Sunday, October 20, 2019

Pinned Post - If You're New to This Blog...

Welcome! This blog was created to share practical organization tips for FACS teachers. If this is your first time here, you may want to start by clicking on the "Organization" label in the right sidebar. Thank you for reading!

For more of an introduction, here is my first post from March 2012:

All FACS teachers know that we have a crazy amount of tools, materials, and resources that need to be well-organized and maintained in order to create a successful classroom environment. While I have scored a few good ideas from the Internet, I find the online world seriously lacking in truly practical tips to help teachers establish an orderly classroom specifically for "Home Ec". Through trial and error, creative thinking, and (I’m not ashamed to admit it) outright theft, I’ve implemented several successful ideas in my classroom over the years. The purpose of this blog is to share my ideas with others looking for the same thing, and hopefully to have other teachers share their ideas with me!


Saturday, October 19, 2019

Every Teacher Should Take Four Years Off

As readers of this blog from yesteryear know, in the spring of 2014 I left the classroom and took a position in faculty development at the local community college. At the time I thought I would never go back to teaching K12.

Not so much, it turns out! After four years I was ready to get back into the action, and I am now in my second year back. And it is SO DIFFERENT this time. Not because of the school I'm at or the students I teach or the admin I work with, but because of the benefits gained from the gap.

EVERY TEACHER SHOULD TAKE FOUR YEARS OFF!

Okay, so that's probably not realistic, but it has made a huge difference to return with a fresh perspective. I have the enthusiasm of a new teacher with the experience of a seasoned one, and that is a very powerful, and very HEALTHY, position.

I wasn't sure about returning to blogging so I've waited a little over a year, but I think I have some good things to share about that new perspective that may be helpful to others.

And, of course, being at a new school I have all sorts of new organization tips! Stay tuned!