The germs finally got me, so I’m taking you along for what it really looks like when you have to take a sick day… and then come back to your classroom the very next day. In this vlog, I show my first day back after having a sub—how I check in with my students about how the day went, what I look for when I’m “processing” everything that happened while I was out, and how I get us back into a steady routine without feeling overwhelmed. I also share what our school’s “Color War” day looks like and how we use it as a fun incentive (plus a quick look at the school bingo board). Then I sit down and talk through my goals for 2026—my word for the year, one January goal I’m focusing on, and three things I want to accomplish by the end of the year. To wrap up, I show a few classroom updates like my new math word wall for fractions, student stickers, and what my end-of-day reset looks like when I’m trying to make teaching feel lighter and more manageable.