Ideally, there would be eight planning days a year. A possible schedule would be two days at the start of each quarter—even better if it’s before school begins for students in the quarter. Not all schools or districts have the luxury of creating their schedules in this way, but if it’s possible, it’s worth making the time for this. 

Welcoming new faculty members and continuously building strong relationships with all members of the school community are often left out of teacher collaboration. I...

The teaching profession is full of passionate educators, many of whom have earned advanced degrees, who give of themselves and make sacrifices to provide excellent instruction to their students. The result of this dedication, however, can be a feeling of isolation. Turkish reformer and activist Mustafa Kemal Atatürk has been quoted as saying, “A good teacher is like a candle—it consumes itself to light the way for others.” Teachers find themselves planning, organizing materials, making and gradi...