You already have a host of mindfulness activities for the classroom in your toolkit, but what about tips for helping you—the educator—be more present in the moment? Have you ever tried to meditate, or practice mindfulness yourself? To learn what it takes (and how to do it), we talked with two mindfulness pros over at… Read More

We all know it’s important to live a healthy, balanced life, but what does that actually look like day-to-day as a teacher? Since March is National Nutrition Month, we asked some of Concordia’s MEd and EdD students and alums to share health tips that work for them in and out of their classrooms. Plan ahead… Read More

This week, March 5-9, is National School Breakfast Week. As teachers, we often tell our students that breakfast is, of course, the most important meal of the day. But… raise your hand if you sometimes skip it yourself. We wake up super early, gather our things, and head to school for long days of teaching—it’s… Read More

If you fly with any regularity, you’re likely very familiar with the flight attendant’s instructions to place the oxygen mask on yourself before assisting children. The reason, of course, is that you can’t do a very good job if you don’t take care of yourself first. Particularly in challenging situations, this is absolutely vital. Teaching… Read More

Between grading papers, lesson planning, and that extra-special energy students are buzzing with, it’s super difficult for teachers to actually unplug—but it’s so important that we do. Here’s why, followed by tips that will do dedicated educators a lot of good. Remember, self-care is truly an act of kindness to yourself! Why it matters—how stress… Read More

Running on a treadmill or going to a spin class might be the last thing you feel like doing after a long work day. Before and after the bell rings, you’re grading papers, meeting with students, planning, and more. You’re constantly putting your own life on hold so you can be there for your students day… Read More

Before embarking on my online MEd in Curriculum and Instruction at Concordia University-Portland, I spent 15 years working as a health educator, helping individuals find balance and resilience in daily life. My professional knowledge served me well as I ventured into the world of being an online grad student. And after graduation, all that hard work—and… Read More

Being a teacher is just as rewarding as it can be tiring. Nearly every day of the week, you’re grading papers and lesson planning. You may have kids of your own and advise Key Club. You may exercise every AM, or tutor every PM. Whatever your lifestyle, you don’t want to shuffle it around—but you… Read More

Earning your Master of Education degree is one of the smartest and most exciting moves you can do for your teaching career. Here’s an example of what your typical day might look like as a Concordia University-Portland student. As you can see, balancing work, family, and your master’s program is absolutely doable—and in the end,… Read More

Without question, Twitter has become a hotspot for education-related tips, tricks, and talks. Just search any of the hashtags #EdTalks, #EdChat, or even #TeacherProblems and you’re instantly connected to a network of passionate educators sharing their experiences and insights into the education world. From nonprofits to everyday teachers, here are a few accounts we like to follow…. Read More

Earlier this year, Netflix released a new series based on a bestselling 2007 YA novel by Jay Asher—and it’s got people talking, a lot. From start to finish, 13 Reasons Why tells the story of Hannah Baker, a high school student who deals with everything from bullying to assault, and ultimately decides (we learn in episode one)… Read More

The last day of school is always bittersweet: Saying goodbye to students can be tough but usually, teachers are so exhausted when summer comes around that they need some time to recover. As you prepare to close up shop for the summer, consider these five summertime tips for relaxing, recovering and preparing for fall. Before… Read More

For the second year in a row, my daughter launched a full-fledged campaign against standardized testing. About a week before the tests began, she argued they were ineffective and unfair. She echoed the concerns of a variety of students, parents and teachers: It’s a bad measure, it’s stressful, it doesn’t influence grades, it takes too… Read More

Teaching is one of the rare careers where it’s still common to stay in the same profession — possibly even in the same school — for a good portion of your career. For some teachers, this stability is part of the appeal. But for others, there comes a point where the joy is gone and… Read More