 A common theme among new teachers is wanting to develop their teacher craft. This is something that makes you the unique teacher that you are and so I can understand why it feels important. It is! Without a doubt, it definitely takes time, but it also needs to be something you are intentional about. With all of the latest programs being thrown our way, scripted lessons and obligations set by administration, it can be easy to find yourself just trying to stay on top of everything. If you’re also dealing with classroom management issues then you might just be trying to survive each day. Regardless of your situation, you are able to develop your craft if you are willing to dedicate some time to it. My first year of teaching I dealt with scripted lessons and a classroom full of kids who I thought hated me. I know that if I was able to find pockets of time (and energy) to dedicate to my teaching craft, then anyone can. And… because you are here reading this article, I know that you are at least interested in trying to do this for yourself and your students as well. By implementing some of the strategies I’ve come up with, you can start to feel more confident in your teaching and enjoy your job. I promise!
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 It's no surprise that teachers encounter all kinds of personalities in their classrooms and have to navigate different methods of dealing with all of them. When new teachers ask me what is the best advice when dealing with student misbehavior, I say, it depends. There are so many different things I have tried over the years that to say "this works" and "this doesn't" is nearly impossible. Instead, I thought of a few different methods I've used multiple times over the course of the years.
I explain the behavior I was experiencing with several students and tactics I used that worked in those situations.  The other day I was talking to a friend who I have known since the very first day I became a teacher. We were discussing how much has changed, not only in the classroom, but with schools and students in general over the past 15+ years. But as the conversation progressed, we realized that there is SO MUCH that has not changed and probably never will.
Oh what the first year of teaching would have been like had I known what I know now….one can dream of being that confident and successful their first year. Or one can read this article and be given some really great advice from a veteran teacher ;) Over the years, I have had many teacher friends who left the profession. The most recent two who left this past school year seem to be happy, but both miss something from their teaching days. One misses the critical thinking aspect and the other misses the creativity. The grass is always greener, but I can’t help and think that maybe if these teachers had better support they would’ve stuck it out until they got over the, what I like to call, “the new teacher hump.” There are tons of benefits to being a teacher that have nothing to do with actually teaching….can someone say summers off?! Then there are the benefits that do relate directly to teaching and that is the difference you get to make in children’s lives every single day, the creativity and the problem solving. The sad reality is that even with all of the benefits, teachers are leaving the profession in droves. They say if you can make it past your 5th year of teaching then you will most likely stay for the long haul. When I sit back and think about my first few years of teaching, there are a lot of things that I wish I had known. Things that would have helped me to sleep better at night and things that would have made the day to day more bearable. Below is that list curated just for you!  This year is the first time I’ve ever done student-led conferences and I can tell you from my one experience that they are soooo worth it. A student-led conference is basically a parent-teacher conference, but attended and presented by the student. It’s an amazing opportunity for students to reflect on their first couple of months of school, decide on what’s working, where they need to grow and identify a single goal that they want to work on that semester. It’s great because it sets the tone for the rest of the school year and that is, their work matters and is valuable to them.
 I worked with my students to put together a Holiday/Traditions Star! This activity is great because it teaches the VALUE of DIVERSITY and gives kids the chance to share about a holiday or tradition they celebrate. Something we need to bring to our students' attention all year long.
 What is Morning Meeting?Morning Meeting is something that our school has adapted from the book Teaching Children to Care by Ruth Charney which explores The Responsive Classroom approach to building a caring classroom environment. This is a moment at the very beginning of the day that allows the me and students to build a relationship, review plans for the day as well as set a tone for the classroom. I start my Morning Meetings by reviewing the schedule for the day. Kids are always curious about what to expect and I like to start with that in order to alleviate any anxiety or preoccupation with what to expect. This way, everyone can focus on what we really need to do which is have a meaningful and productive class discussion. Beautiful things can happen during a well-structured and thoughtful Morning Meeting, so I like to get as much out of it as I can. You can:
(click below to read more)
Unit 2 Alaska Exploration and ResearchUnit 2 is a focus on Alaska which is my platform for teaching them how to do research and to demonstrate how a person's environment effects the way of life. Here are the components of what I planned:
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Julia GrahamDaughter of the King, wife and mother, former upper elementary teacher, curriculum and course developer 
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