I could say I'm busy (I am). Or I could say I'm on vacation (I'm not). Or I could say that I'm having technical difficulties (sorta). But... the truth is... It's hot. I'm tired. And I thought you'd enjoy this video more than reading me ramble.  Enjoy this trip down memory lane!

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This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on May 25, 2018. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken@gmail.com

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

We've all heard it. Stressed? What do you have to stressed about? You get summers off, afternoons and evenings off. You get to play with kids all day. How can you be stressed?

They don't get it.  And... they never will. Some people are so........ narrow minded, close minded, I-don't-know-what-kind-of-minded that they will never understand the stress that teachers are placed under AND place themselves under.

If you've never taught or you don't personally know a teacher, you're probably wondering what stress they could possible have.  Here are just seven of the stresses that teachers face.

1. The stress of being responsible for the health, well-being, happiness (yes, some parents place this right up there with safety), and education of several children.
2.The stress of planning and preparing meaningful lessons designed to take children to the next level and the next century.
3. The stress of collaborating with their colleagues on nonexistent time.
4. The stress of parent relations.
5. The stress of school public relations.
6. The stress of no support from administrators.
7. The stress of having too much paper work and not enough time.  And before you say, I have paper work at my job. This is true. But you don't have 20 six year old demanding your attention.

Now for the major stressor, the one that teachers place on themselves.  The stress of reaching each child where they are and bringing them where they need to be academically while loving and nurturing them socially and emotionally. In short, the stress of caring too much. Yes, too much. Teachers adopt each child in their classroom as if they were their own.  I am convinced that teachers have the biggest heart of anyone. Ever. Period.

If you don't believe me, do some fact checking. Report after report, survey after survey all say the same thing. Teachers face a tremendous amount of stress. It is real and sadly, it is the reason many leave the profession.

So cut teachers some slack over summers and holidays off. Listen and support, instead of criticize. In fact, that sounds like good advice for just about anyone.


This week winds down my first week of special promotions.  Thanks to everyone who participated. More to come the next two weeks.  If you don't want to miss out like my FB page and follow my TpT store.  It is as easy as a couple of clicks!
Chocolate 4 Teachers Face Book Page
Chocolate 4 Teachers Store 

Followers already know... I've opened a Boom Learning store. Click this link to one of my Boom Decks.

Nonfiction Boom Cards

Privacy Policy

This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on May 25, 2018. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken@gmail.com

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

Worksheets. Now when we hear the word, we cringe. Who wants to be associated with a worksheet, let alone be called the Worksheet Queen?  No. One.  That's who.  We live in a digital age (if I hear that one more time, I'll scream!). Worksheets do not challenge our students or teach critical thinking skills.  Worksheets are beneath us. They are the doormat to today's technical world.

I confess I was called the Worksheet Queen. Back in the day. And, I still have a fondness for these pieces of paper that have an ugly name. I prefer the word printable. For some reason printable is more acceptable than worksheet. Could it be that we don't want to associate 'work' with an assignment??  I did have a principal that forbid the use of the word homework because students were not to associate school with work. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. I thought so too.

Anyway, back to the question. Do worksheets (or printables) have merit?  Yes. It all depends on how it is used.  To pass them out and then have your kids sit in rows and complete page after page is... well, I can't find words to describe how awful I think this is. But would someone please explain to me how giving a kid a tablet and instructing them to play educational games for the rest of class is any different? I mean. Have you seen some of  the games? Educational? Not by any stretch of the imagination.

So what does it depend on? The teacher. Teachers teach. Teachers use various resources to teach. Printable, book, tablet, interactive board, manipulative, game. All have merit. All have a place. It all goes back to how they are used.

For example: You pass out copies of a story (I was a reading teacher).  Students silently read. Teacher points out various vocabulary words, then writes them on board. Students read aloud or teacher reads to the class.  Students are instructed to highlight the vocabulary words written on the board. As a class, practice using context clues to determine what they mean. Teacher passes out a printable.  Students highlight vocabulary words on printable., then write an original sentence using the new word. Higher order thinking using a specifically taught skill.  The students learn the word, see it in context, associate with experience by connecting story to writing original sentence on printable.  Students now have ownership of word.

I could give example after example. So could you.  We can cower when the word worksheet is used or we can make it work for us and our kids.  Teachers are the professionals that have the skills to turn something mundane and rote into something wonderful and challenging. If they don't ... they need a perspective change.


Something NEW!!!

Everyday, for the rest of June, I'm going to offer something special in my TpT store.  Store sale, thematic sale, flash freebie, introduction of new category or product... Something. For you.  My followers (both store and FB). Something that you can use (I hope!).  Click here to follow my Facebook page, Chocolate 4 Teachers so you will be one of the first to find out what the day's surprise is!

The first...
A forever free Back-to-School activity - newly updated! 

Privacy Policy

This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on May 25, 2018. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken@gmail.com

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

I miss the Good Ole Days. The days of 'Yes, please."  and "No, thank you." The days when kids did what they were asked to do. When respect was in fashion and getting an education was a privilege.  When talking back was as unheard of as wearing your pajamas in public.  When sparing the rod meant that your child would not be a spoiled brat.  You know... the days before entitlement took over and the world went to the dump in a hand basket. You remember. Don't you?

I remember. I was proud to be a teacher. Broke, but proud.  Didn't make enough to pay the bills, pay my student loan, and keep the fridge full, but that was okay. I was shaping the minds of young America.  I loved my kids and I loved teaching. The lack of pay didn't matter. I paid my bills and made due with what I had. It didn't embarrass me that my mom dropped off that half gallon of milk that she bought thinking they were out.  Or the loaf of bread and some lunch meat that she just happened to have. You know. Laying around the house. No one to eat it before it spoiled.  I knew better. I didn't fall for her stories. But, I never let her know. I thanked her and was grateful.  

I can't say that it was as much pride as it was noble. That's it. Being a teacher was a noble profession. And, I took to it like a duck takes to water. We were even doing STEM and STEAM and project based learning before they became a 'thing'.  We did them, not because it was the current trend, but because that was the best way to teach our kids.  We didn't know about 'best practices' or any other nonsense. We didn't care about anything except teaching our kids.

And loving them. But that was back in the day. Before sick people took the word love too far and tainted it for everybody.  We listened and we cared and our kids knew it.  They knew because we set boundaries. Had expectations. Our 'threats' weren't empty promises. There was a next time.  Consequences fit the crime.   They taught responsibility and accountability. Two more words that have fallen into disgrace.

I miss those days. I miss the learning that took place and the respect kids showed to their elders. I miss the cooperative learning and teaching with my colleagues. I miss the peace of a structured classroom where skills were multiplying by the minute.

I don't miss wearing heels and working 72+ hours a week. Or home visits. Or meetings about everything and nothing. I don't miss the break down of a system that worked.


Don't let the heat get to you!  Create a lasting and fun nonfiction literacy center!  Box books are one of my best 'secrets' to involve kids in reading real-world text.  Click here to take a peek at this example! 

Privacy Policy

This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on May 25, 2018. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken@gmail.com

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Chocolate 4 Teachers