31 year veteran here. I will retire for the 2nd and last time from this job come May. I am about effin' tired of every year a new guru consultant comes to kill our time in PD sessions. They tout these grandiose pedagogical cure-alls that are just largely plagiarized from other so-called gurus.

Isn't it safe to say if there were any silver bullet to achievement that it would have been found decades ago?

Every year it is the same old routine: go over data, teachers get shamed cuz this group or that group is not performing, we hear the same old gaslighting cliches like "remember your why," get pumped up by some motivational speaker as if we were some suicide bombers ready to sacrifice our lives for a greater cause, then we get a bunch of training from a consultant (probably somebody tight with the superintendent or a board member) getting paid big ass money who herself was desperate to leave the classroom, and all while we normal teachers are failing to pay attention as we have too much to do in our classrooms as it is.

My theory here is this is all smoke and mirrors as we could never have the honest conversation about student achievement so we obfuscate the realities with abstract gobbledygook.

Sorry for the rant. After 31 years (I have been admin, counselor, teacher, college professor, and other hats I cannot remember), I am very tired both mentally and physically.

But I am also morally indignant.

We cannot call ourselves moral people and be ok with this state of affairs.

If a kid had a 6, for example, we used to have to override it to a 50 when turning in grades for the quarter. I’m sure many of you are familiar with the lovely grading floor.

My district finally said we would not be doing it anymore. It felt like a win. More accountability for students. They will actually get the grade they earn, and we will have taken a step in the right direction when it comes to fixing the mess that is education.

Ever since then, every staff meeting involves my principal preaching to us about how everything is our fault.

If a kid is failing, it is your fault. You should have checked in with them, contacted home, contacted admin, etc.

If a kid has a 0 in the grade book for anything, it is your fault. You should have emailed home when they didn’t turn something in. You should have sent them to admin’s office to do the work (yeah fucking right), you should keep following up daily and make them turn something in (I have too many students to keep track of all their assignments for them, that’s their job).

If you haven’t contacted home about failing grades, it is your fault that situation hasn’t improved. It shouldn’t be a surprise to parents when they get a progress report sent home and their child is failing (You’re right it shouldn’t be a surprise, because parents should be checking their kids’ grades online them fucking selves).

Yes, it is true that you shouldn’t just do NOTHING if a kid comes to class, puts their head down everyday, doesn’t do any work, and is failing. But it still isn’t OUR fault.

It is a student’s responsibility to do their work. It is a student’s responsibility to keep up with their grades. Especially being a high school teacher, these kids are old enough to keep track of this shit. I don’t need to hold their hand and move the pencil across the page for them. I don’t need to check all 90 of my students’ grades daily for them. It is a parent’s responsibility to check their child’s grades and notice when their kid has missing assignments or is failing.

None of this is our fault as teachers and this new attitude now that the grading floor is gone just pisses me off. I get where some of this is coming from. Again, we should be making an attempt to help struggling kids, but their actions and choices are not our fault in any way whatsoever.

I'm starting my creative writing unit with my sophomores. I've had complaints before about students not really having dreams (they talk about how much money they want to have, not who they want to be, in the future) but they also lack imagination and it really bums me out.

The first assignment I gave them for this unit was to write a scene that ends with a secret being revealed. That's it. The goal is to have them build on it over a few classes "Okay, now that that secret's out, what happens next? What's the fallout?" So many kids literally cannot conceptualize making up a story from their imagination. If it didn't literally happen to them, they can't make it up.

And that makes me really sad y'all. It's one thing to have kids who suck at reading comprehension, it's another to have the imagination beat out of them by social media and standardized tests.

I'm a writer first and a teacher second, in my mind, and it's sad to see the next generation not want to try new things in the creative space. I was writing shitty fanfiction on wattpad when I was their age, on my own!

My coadvisor had a massive line so I was doing conferences in line with people, joking with kids, talking to parents, etc. I get to one kid who is failing 7/8 classes and after I stated I can’t get him to do work (including a test essay today where he wrote NOTHING) the dad started saying I’m disrespectful by throwing papers (the kid admitted I’ve slid papers across the table twice this semester) and need to learn how to do my job or get a new one. I told him straight away “let’s try that again because I don’t appreciate being told I’m not good at my job, I know I’m super good at my job. Your kid won’t do work.” He kept interrupting me and when I warned him “you get one more of those and I’m walking away.”

When he told me his kid has never been disrespectful to my face I said “he started day one being disruptive, talking loudly, pushing tables around, and talks every day when I’m lecturing.”

His response “man I know you’re disrespectful, I’ve seen you today”
“Give me an example”
“I know how you are, and my kid has ADHD, here’s the diagnoses.”
“Yeah, I do too, so I guess I’m not being disrespectful, huh? Tell you what we can do about this then…”
He interrupted again so I just said “have a goodnight” and walked off. Gave my principal a heads up and the dad later went to complain to him. I doubt the dad will like the daily PDF he gets tracking every single interaction to “maintain an air of respect and understanding” that details moods, posture, etc.

I also had a mom, who’s daughter is in the same class, tell my principal “you know, I had problems with him a couple years ago with her older sister but I’m so glad he’s the teacher. She doesn’t talk about any other teachers but she loves going into his class and thinks he’s so great. I’m really thankful he’s the one teaching her.” My principal told her “please don’t tell him that, it’ll justify him.” Hilarious.

Time for day 2 of conferences.

Okay, okay, okay, hear me out...

We can easily out compete drug cartels.

We can produce safer and higher quality.

And we can finally partly fund our classrooms again. Maybe even replace that SPEC-20 from 35 years ago with a Vernier probe!

Just make sure our TA isn't dating the child of an air traffic controller.

I see no problems with my plan and I will not be taking questions.

considering all the ways to communicate, and the ease of keeping parents informed, why are conferences still a thing? .... tradition?

I teach elementary school. Last week, we had a grade-wide field trip. Another grade level teacher asked if we could have an impromptu meeting to talk about the trip for tomorrow. I was getting ready to leave already, because my hours were over, but it sounded good to all check in and make sure we were on the same page.

We spent way too long going over the schedule with a bunch of meandering bantering, and then another teacher had an idea to bring an activity to the trip that involved cutting out a bunch of things from papers. And that if we all work together it will get done quickly. But we had already been sitting there having this ineffecient conversation for OVER 30 MINUTES. 1) the kids could cut these papers we don’t need to do it for them….. 2) it’s already past contracted hours 3) WE COULDVE BEEN CUTTING THEM THIS ENTIRE TIME WE HAVE BEEN TALKING 4) I have plans after school I need to get to. They made me feel awful for not helping out, but Jesus Christ if this idea was earlier in the week, I would’ve cut them over time if I found a moment. Or had a kid help. Or taken it home and had my friends help. Teaching isn’t my entire identity. I have a rich life that I care about. That helps me be a better teacher and person. And I still feel so guilty about leaving :(

Then I realised there’s soooo many moments just like this one. Over and over again. So many last minute things. So many times people ignore my vast other contributions and focus on the fact I’m leaving when again, this was unplanned. I already collaborate so much outside of contract hours!!!

I don’t have a prep period anymore. I’m assigned to lunch duty and don’t get a lunch. I can’t do this anymore. Idk how I’m going to finish the school year.

Obvious exaggeration in the title, but as a first year art teacher, Pre-K Art twice a week is slowly becoming degrading, and I’m shouting to the void to get it off my chest.

The kids are so sweet don’t get me wrong, but Pre-K lessons require SO MUCH more prep because they need so much structure and scaffolding. Prepping materials, organizing the classroom, timing out the steps, everything feels like it takes 3X the effort compared to even my kindergarteners.

And after all that prep, I just come into class and try and wrangle thirteen 3-4 year olds for FOURTY ONE minutes.

I’ve been told I have great classroom management, I never have crying/tantrum kids, and everyone participates and finishes the art projects. Parents have contacted me that their 3 year olds love art class, and my principle has been giving me praises for how I’ve handled Pre-K

So WHY do I just feel like a glorified baby sitter every week??

I’m an elementary school teacher and between personal tragedies and family health struggles my mental health has been in the gutter. This year at school has only made it worse with pressuring admin and unruly kids. I honestly feel like I’m going to snap. I don’t sleep, I don’t eat. I’ve lost 15 pounds in 7 weeks. I have heart palpitations every morning before work and feel like I’m having a panic attack every morning on the drive in. I cry every single day. The guilt that comes from the thought of leaving the kids only makes these feelings worse, but I honestly think I’m going to pull the steering wheel if this keeps going. Does anyone have any similar experiences or advice for suddenly resigning for mental health reasons? I’ve read my contract and agreement and know there would be penalties, but I really don’t care. I’m willing to pay any fine or have my license revoked at this point because the thought of going back is killing me.

Kids don't know their parents phone number, their parents email...do they even know their address? Hey, what if we have to tell emergency personnel where we're at? General area would be nice. Rant over...some of my seniors are cool.

The Brewers Jake Bauer claims he got back into baseball because his teacher wife got pregnant and they were going to need the health insurance. This is being treated as a heart warming story. Is it though? Or is it a damning case of pathetic teacher compensation and the joke of health insurance in general?

I have been an active certificate holder for elementary education in the state of washington since 2021. I apply to every new position for 7+ districts in my area. I do not have a preference to grade level and have been applying at every position in elementary I can apply for.

This has been ongoing for 3 years. One year ago, I worked as a part-time preschool teacher for a school district that promised me a full time position but funding was not cleared and the position they were going to put me into dropped.

I worked as a preschool teacher, substitute teacher, and behavior coach to specific students for that district and the best they could do for me was Para positions and I currently make more than that as a Nanny.

I apply to every new position, use time when I wake up to search for jobs basically every day. What is holding schools back from hiring me?

I would not be able to apply for a rental apartment if I chose to do substituting full time since they need a salaried position to apply for apartments.

Does the market just suck now, or are there certain things I did wrong that got me on a denied list?

I usually post on here looking for advice or help, but I wanted to share something that I’m proud of today. I started doing DEAR time with my 1st Graders today. I went over the expectations about how to grab their bags and find a spot in the room. They need to read to themselves until the timer goes off. They did an excellent job for doing it the first time. My principal even walked in and had some of the students read to her. When the timer went off and we were cleaning up, my principal said she was so proud of my class and they did an excellent job. She then said that she could tell that I did a great job picking out books for their DEAR bags because they could sound out the words and read them. I did go through each student bags and put books in that I thought were good for them. I’m very proud of my students and it made me feel good as a teacher.

After 12 years of teaching I’ve never seen a short term sticker chart, dojo system, path rewards board, or choice board work for the most severe behaviors. Maybe it works for a week at most. At worst it leads to fits when an incentive isn’t earned. It also takes a lot of cognitive energy to manage where I’d rather be funneling that focus into analyzing misunderstandings , scaffolding understanding, observing learners etc. It also seems unfair to reward those in the class doing the least though I realize they struggle to make good choices perhaps due in part to trauma or biochemistry. Am I just burnt out? I’m over bribery.

The long short of it:

Spent my first six years, teaching in a low cost of living majority-minority area with children whose families were constantly struggling for financial and social resources to keep food on the table. Were there behavior problems? Yes. But mostly it was a one-on-one (fighting) sort of thing. I’m not saying that is better, but it’s definitely its own sort of problem/solution situation.

These families lost loved ones and living situations to storms and covid hit extremely hard- we were a safe space for them and their children.

Now I am in a different state (Michigan) at an NHA school and last year I fucking killed it. Every child grew because I set clear structure and boundaries. Were the first few weeks with a mean 1st graders teacher hard for some high flyers? Yes. But those kids come visit me every day and their parents requested me for siblings.

But OF COURSE admin saw this as an opportunity to load me up with all the behavior problems this year, and I’m fucking drowning. I’m talking DAILY screaming outbursts from 2-3 kids lasting all day, tables and chairs flipped. Eloping. All of it. Last year I basically never called for behavior support, this year I’m forcing myself within an inch of my sanity to make them stay in the classroom bc leaving them becomes a reward.

Yesterday I thought I was going to walk out and quit. Had a kid teasing others and being genuinely mean to peers twice in an hour. So he gets a “think sheet” to go home to let family know this is a problem. Kid loses his shit and flips a table. It’s 2:25pm. I call for behavior. My admin sends a messenger to ask me “what interventions I tried before requesting support”.

No. NO. you do not get to bend over backwards telling me what a great teacher I am and then question me when I’m in genuine need for safety support. The audacity to say “well was it Child A? He always lashes out like this so you need to intervene THEN document it before calling.” It wasn’t even that child! You didn’t even think to ask!!! Just “well how did you attempt to close the circle before getting help?”

I can’t do this. I love teaching. I really like my school! But I have never been in a situation where there is violence in a 1st grade classroom and I’m asked to legitimately take the hit as the one adult among 30 kids.

I’m thinking about looking for a full time sub role in a better local district and packing my bags. I’m devastated.

My own child has health issues and is at a different school than me this year. I cannot carry all of this for $57k a year. I am so stuck in what feels like a shrinking room.

I’m not sure what to do anymore. Students can’t handle simple tasks, either by themselves or with a partner. It could be a simple jigsaw document analysis with one or two questions where they teach each other. I use a timer, model, and let them know the expectations. They just put it off and/or talk through it. Gallery walks are now turning into opportunities for them to be out of their seat and mess around. Lately I have been resorting to whole group instruction. It’s exhausting but seems to be the only way I get some peace, focus, and students willing to respond to questions verbally. Of course there are still disruptions but less. At least something gets put down on their paper. Thoughts?

I’m keeping this very vague just incase. But my last few weeks have sucked.

A student of mine, that I’ve taught for years and assumed had a good relationship with, stole my debit card and used it multiple times. I still see said student everyday.

Student gave me the finger today and screamed at me

A parent reported me to the principal for giving her child a 0/3 for an assignment she didn’t turn in.

Another parent wanted a formal meeting to discuss why I moved her child’s seat. I had previously told the mom it was because she was talking. Mom said her daughter said she wasn’t….

I’m almost in my 15th year and I’ve never experienced this much crap in such a short amount of time. I also teach the same kids for many years at a time.

Part of me thinks it’s just bad luck while the other part of me wonders if I do just truly suck at this job and it’s finally showing.

I am not in love with this job enough to deal with this crap.

This is new to me, because last year it was a challenge to get kids to participate at all. This year I'm at a new school, and for the first time in my career, the majority of my kids are at or above grade level. Many of them love to participate, and they can construct really thoughtful answers. But I have one kid who just enjoys hearing himself talk.

Like, we're reading The Outsiders, and when we were talking about how Ponyboy got jumped and the rest of the events in Chapter 1, he raised his hand and started talking about how the Socs were the good guys because they were trying to give free haircuts. At first, I was like, "ok, he's just being silly."

But I'm noticing it's becoming more of a problem because the other day he raised his hand and started talking about the Socs being the protagonists and just talking and talking and talking. And I'm trying to figure out if I should nip it in the bud and if so, how? His behavior in general is nowhere near what I was dealing with last year, but I can already begin to see the attitude and willingness to break rules from brief interactions over the last few weeks.

So, apparently there is a new game going on on campus. The students try to spit on eachother when the other student isn't looking. Some spit water and some spit just saliva.

Gross! I've already had to talk to 3 different students about this dumb game.

I didn’t know what flair to add… but any teachers work in a district with no union or a union that is basically does so little that you hear NOTHING about them?

I’m just curious because my district has a “union” but they do nothing. Many teachers stopped paying their dues because the union doesn’t show up for us at all.

So I'm a 5th grade teacher and I DREAD report card time because I never know how to phrase my comments. I feel like the generic comment bank doesn't quite fit with what I want to say, but also, I don't know how to properly phrase what I need. I have been sitting here trying to type my behavior comments for the last 45 minutes and just drawing a blank.

Like, how do I say "your child literally does nothing all day" or "your child needs to learn how to mind their own business" or "your child's behavior is an absolute nightmare". I would just put "Parent Teacher Conference Requested" on all of those students, but Conference day happens before report cards go out, so it would be a moot point to put that.

I've been teaching for almost a decade, why is this still so hard?

Not retired yet but getting close. I am about to be 60 and do not feel ready to be done but not sure I want the daily grind of all this stuff. What are suggestions for part time jobs? I have grandchildren in school so I am spoiled and want their schedule.

Looking for advice on how to handle a shitty situation. Background--I'm a 20 plus year teacher, teaching math in a medium sized pretty decent school. Kids are mostly good, I am considered one of the better teachers in the school and pretty well respected. Been at this school 4 years now.

Here's the story: One of our math teachers is out on maternity leave. When she left another teacher offered to pick up two of her classes for her---the teacher that offered is the math interventionist and is an incredible teacher, and good person too.

The school declined the offer and got a long term sub in for her. The deal is though that this was decided by our "sub manager" who is a history teacher here and he decides who gets the sub jobs for some weird reason. He's been here 33 years and is a complete idiot. He is the decider though and he chose the sub.

Now the sub is our old department head who retired 10 years ago. She hasn't taught since and is, well, suffering I think from early dementia. She also has no clue about systems like powerschool or google classroom or just the basics of like how to take attendance. She has been coming to me and the rest of the department every day to do her attendance and put grades in powerschool for her. She also has forgotten the geometry material she is supposed to be teaching.

The problem though, is this. I have heard from kids who I have had in class last year that she continually screams at her class (she has one that I had last year in algebra that has some discipline issues) and swears at them, calling them stupid and telling them they are idiots.

Like most things students tell me, I listen but take it all with a large grain of salt. We all know students exaggerate and embellish. But I was concerned.

Just an hour ago, I hear her (at the other end of a long hallway) screaming "WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU IDIOTS?" among a lot of other things for the first 5 minutes of class. The kids in my class were taking a standardized test, and I always leave the door open, so I went to shut it and while I was up I hear more of the same. The kids in my class asked me to leave the door open so they could have some entertainment while they tested, to which I chuckled and just shut the door. They then told me "we told you she always does that".

My dilemma is this--should I take matters into my own hands and go to admin and demand she gets removed from the building? I feel like I am now a witness to child abuse and have to report it. The problem with this is that she is very good friends with the rest of our department who worked with her as department head for decades, and the sub manager is also very close with her.

Am I being a drama king? Should I run this up the chain? I feel like I am liable if I don't!

I’m having a hard time right now because I have had several observations within the last two weeks by different people, and recently found out that I will have another person observing me semi frequently to focus on the implementation of restorative practices in the classroom. I don’t know maybe I’m just tired of everything and need a break. Everything Just feels so hard everyday, and I feel like the accumulation of the workload and the constant observations is slowly crushing me as time goes on.

So it’s a huge thing but my student with autism has been with me for 2 years and was making great progress until a bit ago when their guardian tried to switch schools without any notice or a transition plan. It didn’t last and they came back a few days later, however now they are hitting, kicking, spitting, scratching, biting, and more. I am the only one he will target even with others in the room.

The schools solution was no demands, give them toys using a timer system, but now it’s been 2 months of me consistently being struck or hurt in some way. The teacher consistently wants to give them toys to de escalate the behavior after striking me which i believe is giving positive reinforcement for hurting me.

I’m not sure how to handle this.

For context I do understand they have experienced a trauma but I cannot be expected to be hurt daily because of it. It’s creating a secondary trauma for myself and I am now so exhausted all the time that no rest is curing. Also they are nearly my height and extremely strong.

They are second grade and there is a union however my rep never does anything to help. Just tells me “no one is going to help you”.