8:30 a.m. – I sit down at my computer with a cup of something warm. I’m cozy in my most
comfortable sweatpants—because if you can’t be comfy while teaching from home, what’s even
the point?—paired with a professional shirt, so I look respectable on camera.

Before diving into the day, I start with a simple prayer: “Lord, use me today. Help me to connect
with my students and be a light for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” A peaceful way to start a
potentially chaotic day.

Then it’s time to tackle the inbox. I respond to emails and TEAMS messages that rolled in
overnight, helping students troubleshoot their tech woes (“Have you tried turning it off and back
on again?”) and explaining concepts that may have caused a little head-scratching.

8:50 a.m. – Wait… how is it 8:50 already?! My NSA Live class starts in ten minutes! Cue the
frantic double-check: lesson plan—check. PowerPoint—check. All tabs open and ready—check.
Coffee refilled—double check.

9:00 a.m. – Showtime! My NSA Live class begins. We only meet once a week for 50 minutes,
but we pack a LOT in. We usually kick things off with a chat box question (students’ responses
never fail to make me laugh), then dive into something interactive—maybe a round of grammar
jeopardy or a Kahoot that brings out everyone’s competitive side.

Next comes a mini-lesson, followed by breakout room collaboration. There’s always a bit of
delightful chaos when students forget to unmute or accidentally end up in the wrong room, but
that’s part of the fun. Honestly, these live sessions are my favorite time of the week—seeing
students engage and come alive on screen makes my teacher heart happy.

10:00 a.m. – Class ends, and it’s time to roll up my sleeves for grading. I aim to give quality
feedback on every assignment—because even if a student nailed it, there’s always something
encouraging or insightful to say. Plus, who doesn’t love a good digital sticker?

When I spot a student struggling with a concept, I take the time to reteach it through comments
or a quick video message. Then I let them retry the assignment. Watching them “get it” on the
second go-round? Pure gold.

11:30 a.m. – Time for a student conference on TEAMS! Today’s chat is about a Creative Writing
assignment called Stories About Self. These one-on-one meetings are the best—I get to learn
more about my students, answer questions, offer feedback, and cheer them on. We wrap up our
time together with prayer, which always feels like the perfect way to end a conversation.

12:00 p.m. – My stomach is growling louder than my dog when the mail carrier shows up. Yep,
it’s lunchtime!

12:45 p.m. – Refueled and ready, I’m back at my desk answering more TEAMS and email
messages. It feels like question central today, but honestly, I love it. Curiosity means learning is
happening, and that’s a win in my book.

2:00 p.m. – Meeting time with my curriculum coach! I’m part of the curriculum writing team (cue
nerdy teacher excitement). I get to help create ENGL 500, AP Literature and Composition—my
dream course! I love this work so much that you might actually catch me writing curriculum on a
Friday night for fun. (Yes, I know what that says about me.) My coach and I talk through ideas,
feedback, and any questions I may have.

3:00 p.m. – A tiny pocket of quiet before my day ends, so I sneak in a little more grading.

3:30 p.m. – The peace is over—my four boys come bursting through the door like a mini football
team. (Yes, I am completely outnumbered.) Time to swap my teacher hat for my mom hat and
jump into homework help, snacks, and the evening whirlwind.

At the end of the day, I’m tired but thankful. I got to teach, encourage, and (hopefully) make a
difference. Now, off to make dinner… and maybe sneak in one more cup of coffee.

Dr. Brooke Helling has been an educator for more than 20 years; however, she still thinks of
herself as an accidental English teacher. Dr. Helling has taught elementary through graduate
students. Her interests include educational equity, reading disorders in second language
students, interactive composition strategies, and Open Educational Pedagogy. When Dr. Helling
is not working at NSA, you can find her on the soccer field with her four crazy sons!