International Teachers Supporting Each Other

International Teachers Supporting Each Other Supporter of international teachers adjusting to life in the U.S.; Free Zoom tips, school insights, cultural guidance, gardening, recipes, & more.
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Created by Dr. Merlina McCullough to inform, connect, and inspire. Join our ITSA community. �� Dr. Merlina McCullough, a native of the Philippines came to the U.S. in 1987 abd received her doctorate degree from Arkansas State University. She has since retired but continues to be passionate about supporting teachers and education as a whole.She has more than 30 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in the US.

08/23/2026

🎉 BINGO Night at the VFW was a full house of fun! 🎉

We had about 55 folks join us for Bingo on August 21 at the VFW! It was a wonderful evening of games, laughter, good food, and spending time with friends and neighbors. ❤️

🍽️ Dinner was a delicious homemade chicken sandwich with fresh fruit—the perfect meal before settling in for some Bingo!

There’s something special about community Bingo nights. Besides the excitement of possibly calling out “BINGO!”, they give folks a chance to socialize, stay mentally active, make new friends, and simply enjoy an evening together.

📍 VFW – Salem, Arkansas
🎱 Bingo: Thursday evenings
🍽️ Come hungry, bring your lucky Bingo spirit, and join the fun!

Who will be the next one to shout BINGO? 😄

🍎 Great teaching starts BEFORE the students walk through the door!The beginning of a new school year can feel overwhelmi...
08/23/2026

🍎 Great teaching starts BEFORE the students walk through the door!

The beginning of a new school year can feel overwhelming, but a little intentional preparation can make a BIG difference. Highly effective teachers don’t try to predict or control everything—they focus on building the foundation for a successful year.

⭐ Plan ahead—but stay flexible.
🎯 Set goals and intentions for yourself and your students.
📚 Create an organized, welcoming classroom.
❤️ Start building relationships early.
💡 Prepare lessons that make students WANT to participate.
📋 Establish clear routines and expectations.
💙 Take care of YOU, too.
🌱 Keep learning and growing.
💌 Communicate with families early.
😊 Choose positivity—even when the days get challenging.

The work you do before students arrive sets the tone for the year ahead.

And remember, preparation isn't about having a perfect classroom. It's about creating a place where students know:

❤️ I belong here.
💙 My teacher cares about me.
⭐ I can learn and succeed here.

Teachers, which of these habits makes the BIGGEST difference at the beginning of your school year? What would you add to the list?

Prepare with purpose. Teach with passion. Inspire for life. ❤️

🍎 If you could go back and talk to yourself during your FIRST year of teaching, what would you say?Most veteran teachers...
08/23/2026

🍎 If you could go back and talk to yourself during your FIRST year of teaching, what would you say?

Most veteran teachers will tell you that some of the most important lessons about teaching weren’t learned in a textbook—they were learned one student, one challenge, and one school year at a time.

❤️ You don’t have to be perfect.
💙 Relationships come first.
❤️ Ask for help.
💙 Give yourself—and your students—grace.
❤️ Celebrate the small wins.
💙 Take care of yourself.
❤️ Focus on what you CAN control.
💙 Keep learning, reflecting, and growing.

And perhaps most importantly: Students may forget a lesson, but they will remember how you made them feel.

To our beginning teachers: Be patient with yourself. You’re exactly where you need to be. Your first year isn't about having everything figured out. It's about learning, growing, and becoming.

To our veteran teachers: What is ONE thing you wish you had known during your first year? Share it in the comments. Your advice might be exactly what a new teacher needs to hear today. ❤️

Growth takes time. Impact lasts a lifetime.

Teachers, you can’t pour from an empty cup!Teaching asks so much of us—our energy, patience, attention, and heart. But t...
08/23/2026

Teachers, you can’t pour from an empty cup!

Teaching asks so much of us—our energy, patience, attention, and heart. But taking care of yourself doesn’t always require an hour at the gym, a spa day, or a long break. Sometimes, just 1–5 intentional minutes can make a difference.

Try one of these simple Mindfulness Practices for Busy Teachers during your school day:

❤️ Take a 3-3-3 breathing reset.
👀 Pause for a 5-senses check-in.
💙 Write down something you’re grateful for.
☕ Take a mindful sip of your favorite drink.
🚶 Move, stretch, and breathe.
📝 Do a quick brain dump.
🌙 End the day with a few slow breaths and let the day go.

Small moments can make a BIG difference.

As educators, we spend so much time taking care of everyone else. Remember:

✨ I choose peace.
✨ I choose purpose.
✨ I choose me.

A mindful teacher. A stronger classroom.
Take care of you, so you can take care of them. ❤️

Which of these seven practices could YOU use this week?

🍎 Teachers, what if AI could give you back some of your planning time?Lesson planning takes creativity, thoughtful decis...
08/23/2026

🍎 Teachers, what if AI could give you back some of your planning time?

Lesson planning takes creativity, thoughtful decision-making, and TIME. These 10 AI Prompts for Lesson Planning can help you work more efficiently while keeping you—the teacher—in charge of the learning.

Use these prompts to help you:
⭐ Write clear lesson objectives
⭐ Create engaging hooks and activities
⭐ Build a daily agenda
⭐ Differentiate for diverse learners
⭐ Develop formative and summative assessments
⭐ Create exit tickets
⭐ Make real-world connections
⭐ Design meaningful practice
⭐ Encourage student reflection
⭐ Build a complete lesson plan

💡 The key is to copy, paste, and CUSTOMIZE. Add your grade level, subject, topic, standards, learning goals, and student needs. Then review and refine what AI gives you.

AI shouldn't replace the teacher's expertise—it should help reduce the heavy lifting so teachers have more time for what matters most: their students. ❤️

📌 SAVE this graphic for your next planning session and SHARE it with a teacher who could use a little extra time!

Great prompts = Great lessons = Great impact!

08/21/2026

🐦🐝 A sweet lesson from nature: there is room at the table for everyone! I enjoyed watching this little hummingbird peacefully share the sugar water with the bees. Sometimes even the tiniest creatures can show us how to live together and share our blessings. ❤️

Have you ever had a head spa? It is one of the most relaxing experiences! 💆🏻‍♀️✨A head spa combines a deep scalp cleansi...
08/21/2026

Have you ever had a head spa? It is one of the most relaxing experiences! 💆🏻‍♀️✨

A head spa combines a deep scalp cleansing treatment with gentle massage, soothing water therapy, and nourishing hair care. It helps remove product buildup, refresh the scalp, stimulate circulation, condition the hair, and melt away stress. I felt completely pampered—and you can tell by my smile how much I enjoyed it!

Amanda offers this wonderful service at Shear Passion Salon & Spa on the Salem Square. Treat yourself and try it today—you deserve it! ❤️

Mom and I enjoyed a relaxing spa day—first with Amanda at Shear Passion Salon & Spa, then at Healthy Nails in Ash Flat. ...
08/21/2026

Mom and I enjoyed a relaxing spa day—first with Amanda at Shear Passion Salon & Spa, then at Healthy Nails in Ash Flat. 💆‍♀️💅

I love spending time with Mom, especially when we can relax and get pampered together. These sweet moments are truly priceless! ❤️

🎉 ITSA members (educators), you are invited to two wonderful parties—one in Batesville (this Saturday, 8/22 at 11:30 a.m...
08/21/2026

🎉 ITSA members (educators), you are invited to two wonderful parties—one in Batesville (this Saturday, 8/22 at 11:30 a.m. ) and another in Northwest Arkansas (Aug. 29th at 3-7 pm)!

Both celebrations will be potlucks, so please bring a favorite dish to share. Come enjoy delicious food, fellowship, laughter, and time with our ITSA family. We hope to see you there! ❤️🇵🇭🇺🇸

🌿 I thought I was just heading out to pick a few tomatoes… until I pushed back the vines and found a giant surprise wait...
08/19/2026

🌿 I thought I was just heading out to pick a few tomatoes… until I pushed back the vines and found a giant surprise waiting underneath!

Hidden in the garden jungle was an enormous bottle gourd (calabash) that I had no idea was growing there—or that it could get this big!

What’s even more surprising is that our garden usually gives up by this time of year because of the heat, but this season it just keeps going strong and surprising us with more than we expected.

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Salem, AR
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