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If you've been teaching for any length of time, you know it's rarely one enormous classroom problem that wears you down. It's the little ones. "I'm stuck." "He's bothering me." "What are we supposed to be doing?" "Can I sharpen my pencil?" "She took my spot." "I'm done. What do I do now?" And, of course, the conversation happening at full volume while you're trying to explain what everyone should be doing next. None of these things seem like a big deal on its own. But mult

There are plenty of things teachers are expected to take seriously. Standards. Assessments. Lesson objectives. Student progress. Behavior. Schedules. Data. But does learning itself always have to feel serious? Probably not. In fact, there is a growing body of research suggesting that adding elements of play, games, challenges, and friendly competition to learning can do more than simply make class more enjoyable. When used thoughtfully, these strategies can support st

Every school year seems to begin with a familiar mix of excitement, nerves, freshly sharpened pencils, and opinions. Why is the school supply list so long? Why does school end before the workday does? Why are parents being asked to send tissues, markers, or headphones? Why did the district decide on so many days off for students? Some of those frustrations are understandable. Families are juggling work schedules, childcare, rising costs, transportation, and a hundred other t