RECHARGE ZONE for TEACHERS!

🌞Here are some practical things teachers with anxiety can do during the summer to help minimize beginning-of-the-year stress: Plan in small chunks : Break prep work into manageable pieces (e.g., one subject or task per week) to avoid burnout. Organize your space early : If possible, visit your classroom ahead of time to start setting up slowly and calmly. Prepare flexible routines : Draft classroom routines and procedures that you can adjust once you meet your students. Create a “first week” folder : Have lesson plans, activities, and classroom expectations ready for the first 3–5 days to reduce last-minute scrambling. Reconnect with your “why” : Reflect on your purpose as a teacher through journaling, vision boards, or reading inspirational education stories. Practice self-care : Build time into your summer for rest, hobbies, movement, and things that bring you joy. Set boundaries : Don’t let school prep take over your whole summer. Designate certain days as “no ...

  YOU are AMAZING! Below are some articles worth reading... Teaching with Anxiety Truth for Teachers Mental Health Benefits of Journaling

Every summer, like clockwork, the nerves creep in. You could be a brand-new teacher or someone entering their 20th year—beginning-of-the-year anxiety is real, raw, and often overlooked. The outside world might imagine us leisurely sipping coffee until the first day of school, but the reality is different. It's a cocktail of sleepless nights, classroom setup marathons, endless lists, and a constant loop of “What ifs?” racing through our minds. What if my students don’t connect with me? What if I’m not ready? What if I forget something important? The pressure to create the perfect welcoming environment, master new curriculum changes, integrate technology, meet expectations, and still be emotionally available for 20+ little humans is a lot. And let’s not even get started on the staff meetings, the unending email flood, or the firehose of procedural updates. For new teachers, this anxiety is amplified tenfold. Everything is unfamiliar—where to make copies, how to manage behavior, who...

I believe that every child is capable of learning, growing, and achieving when given the right environment, support, and encouragement. As an educator, my role is not just to deliver content, but to inspire curiosity, build confidence, and create a safe and inclusive space where all students feel seen, heard, and valued. Something important to share about myself is that I experience real teacher anxiety—especially at the start of the school year. But I’ve come to understand that this anxiety is not a flaw; it’s a reflection of how deeply I care about doing what’s best for my students. It means I want to create meaningful lessons, build genuine connections, and foster a positive classroom experience. My anxiety pushes me to prepare thoughtfully, reflect often, and be intentional with everything I do. I view teaching as a partnership between the teacher, the student, and the community. I aim to build strong relationships with my students and their families to better understand their ne...

WELCOME TO RECHARGE ZONE for TEACHERS! Hi there! To every teacher feeling the weight of anxiety right now—breathe. It’s okay to feel nervous, overwhelmed, or even uncertain. That doesn’t make you any less capable or passionate. It means you care, and that’s a powerful thing. The start of the school year is always a whirlwind of emotions, but remember: you don’t have to be perfect to be impactful. Your presence, effort, and heart already mean so much to your students. Give yourself grace. You will find your rhythm, your students will respond, and the pieces will start falling into place. You are not alone in these feelings, and you are more ready than you realize. One step, one day, one smile at a time—you’ve got this. It will be okay. 

Hello, my name is Mrs. Cornell! SO excited about teaching 4th grade!! I’m not one to talk about myself, but here’s a little about the person behind Mrs. Cornell’s Classroom.  I currently live in Columbia, Illinois with my husband. I have 2 sons. Cody lives and works in Lincoln, Nebraska and Wesley goes to school at Creighton University in Omaha Nebraska. Guess I don’t have to tell you what state I like to visit!!  I am from Missouri and it will always have my heart ♥️ ️! I enjoy the outdoors-especially the beach, the pool and dusty trails! My husband and I enjoy camping and ATV’ing! On rainy or snowy days (yeah!) you will find me snuggled in a warm blanket on the couch bingeing a good series! Can you believe that as early as third grade I knew I would someday be a teacher🍎. I come from a family of educators, so it is in my blood. I am in my 27 th year of teaching. Throughout the past 27 years, I have taught 3rd - 6th grade. Although I have wonderful memories of each grade, 4...