A Florida teacher turned her love of football into a classroom hit.

Mary Crippen isn’t your average third-grade teacher. She’s a Miami Dolphins fan who figured out how to turn her students’ love of football into a full-on learning experience—and it’s working.

Meet “NFeLementary”

At the start of the school year, each student in Mary’s Florida classroom drafts an NFL team. That team becomes part of their learning journey all season long. They write letters to their teams, track stats for math lessons, and even use geography to map out where their teams play.

It’s called “NFeLementary,” and it’s not just fun—it’s effective.

Real Responses from Real Teams

The kids aren’t just pretending. NFL teams have actually written back. Some have sent care packages, team swag, and even personal shoutouts. Imagine being 8 years old and getting a message from your favorite player. That’s the kind of thing you remember forever.

More Than Just Schoolwork

Mary’s not just teaching spelling and math. She’s using football to talk about teamwork, perseverance, and how to bounce back from a loss—on the field or in life.

And it’s catching on. Her TikTok videos have gone viral, and NFL fans (and franchises) are paying attention.

Surprise Guest? Yep.

Things got even more exciting when former NFL player Andrew Whitworth surprised the class before a Ravens-Dolphins game. The kids were stunned. Mary was too.

Why It Works

Mary saw what her students cared about and built a curriculum around it. That’s the kind of creative thinking that makes a difference—not just in test scores, but in how kids feel about learning.

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Photo: Getty Images