It’s crazy to believe my teaching journey began almost nine years ago when I was a freshman at UND. Where has the time gone?! If you would have asked me in 2011 where I thought I would be in 2020, I never would have imagined being in the place I am now.
Although I know I still have a lot to learn, here are just a few things I have learned along the way.
Read MoreClassroom management is complex. There isn’t just one or two ways to manage a classroom. Each classroom, student, and subject requires different routines and procedures. Classroom management is the strategies and methods used within a classroom environment that contribute to student success.
A big question here is what do we define as student success? Success for one student might look like proficient grades and college-bound actions, whereas success for another student m
Read MoreHey Teacher,
Can I be real with you for a sec?
You might think that you'll never need an emergency substitute binder because you always plan ahead, but what about when there is an actual emergency?
Let me give you a few examples that have happened to either myself or coworkers over the past five years:
The garage door wouldn't open and their car was stuck inside
Hey Friends! 💜 Exciting news! 🎉
Each Tuesday I am going to be posting a teacher tip to help you stay organized, accountable, and maybe even teach you something new!
Today's teacher tip is simple and oh so effective! ✔️
Raise your hand if you have ever agreed to something or were told something and you said to yourself, "I don't need to put that on my calendar, I'll remember." ...Only to have forgotten and ended up having to scramble to fit it in or make it work? 🙋🏼♀️🙋🏼♀️🙋🏼♀️
Read MoreHey New Teacher!!
I am so happy that you are here! If you don’t already know it, this is truly one of the most exciting times in your life!!
During this season, you are more than likely wrapping up your time at college, saying goodbye to friends who have become more like family, and preparing yourself for an adv
Read MoreNorth Dakota hasn’t officially announced it yet, but I think we might be preparing to finish our school year out online. Of course, I have mixed emotions about this. I miss my students. I can’t imagine not getting a chance to say, “See ya later! You’re going to do awesome in 7th grade!” However, I also understand that our health and safety is our number one priority right now.
Read MoreI think we can all agree that our current situation is unconventional and if I am being honest, it makes me sad. I will be the first one to admit that throughout the school year I have thought to myself, “Gosh, if I could just have a break…” but now that I have had “a break” all I want to do is be in my classroom with my students, seeing their smiles and hearing their stories, yes even the ones that seem like they might possibly never end..
Read MoreA curriculum map is a visual breakdown of all of the lessons and standards that will be covered over a period of time. This period could be over an entire school year, a semester, or even over the quarter or trimester, depending on how long your classes last.
Read MoreHave students design a shirt that has something to do with 100. There are a lot of great ideas on Pinterest!
Have Students choose a movement and do it 100 times. Example, 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 jumping jacks.
Have students bring in 100 of something to compare the size and weight of each. Example: 100 paper clips vs 100 sheets of paper.
Read MoreIf you don’t already know, I have been struggling with painful cystic acne on my face, cheeks, and jawline for the past 11 years. I don’t know what causes severe cystic acne, but I have tried everything from using birth control for hormonal acne, antibiotics for cystic acne, steroids, and even Accutane for cystic acne. Although I found relief from each treatment for a while, each treatment just acted like a bandage. My acne would be cured for months or even years, but it always returned. I just couldn’t believe I still had cystic acne after using Accutane, but here we are! To start at the beginning of my story, you click here!
Read MoreHoliday Teacher Checklist:
You’re done with winter testing
Your students are crazy
You’re burnt out
You have a short week and you need to fill it with something fun and engaging
Look no further!
This Christmas Scavenger Hunt is based upon 3rd-5th grade standards, but can definitely be used to enrich younger students or reach struggling students. Personally, this was just right for my 6th graders and worked great for my 7th-grade inter..
Read More“As I am dermaplaning over the skin, I take a really good look at each area because I feel like the skin tells a story as far as what you’re using and how your skin is responding to that product. The health and the integrity of the skin is really important to see as you peel away the layers as well as how deep the damage is and how dried out and dehydrated your skin is. All of this can tell me how I can proceed to treat after the dermaplane.”
Opinion: I loved this part of the treatment and I wish I
Read MoreYou’ve heard of it, but you’re not quite sure what it is. You see people posting about it, but you’re not sure how it would work for you. That’s okay! We are all in this together. Today I am going to be sharing all about daily math talks. How to use them, your implementation plan, and how to make them effective.
Background knowledge: I have been teaching for five years now. I have taught 4th, 6th, and 7th-grade math, pre-algebra, geometry, consumer math, and a math intervention class. Of those seven classes, there is one thing they all have in common: Students…
Read MorePicture this: It’s August 16th, 2019. School is starting in five days which means I’m five days away from my fifth year in the classroom. My classroom design is as perfect as Pinterest perfect gets, everything is where it should be, my lesson plans are neatly written, and I’m excited to meet around 130 sixth graders who are about to become my entire world for the next nine months. Over the summer I had spent so much time reflecting, growing, and being stress-free (for the most part). I worked out, drank water, limited caffeine, ate…
Read MoreIf you’re anything like me, you’re ready to do something fun for Halloween, but you want to make sure to include movement, peer collaboration, a hands on portion, as well as a chance for students to do some mental math practice.
Read MoreWithin the past five years or so, pumpkin bread has became a halloween staple in my family. I can still remember the first time I made it. At the time, I didn’t have any intentions of making pumpkin bread, it was just another year of carving pumpkins. While carving my pumpkin, the thought came to me, “I bet canned pumpkin is made out of real pumpkins!” I know, it was a super deep, profound thought.
Anyway, the first recipe I tried turned out to be successf
Read MoreToday is the 13th day, or day 78, of the last 90 days of 2019. I started the Last 90 Days after being encouraged by a few friends who are also doing it. These friends have also read Rachel Hollis’ books, Girl, Wash Your Face and Girl, Stop Apologizing. The Premise of the Last 90 Days is that, “It takes 21 days to create a habit, or 90 days to change your life.”
The Last 90 Days is based upon the last 90 days of the current calendar year, with the goals of your last 90 days being: The Five to Thrive
1. Get up an hour earlier than you norma
Read MoreIf you have been tuning into my Instagram feed for the past few months or so, you might have noticed that on certain Monday’s I like to do a fun little thing called, Monday Math Deals!
On these random Monday’s I like to
Read More🍂 • H A P P Y • F A L L • Y A ‘ L L • 🍂
The weather is getting cooler, the leaves are starting to change colors, and the days are getting shorter. Most teachers and students have went back to school, watching football on the weekend is back in full swing, and fall activities are beginning.
As we kick off the fall season, that also means fall testing and fall break is coming. To help make things a bit easier
Read MoreDear First Year Teacher,
In the next few weeks you will be putting the finishing touch on your Pinterest Perfect classroom as you anxiously await Back to School Night or Meet the Teacher. Your emotions are probably all over the place as a million questions go through your head. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“Will they like me?”
“Am I ready?”
“What am I forgetting?” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀
After four years, here are my honest answers to those questions.
