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 […]
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Posted inParents
Your Children Are Not Your Students
Your Children Are Not Your Students Parent guilt is a beast all by itself. Whenever it can show up, it does. When I want some “me time” after I’ve raised my voice, or when I’ve given them something I know they shouldn’t have, it’s right there waiting. But for me, it’s been showing […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
A Very Teacher Summer
Summer is here! Everyone breathes a sigh of relief because now the weather is going to be nice at least most of the time, and there are fun things to do like camping, swimming, and hiking. As a teacher, I am excited about summer for a different reason. It’s time to revise my lesson plans […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
I Wish Everyone Knew How Long It Takes to Plan Great Lessons
Teachers know what perfect storms in our profession look like. When you’re a teacher, the colloquialism “when it rains it pours” just isn’t enough. When it rains, we feel like we’re antediluvian Noah – minus the ark. Often, the only way out of the flood is the feeling after a great lesson has seen its […]
Posted inTeacher Leaders
It’s Our Fault: A Teacher’s Confession
Imagine 1996, a young girl fresh out of college in the Midwest. She interviews with nearby schools and after the third school she is offered a position to teach in her own small town. This is a dream come true. Energy and excitement fill her as she sets up her first classroom. At this point, […]
Posted inTeacher Self Care
A New Teacher’s Perspective: Ranting, Destressing, and Teacher Health
I suppose I should start off by saying that I love my job. It’s rewarding, fun, and, generally, awesome. However, some days, my job is also very frustrating. When my projector isn’t working, or when students are just not listening, I find myself feeling stressed out. In this, I know I am not alone. My […]
Posted inThe State of Education
I Didn’t Sign Up To Be A Hero
I did not sign up to be a hero. No, that was not part of my plan. At least, not in the way that most people think of heroes. When most of us think of heroes, we think of warriors or people who put their lives on the line on a regular to protect others […]
Posted inFrom the Front Lines
Dear TER Readers and Educators: Let’s Change the World
Dear TER Readers and Educators, I’m not asking for much, just your help changing the world. It may sound like an overstatement, but I wholeheartedly believe that improving the American education system is the only path to lasting, meaningful change in all areas of society and citizenship. I also wholeheartedly believe that the educators in […]