Good Morning Y’all,

The end of the school year often feels like finishing a marathon on fumes. For many teachers, burnout isn’t a buzzword, it’s reality. The past few years have tested the limits of our patience, flexibility, and endurance. And while summer break offers a well-deserved breath of fresh air, it’s also the perfect time to reflect, refocus, and remember why you started this journey in the first place.

Simon Sinek, in his groundbreaking work Start With Why, reminds us:

_{“People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.”}

Let that sink in.

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

Teaching isn’t just about delivering content. It’s not about managing behavior or collecting test scores. Those things matter, yes, but they aren’t the heartbeat of this profession. Your why is. The reason you chose to step into the chaos, the creativity, the challenge of the classroom in the first place. The reason you keep showing up… even when it’s hard, even when no one’s clapping, and especially when you feel like quitting.

Maybe your why is to spark confidence in a kid who’s never been told they’re good at anything.
Maybe you why is to break generational cycles.
Maybe your why is to make school feel safe, exciting, and full of possibility… the way someone once did for you.

Whatever it is, that why is your anchor. It’s what turns your job into a calling. It’s what turns frustration into fuel and fatigue into fire.

And right now… on our big, beautiful, and well deserved Summer Break… is the best time to reconnect with it.

Not by grinding through curriculum planning (there will be time for that later).
Not by redesigning your classroom theme for next year (there will definitely be time for that later).
But by resting. By being present. By laughing with your family until your face hurts. By sitting with friends around a campfire or on a porch swing and remembering that life is meant to be enjoyed, not just survived. These moments of stillness and connection don’t take you away from your work… they reignite it. They remind you of the kind of joy and peace you want to bring into your classroom.

🔥 Bottom Line, Y’all...

As you soak up the summer sun, take time to write down your why. Not a mission statement. Not something polished. Just the raw, honest reason your heart beats faster when you think about teaching. Tape it to your bathroom mirror, your planner, your laptop. Come August, let it lead you. Let it center you when things get chaotic, and revive you when things get hard.

Because here’s the truth: next year doesn’t have to be a repeat of the last one.
It can be your best year yet.
Not because everything goes perfectly, but because you walk into that building every day with purpose, passion, and a clear reminder of why you’re there.

Your students don’t just need your strategies.
They need your heart.

And your heart beats strongest when it knows its why.

Enjoy your break. Breathe deep. Laugh loud. Love well.🔥
And when it’s time, let’s get back in that classroom and light it up like never before.
You've got this. 💪

~Mitch

🎵 The Great American Super Summer Teacher Playlist 🎶 

🌞We've almost made it! 🎉 ou’ve graded, guided, and survived another school year — now it’s time to press play, roll the windows down, and soak up that well-deserved sunshine!🌴 This playlist is packed with feel-good classics like Walking on Sunshine, Happy, Summer of '69, Don’t Worry Be Happy, Sweet Caroline, and 40 more upbeat anthems to fuel your summer joy. 🎶Whether you’re poolside, road tripping, or just dancing barefoot in your living room — this is your soundtrack to rest, recharge, and remember why you love life.Teachers, you’ve earned it. Crank it up. 💃

🎯Finish strong. Celebrate big. You deserve it!🎯

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!