8 Tips for Surviving the End of the School Year (Free Printable Checklist)
The end of the school year is tough. No need to sugar coat it. Teachers and students alike seem to experience a mass mindset shift toward summer and everything both speeds up and slows down at the same time. Each day seems to drag on, while there doesn’t...
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My Close Encounter With Teacher Burnout And How I Navigated It
Two years ago I was facing teacher burnout. It was a dark time. I was 15 years into a profession that I believed in, that I loved, and I had lost the joy. I found myself buried under teacher stress I haven't shared a lot about my experiences that led to starting Joy...
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Decoding Teacher Resiliency – A Breakdown of Terms & Phrases
A focus on Decoding Teacher Resiliency is needed. There are terms and phrases connected to teacher resilience that you may not be familiar with if your school or district doesn't emphasize or invest in teacher well-being. Terms like vicarious trauma, trauma-informed...
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Community Within Community – Build Your Dream School Culture
The Story When I was a sophomore in college I took a 2D art class that was the worst (at least in my opinion). The professor was stifling. He was all about precision and adhering to his specific dimensional requirements. He would take a ruler to your work and it if...
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Teacher Test Prep – A Survival Guide For Teachers During Standardized Testing Season
The Weight Of Testing Today Testing has always been a stressful time for students. As kids when we say the pre-sharpened number two pencils and bubble sheets we knew what was about to happen. We felt a pit in our stomach because it was testing time again. Now,...
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Thrive As An Introverted Teacher
What It Means To Be An Introverted Teacher Being an introverted teacher can be exhausting. Having to be "on" all day, with little to any breaks, surrounded by students with varying needs, all demanding your attention, it's all part of the job. It's what we sign up...
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Your Classroom Design Impacts How You Feel About Teaching
Classroom design. It's our surroundings and our students'. It's our organization, our arrangements, and our things. And, it has an impact on how we see our careers in education. You Can’t Buy Happiness. It’s true. I think. Although, I did read an article recently that...
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How to DIY Your Professional Development (for when you have to)
You might be asking yourself Why would I need to DIY my own Professional Development? Well, tell me if any of these scenarios sound familiar? A staff meeting that doesn' t connect with your discipline. A speaker who doesn't have an understanding of the dynamics of...
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15 Ways for Teachers to Carpe the Heck Out of Every Diem During Spring Break
Let's stop perpetuating this spring break lie. The kids think it's for them - to give them a break from school. But, we know. Spring break is just as much for the teachers! Congratulations! You survived February - the longest feeling month in teaching. So even if you...
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How to Start A Kindness Movement in Your School
A kindness movement came from trying to find a way to show students they can make a difference and giving them something they can have control of. Although the idea of a #kindnesschallenge is not new, I believe now, more than ever, we must explore, as educators,...
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