We know how challenging and rewarding teaching can be, so we compiled our top 20 posts on the topic. This list covers everything from the funny to the serious—which is exactly like teaching! 

May is here and the end of the school year is quickly approaching! Don’t let the upcoming summer break stop you from holding your students’ attention with great lessons right up until the last day of school. Here is our collection of engaging themed content for May:

A wealth of research is coming out about the zones of regulation and how this idea can help students in our classrooms. The zones are a way to conceptualize and visualize the internal feelings that a student may be having at any particular moment. Ideally, our students will come to us calm and ready to learn, but if something happened that was stressful or emotional—whether at recess or before school—that may not be the case. 

For most adults, it is difficult to be objective when assessing ourselves. Classroom teachers are not an exception. From my experience, it isn’t from a lack of trying. Most teachers try to improve and reflect, but it can be a challenge. It’s difficult because teaching is a very personal thing. We teach from our heart and from our personality, so it can be hard to critique something that is so “close” to us—so near and dear to who we are and what we believe.

Like most people who were alive on September 11, 2001, I remember the day very vividly. I was a 23-year-old first-year teacher at a high school in Kansas. The events of the day were indescribable, devastating, and extremely emotional. I wasn’t sure if watching the footage with my class was appropriate, but that’s what I did—along with most of the teachers in the building.

Spring is finally here! And with all the new buds and blooming flowers comes state testing. Sigh.

Spring is in full bloom and signs of new life are beginning to emerge everywhere. This time of year is an exciting one for teachers as there’s a renewed commitment to continue making an impact in the classroom—but there is still a lot going on with spring breaks, end of year assessments, ensuring standards are being met, and much more. For teachers, the challenge to stay motivated to finish the year strong and keep students engaged remains a mission.

Teachers wish for their students to be good citizens. This is true in the classroom, in the community, and on social media. The foundation of our democracy is active participation in government by its citizens. It is key to our future that students understand what it means to be a good citizen and how to interact appropriately within the community and government. There are many good resources available to teach students citizenship.

Now that spring has sprung, it’s the perfect time to get outside and try some fun educational activities. Science, technology, engineering, art, and math—collectively known as STEAM—are at the forefront in education today, and can sometimes be overwhelming when trying to figure out ways to implement these concepts.

But it doesn’t have to be! Here are six fun ideas for STEAM activities this spring: 

Bringing interactivity, collaboration, and assessment to your schools is easier than you think! We've compiled a list of easy-to-use, engaging, and effective solutions as a great starting point. We've also included our top guides, so you can dig deeper into the best way to select, evaluate, and implement these interactive solutions.