20 Classic SYWTT Articles And Series

If this is your first time visiting this site, or even if you’ve been reading for a while, there are undoubtedly some articles that you’ve missed along the journey. As I have been working a lot on organizing the site lately, it has come to my attention that there are over 400 posts on the … Read more

If You Only Make One Change This School Year…RELAX!!!!!!

Nothing in the classroom is worth added stress in your life. Nothing. If you only make one change this school year…Relax! I know so many band directors (and other teachers as well, but mostly band directors) who get so incredibly worked up over their jobs that they lose their health, marriage, youthful physique, energy, or alienate … Read more

Overcoming Stress In A Stress-Filled Season

In this article, I’ll revisit 10 of my 25 Tips For Less Stress that I have found to be most helpful for me over the last two weeks or exponentially heightened stress. Christmas is coming, and with is seems to be incredible stress for a lot of people. Perhaps it’s because I am not married and … Read more

Less Stress: Drink Water

I used to drink sodas all the time. I drank Dr. Pepper numerous times daily while I was in junior high and high school. I “became smart” and started drinking Diet Coke when I got to college. Still, daily. I cut out caffeine from my diet last August but continued drinking Diet Sprite every day. … Read more

25 Tips For Less Stress

Download the entire series in e-book format here This school year has been remarkably stress-free for me. As a middle school band director working with the non-varsity group, this is unheard of. I have come up with a list of 25 things I have done that have helped to make this happen. During the month … Read more

Habit 4: Personal Habits

This is the fourth in a series of articles entitled 5 Habits of Highly Effective Teachers. What are some of the personal habits that are important to me? Personal Procedures What are some of the personal habits that are important to me? As I’m sitting here in the middle of the summer writing this, I … Read more

06-07: What Worked Well

As we begin the summer vacation, I am looking back on what went really well this year, what didn’t work so well, and what needs to change for next year. Below are some of the positives about this year: Having a plan before the year beganEven before the school year began, I had a pretty … Read more