In past years, I've ambitiously published a long list of summer learning opportunities for educators. (Last year, I never quite got anything published.)
This summer, I will start by focusing on the stories and articles I added to my Chrome reading list over the past year. In the rush of a school year, there are just too many that I never found the time to explore. Time to remedy that!
This summer, I will start by focusing on the stories and articles I added to my Chrome reading list over the past year. In the rush of a school year, there are just too many that I never found the time to explore. Time to remedy that!
To help me hold myself accountable, I will explore one or two articles each week and add any that I find valuable to this post. Stop by weekly or wait until the end of the summer to be part of my learning experience.
I hope you find something valuable as both a teacher and learner to share with your students and colleagues in the Fall. I'll also share a few quotes as a preview to each reading.
(This one is a blast from the past, but it is something that returned to my feed a few months ago. It is an excellent reflective post on why most teachers love their work. It also serves as a great reminder of how we can always grow as teachers and learners.)
I really appreciate teachers who are truly passionate about teaching. The teacher who wants to be an inspiration to others. The teacher who is happy with his/her job at all times. The teacher who every child in the school would love to have. The teacher kids remember for the rest of their lives. Are you that teacher? Read on and learn 11 effective habits of an effective teacher.
7. Is Open-Minded: As a teacher, there are going to be times where you will be observed formally or informally (that's also why you should give 100% at all times). You are constantly being evaluated and criticized by your boss, teachers, parents and even children. Instead of feeling bitter when somebody has something to say about your teaching, be open-minded when receiving constructive criticism and form a plan of action. Prove that you are the effective teacher that you want to be. Nobody is perfect and there is always room for improvement. Sometimes, others see what you fail to see.
10. Embraces Change: In life, things don't always go according to plan. This is particularly true when it comes to teaching. Be flexible and go with the flow when change occurs. An effective teacher does not complain about changes when a new principal arrives. They do not feel the need to mention how good they had it at their last school or with their last group of students compared to their current circumstances. Instead of stressing about change, embrace it with both hands and show that you are capable of hitting every curve ball that comes your way!
11. Creates Reflection: An effective teacher reflects on their teaching to evolve as a teacher. Think about what went well and what you would do differently next time. You need to remember that we all have "failed" lessons from time to time. Instead of looking at it as a failure, think about it as a lesson and learn from it. As teachers, your education and learning is ongoing. There is always more to learn and know about in order to strengthen your teaching skills. Keep reflecting on your work and educating yourself on what you find are your "weaknesses" as we all have them! The most important part is recognizing them and being able to work on them to improve your teaching skills.
(I work hard to provide a variety of engaging activities in my classroom each week. I don't have the resources to make every day a lab activity, and too many lectures/notes encourage too many students to check out. Over the last two years, I have been creating new interactive student-centered activities. I am always looking for new ideas, so I wish I'd explored this article sooner. Here are a few samples from my classroom. They are not perfect, but I am learning: Sample Interactive Activities with Google Resource.)
What if you could turn worksheets into engaging activities that truly grabbed and kept your students’ focus – without spending tons of time and effort creating them?Meaningful worksheets that help your students practice important skills can still be valuable. So don’t feel guilted into eliminating every single worksheet starting tomorrow. (My friend Jennifer Gonzalez does a great job explaining the difference between "busysheets" and "powersheets" here.)
(There is a lot to unpack in this article, but it has me thinking about how I can enhance engagement while slowing down the pace of my content. It's easier said than done, but I am on it.)
Story 1: Reigniting Passion for Teaching After a Difficult YearStudents seem more distracted than ever before. When given an assignment, they struggle to get started or to stick with it over time. Many of them lack the endurance to continue reading for longer than five minutes, even when they are reading for fun. As one teacher noted to me, “I can’t compete with twenty-second videos where you can swipe away if it doesn’t capture your interest in a nanosecond.”Deeper learning invites students to linger with ideas, make connections across disciplines, solve authentic problems, and wrestle with uncertainty. It requires focus, reflection, and creative risk-taking. And that doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when teachers build systems of depth with one small move at a time.
Deeper learning begins with a bold premise. Empower teachers to empower students. It recognizes that creative teachers don’t need an instruction manual so much as a set of tools.
(I know this one barely qualifies as being part of the year, but I like the positive spin it puts on getting ready for next year.)
On one hand, teaching is deeply meaningful work. On the other, it can drain your energy like nothing else. No matter how bright the good moments are, ending the year feeling inspired is tough.
Psychologist Dr. Rick Hanson says our brains are like velcro for negative experiences and like teflon for positive ones. A single negative interaction can stick with us far longer than a string of successes. That’s why we have to dwell on the good. Without intentional reflection, the hard parts of the year will drown out the bright spots.You may not be tired of teaching. You may just be tired of how you’ve been teaching. Trying something new can rekindle your energy.
Come back next week, and I'll hopefully have some more articles to explore. I hope you are having a great summer!
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