Qkids Blog

Hi, I’m Bonnie! I live in NJ with my husband Barry, my son Ben and a cute little betta fish named Vanilla. I’ve been teaching online for 2 years and along the way have had some touching, some cute and some hilarious experiences. But enough about me, let’s talk about tween/teenage kids and some of the unique challenges that come with this group. Kids Who Are “Too Cool” to Participate and Other ShenanigansWe’ve all been there. We just got through a class of excited little guys where they are hanging on your every word, every gesture and you know you are the master teacher. Your confidence is soaring, you are smug and thinking I was made for this and then it happens… you get a class with T.W.A. (teens with attitudes). You are encountering “tudes” and undesirable behaviors. You start to panic and are not sure what to do. Here are some things that can help.
First, relax. Listen, as a mother of a T.W.A at home, I know that they can sense fear. Take a deep breath. You can do this. ConnectionTry…

Kelly is a Qkids teacher from the United States. She has worked with children for over six years in a daycare facility and she has been teaching online for six months! Kelly has worked with children between the age of six weeks and six years old. She helped build an educational curriculum for children between the ages of three and six. When she is not teaching, Kelly is an actress on stage and film. 
How TPR Made Me the Funniest and Weirdest TeacherIf you are a veteran teacher, you're aware of this phenomenon. Being an English teacher online means you have to invest much of your time developing the right TPR (Total Physical Response) technique - a gesture to ensure comprehension. We are all very familiar with the finger to mouth to emphasize speech and hand to ear for listening. When you teach with Qkids, you're typically teaching children between the ages of four to twelve.
TPR is important to visually and physically tie a word to an action that can help the students further …

Jillian has her degree in Early Childhood Education and years of experience working with children. She is coming up on her one-year anniversary with Qkids and lives on the south shore of Boston, MA. When she is not teaching English online she works at Floating Hosptial for Children as a pediatric oncology massage therapist. Her love of cats has led her to foster far too many kittens to count and sent her on countless adventures to save and rescue them. Yet, her greatest accomplishment to date is raising her three children.The children you teach may not remember you when they get older, but they will always have a part of you inside of them….the part that gave them hope and love and taught them to believe in themselves  - Marylin Appelbaum Lasting ImpactsOne of the greatest gifts that we can give the students we teach is the ability to believe in themselves. It is from this confident and fertile place that all ESL learning grows. ESL learners are small acorns, containing a large oak tre…

Hello! My name is Tina Croft and I have been teaching with Qkids for almost 2 years. During that time frame, I have taught over 2100 classes and am still loving every minute.  I live outside our nation’s capital with my husband. We have 2 daughters in college and a cocker spaniel named Vashti. I am so glad you have taken the time to read this small little blog about how to take care of yourself while teaching and doing life. Happy New Year!
Self-CareWe often hear this term; self-care…. but exactly what does that look like in terms of teaching? Whether it is your normal schedule or peak season, caring for your body and soul are important to keep you healthy and ready to give your best.  Here are a few tips and tricks for you to think about: Body Drink a glass of water upon waking up – Warm lemon water is fantastic!Keep a glass of water at your teaching stationDrink herbal tea or Bulletproof coffee to give your brain a boost (may add honey and/or lemon for a sore throat to tea) Take a wal…

Hello, my name is Sandra Morales, but my students call refer to me as Teacher Sandy. I have been working for Qkids for a little over a year. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and have worked with students of all ages since my graduation. My favorite student will forever be my son, whom I homeschooled for two years. Education has always been important to my family. In terms of short-term goals, I obtained my 120 TESOL certificate in order to be better prepared to teach my Qkids students. When it comes to my long-term goals, I plan to be an excellent blog writer for Qkids along with teaching a full schedule. Within the next two years, I plan on working towards my Master's in English.
Today marks the third day in a row that I will be teaching 17 consecutive classes. I know that I am not the only Qkids teacher that is burning the midnight oil and making personal sacrifices to assist Qkids during this very difficult time. The beautiful bond that Qkids teachers share is one that is…

My name is Chayla Soden. I am a Qkids teacher from the United States, a mom of one, a writer, and a dog trainer/breeder. I always enjoy great English literature and philosophy, plus German Shepherds!
There are plenty of different suggestions all of us online teachers can give to get your student's attention (and keep it)! In this post, we'll explore a few of the most successful options out there. Spotlight/Markers/Textboard Qkids is a fantastic company to be a part of not only for their amazing staff and attention to detail in each lesson but also for their platform! The Qkids platform comes loaded with amazing tools that, if used frequently, will capture your student's attention throughout each lesson. One of these amazing tools is the spotlight tool. I absolutely love using the spotlight tool! You can drag it over a.n.y.t.h.i.n.g. that you want your students to pay attention too. Next up is the marker tool! The marker is great for underlining phrases, writing out letters a…

Hello, Y’All, Mr. Shine is my Qkids teacher name. When I am not teaching, I love to spend time with my family and especially my two dogs who never leave my side. Even on a cloudy day I always have my two shadows, Poppy and Jack! I love teaching and I absolutely love beginning my day with our wonderful Qkids students.   How’s This Even Possible? Yesterday, my new book arrived, “Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See?” by Martin & Carle (1996). My very first class this morning was a level 5 1v1 with a five-year-old prodigy. After introductions, I held up my new book and asked if she knew this book. Her expression was priceless as she reached down and lifted up her copy! We read each page, taking turns without missing a beat! Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see? I see a Teacher looking at me...Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see? I see Children looking at me...Today was the first time to read this book and I did so with a five-year-old halfway around the world. How is this even …