r/teaching

I am going into my first year teaching. I have heard the stories of how much money teachers spend on various items for their classrooms, and while I would love for my classroom to look cute, my frugality outweighs this. I care about my job and will care about my students. But I also care about my personal boundaries. Even though I care, I am big on this is a JOB, not my life. I can already anticipate the side-eyes I’ll get from those colleagues who go “above and beyond.”

I am interested in teachers” perspectives on this, because I do see both sides to this as teaching naturally requires a heart (which I have) but personally I just stop at my finances.

I recently moved from third grade to sixth grade. Last year I prided myself on how much I grew in class management and could control my class majority of the time.

Now that I’m in sixth grade, I’ve set up systems, specific procedures, but the biggest thing is the non-stop talking. I cannot speak two words without the kids immediately erupting into conversations. The talking out of turn and refusing to follow our hand signals set, -RR, Trash, Tissue, Question. It’s ridiculous.

My honors level classes received the same expectations and procedures. They respond to the cues and follow through majority of the time. My on level classes are where I’m struggling, specifically the period right after lunch.

Expectations are very clear and yet they just choose not to do any of them. I ALWAYS greet them with a fist bump at the door and say good morning, they walk in and are expected to immediately put their backpack on the wall, and then find their desk and get started on their warm up. By the time I get to the last kid, I come fully in the classroom and maybe four kids are actively doing their warm up. This is not for lack of procedure setting, we’ve been doing this every day since the beginning of the year. Then when it’s finally time for me to teach, they talk over me the entire time. They get three strikes for talking over me or not responding to the attention cue (doorbell, countdown from 5, class class). As soon as we reach three strikes, we reset by lining up back outside the door and trying to come in again correctly. This doesn’t seem to help either.

I know it’s still early but I’m at a loss. We don’t have recess and the kids aren’t in sports so taking time away or messaging coach isn’t an option. Giving lunch detention would be fine but when it’s majority of the class I can’t pin point who to assign it to. There is also not enough time in our class periods to give free-time or personal time, which I know is a common strategy.

Any suggestions would be helpful. Criticism would not.

What are you all using for whiteboard erasers? I feel like I’ve tried everything, but since we use them daily for math, I need something invincible.
I liked the square ones with the one felt side with the magnet, but the kids would peel them apart from the foam side. I switched to pieces of black felt which is way better, but they are making their hands insanely grey by the end of the lesson from erasing. If I washed them, I feel like they wouldn’t hold up.
Any advice would be so helpful!

Hello all. I just finished my first week of student teaching and am getting the gut feeling that being a teacher might not be the path for me long term. I know it is only the first week of school, which tends to be extra chaotic, so I'm not sure if I need more time to adjust or this just isn't it.

Even though my elementary kids are incredibly sweet, I am starting to doubt if being a teacher actually aligns with personality. I am quite reserved/introverted and tend to get overstimulated easily. Constantly redirecting, running around the school, and handling so many tasks at once was exhausting. My master teacher worked through recess, lunch, and another two hours after school to prep everyday that I was there. Not to mention, I was also anxious the entire time engaging with parents during back-to-school night.

Before student teaching, I worked as a paraprofessional and thought this might be something I could see myself doing. However, after truly getting to see everything a teacher does, I am starting to have serious doubts.

Teachers, you've always had my utmost respect but after everything I've witnessed this week I want to bow down to you all lol

Does anyone know of a way to have timers for all individual parts of a class schedule with only the first needing to be started? So for a 45 minute block, having a way to “start” a visual where the kids can see they have 5 minutes for the bell ringer, then need to transition to partner work for 10 minutes, then listening to direct instruction for 20 minutes, an exit ticket for 5, and homework for 5? My students need the labeled visual for every section of class but I don’t want to reset a different timer 5 times per block

I got hired at a private school several months ago as a math and PE teacher. I told them that 14 years ago, I taught social studies and elementary education. I never taught math and never taught PE. I was assured that it was okay, as long as I had the ability to teach I could pick up everything along the way.

During pre-planning there was almost no direction as to how I should be getting my classroom ready. The nine different new systems I had to learn, how I could brush up on my math skills in a way that would pertain to what I would be teaching.

ALL of the students loved me! Every teacher told me how they could not stop talking about Mr.W! Yes I did initially struggle to teach six through eighth grade math but I felt like I was powering through. At the end of every class I would ask the students to rate their understanding and my teaching of the subject on a scale of 1 to 5. The majority had fours and fives and would assure me that I am the best teacher ever!

The principal started coming into my classroom almost every day. This being the first time I have taught math, along with being observed constantly made me very very nervous. There were several questions I messed up. She corrected me and then gave me a look of absolute disdain.

After that day I went home and instead of going over every single lesson that the 6th 7th and 8th graders would be doing and doing it myself. I found some excellent math resources that would allow me to teach and explain in a more effective manner.

Had a meeting with the principal and was told that I should have been getting ready over the past 4 months with math. I did, I went over the books that they gave me. They just happened to switch the entire curriculum literally one week before I started. I was having a very difficult time deciphering what the bloated teacher's manual was asking. Regardless I was told that I would be let go. This is the first weekend and a half of school and I felt like I was doing a decent job. The 6th 7th and 8th grade students told me I was doing an awesome job! The parents told me how much they loved having me as a teacher. I'm having trouble understanding what I did wrong.

For context, I used to run my own business and Made about $200,000 a year. I lost my 8-year-old little boy and my mother in an accident 4 years ago. My wife and her family made my life hell while I was grieving. I fell into a very very deep depression that was suicidal for 3 years. Last year I finally got the right therapist and the right help. This was my first big step back in the world. Everyone was so proud of me for going back to teaching. What do I do now?

( I did not lie, cajole or BS my way into this position. I made it very clear that I have never taught math. I have never coached or done PE. I did Coach boxing in college and weightlifting but that was my extent. I was reluctant to actually take this job because it was math. I was assured that as long as I have the skill to teach, I would be able to pick up the math skills I needed during the year. Personally I found it strange as well that they hired a social studies teacher / English teacher for a math position.)

School starts again in about two weeks and I'm realizing I desperately need to update my work pants before we're back

I'm looking for something that looks proffesional, but not so formal that I look like I'm heading to a corporate meeting. Comfort is probably the biggest thing since I'm on my feet, sitting, bending down, moving around the classroom etc. all day.

Ideally something with a bit of stretch, decent pockets, and a waistband that feels good. I've looked at Old Navy, Gap, Uniqlo, Halara etc. but I'm getting overwhelmed by how many options there are and reviews seem all over the place.

What brands worked well for you?

Appreciate it

What is your advice for teaching fifth grade?

I was informed I will be teaching 5th and 6th grade math this year. There are a few problems here. I have never taught middle school math before and the six kids who will be in my 5th grade homeroom class (we are still elementary here) who I will be teaching 6th grade math to in a small group rotation, only have 3 textbooks. No workbooks. All my 5th graders have workbooks they can write in with lots of in class practice. These textbooks have few problems to work through and are a lot of reading. They can't be written in and I have no idea how I can make this work. Any suggestions?

anyone willing to share some wonderfully curated YouTube playlists you play in the classroom during period transitions and class work time?

I usually put on music but my algorithm is awful and just plays AI Videos these days

I’ve been doing Jazz/Classical/Movie Scores
Recently I’ve been looking into instrumental versions of albums. I’ve tried to avoid wordy music but I’m open to not heavily distracting stuff. Anyone willing to share?

I despise the typical first day of school icebreakers. “Two Truths and a Lie” has had its time. I refuse to ask 30 teenagers what animal they’d be and why while we all slowly die inside.

So I’ve been racking my brain for something that might actually break through that painfully awkward first-day silence.

And then it hit me: What if I just piss them off?

My plan is to put students in small groups, give each group a handful of completely inconsequential but rage-inducing statements, and let them argue it out. Nothing political, serious, or actually divisive—just the kind of low-stakes opinions that make teenagers immediately go, “NO. Absolutely not.”

Think:
The toilet paper roll should hang under, not over.
Water is wet.
A hot dog is a sandwich.
Pineapple belongs on pizza.
Cereal is technically soup.
The middle seat gets both armrests.
Crocs are appropriate footwear for every occasion.

The problem is, this activity lives or dies by the quality of the rage bait.

So, Reddit: give me your best harmless opinions/statements that would have a room full of high schoolers passionately arguing within 30 seconds.

I want petty. I want ridiculous. I want hills they are inexplicably willing to die on.

(For reference I teach 9-12 but mostly 10th grade science)

Been going on for awhile, but our town is in the middle of a political turmoil and saying anything very much impacts my chances of success in my district. This sucks. I’m certified and have been doing my due diligence to get a full time position. Saying what I believe would easily endanger my future possibilities. Teaching sucks in more than the obvious ways. Just fyi.

Has anyone been an aide in Olentangy’s one year, and had to reapply for the next year? Last school year, my daughter was a 29 hr/week Intervention Aide. They asked if she planned to return at the end of the school year, and she had planned to do so. But, was just told she had no job as she would have needed to reapply. So confused.

My principal is the worst principal ever....

I teach middle school ELA. Throughout the year, I expose the kids to little clips of this and that showing them how social media is a tool to influence, and how they're in danger of becoming echo chambers for whatever they watch instead of being active, critical thinkers.

I'm thinking I want to shock them with this idea, full fledged, on day one, proving that it's already happening. I could use my clips and then discuss, but I'd rather prove my point first, and then have them reflect on what just happened, setting up all those clips for later.

Any idea on how to "exhibit" this zombie thinking on day 1 so that I can use and refer to that in real time? They're middle schoolers. Suburban. 20-60-20 Upper, middle, lower. No cell phones in school.

I figure if they're paying attention on day 1, this is when I should plant that seed effectively and with purpose.

Just checked my email to see what fresh hell will befall me come the all-day PD before school starts. Hosted by $avva$, some agenda items I glanced at include a conga line and a musical share! Glad they probably got paid 100k for this and I get to be treated like a kindergartener.

(CA) i have been applying like crazy to the local school districts and finally got invited to test for a position as an Instructional Assistant at an elementary school. part time, low pay but i just had a few questions i thought i would ask here:

1. what to expect as an instructional assistant for this age group? pros/cons?
2. what will the interview questions be like?
3. my goal is to work my way up to a secretarial or administrative role with decent pay. is this achievable with no degree?
4. will i be forced to hide piercings and tattoos? and will i be drug tested? (thc user)

i have worked in healthcare the past several years (leaving due to physical and mental strain) and i would be taking a big pay decrease, but luckily i have a support system that currently allows me to take a low paying role like this. i’m looking at this like a foot in the door if i get hired

any advice is appreciated!