This School Year - One Day at a Time

There’s a saying that floats through staff rooms and late-night lesson-planning sessions: “Just make it through the week.” But sometimes, even a week feels too long. The truth is, teaching is a calling that demands presence—not perfection. And the secret to staying grounded in the whirlwind of emails, behavior plans, changing curriculum, and extracurricular chaos? Taking it one day at a time.

Some mornings, the to-do list stretches longer than the school day. Grading, meetings, parent communication, differentiation… it can be paralyzing. But here’s the shift: zoom in. Focus on today. What’s one thing you can accomplish that will move the needle? What’s one student who needs a little extra encouragement? What’s one moment where you can pause and breathe between bells? These “small wins” build momentum—and sanity.

Give yourself permission to slow down. You don’t have to be the Pinterest-perfect teacher every day. Students remember how you made them feel, not how beautiful your anchor charts were. They need consistent, caring adults more than they need daily reinvention. By showing up with intention—even when you’re tired—you’re modeling resilience, grace, and presence.

And finally, believe in the power of the reset. Every day is a fresh page. Yesterday’s chaos doesn’t define today’s potential. Progress over perfection, always. When we give ourselves the same grace we offer our students, we rediscover our love for this work—and the people it’s for.

So take a breath, sip your coffee, and take it one day at a time. That’s more than enough. Have a great start to the school year and remember to take it one day at a time.

Incorporating Entrepreneurship Into Any Class

I have had the privilege of teaching entrepreneurship to high school students for nine years now. It is a subject that is constantly changing and never stays the same due to the nature of problems that need solved around the world. Entrepreneurship is both exhilarating and refreshing to teach. It is way of thinking and living life. Many of the students whom I teach will never start their own business, but they will have ideas in life that could turn into legit opportunities. Companies in 2021 and beyond don't just want people who can memorize formulas or ace a 100-question test. They want problem solvers who are creative and who can turn ideas into action! All teachers, no matter what subject they teach, can incorporate entrepreneurship into their curriculum by using these three simple ideas that better increase student creativity and innovation!

1. Encourage vertical or design thinking on assignments or projects. Ask students to look at a problem, reading, project, etc. and brainstorm ways by themself or with a partner on how it can be done a different or better way. Some examples: 

History = Have students explore a new app or software that showcases the timeline of the Civil War. 

Math = Show students how to solve it two different ways and allow them to practice in that way. 

Science = Allow students to create their own experiment and find solutions to problems they care about. 

English = Provide multiple choices on how students can showcase their learning of a book or topic they learned. 

2. Idea journal. Have students set-up in Google Keep or another digital note taking app. In this digital journal, carve out time once or twice a week for students to brainstorm things that bug, annoy, pain, or problems they want to solve. If time, discuss and share how the things they brainstorm could solve problems or create new opportunities in the subject area you teach. 

3. Bring the world into class. Whatever subject you teach, you have the power to make your class current and relevant. Sometimes it can be hard for students to see the relation between solving a math problem and how it impacts their life. Find ways as a teacher to share current events, news, and stories about your subject matter with students that keep them engaged and relating to the world around them. You could use Flipgrid to have students find a current event about what is going on in the science field and have students share their findings in under a minute via video. If you are teaching a unit on short stories, encourage students to go and find a current story that inspires them and utilize that for their story. 

By challenging our students to practice creativity and innovation throughout their day, we are setting them up for what the future will ask and demand of them. The future will need problem solvers who can think outside the box and turn ideas into action! Let's continue to encourage our students to be creative and let their ideas shine bright. 

Midway Teachers: Get Energized to Finish Strong!

Congratulations TEACHERS! You have made it through the first half of the 2013-2014 school year. Hopefully you had a lot of fun, grew as a person, and felt like you made a difference! As we reach this midway point, it can be tough to be as motivated as you were back in August to give your best for your students everyday. Sometimes you feel tired, unmotivated, feel in a rut, run out of creativity, etc. It happens to even the best! I wanted to share some ideas with you that will hopefully provide that motivation and energy to finish the year stronger than you started it. Below is a list things you can do right now to ENERGIZE your thoughts and CREATIVITY for the rest of the school year. Please feel free to add more and always remember why you teach and why you went into the profession. Your students will not remember what you taught them, but they will forever remember how you made them feel...

1. Take a period or two to observe other teachers in your building. I know time is precious as a teacher but it is refreshing to see what others are doing. Who knows, you may have some fun and learn something new you could use in your classroom? It doesn't matter if you have been teaching for 5 years or 20, you can always learn a new trick! 
   
2. Do something fun with the people you work with. As a teacher, especially in a larger district, it is hard to get out and really build relationships with other teachers. Get people together for a dinner one night, ask people to do a Mudd Run, take a trip somewhere. It is relaxing and enjoyable to do something fun with other people you work with! If not the people you work with, join an organization and meet new people that you can build a positive network around.
3. Join Twitter and get involved in a Twitter Chat for educators. Each week, there are over 100 different education chats happening on Twitter where professionals talk and discuss all topics in education. CLICK HERE for a list of all the chats, dates, and times. I am amazed at all the wonderful ideas that are shared and relationships that can be built!
   
4. Go to a conference OR take a class. As you read this, I am sure some of you are yelling at me. Conferences are a great way to meet new people, network, and learn. I am very much looking forward to presenting and attending the PETE & C conference in Hershey, PA in February. Secondly, taking classes can be tedious due to the amount of time we have in a day, but continuing to learn new things is rewarding. It inspires us to get better! Taking a class doesn't just have to be education related; it can be cooking, fitness, learning how to do something new, etc.
5. READ!!! It is easy to come home after work, eat dinner, and plop down on the couch and watch TV. The most successful people in this world read everyday. Feed your brain. It is just as important as taking care of your body. You are what you think and put into your mind! CLICK HERE for a list of the best education books to read. 
6. Call your students parents with positive phone calls. How many of us actually do this? Parents love it and you will feel good about doing it. I challenge you to call five parents a week with a positive phone call. It will make you feel great about what you do.
   
7.  EXERCISE!!! If you aren't exercising at least a 3-5 times a week, you are doing your students a disservice. That sounds unfair but the more you exercise, the more energy and creativity you will have to give to them and your family. I am not going to tell you what to do or how to do it, but as Nike's slogan states, "JUST DO IT."

Thank you for all you do. Teaching is a hard job but a job where you get to impact lives everyday. It is all in your attitude and outlook! Get better everyday and never rest until your good is better and your better is best...

-Rob Donatelli
@DTown_MrD