The Most Googled Teacher Questions—Answered

School Poster Printers
Tips and Tricks
June 18, 2025

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You’re not alone. Every teacher has typed “Can I retire early?” at least once.

Introduction:

Teachers are some of the most resourceful humans on the planet—and also some of the most Googling. From lesson planning emergencies to existential classroom crises, educators ask thousands of questions every day.

Some are hilarious.
Some are heartbreakingly real.
Most are both.

So we pulled together the most Googled questions teachers ask, gave them honest, practical answers… and sprinkled in some much-needed humor. Because yes, teaching is hard—but at least we can laugh while Googling “how to stop kids from licking the whiteboard.”

🤯 1. “How do I make lesson plans faster?”

Real answer:
Use templates, AI tools, or pre-made resources (like Teachers Pay Teachers or Common Curriculum). Batch plan weekly, and don’t reinvent the wheel—your past self probably already made something amazing.

Funny answer:
Step 1: Cry.
Step 2: Google.
Step 3: Copy and paste from that PDF you forgot you made in 2019.
Step 4: Hit “Print” and pretend this was the plan all along.

🍎 2. “How do I get students to pay attention?”

Real answer:
Mix up your instruction. Use visuals, anchor charts, group work, cold-calling, storytelling, movement breaks, and tech tools like Kahoot or Blooket.

Funny answer:
Consider dressing as a TikTok character or using interpretive dance to explain fractions. Also, bribes. (We mean motivational incentives, of course.)

🧠 3. “Is it normal to feel burnt out?”

Real answer:
Yes. In fact, nearly 60% of teachers report burnout. Support your mental health with boundaries, breaks, and peer support. If possible, talk to your admin about workload.

Funny answer:
If you haven’t stared at a stapler and wondered if you could escape through a tiny portal inside it, are you even teaching?

💵 4. “Can teachers make more money?”

Real answer:
Yes—but it usually involves extra work. Options include coaching, tutoring, teaching summer school, selling resources, or getting certified for higher pay tiers.

Funny answer:
You can also find a rich partner, sell foot pics, or start an Etsy shop making “World’s Okayest Teacher” mugs. (Joking… unless?)

🧼 5. “How do I stop kids from… everything?”

e.g., licking desks, making fart noises, spinning in chairs, launching pencils like javelins

Real answer:
Set clear boundaries, give them structure, and reinforce behaviors you do want. Use proximity, cues, and your teacher stare. Yes, it works.

Funny answer:
You don’t stop them. You simply contain the chaos. Think Jurassic Park, but with glitter and unsharpened crayons.

💻 6. “What’s the best classroom tech?”

Real answer:
Tools like Canva for Education, Google Classroom, Jamboard, Padlet, and ClassDojo are all teacher favorites. For posters, a wide-format printer is gold.

Funny answer:
Honestly? The best tech is the one that doesn’t crash during your observation. Or randomly update during your final period. Looking at you, SmartBoard.

🧮 7. “Why is Common Core Math like that?”

Real answer:
It focuses on number sense and understanding the why behind math operations—not just memorizing algorithms.

Funny answer:
Because math needed a glow-up, apparently. And also to ensure parents across the country would be utterly baffled during homework time.

☕️ 8. “Can I drink coffee during class?”

Real answer:
Technically yes. Just be careful about spills, especially near tech or overenthusiastic first graders.

Funny answer:
You must. Coffee is the fuel that powers reading groups, centers, IEP meetings, and your ability to hear the phrase “I don’t get it” 74 times before lunch.

✏️ 9. “Where do I buy classroom supplies without going broke?”

Real answer:
Try DonorsChoose, garage sales, Target dollar spot, Facebook Marketplace, or apply for grants (ESSER, Title I, PTA funds). Also, ask your district before paying out of pocket.

Funny answer:
Start a GoFundMe titled “Help Me Stop Using My Own Salary to Fund My Job.”

🧹 10. “What do I do with kids who finish early?”

Real answer:
Create early-finisher bins with puzzles, STEM challenges, drawing prompts, or enrichment tasks. Google “fast finisher ideas” for gold.

Funny answer:
Tell them to teach the class, file your copies, or write a reflective essay titled “Why Finishing Early Doesn’t Make You Better Than Everyone Else.”

👀 Bonus Round: Rapid-Fire Real Google Searches from Teachers

“How to write 10 sub plans in 5 minutes”
“Do teachers get sick more than normal people”
“Are we getting a snow day” (every teacher from November to March)
“Is crying in the supply closet normal”
“How to become a school librarian and never talk again”

🎁 TL;DR: You’re Not Alone

Teaching is messy, magical, and mildly insane. It’s equal parts lesson planning and crisis management, with a dash of improv comedy and a whole lot of heart. If you’ve ever Googled “how to get a class of 7-year-olds to stop yelling” or “easy science experiment with only vinegar and hope,” you’re in good company.

The things teachers search for online say everything—about their creativity, dedication, exhaustion, and deep desire to make a difference. Every frantic Google at 11:48 p.m. is a quiet act of care. Every search during lunch—granola bar in one hand, dry erase marker in the other—is a sign of a brain that never stops working for kids.

Behind every search is a human being doing the world’s most important job with way too little time, support, or caffeine. And that’s not just admirable—it’s heroic.

So whether you’re building anchor charts between bell rings, scouring Pinterest for last-minute lesson ideas, or trying to decode the latest education buzzword during your “planning period” (aka hallway duty), just know: we see you, we appreciate you, and we’ve got your back.

This space is for you—the midnight Googler, the classroom magician, the exhausted optimist. You’re not alone. Let’s figure this out together.