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This is Part 2 of a three-part series on Teacher Fears, and in it we will explore what’s really ruminating in the hearts and minds of the people in this profession. This exploration will consider the things that teachers are often hesitant to discuss or write about for fear of ...

Teacher fears run well past first-day nerves. In one teacher’s informal social-media thread, respondents named job loss, contract non-renewal, abuse from students and parents, medical episodes without breaks, and a retirement they can’t afford. Those replies are an unrepresentative sample, not a survey. This is her account of them. This piece ...

Reframing negative language in the classroom means swapping phrases like "I can't do it" or "I don't want to" for growth-oriented ones like "I can't do it yet" or "I get to." The shift works with students and with parents in tough conferences. Four strategies do most of the work: ...

Can you just hear the crackle of the campfire and the crickets chirping?  How about the sweet taste of marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers?  The tent is set up in your favorite spot, right next to the tallest evergreen tree. You and the kids settle in to read a good book ...

Failure can teach leaders lessons that success doesn't, especially when they reflect on what happened. After losing a superintendent bid, I came away with seven lessons: flip your perspective, find the win, model failure for students, learn about yourself, set up your future, have hard conversations, and pay it forward. Failure ...

The causes of behavior problems in the classroom are usually multiple and overlapping. Learning differences, mental health, academic frustration, peer conflict, the classroom environment itself, and circumstances at home can all interact in one student. No teacher can address every factor, but clear routines and explicitly taught expectations help. I have ...

Working conditions, including workload, autonomy, administrative support, and pay, are among the factors research links to teacher turnover. About 8% of public-school teachers left teaching between the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years, according to NCES. Early-career teachers show relatively high turnover, particularly movement between schools. The fixes schools already know: ...

This picture is worth 1,000 words and it tells a story. A story of a child’s hard work with football…signing day! Our son recently signed a letter of intent to play football for University of Montana Western. There is a back story to this picture that I would like to ...

These 15 relatable teacher memes come from a K-6 principal's own staff room and hallway bulletin boards in Montana, not a random internet roundup. Each one is tied to a real classroom or leadership story, from growth mindset to burnout to why kindness gets taught every day. They're built to ...

Working with paraprofessionals in special education starts with clear, written role expectations, not assumptions. Set expectations early, communicate directly rather than through gossip, and remember that the classroom's final call is yours. A veteran special education teacher shares what she learned managing a team of aides across three different roles ...