r/teaching

Okay please take everything I say w a grain of salt because I am new in education and barely know anything!! I took 2 education classes in my undergrad and wrote only one lesson plan ever. Now that I’ve graduated w my bachelors, I have to become a teacher of record before I can even join the licensure program. They just kinda shove us straight into the fire.
I’ve seen lots of people say they don’t write lesson plans and just kinda go with the flow, but my type A brain cannot understand how that is done. I don’t even have a teaching job yet and I’m stressed about making sure all units are covered and goals are met, and I can’t fathom a way to do that without having a strict lesson plan and planner that lists every daily activity and task. Someone give me some wisdom and insight because I was up all night thinking how much I’m gonna fail as a teacher after submitting my application for a second grade teaching position.

Teachers! What topic in education do you feel that you hold an at least somewhat controversial opinion? Something that you believe many others would find debatable.

Finishing up my first year teaching at my Alma mater. I have seen this school have drama everyday endlessly. I have had a student falsely accuse me of things that weren’t true and colleagues jobs threatened whenever they implemented discipline. I know I have to answer this myself but is having the summer off and pension enough to put up with the endless BS everyday? Was it enough for you? How do you not see this job (which is serious) as a big freaking joke?

They let me go.

I’m livid. I was just let go from my teaching job. What’s worse? I was told that another teacher, one who missed 100 out of 180 school days is being rehired for the next school year, and that she’s taking my job. I missed several months and was out on FMLA as well due to a mental health crisis, breaking my ankle and requiring surgery, but not NEARLY as much as she did. I did go past my FMLA use, but was told they’d accommodate my absences. I’m done.

Hi everyone! I’m currently a literacy intervention teacher in the Cleveland area, but I’ve been seriously thinking about relocating to Oregon or Washington within the next year or two. My boyfriend lives in Portland, and since we’ve been talking about getting engaged in the near future, I’m trying to realistically think ahead about what a move could look like both professionally and personally.

A little about me professionally: • Licensed PreK–5 teacher in Ohio • Reading endorsement (K–12) • TESOL endorsement (K–12) • Currently work in literacy/intervention • Previously taught kindergarten English for a year in Athens, Greece

I’d love to hear from teachers in Oregon/Washington especially elementary, literacy, ELL teachers.

How is: • pay vs cost of living? • district support/admin? • student behavior? • union strength? • work-life balance? • overall quality of life?

Portland would probably make the most sense geographically because of my boyfriend, but I’m definitely open to nearby Washington districts too.

Any advice, experiences, or district recommendations would really mean a lot 🤍

Came in for our one teacher work day and they all told us to go home within an hour. Peace out yall. Be nice to teacher. Ill see this sub in August

I went to a pretty good public school, graduated in 1981. I was in a special weekly program (ELP) for high potential kids from 4th grade until tenth, when I talked my way out of it (it was cramping my ability to smoke weed and be lazy). Then I was a high school English teacher for 30+ years, retiring in 2023. These are some of the things I experienced and what I think about them:

-we went on field trips, at least two a year and a few more with ELP. I saw plays in Los Angeles, nature preserves, concerts. My last few years working, field trips were almost non-existent. Those field trips made me feel valued and trusted and we appreciated the effort by our teachers and parents to manage us while we were out.

-we had PE every day. A lot of it was inefficient and we got sweaty - but we learned how to play games and what we were good at. I learned that I hated football and that I was very good at wrestling, which changed my life (seriously). My last few years teaching, PE was cut down to a minimum of effort and was cut for any needed processing of student paperwork, etc.

-dances. We had dances after football games and occasionally after school. They were awkward as hell and the music was lame, but they allowed you to work on your social skills. Everyone went and it was relatively innocent.

Hello,
I am applying for a teaching job within my school organization but at a different site. I have already had a Math demo lesson, an in person interview, and a school tour. They emailed me and now want to see me teach Reading.

Are these good signs that I am getting closer to getting the job? I cannot tell anymore.

Making the move from 9th grade science to 7th grade US history next year. My 9th graders were low so while I’m prepared to have a new set of behavior issues and I know middle is different than 9th, I don’t think that part will be completely foreign to me.

But when it comes to content, lesson plans, engaging activities related to history etc - I’m actually so clueless! I plan to research all summer but I’d love to know what have been your favorite lessons or activities (big or small). Really just any tips you have at all!

I love history and find it so fascinating but I didn’t feel that way in middle or even high school. I really want to make it fun because I know it CAN be! But I’m starting from scratch and need all the help I can get!

I genuinely love working with kids of all ages for different reasons, and not sure which area to pursue in my studies/which best matches my skills, etc. Excited to hear your insights!

Obviously, the parent blamed me. No, sorry was given.

Obviously, no senior leaders checked how I am.

Thankfully, a day exclusion happened. That'll show the pupil!

Who has to continue to work with said pupil so they dont feel ABANDOBED!

These parents are frankly insane. Insists their child is an sngelvst hone despite the reports of anti-social behaviour!

Time to quit, I think.

I am going to be teaching Middle School this year after four years of High School. I wanted some suggestions for books to teach to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. I already have the following penciled in:

6th grade- The Giver

7th grade- The Outsiders, Treasure Island

8th grade- Call of the Wild, Animal Farm

Please feel free to let me know if any of these books may not be "age appropriate."

I simply allow all of the students to turn in their work late until the end of the quarter.

What is incredible, is that at first a few colleagues thought that was too lenient, but then saw what I was really doing - making them realize that they are failing entirely because of their own apathy. They don’t want to even do that, I still get roughly the same fraction of kids at the end of the year looking for an easy no-work pass as my colleagues.

Difference is, I get to say to their counselor or tutor or admin: “I am the most permissive teacher in my department about turning in late work. Even I cannot accept work from another quarter. If they actually wanted to pass, it would have been easy. Better luck to them next year”.

You won’t hear a peep.

Will be a conversation I have will my boss probably today, but I gave birth May 2nd. May 1st was my last day teaching, and our schools last day is May 22nd.

I get paid over 12 months instead of 10, would that mean I should still receive a few checks? Or does giving birth kind of put a complete stop to my pay? I only missed about two and a half weeks of school if you include two days we had off.

Praying for advice: friend works at a charter school so non union. Admin used to be incredibly supportive but things have changed in the past couple of years.

Student shows signs of neglect, parent is...awful. teacher has not had a parent complaint in nine years of teaching and I know how dedicated they are because they taught my kid in the past. This teacher loves the kids, loves the job, makes tons of resources themselves and actually teaches kids how to human. Teacher completes documentation of incidents, notifies CPS, etc... parent starts harassing teacher. Accusing teacher of racism, accusing them of favoritism and singling child out, starts spreading rumors to other parents about teacher, contacting superintendent, etc.. Parent sometimes shows up at school and they pull teacher out of class to come listen to them scream at teacher. Teacher is on the verge of a breakdown. Constantly bursts into tears, is unable to do ANYTHING when student is in room because everything they do is a problem for parent. Teacher is upset because they can't even help student even though student is clearly far behind peers but teacher is afraid of parent twisting things against them.

This teacher came to me for advice to talk to the rest of the class because they are concerned that t the other students might be aware of teacher's emotions and doesn't want them to worry. Every time student is in class, teacher struggles to hold it together because Mom is so horrible and teacher is scared they will do something wrong.

I don't want my friend to leave the profession because of this experience. But the way that they are being treated is essentially "we aren't going to go against Mom because she will come sue us, so you're basically on your own." Meanwhile, teacher is unable to teach because student has behavioral needs that are unable to be addressed because of fear and anxiety and if they are addressed, then teacher gets dragged through the mud. No union means no support so anyone have any ideas?

Hello everybody! I am about to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, and I was recently recommended to a middle school principal for an open position as a math teacher. She sounded very excited to have me, and set up a meeting to discuss matters further.

I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, but had originally planned on getting a doctorate and teaching at a college level. Due to some recent issues in my personal life, however, this path has become much less achievable (I also just hate research and can’t bear the idea of spending the next 4-6 years doing it). While I don’t have any formal experience teaching, I was a tutor for several years, I did well enough for students to recommend and request me personally, and I loved every second of it. There was nothing more satisfying to me than going into a room of lost students, and working to help them understand the material on a conceptual level. I made lesson plans, stayed overtime, and took great care to help everyone who came to me. I loved watching them work out problems and slowly begin to understand the content beyond just memorization. Seeing that light bulb over their head finally turn on brought me more joy than any class, lab work, or internship experience ever did.

What I’m trying to say is that I’m very confident in my abilities to explain and educate students on course material. However, my big concern now is my lack of experience with kids. I know from the stories I’ve read that this age bracket is among the most challenging to deal with, and I’ve been trying to prepare by looking for as much advice as I can.

Below I’ve provided a list of important tips I’ve found. However, I would appreciate any additional help.

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1. Seating arrangements are vital. Don’t let students sit wherever they want, or they won’t stop talking. Assign them seats, and reward good class behavior by giving more “fun” seating arrangements (groups), and punish poor class behavior with “unfun” seating arrangements (alphabetical rows)

2. Have a routine, and make it so that students ate engaged as soon as they come in (daily warm up questions). This helps to get them on track, and gives them something to focus on while everyone is coming in.

3. Be strict, but fair. Don’t the fun teacher, but also don’t be cruel or mean. Set expectations for the class, ensure that the students know what’s expected of them, reward students who exceed expectations, and work with students who don’t. Make sure you establish clear boundaries, and don’t let students push those boundaries. If they try, punish them in accordance with the school’s standards. Don’t make empty threats.

4. Don’t let them talk while you talk. If students won’t settle down while you’re teaching, take note of who talks to who, and change seating arrangements accordingly. I had also planned on setting up some “talking chairs” in the front of the classroom. If a student can’t keep quiet during class, then they have to spend the rest of the class period sitting alone in the front of class.

5. Take up phones if the school allows it. Pretty self-explanatory.

6. Understand that teenagers are emotionally immature, and that outbursts are going to be inevitable. Try to connect with them and let them know that you genuinely care about them and want them to succeed. They won’t all appreciate this, but some of them will and it’ll help you earn their respect.

7. Have a sense of humor.

I wanted to teach HS History when I graduated high school, but real life had other plans. Two years ago my wife was making enough money that I could leave my job in health insurance. I decided to substitute and see if the desire was still there. Two weeks later I enrolled in Teachers of Tomorrow (I have a BS in Business Management). At the start of last year's school year I was hired as a Junior High SPED assistant. I fell in love with the Junior High. I put in the work and waited for a position to open up. I also took the Social Studies and Earth Science Praxis (I studied meteorology in college, and have a computer science background). This spring a 6th grade science and 8th grade History job opened up at my school and I was offered the science job! On top of that, my oldest daughter will be in 6th next year and my youngest in two years. I know I'm super lucky, but I had a really good rapport with the administration and put in a lot of hard work. So now I'll be a first time science teacher at almost 50!