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...
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Michelle McDonald
- Apr 18
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
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
- Mar 28
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
- Dec 13, 2022
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
- Oct 4, 2022
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
- Aug 16, 2022
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
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
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
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
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
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
- Apr 19, 2022
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
- Mar 8, 2022
8 Helpful Primary Source Websites for Teaching World History
Looking to move beyond the outdated social studies textbook? Using primary sources in your World History class provides so many...
Michelle McDonald
- Feb 22, 2022
Spark Curiosity and Interest in Your Social Studies Lesson Plans
Do you hear the grumble and complaints that social studies is so boring? It's most likely that your students haven't yet experienced...
Michelle McDonald
- Dec 28, 2021
New Years Resolutions No Prep Activities to Get Ready for 2022
When my students return from winter break, I like to take class time to reflect and set New Years Resolutions. The start of a new year is...
Michelle McDonald
- Nov 9, 2021
5 Helpful Tips to Overcoming Teacher Overwhelm
How will I make it to the end of the year? This was a question I often asked myself when I felt completely overwhelmed, inadequate, and...
Michelle McDonald
- Oct 5, 2021
What Stuck? Exit Ticket Idea for Your Social Studies Class
Exit tickets are a purposeful and reflective way to end class. If you teach bell-to-bell, add in this quick and easy informal assessment...
Michelle McDonald
- Sep 14, 2021
5 Fun Social Studies Teacher Back to School Items
If you are a social studies teacher, bring this core subject to the forefront with some fun back-to-school items. 1. Social Studies...
Michelle McDonald
- Sep 8, 2021
5 Tips for Fostering a Collaborative and Safe Social Studies Class
One of the most important steps we can take at the beginning of the year is time to build a positive classroom environment where all...
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