Last week, my daughter Daniela called me from college laughing. "Mom, I saw this TikTok about a teacher who organized her classroom supplies by color and it has 2 million views. You should totally make teacher TikToks!"

I love my daughter, but ay, dios mio. The thought of me trying to film myself explaining fraction strips while dancing to trending audio makes me want to hide under my desk.

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against teachers who create amazing content on TikTok. Some of them are brilliant educators sharing incredible ideas. But somewhere along the way, we started feeling like we need to be content creators on top of everything else we do.

The Pressure to Perform Online

Walk into any teacher workroom and you'll hear it. "Did you see that bulletin board idea on TikTok?" "She has the most amazing classroom setup." "Look at this craft project that only took her five minutes."

Five minutes, my foot. I've been teaching for 22 years and I know that nothing good in education happens in five minutes. Except maybe getting 28 fourth graders to line up quietly, and even that's a miracle.

The truth is, social media can make us feel like we're not doing enough. Like our regular old bulletin boards with student work aren't Instagram-worthy. Like our tried-and-true teaching methods aren't trendy enough.

But here's what I've learned: the best teaching usually happens in those quiet, unfilmable moments.

The Magic Happens Off Camera

Yesterday, little Sofia finally understood long division. Not because I had some viral teaching hack, but because I sat with her for ten minutes during lunch and drew it out on scratch paper for the hundredth time.

There was no ring light. No catchy music. Just me, Sofia, and a pencil with a chewed-up eraser.

When Marcus (my student, not my son) finally felt brave enough to share about his weekend in our Monday morning circle, it wasn't because I had the most aesthetic classroom setup. It was because we've built trust over months of small moments.

These are the victories that matter, pero they don't get likes or shares.

The Time Factor

Let's be real about something else. Creating content takes time. Good content takes a lot of time.

Between lesson planning, grading, parent emails, IEP meetings, and trying to analyze our FAST data to figure out which IXL skills our kids need (thank goodness for tools like FastIXL that make that process faster), when exactly are we supposed to film and edit videos?

Carlos keeps asking why I'm still working at 9 PM, and I have to explain that I spent my planning period dealing with a playground incident and calling three parents. Adding content creation to that list feels impossible.

What Actually Helps Our Teaching

Instead of scrolling through teacher TikTok, here's what's actually improved my teaching this year:

Talking to colleagues in person. Yolanda down the hall has been teaching third grade for 15 years. She knows more about phonics instruction than any influencer, and she's happy to share over coffee in the workroom.

Reading actual research. I know, I know. It's not as fun as watching a 30-second video. But spending time with real educational research has changed how I approach math instruction more than any viral hack.

Reflecting on my own practice. At the end of each week, I jot down what worked and what didn't. It's boring, but it's helped me become a better teacher than any trend ever could.

Investing in relationships. The time I might spend creating content, I spend learning about my students. Their interests, their challenges, what makes them tick.

You're Already Enough

Here's what I want every Florida teacher to know: you don't need a viral classroom reveal to be an amazing teacher. You don't need perfect bulletin boards or color-coordinated everything.

Your students need you to be present, prepared, and caring. They need you to know your content and how to teach it well. They need you to see them as individuals and meet them where they are.

None of that requires a camera or a trending hashtag.

Finding Balance in the Digital Age

I'm not saying we should avoid all educational technology or social media. I use plenty of digital tools in my classroom, and I've found great ideas online over the years.

But we need to be intentional about how we engage with it. If teacher TikTok inspires you and fits into your life without adding stress, go for it. If it makes you feel inadequate or overwhelmed, it's okay to step away.

The same goes for creating content. If you love sharing your teaching ideas and have the time and energy for it, that's wonderful. But if you don't, you're not letting anyone down.

What Really Matters

At the end of the day, our students won't remember if our classrooms were TikTok-worthy. They'll remember if we made them feel safe, challenged, and valued.

They'll remember if we celebrated their growth, supported them through struggles, and helped them discover they're capable of more than they thought.

They'll remember if we were real people who cared about them, not perfect content creators with all the answers.

Moving Forward

So here's my challenge for all of us: let's focus on being great teachers first. Let's invest our energy in our students, our craft, and our own growth.

If social media adds value to your teaching life, use it. If it doesn't, don't feel guilty about stepping away.

Your worth as an educator isn't measured in followers or views. It's measured in the lives you touch and the minds you shape every single day.

And that, mis colegas, is more valuable than all the viral videos in the world.

What do you think? Are you feeling the pressure to be online, or have you found a good balance? I'd love to hear how you're navigating this digital teaching world we're all figuring out together.