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Guides to better classroom management, teacher tips, and inspirational quotes that teachers can use and identify with.

How to Stop Being Lazy and Get More Done: 5 Expert Tips. Before we commence with the festivities, I wanted to thank everyone for helping my first book become a Wall Street Journal bestseller. To check it out, click here. Some days the to-do list seems bottomless.

Just looking at it is exhausting. We all want to know how to stop being lazy and get more done. So I decided to call a friend who manages to do this — and more. Cal Newport impresses the heck out of me. He has a full-time job as a professor at Georgetown University, teaching classes and meeting with students.He writes 6 (or more) peer-reviewed academic journal papers per year.He’s the author of 4 books including the wonderful “So Good They Can’t Ignore You.” And yet he finishes work at 5:30PM every day and rarely works weekends.

No, he does not have superpowers or a staff of 15. Below you’ll get Cal’s secrets on how you can better manage your time, stop being lazy, get more done — and be finished by 5:30. 1) To-Do Lists Are Evil. To-do lists by themselves are useless. Here’s Cal: Sum Up. 5 Powerful Ways to Save Time as a Teacher. Lack of time is a huge problem for teachers everywhere. There’s just never enough time for teachers to do their work well AND have a healthy, balanced life outside the classroom. For as long as I have been working to serve teachers and help you do your work better, time was always the one problem I couldn’t solve. I could share powerful teaching strategies, classroom management tips, game-changing tech tools, but when it came to really nailing the time shortage, I came up empty-handed. Until now. Now there is something that I truly believe is going to change teachers’ lives and give you back the time you so sorely need.

It’s called the 40-Hour Teacher Workweek Club, developed by my friend, Angela Watson, an outstanding education blogger and consultant who can be found at The Cornerstone for Teachers. These tips are Angela Watson’s “Big Five,” the principles for teacher productivity that form club members’ foundation for the rest of the year. 2) Figure out The Main Thing and do it first. Student Letters Deliver Heightened Engagement. Before each school year begins, I indulge in a back-to-school teacher movie marathon for motivation.

One of my favorites is Freedom Writers, a film based on the real life of Erin Gruwell and her incredible work with teens and writing. While planning for this academic year, my mind kept drifting to the scene in Freedom Writers when Ms. Gruwell sits at her desk on Parent Night. Once she realizes that the parents aren't going to attend, she decides to read her students’ recently turned in journals full of free writes. "We Have to Do This Each Week? " As many teachers do, I keep a notebook where I jot beginnings of ideas for lessons or notes regarding grading and miscellaneous teaching tasks. Lightning struck. They would tell me about their week. To start, I required 7-10 complete sentences.

You've Got Mail Friday arrived. I opened the first letter. Two-Way Communication These letters are also a beautiful reminder of how much our students attempt to balance in their daily lives. The Power of the Morning Meeting: 5 Steps Toward Changing Your Classroom and School Culture. "The whole morning meeting not only sets a really good tone for the students, but it sets a tone for me. " - Teacher in Louisville, Kentucky When I first learned about the Morning Meeting model, I was working as an elementary school principal in Pasadena, California. I was new to that school, so I was skeptical about launching too many initiatives, but also curious about how it could work to transform my school and the lives of our students. The Morning Meeting was first proposed to me by a new teacher who had studied it in her pre-service classes.

She explained that the model was designed to: Set the tone for respectful learningEstablish a climate of trustMotivate students to feel significantCreate empathy and encourage collaborationSupport social, emotional and academic learning She had me at "respectful learning! " You see, I'd come to a school that was in a bit of trouble. Having been able to observe this school pre- and post-Morning Meeting, I can tell you that it was transformational. 26 Impulses that Sustain Engagement Infographic. Other Infographics 26 Impulses that Sustain Engagement Infographic Why do Human Beings Engage?

26 Impulses that Sustain Engagement Infographic What does real and authentic engagement look like- for students and adults? There are many factors that motivate engagement. Following are 26 instincts that motivate a commitment of time and energy: Compliance.A sense of duty or obligation; assignments that contribute to a goal; assignments from an assignor that counts (as a result of affection or consequence). Via: gettingsmart.com Embed This Education Infographic on your Site or Blog! 15 Books That Will Make You A Better Teacher. 100 Excellent Art Therapy Exercises for Your Mind, Body, and Soul. January 9th, 2011 Pablo Picasso once said, "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

" It's no surprise, then, that many people around the world use art as a means to deal with stress, trauma and unhappiness – or to just find greater peace and meaning in their lives. If you're curious about what art therapy has to offer, you can try out some of these great solo exercises at home to help nurse your mind, body and soul back to health. If you like the experience, you can also seek out professional art therapy treatment in your area. Emotions Deal with emotions like anger and sadness through these helpful exercises.

Draw or paint your emotions. Relaxation Art therapy can be a great way to relax. Paint to music. Happiness Art can not only help you deal with the bad stuff, but also help you appreciate and focus on the good. Draw your vision of a perfect day. Portraits Often, a great way to get to know yourself and your relationships with others is through portraits. Collaging Self. 10 Motivational Posters for Your Classroom | Edutopia. Posted 08/31/2015 1:01PM | Last Commented 08/07/2016 8:35AM WARNING: These posters are guaranteed to brighten up your classroom & inspire minds of all ages. Enjoy! 1. Frame for your desk as a daily reminder that you don't need a cape to be a hero. Download. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 10 Not So Obvious Quotes for Teachers - A Teachable Teacher. Let’s face it…teachers need inspiration! With the craziness that is back-to-school, I thought I would share some not-so-obvious quotes for teachers.

Why the not-so-obvious ones? Because they are the ones you haven’t seen a million times on Pinterest and therefore they can truly “inspire” you. Enjoy! Is a student acting out of character? My mom is probably cheering right now. Do you set high expectations for your students? There are so many things we are told to do and sometimes it seems overwhelming. Can you say “first year teaching”?!? Other teachers, students, parents, staff, etc. We learn from others and our experience…but we work hard now because we are teaching the future! As teachers we don’t always get a pinterest-perfect set up.

The kids are always watching! I saved the best for last…EVERY TEACHER NEEDS TO READ THIS!! I hope you feel inspired and refreshed! Do you have any quotes that inspire you? Really Good Stuff - Teacher Supplies for Today's Classroom.