“You are going to feel weird all year long,” a teacher said to me at the beginning of the year in my new position as Instructional Support Teacher. Like many veteran teachers trying to impart the wisdom they have gained
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Encouraging Words for the Newest Teachers
Dear New Teacher, I am sure you have heard many teachers in your college classes, your mentor teacher, or even friends of yours who may have graduated college before you talk about how difficult the first year of teaching is.
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The Aftermath
I thought that as a ten-year veteran teacher I had seen a lot of things, but this year as support staff (read: unexpected substitute teacher; lunch duty supervisor; occasional coach; and even an interventionist, my actual job) I have seen
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The Whispers
The whispers start earlier and earlier every year. They used to start after Spring Break. Teachers and students had a week free of deadlines and assignments, and that started thoughts of Summer Break. It signals that one chapter is closing,
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Just Do It: Breaking Through Writers Block When Writing for Your National Board Certification
I am stuck. I have read and reread all of the prompts so many times that I do not even know what they mean anymore. If you have worked on becoming a National Board Certified Teacher before, or are currently
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Rethink Your Resolutions
It’s that time of year again: New Year Resolutions. Does that make you feel excited (like myself) or make you roll your eyes (like my husband)? People across the globe are reflecting on the past year and thinking about what
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Not Yet Achieved
‘Twas the night before score release And all through the house Teachers were waiting For their score to be announced! The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards released the scores of National Board candidates this past weekend. Teachers anxiously waited
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The Teaching Tango
Is teaching an art or a science? Well, it depends on who you ask. There are those who believe that teaching is an art. There is absolutely an art to teaching: letting your passion shine, engaging students in their learning,
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SOS: Teacher Edition
La la la, la la la, la la la la la, oh You know I’ve never felt like this before La la la, la la la, la la la la la, oh This feels like so unreal I begin to
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Where’s Waldo? The Hunt for Substitute Teachers Edition
Teachers have worn many hats for a long time. Some of these hats may have been expected, while others are a surprise. Teacher hat: check. Parent hat: unexpected check. Nurse hat: I never expected to do a lice check on
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