Who’s going to learn when the teacher goes off the rails? Nobody. - BNT Team Meeting [S7 EP. 293]

Listen to the full episode below:

If the end of the school year feels like everything is speeding up while your energy is running low, you are absolutely not alone in that. I’m in that stretch right now with state testing, post–spring break exhaustion, musical rehearsals ramping up, and students who are just trying to hang on until summer. It’s a lot! And instead of pretending I can do everything at full intensity, I’m leaning into a very intentional mindset for these final eight weeks: make it through, on purpose.

For me, that doesn’t mean lowering expectations or throwing rigor out the window. It means being honest about reality. No student is going to learn at their best if I’m overwhelmed, rushed, or constantly pushing past my own limits. So I’m planning in a way that protects both my energy and theirs. I want breathing room built into the structure of my classroom so we can still do meaningful work without everyone feeling like they’re constantly behind.

In my English classes, that looks like a pretty clear sequence. We start with state testing, then move into a tutorial-style presentation project, followed by a Great Gatsby unit tied to the American Dream and supported by discussion and writing. I’ve adjusted the pacing so presentations happen earlier than I originally planned, which gives students a better chance to actually complete them well instead of rushing at the very end. 

For finals, I’m moving away from a heavy, product-based exam and instead ending the course with a long, prepared Socratic seminar. Students come in ready to talk, think, and use the skills we’ve built all year. It’s a simpler ending, but a stronger one, and it lets us close the year with conversation instead of chaos.

topics discussed:

  • The reality of end-of-year teacher exhaustion and managing a packed final stretch

  • A “make it through” mindset for finishing the school year with intention instead of overload

  • Balancing rigor with realistic expectations during high-stress school weeks

  • Structuring student presentations so they are doable and not overwhelming at the end of the quarter

  • Teaching The Great Gatsby alongside American Dream discussions and writing

  • Rethinking final exams with a Socratic seminar focused on student thinking and conversation

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More about Brave New Teaching:

Join hosts Amanda Cardenas (Mud & Ink Teaching) and Marie Morris (The Caffeinated Classroom) in discussions about being brave, trying new things, and all things teaching! As seasoned classroom teachers, Amanda and Marie bring their experience, insight, energy, and oh, so many opinions and ideas... It's time for all teachers to take their classroom and teaching practice into their own hands!

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