I always love the beginning of school for all the possibilities: getting to know my new students and planning how to best meet their needs, trying new strategies and lessons. Most teachers pre-assess their class to see what they know and what they need. However, I used to struggle with what to do with the data, once collected Our first unit of study in writer's workshop is personal narrative. After brainstorming and reviewing elements of personal narratives, students wrote to an on-demand prompt: write about a friend or family member and a time they spent together. After 45-60 minutes writi ..read more

Yikes. . . this is the last week of our book study and my first week back at school! (Students start on Monday) Everything we've been reading about in Happy Teacher Revolution has put me in the right frame of mind to start the new school year. Plus I'm so excited to take part on the panel of educators and with Danna Thomas (in person!) on Saturday, August 24th. I hope you will join us, even if you have not finished the book. There will be great discussion and connection! (My daughter says Village Well is one of her favorite bookstores!) Register for this free event HERE. You can review or cat ..read more

Traditional school policies and curriculum may work for some students. Some kids can sit quietly at a desk and work. Some parents, feeling nostalgic about when they were in school, wish teachers would go back to drill and kill worksheets and weekly spelling tests or letter grades (rather than rubrics) because they understand them.  Being expected to change reading or math programs whenever the new boxes of materials arrive may excite some teachers. But many educators are often left feeling as if they have no voice or choice. You can review or catch up on previous weeks here: Week 1 Week ..read more

Happy Teacher Revolution Movement founder, Danna Thomas was inspired by Civil Rights activists and Women's Liberation leaders. She felt called to support educators at the grassroots level.  Instead of measuring burnout from a deficit mindset, Danna wanted to clarify well-being principles from a scientific perspective. (p. 139) In video 12.1, Donna Fernandez shares how these principles literally saved her life:  In the words of Maya Angelou, "When you know better, do better."  The principles of supporting and empowering mean: teachers need to stand for what we know is right.&nb ..read more

If you taught prior to March 2020, I'm sure you've noticed a difference in your students after returning to in-person school. It took me a while to put my finger on it but the most noticeable changes in my students was their difficulty with managing their emotions, actions, and lack of grit or perseverance. This week's reading was packed full of food for thought: supporting students who've experienced trauma and engaging in self-care with them. You can review or catch up on previous weeks here: Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 "Trauma is defined as an adverse experience, violation, or persistent s ..read more

 Happy Teacher Revolution founder, Danna Thomas felt called to create a grassroots support structure for colleagues and herself. This week's reading focused on the importance of community; a topic near & dear to my heart. In Part III: Nurturing Relationships with Colleagues, Families, and Kids,  the following line caught my attention: According to the National Education Association, teacher burnout can be defined as “a condition in which an educator has exhausted the personal and professional resources necessary to do the job.”  So how can we develop our sense of belongin ..read more

Welcome back to week 3 of Happy Teacher Revolution summer book study! I hope you're enjoying reading, watching the videos, and taking the time to reflect on how to apply these ideas into your own life. If you need to catch up on the reading; no worries. Click on the links below to see what we've discussed: Week 1 Week 2 Start a Win Journal This week's reading was full of practical ideas! Many teachers keep a folder or box with hand-drawn pictures, student letters, cards or notes of appreciation from parents. I always encourage new teachers to start saving these in one spot so when they h ..read more

Welcome back to Week 2 of Happy Teacher Revolution book study! I'm so glad you're here. If you're new, head over to Week 1 to give some context to our book study. And if you have not yet grabbed your copy of the reading plan bookmark,  be sure to download it today.  Having been in the classroom for 37 years, the pressures and demands on teachers have only increased, especially after coming back from Covid.  Chapter 3, Feeling Competent focuses on psychological well-being, burnout, and how to manage with mindfulness. Mindfulness has become such a buzz word these days and may con ..read more

I always love summer for the slow- down pace and time to put myself “back together”: haircut, time to workout consistently, cook healthy meals (& sit down to eat!), dentist, ophthalmologist, doctor appointments, time to read my TBR pile and hang out with friends, supposedly time to clean my house ??‍♀️? But why is life put on hold until school breaks? Last summer, after my 36th year of teaching, I was burnt out and unmotivated. I did nothing school-related. So I was intrigued by the title of Danna Thomas' book,  Happy Teacher Revolution: The Educator’s Roadmap to Claiming &a ..read more

For years, on March 2nd, we used to don red & white striped hats in honor of the Cat in the Hat and Dr. Seuss' birthday. In recent years, the National Education Association (NEA) has expanded from Read Across America Day to 12 months of recommended books, authors, and teaching resources that promote diversity and inclusion. Create and Celebrate a Nation of Diverse Readers; all for the love of literacy...  The theme for February is: Advance Racial Justice.  Love is Loud: How Diane Nash Led the Civil Rights Movement by Sandra Neil Wallace, a picture book biography of Civil R ..read more