Teaching students how to research is more difficult than it has ever been. Common Core standards emphasize research skills, which help to support complex and critical thinking for our students. It’s a good thing to teach, but can be a very hard thing to learn. There are many reasons for this challenge, as well as why it’s getting harder all the time for our kids.

Each school year, I spend about two weeks (paid) and two months (unpaid) prepping, planning, and dreaming of the year to come. I attend workshops and professional development, all centered around how to strategically and effectively pour knowledge into the little brains in my care over the coming nine months. It becomes this massive multi-dimensional chess game of student placement, centers, guided teaching, whole-group lessons—the list goes on. What I fail to account for each year is the profound effect my students will have on me and my personal and professional growth.

This spring, hundreds of educators joined us for our Transforming Learning in the Classroom webinar series. Each of our 45-minute sessions were led by experts and leaders in the field of education and technology, who shared their insights into creating successful learning environments. These presenters work in schools and make an impact every day, and they brought their vast knowledge, expertise, and advice to our series.

We will launch another series in the fall, featuring new topics and speakers to offer their insights into educational trends. If you missed our live spring series or can’t wait until fall to be inspired, don’t worry! You can still be motivated by all of these wonderful educators and innovators by viewing any of our sessions at your convenience.

Just this past week, I asked a fourth-grade student to help another student get caught up on a research project. The two students came to my classroom and sat down at the computer. My helper Kristie sat down next to Robbie and I could instantly see a change. She morphed from student to teacher before my very eyes. As Kristie sat very patiently and kindly working with Robbie, I was amazed—and once again reminded of why I am a teacher. Moments like these, where you see a student using his or her skills, collaborating, and going above and beyond expectations, are the moments we teachers live for. And at this very moment, I was reminded again that I learn at least as much from my students as they learn from me.  

While there can be some difficult aspects to the teaching profession, most teachers would agree that the pros far outweigh the cons. In fact, many teachers would be happy to tell you all the things that make them passionate about the field of education!

Since we’re celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week, we thought it would be fun to ask some teachers what they enjoy most about their job. Here is our compiled list of the top 25 things teachers love about this profession:

Teaching is one of the most challenging, underrated, and often deeply rewarding professions a person can choose. There is a lot you can learn from trying to teach a room full of (mostly) interested students that can help you in everyday life. Here are some of the biggest lessons I have learned over the years:

Teacher Appreciation Week is here and companies across the country are showing the love! We know how busy teachers are, so we’ve rounded up the best teacher deals and freebies so that you can take full advantage. Whether you want to treat yourself or stock up on supplies, we’ve got you covered! 

Diversity continues to increase in public schools nationwide. One in four school children are listed as a first- or second-generation immigrant in the US, and 350 languages are spoken in homes across our nation. It is so important to teach tolerance, empathy, and acceptance to prepare students for a diverse world.

One excellent way to do this is to expose your students to a variety of cultures. This year, I spearheaded our first Culture Night. Our school population includes many different cultures, and we really wanted to build community and appreciation with our families.

For some, the month of May signifies that another school year is just about ready to wrap up. As educators and students alike look forward to what summer brings, this can be a challenging time to continue engaging students as their interests and motivations may be a bit more unfocused.

Need some inspiration to engage your students this month? Here is our collection of themed lesson content for May:

Whole-class learning is a key aspect of the modern classroom. This practice is designed to put students at the center of the educational environment so they’re more engaged, more collaborative, and more motivated. The teacher still drives the instruction and facilitates the learning—whole-class solutions simply make teaching easier and learning more exciting.

Many students grasp new ideas more quickly through whole-group learning, especially if the material is interactive and engaging. Ready to bring whole-class learning to your classroom? We’ve created a resource library to help you select, implement, and provide whole-group instruction—no matter your budget or needs.