Before you spend too much time prepping curriculum for next school year, there is one essential teaching tool that cannot be forgotten: a teacher soundtrack. Music gives us the words to capture the craziness only fellow teachers would understand. In honor of teachers everywhere who sing song lyrics at the top of their lungs (or when necessary mutter them under their breaths), here are the top ten songs that aren’t about teaching but should be:
1. “Issues” by Julia Michaels
‘Cause I got issues
But you got ’em too
So give ’em all to me
And I’ll give mine to you
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ke4480MicU [/embedyt]
The first thing teachers discover when they step through the threshold of their classroom doors is that they have issues, and their teacher friends got ‘em too. Luckily, there’s happy hour.
2. “Stressed Out” by Twenty One Pilots
Wish we could turn back time, to the good old days
When our momma sang us to sleep but now we’re stressed out
Wish we could turn back time, to the good old days
When our momma sang us to sleep but now we’re stressed out
We’re stressed out
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXRviuL6vMY [/embedyt]
I’m pretty sure Twenty One Pilots must have observed my classroom before writing this song. The stress hormones pumping through my veins must be visible as I grade 100 papers, analyze data, and make sure everything I do is preparing kids for a standardized test all while smiling and maintaining proper parent communication.
3. “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John
Don’t you know I’m still standing better than I ever did
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid
I’m still standing after all this time
Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind
I’m still standing yeah yeah yeah
I’m still standing yeah yeah yeah
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXRviuL6vMY [/embedyt]
Teachers should play this song at the end of every work day. Blast it with windows down as you drive out of the teachers’ parking lot. Better yet, blast it as you drive through the student parking lot. Teachers, this is our victory song.
4. “Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars
Yes I said it
I said it
I said it ’cause I can
Today I don’t feel like doing anything
I just wanna lay in my bed
Don’t feel like picking up my phone
So leave a message at the tone
‘Cause today I swear I’m not doing anything
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLexgOxsZu0&feature=youtu.be [/embedyt]
When the rest of your friends are ready to rock the town on Friday night and you’re in bed by 8 PM, just make this your ringback tone.
5. “Don’t Let Me Down” by The Chainsmokers
Crashing, hit a wall
Right now I need a miracle
Hurry up now, I need a miracle
Stranded, reaching out
I call your name but you’re not around
I say your name but you’re not around
I need you, I need you, I need you right now
Yeah, I need you right now
So don’t let me, don’t let me, don’t let me down
I think I’m losing my mind now
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io0fBr1XBUA&feature=youtu.be [/embedyt]
If you want the perfect song to sing to your teacher bestie across the hall, this is it. When you’re losing your mind, use this song as code that you need saving — stat! Miracle in room 308, please.
6. “In Summer” by Olaf (Josh Gad)
A drink in my hand
My snow up against the burning sand
Prob’ly getting gorgeously tanned
In summer
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPe71yr73Jk&feature=youtu.be [/embedyt]
Maybe we’re not made out of snow, but as teachers, summer is our spirit animal. We need a song to celebrate summer in all its glory. Thank you, Olaf!
7. “Shake it Off” by Taylor Swift
Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io0fBr1XBUA&feature=youtu.be [/embedyt]
Leave it to T. Swifty to give teachers the best ever advice when dealing with difficult fill-in-the-blank (students, parents, administrators, the general public, etc.). Haters gonna hate, but teachers, you got this. Shake it off and step right back into that classroom like you just don’t care.
8. “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
Go on now, go walk out the door
Just turn around now
‘Cause you’re not welcome anymore
Weren’t you the one who tried to break me with goodbye?
Did you think I’d crumble?
Did you think I’d lay down and die?
Oh no not I, I will survive
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCR0ep31-6U&feature=youtu.be [/embedyt]
In a teacher dream world, we would play this song as we send a student to the office … did I say that out loud? Go on now, go walk out the door.
9. “Respect” by Aretha Franklin
What you want
Baby, I got it
What you need
Do you know I got it
All I’m askin’
Is for a little respect
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0&feature=youtu.be [/embedyt]
This song is so obviously about teaching. Aretha must have been a teacher in her former life. Sing this song to your students as they enter your classroom on a daily basis. Make it your anthem.
10. “White Flag” by Dido
I will go down with this ship
And I won’t put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I’m in love and always will be
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-fWDrZSiZs&feature=youtu.be [/embedyt]
The best characteristic of teachers? No matter how hard it gets, we never give up. We will go down with the ship, and at the end of the day, no matter how crazy it gets, we will always love what we do. Thanks, Dido, for putting our refusal to surrender into song.
This teacher soundtrack is best enjoyed with a group of your teacher besties on a Friday afternoon. In fact, I highly recommend organizing a gathering where you and your teacher besties hash out the songs that reflect your classroom craziness. This particular playlist is the result of a really fun afternoon of brainstorming with my own teacher besties, Sarah and Nicole (raise your hands in the air like you just don’t care!).
