My third year teaching almost broke me. I started off strong after college (after the second time around – graduating at 28). Hopes, dreams, ambitions—I had them all. And, it wasn’t easy. I graduated during a recession, and I couldn’t even get an interview in any of the surrounding districts. I had no connections in […] The post The Year That Almost Broke Me: How I Learned to Save My Teaching Soul appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

The first day of school can be full of excitement, nerves, and, yes, a little bit of chaos. As teachers, we hear all kinds of advice: “Make sure they’re excited to come back!” and “Just make sure they’re fed and get home safely!” How do we actually make that happen? Let me share with you […] The post The Ultimate Guide to a Successful First Day of School: Safety, Structure, and Fun appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

Teaching is demanding, and by the end of the day, you might feel completely drained—mentally, emotionally, and physically. You’re not alone in this feeling. It’s not just about doing too much (even though you likely are); it’s often about the sheer number of decisions you’re making every day. This is called decision fatigue, and while […] The post Feeling Worn Out? Here’s One Part of Teaching You CAN Manage appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

Have you ever heard the saying, “You should never assume?” Well, that advice doesn’t just apply to everyday life—it was something I found incredibly valuable in teaching, too. As a teacher, I lived by several mottos, but one that had a profound impact on my students’ success was this: never assume students know anything. This […] The post You Don’t Have to Guess What Your Students Know: Proven Strategies to Build Strong Foundations in Every Subject appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

We all have our passions as teachers. For some, it’s keeping those bulletin boards up to date or decorating doors for every occasion. For others, it might be something totally different—like keeping frogs in the classroom to add a little fun and levity. No matter what your passion is, as long as it’s appropriate, it […] The post Organizing the Classroom Library in Upper Elementary: Getting Students Excited About Books and Teaching Genres appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

Interactive notebooks—some teachers love them, while others either haven’t figured out how to use them effectively or are unsure if they’re worth the effort. If you find yourself in either camp, this blog post will help you make or solidify your decision and give you tips on how to make interactive notebooks work in your […] The post Why Interactive Notebooks Are Worth the Commitment: Two Stories That Prove It appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

When it comes to building relationships with parents, my philosophy is simple yet powerful: believe that they’re doing the best they can. This approach isn’t something I consciously adopted at first—it was just how I viewed the world, shaped by my own experiences with my family. It wasn’t until later that I realized not everyone […] The post Unpacking Classroom Management Success: The Real Secret to Improving Parent-Teacher Relationships appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

As teachers (and humans), we often carry the weight of “should” on our shoulders, believing that things should be different or better in our classrooms. I know this all too well because I fell into that trap myself. If there’s one lesson I’ve learned from my years in the classroom, it’s the power of releasing […] The post Unpacking Classroom Management Failures: The Power of Releasing the “Should” appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

Classroom management often feels like a balancing act—finding the right mix of structure and spontaneity to keep things running smoothly while still keeping the energy alive in your classroom. It’s natural to worry that setting expectations, routines, and procedures might take away from the fun and engagement. From my experience, when done right, these elements […] The post Unpacking Classroom Management Success: The Secret to Making Expectations, Routines, and Procedures Really Work appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

Math centers can be a game-changer in your classroom, but let’s be honest—they can also feel overwhelming if you’re not sure where to start. I’ve been there, making every mistake in the book, from overcomplicating the rotation system to stressing over fancy materials. But after years of trial and error, I’ve figured out how to […] The post Let’s Be For Real: You Don’t Need 8 Steps—Just These 3 to Nail Math Centers appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more