Tips For Teachers


Teaching is indeed one of the most challenging professions of our time. It makes you an angel, you know! If you feel overwhelmed or need a reflective partner, I’m here to talk to. I’ve taught for 20 years, and I know how the pressures of No Child Left Behind have changed the environment of teaching. I’ve rarely met a teacher to whom teaching was a job, not a calling. We come to teaching because we want to make a difference, and the best way to help the world is to teach young people—they are the future.

I have many helpful tips on the website that you can draw upon if you need ideas or problems solved.

I’m sure you’ve heard this before: In order to care of others, you need to make sure you are taking care of yourself. I know! I was a mom of 4 while I was teaching and administering a school.


Some things you can do to take care of yourself are:



Feeling appreciated is really important for some, if not all of us. I realized when I felt valued and appreciated, I could go above and beyond to meet the needs of the school and my students. Therefore, you may need to advocate for yourself, if you find yourself feeling down. Depending on your school culture, that can be risky business. If your school principal has developed a culture of caring and honesty, then you should be able to share how you’re feeling. Letting people know what you need makes it possible to get it.

In this culture of change that we find ourselves in, principals are expected to understand the change process and be able to facilitate all the new expectations with a degree of sensitivity. Yes, we must meet the growing needs of our students. And…we must do it in ways that bring systemic change. One of the main principles of change is that it takes time. Collaboration with other teachers, meaningful professional development, time to align standards and review student assessment data to inform instruction are all essential for growing a culture that will make a difference for kids.

My biggest concern in education today—although I have many—is that teachers are overwhelmed by the increasing number of expectations that continue to be added to their plate. There is only so much time in the day. Honestly, as teachers we bring much with us, from our childhood even, that forms our approach to teaching. It is impossible to teach two paradigms, if you know what I mean. Principals should be giving you time to sort out and redesign how you do business in the classroom, focused on what works.

Many teachers are leaving the profession. Scripted curriculum and planning and pacing guides can take the joy out of teaching. We often don’t feel trusted as professionals to make good decisions about curriculum and instruction of our students. I believe that districts and principals who provide good professional development can positively affect what happens in the classroom without micro-managing teachers and taking away their power.

If you teach children who are predominantly from low socio-economic status (SES)homes, you find many challenges. Ask your principal for professional development in the things that research says will raise student achievement for kids in poverty. This includes learning how to provide a culturally responsive classroom. Most of us were raised in middle class homes. This difference between your experience and that of your students may very possibly be the barrier that is not allowing your students to connect to the learning. You will need to understand your background and beliefs, then study cultural responsive classrooms to make the essential shifts. Your heart is in the right place, but if you haven’t done this work, it is difficult to create a positive learning culture for low SES and ethnically diverse students.

If you teach in any setting, are you finding that the curriculum choices for your students are being narrowed? More time is required in literacy and math at the expense of social studies and science. This is so sad to me. I think it is one reason teachers are losing interest in teaching. Without time to teach those really special units in social studies and science, some of the joy goes out of teaching and learning. They say that it takes a master teacher to integrate standards like literacy and math into social studies and science lessons. There are helpful papers on the website that can help you think through this alignment. I say, you can do it, if given time to plan and prepare. An integrated approach to teaching and learning makes sense!

RTI is a new requirement in many schools. Does it feel like just something more on your plate? I’m sorry if you feel that way. With everything else, it is no wonder! However, step back and think about what you’ve done in the past. RTI is just the right thing to do for kids. The great thing about it though is that you are no longer alone—you share the responsibility of this child’s success. The team includes parents, teachers, an administrator, and specialists you deem appropriate. Parents know their child best and can be a great part of the team. Plus, they will be expected to do their part at home, so don’t forget to add them to the plan. The team problem-solves, coming up with accommodations and a plan for support. This approach is well worth the time you will spend! And oh…the rewards will generally be great! Remember to look at the strengths of the child first! This sets the tone for a fabulous, insightful meeting and allows parents to be more open to addressing the problems.

See the white papers on many educational issues that affect you and your students. There will be many more as time goes on, so enjoy!


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