Good Morning Y’all,

HAPPY APRIL FOOL’S DAY TEACHERS!
Now, Let’s Talk About What’s Really Pickin’ At You...
I Mean C’mon! You ever catch a student magically bypassing your district's secure internet filters, accessing YouTube, Discord, or some random underground gaming site during class like they’re the next Silicon Valley hacker?

I’m over here assigning a two-paragraph response about personal development in my Entrepreneurship class, and they act like I’ve asked them to climb Mount Everest without Wi-Fi. But somehow… SOMEHOW… this same kid managed to jailbreak the Chromebook, access a proxy server, and install Minecraft… SMH!

Y’all. I’m not mad.
I’m impressed.
And slightly terrified.

As alwyas, if you find this info helpful, please share it with your teacher bestie!

The Digital Hustle Is Real

Alright… our students are out here running digital circles around school monitoring software and blocking plans like they’ve got a degree in computer science.
BUT, you give them:
- a worksheet
- a reading passage
- OR <GASP> … a group project… and suddenly, they forget how the internet works.

Now You Know That If the goal is to watch Mr. Beast or hop on Roblox during a math quiz, they turn into elite-level cyber ninjas. I'm talking VPNs, extensions, linking up with their phone hotspot, incognito tabs, keyboard shortcuts that clear histories in a blink—it's next-level.

Where is this energy when it’s time to study for the quiz?

Dear Student…

I want to say this lovingly but directly:
If you put half the effort you use avoiding Dyknow, LineWize, or <insert your district blocking plan here> into your assignments, you’d already be running your own company.

Can we channel this “Tech-Savvy Trickster” energy into… Oh… I dunno…
- finishing missing work
- uploading that Google Doc you claim you did
- or gosh… maybe… reading the directions for once?

Listen, I’m not trying to rain on your digital rebellion. I admire your hustle. But at the same time… c’mon man! We’ve got learning to do, futures to build, and Chromebooks that still won’t connect to the printer.

For The Love of Classroom Engagement…

If you’re like me and you’re googling things like:
- “Why do students work harder to avoid work than do the work?”
- “How to stop students from bypassing school filters”
- “Teacher forums about student computer behavior”
…welcome home. You are not alone.

In today’s tech-savvy classroom, digital distractions are everywhere. And while classroom engagement is the goal, sometimes it feels like we’re competing with an underground student-run IT department. Think “Hogan’s Heros” for you old-timers like me.

Let’s get these kids to care as much about homework completion and academic responsibility as they do about beating the system. Let’s turn that mischievous motivation into critical thinking, problem-solving, and dare I say… high test scores?

Bottom Line, Y’all…

Teaching today is like playing digital whack-a-mole. But in all honesty, our students are brilliant. They’re clever. They’re determined. BOY ARE THEY DETERMINED!
We just have to help them realize that their creativity, tech skillz, and tenacity are exactly what the world needs. But long before it arrives at Taking Over The WORLD… it starts with showing up in the classroom. We can log onto the College Board App and circumvent the monitoring software tomorrow (IYKYK)… today… GROUP PROJECT!

So the next time a student bypasses the monitoring software, take a deep breath, smile, and say: “Wow… that was impressive. Now let’s put that brain to work on this assignment.”

Let’s teach them that the real flex isn’t fooling the system.
It’s learning how to master it.

~Mitch

🎵 Teacher Tunes Tuesday 🎶 

🎙️ Crooners' Corner – The Coolest Grading Groove This Side of the Staff Lounge 🎶

Teachers, it’s time to trade in that chaotic classroom energy for something a little smoother. Enter Crooners' Corner—your monthly teacher playlist packed with velvet voices and timeless charm.

Featuring the golden sounds of Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, The Andrews Sisters, Rosemary Clooney and MORE, this playlist is your go-to soundtrack for when it’s time to grade papers with style, sip your coffee like a boss, and remind yourself why teaching is both an art and a vibe.

Whether you're knocking out lesson plans, prepping tomorrow’s genius lesson, or dodging emails like Neo in The Matrix—let these legends serenade you back to sanity.

It’s retro. It’s classy. It’s your personal lounge act while you work.

🕶️ So pour yourself something warm, grab that red pen, and let’s croon our way through the chaos. This month, we’re not just teaching—we’re swinging through the school year.

Share TCN, Earn Some Swag!

Would you like to unlock a fun and fancy membership to Homeroom Swag—our ever-growing inventory of 150+ fun, entertaining, and educational bulletin board letter and number sets?

Here’s how: share your personal subscription link (“Click To Share” button below) with your teacher tribe. When three of your teacher besties subscribe to The Classroom Newsletter, you’ll gain free access to Homeroom Swag’s treasure trove of designs! It’s our way of saying thank you for spreading the love—and for being part of this amazing community of educators. These resources are designed to make your classroom pop with creativity while encouraging student participation and interaction.

NOTE: This offer is for subscribers only. The link is in this issue’s email that was sent directly to subscribers. WANNA JOIN? Simply click on the “Subscribe” button at the top of the page, and BOOM…You’re In!