Let Them Be the Teacher (Yes, Really)

Listen, if you’re anything like me, this time of year can feel like wading through molasses in cement shoes. Even the routines that used to feel joyful and grounding—calendar talk, check-ins, weekend chat—can start to feel… well, stale. Predictable. Exhausting.

So here’s a tip that has brought me so much joy and completely flipped the energy in my classroom:

Let a student run the routine.

Like, actually—hand them the remote, let them stand in your spot, and tell them, “Go ahead. It’s your class now.”

But here’s where it gets even better:

Ask them to do their best impression of you.

Yes, you read that right. Invite them to channel your energy, your voice, your little teacher quirks.

It’s hilarious (prepare to be lovingly roasted), but also incredibly affirming. Because as they lead their classmates through the routine, you get to see how much they’ve internalized—the flow, the vocabulary, the rhythm. And for a few minutes, you get to sit back, sip your coffee (or just breathe), and watch the class run itself.

The key is: if the routines are solid and your slide deck or visuals are already in place, the shift is easy. You’re not reinventing the wheel—you’re just rotating it a little and letting someone else take the driver’s seat.

Not only does this give students a sense of ownership, but it breathes life back into the routine. Suddenly, everyone’s a little more awake, a little more curious, a little more ready to participate.

Want to see it in action?

If you’re in the AfroFranco Teacher Collective, check the Shared Drive—I’ve uploaded a short video clip of what it looks like in my classroom. Watch it, steal the idea, and try it out this week.

You’ve done the work. The structure is there. Let them show you just how much they know—and remind yourself just how far they’ve come.

You’ve got this. (And they do, too.)