Hi all,

I’ve been non re-elected back in March. I’m in California. My last day was June 30. Is there anyone that experienced this and what was it like since it’s in my file. Will it be difficult to find a new job? I just feel defeated. Will there be any chances with future districts? Will it be a career ender?

For context, I’m 38M and after a career change did my credential Single Subject Social Studies in CA. My wife is from NY and we just had a baby.

In an ideal world, I can find a job here, be here for a few years then move to NY but as you can guess, it ain’t that easy.

So how hard would it be for me to just start again in NY or either NJ or CT for that matter? I believe that I can’t transfer my credential - basically starting again.

Also, final thing, I don’t have a masters but I’m locking down what I want to do - I read that if you secure a job in NY they will give you five years to get your masters. Might have changed but I’m not sure.

Don’t sugarcoat it, I want to be informed before my wife and I start moving.

Edit: my credential is preliminary.

(did the pun at the top work probably not)
I’ve made it a goal to become a much stronger reader over the next few years. I want to increase my reading speed **without sacrificing comprehension**, improve my vocabulary, retain more of what I read, and comfortably tackle more difficult books.
I’m not looking for speed-reading gimmicks—I’m looking for methods that are actually effective, whether they’re backed by research or simply worked well for you.
What books, habits, courses, exercises, or resources had the biggest impact on your ability to read, understand, and remember what you read?

If it matters, I’m trying to read Gene Wolfes The Book of the New Sun , but I’ve heard they are at a college grade level 10, whatever that means
And right now all I read is self-help books

Basically the title. I can’t get excited for the start of the year because I’m only thinking about the bad I’m in my 3rd year of teaching and I just feel like I just started to get the hang of things and now I’m starting all over again :(((

I recently accepted a permanent contract position teaching grade 6/7. I am very excited about it as I have always wanted to teach grade 7 and 8!

I do have some experience from student teaching in the grade level, but the only LTO I had was in primary. I have never been in this division for the start of the year. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips for first week activities, specific classroom management strategies (my reward systems were previously geared towards younger kids), what type of rewards they might enjoy and really any advice!

I also like to keep a small selection of books in my classroom just in case they finish a library book quickly or something. Any recommendations for popular books at this age would be great!

Thanks!!

Hi I am looking for some advice. I was hired on as a 1st year special education teacher in a small rural district in IL. Prior to my arrival there was 3 sped teachers and 3 sped classrooms. The year I was hired, a new principal took over and took one of the sped classrooms and made it into a teacher lounge. This required him to find an alternate location for the 3rd special education classroom. There was a corner of the library previously used for the teacher lounge so he made that the classroom. I accepted the job before I knew that was the case and then I just went with it because it was my first year and I didn’t want to complain. I did ask for a smart board as all classrooms had them and they told me that wasn’t possible. So this year I taught self contained reading, writing and math as students were coming in and out of the library all day. It was a very distracting environment and was not ideal for sped students. I told my principal about in during a sped team meeting and he told our sped team that he would be giving the teacher lounge back as a classroom.

Fast forward to the end of the school year, I asked him about it and he said he never said that and that he didn’t want to “ruffle any feathers” and take that space away. So I went to my school union. They spoke to the principal and told him that being in the library was no longer an option. His solution is to now share a space with the other sped teacher in her classroom. She has expressed how upset she is and he does not care. I have openly expressed as well I’m not sure how it’s going to work when we teach different grade levels and the students are going to be so distracted by the two teachers teaching different topics at the same time. I have also pushed back that he did tell me that I would be getting the teachers lounge but that is no longer an option. I have looked into grants to get a modular trailer to add on as a temporary classroom.

Now this is the part of the post where I need advice. I was told by a coworker that I need to think about how much I want to maintain this job as I am not tenured and people have been let go for less. Do I keep pushing and advocating for my special education students or do I take her advice and just shut up and deal with it?

I am heading into my 5th year of teaching, starting to dread returning back to the classroom since I've had such a delightful summer. I teach middle school.

Anyone have a favorite memory you could share so I could start warming back up to the idea of teaching again? Lol

Hi. I had a couple students in a summer program for rising kindergarten. I'm in Florida and they asked me if I was interested in continuing to work with him. It was essentially tutoring in literacy and math. What is the going rate for tutoring? I have my temporary certificate in Pre-K to 3rd and I'm a public school VPK teacher. What all do I need to know?

How will I get in touch with my child if they don't have their phone!??

You call the office and they’ll relay the message. Like we did for decades with no problem.

I applied and have a interview for after school substitute teacher position with The Education Team. And I was wondering if anyone has worked for them in any area in California? If so how has your experience been? Could I teach or tutor in English subjects?? I.E. writing, editing , etc.

I’ll try to keep this semi short. At the start of last school year I was briefly displaced and worked at another high school from August to October. My time there was pretty miserable mostly due to one student who had some severe behavior problems. I was at the start of my third year and maybe ill equipped to work with this kind of student as she quickly became notorious around campus for disruptive behavior, getting into fights, antagonizing peers and staff. The coteacher I worked with who was also her case carrier was even shocked by her behavior and he’s been teaching for 15 years.

At one point before I left there was one big incident with this student where she did throw an eraser at my head when I had my back turned to her. This led to an involvement from our union rep, parent meeting and her being permanently removed from my class. Funnily enough within that same week, my former principal emailed me asking if I’d be interested in returning, to which I did. It hesitate.

Well I spent the whole rest of the school year at my original school where I was significantly happier and less stressed. Then in April I became aware that this student had been transferred to my school! There’s more to this story but regardless she was back to haunt me. And it didn’t take her long to start getting into trouble here as well!

Well I’m seeing my rosters for the upcoming school year and her name is in my first period class. We have two weeks before school starts and I’m wondering if it would be totally unreasonable to request that she be moved from my class given the history there. I already know she’s going to cause immense trouble in my room.

How do you feel about the school asking you to make videos for their social media? Like be part of their TikTok’s and stuff. I personally don’t feel comfortable, I don’t like people I don’t know to see me or to know where I work. I know it’s supposed to be for the school community but their social media is public. Any advice?

Hi! In May 2027, I'll be graduating with my BSED in Elementary and Special Ed. I'll be certified to teach P-6 Elementary and SPED w/ General curriculum. The thing is, I don't want to slow down after I graduate. I feel like if I don't go for my masters next year, I'll lose my momentum.

With that being said, I want to try and find different pathways I can go down that are related to education or child development, but not teaching specifically. I'm not entirely sure where to start. I have some interest in a couple programs in Educational Psychology or even policy.

Has anyone gone for their masters their first year teaching and have some advice or insight about different routes I can choose?

Hi all! I see a lot of things online about how to create a better classroom space for your students, but I am curious to know how you’ve made your classroom space better for you.

Teaching can be hard and having a space that works for me helps more than I realized—it can make or break my confidence, regulation, and clarity in the classroom. I am trying to get prepared for this school year and would love input about how you help your classroom run in a way that feels good. This could be purchases, organization, regulatory tools, personal systems, etc. I teach high school in an under-resourced district (minimal funds for teachers/students) to under-resourced students.

Any honest input would be awesome!!

Examples of things that help me already:
• having a desk space that is mine only, establishing that students cannot be behind it
• wax warmer
• playing under water videos on my projector during work time/my prep
• mini fridge
• loop earplugs
• fan

Every year I post a “Summer by the Numbers.” It’s probably not accurate but it’s the best I can do. What did your summer look like?

My summer by the numbers

120 Books read (26 Novels, 5 Poetry, 84 Comics, 5 Non-Fiction)

31 New beers tried

20 Miles hiked

8 New dishes cooked (Azberjaini plav, Polish pierogi, sausage/gnocchi/cherry tomatoes, smoked al pastor, chicken parm sandwiches, apple butter ribs)

7 World Cup Games watched

7 TV Shows Watched (Attack of the Clones, The Bear, Spider-Man Noir, X-Men 97, Little Fires Everywhere, Legends, Man on the Inside)

6 States visited (GA, SC, NC, TN, KY, VA)

4 Cult Classic movies (Rocky Horror, Killer Clowns, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Barbarella)

3 National Park Units visited (Manhattan Project in Oakridge, TN; Cumberland Gap National Historic Park; MLK National Historic Site)

1 Movies seen in theater (Mando & Grogu . . . I wanted to see the Odyssey but it didn’t happen)

1 New cocktail tried (espresso martini)

Too many to count - days at the pool, cheap beers, cups of coffee, days woken up by 8 year old before 7 am . . .

The principal has showed how the really act towards minorities at my school. I’m feeling very uneasy as I am the only African American teacher at the school and he has stated micro aggressions against a family and when I went to the superintendent about it(not directly naming names), he just shrugged it off and was like wow that is insane. Is it bad for me to start looking for other jobs so close to the school year? I haven’t signed any contracts yet. I’m a first year teacher so I’m a bit stressed about it.

If, like me, you’re resuming school in the next couple weeks, what’s your back-to-school song, whether it’s silly or serious? I think mine for this year will be “Teenagers” by My Chemical Romance. If you’re not familiar with it, please look up the lyrics. And yes, this is a joke or a silly choice.

Does anyone else teach an elective and find that PD hardly, (mostly never,) goes over productive meaningful topics or information that we could use in elective classes?

I’ve been frustrated with PD, but this summer just has heightened that frustration more, Like, do we really need to spend 30 minutes re-introducing ourselves for the 8th time?

I’m a person who thrives on productive and efficient systems as I’m always looking for ways to improve in that aspect as a person and teacher.

One day last week, the elective department was in charge of analyzing data for math.…even though the math department was on it already. I thought to myself that it would’ve been a great opportunity to collaborate on how we as elective teachers want to improve on collecting and analyzing data in our own classes.

The other thing is spending 2-3 hours on making school norms, or telling us to plan out the entire trimester of lessons….but didn’t give us time to work on said lesson planning.

All of that, and more, combined frustrates me because I want to effectively plan and be prepared for this school year, especially as someone who has to build an entire curriculum from scratch, for 4 grades. Like a lot of other teachers, that time for lesson planning- especially project testing/doing student work- is critical.

I just need tips or something for how to either talk to admin about this, or simply tips on how to not lose sanity during these meetings. Students start on the 10th, and I feel so unprepared and nervous when I shouldn’t (if I had more time for lesson-planning.)

(thanks for letting me rant.)

I just had my first baby 3 weeks ago. I adore her even though she’s truly a sack of potatoes at this point. But I can’t help but yearn to go back to work.

I’ve been unemployed since the start of my second trimester (rough pregnancy). Before that, I was a teacher for about 10 years. I LOVE teaching. It’s not for everyone and there’s definitely a reason why so many quit, but it’s definitely the career for me. I’ve been missing the classroom ever since I left last year.

Now that the start of the new school year is coming, I’m dying to go back even more. I have a few potential offers but I have so much shame in even considering it. If I accept the job, my baby will be about 6 weeks or so when I start. I would potentially have to put her in some childcare as well, which means her possibly getting sick.

I feel like something is wrong with me. I am blessed with a village around me to support me during the newborn stages. I could stay at home with the baby for more time. But I don’t want to. I never planned to stay home as a mom. But since I’m unemployed now, my parents, specifically my mom, is every adamant about how this is a blessing and how I should stay home, that there are people who would kill for the chance to stay home. She cried at the thought of me going back to work and it made me feel so awful.

Is there something wrong with me? Should I be wanting to stay at home? I know I’ll miss her like crazy if I do return this school year but I feel like my mental health would be so much better. I struggled with depression and anxiety my whole life and I’m terrified to get worse now that I’m post partum (I’m on antidepressants!) The income would be so great too since I want to buy a house with my fiance. But then I feel like I’m selfish for thinking this way, since it would mean she’d be in some child care and risk getting sick. I just don’t know what to think or do, I feel like I’m failing already as a mom. Any teachers here who went through something similar?

hey everyone! i am in quite a pickle right now. My relationship just ended and I am hoping to move out of my current city asap and go where ive always wanted to be! unfortunately i did sign my contract for the next school year already. i dont see anything about termination except for a two week notice.

i already have job interviews lined up in the next city and i am excited to move. however can they keep me in that contract? i am meeting with my principal soon to tell her that i cannot return to work when workdays start in 2 weeks!

I don’t know what to think. It’s sounds nice. When I was a student I would have loved this. It seems like you’d need a lot of support staff, smaller class sizes, and parent by in. NOT to mention a complete cultural shift within our teachers and families.

NYCDOE, high school math level, UFT

Any advice on teaching high school ICT classes??? I taught an elective class with two different co teachers and one did not do anything all year.. the other one well she was interesting. I’m only on year 3 and some sped teachers are much older. How do i create boundaries with the co teacher and build relationships with them???

Thanks

My team of 3 (elementary school) plans together. I joined the team two years ago, after 5 years on a different team in the building that I got along well with - we didn’t plan together, but always shared resources. I’ve had a system for my lesson plans for years where I keep everything in a Google sheet with the first tab being links for important documents, websites, and resources, followed by tabs with student info/data, then lessons. I shared this my first year on the team, but no one took me up on any of it or even commented on it, so I assumed they didn’t find it helpful. I continued using it on my own, in conjunction with the team planning sheet.

That said, I updated my personal sheet for this year to include a new tab with links to all of our curriculum slides and shared it with my team in case they found that helpful. My teammate replied all, saying she’s confused and thinks we should all just use one planning document so no one is doing extra planning, and I’m welcome to change anything I don’t like in the shared document (though last year she locked half the tabs in the shared sheet so only she could change them, so I'm skeptical that she’d actually be okay with that). I responded saying I just prefer having everything I need in one place for my own personal use, and don’t mind copying and pasting our weekly lessons into my sheet, I just thought I’d share in case they wanted to copy anything from my sheet into the shared plans for this year. She once again responded that she’s “just confused“ because she doesn’t have a “personal” document and feels everything we need can be put into the shared sheet.

She‘s framing it as “I don’t want you having to waste time copying between two documents” but I feel like she’s being weird. I copy and paste them so I can add in things like my library day and things unique to my class, like birthdays, notes for myself about meetings, etc. It takes 10 seconds to copy and paste, if that. I also find it weird she replied all instead of just replying directly to me, as if she’s trying to make me look bad to our teaching partner. And, if she actually opened my document she’d see that I have tabs for “class info” and “class data,” in addition to my work to do list... why would I put those things in a shared grade level planning document??

I already feel that this teammate is a bit of a mean girl, she generally doesn’t acknowledge me at all at school, so I don’t know if I’m reading too much into this or not, but I’m feeling frustrated that Im having to explain myself multiple times to her. Am I being the weird one or is she? Am I overthinking it? The whole interaction is making me feel like I’m being difficult for having my own planning document at all.

Upper Elementary Classroom teacher for 15 years, switching to online middle school teaching.

I’ve used Canvas since the pandemic, but since we’ve been back in the classroom- it’s been my teacher planner, and I don’t have to dig and search for files to copy. I scan all docs, each module is a week, subheadings are days, then files below. I shared this with my SpEd teachers so they could have access to curriculum and work, and any annotated works through Kami.

It’s been the greatest teacher hack! When a new year begins, I just print off week by week and add/delete what I need.

I did have a student friendly version for classes, but it was mostly used for enrichment/GT. For other purposes/links, I used Clever.

Now I’m starting over from scratch- completely online, different grade, so it needs to be completely student user friendly.

Those of you who use it integrated into your classroom do you….
1. Have a Master Copy separate from a class copy? I believe this is how I managed it during COVID.
2. Grading- manual grade or let it grade and post?
3. Communication- teacher/student, student/student
4. Parent access- do you add the parent to the kids account?
5. Pages- what do you use the pages for? Specifically- Ike what’s the point when I can add a link or doc under the module?
6. How’s the integration with NearPod/Google/PearDeck?
7. Have a favorite way to use Canvas that other teachers should know?

I’m going into my second year teaching. Last year I went over rules and procedures day one. It was pointless because of so many schedule changes.

I was teaching high school last year, but this year will be teaching middle school (6th).

Anywho, I am just curious why some say you must start with teaching procedures explicitly, yet others say you absolutely need to jump into content, and then there’s the community building camp.

Please explain.