As you all know, I don’t often throw down and really recommend books and products unless I love them. And since I don’t accept advertising or sponsorships, I’ve got the privilege of being very picky about what I share with you, dear readers.* So I’m pretty psyched to...
Grading: Let’s Make It Faster, Stronger
Whatever your thoughts are on Kanye, the man writes a catchy lyric. . . Now that that don’t kill me, can only make me stronger… How dorky is it to admit that his rap makes me think of grading? Particularly for secondary teachers. . . Insert first round of report cards...
Substitutes — We Can’t Live Without ‘Em!
Know you’re going to be out for a fantastic PD? Coming down with a cold? Due for jury duty? Regardless of the reason, at some point during this school year, you are going to need a substitute teacher. We recently met with Danielle T., a permanent substitute at her...
Mailbag: No Paper? No Problem!
Hi Maia, Can you help me out? I’m looking for suggestions from teachers on how to create a classroom environment with less paper for elementary and middle school parents, students and teachers. How can we work with less paper, as our district that does not readily...
Put An End To Thinking
So, in the continued saga of Maia-running-this-business-while-trying-to-be-a-great-mom-friend-wife-and-colleague, I’m constantly trying to think of things I can do to make my life easier. With so much unexpected stuff coming my way every day (ummm. . . please refer...
When Pinkeye Strikes!
Hey friends! I’m back! I’ve missed you! And I promise germs don’t travel via Internet…right?!? While I was away, I enjoyed a disconnected vacation on a mountain in upstate New York. Then, I survived a...
Product Review: Hapara
We recently asked a few teachers to share they ways they deal with version control* issues and document sharing with students. Michelle K., in California, brought this great product to our attention: www.hapara.com. Here’s the official information: Hapara’s Teacher...
So You’re Becoming a Department Chair or Grade Level Lead? Start Now!
As the school year winds to a close, many of you have reached out for help preparing to be teacher leaders. We’re so glad to hear from you! There are many things you can do now and over the summer to make your future role much easier. We recently spoke to Julia K., an...
Outlook Tasks: A Teacher’s Best Friend
Today we have a guest post from one of my favorite Outlook gurus —Pam Bookbinder! You can read more about Pam at the end of the blog entry! _________________________________________________________________________ You know the saying, “diamonds are a girl’s best...
Set Up a Supply Station
A few months back, we showed off a Supply Station of commonly used medicines, cleaners, and important gizmos maintained by a school operations team. But what if your school is not so lucky to have such a team to swoop in to your rescue? What can you do to prevent...