Teacher promised 4th graders a ‘break-up’ letter—then surprised them with 'American Revolution' lesson

There’s no age when it comes to hearing the tea, and a teacher named Danielle Jesmonth, skillfully used that fact to her advantage, reported Good Morning America. The fourth-grade teacher intrigued each student in her classroom by revealing that she found a “breakup letter” near the recycling bin in their classroom. In a video shared on TikTok on January 14, 2026, the woman is seen holding a sheet of crumpled paper as she is met with gasps, excitement, and intently listening ears. Little did they know, she was about to break down the American Revolution through the very letter. 

For some reason, as soon as the kids heard “breakup letter,” they yelled in excitement. Keeping up with the enthusiasm, Jesmonth quickly informed them that she was about to spill every word in that letter and would also reveal who wrote it at the end. Ears had never been sharper, and interest never more piqued. Addressing a “Darling,” the writer of the letter noted that they had been together for a long time but most of it was “really bad for me.” “You are so controlling and never ask what I think,” the teacher read. The classroom was filled with mixed emotions. The teacher continued to reveal that the writer was “sick of” always being told what to do. 

“I don’t know how to say this to you, but we’re done,” she read. Giggles, gasps, and remarks filled the classroom. The letter further mentioned that despite repeated attempts to “talk about feelings,” they were ignored. When she finished reading the letter, Jesmonth went into detail, discussing the problem. And the kids were stoked to contribute. They together listed how “darling” was controlling and refused to listen. Somehow, while teaching history, the teacher was brilliantly also teaching self-respect and boundaries, and it was a chef’s kiss class. When it was time to reveal who wrote the letter, the teacher confessed that it was a prank and no student had written it. 

“Darling” was none other than King George III, and the “breakup” was dedicated to the American Declaration of Independence, where America separated from British Rule. Jesmonth, chuckling away, explained that the “peace out” in the letter meant “Peace out, England.” While the students were expecting one of their classmates' secrets to be unlocked, they were a little disappointed that they learned about the American Revolution instead. However, parents and the internet were impressed. “Their parents messaged me about it, and they were like, ‘That sounds so awesome. I wish I could have seen their faces,'” the woman recounted.

While the students might be regretting it now, they surely won’t forget the lesson, thanks to this innovative method. A study done on around 200 students confirmed that using qualitative or innovative methods of teaching works way better than other traditional practices. Along with overall improvement in learning and grasping, other perks of “increased engagement, improved critical thinking, and enhanced adaptability in classroom settings” were also observed. This is not just the case for primary students; even youth reported that innovative methods and engaging teaching work better in the long run when it comes to academics. 

In a study shared by IJRISS, high school students were surveyed regarding their understanding, learning, satisfaction, and efficiency with unique and creative methods. The level of students who responded positively to these factors with regard to innovative teaching was marked “high.” Jesmonth’s unique approach went viral with multiple reposts and thrilling comments. @131sundial said, “Wait, this is literally so smart.” @christophersalaza76 noted, “I teach 11th grade US. Thanks so much for this great idea.” @jcoz637 added, “Such a great way to introduce and teach about the Declaration of Independence.” 

You can follow  Danielle Jesmonth (@djjjjjjj__) on TikTok for more content on teaching and lifestyle. 

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