7 Tech Troubleshooting Tips for Classroom Teachers in 2025
- By Deedee Wills
- Updated on October 3
- 15 Comments
Table of Contents
If you’re a classroom teacher who’s ever stared helplessly at a frozen screen five minutes before a lesson—or panicked when your interactive printer decides to “go rogue”—you are so not alone. Tech is a powerful classroom ally… when it works.
But when it doesn’t? It can derail your entire day. That’s why today, I’m going to share some tech troubleshooting for classroom teachers—simple, step-by-step solutions to your most common tech woes, without needing to become besties with your school’s IT department.
Whether you’re battling mysteriously odd black blotches when you print a PDF, a “path is too long” error message, or fonts that just WON’t behave, this post will give you the confidence (and quick fixes!) you need to keep tech stress low and learning on track.
Plus, I’m sharing go-to tutorials that will help you prevent those meltdowns before they start.
When Technology Makes You Say Bad Words!
I’m going to be 100% honest. There are very few things that make me more spiral than technology issues… It is pretty ugly when it happens. I also confess that I am not innately gifted when it comes to technology.
EXHIBIT A: I do not really know how to use my T.V. remote. In general, I push all the buttons until something happens, which usually results in me screaming, “TECH SUPPORT!!! TECH SUPPORT!!! [Vanilla Sky reference: not my favorite movie, but…].
So, suffice to say, I understand how frustrating it can be. I have collected some of my frequently asked questions and made a few videos to help you out.
Technical Troubleshooting Tutorials: Printing Problems
Let’s say you are getting ready to print a PDF file. It looks great on your screen, but when you print it, it has a black background (or the letters get jumbled up). It might look something like this.
The black is not supposed to be colored in around the bat, rat, mat, sat, or hat.
This is usually an issue with the type of PDF reader your are using.
I get this question a LOT at the beginning of the school year. Often times, school districts will update software and it causes a few issues.
You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free over on their site:
There are other printing issues that you might encounter. Teachers Pay Teachers has a great section on how to solve printing issues:
How to Open or Extract a Zipped Files
A ZIP file is like a digital suitcase—it’s a single compressed folder that neatly packs multiple files together. This format is especially helpful for Teacher-Authors on TPT who want to include several items (like PDFs, PowerPoints, and other resources) in one easy-to-download bundle.
To access the contents of a ZIP file, you’ll need to “unzip” or extract it first. The good news? If you’re using a Windows PC or Mac, your device can unzip files without any extra software. If you’re on an iPhone or iPad, you’ll need to download a free app to get the job done.
Below, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for opening ZIP files on the most common devices teachers use:
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Microsoft Windows
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Mac OS
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Chromebook
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iPhone/iPad
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Free Online ZIP Extractor
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Troubleshooting Common Issues
If you’re using a Windows computer:
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Right-click on the ZIP folder you downloaded.
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Select “Extract All” from the dropdown menu.
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Choose where you’d like the unzipped files to be saved, then click “Extract.”
If you’re using a Mac:
Simply double-click the ZIP file you downloaded. Your Mac will automatically unzip it and place the extracted files in the same folder as the original ZIP file.
If nothing happens when you double-click, try this:
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Hold down the Control key and click the ZIP file.
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Choose “Open With” and select “Archive Utility.”
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The files will be extracted and saved right where you downloaded them.
What if you’re seeing error messages when trying to open a ZIP file?
Don’t worry these are usually a simple fix! (and nobody heard that bad word that just slipped out of your mouth.)
Here are a few frequent messages and how to fix them:
“Path too long”
This means the file name (plus the folders it’s inside) is just too long for Windows to handle. It often happens when ZIP files contain deeply nested folders.
Try this fix: Extract the ZIP to a simple location, like your Desktop. You can move the files to a different folder later.
Here is a video to help you!
“The destination file could not be created”
This usually happens when you’re trying to unzip a file in a protected area of your computer (like certain system folders).
Fix it by moving the ZIP file to a safe location first—like your Downloads or Documents folder—then try extracting it again.
“The compressed (zipped) folder is empty”
This can happen if the ZIP file isn’t being opened with the right tool.
Try extracting the file using the default Windows extraction tool (right-click → Extract All), or use a free ZIP extraction website to see if that helps.
Here are two free tools that work with Windows and Mac OS:
Technical Troubleshooting Tutorials: Editable Fields
I have been using editable fields in many of resources over the last decade or so. This is great because you can add your own words, letters, numbers, or math equations in just a few seconds. However, from time to time, I do get a few questions.
Again, this usually pops up when there has been a software “update” on the user’s system. I get most of my questions when teachers are headed back to school (schools tend to update software over the summer.)
Here are the steps to take:
- Open the file in ADOBE (it will not allow you to edit in any other document reader)
- Once you download the file, close all of your internet browsers, then open the file. The ADOBE app will not let you edit the file with the correct fonts.
- Be sure your ADOBE is up to date (see the link above if you need to update it.)
Here video that may help you.
How to Save Just a Few Pages from a PDF (Even If It’s Secured!)
Ever downloaded a 200-page PDF but only needed to send three of those pages home with a student? You’re not alone! Whether you’re prepping a small homework packet, sharing differentiated practice, or just want to save printer ink (yes, please!), knowing how to extract specific pages from a PDF is a total teacher time-saver.
Good news: You don’t need fancy software or expensive tools. With just a few clicks, you can pull out the exact pages you need and save them as a new, smaller PDF. Even better? It works with secured PDFs too!
Watch the video tutorial below to see exactly how to do it step-by-step. It’s quick, easy, and works on most devices teachers use!
This is an older video, but the steps are the same.
How to Edit Visual Lesson Plans
I have been posting my lesson plans on my blog since back in 2013. Although I am not in the classroom full time, I have continued to update them in the hopes of making your life easier.
Here is where to find them and how to edit them.
Wrapping It Up: You’ve Got This!
Technology glitches may never fully go away, but now you’ve got a toolbox full of go-to strategies and quick fixes to tackle those pesky tech problems like a pro. Whether you’re fighting with ZIP files, puzzled by printing issues, or trying to customize editable resources, remember: you’re not alone—and you don’t need to be a tech wizard to get things working. I hope these tutorials and tips save you time, sanity, and maybe even a few choice words.
If there’s a tech question you still need help with, don’t hesitate to reach out—or drop it in the comments so I can add it to a future tutorial. I’m cheering you on every click of the way!
Deedee Wills
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15 Responses
Such a clear and precise way to put things. You make it so everyone can understand, Asoka the right questions of themselves, and get things working. Thank you for posting this.
Hi, Deedee,
My name is Lillia Bates and I was fortunate to be able to take advantage of your Get Your Teach On sale. I bought the phonemic awareness files but after I downloaded them (and didn’t save) my dear husband cleaned my computer. I have tried to log on to the account but I don’t remember the password and your system is not sending me an email to re-establish a password. My email is iaba@sbcglobal.net and I checked and have a receipt from paypal that went through the 1st. Can you help me get to the files again?
Thanks,
Lillia
Hi there!
I’m sorry I am just now seeing this! Did we get this figured out? I sort of feel like you emailed me already…lol!
If not, will you email me and we will get everything straightened out!
deedee@mrswillskindergarten.com
Hi DeeDee,
I purchased your guiding reading bundles 1 and 2 on Tuesday July 23 at your really good deal of $55. I was so excited to try them, but I cannot download them. I can see the file on my iPad, but when I try to download them on a pc at school to print the files I cannot see them or find them. I have the order number, please advise what I should do.
Nancy.szep@svls.us
Hi Nancy,
Yes, I see your order. It sounds like your school’s firewall is blocking this purchase from showing up or downloading. Can you try a computer that is not connected to your school’s firewall?
DeeDee,
I think I may have used the wrong email address to send the ownload to. Could you resend it to the Nancy.szep@svls.us. I had entered nancy@ svls.us. Opps I was excited to get such a great deal for such a great product. Thanks for your help.
Nancy
Hi Nancy!
That was it! You had an incorrect email in your order. I just fixed it and sent the links out to you again 🙂
Let me know if you have any trouble: deedee@mrswillskindergarten.com
I just placed an online order and I provided my Billing Address, however, I did not enter my shipping address – which is different. Am I able to provid my shipping address to you now? Orer # 25308.
Hi Chantal,
These are electronic PDF downloads, so there is no need to ship! WOOT!
Just click on “My Account” and download your purchase. 🙂
I am having trouble opening my engaging readers file. I just shows what I imagine a coding page would look like, if that makes sense. Just a whole bunch of letters and numbers running together. This is only a recent problem becuase I was able to open it before with no problem. Please help if you can. Also I have tried different computers and the same thing is happening on all of them.
Thank you!!
Megan Washburn
I think we spoke on this via email. If not, will you email me?
deedee@mrswillskindergarten.com
I have just joined and am having trouble accessing some of the boom cards. When I click on the download link for the maths card sets it takes me to a googledocs page which lets me click on the image and download the files into my Boom account easily. However, when I click on either of the download links for the literacy activities (phonics) it downloads a PDF document to my computer. The PDF document does not have links to click on – just pictures that are only images. Any ideas on how I can fix this and access the files? I have had this issue before and have no idea how to fix it.
Thanks
Daphne
Hi Daphne! I am sorry you are having difficulties. Will you email me so that I can better assist you? deedee@mrswillskindergarten.com
Hi- I purchased the sound wall with heart words and keep getting an error message when I click on the Download button. Please help.
Thanks,
Wendy
wendydip@sbcglobal.net
Hi Wendy, I just sent you an email with the file. I’m so sorry! There is some sort of conflicting code (as if I know what that means…LOL) that my tech service is clearing up for me. Here is my email if you need it. deedee@mrswillskindergarten.com