May is when solid routines start to wobble, not because you suddenly forgot how to teach, but because the school calendar turns into a nonstop interruption machine. If your class feels unpredictable right now, I’m here with a calming reminder: you don’t need more end-of-year activities. You need a structure that holds the days together.

The last week of school can make the best teachers feel like everything is coming apart at once: grades due, rooms to pack, routines blown up by assemblies, and kids who are equal parts excited and dysregulated. I’m sharing a practical way to calm the chaos without adding more to your plate, so you can finish the year strong instead of crawling across the finish line.

There are plenty of ways to create a meaningful makerspace on a shoestring budget. All you need is some creativity and a little bit of elbow grease. Keep listening for tips on how to get started.

Today’s show is with an incredible 2nd-grade teacher from Florida, Melanie Redden. Melanie is here to share her truth about building rapport with kids.

One Tired Teacher takes the trials and treasures of being a teacher or an educator and tells it like it is. Let’s wake up to this system and start talking!