5 Strategies to Survive and Thrive This School Year

A digital illustration featuring a woman working at a computer and a scene of two students engaged in an educational activity, highlighting the theme of school hacks and resources.

We finally made it to the end of the 2026 school year! I don’t know about you, but this was a tough one for me. Still, reflecting on it, I realized it could have been so much worse had I not stayed consistent with a few key things, which I’d like to encourage you to adopt moving forward.

Text graphic featuring the words '5 Hacks That Saved My Sanity This Year' in a playful font with a bold number 5.

Office hours during class — I reserved the last 10–15 minutes of my 90-minute block for students to ask questions and talk with me one-on-one. Game changer. I rarely woke up to emails.
Laminating and posting the vital parts of my syllabus — No more “I didn’t know” excuses. It’s on the wall. This saved my voice. I directed students to the information that would answer their questions.
Workshop days — Students worked on reading or skills while I graded their work in real time. Productive for everyone. For some classes, I could do this half a block only– but it still was a win-win.
Being intentional about my calendar — Planning with purpose made a noticeable difference in my stress levels. Before signing up for something, I consulted my calendar to make sure I was pushing my energy to the max. I can’t believe how helpful this was!
Holding firm on late work — Not always easy, but absolutely worth it. Best of all, I had no grade-grubbers in the end.

What’s one thing that helped you get through this year? Drop it in the comments — I’d love to know!

Text graphic that reads 'And now a little gift to close out the year' with a simple illustration of a gift box.

I’ve been writing again, and I couldn’t be more excited to share what’s new. My latest short story, Un Sueño Realizado, is available right now — completely free.

Graphic featuring the title '5 Hacks That Saved My Sanity This School Year' with illustrations of a woman at a computer and two students interacting, promoting a free resource titled 'Sueño' with a link to download.

It’s written for Spanish 2+ learners and follows a young girl who stops waiting for her dreams to happen and decides to make them real herself. It comes with comprehension questions and an answer key, so it’s truly classroom-ready.

👉 [Grab your free copy of Un Sueño Realizado here]

And if your students love this one, there’s more where that came from — I’ll be expanding this collection of stories and novels, so stay tuned.

And before you go — We’re already cooking up something special for the fall. 👀

The Teaching From the Trenches Tool Kit is coming your way, packed with strategic ways to prevent, manage, and channel stress — plus activities to help you hit the ground running at the start of the new school year.

You don’t want to miss it. Make sure you’re subscribed so it lands straight in your inbox. 📩

But that’s for later. For now — take a collective sigh, close that laptop, and enjoy every second of this well-earned break. You deserve it. 🎉

omprehensible Novels for the Classroom

Looking for an engaging classroom novel? Need help building a classroom library? Check out readersbyacquintero.com

A promotional graphic featuring a collection of illustrated book covers by A.C. Quintero, surrounded by text urging educators to complement their curriculum with engaging readers.

Don’t have a classroom library? Check out this list of digital reads for your students!

Discover the perfect novel for any classroom with our extensive library, tailored for every level and interest. Each book comes with proven teaching materials designed to captivate students through engaging storylines, language use, authentic expressions, and essential grammar structures. Empower your teaching and keep your focus where it matters most: on your students’ learning!