Seeing the amount of parents against homework is truly funny to me. “Home time is family time! The teacher should’ve provided the time in class”.

There’s a couple problems with this though:

1. Behavior- when you have behaviors out the ass, that eats our time.
2. bathroom: so you know how often your asks to go to the bathroom and how long they’re gone for…?
3. we spend most of class going over basic concepts because these kids

can’t remember anything.

1. It

’s

1. a perpetual cycle.

This is what happens when the kids of NCLB have kids…

Good Morning fellow teachers, does anyone have any good recommendations for a Pencil Sharpener that lasts? I am absolutely pissing through these electric sharpeners it feels like! My wall mount one is old, I took it apart and cleaned it but it still doesn’t spin so well! Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions that they’ve had luck with.. thanks!

Fresh grad working as a teacher in a tuition centre for a few months now, I must say I understand what my teacher must've felt back in my school days.

Anyways, a parent reached out to the tuition centre and asked if they could have a teacher with experience to do one-on-one sessions with their special needs child.

I think that it's bad to lie, especially if I later get exposed for saying what I'm not, so I told them the truth, about my inexperienced and eagerness to help them.

My boss has a different opinion, he disapproved my message, saying that fresh grads don't get many chances and that we should seize every opportunity we get.

"Fake it till you make it" as he said, a fresh grad won't attract any parents, but an experienced teacher who's been teaching since they got out of college? Theyll flock to you, and that chances don't just fall out of the sky.

I'm troubled.

I’m currently on maternity leave set to go back right after thanksgiving. When I go back, I will have had 13 weeks off of work (so, technically 1 week beyond FMLA). I am strongly considering requesting the extra time between thanksgiving and Christmas break off as well, and going back in January. Since it is only 3 weeks, I feel as though this isn’t a huge deal, but I’m not sure because it’s beyond the FMLA time already given. I have already been paying my health insurance premiums after the few weeks of paid leave that I had ran out. I’m doing better than I anticipated I would be doing financially at this point and feel I could stretch until January. The idea of leaving my baby at the end of next month already is consuming me. I am untenured at this time, and need to work 180 work days (so into next school year anyways) to earn tenure.

I’m not sure if requesting time beyond FMLA is a common occurrence as I am in a small district and I don’t know any other women who have taken leave. I’m nervous to bring this up with admin because of this so that’s why I’m asking here if it would be an acceptable thing to request.

Is it admin because they want to appease the parents and get money from the state? The parent for not helping giving the child extra help? Is it screen time and the parents doing noting about it?

Well im still technically still NQT, but the most challenging part of teaching for me isnt even the teaching, its the display boards. I just cant make a paper mache rainbow with the kids faces and stuff like that. Its pretty artsy and crafty and i have no artistic talent whatsoever. How do I get better at this? Its a big part of the job, but no one really prepares you for it

I'm studying to be a teacher. School has been hard lately, and it's been a while since I've interacted with kids (my first pre-internship is next semester). I fell in love with teaching and with supporting children when I got a daycare job, and remained in childcare for 5 years before deciding to study to be an elementary school teacher. I am burning out pretty badly and having serious doubts about being a teacher and about my own ability to be one, and it's really depressing me. Does anyone have any advice, or uplifting words to share? I would really appreciate it. I need a reminder of why this is worth it, or perhaps some words of guidance if it isn't.

I teach 7th grade English at a semi-urban area in a swing state...and I may have just messed up badly.

I have this student who came out to me as Trans several weeks ago, and I was completely supportive and began referring to them as his preferred name and ther pronouns he told me (he/him). The other students in class began questioning this student about the name change, and so the student asked me to tell the class that it was his preferred name. They insisted I do it.

I know I should have handled this better (or perhaps not at all!), but I didn't even think about it before I did it. So I just kinda said that his new name is the name he prefers and that [student] asked that I let the other students know.

It set off a bunch of comments and questions that I was not prepared for. Mostly just confused, because I forgot they're only 13. Some trying to correct me when I said he, too.

I dont know what the right answer would've been for me to say...but I know it probably wasn't that. I probably shouldn't have said anything at all, but it's certainly too late to take it back.

I'm now super anxious and worried about parent complaints.

Of course I then spoke to the student about it, and he said he isn't even out to all of his teachers??? So why bother asking me to tell everyone? I was so shocked by this revelation that I felt sick to my stomach.

It's all such a mess. I feel awful about how I handled it from both perspectives, and don't know how to fix it.

My admin hates me, so if the parents do complain, I'm in so much trouble. Any advice about how I can handle this in the future (if I don't get fired tomorrow) would be appreciated.

Edit: just found a school district policy that asserts a student's right to use pronouns and names that match their gender identity! So all good there, at least!

I’m in my first year of teaching, and I’m completely exhausted. I constantly feel like I’m not doing enough, but I also don’t feel like I have the energy to do more.
I don’t have a super cute classroom, and I don’t feel creative enough to constantly come up with fun extra activities. I’m just trying to get my lessons together, teach, and keep up with everything. By the time I get home, I’m drained.
The hardest part is feeling like I’m doing the bare minimum, but even that is exhausting me. Then I feel guilty because I know there are things I could be doing better.
Did anyone else feel this way their first year? Does it get easier once you’re not figuring out every single thing for the first time?

I teach English as a foreign language, and the school I work at asks for students to be assessed based on writing, speaking, reading, and listening.

I am trying to figure out how to make a spreadsheet that will help me keep track of that. All I have so far is a table with the names of students and then the four skills. But that doesn't work for the entire year, and if I made a spreadsheet for each session, then I'd have a million spreadsheets.

If you have any ideas please share!

I teach a small class of 11-12 grade students who can’t hang in the regular classroom- attendance, behaviors, conflicts with the whole student body, or just not doing anything. It is challenging on many levels. Typically I am more patient than I have ever been in any other area of my life. Today I lost my shit. Now I’m not sure what I should do.

Two students wanted to go help with hallway decorating. They had their friends come in and ask me. I said no. My stomach hurt all day, there had just been a fight in the bathroom involving a third student of mine, one student was sleeping, basically no one was on task and super riled up over the fight. None of these things were the fault of the two students who wanted to get out of class. When I said no they began swearing and having attitude. Usually I move on. Today I did not.

I began yelling! I yelled about how “when you are behind on credits you don’t get to go decorate” and “your friends can ask someone else”. Not terribly harsh but my tone and volume was pure witch. Then one student kept interrupting and I absolutely sunk to her level. I told her to “shush, I’m speaking. You are not” super loud and bitchy.

I could have handled everything much more maturely, in a quiet calm voice, not in front of the class, not argued or tried to have the last word. I want to model being a reasonable adult, keeping myself in check, having patience, owning my own shit and not letting it affect others, impulse control. These are things my students struggle with. I didn’t though, now I feel I have set our tenuous relationship back a zillion steps and reinforced their broken trust in adults.

So, now what? Do I apologize tomorrow? My gut says yes, but does that show weakness? Do I just move on?

This is my 2nd year teaching, and I'm at a breaking point right now. By 8:40 this morning, I was about to cry in front of my students. I teach lower elementary, and my class has the reputation of being the worst behaved. I do EVERYTHING I know to do in terms of classroom management, I take every suggestion and criticism I am given, and nothing changes. Our behavior specialists have come in the room repeatedly to offer support or to observe and the children don't even listen to them. It's 10:21pm as I type this, and instead of relaxing, I'm grading papers with a knot in my chest. I do NOT want to work tomorrow. I love my students but I am so sick of being a broken record. I'm going to hold out for this year but I don't know if I will be signing on for another year. I love working with kids but I cannot keep doing this. On top of the stress I feel due to student behavior, I also don't have a chance to eat a solid lunch due to the fact that I cannot sit down or eat during our lunch period because if I sit down for a second, my students will go insane. I have to walk around the table and constantly monitor. One of my lunches last week was 4 bites of chicken and nothing else. Today I ate half a yogurt cup and a few bites of a muffin (which was actually leftover from the breakfast I also didn't get to eat, because my morning "uninterrupted" time is spent monitoring my students behavior because they are so extreme that the morning hall monitors cannot manage them). I love teaching but at the same time I seriously think I am on the edge of a breakdown, either mentally or physically. I don't know what to do. Am I just crazy/horribly unfit to be a teacher, or does anyone else feel like this?

Which situation did you prefer?
I am at a traditional middle school right now. I teach 5 sections of 7th grade. I recognize that if I were at a K-8 I would be teaching 7th and 8th grade.

The thing is - the PLC lead and another long time teacher are extremely micromanagery. They want us all to teach the exact same thing everyday and are annoyed if you deviate in the slightest. Annoyed if you scaffold or change curriculum whatsoever. Thing is, they developed the curriculum. We don’t use a book or assigned curriculum. It’s literally all developed by these teachers. And it is good curriculum and I do appreciate all the work they put into it. But I still want to differentiate and adapt material as I see fit.

To make matters worse, the long standing teacher can be very cruel to me and the other newer teachers. That story is for another time.

As a side note, the principal has visited my room and says I teach like a veteran teacher. I’d be the first person he calls if he was going to a new school. He thinks other teachers could benefit from watching me teach. My induction coach agrees. I’m in year 2 after a year of student teacher where I basically taught every class.

I was wondering if I might like a K-8 setup more? In previous jobs I’ve enjoyed working as a team but I hate feeling micromanaged and like I have no autonomy in my own classroom. Should I give a k-8 a try or try another traditional middle school? Considering for next year.

I’m a 2nd year teacher and I have been getting so sick in my first two years, I think from stress. I called out 5 times last year due to being sick and once already this year. I was also out last week one day for an outside PD. I have a migraine disorder which is one of the main reasons I called out last year. I’ve had a persistent headache for a few days now and I’ve been trying to stick it out but the past few days have been really rough. I’m thinking of calling out tomorrow but I’m worried that it’s going to look bad since I’m not tenured yet. I have a really good relationship with my principal and he knows about my migraine disorder, but I’m so worried about getting in trouble or looking unreliable. I didn’t start getting migraines until two years ago and I used to NEVER call out of other jobs so I’m feeling a lot of guilt. Any opinions or advice appreciated :)

What are the most time consuming teaching tasks that drive you crazy?

Happens to every teacher a student from 10-30 years ago says hello at a supermarket or out walking. I’m sure not all students are recognized that’s not what I’m saying at all, do teachers like being told how much of a difference they made in the student’s life (whether the teacher remembers the student or not)

Advice ? I have already made a few mortal enemies out of students apparently. But I have kids who say their parents love me, too. Any advice or tips or warnings appreciated.

Recently one of my students found my Instagram. They liked a post of my cat, commented that they loved my cat, and then thought nothing on it and moved about their day.

I usually have all my social media pages set to private, I guess I didn’t do it with my Instagram and they found me.

I blocked the student. It’s not that I’m ashamed of my cat or don’t like this student, they’re my student or that I’m ashamed of what I post on there. They shouldn’t be looking at my Instagram.

Did I do the right thing? Am I overreacting? Was this too harsh? I looked over the guidelines and there is NOTHING about teachers, students, and social media.

I’ve been in college for a long time now as I’ve switched majors many times and I’m ready to be done. I realized I can get my bachelors in Gen Ed and complete an alternative teaching certification program and be able to teach which is my end goal. This would allow me to graduate a year to 2 years earlier than I was expected. However I am nervous about my bachelors being in gen Ed and not the education major I’m currently in. That I might not get hired due to this. I need insight from others on if I should take this path or not.

UPDATE: thank you everyone for the input and the advice. I’ve decided to just stick it out and continue the education major track. I’ve been an education major for 6 years and in that time I switched from secondary to elementary and transferred colleges which caused me to have to start over. I think the idea of graduating sooner was very appealing to me. But In the end I need to stick it out and finish the education degree :)

Hi, I’m an History ECT1 at a school with low outcomes, significant SEND & PP etc, we also have a settled GRT community and not all parents are particularly supportive. Behaviour is tricky, truancy is frequent and disillusionment with education is extremely high.

We have a behaviour policy, B1 (detention), B2 (lunch detention), B3 (removal from lesson). We also have an emergency alert system where we can call a member of SLT but I haven’t been finding this particularly reliable and sometimes they have bought pupils back into my room/not responded to alerts. I am finding that I am shouting more and more, as well as feeling like I’m often accidentally getting into “arguments” with pupils over behaviour sanctions. These are just a few of the issues I’m struggling with:

• When a behaviour sanction is given, pupils respond with shouting “what why” or backchat, they will then continue to raise their hands and ask when their detention is, or why they have it, that I’m being unfair, that they don’t care about sanctions, that I’m a bitch, shouting out if I ask them to put their hands down etc.

• Some of my classes it’s not one individual pupil but around 10 causing the disruption, it’s difficult to pinpoint and therefore give sanctions. If I do single out pupils they start saying “but that person was talking as well, what about them why are they not getting one, why just me”.

• Complete refusal to do work. I’ve tried a “what can I do to support approach” as well as the “that’s a detention” approach but some pupils refuse to do any work, and say “they can’t read” or “they don’t know” as an excuse not to work when I have modelled it, gone through it verbally etc multiple times. I find there are a number of pupils who pretend to be confused just to get out of the task.

• Generally feeling out of control with classes because I am new to the school. Some classes will settle/be quiet when I’ve asked for a member of SLT/another long term teacher for support, but as soon as they leave the room the poor behaviour starts again.

• When B3’s are given, some pupils will start to significantly disrupt the lesson, sometimes it takes SLT 20+ minutes to come and these pupils are running around, laughing, distracting the lesson even more. So I tried the opposite approach to not say they had been B3’d until SLT arrived, but then have been subtly told that “pupils need to know they have a B3 straight away”. I feel like I can’t win!

Does anyone have any behaviour advice? I would really like to improve and I think after the half term break might be a perfect chance for a reset …

If anyone is interested in quick morning meeting ideas based on the Responsive Classroom model, I started a Pinterest it's free and not monetized. Just ideas that I've used.

Sometimes comments here make me think that’s a real thing. (And for the record, no, I’m not Viola Swamp here. I have a fairly decent rapport with my students.) But sometimes it’s ok to say — seriously, it’s not me; these kids can be a mess.

So this is my third year teaching, but this school year has probably been the most stress that I’ve ever experienced in a job. I’m trying to stick it out because the economy is really horrible, as well as the fact that I actually care about the kids and I don’t want to inconvenience the children or my coworkers by leaving midyear, but it is seriously starting to affect my mental health. I already had started taking another anxiety medication that was specifically for anxiety, but I’ve started experiencing depressive symptoms as well because of my job. This morning I woke up at 5 AM because I knew I had to be at work extra early to get everything done that needed to be done by today. I immediately started dreading having to go in, and then on the way to work I had a whole emotional breakdown and had to pull over and call in. So then I chose to schedule a doctor’s appointment to talk to her about what’s going on so that way I can go and figure out the best course of action, and now I am one of the many teachers who is on antidepressants.

Basically the title. My second class is okay, very, very, talkative, but my main issue is the billion little fires I have to put out. Someone out of their seat, making a noise, coming up to me, tattling, etc. Nothing huge, but little thing after little thing that piles up and it feels like chaos in my head. I’m very clear about my expectations and reinforce them constantly. My first class doesn’t have this issue, I am able to teach without feeling like I have to stop every ten seconds to address something minor. The issue is that there’s so many minor things happening at once, I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to give referrals for issues that look so menial on paper, but it’s hard to manage them all at once.

Edit: Forgot to mention, they’re third grade.

“I DONT GET IT”
“COULD YOU REPEAT THAT”
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN EQUAL”
“THIS MAKES NO SENSE”
cue 500 parent emails the next day

These are frankly some of the dumbest children I have ever encountered in my life. Honestly half of them need MRIs or something because I’m pretty sure their heads are completely hollow. Ffs.