The Secondary Teacher | Elective Teacher Resources, Secondary Teacher Strategies, and Teacher Planning

By Khristen Massic | Elective Teacher Resources, Secondary Teacher Strategies, Teacher PlanningEducation How To Courses

The Secondary Teacher | Elective Teacher Resources, Secondary Teacher Strategies, and Teacher Planning episodes

April 08, 2025 Ep 264: Preparing for New Preps Next Year (Without Overwhelm)
Ever been hit with the challenge of teaching a brand new class with zero resources at your disposal?
You're not alone in that sinking feeling.
In this episode of The Secondary Teacher Podcast, we're diving into the art of preparing for a new prep without drowning in overwhelm. With my step-by-step approach, you'll learn to break down your course, prioritize what truly matters, and even harness the power of AI to craft your unit outlines in mere minutes.
Whether you're juggling multiple preps or stepping into a fresh teaching role, join me as we explore strategies, systems, and time-saving tips designed just for teachers like us. Let's lighten next year's load together!
Grab the Secondary Teacher Systems Toolkit here: https://khristenmassic.thrivecart.com/systemstoolkit/?ref=pod
Planning for the next school year? If your day is organized by class period, your planning calendar should be too. Grab my Editable Class Period Calendar here: https://khristenmassic.com/secondarycalendarpod
Get the Planning Period Reset Toolkit—a free set of quick-start tools to help you protect your time, focus faster, and finally finish something… even during chaotic school days. https://khristenmassic.com/reset
Shop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-Coach
Mentioned in this episode:
Simplify Your Preps Collective
Join us in the free community of multi-prep teachers, the Simplify Your Preps Collective www.khristenmassic.com/collective
8 min
April 01, 2025 Ep 263: What Multi-Prep Teachers Learned This Year (and How to Build on It)
Feeling burnt out from juggling lesson plans, assignments, and new preps this year?
Tune into this episode where I dive into turning this year's chaos into next year's success.
I'll help you reflect on what worked well and what needs tweaking, introduce you to the "keep, tweak, toss" method for simplifying your planning, and even share a handy AI prompt to streamline your wins.
Let's kick stress to the curb and start building a game plan that'll make teaching a breeze next year.
Grab the Secondary Teacher Systems Toolkit here: https://khristenmassic.thrivecart.com/systemstoolkit/?ref=pod
Planning for the next school year? If your day is organized by class period, your planning calendar should be too. Grab my Editable Class Period Calendar here: https://khristenmassic.com/secondarycalendarpod
Get the Planning Period Reset Toolkit—a free set of quick-start tools to help you protect your time, focus faster, and finally finish something… even during chaotic school days. https://khristenmassic.com/reset
Shop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-Coach
Mentioned in this episode:
Simplify Your Preps Collective
Join us in the free community of multi-prep teachers, the Simplify Your Preps Collective www.khristenmassic.com/collective
8 min
March 25, 2025 Ep 262: Future Planning for Multi-Prep Teachers- How to End the Year Strong
Hey there, fellow secondary teachers! As the school year winds down, are you feeling the stress of juggling multiple preps?
I've been there too.
But what if I told you we could end the year strong and prep for an easier next one?
In this episode, we'll dive into some strategies for capturing what’s working, letting go of what isn’t, and starting a next year notes doc that’ll truly ease that August scramble.
We're all about making those future plans simple and reducing that end-of-year overwhelm. Whether you teach middle or high school, this is the episode for you, so let's thrive together!
Grab the Secondary Teacher Systems Toolkit here: https://khristenmassic.thrivecart.com/systemstoolkit/?ref=pod
Planning for the next school year? If your day is organized by class period, your planning calendar should be too. Grab my Editable Class Period Calendar here: https://khristenmassic.com/secondarycalendarpod
Get the Planning Period Reset Toolkit—a free set of quick-start tools to help you protect your time, focus faster, and finally finish something… even during chaotic school days. https://khristenmassic.com/reset
Shop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-Coach
Mentioned in this episode:
Simplify Your Preps Collective
Join us in the free community of multi-prep teachers, the Simplify Your Preps Collective www.khristenmassic.com/collective
7 min
March 18, 2025 Ep 261: The Power of Systems for Staying Sane as a Multi-Prep Teacher
Are you feeling overwhelmed teaching multiple preps and constantly scrambling to stay ahead?
Trust me, I get it.
In this episode, we're tackling the chaos of multi-prep teaching with the power of simple, repeatable systems that simplify your planning process, reduce stress, and make teaching manageable again.
I'll walk you through three must-have systems: a weekly planning routine, a streamlined grading workflow, and class routines that cut down on decision fatigue.
Let's make your teaching life easier, so you can focus on what truly matters. Tune in and start transforming your classroom chaos into calm today!
Grab the Secondary Teacher Systems Toolkit here: https://khristenmassic.thrivecart.com/systemstoolkit/?ref=pod
Planning for the next school year? If your day is organized by class period, your planning calendar should be too. Grab my Editable Class Period Calendar here: https://khristenmassic.com/secondarycalendarpod
Get the Planning Period Reset Toolkit—a free set of quick-start tools to help you protect your time, focus faster, and finally finish something… even during chaotic school days. https://khristenmassic.com/reset
Shop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-Coach
Mentioned in this episode:
Simplify Your Preps Collective
Join us in the free community of multi-prep teachers, the Simplify Your Preps Collective www.khristenmassic.com/collective
8 min
March 11, 2025 Ep 260: How to Simplify Multi-Prep Teaching with AI This Spring
Are you feeling the spring semester slump in multiple prep teaching?
You're definitely not alone, and I've got just the thing to lighten your load!
In this episode, I'm diving into how AI can be your new best friend by simplifying your multi-prep tasks. We're talking about generating warm-ups and exit tickets in seconds, slashing grading time with AI-crafted rubrics, and speeding up lesson planning with AI at your side.
So, if you're ready to make this term a tad bit easier and reclaim some of your time, tune in and let's make your teaching life a whole lot simpler. Don't forget to subscribe for more sanity-saving strategies in your multiple prep teaching journey!
Grab the Secondary Teacher Systems Toolkit here: https://khristenmassic.thrivecart.com/systemstoolkit/?ref=pod
Planning for the next school year? If your day is organized by class period, your planning calendar should be too. Grab my Editable Class Period Calendar here: https://khristenmassic.com/secondarycalendarpod
Get the Planning Period Reset Toolkit—a free set of quick-start tools to help you protect your time, focus faster, and finally finish something… even during chaotic school days. https://khristenmassic.com/reset
Shop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-Coach
Mentioned in this episode:
Simplify Your Preps Collective
Join us in the free community of multi-prep teachers, the Simplify Your Preps Collective www.khristenmassic.com/collective
7 min
March 04, 2025 Ep 259: How to Map Your Curriculum for Multiple Preps Using AI
Juggling multiple preps as a secondary teacher can feel like a never-ending challenge.
Trust me, I know how overwhelming curriculum mapping can be, especially when traditional methods just don't cut it for multi-prep scenarios.
But what if I told you there's a way to simplify it all using AI?
In this episode, I delve into how AI can help you create a flexible curriculum map that saves you time, keeps you organized, and adapts to real-life disruptions—like those pesky snow days and assemblies.
Join me as I share practical steps to use AI for faster, smarter unit planning and tips to find common themes across your different preps.
Let's transform the way you plan for the classroom with strategies that work in real-life teaching!
Grab the Secondary Teacher Systems Toolkit here: https://khristenmassic.thrivecart.com/systemstoolkit/?ref=pod
Planning for the next school year? If your day is organized by class period, your planning calendar should be too. Grab my Editable Class Period Calendar here: https://khristenmassic.com/secondarycalendarpod
Get the Planning Period Reset Toolkit—a free set of quick-start tools to help you protect your time, focus faster, and finally finish something… even during chaotic school days. https://khristenmassic.com/reset
Shop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-Coach
Ai-Powered Curriculum Mapping: www.khristenmassic.com/map
Mentioned in this episode:
Simplify Your Preps Collective
Join us in the free community of multi-prep teachers, the Simplify Your Preps Collective www.khristenmassic.com/collective
11 min
February 25, 2025 Ep 258: The Secret to Avoiding Burnout as a Multi-Prep Teacher (Without Adding More to Your Plate)
Ever feel like you’re buried under lesson plans, grading, and endless decisions? Trust me, I’ve been there, and it’s exhausting.
But what if I told you that avoiding burnout isn’t about cramming in more self-care or splurging on fancy planners?
In this episode, I share the secret to staying sane: simplifying your systems. By setting default decisions, reducing daily choices, and automating tasks, you can make your job work for you.
Say goodbye to decision fatigue and hello to a clear plan that protects your time and energy. Join us as we dive into practical strategies that bring balance back to your teaching life!
Grab the Secondary Teacher Systems Toolkit here: https://khristenmassic.thrivecart.com/systemstoolkit/?ref=pod
Planning for the next school year? If your day is organized by class period, your planning calendar should be too. Grab my Editable Class Period Calendar here: https://khristenmassic.com/secondarycalendarpod
Get the Planning Period Reset Toolkit—a free set of quick-start tools to help you protect your time, focus faster, and finally finish something… even during chaotic school days. https://khristenmassic.com/reset
Shop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-Coach
Mentioned in this episode:
Simplify Your Preps Collective
Join us in the free community of multi-prep teachers, the Simplify Your Preps Collective www.khristenmassic.com/collective
8 min
February 18, 2025 Ep 257: How to Repurpose Lessons for Multiple Preps: 3 Simple Steps to Save Time and Reduce Overwhelm
In this episode of The Secondary Teacher Podcast, I'm pulling back the curtain on a game-changing strategy for tackling those multiple prep challenges.
If you're feeling the overwhelm of juggling different classes, I've got you covered with three super simple steps to repurpose lessons for different preps.
We're talking about how to find your starting point, brainstorm adaptations, and simplify with systems to save precious time.
Pop into my free Facebook group, Simplify Your Preps Collective, to grab your workbook and join our supportive community.
Let's streamline your prep work and make your teaching life a whole lot easier.
Grab the Secondary Teacher Systems Toolkit here: https://khristenmassic.thrivecart.com/systemstoolkit/?ref=pod
Planning for the next school year? If your day is organized by class period, your planning calendar should be too. Grab my Editable Class Period Calendar here: https://khristenmassic.com/secondarycalendarpod
Get the Planning Period Reset Toolkit—a free set of quick-start tools to help you protect your time, focus faster, and finally finish something… even during chaotic school days. https://khristenmassic.com/reset
Shop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-Coach
Mentioned in this episode:
Simplify Your Preps Collective
Join us in the free community of multi-prep teachers, the Simplify Your Preps Collective www.khristenmassic.com/collective
11 min
February 11, 2025 Ep 256: How to Stay Sane as a Multi-Prep Teacher (Even When Your To-Do List Never Ends)
Ever felt like your to-do list is a never-ending monster? I get it—I've been there too. In this episode, I'm diving into how we can stay sane with a three-question framework to tackle that overwhelming list. I
magine focusing only on what truly impacts your teaching and students, and letting go of the rest. I’ll share how I stopped wasting time and started prioritizing like a pro.
Plus, stick around for tips on how to streamline grading and lesson planning, and join my Simplify Your Preps Collective on Facebook for even more real solutions. Let's make that overwhelming list a thing of the past!
Grab the Secondary Teacher Systems Toolkit here: https://khristenmassic.thrivecart.com/systemstoolkit/?ref=pod
Planning for the next school year? If your day is organized by class period, your planning calendar should be too. Grab my Editable Class Period Calendar here: https://khristenmassic.com/secondarycalendarpod
Get the Planning Period Reset Toolkit—a free set of quick-start tools to help you protect your time, focus faster, and finally finish something… even during chaotic school days. https://khristenmassic.com/reset
Shop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-Coach
Mentioned in this episode:
Simplify Your Preps Collective
Join us in the free community of multi-prep teachers, the Simplify Your Preps Collective www.khristenmassic.com/collective
7 min
February 04, 2025 Ep 255: 5 Ways to Repurpose Lessons for Multiple Preps (Without Reinventing the Wheel)
If you're a secondary teacher overwhelmed by multiple preps, this episode of The Secondary Teacher Podcast is a must-listen.
I'm diving into 5 smart ways to repurpose your lessons across different subjects without losing quality or engagement.
From using versatile teaching strategies to adopting universal note-taking techniques, these tips will save you time and energy.
Join me to discover how you can streamline your workload and keep those students inspired!
Grab the Secondary Teacher Systems Toolkit here: https://khristenmassic.thrivecart.com/systemstoolkit/?ref=pod
Planning for the next school year? If your day is organized by class period, your planning calendar should be too. Grab my Editable Class Period Calendar here: https://khristenmassic.com/secondarycalendarpod
Get the Planning Period Reset Toolkit—a free set of quick-start tools to help you protect your time, focus faster, and finally finish something… even during chaotic school days. https://khristenmassic.com/reset
Shop my Teachers Pay Teachers store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Khristen-Massic-Cte-Teacher-Coach
Mentioned in this episode:
Simplify Your Preps Collective
Join us in the free community of multi-prep teachers, the Simplify Your Preps Collective www.khristenmassic.com/collective
12 min

About The Secondary Teacher | Elective Teacher Resources, Secondary Teacher Strategies, and Teacher Planning

From the publisher's feed

**Are you looking for secondary teacher strategies, elective teacher resources, and teacher planning systems that actually work when you're juggling multiple preps?**

Are you drowning in lesson planning and still taking work home every night?

Wondering if managing your workload is even possible when every class needs something different?

Let's be honest… your planning period disappears fast.

If that sounds like you, you're in the right place.

This podcast is for overwhelmed secondary teachers—especially elective teachers, CTE teachers, and any multiple prep teacher—who are tired of feeling behind and need practical secondary teacher strategies built for the reality of teaching multiple courses.

You'll learn how to simplify teacher planning, build classroom routines that reduce your workload, and find elective teacher resources that help you keep students engaged without creating everything from scratch.

Because you don't need a better planner.

You need systems that fit the reality of your secondary classroom.

Hi, I'm Khristen Massic.

I'm a former high school teacher in career technical education who spent 10 years teaching courses like engineering, drafting, robotics, digital media, and more—and at one point, I taught **nine preps in a single school year**.

I've also worked as a middle school assistant principal and now support teachers at the district level, so I've seen the teacher workload from multiple angles.

And here's what I learned the hard way:

It's not that you're bad at teacher planning.

It's that most planning systems were never built for teachers juggling this many different classes.

I used to overplan, rebuild everything from scratch, and try to make every lesson perfect—until it became completely unsustainable.

What changed?

I stopped chasing perfect plans and started building simple, repeatable systems.

Now I help secondary teachers simplify teacher planning, reuse what already works, and actually finish something during their prep period.

Inside this podcast, you'll find:

* Secondary teacher strategies for managing multiple preps without constant overwhelm

* Teacher planning systems that help you decide what to work on first and actually finish it

* Elective teacher resources that save time without sacrificing meaningful learning

* Classroom routines that reduce decision fatigue and keep your day running without constant effort

* Low-prep classroom games and engaging lessons that support student engagement without hours of prep

* Secondary teacher tips for protecting your planning period and getting more work done during the school day

* Systems for repurposing lessons across career technical education, electives, and other courses

* Practical strategies for CTE teachers, elective teachers, and any multiple prep teacher constantly switching between courses

* Teacher productivity strategies that help you reduce your Teacher workload and protect your time

* Practical ways to use AI to support teacher planning without turning it into one more thing you have to learn

You don't need to do it all.

You need systems that work.

If you're ready to spend less time reinventing lessons, feel more in control of your planning, protect your evenings, and still show up for your students…

**Hit play.**

### Next Steps

Grab your free resources to start simplifying your teacher planning right away:

🎯 **2026–2027 Secondary Teacher Editable Unit/Lesson Planning Calendar**

https://khristenmassic.com/secondarycalendarpod

🎯 **Planning Period Reset Toolkit**

https://khristenmassic.com/reset

Find more ready-to-use elective teacher resources in my Teachers Pay Teachers store:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/khristen-massic-cte-teacher-coach

Learn more at:

[www.khristenmassic.com](http://www.khristenmassic.com)