Teaching is a noble profession, often described as a calling rather than just a job. Some might argue that this sentiment is used to justify not compensating teachers according to their expertise and educational level. However, it's no secret that many teachers leave the profession within the first five years. Understanding the reasons behind this exodus is crucial to addressing the issue and improving teacher retention. Let's delve into why so many teachers quit and explore potential solutions to ensure that more educators thrive in their careers.

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Oh hello May, you beautiful month you. You signify the last full month of teaching for us, the last big stretch before the sweet and magical days of summer. You are also one of the most challenging months. The state standardized tests are done, a majority of the standards have been covered, the weather is warming up, and students have spring fever like never before. So…how do you keep them engaged and coming to class excited to learn? Have we got some fun ideas for you!

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In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the importance of effective reading instruction cannot be overstated. As teachers, we're constantly seeking ways to improve our methods, and an enlightening article by Natalie Wexler sheds light on a critical aspect of literacy education—building students' background knowledge in the early grades.

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Have you ever wondered if the way you lead classroom discussions is off putting? Do your students focus on compliance rather than pure engagement? Here are some tips to get the classroom discussion flowing.

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Are you tired of the same old boring discussions in your English Language Arts (ELA) classroom? Do you want to spice things up and get your students thinking outside the box? Well, look no further than hexagonal thinking! It's the perfect way to engage your students and inject some creativity into your lessons.

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Here are some English lessons that I like to end the school year with in my 7th grade core class:

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In this blog post, we'll explore the insights shared by Daniel T. Willingham in his article "Beyond Comprehension" and how they can reshape our approach to teaching reading.

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This may be an unpopular opinion, but teachers, we need to stop working for free. The term “we do it for the outcome, not the income” is straight up harmful and perpetuates the myth that teachers will happily work for very little pay because we care so much about the future of our children. Why can’t we care a lot about kids and receive a livable wage?

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As educators, we often find ourselves grappling with the question, "What does disciplinary literacy actually look like in my content area?" Teaching literacy skills for real-life applications can be challenging, but fear not! In this blog post, we'll delve into the insightful work of ReLeah Cossett Lent, offering you a guide to navigate the world of disciplinary literacy and empower your students.

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If we want our students to become better readers, we need to begin to provide them with texts that are more challenging for them. Matching students with texts at their reading level does little to challenge students. However, when we provide students with a text that is at grade level, or even above their grade level, and we challenge our students while also working along side them to delve into the text and understand that text, now we are building competency. This evidence based approach helps students to read, struggle, and ultimately comprehend more complex texts.

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The Common Core informational reading standards for middle school are arguably some of the most important reading standards to focus on in a school year. Here are the nine informational standards in a nutshell:

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