Category: Love Teaching

If you are reading this in real time, “back-to-school” commercials are already flooding your screen, signaling the approach of a new academic year. This transition is a perfect moment to check in with yourself. Are you excited to get started? Do you feel refreshed by the slower pace of summer? Or are you dreading the…

“With your big, beautiful brain.” That is my go-to response whenever my math students ask how to tackle a complex problem. In a digital world, it reminds them that our greatest tool isn’t technology—it is our ability to think critically. But fostering critical thinking is getting harder. With AI at their fingertips, students can completely…

Please don’t get me wrong. I am not on a vendetta against administrators. I know and respect many good ones, and I am fully aware that they have more plates in the air than most teachers. They must serve faculty, students, parents, board members, and the community. They balance budgets, develop curriculum, coordinate professional development,…

Every year, passionate educators leave the classroom not because they are tired, but because they are heartbroken. True teacher burnout is rarely just a product of long hours or endless grading. It is born from organizational disappointment. Because teachers are mission-driven and student focused, they routinely conquer heavy workloads. But when a school fails to…

You are exactly who our students need right now. Thank you for choosing this vital, fulfilling profession. It won’t always be easy, but I promise you will not regret choosing this path. And, please don’t let the mainstream media fool you into a negative mindset about the American education system. There is so much joy…

If you are a teacher staring at your to-do list feeling completely drained, you are not alone. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout is a real “occupational phenomenon” driven by chronic, unmanaged workplace stress. In fact, a 2023 study confirmed what many educators already know: K-12 teachers report significantly worse well-being than the…

I have always pushed back against the old adage, “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach,” because it profoundly misses the point. Teaching transcends mere content knowledge; it requires an acute awareness of others, a genuine investment in their success, and the capacity to inspire real learning and growth. This cynical outlook is a…

There are so many different ways to map out a lesson, but one of my absolute favorites is backward design. This strategy is all about starting with the finish line in mind. Before I even think about planning activities, I like to ask myself a few core questions: What big ideas or skills do I…

If you have explored my work, you already know that celebrating self-care is at the heart of everything I do. Sharing the gift of well-being has truly become my life’s mission. I am deeply passionate about helping our incredible teachers embrace wellness and self-kindness, empowering them to shine bright and thrive in their classrooms every…

After thirty-seven years of teaching everything from chaotic statistic projects to skill and drill algebra, I whole-heartedly recommend the profession to anyone who asks. It is a noble career, offering a lifelong opportunity to master and polish your craft. This path ensures that you will always be a lifelong learner, as you ultimately learn just…