
Hey y’all! I’m Mikey.
I’m Mikey Sivert, and welcome to Mikey D Teach! After 19+ years in upper elementary classrooms, I know exactly what teachers like you need – engaging resources that work in the real world, not just in theory.
Quick confession: I’m that teacher who stashes chocolate in his desk drawer and runs on coffee. (Don’t worry – your secret chocolate stash is safe with me!) But more importantly? I’m that teacher who knows exactly what you’re dealing with in your upper elementary classroom because I’m right there with you.
I know exactly what you’re dealing with – the endless to-do lists, the constant search for engaging resources, and yes, those moments when you’re wondering if anyone else understands what it’s really like teaching the upper elementary grades these days.
Real Talk: Here’s What I Know About Upper Elementary
Teaching truth: Upper elementary is a whole different world. One minute you’re deep into a math lesson, and the next, you’re helping students navigate friend drama or figure out why their science experiment went hilariously wrong. (True story: I once had a volcano experiment that ended up looking more like a soap explosion. But hey, we learned about chemical reactions AND resilience that day!)
After nearly two decades teaching upper elementary kiddos, I’ve learned that great teaching isn’t just about the academics – it’s about creating those lightbulb moments while building relationships that make students actually want to learn. And that’s exactly why I create resources that do both.
How I Help Make Your Teaching Life Easier
Let’s make this actually manageable! Here’s what you get with my classroom-tested resources.
For Your Daily Teaching
- Standards-aligned lessons that don’t require hours of prep
- Pre-differentiated materials for your diverse learners
- Built-in opportunities to connect with students while teaching content
- Digital and print options because, let’s be real, technology doesn’t always cooperate
- Quick implementation guides (because who has time for a 30-page manual?)
For Your Math & Science Instruction
- Hands-on activities that get kids thinking
- Real-world problem solving that actually engages students
- Built-in scaffolding for different learning levels
- Easy-to-follow lesson structures that work with your existing routine
For Your Social Studies Lessons
- Engaging activities that bring history to life
- Current events connections that students actually care about
- Discussion prompts that build critical thinking skills
- Resources that integrate reading and writing naturally
For Your Classroom Community
- Relationship-building moments woven into academic content
- Practical ways to support students’ social-emotional growth
- Strategies for creating a positive classroom culture
- Tools for building student independence and confidence
My Teaching Street Cred
Teaching isn’t just what I do – it’s who I am. Currently, I’m:
- Teaching 5th grade math, science, and social studies
- Serving as my grade level’s content facilitator
- Creating resources that are helping thousands of teachers
- Constantly testing new ideas in my own classroom
And along the way, I’ve picked up some fancy titles:
- Ohio Master Teacher
- District Teacher of the Year
- Lead Professional Teacher
- ASCD Emerging Leader (2018)
And I’ve got the education to back it all up:
- M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
- M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction
- B.A. in Education
But you know what means the most to me? The notes from teachers saying my resources helped them reach that student who finally understood fractions, or gave them back their Sunday afternoon with their family.

What Makes Mikey D Teach Resources Different
Everything I create passes what I call the “Real Classroom Test”:
- Will this actually work with real upper elementary students?
- Can a busy teacher implement this quickly?
- Does it help build both skills AND relationships?
- Is it engaging enough to compete with YouTube? (Let’s be honest, that’s our real competition!)
- Will it work for different learning styles and levels?
Only when something passes all these tests does it get the green light to help teachers like you.
Let’s Stay Connected!
I love sharing quick tips, classroom stories, and teaching ideas! Find me here:
- TikTok: @upperlementaryteacher (Quick tips and teacher humor)
- Instagram: @mikeydteach (Where I share daily classroom reality checks)
- Facebook: @mikeydteach (Join our supportive teacher community)
- Email: he***@mi*********.com (I actually read and respond!)
Want the inside scoop? Join my email community for exclusive resources, practical tips, and first access to new materials. No fluff, just helpful content from one teacher to another.
One Last Thing…
Remember that chocolate I mentioned hiding in my desk? Well, sometimes teaching upper elementary feels like we need a whole candy store to keep our energy up. But here’s what I’ve learned: with the right resources and support, we can create classrooms where both teachers AND students thrive. That’s my promise to you – resources that work, support that helps, and maybe a few chocolate-fueled teaching tips along the way.
Let’s make this your best teaching year yet!
Your Upper Elementary Teaching Friend,
Mikey
PS: Want to know even more?!? Check out eleven AWESOME, AMAZING, and EMBARRASSING facts about me!
- When I was younger, I dreamed of becoming an Olympic athlete figure skater. {Can you even imagine?!}
- The ‘D’ in my name is an homage to Doug Funnie. {Just kidding… it stands for my middle name, David.}
- I have taught Grades 4, 5, and 6 during my career. Each grade level is fun in its own way! {Except the “Dude, you smell, it’s time to start using deodorant” conversation.}
- When I was younger, I would go to the mall food court. I would get massive cookies (like 11″ cookies) with frosting on them, take them home, and then hide them in my room so no one else could eat them. {I love teaching like a fat kid loves… well, mall food court cookies!}
- I once received an award for my teaching, and it was from my class. They voted me the “Best Sixth Grade Teacher Ever.” It’s my favorite award. {Yes, it beat out the District Teacher of the Year as my favorite!}
- I am a sucker for queso fundido. It’s just so much FUN to eat. {Get it? Queso. FUNdido. ?!?}
- No one really knows my family heritage. {If I were a dog, I’d be a mutt.}
- When I was sixteen, my parents bought me a new car on my birthday. The day after my birthday, I ran the car through wet tar. {#nomorecarformikeyd}
- I also ran said car over a median in a parking lot, blowing out all four tires in the process. {#iamnotagooddriver}
- When my parents took that car back, I got an old Ford Tempo with my own money. And then that car caught on fire. {Seriously, such bad luck with cars!}
- As much as I like to have fun and be humorous, I also take great pride in my teaching career! I only publish curriculum for amazing teachers {like yourself} once it has passed the Mikey D Teach Stamp of Approval test. {Yes, it’s a real thing}.

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