We Teach So Hard!

There MUST be 50 reasons to love teaching! We are celebrating our 50th podcast episode! Help us celebrate and enter to win the We Teach So Hard teacher bag filled with back-to-school goodies. What's in the bag? Check this list out!

1. A $20 TpT gift card

2. A $100 Arbonne gift certificate

3. A free pair of LuLaRoe leggings

4. LipSense gloss and lip color

5. A giant post-it pack

6. A set of Flair pens

7. A darling mouse classroom timer

8. Godiva chocolate

9. Two back-to-school picture books: Be Good to Eddie Lee  & The Name Jar.

How do you enter, you ask? Visit our Facebook page for more details. This giveaway is active until 7:00 p.m., August 26th. Good luck!

https://www.facebook.com/300984973941377/posts/385013932205147?sfns=xmo/

Image Credit: Jennifer Ward

Music from https://filmusic.io: "The Show Must Be Go" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC By (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Welcome to We Teach So Hard's inaugural themed book talk episode! Every 2nd week of the month, we'll be exploring books around a central theme. This month's theme is BELONGING. It seems like the perfect back-to-school focus. In each episode, we'll introduce 4 books and share lesson ideas for using them in your classroom. 

In this episode, we explore the theme of BELONGING and introduce a myriad of ideas for using our book recommendations in your classroom. Who hasn't ever felt the sting of exclusion? All of us have felt it in varying degrees. Our need to belong is a basic human need. We thrive on connection. Disconnection wreaks havoc on our cognitive and emotional development. At the start of a new school year, it is an optimal time to bond with our kids and make sure that they know that they belong. Belonging leads to feelings of trust and safety, two things that make for an optimal learning environment. Be sure to check out blog posts in the show notes, too. Each of us gives explicit lesson ideas for you to try.

Like what you hear? Follow us on Facebook where we share a wealth of knowledge and humor: https://www.facebook.com/Weteachsohardpodcast/

Or... follow us on our blogs!

Tracy @ http://www.mossyoakmusings.com/

Kathie @ https://www.triedandtrueteachingtools.com/

Deann @ https://socrateslantern.com/

Retta @ https://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com/

Image Credit: Jennifer Ward

Music from https://filmusic.io: "The Show Must Be Go" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC By (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Accountable talk. On-task talk. Turn and talk. No matter what you call it, we can all agree that it's really important that our students learn how to engage in discourse. They need to be able to share their thinking, provide evidence, build on each other's responses, and disagree with their peers without losing their minds. The beginning of the school year often causes us to miss our kiddos from the year before. After all, we had them "trained." They knew how to discuss and disagree. They could support their thinking. We worked hard to get them there. There's nothing more frustrating than posing a question to a new group of students and... CRICKETS.  Teaching discourse should begin at the start of the school year, right out of the gate. This episode is chocked full of strategies and ideas for getting your students started. 

Like what you hear? Follow us on Facebook where we share a wealth of ideas and resources: https://www.facebook.com/Weteachsohardpodcast/

Or, visit us  at our blogs. We'd love to hear from you!

Tracy @ http://www.mossyoakmusings.com/

Kathie @ https://www.triedandtrueteachingtools.com/

Deann @ https://socrateslantern.com/

Retta @ https://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com/ 

Image Credit: Jennifer Ward

Music from https://filmusic.io: "The Show Must Be Go" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC By (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)

We've all been there, and it's usually on the day before school.  We're trapped in a PD when we have 1,001 other more pressing things to do. Research says, however, that the best teacher professional development is teacher-driven and teacher-centered.  We're no different than our students when it comes to learning, so why can't we have choice, collaboration and fun? This episode of We Teach So Hard outlines some ways to hold your own "unconference" with your teaching posse. Taking charge of your learning can be a game changer!

Like what you hear? Follow us on Facebook where we share tons of teaching fun! https://www.facebook.com/Weteachsohardpodcast/

OR visit us on our blogs where we share our wit, wisdom, free resources (an a little bit of our insanity)!

Tracy @  http://www.mossyoakmusings.com/ 

Deann @  https://socrateslantern.com/ 

Kathie @  https://www.triedandtrueteachingtools.com/ 

Retta@  http://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com/ 

Image Credit: Jennifer Ward

Music from https://filmusic.io: "The Show Must Be go" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC By (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)

Join us for our 3rd episode in our Summer Reads Series. In this episode, we discuss a memoir, Autism in Heels by Jennifer Cook O'Toole.  As teachers, there's a lot to sink our teeth into with this book. O'Toole writes about her "otherness," about never fitting in and the bond she shared with her father. It wasn't until her own children were diagnosed with Aspergers, that she realized that she, too, was on the spectrum, as was her father.  The memoir goes on to explore how Autism appears differently in girls.  Give this podcast a listen if you're looking for a thought-provoking read.  It's enlightening on many levels!

Be sure to visit Kathie's blogpost to read more about this memoir. She has included a freebie for our listeners!  https://www.triedandtrueteachingtools.com/2019/07/summer-reads-series-autism-in-heels.html 

Freebie:  http://bit.ly/AutismResourcesWeTeachSoHard 

Like what you hear? Be sure to follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weteachsohardpodcast/

Or visit us at...

Tracy @ https://mossyoakmusings.blogspot.com/

Kathie @ https://www.triedandtrueteachingtools.com/

Deann @ https://socrateslantern.com/

Retta @ http://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com/

Image Credit: Jennifer Ward

Music from https://filmmusic.io:

"Carefree," "Almost New," "Porch Swing Days," "Teddy Bear Waltz,"  "The Show Must be Go" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)

Hey lovely listeners! We hope you're enjoying your summer as much as we are. Welcome to the second installment of We Teach So Hard's Summer Reads Series where we suggest pleasure-read books and hold book club discussions. This episode, our title is a recent bestseller, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. This read is filled with lyrical language, and heartbreaking abandonment. It's a gorgeous coming-of-age story of survival, physical survival and emotional survival. Kya will break your heart. She broke ours, for sure. Delia Owens' writing is like a prose poem. Transcendent!

If you haven't read the book yet, then save this podcast episode for after. This is your only SPOILER ALERT!

This week, Deann is offering a beautiful companion resource for this book... JUST FOR YOU because you teach so hard! You can snag it here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Summer-Reads-Series-for-Teachers-Where-the-Crawdads-SingFREE-RESOURCE-4657719

OR, you can check out her blog post about the book. It has some cool stuff in it! https://socrateslantern.com/2019/06/summer-reads-series-for-teachers-where-the-crawdads-sing.html

Like what you hear? Check out our Facebook page for our summer podcast reading list: https://www.facebook.com/Weteachsohardpodcast/

Or visit us at...

Tracy @ https://mossyoakmusings.blogspot.com/

Retta @ http://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com/

Kathie @ https://www.triedandtrueteachingtools.com/

Deann @ https://socrateslantern.com/

Image Credit: Jennifer Ward

Music from https://filmmusic.io:

"Serene," "White," "Long Road Ahead,"

Ahhhhhhhh... It's summer, finally. Welcome to the first installment of We Teach So Hard's Summer Reads Series where we suggest pleasure-read books and hold  book club discussions. This episode, our title is The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama. This is the perfect first read for the summer, because the author tells an enthralling story about love, isolation, and honor. Matsu, Stephan and Sachi's story will leave you feeling like you've just completed a fabulous meditation. Seriously, her writing is that good. 

If you haven't read the book yet, then save this podcast episode for after. This is your only SPOILER ALERT!

This week, Tracy is offering a gorgeous featured summer freebie to accompany this book... JUST FOR YOU (not your kiddos), because you teach so hard! You can snag it here:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Wild-Child-Designs 

Like what you hear? Check out our Facebook page for our summer podcast reading list:  https://www.facebook.com/Weteachsohardpodcast/ 

Tracy @  https://mossyoakmusings.blogspot.com/ 

Deann @  https://socrateslantern.com/ 

Kathie @  https://www.triedandtrueteachingtools.com/ 

Retta @  http://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com/ 

Image credit: Jennifer Ward

Music from https://filmmusic.io:

"Serene" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)

Licence: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Music from https://filmmusic.io:

"White" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)

Licence: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Music from https://filmmusic.io:

"Long Road Ahead" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)

Licence: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Music from https://filmmusic.io:

"Sapphire Isle" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)

Licence: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 

"The Show Must Be Go" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)

Licence: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 

The end is in sight! Nothing can bring relief and yet instill panic like that statement.  We're bedraggled, exhausted, and wishing we had a margarita instead of that third cup of coffee. And, we have miles to go before we sleep. Nothing can be more disheartening than watching online teacher friends posting their vacation cocktails while you're still mucking through your last days of school. This post is just for you.  You've got this...you're almost there!

Like what you hear? Follow us on FaceBook! https://www.facebook.com/We-Teach-So-Hard-300984973941377/

Or visit us at our blogs where we share innovative ideas and resources!

Tracy @ http://mossyoakmusings.blogspot.com/

Retta @ http://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com

Kathie @ https://triedandtrueteachingtools.blogspot.com

Deann @ https://socrateslantern.com

Image Credit: Jennifer Ward

"The Show Must Be Go" Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 LIcensed https://creativecommons.org/license/by3.0

Toilet paper on your shoe? Skirt tucked into your tights? Or maybe,  hygiene mishaps? We've all been there. We've all had those moments when we wish the filing cabinet would just swallow us up.  This episode is for any and all teachers who've faced embarrassment (or hid from it). Either way, we've got you covered! At the very least, you'll have a good laugh on us as we share our own humiliations. It's okay, we KNOW you're laughing with us, not at us. 

Like what you hear? Follow us on our Facebook page or leave a review:

https://www.facebook.com/We-Teach-So-Hard-300984973941377

Or, visit us at our blogs!

Tracy @ http://mossyoakmusings.blogspot.com/

Deann @ https://socrateslantern.com

Retta @ http://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com

Kathie @ https://triedandtrueteachingtools.blogspot.com

Image Credit: Jennifer Ward

"The Show Must Be Go" Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 LIcensed https://creativecommons.org/license/by3.0