< Back Rose Gause Reading With Rose Reading With Rose Hi, I love helping students not only become better readers, but also have an appreciation for it. I’m a virtual reading instructor with a literacy program that uses a phonics based curriculum. I also have experience teaching in a classroom setting and abroad. I provide customized lessons in ELA, reading, and phonics. I’m passionate about creating an immersive online learning experience for my students to learn and express their creativity. With the use of digital tools and story telling your student will excel in reading. "Reading should not be presented to children as a chore, a duty. It should be offered as a gift." - Kate DiCamillo Go To Website

< Back Why Teaching Feels Impossible Right Now Reading time 4 minutes Published April 13, 2026 Category: Education, Education Reform, Teacher Burnout I had a conversation this week that I haven’t been able to shake. I was on the phone with a former student of mine who is now a high school English teacher. (And yes, before you ask, we didn’t exchange phone numbers until after she graduated. Professional boundaries have always been important to me.) We were talking about how hard it is to actually teach around these standardized tests. How much instructional time is lost to them, not just during testing windows, but all year long. She also vented about how frustrating it is that students don’t, or can’t, read for any real length of time anymore. We talked about the role of technology, both in and out of the classroom. But more than anything, we kept coming back to the same thing: It’s nearly impossible to get students to those upper levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy when everything is driven by test prep. And here’s the part that’s been bothering me… Every teacher knows this. And somehow, the system keeps pretending it’s not true. More test prep and more practice tests are NOT how we improve test scores. I learned that in one of the very first grad classes I ever took. Students who practice the skills the test measures in a variety of ways consistently outperform students who spend all their time doing practice tests. Students who interact with content in different formats, who think, who explore, who engage… they do better. And in order to reach those top two levels of Bloom’s, Evaluation and Creation, students need the two things we are giving them less and less of: Time & Space. They also need l low-pressure environments where their brains can actually play with ideas, make connections, and think critically. You know, like all the electives that keep being cut to make room for more tested subjects like math, English, and science. So what do we do? Well, the really good teachers try to force real learning into a system that prioritizes test performance above everything else and then to prepare for those tests in the least effective way possible. And it’s exhausting. It’s disheartening. It feels like pushing an ever-growing ball uphill. Add in the lack of admin support, the behavior issues, the constant data collection, and all the non-teaching tasks… and it’s no wonder so many teachers are burning out, giving up, or leaving altogether. This job used to get easier each year. Now it feels like the opposite. And here’s where things shift. As a private practice teacher, I’m no longer bound by a rigid schedule or a scripted curriculum. I get to teach in ways that actually promote critical thinking, creativity, evaluation, and exploration. I provide the structure and the guardrails, but the learning itself is much more student-led. And it’s fun. Genuinely fun. (And yes, teaching a world language helps. We can do almost anything as long as we do it in French, but I see this same shift with the teachers I work with across subjects, too.) While I do miss certain dynamics that only exist in a traditional classroom, the professional freedom, autonomy, and respect I have now are worth it. At least until classroom teachers are given the same level of trust and professional autonomy. So here’s the thought I keep coming back to: You don’t need to become a better test-prep tech. You know how to teach and, miraculously, you still want to teach. The problem is you’re barely given the opportunity to. And all those skills and knowledge you have that actually help students learn: Autonomy. Creativity. Critical thinking. The very things the system is squeezing out. They’re the same ones that make a private teaching practice thrive. If you’re still in the classroom, let this be your reminder: You are not the problem. But you also don’t have to keep forcing yourself to operate inside a system that makes good teaching feel impossible. If this resonates with you, you have lots of company. What’s one thing you wish you had the freedom to do in your classroom? Drop it in the comments or send me a message. And if you’re starting to wonder what teaching could look like outside of this system… that’s exactly the work I do with teachers inside my mentorship program. Previous Next

< Back Finding Myself Again Through Teaching Freedom Reading time 5 minutes Published September 4, 2025 Category: Teacher entrepreneur; Teacher burn out; Leaving the classroom I officially resigned from my full-time teaching job in July 2020. I said, “It was no longer a good fit for our family because of COVID,” but the real truth was harder: my job was turning me into someone my family and I didn’t recognize . I loved my students, my colleagues, and my content area, and still, the school system was draining the joy out of me. Worse, it was replacing it with hurt, anger, and resentment. COVID made the toxicity, hostility, and school politics impossible to ignore. During that first month of COVID teaching, I got sick, juggled online teaching with two little ones at home, and kept showing up anyway. The school had no protocol for what to do if/when a teacher got COVID. Support was minimal, subs were non-existent, appreciation was back-handed, and the mandates often worked against good teaching. When my seniors, many of whom I’d taught for five years, noticed the changes in my personality and started trying to take care of me , I knew I had to make a change. The moment I chose myself (and my family) At the end of that year, I was beyond exhausted, incredibly angry, and heartbroken. I couldn’t keep masking it at home, and I couldn’t keep pretending in class. I cried all summer and my dread grew the closer it got to August. My husband understood that I couldn't bear to go back there. But it was COVID. So much was uncertain, and we didn't know if the company he worked for would survive. I couldn't leave without having something else to go to. Finally, I landed an aide position that would allow me to get our daughters on and off the bus. It was a pay cut, but it was just barely enough. So, on the last possible day, I submitted my resignation. It was the scariest and kindest decision I’d made in years. What happened next surprised me. An opportunity that wasn't anywhere on my radar. I was approached by a very small local private school. They asked if I would teach two of their students. It wasn't enough for the school to hire me, but their parents agreed to pay me directly. I could make it whatever I wanted and charge whatever I thought was fair. Unbeknownst to me at the time, this became the beginning of my private teaching business. My first goal was simple: replace the part-time “offer” I’d received from my former employer (half the pay for the same course load). Within six months, I was earning $2,000/month in about ten hours a week. A month into the following school year, I fully replaced my former salary FT salary working approximately 20 hours a week. What changed when I stepped into private practice At home, my kids noticed first. One day, my oldest daughter said, “Mom, you’re so…happy now and proud of yourself. It's kind of annoying.” She was right. I was singing again, dancing in the kitchen, proud of myself and my work, and fully present for our day-to-day life. When I asked my littlest about what she thought about Mommy having her own business, she said that she was glad I got to take care of them now instead of Nana or Miss Kristin. Professionally, everything started to fall into place too. I stopped over-delivering and under-charging and started pricing sustainably. I learned that this model of teacher entrepreneurship works when you value your expertise, set clear terms and conditions, and build simple workflow systems. I also learned how much respect flows when families choose you directly. All of which led me to referring to myself as a private practice teacher or a teacher in private practice. Because if other highly educated and highly trained professionals have private practice models, why not teachers? Lessons you can borrow right now Whether you’re burned out or simply ready for a healthier pace, here’s what helped me build a private teaching business that felt good and paid well: Start before you’re “ready.” Share what you offer, even in a simple post. Momentum beats perfection when launching a private teaching business. Price for sustainability. If your rates require 60+ hours to pay the bills, they’re not sustainable. A private teaching business needs a margin for planning, admin, and real self-care. Design for respect and fit. Clear policies and a thoughtful intake make your business run smoothly for you and your students. Keep it human. Relationships and results are your best marketing. A values-aligned private teaching business grows through trust and results. Only take students you know you can serve well. Find a Community. Entrepreneurship can be isolating. Having a community of like-minded teacher entrepreneurs for collaboration, co-working, and support can be a game-changer. (We have one inside the T2E Intensive, but I'm working on building one for other teacher solopreneurs, too. Stay tuned.) As more of us create our own teaching/tutoring businesses, the “teacher = school employee” stops being the default. Being a private practice teacher allows us to show what’s possible when we have autonomy to teach the way we know our students learn best. Why the words matter I use the term private practice teacher rather than tutor intentionally. First, it names teachers as the educational experts we are and reframes our work alongside other professionals who are able to serve clients directly. Second, it differentiates us from other tutors who aren't teachers, like high school and college students who do it for extra money rather than as a career. When people see a private practice teacher in action, they see personalized instruction, safe learning spaces, evidence-based teaching methods, and students achieving their goals. They witness what real teaching and learning can look like without counterproductive mandates, policies, and constraints. My bigger mission After rebuilding and rebranding my teaching career, I created The Private Practice Teacher® to accomplish three main goals: Make teachers aware that this path exists and can be a viable option for those who still have a heart for teaching. Mentor those who want help building their own private teaching business. Elevate the profession of teaching so teachers are recognized as the educational experts they are. Every thriving private practice teacher is a living case study in what's possible for students when educators have agency. If this resonates You don’t have to stay stuck in a system that asks you to betray your best judgment. If you’re curious about becoming a private practice teacher or starting a private teaching business, I’d love to connect. Bring your story; I’ll bring strategy, compassion, and clear next steps. Best wishes always 💕 Previous Next

< Back 7 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Starting My Teaching Business Reading time 6 minutes Published August 14, 2025 Category: Teacher Entrepreneurship When I first left the classroom, I wasn’t worried about what to teach, how to teach, or even where to find students. I knew my skills as an educator would carry over. What I was worried about? The business side of things — bookkeeping, taxes, time management — plus all the things I assumed would be complicated or out of reach. As it turns out, much of what I feared was simpler than I thought, and much of what I thought would be simple took more un learning than I'd expected. Here are seven things I wish I’d known sooner: 1. I Could Have Charged More From the Beginning When I started, I charged $50 for an hour of direct instruction plus an additional hour of asynchronous practice. That’s two full hours of value. Now, I charge $80/hr for that exact same service — and my clients happily pay it. Lesson learned: price based on the value you provide, not your own fears. 2. My Monthly Business Costs Could Be Almost Nothing I thought I’d need to spend hundreds a month on tools and programs. The truth? My monthly operating budget stays between $40–$50. There are incredible free and open-source resources out there. You don’t need fancy software to get started — or even to scale. 3. Bookkeeping and Taxes Aren’t as Scary as They Seem I assumed I’d need to learn advanced accounting skills to keep my business afloat. Instead, I started with a simple spreadsheet and a habit of setting aside a percentage of every payment for taxes. Then I started using Wave(free version) and synced it to my bank account. At tax time, I print out reports from Wave and send them to a hired tax professional. It has been worth every penny. 4. Managing My Own Schedule Is Liberating I worried I’d waste time without a strict schedule to adhere to. In reality, setting my own teaching hours, blocking admin time, and protecting days off gave me more focus and energy than I’d ever had in the classroom — so much that I now have time for my family and even hobbies. 5. Parents Trust Me More Than My Credentials Parents don’t care about my degrees, certifications, or methodology jargon. They care that I can help their child and do what I say I’ll do. Overloading them with credentials or lesson plan details can actually backfire — keep your communication simple and focused on results. 6. “Niching Down” Means Something Different for Teachers In most industries, niching down means narrowing your service to one hyper-specific thing. For teachers, it’s more about who you work best with — the type of student, their learning needs, and the situations where you shine. Services can evolve, but your ideal student profile is your anchor . 7. Start Before You Think You're Ready Your business will always be a work-in-progress — and that’s a good thing. Done is better than perfect. You’ll be tweaking things indefinitely. It’s better to involve your audience in your journey than to spend months building behind the scenes only to launch to crickets. Start making connections, share what you’re working on, and invite people in before you’re “officially” open. If you take nothing else from this list, take this: You don’t need to wait for perfect conditions. Your business, like your teaching, will grow with you. When you start sooner, you start learning sooner — and that’s how you find your stride. And if you want someone to walk beside you, I'm here. Best wishes always 💕 ~ Rachel Previous Next

< Back Cathie Guillebastre My Math Mindset My Math Mindset As a certified math teacher passionate about personalized learning, I specialize in helping students transition from concrete understanding to abstract thinking. My mission is to build confidence, make math enjoyable for every student, and show them that they are a math person, capable of mastering any challenge. I'm dedicated to reducing math-related anxiety, fostering a growth mindset, and turning homework time into a positive, productive experience. I offer tailored math tutoring and homework help, with flexible options for virtual sessions or in-person meetings at a local library. Go to Website

< Back Nothing Beats Community Reading time 7 minutes Published March 25, 2024 Category: Leaving the classroom Teachers need other teachers because teaching is one of those careers that can also be an identity. People say, “I work in retail", or" I work in business.” But we say, “I am a teacher.” Teaching is not a job that can be done in isolation. We need other teachers for various reasons, from practicality to camaraderie to our very sanity. The truth is that this a job that only another teacher can understand. Only another teacher can truly comprehend the trials, challenges, overwhelm, joy, triumphs, heartbreak, and heart-warming moments that our unique profession entails. That camaraderie is how we survive the insanity that is teaching. It’s the thing that makes it possible for us to stay as long as we can, and it can be one of the things that makes it so hard to leave. When we leave the classroom, we leave our teacher friends. We leave the people we have so many shared experiences with, the people who’ve listened to our rants, offered helpful advice and resources, shared our jokes and eye rolls, grabbed our mail and copies, and watched our classrooms while we ran to the bathroom. In some ways, these extraordinary people understand us (at least parts of us) better than our families can. Even if we don’t leave teaching, we lose them for at least 9-10 months out of the year. Because classroom teachers almost never have the time or energy for a social life during the school year. That ridiculous sacrifice and lack of work/life balance is what drives so many of us out of the classroom in the first place. As a private practice teacher, leaving the classroom doesn’t mean we stop needing other teachers. Entrepreneurship offers many wonderful opportunities and has enabled me to create a teaching career that truly works for my life and values. But entrepreneurship can be hard and lonely. Just as much as teachers need other teachers, entrepreneurs need other entrepreneurs, and for all the same reasons. We need each other to bounce ideas off of, ask questions, share resources, and share stories. We need each other for encouragement, support, and accountability. We need each other to share our trials, challenges, triumphs, heartbreaks, and heartwarming moments with. Nobody understands the rollercoaster that is entrepreneurship like other entrepreneurs. Nobody understands teacher entrepreneurship like other teacher entrepreneurs. That’s why Community is one of the most important parts of the Private Practice Teacher®. That’s why there is an ongoing community option for every budget and level of training I’ve created. The first level of community is our free private FB group, Private Practice Teachers. In this group, I share as many free resources and training opportunities as I can. I also encourage members to do the same. Next, once you join one of my mentorship or custom coaching programs, you have a home with us for as long as you wish. There’s never an extra charge to stay connected. When you join the T2E (Teacher to Entrepreneur) Mindset Module, you are welcome to stay in our Community Group for as long as you wish. I want you to build and maintain relationships with the other teachers there. We grow together during these courses, and I want you to continue to have that support for as long as you want and need it because I want you to be successful. Finally, when you join the T2E 90-Day Intensive Program, you remain a member of our PPT community. We have live group meetings every week (except for holidays) all year round because we want and love our community. We do continuing education for each other, and you always have access to any paid training classes we offer at no additional charge. In this group, we have found our new community. We have found our teacher entrepreneur besties and coming together is not only good for our continued professional growth, it’s so much fun and good for our teacher souls. Ultimately, I want you to have everything you want for yourself. I’m happy you found us, and I want to help you on your journey wherever you happen to be. It’s like I tell my students when we no longer have class together, “I won’t reach out to you uninvited because I don’t want to bother you, BUT I will always be available to you and happy to hear from you!” Best wishes always, Rachel Previous Next

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< Back Lessons from Fall ~ Rest, Recovery, & Productivity Reading time 5 minutes Published November 9, 2023 Category: Mental health I am very fortunate to live near a park and every morning that the weather permits, Yeti and I take a nice long walk. Some mornings I listen to a podcast, some mornings I listen to an audiobook, but most mornings I listen to the trees and birds and the traffic and my own thoughts. And I find that letting my mind wander and listening to my own thoughts , to be the most refreshing and rejuvenating. I didn’t used to be able to hear the musings of my mind over my running to-do list. It took time for that to come back. Even now as I embrace my 4th Autumn as a private practice teacher, I never take this opportunity for granted. I find it's important to give myself that time to process all of the information I take in from all the different areas of my life. We do this to some extent in our sleep, but if you are a parent and/or a teacher- sleep is not always super restful or consistent. That’s why giving myself the gift of time in the morning to walk and process and allow my mind to wander, to be an essential part of my day. One that never feels like work, but has become one of my most productive and creative parts of my everyday life. From that reflective and creative space, I want to share with you some of the insights that have been coming to me lately while walking with my sweet boy. Looking at the trees, this is probably common for a lot of us this time of year, I've been meditating on the beauty of letting go of things that no longer serve us. There’s a lot of beauty in that - in letting go. People travel all over the country to look for the most beautiful foliage in order to witness this spectacle celebrating the beauty of letting go. Next, I let my mind wander from this beautiful letting go that we are enjoying right now to the cycles of Nature. I’ve been reflecting on what follows this time, which is a period of rest and hibernation, a period of conserving one’s resources for what's to come, all in preparation for bursting forth with new growth again in the Spring. So I’ve been asking myself, “How can I bring this cycle of letting go and conserving my resources in preparation for new growth into my own personal practice?”. This cycle has been really successful for Nature for a long time, and I think we also need to have periods of pruning and periods of letting go. We need to have periods of recovery, introspection, and conservation of resources - all in preparation for the next bursting forth of growth. But this morning, as we were walking through the neighborhood, something new came to me. I was reflecting on how beautiful so many of the leaves are that are now on the ground. It occurred to me that it's okay to let go of things that are still beautiful when they no longer serve your higher purpose. And so a new question for myself emerged, “What beautiful things am I holding on to that are not serving my higher purpose and that I can let go of in order to conserve more resources in preparation for my next growth?” So that's it, those are my current musings inspired by Fall. I hope that you have a great day and that you find time to allow your mind to wander to new places. Best wishes always, Rachel Previous Next

< Back Helen Peguero ** Aprende Con Peguero ** PPT® Verified Educator Aprende Con Peguero Aprende Con Peguero was created from my passion for empowering families to raise confident bilingual children. As an educator and advocate for bilingualism, I believe language is more than communication — it’s identity, culture, and opportunity. My mission is to provide simple, practical, and engaging resources that help parents and families make Spanish a natural part of everyday life. Through books, guides, and creative tools, I support families in building strong language foundations at home. Go To Website

< Back Beyond Tired? It Might Be Time to Rethink Your Career. Reading time 5 minutes Published October 1, 2024 Category: Mental health October has arrived, and if you're still in the classroom, you're probably starting to feel it: that first wave of exhaustion creeping in. This time of year can be especially tough for teachers, as the excitement and optimism of the new school year wear off and the reality of long days, demanding students, and mounting expectations set in. You can see how the rest of the year will likely play out and what if anything you can do about it. If you're here, reading this, you're probably wondering if this is more than just the usual tiredness. As a former classroom teacher, I know this feeling all too well. October was always when I felt the first cracks in my energy and enthusiasm. And for many teachers, this first wave of exhaustion isn't just a sign that you're working hard—it's a warning sign that something bigger might be going on. Whether it’s burnout, a growing dissatisfaction with the school system, or the feeling that your career no longer aligns with your values, this exhaustion could be trying to tell you something important. For those nearing retirement, you might be wondering if there’s another way to continue teaching without sacrificing your well-being. Or maybe you're one of the many teachers who love working with students but simply can’t sustain the physical, mental, or emotional toll of the classroom anymore. The good news? You don’t have to stay stuck. There is a way to teach on your terms while regaining the flexibility, fulfillment, and balance you've been craving. After I left the classroom, I started my own private teaching business. It took me a few months to figure out my marketing, pricing, and systems, but in less than 6 months it allowed me to replace my monthly income while working far fewer hours. It gave me back my time, my energy, and my love for teaching. Later, I began helping other teachers do the same. You deserve a career that makes you feel appreciated, energized, and respected. If this October's exhaustion feels deeper than normal, it may be time to explore a new path—one that doesn’t drain you but instead revitalizes your passion for teaching. If you're ready to take control of your teaching career—whether that means working part-time, supplementing your income, or completely transitioning out of the classroom—I'm here to help. There’s life after burnout, and it’s possible to build a teaching business that works for you . Reach out to learn more about how I can help you navigate this transition. Best wishes always, Rachel Previous Next

< Back What are your task avoidance behaviors trying to tell you? Reading time 3 minutes Published February 9, 2024 Category: Self-employed teacher Are you finding yourself constantly sidetracked by tasks that seem urgent but are ultimately unproductive? As a self-employed teacher, I understand the struggle of managing your own business while trying to stay focused on important goals. Let's delve into a recent realization I had and how it might resonate with your own journey. Last week, with a looming deadline for a presentation proposal, I caught myself engaging in a classic task avoidance behavior: productive procrastination. Instead of tackling the proposal head-on, I found myself engrossed in mundane tasks like transferring events between planners. Sound familiar? It was a wake-up call. I had to confront the root cause of my avoidance. Was it self-doubt? Fear of failure? Uncertainty about my abilities? As I dissected my thoughts, I realized that none of these reasons held true. I am qualified, experienced, and fully capable of delivering the presentation. So why the hesitation? The answer was fear. Fear of stepping out of my comfort zone, fear of the unknown, fear of failure despite ample evidence of success in my teaching career. Recognizing this allowed me to push past the paralysis and submit my proposal before the deadline. If you're experiencing similar challenges, know that you're not alone. Self-reflection is key to understanding and overcoming task avoidance behaviors. Remember, growth happens outside of your comfort zone. Embrace the discomfort, trust in your abilities, and go for it! Remember ... Nothing extraordinary ever happens by staying in your comfort zone. Best wishes always, Rachel Previous Next