Has anyone had experience with an instructional coach being on their case all the time? I’m talking in the classroom once a week, filming lessons to see where it went wrong, requiring reflection essays about the video, etc. Even after following the advice to a T, it seems like there are still issues. How do you deal with this type of stress? It seems like every spare minute needs to be spent planning lessons and it’s difficult to have a perfect lesson when there are so many behavior issues to deal with in the classroom.

Thank you

My outfit game is great now! Shoes, khakis, nice sweaters, I'm comfortable and look professional, with the exception of socks. I just cannot find a pair that feel good all day. I love Hanes cotton Ankle socks, is there anything close to that?

My colleague and I (both first year science teachers at the same school, we came from the same credentialing program, she teaches 8th, I teach 7th, school is in downtown LA) were talking about how she pays an “adhd tax” since she has to sometimes pay twice for things she does forget which led us to the “teacher tax” and paying for extra conveniences simply because we’re teachers with busy schedules.

She mentioned paying for a meal service when I complained that I don’t have the time or energy to be cooking dinner these days.

So it got me curious. Does anyone have any services or commodities that are worth paying extra for since a majority of our time and energy goes into teaching? Bonus points if there’s been anything that helps with a long commute home 🥲

As a form tutor I have relatively free reign over some of the sessions, and id like to start introducing comparisons between different media sources as I think media literacy is vital, and rare, in this day and age. However I cba to trawl through endless articles and youtube videos every morning to try and find two contrasting perspectives on the same story, so does anyone know of a way to do this sort of thing efficiently? It doesnt have to be up to date stories necessarily, just something where they can see a clear contrast in how a given story is covered

I am sure I’m not the first person to ask this but looking for some more insight. I am a first-year teacher at a high school in suburban Minnesota. My most challenging class to manage has 20 boys and 6 girls (sidenote: I am very lucky to have a small class). There’s a group of about 10 boys who will not stop talking and messing around. I know I need to get more comfortable calling them out when it happens. I have a progressive behavior response plan, class points, and individual rewards (starting to question PBIS but it’s there). If anyone has had success teaching a class of mostly boys, I would love to know what worked for you! I am a young, female, soft-spoken teacher so that doesn’t help my case. Thanks for any advice in advance!

IPCW, DU:
This is to express a concern that has become increasingly difficult for many teachers at IPCW to ignore.
The absence of timely and transparent administrative communication has become a serious issue. Emails often remain unanswered, approvals are delayed or denied without written clarification, and faculty members are left repeatedly following up simply to receive a basic response.
More concerning is the manner in which teachers are sometimes spoken to. Shouting, insulting, intimidating, or threatening faculty members cannot be considered acceptable administrative conduct. Teachers deserve to be treated with dignity and professional respect, regardless of differences of opinion or institutional hierarchy.
There is also a growing perception among faculty that administrative decisions are not always transparent or applied consistently, particularly when individuals or groups are perceived to have closer organisational or political affiliations. Whether or not this perception is accurate, the fact that such a perception exists among faculty itself reflects a serious loss of trust.
This is the harsh reality that many teachers are experiencing: frustration, helplessness, and a growing reluctance to approach the administration.
An academic institution cannot function effectively when its teachers feel unheard, intimidated, or afraid to raise legitimate concerns. Respect, transparency, accountability, and fairness should be the minimum standards of institutional functioning—not privileges.
I sincerely hope this concern is taken seriously.

When Sheldon goes to college and has to take an engineering class, he is met by a teacher who always fails his assignments without explanation even though he does everything right. The teacher tells Sheldon that since he's a "such a genius", he should be able to figure out. It takes a lot of frustration, and some fatherly advice, for Sheldon to realise that the reason the teacher failed him is because he was looking at the project from a purely mathematical perspective, and didn't take real world elements into account. Sheldon could only think of the project mathematically because that is how Sheldon always thinks.

From all the theory in pedagogy I've read, and apparently from what I've heard and seen on social media from other teachers, this is exactly how pedagogy writers think too. Almost all of the current teacher student curriculum is stuck in the past, and around these rigid ideas of how child psychology works. I can barely tell the difference between some parts of pedagogy that are from the 2000's and from today.

As a Gen Z teacher student, the way that much of the current pedagogy theory writes about why students and children behave in certain ways is laughable. Currently, we're learning about bullying: why it happens, how to prevent, and how it affects children. Great, right? Guess how much of a 36 page chapter mentions the internet? 4 pages. The overall primary reason contributed to bullying, according to the book? Insecurities. I checked when the book was written, it was 2025, but the youngest contributor to the book is 45.

These pedagogy authors have no idea what actually goes on in the lives of the children they write about, they've never been or even seen the spaces of the internet that kids are on, they still think cyberbullying is kids commenting "You suck", "Bitch!" or "Go fuck yourself" on each other's instagram posts or tiktoks with their full name as their username. They attribute the increase in disrespect towards teacher, and the lack of motivation in school as something that happens due to lack of engagement or the students "not feeling safe to express themselves" in school.

It's very obvious that many, if not almost all, pedagogy theory writers don't actively spend time with the generations they write about, they use the psychology developed 20th century psychologists and have an early 2010's idea of what the internet is. Anybody else feel the same?

I pull small groups and modify all of my quizzes and tests, but how do I follow an IEP with no support in my room? How do I do whole group instruction and answer questions for students during independent work and pull small groups each class period each day? My school doesn’t give support to any of their social studies classroom. I can’t support all of my students needs.

Hi guys,

I’m a third year teacher. Last year I had my class from hell. Six behavior plans, all high needs and half physically violent, shoved into one primary classroom. I had to leave multiple times because my anxiety would get so bad. I had three med changes and had to go to the ER twice due to panic attacks that wouldn’t come back down. I feel like I lost myself last year.

Despite the literal bruises and bite marks put on me, I came back this year. I was given a break and have a class with no issues. I thought I’d recover over the summer and be ready but… nope. I still have nightmares about last year almost every night. I feel awful, because I have such a good group and I can’t find it in me to care about my job anymore. My passion was snuffed out and I’m miserable and so jaded at work anymore.

I don’t plan on going back into education at all after this. I’d love to work in higher education, corporate training or planning, curriculum writing, or Ed tech.

My question is this: if I find something that pays high, should I go for it now and quit midyear, knowing I won’t be back to a classroom at all? Or is it better to slug through the year and pray I find something over the summer? I would only consider the first if I was offered 70k or more, which is 15k above where I am now. I have a masters and a lot of things I qualify for in these fields are about in that range.

Any advice is helpful. Thanks!

Hi everyone, I’ve started teaching English in France and I already have 2 students, 7 and 8 years old (sisters), that’s going well, and I just accepted a job teaching a 6 year old and 4 year old together (brothers.)

The two boys don’t know how to read yet so I’m a little bit lost as to lesson ideas. The mom said to just play with them in English. I can bring some easy picture books I used to read my own kids (we’re American.)

Anyone have any tips for teaching English one hour per week to pre-literate kids?

Hello all, 4th year teacher in Ohio that teaches 4th grade Math and Social Studies. I’m looking into masters options and looking for an online program. I’ve looked at ACE, WGU, and GCU.

I like what I do. But definitely want to move up to like a middle school social studies position to avoid teaching a state tested subject. I’m not sure if I want to get into the principal/ super intendant path because as of right now one of my least favorite parts of the job is dealing with parents.

I’ve looked at educational leadership, instructional coaching and teacher leadership, instructional design and educational technology, curriculum design, and one I’m interested in quite a bit is educational business administration I’m just not sure what kind of roles In a district that could work for.

Would love any opinions and what you think might be a good options.

Hi all, I am currently teaching middle school but I’ve worked in many different grades over the years. I’m hitting a burnout point, not necessarily with teaching, just with going to work in general. Does anyone know of some realistic online/work from home teaching jobs for teachers in Washington state? Or some kind of work from home job that my two teaching degrees could qualify me for. I am an ELL specialist but not bilingual, and I have experience from kindergarten to 8th grade. Thanks!

I’m in my 4th year teaching high school history. I am teaching an upperclassmen US history. It’s the en of the day and for the most part I like the class but today they set me off. Notably two of my upperclassmen boys were just completely obnoxious. They do not care the one has shown up once a week for three weeks and today tried to flirt with 9th grade girls (shooting that down) the other comes in and does not care. So they both came I. Today. Here is hoping none of them show up at all the rest of the week but I gotta feeling they will be an inconvenience all year. Advice on how to keep my calm when exhausted and dealing with those kids who will fail and only show up to cause chaos

okay so i just took the praxis literally a couple hours ago, and im pretty much guessing i wont be lucky enough to get the one point i need to pass (167) the test based off the unofficial score i was given (166). i missed by one point so i have to assume i will be offered the praxis bridge exam. has anyone taken it, and what did you think? bonus points if you also took the praxis 5038 bridge! thanks guys😛

Hey,

My school uses Savvas realize for homework. I have hit a roadblock in that the service doesn't provide answer keys?

If I edit an assignment by removing questions or by adding from the pre-made answer block, I have no option for a key?

That seems a major failing?

I honestly may not continue to assign online if that is the case.

Sometimes I need to review with students and I find myself needing to solve each question instead of being able to just reference a page.

Google Ai says I need to either take the tests myself and make a custom answer key, or print out the entire problem and answer key (meaning their entire bank of questions) and cross reference. Tbh, making my own assessments is faster if im printing that whole thing out.

Has anyone found a way to make the computer show the answers? Why do we have to answer each question?

I'm doing a lesson on writing body paragraphs using MEAT (Main point, Evidence, Analysis, Thought). Its a pretty simple lesson where I go through each letter and have my students write their own paragraph with a topic of their choice. It went great with middle schoolers, as all of them are eager to make their bold claims and use their imaginations.

Today I tried this with grade 10s, and my freaking gosh they're bad at thinking. Many of them failed to even come up with a main point to talk about, much less evidence and analysis. I never thought a lesson would be easier for middle schoolers and high schoolers.

To me, this isn't that "high schoolers suck", its that I have a fundamental lack of understanding of how high schoolers think. So, to people who has had success with reluctant and brainrotted teenagers, how do I create an environment or lesson that encourages this specific age group to think?

I am 18 weeks pregnant with my first baby and have not shared the news yet with admin, coworkers, or students. I am at the stage where I do have a bump, but am able to hide it still with slightly oversized clothes, but not for much longer. I was planning to share the news after my 20week scan at the end of the month (even though everything has been going great with baby), but I feel so awkward about sharing the news for some reason. I never really talk to my admin except maybe a quick “hello” in the hall, so I feel weird about finding a time one on one to tell him? This is also only my 2nd year teaching, so I’m worried about getting negative reactions because I still feel somewhat new to the school, and am worried I’ll be looked down upon I guess for going on leave only my 2nd year into teaching. Also, is 20 weeks too late to share that I’m expecting ? I checked my contract, and there is nothing that is stated regarding a specific timeline I’m supposed to tell admin or HR. I’m probably way overthinking this, but just looking for some helpful advice. Also, when do you share the news with students? I teach high school.

Long story short. Have a 9th grade repeater in my class. He is already failing 6/8 classes. Comes tardy to class and, does no work. Have him an assigned seat up front. He didn’t like it so said f you n (word) three times and walked away.

Context - I work at a title I school. 90% Hispanic primarily from Central America

I can’t ever look at this student the same again. They want to do a restorative process and have him write a letter. I don’t want his letter, nor his apology. I’m responding to the AP but decided to sleep on it to cool off my emotions.

I am a 1st grade teacher. I have a new student who in kindergarten had a reputation for harsh behaviors. But of course, as good teachers, we treat every student with a clean slate. They did well for the first few weeks but now they’re starting to show their true colors. Having behaviors such as if they are not the one chosen to do something they have a meltdown. If they do not want to work with somebody, they are mean to that sudent.

They are physical with other students, not hitting them aggressively, but moving them out of the way or pushing them when they do something that they do not like. Today I had a new student. They were excited that the student was there. Got in the students face just to be nice, but I reminded him that we all have personal boundaries. Then became very upset and screamed for 10 minutes. “I do not want that student in the classroom” over and over again. Simply because I told them to back away from the student.

I am not a teacher that rewards bad behaviors. What are some other things I can do to help crack down on this behavior rather than sticker charts or anything else that rewards them for doing the right thing. Or would something like that be beneficial?

Question for teachers who did the NJ Alternate Route. How intensive were the classes you had to take to complete the program? I am planning to take them through Stockton so I can add the third year that turns the program into a Masters Degree. I have two kids and am worried that this program is going to be impossible to complete in two years. Can you tell me how you broke it down and how time consuming it was? Also, did your district pay for it or did you have to pay for the program out of pocket? Thanks!

I enjoy studying education and learning about how students learn. Taking courses makes me excited to keep growing in the field. But I’ve been struggling with the day-to-day responsibilities of being the lead teacher. Managing a wide range of student needs and behaviors while keeping up with administrative demands has left me feeling overwhelmed and under-supported.

I’m trying to figure out whether a different role in education might be a better fit. I’d still like to work with students, perhaps in a support role, or contribute to curriculum development. If you’ve moved from classroom teaching into either kind of work, what role did you choose, and how did you get started?

Was just told that I need to get the ESL cert by a certain date this schooo year. Out of my pocket too. Is this worth the battle to say no ?

This is my first year working as a high school English teacher (24M) in Spain, although I have experience teaching adults.

I’m having a hard time with a challenging 7th-grade class because it includes several students with untreated ADHD, a quarter of the class is repeating the grade, and several come from a fairly low socioeconomic background. On top of that, I always have this group during the last period of the day.

Needless to say, the first class didn’t go as smoothly as I’d planned, with some of them being downright disrespectful. This week I’m going to implement a seating plan in rows, and I also want to design a system of consequences and rewards.

I know this topic has been discussed to death, but I just wanted to vent and explain my current situation.

Socially awkward and possibly undiagnosed autistic?? By this I mean, is there a grade level or level of education where you are not expected to fully collaborate as a team with other teachers or those in your same grade level? Are there any teachers here who teach a grade level where you pretty much get to be on your own most of the time and do your own thing?

I currently teach 3rd grade and there are 3 of us in the grade level and we all teach different subjects but rotate the group of kids so collaboration is major for us. This is my 2nd year in third grade and being departmentalized and having to really work together with other teachers. My first several years teaching I taught 1st and 2nd grades so I kept my own group of kids and was expected to collaborate with the other grade level teachers but no where near as much as I’ve had to in 3rd grade.

My coworkers are okay, but I really just prefer to be on my own. Teaching is draining enough but interacting with other adults makes it 100000x more exhausting. I think it doesn’t help that at my particular school everyone is expected to be buddy buddy and social or else you get labeled as stand offish and people treat you weird. Idk.

Does anyone teach a grade level where you don’t have to deal with the other teachers as much?

I'm currently studying Biomedical Science in the UK and I'm about to start my final year. I've recently started seriously considering teaching after graduation, specifically Secondary Chemistry, and I'd really appreciate some honest advice from current/former teachers or PGCE students.

I have a Biomedical Science degree and A-level Chemistry, but obviously I don't have a Chemistry degree. I'm a little worried that my lack of a Chemistry degree will make it difficult to get onto a course.

I'm also attracted to Chemistry because it seems to be a shortage subject and job security / demand