10 Resources I Wish I'd Had When I Started Teaching

Hello!
I taught middle school for 23 years, and over that time I created a lot of resources simply because I needed something that either didn't exist—or I couldn't find exactly what I wanted.
So instead of just sending you a list of what's on sale, I thought I'd share 10 resources I created that I genuinely wish I'd had when I started teaching.
1. Middle School Bell Ringers – 180 Writing Prompts
I wish I'd started every class with a consistent routine from day one. Having something meaningful ready for students the moment they walked through the door would have saved me a lot of time—and probably a few headaches!
2. Writing Workshop Classroom Management & Student Conferencing
This one was 100% a game-changer for me! Instead of students lining up at my desk or constantly asking when I'd get to them, this system gave them a way to hold their place in line while continuing to work.
3. Social Studies Bulletin Boards – 12 Pack Bundle
Looking back, I spent WAY too much time over the years figuring out what to put on classroom walls. I eventually started creating displays that weren't just decoration—they actually connected to what we were learning.
4. How Do You Measure Up in History?
This became one of my favorite classroom displays. Students can literally compare their height to famous people from history, which makes for a fun interactive bulletin board—and it's a great conversation starter when students first enter the classroom.
5. 50 States Flash Cards & Quiz Bundle
Since I taught U.S. History, I eventually realized that one thing holding some of my students back was pretty simple—they didn't know where many of the states we were learning about were located! Sometimes simple works. Students need repeated exposure to the states, and having ready-to-use flash cards and quizzes makes it easy to practice, review, and check their progress.
6. Latitude & Longitude Treasure Hunts – 30 Activities
Latitude and longitude requires practice, but another worksheet isn't always the answer. Turning coordinate practice into a treasure hunt gave students a reason to actually want to find the next location. Sometimes, we just need a fun start to a Friday!
7. Electoral College PowerPoint, Guided Notes, Simulation & Assessment
The Electoral College can be one of those topics that's difficult to explain in a way that actually makes sense to middle school students. I wish I'd had a complete lesson that not only taught how it works but also let students experience it through a hands-on simulation. This resource combines instruction, guided notes, a classroom competition, and assessment to help turn a complicated concept into something students can actually understand.
8. Middle School Financial Literacy & Economics Activities Bundle
Some of my favorite lessons were the ones that connected what we were learning to students' actual futures. Budgeting, careers, checks, interest, investing, and personal finance gave students a chance to learn skills they would actually use outside of school.
9. U.S. History Primary Sources – Articles of Confederation to Gettysburg Address
When I started teaching, I'll admit that I was intimidated by the idea of using primary sources with middle school students. How do you take some of America's most important historical documents and make them approachable for a 12- or 13-year-old? This bundle helps students go beyond simply reading historical documents to analyze what they mean, understand why they mattered, and connect their ideas to the world today. With resources covering major documents from the Articles of Confederation through the Gettysburg Address, it's something I wish I'd had much earlier in my teaching career.
10. U.S. History Tournament of Champions
Another game-changer for me, especially at the end of the year, was discovering how powerful a little friendly competition could be. Students research, argue, vote, and debate which people, events, and inventions had the greatest impact on American history in a March Madness-style tournament. It's a fun way to keep students engaged, thinking critically, and talking about U.S. History—even during those final days of the school year when keeping middle schoolers focused can be a challenge!
Looking back, I created many of these resources because I was trying to solve the same problems teachers face every day:

1. How do I keep students engaged?
2. How do I make this easier to teach?
3. And how do I save myself some time?

Whether you're just starting your teaching career or you're heading back for another year, I hope you find something that saves you a little time and makes your classroom a little more fun!
​Have a great school year!
Matthew, Surviving Social Studies