Archive for the ‘Guest Posts’ Category

From Messy to Manageable: A Step-by-Step Guide to Organizing Your Teaching Life by Emily Graham is chuck full of great advice for beginning and experienced teachers. Be sure to share with teachers you know.

Teaching is more than a profession — it’s a calling. It’s a job that requires passionate individuals who are willing to go above and beyond to ensure that their students receive the best possible education. But with ever-increasing responsibilities and workloads, teachers can often find themselves struggling to stay organized. In this article, Dr. Doug Green provides valuable advice and guidance that you can implement to get and stay organized.

Individualized Attention for Student

Each student has their strengths and areas of opportunity. Keeping detailed records of each student’s needs, progress, and goals is an excellent way to track progress and ensure that they’re receiving the individualized attention they require. Have a specific plan for each student, and prioritize your time with them based on their needs. Whether it’s extra help, behavior modification, or academic support, regular check-ins can go a long way in boosting student success.

Utilize Organizational Techniques

One of the most effective ways to stay organized is by implementing organizational strategies that work best for you. Some ideas include using a color-coded filing system, setting reminders on your calendar, and keeping everything in its designated place. Take some time to assess your current organization system, and identify areas where you can improve. Maybe it’s creating a to-do list for each day, week, or month, or utilizing a planner to track assignments and deadlines. Whatever strategy you choose, make sure it’s tailored to your specific needs and allows you to maintain focus and efficiency.

Online PDF Tools

Digitizing paper records is an excellent way to save space and stay organized; however, it can be time-consuming and frustrating to remove unnecessary pages. Using an online PDF page remover tool takes a fraction of the time and makes the process effortless — click for info. With just a few clicks, you can delete pages, merge, and rearrange documents, all within a matter of minutes.

Effective Lesson Plan Tracking

As teachers, we’re always looking for ways to improve and enhance our teaching strategies. Tracking which lesson plans work best is an effective way to pinpoint what strategies are the most effective and what needs improvement. Keep detailed notes on each lesson, including what worked well and what areas need improvement. This information will provide you with valuable feedback that you can use to refine your teaching strategies and help your students achieve their goals.

Make Your Classroom Interesting

A well-designed classroom creates a comfortable and welcoming environment that fosters learning and engagement. Choose colors, decor, posters, and other elements that align with your personality and teaching style. Display student work and educational posters that spark curiosity and interest. Provide students with easy access to necessary supplies such as pencils, paper, and calculators. A thoughtfully designed classroom creates an environment that promotes learning, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Implement Good Classroom Management

Effective classroom management is essential to promoting a positive and productive learning environment. Establish clear behavior expectations and follow through with appropriate consequences when necessary. Monitor student behavior and provide feedback and support to students who are struggling. Encourage open communication, active listening, and positive reinforcement to enhance student behavior and motivation. Effective classroom management sets the foundation for a successful and positive learning environment.

Make Efforts to Achieve Your SMART Goals

Setting SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely) is a powerful way to stay organized and focused. Whether it’s personal or professional, set goals that align with your long-term aspirations and use them as a roadmap to success. Create a plan of action with specific details on how you’ll achieve your goals. Be sure to track your progress and adjust your goals as needed. Setting SMART goals will help you stay organized, focused, and motivated.

To achieve success as a teacher, being organized is not an option but a necessity. Implementing strategies such as tracking individual student needs, utilizing online tools to save time, and setting SMART goals can help in maintaining an efficient system. This way, teachers can achieve their objectives, help their students succeed, and enjoy a more fulfilling teaching experience.

Emily Graham
Emily is the creator of MightyMoms.net. She believes being a mom is one of the hardest jobs around and wanted to create a support system for moms from all walks of life. On her site, she offers a wide range of info tailored for busy moms — from how to reduce stress to creative ways to spend time together as a family. You can email her at emilygraham@mightymoms.net. She lives in Arizona.

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Image Source: Pexels

Teaching kids how to be safe online can feel like a full-time job for parents and educators. Worrying about things like cyberbullying, predators, and scammers is one thing. But, it’s just as important to teach kids how to identify online health misinformation.

Even adults are guilty of occasionally believing medical information online that isn’t true. When was the last time you Googled your symptoms for something and believed the first thing you read? Teaching kids how to identify that misinformation early on can make a big difference in how they view their well-being and the type of information they take seriously.

With that in mind, let’s touch on why health misinformation is so rampant online, in the first place. Then, we’ll cover why that information can negatively impact the relationships kids have with their doctors and scientists, and what you can do to teach the children in your life how to clearly identify false health information. The strategies you put in place for them now can foster a healthier future.

Image Source Pixabay

A Mountain of Misinformation

Again, you’ve likely fallen victim to reading false medical information online at least once before finding out the truth. It’s not difficult to try to do effective research only to find that so much of what’s published online isn’t true – even if the information looks like it’s coming from a reputable source.

Why is that? Why does there seem to be so much health misinformation online, when people really just want to better understand their symptoms?

Unfortunately, a lot of it has to do with website popularity and even making money. Developers often go to great lengths to make their sites look like trustworthy sources. They might cite false statistics or quote professionals that don’t really exist. They’ll look like reputable news sources, and offer up information that isn’t based in reality. For every person that visits their website, clicks their links, or subscribes to their newsletters, they’re growing their audience and making more money.

Social media has made it even worse, allowing people to share these sites and stories with friends and family members. If your child sees a social media post about a specific health issue shared by a close relative, they’re likely to believe it’s true.

The Negative Impact of False Health Information

Health misinformation online is dangerous for everyone, but it can be especially problematic for young, impressionable minds. Not only can misinformation be somewhat frightening and confuse kids about what’s real and what’s not, but it can lead to a lack of faith in both healthcare professionals and scientists.

Nowadays, it’s not uncommon for patients to leave their doctors because of a lack of trust, or because they think their doctor has poor communication skills. By teaching kids to identify health misinformation online, you’ll also teach them how to improve their health literacy, which can bolster their relationships with doctors as they grow into adults. They’ll feel more comfortable opening up about their health concerns with their doctors, which can help when it comes to catching conditions early and learning more about how to adopt healthy lifestyles.

They’ll also feel more confident in their understanding of basic health principles. So, it’s less likely they’ll be swayed by false information that doesn’t line up with scientific facts. Fake websites, news, and social media posts aren’t going anyway. The more you educate today’s younger generations on how to spot and avoid those fake accounts, the easier it will be to stop that misinformation from spreading.

Image Source Pexels

How to Teach Kids to Spot Health Misinformation

The easiest way to teach kids to spot health misinformation online is to encourage them to surf like a scientist. It’s always important to make sure kids aren’t believing everything they read online, but that’s especially true when it comes to medical information. Some of the best ways to help them spot it include:

Reading past headlines
Avoiding promises that are “too good to be true”
Considering sources
Thinking twice before they share something

You should also teach them to know how to back up any information they find. If they see a specific statistic, treatment option, or medical issue, information about it should be readily available from official medical websites, and it should have research to back it up. Encourage students to use those platforms in their research, instead of just relying on the familiarity of social media platforms and influencers on YouTube. Influencers are often willing to do whatever it takes to gain subscribers and followers. Sometimes, that includes spreading misinformation – even if they aren’t doing it knowingly.

Using edtech to protect and inform your students is another great tool to put in their arsenals. Health apps from medical facilities, VR simulations, and specific technologies that teach kids more about science can all make it easier for them to combat false information, feel more confident in their healthcare professionals, and better prepare them for the future.

Amanda Winstead

Amanda is a freelance writer out of Portland, focusing on many topics, including educational technology. Along with writing, she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey or even just say hi, you can find her on Twitter @AmandaWinsteadd.

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Tips for Helping Students Build Self-esteem by Amanda Winstead should convince teachers that they need to intentionally focus on this trait and explains how to do so. This should help all teachers and parents do a better job of preparing children for success in the real world. Thanks, Amanda.

Your students need a range of personal, practical, and academic skills to thrive. As a teacher or parent, your approach to a student’s learning can be instrumental in aiding their development. One area that requires some specific focus is students’ self-esteem.

A healthy sense of self-worth has a range of benefits in students’ lives. It’s important to recognize that, in learning spaces, it is not just academic success that contributes to the development of this trait. The environment, feedback, and relationships they experience all feed into how effectively students’ self-esteem flourishes.

Let’s review a few components of helping students to build self-esteem in a healthy and impactful way.

Recognize the Benefits

Self-esteem is often an undervalued focus for development in schools and home learning environments. This usually isn’t because it is necessarily considered a negative personality component. Rather, it tends to get pushed to the wayside in favor of other educational, administrative, or practical priorities. Nevertheless, by gaining an understanding of why building self-esteem in students is important, you may be more mindful of how your approach to curriculum and relationships can support it.

Primarily, a strong sense of self-esteem encourages students to engage more readily with the world around them and the people that populate it. Indeed, psychological studies show that there are clear links between self-esteem and the ability to engage in meaningful social relationships and interactions. This means that students gain vital skills needed to get the most out of the classroom and their lives beyond.

Self-esteem also tends to make for happier students. This does more than just help them to be more confident. The simple act of smiling has an impact on both physical and psychological health. It lowers stress levels, has a strengthening effect on the immune system, and can even bolster productivity. Therefore, building self-esteem contributes to the holistic wellness that empowers students to thrive.

Create a Safe Space

One of the most important ways to help build students’ self-esteem is to make the classroom a safe space for them to engage. The wider world is often a soup of hyper-criticism, ridicule, and stress. If these are present in the learning environment, they may prevent students from taking the necessary risks that spur their growth. A protective and nurturing learning space can help them to step out from self-imposed restrictions to gain a positive sense of themselves and their abilities.

Make it clear from the outset that mistakes in the classroom are encouraged. Everyone in this space is there to learn, and people often learn best from errors. It’s also wise to frame the willingness to make mistakes as courageous. After all, these students are stepping out of their comfort zones to explore even though they may be uncertain. It’s important push the idea that such expeditions are something you undertake as a class. They learn from one another’s mistakes and provide mutual support in finding solutions.

Use Encouragement

Relentless criticism doesn’t tend to have a positive impact on self-esteem. This doesn’t mean that students shouldn’t be accountable for their actions or pulled up on areas for improvement. These elements are necessary components of growth, after all. Nevertheless, it’s important to ensure that your teaching approach includes consistent application of encouragement and praise.

This isn’t the same as simply issuing general or vague forms of commendation. Students are usually savvy enough to pick up on how empty or insincere such praise feels. The result is that it doesn’t positively impact their self-esteem at all.

Instead, it’s important to be specific about why you’re praising them. Pinpoint what it was about their actions that resulted in effective outcomes for their assignments, activities, or their relationships with their peers. Talk about what aspects of their character or personality contributes to their success. Indeed, it can be wise to ask your students for their own opinions on what they’re being praised for. This helps them to be able to recognize which of their characteristics have a positive impact. This not only contributes to the growth of their self-esteem but also encourages the repeated application of these traits in the future.

Provide Coping Mechanisms

Students shouldn’t feel as though they’re going through their educational experience without any challenges. Neither should they be entirely shielded from the stresses and pressures of the world, particularly as they get older. However, it is important to the development of their self-esteem to ensure they have the psychological and practical tools to cope with adversity in their lives.

One effective approach to this is encouraging them to build a strong set of self-care habits that bolsters their mental and physical health. These should be accessible activities, such as getting regular outdoor exercise and maintaining a nutritionally balanced diet. Having hobbies can also ensure they have a focus for their energies during difficult times. This is most effective when you don’t just suggest activities but provide them with reasons why these will help your students. Understanding how actions directly result in coping better encourages habit formation that enables mechanisms to be an impactful part of their lives.

It’s also important to teach students that communicating their struggles rather than internalizing them is an effective coping mechanism. Run exercises on how to vocalize concerns. Introduce them to the best venues to share feelings and worries, from their close friends to school counselors. Knowing that these resources are available to them can help themdevelop their emotional intelligence and empower them to feel more in control and capable.

Conclusion

Self-esteem impacts students’ lives in a variety of ways, from giving them the confidence to engage meaningfully with the world to bolster their wellness. It’s important to support their development of this trait by creating a safe classroom environment, providing specific forms of praise, and helping them identify coping mechanisms. When you make the classroom a positive influence on students’ self-worth, you are giving them tools to thrive.

Amanda Winstead

Amanda is a freelance writer out of Portland, focusing on many topics, including educational technology. Along with writing, she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey or even just say hi, you can find her on Twitter.

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If you have children, you undoubtedly want them to succeed in life and use their talents to change the world. Perhaps you have dreams for your kids, such as wanting them to be doctors or lawyers. However, these professions require many years of college and create a hefty bill.

It’s also possible that your children will want to pursue other avenues. When they get older, maybe they’ll want to skip college altogether and go directly into the workforce. Don’t let this decision alarm you, as many excellent career choices don’t require a degree. Here are some possible jobs you might want to educate your children about.

Maintenance Worker

Some kids love to tear things apart to see if they can put them back together or attempt to fix broken items. If your kids enjoy this hobby, a career in maintenance work might be right up their alley.

An average handyman has many skills, ranging from repairing restaurant equipment to fixing leaks. New workers often learn these skills from working under a qualified professional for a while until they’re able to complete tasks alone.

Some types of maintenance work may be covered in technical courses offered to high school students. Make sure you check into programs your children’s school provides. Getting educated in technology such as heating and air conditioning can do wonders for landing a job later in life. 

Computer Programmer

If your children have computer capabilities that go above and beyond their peers’ skills, and they love learning about the latest technology, you may want to encourage them to learn about computer programming. People in this field create software and test it to ensure it works properly. Their potential employers may range from government agencies to gaming companies.

Instead of obtaining a college degree, your children should try to learn everything they can about programming languages by taking free classes, researching online, or watching webinars. As your children get older, encourage them to get technological jobs or shadow someone who can teach them more about programming. This experience plus an investment in a technical training course can give them the tools they need to succeed. 

Pharmacy Technician

Do your children love to help people but aren’t into the needles and bloodwork that doctors and nurses have to deal with? If so, a career as a pharmacy technician is worth exploring. A person in this profession helps a pharmacist dispense medications. Some of these medicines are used to save lives, while others give people relief from illnesses. All are essential.

Although some technicians attend a university, a degree isn’t required. Most people learn by participating in on-the-job training.

Sales Representative

While a sales job isn’t for everyone, some people have that natural optimistic personality needed when describing a product to potential customers. If your child enjoys conversing with people, is good at small talk, and is convincing, they may excel in the sales department.

Most skills are acquired through job training. However, great salespeople have an innate desire to help others. The most significant part of sales is explaining a product’s perks and illustrating to clients how these advantages can make life easier.

Flight Attendant

If your children yearn to see different places worldwide, they may be interested in becoming flight attendants. Flight attendants get to go all over the planet, getting paid to do what they love. As a bonus, they get to meet people from different cultures, possibly leading to lifelong friendships.

Talk to your kids about the perks of this job. However, make sure they also understand the downsides, such as being away from home for long periods of time. For people who love flying, the pros generally outweigh the cons.

Let your kids know that going to college is a great choice, but it’s not their only option. If they’re interested in hobbies that could potentially turn into job prospects when they grow up, encourage them to learn more about these opportunities. Motivating your kids to think about the future will help them make choices that are right for them.

Craig Middleton

Craig is a New York City-based retired business consultant, who is an expert in education and cultural trends. He has a Masters of Business Administration and a Masters in Education from St. Johns and loves sharing his knowledge on the side through his writing. If you have any questions or comments you can direct them to Craig at craigmiddleton18@gmail.com.

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How Educators Can Support Students’ Mental Health by Amanda Winstead

Though it has rarely gotten the same attention or appreciation as physical health, mental health plays a profound role in our lives. Poor mental health can lead to several substantial health concerns and can bleed into every aspect of life. However, good mental health can enable people to take on bigger and more complex tasks and shine while doing so. Here is how you can support it.

Introduction

• Having conversations about mental health are never easy ones, but they are important to have. This is especially true for young people. Helping young people to understand and manage their mental health can lead them to be more capable and resilient adults who can take the time and space to adequately address their mental health when they need to.
• As an educator, there is a lot you can do to help support this process. Mental health education and awareness can be built into lessons and you can create a safe space for students to explore their mental status. Likewise, you have the power to help them through difficult situations and give them the tools they need to successfully manage mental health.

Know the Signs

• When it comes to student mental health, perhaps the most important thing an educator can be is another person to watch for signs of mental health issues that can be addressed at an early age. Teachers are in a unique position to get to know their students and recognize when something is starting to change for the negative. In conjunction with parents, educators can help students work through what they are struggling with and build a realistic method for coping.
• One of the most important aspects of successfully doing this is recognizing the signs of mental health concerns in students. Identifying mental health concerns in children can be more difficult than in adults, but there are signs to watch out for, such as extreme swings in mood or behavior in the classroom. Additionally, educators may notice difficulty concentrating, changes in academic performance, or a sudden increase in absences.
• Educators may also notice swings in a student’s physical well-being as well. For instance, students may be more tired or have a change in eating habits or a significant weight loss. Some students may also complain about stomach pains which can be a sign of increased stress or anxiety.

Develop Personal Awareness

• Teachers can play an outsized role in helping students to develop strong mental health awareness. They can help students by providing them with tools in the toolbox for getting through difficult times such as working through an anxious attachment. Even if students don’t need these mental health check-ins and coping strategies now, chances are that at some point they will reach back and be thankful for the lessons in the future.
• The first thing educators can do is normalize mental health check-ins. Encourage students to talk about their feelings and teach them the words they may need to help capture how their feelings are impacting them. Numerous activities can reinforce this idea of a mental health check-in, such as having students keep a journal about their day, teaching them to rate their mood, helping them find one positive thing to talk about every day, and acknowledging emotions with empathy. Leading by example can be a great way to begin to set some of these practices in motion.
• As students learn to become more aware of their mental health, educators can also start helping them to manage their emotions and gain more control over their mental health. For instance, many teachers have worked to bring greater levels of mindfulness to the classroom. This can mean a period every day where students practice mindfulness by sitting in silence, breathing, and thinking about how they feel.

Encourage a Healthy Lifestyle

• Educators are also in a unique position to help students develop other types of healthy habits that will impact their mental health over the long term. These can be numerous things from encouraging them to build lasting and deep relationships with their peers to developing greater self-confidence to encouraging a healthier lifestyle. All of these things can add up over time to lead to big, positive changes that can help with a more resilient mental status.
• One example is encouraging students to become involved in sports and other activities that promote physical movement. There are hundreds of studies that point to the mental health benefits of sports activities. Sports are linked to better sleep, a release of positive endorphins, improved memory, increased social connection, and the development of leadership skills. Beyond that, sports can also help students learn to address and cope with losing or not constructively performing their best.
• Teachers can also give critical lessons on how diet and food choices can make an impact on mental health. For instance, students can learn about how junk foods may slow their bodies and brains down while healthy foods can have more positive impacts. Early lessons in food health can prove valuable for students as they begin to make their own food choices later down the road.
• Mental health is a major factor in our lives. Supporting students’ mental health and giving them the tools to manage their mental health are powerful things that educators can do to benefit the lives of their students. Educators can do a great deal to help in this arena.

Amanda Winstead

• Amanda is a freelance writer out of Portland focusing on many topics including educational technology. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on Twitter.

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