Survive & Thrive

You can enjoy teaching. But first, you must survive. How? Just organize, plan, and simplify. Then it's time to thrive. Learn new things. Engage your students. And finally - dive in!

Develop teacher metacognition with morning reflection.

How Morning Reflection Affects Teacher Metacognition

October 11, 2018

Brenda Kovich

Dive In, Enjoy Teaching

No Comments

What is teacher metacognition? When you use it in morning reflection, it powerfully directs your day. You don’t need to get up earlier or change your routine. Instead, just shift your…

How to Modernize Novel Studies with Google Sites

January 22, 2017

Brenda Kovich

Enjoy Teaching, Learn, Technology

No Comments

Digital novel studies give kids audio-visual experiences that paper and pencil just can’t provide. Take your students on a five-minute virtual field trip. Show a photo to illustrate a concept. Let…

Fall Foliage Interdisciplinary Teaching Ideas

September 11, 2016

Brenda Kovich

Interdisciplinary Teaching, Plan

No Comments

Fall foliage sets the stage for some great interdisciplinary teaching. Plan a full day or sprinkle activities through the season. Grab your students’ attention with a colorful leaf chromatography experiment. Continue with…

6 Things Zumba Made Me Know About Teaching

January 2, 2016

Brenda Kovich

Engage, Enjoy Teaching

No Comments

Sometimes we learn about teaching in the most unlikely places. As Ms. Sneed began a new Zumba class, for example, there was a definite learning curve. “Is this how my…

How to Unlock Classroom Starting Points with Data

January 1, 2016

Brenda Kovich

Enjoy Teaching, Plan

No Comments

To figure out students’ needs, establish classroom starting points. First, gather multiple data points for each student you teach. Second, determine cutoffs for high, average, and low scores. Third, label each child.…

5 Ideas for Classroom Management You Will Love

November 2, 2015

Brenda Kovich

Classroom Management, Enjoy Teaching, Organize

No Comments

Looking for ideas for classroom management? Take five steps to get started. First, figure out what you want (and how you’ll get it). Second, set clear rules. Third, establish authority.…

Go ahead. Take a deep dive into the teaching profession. Truly accomplished teachers take risks and advocate for their students.

What Best Teachers Do and How to Be One

October 14, 2015

Brenda Kovich

Dive In, Enjoy Teaching

No Comments

What do best teachers do? First, they aren’t afraid to dive right in. They meet trouble head-on. And they always act in their students’ best interests. These educators remain thoughtful…

To thrive as a teacher, engage your students - and yourself!

Engage Your Students with Effective Teaching Strategies

October 11, 2015

Brenda Kovich

Engage, Enjoy Teaching

No Comments

Engage your students in their learning. Don’t just stick your toe in the water! Jump right in with effective teaching strategies. Let’s take a look at some ways you can…

Do you make work for yourself? Simplify your teaching life - and give yourself a much-needed break!

Simplify Your Teaching – Work-Life Balance Is Actually Possible

October 5, 2015

Brenda Kovich

Enjoy Teaching, Simplify

No Comments

Simplify your teaching; simplify your life! Avoid teacher time traps associated with grading, committee work, planning, decorating, and more. It’s time to work smarter, not harder. Then you can attain…

When teachers learn new things, they feel more confident - and the kids benefit too!

4 Ways to Get Professional Development and Learn Every Day

October 1, 2015

Brenda Kovich

Enjoy Teaching, Learn

No Comments

Professional development = learning. From sunup to sundown, teachers learn about teaching. No, PD doesn’t require a college course, a workshop, or a webinar. It begins on that first day…

When you plan ahead (and include fun activities), you really start to enjoy teaching.

Powerful Long-Range Lesson Planning Strategies

September 27, 2015

Brenda Kovich

Enjoy Teaching, Plan

No Comments

When you plan instruction thoughtfully, you will enjoy teaching more. At the beginning of the year, find your starting point. Then plan in broad strokes (long-range planning) and smaller strokes (unit…

The first step to enjoy teaching is to organize. Then you can stop frantically treading water and begin to relax.

Organize Your Classroom – Five Promising Fundamentals

September 27, 2015

Brenda Kovich

Enjoy Teaching, Organize

No Comments

The first step to enjoy teaching is to organize your classroom. Without rules, routines, and general order, a teacher becomes overwhelmed, frantic, and unhappy. It’s time to stop treading water.…

Survive & Thrive

How Morning Reflection Affects Teacher Metacognition

How to Modernize Novel Studies with Google Sites

Fall Foliage Interdisciplinary Teaching Ideas

6 Things Zumba Made Me Know About Teaching

How to Unlock Classroom Starting Points with Data

5 Ideas for Classroom Management You Will Love

What Best Teachers Do and How to Be One

Engage Your Students with Effective Teaching Strategies

Simplify Your Teaching – Work-Life Balance Is Actually Possible

4 Ways to Get Professional Development and Learn Every Day

Powerful Long-Range Lesson Planning Strategies

Organize Your Classroom – Five Promising Fundamentals

Visit my TPT store!

Brenda Kovich

Sign-Up for Updates

Site Links