Easy Ways to Live Sustainably and Ecofriendly on a Teacher Budget
Over the past few years, I have been making transitions to live more sustainably and include more eco-friendly choices in my daily life....
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Blog
Michelle McDonald
- Sep 19
- 2 min
Exploring Ancient Wonders: A Virtual Field Trip to Petra for 6th Grade
Over the past few years, virtual field trips have become an incredible way to engage students in immersive learning experiences. If you...
Michelle McDonald
- Sep 12
- 2 min
Immerse Your Students in California Mission History with a Virtual Field Trip
Are you searching for an interactive way to teach your students about the history and cultural significance of the California Missions?...
Michelle McDonald
- Aug 29
- 6 min
Learn How to Thrive in Your First Year of Teaching with this Framework
Are you a new teacher on a rollercoaster ride of emotions? If that resonates with you, I completely understand! Balancing teaching and...
Michelle McDonald
- Aug 22
- 2 min
How to Go Beyond the Outdated Textbook to Teach the Lewis and Clark Expedition
As educators, we strive to provide our students with rich, diverse, and engaging learning experiences that go beyond the confines of...
Michelle McDonald
- Aug 15
- 3 min
4 Things Social Studies Teachers Should Know About PragerU
As teachers, we know that our students deserve a high-quality social studies education. So often our schools do not provide any materials...
Michelle McDonald
- Aug 8
- 4 min
4 Back to School Teacher Planning Tips That Get Overlooked
As we get into Back to School season, there are so many things to prep and plan. Maybe this is the year that you will make your lunches...
Michelle McDonald
- Jul 11
- 2 min
Step Back in Time: A Virtual Field Trip to the Dust Bowl
Technology has opened up endless possibilities for education, including virtual field trips. As a teacher, you have the opportunity to...
Michelle McDonald
- Jul 4
- 2 min
Why You Need to Attend the 2023 First Year Teacher Summit
I'm so excited to share that registration is open for the 2023 First Year Teacher Summit! This is the first virtual event of its kind...
Michelle McDonald
- Jun 27
- 2 min
Explore the Tracks of History: A Virtual Field Trip on the Transcontinental Railroad
Virtual field trips have become a popular way for educators to provide students with engaging and interactive learning experiences,...
Michelle McDonald
- Jun 20
- 4 min
Build a Healthy Rapport with your Colleagues as a First Year Teacher
If you are a new teacher or maybe a teacher working in a new building, having a good rapport with your colleagues might be new waters to...
Michelle McDonald
- Jun 13
- 2 min
Four Inspiring Book Recommendations for Teachers to Read Over Summer Break
This post contains affiliate links to make it easier for you to find the books shared in this post. Summer break provides a well-deserved...
Michelle McDonald
- Jun 6
- 2 min
An Easy and Low Prep End of Unit Assessment: One Pagers
Are you tired of assigning tests for your social studies units? I want to share an easy-to-implement end-of-unit project that gets...
Michelle McDonald
- Jun 1
- 3 min
Step Into Your First Teacher Interview With Confidence: 5 Tips
Preparing for your first interview can be nerve-wracking and it's one of the most commonly asked questions within the First Year Teacher...
Michelle McDonald
- May 24
- 6 min
Why Setting Healthy Boundaries are Essential in the Teaching Profession
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “teachers do it for the outcome, not for the income.” I want to take a moment to dismantle this concept...
Michelle McDonald
- May 16
- 2 min
US History Gilded Age Interactive Activity to Spark Engagement & Curiosity
I don't know about you, but I find that students are especially intrigued when we learn about the Gilded Age. Maybe it's the glitz, glam,...
Michelle McDonald
- May 4
- 2 min
How Much is Your Teaching Prep Time Worth, Really?
Have you ever considered how much your prep time is really worth (in dollars)? One of my biggest teaching hurdles was figuring out how to...
Michelle McDonald
- Apr 18
- 3 min
How to Make Significant Reading Gains with Social Studies Instruction
You have likely seen the recent headlines about pandemic learning loss, and the impacts of remote learning. The data from the National...
Michelle McDonald
- Apr 11
- 3 min
The Teacher Productivity Hack You Need To Help You Beat Overwhelm
Do you have sticky notes covering your computer screen or all around your desk? Maybe you have a long to-do list that feels overwhelming...
Michelle McDonald
- Apr 4
- 2 min
How to Effectively use Collaborative Posters in Your History Classroom
I don't know about you, but I've always had a hard time finding meaningful social studies classroom decor. If you are looking for an easy...
Michelle McDonald
- Mar 28
- 1 min
Grab a Free Collaborative Poster to Create an Easy Bulletin Board Display
If you're looking for a fun and easy bulletin board display, check out this free collaborative poster! If you take your students on my...
Michelle McDonald
- Mar 28
- 2 min
Experience History: Titanic Virtual Field Trip for Grades 5 through 7
Take your students on a virtual field trip to learn all about the RMS Titanic! Enhance your social studies lessons with an interactive...
Michelle McDonald
- Mar 14
- 2 min
10 Resources for Celebrating Women's History Month in Your Classroom
As we celebrate Women's History Month during the month of March, here are 10 helpful resources to help you uplift and celebrate the...
Michelle McDonald
- Feb 8
- 2 min
10 Helpful Resources for Teaching Black History in Your Classroom All Year
James Baldwin said, "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." As I am writing this, it...
Michelle McDonald
- Feb 1
- 3 min
Teach the Underground Railroad in a Meaningful and Sensitive Way
Does your textbook only contain one paragraph about the Underground Railroad? Maybe it's a simple sidebar that leaves your students with...
Michelle McDonald
- Jan 10
- 3 min
5 Methods for Adding Movement to Your Social Studies Lessons
One of the most commonly asked questions I get is how to add more movement to social studies class. If you find that teaching social...
Michelle McDonald
- Jan 4
- 5 min
5 Ways to Build Mental Strength as a First Year Teacher
Are you a first-year teacher drowning in work, feeling like you are being pulled in multiple directions, and struggling to find that...
Michelle McDonald
- Dec 27, 2022
- 3 min
Free 2023 Goal Setting Journal for First Year Teachers
As we start a new year, this is a great time to consider goal setting. Even if you are reading this and it’s the middle of June, there’s...
Michelle McDonald
- Dec 13, 2022
- 3 min
Helpful Tips for Facilitating an Effective Classroom Discussion
Small group discussions are a great concept, but they can quickly get out of hand if we simply release our students without guidance....
Michelle McDonald
- Nov 29, 2022
- 4 min
Free Easy and Inexpensive Gift Ideas for Students and Parents
Let’s talk about holiday gift-giving. First, there is absolutely no requirement to give your students a holiday gift before winter break....
Michelle McDonald
- Nov 15, 2022
- 4 min
3 Ways to Be Proactive Before Your Teacher Sick Days Run Out
I was recently listening to a teacher share how they ran out of sick days in October. Knowing that any future days off would mean taking...
Michelle McDonald
- Nov 1, 2022
- 2 min
Resources for Celebrating National Native American Heritage Month in the Classroom
November is National Native American Heritage Month. This designation was passed by Congress and President George H.W. Bush in 1990. This...
Michelle McDonald
- Oct 18, 2022
- 2 min
Free Virtual Field Trip to Ancient Egypt for Your World History Class
If you are looking for an interactive way to teach Ancient History, virtual field trips are a great way to bring learning to life! A...
Michelle McDonald
- Oct 4, 2022
- 4 min
5 Teacher Tips for Keeping Your Personal Life Organized & Efficient
As a teacher, we quickly realize that the work is never done. This means that we have to be intentional with our time because it's super...
Michelle McDonald
- Sep 27, 2022
- 1 min
Engage Your Students with Virtual Field Trips to the 5 U.S. Regions
Do you teach the U.S. Regions or the 50 states? If you're looking for a low-prep and well-rounded activity, I've created a set of virtual...
Michelle McDonald
- Sep 13, 2022
- 3 min
Best Practice and Helpful Resources for Teaching the Holocaust in Middle School
Teaching the Holocaust in middle school is a powerful way to learn about the past in order to inform our future. If you plan to cover...
Michelle McDonald
- Sep 6, 2022
- 2 min
Observing Constitution Day 2022 in Your Classroom with a Collaborative Poster
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is a civic holiday that is observed annually on September 17 in the United States. This day was set...
Michelle McDonald
- Aug 16, 2022
- 4 min
Shopping for Teacher Outfits on a Tight Budget: Shopping with Sustainability in Mind
When I landed my first teaching job, most of my clothing involved jeans, oversized sweatshirts, and tennis shoes that I wore around the...
Michelle McDonald
- Aug 9, 2022
- 2 min
Introducing the 5 Themes of Geography at the Beginning of the Year
One of the foundational concepts of a high-quality social studies education is an understanding of geography. When students can make...
Michelle McDonald
- Jul 27, 2022
- 3 min
Boost Excitement for Social Studies During the First Week of School with this Activity
If you are looking for a back-to-school activity for your social studies class that is not cheesy or boring, I've got you covered. Set...
Michelle McDonald
- Jul 12, 2022
- 2 min
Teacher Communication Workshop: Gain Confidence & The Respect You Deserve
Do you struggle to communicate your needs to your admin, or spend hours trying to draft an email? This was me during my first year of...
Michelle McDonald
- Jul 8, 2022
- 2 min
3 Easy to Print and Assemble Collaborative Posters for Back to School
Are you tired of the same back-to-school ice-breakers and activities? Or maybe you're looking for meaningful classroom decor that is...
Michelle McDonald
- Jun 9, 2022
- 2 min
Fostering an Inclusive Classroom: 10 Educator Resources for Pride Month
History is multifaceted. It is an exploration of the past while building an understanding of people, cultures, and the connections to our...
Michelle McDonald
- Jun 7, 2022
- 3 min
4 Book Recommendations for Teachers to Read During Summer Break 2022
This post contains affiliate links to make it easier for you to find the books shared in this post. I love reading, and I love sharing...
Michelle McDonald
- May 10, 2022
- 2 min
Do your students find pirates fascinating? Check out this Pirate Ship Virtual Field Trip
If your students love learning about pirates, then they are sure to love a virtual field trip all about pirate ships! Take a virtual tour...
Michelle McDonald
- May 5, 2022
- 2 min
Resources for Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This is a great opportunity to uplift the contributions and rich history of...
Michelle McDonald
- May 2, 2022
- 2 min
Make a Smooth Landing with 4 End of Year Virtual Field Trips
With a school year that experienced some turbulence, you can still make a smooth landing and keep your students engaged and learning...
Michelle McDonald
- Apr 26, 2022
- 3 min
Take a Virtual Field Trip to Pompeii to Better Understand Ancient Rome
Are you teaching Ancient Rome? Maybe you have students fascinated with Pompeii after reading a book about the destruction of Pompeii. We...
Michelle McDonald
- Apr 19, 2022
- 1 min
A Helpful Best Practices Checklist for Social Studies Classroom Materials
Are you hanging onto some of those outdated resources that were left behind by the previous teacher? You know the ones. It’s spring...
Michelle McDonald
- Apr 10, 2022
- 3 min
Upper Elementary Digital Friendly Activities for Earth Day 2022
Earth Day is fast approaching, and we all know spring is a busy time for teachers. Between state testing, culminating projects, and...
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