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Start assigning them tomorrow. As a teacher, curriculum developer, and parent, I’m constantly...

Adapting to a New Group of Students Starting off the year is challenging in numerous ways, but for...

The question to kick off the small group conversation was simple enough: What successes have you...

We hope you’re looking forward to–or have already launched–a successful start of school.

Whether this is your first day in the classroom or you’ve experienced decades of “first days,” one thing is certain–you’re feeling a flood of thoughts and emotions. In the moments before the crowd of fresh faces clammers into your classroom for the first time, we want to know what’s top of mind.

I’ve obviously experienced the numerous ways that technology has changed the ways I communicate. As a marketing professional, I’ve read countless articles about it; as a teacher, I’ve seen the role technology plays in changing the classroom environment. But I never fully grasped just how technology has truly widened our networks and created new pathways for personal and professional growth, until over a couple drinks my friends’ stories sparked a connection in my brain. I realized that thanks to these new platforms and technologies, you can more easily open yourself up to opportunities to share with and hear from other teachers. No longer are those rich, thought-provoking, and mutually beneficial discussions limited to a college classroom (or particularly stimulating professional development course if you are so lucky). Now, whenever the thought arises you can prompt a discussion with a simple post.

Over the course of the past month, we ran a photo challenge in our Loyola community encouraging members to share images of what they’re thankful for this time of year. We put no parameters on it – we just created the opportunity and waited to see what returned. What we got back blew us away! Stories of sweet notes given by a student to her teacher; deep sibling connections that keep people going in their toughest moments; descriptions of the hardships of being so far from family; tributes to new-age families composed of the closest of friends. Each story was a unique window into who our community members truly are.

TeachersConnect is working with teachers on a user research project focusing on discovering what drives teachers in their daily lives and what challenges they experience in their professional careers. We have been performing this research primarily to inform our product development process—to ensure that we provide value and utility to teachers on a consistent basis.

I’m in the second or third year of my career (teaching grade 5 at this point) and we’re just kicking off a unit the teachers call “Puberty and Reproduction” and the kids call “Sex”. We begin with what I think is a very healthy–and clear–talk about expectations and ground rules: We’re all here to learn, no one’s talking about others’ bodies, we’re going to respect privacy, etc. We all sign a contract saying that we’re going to help each other live by these ground rules. I nod approvingly as the students add their names to the sacred document; I’m feeling like the Kid Whisperer.

TeachersConnect is working with teachers on a user research project focusing on discovering what drives teachers in their daily lives and what challenges they experience in their professional careers. We have been performing this research primarily to inform our product development process—to ensure that we provide value and utility to teachers on a consistent basis.

The first job young college graduates accept after college is a big deal. It’s an accomplishment and a first step along a prospective career path. Every year, over 300,000 graduates choose to become teachers and enter their classroom for the first time. Many of them may not yet know it, but those teachers have chosen one of the hardest jobs any twenty-something can get.

When completing my National Professional Qualification for Senior Leaders (NPQSL) year I had to really reflect on what it was like to be a senior leader, including how effective I was in managing my own time, stress and sanity! I learnt very quickly that it is rare to have clear sailing, but by sitting back and reflecting on the times that were more challenging, I was able to analyze myself and learn to take action before things got out of hand.

have looking at you? How can you lead them as best you can? It’s a lot of pressure. Although the students are your first concern, pressures from outside those four walls are on your mind, as well – paperwork, emails, parents, administration, coworkers… Everyone around us has ideas for how your classroom should be run. How can you insure your ideas don’t get lost in the mix?