Tag Archives: teachers

Help Wanted: TeachersConnect Seeking Like-minded Partners

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TeachersConnect went into hibernation on January 27, 2023.

Reactivating the community depends on our ability to find a great partner. We know that you’ve got victories to share and learning challenges to solve today, and we’re determined to find the right partners ASAP. There are two things you can do to help make this happen: 

Share the impact TeachersConnect has made on you. Is there:

  • A time the community saved you from lesson plan disaster?
  • A time you know you made an impact on a TC colleague?
  • A time you tried something new in the classroom as a result of a TC community conversation?
  • Something you’ll miss about TC?

Take two minutes to share your reflections and opinions. They just might catch the attention of another organization.

If you know of an organization or company that would value a safe and moderated community dedicated to helping aspiring and practicing educators be the kind of teacher students dream of, send a note to dave@teachersconnect.com, and we’ll reach out to them. No idea is too crazy.

Thank you, and we’ll look forward to hearing from you!

The TeachersConnect Team

p. s. If you missed the announcement about hibernation, you can find it here.

Going Into Hibernation

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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

Community Manager: Brains and Brawn of TeachersConnect

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Laura Sanzone

If you’ve visited the TeachersConnect community lately, you’ve definitely benefitted from the contributions of Laura Sanzone, TeachersConnect Community Manager (CM). At the risk of “going overboard” with metaphors, the role of CM is to be triage specialist, caretaker, navigator, and pioneer. The CM uses brains and brawn to ensure that the conversations and people meet the needs of TeachersConnect members at every step of the new teacher journey: tests, licensure, the job search, and early-career classroom success.

After nine years of teaching 1st and 3rd grade in Maryland, Laura started teaching at Loyola University Maryland, where she taught a range of elementary methods courses and supervised teacher candidates during their teaching internships in Baltimore-area schools. Laura currently works in DC Public Schools as an Early Literacy Specialist. While she’s passionate about almost everything related to teaching, you’ll find it particularly easy to get her opinions on:

  • Equity issues in Education
  • Restorative practices as a model to grow a positive and inclusive classroom community
  • New teacher induction
  • Teacher wellness

We’ve known Laura for almost five years now, and we’re pretty sure we’re not the first educators to understand that she is an absolute powerhouse—thoughtful, analytic, committed, and unstoppable.

Welcome, Laura. We’re so glad you’ve chosen to share your approachability, energy, and straight up knowledge with the educators of TeachersConnect.

Community Leaders: Heart and Soul of TeachersConnect

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2021 CLs

Get to Know Your TC Community Leaders!

Community Leaders are practicing full-time teachers who stand out as hubs of energy in the TeachersConnect (TC) community—and whose students are really freakin’ lucky to have such creative educators. Their job in TC is to ask questions, share strategies, encourage conversation, and make sure no question goes unanswered. Oh, how I wish this group was there for me for my first class of fifth graders. ?

Candace Williams

Community Leader_Candace Williams

Primary grades reading specialist and certified teacher. Teacherpreneur. Influencer. Lover of all things beautiful from Detroit, Michigan. Over a decade in the classroom.

“I’m like a normal reading teacher, but much cooler. As an influencer on social media and co-talk show host on The Teachers’ Lounge Talk Show, my goal is to be an advocate for early literacy.”

Jennifer Bond

Community Leader_Jennifer Bond

1st and 2nd grade teacher. Vlogger. Provider of “cat sanctuary.” Central Missouri. Over a decade in the classroom.

“I LOVE teaching my little pineapples and also love to connect with other teachers in person and on social media”

Melissa Clarke

Community Leader_Melissa Clarke

Over 15 years experience teaching primary grades, talented YouTuber, Ontario, Canada.

“I’m excited to be a part of this online community and I look forward to learning a lot as well as share some of my knowledge and experiences.”

Ta’Stacia Covington

Community leader_Ta'Stacia Covington

2nd decade teaching primary grades, halfway through doctorate in Educational Leadership. North Carolina.

“I am very passionate about early education and the education of minority children.”

Wandiza Williams

Community Leader_Wandiza Williams

Over a decade teaching upper elementary. National Board Certified in Literacy for grades 3 – 8, Bronx, NY.

“I am passionate about getting the right books in the hands of children, and turning them on to reading. In addition, I am committed to anti-racist, social justice teaching, and elevating the voices of marginalized people.”

You too can become a Community Leader!

These incredible educators became Community Leaders because of the power of their posts and the impact they make on other others in the TeachersConnect community. Join the TeachersConnect Community and be a thoughtful questioner, frequent commenter, and insightful poster, and you, too, could land the best teacher side gig out there.

Button to join TeachersConnect Community

Teachers – We Have Liftoff!

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TeachersConnect 2.0 is taking off!

Join the Journey. Win Cash Prizes.

Teachers Connect is relaunching in September! Woot! Woot! 

What better time than now—at the start of another “non-traditional” school year– to connect with teacher soulmates, gain recognition for your contributions, and maybe even earn a little extra cash! 

New Opportunities for Recognition and Pocket Money 

  • We’re relaunching the Teacher of the Month program with three top awards of $200 each.
    • Sept 2021 Teacher of the Month awards will be announced in early October.
  • Top teachers will get $200 gift cards and four runners-up will get $100 gift cards in each of the categories listed below:
    • Trendy Teachers – members who have shared the most popular post or question in a month as determined by comments, “helpfuls,” “good questions,” and views
    • Resourceful Responders – members whose responses have received the most “helpfuls” during a month
    • Prolific Posters – members who have shared the largest number of engaging posts and/or questions in a month. An engaging post or question, for this purpose, is one that receives 10+ comments, answers, “helpfuls,”or “good questions.”
    • Note: A member can only win one ToM award per month.
  • Teachers of the Month also have the chance to be paid Community Leaders who shape the future of TeachersConnect.
  • Back to School Bonanza – In September, the TC Team will award five $100 gift cards to members whose posts are particularly thought-provoking or on-point. Twenty members will also be selected at random to win $25 gift cards.

You might be a September Teacher of the Month

Coming Soon

  • Better searching and matching – so you can find teachers and topics most relevant to you right away
  • More personalized profile – add a banner and color preferences
  • More places to add links to your website, blog, TPT page, or Etsy store
  • Badges that show your impact on TC – displayed on your profile and in your posts
  • More sharing – share your TC post on social media or invite colleagues to join a conversation
  • Mentor – opportunities to mentor pre-service teachers on their journey to become fully-licensed teachers
  • Opportunities to earn money for feedback on EdTech products

Mission

The mission remains unchanged – Teachers deserve a teacher-centric, safe place to access the most powerful resource of all – each other. We envision a space where all teachers collaborate to make a greater impact — regardless of experience or location. Our goal is to ensure that every teacher radiates confidence, skill, and joy. When teachers succeed, students thrive.

What’s Changed

TeachersConnect was acquired by Public Consulting Group (PCG) on April 30, 2021. With PCG behind us, we plan to grow to 100,000 members in the next 12 months, while adding exciting new ways for you to connect, lead, and grow. We expect an influx of thousands of  pre-service and early-career teachers eager to tap into your knowledge and experiences. We hope that you will help us welcome them to the community.

 

Not a member yet?
Click here to join TeachersConnect today!

 
And don’t forget to follow us on social!

Two Webinars for De-stressing You and Your Students as You Prep for the New School Year

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Chill Ooouuut…

It was a tough spring and the new school year promises to continue to put teachers and learners to the test. 

Breathe. Stretch. Treat yourself right. You got this…and we got YOU! Sign up today for two webinars designed to help you start the new school year with strategies for you and your students.

Webinar 1: From Chaos to Calm – Yoga and Mindfulness for You and Your Students

Using the best yoga and mindfulness tools, learn to navigate whatever the fall might look like! Kids’ yogi, recording artist, and mindfulness expert Bari Koral is beloved for her casual and fun approaches to creating peace and calm in the classroom. And for this session, she’ll be joined by Gab Lemon, a classroom teacher who’s been using the techniques with her students. She’ll share her view “from the trenches.”

Ready for something magical in your pocket, like a quick mindfulness technique to get you ready for the next class? Join us.

Want to learn a great yoga break kids love to use to burn off some energy and come right back to focus? Bari will share tools that you can incorporate instantly to help create a magical discipline in your in-person or virtual classroom. She will also share 5 techniques you can use to calm anxiety in minutes. You’ll leave with amazing new tools for your toolbox, and you’ll be ready to support your students (and yourself) when you get back to the “classroom.”

Please bring some colored markers or pencils for one of Bari’s favorite mindfulness games that can bring calm in literally seconds.

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           Bari Koral                                                  Gab Lemon

Join us and get a “Grab and Go” strategy to…chill.

Educators only, please: teachers, student teachers, paraprofessionals, building and district leaders.

Wednesday, July 15th, 7:00 – 8:00 EDT.

 

Continue reading Two Webinars for De-stressing You and Your Students as You Prep for the New School Year →

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

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“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.”

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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.” →

Reaching Every Learner During School Closures

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“I MUST reach all my students.”

In the midst of a global pandemic teachers are desperate to reach students with limited access to technology and students with specific learning needs.

TeachersConnect brought together four powerful teacher experts to share how they’re currently doing it. Each teacher shared activities and techniques they’re using with their students every day–and then took questions from the audience to help them take the technique to their own classrooms. In the words of one attendee: 

“You just made my teaching day…I can do this!”

See the highlight video below, or login at https://www.teachersconnect.online/ to view the entire webinar series for free.

Continue reading Reaching Every Learner During School Closures →

Coronavirus Rx for Ed Open Mic Sessions 3 and 4

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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 →