One Teacher's Adventures

Spring is finally here! The days are getting longer, and we’re in the home stretch of the school year. I'm back to school tomorrow after a 2-week Spring Break. This is the perfect time to refresh your classroom and shake up your teaching routine to keep things feeling fresh for both you and your students. A little bit of spring cleaning can go a long way in making the last few months of the year smoother, more organized, and more enjoyable. Here’s how you can declutter, refresh, and reset to finish strong. 1. Declutter and Organize Your Classroom A clean, organized space makes a big difference—for you and your students! Here’s where to start: Clear out the clutter. Go through those piles of papers, broken supplies, and unused materials. If you haven’t used something all year, chances are you won’t need it next year either—toss it, recycle it, or donate it. Reorganize your materials. Group things together in a way that makes sense for how you use them. Label bins and drawers so yo...

Let’s be honest—parent-teacher conferences can be stressful. As middle school teachers, we often have marathon evenings of back-to-back meetings, sometimes with difficult conversations in the mix. But with a little preparation and the right mindset, they don’t have to be something we dread. In fact, they can actually be rewarding! Here are some practical tips to help make parent-teacher conferences smoother, more productive, and maybe even enjoyable. 1. Be Prepared (But Don’t Overthink It) Preparation makes everything easier. Before conferences, take a little time to: Review student work – Have recent assignments, tests, and progress reports handy. This could be done in class with the students. Ask students to select assignments that reflect their current ability and create a portfolio to share with their families. Make notes – Jot down key strengths and areas where the student might need support. Anticipate parent concerns – Think about what questions might come up and be ready wit...

March Madness isn’t just for basketball—it’s also a super fun way to bring energy and engagement into your classroom! Bracket-style competitions can turn review sessions into exciting challenges, making learning way more interactive and enjoyable for students. Plus, a little friendly competition never hurts, right? Here’s how you can bring the madness into your lessons! How It Works It’s simple: students compete in rounds where concepts, ideas, or their own answers face off against each other until there’s one final winner. You can go with single elimination, class debates, or voting—it’s totally up to you! How to Set Up Your Classroom Bracket Pick a Topic – Think about what fits your curriculum and gets students excited. Some ideas: Math : Greatest Mathematician Ever; Most Effective Problem Solving Strategy Science : Coolest Scientific Discovery; Most Useful Cell Organelle/Body System Language Arts : Best Book or Character History : Most Significant Historical Event Music/Art : Great...