CJ is back solo after a long week of school and prom chaperoning—and an unexpected class pet dilemma. In this episode, he dives into real talk about having favorite students (and why that’s okay), navigating toxic coworkers and admin, handling testing season burnout, and staying rooted in your mission when school culture gets messy. He also shares powerful strategies for classroom accountability, SEL engagement, and maintaining your joy as an educator—even when everything around you feels off. _____________________________________________________
Mentioned in episode:
- Our NEW Website: www.teachyourclassoff.com
- Reach the One Workshop (Classroom management for your toughest kids): https://www.shopteachyourclassoff.com/products/reach-the-one-the-classroom-strategy-for-your-most-difficult-students
- End of school year mini-lessons: https://www.shopteachyourclassoff.com/products/silent-storytelling-remix_____________________________________________________
Chapters / Timestamps
0:00 Welcome + 5 weeks left of school
1:15 Prom recap + unexpected betta fish class pet
3:30 New website launch update
4:20 Favorite students: is it okay?
10:45 Testing season survival strategies + brain breaks
16:20 Making downtime meaningful (games, creativity, “brain rot” project)
20:30 Mallory’s question: stepping away from teaching for a year
27:00 Toxic coworkers undermining your authority
35:20 Student accountability story (the haircut situation)
41:30 Holding boundaries vs being liked
44:50 Toxic admin and protecting your mindset
52:00 First-year teaching mistakes and lessons learned
56:30 Courage to speak up to leadership
1:02:00 What CJ would build in his dream classroom
1:06:30 Closing thoughts + resources_____________________________________________________
🎥 What is Sunday Night Teacher Talk?Every Sunday at 4:00 PM Eastern, we go live for a teacher Q&A. Think of it as your weekly prep session with a community of educators who want to start the week strong. Whether you’ve got questions about classroom management, lesson planning, or just need encouragement, this is your space.👉 Join us live here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRGA_FqyigEPmh5U37Yn7fA/joinOur mission: to help all educators become the teachers they are called to be. Sundays can feel overwhelming—let’s prepare together.✉️ FREE Weekly Teaching TipsStay updated & get exclusive strategies in my newsletter 👉https://teach-your-class-off-27476.myflodesk.com/newsletter📘 Best-Selling Resources for Teachers– Daily Classroom Management Blueprint– Teacher-Student Relationship Blueprint– Lesson Planning Workshop📕 My BookTeach Your Class Off: The Real Rap Guide to Teachinghttps://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Class-Off-Teaching/dp/195160010X/🗣️ Speaking EngagementsWant me to speak at your school or organization?https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BZPBCplYTcvO8-MHm-GcCXjRcMPcGhrI?usp=drive_link🎙️ Podcast → Teach Your Class Off Radio– iTunes– Spotify📱 Connect With Me– Instagram: @teachyourclassoffofficial– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teachyourclassoff– Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19NpRYTfWn/– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-reynolds/– Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/realrapwithreynolds📩 Business Inquiries: https://teachyourclassoff.com/contact/
