The Secondary Teacher | Classroom Routines, Secondary Teacher Strategies, Workload Management

Feeling buried under grading, lesson planning, and endless to-dos as a secondary teacher with multiple preps this October? You’re definitely not alone—I’ve been there too, and research backs up just how overwhelming this time of year can be. In this episode of The Secondary Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing the top three strategies that helped me survive the chaos: learning to prioritize what matters m...

Are you overwhelmed juggling multiple preps, endless differentiation, and the needs of every student in your secondary classroom? In this episode of The Secondary Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing my go-to strategy for planning smarter, not harder—by designing lessons for your top students and supporting everyone else with simple, effective systems. If you’re searching for ways to differentiate without...

Ever feel like juggling multiple preps in secondary teaching just means more chaos and less control? Trust me, I’ve been there! In this episode, I’m sharing the exact routines that have saved my sanity (and helped dozens of teachers I’ve coached) when everything goes sideways—no Pinterest-perfect solutions, just real strategies like sustainable planning period rituals, bell ringers YOUR brain actu...

If you’re juggling multiple preps and wondering how to handle your school’s new cell phone ban (especially now that it’s actually becoming law in some states), this episode is for you. I’m sharing real talk about what this shift actually means for your daily routines, classroom management, and that already-overflowing to-do list. As someone who’s been a teacher, assistant principal, and now a pare...

Hey there, fellow secondary teacher juggling three (or more!) preps with barely enough time to catch your breath—this episode is for you. I know what it’s like to stare down one planning period and wonder how to create warmups, handle those “dead” minutes, and keep every class on track without losing your mind. In this episode, I’m sharing my go-to “Would You Rather” strategy—not just as a fun ice...

Ever feel overwhelmed juggling multiple preps and wishing you didn’t have to start lesson planning from scratch for every single subject? In this episode, I’m sharing my secret sanity-saver as a multi-prep secondary teacher: how one simple classroom routine—the gallery walk—became my go-to strategy to save time and cut down on decision fatigue across very different classes. Whether you teach engin...

Ever sit down during your planning period—maybe with three or more different classes to prep for—and end up stuck, overwhelmed, or just tidying your always-cluttered desk? I’ve been there! In this episode, I get real about what it’s like trying to survive as a secondary teacher juggling multiple preps, surrounded by decision fatigue, constant interruptions, and that never-ending grading pile. But...

Feeling like your planning periods are slipping through your fingers already? In this episode, I’m sharing my tried-and-true system for structuring your first 10 planning periods so you can actually get ahead—not just scramble from one class to the next. If you’re a secondary teacher juggling multiple preps and trying to avoid those email rabbit holes, hallway wanderings, or last-minute lesson pla...

Ever feel like the first 10 days of school are a wild juggling act—especially when you’re teaching multiple preps? Trust me, I’ve been there! In this episode of The Secondary Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing my top strategies for creating smoother starts and lowering overwhelm, from using “accordion activities” you can flex across any subject, to teaching routines just in time instead of all at once....

Feeling overwhelmed by planning periods and juggling multiple preps? I’ve been there! In this episode of The Secondary Teacher Podcast, I share the simple “Introduce, Practice, Produce” framework that pulled me out of survival mode—even when teaching five different classes at once. If you’re a middle or high school teacher constantly searching for time-saving tips, lesson planning strategies, or w...

Kick off your school year with confidence! In this throwback episode, I’m sharing my tried-and-true strategies for secondary teachers juggling multiple preps on how to build a strong classroom culture from day one—without feeling like you have to be a performer. Whether you’re a high school or middle school teacher, you’ll get practical tips on setting up your classroom space, greeting students, t...

Ever feel like you're planning a subject you’ve never taught before and wondering if you’ll survive juggling all those preps as a secondary teacher? You’re not alone! In this episode of The Secondary Teacher Podcast, I share real talk and practical strategies for mastering new curriculum, reusing lesson structures, and letting go of perfection when teaching multiple subjects—even if you didn’t maj...

Ever feel like juggling multiple preps as a secondary teacher means endless nights and weekends lost to grading and planning? I’ve been there—teaching at two campuses, building a new program from scratch, and trying not to drown under all the expectations. In this episode, I’m getting real about the tiny shifts that finally helped me plan for five preps without burning out. I’ll share how I stoppe...

If you’re a secondary teacher juggling multiple preps and you’re already thinking about how to make your classroom run smoother next year, this episode is for you. I’m sharing super practical strategies for classroom management, lesson structure, and maximizing student engagement—especially in those challenging 90-minute blocks. Whether you're looking to revamp your routines or just tweak your cur...

Ever feel like your classroom setup changes more than your lesson plans? Trust me, you’re not alone! As a fellow secondary teacher with multiple preps, I know the struggle of moving between classrooms (or even schools!) and trying to keep everything organized—without losing your sanity. In this episode, I’m sharing my go-to strategies for staying organized, building reliable routines, and creating...

Feeling buried under piles of ungraded papers and juggling too many lesson plans? I’ve been there! In this episode of The Secondary Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing the real turning point that helped me escape multi-prep burnout for good. If you’re a secondary teacher managing multiple preps and desperate for strategies to organize your lesson planning, streamline classroom routines, and actually redu...

Ever feel like your to-do list never ends, no matter how hard you work? In this episode, I’m diving into the three biggest productivity mistakes I see secondary teachers—especially those juggling multiple preps—make all the time. I’ll share honest stories from my own classroom, break down how to finally get ahead with your curriculum planning, make your planning period actually work for you, and d...

Ever wondered how to set up your classroom when you’re teaching multiple subjects and feeling totally overwhelmed by all the moving parts? In this episode, I share real-life strategies for secondary teachers with multiple preps on how to organize your space, streamline student supply zones, set up effective routines, and ditch the Pinterest-perfect pressure for something that actually works. I’ll...

Ever feel like your planning period just vanishes, and you’re left wondering where all your time went without anything to show for it? In this episode, I’m sharing real-life strategies to help secondary teachers with multiple preps reduce that overwhelming “where do I even start?” feeling. I’ll walk you through my practical Planning Period Reset—a five-minute system designed to ditch the distracti...

Ever feel totally overwhelmed trying to juggle multiple preps and endless to-dos? In this throwback episode, I’m sharing my favorite simple trick for reducing overwhelm—using practical strategies straight from the world of manufacturing (seriously!). I’ll walk you through how to find your class’s “minimum viable product” (MVP) so you can focus on what matters most, plus my easy-to-follow 4S organi...

Ever feel like managing multiple preps means constant chaos or nonstop discipline issues? I get it—as a former high school engineering teacher and middle school assistant principal, I’ve walked that road myself. In this episode, I’m sharing the real classroom management secret every first-time secondary teacher needs: it’s not about stricter rules, but about simple, repeatable routines that work a...

Ever had one of those years that made you totally question if you’re even cut out for teaching anymore? You’re definitely not alone, and you’re not broken. In this episode, I’m sharing real talk about how multi-prep secondary teachers like us can rebuild confidence after a chaotic, exhausting year. We’ll zoom out to see if it was really everything—or just one class that tanked your mood, search fo...

If you’re a secondary teacher juggling multiple preps and already feeling anxious about next year—even before this one wraps up—you’re not alone! In this episode of The Secondary Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing my own story of summer burnout, why planning everything now isn’t the answer, and the three practical strategies I use to get ahead without overwhelming myself. We’ll talk about how to set a c...

Hey secondary teachers juggling multiple preps—feeling like your classroom (and your brain!) is an exploded supply closet as the year ends? In this episode, I share my simple, sanity-saving system for reflecting on what to keep, tweak, or toss from your last term before summer hits. I walk you through my favorite strategies for sifting through routines, curriculum, and classroom systems, plus how...

Ever finally sit down with free time after a wild school year—multiple preps, endless planning, and that constant survival mode—only to find your mind totally blank? In this episode, I share practical, bite-sized strategies for secondary teachers with multiple preps who want to use downtime to actually get ahead (without getting overwhelmed). If you’re searching for help with curriculum planning,...