Amy Cloer's Blog

Posted by Amy Cloer

Today, I was going to town. I was teaching; kids were listening; learning was happening. It was great! Then, the mouse popped out of its house. One student saw him first and, of course, announced it to the entire class. What ensued next was nothing like teaching, learning and listening. Instead, screaming, shrieking and leaping (onto desks) occurred. The mouse, sensing the chaos, decided to sprint across the floor directly into a group of giggly girls. The shrieks got louder. Boys began chasing the mouse and by some incredible stab of luck, one boy managed to throw a box over it. It was caught.

From atop my stool, I managed to issue orders: Go get the custodian! Notify the nurse! Call animal control. Don't touch it! Stop poking at its tail!

The phone rang. The sweet teacher from next door had heard the screaming and decided to check on our safety. I somehow leapt from the stool to the desktop to answer it. I convinced her to get the coach from next door to come remove the dangerous beast. He did. Still on my desk I said to the kids, "Okay! It's over! Everyone calm down!"

"Uh, Mrs. Cloer, you're the one on the desktop." A few giggles. Well, I was. I hate critters. I gave everyone antibacterial gel, and we continued the class.

All day, I heard the story from kids and teachers who weren't even there. Kids I don't even teacher grinned and made "eek, eek" sound at me in the hall. It was actually funny.

Sometimes things happen, and we don't know how to react. This was one of those times,and it worked out just fine. Don't sweat the unexpected. Enjoy the chance for your kids to discover that you are a real human being!

Posted by Amy Cloer

I got sick last week. It wasn't a serious illness, but a tummy bug and headache that left me weak, fuzzy-headed and grumpy. I considered staying home from school, but I suffered through Thursday and Friday and collapsed all weekend. Luckily, this doesn't happen to me much, but when I was a beginning teacher, I remember getting sick much more frequently.

New teachers are exposed to many, many more germs and viruses at school than they would have been exposed to before. Each child brings his own germs from home, compounding the number of "new" germs swirling around schools. Because the teacher may not have been exposed to these before, she is more likely to have few or no antibodies to them. As a result, scratchy throats, stomach bugs, and headaches are frequent.

Many times the new teacher will be tempted to take a sub day, but with very few absences available to new teachers, she may have to just stumble in. One thing that will help is a few pre-made activities that are not teacher focused. Kids can work on these while you concentrate on breathing. If you have to be out, the substitute can take over with these easy lessons.

In some systems, substitutes are hard to come by, and other teachers may have to cover for you. Generally they don't mind as long as there is a plan in place. However, if the teacher is stuck babysitting a class that may become rambunctious due to boredom, she will not be happy with you.

It is a good idea to also put a roll sheet, an explanation of duties, contact numbers for the office, and any other procedures the sub may have to carry out in your sub folder. That way, no matter what happens, the day will run smoothly.

There is no substitute for the teacher in the classroom. If you do get sick, a little planning ahead of time will make everything that much smoother in the long run.

Posted by Amy Cloer

Today is my birthday. My husband is throwing me a huge party. Of course, it wasn't his idea; it was mine. I started telling him about how he would be throwing this party three years ago. You see, I am one of those people that makes a big deal about birthdays. I announce my birthday a month earlier and remind anyone within earshot (this includes complete strangers) as many times as possible. Hearing "Happy Birthday" makes me happy.

Telling our students "Happy Birthday" makes them happy too. We all have access to our students' birthdays, so it is easy to simply note them on our class rosters. Chances are, most kids will begin announcing to you that their birthday is on the horizon at least a week ahead of time. I had one student who counted down every day until her birthday (December 20th) on the papers she turned in - beginning the first day of school! However, some kids aren't like I am. They don't want a big deal made in front of the class and would die if you made everybody sing to them. BUT, these kids do like it when people tell them "happy birthday" just like anyone else.

I tell each child "happy birthday." Usually, the quiet ones look amazed that I even know. Sometimes I write it on a paper I had back; sometimes I leave a post-it note on their desk. If I know the family well; I slip a card into their backpack.

I don't stop there, either. If I happen to find out that a special day is coming up for a child - this could be a bar mitzvah, the birth of a sibling, or even the anniversary of graduation from a rehab program - I give them a special recognition. One time a mother confided to me that a coming day was the first year anniversary of the death of her son's grandfather. They had been exceptionally close, and she had even given him permission to stay home from school that day,which he refused. I left a card on his desk saying that I was thinking about him and understood how hard these kinds of losses could be. After class, this 285 pound football linebacker gave me a big hug with tears in his eyes. He still comes to visit me.

Most of these gestures will not evoke such responses. They will, however, make you more human, more worthy of respect and effort, in the eyes of your students. They will work harder and behave better knowing that you took the time to reach out personally to them. It is definitely worth the research.

For all you reading this - "Happy Birthday!"

Posted by Amy Cloer

Even when I was a young teacher, I was shocked to discover how badly my body hurt and how exhausted I was after my first full week of teaching. My feet ached to the point that I begged my doctor for prescription medication. He laughed; apparently his wife was a teacher! My back hurt; my hips ached; my eyes burned; my throat was on fire; I feared a bladder infection from not being able to use the bathroom at will. Surely this will not happen every year, I thought.

Oh, I was wrong. It does happen every year. It begins about a week before school starts with the famous "school dreams." This leads to the panic-stricken feeling that "I am not ready!" Stress creeps in to invade the end of summer. School begins.

Suddenly, the formerly bare or flip-flopped feet are rebelling agains actual footware. The constant standing and pacing around the classroom rubbed blisters on my toes and heels.

I was used to longer hours of sleep, but now I was rising too early and staying up too late. Each year, I am fatigue, ache-ridden and grumpy.

Today I passed the door of a terrific, intelligent second year teacher at my school. She has all the makings of an organized, efficient and challenging teacher. This afternoon, at 5:30 pm when I left, she was still hunched over her desk, hair mussed and an expression of one who is completely overwhelmed. She will be fine.

My advice after years of pain is to, well, expect it. However, there are things that we teachers can do to help curb some of the problems.

First, forget the cutesy shoes. If your feet hurt, everything hurts.

Second, take your vitamins. You are going to be around a zillion new germs. Vitamins may help you stave off the tradition beginning of the school year cold.

Third, try to regulate your sleep cycle. When all is said and done, that last set of ungraded papers will be fine if it means you get enough sleep to feel human the next day.

Finally, go to the bathroom whenever you can. My mother always said, "Never pass a bathroom without using it." She was a teacher. Go, even if you don't have to.

Even though it can be physically painful, your body is resilient, and soon you will barely notice the early physical shocks. Just remember that you became a teacher because of the rewards, and sometimes rewards come with a little pain.

Posted by Amy Cloer

Our school football team won its first football game ever last Friday night. Of course, ever hasn't been all that long since it is only the school's second year in existence. You would have thought we won the Olympics, or the Super Bowl. The fans, ranging in age from infant to over 90, new teachers to retired teachers, family and friends, were all screaming so loud that only the sound of Mr. Thomas' voice in the tower could be heard, just barely, over the din. It was heartwarming.

I think sometimes we forget that school spirit is an important element for a school community. Test scores, homework, and science projects are all worthwhile, of course. But there is something about school spirit that really enlivens a community. The elementary, middle and high school all played a part in the celebration that followed. Children painted signs. Teachers congratulated the players. The world got a little brighter around our campus this week.

Today, it is difficult to get kids interested in school spirit. If your school is nationally known for football, as one of our nearby schools is, then it is easy to feel pride. Unfortunately, if you haven't won a game, that spirit is harder to find. Our school community (a campus with one elementary, one middle and one high school of about 4000 total students) found that spirit last week. It was infectious!

Our challenge is to get that spirit to stick around. We need spirit in the classroom, in the community, at the after-school jobs - everywhere. It is so much easier to let go of the spirit than it is to keep it. One grumpy day, one sour word and so much of the moment is lost. As teachers, we are the ultimate cheerleaders. New teachers may find it difficult to keep up the cheer amid the fatigue, hassles and paperwork, but it is vital to a community. This week proved it to me. I hope you get a chance to see it soon!

Posted by Amy Cloer

Even though I have been teaching for 17 years, I am constantly surprised by the things my students say. At the beginning of each year, I ask the kids to write three goals for themselves on one side of a notecard and three realistic expectations of me on the other side. I collect them and review them with the class.

I expected the usual responses from my seniors. They generally had the goals of getting into college, getting an high grade, receiving scholarships and the like. However, a large number of these kids had the simple goal of passing and an disproportionate asked me to please be available to tutor them after school.

I asked them why they felt so insecure about their senior year in my English class. Their answers surprised me. Many of them admitted that they had done a lot of coasting through their earlier grades. They had done just enough to get by and several noted that they were lucky enough to have easy teachers that handed out inflated grades. Some noted that their teacher had left in mid year, and the sub let them do whatever they wanted. One boy told the class that he had really enjoyed the easy ride, but he now realized that it may have caused him more harm than good. The class nodded in agreement.

After about fifteen minutes of this discussion, I asked them what was the worst part about their easy years or their lack of motivation. After a silence, one girl offered that she was sorry she hadn't learned more. "I only have one year left, and I should know so much more than I do."

I was grateful to discover what I had suspected all along - students, if given a choice, really want to learn. They won't admit that until they reach a certain level of maturity. My seniors were at that point that they realized most of their education was behind them. They were scared.

Of course, I assured them that I would do my best to prepare them for their post high school goals, which for some meant college and for others meant work. I also assured them that we would not be slacking either. We talked about ability versus motivation. I felt like this beginning was a real eye opener.

Students really do want to learn. We, as teachers, should let them!

Posted by Amy Cloer

This is a wonderful poem for teachers that one of the most amazing teachers I have ever known copied and distributed for our department the first year I began teaching. She retired soon after, but I think of her often. As the years have flown by, I read and reread this poem and find things to smile and nod at each time. The author is unknown and has been labeled as 'anonymous,' but if anybody happens to know who the author is, please let me know so I can attribute it correctly! This is one to keep! Please note that I have typed it exactly the way it was given to me.

HOW TO BE A TEACHER

Now...before you say anything, always say, "now"

Now...after you say anything, always say, "OK?"...OK?

Now...Wear dumb shoes

Spray the front row

Drive a car with four doors, and rust

Have a big bottom

Have droopy drawers

Wear fashions from 15 years ago

If you forget what those fashions look like

Go to the library and get 15 year old magazines

Look at what the people are wearing

Wear that

This is a good way to choose hairstyles too

If you need one

Now...Make dumb jokes, laugh at them, heh heh

If your students don't laugh, repeat the joke

Because they probably didn't get it the first time...OK?

Now...Make dumb jokes, laugh at them, heh heh

If your students don't laugh, repeat the joke

Because they probably didn't get it the first time...OK?

Remember that there are 3 things you can say

Whenever a student does anything...

1. "That's really good."
2. "That was a good try."
3. "That's . . . . . . interesting."

Learn one answer,

"I don't know. . . . .

What do you think?"

Lie awake in bed all Sunday night

Become the George Ballanchine of the classroom

Put dance steps on the floor

Draw them on the blackboard

Paste them to the ceiling

Hang them from the stars

Help each student find the step

That is just past their reach

Then get out of the way

Let them take the step

Watch them make the dance their own

Wait till they look up

Wait till they smile before you say,

"That's really good."

Remember what it was like

Before you were such a fancy dancer

As you are now

Show more than tell

Do more than show

Watch more than do

Listen, always, listen

Remember what it was like for you

Love your students

As you would have wanted someone

To love yourself . . . . . . . . . . OK?

Anonymous

Posted by Amy Cloer

At the risk of beating the proverbial dead horse, I feel compelled to once again make a desperate plug for ALL TEACHERS, no matter what subject or grade level, to please, please, please teach students the fundamentals of language use. OK, why do I choose this particular forum to do that? Because new teachers need to understand that no matter what the philosophically-oriented professors you had in your education courses at college said, teaching grammar, spelling, punctuation and all that good stuff is extremely important.

Elementary teachers can do their part by insisting on capital letters and end marks in the early grades and gradually adding a comma use here and there. Middle and secondary students need to take a hard line on errors in usage and punctuation. Why? Because we look completely foolish if we pump out graduates who cannot correctly use a comma. I know that theories about teaching spelling vacillate, but when did we decide that it wasn't important? Check out a few blogs anywhere on the internet to see what a problem this is.

We also need to dispense with the ridiculous idea that only English teachers are responsible for this type of education. Every teacher should make it a point to enforce good writing practices in students. If a science teacher claims that "punctuation doesn't matter," then his students will think that technically sound writing is only important to his English teacher. "I am not going to be an English major," he says, "so I don't have to worry with this." Some teachers of other disciplines may feel that their skills are rusty. Trust me as an English teacher myself (OK, so the bias is showing) - any English teacher will help you out by reviewing a rule with you or giving you a copy of a handbook. Hey, you probably have a dusty one at home from college!

Cheryl Pontius, a journalist, editor and professor of journalism reiterates the missive "You teachers in high school - please start making sure students learn grammar and basic writing. I usually spend half a semester teaching my beginning journalism students how to write correctly and spell!" Being good writers for all of life's writing situations (and they number far greater than the students think!) is the responsibility of all educators.

New teachers - do not accept poor writing. No matter what your subject or level, you can add to your students' writing repertoire. It helps everyone.

Posted by Amy Cloer

Believe it or not, there are three supreme rules for rules. These three items must be in your mind as you devise your other rules.

1. The first supreme rule is to never make a rule that violates any school or district policy. For example, most schools prohibit teachers from having students remain in a class if it keeps them from attending their next class. If you are unsure, ask your mentor or check you staff handbook.

2. The second supreme rule is to never make a rule that you cannot enforce easily and fairly in your classroom. For example, if you decide that a student must come to morning detention and he has no ride, you will not be able to enforce this rule.

3. The third supreme rule is this: You can always get a little easier on the kids as the semester or year wears on, but you can NEVER, NEVER get any stricter. Start harder than you want to end up.

The following or tips from veterans who have been doing this for many, many years.

Food and Drink

If the school gives this decision to the teacher, the best advice is to allow only water. Crumbs and sticky candy attracts bugs, rodents, and kids begging pieces of candy, gum or cookies from one another is incredibly distracting. Sodas spill and leave a dirty, sticky spot on the floor. Eating will undoubtedly cause the student to become thirsty, at which point he will attempt to convince you that he is dehydrating before your very eyes and must go to the drinking fountain. Some teachers reward students with food days (maybe a test day or a film day) for good behavior, scores, attendance etc. However, if your classroom becomes a cafeteria, you will become an exterminator and and develop a permanent bend in your back from picking up wrappers.

Bathroom/Water Fountain passes

Most teachers agree that bathroom passes should be limited. I give my students three per semester; some give up to six. I mark them on their participation card (a little bookkeeping system of mine) and when they are gone, they are gone. Of course, if somebody is turning green, I make an exception, but otherwise, it is a "no". Permanent bathroom passes provide students with an opportunity to meet with other students and waste time, even create mischief. Some teachers pay back bathroom visits minute for minute.

Disruptions

Classroom disruptions run the gamut from under-the-breath snarls to full-blown assault. Teachers vary widely on the first but tend to unanimously agree on the necessary action on the second - removal. If a student is verbally or physically assaulting another student, no matter the age, size or gender, he must be removed. If you do not feel comfortable doing it, enlist the help of your administration or security personnel. You want to send the immediate message that this will not be tolerated. For other types of disruptions, I usually issue a warning first, mark the participaton card second (there is a list of privileges associated with participation cards), and make a call home third. The greater the disruption is, the more likely I am to call home. Sometimes I do it from my classroom - usually only once.

Using Referral Slips

Many teachers, in my opinion, make the mistake of writing kids up for every little thing in an effort to appear to be a strict disciplinarian. This will work against you in two ways: first, it will make the kids feel like they can ever please you, so they quit trying; second, it will flood your administration with relatively insignificant issues which will lead them to view you as a poor classroom manager and to NOT take your more serious referrals seriously. It is better to handle the majority of your discipline issues yourself. If you make it clear that some things will provoke immediate removal (assault, swearing, cheating, etc.) and deal with the others yourself, you will be respected by both your students and the administration.

Good Luck! The years is just around the corner! Let me know if you have any rules that have worked well for you by starting a discussion on this topic!

Posted by Amy Cloer

I began teaching when I was twenty-one years old. One student in my student-teaching class was nearly nineteen. That is scary! The truth is, new teachers are young, and students of all ages are acting older and older.

Being the cool, hip, popular teacher is a throwback to the basic human need for companionship and acceptance. However, being cool, hip and popular, if you recall from your days of middle school, means following the crowd and following fads. Teachers are not followers. Teachers are leaders. Teachers are role models.

Therefore, teachers should not be buddies with their students. New teachers will find that students, especially the 10-15 year old students, will approach them in ways that are more suitable for friends. Personal and probing questions, use of inappropriate language or references, and mildly inappropriate touching (like a hand on the arm or a hand on the back) are all tests that kids this age use to see if you are a potential "friend" teacher. If you pass their test by answering the quetions, laughing at the jokes, accepting the language, or not responding to the touches, you are really failing in your role as a new teacher and role model.

Students don't need any 22 year-old or older friends. I am fairly sure that you don't need any friends under the age of 18. Students want you to be their teacher. Friendly is fine; friend is not.

Posted by Amy Cloer

There I was,sitting at the eternally long light at the corner of Hwy. 74 and Hwy.51 when a sudden teaching inspiration hit me. No, I can't remember what it was because I didn't write it down, and I am at that age where if it doesn't get written down, it doesn't happen. After several times of this happening, I decided to get a teeny notebook to put in my car. My husband laughed. You won't write in that! HA HA HA. Well, just to prove him wrong, I did. I started writing all of my traffic light inspirations about school, current events, everything. It was very random, completely unorganized, but do you know what? I have several good ideas for school next fall. One is about the number of people who travel alone. We are a very singular society. On person per car is the standard. What a great essay starter! What a great environmental discussion! What a good psychology analysis! Any thouoght is worth recording. Buy a pad of paper and record yours. Then, in August, or if your are very lucky, in September, look at your thoughts. Your teaching will benefit from this $3.00 purchase.

Posted by Amy Cloer

As a new teacher starting out in the teachng world, my first two jobs were at schools in which the faculty was primarily composed of older teachers. I felt out of place among this age group, all of whom had decades of experiences. As an experienced teacher now, I can tell you that having teacher pals is vital to feeling validated in the profession and for your emotional psyche as well.

Teachers are everywhere. I found two teacher pals at a sports organization where I signed up to play softball. If you are into sports, sign up for a league. Teachers love activity. I run into teachers all the time at bookstores. When I go to the large retail chain to browse or to the local used bookstore to find a treasure or two, I always find a teacher to talk with. One of my best teacher pals resulted from a chance encounter at a bookstore.

Of course, don't give up your old friends! They have been with you through thick and thin. However, they will tire of hearing the 90th story of your weirdo assistant principal, and they will never understand why you put up with nasty parent calls or the ridiculously low salaries. For that, you need your teacher pals!

Posted by Amy Cloer

I love reading, and I love teaching. Lately, it seems that I have been doing more teaching than reading. All teachers, new and not-so-new, need a break to catch up on some fun books for summer. As I was attending my niece's college graduation, I realized exactly what I needed to get her for her classroom. Oh yeah, she is going to be a teacher, like her favorite aunt! She will be receiving her very own copy of Up the Down Staircase by Bel Kaufman from her Aunt Amy. Published in 1965, it is truly required summer reading for all new teachers and any teacher who has somehow missed this classic. Who can forget the hysterical tale of Sylvia Barrett as she navigates her first year teaching? Remembering her unconcerned principal retort "Let it be a challenge for you," makes me smile as I realize I have exhausted my allocation of copy paper in November. So, read the book and let me know what you think. And no, the movie does not count!

Posted by Amy Cloer

Today I am recovering from dodgeball match. Yes, at age thirty-something, (late thirty something), this English teacher participated in an extracurricular activity initially meant for only the most athletic of students. I played dodgeball. Of course, I was over-confident. My team of teachers was certain that we would be able to catch a throw a ball with the best of them. We were certain that students would hesitate to bean their teachers, their dispensers of wit and wisdom, with a ball. However, our cadre of six teachers turned into five then to four. A teammate and I had to fill in the ranks with our own sons, one in the 5th and one in the 7th grade. Our opponents made it clear whom they considered a threat - the boys. They hung in there. We did not fare so well. I was hit in the face (it didn't count), in the chest and in the leg within a span of a few seconds. Oddly, we didn't win, but we had a bunch of fun, and the kids thought it was a hoot that we even tried. I will definitely play again, but this time I am going to recruit the pregnant woman on our hall. She has a built in shield, and nobody would hit a pregnant teacher...would they?

If you want to find out how you can get smacked in the face with a ball thrown by a loving student, check out my newest article New Teacher Extracurriculars

Posted by Amy Cloer

I am no stranger to work. I have always had a second job, and a third, and a fourth.... In junior high and high school, I babysat, worked at a car wash, and umpired six-year-old boys' baseball games. Then, I worked three jobs all the way through college - at a daycare in the mornings before class, at the campus newspaper two nights a week, and at a shoe store on weekends. I liked being economically self-sufficient.

When I realized that teaching was my calling, I began to search for sensible ways to make a few extra bucks while still being able to spend time with my two kids, my husband and at least two of my favorite TV shows. I think I hit on a couple of good ones.

Online SAT grading. If you have taught for three years, you can apply to be an SAT on line grader. Go to the College Board website and follow the links. The pay is about $15 an hour, and I grade from home whenever I want. Freelance writing. When I have the time, I take on freelance writing projects. These companies need writers to ghost write articles, write keyword content articles, and many other types of things. You can also freelance art, if you are talented like that. I am not. Online Auction Sales. Occasionally, when my teenage daughter and preteen son tire of their trendy shirts or outgrow their jeans, I take a quick picture of them and list them on eBay. You would be surprised who will buy these things. Sometimes people who live in rural areas or are stationed overseas are ecstatic to have a chance to buy American brand name clothes.

You can find ways to make a few extra bucks at a second job that won't interfere with your teaching. For more ideas, please read my article Second Jobs for New Teachers

Posted by Amy Cloer

When I was growing up, my favorite story was "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." It made me smile to know that other kids had bad days too. Last week, I had a BAD week. It was the week after spring break (BAD). My son was diagnosed with a disturbing psychological condition (VERY BAD), and I began to doubt my skills as a mother, teacher and overall human being (VERY, VERY BAD). However, school doesn't close just because we are not feeling our very best. New teachers, you all need to know that having a bad day doesn't need to translate into school disasters. Read my article to find out what you can do in class when you have your terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. After all, it takes a while to save up those sick days!

You will find some great Bad Day ideas in my new article,

Bad Days How to Deal.

Posted by Amy Cloer

Spring break is as much a joy to new teachers as it is to kids. Relaxation is great to restore our soul, but it also opens our minds to new, innovative lesson plan ideas.

I am sitting here at the dining table of my spring break villa. My six, yes half a dozen, teenage girls (well, I only gave birth to one of them, but I am acting "en loco parentis" for the other five) are wearing tiny bikinis at the beach. Oddly, not one of them brought their bookbags.

My twelve-year-old son is playing video games. I almost never see his bookbag; I am not sure what color it is. And I am working. But it doesn't feel like work. I am exploring new websites, places I don't have time for during the week. I am thinking of cool, new lesson plans, thoughts I have to push back for more important things like parent-teacher conference and staff meetings and paperwork.

I feel like maybe I will come home with a new idea to teach my 9th graders literary terms instead of just a sunburn. One thing we know as teachers is that we can never turn off our teacher brain. Sometimes, though, giving it a new environment can open new doors to what might be a pretty predictable rut this time of year. My charge to you, is think of one new plan this break - and don't forget to share it with us!

Here is a great lesson plan to use when you get back from Spring Break on Phoetry! Read it to see what that really is!

Posted by Amy Cloer

Teachers need ideas to deal with the downhill run to the end of the year. What do you do after testing? How can you keep your sanity?

As any veteran teacher will tell you, certain times of the school year present unique challenges. The beginning of the year is nerve-racking for everyone and downright terrifying for the new teacher. Then, just as you're getting in the groove, the Halloween/Thanksgiving/Winter Holiday season arrives. Non-stop candy, excitement and activity can stall you in your tracks. Perhaps you revive after the holiday and get down to business again, only to hit that long, dry spell before spring break. Then, after break, a few, maybe four, weeks until testing. In most states testing begins in early May and usually wraps up within a week or two. In some high schools, AP tests can be in early May and state tests a few weeks later.

What do you do after those tests? Some ideas may be to pull together a more "fun" unit that excites you. Maybe some film reviews, a poetry contest, a re-enactment of a historical scene, a cool science experiment that maybe didn't quite fit into testing can work now. Take the kiddos outside and have them write Walden-esque journals. Step outside your usual self and see what happens! If you have any great ideas -let me know, and I'll publish them here! Great job! You are almost there!

Posted by Amy Cloer

As we get started, I am really interested in what you new teachers most need. We veterans really want to help you out, so just ASK!