“Students stop loving to learn when teachers stop loving to teach.” – L. Watkins, Class of 2026
This session invites educators to reimagine secondary classrooms by bringing back the energy, creativity, and engagement often reserved for elementary schools. Inspired by a powerful student insight, “students stop loving to learn when teachers stop loving to teach,” this session challenges the idea that rigor and joy can’t be in the same room. Participants will experience practical, high-impact strategies that infuse “magic” into secondary instruction without sacrificing academic depth or standards. From interactive routines, to choice, and celebration, each idea is designed to increase engagement, deepen learning, and build a stronger classroom culture.
Teachers will walk away with ready-to-use ideas, adaptable across content areas, that make learning feel meaningful, memorable, and fun. Because when teachers love to teach, students love to learn.
