Top 10: Things to do Before Student Teaching

For some of you, you're just days away from your first official day as a student teacher.  Emotions are probably high- excited, sad, nervous, and the list goes on. Some of you are probably over prepared while others are wondering where to even begin to prepare.  It was only one semester ago when I was in your shoes, so I know exactly how you're feeling (check it out here).  

Take a deep breath- it. will. be. okay! 

Today I wanted to share some things you can do in the following days to make sure you are prepared for your very first day. Here's my list of ten things you can do in the upcoming days in order to head into your semester of student teaching prepared. 

One: Gather your supplies

Take a little inventory on your school supplies. What do you have and what do you need?  The supplies you need for student teacher are a little different than if you were taking classes. You'll want a large binder to keep your lesson plans in,  pencils, black pens, colored pens, highlighters, post-it notes, agenda, notebook, markers, and anything else that makes you happy. You can check out my recommendations for supplies from my blog post back in August all about school supplies for student teaching.

Two: Checkout your wardrobe

Yesterday I shared with you my tips and tricks for dressing in business casual.  Spend some time going through your wardrobe mixing and matching different outfit combinations.  The more outfits you have created the easier it will be to get dressed. Make a list of items you need to get and items you want. Remember you're on a college budget and there is a difference between wants and needs. 

Three: Begin to create a portfolio

This sounds a little intimidating and overwhelming.  You don't have to have this perfected, but you will want to start. Begin by gathering supplies and figuring out what format you want to you. My portfolio is a digital one that is hosted by weekly.  If you have questions about this, let me know and I'd be happy to help you. 

Four: Update your resume/ cover letter

By now you should have created a resume. Take a few minutes to update it and make sure it is error free. Throughout this semester you'll have the opportunity to interview for jobs, so it will be easier if you have this done now rather than rushing to get it done later on.  The same goes for a cover letter. Begin to draft one, if you don't have one yet.  It doesn't need to be perfect, but chances are you will be working on it during one of your seminars. 

Five: Social media clean up

This should have already been done by now, but just in case it hasn't get on it.  When getting hired, your social media accounts will be viewed.  Just because you have them set to private doesn't mean that they can't be viewed.  Make sure everything you are tagged in and have posted is appropriate. The grandma test will help you (if you'd be embarrassed for your grandmother to see it, then it probably shouldn't be posted). Check for alcohol, foul language, etc. If you want to be proactive, then you could also create a professional twitter. This is a great way to showcase your digital citizenship, projects you've done with students, accomplishments you've had, etc.  

Six: Get organized

Starting off the semester organized always brought me inner peace and clarity. It's one way to feel like you have your life together, even if in reality you don't.  There's lots of different things to organize, but there's several items I definitely would.   Clean up the files on your computer, organize your room, organize your closet, and organize your bathroom. Doing this will make you feel much better. 

Seven: Go shopping

Who doesn't love a little retail therapy? Grab a friend or your mom and head out to your favorite stores. If you're stressing or have a little anxiety, it might calm your nerves.  I'm sure you've figured out somethings you need to be ready (school supplies, groceries, a lunch box, clothes, shoes). Take advantage of this time to go out and buy these items.  At the very least, you need to go grocery shopping so you can meal prep for the week.  

Eight:Do something fun 

Seriously. This is a must. Call your friends and plan something fun for the weekend.  This is your time to let loose, laugh, make a few more memories, and enjoy the time you have with friends.  Maybe go to a winery, visit an aquarium, go shopping, enjoy brunch, a night out, or watch that movie you've been wanting to see. This semester you'll feel isolated from your friends as they will be taking classes on campus and you'll essentially be adulting.  Remember it's your senior year, so you should be making memories and having fun with your friends. Use this time now before you're swamped with grading, lesson planning, applying for jobs, and all of that fun stuff. 

Nine: Meal Prep

Head over to pinterest for a little inspiration.  The more you cook now, the easier your nights will be during the week.  Start with something easy, then work your way up to more challenging things.  Checkout my pinterest board if you need some help getting started. 

Ten: Treat Yourself

The day before you begin, do something for yourself.  Get a manicure, a pedicure, buy a latte, binge watch your favorite Netflix show, etc.  Do something for yourself that will make you feel relaxed.  In the upcoming months you won't have much time to do these little things, so take advantage of your time now and #treatyourself. 

If you're still feeling lost be sure to checkout my following links for help:

Student Teaching Survival Guide

Teacher Outfits

Thursday Thoughts to Inspire Teachers

What's in my bag: Student Teaching Edition

Work Week Breakfasts

School Supplies for Student Teaching

Monday Motivation

Walk in my Week: Student Teaching Week 2

Walk in my Week: Student Teaching Updates

Good luck!

XOXO

Teacher Outfits

Another post in my Survival Guide to Student Teaching. Today I'm sharing some tips for dressing professionally, how to pick out your outfits, and a few (three plus weeks) of my winter outfits. This guide is great for anyone who needs some help with dressing in business casual whether it's for teaching, student teaching, sorority chapter attire, an internship, work, etc.  I mentioned in my guide how important it is to be professional during student teaching, and what you choose to wear has a lot to do with this.  It is important that you are dresses appropriately at all times. Most days this means business casual, but other days it might mean pajamas or your favorite sports team.   

Dressing Professionally

In order to know the appropriate attire to wear, it's best to overdress on your first day and then observe what those around you are wearing.  Each school has a different dress code for faculty, so you will want to make sure you are adhering to your school's guidelines.  You want to look put together but not over the top.  Mirroring what the teachers in your school are wearing is a great guide to know if you're dressed appropriately or not.  You will always want to make sure your clothing is never not too tight, too baggy, too low cut, too wrinkly, or dirty. If you don't have one, now is a great time to purchase a steamer or iron.  As far as shoes go, make sure they are clean and comfortable.  Heels are cute, but they aren't necessarily the most practical teaching shoes.  You want to seem approachable to your students, and if you tower over them then they might be intimidated (especially elementary students). I recommend having a few pairs of comfortable flats, sandals, booties, and riding boots. This goes without saying, but sneakers are definitely not appropriate.  Unless it's a dress down day, stay away from wearing them to school. 

Planning Ahead

In my opinion, getting dressed in the morning is either lots of fun or absolutely torture.  If I can't find an outfit that I love or I'm comfortable, then it becomes torturous. I think we've all had those mornings when you finally find the perfect outfit your rooms looks like a tornado hit.  During student teaching I discovered a method for making my mornings less stressful.  I would pick out my clothes for the week on Sundays.  That's right- choose five to six outfits at one time.  I would first look at the week's weather and my calendar, and then I would choose six outfits that I liked. I chose six in case there was one day I wasn't feeling that outfit.  I would then group these outfits together and hang them on my closet door.  Having them preplanned made my mornings run much more smoothly because I didn't have to think about what to wear. You can find over- the- door hangers at lots of places. I got mine from Target for less than $6. You can actually order the same one and have it shipped to your house within a few days.

Business Casual Staples

In order to make getting dressed a little easier, there are a few staples you'll want to include in your wardrobe.  You can find these for inexpensive prices at Old Navy, Target, JCrew Factory, and TJ Maxx. 

Pants: A printed pant //Black pants 

Skirts & Dresses:Something striped //Pencil Skirt //Black dress

Shirts: Oxford shirts //Cardigans //Printed blouse //Cardigans //Striped shirt

Shoes: Printed flats //Tan flats //Black flats// Riding boots // Booties

Outfit Inspiration

Here are some of my go to business casual outfits for the winter. They vary in how dressy they are. 

Plaid blouse// black cardigan// houndstooth skirt// black flats

Fur vest// polka dot blouse// black pants// riding boots

Red pants// boatneck striped sweater// plaid flats

Houndstooth pants// black sweater// black flats

Black pants// blue collared shirt// red plaid vest// tan flats

Plaid tunic// tan sweater// navy skinny pants// riding boots

Navy cardigan// plaid blouse// tan pencil skirt// tan flats

Black dress// blanket scarf// riding boots

Black pants// striped shirt// herringbone vest// booties

Navy skinny pants// sweater// purple gingham shirt// riding boots

Navy printed pants// white blouse// maroon cardigan// tan flats 

Black pants// teal cardigan// long sleeve tee// booties

Fur vest// chambray shirt// skirt// riding boots

Black pants// oxford shirt// leopard flats

Herringbone vest// black pants// polka dot blouse// herringbone flats

Black pants// Sweater// oxford shirt// black flats

Hunter boots// tan skirt// 1/4 zip

teal cardigan//white Oxford// plaid black skirt// riding boots

Dress Down Days Outfit Inspiration

Pajama Day: Lilly Pulitzer pants// pink tee// oversized sweater// tan flats

Sports Day:  Jeans// Villanova shirt// oversized sweater// booties

XOXO

Thursday Thoughts to Inspire Teachers

Teaching is not an easy task.  Some days are quite long and filled with stress.  Other days are fun and filled with happy moments. Each week has its ups and downs.  One of the things that I like to turn to after a bad day is an inspiration quote.  It's a nice pick me up and reminder to be happy.  Today I'm sharing ten quotes to inspire teachers. 

A nice reminder that might make you feel less guilty on those days when you come home and just want to put your pajamas on as soon as you walk in the door.

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This is to help fight off the Sunday scaries. 

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One of the perks to being a teacher is that you get to help shape the future of the world we live in. 

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The reality of being a teacher. A great lesson on paper can be fabulous or a total disaster. 

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A reminder that your bad day has to come to an end at some point. 

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The inspiration you will need on a Monday morning.

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The reason why you have to show up to teach each day. Your students are counting on you. 

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There's a reason you chose to teach.  It's the profession that speaks to you. 

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Friday is hands down a teacher's favorite day of the week.  One- it's closer to the weekend. Two- Fridays are usually casual dress down days. 

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A reminder that what you do is important. 

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What inspires you to go to work each day?

XOXO

What's in My Bag: Student Teaching Edition

A few weeks ago when I shared that I would be creating this series I got a few questions regarding what student teachers should bring with them on a daily basis. This is definitely a personal preference. Some people might bring more items back and forth, on a daily basis, while others will carry very few things. It also will depend on the space you are given to make your own within the classroom you are located. I was fortunate to have my own desk. My cooperating teaching was kinda enough to provide me with just about all of the supplies I needed (post it notes, pencils, pens, highlighters, notepads, paper, index cards, a clipboard, paper clips, stickers, tape, white out, binder clips, rubber bands, markers, a coffee mug, tissues, hand sanitizer, and more). I was also in a safe privileged school, so I was able to leave things on my desk without them being taken.  This meant that I didn't have to bring too many supplies back and forth with me- only the ones that I would need to complete the items on my nightly to do list. 

Let's start off with the bag. I had been looking at this tote from Madewell for several years. I always thought it would be what I would ask for as a graduation present since it didn't quite align with my college student budget.  However, a few weeks before school started J.Crew came out with their fall catalogue as well as a sale.  I found a tote even better than the transport tote I originally wanted. The All Day Tote was just screaming my name. It seemed to be similar in size to the other tote, but it had more pockets- better for organization.  I ended up getting it for about 50% off, so I decided to personalize it with my first initial.  The gold personalization and the bag tag really spice the plain black bag up. The bag itself was designed to be an everyday bag to get the working woman through an entire day (barre class all the way through lunch and the working day). This bag definitely did not disappoint me this past semester. I have gotten my money's worth and will use it throughout my teaching career. 

Folders

I typically brought two folders back and forth each day. One folder contained assignments that needed grading. Keeping them in a folder helped me prevent them from getting damaged in my bag.  The other folder contained miscellaneous items like papers that needed copied, ideas for future lessons, notes from seminar, etc. This was the first time I used filing folders as opposed to pocket folders. I actually found that the filing folders were better to use because they didn't crinkle the papers and could hold more.  I found these folders on sale at TJ Maxx before the semester started. 

iPad/Laptop

I alternated between bringing my laptop and ipad.  I has access to the wifi, so I was able to bring either device.  The school I was at relied heavily on Google Drive, so I had access to all necessary documents from pretty much anywhere.  If I knew we would have the laptop cart, then I would only bring my iPad in. However, if we didn't have the laptop cart reserved then I would bring my laptop in. I found it easier to grade online assignments from my ipad, but it was easier to create assignments, lesson plans, etc. using my laptop. 

Notebook

This was something I used a lot.  My agenda had a few blank pages in it, but I ran out of those pretty quickly. This notebook came to meetings, lesson planning with my cooperating teacher, home on the weekends, etc. I used it to take notes during meetings, write out daily to do lists, write reminders to myself, inspirational quotes, things my students would say that stuck with me, etc.  This notebook was the perfect size. You can find something like it at Target, Amazon, Marshalls, or TJ Maxx. 

Agenda/Plan book

I highly recommend getting an agenda to use just for the semester of student teaching. You will want something with a lot of space and multiple calendars. I used the front calendar to keep track of my personal life and the calendar before each month as one to keep track of school life (meetings, letter days, assemblies, etc.). I purchased a jumbo Lilly agenda towards the end of last year.  It gave me plenty of space and provided me with colorful inspiration on challenging days.  

Pencil Case

I brought this back and forth with me, but I mainly used it when I was grading papers or writing lesson plans outside of school.  This creme de la creme (cream of the crop) pencil case is from Anthropologie.  They don't sell this exact one anymore, but you can still find similar ones here. I always kept a few black pens, a highlighter, a pencil, eraser, paper clips, binder clips, rubber bands, white out, stickers and a packet of post-it notes inside of it. 

Wallet

This one is pretty self explanatory since you shouldn't leave the house without it.  Plus you never know when you might need a few dollars to donate to whatever the cause of the month is. 

Emergency Kit

I call this pouch my emergency kit, but it's really just the random items I never know when I need.  I bring this in all of my bags.  I usually keep lotion, hair ties, a hair clip, bobby pins, lipstick, chapstick, feminine products, hand sanitizer, gum, cough drops, tissues, advil, and my inhaler in it. All of these items came in handy throughout the semester. 

Glasses

Some days I needed these and others I didn't, but I always liked to keep them with me.  I found that days when I did a lot on the computer or when I was grading essays I needed them. 

Water Bottle

Water is something that I hardly ever leave the house without.  During the school day water is a necessity.  As a teacher, you talk a lot. Your throat will get dry, so you always want to make sure you have water.  I used the 32 oz. Hydroflask. It kept my water colder throughout the entire school day. I would usually try to fill this up twice from the time I woke up to the time I went to sleep. Drinking out of a water bottle consistently also helped me track how much water I was consuming. 

Travel Mug

This came to and from school with me just about everyday. Some mornings it was filled with ice/cranberry juice/orange juice, iced coffee, or hot tea. During school, my cooperating teacher would make tea so I would fill it up on chilly afternoons as a pick me up.

Lunchbox

In case nobody has told you yet, teachers don't have much time to eat. You will want to pack your lunch to save time and to make sure you're eating healthy.  I always made sure my lunchbox was filled with a mid morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack for the hour (plus some) long drive home. My Vera Bradley Lunch Bunch Bag fit perfectly in my tote. 

Other Items:

Some other items I kept in my bag were a hair brush, my keys, pepper spray, my school ID, my ID for the school district I was in, and a charger for my laptop/ipad. 

XOXO

Student Teaching Survival Guide

It's been exactly one month since I completed my last semester of student teaching.  This past semester was hands down the most tiring and rewarding one of my college career. It was filled with change and a gradual change from being a college student to almost adulting. I moved back home with my parents, in May, to save money since I knew I wouldn't be able to work enough hours to pay rent. Living at home definitely had its pros and cons. I was lucky enough to have the support of my parents after long days. However, I wasn't able to socialize quite as much, which was definitely a positive for my overall health and wealth. The weeks leading up to this past semester, I was filled with curiosity as to what student teaching would be like.  Sure I heard stories from friends who graduated the semester before, but I still wasn't 100% sure what I would be getting myself into. Because of this I thought I would put together a little survival guide for those of you who are embarking on your semester of student teaching.  This week you'll find the real truth about student teaching, how to maintain a sense of professionalism, the perfect teaching outfits, and my top tips to have a successful semester.

The view from my desk.

Time Management
Enjoy the last little bit of free time you have because once student teaching starts your free time decreases down to hardly nothing. Between creating lesson plans, attending seminar, keeping up with your assignments, getting involved in the school community, and maintaining your sanity your free time diminishes quickly. Once the semester starts, time management is crucial. Take twenty minutes each Sunday night to plan out your week (workouts, lesson planning, grading papers, doing one fun thing, sleeping, attending meetings for clubs you're still involved with, work, and completing your assignments). You won't follow this time table exactly, but it will make you feel like you have more of a grip on things during the week when you have hectic days. This sounds silly, but if you can designate a time to stop working each night to go to bed it will help you.  I tried to stop doing work by 9:30/10 each night, so that I could  be asleep by 10:30/11.  If you don't do this, then your work time will cut into the time you should be sleeping. And trust me when I say you're sleep is important.

Speaking of work time, take advantage of your free time during the school day to prepare for the following day.  This will decrease the amount of work you have to do outside of school.  You're going to have to do some work outside of school, so find a time and place that you work best.  I found that staying after school during the week to finalize lesson plans, PowerPoint's, make copies and grading worked best. This helped me feel prepared heading into the next day.  On the weekends, I designated Sunday mornings at my desk or a local coffee shop to get school work done. This prevented school from taking over my entire weekend.

Ask Questions
Unless you're extremely extroverted, you might be hesitant to ask a lot of questions.  However, you will need to push yourself to get outside of your comfort zone and learn as much as you possibly can. Asking questions is going to help you advocate for yourself, make you feel more comfortable when you're uncertain, and help you learn more about the profession.  In the beginning you'll want to ask a lot of questions in order to understand how the school and classroom operates.  Ask questions to learn how to determine if a student should get an A vs an A- if they are on the line, classroom procedures, management, behavior procedures, how to deal with certain situations, how you can improve, why certain steps are taken in a specific lesson, to learn about students' backgrounds, etc.  These questions are going to make you more knowledgeable in the long run. A good idea is to write down your questions when you think of them, and then ask your cooperating teacher at an appropriate time.  The most important question you should ask should be "is there anything I can do to help" or "is there anything I can do tonight to help prepare for tomorrow".  These two questions show that you are interested and want to take on more classroom responsibility.

Network
Student teaching is basically a semester long interview. Take advantage of your time, and work to collaborate with the faculty in your building. You will be able to learn from these professionals and allow them to get to know you too.  If you observe other classrooms, be sure to write thank you notes to show your appreciation.  Become involved in the school if there are any opportunities to do so.  Attend parent meetings, back to school night, school concerts, etc. These show the parents that you are serious about teaching and that you care about their children.  Towards the end of the semester, try to meet with the principal to ask questions you may have.

Professionalism
As an education major, you should definitely be familiar with this term. It's pretty much shoved down our throats from the very first education class to the very last day of student teaching.  So this is your friendly reminder from me to also carry yourself professionally throughout student teaching. There's a number of aspects that go into this loaded word.

First, always dress professionally. I touch on this a bit below and I will in a later post, but basically make sure your attire is appropriate to your building.  This doesn't mean you have to wear business casual everyday.. take advantage of jeans Fridays, spirit days, and holidays.

Second, don't bring too much of your personal life into the school.  The students and teachers don't need to know every single thing about you and what you do on the weekends.  With the students, it's important to share some information (where you go to school, hobbies, pets, favorite colors, etc.) but know where to draw the line. The same thing applies with the staff you are interacting with. You will know how much information is too much after spending a few weeks with these people.  This will vary depending on your cooperating teacher.

Third, be kind and courteous.  Use your manners, write thank you cards, and volunteer to help those around you- it will help you get noticed too.

Fourth, be on time early. If you are on time, then you are actually late. Do your best to always show up early. I always tried to get there ten minutes earlier than I was told.  This was helpful on days when inclement weather interfered with my morning commute..even when I was "late" for me,I was actually on time.

Fifth, don't be the first one to leave school each day. If you're constantly the first one to leave, then it looks like you don't want to be there. You should be staying until your cooperating teacher leaves or tells you that you can leave. This past semester I was one of the first ones in the building, and on some days my cooperating teacher and I were one of the last ones to leave.  Putting in the hours at school made a big difference because I had less work to bring home.

I don't think I really need to say this, but make sure you attend every day. There really isn't a reason you should be missing many days during your student teaching semester.  Your university's requirements might be different, but where I attended we were able to miss up to five days for family reasons, illness, and job interviews/fairs.  I think I missed a total of one day due to a stomach bug. Your time there will go fast, and you now have teachers and students counting on you so show up regularly.

Assignments
During this semester, you will most likely be required to attend weekly seminars. On top of teaching, you will be required to complete a certain number of specific assignments and case studies.  Chances are these will have due dates closer to the end of the semester. Take advantage of your free time, at the beginning of the semester.  Get these assignments completed before you take over teaching full time. Waiting to complete them last minute will just stress you out.  A lot of the assignments involve collecting data or doing research, so they aren't things you can just complete in one night.  Set a goal for when you want to complete everything and work to achieve it.  I had my assignments finished before my last month, and it was such a relief to only focus on teaching for that last month.

Create a support system
Student teaching can be lonely at times. Unlike attending classes daily, you won't be able to lean on your classmates to help you plan your lessons and get through stressful days.  However, you will have peers who are experiencing similar situations in different contexts.  It's helpful to have at least one person you can lean on when you are having a tough time.  Someone else who is student teaching the same time as you is helpful because you will be able to bounce ideas off each other, share confusions about assignments, and go through the experience together.  It's even more helpful if this person is someone student teaching in your building.  I was lucky enough to not only have a peer in my building, but she was also student teaching on the same team as me.  We were able to collaborate a lot, share insights on students, and guide each other through the whole semester.

Shout out to Kim for surviving a whole year with me! 

Eat breakfast
This sounds silly, but eating breakfast is really important. Once you get to school, your day can take a million and one turns from what you thought it would be like.  Depending on what happens or how much work you have, your lunch time might get cut short.  It's important to eat breakfast because it jump starts your day and gives you energy to get you through to when you will be able to eat lunch or a snack.  My go to breakfasts during this semester were oatmeal and these breakfast cups. You can also check out my work week breakfasts here.

Meal prepping is your friend

Speaking of food. You'll want to take care of yourself throughout the semester, and that means eating right.  After a long day of teaching, chances are the last thing you will feel like doing is making dinner.  It's easy to pick up the phone and order take out, but your bank account will hate you for it after awhile.  I was lucky enough to live at home, so my mom and I took turns cooking dinner. However, we would try to plan ahead with some meal prepping.  Meal prepping on the weekends means that during the week you will just have to turn on the oven or microwave to make dinner. It saves so much time during the week! I also suggest meal prepping your lunches too.  This saves time in the mornings.  Checkout some ideas for meal prepping here.

Choose your outfits wisely
If the semester hasn't started yet and you haven't started your professional wardrobe, do so A-SAP.  There's really no excuse for not having, at least, a small professional wardrobe.  You definitely needed a few outfits to get you through your early field classes.  Chances are an organization you were involved with required business casual attire at some point.  When getting dressed for school, you will want to dress comfortably but professionally. Remember you will be working with children/adolescents.  You shouldn't wear anything too short, tight, distracting, or uncomfortable.  Ladies, heels are cute but they are not the most practical teaching shoes.  You want to seem approachable to your students, and you also want to make it the entire day wearing the same pair of shoes.  My advice would be to wear an outfit that makes you feel confident, but also shows you are professional.  More tips to come on this later in the week.

Stay healthy
You want to make sure you take care of yourself. With all of the stress, hectic days, and work it can be hard to remember to stay healthy.  There's lots of ways to stay healthy: go to the gym once a week, take a multi- vitamin daily, drink lots of water, wash your hands before eating and as soon as you get home from school, fuel your body with good foods, and get your rest.  It's important to have good mental and physical health this semester.  Listen to your body and take care of it. If you feel like you're getting sick, then try to get a bit more sleep, drink some tea, and take Airborne.

It's okay to spend a whole Saturday in bed!

Over prepare
When it comes to your lessons, try to be overly prepared.  The more scenarios you anticipate happening the more you can prep for them.  The last thing you would want to happen is for a student to ask a question and you can't answer it or aren't prepared for students who finish early. Doing research can also help you with this preparation.
Always make your copies the day before because you never know what will happen in the mornings. You might have to talk to another teacher, the copier could jam, etc. Always have activities planned for students who finish their work early. These anchor activities will help with your classroom management.
When you know you're getting observed by an administrator or your supervisor, definitely go above and beyond to prepare.  This means having a back up plan if technology doesn't work, having a behavior strategy for that student who dictates how the rest of the class behaves, etc.  The more prepared you are, the smoother your lessons will hopefully go.

Make time for fun
You should make time in your schedule to do at least one fun thing each week.  It's important to find balance during this semester.  It shouldn't be all work and no play nor should it be all play and little work. This fun could be grabbing dinner with friends, exploring a new city, taking a weekend to binge watch movies, getting your nails done, going to a new fitness class, or visit your family.  Regardless, you need to have some fun. It will help keep you mentally healthy and avoid burnout.


Remember that this semester is a time to learn and grow as a young professional. Take advantage of every opportunity you can. You are going to make mistakes, but that is okay as long as you can learn from them.  Do your best to reflect as much as you can because we all know that reflection helps us improve.  As you go through student teaching, do your best to have fun and learn as much as you can.

Also check out my post on supplies for student teaching

XOXO

Work Week Breakfasts

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but yet it's the meal most likely to be skipped by most of us.  During the work week, most of us would rather spend a few extra minutes sleeping rather than making time to eat the first meal of the day.  I used to be really guilty about this, but over the past year or so I've changed my habits and it's made a big difference. Eating breakfast each morning has given me more energy and a less chaotic launch to my day.

Here are a few tips that might make eating breakfast easier:

Make it ahead of time
When you do meal prepping in advance, then you don't have to waste anytime in the morning deciding what to eat or cooking.  Try to plan out your breakfasts on Sunday night, so that you don't have to think about it during the week. On Sunday night you could even prepare a few breakfasts ahead of time.  Preparing breakfast ahead of time could be simply placing yogurt and fruit in a container as well as placing your granola in a zip lock bag, preparing overnight oats, pre-cutting the bagel you will eat. slicing fruit, or even putting all the ingredients in the bullet blender cup for your morning smoothie.

Establish a morning routine
Establishing a morning routine will schedule you time to eat breakfast regularly. Like I said earlier, most of us don't eat because we don't have time. If you allow yourself time, then you can definitely indulge on the most important meal of the day. Play around a little bit to figure out what works best for you. I personally have found that showering the night before gives me extra time in the morning to eat breakfast.

Make one morning special
Try to pick out one morning a week to treat yourself to a special breakfast. This might be stopping at Starbucks for your favorite latte, eating leftovers for breakfast, something that might not be as healthy, or taking extra time to make your favorite breakfast (waffles, pancakes, etc.).

On the go options
Stock up on a few items that you can always bring to eat while you're en route to your morning activity.  Some items to keep around might be fruit, granola bars, or dry cereal.

So now that I've shared some strategies that help me, let's chat about some things you could eat for breakfast.
 

Toast recipes// Bagel toppings// Instant Oatmeal
Yogurt ideas// Breakfast cookies// Smoothie recipes
Quiche recipe// Overnight oat recipes// Wraps

What are your go to breakfasts for a busy morning?

XOXO