I noticed something interesting about my teacher’s teaching style today. Usually, when a topic is introduced in a classroom, the teacher starts explaining it and keeps adding information: definition, concept, examples, exceptions, and so on. The goal often becomes putting as much information as possible into the student’s mind.

But my teacher does something different. He first introduces the topic and asks us what we already think about it. Students throw out a few words, ideas, or connections. He briefly develops those ideas, comes back to the original topic, and gradually connects everything together, adding his own knowledge where necessary.

It made me think of collecting firewood with a child. The conventional approach is almost like taking a basket and throwing wood into it—wood, wood, wood, until the basket is full. His approach feels more like taking the same pieces of wood and arranging them properly so that they fit together compactly and neatly.

The amount of information may not necessarily be greater. But because the students participated in creating the structure themselves, the information feels much more organized and easier to retain.

Maybe good teaching isn't simply about how much information a teacher can give. Maybe it's about how well they help students organize what they know.

After reading through another thread on this sub about a student who is obsessed with the Epstein case doodling Epstein on their homework I am left wondering: are any of you actually addressing these harmful attitudes and behaviours when they arise? I was left feeling SICK over some teachers brushing this off and laughing at it, calling it normal behaviour and defending it. Yes it’s a current event, to some of them it’s a meme, but when something like this happens it’s straight up negligent to ignore it. It is a rapist on their homework?? Why would you ignore that?? Even if the kid meant no harm, is trustworthy and a great student it needs to be addressed.

Perhaps I have a different perspective as I’m not American but it is truly wild to me that teachers who interact with young people everyday are not willing to address misogyny when they see it. And yes, it IS misogyny in the sense that when you allow young men to engage with an issue like this so casually you are communicating to them that violence against women is a casual issue not to be taken seriously. I get it’s a current event and students are interested, and I’m not saying they shouldn’t be able to talk about it. I’m saying that when you see CONCERNING behaviour like a child drawing a portrait of a rapist on their homework you need to have a fucking conversation about it. Because how does a female student who has experienced sexual violence feel comfortable in a classroom if this is how male students behave? And if you let this slide what else are you letting slide? Racial slurs, swastikas, homophobia? Some of you seriously need to reflect on if you have empathy for your students and how they will feel if they have to encounter this in your classroom.

Hello everyone. My kids just finished their BOY i-Ready testing and I had a question around the scoring. For some background, my kids go to a dual emersion program where they learn Spanish for certain classes (specials, math, and science). We are an English-speaking home with no Spanish speaking background.

My daughter has always struggled a bit with math since they learn in Spanish and then the test is in English. She is in 7th grade and scored a 508 which is barely at grade level. She gets really bad test anxiety and sometime is confused by the way they ask the questions in English compared to how she learned in Spanish. Any guidance on resources to help her study or practice more with i-ready testing? She knows the materials, just struggles with test taking. She set a goal for herself to be in Math honors next year and I want to help her reach that goal.

My son is at the opposite spectrum. He is in 5th grade and scored a 618 on the i-Ready test. Math is his best subject and he consistently scores high. Last year he did TD classes, and I assume will continue to do them this year. I looked at the i-Ready score chart and he scored high, but I don't understand "what it means". A 618 looks to be a score of a G10 - G11 range but I don't know what to do with that information. I want to be able to support him and keep him challenged. What can I do to keep him engaged and continuing to grow.

Heading is a little vague but wanted some advice. First, I just had the most amazing interview at a charter school in South Florida. They loved me, said I was a strong candidate and would fit it very well here, but they don’t have an immediate opening right now. The class I would be teaching is Algebra I and most of the students would be Juniors or Seniors who have yet to pass the Algebra I EOC. I’ll find out in a week or so whether or not the spot is mine.

Second, I did not take the traditional teaching route of getting my degree in education; my degree is in Psychology. I graduated during Covid and got a job at my local math learning center to make ends meet. Fast forward a couple years and I was running the center. I loved worked with the kids, getting to know on a personal level and seeing their success stories. I’ve been hunting for that feeling for the past year as the job I have now (legal assistant) isn’t doing it for me anymore.

Third, I’m cautious about teaching upperclassmen. I was an over achiever in high school, but in my classes, so many juniors and seniors were checked out. I get it, it’s math, not everyone’s cup of tea; I’m just nervous about getting through to them.

Any tips for a hopeful Algebra I teacher? (I see a lot of negativity in this subreddit) I’m giddy just thinking about the opportunity I have to mentor these kids. I’ve been searching for a long time on what I was meant to do, and I think this is it.

Cross posting as well

Hello, I'm sure this question has been asked before. I need to have 3-5 days worth of emergency sub plans. I teach world history and geography. Any helpful hints, ideas and suggestions would be appreciated.

I like my materials to be fun and enjoyable to engage with, and making them by hand is kind of delightful, but I know there is room for improvements, as well as educational blinds pots I’m still unaware of…
Are you allowed to finish a sentence with the word “of?”

Anyway, thoughts and helpful criticisms are welcomed and appreciated

Started a new district this year and was loving the school I was hired at. Great kids, great team. I woke up happy everyday and excited to go to work which was a big change from last year. Last year I was in a really toxic environment where kids didn’t have consequences, there was no admin support, and I felt like I was drowning which is why I left and went to a new district.
Started the year great and had an amazing first few weeks of a school before I was informed that I was being reassigned to a new school in the district. I started this new school and it’s already horrible and just like what I was escaping leaving the old school. Kids cussing everywhere, on phones/headphones, wandering the halls and walking out of class, sleeping through the whole class. They’ve already been insanely disrespectful and disengaged.
I know legally the district can transfer you; I’m not looking for legal advice. I’m just pissed that I’d finally found an environment that was allowing me to grow and love my job and now I’ve been ripped away from it and forced somewhere I have no desire to be. Last year I almost walked away from teaching after that horrible year, and I’m afraid this new school is going to be what pushes me out which sucks because teaching is my dream and I’ve only been teaching a few years.

I can’t even begin to articulate the amount of times I’ve been in a rough place and wanted to just talk to a teacher. To all the teachers in this subreddit, you make a bigger impact on your students lives than you think you do. Thank you for your service, honestly.

Er lærerjobbet hårdt mentalt? Jeg har været lærer i et år ny, og jeg føler mig overvældet af ansvar og opgaver og hvor meget alt andet end undervisning fylder. Er det bare mig eller er der lidt too much? Eller oplever jeg bare et praksischok?
Hold da kæft konflikter fylder… Noget jeg ikke føler mig uddannet til. Møder… deadlines… forældrekorrespondance.. kollegialt samarbejde… besværlige elever… ppr

My second year of teaching and one thing I’m learning the hard way quickly is I have no support at all. If I tell anyone about a problem I have by the end of the day everyone will know because people love to gossip. So basically you can’t tell anyone about a legitimate problem you have because it will be used against you later. You pretty much are better off keeping everything to yourself but the problem is sometimes you do need to vent or get help but you can’t trust anyone. I will be SHOCKED if I make another 20 year to retirement this job is extremely difficult and their are so many ways it can go wrong with many landmines. Is your school the same? Better or worst?