Spoiler: It’s not about doing more — it’s about doing what actually works.

If you’re a passionate teacher giving your all and still feeling like the results don’t match the effort — this is your wake-up call.

This year, we’re not here to survive. We’re here to thrive.

That means ditching some habits that aren’t serving you (or your students). Let’s cut the fluff, raise the bar, and build a classroom that feels as good as it runs with research-based teaching tips for teachers.

Here are 3 things to stop doing immediately — and what to try instead that actually moves the needle.

✨ Free Download for Teachers: 6-Step Empowered Lesson Plan + Talk Like a Top TEN Mini Toolkit

Make your lessons intentional, predictable, and stress-free.

👉 Instant download — no guesswork required.

 

1. Stop Calling Your Students “Friends” – A Classroom Management Mistake

I get it — it feels kind, inclusive, warm. But hear me out… calling your students “friends” can actually water down your classroom culture.

Here’s why:

• It blurs the lines between teacher and peer

• It lowers the bar for behavior and academic rigor

• It creates confusion, especially for students with social processing challenges

Your classroom isn’t a social club. It’s a community of learners with purpose and high expectations.

 Say this instead:

• “Writers, take out your notebooks.”

• “Mathematicians, what do you notice?”

• “Scientists, let’s start the investigation.”

• “Scholars, level up that response.”

These words spark identity. They say, “You belong here. And what we do here matters.” This is one of the simplest classroom management strategies to raise the bar.

Want the exact language templates I use?

Grab my Talk Like a Top TEN Teacher Preview Pack — it’s free.

2. Stop Giving Homework Just to Say You Did – Try Homework Alternatives Instead

The research is in. John Hattie’s meta-analysis of 800+ studies shows that traditional homework has little to no impact on learning in elementary grades.

The problem with traditional homework:

• Burdens families more than it supports learning

• Kills joy and turns reading into a chore

• Steals time from what kids actually need — movement, play, connection

 Do this instead:

• Ask students to read any book they love for 20–30 minutes nightly

• Let books travel back and forth between home and school

• Build routines where kids talk about their books, recommend them, and see reading as a lifestyle

 Top TEN Pro Tip: Make reading contagious. Post your current book. Create cozy corners. Let students see you love books.

These homework alternatives for elementary students ease stress and build a love of learning.

3. Stop Letting Yourself Go “For the Job” – Prevent Teacher Burnout

Stop treating burnout like a badge of honor. Yes, this job is hard — but you matter too.

If you’re skipping meals, losing sleep, and spiraling every Sunday… it’s time to take your power back.

Because when you feel good, everything flows:

• You show up with energy

• You teach with presence

• You lead with intention

 Do this instead:

• Start each day with a 5-minute power plan

• Use the 6-Step Empowered Lesson Plan Template to make your day predictable and purposeful

• Prep meals, lay out clothes, and add joy to your mornings

• Systemize, organize, and protect your peace

This is one of the most practical teacher burnout solutions. It’s not selfish. It’s smart teaching.

Final Takeaway

You don’t need to do more.

You need to do what actually works.

Here’s your Top TEN™ Teacher Challenge—three simple shifts that create big impact:

• Swap “friends” for writers, scientists, and scholars

• Replace packets with joyful reading habits

• Ditch burnout culture and build sustainable systems that protect your peace

You deserve a classroom that runs smoothly and feels good to teach in—and I’ve got two free tools to help you get there.

Ready for Real Results? Grab Your Free Tools

These two resources will shift your teaching tomorrow:

Talk Like a Top TEN™ Teacher Sample

Scripts, sentence stems, and prompts that instantly raise rigor, clarity, and engagement.

6-Step Empowered Lesson Planning Template

 Your step-by-step guide to building purposeful lessons—without the Sunday-night panic.

Want the Full Transformation?

Talk Like a Top TEN™ Teacher Toolkit

Everything you need to elevate student voice, boost engagement, and upgrade your classroom culture—fast.

You’ll get:

• ✔ High-impact teacher scripts for every subject

• ✔ Posters & identity language to raise expectations

• ✔ Quick-start guide

• ✔ Bonus sentence stems to deepen thinking

Plus:

• ✅ Top-TEN™ Talk Tools — 10 powerful talk moves with full-page examples

• ✅ Why Language Matters — the research, simplified

• ✅ Affirmation Card Set — 16 cards to build connection & confidence

• ✅ Quick-Reference Visual Guide — color-coded for on-the-fly use

• ✅ Printable Habit Tracker — daily/weekly reflection

• ✅ Welcome + Intention Pages — start grounded and focused

• ✅ Full PDF format — easy to print, easy to implement

  ➡ Teachers say this toolkit changed everything.

The Complete 6-Step Planning System

Your blueprint for predictable, purposeful lessons—without the planning spiral.

You’ll get:

• ✔ Plug-and-play lesson templates

• ✔ Weekly + daily planning pages

• ✔ Built-in time-saving systems

• ✔ Full alignment to the Empowered 6-Step Lesson Framework

➡ Want to go deeper?

Make sure to add the Empowered Lesson Plan Accelerator—the full toolkit plus the guided video walkthrough that helps you plan in 20 minutes flat!

Your classroom isn’t just a space — it’s a launchpad.
And I’ll be right here helping you build the community you’ve always dreamed of.

Teach Like a Top TEN™
Real Talk. Real Tools. Real Results.