u/Pretty-Biscotti-5256

Does it bother anyone else when students sit at the teacher’s desk? I’m talking high school. I hate it. I think it’s a boundary issue from both teacher and students. I don’t let it happen but I see many colleagues allow it. It’s happened a few time in my room with my own students. I can’t believe I had to tell them no and that I had to say it out loud. The reason I don’t allow it is for said boundaries but also student privacy because at any given time my computer could be open to the grade book, I could have papers I’m grading, notes about student behavior, tests sitting out, etc. I hate when they even come in my desk space behind me. It’s my private bubble! Or take my pens from my desk or grab the stapler on a shelf behind my desk. I’ve been at a few schools and this has been the only one where this happens on a consistent basis. It’s mind boggling. What do you all think about this?

12 days left of school. I’m not returning next year. I’m the most favorite teacher right now…because I don’t care. You want to leave early, sure. You go to the bathroom for 15 minutes, I didn’t notice. You want to sleep, fine. Got your phone out, I see nothing. The bar is low. I don’t care.

I’m more of an email person so that I can easily track my parent interactions. However, today I said to my naughtiest of naughty classes that I’m going to start calling home. And they instantly shaped up except for a few. So after school I was calling home for one of them and the number they have on file doesn’t work. That’s happened a few times, even with emails. So now what I am supposed to do? I’ve already been told by one of these naughty kids that I’m all bark and no bite, so now here I am and I can’t even bite when I’m trying! I’ve sent this same parent an email before and didn’t hear back and now that email doesn’t even work. So it seems that the parent doesn’t want to hear from the school. And that tracks with this kid. What would you do in this situation? Not about the phone number not working — that’s not my problem, but the perceived lack of follow through on my part for not calling home. All these kids talk so I know that if I called one, they would know I’m serious. Some were even begging me not to after class and promised to do better tomorrow.

Also, on a related note — what parent wouldn’t want the school to have current contact information? Like what if you’re kid passed out, hit their head, is unconscious, and is in an ambulance on their way to the hospital. Guess we’re calling grandpa’s phone number listed. But would you do for behavior?

Has anyone ever filed an official complaint against a student? High school male student. I’m female. He’s been “trolling” me all year. He recently said things and behavioral things that I no longer feel safe. I can’t go into to detail for obvious reasons. But if you did, what was your experience? Did you take it beyond admin? Anyone else have ideas, tips, etc. TIA!

I’m looking for some ideas for activities/assessments to have students do while they are reading their literature circle books. Many of them are reading past the scheduled pages, which is great, but I need some ideas for them to work on to help them dig deeper into the story. We already have discussions planned, but the in-between is time and space I need to fill. I did a whole choice board assignment with a bunch of options for them to choose, but 90% of them used AI to do the most basic of things. It’s so frustrating. So now I need in-class, paper only activities. TIA!