Tips for a Happy School Year

It's Teacher Week 2013!


Today is Teacher Tips Friday!
I'm sharing some tips for a happier you.
#1 Must Do Always and Forever as long as you live....


Find/Make a teacher friend at or near your grade level. This will be a person that will become a pseudo-mentor, is someone you can talk to, bounce ideas off of, vent to and ask those 'stupid' questions.

I cannot tell you how many times this has saved my sanity-especially since I've been in a new school almost every year! This also works well when your district gives you a 5th grade mentor when you teach Kindergarten :P

#2 Try to stay out of staff drama...'nuff said!
     Although this does not necessarily mean to stay out of the staff/lunch room. I am a big believer that we need to take our 23 minutes for ourselves and get out of our classroom and talk to grown-up peoples (or at least be in their presence!) I know there is a compulsion to stay in your room and grade those papers-but they will still be there tomorrow morning and the kids will not care if they are a day late.



For me, it helps rejuvenate me halfway through the day, and it helps me shake things off that happen in the classroom and gives be a fresh start for the afternoon. 

#3 Ask questions and ask for help.
    No one (should) look down at you for asking for help or asking questions...they may actually be impressed that you did! If you don't know or understand something, please ask.


You may even look good to people because you have the courage to ask/look for help!

# 4 Come into work with a smile and be friendly!
     This will totally impress people, help you make friends and put you in a good frame of mind!

I couldn't resist...he was too cute!

This also works especially well when you are told you can't return and you lost your position....totally impresses the higher-ups and other colleagues-helps get good recommendations! (speaking from personal experience...)

Use any and all of the above for a happy school year!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn