u/MidKnight_99

I (26 male), am teaching 11th grade English and I’m been having trouble with this group of students since my second week of school. It always happens whenever my mentor teacher leaves the room (which is a lot) and they are supposed to do group work.

First, it started when they asked about my love life and I kindly told them that’s private information. They laughed and explicitly speculated about my bedroom activities. I get that they were trying to test me and tried brushing it off, but it was deeply unsettling. We never had spoken about their teacher like that when I was their age.

Afterwards, the next day I caught them cursing and saying racial slurs every in every sentence. When I calmly and directly told them we don’t do that in class, they got upset for me butting their conversation. But I can literally hear them from across the room. Their leader really took it personally as afterwards threatens accusations and called me racist (they’re Hispanic & I’m white passing). When I was literally making common sense corrections.

I eventually talked to my mentor teacher about it and he gave me the choice to either ignore it or have her speak with a counselor. He was leaning towards the former and made it seem like it’s something you just have to ignore but the behavior was getting awkward looks from students who weren’t acting out and so I thought it was best to clamp down on the issue.

Ever since then air has been pretty tense. The behavior has stopped and I’ve just handed them work, but going beyond that with offering help or looking it I fear they’ll just erupt. Making it quite noticeable when compared to the rest of the class.

Thought I was getting an early teacher placement this Fall teaching English, but my program accidentally assigned me to be under the wing of a special education teacher. As someone that is physically disabled and was temporarily placed in the system I have a soft spot for those kids, but I’m totally unqualified for it.

Had a similar situation with my Spring 2026 placement. Didn’t get one until early March while the rest of my peers start mid January or February. Left me dangling on a thread trying to catch up. Didn’t help that my supervisor had a very intense personality (ex: hated it when I through in a joke here or there), was overworked with 10+ students, and was teaching art (like her kids actually signed up to be in her class). Not to mention my MT (mentor teacher) whom we shared similar interests, but she was expecting someone to match her energy. Like she’s more of an energetic go getter, whereas I’m more calm and introverted. She (my MT) didn’t seemed to be in the right place to mentor being a dancer, and debate coach on the side. Couldn’t get actual advice or feedback until we finished up the semester and told me not to come back.

On the upside, my supervisor (who taught English) seems a lot more sympathetic and on it than the last. She has emailed the head of my department, placement, and the school I was supposed to be placed at since I have clearance. Hopefully it works out well, especially since the I know the head of the department and he is a stand up guy. Just got survive whoever I get, or even if I get someone

Hey guys,

This is more for teachers and/or transplants in the area,but feel free to chime in.

As you can guess by the title I’m considering on moving from San Jose, CA to Seattle. Right now the plan is to finish my student teaching, save up while living at home for a couple years, and then move.

I was just wondering what’s it like? What to expect?

In Spring 2026 for my first phase of student teaching I was placed in high school teaching 9th and 11th grade, now I’ve been transferred over to the middle school. Does anyone have any tips?

For context I’m a 26 year old male so my memories of that stage are kind of vivid and I’ll be teaching English. All I remember was hormones making me overdramatic as all get out.

In Spring 2026 for my first phase of student teaching I was placed in high school teaching 9th and 11th grade, now I’ve been transferred over to the middle school. Does anyone have any tips?

For context I’m a 26 year old male so my memories of that stage are kind of vivid and I’ll be teaching English. All I remember was hormones making me overdramatic as all get out.

Just finished by first phase of student teaching and was told not to come back from my mentor teacher. It’s quite bittersweet as on one end I seemed to really have connected with some of the students, adults, was it close to home, on the other end the behind the scenes it was quite messy.

1. My university started me late in early March.
2. My mentor teacher & supervisor seemed to gang up on me when it came to criticism, but not at all being constructive about it (the latter of which gave 3 things to work on as required by the university, but then oddly got personal with 20 other things she was judging me for off the record. ex: one of them not tossing in a joke here or there to get through the day). So I kept on making mistakes, it was like trying to avoid landmines with them.
3. I failed to meet my mentor teachers expectations. She seemed to be under the impression I would be a real go getter and be taking up her slack. Which I get as she works as teacher, debate coach, and dancer. But she expected me to instantly come up with ideas for lessons for books (some I hadn’t even read) on the fly.She would also get mad at me not knowing how to use the school printer, projector, and old box tv.

Hopefully it gets better after with this new placement I’m heading into and beyond. My new supervisor used to be a teacher of mine and he seemed really nice. God only knows with my new mentor as I don’t actually know as of now.