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The Classroom Newsletter
🐠 Change That Sticks: Role Reversal, Brain Breaks, Underwater Wonderland... AND A LOT MORE!
Mitch Fairchild
September 12, 2025
In This Issue:
• Lesson Planning: Role Reversal (Students as Teachers)
• Classroom Management: Handling Defiance and Non-Compliance
• Parent Communication: Classroom Dynamics
• Burnout Busters: Establish Brain Breaks
• Health & Wellness: Get Back Into Nature
• Bonus Prompts: Emergent Bilingual & Special Education Prompts
• Homeroom Swag: Fun Colorful Fish Bulletin Board Letters & Numbers
• Mitch In A Minute: WHOSE POPCORN IS THIS???
• Poll Position: What Is Your Go-To Tech Gadget?
Happy Friday Y’all,
Leo Buscaglia said, “Change is the end result of all true learning.” Think about that every time you teach, every time a student engages with your lesson, you’re inviting them into change. Not just academic change, but change in how they think, how they process the world, and how they see themselves.
This week is all about those transformative moments. Role reversal allows students to take charge and become the experts. Managing defiance teaches respect and boundaries while building trust. Communicating with parents about classroom dynamics helps them understand how their child is growing through change. And for you, taking brain breaks and getting outside reminds you that you are part of this learning process too.
Teaching isn’t just about filling heads with information. It’s about lighting fires that make change possible… change that sticks long after students leave your classroom.
Now, let’s look at how we can leverage ChatGPT (or your favorite generative AI platform) to help turn your classroom into an optimal learning environment…
Scenario:
Mrs. Lopez wants her 8th graders to go deeper in their understanding of science concepts. Instead of the usual lecture, she has students take over for a day, using ChatGPT to create lesson plans, slides, and guided questions.
ChatGPT Prompt:
I am a [class subject] teacher and I teach [grade level] students. Create a lesson plan for [subject/topic] that uses role reversal, where students become the teachers and present the content to the class.
The Benefits of This Prompt:
• Promotes ownership: Students engage deeply because they must teach their peers.
• Develops communication skills: Presenting builds confidence and clarity.
• Reveals mastery: Teachers can assess understanding by seeing how students teach.
Scenario:
Mr. Carter has a student who frequently refuses to follow directions. Instead of escalating conflict, he uses ChatGPT to craft calm, supportive strategies that redirect behavior while maintaining authority.
ChatGPT Prompt:
I am a [class subject] teacher and I teach [grade level] students. Assist me in creating strategies to handle defiance and non-compliance in my classroom, ensuring that I can maintain authority while also supporting the student's needs.
The Benefits of This Prompt:
• Preserves respect: The student feels heard while learning boundaries.
• Keeps class on track: Minimizes disruption and protects learning time.
• Supports growth: Consistent responses help students develop self-control.
Scenario:
Ms. Patel notices her class has shifted — students are collaborating more, but one student is struggling to find their place in groups. She uses ChatGPT to draft a balanced message to parents highlighting both the positive dynamics and areas for growth.
ChatGPT Prompt:
Draft a letter to [student's name]’s parents, [parent or guardian name(s)], discussing [list changes in classroom dynamics and his/her role in them]. Mention [list any positive or negative impacts on their child’s learning experience], and suggest strategies to navigate these changes effectively.
The Benefits of This Prompt:
• Builds transparency: Parents understand what’s happening in class.
• Strengthens teamwork: Creates a home-school partnership to support the child.
• Encourages solutions: Families receive concrete strategies to help.
Scenario:
Coach Taylor notices his students fading halfway through class. He uses ChatGPT to create a set of short, purposeful brain breaks that align with learning goals and keep energy high.
ChatGPT Prompt:
Provide ideas for incorporating short brain breaks into my lessons to keep students engaged. These breaks should align with [list specific learning goals, e.g., increasing focus, reducing stress].
The Benefits of This Prompt:
• Boosts focus: Students return to work refreshed and ready.
• Reduces stress: Breaks regulate energy levels and emotions.
• Improves retention: Cognitive breaks support long-term memory.
Scenario:
Ms. James feels stuck inside grading papers every weekend. She asks ChatGPT for ways to get outdoors and make nature part of her weekly rhythm.
ChatGPT Prompt:
I want to spend more time in nature. Help me create a plan for incorporating outdoor activities into my [weekly routine, relaxation time, exercise routine, etc.].
The Benefits of This Prompt:
• Boosts mental clarity: Time outside lowers anxiety and refreshes the mind.
• Promotes physical health: Encourages movement and fresh air.
• Inspires creativity: New surroundings spark fresh ideas for teaching.
Emergent Bilingual Prompt: Sentence Frames
Scenario:
Mr. Gomez wants to support his English learners during class discussions. He uses ChatGPT to create structured sentence frames so students can participate with confidence.
ChatGPT Prompt:
I am a [class subject] teacher and I teach [grade level] students. Create sentence frames that can help my Emergent Bilingual students structure their responses during [specific lesson or activity].
The Benefits of This Prompt:
• Supports language growth: Students have scaffolding to practice academic language.
• Encourages participation: Lowers the barrier to speaking up.
• Builds confidence: Students feel equipped to contribute meaningfully.
Special Education Prompt: Visual Schedules
Scenario:
Mrs. Hill works with a student who struggles with transitions. She uses ChatGPT to build a visual schedule that helps the student know what’s coming next.
ChatGPT Prompt:
I am a [class subject] teacher and I teach [grade level] students. Design a visual schedule to help a student with [specific behavioral challenge] understand the structure of the day.
The Benefits of This Prompt:
• Provides predictability: Reduces anxiety for students who need structure.
• Supports independence: Students rely less on constant verbal reminders.
• Improves behavior: Clear expectations lead to smoother transitions.
This week’s bulletin board set is the Fun Colorful Fish Bulletin Board Letters and Numbers Set 🐟🌊! Each letter, number, and special character is set against an underwater aquarium theme with bright, colorful fish swimming across the design.
Perfect for:
• 🌊 Ocean-themed units
• 🎣 Reading corners (“Hooked on Books!”)
• 🐠 Classroom jobs board
• 🎉 Under-the-sea parties or events
This set brings a cheerful, aquatic vibe to any hallway or classroom display!
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Which Tech Gadget Could You Not Live Without? |
Bottom Line Y’all…
Buscaglia reminds us that the true mark of learning is change. Every time your students understand something new, they are transforming. Every time you take a deep breath, handle defiance with grace, or step outside for a moment of peace, you are transforming too.
This week’s prompts push you to lean into that change… flipping roles, building partnerships, creating calm in chaos, and remembering to care for yourself. These are not just classroom strategies; they are life skills that ripple far beyond the walls of your school.
Keep learning. Keep changing. Keep lighting that fire for your students… and for yourself.
Teach Forward! Improve Daily! Inspire Always!
Warm regards,
Mitch Fairchild
Founder, The Classroom Newsletter
What Did You Think Of This Week's Issue?Be honest! Your feedback is crucial to us making this newsletter the best teacher resource on the planet! |