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

October 01, 2024 Ep 239: Why You Deserve the Help of a Teaching Assistant (Even if You Don’t Have One)
Hey there, fellow secondary teachers! Ever feel like you're juggling too much with all those multiple preps, endless lesson plans, and the mountain of grading?
Trust me, I've been there.
I'm Khristen Massic, and in this episode of The Secondary Teacher Podcast, I'm diving into why you deserve the help of a teaching assistant—even if it doesn't look like what you traditionally imagined.
I'll share tips on how you can streamline your workload, save time, and reclaim your evenings using tools you probably already have.
Join me as we explore smarter ways to teach so you can thrive both in and out of the classroom. Listen in and let's lighten that 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
6 min
September 24, 2024 Ep 238: 10 Ways to Reduce Mental Load for Teachers with Multiple Preps
Hey there, fellow teachers! Do you ever feel overwhelmed with juggling multiple preps and trying to stay organized?
In this episode of "The Secondary Teacher Podcast," I'm diving into strategies specifically designed to help you lessen that mental load.
From batch planning and daily shutdown routines to using templates and setting clear boundaries, we're covering it all!
Whether you're a middle or high school teacher, these tips are geared to make your teaching life more efficient and less stressful. Tune in and let's thrive together as multiple prep teachers!
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
14 min
September 17, 2024 Ep 237: Overcoming Overwhelm: Prioritization Strategies for Secondary Teachers
In this episode, I'm diving deep into a game-changing strategy to help you juggle your endless to-do lists and multiple preps.
If you've ever mixed up urgency with importance or felt overwhelmed prioritizing tasks, I've got an insightful twist on the classic Eisenhower Matrix to share.
We'll explore how to maximize impact while minimizing effort, so you can focus on what truly benefits your students.
Trust me, this is one you don't want to miss. Tune in and let's transform how we handle our classroom responsibilities 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
10 min
September 10, 2024 Ep 236: Simplifying Teaching: Lessons Learned and Practical Tips for Multiple Prep Teachers
Hey there, fellow multiple prep teachers!
In this episode, I'm diving deep into simplifying our chaotic teaching lives.
I'll share some personal stories—like that time I spent way too much summer creating a booklet that bombed—and give you practical tips on how to streamline everything from bell ringers to grading.
Trust me, these strategies will help you cut down on prep time and focus on what truly matters in both your classroom and personal life.
Let's make this school year less stressful and more rewarding 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
14 min
September 03, 2024 Ep 235: Aligning Curriculum with Life: Strategies for Busy Teachers
Hey there, secondary teachers! Are you juggling multiple preps and feeling overwhelmed with planning content around your busy life?
In this episode of The Secondary Teacher Podcast, I'll be sharing some game-changing strategies to help you align your scope and sequence with your life events and take back some much-needed flexibility.
From scheduling your life events like birthdays and trips, to tweaking your curriculum map to match your calendar, I've got you covered.
Join me as we discuss how to make your teaching job work for you, so you can thrive both in and out of the classroom.
Don't miss out—tune in and start making your teaching experience work around your life, not the other way around.
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
10 min
August 29, 2024 Ep 234: Stacking Classes: Strategies for Teaching Multiple Courses in a Single Block
This episode is packed with tips for teaching two courses during the same block and starting five preps as a first-year teacher.
I'll cover chunking lessons, managing multiple groups, using visual cues, and incorporating engaging activities to kick off the school year.
Tune in for strategies, time-saving tips, and insights from my experiences as a high school engineering teacher and former assistant principal. This one's for all the teachers juggling multiple preps - don't miss it!
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
9 min
August 27, 2024 Ep 233: 5 Things That are Saving Me The Second Week of School
Hey, secondary multiple prep teachers!
Join me in this episode of The Secondary Teacher Podcast as I share five impactful strategies that are currently keeping me afloat as an educator.
From high protein snacks and standard operating procedures to freezer meals and boundary-setting with emails, these game-changing tips will help you navigate the challenges of teaching while prioritizing your well-being.
Let's thrive together in the classroom chaos and find balance in our teaching lives!
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
15 min
August 22, 2024 Ep 232: Effective Bell Ringers for Secondary Classes with Overlapping Students
In this week's episode, I'll be sharing some valuable tips on creating quick bell ringers for students who have multiple classes with you.
I'll discuss different approaches to save time and engage your students without having to come up with six different questions each day.
Tune in to get some practical advice that will help you thrive as a multiple prep teacher and prioritize those important relationships with your students. Can't wait to share these strategies with you!
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
August 20, 2024 Ep 231: 5 Game-Changing Hacks for Teachers
Hey there, fellow secondary teachers!
In this episode, I'm diving into some awesome teaching hacks that have saved my sanity over the years. From student conferences that foster meaningful connections to the magic of bell ringers for smoother classroom management, I've got you covered.
Plus, I'll share why proactive communication with parents can be a game-changer and how to harness the power of AI to lighten your workload.
Trust me, these tricks will help you not just survive, but thrive as a multiple prep teacher. So grab your coffee and get ready to revolutionize your teaching game with these practical tips.
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
15 min
August 15, 2024 Ep 230: Prioritizing Multiple Preps and Extracurriculars: Tips for Overwhelmed New Teachers
Feeling overwhelmed with multiple preps and all the extra responsibilities on your plate?
In this week's episode, I tackle a new teacher's question about prioritizing time and effort when juggling FBLA, yearbook, school store, and more.
I share my tips on delegating tasks to students, creating efficient systems, and setting boundaries to avoid feeling worn thin.
Whether you're a CTE teacher, a secondary teacher, or just looking for reassurance and advice, tune in to get strategies to reduce overwhelm and thrive in the upcoming school 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
11 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)