In this series of posts, veteran teacher, guide teacher and induction mentor Thomas Courtney bridges the other gap that we don’t talk enough about. That gap, the difference between what we are trained to do in our credential program, what we are asked to do by our employer, what the families and students we serve […]
new teachers
First-Year Teachers: Raise Your Hand If You’ve Been Bullied Too.
By Lanee Higgins Teachers should share our workplace bullying experiences in shouts instead of whispers, but I understand why we don’t. Seven years ago, I kept a record of the workplace bullying that I endured as a first-year teacher in 2014. Seven years later, rereading it leaves my stomach full of needles, my thoughts racing, […]
Dear Teacher Friends, It’s Time to Show More Empathy
It’s always wonderful when teachers from different parts of the world can come together and laugh, joke, complain, or cry about the same common things happening in our classrooms. “I’ll Wait.” “Where are all my pencils?” “This PD could’ve been an e-mail!” *Insert teacher on the way to break meme* Yes, we can all agree […]
Getting Reading Right: The Education Week Online Summit
Getting Reading Right was the title and focus of the free online Education Week summit held on January 28, 2020. EdWeek reporters moderated with guest literacy specialists in six separate online chats framed by the results of the 2019 EdWeek Research Center survey on Early Reading Instruction. Online registered participants were eligible for a certificate […]
The Intention Form: Tell The Truth…Shame The Devil
Now that we’re in the second part of the school year, we already know what’s coming… The Intention Form Intention Form… Commitment Form… “Are You Staying Or Leaving Us” Form Whatever your school district calls them, they’re on the way to your teacher mailbox within the next few weeks as administrative staff go over the […]
New Tricks for Old Dogs: What Novice Teachers Offer
With 44% of teachers quitting within the first five years of entering the profession, it is statistically likely you know a teacher like me: one who has yet to cross the five-year threshold. I am almost there, approaching my fifth year, but have yet to earn esteem as a “veteran teacher” among my colleagues. Rightfully […]
A Letter to Myself as a First Year Teacher
Dear First Year Teacher…Me, Remember when you said you would NEVER step foot into a classroom and teach? Jokes on you! Your life is going to be forever changed from this moment on. From the moment you step into that classroom, you are a teacher. You’ll wake up every morning, tired from lesson planning and […]
I Was Running Myself Into the Ground: My Self-Care Story
Guest Writer: Alexis Shepard I experienced major burn out my 4th year teaching. Tears and rants about how much I hated teaching were regular occurrences for my, then, boyfriend. Emotionally, I was a wreck most days—almost always angry and annoyed. The only things that kept me composed each day were the kindest grade level partner, […]