The First-Year Teachers Are Not Okay: Why It’s So Difficult
My first year of teaching, nearly a decade ago, wins the award for the most challenging year of my career by a dumpster fire landslide. Though I hold so many special and...
Charmaine
Journalism school + editing + university newspaper 2010-2013
Education grad school + full-time teaching internship 2013-2014
Teaching elementary grades + Substitute teaching 2014-2023
20+ Ways Teachers Can Beat the Sunday Scaries
My first year teaching-- now almost a decade ago-- I distinctly remember the overwhelming feeling of dread I had preparing to go back to teach after a glorious weeklong respite for Thanksgiving....
How to Get Students to Follow Directions With One Word
Tired of apparently giving directions to the abyss? There's one word that carries a lot of heft. In fact, it's quite magical once you've completed the setup. But it does take a...
Why Modeling is Such a Powerful Strategy for Substitutes
The second you release the students to start their work after giving directions, the room drops into the chaos of twenty little people engaged in anything but sitting at their desks completing...
Is Substitute Teaching a Good Job for Introverts?
Quiet. Thoughtful. Sensitive. Reticent. Introverted. If you're like me, these terms color the shades of who you are. But that doesn't come close to covering all of who you are. You have...
What to Do When You Return to a Negative Sub Report
Psst! If you're a substitute looking for ideas for handling negative classroom behavior, this article may help! You've returned to your classroom after a time away, pushing past slightly misplaced chairs and...
What to Pack: Essentials in My Sub Bag
Sure, you could walk into a new classroom with just your wonderful sub self and maybe your district-issued badge and teach and be okay. (Okay, but probably not great!) There are tools...
What to Pack: My Favorite Substitute Teacher Lunch Ideas
Substitute teaching can bring its fair share of fun and excitement, but it can also come with disappointments. Don't let a sad lunch be one of those disappointments. As uncontrollable as some...
5 Imperfect and Beautiful Fall Crafts for the Busy Mom
Sometimes good enough is downright beautiful. I've learned this, as a recovering perfectionist. As a parent, I've grown used to the unavoidable fact that not every life pursuit will be blessed by...
How to Become a Substitute Teacher in 2023
Maybe you've decided it's time to join the ranks of us humble nomadic teacher ninjas: A substitute teacher is to be born! Substitute teachers have long been hallowed and celebrated in the...
A Free Behavior Management Printable for Substitute Teachers
Managing a new class' behavior can be the toughest part of substitute teaching. (And then doing it over and over again in brand new classrooms.) After a few years of subbing, I...
The Best Behavior Management Tips for Substitute Teachers
I've witnessed those hopeful bright eyes in new substitutes-- for but a fleeting moment. Freshly trained, fingerprinted and badged up, the school district releases you to start your good work. You're going...