It’s early May.
Teacher Appreciation Week is here, and while your inbox might be filled with kind notes and donuts in the staff lounge, something else is pulsing beneath the surface: The train is pulling out of the station—and you’re sprinting to catch up.
That’s how this season can feel, right?
You’re racing the clock, trying to fit in one more lesson, one more project, one more piece of knowledge your students just have to know before they walk out your door.
But what if we flipped the script this year?
What if, instead of cramming more in… you gave yourself permission to bring more ease?
Here’s a simple two-part practice for these final weeks—one that can shift the entire tone of your day and leave a lasting impact on your students and yourself:
- Add a little fun—every single day.
It doesn’t need to be elaborate. A silly joke, a surprise dance break, a “guess the teacher’s favorite snack” poll.
Let your classroom breathe joy. Help students leave each day remembering that learning with you was fun, not just productive. - Name one good thing before you leave.
Right before you walk out of your room—pause.
What went well today?
Maybe it was the student who finally raised their hand. Or a moment of laughter during partner work. Or simply that you made it through.
Leave with that moment in your heart.
It might just change the way you walk in tomorrow.
You became a teacher to ignite a love of learning.
Not to power through standards or finish a pacing guide at the cost of your well-being.
And yes—those things matter. But so do you.
And your energy, your joy, your peace… those matter more than ever in this final stretch.
If you want to start summer with peace in your mind and pride in your heart, we’d love to welcome you into the Lesson Plan for Life. It’s a gentle reset designed for teachers like you—those who give so much and are finally ready to give back to themselves.
Because you don’t have to end the year exhausted.
You can end it feeling whole.
Written by Sarah Fillion 2025
