Every year I struggle with the best way to track IEP data. With everything trending to digital, recently I have been trying to find ways to do this digitally, but I find that I prefer do things by hand. I also find that I am more consistent when something paper and pencil. So no matter how fancy and techy I try to be, every year I fall back to my tried and true data binders. Here is how I set them up: For each student I use a 1″ white binder. I buy them in 4 packs on Amazon. I use dry erase marker to write the students’ initials on…

Here we are again, another new year, another new Goodreads goal.  Yet again I have set the goal that I would read 50 books. Hopefully this year I’ll actually hit it. I find that the goal of a book per week is obtainable but when I get busy I tend to neglect reading.  What I am going to do this year is try to include some Audible books. I listen to so many podcasts when I’m driving, why not throw in a book or two and help knock out some of my TBR pile. The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell I gave this book five stars! I couldn’t put this…

Deadliest Enemy by Michael Osterholm Michael Osterholm is an epidemiologist.  I read this book because I wanted to feel more informed when I’m watching all the news reports about COVID-19.  Osterholm wrote this book years before COVID-19 happened but how accurate his predictions about what would happen are, were frightening! This book is very scientific and very dense, but it was also super interesting and informative. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. You Can Drop It! by Ilana Muhlstein This book is a part of the Beachbody family of healthy living.  This is the book that the 2B mindset is based off of.  I found this mindset…

I have been so overwhelmed with learning how to teach online.  This fast paced jump from face to face teaching to “distance learning” has been very challenging.  My school has been using Google Classroom and the Google Suite as our primary tool for teaching online.  I have had to take a self-taught crash course on Google. Google Docs is a powerful tool for teaching online. A Little About Google Docs Google Docs can be most closely compared to Microsoft Word.  It is a word processing software that is easily used for writing assignments, typing notes, writing letters, really anything you would use Microsoft Word for. I like Google Docs because…

I have been working on my blog for a couple of years now.  It wasn’t until I tried ConvertKit for free, that I was able to build my email list and take my blog to the next level! So, you’ve probably heard that email is where it’s at when it comes to creating an audience and earning a living online. It’s the only platform where you own your list, and your email list is the group of people that no algorithm can take away from you. Pretty cool, right? But you might also be wondering: What do I actually write to this email list?    How do I get more…

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…

When I decided that I wanted to start a blog, I tried to start consuming as much information as I could from all sources.  I began constantly other blogs for advice, taking courses on blogging, and reading as much non-fiction as I could.  I came across a few books that really helped me.  Some helped me with the motivation and determination, and some helped me with logistics.  I have compiled a list of my favorite books that have helped me build a successful blog. How to Blog for Profit Without Selling Your Soul I read this book a while ago and it gives great practical advice on how to set…

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney The Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are a great combination of graphic novels and typical novels.  There are a lot of doodles and other illustrations that help students follow the plot in the novel.  This allows students to read a book that has a lot of pictures without feeling as though the story is juvenile.  The Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are also very popular with older kids and younger adolescents.  They are a little young for my population but I keep a few of them handy for my lower readers. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan This is the…