I was assigned this book 3 times. Once in private middle school, public high school, and in community college. The white savior thing is a little cringe, but the overall morals of the story are decent. I think we should've read Orwell instead.

I want some honest opinions about an interaction I had with my teacher. I’m not really sure if this is the right community to post in but i honestly don’t know where else to post it. i was talking to him in class, and then I went to the bathroom. When I came back, I reapplied my lip combo while he was helping another student. A little while later, he came over and started talking to me again. We’d already spoken earlier, before I went to the bathroom.
While we were talking, he asked me something along the lines of, “Did you just go to the bathroom to reapply your lip combo? Because it didn’t look like that before, and it looks good.” It lowkey felt like he was teasing me a little, and it could’ve just been an innocent compliment. But I found it slightly weird that he noticed the difference in my lips so specifically, especially since he was looking at them while he said it. I’m not saying he definitely meant anything by it but i felt very uncomfortable in that moment especially by the tone

Hi teachers! I graduated with my bachelor’s in Sociology last year. While I was in school, I worked in various after-school programs as an enrichment coach, team lead, and after-school instructor. Since graduating, I’ve been working full-time as a paraeducator.

I’ve always considered becoming a teacher, but after getting more experience in the classroom, I’ve started questioning whether it’s the right path for me.
I know teaching can be incredibly fulfilling, and I understand that it’s a career you really have to care about. However, I’m starting to wonder whether it’s sustainable long-term.

Working in these classrooms, I see teachers managing 20–29 students, some with behavioral needs and even behind academically often without enough support. On top of that, there’s the lack of administrative support, increasing demands, and difficult parent interactions. Honestly, it’s been eye-opening to see how much teachers are expected to handle.

I’ve asked a few teachers about their experiences, and I’ve gotten completely different answers. Some genuinely love what they do, while others have basically told me, “Please don’t tell me you’re thinking about becoming a teacher.”

I understand that every school, district, and classroom is different, and you never really know what it’s like until you’re in the role yourself. But I’m hesitant to invest more time and money into a teaching credential or master’s degree only to realize that I’m unhappy or burned out a few years in.

So I’d love to hear some honest perspectives:
- If you could go back and choose again, would you still become a teacher?
- If you’re single and supporting yourself financially, is a teacher’s salary enough to live comfortably?
- If you had the opportunity to leave teaching right now for a different career, would you?

I’m not trying to be negative about the profession by any means. I genuinely want to hear the good and bad. Thank you in advance for all the work you guys do. Teachers deserve more respect, pay, & credit than they get!!!

Hello! Long-time lurker, first-time poster. I’m a third-year middle school English teacher, and I finally have my own classroom this year. As a result, I’m able to use my whiteboard much more frequently and keep writing on them for extended periods of time. Yay! I put the homework for each class on the board every day in addition to posting it online which has helped a bit for student accountability.

However, I haven’t been putting the agenda up on my whiteboard every day for every class. I have lesson plans for all of my sections (across two grades), and I know what I’m doing each day, but I just don’t list the agenda. Do you all write your agenda on the board for the day, or project it in some way for your students so they have a visual of what to expect for every class? Do you think teachers should do this every day? My rationale has been a mixture of 1) I can just tell my students what we’re doing and shift gears/pivot more easily if the need arises and 2) writing all of the agendas every single day seems tedious and not wholly necessary. What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance!

I was subbing in a high school classroom today. The teacher said that in one of the classes they can get a little out of hand and not let more than 4 students go to the restroom during the class period. Four students went to the restroom very early in the class and a student that I had had issues with previously asked to go. I told him that he couldn’t because the teacher said that no more than 4 students could go during the class he said he didn’t care what the teacher said he had to go so he was going and he walked out of the classroom. I tried to get the Asst. Principal to come to the classroom but he didn’t respond to my message. I left a note for the teacher to let her know what happened.

I knew this would happen eventually in my career because I've heard of it happening to virtually every male preschool teacher I've encountered. But it still hurts.

Me and my team dedicated the first two months of school simply to helping the kids get comfortable in the school environment and help them learn to trust us. Like we do every year. I'd actually built up an excellent rapport and bond with the particular child and had great chats with both the parents at our get-to-know-you-evening (an event the school throws). I woke up this morning to an email saying they'd prefer I not take them to the potty anymore and that they've already explained it to the child in question.

And just like that, all that work getting them comfortable is out the window. They told their child not to go to the potty with me. In the kid's eyes, I am no longer a safe grownup. They won't play with me. They won't let me help open their snacks during snacktime. At one point, they told me, "Don't look at me," when they were washing their hands in our in-classroom sink. Their experience in our class is going to be irreparably damaged because they've been told by their parents not to trust me. It will take SO long to build up trust with them again, to get them comfortable, so they can actually have fun and start LEARNING in meaningful ways again.

And all because I'm a man who dedicated his life to early childhood education. I'm honestly so upset.

Every time I see a teacher saying that the full moon causes behaviors to get worse, I roll my eyes. The kids are not behaving worse than usual because of a full moon, or because mercury is in retrograde, or any other astrological signs. They’re just as bad during those times as they are all the other times. If they’re being worse this week, it’s because they’re hyped up for Halloween. The moon has nothing to do with it. Ok, bye :-)

I work in an alternative high school setting. Students often show up 10-20 mins late to class. Sometimes I'll be in the middle of talking or sometimes another student will be answering a question or sometimes I'm having them watch a video on grammar, essays, etc.

Late student will walk in and loudly say, "hey Ms. ___ what are we doing today?"

And my brain will just go blank. Like wtf do you mean what are we doing today? If you came in and sat down and observed for a couple mins you'd f-ng know!

It drives me crazy. Not sure what to do/say. They have this weird sense of privilege and narcissism that makes them think it's completely okay to interrupt a teacher, student, or video to ask about the agenda for the day and, in some cases, to give pitiful excuses for their tardiness.

This is a rant but also very interested in whether this happens elsewhere and what you all do in response.

I’m considering the “resign to sub” internal transfer then not subbing.

I loved teaching and I actually don’t mind this job, I fear being recognized on Reddit so I don’t want to go into details. I just don’t want my teaching reputation and record tainted by leaving, but also staying might taint it just as bad or worse I feel stuck.

I am a Gen Z teacher and know most of their slang. The term “glaze” to my understanding has always been synonymous with “dick-riding” and or “sucking dick”. Basically I take it is “this teacher won’t get off my dick!” I confronted him that it’s inappropriate, he tried to gaslight me and say I didn’t know what I was talking about and asked me if I had “heard of donuts?”. This kid is annoying as shit and gets away with a lot. It’s a struggle thinking about what hill I want to die on everyday. But letting this go does not sit well with me because I know what he’s actually saying/intending. Or am I overreacting and has the term shifted?

As an elementary teacher, how much grading do you do in a given day/week? How many assignments and what kind of assignments?

Thats pretty much it, I’m sure you’ve all read the news, as it seems to be all over various news outlets, at least in CA. The former student attempted suicide, failed (at the time), and is now on life support for the time being. I really am at a loss for everyone involved, it doesn’t make any sense. I don’t know if it’s supposed to make sense. All I know is that two families have been ripped apart by this, and I can’t help but feel bad for the parents involved. As a parent, you have every opportunity to keep your children safe, it’s also just as easy to fuck it all up. Anyway that’s it, I just needed to vent to strangers on Reddit!

This is humorous at this point😂 I’ve had three walkthroughs so far and EVERY ONE has been the LAST period of the day in the LAST 10 minutes of the period. One of them was on a Friday too😂 I’m sorry but if you’re going to walk into my class at the end of the day every time then you’re going to get what you get and not throw a fit😂 students almost steamrolled my AP leaving the classroom because the final bell rang while he was still in there. Probably going to get a “no exit procedure” comment😂

I wasn't expecting gifts, but I received two at my first parent teacher conference. I'm an elementary school teacher btw. What would you do?

Always tired

Would welcome any ideas on how to teach students how to give presentations. Most of the stuff I've found online -- like TED, Toastmasters, etc -- is focused on giving lectures or speeches, doing debates, or creating slides. I'd like to get them set on the mechanics of effectively giving a presentation to their peers. These are STEM high schoolers who know what they're talking about, but when they get up to speak, they suddenly face the screen with their backs to the class, and quietly read the words on the page. Any suggestions of lesson/unit plans, techniques, or the like? Thanks!

I teach kindergarten. I’ve taught 4 years and am starting to wonder: how do you know if teaching isn’t for you or if it’s just a hard year? I am really struggling right now and I know many teachers are. Just hoping for words of wisdom right now. 💔

Some days I don’t know what we are doing until I get in my room in the morning. Some days I’m actually planned out. But I never have time in the day and weekends I really need for my own life. Am I the only one just winging it?

Hello! I feel like this may be a dumb question but does contacting parents about their child cheating or using ai get easier? I’m a first year ELA high school teacher and I recently have to contact another parent about their child using ai. Because I’m so young I feel like I can’t be taken seriously even though I am qualified. I have been getting the “my child would never” even though there is proof. I feel like explaining why they are failing my class is easier than this. And I know this is part of the job but I was just wondering. This may just be first year teacher problems lol but wanted to get some advice!!

This question probably gets tossed around a lot. But how do you get out of a mental funk? I feel paralayzed when I try to grade or lesson plan. I have zero time at school to get it done, and feel super down about having to try to do it at home. Any advice?

First of all, when I say should, I mean morally and logically, in a perfect world. I think most of us veterans can agree that there is so much money wasted in Texas districts with bloated administrations, purchasing of resources that aren’t properly vetted and pushed by flawed studies, and on campus positions that, at the very least, are not providing high returns on investment (if any).

Because of that, the first place administrations should look to make cuts that make up for money lost to vouchers is within. Who makes the big bucks that isn’t producing actual measurable growth in student success? Who’s making a lot to do a little? Who’s just renaming something that’s existed for decades and calling it innovation? Who’s a walking teacher salary (or multiple) with no roster? Who’s purchasing a new snake oil promising results but just flops?

A couple years ago, when my principal started mentioning vouchers in meetings, this was the first thing that I said to him - yeah, maybe it’s a reality check that needs to happen so the fat can be cut, but of course, we know where the cuts will be made first, if they are made - in student facing positions.

These things can happen, but the board has to be strong, and the workforce has to be knowledgeable and brave enough to bring up these issues and questions.

Wishful thinking, though.

I teach HS social studies and I've realized the last few years that my "CER/Make claims/essays" styles of unit assessments have become very AI-able and frankly, are too easy. My freshman today called my class an "easy A" at lunch today. (Which I think was meant as a compliment but I don't love that.)

I've been pivoting to doing some old school blue book stye "pick 2 questions, you have one class period to answer them" assessments and those have worked pretty well. I have largely avoided doing MF/TF type assessments but I'm starting to think that I probably should do more of those. So I guess I'm asking what everyone's best practices are for challenging/difficult assessments. Or I guess what do you think actually challenges kids these days.

I will also add that I asked my juniors what they thought made "hard" classes hard and they largely pointed to ones where they felt like they couldn't finish their work during class time and made them busy/stressed out. And I try to keep everything in class as much as possible. So maybe that's it.

Wanted to get a consensus on this, but I went to an Olive Garden over the weekend and then my TA asked me if I went to Olive Garden this morning on Monday, I say yes and ask how they know. So apparently, a student (but not one of mine) was there at the restaurant and took photos of me and then posted it to their TikTok. I teach middle school, so many students have phones, but they are not allowed to have them out on campus under any circumstances.

I don’t want this to be a witch hunt of me tracking down a student and truthfully I don’t care that much about it, but has anyone else encountered this? What was the course of action? It does make me slightly concerned for my other coworkers who are maybe more private.

i dont want to be that teacher who argues with children how do i reduce verbal conflict and increase harmony and respect in my classroom when most of my kids want to argue?

In some school districts, elementary school is K-5, and in others it is K-6.

For those of you who teach 6th grade in middle school, how is it different than what 6th grade would be at an elementary school? Do 6th graders get to take electives, or is that only for 7th and 8th graders? Is 6th grade more like a transition year for middle schoolers?

I believe high school is pretty much grades 9-12 everywhere, so that is pretty much standardized.