TeachersConnect Uncategorized

Going Into Hibernation

A copy of this note was sent to all members on January 16th.

Hello Everyone,
I’m writing with some news.
On January 27, 2023, TeachersConnect will go into hibernation for an as-yet-to-be-determined period of time. Let me break this down for you:
  • “Hibernation” means that The Community will not be accessible to aspiring and practicing teachers like you. When someone navigates to teachersconnect.online, instead of viewing the log in page, a message will appear that says that TeachersConnect is unavailable.
  • “As-yet-to-be-determined” means that we don’t know how long the site will be in hibernation. We’re looking for the right new home for The Community from among school districts or other organizations and companies that nurture aspiring and practicing teachers.
This was an extremely difficult decision. As you might imagine, running TeachersConnect is costly. It requires fantastic and highly-skilled human beings to build the technology and nurture the spirit and remarkable energy of the TeachersConnect community. Those costs were putting significant stress on the business. This week, after some thoughtful brainstorming and painful consideration, we made the decision to take the site down.
We wondered about keeping the community open without employing the humans who power it, but it’s really not an option. We hear consistently from you that one of the things you most appreciate about TeachersConnect is the safety–that you can be honest and vulnerable, sharing your victories and defeats without fear of judgment. Without the people who model and support the safety guidelines, TeachersConnect would not be TeachersConnect.
So what’s next:
  • At some point on or soon after January 27th, The Community will no longer be available.
  • We will publish 1-2 more TC Today emails with tips for making the most out of the community before the 27th.
  • We’ve already begun the work of looking for the right home for TeachersConnect, and we’ll continue that work in earnest over the next several months. Our goal is for the hibernation to be as brief as possible.
I’m very sorry to deliver this news. Together, you’ve made over 30,000 contributions to the TeachersConnect community! You’ve shared the keys to passing critical teacher tests, ignited new ideas for teachers and students, and given folks the motivation and impetus to return to school the next day during those moments when things felt overwhelming. You’ve brought joy and confidence to tens of thousands of educators. What a community; what an impact!
I admire you and appreciate you deeply for your work with students. We look forward to working with you again as we seek to get TeachersConnect back out to the world ASAP.
Take good care, and be in touch with me and with each other for feedback, questions, and ideas.
Dave

Want to Prevent Summer Melt? Put Some Passion Into It.

“Passion Projects and Genius Hour”

Join us for the final session of this spring’s open mic webinar series.

If any of these statements could have come from your lips, join us and get a “Grab and Go” strategy to  uncover your students’ passions and develop their skills.
“I’ve got to keep the kids engaged right to the end.”
“Parents are asking me for ways to keep the learning going over the summer.”
“I’m afraid that #learnfromhome is still in our future. I need some fresh ways for kids to follow their own interests AND stick with the curriculum–so I can be the best version of me next year.”
Register now and add some passion and genius hour to your teaching repertoire.

Continue reading Want to Prevent Summer Melt? Put Some Passion Into It.

“I want the learning to be social.”

Q: How do I design virtual assignments that get my kids working together?

 

A: Teachers have answers…and they’re “steppin’ to the mic” to share them. Join us for “Grab and Go” strategies for your classroom.

 


“Collaborative Work for Distance Learning”

Join us for Session 4 in our Open Mic webinar series.

Register now and add some collaboration, interaction, and FUN to boost your online teaching repertoire and increase student participation.


Continue reading “I want the learning to be social.”

Coronavirus Rx for Ed Open Mic Sessions 3 and 4

 

There are two questions we keep hearing from teachers:

  1. How do I reach every learner?
  2. How do I plan lessons and activities that require students to work collaboratively?

 

Teachers have answers…and they’re “steppin’ to the mic” to share them. Join us for “Grab and Go” strategies for your classroom.

 

Session 3: “Reaching Every Learner”

Register now if you’re determined to provide powerful online learning experiences to:

  • English Language Learners
  • Students with IEPs and other special needs
  • Students with limited access to technology
  • Students experiencing depression, trauma, or a lack of motivation

Session 4: “Collaborative Projects for Distance Learning”

Register now if you’ve been wondering how to design assignments and activities that require students to work together–and from a distance.

Continue reading Coronavirus Rx for Ed Open Mic Sessions 3 and 4

Coronavirus Rx for Ed Session 2: Generating Engagement and Motivation when Learning is Online–and Sometimes Optional

You Might Be Asking:

How do you keep your students focused, motivated, and engaged when assignments are optional and “class” is online?

The Solution:

Collaborate. Share. Ask. Validate. From a safe distance:-)

Continue reading Coronavirus Rx for Ed Session 2: Generating Engagement and Motivation when Learning is Online–and Sometimes Optional

Coronavirus Rx for Ed Session 1: A Live Webinar Series and Educator Community to Keep the Learning Going

Right now…

…you’re being pulled in all directions: be flexible, be creative, be resilient, support students and families (take care of yours), and be a masterful online teacher.

You Might Be Asking:

What’s an educator to do in this Coronavirus moment with a whole new set of demands?

The Solution:

Collaborate. Share. Ask. Validate. From a safe distance.

Continue reading Coronavirus Rx for Ed Session 1: A Live Webinar Series and Educator Community to Keep the Learning Going

The Stories that Keep Us Going

Thank you so much to all of the teachers who submitted #TeacherHero stories as part of Teacher Appreciation Week.  We read stories of mentorship, perseverance, inspiration, flexibility, and unwavering belief. The stories truly showcased the many ways teachers impact the lives of their students and each other.

Here are a few of the wonderful stories, or, you can read them all by searching #TeacherHero on TeachersConnect.

Continue reading The Stories that Keep Us Going