Real Ones Only: After Hours

Weekly Vibe:

This week’s playlist addition: “Smile” – Gregory Porter

Warm, encouraging, and steady — like the classroom energy we all crave.

By Shantel Patt — August 20, 2025

The difference between a good day and a great day in the classroom often comes down to habits — simple, positive routines that create space for connection, learning, and joy.

You don’t need to overhaul your entire teaching style overnight. Instead, try introducing small, manageable practices that shift the classroom atmosphere and your own experience.

Examples of positive practices

• Morning check-ins. Start class with a quick question or mood check to build...

You’ve laminated the name tags, triple-checked your seating chart, and debated whether to wear flats or something that screams “I’m in charge.” Welcome to the first day of school — the most magical and mildly terrifying day of the year.

There’s no amount of PD, Pinterest boards, or iced coffee that can fully prepare you for what happens when 20+ little humans walk into your room and suddenly... you're the adult in charge.

Ready or Not, Here They Come

The bell rings. You breathe. You smile. You...

Weekly Vibe:

This week’s playlist addition: “Unwritten” – Natasha Bedingfield

A fresh-start anthem about possibility, growth, and rewriting your story.

By Shantel Patt — August 13, 2025

Teaching doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. Sometimes, the biggest changes don’t come from overhauling your lesson plans or classroom setup — they come from changing how you see your work, your students, and yourself.

That’s the power of a mindset reset.

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just plain exhausted, it’s easy to think the only way forward is to do more. More planning, more grading, more trying to be perfect. But what if the shift you...

It’s late. You lie awake, staring at the ceiling, your mind swirling like a storm. The clock ticks loudly. Shadows creep across your room, stretching long and dark like the chaos waiting tomorrow.

You imagine walking into your classroom. But it’s not the perfect place you hoped for.

The air smells stale—like forgotten papers and old chalk dust. The bulletin board borders droop, half-torn. Bins overflow with papers you forgot to grade. The staff lounge? Empty, silent. No coffee. Just a cold,...

If you’re an educator looking for practical, no-nonsense guidance to help you navigate the ups and downs of the classroom, I’ve got exciting news for you! Class Is In Session: The Expectant Teacher Survival Handbook is officially LIVE on Google Play Books — and it’s ready to become your new favorite teaching companion.

Why This Handbook?

Teaching is one of the most rewarding yet challenging professions out there. Whether you’re stepping into your first classroom or have years of experience,...

Weekly Vibe:

This week’s playlist addition: “I’m Still Standing” – Elton John

For every teacher still showing up when it’s hard — this one’s for you.

By Shantel Patt — August 6, 2025

Let’s be honest — the system is exhausting.

The to-do lists don’t end. The expectations keep piling on. And somehow, you’re supposed to keep showing up with a smile, even when you’re running on fumes.

If you’ve ever stared at your computer at 10 p.m. wondering how you’ll get through the next day…

If you’ve ever sat in your car before school and needed a few deep breaths just to walk in…

If you’ve ever wondered, “Can I really keep doing this?”

You’re not broken....

I’m beyond excited to officially share some news that’s been a long time in the making:

My book, Class Is In Session, is now available as a digital edition on Barnes & Noble!

Download it here

Why This Means So Much

This book isn’t just words on a page — it’s a piece of my heart, built from real experiences, passion, and purpose. Class Is In Session represents the lessons life has taught me both in and out of the classroom. Every chapter is rooted in real moments, practical wisdom, and the...

Being a teacher means being a lifelong learner.

It means walking into a room where you half-know what’s happening — and choosing to show up anyway.

So whether this is your first August in a classroom or your 20th, this year is still a new start. A fresh take. A different version of you.

Orientation might be awkward.

It might be repetitive.

It might test your patience and your password memory.

But it’s also your reminder that you’re in the right place — and you’re not doing this alone.

Now go...

Okay, seriously — The Hunting Wives completely blew me away. Every single episode felt like a rollercoaster packed with secrets, lies, and jaw-dropping twists. And let me tell you, Margo? She is top tier. She owns every scene with this fierce, untouchable vibe that made me never want to look away. Honestly, she’s the queen of this deliciously twisted little world, and I’m here for it.

Now Sophie — girl, she started off so naive, like a deer caught in headlights. Watching her navigate this...

This week’s playlist addition: “Golden” by Jill Scott – A vibrant reminder that you deserve joy — not just survival.

Add it to your joy playlist https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp5Zgl1niMYfvEv1EHJswRDzG4hztBZvf&si=enKbqAJhEm2wFExl

By Shantel Patt — July 30, 2025

“Why are you even still doing this?”

If you’ve been teaching for more than a week, chances are you’ve heard that question — from a friend, a colleague, maybe even from the voice inside your own head. And honestly, on a chaotic Tuesday with your third cup of coffee in hand and zero copies made for your next period, it’s easy to wonder the same thing.

But here’s the truth: deep down, you do know why you’re still here.

You remember the student who never cracked a...

Because joy has a soundtrack.

Teaching takes energy — the kind that coffee can’t always deliver. That’s why I created The Class Is In Session Experience — a curated playlist filled with songs to lift your mood, reset your mindset, and get you back in the groove.

Whether you're:

Setting up your classroom

Powering through a grading marathon

Shifting your mindset before the bell rings

Or just trying to remember who you are outside the lesson plans...

This playlist is for you.

Click here to...

Back-to-school shopping is a familiar ritual for many parents — new backpacks, fresh pencils, and hopeful beginnings. But if you’re a mom shopping for teenage twin boys entering high school, you know this season is a whole different kind of chaos.

From managing double the supplies to negotiating style wars over clothes, prepping twins for high school is both a challenge and a rite of passage.

Double the Stuff, Double the Opinions

Shopping for one teenager can feel overwhelming. Shopping for ...

I remember the first time I really listened to Kesha’s “Woman” — it hit me like a lightning bolt. There’s something raw and unapologetic about it that just feels like a declaration of independence and self-love. Like, here’s a song that’s not asking for permission or validation. It’s not about bending or shrinking to fit into anyone else’s expectations. It’s about owning who I am, loud and proud.

When Kesha belts out “I’m a mother—,” I’m right there with her, feeling that fierce energy. It’s...

Every year, around this time, I circle a date on my calendar that means more to me than just a medical appointment. It’s my annual mammogram. And I’m writing this as a gentle, heartfelt reminder—especially to those of you who, like me, sometimes put your own needs on the back burner—to make that appointment and keep it.

For a long time, I didn’t give mammograms much thought. I felt healthy, and life was busy. But staying consistent with my annual screenings turned out to be one of the best...

Back-to-school season is here — and with it comes the never-ending shopping lists. Whether you're a parent trying to stock up on lunchbox snacks and school supplies, or a teacher preparing your classroom on a budget, we’ve got some good news…

You can join Sam’s Club right now for 50% OFF!

https://tr.ee/6E810_rFZD

Why Sam’s Club is a Back-to-School Lifesaver

Sam’s Club isn’t just about bulk savings (although that’s a big win). It’s about making your life easier and more affordable, especially...

With just two weeks left before we report back to school, I can’t help but think about everything we’re walking into this year. As a Texas public school teacher, this back-to-school season feels heavier than ever. The challenges piling up are real—and they’re a lot to take on.

Here’s what’s on my plate as I prepare:

• The new 10 Commandments mandate that we have to navigate in our curriculum
• Campus-wide no-phone policies we’ll need to enforce
• The banning of DEI clubs, which means fewer safe...