Sometimes with all the chaos of a school year, we might forget to enjoy the little things. Seasons and holidays can be one of those things that bring you joy like pumpkin spice scented plug-ins or classroom Halloween decorations. Why not enjoy the season and grow your students, too? But Halloween excitement can challenge any…
It’s Not You, It’s Your School
When I began my career as a teacher I had 3 fantastic teachers as my teammates. They all grew their students like nobody’s business and excelled at their craft. Within three years, they had all left teaching. Allie, a seasoned veteran, retired at 40. Due to so much anxiety and overwhelm, she had severe health…
Do You Believe What I Believe?
Do you believe what I believe? Do you know your why for your life? For being in education? Your why is the foundation for the choices you make and it directs the path you follow. It’s why you do the things you do. Think about why you became a teacher. Was it to make a…
Top 5 Ways to Deal With Change
This past week our school’s fifth graders began their transition to sixth grade with a field trip to the local middle school. If you’ve been reading Being Teacher a while, you may remember that this time of year is bittersweet for me. I’m happy they’re growing. But I’m sad to see them leave. We all…
3 Things You Should Know About Neurodiversity
A few weeks ago our instructional coach played a video about a concept gaining in popularity—neurodiversity. Being the nerd that I am about the brain, my ears perked up. Neurodiversity is a concept where neurological differences—such as autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and sensory processing disorder—are seen (and valued) as part of normal human diversity. That normal…
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