Hi there, friends! Angie and I have had SO much fun this week connecting with all of you, and, AS PROMISED, we have a HUGE GIVEAWAY for you that starts RIGHT NOW!!
From the bottom of my inspired and full heart, thank you all for being a part of SUCH a fun week with all of us. To thank you all – to thank the 3,000 of you – that have followed us on this journey of ours throughout the course of the last couple of years – Angie and I are SO excited to be bringing you a few of our FAVORITE THINGS!! – $50 to our favorite place to shop . . . TARGET! ANNNND 25$ to our favorite stores – EACH OTHERS’!! You can win 25$ of products from my store AND $25 to Angie’s store, too! SAY WHAT?!?! YEP! It’s TRUE!
Click {HERE} to see what my shopping spree in Angie’s store would look like!
All you have to do to win is:
1) Enter the rafflecopter below
2.) Comment below on one or BOTH of our blogs! 🙂
What should you comment about, you ask?
**In your comment – we want you to help us continue coming TOGETHER with teachers from all over, because TOGETHER WE ARE BETTER!!! We all know that not every day is filled with perfect lessons and bright new bulletin boards. We face challenges on top of challenges as teachers each and every day. What we want to hear from you is – not only what is a challenge for you in the classroom but – how would you suggest to find the POSITIVE or to USE POSITIVITY to overcome those challenges?! Angie and I have shared that we choose to surround ourselves with positive people in our lives – so we’re inviting you to fill our comments with some ways that you find the POSITIVE in those everyday challenges in the classroom!!
Are you ready to enter?!? Enter the Rafflecopter below! Leave us a comment below with a POSITIVE suggestion to help us all to handle a challenge we may face in the classroom. heck back ON WEDNESDAY as we will announce the LUCKY WINNER OF 100$ WORTH IN PRIZES!!!
GOOD LUCK!! #togetherwearebetter
***************************GIVEAWAY CLOSED!***************************
One of the biggest challenges is trying to meet the common core (and diocesan) curriculum standards while using the programs out school has adopted. I often find times where I need to supplement information. I want to keep my lesson fun, fresh, and engaging while still meeting those standards! We can work together to find great ideas and can share resources.
One of the biggest challenges is dealing with negative peers. I have found that it is SO important to find at least one positive person at your school and seek them out whenever you are feeling low. http://www.cultofpedagogy.com/marigolds/
I agree with Tiffany, I try to surround myself with positivity and I look to both you and Angie for positivity! All the testing is also very challenging. I hate putting the stress on my students but we set Individual goals, hoping they will focus more on improving rather than passing/failing
I agree with Tiffany, I try to surround myself with positivity and I look to both you and Angie for positivity! All the testing is also very challenging. I hate putting the stress on my students but we set Individual goals, hoping they will focus more on improving rather than passing/failing
One my biggest challenges is not having a curriculum for some subjects and expectations not being age-appropriate. I teach in Texas so we don't follow Common Core but our TEKS especially in Math are just not age-appropriate. It's even harder because we don't have a real curriculum so finding materials can be challenging. I scour Pinterest and TPT for great materials like the ones you provide to help me. Thank you for all you do to help us! 🙂
My challenge is not becoming too overwhelmed by all the choices, and then just shutting down. I have our regular district provided curriculum, plus 3 filing cabinets full of wonderful resources from my years of teaching, plus Pinterest and TpT and teachers' blogs, etc. Seriously, sometimes I just have to put on blinders and head in. Otherwise I become so overstimulated that I could spend a whole month on one tiny little thing.
My challenge is not getting overwhelmed by everything there is to do each day!! There is always something more to do, so every day I make a to do list with things that need to get done that day, then that week, and in the future. I try to prioritize so I don't feel like I have to get it all done that day. 🙂
One of my biggest challenges is not listening to every critic out there. It's hard not to take things personal but you have to have tough skin and the people who really want you to succeed will provide positive criticism for you. I'm currently trying to get my very first teaching job, wish me luck!!
One of my biggest challenges is making sure I am meeting the demands of the Common Core State Standards. I am trying my best to meet these rigorous demands by reviewing my current style of teaching and using new products that I find. I am also constantly investigating other best practices to make sure that I am meeting the needs of my students.
Emily
scheinbere@hotmail.com
My challenge is trying to stay organize and prioritize what is most important for my students and my teaching. Like the others have said above, there is so many changes occurring, new resources, more tests to take, more data to analyze, etc, It gets to be too much at times. My challenge is not worrying about the changes, but is seeing what will benefit my class to make them successful second graders!
One of my biggest challenges is making sure I'm following our selected curriculum and meeting the demands of the Common Core State Standards. I'm always looking for better ways to teach and I sometimes get overwhelmed trying to meet the needs of each of my students.
My biggest challenge is keeping a class of mainly boys busy enough to maintain control and allow for learning. We do a lot of centers and hands on activities and I schedule brain breaks throughout the day.
Brigette–brigette@tds.net
Biggest challenge is teaching what and how I know I need to teach and integrate curriculum and be successful!!
One of my biggest challenges is providing appropriate instruction for each child. Small groups are wonderful and help a lot, but reading and math instruction often have to be tailored individually. Small groups, differentiated center assignments, and interactive notebooks have helped me a lot. I love that notebooks often give me insight to what (or how) the child is thinking.
My biggest challenge is trying to meet every single one of my student's needs everyday in the classroom. I struggle so much because I want to provide them with so much, but there is only one of me!
Trying to meet harder standers in a low income school. We teach small groups in math and reading everyday.
One of the biggest challenges I face is the lack of current resources. We have not had updates to textbooks in 7 years. I know you don't have to teach from a textbook, but it is nice to have that as a resource. I try to supplement with products from Teachers Pay Teachers, Pinterest ideas, and books that I purchase.
One of the biggest challenges I feel right now is knowing in my heart that the direction education is taking is not developmentally appropriate for young learners, but continuing to push my students to succeed in this crazy system. I do a great deal of praying and soul searching.
The biggest challenge I have right now is making the parents happy. This is almost impossible. I have to remember that it is for the kids. They are what is important 🙂
One of the biggest challenges I face is making sure the curriculum is modified enough for my students and still teach the same skills and material we are required to teach. I teach in NYC and the curriculum is difficult for my students and we struggle with the daily lessons. I am a Special Education, first year, teacher and I teach Kindergarten, First grade and second grade self contained. I have 3 different grade levels in 1 classroom and it is difficult to find resources to help my kiddos! It is teachers like you two who create so many wonderful things and the use of pinterest that I have found useful materials! Thank you for all that you do!! 🙂
My biggest challenge this year is not having enough time in my day. I do not feel like I am meeting the needs of my students this year because I have such a variety of learners. To overcome this challenge I have done a TON of differentiation in my classroom, and I even tutor a few students after school so they can get more of that one on one time and get the extra practice they need. Thank you ladies for being amazing, for being you, and for helping us to be better together!! Love you both!!!
Mrs. 3rd Grade
One of the biggest challenges I think I face is helping other professionals understand the unique learning needs of students' different cultures. Everyone has culture, but I have found that people often think that other people have culture (a different one than their own), but they themselves do not consider their own culture and how that influences their instruction. I've found that connecting with other teachers and professionals who believe in diversity and cultural sensitivity keeps me motivated to keep advocating for diverse learners. When content area teachers realize that differentiation isn't "one more thing to do" but rather a change of mind/perspective about instruction, they can voice those ideas to their peers as well. Working together like this to spread the message to all professionals widens our circle of influence when it comes to differentiation.
One of the biggest challenges I face is helping students to accomplish the high standards from the common core standards with mastery when they come from such high deficits and we are a high poverty school. I work to meet this challenge by enriching their curriculum, differentiating for students who are ELL, special education or struggling learners. I am constantly reading blogs and digging into TPT to find the supplements for our curriculum.
One of my positive outlooks on several matters above is implementing all sorts of different materials/ideas for engaging learners with unique needs. I have used small/whole group lessons, centers, interactive notebooks and journals.
Second issue as seen above: Dealing with parents.
In order to make parents happy I know several co-workers who send home lengthy emails at the end of the week which entail positive and negative behaviours, nightly phone calls and even short texts. We as educators spend soo much of our time trying to help our students excel. Like I always say- it takes a special person to be an educator.
One of my biggest challenges is behavior management. I have many students with behavior issues and limited parental involvement. I try to stay positive and modify my behavior plans to meet those students' needs. It's overwhelming though to have so many behavior issues in one classroom, especially since I am a beginning teacher without an education background.
One of my biggest challenges is having to teach to the test. I teach 3rd grade in Oklahoma and students must pass the reading test or be retained. This so goes against my early childhood education philosophy.
One of my biggest challenges is trying to fit everything into one day, one month, and one school year. Creating a year at a glance calendar and taking life one day at a time is the best way to approach this challenge. I need to trust myself and my students to go "off book" sometimes and allow learning to occur naturally.
A big challenge is how quickly my school wants to implement everything, without ever taking anything off teachers' plates. So I have come to the realization that I can only do so much and should not stress so much. (Easier said than done…)
This may sound so crazy but my biggest challenge is doing what is best for the kids. Let me explain. I work hard everyday for the 60 kids that I teach. Since I teach writing, we have a set plan for what we need to accomplish. I find it hard when I go to the other writing "Team members" and they are watching movies, tie dying eggs, and only teaching grammar. I feel my kids are not having any fun. I am such a people pleaser that I feel guilty about talking about what is happening in my room. Soooo what do I do to solve this problem, I TEACH! This week, I had a good cry and decided that my kids, who are begging to come to my class, are more important than being a pleaser. I just have to show how strong of writers my kiddos are. It makes my heart sing when they tell their ESL teacher, "I am going back to Mrs. King's writing, right?" I am creating life long learners.
My challenge: A month ago I had to take 2 days because my own littlest munchkin had surgery, when I returned to my class, not all of course, but enough of them to affect our classroom community and family, had an unmotivated what do I care, not listening type attitude. soo.. we spent a week of morning gathering coming up with ways to fix our problems, we created a promise, put our handprints and signed it (I asked them first if they could keep their promise). This was working!! Until about the beginning of last week, then we started going down hill. Even had specific kids say I don't promise 🙁 Then this week we were reading The Lorax, and we came to the Unless quote at the end of the book. Let's just say, I got emotional, choked up even. This quote was it! I truly believe that my classroom is a family and community and that we all have a responsibility, even my kiddos, to take care of each other and what everyone does affects everyone else. We actually have this as a school wide belief called Ubuntu. This weekend I am making Truffula trees, an Unless sign for above my class door with the whole quote, and Truffula Tree seeds. This week they are going to decorate their truffula seed and everyday I'm going to hand it to them as a daily reminder that: Unless someone like you cares a whole awful, nothing's going to get better, it's not. Praying and hoping this resonates with my kiddos like it did for me and we can have a turn around and finish our year fun, strong, and full of learning!
So many challenges these day! First there's the huge gap between the kids meeting and those not meeting grade level expecations and the lack of support for them. Then there's all the behaviour problems that happen everyday and get in the way of learning. We just have to do what we can do and leave it behind at the end of the day.
One of the biggest challenges that I face is trying to fit in Science and Social Studies into my day. We spend so much time on Language Arts and Math that I rarely feel like I'm doing them justice. One way I deal with that is by trying to incorporate our science and social studies texts into my Language Arts block.
My biggest challenge is the amount of absences and tardies we have. I can't teach them if they aren't in school. I try telling parents how important it is. I can't blame 5 and 6 year olds for not being at school.
My biggest challenge is the amount of absences and tardies we have. I can't teach them if they aren't in school. I try telling parents how important it is. I can't blame 5 and 6 year olds for not being at school.
My biggest challenge this year has been parents understanding how important Kindergarten is for their child. Many people think that oh it is just Kindergarten, but it is not! So many kids are not given help at home. I think it is so sad that adults are already showing their child how little they value their education….
The biggest challenge I have is trying to meet all of the needs of my students with only one of me. I have students reading on a kindergarten level and some are reading on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and higher. This is a first grade classroom. TPT and great teacher blogs are helping with great materials that are differentiated!
The biggest challenge I have is trying to meet all of the needs of my students with only one of me. I have students reading on a kindergarten level and some are reading on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and higher. This is a first grade classroom. TPT and great teacher blogs are helping with great materials that are differentiated!
One of the biggest challenges for me is finding the balance between school and family. Although school primarily dominates my time now, I find it's hard to "just leave it there until tomorrow" like many of my colleagues tell me to do. As a special education teacher, not only do I have the lesson plans and papers to grade, I also have all the paperwork. In addition, I have the pressure of an administrator this year saying that my resource students should be learning the same way and taking the same tests as the regular education kiddos when in reality, they are in resource for a reason….I'm struggling with the "do your job" piece and the moral side of me that feels this is wrong!
Biggest challenge is fitting more and more into the curriculum. With new guidelines and many more days of standardized testing, getting it all done is challenging. Interesting to see that I'm not the only one though! Thank you for the giveaway.
Our biggest challenge right now is trying to meet Common Core standards. Math is the hardest for my team and I. We have new curriculum but quite honestly it is completely different from how we learned or even how taught Math last year! My team is what encourages me to keep going and we work together to overcome the challenges everyday!
My biggest challenge right now is parents. I have had 2 parents who are convinced that their students are struggling in school, even though their grades do not reflect it. I try to be very positive with parents and express that they know their child best but I see how they are in a school setting where they are meeting or exceeding the standards and have no behavior concerns – one little girl likes to chat nonstop but it is typical 2nd grade behavior.
One of my biggest challenges has been behavior management. This year I have had children hit scream cry and hang on my furniture. I have yet to get a good note from subs when I am out but in the end I have made accommodations for the kids and have asked my counselors for lots of guidance. I have also researched on my own and have tried to find ways to helps my kids. Lots at stake now with standards of Texas getting harder and I know with my team I will be okay and my kids will be successful in his or her way.
My biggest challenge is meeting the needs of each and every student regardless of curriculum demands, home environment, lack of parental support,and not having time for what is good for kids. I'm thankful for blogs and TPT resources that I can use to try to meet the needs of my kiddos and teach me new tricks! 🙂
TIME! if i had only a few more minutes… to sink that concept, to do another brain break, to add another comment to a reading response notebook, to listen, to surf TPT, to run to the restroom before the day's end bell rings… to…. but thankful for blogs and places to share, reaffirm, and get new ideas…. thanks for all you do!
TIME! if i had only a few more minutes… to sink that concept, to do another brain break, to add another comment to a reading response notebook, to listen, to surf TPT, to run to the restroom before the day's end bell rings… to…. but thankful for blogs and places to share, reaffirm, and get new ideas…. thanks for all you do!
One of the current challenges I face is lack of resources (we don't have an ELA curriculum so I have to rely onTpT). We also don't have a lot of support with admin on discipline help. They think teachers should take care of that in the classroom, but sometimes teachers can't. I work at a charter school and am learning the difference of charter vs. public.
I think my biggest problem is fitting in science and social studies into my day. Additionally both curriculums are ancient and I have to rely on TPT for more engaging units.
I think my biggest problem is fitting in science and social studies into my day. Additionally both curriculums are ancient and I have to rely on TPT for more engaging units.
One of my biggest challenges is creating interesting lessons that engage all of my students and meet their varying needs. I rely heavily on my teammates who have wonderful ideas. Planning together has really helped us help our students.
My biggest challenge this year is providing social skills lessons on top of academics with my second graders. We've had a lot of discussions about responsibility and respecting each other and their things. I've also had to stay two steps ahead of tantrums and attitudes. Leaves very little time for other things! I have to say your March Madness themed All Star character pack has been a life saver this month! Its been a challenge but I have seen some improvement!
I think the biggest challenge has been staying on top of things as a first year teacher. I am hoping it will get easier as the years go although i still think organization will be difficult. I want to find a system that works for me to organize and someone to plan and work with. This will help me overcome some struggles.
Only 2 challenges??!! 😉 I will pick 2 different ones than I left on Angie's blog ..Ha!! I am a person who LOVES to collaborate with other teachers and I am on a team this year that does not do that… the way I am overcoming this is through lots of blog posts and social media interaction. I have gotten some of THE best ideas and inspiration there <3 The next biggest challenge is just not having enough supplies in my classroom and I have to supplement a lot!!
Karen
tommysmom0206@yahoo.com
I am going to leave a different struggle comment here than on Angie's blog…I struggle this year with an inclusion class that also has many many word readers that can not yet comprehend what they read. I use a lot of differentiated reading passages, interactive lessons, task cards (yes, from you!) and discussion. I am very grateful for Tpt and for you and Lucky Little Learners. Thank you!! ~kath
I struggle with the seemingly ending changes that occur and the gap it creates with kids, then the need to close the gap. In Texas we have had many changes over the last couple of years and will continue to do so for the next 3. Every year the kids come to 2nd already behind and I can't seem to catch them up. It is stressful and heartbreaking all at the same time.
My biggest challenge is moving from middle school to second grade this year! It's SOO incredibly different! I honestly have to relearn how to teach. I find positivity in the fact that my kids are awesome and I'm growing as an educator every day!
I have struggled with all of the changes in objectives and standards that Texas has changed. At times it makes sense, but sometimes, it makes it more difficult for those of us who haven't taught up or do not like change. I constantly search for new ideas and what is the best practices of teaching.
My biggest struggles have been finding time to teach all the concepts that I have to teach and still do all of the many programs that must be done on a daily basis. It's also a challenge to help all of your students when so many of them are struggling in all areas and have such difficult times dealing with their own behavioral and personal issues. I try to overcome them by just doing as much as I can each day to make the day exciting, inviting and motivating for all my kids. I try to give them as much support as I can.
My struggle this year is working with a team that does not cooperate. It has been very frustrating since I am a new teacher and would like to learn from experienced teachers and also they might learn from me too.
As a beginning teacher surplused to a school and grade level out of my control, I have struggled with working for a negative administration. Thankfully I have experience working for an empowering administrator so I know that this isn't how it is everywhere. However if anyone struggles with negative admin as well , and aren't as lucky to hear how valued you are as often as you deserve, strongly urge you to remind yourself why you began teaching and that you are amazing for doing what you do every single day and know in your heart that your value doesn't decrease based on someone's inability to see your worth. You chose this profession to change the world one small, sweet mind and heart at a time and you are doing just that every day! I admire each and every one of you for everything you do daily for children despite the challenges we face coming at us from all angles!
As a first year teacher I find myself in the classroom quite often leaving until the custodians kick me out which leaves little family time. I teach in Spanish in a dual immersion class- as a starter class in second, and I don't always have all the resources I should have from the district readily available. My district assessment come in, and the quality of the language is poor and who knows how that was translated. I work hard to give my kiddos quality lessons and work hard to maintain them engage. My colleagues are a great support system, specially the other newbies even though we might not be in the same grade level. We're all on the same boat and each others cheerleader. Couldn't be more blessed ?
BrandyMarch 14, 2015 at 7:36 PM
One of my biggest challenges this year is the change in Common Core to Florida Standards, a new reading series adoption and my district making assessment changes every couple of weeks! I'm so glad my kiddos are able to adapt and I have some positive people around me for support! You and Angie said it best, "together we are better!"
The biggest challenge I'm facing is all the curriculum and testing changes that are taking place. Many of these changes I do not agree with, so it takes a toll on me. I'm trying to overcome it by reminding myself what I know and love about teaching.
Rachel
A Tall Drink of Water
It is always a challenge for me to stay organized and find balance between school and home. Finding humor in a situation helps keep me positive. I love my school because we laugh (and cry) together!
I know policy makers think they know better but we need to stay true to what we know is best for the children!!
I often struggle with the balancing act. There are so many things we need to do, are expected to do and want to do to make learning enjoyable that it is over welming. I often do what's best for my kiddos and take every day as it comes!
The first time you try something new, I often find it's best to tell the students that it's new, and we may not know the outcome. This year with our 1:1 iPad rollout, I often find myself saying this to my students. If something is not working for us, we stop and do something else, and then come back to it another time, refreshed and not as stressed. It has helped me in knowing that it's OK if things don't go as planned, because my students are OK with it too. It's also a good life lesson for my students: learning that we shouldn't be afraid to try something new, and to take a break from something and come back to it at a later time.
When I am feeling negative I just look at my classes entering k assessments and think about how truely far they have came. I also watch them play and interact with each other. Many of my students did not speak any English when they came in and only 4 or 5 of my kids knew any letter sounds. It is truely amazing to see the growth even on tough days.
Biggest challenge is limited access to technology. Our school only has 5 iPads for 1200+ students. There are so many wonderful ways to incorporate the iPads, but with so few of them it makes it hard. We do have a computer lab though.
My biggest struggle this year is trying to provide intervention for students who aren't getting the core curriculum first within their classrooms. This is especially true of the Kindergarten students I work with who are only in school for 2 1/2 hours a day and I have them for an hour a day! I have to basically teach them the core subjects (reading and mathematics) while trying to provide intervention at the same time. It has truly been a struggle and I don't feel like they are making the progress they should be. One bright light at the end of this tunnel is that my district passed full day Kindergarten for next year! Yay!
My biggest challenge is finding the time to write IEPs, take care of all the paperwork, plan lessons and teach.
One of my biggest challenges is keeping up with the forever changing expectations and demands. To help I make a to do list to tackle daily or even weekly and anything accomplished beyond that is just an added bonus. It also helps to take a deep breath and talk it out with my team.
My biggest challenge is balance. I see all these fabulous ideas on blogs and people doing amazing things and want to try them all. This is just not possible. Not only would I not be utilizing my own teaching style but I wouldn't be true to my students either. Balance also means that I need to make sure I'm a mother to my three young boys, a wife to my husband, and a follower of God. I can't just be a teacher.
Meeting all my students needs is always a challenge. I'm so grateful for wonderful bloggers like yourselves who provide me with ideas and inspiration!
Biggest challenge is trying to fit a year's worth of curriculum into three-fourths of a school year!! Also, differentiating it all. It always gets done though.
One of the biggest challenges is not having enough resources. I work in a small district that doesn't allocate lots for books, supplies, or technology. Good thing many teachers apply for grants to close the gap. Thank you.
My biggest challenge is challenging behaviors in my classroom. I have tried a few things but they only seem to work for a short time.
The largest challenge I am seeing in teaching right now is the diversities in classrooms. I am an ELL teacher for 2nd in a school system with a huge influx of ELL students. The school I am teaching in has over 600 ELL students, from Mexico, El Salvador, and Honduras, etc. I use Ashley's task cards for LA daily with my students!!!
Two biggest challenges:
1. Being allowed to use my professional judgement to teach how I need to teach and do what is best for students!!
2. HAVING ENOUGH TIME.
Biggest challenge is co-workers who do not want to work together. Teaching is easier when people work together. Your theme is so appropriate!! Want to come to my school and give a workshop?? 🙂
One challenge in my district is increasing class sizes. Numbers are growing, children needs are more and more diverse, and resources are limited. Magic wand please!!
One of my main challenges is being able to meet everything I need to now that we adopted the CC Standards. I especially feel that there isn't enough time in the day and it stresses em out! =(. I simply try to make as many of my lessons fun and engaging. I remind myself that they are children and they will eventually grasp the main concepts and master them! =)
One of my main challenges is teaching students who are ESOL. In my class, 13 out of 18 students speak Spanish as their first language. With this, reading and writing are often a struggle due to language barriers. Instead of focusing on where they "should be" in second grade, I like to focus on their small successes and growth. This makes me feel better as a teacher and lets them know that I believe in them.
Brittany S.
One of my biggest challenges this year is finding the perfect balance of what I know is best practice for my kids & what my district is forcing us to do. We have brand new ELA curriculum guides that are only being uploaded weekly. We have no idea where we are going from week to week and I struggle with not being able to backwards design. I've been trying to squeeze in my own units on top of this districts to make it work but the struggle is real! Lol. Thank you so much for sharing all your talent with us!!
Kristen
Loving Teaching Inspiring
Teaching has always been my calling. I know that. However we ALL the demands and cuts, it is hard to keep that dream alive and not let our kiddos feel the pressure! I mean, come on, they're kids!!!! I want to make sure I find creative ways to still reach the high demands and rigor of common core but still bring the joy back to teaching! I constantly feel like I am in the circus spinning 982 plates at one time, but the demands are all worth it! Surround yourself with positive people that uplift and encourage you! That's how I make it through daily!
Thanks for what you all do!!!! We ALL appreciate you!!!
Melissa Frank
Time is also a huge challenge! Balancing everything! It doesn't seem that hard at times due to loving what I do. I just which we had more time. One thing that has helped me is actually NOT going in on the weekends. I beleive that this helps me to prepare for the week ahead. I may bring the work home but at least I am home. ; )
My biggest challenge is myself!! I try and take on potential projects, and think I need to change things up, and I can't keep up!
My challenge is helping my struggling readers meet the Common Core.
My challenge is remembering to leave the stress of school at school. My family deserves my 100 percent attention and I say this as I cut out laminating
My biggest struggle is finding Common Core activities that are grade level appropriate for my sped kids! I hope to overcome it by doing more learning activities instead of just worksheets.
There are so many challenges facing educators today, and I believe most all of us truly work so hard to be perfect all the time. So, my biggest challenge is finding that "balance" of being all my kids, coworkers, family, and friends need me to be!
My biggest challenge is trying to get everything in! I can't stand that I often don't get to science and social studies especially when I know my kids love it! We integrate them into reading, but I want to get into experiments and units. So, this last quarter I'm really going to try to stick to my schedule and get it done! 🙂
Nicole
All Things Apple
I think my biggest challenge is differentiating in my class. The capabilities of my students are so different….and I want to give all of my students an equal chance to learn the most they can. I am trying to always group my kids so that they can help eachother or give my high kids a more independent task.
A big struggle that I see is in teams not working together effectively. I think it's important to constantly remind ourselves that we are there for the students and their learning. Working together, being positive, and communicating with one another can build a bridge toward working effectively for the good of the students.
One of my struggles is that we, as a team, are not working effectively, we all have the same goal to reach but are not always reaching it together.
This year I have the most divernse range of needs from my inclusion classroom. I struggle to meet all of their needs every day. I collaborate with my team to make sure that we're doing our best and the pray for the best!
My biggest challenge is the negativity of the staff, unfortunately. It makes for a hard place to work, but I make the best of it. I really try to cheer up the environment with having fun with my students. Whip cream in the mouth and Go Noodle really help! ❤️Congrats on your amazing success! You both are inspirations to so many!
One of our biggest challenges we face each day is the issue of time. We feel like we can't get every subject taught everyday like we need too. We always get it math and reading groups, but find it difficult to squeeze in our basal series, writing, science, and social studies. My best teacher friend that I work with and I try and plan together and assign days to specific things. Generally, science and social studies get left out with the exception of weekly scholastic news. I just feel so blessed to have my teacher friend their with me, the past two years with her have been WONDERFUL! I truly believe that together we are BETTER!
Biggest challenge-reading curriculum. Novel based with little to no resources. Teachers create everything themselves, but many of them don't share the resources with one another. Perhaps someday!!
My biggest challenge is getting my students to think for themselves. I have one class that constantly has their hand in the air. Instead of thinking, they instantly give up and raise their hand. I have a hard time deciphering who really needs help and who Is lazy. I overcome this by telling them, no questions for the first ten minutes. Then after that they must ask a question… They can't say "I need help" or "I don't get this."
I have such high poverty students so I have very little support from home happening in my classroom. I really try to make sure my classroom is positive and rewarding. Sometimes it is very hard to get through to them because they maybe had a rough night with little sleep or even didn't eat dinner.I make sure to greet them with a smile every morning and it really can turn things around for them. I struggle to find different resources for them so Both of your stores have been so helpful in aiding my kiddos education! They absolutely LOVE the interactive notebooks! Their math skills have increased greatly this year! Thank you, thank you for all you do!
I have such high poverty students so I have very little support from home happening in my classroom. I really try to make sure my classroom is positive and rewarding. Sometimes it is very hard to get through to them because they maybe had a rough night with little sleep or even didn't eat dinner.I make sure to greet them with a smile every morning and it really can turn things around for them. I struggle to find different resources for them so Both of your stores have been so helpful in aiding my kiddos education! They absolutely LOVE the interactive notebooks! Their math skills have increased greatly this year! Thank you, thank you for all you do!
I have such high poverty students so I have very little support from home happening in my classroom. I really try to make sure my classroom is positive and rewarding. Sometimes it is very hard to get through to them because they maybe had a rough night with little sleep or even didn't eat dinner.I make sure to greet them with a smile every morning and it really can turn things around for them. I struggle to find different resources for them so Both of your stores have been so helpful in aiding my kiddos education! They absolutely LOVE the interactive notebooks! Their math skills have increased greatly this year! Thank you, thank you for all you do!
I think one of the biggest challenges this year is adapting our Math and ELA programs to meet the common core standards. We feel like we're constantly making tests and searching for materials to use to beef up what we have. I wish we could spend all that time focusing on our lessons and working with the students. My grade level is also frustrated with all of the testing that our administration is putting us up to. It's too hard on the kids and taking away from instruction time. I just finished a book club study on The Energy Bus. It was awesome! It's all about keeping yourself surrounded by positive people. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it yet. Thank you for all the wonderful materials you make! You're an inspiration!
My biggest challenge in education is the negative attitudes of others. I approach learning with positivity and remind myself that I need to model what I expect from my students. I just wish others felt the same. 🙂
My biggest challenge in education is teaching to the test and having to use so much time to do so. We have had so many district assessments added in the past couple of years along with new standardized testing on the computer. Kids have to learn both the test material and how to use the laptops the district purchased. All of this needs to be done along with regular curriculum. Eeek!
I think my biggest challenge is time. There are so many standards and assessments, paperwork, etc.that I feel like I don't have time to just teach!
My biggest challenge in education is trying to meet my student's needs! They all vary and there is not enough time in the day for 1 to 1 instruction. I feel like no matter how much I try there are always a few that fall through the cracks. So, I have focus groups that I meet with more often while my partner teacher works with the higher kiddos. Hopefully this will help!