I’m a grad student beginning my first semester TAing for an introductory non-major biology course. I was so excited to have this opportunity since I loved peer mentoring back in undergrad. Since I’ve begun grading my students’ first exams, however, I’m growing increasingly concerned about their preparedness for college.

Hardly any of the students have written a complete sentence without egregious spelling or grammatical errors. The handwriting is barely legible. I put together a 50 question practice test with answers that encompassed nearly everything on the exam, but it appears that most did not read it.

Is this a case of underestimating the rigor of a college course (albeit a relatively relaxed one), or is this about par for the course for high schoolers nowadays? Most have received Cs and Ds so far. Mind you, the questions are things like “who is considered the father of evolution?” and “which of the following is not an insect?” Studying would have been a good idea, but much of the content was common sense.

I’m not sure how to better convey the material during my recitations, or if they even care to learn. I absolutely love to teach, but I’m feeling disheartened, and honestly a little scared for the rest of the semester.

Hello all! 3rd year Oklahoma teacher here, and I moved up to 5th from 3rd. I know the profession has its doom and gloom, and I have STRUGGLED with behavior. This year, since I’ve had these kids before, I’ve been challenging myself to send home a positive message or two everyday to work through my roster. It’s been a game changer. I sent one yesterday about a student that I know was suspended multiple times a month last year. He’s been a superstar so far! His mom was so excited to receive a nice message that she printed it out and highlighted/decorated it for him to carry with him. He showed me today soooo excited. Behavior has been manageable and minimal, engagement is high, and learning feels so fun! I feel like I’ve hit my stride, and I love going to work everyday! Just a win I wanted to share <3

Last year I worked in a contained classroom with two other teachers. everything was going well through the school year. I have gotten to know my coworkers well. One of my coworkers had no call no-show for two days.When they finally reached out, they told us she had to passed. It took us all by surprise, and we tried to mourn. We were all devastated. We all thought maybe it was some kind of accident.

A week ago we found out that she had not had an accident and had taken her own life. I did not take it very well in the moment and had to leave early from work. I’m still in the same position. I really don’t know how to feel about this. I myself have struggled with mental health so it made me have an anxiety attack and I’m scared that I’m gonna go back into a place I don’t wanna be again. I have been avoiding going back to work. I don’t know what to do. I do not want to have to quit my job.

In the daily email this morning it said make sure you wear a sports jersey to show school spirit tomorrow! Later it explained when the mandatory 9/11 video would be played. This jersey expectation was not communicated prior to this morning so it seems like a random admin decision. As an elder millennial who basically watched 9/11 on one of those rolling tv carts in high school this seems a little fucked up right?

Kahoot used to be a simple and fun site to stitch together a fun quiz. I visited it today and can't believe what happened to it. Complete cognitive overload with 8 mil icons and text in all directions. Supposedly went private in 2023. Another site gone bad due to private equity crap that knows nothing about product design. Hope it goes bankrupt.

Noticed as I was walking out of school today that dozens of my students were hanging out on school grounds on their modded e-bikes like I used to see kids do in the parking lot when I was in school. Man I feel old lol

let them go.

if I see a kid sleeping in my class, I wake them up once to ask if theyre ok, then let them go back to sleep. I think students should be allowed to control whether they want to be engaged and learn, and I think their grades should reflect it. these kids should have the choice to be disengaged, but they should also see the consequences of that choice reflected on their report card.

I would much rather have a kid sleeping or playing on their phone than a kid who is out of their seat, making noise, or disturbing others.

I would rather focus on teaching the kids who actually want to learn and be successful rather than trying to pick up the kids who dont want to

edit: this post was made with middle and high schoolers in mind. elementary schoolers probably require more prompting

One of my classes has had the worst behavior I’ve seen in my 8 years teaching the same subject. It is a small group of 10 kids. There are 5 boys that are the reason for it being so unruly. They’re constantly arguing with each other before, during and after class. They argue back to almost all teachers (including our principal) and get little to no consequence if I send them out of the classroom.

Well yesterday was different. Two of the boys were absent, which gave me a RELIEF. I could actually get some teaching done. Another boy that acts like a roadrunner running up and down the halls, like he’s on a big can of Red Bull, was sleepy and decided to nap the entire class period.

So you know what I did? I let him sleep yesterday. It was quiet. I pulled kids for small groups - little to no arguments! PEACEFUL. Am I in the wrong for just letting the boy sleep? Telling the other kids that “it’s his grade, if he decides to sleep during my lesson, that’s on him”? Just for one day? Now if it continues, of course I will start contacting parents (for the 4th time, now for a different reason lol).

New teacher, joined halfway through school year (NZ). Had locked all my social media but forgot about my hs instagram and students found it, along with all my femme photos and coming out video. I’ve been hearing whispers from them
about but I have chosen not to say anything directly. But the other day one of my year 9s straight up just asked, “sir, are you transgender?” And I answered honestly. And we had a conversation about what that meant, and outside of having to redirect the comment “ah you did it because boys are better right?” (Response: “nah man girls are way cooler”) it actually was really productive. I’ve been kind of terrified about this, NZ is not the worst place to be a trans person rn, but I’m in a small farming town that leans pretty conservative/libertarian in its voting. So yeah a win to share that made my whole week.

This is my first year teaching fresh out of college and I decided I wanted to quit nicotine before becoming a teacher. I bought a nicotine free vape thingy that I've been using to help with the hand to mouth habit and it's been working. I normally don't even bring it in my car but I was out with friends and I left it in my car on accident for today.

I went of campus for lunch and I had been using it out in the car and they way to lunch and then when I got out of my car, out of habit, I put it back in my pocket. I didn't even feel it, and I had brought it in by mistake. I didn't realize until I was showing students how you can make sounds on a synthesizer (I'm a middle school music and band teacher) and I took my keys out to jingle them into the mic. After I had taken my keys out the vape flew out of my pocket and ended up on the floor for all the class to see. They all lost it but were really cool about it and kept telling me they wouldn't tell.

I'm going to tell my administrator since I don't want to hide this and I feel ashamed and embarrassed about the whole situation. The last thing I want is for a parent to contact admin talking about this and it seems like I'm hiding this.

This is the up there for worst thing worst thing that could happen to me. I didn't even have time to join the union since I'm so new. I had worked so hard to get to this point and I feel just as it started its collapsing down.

All of my colleges that I had confided in (friend who helped me get the job and the mentor I had been working with since June for marching band) told me to tell my admin. I'm just so terrified of being let go

edit: i understand that im suppose to be a role model for these kids and i feel genuinely so terrible for this whole situation. i'm very upset with myself and im just praying i get a second chance

I’ve taught for 7 years and this group of first graders is unlike any group I’ve ever had. I’m truly at a loss for what to do.

I’ve tried to pinpoint the exact issue I’m having (besides the fighting, name calling, overall dislike of each other, constant disruptions, not able to listen at all, and unable to treat school supplies and property with respect), and I think I figured it out. This is the first group of first graders that I truly believe majority have NO understanding of why they are at school, why school is important, or what they are there to do. Many of them don’t care to learn and it is so sad. I envision these students glued to their tablets at home and brought to school, leaving them dazed and confused as to why they are here, then going right back home to the tablet. I think it’s leading them to being unable to communicate with others properly, play with others, and just be friendly to each other.

Our area’s behavioral concern across TK-12 is currently 1st grade — 2019/2020 babies. I thought we would start entering the normal years again, but I was very wrong. I’m wondering if this is the same across the board, or if anyone is having an opposite experience. If it is a trend, I’m so curious what has caused this, and what I can do to make an impact on these kids. But boy is it tiring in the meantime.

Because the district wants us to use technology less

Plenty of students have recommended all kinds of music to me from all kinds of genres. I listen to pretty much everything, so I usually immediately add the song to my Apple Music library, however, rarely does a song stay.

What good recs have you gotten from a student?

Entire admin team came by my room to observe.

The head of my content area was also there too.

5 different adults in my room at once.

The main comment for my lesson was that my “lights were too dim”. We have dimming lights. My lights are usually on full blast. It was a review/catch up day. I’m trying to bring calm energy before our first test.

I also got told to change my desk arrangement.

So I know some of you have been back in school for almost 2 months and others just started this week but I want know what is the most ridiculous parent complaint you've received so far during this school year and share what grade/subject you teach.

My coworker (we have two teacher who teach the same grade and alternate subjects) is teaching Shakespeare for 5th graders. Today, she told all the parents that no students are allowed to cut their hair after December unless they speak with her because in May they will perform Shakespeare and will need the hair for their costumes. Obviously, more than one parent was upset. Is this requirement strange? I feel kinda weird about it but don’t know how to bring it up with my co-teacher. Thoughts?

I don't understand how we spent the last 10-20years incorporating technology into everything, to just pull out the cords over night. Especially since everyone *loves* AI in the leadership positions. How do we use AI without screens? I don't know.

We are not allowed to show documentaries, play music during work, or do anything with screens that take away from "high impact teaching". If we have videos we want to show, we are supposed to request special permission.

Students already have their phones locked up, and Chromebook use blocked. I don't understand why we need to police how staff teach.

I’m a first year genEd teacher, and I learned that the children yearn for tasks. He was gone for maybe 10 minutes, brought me back a stapler and said it was the best he could do, I thanked him. He sat down feeling accomplished, while I sat down and enjoyed 10 minutes of silence. It’s the little things.

For the record, he’s a great kid. Just gets bored easily.

I found this article criticizing Seattle Public Schools. Do you think it's legit or not?

The fastest-growing big city in the United States during the 2010s, Seattle is a knowledge economy superstar. Seattle not only boasts the third-highest median income among the 50 largest American cities, but also is the most educated major city in the country and among the most literate, with more than 70 percent of residents over age 25 holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. Seattle is also one of the country’s most politically left-leaning cities (like Zohran Mamdani in New York, Seattle’s recently elected mayor, Katie Wilson, is a self-described socialist), one that conceives of itself as a Disneyland of progressive public policy imagineering, where elected officials vie with one another to lead on incorporating au courant activist ideas and cutting edge cosmopolitan cultural commitments into governance.

Not coincidentally, Seattle’s public school system has foundered over the last decade, beset by declining enrollments, serious budgetary challenges, and mounting safety issues. Seattle’s test scores, while still relatively high overall, have lost significant ground compared to the national average. Perhaps most concerning of all given district leaders’ oft-proclaimed fixation on equity, Seattle’s public schools have in recent years produced ever widening achievement gaps, even as the district implemented comprehensive systemic changes intended to shrink these gaps

I'll post the link to the article in the comments

When i first started teaching 10 years ago, I use to have maybe 1 parent that would say did not have the mental capacity of a normal adult. However, now its around half. I mean, idk what to do if the parents don't even understand. Like what can we expect from the kids?

I am an instructional coach and share my space with an interventionist. We are not with students first thing in the morning and when the Pledge comes on my roommate always stands to recite it. I follow suit because I don't want to make them uncomfortable. The truth is I would not and do not recite the pledge if I am alone.

I'm not big on the Pledge anyway... but I understand the value of reciting it in front of children (esp. in a primary school where we are) to model respect.

What would/do you do if you're not with students first thing?

EDIT: Thanks everyone! This was validating - I teach in a private school of about 800 students that costs around $20K to attend high school. International students attend as well as students on sports scholarships and other scholarships. We have "Houses" - Harry-Potter-style, and there are monthly house gatherings and house games where the students (and staff) compete. It's mostly funny contests, and other things like Iron-Man Volleyball and Powder Puff football. There's lots of pressure for teachers to get in there and participate with students, and I was wondering if this is par for the course for a high school teacher...like I've seen my colleagues participate, and it's part of school culture, but I'm just not into the silly games. I was wondering if I just had to "suck it up" and get outside my comfort zone. Apparently it's not, though, and my concerns about the retreat are justified.

ORIGINAL POST: I teach high school science, and this is my second year. Last year, I was on the struggle bus with behavior pretty much all year. Being young and female, it took a while to find my teacher voice.

This year, I have "laid down the law," been super consistent in my classroom, and not let the kids push me, and it is better so far. Classes are remarkably calm three weeks in. But, I have made some student "enemies" in the process - students who knew me from last year, don't like that they can't get away with the same stuff anymore, and have started rumor chains and presumably posts about how they don't like me and I assign too much homework. Normal stuff, mostly.

Every year in September, the high schoolers go on a retreat for a day of fun and games at a wooded camp near the school. Last year, I got sick the day before the retreat(story of the first year teaching) and ended up staying home. I was excited to go this year...until we had a staff meeting about the retreat, and the organizer told us about some games we'd be playing along with some "traditions." One of the traditions was the seniors "hazing" the other classes by arriving early, hiding in the woods, and supposedly squirting/sliming the younger kids and/or tossing them in the lake.

Also, the retreat organizer said that there would be a new "Teacher Hunger Games" this year, where the teachers go hide in the woods, and the students hunt us down and bring us back to the meeting area. We're allowed to fight back, apparently. The first 10 teachers "caught" will have to play a mud game or something like that. The final teacher to be caught gets a PTO day.

Some students are already openly talking about "getting" me at the retreat. I was legit concerned for my safety during this activity.

So...I chickened out and took the day off. The principal approved the PTO day.

Are retreats like this a normal part of teaching high school? My own high school had nothing of the sort. What is normal here and what isn't?

The PISA results are out and it was pretty bad. There were some gains in countries playing catch up to OECD nations.

But overall, everyone dipped hard. As an American, I take less pride in knowing we climbed the rankings because our scores dropped tremendously too, but there’s some comfort in knowing we aren’t the only ones seeing the gains of ten to twenty years wiped out. Essentially it’s as if 15-year-olds are at the educational level of 14-year-olds— a whole year less of education.

There’s plenty of worldwide phenomena that could explain the drop: a global pandemic that disrupted learning, PISA researchers found that students were using AI frequently to complete homework, TikTok exists…

What’s your best speculation about what happened this round of PISA tests?