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How to Find Your State Social Studies Standards
Did you know that every U.S. state has outlined its own set of social studies standards? And we're not talking about the Common Core...
Michelle McDonald
Jun 11, 2024


Social Studies Activities for the End of the Year
If you are looking for meaningful end-of-year social studies activities to keep your students engaged, check out these great ideas!
Michelle McDonald
May 9, 2024


Free Social Studies Lessons Round-Up
Since 2012 I've been sharing social studies resources that I've created either for my own classroom or have been the result of teachers...
Michelle McDonald
Feb 27, 2024


Quick and Easy Sub Plans for Your Social Studies Class
I don't know about you, but I was one of those teachers who struggled to take my sick days. Creating lesson plans to leave for a...
Michelle McDonald
Feb 13, 2024


Learn How to Thrive in Your First Year of Teaching with this Framework
Are you a new teacher on a rollercoaster ride of emotions? If that resonates with you, I completely understand! Balancing teaching and...
Michelle McDonald
Aug 29, 2023


4 Back to School Teacher Planning Tips That Get Overlooked
As we get into Back to School season, there are so many things to prep and plan. Maybe this is the year that you will make your lunches...
Michelle McDonald
Aug 8, 2023


Why You Need to Attend the 2023 First Year Teacher Summit
I'm so excited to share that registration is open for the 2023 First Year Teacher Summit! This is the first virtual event of its kind...
Michelle McDonald
Jul 4, 2023


Build a Healthy Rapport with your Colleagues as a First Year Teacher
If you are a new teacher or maybe a teacher working in a new building, having a good rapport with your colleagues might be new waters to...
Michelle McDonald
Jun 20, 2023


An Easy and Low Prep End of Unit Assessment: One Pagers
Are you tired of assigning tests for your social studies units? I want to share an easy-to-implement end-of-unit project that gets...
Michelle McDonald
Jun 6, 2023


Step Into Your First Teacher Interview With Confidence: 5 Tips
Preparing for your first interview can be nerve-wracking and it's one of the most commonly asked questions within the First Year Teacher...
Michelle McDonald
Jun 1, 2023


Why Setting Healthy Boundaries are Essential in the Teaching Profession
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “teachers do it for the outcome, not for the income.” I want to take a moment to dismantle this concept...
Michelle McDonald
May 24, 2023


How Much is Your Teaching Prep Time Worth, Really?
Have you ever considered how much your prep time is really worth (in dollars)? One of my biggest teaching hurdles was figuring out how to...
Michelle McDonald
May 4, 2023


The Teacher Productivity Hack You Need To Help You Beat Overwhelm
Do you have sticky notes covering your computer screen or all around your desk? Maybe you have a long to-do list that feels overwhelming...
Michelle McDonald
Apr 11, 2023


5 Ways to Build Mental Strength as a First Year Teacher
Are you a first-year teacher drowning in work, feeling like you are being pulled in multiple directions, and struggling to find that...
Michelle McDonald
Jan 4, 2023


Free 2023 Goal Setting Journal for First Year Teachers
As we start a new year, this is a great time to consider goal setting. Even if you are reading this and it’s the middle of June, there’s...
Michelle McDonald
Dec 27, 2022


Helpful Tips for Facilitating an Effective Classroom Discussion
Small group discussions are a great concept, but they can quickly get out of hand if we simply release our students without guidance....
Michelle McDonald
Dec 13, 2022


Free Easy and Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Students and Parents
Let’s talk about holiday gift-giving. First, there is absolutely no requirement to give your students a holiday gift before winter break....
Michelle McDonald
Nov 29, 2022


3 Ways to Be Proactive Before Your Teacher Sick Days Run Out
I was recently listening to a teacher share how they ran out of sick days in October. Knowing that any future days off would mean taking...
Michelle McDonald
Nov 15, 2022


5 Teacher Tips for Keeping Your Personal Life Organized & Efficient
As a teacher, we quickly realize that the work is never done. This means that we have to be intentional with our time because it's super...
Michelle McDonald
Oct 4, 2022


Shopping for Teacher Outfits on a Tight Budget: Shopping with Sustainability in Mind
When I landed my first teaching job, most of my clothing involved jeans, oversized sweatshirts, and tennis shoes that I wore around the...
Michelle McDonald
Aug 16, 2022
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