Last Tuesday, I walked into my classroom at 7:15 AM and immediately knew something was wrong. The air felt thick enough to swim through, and my bulletin boards were already starting to curl at the edges. Yep, the AC was out again.

By 8:30, little Marcus (not my son, my student Marcus) raised his hand and asked, "Mrs. Santos, why does it feel like we're inside a giant's mouth?" Honestly, kid had a point.

The Reality Check We All Need

Let's be real for a minute. Teaching in Florida means dealing with heat that would make a lizard complain. And when that ancient AC unit decides to take a vacation right in the middle of October (because of course it's still 95 degrees in October), we have two choices: panic or adapt.

I used to panic. During my second year teaching, the AC went out for three days straight. I spent those days sweating through my clothes, watching my kids wilt like forgotten lettuce, and accomplishing absolutely nothing educational. It was a disaster.

Twenty years later, I've learned a thing or two about surviving these Florida furnace days. And trust me, we're all going to need these strategies because climate change isn't making our jobs any easier.

The Ice Strategy That Changed Everything

Here's what I wish someone had told me years ago: ice is your best friend, but not how you think.

I keep a small cooler in my classroom (yes, I bought it with my own money, don't get me started). When I know it's going to be brutal, I fill it with ice packs and frozen water bottles. But here's the key - I don't just hand them out randomly.

I create "cooling stations" around the room. Four ice packs wrapped in thin towels, placed strategically where kids can lean against the wall and cool their necks or wrists. Those pulse points are magic for bringing body temperature down fast.

The frozen water bottles? They become our "traveling coolness." Kids can hold them during independent work, roll them on their arms, or just press them against their foreheads. Plus, as they melt, we have cold water to drink. Win-win.

Rethinking Your Lesson Plans (Yes, Again)

When it's hotter than the surface of Venus in your classroom, that elaborate science experiment isn't happening. Period.

I learned to keep a "heat day" folder ready. These are lessons that require minimal movement, generate zero additional heat, and can be done from the floor if needed (because heat rises, and sometimes the floor is our coolest option).

Reading aloud becomes your superpower. I'll have kids spread out on the floor with their ice packs while I read chapter books. They're learning, they're cool(er), and nobody's moving around generating more body heat.

Math review games work great too, but skip anything that involves jumping or running around. Save those energetic activities for days when the AC is actually functioning.

The Hydration Station Revolution

This one took me way too long to figure out. When kids are hot, they get cranky. When they're dehydrated AND hot, they become tiny grumpy monsters.

I set up what I call a "hydration station" near the sink. Big water dispenser (again, my own money, but it's worth every penny), paper cups, and a sign that says "Drink Before You Think You Need It."

The rule is simple: if you feel hot, drink water first, then tell me how you feel. Nine times out of ten, that solves half the problem.

I also send kids to fill up water bottles for their classmates. It gets them moving (but not too much), helps everyone stay hydrated, and gives the really overheated ones a chance to splash some cool water on their wrists at the sink.

Strategic Fan Placement (Yes, It Matters)

If you're lucky enough to have fans, don't just plop them anywhere. I spent years doing this wrong.

Put one fan blowing OUT the window if possible. Hot air needs somewhere to go. Another fan should blow across the room, not directly at the kids (that just moves hot air around).

The best trick I learned from my husband Carlos: create cross-ventilation. If you have two fans, position them so air flows in from one direction and out from another. It actually moves the hot air instead of just stirring it around like soup.

When to Call It Quits (And How to Do It Right)

Sometimes, we need to admit defeat. If kids are getting headaches, feeling nauseous, or you're seeing signs of heat exhaustion, it's time to relocate.

I've moved my entire class to the library, the cafeteria, even outside under the covered walkway. Most administrators understand that learning can't happen when everyone's brain is melting.

But here's the key: have a plan. Don't just march 24 kids somewhere without warning. Call ahead, bring materials that work in your backup location, and make it feel like an adventure instead of an emergency.

The Supply List That Saves Lives

Keep these items in your classroom for heat emergencies:

Small towels (for wrapping ice packs) Extra water bottles A cooler (even a small one helps) Battery-powered fan (for when the power goes out too) Popsicles in the teacher fridge (trust me on this one)

Making It Work for Our Kids

Here's what I've noticed over the years: our Florida kids are tougher than we give them credit for. They're used to heat. But they're not used to being trapped in a hot room for six hours with no relief.

Give them permission to take breaks. Let them put their heads down when they need to. Allow water bottle refills without asking. These small accommodations make a huge difference.

And remember, we're modeling how to handle difficult situations. If we're panicking and complaining constantly, that's what they'll learn to do. If we're problem-solving and staying positive (while still acknowledging that yes, it's ridiculously hot), they learn resilience.

The Silver Lining (There Really Is One)

You know what's beautiful about heat day teaching? The artificial stuff falls away. We stop worrying about perfect bulletin boards and start focusing on what really matters: taking care of each other.

I've seen kids share their ice packs without being asked. I've watched them help classmates who were struggling with the heat. These are life lessons you can't plan for.

So yes, teaching when it's 95 degrees and the AC is broken is miserable. But we're Florida teachers. We've survived hurricanes, budget cuts, and endless curriculum changes. We can handle a little heat.

Stay cool out there, and remember: this too shall pass. (Hopefully before we all turn into puddles.)