Get Your Flu Shot

It’s not too late to get a flu shot. I took my stepson (with his dad) to get his shot just two weeks ago. The flu shot is the best defense against the flu. According to the Mayo Clinic, “the flu vaccine is about 50% to 60% effective for healthy adults who are between 18 and 64 years old.” Wait? Only 50 to 60 percent? That’s true, but it’s still the most effective defense we have.

Last year, I got the flu from a student even though I already had my flu shot. The flu shot helps your symptoms become more mild than they would have been if you didn’t have the vaccine. In fact, the doctor thought I looked too healthy for flu, but my test came back positive. I had a different strain than the one the vaccine protected against that year. Did I get my flu shot this year even though I still got the flu last year? Absolutely, I did. This year, I got my flu shot from Walgreens. There was a short wait, but it wasn’t bad, and totally worth it.

Wash Your Hands to Avoid Flu

Wash your hands with soap (affiliate link) and water. Make sure your students do the same. If your students are working on learning how to effectively wash their hands, teach them how with with my resource, We Can Practice Hygiene. The resource has visuals for students to practice each step. Washing your hands thoroughly is better than using hand sanitizer (affiliate link), but having some handy is a good backup. If you don’t have hand washing times built into your class schedule, implement it now. Some good times to wash hands would be right away when coming into the classroom, before lunch or any snacks, after sneezing or coughing, and of course after using the restroom.

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How Long Should We Wash Our Hands?

Everyone should wash their hands for at least twenty seconds. To help your students wash their hands long enough, I’ve found it helpful to have them sing (or sing with them) the ABC song. If you’re working with older students, the ABC song isn’t really age appropriate. Instead, they can count to twenty. A visual with a number line near the sink can aid in the counting and support math skills. If your kids are higher level, they could count by 5 to 100 which would take about the same amount of time. Be creative here and include student interest if you can. You know your kids best.

Don’t Touch Your Face

This is a hard one to do because we all touch our faces without realizing it all the time. By avoiding touching your face, you avoid bringing the flu virus near your nose, mouth, and eyes. Don’t give it an open door. I have long hair, so I like to pull my hair back in a pony tail or braid to keep it away. It gives me one less reason for my hands to be near my face. Remember to not rest your head on your hands. That’s the hardest part for me, but it helps me to remember another benefit to doing this is that it keeps oils from your hands from getting in your pores so it helps maintain clearer skin too.

Take Care of Your Body

As special education teachers, it can be hard to find time to take care of ourselves, but it’s important that we do in order to maintain our health and sanity. We need to do this for ourselves, our students, and our families. Schedule time with yourself to maintain healthy habits like exercise, eating well, and sleeping. Try to stay as hydrated as you can while balancing the delicate act of scarce teacher bathroom breaks. It also helps to maintain a practice that helps you de-stress. Personally, I listen to guided meditations I find on YouTube. I also use both the Sattva and Calm apps on my phone to support my meditation practice. I use the free versions of both.

Cleaning Spaces

Did you know that the flu virus can live on surfaces for 24 hours? Ick! Make sure you are cleaning surfaces like tables and chairs regularly. This could even be made into a classroom job. Just be careful of what cleaning products your school allows both for you to use, and especially what is allowed for students to use if you have them help with cleaning.

Wear Gloves

If you’re in a self contained classroom, your district should provide you access to gloves for toileting. You should always use your gloves and use the proper removal protocol for gloves. Any time you’re dealing with body fluids like runny noses, you should be wearing gloves. I know it seems impersonal to wear gloves that much, and they are kind of annoying (hand sweat, anyone?), but when it comes to flu, sharing is not caring. We might not look as fabulous as Beyonce wearing our gloves, but at least ours will cover our fingertips.

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Don’t Share Food to Avoid Flu

It might be tempting to try a bite of your teacher friend’s cookie in the lounge, but don’t do it. Avoid touching or eating anybody else’s food. Hear that, lunch box bandits? Teach your students to do the same. You could even have students practice safe serving practices with gloves and tongs as an employment skill during classroom parties.

Avoid the Flu in Special Education Classrooms

It’s so important that we avoid the flu in special education classrooms. There is no way to prevent it completely, but taking these steps yourself and teaching your students these steps too will help you maintain a healthy, happy classroom while teaching important life and career skills at the same time.

The post Avoid the Flu in Special Education Classrooms appeared first on Owl Quest.

Photo Credit: Hannah Busing via Unsplash

Please note that links to products in this article are affiliate links, which means I make a commission from them at no extra cost to you. It helps me continue the site to bring you helpful information.

How Do I Get Dinner on the Table?

While I’m no longer a classroom teacher, I work far more than a normal 40 hour week. My tutoring schedule keeps me out of the house a lot during evenings. But, I enjoy cooking healthy meals for my family, and it’s one of my household duties. So how do I make it work?

I use calendar blocking and careful meal planning to be able to make sure that I get healthy meals on the table Monday through Friday even though I’m working. In my schedule, I block out 30 minutes each morning to meal prep, though often it doesn’t take this long. If I pre-chop veggies on the weekend and put them in baggies, I pretty much can dump my ingredients in the Crock Pot with seasonings and go. My slow cooker is my best friend. I have a Crock Pot with a 4, 6, 8, and 10 hour timer. If I’m gone longer than the timer, it has a warm function that keeps the food hot without overcooking. The flavors marry all day long. My fiance gets to eat whenever he finishes his daily workout routine after work, and I eat when I get home from lessons. We both get a hot fresh meal even when our schedule doesn’t quite mesh. He does the dishes, so it works out nicely to balance responsibilities. We don’t always use them, but when I’m in a time pinch or using my Crock Pot for something sticky like queso I use these slow cooker liners. 

My schedule is helped by having a roster of go-to meals that I make on a regular basis. It makes grocery shopping a breeze because I know exactly what I need. And because the meals are routine, I’m able to get everything cooking before my caffeine has kicked in.

Recipes

I love cooking, and have developed many of my own recipes. But I take inspiration from others when I can. Below are some links to my favorite recipes that I make for easy after school dinners.

My Favorite After School Slow Cooker Recipes

Crock Pot Sante Fe Chicken from Skinny Taste

I make this recipe once a week, and it is awesome. It has more flavor than heat, so if you like it spicy, add more cayenne. I make the recipe with chicken thighs because my fiance prefers thigh to breast meat. It has the added benefit of being a little cheaper too. I like to serve this on corn tortillas with shredded Mexican cheese. The meal makes a ton of leftovers for us. We freeze the leftovers and eat it later for lunch, saving even more time.

Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken

Slow Cooker Italian Chicken and Potatoes

I just recently found this recipe from The Recipe Critic for Slow Cooker Italian Chicken and Potatoes, and it’s recently become one of my favorite recipes. In fact, it’s what’s in my Crock Pot right this very moment. The smell is taunting me because it’s only 2:30 PM, and I won’t be eating dinner until 6 PM. I can’t wait for the flavorful potatoes and juicy chicken. Because I always try to include at least one vegetable with my meals, I like to add microwavable green beans to meal to balance it out and get more fiber and vitamins.

Roast Beef

I don’t really use a recipe for my roast beef. I take a nicely marbled roast (I vary the cuts based on what looks good at the store), and then season it with olive oil, salt and pepper. I brown it on all sides on a hot pan. It goes straight from the pan into the crock pot. On top, I add a good amount of chopped onions, carrots, and celery. Easy peasy.

Herbs de Provence Chicken

Herbs de Provence Chicken sounds fancy, but nobody has to know that it was easy to make. I usually make this with a whole chicken, but I’ve used chicken thigh and chicken breast before too. When you use the whole chicken, you wind up with broth along with your meal which I freeze to use in soups.

I remove any gibbets from the chicken and then I cover it in olive oil. Then I sprinkle paprika, herbs de Provence, salt, and fresh cracked pepper all over the chicken. My pepper grinder makes such a difference for my recipes. Using fresh cracked is so much more flavorful than regular pepper. I even flip it to get the bottom. Yes, it’s icky, but worth it. If you don’t like it, you might appreciate using some kitchen gloves for the task. Then it goes in the slow cooker all day with onions, carrots, and celery. If you have small children, I highly recommend you use boneless chicken and not a whole chicken. There are many tiny bones that appear. It’s fine for my family because we know it helps add flavor, but little ones might choke.

Your Favorites

While I do have my dinner routine nailed down and it works great, every once in a while I crave a new recipe. I’d love to know your favorite recipes for busy school night dinners. Share them with me in the comments or on our Facebook page. 

The post Meal Prepping for Teachers appeared first on Owl Quest.

Now, I’m free of that. I didn’t buy a fancy teacher planner. Don’t get me wrong, I still want one, they are just so pretty! I’m not using a fancy phone app. Instead, I’m using a strategy called calendar blocking.

The To Do Schedule

Instead of a To Do list, I now develop a To Do schedule. It takes a bit longer to write it all out, but it works wonders. A To Do list can be infinitely long. There is no limit to the items you can put on a To Do list. So it’s incredibly easy to put too much stuff on a To Do list. But a calendar blocked schedule is finite. Everybody only gets the same 24 hours a day. Through calendar blocking, I’ve learned to make the most of my time.

It isn’t high tech or pretty, but I use Excel to do my calendar blocking. I don’t like using the calendar on my phone because it creates too many dings and pop ups on my phone. I use Microsoft’s One Drive to share the Excel sheet with my phone so I don’t have to be at my computer to reference my schedule. It works quite nicely. I bet you could use Google Docs too.

Setting Up the Schedule

Each day, I wake up at 6:30 AM, so that is when I start my calendar blocking. I set up a column in 30 minute intervals, which is the right interval for me. For some, you might want to divide it up into 15 minute sections. When I taught special education, my student’s had crazy schedules and to be able to properly meet everybody’s service minutes my schedule was laid out in 5 minute increments. I wouldn’t recommend letting your calendar block go over an hour for each interval. Across the top, I list the days of the week. I like to start with Monday, but you can start with any day you like. I keep one spreadsheet page per week. For the next week, I start a new tab, laid out in the same fashion.

Now that I have my week and time set up, I start filling in with the things I must do or else everything goes topsy-turvy in my life. I include my slow cooker meal prep time, cleaning time, eating time, work time, and workout time. I even plan when I’m going to the grocery store. Once I put these in my spreadsheet, I like to highlight them red, but you don’t have to color code. The color lets me know they are my must dos.

During my work time and cleaning time, I make notes on what specifically I’m going to be working on. For example, during my work time, I plan out if I’m going to be working writing a blog or creating a product. If it is time I’m with a student, I write in who, and I block out the travel time it will take me to get there. Right now, I’m writing this blog in the time I planned out. Because I planned for it, it happened. I even planned on writing this exact article at this exact time. For cleaning, I put the different rooms in my house on a rotation. It breaks the tasks down into smaller bits. I clean for only the time I give myself, And somehow, the most important things get done. I find my house is getting cleaner and clear with the strategy because when I have leftover time I do things like wipe down the tops of cabinets or organize things that I wouldn’t ordinarily do. It’s still a work in progress but so much better than it was. I am not naturally tidy by any means. Currently Marie Kondo is a superhero to me, and I’m learning lots from her Netflix show. I watch it during scheduled down time.

Once I have all my must dos in order, I can plan out any extra stuff that I want to fit in. If I want to see a movie with my fiance, I put it in. If I’m planning to watch the football playoffs with him, it goes on the calendar. This helps me make sure to preserve that quality time with him. And since even my calendar says it is what I’m supposed to be doing, I can do it guilt free.

Doesn’t It Make You Feel Rigid?

I thought it would, but I can honestly say it doesn’t. In fact, I feel really free. I set my own schedule, so it becomes a tool to keep myself on track to accomplish the things I want to. Before I felt burdened by guilt, but now that I’m accomplishing far more by having a more realistic way to approach my tasks, I feel better.

Now I Can Relax

I’ve been using calendar blocking for several months now. It’s honestly the best way I’ve ever found to keep myself on track with what I need to do, both at work, home, and play. I feel more organized and less stress. I don’t have that nagging feeling of knowing I’m supposed to be doing something, but I’m not sure what. I also don’t feel the pressure to keep a running mental list of what I am supposed to accomplish and when. It’s already written down so I just reference it when I need to. It frees up brain space for other things.

Photo Credit Brooke Lark on Unsplash

The post How Calendar Blocking Changed My Life appeared first on Owl Quest.

Fill Your Cup

The most important thing to do during winter is to keep your metaphorical cup full. Surround yourself with positive teachers and friends. Sometimes those can be in short supply, so you can find positive teacher friends on our Facebook Page and Group. Join today to stay in touch.

ChapStick Total Hydration

If you’re like me, your lips get chapped during the winter. Fend off peeling lips and keep your pout soft with ChapStick’s Total Hydration. I particularly like their hydrating formulas better than the regular kind. My lips peel and even bleed during the winter so I need every bit of extra moisture I can get.

Seacret Hand Cream with Shea Butter

I first received this hand cream as a Christmas gift years ago. The person who gave it to me probably got it from a pushy person at a mall kiosk, but it sure does work. In chilly weather, my hands crack to the point of bleeding. It’s painful, and ridiculous because I live in Texas where it really doesn’t get that cold. But using this stuff really helped keep my hands moist. For me, I think it helped prevent new cracks so the old ones could heal. I find the scent relaxing too which is an awesome bonus. I find other hand creams that do the trick smell too medical. The Seacret lotion smells light and fresh.

Aquasentials Moisturizing Gloves

Sometimes my hands need extra deep moisture. When that happens, I like to wear gloves overnight. I thought the sensation of wearing gloves to sleep would give me the creeps, but it didn’t. I put on hand lotion right before I turn out my light, put the gloves on, and go to sleep. It doesn’t keep me awake. The gloves lock the lotion in so I can get the full benefit of it. You’ll feel absolutely pampered, and it’s a simple thing to add to your self-care routine.

Teacher Planners

If you don’t have a teacher planner to put some pep in your planning, you might want to consider a teacher planner. I’m a full time tutor now, and so my planning needs differ from a classroom teacher. But I’m still tempted by the cute polka dot pattern. If I was still a classroom teacher, I’d be buying this.

 Winter Hat

Got car line or recess duty? Keep your noggin nice and warm with this fashionable newsboy knit hat. You’ll look stylish and stay snug. The visor will keep sun out of your eyes on sunny days and will keep some drizzle off on icky days.

Hand Warmers

I use these hand warmers all the time when I go camping. They are pocket size and even fit inside gloves. Tuck them in your pockets, gloves, or shoes to keep your hands or feet nice and warm when you’re on duty or even if your classroom is on the chilly side. If you teach science, you might even be able to work them into a lesson about chemical reactions. They last for hours.

Touch Screen Gloves

These touchscreen gloves are versatile. Even if you aren’t allowed to be on an any electronics while on duty, you’ll want gloves that work for school and after hours. With these gloves, you wont have to remove them to be able to send a quick text. The multiple colors mean you can pick your favorite color or buy more than one to coordinate with different outfits.

Warm Shawls

The first school I taught in didn’t have heat in the halls,so the hallways in the winter months were downright cold. But we were still expected to dress professionally. No problem with a nice warm shawl like this one. Keep it on the back of your teacher chair so you have it handy when the temperature in your classroom dips too low for comfort.

Warm Socks

Call me a crazy cat lady if you want, but any time I wear cat themed footwear my students (even my adult learners) notice and love it. If you’re going to be out in the winter weather or if your room gets drafty, keep your feet warm with toasty socks. I know when my feet are cold I can’t focus on anything else.

Cleaning Wipes

Winter means cold and flu season. Ugh. Your going to have students show up with snotty noses. Using Clorox Wipes or a similar brand on your desks, tables, door handles, and other surfaces to help keep these nasty bugs at bay. I use wipes like this at home to clean my kitchen, bathroom, and office spaces. It’s quick which teachers need. We don’t have time for an involved cleaning process.

Facial Tissue

In an ideal world, parents would send enough tissues to last the whole year in August. But let’s be real, they probably didn’t, and your supply is running thin. It’s time to restock before you and your students resort to using sleeves. I like Puff’s Plus best because the lotion keeps my nose from chapping.

Surviving Winter as a Teacher

Winter is stressful for teachers. Testing pressure is ramping up. The days are shorter so sunlight is limited, making long teacher hours seem even longer. Take time to take care of yourself. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Fill your cup by surrounding yourself with the positive people at your school and a positive online community for teachers like Owl Quest. You can like our Facebook Page and join our Group to connect with us.

The post Back to School After Winter Break Survival Kit appeared first on Owl Quest.

We don’t like thinking about it, much less talking about it. But if you teach for long enough, grief will touch your teaching practice. As a teacher, sometimes it becomes our job to help students deal with grief in the classroom.

You may teach a student who suddenly looses a loved one. It can happen to anyone. It happened to my mom at age 15 when her dad died of a heart attack. It was during the summer, but she went to her drivers ed class that day because they told them they couldn’t miss class no matter what. She didn’t tell anybody in class, and she talks about how that felt to this day. Even before tragedy strikes,  your students need to know that your classroom is a safe, nurturing place to be. They need to know that they matter, that their feelings matter. Death and grief happen to our children more often than you think as about 1 in 20 kids will loose a parent before they graduate, and even more will loose other close relatives. Even though it is common, children often feel alone in their grief.

It’s important we keep in mind that grief doesn’t impact students only if they lived in the same house as their loved one. The loss of a parent is extreme, but remember the loss of a grandparent  may have a profound impact on a student, even if the grandparent didn’t live with them. The student may be having to shoulder the grief of their parent who did just loose a parent. My best friend’s children grieved and still do grieve their grandfather who died a little over a year ago. The pain is still fresh for my friend’s family.

So how can we as teachers help?

Supporting a Grieving Student

Attend the Funeral

If at all possible, attend the funeral to show support for your student. Your student will appreciate a friendly face, and they will appreciate knowing that someone came specifically for them. For a student, the funeral of their loved one may be the first funeral they have ever had to attend. The most important adults in their lives will be consumed with their own grief. Say hello and express your heartfelt condolences. Funerals are for the living, not for the dead. So it doesn’t matter if you had met the family member or not, you should attend. They’ll remember you cared enough to go, possibly for the rest of their lives. It makes a big impact.

After the Student Returns to School

What to Expect

Just showing up in your classroom and facing the world after loss could be immensely difficult for your child. And those emotions won’t always come out as a tears. Your student may have angry outbursts or clam up.

As soon as possible when the student returns to school, have a private conversation with the child. Let them know that you are here for them and that in your classroom, they are safe. Let them tell you about what happened if they want to, but don’t force them too. Work with your student and your administrator to have a place where your student can go if they need a place to cry privately. It might be in the counselor’s office, the main office, the library. Somewhere quiet, removed, and out of the prying eyes of other students as much as possible.

Keep in mind that not only is the student grieving, but the students routine has been uprooted. If mom passed, dad or another caretaker is suddenly taking on new roles like packing lunches and carpool while grieving a loss themselves. Your student might be tardy for reasons completely out of his control. Homework is likely (and if you ask me, understandably) not going to be a priority for a while. If it gets out of control, talk to an admin. You’ll need to call home, but you’ll need to have a caring, compassionate conversation about it. Our society expects people to “get over it,” more quickly than many people are equipped to handle. Remember, you can’t do the Bloom’s stuff until you do the Maslow stuff. During grief, your students are working on feeling safe and secure and looking for love and belonging when a person they loved went away.

If you have access to a guidance counselor, your student should most likely make use of that resource. Here are some resources you can look through that guidance counselors use. Not all schools have a counselor, so if you’re stuck being guidance counselor as well, read more here. The resource includes a lot of videos making it handy to listen to while doing something else.

What to Say?

When someone dies, you probably wonder, “But what do I say?” It’s easy to be afraid of saying the wrong thing and making it worse. It feels like everything good say is cliche, and while true, those cliches can be more helpful than well intention ed messages that cause hurt.

It’s perfectly fine to start out by saying, “I am so sorry for your loss.” Yes, they will hear it a bunch, but that doesn’t make the sentiment not true. This isn’t really the time to break out a thesaurus or worry about using common phrases. It’s not the STAAR test, and there are no bonus points for creativity here. Nothing you say is going to be able to magically make the death OK. The goal here is to comfort, express empathy, and avoid adding pain.

People shy away from acknowledging what happened is bad. Our society is particularly uncomfortable around death. We often feel the need to fix it or to reassure someone when they are upset that everything is OK. That won’t work here. Everything is not OK. Nothing will ever be the same again for your student. By facing this discomfort and acknowledging it head on in a compassionate way sets a good example for the student. By saying what happened is terrible, you show them an appropriate way to use words to express what happened instead of stuffing emotions down and pretending everything is fine.

Use words accurate words like, “death,” and, “died,” especially for younger students. Attempts at softening the blow at best don’t really work, and at worst, confuse children into thinking that their loved one will come back. Don’t tell a child, “At least he is in a better place now,” or any variation of that. They will feel like the better place to be will be alive and with them. Also, you and your student may not share the same belief system.

You might have experienced a loss too, even around the same age as them. While it is tempting to empathize by sharing your story, people grieving don’t benefit from this. Quite simply, it’s not about you. This is about their grief, their loved one, not you and yours.

Words to Say

• I am so sorry
• I don’t know what to say, but please know I care.
• I am here to help you.
• You are in my thoughts.
• It is awful what happened.
• Died, death

Words and Phrases to Avoid

• At least…
• In a better place now
• It was his time to go.
• I know how you feel.
• You are in my prayers (Even if true, the student may not share your belief system. Plus you could get in trouble.)
• Passed away

We Were Going to be Reading (Insert Sad Book Here)

Was a sad book on the list of books you were planning to read for the year? If you have the option and flexibility, it’s probably not the best year to read “Where the Red Fern Grows,” “Charlotte’s Web,” or “The Bridge to Terabithia.” Your kids will still learn the skills they need to master with more lighthearted novel studies.

Yes, your other students will need to learn about death, loss, and empathy. Honestly, they are likely to be learning quite a bit from their classmate in a way that a book could never teach them. They will have plenty of opportunity to read sad books in other grades. I am of the opinion that the benefit to the other students does not outweigh the pain for the student who experienced loss.

Elementary Students

To help students deal with death in the classroom, it’s important to account for their developmental age. For elementary age students, consider a class meeting to let other students know that their classmate experienced a loss and might be sad for a while. Young students won’t always seem sad. Besides sadness and anger, your student may feel anxiety, guilt, or even shame at what has happened. They may not talk about their feelings much, but they might be a student who clings and needs extra attention from you.

Be prepared to answer tough questions your student might ask. Your classroom may be the most normal/stable place they have during this time. When you answer questions, be direct. Use clear language like, “death,” and, “died.” Avoid using euphemisms like, “passed away,” or, “lost.” The person who died isn’t missing and won’t return so don’t confuse the child or give her false hope.

What to do for Mother’s Day/Father’s Day Activities?

Maybe your school has Donuts with Dad or Muffin’s with Mom and you aren’t sure how to handle it. Talk to the student’s caregiver well in advance of any activity and work out a plan. The right thing to do should be a decision made jointly with the family. Some families may have another relative that would like to be honored as a stand in for the family member that passed away. Your student may want to participate in making a craft like the rest of the class for someone else special in their life, but if it is too hard, they might prefer visiting another classroom for that time period. Remember to send them with something fun so they won’t have a double whammy of being excluded from fun and grief.

What to Tell the Classmates?

For younger classmates, they may not quite understand what happened. Explain in simple terms to classmates that their friend’s loved one died. Explain that their friend will be sad when they come back to school and they might be sad for a long time. Talk to your students about ways that they can be a good friend when someone is sad. Have the class make cards.

Middle School and High School

Older students will understand death, but still can’t cope as well as an adult can. Because of their age and a teenagers drive for independence, they will be pulling aware from their remaining family. They may be more at risk for using drugs, fighting, or having sex, but of course that won’t happen for all students.

You already should be greeting your students at the door, but if you aren’t, start making it a practice now. Take an extra few moments to check in on your student who experienced the loss at the door. Work on building an especially good relationship with that student. If appropriate, ask the student, “How are you coping today.” Talk with your student to give them some choices that may help. Your student might prefer to sit in the back near a box of tissues to be less conspicuous if tears come. Do make sure the spot is also conducive to the student’s learning and checks out with any 504/IEP accommodations as the legal requirements have to come first.

It’s easier for grieving students in middle and high schools to get lost in the shuffle. They don’t have one teacher looking out for them in a classroom of maybe 25. Instead they have 7 or 8 teachers who maybe have 150-200 students each. Building a relationship with the student will potentially take more work because there is a shorter time to do it. Do what you can, and take an interest. Let the child know you see him and care about him. Encourage your student to get involved in an activity at the school. Band, art, sports, theater, dance, robotics, or something else. A group activity will help the student develop closer ties with peers to see them through the grief. And since many students choose to keep the same activity year after year, they can also develop a closer relationship with a teacher year over year.

Expressing Grief

Respect the child first and foremost. Your student might not want to talk about the loss, and that’s OK. They might prefer to write, draw, play music or something else to express their feelings. If you are teaching elementary, make sure the art, music, and PE teacher are aware of what happened. They may be able to collaborate with you on some ideas to help sooth or express feelings. If your student is having outbursts of anger, provide options on how to express the emotion in a less destructive way. Work out a signal where your student can tell you they need to draw in their journal for a bit to calm down for example. While it’s not necessarily on task with your lesson, it’s less disruptive to your classroom than an outburst and teaches them how to manage their emotions, which is a valuable life lesson too.

Your student may complain of physical symptoms like headaches and stomach aches. Grief does manifest itself into physical pain. The child really is feeling this, they aren’t making it up. It isn’t all in their head. Send the student to the nurse when appropriate. Even if you think it is grief, as a teacher, you’re not medically trained to make that call. While I didn’t experience a loss like this as a student I had stomach aches for about a decade before I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. They started in high school and everybody though it was, “stress,” so I’m particularly sensitive to ignoring physical ailments in students. Grief and tragedy can be a trigger for physical diseases like autoimmune conditions. If your student frequently complains of a physical ailment, take data so you can let their caregiver know the frequency. That way they can give the students doctor the information to make a more informed decision about care.

Culture Differences

Grief is universal. While some cultures (or even just families) are open with their grief, others may be much more reserved. It’s important to respect how a child grieves because there is no one right way to grieve. No matter what culture your student is from, approach them with empathy, kindness, and thoughtfulness.

Ongoing Grief

Grief doesn’t have a timeline. Even if a student experienced loss a  year or more ago, doesn’t mean that grief won’t be impacting your student emotionally. Transitions between schools might be difficult. In high school, a student may be keenly aware of milestones their loved one is missing out on seeing. Don’t act like a student should be, “over it,” even if they are years removed from the loss.

Book Recommendations

If you’re a teacher, you should read at least one book to prepare you for this heavy topic before it happens. A student could potentially get the news while in your classroom. Waiting until a child has lost an important person is late to read up and then make a plan. We don’t (or shouldn’t) leave lesson planning to the last minute, and this is far more important than any one academic lesson. Here are some books to start with. The book links are affiliate links which means I could make a small commission off the book, but at no additional cost to you.

Resources

https://grievingstudents.org/

64 Children’s Books About Death and Grief

11 Books to Help You Confront Your Grief

Final Thoughts

Helping a student with grief in the classroom isn’t easy. It’s not what schools were designed to do. But with the right approach, your student will remember the love and care you showed them in the absolute worst of times forever. There is no perfect thing to say or do, only better things to say and do. You can’t fix it, so don’t try to. Focus on being a supportive, compassionate person for the child.

The post Help Students Deal with Grief in the Classroom appeared first on Owl Quest.

Teacher feet go through a lot through out the school day. You’re racking up steps in the early morning at bus duty or running to the work room to make copies. You’re getting your classroom prepped so everything is just so when your students come in. Then you’re up and around the classroom all day. It feels like you run a marathon every day.

When I taught elementary life skills, I had to pick out just the right shoes. I was in my early twenties and needed to look professional to get every little bit of extra respect I could. But I had runners, who would gleefully dash out of the classroom at a moment’s notice. I needed to be able to spring to my feet from anywhere in the class to catch my escapees while my paraprofessionals held down the fort.

When I needed shoes, I shopped very carefully. In the store, I would try on each pair, hop up and down a few times, walk, and then run through the long shoe isles. Ballet flats flew off my feet when I ran at full speed, something I didn’t want to happen when having to intercept a runner. I also have very sensitive feet. Most shoes, even with socks, wind up rubbing holes in the delicate skin on my feet to the point where my feet bleed.

This round up of shoes will help you find the perfect ones to get you through the school year.

The links in this article are affiliate links which means I may make a small commission of the sale, but it doesn’t cost you anything extra at all. Your support helps me write more articles for you to enjoy.

COMFORTABLE SHOES FOR TEACHERS

Flats

Clark’s Women’s Kinzie Loafer Flat

This cute flat comes in colors like burgundy, pewter, pink, and tweed. You’ll be able to find just the right pair to go with the clothes you already have in your closet. Clark’s was my go to brand for my classroom shoes, so you’ll see them pop up quite often in this list. I’ve never had a pair of Clark’s let me down. Reviews on Amazon compare the Kinzie loafer to walking on foam carpet. Some of the reviewers recommend ordering half a size up, so consider that if you buy these. They do also have a wide option, if you have wider feet like I do.

Born Women’s Madeline

These understated flats are dressy and simple. Besides the usual tones like beiges, blacks, and browns, the shoe also comes in sky blue and a vibrant red that will bring a fun note to your wardrobe for the classroom while still looking perfectly polished. Born was my other go-to brand for teacher shoes. I have one pair of Mary Janes I bought all the way back in 2010, and I still have them to this day.

Born Women’s Karmina Ankle High Leather Flat Shoe

These flats, also from Born, sport a delicate beaded pattern on the toes. They give the shoes some pizzazz without being overwhelming or childish. Even though they are flats, they have a little bit of arch support to keep keep your feet happy. They would pair nicely with ankle length pants. This pair doesn’t have quite the same cushioning Born is known for so consider adding an extra insert for these.

Clarks Women’s Ashland Spin Q Slip-On Loafer

These loafers are similar to my favorite pair of classroom shoes ever. I could run in mine no problem, and they didn’t bother me, even when I needed to stand all day long in them. I usually wore them with khaki pants and a blouse. At the time of writing, these shoes have over 400 reviews on Amazon and over a 4 star rating, so they are really great quality. Some of the reviewers on Amazon reference that these shoes are comfortable for them for hours, even with problems like bunions. Some people find they run narrow, so keep that in mind.

Keds Women’s Champion Original Canvas Sneaker

The first pair of shoes I ever remember buying was a pair of Keds. My mom took me to the Hulen Mall, and I was still young enough to call it the Human Mall. There was a display of Keds just at my eye level. I could smell the rubber soles. We walked out with a white pair, much like these ones. You might have seen the adorable painted sneakers that are made to look like pencils on Pinterest. These Keds would be perfect for that project too as they are a nice, blank canvas.

Crocs Women’s Kadee Flat

I know these are Crocs, but hear me out. I’ve heard over and over again how nurses swear by Crocs. Nurses and teachers both are up on their feet helping people all day long. If they are good enough for nurses, they should work for teachers too.

These Crocs are, dare I say, sleek? They are black and streamlined. They come in a few basic colors including black,gray, brown, and white. At the time of writing, these have over 4,000 reviews and well over 4 stars on Amazon. At the time of writing, over 60% of those reviews are 5 Star Reviews. That’s a ringing endorsement if I’ve ever heard one. If they are little big, you can even shrink them a bit in the dryer. How cool is that? I’m seriously tempted to get these just to try them out. And I’m one of those people that normally think that Crocs look completely ridiculous. Will these shoes prove me wrong?

Sperry Top-Sider Women’s a/O Venice Canvas Boat Shoe

Would it be totally weird to say I have a shoe crush? ‘Cause I do. When I get a “crush” on something at the store, I go back and visit it from time to time. Just to say, “Hey, I’m thinkin’ about ya.” I’ve been wanting a pair of Sperry’s boat shoes for a while now. I’ve been coveting a navy blue pair. These also come in millennial pink, stripes, and a butter yellow color. I feel like in these shoes, it would be easy to close your door during a planning period and imagine yourself  somewhere tropical on a yacht. And very definitely not sitting in a chair meant for a seven year old grading papers.

Cole Haan Women’s Nantucket Loafer Flat

If you’re looking for something a bit more upscale, try these Cole Hann Nantucket loafers. There are a ton of fun patterns like floral and plaid available. They are relatively casual for a loafer, but I think they are fine for every day at school especially if paired with slacks. They’d also work nicely for jean days while still looking professional.

Skechers BOBS Women’s Bobs Plush-Studious Cats Ballet Flat

I own a pair of these delightful shoes. They are covered in an adorable pattern with cats with glasses reading books. Because I’m a tutor now instead of a classroom teacher, I set my own wardrobe. These quirky shoes delight my younger students while encouraging my kiddos to read. They make me smile every time I look down at my feet. They have a lot of cushion, especially for a flat. Almost like a tennis shoe inside. They have lots of patterns too, not just these. A friend of mine has a galaxy cat pair. When you buy Bob’s shoes, they also make a donation to an animal charity. The box I got even came with a few stickers.

Clogs

Clogs might not be the most glamorous shoe around, but they sure do feel nice. My first year teaching, I wore clogs a ton. I liked the little extra height they gave me. They felt almost like wearing tennis shoes without breaking the dress code.

Crocs Unisex On the Clock Work Slip On

I know these are Crocs, but if you wear them with a wide leg pant, I swear, nobody will know. And the reviews speak for themselves. At the time of writing, there are almost 200 reviews leading up to a 4 star rating. These shoes wipe down easily making them extra great for art teachers, pre-K teachers, science teachers, or anybody with a messy classroom. Others say that walking in these shoes it like walking on an anti-fatigue mat. Those sporting these shoes have even been happy after a 12 hour day. If you’re looking for a pair of shoes that can withstand being up all day for active monitoring during testing season, these just might be it.

Clarks Women’s Channing Ann Slip On Loafer

Clarks were my go to brand for clogs my first year teaching. I loved the way that they felt on my feet. They had plenty of cushion. I had two pairs and both of them felt springy which I gave me some extra pep in my step. I like these with the cute button detail. They almost look like ankle boots. There are three styles to choose from.

Timberland PRO Women’s Renova Slip On

These shoes come in both black and brown. My first year of teaching, I made sure to get a black and a brown pair of clogs so no matter what I was wearing, I could find something to coordinate. Some of my outfits had brown bases and no black so I felt like wearing black shoes with those outfits would look really goofy. This pair comes in both brown and black, so you’re covered.

Alegria Women’s Joleen Loafers Shoes

I like these because the patterned medallions give a little more interest than some of the other clogs which can be a bit Spartan and utilitarian. If you like including bright, cheery colors in your wardrobe, this is a nice way to coordinate that and still be comfy in the classroom. This shoe even comes in a few whimsical patterns if you’re going for a Ms. Frizzle vibe in your wardrobe.

Clarks women’s Cloudsteppers Sillian Blair Slip On

From the reviews, it sure sounds like these cloudsteppers live up to their name. The material used on these shoes appears to be super soft. Some people find them tight across the top of the foot, but others report that the shoe fits perfectly. If you find that’s sometimes an issue for you, check out a different pair. The shoe comes in 10 colors so you’ll be able to find the perfect pair to fit with your wardrobe or fill color gaps you might have.

Eastland Women’s Amore

These clogs just might be my favorite clog on the list. When I buy shoes, I like to get a distressed sort of leather. I don’t like it when shoes or purses start out smooth but then get wrinkly with wear. These shoes already have a texture on them, so they’ll continue to look the way that they are supposed to. Also notice the little elastic panel. That feature makes walking in clogs even more comfortable because the shoe stretches a bit as you flex your foot. Perfect.

Birkenstock Boston Classic Arch Clog Black Oiled Leather

Birkenstock’s are a classic for a reason: simple comfort. Did you know that they’ve been around since 1774? That’s right history teachers. The same year the first Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, in Germany Johann Adam Birkenstock began his shoe business. They’ve learned a thing or two in their over 200 years of shoe making.

If your school is OK with a more relaxed vibe, you could wear these Birkenstock clogs. .To be honest, I’ve never owned a pair, I keep my shoe collection abnormally small. At least  that’s the impression I get when I talk to my friends about shoes. Somehow my fiance doesn’t agree and thinks I have a ton of shoes. But he has like three pairs total, so he’s not the best judge. Anyhow, I’ve wanted a pair of Birkenstocks since middle school, and one day I hope they join my collection.

Clarks Women’s Leisa Sadie Mule

I live in Texas, so most of the year, it’s pretty warm outside. In the first school that I taught in, the hallways didn’t have air conditioning. I liked wearing backless mule style clogs to help keep my feet cool. Plus it made it easy to discretely slip my shoe off and wiggle my toes. I naturally prefer to be barefoot as much as possible, so maximum foot freedom is heaven for me. I like the stylish buckle and stitching on these clogs in particular. With nearly 200 reviews, at the time of writing, a huge portion, 70% are 5 star reviews. That’s a whole lot of happy feet, y’all!

Sandals

We know that not every school dress code allows for open toed shoes. If that applies to you, keep scrolling down as we have more closed toed shoes later. I live in Texas where summer seems to stretch into November and starts again Mid-March. Sandals are a near year round wardrobe staple here and in other southern states.

Clarks Women’s Leisa Annual Sandal

I can’t be the only one who hates fiddling with difficult sandal buckles. It takes me forever to get the prong through the tiny little hole. By the time I get through both shoes, then I realize one side is tighter than the other, and I have to adjust. And after that, I’m running late. Ugh. No such problem with these sandals because they fasten with Velcro. There is no shame in my Velcro game. If you teach the younger grades, you can even have a bonding moment with your easy to use shoe straps. Nobody’s got time to fumble with shoe straps before coffee in the AM.

Clarks Women’s Saylie Moon Sandal

These shoes are just plain pretty. They are Clark’s so you know you’ll be comfy all day long. They would work perfectly for a sundress. I’d even wear these silver beauties to a wedding if I had the right outfit to go with it. I’m partial to the silver color personally.

Crocs Women’s Meleen Twist Sandal

More Crocs, don’t judge me. When I was writing this article, I didn’t seek Crocs out.. As I combed through pages and pages of Amazon sandals these cute ones popped out at me as a nice, simple design. And then I saw the brand. If I couldn’t tell, do you think other people will? As I did my research on this shoe, I was pretty blown away. There are over 1,000 reviews on this sandal and it has over a 4 star rating at the time of writing. Pretty impressive. These simple sandals could go with just about anything. They are available in nine colors, so there is a wide variety to choose from.

Crocs Women’s Swiftwater Sandal

Teacher budgets are super stretched, so getting versatility out of your shoes is important. These push that concept to the limit. Croc’s Swiftwaters are completely rubber. You could wear them on the beach or to float the river, hose them off, then you’re good to go. They come in 11 colors including two shades of pink and orange if you’re looking for a fun pop of color in your footwear.

 Everelax Women’s Flat Sandals

These Everlax sandals are one of my favorite selections in the whole list. My natural style gravitates to what I call, “hippy dippy trippy,” and these fit right in with that feel. When I was in high school I almost exclusively wore a pair of rope sandals I bought at the renaissance festival, and I absolutely loved them. Now that I’m an adult, I find it difficult to balance that look with professionalism, but these shoes fit the bill. They look luxurious, but the price is right. These babies come in deep red, purple, coral, and other fun colors. With over 800 reviews, and over 60% of them being 5 star reviews, what’s not to love?

Meehine Women’s Elastic Sparkle Flip Flops Summer Beach Thong Flat Sandals Shoes

While any teacher could wear these, I feel like they are perfect for teaching younger grades. The sparkly flowers would delight young girls especially. There are nine different styles and the flowers change on each of them, so even if these particular designs aren’t your jam, check out the others for one that suits you best.

Dream Pairs Women’s Platform Wedge Sandals

If you look closely at the picture of these sandals, you’ll notice something special.. Two of the straps that go across the top of the foot are elastic, not leather. This will let your foot move and bend more naturally while still having plenty of structure in the heel and toe. The picture shoes a nicely cushioned sole and the heel has a little lift, but not too much.

Sketchers Cali Women’s Rumbler Sci Fi Wedge Sandal

These Sketchers sandals are fun and professional. They come in both black and white. They have a little higher heel than many of the other sandals on this list, so make sure your feet can handle the height.

Wedges

LifeStride Women’s Farrow Wedge Pumps

These are my go to pair of shoes for everything right now. I wear them almost every day. They work with skirts and jeans no problem. They are always comfy, but I did have one of the inserts inside get unsticky. It sometimes flops out like a tongue, but I can stick it right back in, and it doesn’t cause a problem. The pair I have are black. I’ve had them for quite some time now, and they have held up well on the exterior. I’m hard on my shoes too. They didn’t cause me problems breaking them in which is a major plus.

Clarks Women’s Flores Poppy Pump

These wedges come in seven different styles, some in a fashionable suede material. The buckle and color choices are all professional. Since the heel height is only a little over 2 inches, you’ll have a little lift without the feel of super high heels all day. The shoes have an ortholite footbed and sport cushion soft technology. Over 60% of the reviews are 5 stars at the time of writing, making for a reliably good purchase. These shoes are able to dress up or down depending on what you wear them with which makes getting dressed in the morning easy. They are available in a wide width too.

Toms Women’s Desert Wedge

Did you know that Tom’s has more than basic flats? I didn’t either before I started writing this article. If you’re aren’t familiar with Tom’s, you’re going to love what comes next. With every pair of Tom’s you purchase, the company has a One for One policy of helping a person in need. They have several programs including ones for shoes, water, birth, and bullying. When you buy Tom’s, you know your purchase is going to help people in need and not just make some corporate overlord richer. The wedges above come in an astonishing array of styles. Check them out to find the perfect pair for you.

CLARKS Women’s Lafley Rosen Platform

These cute wedges would go wonderfully with a sun dress or professional capri pants that are awesome for September heat waves and keeping your cool when you and your students are just over it towards May. These are Clark’s but they look anything but orthopedic. At the time of writing, they have over 100 reviews and nearly 80% of them are 5 stars. Wow! People who have bought these consider them their “go to” shoes. They come in five colors. I wouldn’t blame you if you bought more than one pair.

Corky’s Bandit Women’s Sandal

These wedges have one of the most unique styles I’ve come across while researching this article. I’ve never seen another wedge with the black, red, and herringbone pattern. I love it for just the right outfit. These wedges come in five different colors. At the moment, there are nearly 40 reviews and 90% of those reviews are 4 and 5 stars. I’ve not yet seen a shoe with that kind of devotion. I’ve not personally worn any Corky’s, but I’m certainly tempted by these.

Women’s Leigh-Ann Leather Mini Wedge Sandal

I deliberately left the brand off this heading. Any guesses on what brand these are? Did you guess Crocs? If I didn’t know, I’d never have guessed. They’ve really stepped up their style game, and these cute wedges prove it. Your secret is safe with me.

Aerosoles A2 by Women’s Florist Wedge Slide Sandal

Aerosoles don’t get talked about a ton, but I’ve been wearing them since I was a kid. I always enjoyed their waffle-like soles that help make them comfortable. These wedges look professional without being too stuffy. I particularly enjoy the denim with leather look that would be fantastic for a jeans day.

Ugg Australia Women’s Whitney Wedge Sandal

For braver souls who can handle a taller heel, these Uggs just might work. One of the reviewers tells how she wore these on vacation. Even after 16 hours of being up and walking in these, her feet were comfortable. Sounds like they would stand up to classroom wear and tear too. I’d pair these with a dressier outfit to help them look polished. I’m personally not coordinated enough to wear these, but if you are, go for it!

Pumps

While heels aren’t right for every teacher, I wanted to include a section as an option for those who like teachers. They are also nice for teacher conference days or days you have an ARD meeting scheduled.

Clarks Women’s Emslie Lulin Pump

I have owned a pair of Clark’s almost exactly like this. It had the strap across the foot, and the heel was about the same height. I found them to be comfortable even on days I had to do quite a bit of walking. Check them out on Amazon to see tons of positive reviews. If you like heels, you won’t go wrong with these.

Aerosoles Women’s Petroleum Boot

To me these adorable shoes look more like a pump than a boot, which is I why I placed them here. I love the cute cutouts on the top of the shoe. They’re professional, but still fun. The suede material is fashion forward as are the colors. You’ll be professional, stylish, and comfy in these beauties.

Gentle Souls by Kenneth Cole Women’s Rupert Day Pump

This interesting shoe is a pump that laces up. The reviews report a solidly built shoe. The shoe is a bit different from the usual choices, and it makes them stand out in a nice way.

Aerosoles Women’s Starring Role

These shoes are so cute I just can’t stand it. I love the ruching across the front. These would look absolutely perfect with a nice cozy sweater or cardigan for days that are cold outside or if your classroom is over air conditioned. They come in pretty colors, but they have black and dark gray too if you need something more neutral.

LifeStride Women’s Coanna Ankle Bootie

These pumps are a little daring but still sensible enough for work.They are fun enough that they can do double duty on the weekend. The heel is a little taller than some of the other shoes on the list, so make sure you can handle it before you purchase them. Even with the heel, the reviews report they are comfortable which is why they made the list.

Aerosoles Women’s High Frequency Ankle Bootie

I’m totally digging the mesh on these Aerosoles. The heels are a little on the taller side, but the wide base makes them easier to walk in. They come in five different colors. The reviews show that they are comfy which is Aerosoles specialty.

Aerosoles Women’s Teleport Ankle Boot

With these shoes, you just might be the best dressed teacher in your hallway. I love the scalloped edges around the ankle. The metallic detail around the heel is darling. The fashion forward colors can act like an extra shot of espresso on the days you just don’t want to get out of bed. They’ll help you fake it til you make it.

Spring Step Women’s Joella Pumps

I’m a renaissance festival fanatic, and these shoes remind me of the steampunk style I see at the faire sometimes. The two tone black and brown make this shoe more versatile. The buttons on the side ad some flair. They would be fantastic for an English teacher when doing a unit on Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights or even Frankenstein. They give me all the English literature vibes.

Ankle Boots

Born Women’s Trinculo

These boots come in a variety of colors. I love the straps across the front and the buckle. While they aren’t exactly cowboy boots, they would totally fit in for Western Day or if you live in Houston like I do, they would work for Go Texan day. The low heel will help you stay comfortable all day long.

Born Womens Adia

This boot is similar to the one above, but has less embellishment across the top of your foot. If you like a simplier design, this would be the ankle boot for you.

TOMs Women’s Ella Suede Bootie

These boots offer an elastic side that will help you feet have the give and take they need to make it through a long school day keeping up with your students. They come in many colors and have both suede and velvet exteriors.

Rocket Dog Women’s Soundoff Boot

These boots are the most classically western style boots on the list. They’d pair wonderfully with jeans, but would also work well with neutral colored pencil trousers so you can show these off. Even a cute flowing skirt could be fantastic for a bohemian flair.

Soda Women’s Perforated Cut Out Stacked Block Heel Ankle Booties

The cut outs on these low bootie heels are adorable. These would work with tights or barefoot. At the time of writing these boots have over 75% 5 star reviews and less than 5% are one or two stars, so you know you’re going to love them. Reviewers note they get lots of compliments and that these shoes are fun to wear. Give yourself a boost with these fun shoes.

DailyShoes Women’s Military Lace Up Buckle Combat Boots Ankle High Exclusive Quilted Credit Card Pocket Bootie

These shoes have a long name, but they are super useful. These boots have a secret compartment in them. How cool is that? These would work great in the classroom on a chilly day, but you could also wear them out and about when you don’t want to carry a full purse around by sticking your drivers licence, debit card, and some cash in the concealed pocket. Then you’re good to go.They come in a wide variety of colors so if you’ve ever needed pink or leopard print combat style boots in your life, now you can have them.

Clarks Women’s Whistle Bea Ankle Boot

These boots make me want to curl up at a bed and breakfast in Maine while sipping hot cocoa and watching Hallmark Christmas Movies. But since that can’t happen for a least a few years while I save up the cash, these boots are the next best thing. I’d pair them with a long plaid skirt and a black fuzzy sweater to soften the look a bit.

TOMS Women’s Deia Fashion Boot

These simple boots are nearly completely flast. The pattern on the heel gives them some extra pizzazz. These boots are professional enough for the school day, but they still will look great with more casual looks on the weekend.

Boots

One of my favorite memories from my first year of teaching was bonding with my wonderful para Mrs. Carson over a pair of boots. I got a knee high pair of silver boots for Christmas. They were so comfortable. I showed them to her after we got back from break, and she loved them so much she got a pair of them too. It was so much fun to show up and match with her.

Uggs Women’s Classic Short II Boot

Over the years, I’ve wound up with two pairs of these. When I’m not teaching, I love to go camping. Sometimes, when we are camping in November, even Texas nights get downright cold. I pull the puppies on over my socks and hang out by the campfire. Nothing could be toastier. I’ve also worn them to work. I’m not crazy about showing off that they are Uggs at work, so I wear them with boot cut trousers that are long enough to conceal that they are Uggs. If you’re classroom gets chilly in the winter, I don’t know of anything that will help keep your toes warmer.

Clark’s Women’s Cheyn Wide Calf Knee High Boot

I’ve always found that boots make me feel more empowered. I stand up straighter and feel more in charge. I’m a plus sized gal myself, so sometimes finding boots that fit my calves can be a challenge. I get really excited when I come across wide leg boots like these. Clarks always has awesome quality. While I haven’t tried these particular boots myself, I trust Clarks.

Born BOC Barbana Multi Strap Riding Boots

These low heeled boots have three buckles for visual interest. These would look so cute with tucked in pants and a tunic shirt.

Dream Pairs Women’s Knee High Low Hidden Wedge Boots (Wide Calf Available)

These boots have hundreds and hundreds of happy reviews online. They are almost flat, but they have a little lift that is concealed inside the boot. Reviewers even mention that these boots have a built in card holder. They come in some slouchy varieties as well.

Scholl’s Shoes Women’s Poe Wide Calf Slouch Boot

If you are brave enough to try a taller heel, then these Scholl’s boots just might be the perfect fit for school. They come in a nude and a black color. These are specifically wide calf boots so if you need some space, these will fit the bill. Dr. Scholl’s is known for comfort so even though I wouldn’t ordinarily go with a taller heel, these are the perfect ones to try if you are looking for some extra height.

ECCO Footware Women’s Elaine Buckle Boot

ECCO is my fiance’s favorite brand of shoes to wear to his work. I’ve noticed his ECCOs last and last. These Ecco boots have a fur lining, so they will be warm. These are definitely on the more expensive side of the boots on this list, but at the time of writing every single one of the reviews is 4 and 5 stars. If you’ve got the budget, and you like them, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

TEVA Women’s Foxy Mid-Calf Boot

Teva makes more than beach sandals? What? My favorite pair of flip flops are Tevas, but I had no idea they made boots too. Some report that the boots run a little on the small size, so you might want to order a size up. They come in tan, olive green, and black. The triangle buckle on the side is an unexpected detail and would fit nicely with an “eye spy” lesson on triangles in the lower grades.

Dream Pairs Women’s Strappy Faux Fur Mid Calf Riding Combat Boots

These boots come in five color choices. They are affordable, but they are also well reviewed. The low heel is sensible, but still fashionable and the buckles manage to be cute and tough at the same time. What’s not to love?

Tell Me About Your Favorite Teacher Shoes

I want to hear about your favorite pair of teacher shoes. The ones that never hurt and make you feel like a rock star in the classroom. What kind are they? Where did you get them? How long have they lasted you?

The post 57 Pairs of Comfortable Shoes for Teachers Just in Time for Back to School appeared first on Owl Quest.