marigolds Search Results

Find Your Marigold: The One Essential Rule for New Teachers

…when you’re with them: Are you calmer, more hopeful? Excited to get started on a teaching task? Comfortable asking questions, even the stupid ones? If you feel good around this person, chances are they have some marigold qualities. Once you’ve identified your marigolds, make an effort to spend time with them. Having a hard day? Go to your marigolds. Not understanding how to operate the grade reporting system? Go to your marigolds. Confused by something the principal said at the faculty meeting? Marigolds. They may be on the other side of the building, out of your grade or…

Find Your Marigold: The One Essential Rule for New Teachers

…when you’re with them: Are you calmer, more hopeful? Excited to get started on a teaching task? Comfortable asking questions, even the stupid ones? If you feel good around this person, chances are they have some marigold qualities. Once you’ve identified your marigolds, make an effort to spend time with them. Having a hard day? Go to your marigolds. Not understanding how to operate the grade reporting system? Go to your marigolds. Confused by something the principal said at the faculty meeting? Marigolds. They may be on the other side of the building, out of your grade or subject area,…

What Advice Would You Give a Student Teacher?

…going to remember all the ideas you come up with this semester, all the lessons you learn, all the things you want to do differently next time around. I’m here to tell you that you won’t remember half of them if you don’t write them down. 9. Find Your Marigold If you’ve never read my article about teachers and marigolds, go read it now. I’ll wait. Okay, that applies to student teachers too. To really have a wonderful student teaching experience, you need to find one person in the building who embodies everything you want to be in a teacher,…

Contact/FAQs

…hear about equity and racial justice. If you haven’t had a change of heart by now, it’s time to step aside so others can do the work. You should not be teaching, full stop. Back to Top What’s Up with the Language? Your writing can get pretty informal and you occasionally use profanity. Is it really necessary? This question comes up from time to time in response to posts like this one on pronunciation (8th paragraph), this one on marigolds, or even the title of this one on PD. Years of feedback have taught me that one reason people come…

The Gut-Level Teacher Reflection

…with your colleagues have a huge impact on how you feel about coming to work every day. Are there Marigolds and Walnut Trees in your midst that you’ve never identified? Are there some strong, positive teachers in the building whom you feel intimidated by, but should probably get to know better? Is it time to fix a relationship that has been damaged? After going through the faculty and staff, choose a few people with whom you need to change your relationship, whether by repairing it, limiting it, or nurturing it. 5. Look at the following professional practice “buzzwords.” As you…

The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Teaching Job Mid-Year

…know you. Faculty and Staff While you’re at it, spend some time getting to know your colleagues as well. Start by finding one or two positive, supportive teachers who seem to really love their jobs (around here, we call these people Marigolds), and spend most of your time with them. Other key staff members to get friendly with are the school secretary, the librarian, the cafeteria staff, the technology coordinator, the guidance counselors, and the custodial staff. You’re going to have lots of questions for all of these people, so be sure to get off on the right foot by…

Teaching as a Second Career: Getting the Job

…13 means I have seen many things work and fail. Being a bit older and having doubts means that I (and my other mature aged students) are always on the lookout. It’s why I’m here and have been since before I started my course. (Jen – the marigolds article went down a huge treat at my last prac. Was presented with some marigolds and walnuts by a couple of staff at the end). Will I be totally ready to teach in 11 months and 15 days? I’m willing now, but even after my course is finished I will still have…

8 Things I Know for Sure About (Most) Middle School Kids

…in your teaching career! Find the marigolds! John Over 30 years working with Middle Schoolers, I agree 100% with all but 5. They can’t be trusted. I have found they are a lot more trustworthy than High Schoolers. I’m not sure where your coming from when you say they cant be trusted, Because I’ve very seldom if any find I can’t trust them. They may mess with you but if your serious and honest with them they’ll be the same back Aubrey Knowles what is something that 6th graders like to do Katrice Quitter Hi Aubrey! We would love to…

Rewrite the Story You Tell Yourself About Teaching

…changed from “My students are lazy,” to “My students aren’t engaged in their reading and writing. Here’s what I can do. I can come to school every day, loving them, smiling, having a sense of humor, and continuing to hold high expectations with highly engaging lessons.” These are the things you can control that you can feel good about as you finish up the year. Seeking support from some marigolds (see our blog Find Your Marigold: One Essential Rule for New Teachers) and checking out the instructional blogs on our site may inspire some new ideas for increasing student engagement….