10 Lessons I Have learned In 10 Years of Teaching Inspiration by Joel Wagner - June 6, 2012July 25, 20165 At the conclusion of 10 years of teaching, I started to reminisce about what I have learned. This article summarizes 10 lessons I have learned in 10 years of teaching. After having successfully completed my tenth year as a professional educator, I have come to realize that a lot of what I used to think worked didn't really work...at least not long-term. While some things may be effective in the immediate future, they are not sustainable down the road, and sometimes even backfire if used to often and too early. 1. Love your job and your students No matter how hard you try to pretend you love your job, if you don't, the kids will see right through you. Students feed off of the energy that
Five Ways To Survive the First Day of School General by Kelly Wilson - August 1, 2010June 14, 20103 This is a guest post by Kelly Wilson, an editor for Teaching Resource Center. Teaching Resource Center has quality teaching materials at discount prices. The first day of school for me traditionally starts with decaffeinated coffee. Not my first choice, but I don’t need any extra stimulation. I usually haven’t slept the night before due to anticipation and excitement, but because of the adrenaline pumping through my veins, I feel pretty jazzed up. Over the years, I’ve learned to control my stress level by being prepared. Fuel Up My school starts around 7:45, and I find that I’m starving by 9:00 on the first day. All of the excitement takes a toll on our appetites. Pack a variety of high-protein,
Do We Even Know How Most Outsiders View Our Jobs As Teachers? General by Joel Wagner - June 30, 2010June 30, 20107 This morning I allowed a guest post to go up on this blog that many readers felt was inappropriate for this blog. In it, the author listed three reasons mothers should become teachers: You’re assured of more than two months of vacation every year Your schedule is perfect when it comes to looking after your kids The stress level associated with the job is minimum Now, anyone who has actually been a teacher (whether a mother or not) knows these reasons are ill-conceived at best, and mostly offensive. I am reminded of two years ago when a troll called J Frap came over and posted a comment wherein he asserted that one reason people should be a teachers
Less Stress: Reduce Possessions Stress Reduction by Joel Wagner - October 18, 2007July 5, 20101 My name is Joel. I have too much stuff. Most people in the western world have way more stuff than we know what to do with. The thriving success of self storage units is a testimony to this fact. Possessions add clutter We spent all last week looking at steps to reduce stress by decluttering your life. Some people recommend simply ignoring the clutter. That is definitely one valid option. It doesn't work well for me, though. So I strive to reduce the amount of stuff I own that can potentially add clutter, which will in turn increase my stress level. I am not necessarily advocating living as a hermit or social discontent, but I have personally found that simplifying