Teaching to the TOP

051. Last Minute Teacher Gift Ideas

It always seems that this time of the year flies by! Before you know it, it is the end of the year and you still have gifts to buy before your kids go on break. If you are listening to this and you are a teacher then you know the amazing array of gifts we can receive each year. From clothing items to an excess of coffee mugs we want to share what teachers would actually like for the holidays. In this episode we are sharing our favorite last minute gift ideas. 
 
But before we jump into the gift ideas please know that while almost all of the items we are going to mention are things you have to purchase, not all gifts have to be bought. Consider what you are able and willing to give to your child’s teacher or teachers in your building. 
 
LAST MINUTE TEACHER GIFT IDEAS:
 
Thoughtful card from students or letter of appreciation
Bath and Body works soap dispenser wrapped in a clear bag and filled with candies
The Starbucks disposable coffee cup filled with candy and a gift card attached
Target or Amazon gift cards are always appreciated!
Sanitizers & Lotion combo
Collection of the teacher’s favorite snacks (maybe throw in a code for a Redbox movie)
Their favorite school supplies (cardstock, laminating sleeves, markers, etc.)
Donate your time (offer to cut, laminate, etc.)
Customized vinyl name left unused so that the teacher can apply to an item of his/her choice (if you don’t have one, see if a friend can make it for you)
Something from their wishlist - such as Amazon (ask the teacher if they have one)
 
Remember, this is a time of year to show your love and appreciation to those around you. We hope these ideas have helped make this holiday season a little less stressful. 
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050. 12 Days of TOP TEACHING

 
We LOVE a good countdown to Christmas whether it's an advent calendar, wearing our favorite holiday attire, or watching our favorite holiday movies! But this year, we have something EXTRA special planned!
 
To help us cross some items off our to-do list while enjoying the festivities of the holidays, we have created 12 Days of TOP Teaching! For the next 12 days, we will be getting gifts ready, baking our favorite cookies, and more! What could be better than that?
 
Here is a rundown of the days:
 
Day 1 (Sunday, December 13th): Get gifts ready for people that are part of your teaching life
Day 2 (Monday, December 14): Treat yourself to a new pair of holiday jammies
Day 3 (Tuesday, December 15th): Plan your first day back from winter break
Day 4 (Wednesday, December 16th): Do something nice for someone else
Day 5 (Thursday, December 17th): Clean your classroom or digital workspace
Day 6 (Friday, December 18th): Complete your favorite holiday craft
Day 7 (Saturday, December 19th): Get a box to collect gifts that need to be taken back to your classroom
Day 8 (Sunday, December 20th): Drive around your community and look at all the lights
Day 9 (Monday, December 21st): Get caught up on your grading
Day 10 (Tuesday, December 22nd): Bake your favorite holiday treat
Day 11 (Wednesday, December 23rd): Write thank you notes for any gifts you received from families
Day 12 (Thursday, December 24th): Watch your favorite holiday movie while enjoying your favorite holiday snack and drink
 
Plus, if you post about completing one of the 12 Days of TOP Teaching on Instagram and tag us, you will be automatically entered into a giveaway of one of our EXCLUSIVE TOP Teaching crewneck sweatshirts! Each post you make is a new entry so make sure you participate (and share) all 12 days for your best chance of winning!
 

049. Time Management Tips For the Holidays

048. Bridget's Week in the Life - In-Class Teaching

Join Bridget as she tackles getting ready for Thanksgiving break and working in-person during a pandemic. Listen to how she struggles with teaching during COVID and how she works to overcome challenges and stressful times.
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Are you subscribed to our podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. Click here to subscribe to iTunes!
Now if you’re feeling extra loving, We would be really grateful if you left us a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find our podcast and they’re also fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

047. How to Press the Reset Button in Your Classroom

Let’s be honest with ourselves… one of the hardest parts of organization is the upkeep and the maintenance. Eventually, you start letting things slide and your system starts to fall apart. It’s human. But you have to acknowledge this when it happens and press the reset button to get yourself back on track. Today we are going to give you some strategies for pressing the reset button in your classroom, whether you are teaching in-person or virtually

046. Michelle's Week in the Life - Virtual Teaching

045. The REALITY of Establishing Balance

044. How to Write Sub Plans During a Pandemic

With so much uncertainty right now, we have to think about the what-ifs. What if we get sick? What if we have to quarantine? The majority of schools are asking teachers to plan for those what-ifs and create sub plans that can last from anywhere between 5-10 days. To help you with this process, we’ve come up with 10 tips on how to write sub plans during a pandemic. 
 
TIPS FOR WRITING SUB PLANS DURING A PANDEMIC
 
Tip #1: Have materials in an easy to find location in your room (make this obvious!)
Tip #2: Put your plans in a Google Drive folder and share with teammates/admin for easy access
Tip #3: Have a list of typical routines and procedures that you use when teaching
Tip #4: Have a recorded lesson ready to go that can be used at any time
Tip #5: Develop a Flow for for each block of teaching
Tip #6: Schedule assignments ahead of time on your LMS so if you’re out, they are ready to go!
Tip #7: Have a list of student information readily available
Tip #8: Try to find a sub that is familiar with your school/students
Tip #9: Keep easy to use (theme) extras in your sub area
Tip #10: Consider sprinkling your students to other classes
 
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
Are you subscribed to our podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today. I don’t want you to miss an episode. Click here to subscribe to iTunes!
Now if you’re feeling extra loving, We would be really grateful if you left us a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find our podcast and they’re also fun for us to go in and read. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!