Hi teacher friend,

Here’s a tiny teaching hack I use on the days when my brain is running at 12% battery, three students are asking different questions at the same time, and my coffee has gone cold for the fourth time:

“Stretch” one activity farther than it was ever meant to go

You know those days when you planned one activity…

…and suddenly need it to cover 20 more minutes because time is an illusion?

Instead of scrambling for extra worksheets (no thanks), try this:

➡ Step 1: Students do the main activity, like normal.

➡ Step 2: Early finishers get to “upgrade” it — solve the trickiest problems again with a twist, swap answers with a partner to check, rewrite solutions in color, or turn their steps into a tiny poster.

Same activity.

Zero extra prep.

Maximum “I survived the day” energy.

No need to reinvent the wheel when you’re just trying to make it to dismissal.

If you need a self-checking resource that makes this hack even easier, here’s one that works great:

(Seriously — anything that corrects itself = fewer questions = more sanity.)

Sending you caffeine and calm vibes ✨

PS: My Choice Boards and Guided Notes are always linked below if you need something ready for the “my students have the attention span of a squirrel today” moments.

🎯 6th Grade Bundle

🎯 7th Grade Bundle

🎯 8th Grade Bundle

🌱 5th Grade Growing Bundle

And my Guided Notes

📘 6th Grade Math Guided Notes & Activities – Full Year Growing Bundle

Feel free to share this email with any fellow math teachers who might appreciate fun, no-prep resources. 💌

Let's connect:

TPT

BOOM CARDS

Math through Play: Gamification in Education

Matemaths.eu

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