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< Back Barb McCluskey ⭐️ PreK, Elementary: Reading ** PPT® Verified Educator The Reading Cube Barb is a retired elementary school teacher with 20 years teaching experience. During that time she noticed that it has become an ever increasing challenge for teachers to address the individual needs of learners. Barb created The Reading Cube to do just that! For Pre-K parents looking to get their child a jumpstart in reading. For homeschooling parents who want a reading teacher. For K-2 parents looking to get their child additional reading instruction after school. For parents of children ages 8-12 that need reading remediation. For parents looking for a reading tutor to help with homework and studying for tests. Go To Website

< Back The Pros & Cons of Paid Business Coaching Reading time 3 minutes Published April 7, 2023 Category: Business coaching Let's talk about the elephant in the room - paid coaching. Offers for paid coaching are literally everywhere right now, & I want to have a very frank conversation about it. Personally, I have spent approximately $20,000 in paid coaching & courses over the last 3 years. That's how I learned A LOT of what I teach my clients. I also learned a lot about what works (and doesn't work) for me as someone being coached. Most, but not all, of it has been worth the money. When I started my first business - it was by accident. I didn't pay for coaching. I learned EVERYTHING as I went. It felt like a second job sorting through the free advice of so-called gurus. On my own, it took me about 18 months to get my business to the point where I was profitable, consistently earning 4-figure months, and my business ran smoothly. With my second business, I didn't want to take that long. There was still a lot that I didn't know, and I wanted to educate myself. That's exactly how I approached it too. I researched coaches and their programs the way I researched grad programs. I also met with them to make sure that we were philosophically aligned and someone I would enjoy working with. Finally, I met with one or two people who had been through their program and asked them my questions too. Later, almost a year into my second business, I invested in coaching again. This time I wasn't as thorough in my research. I allowed myself to be "sold" a result instead of learning the specifics of the program I was purchasing. I assumed that the creators of this program would operate with the same level of care and integrity that I do with my clients. Still I learned a lot from that experience, albeit the hard way. I learned how much I care about my clients and my business. I learned what my non-negotiables are and that, for me, some things are worth more than money. They were hard and expensive lessons to learn but also important ones. For me, paid coaching has mostly been worth the money I've invested. I've been able to experience much faster growth in both of my businesses and with significantly more confidence. I believe in my ability to learn and put into practice what I learn. I also really appreciate having someone "lay it out" for me rather than having to do ALL the research and trial & error on my own. It's taught me about business and about the type of business person I want to be. Can you create your own private practice teaching business without investing in a coach or mentor? Absolutely! I know you can because I did. Could I have done it more efficiently AND started turning a profit more quickly if I'd had proper guidance? Also yes! The bottom line is this: You're going to have to invest some ratio of time and money when starting a business. Only YOU know what ratio is right for you. I hope this helps Best wishes always. Previous Next

< Back The Subconscious Patterns of Teacher Life Reading time 5 minutes Published July 8, 2024 Category: Teacher life Since leaving the classroom I’m becoming increasingly aware of the subconscious patterns and coping mechanisms we develop due to the unique stresses of teaching in a traditional school setting. Even now, four years into my life as a self-employed teacher, these patterns strongly influence how I live and work. The first pattern I noticed I call the “Due Date List”. This pattern influences my daily life and decision-making regarding how I prioritize tasks. A mentor of mine once told me that teachers need due dates. Oh, how I’ve found this to be true. A task without a due date rarely gets accomplished. We live with never-ending To-Do Lists and are in a near-constant state of overwhelm 9-10 months out of the year, therefore tasks get accomplished in order of urgency - no matter how much we want to do it or how beneficial completing the task may be. The next pattern I call the “Teacher Hamster Wheel” . This pattern is how I function during a 24-hour period for 9-10 months of the year. Here’s a snapshot of a typical day. Alarm goes off Snooze button 2-8 times depending on the level of sleep deprivation Coffee Get myself ready Get kids ready Out the door Pre-work work Work work Post-work work Pick up kids Make dinner (or at least a plan for dinner) After school activities Veg out and try to visit with my spouse until I’ve worked up enough energy to put the kids to bed Put kids to bed Pass out (or at least try to) In a nutshell, wake ➡️ triage needs/responsibilities ➡️sleep ➡️repeat. A perfect recipe for burnout, exhaustion, and mental health struggles. This is the life of a human-doing, not a human-being.The final pattern I noticed, I call the “Yearly Teacher Cycle” . This is how it goes: Back-To-School, Starting the year off excited, nervous, and hopeful. I’m excited about some of the cool new ideas you want to try. I’m excited and nervous to meet my new students. I’m hopeful and optimistic that the new self-care habits I established over the summer coupled with the new workflow procedures I created will help me to spend less time on the “Teacher Hamster Wheel” this school year. Of course, the district has some new ideas and initiatives of their own, but thankfully I have new systems in place now, so I’m confident I can handle the additional workload. Late Fall , October-November, the first wave of exhaustion hits. My self-care habits are nearly gone by now, many of your new workflow systems and procedures aren’t functioning as well as I hoped (if at all). I’m firmly on the “Teacher Hamster Wheel” and just holding on until Fall Break and then Winter Break when I can work on recovery, get caught up on work, and maybe enjoy some socializing. January . It’s only been 10-14 days, but everyone needs to relearn how to be in school, and some form of high-stakes, standardized, benchmark assessment has to be administered in two weeks. The Long Dark Slog aka mid-January through March. Things usually go fairly smoothly here except for illnesses. Everyone seems to be in some sort routine which is nice, but everyone also takes turns being sick. Sub plans are exhausting and you need to save your PTO for when my own children are sick, so I go to school anyway as long as I can drag myself out of the house. Spring Break is a breath of fresh air (and allergies), but I finally get to catch up on some sleep and some grading. The Last Push , April through the Last Day of School. The older students get, it seems the less they fully return from spring break. For this reason and because of those lovely, high-stakes, standardized spring, assessments, most of us try to get 90% of our curriculum taught by early April at the latest. That last month of school feels like straight chaos and survival as both a teacher and a parent. We’ve also started packing up our classrooms because we might get 2-3 hours of contract time to do 10-12 hours worth of work. Summer Break Part 1 is all about recovery. I’m a shell of a person at this point. I’m in full zombie mode, doom-scrolling, and binge-watching TV (usually TV shows my non-teacher friends recommended during the school year but never had time to watch). I’m only barely able to make the simplest decisions. Depending on the year, this could take 5-15 days. Summer Break Part 2 welcomes “Summer Rachel” I’m a person again, “Want to go out to lunch?” Want to meet at the pool?” In late June and July, I’m ready to be social again. I can’t wait to see all the friends and family I missed during the school year. I do fun things with my children and spouse. I develop healthy routines and healthy eating habits. I also start casually working on plans for the next school year (about 5-10 hours a week). This is my favorite version of me. The only sad part is that I really don’t love this time of year where we live. Summer Break Part 3 I start getting excited about Back To School. Late July into August, I begin moving back into my classroom. Just a few hours here and there. A couple of new projects, bulletin boards, seating styles, new organization, and maybe some new furniture. I also start getting new or updated systems in place to manage routine tasks and workflow that I’m certain will make this next year run much more smoothly. Back-To-School , ... It’s been three years since I left the classroom completely, and it’s taken that amount of time to see how much these patterns became deeply and subconsciously ingrained those patterns had become. Even being my own boss as a self-employed teacher, I accidentally recreated these patterns in my life and businesses. Now that I am aware of these patterns, I can consciously create new ones that support my vision for a more balanced and harmonious life for me and my family. I hope this post will help you do the same. Best wishes always! 💕 Previous Next

< Back Self-Care is Essential for Teacher-Entrepreneurs Reading time 3 minutes Published January 10, 2025 Category: self-care, mindset, entrepreneur How are doing? If you’ve followed me for a while, you know how passionate I am about self-care. It’s something I believe should be prioritized all the time, but if you’re like me, you might find it easier to practice when you tie it to a larger purpose—like your role as a business owner. Self-care isn’t just a nice-to-have for entrepreneurs; it’s essential. As small business owners, the health of our business is closely tied to our own well-being. When I was a classroom teacher, I struggled with self-care. I’d often push through sickness and exhaustion because the systems around me made it more convenient to go to work than to take time off. When I transitioned to self-employment, I realized how unsustainable those habits were. As a sole proprietor, I am my business. If I show up less than my best, the quality of service I provide suffers. And since I charge $80/hour for teaching services and $120/hour for coaching services, I owe it to my students and clients to give them my best—not my leftovers. For me, that means rescheduling when I’m not at my best and investing in my own well-being. But here’s the thing: I didn’t know how to create sustainable self-care habits. My default mode as a teacher was survival during the school year and recovery in the summer. I’d set up self-care routines every summer, only to have them fall apart by October. (If this isn’t your experience, you’re a unicorn—please share your wisdom!) After a lot of trial and error, I discovered a simple framework that has worked for me and many of the teacher-entrepreneurs I mentor: create two self-care practices—a s hort, daily practice you can commit to no matter what AND a longer, when-you-can practice you do when you have time to spoil yourself. Here’s how I break it down: Short/Daily Practice Example: Walk outside while listening to a podcast (15 minutes) Mind: Listen to a positive, inspiring podcast (no true crime!) Body: Move through walking and stretching Spirit: Engage with nature—notice birds, sunlight, wind in the trees Long/When-You-Can Practice Example: Yoga, meditation, journaling (1 hour) Mind: Meditate Body: Practice yoga Spirit: Journal to reflect and process There are two key components that make this work. First, these two practices are most effective when they intentionally care for your mind, body, and spirit. The second key? Recognizing that you—yes, YOU—are worth this time and care. It can be challenging for many of us to internalize that belief, so if it feels hard, pretend. Go through the motions until your mind and spirit catch up to your body’s actions. It took me over a year of self-employment to figure this out, but it’s made all the difference. As someone who manages my own schedule, I’ve realized there’s no excuse not to take care of myself. When I prioritize my well-being, it benefits me, my business, my family, and the clients who trust me with their time and money. If this resonates with you and you’d like help brainstorming your own self-care strategies, I’m here for you. Let’s talk about how you can start making self-care a sustainable part of your life and business. Previous Next

< Back Claudia Hall PreK - HS: Spanish Spanish Class with Mrs. Hall I am dedicated to providing engaging and effective Spanish lessons for kids, fostering a love for language learning while nurturing their curiosity and confidence. Through interactive and culturally immersive experiences, I aim to empower each child to become proficient communicators in Spanish, equipping them with valuable skills for a multicultural world. Go To Website

< Back Teacher Traits That Last Long After Leaving the Classroom Reading time 3 minutes Published October 2, 2025 Category: Leaving the Classroom, Mindset, Community You can take the teacher out of the classroom, but you can’t take the classroom out of the teacher. Every teacher who has left the traditional school system knows exactly what I mean. The habits and quirks we carried for years don’t magically disappear when we hand in our keys—they follow us into our next chapters. Some are funny, some are frustrating, and some are reminders of how deeply the profession shaped us, for better and worse. The Quirks That Follow Us School dreams: recurring nightmares about forgotten lesson plans or endless stacks of grading. Speedy eating and bathroom runs: we learned to survive on lightning-fast breaks, and those patterns are hard to unlearn. The "teacher look/voice" in public: yes, it still slips out at the grocery store or the park. And, no, I don't mind that at all. These little quirks are funny, but they’re also proof of how much teaching becomes part of our way of being. Some Habits That Are Harder to Shake Some habits aren’t as lighthearted. They speak to the unhealthy coping mechanisms we pick up to make it through the day: Hiding comfort food or working while eating, watching TV, or even spending time with family 🫤 Forgetting to drink water because there’s no time for bathroom breaks Living in the burnout/recovery cycle, both daily and yearly A good work ethic is important, but teachers often take it to an unhealthy extreme. Without a calendar dictating breaks, many of us don’t know when (or even how) to rest. Years of ignoring our body’s cues train us to push past exhaustion until we no longer recognize what balance feels like. Why These Traits Stick With Us Teaching trains us to put others first, multitask constantly, and normalize exhaustion. Those patterns don’t vanish when we leave the classroom. They linger, reminding us just how much the profession asked of us—and how much we gave. Until or unless we notice them, we don't have any way to change them. Where Healing Happens But here’s the hopeful part: healing happens when we notice. When we've been out of "Survival Mode" long enough to recognize the patterns and unhealthy ways we've learned to accomplish tasks on our ever-growing to-do lists. Without awareness, we take all those exact ways of being into entrepreneurship. We accidentally re-create the very situations we're trying to leave. I’ve been sharing clips from last year’s retreat, and what struck me most wasn’t the workshops or the content—it was the power of being surrounded by people who get it. People who don’t need an explanation for why you eat fast, dream about grading, or struggle NOT to speak to a child in public. For years, I've dreamt about creating a year-round version of that community, where we can continue to lift each other up and redefine what it means to thrive as teachers-turned-entrepreneurs. A place for camaraderie, support, accountability, collaboration, and even co-working/body-doubling. A place where we can network and refer students and clients to each other’s businesses. Because when teachers support teachers, everyone wins. Your Turn What about you? Which “teacher traits” have stuck with you long after leaving the classroom? And if a community like this existed, what would you want it to look like? Best wishes always 💕 Previous Next

< 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 The Unexpected Impact Leaving the Classroom Had on my Family Reading time 7 minutes Published August 16, 2023 Category: Teacher life While I hoped this wasn't true, this thought weighed heavily on me. I had no idea how much my unhappiness in the classroom affected them. Being a teacher/parent is by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done - on every single level, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically. But it is not in my nature to give up, especially not on things that I'm passionate about. I fight for the things that are important to me. My students and my family are both important to me. I struggled so hard with divided loyalties. I tried so many ways to give my best to both of them. I turned myself inside out, often sacrificing my well-being to show up for ALL my kids - biological or otherwise. And I thought I was doing an okay job. I was certainly doing my best! So that had to mean it was ok, right? Isn’t that what we say, “As long as you do your best, that’s good enough.” I didn’t understand the cost my family was paying as a result of my unhappiness & exhaustion until I left. Within 2 weeks of not returning the following school year, my husband gave me the biggest hug and thanked me for not going back. He was working so hard to be supportive of whatever I decided, that neither of us knew the strain my unhappiness brought to our relationship. My kids and I both LOVE that I get them on & off the bus. Before the end of first week of school that first year, my teary-eyed, oldest child told me how much it meant to her to be able to give ME a hug and exchange “I love you’s” before heading off to school each day. The three of us love sharing snack together after school and talking about our days before rushing off to after-school activities. Then as I began really working my businesses, I explained to my girls that I was doing this for all of us - for myself, our family, & for them too. I want them to see that if they don’t like a situation they’re in, they have the power to change it. I explained that I missed teaching and that while I liked my new job, it didn't make me happy the way teaching did. I want to teach AND I want to be there for my family too. I want to do the bus, help in their classrooms, AND teach my own students. At the end of that conversation they both hugged me and said, “Thank you for choosing us.” Ooof! That hit me like a ton of bricks. Did they feel like I wasn’t choosing them before? Honestly, I haven't had the courage to ask. Maybe someday. Fast forward to last summer, I began to learn how my own personal transformation affects my daughters. I'd been so busy (as we often are) that I hadn't noticed certain changes in myself until she pointed them out. She told me that she'd gotten so used to "tired, angry Mommy" that this new "happy Mommy" is kind of annoying. She went on explain that she's just not used to me singing and dancing all the time and telling people about what I do now. She explained that she's just not used to me being proud of myself and being so confident. "It's like you know you're enough now." "Wow," I said. It took me more than a few moments to process everything she'd just shared. I AM proud of myself. I AM confident. I DO know that I'm enough. I didn't used to feel those things before at least not to the extent that my children could see it- not while I was so busy trying to be heard, trying to get my needs and my students' needs met, trying to keep up with all the impossible demands of the classroom and family. It makes me feel so good to see how proud they are to tell other people about me, what I do, and why I do it. They were always proud to tell people that I'm a teacher, but this is different. Because I'm different. Now I KNOW I'm ENOUGH. The results of this realization are still unfolding, but I do know one thing. My girls KNOW that they are ENOUGH too. * Above are pictures of our first First Day of School together. We were all so happy that I got to be a part of the First Day of School activities. This was the 1st time I got to walk them to the bus stop and wait with them, the 1st time I got to give them hugs and kisses right before they got on, and the 1st time I got to wave to them as the bus pulled away. The first time I got to do the First Day of School was when they were starting 2nd grade and Kindergarten. As a classroom teacher, having to miss these moments was just part of the job. We all still really LOVE that I get to do this now. Previous Next

< Back Hilary Farmer PreK-12: Math, English Adventure Learning LLC Are you looking for someone to help your child with a certain academic area? I am Hilary, a private teacher who teaches students Kindergarten through 5th grade in all academic areas, but specialize in math. As someone who struggled with math when I was in school, I understand what it is like to feel behind. It wasn't until I started playing card and dice games with my family and relating math concepts to real world experiences that it finally clicked. I love to help kids make those same connections. My tutoring services are unique in the fact that I create individualized lesson plans and activities that involve number sense, making connections to the real world, and solidifying their learning through game play. I offer in person tutoring for those in the Centerville area and virtual tutoring for those in a different area. Go to FB Page

< Back Being a Self-Employed Teacher Costs Less Than You Think Reading time 5 minutes Published February 19, 2025 Category: Teacher entrepreneur Are you yearning to break free from the confines of the traditional classroom but worry about the daunting start-up costs of launching your own teaching business? Fear not! Contrary to popular belief, venturing into private practice teaching is far more affordable than you may think. In fact, with the right resources, you can kickstart your journey with minimal financial investment. Here’s a rundown of my favorite free resources that have been instrumental in running my teaching business and are highly recommended for you, especially if you’re just starting out: Immediate Essentials: Business Registration : Take advantage of free federal registration, and check state-specific requirements. Learn more here Online Learning Space : Utilize Google Classroom (free) for seamless virtual teaching. Note: Students need a compatible email. Invoicing/Bookkeeping: Streamline your finances with Wave.com (free). Stay tuned for a free PPT Guest Training soon. Communication : Stay connected with Slack (free) and Google Voice (free for personal use). Business Email & Google Suite: Invest in Google Workspace ($8.40 + tax) for professional email and productivity tools. (includes unlimited 60min GoogleMeet) Marketing : Leverage social media platforms like Facebook business pages and Instagram business accounts (both free) to reach your audience effectively. Scheduling: Simplify appointment management with TidyCal (free with optional upgrade for $29). Billing: Create professional invoices with multiple payment options and manage your business accounting with Wave.com (free with optional upgrades) Total Monthly Cost: Approximately $9 Recommended within 3-6 Months: Website: Establish your online presence with Wix.com ($17/month). Graphics and Design: Enhance your branding with Canva Pro (free 30-day trial, $14.99/mo or $119.99/yr). Total w/ Additional Monthly Cost: Approximately $40 It's important for me that aspiring self-employed teachers understand the feasibility of embarking on a private practice teaching journey. With minimal overhead costs, just one hour of instruction with a single student can cover your monthly operating expenses, especially when implementing our recommended pricing strategies. At The Private Practice Teacher®, my mission is to empower educators to seize control of their careers, thereby reshaping the narrative around the teacher shortage and elevating the teaching profession as a whole. Together, let’s spark meaningful change in education, where teachers are rightfully recognized as the educational experts we truly are. Best wishes always, Rachel Previous Next

< Back Pamela Vasquez ⭐️ PreK - HS: French , French Copy Editing ** PPT® Verified Educator French Creek Language Academy Pamela holds a master's degree in French with a specialization in Culture and Civilization. She has extensive experience teaching all ages including students as young as 18 months through high school in public, private, and homeschool settings. Her passion is teaching in a way that engages students and infects them with her own enthusiasm for the French language and francophone cultures. French Creek Language Academy offers personalized French classes to students from 18 months to adult. The following programs are currently available: Private 1:1 French personalized French classes for children and adults Small group French classes for children and adults Homeschool French courses - both 1:1 and small group Preschool French programs Mommy & Me French programs French Tutoring for students enrolled in French classes in school or elsewhere

< Back Crafting the Magic of Your Year Ahead Reading time 3 minutes Published January 2, 2024 Category: Goal setting As we stand on the threshold of a new year, there's an undeniable sense of magic in the air. But here's the secret: that enchantment isn't just confined to one day. The real wizardry lies within you – it's the power to create that magic whenever and however you please. Let's talk about New Year's resolutions. I've been down that road enough times to learn that it isn't for me, In my life, New Year's Resolutions too often led to a cycle of unrealized expectations and unnecessary pressure. So, instead, I've chosen a different route, one that I find liberating and immensely fulfilling. Rather than resolutions, I've embraced the art of crafting a vision for the year ahead. It's about dreaming big, envisioning the life I want to live, and painting it in vivid detail within the canvas of my mind. I jot down these aspirations in a journal and bring them to life on a vision board. This tangible representation serves as a beacon of inspiration, grounding me in times of uncertainty and reigniting that spark of passion whenever I need it. Starting the year with introspection, intention, and boundless enthusiasm has been a game-changer for me. It's not just about setting goals; it's about cultivating a mindset of empowerment and joy. This approach infuses each step I take with purpose, ensuring that every endeavor is aligned with my vision for a fulfilling life. As we step into 2024, I encourage you to consider this alternative to resolutions. Embrace the power of your dreams, the clarity of your intentions, and the joy of crafting your future. Let your vision be the guiding star that propels you forward, igniting your passion and fueling your journey. May this year be one of empowerment, inspiration, and unbridled joy. Here's to envisioning and creating a future that lights up our lives and the lives of those we touch. Wishing you a wonderful and fulfilling 2024! Best wishes always Previous Next