One Teacher's Adventures

I've just started my 16th year of teaching, which doesn't really seem possible. There are plenty of things I do now that I didn't do when I first started teaching, but there are also quite a few things I used to do that I've stopped doing along the way. Some of them took too much time. Some didn't work the way I thought they would. Others I stopped doing because, somewhere along the way, I realized I didn't actually agree with the reason I was doing them in the first place. Here are a few things that have disappeared from my classroom over the years. 1. Rewarding Students for Meeting Basic Expectations Early in my teaching career, I had a ticket system. Students could earn tickets for doing things like coming to class with all of their materials or having a book ready for silent reading without needing to be reminded. They would write their name on the ticket and put it into a jar. At the end of the week, I would draw a few tickets and those students would get a...

Feeling Burned Out as a Teacher? You’re Not Alone Teacher burnout is real, and right now it’s affecting more educators than ever. Between increasing demands, student needs, and the emotional weight of the job, many teachers are asking: “Is this sustainable?” This post isn’t about convincing you to stay in teaching if it no longer works for you. But if you’re still in the classroom and looking for ways to make the day-to-day feel more manageable, and even enjoyable again, these small, practical shifts can help reduce teacher burnout and bring back a sense of positivity. 1. Find Your People (and Choose Them Carefully) Having even one or two trusted colleagues can make a huge difference. But here’s the key: not all venting spaces are helpful. There’s a difference between: “That was a rough day. Let’s figure out what might help.” and “Everything is terrible and nothing will ever change.” Try to find colleagues who: Listen without judgment Are ...

  Knowing Your Learning Targets (Even If You Don’t Post Them Everywhere) If you’ve spent any time on teacher Instagram or TikTok, you’ve probably seen the jokes: “Have you tried posting your learning targets?” “Just write the objective on the board—problem solved!” And honestly, I laugh at those posts too. Because no, writing “I can add fractions” on the board is not some magic fix for engagement, behaviour, or learning. But here’s the thing I’ve come to realize over time: Even if students don’t always read them, it still matters that I know them. The Shift That Made a Difference Earlier in my teaching career, I would plan lessons and assessments more holistically: “This is a fractions test” “This is a project on identity” “This is a unit on early civilizations” But over time, and especially through working with student teachers and refining my assessment practices, I started asking myself a different question: What specific skills am I actually assessing here? That ...

One of my favorite things about teaching middle school math is when students’ curiosity drives the lesson. It doesn’t always happen on its own; sometimes I need to create the conditions for wonder to bubble up. Over the years, I’ve leaned on two approaches that consistently spark inquiry: Which One Doesn’t Belong? and Show Me Your Math . Which One Doesn’t Belong? Inspired by Christopher Danielson’s books, this routine invites students to look at four numbers, shapes, or images and decide which one doesn’t belong. The beauty of this activity is that there isn’t just one right answer.  In the image below, students might say that D doesn't belong because it's the only circle, while C doesn't belong because it's the only blue shape, and A doesn't belong because it's the only shape broken into thirds. Once students can find reasons why one item doesn't belong, you can challenge them to find a reason why each of the items doesn't belong. What I love about ...

  The start of the school year always feels like a fresh notebook, crisp, full of possibilities, and maybe just a little overwhelming. Over the years, I’ve learned that the routines I set up in those first few weeks shape the tone of the entire year. Middle school students thrive on structure, but they also need room for independence. The trick is finding that balance. Here are a few back-to-school routines I’ve found make the biggest difference: 1. Entry and Exit Routines How students enter and leave the classroom sets the tone. I always establish: Where to put backpacks and devices so walkways stay clear. In my school, students have lockers outside the room, so their backpacks stay out of the classroom altogether. A starter activity (a question on the board, a quick reflection, or even a riddle) to get them engaged right away. Consider Rebus Puzzles as a great thinking activity! A clear exit process so students aren’t rushing or leaving behind chaos, this could be ...

I don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed that my students live in a world where news doesn’t just come from the evening broadcast or the front page of a newspaper. Instead, it comes through TikTok videos, Instagram posts, YouTube clips, and memes shared at lightning speed. And while our students are more connected than ever, that doesn’t mean they’re better at figuring out what’s real, what’s biased, and what’s flat-out fake. That’s why I make a point of teaching media literacy in my classroom. Why Media Literacy Matters We’ve all seen how quickly misinformation can spread, whether it’s a miscaptioned photo, a sensationalized headline, or a “news” story that turns out to be satire. For students, who may not yet have the critical thinking tools to question their sources, this can be overwhelming. When I introduce media literacy, I don’t frame it as “don’t believe anything you see online.” Instead, I teach students how to ask better questions : Where is this information coming fr...

Every September, I look forward to rolling out hands-on science experiments with my students. But before the goggles go on and the Bunsen burners come out, I know we need to build a strong foundation: lab safety . Let’s be honest, middle schoolers can be equal parts curious and impulsive. They love the idea of “real science,” but sometimes forget that science involves risks if we’re not careful. Over the years, I’ve realized that the way I teach safety at the start of the year makes all the difference in how seriously students take it later on. Why Lab Safety Matters in Middle School I’ve had students ask, “Do we really need to go over this? I already know not to drink the chemicals.” And sure, most of them understand the obvious rules. But what they don’t always think about are the smaller details, like leaving a backpack in the aisle (hello, tripping hazard!), or wearing long sleeves near an open flame. Those little things can lead to big problems if we don’t practice safety consi...