Introduction
My first year teaching, I remember going out with my teaching buddies to happy hour on Friday's once a month. We would order some cheap appetizers and let the unwinding begin. The consensus of those nights was we spent too much time at school. We were working 50-60 hour weeks and that was before the weekend began. On the weekends we would continue to work but it never ended. The overwhelm was chasing us but no matter how hard we work, it never ended.
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The end of that first year, I sat down with my teaching buddies once again and said I am not doing this again. I cannot have another year like this. There has to be a way for me to teach and live. If I can't find a way, I will have to stop teaching as my family comes first.
That summer, we did a lot of research! We came up with a plan and we put it into action. We succeed and failed all at the same time. The changes we were making helped but the sheer number of projects we took on was overwhelming. Those Friday night dinners once a month, became a way of tweaking our ideas. The next year, I had compiled all we learned and began writing our plan. This plan became The Path to Passionate Teaching. I shared my plan and we put it into action. That year we only worked 45 hours each week. |
In the last five years a lot of changes have been made: we moved states, districts, positions, and some of us even left teaching all together. Despite the changes, we have continued to use the plan set forth in The Path to Passionate Teaching with success. We are all now working 40 hours a week. We have time to live our lives with passion and can enjoy ourselves in and out of the classroom.
How do I get started?
School Year Challenges
When the overwhelm reaches out and begins to haunt you, that is when you know you need help! On the 1st of each month, you will have a chance to jump in and join the challenge. Each monthly challenge is designed to take you one step closer to becoming a passionate teacher. We will give you advice, examples, and ideas surrounding this month's topic.
Just as all teachers do, we want you to make this challenge your own! Use the hashtag #daisiesandchalkpassion to share your journey and help other teachers just like you! For this month's post please see our blog. For past posts, please click on the links below.
Just as all teachers do, we want you to make this challenge your own! Use the hashtag #daisiesandchalkpassion to share your journey and help other teachers just like you! For this month's post please see our blog. For past posts, please click on the links below.
SeptemberOffice Hours
Morning Routines |
OctoberIndoor Recess
Field Day Game Day |
NovemberReview Parties
Review Strategies Tracking Data Easy Progress Monitoring |
DecemberParty Agenda
Party Parents Easy Decorating Ideas Party Games Party Crafts |
JanuarySMART Goals
Types of Goals When to Create Goals Tracking Success What to do when Goals Fail |
FebruaryEvaluation Prep
Surprise Evaluations Walk Throughs Portfolios Branding You |
MarchHow to Grade
Student Work Samples Copies Sending Papers Home |
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AprilMath Centers
ELA Centers Holidays Party Supplies Your File Cabinet Student Records |
MaySmarter Packing
Prepping for Next Year Moving Classrooms or Schools Working through the Summer |
WARNING!
DO NOT look at the above links as a list of things you must do! Look at it as a list of options on things that you can improve inside of your own classroom. As mentioned in the introduction, you are picking 1 project to work on this month. ONE way to improve your already amazing classroom. If you have time you can pick another one or wait until next year to tackle the next thing on your list.
Trying to do all of these things at once is a sure fire way to fail and become overwhelmed. The goal is to eliminate the overwhelm not add to it.
Trying to do all of these things at once is a sure fire way to fail and become overwhelmed. The goal is to eliminate the overwhelm not add to it.
Summer Challenges
Despite the popular myth, we all know that teachers work during the summer. This is our time of the year to catch-up, reflection, and to prepare for the year ahead. For this reason, I have created challenges to help us prepare to be our best selves in the upcoming school year.
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JuneThis month we are focusing on you! Learn more in this month's blog post all about why YOU MATTER.
Health
Fitness Meal Planning Beauty Discounts for Teachers Hobbies Travel |
July |
AugustFamily Bonding
Building Faith Friendship Connection The Importance of Traditions |