Kayleigh Sloan is a lively and imaginative elementary school teacher from Idaho who pours creativity and heart into every lesson she teaches. The 28-year-old’s classroom is a colorful, welcoming space filled with energy, laughter, and hands-on learning that keeps her students eager to return each day. In April 2024, she started posting everyday moments with her students on TikTok. One of her recent videos - where she covered her arms in peanut butter and jelly - is going viral for its clever approach and her students' priceless reactions. In an attempt to teach the importance of accurate and descriptive writing, Sloan took a route that would guarantee the attention of her first-grade students. First, she asked each of her students to write down instructions on how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Then, she used their step-by-step directions exactly as written, leading to a messy but memorable lesson. “This is a lesson that has been in the teaching world since the 1920s,” Sloan tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I just found creative ways to put a fun spin on it, such as spreading peanut butter and jelly on myself to get the point across in an engaging way.” During her four years as a teacher, Sloan has learned that a "coaching style" in the classroom works best for her and her students. She enjoys using the “I do, we do, you do” model, where she first models the task, then works through it alongside her students, and finally encourages them to try it independently. “I am very fun and creative, while being firm with my expectations,” she says. As an added bonus, Sloan has built a colorful and inviting space to help facilitate her students’ desire to be in school. “I wanted to create a space that felt safe, comfortable, and homey for both the students and I,” she shares. “I think students perform better and have more fun in this type of environment.” Her favorite part of being an elementary school teacher is making her kids laugh by singing, doing the worm, and even juggling soccer balls. “I have to be serious at times, but I try to be silly and act like kids with them,” Sloan says. Slathering her arms with peanut butter and jelly was just one way to get them to smile while learning a very important skill. “The kids go absolutely 'nuts' every year – no pun intended,” Sloan says. “I love seeing them enjoy learning. It brings my teacher heart so much joy.” Thankfully, most of her students retain the message she is trying to get across with her yearly lesson, and it's often reflected in their writing. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. As for her videos, Sloan has received both positive and negative feedback from parents. “Mostly positive comments about how I am meant to be a teacher and to never stop teaching,” she reveals. “The negative comments are silly and irrelevant. People love to hate on happy humans.” When it comes to advice for other elementary school teachers who are looking for fun ways to teach, Sloan emphasized stepping outside one’s comfort zone. “Be open-minded and go observe other teachers with experience,” she tells PEOPLE. “Also, TikTok has so many great teacher tips and ideas.”