The Outschool Life

Wow! What a great experience I just had on this platform. Outschool should be described as a public-school teachers dream. My student was polite, he tried, and he wanted homework. I truly do no remember having so much fun teaching something I do every single day. As soon as the class ended, I started creating

The Sounds of Silence

The days before the actual “first day” of school are the most precious and set the tone for my mental game, as I gear up for the year. The utter silence not only in my room but throughout the hallways, only to be interrupted by teacher chatter, hugs, and rushing feet from one room or meeting to another quietly emulate a natural high as reality has not hit. Kids. Paperwork. Rules. My plans are for obvious perfection and is the bubble of life if only for a fleeting few days. It is then that schedules sound possible, discipline will be a breeze, and dress codes sound reasonable as jean days are put on the chopping block. It’s ok, we should dress up. Then week three hits and it hits hard. Suddenly, the quiet is replaced with chaos because the moving pieces are coming fast. It is a teacher’s life. It is precious but mentally and physically draining on a level few others feel.

My Face is Melting

The advantages to starting school on the first week of August in Arizona are non-existent. Zero. Zilch. Nada. It is hot, humid, and we drip in sweat as most of air conditioning in our building is a tad on the older side. So I melt. I am assigned to a pony and little to no

Safety Patrol

School safety. We have become a profession ruled by crazies who have taken unnecessary lives for no reason, other than sheer insanity. It is sad. This year I have taken it a step further for class safety. For kids that get ill or let’s face it, I am fifty-nine, for me and my health. I

The Room…

Classroom decor has had a boom in recent years. It now holds its own on the ever popular sites of Pinterest, Etsy, and TpT teacher stores. Teachers have created niche markets for all sorts of subsets of decorating. Many sell labels, lettering patterns, border patterns, organizational cuteness, and my favorite, the daily premade design slides,

Do They Stay or Go?

The question everyone has but dares to say aloud, for fear we are left in a building of kids without the needed adults, “How Many Come Back?” It crosses my mind. Often. If they stay, are they happy and effective. Probably not. I am happy, effective but rather broke. I make nothing. It is time

Mrs. L. Does Sixth 🥰

Working in education demands flexibility. A crazy amount. This week was my first experience at reduction in force. RIF. I sat blindsided and stared into the screen as if it was a black hole. Me, after 20 plus years? Yes, and a host of others, all of us, staring into our respective screens as if

Playing The Long Game

I opened my little corner of the internet sales universe about two years ago. My Teacher Pays Teachers account was up and running with a title and a picture of me in a crown holding a plastic wand, long story but the image suits me from time. Yesterday, I opened it, with one piece of

Welcome To Mrs. Livingston’s World!

This is a site dedicated to teachers who want a laugh or two as they follow my year as a middle school teacher. No names. Just stories. For reference, I am on a few outside sites but do not have time to truly pursue any additional income or interests because I teach. However, you may