The Teacher's Lounge

There are things I learned in teacher training that I used constantly in my classroom. There are other things I'm sure were very important at the time that I honestly couldn't tell you anything about today. And then there is one piece of advice I heard years ago that has somehow stayed with me ever since: Have a phrase ready. I heard this during a training seminar held by my school district when I was a third grade teacher. The presenter was a seasoned principal who had bee

As the new school year gets closer, it's easy to get caught up in bulletin boards, colorful bins, and the never-ending list of supplies. Creating a welcoming classroom is important, but one of the most powerful classroom management tools isn't a behavior chart or a reward system. It's the environment you create before your students ever arrive. The best classroom management often feels invisible. Students know where to go, what to do, and what to expect. The room quietly s

Every summer, it starts again. Parents post photos of long school supply lists and wonder why they're expected to buy so much. Teachers share photos of shopping carts filled with classroom supplies they purchased with their own money because they know their students will need them. The comments quickly become divided. Some people say parents should simply provide what their children need. Others argue that teachers chose their profession and shouldn't complain about spending

The beginning of a new school year is exciting—but it can also be expensive. Between classroom decorations, organizational supplies, and learning materials, it's easy to feel like you need to spend hundreds of dollars before students even walk through the door. The good news? You don't need a picture-perfect classroom to create an amazing learning environment. Students remember how a classroom feels far more than how much money was spent decorating it. Here are some budget-fr

If you've been teaching for more than a few years, you've probably caught yourself saying something like, "Teaching wasn't like this when I started." You're right. Teaching has always been challenging, but the expectations placed on today's educators have changed dramatically over the past several decades. While teachers have always been expected to educate, encourage, and inspire, many now find themselves wearing more hats than ever before: counselor, technology specialist,

Every year, as the school year comes to an end, teachers hear the same comments: "Must be nice to have the whole summer off." "I wish I got three months of vacation." "Teachers only work nine months a year." While these statements are common, they don't reflect the reality of the teaching profession. The truth is that most teachers do not get an entire summer vacation. In fact, many teachers spend significant portions of their summer attending professional development, comple