Today we are focusing on getting our students to love learning and science in a time of year where they just want to play and open presents! In this engaging activity, they can feel like they are playing, opening presents, and learning all about solids, liquids, and gases.

Happy Thanksgiving from One Tired Teacher!

Celebrating one year of One Tired Teacher.

Fall is in the air! Well, actually not here in Florida. Fall doesn't come until the end of December. LOL

So here we are for fall. And this week I am trying to give you some Thanksgiving ideas well in advance. So I hope you will join me.

Gratitude is a practice. It results in positive thinking. In a difficult time and world, the one true factor that can make the most impact is exercising gratitude. It is complex, yet very simple. The cause of resentment and poor behavior is a direct result of feeling undervalued, not worthy, not heard, and not cared about. When we focus on the things in which we do value and are the most grateful for, we can change resentment into gratitude and love. Recognizing and expressing gratitude towards children can change everything. Expressing gratitude is a simple answer to a complex problem. We need to stop thinking about gratitude as emotion and begin to live it as an action. Living your life as an expression of gratitude is the greatest give you can give a child and yourself.

Halloween is one of the major celebrations that kids love! I mean what kid doesn’t love candy and to dress up as their favorite character or person?!

It’s that time of year! Time for spooky and silly, candy and dressing up. Halloween can be super fun in the elementary classroom or it can be a hot mess. Either way, here are some great books and Makerspace Moments in Literature to get your spook on!

Being a teacher can be so difficult, especially when it comes to behavior problems. Kids throwing tables and chairs and acting aggressively have increased significantly in the past five years. Sadly, we are seeing a dramatic increase in younger children who exhibit these behaviors, as well.

So what is a teacher to do? That is the question. How can teachers teach when they are continually being interrupted by one behavior issue after another?

What is a soft opener? A soft opener is an easy transition into the school day. This unique start to the day allows kids to come in and make some choices about how they want to start their school day. The choices range from reading to drawing, to STEM activities, and more. Talk about an eliminator of behavior issues!

On today’s show, I have expert ESE resource teacher, Nichole Maas talking all about behavior and how to proactively manage the classroom and provide tools for ALL children to learn and co-exist. Nichole is a wealth of information and has the most incredible heart for children. I hope you will join us as we talk about behavior, classroom management, building rapport, and helping children find their best selves.

Mary Anne and I spoke several months ago about a very important topic- social-emotional learning. Our conversation was very special to me, as Mary Anne shares her raw uncensored responses to teaching, learning, and her very first steps into the world of being a teacherpreneur.

This week we are continuing the conversation on classroom management with a focus on proactively building rapport. In the next few weeks we will cover classroom management, behavior management, and discipline. We will cover it all!

This week we are jumping into classroom management, building rapport, behavior management, and discipline. We will cover it all!

Now if getting ready for school was really as easy as listening to 5 podcasts life as an educator would be so much better! Let's get real. You and I both know it isn't. We know that it takes more than the time given us to get everything all set. Most teachers I know have to go back weeks before school actually begins. It's a lot to ask, and we are often not thanked for doing it. So I want to say on behalf of children across the world- THANK YOU! Thank you for your continued dedication and commitment to excellence. Even if you do it to save your own sanity, THANK YOU! You continue to make a difference in the lives of others.

Today we will be talking about all things organization. This topic can be pretty tricky for those of us who are not necessarily gifted in this area. {I do like to keep the following quote in mind when my space gets less than tidy. LOL}

Classroom set up requires a great deal of intentional thinking. Where is your furniture? Can you get around quickly? Do you offer an alternative seating option? Do you have a cool down spot? Remember that proximity is the key.

Procedures and routines are such a vital part of a well-run classroom. Without them, everything falls apart. For real! Every time I have ever disliked a time in my school day it has all come down to what procedure I had in place during that time. Systems really are that crucial.

Today we talk all about getting into the right mindset for back-to-school. When we know that what we do has a purpose, we have to find ways to motivate and inspire ourselves to do the job well.

Getting your classroom ready for back-to-school can often feel like a daunting and overwhelming task. I mean you have back-to-school decor and decorations to figure out, open house, beginning of the year essentials and back-to-school printables to prepare and copy. The list could go on and on! But you get my point.

How do teachers know when it is time to walk away from teaching? As education changes and teachers are asked to do more with less, educators can find themselves questing the very profession in which they have dedicated their lives. It can be a tough decision whether to stay or to go.