5 Tips for a Successful Teacher Job Interview

Teachers all over are starting to make decisions about their plans for next school year, and fresh, new teachers are donning their caps and gowns...that means teacher job hunt season has begun! Searching for a job can be stressful, but with the right preparations, you can make it a little easier on yourself. I've served on my school's interview committee a number of times, and a fresh job hunt has me reflecting on interviews I've conducted, as well as times I have been interviewed. I want to share a few little nuggets that can help you succeed in your teacher job interview.

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Google Classroom Series: Automatically Grading Google Form Quizzes

This is part of a series of blog posts outlining some ways that I use Google Classroom with my third graders. 

This year my school district significantly increased the number of scores, assignments, and assessments we are required to enter into our grading system. Of course, this is on top of the thousands of other things we as teachers always have on our plates. In the first couple of months of the school year, I was desperate for time. This led me to try out something new: quizzes using Google Forms. It has been a serious game changer!

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Google Classroom Series: Digital Sorts

This is part of a series of blog posts outlining some ways that I use Google Classroom with my third graders. 

I haven't used traditional sorts very often in my classroom, in part because it takes my third graders so much time to cut and paste things (not to mention it makes a huge mess!). If I want to save class time by not having my students do the cutting, then it takes lots of my own planning time to cut and organize the materials, which is a sacrifice I can't often afford to make. With that being said...sorts are often a great learning activity! They require students to closely analyze concepts, compare and contrast, and explain their thinking (when working with partners or groups).

This year I've been experimenting with a way to get all of the academic benefits of a sort while saving time for me and my students: digital sorts in Google Classroom.

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Find it, Fix it!

If your students have ever left your classroom a HOT MESS...listen up: you need to try "Find it, Fix it." I heard about this game when I was student teaching and this is probably one of the only things that have very consistently been a part of my teaching practice ever since. It almost feels weird even writing a blog post about this game because it is so easy and quick but honestly you guys, this will change your life. I feel like sharing this with you is a public service.

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My Experience with National Board Certification

During the 2017-2018 school year, I submitted my work to the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS, or NB for extra short) for consideration. A few weeks ago I found out that I successfully achieved NB certification! I am so thrilled and excited! When I was working through the NB process I found that it was very difficult to find other NB candidates or NB certified teachers to connect with. My school district doesn't have any sort of "support group" for candidates, although I hear that many do, and I couldn't find a lot of information online. So, while there is so much that I can't share due to the confidentiality of the NBPTS, I wanted to share a little bit about how I stayed motivated, sane, and organized while completing my National Boards in one school year.

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Staff Sunshine: 10 Days of Winter Cheer

I'm a member of my school's "social committee" (I think lots of other schools call this "sunshine"). We plan and organize activities throughout the year to bring a little joy to the staff at our school. I love being on this committee because making people happy makes me happy!

Now it's almost time for my favorite social committee events of the year...10 Days of Winter Cheer! The last few weeks before winter break can be stressful for educators and other school staff. Everyone is trying to get their homes and families ready for the holidays while also trying to A) keep their students from going bonkers with excitement and B) make sure some the little humans are still learning in their classrooms. To boost morale, our committee plans a special event or activity for staff members on each of the last 10 days before winter break: the 10 Days of Winter Cheer. Not every staff member participates in every activity but everyone looks forward to the 10 Days of Cheer!

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Data Detectives Math Mystery Classroom Transformation

When I first learned about this idea of "classroom transformations," I was weary. They seemed expensive, complicated, and prep-intensive...but I also read and heard so much about how engaging they were! I contemplated the idea for a long time. I knew that if I was ever going to try a classroom transformation, it would need to be cheap and simple, but meaningful. I also knew that I wanted any transformation happening in my classroom to be directly connected to my curriculum and not just a transformation for the sake of it.

I tested out a few classroom transformations last year and, despite my initial reservations, I loved them! I was amazed at how much some minor tweaks to our classroom and a prop here or there could increase my students' engagement. I definitely went a little over-the-top with prep time in some of last year's transformations, so reducing prep time has been my goal in planning transformations this year. Well, our first classroom transformation of the school year was a huge success, so I wanted to share it with you!

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Multiplication Fact Fluency Challenge

Multiplication is a huge topic for third graders. I spend a lot of time building conceptual understanding of multiplication with my students, practicing multiplication with manipulatives, pictures, word problems -- you name it! Ultimately, though, in order for students to be able to solve problems using multiplication efficiently, they do need to learn some of their multiplication facts. Thus, the Multiplication Challenge was born.

When I was a third grader myself, I had to get my "multiplication license." On the big day, my teacher made us all go down a row and verbally recite our multiplication facts. I think I must have passed, but I remember the whole experience being very stressful. I hated everything about it -- practicing my facts at home, reciting them, the anxiety of needing to pass...my stomach hurts just thinking about it! Now I'm a third grade teacher, forcing my students to memorize their multiplication facts. Hmm...

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LAUNCH

Hi there! My name is Amanda. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog.

I am a third-grade teacher in North Carolina, although I was born and raised in Wisconsin. I teach on the English side of a Spanish/English Dual-Language program, which I love. I am passionate about language and am in awe of the opportunities being multilingual can provide. Because of the nature of my Dual-Language teaching position, I only teach math and an integrated social studies/English literacy class, while my Spanish-speaking partner teacher teaches science and Spanish literacy.

I absolutely love teaching. I also love working with other educators! In May 2018, feeling like opportunities to collaborate with other educators within my school and district were limited, I created my teacher Instagram account and started sharing pieces of what's going on in my classroom. Being a part of the Instagram teaching community has been such an incredible opportunity to (digitally) step outside of my classroom and exchange ideas with others.

Now I am so excited to begin a new chapter and launch my blog. I'd love for you to join me on my teaching journey. I can't wait to learn and grow together!

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