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My May 2019 Book Reviews
The school year is starting to wind down and I am looking forward to getting a lot of reading done this summer. I have visions of myself sitting by the pool reading book after book. But, we all know that is not going to happen quite as I plan. A girl can dream, right?! The 14th Colony by Steve Berry I am a big fan of the Cotton Malone series that Steve Berry writes. I love the way he writes historical fiction mixed with action and adventure. This book was not one of my favorites but it also did not disappoint. The way that Steve Berry researches the historical events…
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Stop Trying to Multi-Task and Focus!
In today’s world, I constantly find myself trying to do too many things at once! Even right now, while writing this blog post, I am listening to a podcast, making lunch, and folding laundry. But really when we are multitasking and focusing on multiple things at once, we are never really giving all of our attention to any one thing, and we are not giving it our best effort. If you want to put in your best effort you have to focus on one thing at a time! Here are some tips to help you focus your attention on one thing at a time. Keep Paper Handy When I am…
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Why You Need a Bell-Ringer
What is a Bell-Ringer? If you are new to teaching, or in a school where this isn’t a term that is used, you’ve probably seen something similar. Bell-Ringers are activities students do as soon as they arrive in class. It is usually something quick and typically I don’t give a problem that the students are not going to know how to do. Here are the reasons why you need to be using a bell-ringer in your classroom. Classroom Management Bell-ringers are great for classroom management. We all know that students do better when they have a routine that is expected. Ideally, students know what to do as soon as they…
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Using Positive Language to Empower Your Students!
Do you use positive language to handle behaviors in your class? As teachers, we have the power to set the tone in our classroom. Do you want students to walk into your classroom feeling like they are constantly making mistakes and failing? Or, do you want students to walk into your classroom feeling like it is a safe space where they can thrive? If you are taking the time to get advice and read articles, I think I know the answer to that question. You are obviously the type of teacher who wants to make your classroom the best that it can be. Reminding yourself to use positive language in…
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My April 2019 Book Reviews
This month I had grand plans of reading so many books over April vacation from school. Well, that didn’t happen and I am really going to have to pick up my pace if I want to meet my goal of 50 books in 2019! I am trying to mix more non-fiction into my reading so this month I got through one of each, fiction and non-fiction. Burying the Honeysuckle Girls by Emily Carpenter This was my book club book this month and I was not a huge fan. There were elements of this book that I found enjoyable but then there was a lot that I didn’t. It is the…
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Making Your First Dollar Blogging
Are you trying to get started with email marketing but you feel like there is just too much to learn? I still feel that way one year after signing up for a ConvertKit account. Have you ever wondered about all those success stories you see of people making a living online? Have you ever wanted to be one of those people? Well, why not you? Right now there are so many ways that you can use the skills that you have to make money online. The internet is filled with so many specialty blogs to help other people by sharing their knowledge. And it is so easy to get started.…
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Finding Your Role as a Co-Teacher
Preface: Most of this post is going to be from the perspective of the special education teacher, only because that is my personal role and what I know more about. But a lot of these tips can be great for any co-teacher to read. Co-Teaching can be a delicate relationship. You walk into another teacher’s classroom and you’re ideally supposed to take over half of the power. It often feels like you are an intruder and you are not even sure if you’re welcome. A lot of teachers have routines and habits, they don’t want someone coming in and changing everything up. But, your district wants to move toward an…
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How I Blog with a Full Time Job
Some bloggers have found a way to make it their full-time job. This is amazing, but I’m not there yet. For now, my blog and my TeacherspayTeachers.com store is really my side-hustle and I need to make time where I can to fit it in. There are some weeks where I get so much done, like this week I’m on school break, and then there are some weeks where I feel like I have zero time to get anything done and everything falls behind! Automate as much as possible There are plenty of things that you can set ahead of time and will run for you. My biggest tip for…
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What to Do When You Have a Substitute Teacher
Being out of school can be stressful, I, like many others, have gone into school when I probably should have stayed home because it was just going to be more work to be absent. Here are some tips to make things easier for you and for your substitute teacher. Have an afternoon routine. If you have a daily routine where you leave your classroom ready for the next day, it will be easier for unexpected absences. Often the biggest issue with an unexpected illness is that you did not make the copies that you need to make the day before. You thought you would have plenty of time before school…
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March 2019 Book Reviews!
Another slow month, I am definitely going to have to pick it up during April vacation!! But I have two good non-fiction books this month! I have been reading a lot of non-fiction trying to absorb as much information as I can about self-care and motivation. This month I didn’t read any fiction books, but I hope to read a few next month!! You are a Badass Every Day Prior to reading this book, I read You are a Badass, also by Jen Sincero. Jen Sincero has an easy to read style of motivation. This novel is designed to help you refocus your life, put aside distractions, and work towards…
