our third EduCon, dubbed the WinterCon. We’ve received so much buzz around the district about these events that we had visitors from the district office […]
How to give comprehensive and fast feedback
In the past, I’ve tried using screen casting as a way to give feedback. However, it was very labor-intensive, however, I was able to personalize my feedback by recording myself commenting out loud on every student’s essay in one of my class periods. For my other classes, I decided to try out a different but […]
Maximize the effectiveness of your educational technology to promote learning
I clearly remember all of my amazing plans when my students first received their iPads. They were all going to use Evernote to keep digital binders, use a PDF annotator to complete worksheets, and do all of their writing on the iPad. I was going to try to use the iPad to do EVERYTHING in […]
Googlizing a unit: Part 2
Last week I featured Googlizing a unit: Part 1, where I outlined the first part of a multidisciplinary unit that involves evaluating presentation apps. Throughout the unit, students used various Google Apps to work collaboratively. This week’s post features the second part of that unit, including the summative assessment at the end. Here are the remaining […]
Googlizing a unit: Part 1
Last month, I mentioned in a post that I had attended the San Diego GAFE Summit. During this conference, two sessions really stood out to me: one on the SAMR model and Google Apps and one on how to survive the zombie apocalypse with Google Apps. While the facilitators were wowing me with their content, I started thinking […]
Engaging your class with EdPuzzle
This past weekend my fellow Blended Learning Specialist Erin Southam and I participated in the San Diego Google Apps for Education Summit in beautiful Coronado, CA. During this summit, I learned about Edpuzzle during a session with Roni Habib. This tool is one of the ultimate cross-curricular tools, and is relatively easy to setup and manage. Why […]
7 methods for embedding multimedia into your blog or website
This past weekend my students diligently worked on their blog posts for the 2015 Student Blogging Challenge. I created an exemplar for them so that they could see exactly how their blog post should look like (which included embedding multimedia), and gave them the weekend to work on it. One of the most exciting components […]
How to overthrow in-service days and up your professional development
Ah, the joy of back-to-school in-service days. The long meetings with agendas set by administration. At least an hour poring over the staff handbook (again). Being the passive receiver of content rather than engaging in or creating it. The double-standard of constantly being told to not teach this way, while enduring it year after year. This […]
What makes JupiterEd the ultimate Learning Management System
If you’re not using JupiterEd yet, why not? As an educator time management is crucial if you want to have any time for your friends and family! Those who’ve been following my blog already know that I’m a HUGE fan of JupiterEd and extol its virtues and amazing features that I use on a regular basis. And […]
Why you should choose Google Drive over Dropbox
It’s hard to believe how much stuff I have stored in the cloud. I have files in Dropbox, in Google Drive, my whole computer is backed up to Backblaze, and I also have Time Machine backing up more files to an external drive. I’m kind of a storage backup freak. In my school, teachers and students are […]
What to do when it seems like nothing you’re doing is working
Educators know that all-too-familiar feeling of desperately trying to teach an important skill or concept, only to be faced with a sea of blank and/or confused faces. We try and try again, convinced that we found the right angle, and nothing changes. It’s as if our teaching has suddenly become ineffective, even if we’ve taught for […]
An example of using Thinglink to bring a unit of study together
My students just finished reading “The Monkey’s Paw,” and walked away with mixed feelings. They liked the mysterious mood of it, but HATE stories with unresolved endings! I explained that they must infer the ending, which makes it so deliciously suspenseful! I love that incredibly creepy story with a powerful message: be careful what you wish for! To […]
How to submit assignments to JupiterEd from other applications
This is the third installment of my multi-part series on JupiterEd. Last week I covered Juno Docs, and the week prior to that was Basics of JupiterEd. This week I want to show you how students can submit assignments from different apps to JupiterEd. While this tutorial is iPad specific, students can still use the basic […]
How to incorporate a Mystery Location Call into your lessons
We finally did a Mystery Hangout, and it was so much fun! This past Friday my first period participated in a Mystery Location Call with one of the classes at Shawn Churchill‘s school. I originally connected with her via the Mystery Location Call Google+ Community, which has many members and is still growing. We exchanged messages via email, […]
Reflecting on my own progress at the end of the first grading period
I love looking back and reflecting on what works and what doesn’t. Like giant shoulder pads didn’t work. Flannel shirts and Doc Martens absolutely did. Today I had my students blog about their grades for this first grading period. I’m trying to encourage them to be more metacognitive and reflective, and this time was no different. For […]
Using Juno Docs for submitting and grading assignments
This is the second installment of my multi-part series on JupiterEd. Last week I covered the basics of JupiterEd, and this week I want to show you how students can submit assignments right in JupiterEd so that you can grade them within the program. Because of the scope of the information covered, I would consider […]
Surprise and delight parents and send praise home
For the past five Mondays, I’ve set my intention on who I’m going to single out for the week. No, not in the negative sense, but with a purposeful one. Every Monday, I pick five students in each class who I will observe that week, and whose parents will receive virtual praise on Friday. Why do I do […]
How embracing change in your workplace can make you a better teacher
Changes This school year has already been such a whirlwind of change, more than any of the other 12 years prior. Too many teachers have left, positions changing, new responsibilities, new teachers arriving…it’s just so much. This seems to be the year when so many of my colleagues and friends decided to leave their comfort […]
A unconventional method to keep an ill student from missing out
I’d like to think that it’s absolutely DEVASTATING for my students to miss a day of my class. I mean, how could they stand not being there for my jokes, random musings, and crazy faces? So when a student misses many school days, I really notice. I know I’m not alone, since most teachers who […]
The basics of JupiterEd and how it can make teaching easier
This is the first of a multi-part series on some of the specific features of the LMS JupiterEd. This is a beginning/intermediate level overview of JupiterEd and the features that I think are used the most. This will be most beneficial for those who are just starting out, need a refresher, or are just curious […]
When students cheat – and why it’s hard to fix
Folks, we have a cheating problem on our hands. I know it’s naive to think that my students WON’T cheat, but that doesn’t make it any less disappointing. About two weeks ago I was helping one of my students email me an assignment from his iPad. Doing this required him to open his Gmail app […]
Making a case for standards-based grading
I received an email today at 7:09 AM from a parent: Mrs. Lepre, why aren’t you using the traditional grades in your class? What does a “3” mean? It’s easiest for me to look at A B C grades to keep up with how she’s doing. I never agreed with pretending WE ARE ALL DOING […]
Foster student engagement and visible learning with Thinglink
Thinglink is a tool allows you to create interactive images that can be used in a variety of ways. Both students and teachers can create these images, which helps to drive student learning and motivation. It offers a free and paid Premium version, but I’ve been able to do just fine with the free one! […]
Why grammar matters even if your students hate it
Why I switched to English Language Arts In a past life, music was my life. In fact, I was a competitive pianist for all of middle and high school, and entered college at the University of Washington (GO DAWGS!) as a piano performance major. After realizing that sitting alone for 3-4 hours a day practicing my […]
What I learned from blogging with my students
As I’d mentioned before, we’re finally blogging! At the time of this writing, there are 172 student posts on our team blog. I’m so proud of my students for doing this without any fuss or muss, and I’m hoping that after a few more opportunities, they’ll see the value in it. As someone who’s always […]
Gamify Open House, Back-to-School Night, or Parent Night
Another Open House came and went (#13!), but this time with a twist. Since I’m looping with my students (this is my second year with them), I’m also looping with their parents! I couldn’t do the SAME thing I did last year for Back-To-School Night because THAT would be boring. So I decided to mix […]
An open letter to myself as a first year teacher
Dear Kim, Congratulations on making it through college and your credential program! I know that you’re going to be a fabulous teacher and really change the lives of kids in a positive way. Also, high five for landing your first teaching job! As your future self, I want to give you some friendly advice for […]
How to publish a blog post in WordPress: a pictorial
We’re finally blogging! We’ve gone from paper blogging to the real deal! Yesterday we logged in and went step-by-step, going through the different components of a blog post in Edublogs. I wanted them to slowly learn the procedures that they should follow every time they post to the class blog. Starting this week they’ll be blogging in their […]
Mastering student blogging with Paper blogging
I will be the first to admit that paper blogging was not in any way my original idea. I actually saw the idea from several posts: Paper Blogs: A Lesson in Commenting on Student Blogs Learning to Blog Using Paper Blogging Lesson Plan- Writing Making Paper Blogs to Prepare for the Online Experience I had searched […]
How students can be collaborative with Google Docs
How to use Google Docs in your class tomorrow (using an iPad or computer) During the past few years I’ve had the chance to try out Google Docs as a collaborative tool with my students. Group work is a breeze when everyone can work together simultaneously! Google Docs isn’t always perfect: If a student starts […]
First steps and considerations with student blogging
I mentioned before that a few years back I incorporated student blogging and created a series of lessons. I had blogging, commenting, and copyright use lessons, however I revisited those and found them to be stale. So this time around I searched for new material that I could utilize to spruce up those lessons. There are […]
Why I’m diving into student blogging
These past few weeks I’ve been reading some game-changing posts by George Couros. I’m particularly drawn to his posts about why educators and administrators should blog, and about having students create digital portfolios via blogs. Both of these ideas resonate with me, particularly the part about students having a voice for an authentic audience, and using […]
Switching to standards-based grading to improve student outcomes
My standards-based grading journey Standards-based grading has been a part of my educational journey, and I’m working on refining it. A few years ago in my early foray into English Language Arts, I attempted this on a whim but quickly became overwhelmed with it. It seemed far too labor-intensive in terms of grading, and I’m […]
Fostering collaboration and teamwork into your curriculum
This year I want to work on building more engagement into my curriculum, while also fostering teamwork and collaboration. I’m not sure why it took me 13 years to “think” of this! To facilitate this, I’m going to test it out on Fridays. For this first official Friday, I decided to do a team-building exercise […]
A Gallery Walk to test your Personality
As I mentioned in my last post, I’m looping with my students from 7th to 8th grade. One of the greatest benefits of doing this is that I get to kick-start our curriculum right away by getting up and moving for a gallery walk. After some discussion with last year’s 8th grade teachers, my PLC […]
