"Hi! Come on in!" I cheerfully intoned as I swung open the door amidst the sweltering summer heat to a squiggly line of bouncy almost-Kindergarteners. My summer school students were eager to...
When school's finally out for the summer, it's debateable who's more thrilled: the students or the teachers. Summer break in traditional schools can be seen as a restorative stretch of freedom, a...
If you're planning on this spring being your last semester in the classroom, first: Go you! (I know it's not easy to leave this love/hate career) Come up with a strategy for...
Celebrating Easter is an occasion I always look forward to. Stuffing myself into billowing pastel church dresses and savoring Easter basket chocolates piece by piece has given way to dressing my own...
While I'm a firm believer in giving students consequences for misbehavior, it's much more fun to reward the positive behaviors. Positive behavior can be reinforced in a number of ways as a...
Substitute teaching can be a daunting task, especially if you're new to the profession. I'm a substitute with a few years of full-time teaching and subbing experience under my belt, and I'm...
Did the groundhog see his shadow this year? I don't remember. Regardless, my home state of Florida forges ahead with spring before most places anyway. Likewise, I'm in full-force spring mode. Whether...
How do you dress up a pretty standard, comfy mom uniform? Is there any pizzazz to add to around-the-house sweats? Or is there any way, aside from the obvious sight of a...
It's the blog's birthday! That's right-- Chocolate for the Teach has dug little roots down on this spot on the web for a whole rotation of earth around the sun. And just...
"Are you a mom?" one of my first graders inquired. "No," I replied. "Do you shop?" was her follow-up question. I answered in the affirmative. Yes, I do participate in the economy...
If anyone is creating her own path, it's Shauntavia Johnson. She started out teaching math and has built up a full-time income through tutoring and the sales of her crafts. Shauntavia is...
We all want better education for our kids. But there seems to be a major disconnect between the politicians that get to set the rules for schools, the educators having to enact...