Winter Self-Care in Ten Minutes or Less

It's that time of year when we find ourselves in need of a new self-care routine.  In this post, I’m going to share my favorite items and techniques that take 10 minutes or less.  Most of them can even be done at your desk!

First, I’m going to share the relatively cheap or free self-care items and techniques that I love.

Wash your hands!

We all know how important hand-washing is to our overall hygiene and health. However, we are all also under strict time crunches with our schedule. Please do not skip washing your hands. It’s not worth it the risk of getting the flu!

Hydrate your skin after washing your hands

We all know how important it is to hydrate our bodies, but we often neglect hydrating our skin. Every time you wash your hands, you should be applying lotion during this incredibly dry season. Cracks and dry skin on your hands let bacteria and viruses in. My favorite lotion is by Doterra but any lotion will work.

Hydrate your body with more than just water

Bone broth powder

I buy packets of these bone broth packets at Walmart. Bone broth has amazing anti-inflammatory and healing qualities. It also adds extra protein to your diet without adding a ton of extra calories. I just pour one of the powder packets in a mug and add boiling water and within minutes, I have a wonderfully nourishing cup of broth to sip on.

Magnesium tea

I have an entire post on how to make Magnesium Tea. In that post, I talk about the amazing qualities that magnesium have for healing your body and calming your mind.

Now I’m going to share some of my self-care items that will require a small investment but pay off big time in the mental health department.

Wireless earbuds

My favorite wireless earbuds last a long time before needing to be recharged.  On rough days I like to put on either an uplifting music playlist or a positive video on YouTube. On long days, I love listening to energizing music. Wireless earbuds allow me to move around the classroom and complete tasks without being tied to my phone.  The same thing applies at home. Doing dishes is a lot more fun when I’m jamming to my favorite songs. 

Get some sunlight… Or get the next best thing

My room is on the ground floor of our building. That means I do not get any natural sunlight in my classroom. Especially in the winter, I get the blues when I can’t get enough fresh air and natural light. So, that’s when I reach for the next best thing: A Portable Light Therapy Energy Lamp.  Just spending 10 or 15 minutes in front of it while sitting at my desk grading papers makes a huge difference in my mood.  

Combat dry air

Studies have shown that dry air carries viruses more readily. At home, I have humidifiers running constantly but in the classroom it is a little more difficult. So the answer is a portable humidifier with a USB cable.  I can plug it into my laptop and move it around the classroom on my portable podium.   The optimum humidity is between 40 to 60%. If you are curious what the humidity of your classroom is, you can use this hygrometer that I use at home.

Try some aromatherapy

I use a portable diffuser that also has a USB cord that I plug into my laptop and travel around my classroom with. I turn it off when students are in the room. Several studies have indicated that the benefits of diffusing essential oil last 2 to 3 hours so it doesn’t need to be on all of the time.

Here is my favorite January-inspired diffuser blend if you need some extra inspiration.

Nurture your body

I saved one of my favorite new things for last. I bought myself this portable body massager for Christmas. It is amazing because it has a car charger converter so I can use it when I am waiting to pick my son up at school in the car line. Then I can use the AC adapter at school for a quick neck and shoulder massage while I’m sitting in my desk chair.  It has a heat option that feels amazing on those cold winter days. 

What are your favorite self-care routine‘s and items? I am always searching for new things to nourish my soul.

How to Find the Time to Lesson Plan

Do you ever find it difficult to find the time to get everything done at school?  Do you have to take work home just to keep up?  This post has some ways you can manage the work each day and make more time for yourself!

Use Your Prep Time As Efficiently As Possible

I know, I know. Planning periods are often taken up by things like meetings and conferences, but when you do get those few unencumbered moments, use them to your advantage. 

Do the Things at School That Can’t be Done at Home: 

Copying 

I try to get all my copies done on Fridays for the upcoming week if I haven't had time during the week to get it done.  The copier is ALWAYS breaking, so I don't want to wait and take the chance the following week that I won't be able to get it done.

Parent phone calls 

Please don't EVER make these from your home or cell phone.  For one thing, it's important to keep those healthy boundaries between work and home.  For another, this is one of those things that really is best done at school for several reasons.


"Batch" the Tasks

What I mean by "batching" is to focus on one thing/subject at a time and finish that before moving on.  For example:

• Make the lesson plans
• Gather the materials
• Make the copies
• Grade the assessments
• Decide if any of these things can or should go home for completion (with the exception of copying)

Plan With Your Grade Level When Possible

Try to collaborate with anyone who teaches the same thing so you can work together on units.


Don't Reinvent the Wheel
If lessons or units don't need to be changed from previous years, don't bother with them. Focus on  making your lessons work smarter, not harder.

• Make sure you have accommodations/modifications written into your lessons for students with special needs. 
• Fluff (worksheets, filler notes) should get tossed aside quickly for learning driven by the students, such as projects where they have to actually find the answers instead of you preparing the information for them.
• Have a set number of assignments that repeat and use the same template. So the form doesn't change, but the content does. That way you don't have to create everything over and over.

Use An Online Planbook

I have the app on my phone, which means I can change or view lessons ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.

• PlanbookEdu :  This website has practically saved my life this year.  Yes, it's not free, but it's worth every penny.  You can input your state standards above your lessons and it keeps track of how many you've covered in your lessons.  You can attach files that you need.  You can print and email the whole plan book or a selection.  In a word, priceless.

When You Can't Get It All Done During Your Planning Period:

Have set “late nights” like Tuesdays and Thursdays (or whatever works with your schedule). 
That way you can get what you need to get done when there aren't so many people around to break your concentration. You're sacrificing a bit of time for work so that your don’t have to be stressed when you’re hanging out with your family. That way you can have the energy you need to give them.

Get To Work Early Instead of Staying Late or Taking Work Home

You will be so much fresher and not have the same interruptions you do by staying later in the afternoon. Of course if you're like me, I'm still groggy in the morning so I actually prefer staying later in the afternoon.

Be Very Selective About The Work You Do Take Home

Whether you have a family or not, your time in the evenings is short and you NEED downtime to recharge your batteries. Sure, you can power through some nights without much sleep, but if you do it too often, you are setting yourself up for teacher burnout.

You can read more about this in my "Avoiding Teacher Burnout" post.

Go to Your "Happy Place" to Grade Papers

Sometimes I have to leave the house to grade so concentrate at a Starbucks and knock out papers that way.

Join An Online Support Network

There are many Facebook and online teacher communities designed to support your effort to get more work done at school and bring less home. 

Many teachers have highly recommended the 40 hour teacher work week club. 

https://40htw.com/join/

How do you balance it all?  I can always use more tips on how to do this!

Top Teacher Time-Savers at Home

Do you ever wonder how the teachers who seem to have it all together do it?  They have a secret:  They maximize their time at home as well as at work.  So if you're looking for some tips on how to do that, this post is for you!

I'm going to start with food because it's one of the most important parts of my life that can also be the most time-consuming if I don't use all my best time-savers.

Time-Saver #1: Our Groceries Shopping List App

This app is the best food-related thing to happen to my busy family!  For one thing, it's free.  It also allows you to add to your grocery list from any mobile device.  So, when my husband uses the last of the bread, he adds it to the list and it automatically shows up on my list on my phone.  No more lost handwritten lists.  We just add to it anytime we think of something we need.  It also has the capability to store your recipes so you can get all the ingredients you need if you suddenly remember that you want to make Grandma's Pumpkin Pie, but didn't write the ingredients down before going to the store.

Time-Saver #2: Meal Plans 

I collect recipes from magazines and search Pinterest for inspiration. I sit down Saturday or Sunday to pick some recipes we want for the week and make a shopping list.  We usually have at least one "breakfast for dinner" and a couple of leftovers meals per week.  On most weeks, I shop once for the entire week. This way I know what's for dinner even on nights when my creativity and energy are low. 

Speaking of saving time with groceries ...

Time-Saver #3: Walmart Grocery

After I've made my grocery list for the week, I often use this online shopping feature. You can shop for all your groceries and schedule a pick up day/time all from the comfort of your couch!  You just pull up to the front of the store and they help load the groceries.  Bonus:  It's FREE if you order at least $30, which is always true for me.  From start to finish, I'm usually out of there in less than 15 minutes. Not having to browse the isles also saves me money because I don't see things I "need" that weren't on my grocery list.  

Time-Saver #4:  An Instant Pot or Crock Pot

I've done other posts on why this thing saves my life when it comes to mealtime:
Italian Marinara Sauce
Pork Roast
Applesauce
Mashed Potatoes

If it weren't for my Instant Pot, I would eat fast food all the time. That causes all kinds of undesirable results for me: Sluggishness, weight gain, predisposition to sickness. I do a couple of hours of prep on the weekends and have dinners/leftovers for the week. I know a couple of hours sounds like a lot of time, but compared to the amount of time I would take to plan and make meals during the week, two hours is nothing.

Time-Saver #5: Salads in a Jar

I'm not kidding, I NEVER get tired of these. I make all five days of salad on Sunday and they are still fresh and tasty the whole week through.  They make packing a healthy lunch so much easier and I don't have to rely on the cafeteria, which seems to take at least ten of my precious 20 minutes of lunchtime. The secret in making these beauties is in how you layer them. Dressing and veggies go in first, then meat, and the lettuce goes in last. There are a million great recipes out there, but here are a few of my favorites.
Taco Salad 

Caprese Salad
Ranch Rotini Salad

Here's on of my favorites:  Black Bean Salsa

Time-Saver #6: Protein Bars

Protein bars are inconspicuous and can be eaten standing at a copier. Need I say more?  Primal Thin Protein Bars are my favorite because they have only four totally natural ingredients, no milk protein, and only 1 g of sugar. 

Time-Saver #7: Choosing Your Outfit the Night Before You Need It

I Pick out my COMPLETE outfit for the next day before I go to bed. This includes shoes and accessories. Why?  Because I'm not a morning person and I try not to wake my family by stumbling around while I'm searching for clothes at zero-dark-thirty in the morning. It saves time and energy to just have it all laid out the night before.

Time-Saver #8: Do a Load of Laundry Each Day

This includes washing, drying, and folding. Here's the part where I get lazy: I rarely put the clothes away after they're folded. I just pick out of the basket until  there's only a few pieces of laundry left and then I put them away. If I consistently do laundry this way, I usually only have one load to do on the weekends. 

What would you add to this list?
What are you already doing from this list?
I'd love to hear how you maximize your time at home!

Teacher Savior: Keto/Bulletproof Coffee on the Go

Have you ever needed to blend something at work but not had a blender or the time to use one?  Have you recently started a diet that incorporates coffee with extra ingredients, such as the Keto diet or protein shakes?  Then do I have the teacher savior for you!

I recently started the Keto diet, which encourages eating higher-foods.  One of my FAVORITE things first thing in the morning is to drink what is known as Bulletproof Coffee.  The recipe is below:

1 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons Coconut/MCT oil
2 Tablespoons Heavy Whipping Cream

You just add all the ingredients to your travel mug and.... blend.  Except, who has access to a blender during the workday?  Not to mention the fact that they are LOUD.

Now, here's the magic "ingredient":  A milk frother!  This is my favorite one from Amazon.

This is very portable, as it is really little.  Despite its size, it is powerful.  It operates off of two AA batteries and all I do is give it a good rinse after each use.  If I want to deep clean it, I will just use it to "froth" some hot water with a drop or two of dish liquid.  It will easily fit in a teacher bag or lunchbox.

The first time I heard this recipe, I was thinking that there's no way those things will taste good in coffee.  Boy, was I wrong!  It is like a creamy, rich specialty coffee.  I promise that it DOES taste yummy and that it will keep you full for a good 3-4 hours.  I like to drink it on my way to work or before my morning workout.

Have you ever tried Keto coffee?  Are you interested in it?  Let me know your experiences and suggestions!

Improving Teacher Morale With Incentives

Are looking to improve school or teacher morale in your building?  Whether you are a principal or part of a morale-boosting committee, check out this post on what incentives teachers want most!

Some things to keep in mind before choosing your incentives:

• Remember:  It isn't the gift/prize, it is the thought that someone cares.
• Get to know your staff. Some people would rather have tangible prizes, while others would be thrilled with having their class covered for an hour. 

Some general low-cost or no-cost prizes that teachers might like: 

• Scratch-Off lottery tickets (check to make sure they are allowed in your building first) 
• Passes to wear jeans on a non-jeans day
• Someone will bring coffee/their favorite beverage to their classroom
• Candy delivery
• Make their copies
• Recess coverage
• Offer to help grade a set of papers (1/2 hour of time. )
• Lunch delivered from a take- out restaurant.
• Give little “pick-me-ups” through the year at random times. For example, Post-it pad and a pen, or a sheet of stickers and a bookmark...cute little things that are inexpensive but that brighten a teacher's day. 

For administrators:

• Waive your walk through/observation for the day
• Get out of school free pass - allowed to leave 10 -15 minutes early one day
• Let the teacher leave when the students leave one day
• Late start for the day (cover homeroom)
• The teacher gets a "free" day to do something fun with their class, maybe board games, outside time, sidewalk chalk art, whatever the teacher thinks will be fun.
• Offer to cover an hour of class for a teacher so they can have extra planning or a longer lunch.
• Reserved parking spot (Depends on size of school)

What are some things you'd add to the list?

How to Teach When You’ve Lost Your Voice

How do you teach if you can't talk?  It's that time of year again where the germs are everywhere and even the most seasoned teacher is susceptible to getting sick.  If you're looking for some tips on how to keep the learning going when you're not feeling well, then this post is for you!

Step 1: Take care of yourself
If you are truly sick and feeling awful, take a day off and get yourself rested!  No one wants to share germs and you won't get better if you push yourself beyond your limits.  And while you're at it, DON'T bring any work home.  You're not resting if you're working.

With that being said, if you still feel well enough to push on, here are some strategies to get you through the day.

Drink hot tea with honey and magnesium.  
Click here to read about how I make my tea.

Diffuse essential oils to combat your sore throat.
My favorite blend for this is lemon, lavender, and peppermint.

Use Singer’s Saving Grace spray. 

Step 2:  Be Honest With Students
Just being honest and asking the students for a personal favor of being quiet and paying close attention has always worked for me.


Step 3:  Write and display your directions to the class
Some ways to do this:

• PowerPoint slides 
• Posters
• If students have access to computers, put your directions on an online repository so students can read the directions and move at their own pace

I’ve typed my directions as I go and projected them on the screen so kids have to read to know what to do. 

Step 4: Assign students as class leaders to relay directions


Step 5: Use visual cues to get students attention
These could include:

• Clapping for their attention
• Flicking the lights on and off
• Raise your hand and have your class leaders quiet those around them

Step 6: Use Self-Guided Stations

Be sure to have some of these ready BEFORE you get sick.  Teach your students how to use them ahead of time.  It's not going to work well to try to teach students how to complete the stations when you have no voice.


Step 7: Use Class Incentives
As a last resort, I have a “prize bag” that floats from desk to desk of students who are paying attention. They get their name in a raffle for a small reward at the end of the day. They get super quiet when they see me walk over and put the bag on a student’s desk.


What do you do when you have to teach with no voice?  I can always use more tricks up my sleeve!

Healthy and Quick Teacher Lunches

Would you like to have quicker and healthier lunch choices this school year?  I'm sharing my favorite mix-and-match menu options in this post. 

Tuna Salad

1 pouch/can tuna or wild caught salmon

1/4 avocado, mashed

1 cup diced veggies: pickles, bell peppers, zucchini, etc. 

Mix all ingredients in a bowl with a lid and take it in your lunch box. 

Hard-Boiled Eggs in a Rice Cooker:

Add 2 cups water to the rice maker. 

Put 6 to 12 eggs in the steamer basket. 

Set it to 15 minutes.  

Remove the eggs and put them in ice water for 5 minutes. 

Peel them and take a couple with you for lunch each day. 

Mason Jar Veggies and Dip

Make this portable treat in minutes by putting your favorite, healthy dip on the bottom and adding sliced veggies.

Mason Jar Black Bean Salsa Salad

Click the link to get the full description of how I make this. 

Pumpkin Pie Protein Bowl

This seriously takes 5 minutes to make and tastes like pumpkin pie. I add 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder to give it a week-rounded meal. 

I make it in a Pyrex dish, let it cool, and store it in the fridge with the lid on it. 

Overnight Refrigerator Oatmeal

No cooking, portable with mason jars, and added health benefits with the fruit and chia seeds. 

Chocolate Veggie Muffins

They're packed full of veggies, but you'll never be able to tell!  Make a big batch of these on the weekend and store them in the fridge for packing your lunch. 

What's on your quick and healthy lunch menu?  I'm ready for some new ideas!

Using Classroom Organizational Strategies on Vacation

Teachers work so hard all year long to organize their classroom in a way that is both functional for the teacher and creates independence in students.  It got me thinking: Why not use that system when it comes to our summer vacations?

The following are organizational rules I live by in my classroom that also serve me well when I'm vacation.

Rule #1: Keep the most important supplies visible
For this, I use Sterilite drawers.  I prefer the 2-drawer cart for vacations because its drawers are large enough to carry bulky items and they come out of the cart for easy transport to various rooms.  The carts go right in the back of the car.

NOTE:  I do NOT use the wheels because I don't want them rolling around in the back of the car.  If I was using them in the classroom, I would definitely put the wheels on.

Rule #2: Label EVERYTHING 
Since the contents of the drawers are likely to change during the vacation, I use packing tape and a Sharpie to label the drawers.

NOTE:  I use a more permanent labeling system in my classroom.  I print, laminate, and cut out the labels and hot glue them to different baskets and drawers throughout the room.  That way, I can easily change the label if I change or move the contents.

You can read more about how I use these items in my post about Hanging Posters so They Don't Damage Walls.

LIFE HACK: Fold a corner of the tape before cutting and/or putting the tape down permanently.  This helps the tape come off the drawers easily AND you'll never lose your place on the tape roll again!

Rule #3:  Keep lesser-used materials in storage until needed.
The materials we won't be using during the trip go in vacuum bags and stored in our car top case.  We bring our vacuum so we are able to re-seal the bags when we leave.

Pillows and bedding go in the XL space saver bags.

Extra clothes go in the Large space saver bags.

LIFE HACK:  If you can't bring a vacuum, just seal the bag until there's only a little space open and lie down on top of it to get the rest of the air out.  Quickly seal it up and it will lie ALMOST as flat as it would if you had vacuumed the bag.  NOTE:  This won't work with fluffy items, like pillows.


Have you ever found yourself using the organizational strategies from your classroom in your home or on vacation?  I'd love to hear how!

Ways to Decrease Your Lesson Planning Time and a FREEBIE

Even seasoned teachers are constantly looking for ways to decrease their lesson planning time. Here are some ways you can do just that, regardless of how long you've been teaching.

1.  Start with the end in mind. 

Look at the state standards you'll be assessing.  See if you can find key words that repeat throughout the standards. Write these down. 

2.  Create your assessments based off of your key words and main concepts in your state standards. 

These assessments should include daily (formative) and final (summative) assessments.

3.  Use key words within the standards to see what chapters or pages in your textbook cover that information. 

Once you have your textbook pages selected, here are some general comprehension activities you can do with the information: BONUS: Many can be done during your Language Arts block:

Using Sticky Notes to Increase Reading Comprehension 

Teaching Nonfiction Text Strategies

Determine Importance in Fiction and Nonfiction Texts

 

Vocabulary Instruction and Assessment

 

3.  Use key words within the standards to do searches on the internet, Teachers pay Teachers, or Pinterest to find lessons or activities that teach those keyword concepts. 

One word of caution concerning internet browsing:  Don't start window shopping or you'll waste more time than if you created the lesson or activity from scratch. My advice is to set a timer. If you haven't found exactly what you're looking for in 15 minutes, you probably need to create the lesson or activities yourself. 

4.  Plan review activities to do before the final assessment for those students needing extra practice. 

Here are some of my favorites:

Content Review and Test Preparation Games 

Share One; Get One Summary Activity FREEBIE

5.  Plan remediation activities for students who do not pass assessments. 

I often have students do test corrections using their textbook and notes. Sometimes I have them work in pairs or in a small group with me to make the corrections, depending on their level of independence. 

And that's it!  Once you have a your units put together with this basic format, you can easily add items each year to customize your lessons for individual students. 

Do you have any tips for making lesson planning quicker?  I'm always trying to streamline this part of my day. I'd love to hear your ideas!