Month: August 2023

Getting Ready for the School Year: How to Manage Anxiety and Stress

Published on by Sandy Davis

I haven’t blogged here in a while, mainly because I’ve been getting my kids ready for their school year (I have one in middle school and one in high school) and I’ve also been working with new teachers to help them prepare for the coming year. This can indeed be a stressful and anxiety-inducing time for teachers.. Here are some strategies both new and experienced teachers can use to overcome and prepare for the beginning of the school year anxiety and stress:

  1. Set Realistic Expectations: Understand that the beginning of the school year can be overwhelming, but it’s important to set realistic expectations for yourself and your students. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and it’s okay if everything isn’t perfect from the very start.
  2. Plan Ahead: Create a detailed plan for the first few weeks, including lesson plans, classroom setup, and administrative tasks. Having a clear roadmap can help alleviate anxiety by giving you a sense of control and direction.
  3. Organize Your Space: A well-organized classroom can significantly reduce stress. Take time to arrange desks, materials, and resources in a way that is conducive to learning and easy to navigate.
  4. Connect with Colleagues: Reach out to fellow teachers, both experienced and new, to share ideas, tips, and experiences. Collaborating with others can provide a sense of camaraderie and the opportunity to learn from one another.
  5. Self-Care: Prioritize self-care and well-being. Make sure you’re getting enough rest, eating healthily, staying hydrated, and engaging in activities you enjoy outside of work. Taking care of your physical and mental health is essential.
  6. Set Boundaries: It’s easy for teachers to overwork themselves, especially during the start of the year. Set clear boundaries between work and personal time to prevent burnout.
  7. Practice Mindfulness: Incorporate mindfulness techniques into your routine, such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. These practices can help you stay centered and reduce stress.
  8. Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge and celebrate even the smallest accomplishments during the beginning of the school year. Each step forward is a reason to be proud.
  9. Reflect and Adjust: Regularly reflect on your progress and adjust your plans as needed. This ongoing assessment can help you stay on track and make necessary improvements.
  10. Seek Support: If your anxiety and stress become overwhelming, don’t hesitate to seek support from a counselor, therapist, or support group. Your mental well-being is a priority.

What are your favorite go-to strategies for getting ready for the new year? Or, if you’re not a teacher, some strategies you use to manage stress or plan your week.

The Creator Mindset

Published on by Sandy Davis

The Creator Mindset is the embodiment of innovation, curiosity, and boundless potential. It is an approach to life that nurtures the belief that we are not passive bystanders, but active creators of our reality. When we embrace this mindset, we tap into our full potential and find a limitless well of possibilities awaiting us.

1. Embrace Curiosity and Continuous Learning

At the heart of the Creator Mindset lies an insatiable curiosity. Creators are always eager to explore, discover, and learn new things. They don’t shy away from challenges but see them as opportunities for growth and expansion. Every setback is viewed as a chance to gain valuable insights, not as a sign of failure. This curiosity-driven approach opens doors to unexplored territories and fuels the drive to seek knowledge beyond conventional boundaries.

2. Embrace Failure as a Stepping Stone

Creators understand that failure is an integral part of the journey toward success. They see it as a stepping stone, not a stumbling block. Instead of being discouraged by setbacks, they learn from them, iterate, and improve. This resilience allows creators to push the boundaries of what is possible and brings them closer to breakthroughs that could transform their lives and the world around them.

3. Cultivate Imagination and Vision

Imagination is the key that unlocks the doors of innovation. Creators dare to dream big, envisioning possibilities beyond the current state of affairs. They don’t limit themselves to what is readily visible; rather, they paint vivid pictures of what they wish to create. This clarity of vision acts as a guiding star, illuminating their path and motivating them to manifest their dreams into reality.

4. Collaborate and Empower Others

Creators understand that they don’t have to go it alone. Collaboration with like-minded individuals amplifies their creativity and multiplies the impact of their endeavors. They foster an environment where ideas are shared freely, and constructive feedback is welcomed. In doing so, they empower others to embrace their own creator mindset and create a collective force of innovation and change.

5. Take Inspired Action

While imagination and vision are essential, the Creator Mindset doesn’t dwell solely in the realm of ideas. Creators take inspired action to turn their dreams into tangible results. They understand that an idea without action remains just that – an idea. By taking the first step, no matter how small, they set in motion a chain reaction that can lead to astonishing accomplishments.

6. Embrace Adaptability and Evolution

The world is ever-changing, and creators are not afraid to adapt and evolve along with it. They understand that clinging to the status quo may hinder progress and limit potential. Embracing change allows creators to stay at the forefront of innovation and ride the waves of transformation, rather than being swept away by them.

7. Find Joy in the Process

Finally, the Creator Mindset thrives on finding joy in the journey, not just the destination. Creators relish the process of creation itself, enjoying the challenges, the ups and downs, and the continuous growth. It is the journey that shapes them and allows them to savor every moment along the way.

In conclusion, the Creator Mindset is not reserved for a select few; it is within the grasp of each one of us. By embracing curiosity, learning from failures, cultivating imagination, collaborating with others, taking action, and adapting to change, we can unlock the creative forces within ourselves. So, let’s dare to be dreamers, innovators, and creators – for it is with this mindset that we can leave an indelible mark on the world and inspire others to do the same.

Edit: This post has been so popular that I’ve created a Creator Mindset Course to be launched in January 2024.

The Case for Rubrics in the Writing Classroom

Published on by Sandy Davis

As educators, we understand the importance of providing constructive feedback to help our students grow academically and develop essential skills. One powerful tool that can significantly enhance the writing assessment process is the use of rubrics. Rubrics offer a structured and transparent way to evaluate student writing, providing both teachers and learners with numerous benefits. In this blog post, we will explore the advantages of using rubrics to evaluate writing and how they can lead to improved student outcomes.

  1. Clarity and Consistency

Rubrics provide teachers with clear criteria and expectations for evaluating writing assignments. By defining specific elements like content, organization, language use, and mechanics, rubrics ensure that all students are evaluated based on the same set of standards. This consistency eliminates ambiguity and allows students to understand precisely what is expected of them, setting them up for success.

  1. Targeted Feedback

One of the most significant advantages of rubrics is their ability to guide teachers in giving targeted feedback. Rather than merely providing a final grade, rubrics break down the assessment into different categories, enabling instructors to pinpoint areas of strength and weakness in a student’s writing. This targeted feedback empowers students to focus on specific aspects of their writing that need improvement, fostering a growth mindset and a desire for continuous learning.

  1. Student Engagement and Self-Assessment

When students are aware of the criteria by which their writing will be evaluated, they become more engaged in the writing process. Rubrics enable them to self-assess their work before submission, allowing for revisions and self-reflection. Students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning, as they can measure their progress against the rubric’s standards and identify areas for improvement independently.

  1. Facilitating Peer Review

Using rubrics in the classroom also enhances the effectiveness of peer review sessions. When students evaluate each other’s writing using a common rubric, they gain a better understanding of the assessment criteria and learn to provide constructive feedback to their peers. Peer review becomes a collaborative learning experience, as students exchange ideas, strategies, and suggestions for improvement.

  1. Time Efficiency

For teachers, grading numerous writing assignments can be time-consuming. However, rubrics streamline the evaluation process, making it more efficient. With clearly outlined criteria, teachers can quickly identify and assess each aspect of a student’s writing without the need for prolonged deliberation. This time efficiency allows educators to dedicate more attention to providing detailed feedback, fostering a stronger teacher-student connection.

Conclusion

Incorporating rubrics into the writing assessment process can significantly benefit both teachers and students. By providing clarity, consistency, and targeted feedback, rubrics enhance student engagement, self-assessment, and peer collaboration. Furthermore, their use promotes a growth mindset and a more efficient grading process for teachers. As we strive to nurture our students’ writing skills and overall academic development, rubrics prove to be a valuable tool in achieving these goals. Let us embrace the power of rubrics in the classroom and witness the positive impact they can have on our students’ writing journey.

My rubric-creation resource is now only $1 on TpT! It contains a fully-editable rubric template in MS Word, along with a sample ELA rubric, guide to creating rubrics, and sample rubric criteria. Check it out:

Congratulations to our Giveaway Winner

Published on by Sandy Davis

The winner of the random drawing for a $25 Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) Gift Card is Joanna from JoannaESL.com . Be sure to check out her teaching blog! It has interesting articles and amazing resources.

If you’re a new follower, remember that I will do a once-a-month giveaway and also to celebrate major milestones, and if you haven’t started followng my blog, be sure to subscribe below and you’ll never miss a post.

TpT Gift Card Giveaway is Today

Published on by Sandy Davis

To celebrate going from 0-25 subscribers/followers (now 26!) I will be chosing a follower at random to receive a $25 gift card from Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT). I will notify the winner later today.

If you’re not already following, I will do a monthly giveaway of free products or gift cards, plus a special giveaway for each new milestone (the next is 50 subscribers/follower), so be sure to enter your email below. I do not share or market your emails, nor do I spam your inbox. You only receive an email when I post here. I write about teaching, reading, writing, personal development, side hustles, and internet marketing.

Thank you again to all of my followers!