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 evidence-based teaching tips for teachers.

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

Plan lessons faster—with more intention, engagement, and less stress.

👉 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? You'll want the full accelerator version, but until then: 

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 and display books like a bookstore. 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, due to overload, 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:

• End and start each day with rituals and routines

• Use the 6-Step Empowered Lesson Plan Template to bring joy back to your day.

• Prep meals (our favorite no-prep option!), lay out clothes, and prep your day the night before. 

• Systemize and organize; it will protect your peace!

These are just a few of our most practical teacher burnout solutions. It’s not selfish. It’s smart teaching(and living!) 

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 lessons using our 6-Step Empowered Lesson Plan Framework.

• 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 Starter 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?

If teacher talk is the missing piece in your classroom culture, the Talk Like a Top TEN™ Teacher Accelerator helps you create calmer transitions, stronger engagement, and higher expectations—fast.

Inside, you’ll learn how to:

• Say less and get more from students with high-impact teacher talk moves

• Build student confidence and ownership through identity-driven language

• Set clear expectations that actually stick, without repeating yourself

You’ll also get:

• A 10-minute how-to video from our Founder, Sarah

• Ready-to-use teacher talk scripts you can implement immediately

• Simple visuals and tools that support consistency and follow-through

Teachers consistently tell us this toolkit changes how their classrooms feel—almost overnight.

👉I'm ready to create the classroom community of my dreams

Want the Full Planning System Too?

If you’re ready to go all in, the 6-Step Planning Accelerator gives you a complete, repeatable lesson-planning system—so you’re not reinventing the wheel every night.

It’s your blueprint for:

• Faster planning with purposeful lessons

• High-impact instruction that drives student engagement

• More joyful teaching—with less teacher talk

👉 Get the Complete 6-Step Planning Accelerator

Your classroom isn’t just a space — it’s a launchpad.

And we'll be right here, helping you build the community you’ve always dreamed of.💕

Want Real Talk, Real Tools, and Real Results? 

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Disclosure:

Some links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share classroom tools and self-care products I’ve personally used or genuinely believe support effective teaching and teacher well-being. Thank you for supporting Top TEN Teachers Network.