Whether they're appearing on Capitol Hill or showing us how to make "magic candles," teachers on TikTok and Instagram are reaching students well beyond their classrooms — and we're all learning.

The big picture: About one-third of Gen Zers regularly scroll TikTok for news — that's up 255% since 2020, Axios' Kerry Flynn reports.

Axios Local's social team scoured their feeds to highlight a few teacher influencers who are educating and inspiring:

Mr. Eicheldinger, @matt_eicheldinger

• Fun fact: Matt Eicheldinger wrote two books to help middle schoolers learn good reading habits.
• Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
• Followers: 78.9K on TikTok
• Our favorite video: "Empty Chair"

Kristina Srog, @teacherchronicles22

• What to expect: This fourth-grade teacher isn't afraid to unpack crises and challenges with grit and humor.
• Hometown: Chicago
• Followers: 1 million on TikTok
• Favorite video: "Breaking down 1st-week supplies"

Ms. Mac, @theuniqueexpressions

• Fun fact: High school teacher Elizabeth MacPherson, known as Ms. Mac, has been teaching math for over 10 years.
• Hometown: D.C.
• Followers: 9.2K on TikTok
• Favorite video: "The most critical routine for high school students"

More teachers we're following.

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Schools are reporting success with strategies that address learning recovery since the pandemic, but they're still facing an uphill battle.

Why it matters: About a third of U.S. K-12 students this school year are behind grade level, according to a recent survey, leaving teachers to tackle the long-term effects of remote schooling and other pandemic-era learning disruptions.

Zoom in: Regionally speaking, schools out West are doing notably worse than those in other areas, with nearly 40% of students behind grade level.

Between the lines: Looking at the data in other ways reveals troubling trends — for example, 42% of kids in schools with more than 75% students of color are behind grade level, compared to just 22% at schools with 25% or less students of color.

• 38% of students at city schools, meanwhile, are behind grade level versus just 31% of those in the suburbs.

What's next: Schools are hiring more teachers (55% of schools say that's "very" or "extremely" effective) and spending more time on target areas (35%) and family engagement or outreach (18%).

This back-to-school season, classrooms are full of nostalgic supplies.

• What's out? Cellphones and leggings.

The vibe: Status symbols look like reusable cups — goodbye Stanley cups and hello Owala — with '90s staples like Trapper Keepers and colorful Bic pens.

🖊️ The classics

• The Bic 4-Color Pen celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020 and the TI-84 debuted in 2004, following the brand's first graphing calculator — TI-81 — that was unveiled in 1990.
• The Trapper Keeper, which had its heyday in the late '80s and early '90s, staged a comeback in 2021. It continues to be in demand along with other carryall binders.

👖 Fashion and accessories

State of play: "Sweatpants are the new leggings," youth consumer trends expert Casey Lewis said on a recent TikTok.

• Lewis, who writes the After School Substack, spent hours watching back-to-school haul videos on TikTok to identify top fashion trends.
• "This year, it seems to be all about denim — jean shorts, jean skirts, denim jackets are making a comeback," Lewis said.

Water bottles continue to be a status symbol in schools, but the popular brand is what keeps changing.

• Owala, Lululemon and Hydro Flask are the "in" products this year, the New York Times reports.

📱 Cellphone bans and clear backpacks

The big picture: Trends being forced on students are the continued move to clear backpacks and sweeping bans on cellphones in schools.

• Administrators say the see-through backpacks can combat violence like school shootings.
• School districts in Virginia, Texas and Georgia have announced new clear backpack policies, according to Campus Safety magazine.

Zoom in: The cellphone bans aim to get kids to pay attention during class and socialize with their peers IRL (in real life).

The latest: Florida, Indiana, Louisiana and South Carolina have legislation that limits cellphone access, while governors in at least three states — Virginia, California and New York — have called on schools to restrict or ban phones.

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All of us are the beneficiaries of some great teachers, so we wanted to take this space to share some ideas to show your appreciation.

1. Say thank you. Tell the teachers in your life you appreciate them and post on social media to spread the message in your network.
2. Clear the list. Donate to and promote teachers' wish lists. They often have needs throughout the year, not just at the start of a school year.
3. Make calls and write letters. Pick up the phone and thank the teachers who changed your life. If you don't have their numbers, look for them on social media and reach out there. And write notes and cards to the teachers at your local public schools.
4. Volunteer. If you have the time, step up to volunteer in classrooms, in the library or in the cafeteria — and try to give your teachers and school staff a long-overdue break.
5. Give them gift cards for school supplies and a stash of healthy snacks — they are among the few people outside the home who know if a kid is hungry.
6. Be kind. When you're emailing your child's teacher, remember that they're barraged with demands and complaints. Be cheerful, appreciative and efficient: They may well be answering your email on their own time.

Read more about how to help teachers.