Teachers switching school districts for better salaries isn’t unusual, and some decide to move across states in search of more opportunities. It’s easy to see why teachers look for better pay elsewhere. A 2022 report by the Economic Policy Institute revealed the average weekly wage (adjusted for inflation) for public school teachers rose by only… Read More

Even the littlest acts of kindness can go a long way. When COVID started to shut down schools, educators did what they always do — they stepped it up to help their students and their community better cope with their new norm and they tried to bring some heart to the center of COVID. From… Read More

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart – William Wordsworth We’ve all had a lot happen in the past several months. Emphasis: A LOT. Think about the changes we’ve all endured in such a short amount of time. Have you been able to process it all? Now that it’s summer and you have… Read More

Teaching is the way you have chosen to change the world — and kudos to you for teaching your heart out! But being so deeply invested also means being vulnerable. And that can take a serious emotional toll. Here’s the deal: The emotional labor of teaching is real. And when we don’t talk about it… Read More

You went into your teaching career like gangbusters — excited, energetic, oozing creativity, eyes all atwinkle. But the weight of daily stress can begin to deflate those feelings of satisfaction and ambition and dull your passion. And, if left unchecked, can lead to burnout. Burnout is one of the most common reasons that teachers leave… Read More

With all you do, it’s easy to find yourself working around the clock just to stay ahead. Working too much can not only be damaging to your health but can also be damaging to your family. Creating a barrier at the end of work time — at least for a few hours — can help… Read More

When demands at work and home have you feeling like you’re about to crack, stop, breathe, and take a cue from nature. Channel your inner palm tree. Here’s the thing about palm trees: Even in the fiercest of storms, a palm tree will stay rooted in the ground. Devastating winds will destroy everything in their… Read More

When you’re at work, lunch feels like it cannot come soon enough — unless of course you’re a teacher with that crazy 10:30 am lunch block. Somehow leftover taco meat just doesn’t have the same appeal that early in the day. So what do you pack when your scheduled lunch is more like a brunch?… Read More

Lesson plans. Parent emails. Grading papers. Staff meetings. Team collaboration. IEP meetings. Parent conferences. Holiday concerts. Teaching is a 24/7 job. It can take over your life if you aren’t careful, so you have to find a way to make it work for you. Your social events are important. Your family time should be protected…. Read More

You spend your days caring for your students. Maybe you get home and have to care for your own kiddos, or your partner…or your needy puggle puppy who won’t stop shredding all the toilet paper rolls. The point is, as a teacher, caring for others can quickly consume all your time. Before you know it,… Read More

Summer is the time to truly think about what worked for you this past school year, and what totally didn’t. Even if you had a great year, there is always room for growth. If you were constantly exhausted, behind on work, redoing lesson plans, or always saying “no” to social plans, it’s time for a… Read More

Teachers do so much more than just planning lessons and teaching. In fact, it’s typical to get swallowed up during the school year with endless projects, responsibilities, and calls for your time. The problem is, we simply cannot do it all — and trying to do it all makes us less effective and exhausted. This… Read More

A Heart-Centered Approach Teachers are true workaholics. We work a lot — during the day, after school, on weekends, during breaks, and over summer vacation. In doing the myriad tasks we tackle each week, we can become seriously overwhelmed, stressed, and constantly trying to catch up. Host of the Hurry Slowly podcast and author of… Read More

As the calendar year comes to a close, it’s time to pause and reflect on our teaching practice. Teachers often focus on what we didn’t get done, what we still have to do, and the mistakes we’ve made along the way. This can quickly lead to burnout. It’s time to flip your reflection game and… Read More