The iTeach Blog

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement and success have no meaning.” —Benjamin Franklin What is a growth mindset and why does it matter? In recent years, the mindset field has changed the way schools operate. Through her research at Stanford University, Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology Carol Dweck has observed that the mindset you choose can have a profound impact on how you live your life. Individuals can be placed on a continuum based on their mindsets, according to Dweck. Those who believe their abilities are based on innate talents—and therefore can’t change much—have a fixed mindset. Those who believe that success is based on effort are said to have a growth mindset. They believe that with hard work, you can always improve. One definition I like is that a fixed mindset focuses on proving how smart you are; a growth mindset focuses on improving. Ultimately, leveraging a growth mindset offers you and your staff signifi...

Hey Coach, Teaching is a high-stress career - especially these days! Do you have any tips to help teachers take care of themselves? Sincerely, Seeking Self-Care Dear Seeking Self-Care, The data agrees with you. Teaching is definitely demanding! In fact, the 2017 Educator Quality of Work Life Survey study shared some startling findings: 61% of educators and school staff say their work is “always” or “often” stressful. 78% of teachers run on just five to seven hours of sleep per night. 58% said their mental health was “not good” for seven or more of the previous 30 days. ...and that’s all before we were in the midst of a pandemic! We need to view self-care as more than just another item on our long list of to dos. In order to survive and thrive as an educator, you have to invest in what matters most, remembering that YOU are important! Below we offer some suggestions to help you be intentional about prioritizing self-care. Set Boundaries Setting boundaries is the first...

Three weeks ago, who could have guessed we’d be here? Everyone is in the same boat. I had plans to be preparing a baseball team for the state playoff push… It’s a different world. It’s overwhelming, we have to acknowledge that. My strategies tend to come down to lists of steps that I can check off, so here is a six-step protocol to working your way to online teaching: Infographic Don’t get overwhelmed : I know, easier said than done, and there are so many tools out there. You are experienced, and you have a peer or two who is experienced. Rely on the tools that you are already comfortably and confidently using to disseminate information. This isn’t the best time to learn the newest, it’s a time to perfect the known-est. Utilize the online management system that your school or district embraces : This stems from Step 1. You’ve been using something to stay in touch with kids at home all year, keep it up. Even if it starts with Remind, that’s a fantastic way to guide students thr...

Hey there, readers! We are trying something new on the iTeach Blog this year. In addition to answering your questions every month, we will periodically feature posts written by guest bloggers. This week, iTeach Director Stephanee Stephens is sharing insight about setting your intentions for the new year. “New year, New you!” “It’s time for a Glow-Up!” “Out with the old and in with the new!” I could keep listing out catchphrases, but you get the point! This time of year, everyone is keen to set new goals, clean up their surroundings, and begin a new year (or semester) with fresh energy. I, for one, am happy folks are happy - Any chance we have in education to celebrate, reset, and be happy, we can’t afford to miss! I have been thinking and studying intention a lot over the last year. I sure do wish I had stumbled upon setting intentions earlier in my career. Goals are specific achievements focused on the future, while intentions represent an awareness of who, what, or how w...

Hey Coach, I am a technology coach and have just started working with a group of awesome educators; however, they are hesitant to use technology and are a little skeptical about working with a coach. What’s the best way to support these teachers? Sincerely, Curious Coach Dear Curious Coach, First of all, know that this is a common stage of the coaching cycle and that their resistance is not about you. Most coaches can relate to teachers feeling overwhelmed with the challenges of teaching. Also, the many tasks teachers must complete every day often leaves them feeling void of the capacity to learn a new technology. But there is hope! Here are four easy ways to engage with your teachers, build trust, and encourage buy-in. 1. Meet teachers where they are. Tips & Tricks for the Tech Coach This concept may seem pretty obvious, but it is frequently overlooked. Take time to get to know teachers so you can understand how they run their classroom and how they are curre...

Dear Coach,  I feel like a deflated balloon! Last week I planned a phenomenal activity for my students. I put a lot of energy into planning the lesson and I was so excited about it... but the lesson went completely off the rails! It seemed like each group had a problem that I hadn’t anticipated. My awesome plan flew out the window, and I was flustered and disappointed in myself. What can I do when this happens? I don’t know if it’s worth doing this type of activity again. Sincerely, Deflated and Disappointed Dear Deflated and Disappointed,  Been there, done that, got the t-shirt! Any teacher who has been in the classroom for more than a week probably owns the t-shirt, too. It is so important to remember that mistakes and challenges are inevitable in the classroom, even for seasoned educators. Experiencing these setbacks is a sign that we are doing something worthwhile by pushing the boundaries of our teaching practice and challenging ourselves to try new thing...