Sticky Notes & Sparkle with Miss Hightower

Last week, I talked about how to spend the summer before your first year. Today, I would like to talk about the digital world as an educator. Starting your teaching career is exciting, challenging, and full of learning curves, including navigating the digital world as an educator. In today’s tech-connected classrooms and communities, your online behavior and digital footprint matter more than ever. Whether you're posting classroom updates, emailing parents, or scrolling social media, practicing digital ethics and protecting your professional reputation is essential. Here are a few thoughts to think about as you adventure in the digital world as an educator:  1. Keep Professional and Personal Separate It can be tempting to share your classroom successes on your personal social media or connect with students/families on social media, but resist the urge. Create a professional account for classroom communications and keep your private life private. Always use school-approved plat...

 Summer break is that stretch of time when your alarm clock finally gets a break and your to-do list doesn’t include grading papers or planning lessons. After the chaos, growth, and deep exhaustion of the school year, summer is both a chance to reset and a time that can sneakily pile on guilt. The summer before my first year teaching, I felt so behind and like I NEEDED to be doing something. Should I be doing more? Should I already be prepping for the year? What could I be doing? If you’re anything like me, those questions can weigh heavily. So here’s a mix of what I’ve learned—things I believe a first-year teacher  should do during the summer, and just as importantly, what we shouldn’t . Do ✅:  Teaching is physically and emotionally demanding. Summer is your recovery period, and it’s not a luxury—it’s necessary. Sleep in. Binge-watch. Read books with absolutely no educational value. Let your brain deflate a little. You’ve earned it. Spend time with people who make yo...

  Maybe Future Posts?! I wanted to make a list of some topics I might post about. If you have any suggestions or are looking for something comment and let me know! My thoughts and reflections on my first year Tips that helped me survive Lessons I learned the hard way Reaching out for help  Classroom management that worked and didn't work for me

Hi there! I'm so glad you're here. I'm a second-year teacher currently teaching 2nd grade.  I'm writing this as part of my master’s class, but more importantly, I’m writing it for you —the new (or almost-new or any) teacher trying to find your footing. When I started teaching, I was overwhelmed with advice—some helpful, some not so much. What I really craved were honest insights and real-world tips from someone just a little ahead of me in the journey. Not an expert, not a veteran—just someone who still remembers what it feels like to walk into your first classroom and wonder, “Am I doing this right?” as I am still wondering this all the time! That’s exactly what this blog is about. I’ll be sharing thoughts, reflections, and tips that have helped me survive and grow during these early years. From classroom management tricks that actually work to lessons I learned the hard way, my hope is to make things just a little easier for someone else. Whether you're prepar...