A classroom door can do more than display student names, seasonal decorations, or a welcome sign. It can start conversations. It can help students learn about one another. It can give quieter students a way to participate without speaking in…
How to Build Independent Learners From Day One
Practical Classroom Routines That Build Confidence and Save Teachers Time How Do You Build Independent Learners From Day One? One of the best gifts you can give your students isn’t a beautifully decorated classroom or a perfectly organized lesson plan….
How to Survive the First Week of School: A New Teacher’s Guide
Let’s get one thing out of the way. The goal of your first week of school is not to prove you’re the best teacher in the building. It’s to build a classroom where students feel safe, routines begin to…
What Are Socratic Circles? A Simple Way to Teach Critical Thinking
A New Teacher’s Guide to Socratic Circles and Student-Led Discussions Have you ever finished teaching a lesson and wondered, Did my students really understand it, or were they just repeating what I said? That’s one reason I loved using…
New Teacher Back-to-School Checklist: Everything to Do Before Students Arrive
Everything to Do Before Students Arrive A practical first-year teacher checklist to help you start the school year with confidence. Walking into your classroom before the first day of school is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. After more…
What Every Lateral-Entry Teacher Needs to Know Before School Starts
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me You don’t have to be the best teacher in your building this year. You only need to become a better teacher than you were yesterday. Progress beats perfection every single time. If you’re…