Moments of Stillness in the Busy

This time of year is jam-packed with activities, traditions, excitement and lots of energy. The holidays can be a wonderful time and also can be filled with sadness for adults and kids. Changes is schedule can be fun-filled and also exhausting. Being aware of the many dichotomies is important for teachers for our own well-being and also as we support our students.

This month for PBIS, our school is focusing on Mindfulness. Being aware of what is going on, how we are feeling, and being present is always important. Taking a moment to breath and be still is so helpful, especially when everything seems so busy.

This school year, I am more aware of myself, my energy levels and how I am spending my time. I have made it a goal to take care of myself, establish and keep boundaries, and be present for myself and my family above all. I truly believe that doing this enhances my teaching and allows me to show up better and more present for my students. 

When I feel overwhelmed this time of year, I have been taking a moment to pause. Being in my classroom and taking a breath, being in the silence (before students come or during a prep) and really thinking about what is the next most important thing to do, helps keep me grounded. I also am trying to squeeze in a walk outside after school when I can depending on my schedule, the weather and the amount of light available. In Western NY, these days the amount of sunlight is getting shorter and we can feel it. 

Helping my students pause can be very powerful as well. We all feel the energy and can be spun up a bit It can be a simple belly breathing or square breathing activity to reset before or during a lesson. Last week, we had a lockdown drill and I used that quiet time to do some square breathing. I also noticed the anxiety and feel of my students shifted as we took a few moments to breath, despite the drill. 

It can be difficult to take a few moments just to pause. Am I perfect? Far from it. I have to remind myself to pause. Last week each evening I was exhausted. Being kind to ourselves is important. We won't be perfect. We don't need to do all of the things all of the time. We just need to show up for ourselves first and then for others. Today, even if it is just 20 seconds, take a moment to be still. I'm going to try to throughout my day. 

Pause to Appreciate the Growth

 

Being in a classroom can be busy. Working with elementary students can feel like you don't have a moment to yourself to breath, much less reflect. It's amazing what students and teachers get done during a day. It is also a bit daunting to think about what is expected in a day, in a month, in a school year. 

This past week, we had parent-teacher conferences. For a full day, I was able to connect with parents and share about the growth for each of my students. I was blown away at the growth already this school year. Typically the growth explosion happens between January and March as this is the most uninterrupted time in our school year. No breaks or changes in schedules allow students to really get into the flow of learning. 

As I prepared to meet with parents and complete report cards, I did some assessments to monitor progress. All of my students grew. Some more than others, but the fact is each student has made progress. It was so rewarding to see this. Some are growing but need additional support. It is great to really start to see what they need and work together with parents to try to meet those needs. Some of my students' reading is really taking off. That is so exciting as I start to focus on higher level thinking and examining text. 

Some days I feel like I can't keep up. I want to follow the curriculum, meet the needs of students, be a valuable teammate, and connect with students to build relationships. It can feel daunting. But taking time to stop and look at where we have come from to where we are right now is really valuable and so important. We shouldn't rush through our days and forget to see how far we've come. This is true in the class. It is true in any aspect of life.

During this busy season, take a few moments to remember where you started this fall. As a teacher and as a person. Maybe jot it down in a notebook or even on a Post-it to remind yourself you are doing more than you realize.

Clipart by Melonheadz

Teamwork and Making Adjustments

 Teaching can be isolating at times. You feel the weight of trying to meet the needs of your students, keep up with the curriculum, and you want to do it all for everyone. I've been teaching for a long time and I have found that I can be the most effective when I work with others. This school year is the first time that I have been alone in the classroom for most of the day. My entire career, I have worked with another teacher for either the entire day in a co-teaching model or for portions of the day. It is a different experience for me.

As I look at the needs of my students and try to meet them all, it can be overwhelming. I've struggled to find ways to work smarter, not harder. There is only so much time in the day and so much of me to go around. As the fall has progressed, I've made some adjustments to better meet the needs of my students. One is I started up a Math Workshop model beginning in November. We do a Math Talk daily, a mini-lesson, and then we break out into groups. One group starts with me and another group does independent work. Groups rotate to a fluency station after independent work is done. I work with the other group after the first. This model gives me an opportunity to work with small groups and gives my students independent time. It allows me to differentiate and support students where they are. It has been working really well. I just would love more TIME for each station. Time is such a hot commodity each day for sure. 

Today, another teacher on my team, our AIS provider and I are starting something new to help support our students in writing. We are going to switch kids from both of our classes to form writing groups. We formed 3 groups and are going to work with them as we start our narrative writing unit. Each group will be learning the same skills, but with varying levels of support and with a different number of students in each group. I'm excited to see how this goes and believe as we adjust and grow, we can better support all of the students. 

Teaching really is about making adjustments and learning alongside our students. We can do this most effectively as we work with others. It sounds so cliche, but being a lifelong learner is a huge part of being an effective teacher. It makes it so exciting as well.   

Close Reading

 About 10 years ago, while I was teaching 3rd grade, I attended professional development on Close Reading. I loved it and developed many close reading lessons for my 3rd graders about the topics we were studying. 

It has been a while since I have worked on close reading with my students now that I am teaching 2nd grade, but I'm reading to jump back in with some of my students. 

One of the wonderful aspects of 2nd grade is the incredible amount of growth that occurs over the course of a year. Students really develop independence and also start the transition from learning to read to reading to learn. As with every other year, I have students in my class who are in a wide variety of places in this process. Some are still focusing on developing decoding skills. Others are decoding really well and our focus is now on comprehension and really exploring author's craft and looking at a text closely. Enter in close reading. 

After the Thanksgiving break, I am going to introduce close reading to several of my small groups. What I love about close reading is that after reading the entire text, we dive deep into several portions focusing on the language used, text structure, and answering text-based questions. I plan to start with an introduction to close reading I have used successful in the past with 3rd graders and then go from there. I will be developing some more close reads to be used with younger students. These are important skills that students can benefit from. 

One of my favorite parts of the day is working in small groups with students during our reading block. I love the magic of reading, the growth that occurs, the lightbulb moments as students apply the skills, and the conversations we have. 

If you are looking to use close reading, here is my plan for introducing close reads on TPT. It can be used with a variety of grade levels as you introduce the process. More updated close reading plans will be coming as well. 

Interactive Review

 As my students continue to grow in independence, I am looking for ways to build into that. In the last week, I introduced Google Docs and students have been typing up their paragraphs about different landforms and water features during our writing block if there is time. Some students are so excited, they are finishing up during independent work time later in the day while I work with reading groups. 

It is incredible how far students come from the beginning of the school year when some struggle to log into their computers to the end of the year when they are able to put together a complete Google Slideshow almost entirely on their own. 7 and 8 year olds are doing this!

To foster more independence and to review our science unit, I put together a self-correcting interactive review activity using google slides. Here is an example of one of the pages students refer to after matching up the features on their own. 

It was a lot of fun to put together and I found that I could tailor it to the needs and content for my students. This activity I will use later this week or next week as we finish up the science unit. If you are interested in checking it out on TPT, click here. I definitely will be creating more of these activities for my students!

Adjusting as we go and grow

We are settled into school routines and little by little I am seeing my students grow in independence. 2nd grade is truly a year filled with growth as students develop as learners. As the year goes on, expectations change and what students can do independently grows as well. 

October was a very busy month filled with field trips, special assemblies and events, and the excitement of Halloween. All of these things were part of learning and for the most part were fun, but they also threw off our routines. Missing Math or not having Reading Groups changes the feel of a school day. I found that this impacted my students' autonomy, particularly for independent work. 

During our Reading block, student rotate through independent activities and working with me in a small group. Some of my students, I have seen, need some more support, while others need a greater challenge. Last week I introduced some new Work Work activities to provide an opportunity to challenge and support all of my students. You can check these Daily Work Work activities out here on my TPT store. 

Some students are ready for a little more challenge when practicing our phonics patterns. Here is one example of a student's independent work. Throughout the week, there are some activities where they use color to differentiate between consonants and vowels and also use some creative ways to write the words. My goal is to provide a little more creative expression and engagement, while practicing.  

I also found that several of my students don't have the stamina to copy 10 words and then do an activity with them. Each day I have a modified activity that I provide which allows them to trace the words. Not only does this ensure the correct spelling (several struggle with that), but also fewer words and more space. These modifications provide more support for several of my students while still are working to build independence. 

I try to keep the activities the same for 1-3 months to build in predictability and independence. Once students seem to master these and are ready for a challenge, I will make up a new set. Much of education is straddling the line between providing support and opportunities to develop independence. I want my students to grow and develop pride in their own work, while supporting them and also giving them some space for trial and error, learning through mistakes and struggle. This is the essence of learning. 

Holiday Thoughts

 I may seem like a bore, but I do not like Halloween. I loved dressing my kids up when they were younger, but I don't really get into costumes and things like that. I am not a fan of horror movies and all of the blood and guts.

I think the reason I am hesitant about Halloween and also celebrating any holiday big in the classroom began during my first two years of teaching when I taught in a self-contained PreK classroom. I worked with students with a variety of needs and many social-emotional challenges as well as difficult home lives. What I learned as a very young teacher is that what we think is going to be fun as adults can be scary to children. Costumes, even fun, non-violent ones, can be off-putting for children because people look different. Think about kids' reactions to Santa Claus...

Parties and different activities can be very fun for some students and also very overwhelming for others. Many students thrive on routine. They know what to expect and, especially with 2nd graders, it helps to develop independence. Changing routines impacts kids.

Does that mean we don't celebrate? Absolutely not, but it is a reminder that celebrating, parties, changes in routine, even for good reasons will impact children. We will dress up today and have a party. My students have been talking about Halloween all month long. There will be treats and games and costumes. With all of this going on, I will keep my eye out for students who may need a little more support, a little break, or who just don't like it. I get it. 

Tomorrow, we will get back into a routine, which will take a few days as the candy rush, exhaustion and fun take a toll. As teachers, we play so many roles. We are a source of stability and consistency. Today will be busy and hopefully fun. I know many teachers, including me, are hanging on until it's over. Happy Halloween.

Taking a Break

 This school year, it has been a goal to set and keep boundaries. As I have focused not only on my own mental health and maintaining boundaries, I have found that I have more time for myself and my family at home. I am more present. I am also sleeping better than I ever have.

When I first started teaching, I would bring work home and often do it early in the morning before my kids got up. It was hard to turn my mind off. I am dedicated to my teaching and want to do the best I can for my students. But at times there was a personal cost. I was getting burned out and really wasn't able to show up for the students like I wanted to. I am finding taking a break recharges me more than I realized. It allows me to be present with my students.

Not doing work over the weekend is hard and at times I feel like I may be unprepared, but it is also life-giving. I can start my week with a to do list, but I'm not stressed over if it will get done like I used to be. 

Taking time to get away from our house and visit people and places is another way that I am finding rest and fun. Last weekend our family visited NYC and this weekend we took a day trip to visit friends a few hours away. I am also reading and listening to podcasts about rest and building a life outside of work. I am a person who teaches and loves what I do, but I am a person first.

How do you take a break? I think this can apply to any profession. Taking a break bring a richness to our work that I cannot possess without the space. 

SEL Unit- Knowing yourself

 I just posted a new SEL unit on TPT and I'm so excited. This is a collection of lessons that I have put together based on the New York State Social Emotional Benchmarks. It is also the lessons that I see are most important for kids and even adults. This unit I use at the beginning of the year and I have several others I am developing/tweaking that will come next. 

From my own personal growth journey, I have learned a lot. Over the past 5 to 10 years I have done a lot of personal work, reading books, listening to podcasts, journaling and really discovering what makes me tick and how can I be healthy from the inside out. As I have gained new insight, I wished at times that I learned this crucial information much younger. While I can't go back and I also acknowledge the struggles have made me stronger, I can take my learning and pass it on. First I try to do this with my own children and then with my students.

There has been so much research on the importance of SEL. I see it and try to do my part for my students. This unit is a reflection of that. We have a different SEL program that we use as a district. 2nd Step is great, but there are times that I find some gaps or even looking at what foundational beliefs do kids need to have to build upon. This unit is a reflection of that. I have done each of these lessons with different ages and am refining them for my current class. If you are interested in this unit, check it out here on TPT. 

Checking In With Yourself

 As September winds down, it feels like we are into the rhythm of school and routine again. I have been reflecting on my fall so far and this school year has started very differently for me. In the classroom, it may look similar, but internally there is a change. 

I am noticing that as I have set up boundaries for myself, it is changing a lot. I used to struggle with insomnia and would wake up at 2:30 or 3:00 am and start working on lesson plans. I always felt busy and like I had a million things to do. Internally I felt frenetic. I now have more space to breath, to think about what I am doing, and to be more intentional about how I spend my time and effort. 

Deciding not to take work home with me has changed a lot. If I am not working on school at home, I don't have an urgency to get up and get things done. I am taking time to walk with my husband. I am reading. I am able to enjoy downtime. 

I used to fear that I would never get things done if I paused or took a break. The reality is I am more productive when I do work after taking a break. I still have To Do lists and I love my post-its, but I am finding that I am approaching the work differently, more calmly and intentionally. As I do that, there is peace. I can think more clearly.

September is always busy with adjusting to a new schedule, having school obligations for myself and my family, and getting back into the swing of routines. This September has been different and I like the difference. I am proud of the growth I have found and am committing to continuing to grow in this area.

How has your September gone? Do you need a rest for October or are you working to continue what you've started?

Tolerating Differences is a way to show Respect

 It's that time of the school year when we are settling into routines. The kids know what to do, we are finishing up beginning of the year benchmark testing, and small groups start this week. I love this time of year! Everything starts to click.

As my students are starting to get into working independently, I have noticed that they are starting to show some annoyance towards others who work differently than they do. Humming is distracting. Moving around is hard to take. Or even, how someone does their work is annoying. 

Each and every student is different, just like every human begin is different. They have their interests, their preferences and their own unique learning style. As a teacher, my goal is to discover each unique style and try to support my students. One area I am seeing a need is to tolerate different learning styles and even interests in the classroom. We are different and we want to honor that difference. This really is a form of respect. 

I developed a lesson to specifically address this issue in my classroom and support my students as we look at ways to respond to differences in a respectful way. If you are interested, check it out on TPT here.

I have an amazing class. They are great, really. I believe that children, and frankly many adults, need to be taught how to show respect. It is hard when others are different. It can be annoying. My lesson focuses specifically on different interests and independent learning styles because that is what my students need developmentally and what is relevant in my classroom right now. This is a smaller lesson that we will build on and refer back to throughout the year. 

Some life skills need to be drawn out and taught directly. Often with the age group I work with, they do not realize that they are being disrespectful. They also need to be shown coping strategies and given opportunities to practice using them. That will be our focus this week. Tolerating differences is so important in the classroom. We all deserve respect. 

How Are You Doing? Really?

 Last night was Open House at my school. It is a busy time where parents can get information about what we will be learning, sign up for conferences and kids can show their families around the classroom and the school. It is a whirlwind, but is a great time to see parents and connect briefly.

I had a great turnout last night. All of my students came with family. A few parents had other engagements so they sent another family member. This is great to see the commitment and I believe strongly in the home-school connection.

As I was chatting with a parent last night, he asked me how everything was going for his son. Then he asked, "How are you doing? Really?" This was such a thoughtful question and a question that I have never been asked by a parent before. I could honestly say I am doing great. I'm enjoying the kids and am falling in love with teaching again after a very trying year last year.

After the evening was over, that question really struck me. I reflected on how often teachers are not asked that question. There are many messages about self-care and checking in with yourself. Sometimes people do say it, "How are you doing?" "How is everything going?" "Do you need anything?" But, there is a marked difference in someone saying the words and someone truly wanting to know the answer. I could tell this parent was interested in how I was doing. That was really powerful.

How are you doing? Really? 

Making Adjustments Each Time

I am a seasoned teacher. I've been doing this for a while. Though I have taught the same curriculum for years, each time I teach a lesson, it is different. Even if I am using the exact same plan or the same materials. The reason I change things is that the students I have in front of me today are different than the students I had before. Each student, each class, has a different set of strengths, interests, needs and as educators we must adapt to them. 

Sometimes adaptations may be providing a rephrasing or additional support. Sometimes it looks like changing things by providing supportive lessons leading up to the lesson. It could also be adjusting the examples, groupings, or timing. The reality is the students I am teaching now are very different than the students I taught when I first started teaching. The world has changed, technology and access to technology is different. We must adjust or we won't be able to meet the needs of our students.

I know there are some teachers who have been doing the exact same thing for years upon years. While it may sound easy, it isn't effective. I have experienced this as a parent and know how frustrating it can be for students. We need to be reflective of what we are teaching, why we are teaching it and how we can make it most applicable for students. Do we need to completely overhaul everything we do? Sometimes yes, but in many cases no. We do need to approach our work with curiosity and a willingness to make adjustments. Not only is this part of learning for everyone, but also I believe it is a loving approach to our students. 

Social Emotional Learning

 SEL, or Social and emotional learning, is widely spoken about in education. CASEL defines it as “SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.” (https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/)

There are many SEL programs and initiatives in schools because it is so important. In fact, I think it might be the most important aspect of education and the greatest gift I can give my students. SEL transcends a program. I believe it is an approach and is infused in everything we do. How I respond to a student, providing feedback and coaching as they work through problems or interact with peers, what the environment feels like, and what is expected in the classroom are all aspects of SEL. 

These skills and strategies are both in the fabric of the classroom and also need to be explicitly taught. Everyone picks up on skills differently and each child comes with different background knowledge and experiences. Specific skills should be taught directly and then reinforced throughout the day and school year. Programs help give a framework of what is developmentally appropriate and what to teach students. I also think looking at the needs of your class and responding accordingly is crucial to be effective.

Last year, I really felt the effects of the pandemic with my class. They were in kindergarten in 2020 when we went remote and then in 1st grade they were in small cohorts that did not interact with other cohorts. Therefore some social skills and even knowing how to play with other children was lacking. I had to develop discussions, lessons and reinforce skills that I hadn’t in prior years. This was pretty intense last fall, but I saw significant growth in the class over time. 

I am passionate about SEL. Prior to the shutdown with the pandemic, I had been working with a friend to develop an after school SEL club. I also love learning more and trying new strategies with my students. One daily portion of our day is the Morning Meeting. We take about 10-15 minutes to sit on the carpet together to greet each other (every child’s name is said and has a chance to speak). We discuss whatever concept we are focusing on based on our school’s SEL program 2nd Step. I also like to incorporate movement and we have a poll of the day where kids get to share their preferences for the given questions. This time each morning is a way to connect and build community. It is also a time to discuss social skills or strategies. I have been consistently doing Morning Meeting for the last 2 years and have seen how important 10 minutes a day can be.

In addition to Morning Meeting, I also take time to explicitly teach SEL skills. These lessons I’ve developed based on what I’ve learned from my own mental health, self-care journey and what I have seen students need over my time teaching. 

SEL is not a phase. It’s not an initiative that will go away. As I said, I believe it is the most important aspect of education as we are truly teaching life skills. An added bonus is as we teach our own students these skills and apply them ourselves, it is a way to foster our own growth.

Sharing Positive Feedback

In education, it is very important to provide students with feedback. It helps students course correct. It guides and shapes learning. I would say, almost  all students I encounter respond very well to positive feedback. It can be difficult to receive correction, but hearing they are doing a great job or being praised for demonstrating what I am looking for is very motivating for students. Especially 2nd graders!

Let’s be honest, it’s very motivating for adults as well, and this isn’t just in education. Sometimes we are working hard, trying to do our very best, yet we wonder if it is enough. Or if anyone notices. I spend a lot of time and energy trying to build my students up and give positive feedback throughout the day, every day. I don’t often think about the impact of positive feedback on myself. 

Yet at the end of last week, I received a very positive message from a parent on Class Dojo. This is the communication platform I use to share news, pictures and message with parents and guardians. It was a quick note saying thank you. Yet this brief interaction was so encouraging to me. It was a great way to end my first week of school. It also was a reminder that I too can communicate to others when I notice them making an impact. I want to be more mindful of this and express my gratitude to coworkers, my children’s teachers, family and friends. It’s amazing the impact one small note or kind word can make.

All About Me Bags

Every school year, I love to get to know students using a little project called Me Bags. I used to use a box, but regardless, students are given the task of finding 6-8 items that tell about themselves. They fill the bag and we take time for each student to share more about what they like, who is important to them, and some of their favorite things.

On the first day of school, I share my bag. I tell about my family, I talk about my interests, and some of my favorite things. As we establish relationships, I feel it is important to model being open and sharing with my students. I have learned how much students enjoy learning about their teachers. My students know my favorite animal is the giraffe and I love the color turquoise. Little things shared can start to build connections.

As each student shares, we as a class get to know them a little bit. What is their favorite game? Who is in their family? I have had students in the past who struggled not to bring their entire collection of toys because they were so excited to share. That is why I give them a small bag. :) They can include pictures or small objects and they have to be selective. 

This is a great opportunity to not only get to know each other, but also to practice speaking clearly and being active listeners. After a student shares, there is an opportunity for classmates to ask questions about what was shared. This is always a learning experience as we practice the skill of asking questions versus making statements. For example, “I have that same toy.” can be adjusted to “Who gave you that toy?” or “Why is that your favorite toy?” It is a way that I also like to establish a community of respect as we listen and respond to each other. This is one of my favorite things to do at the beginning of the school year! If you are interested in doing this with your class, check out my product here at TPT. This is a great activity to do at any point, not just the beginning of the year. It can also be used with clubs or groups as a way to learn about each other. 

Building Relationships in the Classroom

As a brand new school year begins this week, I am reminded of the importance of building relationships in the classroom. It is the bedrock of a classroom and I cannot say enough about how important it is. I believe that students cannot learn until they feel safe.There are a variety of things that play into how someone feels safe. Some aspects, we as teachers cannot control. Yet, in our classrooms, we truly set the stage for this. We can open doors to build relationships and establish trust.

Building relationships takes time. I feel that as a new school year begins, it is so important to spend the time establishing the routines and getting to know each other. This investment of time and energy will be crucial throughout the school year. Relationships are also unique and reciprocal. No one student is exactly like another, so it takes time to get to know individuals and to learn about each student. One of the aspects of elementary education that I love the most is that I have my students with me all day, so I do have the opportunity to really get to know them.

It is important to establish a climate of respect and security at the beginning of the year in order for relationships to grow and flourish. This is modeled by the teacher and then is transferred to students. Each member of the classroom community is important and plays a role. 

Relationships, like plants, take time to grow and need to be nurtured. My desire as a teacher is to establish an environment where each student can grow and flourish. Having strong, supportive relationships with my students is the fertile soil that gives students the opportunity to learn and grow. This week, as I meet my students and we kick off another school year, my main focus is to create a welcoming, safe environment and begin to build relationships with each student.

Personal Commitments this School Year

 Self-Care for teachers is no joke. In my experience, it is extremely easy to get fully invested in teaching. Thoughts about school interrupt other parts of your life. It’s hard to set things down and come back to them the next day. We are dealing with children’s lives.

But, when we are always working, always planning, creating, thinking about our students, worrying about things related to work, it can steal our joy. The joy of living our lives and even the joy of teaching. When I first started teaching, I was all in. I woke up early to plan and create lessons. I did things on nights and weekends. I am still all in, but it looks different now. 

What I have learned is that finding balance with work makes me a better teacher, a better mom and wife and frankly a better human being. Taking care of myself, having time to rest, and having fun all allow me to be a richer human being. I have learned that I function better and probably my teaching is more effective.

Finding balance and setting boundaries is extremely difficult for me. I always want to say yes. I want to be part of solutions. BUT always saying yes has a cost. This school year, I have made some agreements with myself. I am committed to keeping them, so I put together a visual reminder that I will post in my classroom and keep in my planner. There are some things I am committing to do. I will show up for my students and I will do my job to the best of my ability. I will take care of myself and also schedule my work so I can use my time wisely. There are other things I am committing to that I will not do. For example, I will not do anyone else’s job. Sadly, I have been an over-functioner and have found myself doing things other people should. No longer. I will not pretend I am okay when I am not. I am committing to myself to keep these boundaries this school year. 

If you are interested in doing the same, check out My Personal Agreements on TPT for free. I shared my own and a few different blank templates. I found the most powerful aspect of these agreements was to begin with my purpose. What am I made to do and what is my overall goal? This came out of years of work and reading through. If you want to know more, check out his book. You don’t have to have a huge purpose statement or be 100% sure of what you want for the rest of your life. Deciding what your goal or purpose is for the school year is a great starting point. Then find things that will help you focus on that goal. Knowing for you what will help you be successful and what will take away from your goal is a great starting point. 

If you are a brand new teacher or brand new to setting boundaries, it can be a bit overwhelming. I’ve been teaching for 20 years and I continue to grow and learn about how to do this. Don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t successful right out of the gate. We are all works in progress. I know I sure struggled with this last year, which is why I’m making my commitments more visual for myself. I also will check in with myself around the new year and see if there is anything I need to adjust. What I will say is that you deserve to decide for yourself what is important for you. Everyone, not just teachers, can benefit from setting boundaries and making personal commitments. I’d love to know what some of your commitments are for this year.

Who am I?

Whether you stumbled upon this blog, found it through my social media, a link in TPT, or you know me, I wanted to take a few moments to introduce myself and explain a little bit about this blog and why I am doing this. I had a blog 10 years ago and I shared about teaching, raising my kids and some different ideas. A lot of life has happened since then and I decided to come back to blogging to share some ideas, some insights I have gained along the way, and to be a creative outlet for me to feed my soul as I battle against burnout.

I am a veteran teacher. I guess that makes me old. I’ve been teaching for 20 years. I started teaching because I had a passion for helping kids. Throughout my career, I have always loved what I do. The last few years have been a struggle and I have questioned if I want to stay in this profession. WIth a global pandemic and a lot of negativity thrown at schools, it can be a challenge. I’ve pursued some different interests throughout my career outside of teaching. These have been fun, a way to connect with others, and have built on different interests. But at the end of the day, I don’t want to leave teaching. It is my passion, my calling. I believe in education. I believe public education is an equity issue. I believe that teachers literally and figuratively save lives for countless children around the world.

There are so many aspects of education. There are many really creative, super cute teachers that are providing great content. TikTok and Reels of teachers can be hilarious, inspiring and super helpful in providing ideas to use in classrooms. I love learning more about teaching. As I shared, I’m kind of old, so the flashy social media posts are not really my thing. I’ve come to accept that I’m not going to be a social media influencer and that’s okay. 

What really interests me in education is Social-Emotional learning (true SEL, not just for initiatives), Teacher Self-Care, Organization, and creative, engaging lessons and activities for students. Over the last year, I began LETRS training and am fascinated at the Science of Reading. I’m blown away at how my students have responded to making changes in my reading instruction. I am very interested in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and am a student of that. I will not pretend I am an expert, though I think this is such an important aspect of education. My plan is to share ideas and resources for the topics listed above through this blog. 

I am a life-long learner and will continue to hone my craft, learn what current research finds, and try new strategies and approaches to meet the wide range of needs I see in my class. I love community and would appreciate it if you shared in the comments how you found me and if/how you are connected to education. Teaching is not for the faint of heart, but it does touch your heart in a deep and meaningful way. Thanks for joining me for my journey.

 

A while ago I had an idea to start a blog. It was brewing in my heart and mind, but I pushed it aside. I was busy. I didn’t know if it would be worthwhile for my time and effort and the people who may read it. I had an old blog in 2013. I didn’t do much with it. I thought about it again in 2018 and 2019. Now it is 2022 and I’m jumping in. 

So here is a starting point, a beginning. I am returning to a dream that has been planted in my heart awhile ago and I am finally doing something about it. Right now it is a seed. This dream, though not fully understood, has been growing within me recently. 

As it has started to grow, I feel compelled to share. Not because I am a great writer or because I have all of the answers. But maybe what I am learning may be able to help someone else. Maybe as I discover what I’m meant to do at this point in my life, someone else needs to hear the same thing. 

Also I want to record this process because I truly believe that what is growing can be something huge for me. Something to fill a white space I see. Something that can blend my passions and experiences to help others. 

Another reason frankly is for accountability. If I put it out there, I won’t give up on my dream, no matter what bumps in the road come. I have learned that if I share my ideas, struggles, desires with others openly, that I have a greater chance of sticking with it. If I tell a trusted friend about something I’m struggling with in my head, even just the act of giving it a voice and getting it out of my head, can be so helpful. Sometimes just verbalizing the lies that rattle around in my head, allows me to see more clearly. 

Over the last few years I have learned so much through my own personal growth and development journey. I truly feel like a different person than I was 10 years ago. Though deeply introverted, through the growth I have experienced, I know that in some ways it is my duty to share with others. If my own experiences can help someone else, then it is worth sharing. If I can help even one person, then it is worth it. I’ve also come to accept that I am a leader in different areas of my life.

I’ve also learned how important it is to be authentic. I am a recovering perfectionist and know how empty it can be to put on a good front but feel like you are dying on the inside. What I am drawn to more and more are people who just put it out there. I love real life Instagram posts where kids are running amok or dinner isn’t exactly as we planned, because that is real life. I used to say I am a hot mess, but am transforming that to say I am a beautiful mess. I am learning to embrace my mistakes and learn from them. I don’t have it all together all the time, and that’s OKAY. 

So here it goes. Jumping in. Not exactly sure how this will go. But ready to fail forward. Some themes I will be focusing on are teaching, social-emotional learning (SEL), and teacher self-care. My plan is to post 2 days a week. One post will focus on classroom related information and links to my TPT products. The other post will incorporate what I am learning or different ideas. 

I’m curious if anyone else has a dream or idea about something that seems to follow you. Is there something you want to try or do? I’d love to hear what it is for you.