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How To Survive The Classroom — Education
How To Survive The Classroom

As we all know, an educator’s career is one of prestige, respect, and authority.
Just kidding.
Sure, there are lesson plans and inspirational posters. Book reports and detentions. But nobody tells you it’s also parents brawling in the parking lot, students unleashing live crickets during finals, and getting evaluated for “running a tight ship” while the ceiling literally leaks onto your head.
Hosted by Andrea Forcum (aka @Educator Andrea on TikTok, former high school teacher and current professor at Indiana State University), How to Survive the Classroom is part advice column, part survival guide, and part group therapy. Each week, Andrea dons her trauma tiara to tackle call-ins and confessions from fellow educators (and brave educator allies). From hilarious war stories to brutal burnout moments, join us as we strategize, survive, and occasionally let out a good old-fashioned cathartic scream into the void.
If you’ve ever Googled “how to professionally quit mid-semester” or seriously considered hiding in a supply closet, this show’s for you. Teaching may be a noble profession… but nobility doesn’t stop your classroom from catching on fire.

Latest Episodes:

Is “6-7” the New “Deez Nuts”? Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

This week I found myself wandering through a 90s fever dream, yes, there was an actual Tamagotchi pop-up shop, before heading to Chicago for a sold-out show that brought out old students, old stories, and one deeply unimpressed middle schooler. Then, things got even more chaotic when teacher voicemails rolled in: one about 8th graders who can’t stop saying “six-seven” (and now in Spanish), and another about a slime experiment gone very, very wrong. Let’s just say it involved a phrase no one should ever hear in a science class. Add in a life-saving resource for struggling students and a hill I’m ready to die on why student teachers need to be paid and you’ve got an episode that’s equal parts nostalgia, cringe, and fire.

Takeaways:

Andrea’s surreal discovery of a Tamagotchi pop-up shop in a fully packed 90s-style mall before her Chicago show.

A run-in with a 12-year-old fan’s son who made it painfully clear parents can’t be cool no matter what.

A teacher voicemail about students obsessed with the “six-seven” trend and now, thanks to a clever colleague, saying it in Spanish.

Another voicemail featuring an 8th grader who made a slime experiment unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.

Andrea’s passionate plea for change: why student teachers deserve to be paid for their full-time classroom work. --

Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠teachersloungelive.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Educatorandrea.com/tickets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for laugh out loud Education! — Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea A Human Content Production

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why I Will Never Love a Parade Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

I thought the mic stand was going to be my biggest battle this week… but between parades I didn’t understand, parents at my kids’ school, and voicemails that took turns I could have never prepared for, this episode had me reeling. From a teacher who declared he had his “asshole pants” on, to a locker room surprise that may or may not have been cocaine, to a student loudly announcing she was climaxing in driver’s ed, let’s just say, things escalated quickly. And yes, I have thoughts. Lots of them.

Takeaways: When your mic starts drooping mid-speech, the crowd notices… and so does your self-esteem.

Apparently, parades aren’t just floats and candy, sometimes it’s cement trucks and kraut balls.

A teacher’s slip of the tongue about “asshole pants” turned into a running gag students will never let die.

The line between “potential cocaine” and “baking powder” is scarier than you think, especially when it shows up at school.

There are things you expect to hear in driver’s ed… “I’m climaxing” is not one of them. --

Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠teachersloungelive.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Educatorandrea.com/tickets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for laugh out loud Education! — Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea A Human Content Production

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gollum Matters More To Me Than Taylor Swift! Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

This week I learned that nothing divides the internet faster than Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement and yes, I have thoughts. Spoiler: I’m baffled, not bitter. From my squirrel-and-nut analogies to realizing Lord of the Rings news impacts me way more than celebrity weddings, this episode is a rollercoaster of pop culture side-eye, mom-life struggles, and teacher realities. You’ll also hear listener voicemails that had me laughing and questioning admin choices, plus a resource that might actually save you grading time.

Takeaways: Andrea’s bafflement at the internet’s collective meltdown over Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement—and her “squirrel found a nut” metaphor .

A nerdy detour into Lord of the Rings news that sparked way more joy than any celebrity couple could .

A listener voicemail about teaching in 110° heat in Southern Utah and the reality of special education across grades 10–12 .

A second voicemail that sparked a debate about admin calling a disruptive student “our friend” and how leaders should support teachers .

Andrea’s hill to die on: why charm and grit will always beat raw IQ in the long run --

Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠teachersloungelive.com⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Educatorandrea.com/tickets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for laugh out loud Education! — Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea A Human Content Production

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did a Kid Really Need Stitches From a Stall Hook? Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

This week had me cackling, cringing, and covering my face. First up, Indiana State roasted me in the most unexpected way, and then a listener voicemail hit my inbox about a confiscated classroom “toy” that looked suspiciously like something straight out of an adult store. Add in another voicemail about a kid who ended up in the ER after a bathroom stunt went horribly wrong (yes, it’s as painful as it sounds), and I spiral into a rant about why “no animal testing” might not be the flex brands think it is.

Takeaways: The surreal moment Andrea’s TikToks were credited as an enrollment booster at a faculty meeting.

A listener voicemail about a confiscated item that had teachers questioning if it belonged in a classroom—or an entirely different store.

Another voicemail about a student’s bathroom stunt that ended with a nurse, an ambulance, and stitches in a place no one wants them.

Andrea’s own kindergartner proving poop humor is genetic.

A fiery rant about “no animal testing” labels and why Andrea doesn’t buy the hype. --

Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠teachersloungelive.com⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Educatorandrea.com/tickets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for laugh out loud Education! — Let’s give back to those who give everything to the next generation. This September, Cozy Earth is doing two special things for teachers:

You can nominate a teacher who’s made a life-changing difference—they’ll be entered to win a massive giveaway.

And, if you’re a teacher, professor, or faculty member yourself, Cozy Earth is giving you 50% off all month long.

Just head to http://www.cozyearth.com/teachers to nominate and to access your discount.

-- Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea A Human Content Production

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Do You Even Say After A Student Goes Up in Flames? Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

This episode has everything: a very confusing proposition for Gasper in Arizona, students showing up to class with “water bottles” that definitely weren’t water, and a kid who decided standardized testing needed more… fire. Literally. I also get into the messy overlap between teacher contracts and legal weed, why standardized tests might be measuring culture more than knowledge, and the one hill I’ll absolutely die on when it comes to superintendents. It’s chaotic, it’s real, and it might just make you grateful your worst testing day didn’t involve a human torch.

Takeaways: Gasper’s “oblivious” Arizona bar night that turned into one of the funniest stories of the tour.

A student busted with weed and vodka—while still somehow upright in class.

The ninth grader who lit their arm on fire during a state test (and insisted it was “cool”).

Andrea’s take on marijuana legality, teacher contracts, and the double standards around what educators can do off the clock.

A fiery rant on why superintendents should never get raises when teachers don’t. --

Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠teachersloungelive.com⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Educatorandrea.com/tickets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for laugh out loud Education! —

Let’s give back to those who give everything to the next generation. This September, Cozy Earth is doing two special things for teachers:

You can nominate a teacher who’s made a life-changing difference—they’ll be entered to win a massive giveaway.

And, if you’re a teacher, professor, or faculty member yourself, Cozy Earth is giving you 50% off all month long.

Just head to http://www.cozyearth.com/teachers to nominate and to access your discount.

-- Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea A Human Content Production

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When “Creative Expression” Ends in Flames Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

This week I found myself caught between two very different kinds of chaos: one involving an art teacher with a flair for fire, and another that sent me spiraling back to the glory days of Limewire downloads gone wrong. I’ll just say this, what started as innocent creativity and curious music hunting turned into disasters no one saw coming. And yes, you’ll probably feel just as nervous as I did listening back.

Takeaways: That one art teacher who might’ve taken “sparking creativity” way too literally.

Why some classrooms should come with fire extinguishers—and therapy vouchers.

The unforgettable chaos of Limewire and what we really found on those downloads.

How a single misstep—whether with fire or files—can change the entire vibe of a day.

The line between hilarious disaster and genuine danger in both classrooms and dial-up days. --

Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠teachersloungelive.com and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Educatorandrea.com/tickets⁠⁠⁠⁠ for laugh out loud Education! — Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea A Human Content Production

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Do You Do When a Student Mentions a Murder? Sep 01, 2025

Show notes

Teacher besties, this one whiplashed me from what did that sub just say? to why am I holding the phone with a detective?

We start with a voicemail about a beloved substitute whose first day with third graders went… let’s call it catastrophically “old-war-story meets wrong audience.” The recovery arc? Shockingly sweet—but the initial moment had my soul leave my body.

Then a second story drops: a teacher realizes a student’s casual recap might be the missing piece in an unsolved gang-related homicide near school—and suddenly she’s coordinating with investigators. It’s heartbreaking, complicated, and so real to how kids can be both soft and street-exposed at the same time.

I share how these moments rewire your teacher brain—why some “favorites” in the sub pool become targets, and why kids who brush up against gangs are often looking for the same thing we try to build in class: safety and community

Takeaways: A sub’s “discipline talk” goes wildly off-script—and proves you can bomb hard and still become that sub kids ask for years later.

A teacher hears a student’s after-school story and realizes it may matter to an active homicide investigation—so she makes the call.

Why favorite subs sometimes get terrorized more, not less—and how kids “work the room” when the regular teacher’s out.

Andrea’s take on gang-affiliated students: the classroom as a pocket of safety/community in a life that doesn’t always offer it.

A reminder that the “toughest” kids might also be the ones building blanket forts at 10am—and bringing flowers to their mom’s grave at 10pm.

Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠teachersloungelive.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Educatorandrea.com/tickets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for laugh out loud Education! — Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea A Human Content Production

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who Is Mr. Wilson… and Why Did We Almost Call CPS? Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

I thought I’d heard it all when it comes to the chaos that happens in schools… and then this episode happened. From bizarre moments that made me question my own sanity to a story that had me laughing so hard I had to stop recording—this one is a ride. Let’s just say it involves a teacher, an unexpected interruption, and one of the most jaw-dropping moments we’ve ever had on the show. You won’t see this one coming.

Takeaways: The hilarious way one teacher’s totally normal day spiraled into absolute chaos.

A moment so awkward, it had the entire room frozen.

The unexpected classroom disruption that changed the whole vibe in seconds.

Why sometimes the funniest moments are the ones you can’t plan for.

Proof that teachers really do have the best (and wildest) stories.

Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at ⁠⁠⁠teachersloungelive.com⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Educatorandrea.com/tickets⁠⁠⁠ for laugh out loud Education! — Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea A Human Content Production

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Could You Tell If Your Students Were High? Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

This week’s episode has everything: brownies gone wrong, mice turning into classroom pets, and yes… the day I realized my car had become a rat maternity ward. (Don’t eat during that part, teacher besties.)

We kick things off with a student cruise that takes a very unexpected turn when a principal tries to “prove a point” with confiscated brownies. Spoiler: it backfired spectacularly. Then, a mouse runs straight into class and one student’s reaction is… let’s just say not what I would’ve done.

And to balance out the chaos, I sit down with Phil Januszewski, a high-energy youth speaker, about why awkwardness and failing forward might actually be the best gift we can give our students. Takeaways: What happened when a mouse joined senior English — and why one student treated it like a pet.

How a field trip brownie left an entire school board scrambling (and a principal very high).

Andrea’s most cursed car story yet: the discovery of a rat nest… placenta included.

Why Phil Januszewski says “embrace the awkward” is the secret to building student confidence.

Andrea reflects on how naive teachers (herself included) can be when kids are high right under our noses.

Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea…Get your tickets at ⁠⁠Teachersloungelive.com⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Educatorandrea.com/tickets⁠⁠ for laugh out loud Education! — Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea A Human Content Production

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Happens When Students Plot to Get You Fired? Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

Between trying to deep-clean grout, almost impulse-buying enough tile to redo my whole house, and befriending an owl that definitely wants nothing to do with me, my life is chaos right now. But teacher besties, we’ve also got some insane listener stories this week.

One caller shares how struggling in school meant being banned from every fun activity, while another almost got fired their first year for the crime of telling a kid to “sit down.” Yep. That’s it. I spiral about IEPs, incentives, dog training parallels (don’t cancel me), and whether candy counts as currency in classrooms. Spoiler: it does.

This episode is messy, hilarious, and just a little bit wise—kind of like my grout. Takeaways: Andrea’s new house adventures include grout crises, owl obsession, and a kid who roasts her comedy career.

A future teacher calls in about being barred from extracurriculars because of low grades—Andrea has thoughts.

One teacher nearly lost their job over telling a student to sit down, and the dog-training parallels get… way too real.

Candy vs. no candy: the great classroom incentive debate heats up.

Andrea drops a resource that can cut teacher prep time in half—without sacrificing sanity.

Teachers’ night out? Yes, please! Come see comedian Educator Andrea… Get your tickets at ⁠teachersloungelive.com⁠ and ⁠EducatorAndrea.com/tickets⁠ for laugh out loud education! — Don’t Be Shy Come Say Hi: www.podcasterandrea.com Watch on YouTube: @educatorandrea A Human Content Production

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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