The Before-The-Bell Checklist

Because once those classroom doors swing open, you’ll be wishing for a mute button STAT — somewhere between the third “Can I go to the bathroom?” and the thirtieth pencil tap on a desk.

🧷 Grab the shirt every teacher dreams about — The Mute Button Tee.

Here’s your final countdown checklist — teacher-tested, chaos-approved.

🧽 1. Clean out your teacher bag (yes, finally)

Old gum, expired cough drops, and a lesson plan from 2019? Toss it. Start fresh. Future you deserves it.

📚 2. Organize your digital files

Create folders, rename those "Untitled Document (17)" files, and back up your golden resources to the cloud. One small click for you, one giant leap for your sanity.

🎯 3. Print your non-negotiables

Class lists. Seating charts. Emergency sub plans. Bell schedules. Trust me — you don’t want to be wrestling a copier during morning duty.

✏️ 4. Stock up on classroom supplies (your secret stash)

Dry erase markers, Advil, mints, and “stop talking” eyeball energy. Load up now. That stuff vanishes faster than your lunch break.

💡 5. Reset your brain

Read a fun book. Watch trash TV. Sit in silence for 20 glorious minutes. Do whatever it takes to decompress before the chaos carousel starts spinning again.

📆 6. Sync your calendars

District dates, birthdays, assemblies, parent nights. Put them in your planner, phone, or forehead tattoo — whatever keeps you from double-booking yoga night with open house.

🧃 7. Prep your “emergency” drawer

Granola bars. Travel deodorant. That one chocolate bar with a "do not touch" Post-it. You’ll thank yourself by week two. Or day one.

📣 8. Schedule ONE thing that’s just for you

A lunch with a friend. A mani-pedi. A weekend nap. If you don’t plan it now, the year will eat it alive.

⚡ You’ve Got This.

Teaching is a marathon disguised as a sprint. But a little prep now = less panic later. So check off what you can. And remember: done is better than perfect.

EDUHaHa Approved. Because the only thing worse than being unprepared… is being unprepared with an audience of 30 tiny critics.

PS - and remember if all else fails… you can always order a Mute Button. 😏

🧷 Grab yours here.