Teacher Communication Workshop: Gain Confidence & The Respect You Deserve
Do you struggle to communicate your needs to your admin, or spend hours trying to draft an email? This was me during my first year of...
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Michelle McDonald
Nov 9, 2021
5 Helpful Tips to Overcoming Teacher Overwhelm
How will I make it to the end of the year? This was a question I often asked myself when I felt completely overwhelmed, inadequate, and...
Michelle McDonald
Sep 8, 2021
5 Tips for Fostering a Collaborative and Safe Social Studies Class
One of the most important steps we can take at the beginning of the year is time to build a positive classroom environment where all...
Michelle McDonald
Aug 17, 2021
4 Must-Have Back to School Supplies for Every Classroom
Preparing for the school year can be daunting, especially if you are just beginning your teaching journey, or if you are switching grade...
Michelle McDonald
Jul 20, 2021
Helpful Questions First Year Teachers Should Ask at the End of an Interview
The interview process to land a teaching position can be daunting and stressful for both new and seasoned educators. As a new teacher, it...
Michelle McDonald
Mar 9, 2021
Infusing Technology into Social Studies to Stimulate the Brain
I was on a long road trip recently and had quite a bit of time for teacher PD. I have loved listening and learning from Zaretta Hammond,...
Michelle McDonald
Mar 2, 2021
4 Tips for First-Year Teachers: Planning Ahead This Spring
It may be spring, but the end of year is a busy time and quickly approaching. I want to share with you 4 quick tips to help you plan...
Michelle McDonald
Nov 23, 2020
How to Make Significant Reading Gains in Elementary
This might sound counterintuitive, but if we want to see real reading improvement, then we need to cut back on ELA and make more room for...
Michelle McDonald
Oct 12, 2020
How to Batch Your Lesson Plans and Get Ahead
During my first year of teaching, I always felt like my head was barely above water. I was usually just one step ahead of the students....
Michelle McDonald
Sep 17, 2020
How to Make Self-Care a Priority: Tips for New Teachers
During my first year of teaching, I stayed late at school most days of the week. I hate to admit it, but sometimes I was at school as...
Michelle McDonald
Sep 6, 2020
5 Back to School Technology Tips for Virtual Learning
If you find yourself overwhelmed by learning new technology, are in the process of revamping your lessons and entire daily schedule for...
Michelle McDonald
Aug 18, 2020
5 Reasons to use Google Voice for Parent Communication
If you are looking for an effective way to communicate with parents that doesn't involve tons of set up or parents signing up for one...
Michelle McDonald
Jul 6, 2020
New Teacher Back to School Checklists
Back to school is an especially busy time. From prepping bulletin boards, laminating activities, analyzing your scope and sequence, plus...
Michelle McDonald
Dec 12, 2019
The First Holidays After Divorce: Tips for Teachers
For students that are experiencing a change in their family system, such as due to separation and divorce, the holidays can trigger anxiety
Michelle McDonald
Nov 5, 2019
Staying the Course: When You Feel Like Giving Up
"A woman is like a tea bag--you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt said these famous words,...
Michelle McDonald
Oct 25, 2019
10 Parent Teacher Conference Tips for First Year Teachers
My first year of teaching, I was definitely a little nervous when it came to parent-teacher conferences. Even though I had participated...
Michelle McDonald
Oct 15, 2019
6 Parent Communication Tips for New Teachers
My first year of teaching, the very thought of communicating with parents gave me nightmares. As an introvert, this was something I just...
Michelle McDonald
Sep 10, 2019
Helpful Strategies: When Students Will Not Stop Talking
Do you have a class that will not.stop.talking? You've probably tried the "I'm just waiting" trick and literally waited, and waited, and...
Michelle McDonald
Jul 16, 2019
How to Take Inventory of Your Classroom Library to Add More Diverse Books
If you were to sort the books in your classroom library and take an inventory, what would you find? Do the books in your classroom...
Michelle McDonald
Jul 3, 2019
3 Ways to Save Money on Classroom Set Up
Whether you are setting up your very first classroom, or are looking for cost effective classroom ideas, this post is for you. Over the...
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