Ep 278: How to Know What to Keep, Tweak, or Toss Before Summer Starts

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 organizational method to streamline your planning, grading, and routines. If you’re a secondary teacher looking for mindset shifts, time-saving tips, and ways to actually thrive (not just survive) this school year, you’re in the right place. Hit play for actionable advice to help you calm the chaos and take back your evenings!Ready to stop doing it all yourself? Grab the free Make AI Your Teaching Assistant PD and see how AI can actually help. https://khristenmassic.com/ta Take the overwhelm out of multi-prep teaching—your free support system, the Simplify Your Preps Collective, is waiting: https://khristenmassic.com/collectiveShop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-CoachConnect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khristenmassic/

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 across every prep. Whether you’re juggling electives, science credit classes, or a mixed-level group, I’ll break down practical tips for lesson flow, easy bell ringers, and how to set up systems that reduce your overwhelm and actually make teaching enjoyable. If you’re searching for secondary classroom management, multiple preps, teacher organization, or time-saving strategies, this one’s for you!Ready to stop doing it all yourself? Grab the free Make AI Your Teaching Assistant PD and see how AI can actually help. https://khristenmassic.com/ta Take the overwhelm out of multi-prep teaching—your free support system, the Simplify Your Preps Collective, is waiting: https://khristenmassic.com/collectiveShop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-CoachConnect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khristenmassic/

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 for small wins to repeat, use some AI tricks to validate your gut instincts, and talk about how true confidence isn’t about mastery, but about capacity and resilience. If you teach middle or high school with multiple preps and want practical, honest strategies for bouncing back, hit play—let’s thrive, not just survive, together!Ready to stop doing it all yourself? Grab the free Make AI Your Teaching Assistant PD and see how AI can actually help. https://khristenmassic.com/ta Take the overwhelm out of multi-prep teaching—your free support system, the Simplify Your Preps Collective, is waiting: https://khristenmassic.com/collectiveShop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-CoachConnect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khristenmassic/

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 clear direction for just one class, use AI as your curriculum assistant for fast mapping (yes, with my favorite prompts!), and finally, how to plan around real-life interruptions rather than your syllabus. Whether you teach middle or high school and want actionable tips to reduce overwhelm, streamline lesson planning, and make next year less stressful, this episode is for you!Ready to stop doing it all yourself? Grab the free Make AI Your Teaching Assistant PD and see how AI can actually help. https://khristenmassic.com/ta Take the overwhelm out of multi-prep teaching—your free support system, the Simplify Your Preps Collective, is waiting: https://khristenmassic.com/collectiveShop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-CoachConnect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khristenmassic/

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 to use AI (like ChatGPT) to cut down your planning time for next year. Whether you teach middle or high school, if you want practical tips to reduce overwhelm, build energy-saving systems, and actually make August easier on yourself, tune in for real talk, actionable steps, and plenty of encouragement.Ready to stop doing it all yourself? Grab the free Make AI Your Teaching Assistant PD and see how AI can actually help. https://khristenmassic.com/ta Take the overwhelm out of multi-prep teaching—your free support system, the Simplify Your Preps Collective, is waiting: https://khristenmassic.com/collectiveShop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-CoachConnect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khristenmassic/

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, organizing different preps, or finding ways to use AI to reduce teacher stress, I give you step-by-step tips—no big overhauls required. Tune in for real talk, free resources, and the encouragement you need to start small and make your next school year smoother!Ready to stop doing it all yourself? Grab the free Make AI Your Teaching Assistant PD and see how AI can actually help. https://khristenmassic.com/ta Take the overwhelm out of multi-prep teaching—your free support system, the Simplify Your Preps Collective, is waiting: https://khristenmassic.com/collectiveShop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-CoachConnect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khristenmassic/

If you’re a secondary teacher juggling multiple preps and feeling the June overwhelm creeping in, you’re not alone! In this episode, I’m sharing exactly what I wish I’d known as a multi-prep teacher—how to actually recharge, get organized for the fall, and avoid burning out before back-to-school season even begins. I’ll walk you through my top five strategies for navigating summer as a middle or high school teacher with several class preps on your plate, including real-life pacing tips, stress-saving digital organization, and giving yourself permission to say NO to the endless to-do list. If you’re looking for practical advice on lesson planning, curriculum mapping, setting boundaries, and using AI to make your teaching life easier, this is the episode for you! Hit play and let’s make your summer count—without working your whole break away.Ready to stop doing it all yourself? Grab the free Make AI Your Teaching Assistant PD and see how AI can actually help. https://khristenmassic.com/ta Take the overwhelm out of multi-prep teaching—your free support system, the Simplify Your Preps Collective, is waiting: https://khristenmassic.com/collectiveShop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-CoachConnect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khristenmassic/

If juggling different class routines and constantly second-guessing your plans sounds all too familiar, this episode is for you. I’m sharing my favorite time-saving strategy: simple visual planning cues that help you manage multiple preps, streamline routines, and reduce that daily overwhelm. Learn how to create easy, repeatable visual prompts (think icons for group work, warm-ups, or independent tasks) that keep both you and your students on track—no more last-minute confusion or repeating directions all period long. Tune in to discover practical tips for implementing these visual cues, so you can focus more on teaching (and less on just keeping up). Let’s make your classroom run smoother—no matter how wild your schedule gets!Ready to stop doing it all yourself? Grab the free Make AI Your Teaching Assistant PD and see how AI can actually help. https://khristenmassic.com/ta Take the overwhelm out of multi-prep teaching—your free support system, the Simplify Your Preps Collective, is waiting: https://khristenmassic.com/collectiveShop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-CoachConnect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khristenmassic/

Ever find yourself finally on summer break, but your brain just won’t let go of next year’s lesson plans or that endless to-do list? In this episode of The Secondary Teacher Podcast, I’m sharing real talk and practical strategies for secondary teachers juggling multiple preps who are struggling to truly rest this summer—without losing the momentum you’ve worked so hard to build. I’ll walk you through redefining what rest actually looks like (spoiler: it’s not just doing nothing), setting healthy boundaries with your school brain, and simple ways to capture wins for your future self. If you’re a middle or high school teacher looking for ways to bounce back from burnout, protect your planning time, and finally step off the guilt treadmill, this episode is your permission slip to reclaim your summer. Hit play and let’s make rest your secret weapon!Ready to stop doing it all yourself? Grab the free Make AI Your Teaching Assistant PD and see how AI can actually help. https://khristenmassic.com/ta Take the overwhelm out of multi-prep teaching—your free support system, the Simplify Your Preps Collective, is waiting: https://khristenmassic.com/collectiveShop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-CoachConnect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khristenmassic/

Ever looked at your crazy schedule and thought, “How am I supposed to plan when every class is a different length—and I’m teaching all of them?” You’re not alone! In this episode of The Secondary Teacher Podcast, I’m breaking down my favorite planning hacks for middle and high school teachers juggling multiple preps, rotating intervention/extension periods, and unpredictable blocks. I’ll walk you through how to anchor your lessons with core routines, choose repeatable protocols, build a plug-and-play routine bank, and totally shift how you think about lesson planning—so you can save your sanity, have more time for teaching AND connection, and never feel stuck reinventing the wheel. If you’ve got stacked preps, wacky schedules, or you’re just ready to simplify, this episode is for you!Ready to stop doing it all yourself? Grab the free Make AI Your Teaching Assistant PD and see how AI can actually help. https://khristenmassic.com/ta Take the overwhelm out of multi-prep teaching—your free support system, the Simplify Your Preps Collective, is waiting: https://khristenmassic.com/collectiveShop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-CoachConnect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khristenmassic/