If Then Creativity Blog

Staying current helps you make informed decisions about your child's education. 

If Then Creativity's popular blog covers a range of educational topics to keep you up-to-date. 

Debra Lemieux

Recent Posts

5 Things Teachers Can Do Right Now to Prepare for the New School Year

01 Aug 2017

Early bird teachers start everything early. They wake up early (even on vacation), they arrive early to meetings, submit their lesson plans early, and are prepared for the first day of school weeks in advance.  

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Teacher Survival Kit: 8 Ways to Avoid School Year Preparation Procrastination

27 Jul 2017

Do you put off getting ready for the school year until the last minute?  People vary in how and when they procrastinate, but it’s a common behavior with complex reasons such as fatigue, distractibility, perfectionism, boredom, hatred of the task, and a heavy workload.

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Teacher House Cleaning: Determining What Lessons to Keep and Which to Toss

25 Jul 2017

Most veteran teachers have accumulated years of curriculum materials, books, and lesson plans. Old materials sit on shelves, in cupboards, or in “digital folders” just waiting to be used.

Is it time to clear out what is no longer useful?

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Lesson Plans Revisited: How Veteran Teachers Can Improve Existing Approaches

20 Jul 2017

The days of writing lesson plan goals, objectives and procedures, and saving supplemental materials in a big 3-ring binder are fast disappearing.  

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6 Ways to Reignite Your Fire for Teaching

18 Jul 2017

Teachers inspire, instruct, and go, go, go – sometimes without stopping to refuel and rest. Unfortunately, this constant burning flame can lead to a loss of motivation and energy. In addition to rest and relaxation, add some of the following to reignite your fire for teaching.  

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Signs You Might Be At Risk for Teacher Burnout

13 Jul 2017

Teaching is a worthwhile profession. Guiding students, learning new subjects, and collaborating with other teachers are just a few of the many positives.  It is also a demanding profession filled with endless tasks, new initiatives, and emotional exhaustion.

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What Teachers Can Learn from In-class Supervisor Observations

11 Jul 2017

Everyone wants in on education reform–especially with regard to performance evaluation. Advocacy groups, philanthropists, and policymakers all have interests in boosting teacher effectiveness through teacher evaluations.

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Teacher Self-Assessment:  A Checklist For Assessing Your Teaching Practices

06 Jul 2017

Everyone seems to have an opinion about what makes a teacher great. According to students, the best teachers should engage their learners while being caring and dedicated.  

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5 Books to Energize Your Teaching You Must Read This Summer

04 Jul 2017

What’s on your teacher reading list? As I mentioned in a previous post, reading is a great way to relax – especially in the summer.

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If Then Creativity: June Newsletter Educational Content Roundup

30 Jun 2017

Summer is officially underway!  I hope everyone is enjoying some much needed rest and relaxation.

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