December Contest [Enter by 12/21]! And, Meet Chloe the Velcro Gal!

I recently received these photos from our reader Chloe the Velcro Gal! She was not to be outdone by Keith the Rubberband Man! All teachers I meet are on a quest for an efficient tool to carry as they teach, monitor, grade, plan, call, meet and so on. . . They search...

Meet Keith: The Rubberband Man!

While it may not feel like it sometimes, each of us only has two hands, an occasional pocket, and maybe a lanyard to hang on to our keys, our lesson plans, our writing implements, our plans for prep periods, our attendance sheets, our demerit trackers, and all those...

It’s the Little Things: Together Trick #1

I try to spend a good chunk of time each month visiting schools and shadowing teachers, looking for the systems and tricks folks use to make their buildings more “Together.” This post will kick off a series of Together Tricks on the little things school communities...

Everyday Objects: Blue Tape For $3.87!

We teachers are always trying to make our classrooms more efficient—and less expensive! I recently visited several great schools in Brooklyn where I spotted multiple uses for blue painter’s masking tape. Check out the mileage you can get for just $3.87! You can… Mark...

Teacher Desk Survival Guide

Thanks so much, everyone, for your awesome entries in our Desk Survival Kit Contest! Our lucky winners (also announced in last week’s Newsletter) are. . . Arsheen M. from Michigan!  Arsheen is returning to her work as a first grade teacher after taking time off to...

FAQ: Hey, Do You Have a Pen I Could Borrow?

My first year of teaching, I had REALLY long (and admittedly, kind of messy) hair. At the end of the day, I would shake out my ponytail and occasionally find at least three pens hanging out up there. Next, I would empty the pockets of my oh-so-fashionable ankle length...