Queen Of Curiosity - Teacher

Thinking about teaching online while still holding a “real” job? Before you dive in, here’s what I’ve learned the hard way—and what I wish someone had told me: 1. Money doesn’t start flowing instantly. When I started, I thought I’d make good money from day one. Nope. At my first company, you have to build loyalty and show you’re reliable before getting enough classes. At another company, it’s the parents who book you—they need to trust you first. Patience is key. 2. Hours matter more than you think. I could only teach outside peak times and couldn’t do Saturdays or Sundays—the highest earning days. Being the default parent to young kids means some hours just aren’t possible. I’ve seen moms teaching with their babies in the crib or on their lap—props to them—but I couldn’t manage it. 3. Income can fluctuate. Just as things were picking up, the two countries most of my students came from went on holiday. My earnings dipped for a whole month. Lesson learned: plan for slower months a...

 If you’re looking for a low-stakes, fun way to help students remember cell organelles, I just created a dice-based drawing activity that’s perfect for learners who enjoy being creative! Here’s how it works: Each roll of the dice tells you what part of the cell to draw and how to draw it. For example: Nucleus → Draw as a funny face! Cell Membrane → Make it wavy! Cytoplasm → Fill with fun patterns! Ribosomes → Draw as tiny stars! Chloroplast → Draw as green ovals! ✨ Vacuole → Draw as a big bubble! ✨ This activity makes learning about cells hands-on and creative, while keeping it low-pressure—perfect for students who like to draw and experiment with ideas. I created it in Claude AI, and it’s ready for anyone to try. If you want to check it out, https://claude.ai/public/artifacts/a134e562-fff4-408d-bbcb-612a9275827f

The Return to Routine So, it’s week two of my children being back at school. We had a two-week break, and during that time, I kept up an online class each day. I had to cancel my Chinese classes because my parents live on a farm, and I wasn’t sure who would look after the kids—or how strong the internet connection would be. I didn’t want extra stress, so I cancelled what I could and kept the classes I could manage. Honestly? It was stressful! The Reality of Working From Home People talk about working from home like it’s this dream, but it’s not always that simple. I saw a post from Steffi V, who’s been working remotely for 10 years, and she nailed it: the constant worry about wifi, battery power, and interruptions really takes a toll. Sure, there are perks—but it’s still a job, with its own set of challenges. Feeling the Funk Even though I managed everything, I’ve been in a bit of a funk since returning home. I have a YouTube channel where I post things I find interesting and help...

  So I’ve been using Wise for a while now — it's where my teaching company pays me in pounds (GBP), and then I just transfer the money into my FNB account here in South Africa. Easy enough. But the other day, I noticed Wise has an app, and it got me thinking… Can I pay with it? Like, can I use it like a tap card or link it to Google Pay? Here’s what I found out (and I figured I’d share it in case anyone else is wondering too): 📱 Yes, the Wise App is Useful — Especially if You Get Paid in Foreign Currency If you’re like me and your salary gets paid into Wise in GBP, then yes — downloading the app is actually super helpful. You can: Get real-time notifications when money lands in your account Convert GBP to ZAR quickly and easily when the rate looks good Send it to your FNB or whichever South African bank you use — all from your phone So if you’ve been doing it all from your browser, the app just makes it faster and more convenient. 🤔 But What About Using Wis...

 I’ve been teaching online since 2024 after working in traditional classrooms. As a full-time online educator and a mom, I’ve discovered how essential it is to make lessons both engaging and manageable . Today, I’m sharing a few of my favorite free online tools that have made a real difference in how I teach and how my students respond. 🔑 Key Tip: Use Free Digital Tools to Spark Interaction and Boost Engagement One challenge in virtual teaching is keeping students involved and actively participating. What’s helped me the most is incorporating a variety of free tools into my lesson flow. These aren’t just “extras” — they help drive learning, keep energy up, and break the routine in a way that encourages focus and fun. 💡 My Go-To Free Tools and How I Use Them 🎮 Blooket An interactive quiz game that makes content review feel like play. How I use it: I create quizzes with Khanmigo , which helps generate questions tied to my lesson goals. I often use Blooket at the st...

 I was just thinking today about my postpartum after my first live baby was born. I always struggle to phrase it—because it was my second pregnancy, but my first live baby. Some days, looking back, I realize I was really not okay . I was in such a dark space. I know it sounds cliché, but the feeling was real—like a dark cloud or a heavy rock on my chest. It felt like I couldn’t breathe properly. That feeling would come and go at first, but during that time, it was constant . Looking back now, I think it lasted around nine months . It only started to lift when I found the daycare I eventually put my daughter in. Even then, I was still full of fear—especially around breastfeeding. She was already on solids, but the fear still lingered, like she might starve without me. I also think my OCD contributed. After my miscarriage, I stopped my antidepressants because I was scared it might cause another loss. Then, after giving birth, I was still afraid—afraid the meds might affect my mi...