Improve Classroom Culture with Attendance Questions

Attendance questions are one of my favorite daily classroom routines. I love them to help me connect with my secondary students and build stronger relationships. The idea is that every day you post a random question and each student must answer it at the beginning of class to account for their presence. These questions can be personal, content-related, or quick would-you-rather type questions. I usually have the question waiting to students when they enter the room. (See an example of my beginning of class Google Slide below.) The sky is really the limit on the types of questions you can ask. Here are some things I learned while using them as well as some tips for getting started quickly. The

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10 Tips for New Teachers

Getting ready to enter the teaching profession can be so exciting, but also overwhelming. As a blogger and a veteran teacher, I am often asked to offer advice for new teachers. I developed a set of rules that I think are extremely helpful when entering the teaching profession. Samantha in Secondary’s Guide for First Year Teachers Because it’s a marathon, not a sprint. #1: Be yourself. Your students may not always remember what you teach them, but they will remember you. Don’t get hung up on what you think a teacher is supposed to be. You do not need to create a teaching persona; they don’t work, and your students will see right through a façade. It is better to

continue reading

Welcome to Samantha in Secondary!

Hello there, educator! Welcome to my little corner of the internet. I have been a part of the online education community for a few years now in different capacities, but I decided it was time to take a more personal approach. This blog is meant to give you an inside look at my classroom (and sometimes my life!) and hopefully provide you with some tips and tricks you might be able to use in yours. I have been teaching now for over a decade. I can’t even believe I’m typing that, but here we are. For seven years, I taught Social Studies at an alternative school in an urban setting. Six years ago, I made the move to a big

continue reading

Improve Classroom Culture with Attendance Questions

Attendance questions are one of my favorite daily classroom routines. I love them to help me connect with my secondary students and build stronger relationships. The idea is that every day you post a random question and each student must answer it at the beginning of class to account for their presence. These questions can be personal, content-related, or quick would-you-rather type questions. I usually have the question waiting to students when they enter the room. (See an example of my beginning of class Google Slide below.) The sky is really the limit on the types of questions you can ask. Here are some things I learned while using them as well as some tips for getting started quickly. The

continue reading

10 Tips for New Teachers

Getting ready to enter the teaching profession can be so exciting, but also overwhelming. As a blogger and a veteran teacher, I am often asked to offer advice for new teachers. I developed a set of rules that I think are extremely helpful when entering the teaching profession. Samantha in Secondary’s Guide for First Year Teachers Because it’s a marathon, not a sprint. #1: Be yourself. Your students may not always remember what you teach them, but they will remember you. Don’t get hung up on what you think a teacher is supposed to be. You do not need to create a teaching persona; they don’t work, and your students will see right through a façade. It is better to

continue reading

Welcome to Samantha in Secondary!

Hello there, educator! Welcome to my little corner of the internet. I have been a part of the online education community for a few years now in different capacities, but I decided it was time to take a more personal approach. This blog is meant to give you an inside look at my classroom (and sometimes my life!) and hopefully provide you with some tips and tricks you might be able to use in yours. I have been teaching now for over a decade. I can’t even believe I’m typing that, but here we are. For seven years, I taught Social Studies at an alternative school in an urban setting. Six years ago, I made the move to a big

continue reading

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