u/errrgrrr

Due to budget changes from federal funding, I was given a second school. Now I have two elementary schools that I am completely responsible for programs and teaching all the kids. This was going to be doable, because part of my week previously at my first school was doing reading and math interventions.

However, starting at this second school, the culture is so different and students will not stop talking. Everytime they manage to get quiet, they start up again right after I continue with my lesson, so I have to stop. The only classes that I could get completely through my planned lesson was Kinder and 1st grade. I taught the same lessons at the other school on Thursday and Friday, and we got through the whole thing.

I know part of it is that the students aren't familiar with me, but I wasn't treated like this at my first school when I started there 5 years ago. If anyone has management tips, especially for grades 2-5, I would really appreciate it. Most students arent being disrespectful just to be disrespectful, but they seem to be incapable of not making a comment or reacting to every single thing that they see or hear. It will be a lot of work for me to have to plan completely different lessons for this school, so I'm hoping that I can get them able to listen so we can get through the same lessons.

Phone calls home will happen next week if no improvement. I genuinely wonder if their classroom teachers just teach over their talking? I let the teachers of the classes that struggled know, but they didn't seem very concerned about it. The art teacher is also doubling schools and she told me that she was experiencing the same thing. I'm on my fifth full year, and the art teacher has about 15-20 years of experience. I know I can improve in classroom management, maybe I was a bit spoiled at my first school.

Thank you in advance!!

Hello! My small church has recently eliminated all paid positions save the pastor and the music director (part time) due to extreme budget difficulties. I have volunteered to take over the church newsletter from the office admin position. I have a lot experience with Canva as an educator, and that is where I would feel most comfortable creating a visually pleasing, yet not too busy newsletter.

One of the older church members who used to have the admin position is telling me that I absolutely have to use Constant Contact and that it is impossible to do the newsletter any other way. I can learn almost any system, but Constant Contact is so glitchy and limiting in design capabilities, I really would rather use anything else. Our church uses Shelby as an organizational platform.

Does anyone have any ideas that I could use for the newsletter as opposed to Constant Contact, and why is this member saying that it is the only possibility? Thanks so much.

I teach elementary music in a mobile in the parking lot with no bathroom. All students have been told by their classroom teachers to use the restroom before specials! This is extra important for K/1 because they're too young to walk in pairs back to the main building.

One of my kindergarteners says she has to go while we're playing a circle game. She is one of our students with some more direct needs, and I remind her that her teacher will not be happy if she has to come get her during her plan time, can she hold it for ten more minutes? This student insists that her teacher will not be mad, and that she can't hold it, so I text her teacher.

A few minutes later, the teacher comes in and she is clearly Not Happy (old school type). As the student walks out, she tells the class "see, she's not mad" and right when the door closes so many of these kids were laughing hysterically and retelling each other the situation. They are incredibly supportive and loving towards this classmate and I know they were not making fun of her in a negative way. I love the end of the year when Kindergarteners are developing their own personalities :)