We recently invited teachers to share their best tips in our classroom hacks video contest—anything from creative organization strategies to budget-friendly DIY tips to classroom management tricks that really work. We loved the response.
You submitted dozens of fun, creative, and genuinely helpful ideas. We loved seeing how teachers are making the most of their time, space, and budget.
We had one Grand Prize Winner for the best overall video. Then we had three additional category winners from these categories:
Teaching on a Budget đź’ˇ
Organization Hacks đź“Ś
Classroom Management 🛎️
Take a look at our winners here. Plus, you can see more classroom hacks in a new playlist we created here on YouTube.
Grand Prize Winner: Mystery Brain Breaks for Better Behavior
Teacher Cara Vega shares how she uses timed mystery brain breaks as a creative way to encourage positive classroom behavior. Her fun and engaging system not only helps students stay focused, but it also adds a little excitement and surprise to the day.
Classroom Management 🛎️ Category Winner: “Oh Yeah” and “Oh Oops”
Josie McClain shows how these simple phrases can make classroom management smoother (and more fun) for both students and teachers. It’s a playful, effective way to track behavior without disrupting the day.
Teaching on a Budget đź’ˇ Category Winner: Marshmallows for Teenagers
Emily Wilde uses marshmallows to motivate teens to help out and stay engaged. See how this sweet trick works! It’s low-cost, high-reward, and just quirky enough to work wonders.
Organization Hacks đź“Ś Category Winner: DIY Mini Tape Dispensers
Naomi Meredith shows how to save time and reduce mess with this fun art hack using tape and binder clips. It’s a clever way to give each student their own mini tape station while keeping classroom materials under control.
Get even more hacks!
Want even more brilliant ideas from real teachers? We created a Classroom Hacks YouTube Playlist featuring additional entries from the contest. These quick videos are packed with clever, doable tips you can try right away in your own classroom. Go get inspired—and don’t forget to share with your teacher friends!
Complete rules for the Classroom Hacks video Contest are available here.