Episode 396: Monday Mindset: What to Do When Everything Starts to Slip

Episode 396: Monday Mindset: What to Do When Everything Starts to Slip

From Teaching Middle School ELA by Caitlin Mitchell

March 23, 2026 · 9 min · Season 2 · Episode 396

About this episode

This episode discusses how to maintain structure in the classroom during the challenging months of March and April to prevent everything from slipping.

In today's Monday Mindset, March and April can feel like the point where everything starts slipping at once. You’re running on fumes, your students are restless, and the pull of summer makes every small task feel bigger than it should. We’re talking about that exact moment and the counterintuitive fix that actually makes the rest of the year easier: leaning into structure instead of letting it slide. We unpack why loosening routines, expectations, and boundaries doesn’t bring relief, it crea...

Topics covered

  • mindset
  • structure
  • education
  • student engagement

Keywords

  • routines
  • expectations
  • boundaries
  • summer break

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