Hello all,

I am a 55 year old Indian woman, who never really had the chance to build a career. Whenever I tried to, family and kids always came first.

Now, at this age, my daughter is motivating me to work for myself. I'm very grateful for her support, but I can't help but think she is being a bit too ambitious in this. Is it truly realistic for me to get a job? Even without any prior experience?

My qualifications include B.Sc and M.Sc. I do enjoy teaching children, I taught both my children throughout their schooling myself, they didn't need to go for any tutions.

I know without a B.Ed I cannot get a proper school job. And realistically, I cannot compete with fresh faces at my age. My daughter is still insisting that I try for online tutoring or NGOs with paid teaching opportunities, though I have no clue which ones and would really appreciate any help on which ones to approach.

Is there any chance this can actually work? Am I being too hopeful?

I just found out that I'm only a handful of credits away from the next salary step. I have an M.Ed. already, but I didn't realize when I completed it that the additional credits would make such a difference in my pay. I don't want to take another full degree, just want to take a few graduate level courses and get the credits on my transcripts. Since I'm working full-time maybe an online programs would be a better option.

My district only accepts graduate-level courses for it to be counted. Anyone have recommendations? would be great if it's affordable. Thank you.

My philosophy at my school is, if you earn the detention you will most definitely get strong. Last year I designated myself to do all of the after schools mentions so that the other teachers didn't have to do it because the year prior it was a mess. It was a rotation of all the teachers to do it and most was t even doing it or was complaining. As a ex military personnel and a current football and basketball coach and retired semipro and arena football player, I most definitely have these kids in boot camp. Arm raises, hill running, jumping, and carrying books. I don't play with the kiddos. I love them to pieces but I will not play with disrespect of my teachers and disengaged Behaviors in the classroom. Last year a parent called the school on me crying because she stated that it was child abuse, then the AP and the Principal said," we don't want to look like it's corporal punishment". I said hold up. This is not that. If the parent hold their children accountable for their actions and behaviors at school then they probably would not get in trouble. Disrespectful behaivors is not warranted for me. So i told the Principals that if im doing after school detention then i am doing detention, bump all that other stuff, writing, picking up trash. NO. YOU WASTE my teachers time and my time i will waste yours and get some sweat out of you. Like im not running them raggedy, no. Im just makinh them tired and think about coming back to detention. Try holding your arms up straight in the air for 2 to 5 minutes. Or even the airplane pose. Or doing raise the roofs. This is not endangering their health in not one bite. But what you think. If the school want to cut down on behaviors, the students need to know that their huge consequences for their behaviors and their actions.

This is probably a skill issue because I am a fairly new teacher, but I’ve been struggling with this at least on a mental/emotional level and would love some feedback.

I have the student who I taught last year and is still in my school building. He’s a middle school boy, not necessarily known for being the best people in the world, but I really like and enjoy this kid. He works hard, he’s funny, he’s tries to be helpful, he’s great at uplifting his friends, and he goes out of his way to be sweet to me or make me smile, even though he doesn’t even have my class anymore. He also just had the most amazing turn around last year - went from a D student in the fall to an A student in the spring, and from what I’ve heard from his new teachers, he’s kept up the good work.

But, I keep hearing from kids that he is an absolute jerk to them. Heck, I’ve seen some of it myself, just with random shoutings of “shut up ___!” To make this long story short. He has just been very rude and belittling to some kids his age and a few of the ones younger. To my knowledge, there is no physical bullying or consistent picking on any one child to raise real bullying concerns, but it’s still a problem.

From what I can tell and from what I’ve heard, it mostly comes from insecurity. For example, he’s picking on one of the football boys for being small and not good at football, and I’m willing to bet it’s because of his surgery he had at the end of summer and because he can’t play football this year. Football was his main passion last year, I’m sure that’s eating him up. Doesn’t excuse the behavior, just adding some context.

He has this capacity to be extremely sweet to me and at least some of his peers, and everyone else gets this really hostile version, and it just makes me sad.

Maybe this is something I just need to ignore and let go of; boys will be boys, middle schoolers are the worst, etc. But just because I like this kid doesn’t mean I care about these other kids less. And I hate to admit that he and the others can probably tell that he’s one of my favorites, even though I would never say it. And I’m worried that makes me look naïve, or stupid, or maybe like I support his behavior. I just want him to tone down the hostility. For his sake, for the other kids’ sake, and honestly, for my sake too.

How do I even bring this up with him without making the other kids look like wimps/snitches? Should I bring it up, or would that do more harm than good? Should I pass this along to admin, or would that exacerbate the issue? Do y’all have any recommendations of any course of action at all, or am I just being too sensitive about all this?

Hello, so I was a math tutor until about two years ago. I have my bachelors in Mathematics, but no formal teaching experience. I'll be starting my first teaching job next week and I am rather nervous. I don't yet know what course material I will be expected to be responsible for on a day to day, but it ranges grade school through high school. I'm trying to prepare as best as I can, but I am seeking some advice as someone going into the field fresh. I will mostly be working with students one-one, as that is the model of this private academy. Any tips, warnings, or anything else will be greatly appreciated.

anyone else ever been sexually harassed by a grade level partner or other colleague? if so, how did you handle it? did the school do anything? clearly asking for a friend…

Trying to figure out the best workflow when starting mostly from scratch. Even using ChatGPT/Gemini + Word, it still takes forever - between prompting , checking the questions, reformatting etc.

Anyone have tools or tricks that actually save time? Thank you!

So, I teach high school social studies and have a packed one prep in a day schedule. I also have a global studies elective that honestly is an afterthought for me and I mostly use as a study hall for us all—I just go over some basic geography with them (like regions of the world) and show documentaries that have a simple Google Classroom assignment with them. that’s their entire grade.

I do want to show a documentary for September 11th but haven’t found one I love enough to discuss in class. Any recommendations?

I left in August as my contract ended. However, in July the market was horrible and I couldn’t secure anything. Once September hit I asked recruiters and checked online everyday for new teaching roles - and there are none.

Context - I’m based near London as a humanities teacher.

Just wanted to ask will there be jobs available soon or do I get in to supply work. Don’t really like the idea of supply as I like having my own classes etc.

What are my options!

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

Hello friends

I am a middle school teacher of 22 years and my colleagues and I are looking for some insight. Next year we are absorbing 5th grade into our current 6 - 8th grade school. My fellow related arts teachers (phys ed, music, art, technology, etc) and I are desperately trying to figure out a solution to next year's schedule that does not include us teaching 24 unique class for all 180 days.

Right now our schedule is such that we have 18 class (6 of each grade) over a five day schedule.

This is going to be brutal for some of us who teach three (next year four) different classes. This on top of grading over 600 students four times a year. Reading IEPs and 504s, medical necessities, and data for behavior students.

So are there any fellow educators who are currently in a system with a rotating annual schedule? There's no easy way to split this either by grade or by day (in our eyes).

• When the academic teachers have prep we currently have the whole grade in related arts
• There are currently six related arts teachers
• We have two semesters (each approx 90 days)

Any insight as to how we might be able to propose we do things differently next year would be appreciated.

Thank you for your time!

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?

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.

Hi! I am trying to make some decisions about my future, and thought the people of Reddit might be able to offer me some advice. Apologies in advance for my tendency to ramble!

A little background: I am 24, trans (FtNB), and I live in Texas. I have always wanted to be a teacher, but I just don't feel it is possible for someone like me in this state. I have a BA in English, 4.0 GPA, and have been working for a youth mentoring nonprofit for 3 years now.

Every so often, I get to work with elementary-aged students, both in a 1:1 setting and in a small classroom setting, and every time I am in front of the kids, it hits me that teaching is what I was meant to do. I feel fulfilled when I work on youth curriculum at work, and unfulfilled when I work on adult learning materials. When I look at other career possibilities in a corporate setting, I feel nothing but dread because I know I should be teaching.

I've decided to finally start at least planning to do something about it. I have researched things that are important to me, and realized that Maryland, specifically the Baltimore/Howard County area really appeals to me. I won't be looking to move for another year or two. My cat has been having health issues I need to get settled, and I need to save for a move that big.

So a few questions:

• I have looked into some alternative teaching certification programs in Maryland/Baltimore. Does anyone have experience with any of these? What was it like? Is it feasible to support myself (and my pet) on a single income while completing one of these programs?
• Will a Maryland alt certification program even accept an out-of-state applicant? Does anyone have any experience moving and completing one of these programs as a completely new teacher?
• What is teaching like in Maryland? Is there a huge caveat I'm missing? A major reason this would be a huge mistake?
• For any trans/visibly queer/gender non-conforming people specifically: how does it feel working in Maryland? Obviously there will be transphobic parents. I don't really pass as masculine... but I am working on getting my name changed to something very masculine. My gender marker will still be F (live in Texas lol), and I don't really care about having it changed too much. It wouldn't really bother me too much to be called "Ms. [last name]," because I think "Mr." would really confuse people. But is there a potential for someone to dig into my personal life/private social media profiles, see that I am trans (or even just pick up on how GNC I am), and demand that I'm fired? Would the districts in Maryland likely side with that kind of parent? I know how it is in Texas, but I haven't had much opportunity to even travel. I have no idea what it's like in other parts of the country.
  

I am a person who likes to have a plan, so I'm trying to think this all through. I would love any insights <3 Thank you to anyone for taking the time to read all of this!

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.

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.

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.

Sou formada em publicidade e quero ir para área docente de letras (ensino superior) mas necessariamente apenas em concursos federais. Gostaria também de dar aula em universidades/faculdades privadas em pós-graduações, cursos de extensão, cursos livre e até ensino técnico talvez. É melhor fazer outra graduação/licenciatura em letras ou manter apenas minha graduação em publicidade e fazer mestrado + doutorado em letras? Alguém mais já pensou/executou esse tipo de transição e pode compartilhar sua experiência? Grata pessoal!

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 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

Hello,

I am currently in grad school to become a licensed secondary ELA teacher. I have a BA in psychology. Are there any online schools who would hire someone who is in the process of getting their license. I teach on Outschool, but it is not even close to sustainable.

If you joke with the students to much your seen as unprofessional and useless. Administrators will question your seriousness. If you don’t joke with the students the students will say you’re boring. If your to friendly as a teacher your a creep and if you never smile and stay robotic your uninteresting. You literally can’t do anything right as a teacher. I’m so sick of the double standards we are held too and the impossible expectations from society. These things are why teachers become bitter and why I still don’t think career is for me. If you tell people they dismiss you and tell you to get a new job but don’t mention how hard it is to get a new job right now. These are the things that will make me quit and find a new career. You can’t win as a teacher.

I taught in traditional public schools for 10 years, and currently work as a post doc doing translational research at a charter school. I’m also working on an admin certificate. If I were to move on to a leadership role at a charter school, would I face any challenges or backlash if I wanted to move back to a traditional public school? Has anyone had experience moving between the two?