The summer before my first year teaching I read everything I could about how to start the year strong. A lot of it was about being really strict at the beginning of the year to prove your authority. Some even mentioned not smiling until after winter break (I could never
It didn’t take long into my teaching career to realize that my students had no idea how to prepare for tests. While many schools are moving away from tests as a whole, I have still taught in multiple schools that give tests at the completion of each unit as a
I have fallen in love at first sight 4x in my life. Once when I met my husband, each time my children were born, and when I was first introduced to teaching with packets. Many moons ago I landed my first official teaching job, teaching biology (with a high-stakes state
I know everyone says this, but it truly feels like yesterday that I was a first-year teacher. I will never forget the feeling of walking into my first classroom the summer before school starting and taking a big deep breath, reveling in the fact that this space would soon be
When I think back to my own high school experience, I think of late nights. Getting home from a 3-hour dance class or play practice only to find me up well past midnight to finish all of my homework afterward. And most of the time – I was just doing
Not one time in my 4-year undergrad teaching program or my 2 years of graduate school did anyone ever teach me about parent communication. So naturally, I went into my first teaching job blindly unaware of how much of my job would be communicating with parents. I was 22 but
Hi, my name is Rebecca, and I am addicted to The Home Edit. If you spend more than 5 seconds with me, you will hear me talking about Joanna and Clea like they are my next-door neighbors. Why do I love them so much? Because they love systems and I
In honor of Teacher Appreciation week in May, I wanted to share with you a few secrets I’ve learned throughout my life from the best teachers I know – whether it be teachers I had as a student, or co-teachers I’ve worked alongside over the years. I am referring to
When I look back at all the resources, the programs, and the trainings that helped me in my years teaching full time with 5 preps, one of the biggest game-changers was having a high school T.A. Being a teacher is HARD, and many of us have very limited resources. But
If you have been around It’s Not Rocket ScienceⓇ long, then you have heard about the secondary classroom procedure I can’t live without. That’s right – BELL RINGERS – or what I like to call “Prime TimesⓇ” because the first five minutes are the most important part of your day.
I’ve never been a huge fan of group projects. When I got my first official teaching job, it was at a large public high school where I was one of FOUR biology teachers. I found out on my first day that admin expected us to do everything, and I mean
Not sure where to begin simplifying your teaching life? Start by reseting your classroom! Get the step-by-step checklist you need here!
