Blowout Teachers' Lounge

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

Just amazing that is still happening. We have required harassment training every year. A staff guy I know was accused of improprieties by a student who was in the process of being committed to a mental institution and he was escorted off campus and spent 2 5 months under suspension until the Title IX investigation was concluded and he was cleared.

I don't even hold in-person office hours anymore. Not worth it.

My office hours are the hour before or after class right there in the hallway outside of the classroom. Nice open public space.

[hairysasquatch]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

My office hours are the hour before or after class right there in the hallway outside of the classroom. Nice open public space.

Reasonable. Mine are on Zoom.

[jlzinck]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

School should start after Labor Day. Not before.

In the civilized world, Massachusetts, it does start after Labor Day

[TheHeel]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

My office hours are the hour before or after class right there in the hallway outside of the classroom. Nice open public space.

Smart man

[jplarson]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

I don't even hold in-person office hours anymore. Not worth it.

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

My office hours are the hour before or after class right there in the hallway outside of the classroom. Nice open public space.

It's a bummer to hear that. I enjoyed the times I was able to chat with my professors during undergrad in person. I mean I get it, but it sucks that awful people ruined it for everyone.

[hairysasquatch]

Originally Posted by jplarson

It's a bummer to hear that. I enjoyed the times I was able to chat with my professors during undergrad in person. I mean I get it, but it sucks that awful people ruined it for everyone.

Lawyers will keep going until everything is ruined. They're getting closer to achieving that goal every day.

[TheFrenzy]

This is my first time teaching a fall semester, in-person freshman class.

I had a student come up to me after class asking when they were going to get their list of historical terms and definitions to memorize like in his high school AP class. It took everything not to openly laugh, but I assured the kid that college classes are a bit different from the packet-heavy days of high school.

Also, my new attendance policy seems to be working pretty well. Almost done with Week 4 and I've still got 90% of them showing up to class.

[jlzinck]

My daughter has her 1st parent meeting, on the 5th day of school.
I was like "WTF"????

So here is what she told me.

Lol long story, parents asked via email on day 3 if we could meet to "start the ball rolling" to get him assessed for ADHD. Then it turned into my principal and the head of special Ed being there as well. It actually went well and the parents were lovely, but it's legit day 5, like can I live?!? Lol

I asked her when she got her medical degree. Since when do teachers and administration asses for ADHD?

[Ray27Ray52]

SPED teachers will use an ADHD diagnosis when organizing an SST or an IEP but I don't know about diagnosing someone themselves. Seems like an overreach. I'd have to ask my wife when she gets home. She's the IEP chair for her school.

[Ray27Ray52]

Ok so she says and I quote "teachers and school psychologists can not diagnose ADD, AdHD, or any learning disability for that manner, they can only say that the child displays behaviors that meet the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis". But just because they have ADHD doesn't mean they will qualify for an IEP.

[jlzinck]

Originally Posted by Ray27Ray52

SPED teachers will use an ADHD diagnosis when organizing an SST or an IEP but I don't know about diagnosing someone themselves. Seems like an overreach. I'd have to ask my wife when she gets home. She's the IEP chair for her school.

Originally Posted by Ray27Ray52

Ok so she says and I quote "teachers and school psychologists can not diagnose ADD, AdHD, or any learning disability for that manner, they can only say that the child displays behaviors that meet the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis". But just because they have ADHD doesn't mean they will qualify for an IEP.

I guess they use "asses" to cover themselves. How about bring the kid to the Dr. Have a medical professional do their job and THEN meet up with the school.

But living in a nanny state give people god complexes I guess

[jlzinck]

SO the local middle and high school have had a program in place where cell phones are locked during the day. The Pumpkin Spice Maffia want to sue the town and the state to change this so their little cherubs can have access to their phones when the inevitable school shooting happens here.

I feel so bad that teachers have to deal with these nuts

[marl1220]

Originally Posted by Ray27Ray52

SPED teachers will use an ADHD diagnosis when organizing an SST or an IEP but I don't know about diagnosing someone themselves. Seems like an overreach. I'd have to ask my wife when she gets home. She's the IEP chair for her school.

wrong post. Sorry.

[thenightman]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

Just amazing that is still happening. We have required harassment training every year. A staff guy I know was accused of improprieties by a student who was in the process of being committed to a mental institution and he was escorted off campus and spent 2 5 months under suspension until the Title IX investigation was concluded and he was cleared.

I don't even hold in-person office hours anymore. Not worth it.

I'm a teacher and my door is always open. If a student wants to even go back to the room and get something, I hold the door open and wait outside. If a student knocks on my door, I open the door, leave it open, and talk to them in the hall.

The same goes for parents. My door stays open.

I once had a student reach out to me back when I had a facebook account with a friend request. I didn't respond, didn't approve the request, and then told her never to do that again, for me or any other teacher in the future.

[Ray27Ray52]

This year so far has been better than last year and miles ahead of the year before that. The kids seem to be settling in to routines as well as treating the teachers and each other with a lot more respect.

I'm just tired yall. My legs are still in summer mode. Let me walk you through my day.

7:45-8:00 clear the halls between 3/4/5
8:00-9:00 support 5th grade math
9:00-10:00 support 4th grade writing
10:00-10:30 support 3rd grade academic enrichment
10:30-11:00 3/4/5 recess
11:00- 11:30 3/4/5 lunch
11:30-11:45 6/7/8 recess
11:45- 12:15 k/1/2 recess
12:15-12:45 k/1/2 lunch
12:45-1:30 break
1:30-3:00 lead 7th grade ELA because the teacher is teaching a course at a local college

I'm everywhere all day long. Can't ever sit down. I love my job but I'm exhausted.

[TheHeel]

Originally Posted by Ray27Ray52

This year so far has been better than last year and miles ahead of the year before that. The kids seem to be settling in to routines as well as treating the teachers and each other with a lot more respect.

I'm just tired yall. My legs are still in summer mode. Let me walk you through my day.

7:45-8:00 clear the halls between 3/4/5
8:00-9:00 support 5th grade math
9:00-10:00 support 4th grade writing
10:00-10:30 support 3rd grade academic enrichment
10:30-11:00 3/4/5 recess
11:00- 11:30 3/4/5 lunch
11:30-11:45 6/7/8 recess
11:45- 12:15 k/1/2 recess
12:15-12:45 k/1/2 lunch
12:45-1:30 break
1:30-3:00 lead 7th grade ELA because the teacher is teaching a course at a local college

I'm everywhere all day long. Can't ever sit down. I love my job but I'm exhausted.

You're an aide, correct? I hope you get paid teacher salary 1:30-3.

[Ray27Ray52]

Originally Posted by TheHeel

You're an aide, correct? I hope you get paid teacher salary 1:30-3.

I am an aide. And no I do not get paid extra.

Having to lead 7th grade at the end of the day is thankfully not going to be all year long.

[TheHeel]

Originally Posted by Ray27Ray52

I am an aide. And no I do not get paid extra.

Having to lead 7th grade at the end of the day is thankfully not going to be all year long.

That’s good. Don’t let them take advantage of you. Know your worth.

[TheFrenzy]

Students who are failing and just need help passing are so easy to work with.

Students who are passing but demand an A+ and want pages of feedback explaining why they scored 98/100 are the worst.

[DontToewsMeBro]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

Students who are passing but demand an A+ and want pages of feedback explaining why they scored 98/100 are the worst.

Parents of those kids are even worse I would imagine

[rocketfan86]

Haven't had many students ask for extra credit but I am pretty behind in my grading... semester ends December 15 and I have too many papers and video presentations to go through.

If students ask for an extra assignment, I usually build in extra points in my exams from their free response sections, give bonus points for attending Supplement Instruction, completing the course evaluation survey.

[hairysasquatch]

Originally Posted by rocketfan86

Haven't had many students ask for extra credit but I am pretty behind in my grading... semester ends December 15 and I have too many papers and video presentations to go through.

If students ask for an extra assignment, I usually build in extra points in my exams from their free response sections, give bonus points for attending Supplement Instruction, completing the course evaluation survey.

I express incredulity at any proposed solution to student underachievement that requires more work from me. I'm paid to grade what I assigned, bro. Not extras.

[Ray27Ray52]

Yesterday was one of my proudest moments as a "teacher". As always I put the word teacher in quotations because I did not go to college, I do not have a degree, and I'm certainly not getting teacher pay. Regardless in my role I basically am doing what credentialed teachers do.

Anyway, yesterday was an asynchronous day for students. They got to stay home while we came to work. I had time to clean up the room, meet with other teachers, and plan for the upcoming week.

I met with a teacher, who I highly respect, for a few hours. She is incredible when it comes to preparation, lesson planning, and classroom management. We met to discuss ILP's for 8 students in 3rd grade who have been identified as needing individually tailored plans to encourage their academic growth.

This teacher didn't need my help. She was perfectly capable of doing it all herself and she would have crushed it. But she sought out my opinion, listened to my ideas, and thanked for my perspective. She even implemented some of my ideas in the ILP's.

Listen folks, I'm just an old dude with little experience in my field. I'm just doing my best to help these kids grow emotionally and academically. The children need us now more than ever. I'm not giving up on them no matter how much they exhaust me, frustrate me, or test my patience. To receive the respect I did from a fellow teacher is all I needed to know I can't stop. I can't give up. This job is too important.

[IndyKMB]

As we near the midway ppint of the 2023-24 school year, I'm at a crossroads.

Had another great run with our Girls Golf program, culminating in a repeat State Championship in October. But, I'm finally realizing that after over 20 years in Middle School I just don't think I can keep doing this at this level.

We have absolutely nothing to hold over our middle schoolers:
--They will not be held back.
--They do not have to do work (they get a 50% even if they do not turn in work or they get a 10/60 on a test).
--Most major punishments are challenged by parents.
--Many IEP kiddos realize they possess a "get-out-of-jail-free" card and do essentially whatever they want with little consequence.

On top of that, I'm planning and differentiating for IEP, 504, and MLL kiddos with absolutely zero pull-in support.

Giving serious consideration for the first time in my career to adding a HS license and exploring those options.

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by Ray27Ray52

Yesterday was one of my proudest moments as a "teacher". As always I put the word teacher in quotations because I did not go to college, I do not have a degree, and I'm certainly not getting teacher pay. Regardless in my role I basically am doing what credentialed teachers do.

Anyway, yesterday was an asynchronous day for students. They got to stay home while we came to work. I had time to clean up the room, meet with other teachers, and plan for the upcoming week.

I met with a teacher, who I highly respect, for a few hours. She is incredible when it comes to preparation, lesson planning, and classroom management. We met to discuss ILP's for 8 students in 3rd grade who have been identified as needing individually tailored plans to encourage their academic growth.

This teacher didn't need my help. She was perfectly capable of doing it all herself and she would have crushed it. But she sought out my opinion, listened to my ideas, and thanked for my perspective. She even implemented some of my ideas in the ILP's.

Listen folks, I'm just an old dude with little experience in my field. I'm just doing my best to help these kids grow emotionally and academically. The children need us now more than ever. I'm not giving up on them no matter how much they exhaust me, frustrate me, or test my patience. To receive the respect I did from a fellow teacher is all I needed to know I can't stop. I can't give up. This job is too important.

This is a great post. Thank you for sharing it.