Queen Of Curiosity - Teacher

Every online teacher knows the struggle—there comes a point in a lesson when student energy drops, focus fades, and engagement feels impossible to maintain. Recently, I read an article by Sarah Morris about a teacher named Lisa Cole, who introduced a brilliant solution: the "Coffee Break." Originally designed for in-person classrooms, this strategy can be easily adapted for online teaching to create an engaging, structured brain break that refreshes students while reinforcing learning. What is the "Coffee Break" Hack? Lisa Cole's "Coffee Break" uses Google Slides to structure a quick, engaging brain break. Instead of pushing through low-energy moments, she introduces fun and meaningful content, such as: Daily Jokes or Memes – Lighthearted humor to boost mood. Check-In Scales – A way for students to express how they’re feeling. Current News or Fun Facts – Short, relevant updates to spark curiosity. Motivational Quotes or Videos – Insp...

  Get Ready for Back-to-School with the Student Success Navigator ! 🎒📚 As the new school year approaches, it's time to shift gears and prepare for a fresh start. Whether you're heading back to the classroom or tackling online courses, being organized is key to a successful academic journey. That's where our Student Success Navigato r comes in, your all-in-one tool for staying on top of your studies and achieving your goals. ✨ Why You Need a Planner 🗓️ A good planner is more than just a schedule keeper. It's a powerful tool that helps you manage your time, reduce stress, and stay focused. The Student Success Navigator is designed with students in mind, offering features that cater to your unique needs. From daily, weekly, and monthly planning to tracking study sessions, assignments, and deadlines, this planner has you covered. 📅✅ Key Features to Keep You on Track 📌 Organize Your Study Apps 📱 : Keep all your favorite study apps in one place for easy access. Whether...

 One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in my teaching journey is this: ✨ You’re not everyone’s cup of tea—and that’s perfectly fine. Some people need your cup of matcha, and they’ll love you for it. ✨ When I first started teaching, I was full of enthusiasm but still figuring things out. Like most new teachers, I made mistakes, faced criticism, and battled self-doubt. It’s easy to let negative feedback linger, especially when you’re still building confidence. I used to overanalyze every comment, wondering if I was really cut out for this profession. But one experience changed my perspective. Back in my brick-and-mortar classroom, I had a student who was hardworking but struggled to believe in herself. When I transitioned to online teaching, she reached out and asked if I could tutor her in science. I said yes. Over time, her confidence grew, her marks improved, and recently, she qualified for a biomedical science degree —a dream she once thought was out of reach. Even m...

 January marks one year since I took the leap into online teaching, and what a journey it has been! From the highs of newfound flexibility to the challenges of maintaining balance, this year has been a whirlwind of learning, growth, and self-discovery. If you're curious about what it's really like to teach online—or considering making the switch yourself—here’s an honest reflection on my first year. Flexibility: A Game-Changer ⏳✨ One of the biggest reasons I transitioned to online teaching was flexibility. I wanted to be there for my kids in ways I couldn’t before—attending school events, running errands midday, and shaping my schedule around my family’s needs. Compared to the rigid structure of my previous job, this shift has been life-changing. That said, flexibility comes with its own set of challenges. In online teaching, the hours you work often determine your income. If your schedule isn’t consistent, neither is your paycheck—and that can be stressful. But despite the...

  If you're based in South Africa and searching for flexible online or in-person tutoring jobs, you're in luck! There are several platforms available where you can teach, mentor, and even scribe for learners, all from the comfort of your home or at a location that suits you. I’m excited to share my personal experiences and some tips to help you get started with these tutoring platforms. 1. Getting Started: The Basics For those considering tutoring for the first time or looking for reliable platforms, it's good to know that many of these services make the application process straightforward. Whether you’re a teacher looking for extra income or a university student aiming to help others succeed, there's an option for you. Typically, you need to meet some basic requirements, such as: Having a strong academic record (an A or higher in high school or university subjects) Experience or knowledge in the subjects you plan to teach Access to reliable internet and transport (for ...

  Teaching online for the past year has been a journey full of learning curves. One of the biggest challenges? Keeping students engaged. After countless hours of research and trial and error, I’ve picked up some key strategies that help make online learning not only more effective but also enjoyable for students. I’m excited to share what I’ve learned! Key Strategies to Boost Engagement: 1. Clear Expectations When students know exactly what’s expected, they stay more focused. I’ve found that providing detailed outlines and grading criteria really helps them feel confident and more engaged with the course. 2. Flexibility Online learning allows students to learn at their own pace, which is a huge benefit. By offering flexible deadlines and letting students choose how to complete certain tasks, they become more invested in their learning. 3. Real-World Applications It’s not just about the content—it’s about showing students how it applies in real life. I’ve seen students perk up wh...

  Hello, fellow educators! 👋 Last year, as I started my online teaching journey, I found a great platform called Superteacher . If you're thinking about becoming an independent teacher or just starting out, Superteacher can really help. In this post, I’ll share why I love it and how it can make your teaching life easier. 🎓 Why I Love Superteacher ❤️ When I first tried Superteacher, I was excited to see that it offers both a free and a paid version. The free version is really good and lets you get started without spending any money. The paid version has a few extra features, but you can do a lot with just the free one. 👍 What Makes Superteacher Great ✨ Easy to Use 🖥️ Superteacher is really easy to use, even if you’re new to online teaching. It’s simple to set up your profile, schedule classes, and upload self-paced courses. Helpful Training Center 📚 The platform has a training center with webinars and live sessions to help you learn how to use it. I used these resources when...

  Hey everyone! 👋 I’m thrilled to share that I’ve launched a second YouTube channel! This new venture is all about diving deep into my journey with online teaching, exploring the tools and platforms I’ve discovered, and sharing insights into side hustles—specifically selling digital downloads on Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT). 🚀 Why this channel? Well, I’ve been getting a lot of questions from folks who are just starting out in online teaching and digital side hustles. I realized there’s a need for a space that’s both informative and approachable for absolute beginners. This channel is designed just for that! 🌟 I’m not here to promise a get-rich-quick scheme; instead, I want to share the real, unfiltered journey. From the tools that have made my online teaching easier to the platforms I’ve explored, and everything I’ve learned about selling digital downloads, I’ll be covering it all. 🛠️📈 Expect to see: My Experiences: How I’ve navigated online teaching platforms and tools. Tutor...

  Hey curious minds! 🧠👋 I’m excited to share that I’ve just released a new video on my Queen of Curiosity channel titled "How to Recognize the Signs of Life: MRS. GREF in Action!" 🎥✨ In this video, we explore the fascinating world of life through the MRS. GREF acronym, which helps us identify the essential signs that something is alive. What is MRS. GREF? 🤔 MRS. GREF stands for Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, and Feeding. These are the key characteristics that all living things share. To bring these concepts to life, I used a real-life example from one of my previous videos where an ostrich and an oryx interacted. It’s not just entertaining; it’s a perfect illustration of MRS. GREF in action! Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll learn: Movement: Observe how living things like the ostrich and oryx move around. Respiration: Even if invisible, living beings are constantly breathing. Sensitivity: Watch how they react to their environm...

  Hey there, fellow science enthusiasts! You know, I’ve always wanted something more exciting than your average comprehension test to jazz up my cell structure lessons. Well, guess what? I’ve found the perfect solution that’s got my students buzzing with excitement – the Cell Structures Escape Room! Picture this: my classroom transformed into an interactive adventure zone where students aren’t just passively learning but actively engaging with the material. This isn’t just any run-of-the-mill activity; it’s an escape room that targets all the essential cell structures learners need to know. We’re talking mitochondria, vacuoles, chloroplasts, and the grand showdown between animal and plant cells. What makes this escape room so fantastic, you ask? Well, for starters, it’s not your typical comprehension test. Oh no, my friends! To crack the codes and solve the puzzles, students have to read the passages multiple times. That’s right – no skimming allowed here! They have to dive deep, ...

As an online educator, I’m always on the lookout for tools that can make my teaching more effective and engaging. Recently, I’ve been using three incredible AI tools that have transformed the way I create lesson plans, design activities, and generate learning resources. Here’s a closer look at each of them: 1. ChatGPT: Writing Lesson Plans Creating detailed and structured lesson plans can be time-consuming, but ChatGPT has made this process incredibly efficient. With ChatGPT, I can input a lesson topic and key points, and it generates a comprehensive lesson plan complete with objectives, key points, and suggested activities. It’s a game-changer for streamlining the planning process and ensuring that I have a well-organized lesson ready to go. 2. Twee: Designing Interactive Activities Twee has been fantastic for creating engaging and interactive activities for my students. One of its standout features is the ability to input a YouTube video and generate relevant questions for classroom ...