Sometimes having too many choices can be daunting.

Whether we’re talking about brands of cereals or classroom instructional strategies or about which educator is the latest one to follow, too many choices is not necessarily helpful.

Sometimes less is more.

Yet, social media has created a thirst for quantity and a dearth of quality.

I’ve gotten myself into several rabbit holes, as a result. I’ve subscribed to too many blogs and websites that entice teachers by offering a free product that, at a (quick) glance, looks acceptable. But most everything else is mediocre or not free. Not to mention that it takes away teachers’ sense of themselves as professional decision-makers.

It’s easy for busy, overwhelmed teachers to fall into this trap. It has happened to me and I consider myself a discriminating, critical thinker.

My inbox fills up. My mind gets cramped. My professional integrity is compromised.

It’s easy to fall prey to a pretty website with a couple of free products. Once you get them, you’re stuck getting weekly emails enticing you to buy this or that because a subscription is required to get whatever was free at the moment.

It’s more than overwhelming. It takes advantage of teacher exhaustion and it is unethical.

As a profession, teaching has become increasingly about the glitter. Everybody has something to “sell”.

As I get closer to the end of my career as a classroom teacher, I want to create quality content for teachers without a price tag attached to it. I’m aware that this is not the norm, despite the fact that a handful of educators are doing it.

I know this is a little risky. We’ve become accustomed to thinking that the things you pay for (the more expensive the better), are therefore more valuable. This isn’t always true.

So, what kinds of things would support teachers, especially beginning teachers, to improve their practice and exercise their autonomy in order to be more authentic in their classrooms?

I am thinking podcasts, videos, handouts and more that would be beneficial for teachers as they work through the challenges of teaching. What do you think?Please leave a comment below. Thank you!