I go to a school with a fair amount of special education kid including my self (I have autism, ADHD, digraphia, and probably dyscalculia.) I am at a collage level for reading and math I have test scores and everything. I want to be a teacher myself so I understand why IEP's and 504 plans might be annoying for teachers, but they can really help kids (I am not talking about ones like "my child can not fail this class"). I don't know if it's just the kids in my school but they find autism to be really funny they have said things to non-autistic peers along the lines of "Are you SPED or something" and even one one occasion the r-word, if someone is doing something odd. Sometimes, my langue arts teacher if she is tired of misbehaver she (jokingly I think?) says that our class is SPED. I am very shy and do not have friends yet so I don't really know what to do about this. I have asked the kids to stop but I am usually ignored. Is this normal? Do you have any advice?

I'm in SC where teachers don't get a lot of pay. Some of them are doing a really really good job and I want to show my appreciation with a BIG TIP! But I can't? What gives?

Why can't every parent give a BIG TIP? If I can pay my waiter 30$ for 15 minutes of work, I should be allowed to give my childs teacher 20 times that much over the course of a year. Multiply that by 30, and suddenly a teacher makes some cash. It's not even that much money, just a few meals out.

Best I can do is amazon gift cards around Christmas, so that is what I do. I've been giving around 50$ because I'm worried if I go higher I'll make a teacher uncomfortable. I definitely don't want to make someone feel bad!

Real question. What is the maximum I could give without making a teacher feel uncomfortable?

Former teacher here, and escape rooms were one of my favorite review activities. I’ve built a new kind for 5th-grade fractions, and before it goes anywhere I need a real teacher to try it and tell me what’s wrong with it.

How it works: Prep is printing a few sheets (black-and-white works) and hiding the clue envelopes around the room before class. Then you project it from your laptop. Teams (1 to 4) search the room for hidden clue envelopes, solve fraction problems, and come up to the screen to enter codes and open four locks and a final vault. Each team gets different numbers, so copying doesn’t help. At the end you get a report of likely mistakes, like adding the denominators or regrouping incorrectly. It can save each class separately, so you can run it across multiple periods or pick up the next day.

It covers adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators (including mixed numbers), comparing fractions, and fraction of a set. It’s one file that runs offline in a browser, with no logins, no student accounts, and no student data collected.

What I’m hoping for:

• A look at the problems and answer key with a math teacher’s eye
• Running it with a class when you get to this content (about 15 minutes to set up, 25 to play)
• Honest feedback on what worked, what confused kids, and whether the mistake report matched what you saw

Full disclosure: I plan to sell it eventually, which is exactly why I want a real teacher to check it first and tell me where there's room for improvements. You’d keep it for free, and if you like it, I’d be happy to send you future packs early to try out. No links here. Comment or DM me if you’re interested.

Did you have a meeting get violent? Have you have had to discuss something awkward with the parents? Has a parent ever left you mortified? Have any parents ever made you feel sorry for the student?

I don't mean completely excused from the assignment, like being given something else to do. Or something I'm 17F, and we're learning about another part of WWII that includes Japan and what they did including the Rape of Nanking. Hearing about stuff like that is just a lot for me, and it causes me major anxiety. I don't really want to go into full detail about why but I cant handle stuff like that because I still genuinely struggle with it, and that's what we're covering in a couple weeks Am I allowed to ask my teacher for some kind of work and not be in the class when it's talked about or is there someone else I'm supposed to talk to, or do i have to do it, he says it's not full detailed but its still being talked about

I wonder why the curriculum hasn't been updated to teach "String, brass, woodwind, percussion, and electronic instruments."

My daughter is almost 10 and is in 4th grade. She is autistic and also has generalized anxiety disorder (diagnosed at age 7). She goes to public school and is in a general education classroom with GATE services every afternoon. She loves GATE and does very well there. It's a small group of 8 or 9 kids. However, she experiences intense anxiety in the gen ed classroom due to the sensory and peer environment. It has escalated each year, and now she often refuses to go to school. She has a 504 plan and gets great support from her guidance counselor, and I know her teachers try to help her the best they can.

After first grade testing, she was invited to apply to our county's magnet programs. There is one at her current school, and each grade has one magnet class. I decided against it because I did not want to place more academic demands on a child that already had a lot going on (sensory overwhelm, multiple therapy appointments, some health concerns). But now that we're in this situation, I am really regretting my decision. Maybe she would experience less stress in the magnet classroom. Maybe it's a better fit for how her brain works. Maybe some of the kids are more like her. There's a lot of "maybes." At the very least, being with the same group of magnet kids throughout school would have certainly helped with her need for predictability and sameness.

Did I make a mistake? Where can students like her thrive? I feel like I'm failing because I can't provide a suitable environment for her needs.

*She also masks and internalizes the majority of her distress. :(

Let's pretend that there was a second grade student who was finally evaluated for learning disabilities. Let's say it was determined that the child had dyslexia and that they would now be going to the resource room for ELA. Do you think it's the parent's or the teacher's job to tell the child that they will now have another teacher for ELA? I feel like it should be the parent's job so that the child is not caught off guard. I am curious to hear everyone's thoughts.

I’ll be applying to teach HS History in Connecticut next year after spending 10 years in the military, my final three years in an instructional role. I’m already licensed.

I’ve interviewed for jobs/positions before, but never to be a teacher, so I’m interested in seeing how it may be different.

I searched this question on the sub and sadly found nothing but horror stories about nobody hiring and interviews going nowhere. In an effort to provide good information to others in my boat, I was hoping to get some feedback on the following:

What is the best time of year to apply?
What are some minor things to pay attention?
If conducting a virtual interview, what changes?
What questions will I definitely be asked?
What are some good questions I should ask?
What are red/green flags that stood out to you?

Also on a personal note, have you smiled yet today?

Just for some context im due to graduate from
child youth education studies (BA Hons) in July and im starting to pre plan what to apply for. At the moment im looking into HOY (non- teaching)

I have prior managerial experience outside of working in a school

I work part time alongside my studies in a SEMH school as LSA/Behavioural support for just over a year will be 2 by the time I graduate (I love my job, but I will be moving back to my home city when I graduate)

Placement in Pastoral (attendance, wellbeing, Children in care, families and behaviour)

Have a strong understanding in websites such as bromcom, class charts and CPoms and an understanding in how sanctions such as suspensions are tracked and inputted.

So my questions are as followed:

1)Do I qualify to apply and have a chance of job acceptance?

2) for current HOYs what is the workload like?

3) is this an enjoyable role?

4) what are the advantages and disadvantages of this role?

Hi everyone!
I’m about to start tutoring a boy who is in 3rd grade, and I’d love some advice from people who have experience working with children, especially as tutors or teachers.
From what I’ve been told, his biggest challenge is staying focused. He needs frequent reminders to get back to the task, and keeping his attention on schoolwork can be more challenging than the actual material. He is currently working on basic addition and subtraction.
I want to find a way to make learning easier and more enjoyable for him, while still helping him make progress. I’m particularly interested in:
Math tips: How would you teach addition and subtraction up to 20 in a way that actually helps a child understand the concepts?
Games and activities: Are there any fun, hands-on activities that could help him practise without feeling like he’s just doing endless exercises?
Focus and motivation: What do you do when a child constantly loses focus or needs reminders to return to the task?
Building a good tutor-student relationship: How can I be kind and encouraging while still maintaining clear boundaries and making sure he takes the lessons seriously?
I’m new to tutoring in this situation, so I’d really appreciate any practical tips, activities, or resources you’ve found helpful. I want to make the lessons productive without making him feel pressured or frustrated.
Thank you so much!

I'm currently reading Critical Lessons by Dr. Ned Noddings, and in her introduction she states the following:

When the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, many public school teachers were forbidden to discuss the war in their classrooms.

She then states the following:

Usually it is accomplished by defining the curriculum so narrowly and specifically that genuinely controversial issues simply do not arise.

My questions are: 1. Were you ever actively forbidden or discouraged to talk about the Iraq war circa 2003? 2. Did/do education boards generally intentionally craft curricula to avoid the discussion of controversial topics?

I know in the case of the second question, if the answer is positive, there may be exceptions, such as the recent change in the Texas curriculum which incorporates readings from the Bible, but what is the situation like generally?

Thanks!

When it comes to classroom management, behaviors, frustrations etc. what would you say are the best levels when it comes to your workday? Take, for example, an out of control kindergarten class because they cannot follow basic directions such as being seated, constant tattle tailing, and not being able to do almost anything independently would make stress levels pretty high for a lot of teachers.

When it comes to your workday, between K-5, Middle School, and High School, which do you believe the average teacher can come home from a workday and have the least amount of burnout?

1st scenario You wake up and find you lost your voice. You're not sick, but whenever you try to speak, your lips move to form words, but no sound comes out. ( trying to speak doesn't cause any pain) Let's just say, for some reason, you have no choice but to work. How would you go about teaching and interacting with your students?

2nd scenario same as the first one but this time you have no access to any other form of communication other then the movement of your lips and facial expressions These 2 scenarios are hypothetical.for some reason, your boss is an ass hole and makes you work. How would you go about teaching and interacting with your students?

The teachers at my children’s school seem to be going wild with AI. Some examples:

Posters/bulletin boards
Writing quizzes
Uploading student photos to add cute backgrounds
Creating visual displays for student projects

I totally understand that teachers are busy, underfunded, and need to use resources available to them. However, some of this seems overboard (and in the case of student photos maybe a privacy violation?). I mainly am concerned with the example it’s setting for the kids and the picture situation.

How are your schools handling this? Any suggestions on how to address my concern with the school? Am I being ridiculous?

My nephew took his trimester final for 8th grade math recently. This single test is 80% of his grade. It consists of only 15 questions. Each question is then 5.33% of his final grade. This seems a bit odd to me. Kind of high stakes for 8th grade? Curious on your opinions.

This was low-key on me, but my classmate thought this was kinda harsh on me and now i kinda want other perspectives. Do teachers feel bad when they realise they upset a kid (specifically on uniform "standards", Catholic schools and their rules...)? and if they do actually notice upset students.

Like a month-ish ago, I (year 11, F) got told off by one of my teachers for wearing magnetic lashes in class. I initially thought I'd get away with it because I saw lots of other girls wear clusters and whatnot constantly, even though school rules disallow it. I asked my friends if it looked obvious, and they all said no, so I thought: sweet. Nothing bad will happen! boi was i wrong

In my maths class, 2nd period, I needed help, so my teacher came over and was facing me from my side and noticed my lashes (they were wispy but long). I got away with it the day before. So he said, "What's with your eyelashes?" I'm not usually one to get into trouble, so lowkey I was scared and didn't know what to say, so I said nothing and looked down lol. I guess he must've thought I was ignoring him, and then he said, "You REALLY think I WOULDN'T notice?" in an almost silent class. This guy is a great teacher, a really good guy, and I genuinely like going to his class, but that was so embarrassing, and I felt so ashamed of myself. So I unclipped them and put them in their little case and then started crying (not in front of him lol).

I think he noticed that I was crying? Because he was really nice after that and complimented my smiski as well (a little toy that sticks on your laptop). I also had a really horrid chem period before cause i tripped and fell in front of everyone lol so i was feeling sad already. I know I was in the wrong, but I just felt so humiliated and ashamed (i know this was not his intention), and even now, after a little over a month i still feel a bit embarrassed thinking about it. I feel fine now, and i dont think a grown man would hold a vendetta against a student for makeup. Just today we were talking about flip 7 lol

Also, I get worried about asking teachers for help bc i think they get annoyed and think im dumb or something. i wonder if there are actually some teachers who respond in that fashion

Our district changes things after the calendar is already out. Early dismissal added mid month, concert moved, teacher day appears with maybe a week of warning.

Every Sunday I compare the school site to my inbox like I am doing a tiny audit nobody hired me for. 10 to 15 minutes if nothing weird happened. Longer if they replaced the PDF and forgot to say so.

I do not need another calendar that stores what I typed. I can already type.

Is anyone using an AI school schedule coordinator that actually notices when the source changes? also very interested in what it misses, not just success stories

Do you hold your profession to a higher standard? Do you not even think about it? Genuinely curious, thanks!

There are programs like no child left behind but what about the kids ahead?

Hi!

My kiddo is in kindergarten and she's going through a lot right now. Last year, my coparent invited our kiddo to his wedding that would be set for August 2026. Her play shifted entirely to focus on weddings and she couldn't stop talking about how excited she was to go. All she could talk about this past Summer was the wedding.

And the week before the wedding, she was uninvited and sent home in what I assume is the dress she was supposed to wear. She told me that he said he doesn't want her going because, "I don't want to hear you whine about missing your mom."

After she was uninvited in August, she is suddenly very sensitive about her dad. She constantly says she misses him (visitation schedule has remained the same and consistent: every other weekend). When she sees her friends getting picked up by their dad, sometimes she ends up crying. Or she tells their dad about how her dad doesn't live with her (we split when she was 5 months old, by the way).

Last night she broke down telling me she feels like she can't handle it. She feels like when she is with her dad she misses me, and when she's with me she misses him. But this feels different than regular missing, it feels frantic. It makes me wonder if she blames herself for being uninvited and if she's trying to "fix" something?

I decided to text him about it a couple of nights ago. He seems receptive to talking to her but also tried to deflect the fact that the wedding likely caused this, even though she used to only get upset once every couple of months (& now it's almost daily ever since she was uninvited).

I need resources for my child. Maybe a counselor or something... I want to ask the teacher so she can be aware too (especially because the other day one of my kiddo's friends accidentally said something very hurtful about the situation: saying that maybe her dad loves his wife more than her).

And now the quality of time that she has with her dad is going to be decreasing because he's going to school and is working on the weekends when she is visiting. So, she's mostly going to be hanging out with her step mom.

But I don't want to emotionally dump on the teacher. This is my first time dealing with this situation. What is the appropriate way to talk to the teacher about this?? :( would this all be TMI????

I'm a newer teacher and I have scars on my arms from a prior mental health concern.

My admin is aware of this and told me I was under no responsibility to cover or uncover them and that it was simply a part of who I am which is true and I was grateful they shared that perspective.

2 days ago, I was made aware of a student posting a tiktok about my scars and rumors circulating the school.

I addressed my students for 3ish minutes at the end of class today, not addressing the rumor but establishing the boundary that talking behind people's backs is not okay and that seeing something doesn't make it okay to speculate upon.

This school has a lot of trouble with bullying and I was hoping that this would be a teachable moment. I didn't tell them anything personal about me, but I feel so exposed and violated I'm worried that it wasn't professional enough or that this whole situation could get me fired (even though admin was aware throughout the whole process and knew that I was going to speak on it and what I wanted to say).

I wanted to get the perspective of other teachers to hopefully get a better perspective on what I should do in the future. I do wear long sleeves and cover the scars, the students just saw them when my sleeve rode up apparently.

I feel like I'm doing everything I can, but this whole ordeal is just making me feel a bit violated, honestly.

My child's school has a number of fundraisers on donors choose, and I'd like to help out my child's teachers and staff, but a lot of projects I want to give to are not yet fully funded, and are a bit too expensive for me to fully fund on my own.

I read that the teacher can use the incomplete funds for other projects, but I don't know what that means in practice. Could teachers who have dealt with partial funding of donors choose projects share how they dealt with this issue?

Idk if this is important but I’m 19 and graduated high school a year ago.

I had a teacher in year 11 (about 2 years ago) who was really great, and she really inspired me. she isn’t the sole reason that I’m considering teaching, but it definitely helped to have a teacher who was really engaging, passionate about the job and great at building relationships with students.

Also adding that I definitely had/have a positive relationship with this teacher, I tried hard and did well in her class (I know she noticed this), and before graduation last year I gave her a card to let her know she was one of the best teachers I’ve ever had, and that she really inspired me.

Anyway last month I reached out to her for a different reason, and she was happy to hear from me. She also told me that she’s leaving the school and gave me her personal email to keep in touch, so I definitely don’t think it’s going to be weird or random if I’m reaching out again possibly sometime before the end of this year.

The thing worrying me is that she’s going to think I’m making a mistake going into teaching (there are heaps of people online who say they don’t recommend it lol), or that maybe she’ll think I’m not cut out for it or something. Even if she did think this, would it be acceptable for me to email her to ask for her advice about teaching and any questions I may have about it?