All of us at We Teach So Hard felt like we needed an uplifting read, and listeners...THIS book inspired us! By the end of  Michelle Obama´s memoir, Becoming, we felt like we had just had a fabulous glass of wine and some girl time with the former first lady.  In this episode, we unpack our thoughts about her memoir, share how her story inspired us, and reveal our own sordid (just kidding) connections to her life story. If you´re looking for a great summer read, this book and podcast episode is just for you! Like what you hear? Be sure to follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weteachsohardpodcast/ Or visit us at... Tracy @ http://www.mossyoakmusings.com/ Kathie @ https://www.triedandtrueteachingtools.com Deann @ https://socrateslantern.com/ Retta @ https://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com/ Image Credit: Jennifer Ward “The Show Must Be Go” Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Licensed https://creativecommons.org/license/by3.0

When you have to learn a lot in a short amount of time, it´s not unusual to feel overwhelmed. In fact, we´ve grown to expect those emotions! In this episode, we discuss apps, websites and online resources that we found when teaching in our virtual classrooms this spring. We unpack ideas for how to best use them and share what worked and what didn´t. If you´re worried about this fall and the possibility of teaching remotely again, this episode is just for YOU! BE SURE TO check out the links below. Many are mentioned in this episode! Like what you hear? Be sure to follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weteachsohardpodcast/ Or visit us at... Tracy @ http://www.mossyoakmusings.com/ Kathie @ https://www.triedandtrueteachingtools.com Deann @ https://socrateslantern.com/ Retta @ https://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com/ https://www.weareteachers.com/best-free-apps-for-students/ https://www.proprofs.com/games/ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/star-walk-2-guide-to-sky-day/id892279069 http://gws.ala.org/level/appropriate-middle-school-aged-youth https://rome.mrdonn.org/ https://learn.concord.org/ https://okgosandbox.org/ https://www.icivics.org/ Image Credit: Jennifer Ward “The Show Must Be Go” Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Licensed https://creativecommons.org/license/by3.0

Our first book in our summer read series, Untamed is the perfect avenue for self-reflection. Most have us have been in our own little physical cages over the last 3 months of shelter-in-place, but what about those metaphorical cages we find ourselves in? In this episode, we explore Doyle´s book from the teacher´s perspective. We know all too well about societal cages. And because we would not be true to ourselves if we didn´t explore some yummy recipes to accompany this summer read, we´ve included some INCREDIBLE food and cocktail recommendations to help you explore what it means to be UNTAMED! Think like a cheetah and give us a listen. Then make sure to check out our blog posts below where we´ve shared the recipes and resources. RAWR! Like what you hear? Be sure to follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weteachsohardpodcast/ Or visit us at... Tracy @ http://www.mossyoakmusings.com/ Kathie @ https://www.triedandtrueteachingtools.com Deann @ https://socrateslantern.com/ Retta @ https://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com/ Image Credit: Jennifer Ward “The Show Must Be Go” Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Licensed https://creativecommons.org/license/by3.0

We know, we know. It feels like you just ended your school year...or maybe you have! But with all the uncertainty, we are already thinking ahead to the new school year. Will we be teaching remotely? Will we be back in our classrooms? Or, will we be teaching in a hybrid situation? No matter what, we will be making connections with a new classroom of students. This episode is about how to make those important connections...DIGITALLY. You do not want to miss this episode of We Teach So Hard! Like what you hear? Be sure to follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weteachsohardpodcast/ Or visit us at... Tracy @ http://www.mossyoakmusings.com/ Kathie @ https://www.triedandtrueteachingtools.com Deann @ https://socrateslantern.com/ Retta @ https://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com/ Image Credit: Jennifer Ward “The Show Must Be Go” Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Licensed https://creativecommons.org/license/by3.0

Normally, you'd be breaking down your classroom, cleaning off shelves, recycling your piles of paper, and taking bulletin boards down. But in our virtual classroom, how do we close up for the end of the school year? CAREFULLY! If we want to face the possibility that we might be virtual at the start of the school year, how we close up our digital world now could make a big difference. Don't suffer from PANDEMIC PANIC! We all did this March, but we sure don't want to have to teach that way again in the fall! This episode outlines some Google tips and steps that you can take to close down, archive or organize your digital life so that you're read for next school year, come what may! You need to give this a lesson because you've been teaching TOO hard! Like what you hear? Be sure to follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weteachsohardpodcast/ Or visit us at... Tracy @ http://www.mossyoakmusings.com/ Kathie @ https://www.triedandtrueteachingtools.com Deann @ https://socrateslantern.com/ Retta @ https://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com/ Image Credit: Jennifer Ward “The Show Must Be Go” Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Licensed https://creativecommons.org/license/by3.0

You don't teach sooooo hard...you've been teaching TOOOOO hard! We Teach So Hard is back with a new podcast episode about saying goodbye to your students in a virtual classroom. This episode is chocked full of ideas for celebrating your students' success with goodbye and gift ideas. With school districts and state governments limiting the type of contact we can have with our students, these ideas are sure to fill that huge void, just a little bit. Give this episode a listen. We promise you won't be disappointed! Like what you hear? Be sure to follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weteachsohardpodcast/ Or visit us at... Tracy @ http://www.mossyoakmusings.com/ Kathie @ https://www.triedandtrueteachingtools.com Deann @ https://socrateslantern.com/ Retta @ https://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com/ Image Credit: Jennifer Ward “The Show Must Be Go” Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Licensed https://creativecommons.org/license/by3.0

Roses are red...violets are blue...we're feeling a little bit anxious, how about you? This past week has been mind-blowing, emotional, and anxiety-ridden for all of us-teachers and students. What better way to reclaim some calm (and maybe sanity) than to wax a little poetry. Poetry reminds us of our humanity, gives us an outlet for our emotions, and helps us stay in the present moment. Welcome to We Teach So Hard's monthly book talk theme talk where we share books around a common theme, along with ideas that you can use in your classroom or virtual teaching world. Tune into this episode for book recommendations and teaching ideas. After you listen, be sure to check out our blogs below. They're chocked full of poetry teaching ideas for April's National Poetry Month.  Like what you hear? Be sure to follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weteachsohardpodcast/ Or visit us at... Tracy @ http://www.mossyoakmusings.com/ Kathie @ https://www.triedandtrueteachingtools.com Deann @ https://socrateslantern.com/ Retta @ https://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com/ Image Credit: Jennifer Ward “The Show Must Be Go” Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Licensed https://creativecommons.org/license/by3.0

It seems like everywhere we look on social media, we're seeing article after article about teaching empathy in the classroom. One of our favorite ways to teach empathy is to do service projects with our kiddos. Nothing develops empathy, belonging, and community quite like a service project. In this episode, we discuss a myriad of reasons to try service projects and share a wealth of service project ideas that we've tried with our own students. In fact, we have so many ideas, we had to cut ourselves short! If you're looking for a way to teach your students about caring for others, we've got you covered! Like what you hear? Be sure to follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weteachsohardpodcast/ Or visit us at... Tracy @ http://www.mossyoakmusings.com/ Kathie @ https://www.triedandtrueteachingtools.com Deann @ https://socrateslantern.com/ Retta @ https://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com/ Image Credit: Jennifer Ward “The Show Must Be Go” Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Licensed https://creativecommons.org/license/by3.0

Project-based learning is sooooo much fun! Right? But it can be daunting, too. The preparation, the organization, the performance-based assessments- Ugh! Sometimes it feels like we're suiting up for a football game, only to figure out that we forgot the football once we get out on the field! All kidding aside, there's a lot that goes into a successful project-based learning opportunity. Join us as we give a play-by-play account of what you need to make it impactful for your learners.  Like what you hear? Be sure to follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weteachsohardpodcast/ Or visit us at... Tracy @ http://www.mossyoakmusings.com/ Kathie @ https://www.triedandtrueteachingtools.com Deann @ https://socrateslantern.com/ Retta @ https://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com/ Image Credit: Jennifer Ward “The Show Must Be Go” Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Licensed https://creativecommons.org/license/by3.0

Welcome to our last episode in our Fostering a Culturally Responsive Classroom. In this episode, we relive our tragic elementary school cooperative project experiences and pick at the group-grade scabs and scars we all carry.  In a culturally responsive classroom, choice is offered to students. That doesn't mean it's a free for all. On the contrary, choice can be as simple as offering a couple of different ways for students to show what they have learned and retained after a learning opportunity. We discuss the rationale for this approach, as well as a myriad of ideas for how to incorporate more of this in your classroom. Like what you hear? Be sure to follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weteachsohardpodcast/ Or visit us at... Tracy @ http://www.mossyoakmusings.com/ Kathie @ https://www.triedandtrueteachingtools.com Deann @ https://socrateslantern.com/ Retta @ https://rainbowcitylearning.blogspot.com/ Image Credit: Jennifer Ward “The Show Must Be Go” Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Licensed https://creativecommons.org/license/by3.0