The first day of school is your chance to set the tone. Here are some strategies to make students feel welcome while keeping the room organized.

👋 Greet and Direct

• Meet students at the door.

• Give clear instructions for where to put backpacks and where to sit.

🪑 Learn Names Quickly

The first days back can be overwhelming—but with a little planning, you can set your classroom up for a smooth year. Here’s what I’ve learned after years of trial and error.

🪑 1. Start With Desk Arrangement

Think about how you want students to learn before you place a single desk. Rows? Pairs? G...

This year, I tried something new in my classroom…
I used AI (Artificial Intelligence) to help me plan a history lesson! 🎉

More specifically, I used ChatGPT to teach my students about the Erie Canal — and it worked better than I expected.

📝 Step 1: Create the Article

I asked ChatGPT to write a s...

As a middle school teacher, I know how hard it can be to keep students focused. That’s why I use my Plug-and-Play System to make lesson planning easier and more fun—for me and for them!

Here are 3 fun things I include that my students really enjoy:

🗺️ 1. Map Skills

At the start of the year, we ...

Feeling like your class is out of control?
Try these 3 simple tips — they really work!

🪑 1. Use a Seating Chart

Don’t just let students pick seats.
A smart seating chart helps stop problems before they start!
👀 Know who distracts who?
📝 Put chatty kids apart.
🛠️ Put frequent movers near supplie...

👋 Teaching is full of students — but sometimes, it still feels lonely.
You’re with kids all day, but how often do you talk to another adult?
Sometimes just a quick chat at lunch or a staff meeting on Friday.

😔 It can also feel frustrating. You pour your heart into your classroom —
but students do...

👴 When I first started teaching, I used to roll my eyes at veteran teachers who said,

“This training? Same thing we heard 10 years ago.”
Now I am that veteran teacher… and guess what?
They were right. A lot of things just come back repackaged.

But here’s what doesn’t change:
Some classroom s...

How Teachers Can Regain Control Without Losing Hope

👀 Would you believe me if I said students can curse at teachers or bring BB guns to school — and sometimes only get a short suspension? That’s the reality many of us face.

But here’s the question I keep asking myself:
“What can I do about it?”

Have you ever seen a teacher deliver a perfect lesson and thought, “Why can’t I do that?” Good news—you can! Let’s break down how.

🧠 1. Chunk Your Lessons
Instead of teaching everything at once, break your lesson into smaller parts.
Here’s how I do it:

• 📌 Start with a warm-up (8 min)

• 💬 S

  ...

Being a teacher today isn’t what most people think. If you’ve ever seen a movie where kids sit quietly in rows doing worksheets… that’s not reality.

As an 8th-grade teacher in California, I teach classrooms full of very different students, and each one brings their own needs. Here's what that rea...

This school year taught me so much—not just about teaching, but about why I teach. After more than 20 years in the classroom, I’m still growing. And this year reminded me of three big lessons that every teacher—new or experienced—should remember.

👥 1. Relationships Matter Most
The best part of te...

As teachers, we don’t always get to see what happens to our students after they leave our classrooms. But every now and then, we get a reminder that what we do truly matters.

This year, I had one of those unforgettable moments.

15 years ago, I had a student named William Sweezy.

• He was big,

  ...