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How I use Tailwind to Boost my Blog Traffic
What is Tailwind? Tailwind is an inexpensive service, where you can schedule your pins ahead of time, it also allows you to track your pins, repins, and followers. I use Tailwind so that I can schedule all of my pins for my blog and my TeacherspayTeachers.com store. This allows me to know that my content is getting out there without being attached to my computer at all times. How it Works Tailwind does most of the work for you; you just have to spend a little time setting it up. You connect Tailwind directly to your Pinterest account. This gives Tailwind the ability to access your boards and do your…
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Ways to Use Social Media for Parent Communication
Communication As teachers, we are continually trying to find ways to use all this new technology to benefit our classrooms. One strong way to implement technology is to use it to strengthen parent communication. Most parents enjoy knowing what is going on in their child’s class, seeing the projects, and fun activities, while also knowing ahead of time about upcoming tests, quizzes, and projects. Twitter Twitter is the social media tool that I see used most often for parent communication. Twitter is a website that allows you to share pictures and information in small amounts. Your “tweets” are limited to 140 or 280 characters. Twitter is excellent for just sending…
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A Guide to Starting Your Blog
Starting a blog is an exciting thing! But it can also be stressful if you’re not prepared. Make sure when you decide to start your blog, that you are ready. Personally, I started my blog twice before I got it right. To hear more about my mistakes check out My Blogging Journey. But when I finally got it right, everything just started clicking. Hosting First, make sure that you host your website. Hosting your site is important because it gives you the freedom to do with it what you’d like and monetize it how you like. I use Bluehost for my site hosting. Through Bluehost, you can download WordPress so easily. …
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Using Editing Stations in Your Middle School ELA Classroom
Will they ever learn!? Every year, I am always surprised at the eighth-grade students who pass in papers with their names written without capitals. They just aren’t doing the editing! If you ask an eighth-grade student whether they know to capitalize names, they always say they do. And yet I repeatedly receive assignments passed in with the same error. In the past, I have used checklists to remind students of the different things they need to be looking for when they are editing their writing assignments. But, the students who really need to lean on the checklist are often the ones that leave them on the floor. Check out the…
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Keeping Your Middle Schoolers Organized
Picture This: We all know that kid who does their homework every night. But then, they can never find it the next day in class. You feel bad not being able to give them credit because you know that they are being truthful, but you can’t start accepting homework based on merit because that could open a can of worms so you tell them that they can bring it in the next day. Organization can be so tough for students! We all know the student who has papers falling out of their backpack at every angle. They usually keep everything in the same folder and can never find anything that…
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Using Affiliate Sales to Make Money Blogging
Being a new blogger is tough. You spend all of your time trying to continuously come up with great content while you’re simultaneously trying to drive traffic to your blog. But with all of this work, how do you actually make money!? The best way to start is through affiliate marketing. When I started my blog, I had two failed attempts before I finally got things off the ground. The game-changer for me was when I found Alex and Lauren at Create and Go They are two bloggers who have created excellent courses that get your blog up, running, and profitable. I learned from their classes, Launch Your Blog Biz. That…
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Tips to Protect Yourself this Cold & Flu Season
As a teacher, I am constantly worried about getting sick. You would think that with eighth-grade students who range from thirteen to fifteen, that they would be conscious of their germs. But, they’re not! The flu is going around HARD this year and so far, I’ve been lucky not to catch. I’m just hoping that I won’t catch it at all. If you are in the same boat as me, here are some tips I’ve found for keeping yourself healthy this cold and flu season. Clean, a lot! Over the summer there is always a time when Lysol wipes go on sale on Amazon. I buy a few boxes and…
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Accommodations to Support Students Who Struggle With Executive Function
What are executive function skills? Executive Functioning skills are the skills that allow us to make a goal, plan on how to meet that goal, and follow through with that plan. They are the skills that help us with impulse control, keeping ourselves organized, and regulating our emotions. Students who have difficulty with their executive function skills tend to be disorganized, impulsive, and do not follow through on plans. These difficulties are typical of students who have been diagnosed with ADHD, as well as some other learning disabilities. A student who struggles with executive function is not hopeless, these skills can be taught, practiced and developed. Break down a project into…
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5 Keys to Great Co-Teaching
Communicate Like any relationship in life, communication is key to a successful co-teaching relationship. Before the year begins, sit down, and DTR as the kids say. Define the relationship! If you start the year with a discussion about who is going to be responsible for each responsibility, you avoid a lot of problems. Neither of you will feel as though the other is stepping on your toes because they’re doing something you thought was your job. And, neither of you will feel like the other isn’t picking up the slack when they’re not doing something you thought was their job. It will also make the classroom routine go more smoothly.…
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My January 2018 Book Reviews
This month was a slow reading month for me. I sometimes go through bouts of migraines and when I am struggling with migraines, picking up a book is the last thing I want to do. I’ve also been super busy! But, this month I was able to read 3.5 books. Commonwealth by Ann Patchett The first book I read was Commonwealth by Ann Patchett. I have not read books from Ann Patchett in the past, but I had heard good things about her work. I found this book to be very dull. It jumped back and forth through time without much notice or explanation. One second you would be reading about…
