This week on the Edverything Podcast, we welcome Spencer Sharp, also known as @sharpthebuilder Spencer found himself in a unique situation back in his first year of teaching - to build something from nothing, and if you thought his name hinted at something, you’re right- @sharpthebuilder reflects Spencer’s path as he was approached by his school leadership to build a STEM curriculum from scratch with limited supplies and funding, and he certainly did! Spencer sits down with us to talk about...

It feels like now more than ever educators are reexamining classroom practices and procedures with a different lens; enter: 2020-2021 school year. An ever-changing learning environment calls on teachers to get creative especially when it comes to traditional classroom procedures like student note-taking. This week, Danielle and Nicole challenging student and teacher assumptions about note-taking as they ask 3 major questions and identify valuable criteria when deciding on a new note-taking...

Many edupreneurs find themselves creating classroom resources to sell to other time-strapped educators. Marshall and his wife, Lindsay, decided to start a podcast, not for their fellow teachers or teacher side hustlers, but in an area where they saw a real lack: inspiring science education content. Combining Lindsay’s background in science journalism with Marshall’s passion for teaching middle school and his musical talent, the couple started Tumble, a self-described “science podcast for...

Though going into the field of education was the single biggest career choice that we’ve made, starting our podcast 3 years ago has become a very close second. Starting a teacher podcast was a literal game changer for us. Without it, we would still be dreaming of one day becoming teacherpreneurs. As proud teacher side hustlers, we know that there are plenty of decisions that need to be made at any given point, but we can also say from experience that choosing the right platform for releasing...

Though teaching can feel like a rather solitary profession at times, more and more educators are realizing the benefits of working with their fellow teachers. Whether schools assign a co-teacher or encourage us to work with a team, we establish formal or informal mentorship relationships with those within our own district or teachers that we follow on Instagram, or we simply regularly listen to education-focused podcasts or attend virtual PD, nowadays, the opportunities to network and learn...

In some ways, our sudden foray into remote instruction has forced us to re-examine the ways in which things have always been done in education, allowing motivated teachers the space to reinvent practices that had become standard but that could be improved with the technology now at our disposal. Perhaps more than any other single aspect of education, virtual learning necessitates a close connection with parents who are instrumental in the educational process but who can be difficult to...

Though number of years in the profession, grade level taught, and location all have a significant bearing on the exact number, a recent Business Insider article published found that nationwide “the average public school teacher salary for the 2018-2019 school year was $61,730.” As a result, it is no surprise that so many teachers are trying to leverage their many skills into finding a profitable side hustle in order to make the most of their talents and to help them pay down students loans,...

As Summit and podcast hosts, we know a thing or two about pitching. We both receive and make pitches all the time.  Based on what we’ve seen first hand, we are breaking down some of the most important things to keep in mind in order to put together a quality pitch. In episode 80, we talked about the homework that should be done behind the scenes before sending out that pitch so that when your message or application gains attention, those hosts are impressed with what they see from you in...

As the school year starts to wind down and distance learning becomes the new norm, it seems there is no better time than the present for self-reflection and a #teacherinfluencer resume revamp.  In this episode you'll hear:  Why the size of your audience isn't your single defining characteristic  Why attending a virtual summit is a perfect opportunity to earn the Professional Development you've been wanting The *homework* you need to do before you hit "apply"  How to strategize and make...

Why showcase student work—and why not use the bulletin board Sends the message that you value student work Makes students collaborators in the shared space Reinforces the idea that the teacher isn't necessarily the only audience Gives others a glimpse into your classroom and what you are working on Time to think outside the traditional bulletin board Bulletin boards might be the most common method for displaying student work-- but that doesn't make it the only way to show what...

As the new normal of working from home actually begins to feel a bit more normal, it may be time to make our digital classrooms feel a little bit more like the home away from home our physical classrooms have always been. So many teachers pride themselves on making their classrooms a comfortable, welcoming space, full of personality, and inspiration. But can we say the same for our virtual classrooms? Though this may have been overlooked when the sudden transition to remote learning occurred,...

Danielle & Nicole are here to discuss their favorite topic - virtual summits! Whether you're curious about the behind the scenes end of creating a the #totalteachersummit or you're seriously considering implementing a virtual summit in your classroom this school year, Danielle & Nicole are here to walk you through the "How-To" of virtual summit creation. When you listen to episode 46 you know why a virtual classroom meet-up is worthwhile, and today we're building on that point,...

When school is in session, whether knowingly or not, you likely have a routine. That set of tasks you do regularly, perhaps even unconsciously, from the time you wake up through your commute and continue straight through til the final bell rings and you head home for the day. And while everyone’s typical routine may look a little different, the COVID 19 outbreak has almost certainly caused a major disruption to your daily schedule. With the sudden shift to remote learning, you may feel like...

In the midst of the coronavirus, as so many schools have begun online instruction, it seems like we all became virtual teachers overnight, figuring out how to translate our lessons to the online space. And while we are all still adjusting to our new normal, now more than ever it is great to get advice from someone who is a pro at this, literally, as online instruction is the way she delivers all her lessons. Cara Piper is a traditional classroom teacher turned online kindergarten teacher for...

When a lesson is going really well, it seems like time absolutely flies by. But how often have we had that same sensation, not knowing where the time went, when our daily prep period comes to an end--yet you have nothing to show for it? We want to instill time management skills in our students, but if we are being truly honest with ourselves, we don’t always use our own as strategically as possible.  When unexpected parent emails, makeup exams, and copying machine jams come up, we too often...

For many motivated teacherpreneurs, we strive to be successful in the classroom and online. But for so many teacher side hustlers, the latter half only takes one form, and that’s TeachersPayTeachers. Like many entrepreneurs, Brooke wanted to explore what multiple streams of income look like rather than limiting herself to the traditional classroom/TpT combo. For Brooke, the natural extension of her classroom lessons was to create and curate an Amazon Storefront. Brooke’s Instagram account,...

As teachers, we wear many hats: educator, support system, advocate, mentor. But how many of us--even knowing the benefits--participate actively in a relationship in which we are being mentored? It goes without saying that we are big proponents of on-going professional development--after all, it's why we host The Total Teacher Summit each year. But many teachers mistakenly don't realize that being part of a mentor/mentee relationship can be an extension of that type of PD. It can be a way to...

Make sure to tell your story; your followers want to see you. It’s the advice that we hear time and time again when it comes to Instagram. For Speech and Language Pathologist Macy Gilson, the individuals that she helps find their voice are a critical part of her story and the word she wants to spread, and nowhere is that more obvious than in her online presence on Instagram and the web. Nowadays, the word Instagram is nearly synonymous with the word influence. But what exactly are we trying...

When it comes to your #teachersidehustle, there are so many parts that come naturally; necessity sparks innovation which inspires great ideas and produces even better products. But when it comes to talking about those products, sometimes nothing could feel less natural. "Self-promotion" is one of the most challenging and critically important aspects of marketing that #teachersidehustle. In this episode you'll hear:  The Why of Promoting Yourself Online Building your resume for what’s next...

If you are living the teacherpreneur lifestyle, you are potentially facing burnout on two fronts. Both teaching and entrepreneurship are time-consuming and energy-intensive efforts, evident in the high attrition rates in the field of education as well as the dismal percentage of small businesses that ever reach success. With so much to do and so much stacked against us, why are so many of making our lives that much more difficult by seeing teaching and our side hustle as separate rather than...

We teach our students not to judge a book by its cover, but if we are being completely honest, we probably aren’t living what we preach when it comes to how we act online. Even though intellectually we realize that we may be missing out on great teaching insight in a long-form IG caption, a blog post linked to from Pinterest, or a TpT product, without an appealing visual to accompany it, it will almost certainly be overlooked. It’s time other teachers stop missing out on all you have to...

Whether you are looking to make an impact in the classroom or on social media, being a teacher is all about making connections.  But in order to do that, you need to put yourself out there, and though that may sound simple, for many of us, that act is no easy feat.  In a helping-oriented industry, it can seem like talking about yourself is a way of putting yourself first, but that isn’t accurate. Those who already want to learn from you will only like and trust you more when you let them know...

Even with an increase in emphasis on career and college readiness, when will we ever use this is one of those perpetual complaints we hear from students.  It can be difficult to find time to meet all the standards while preparing students for standardized tests, leaving little room for covering some of the real-world skills that we know students need-- but don’t know where along the way they will learn them.  But Thom Gibson proves that we can cover some real-life financial literacy no matter...

When a lesson is going really well, it seems like time absolutely flies by. But how often have we had that same sensation, not knowing where the time went, when our daily prep period comes to an end--yet you have nothing to show for it? We want to instill time management skills in our students, but if we are being truly honest with ourselves, we don’t always use our own as strategically as possible.  When unexpected parent emails, makeup exams, and copying machine jams come up, we too often...