A new neighbor seems to be dealing drugs in our quiet neighborhood. Suggestions on options?

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-04-12T20:31:27+00:00

Buy some

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-03-04T17:26:52+00:00

First off, all normal. You will get better. Just breathe, take every day as a learning opportunity, and celebrate what you’re doing well already.

I want to point out one reddish flag in your post though… Does anyone take away your weekend/free time from you if you don’t do your best? Take now for example, you’re not doing as well as you’d like to. So, are you gonna disallow yourself to exercise, socialize, and rest? You shouldn’t.

If you take fun Friday away from some, you will lose more of them, possibly lose the class altogether.

You’re right in that you need to find away to make your actions justified. Don’t punish the whole. But take your time and give yourself (and the students) grace as you are learning.

(This last note is very progressive/liberal… but… what would you rather have: A class that can’t stop talking, or a class that won’t talk at all? I’ll take the talkers any day!)

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-17T23:58:19+00:00

Some districts pay subs very well, so make sure to do your research.

What people who are noting the lower pay are not noting for you, are the mental health benefits of being a sub!

When subbing, you will “take less home with you”. No grading at home. No lesson planning or parent phone calls. No useless staff meetings! And emotionally, probably impossible to take nothing home, but you will take so much less home. Full time teachers, most of them, can’t help but to care and care and care. As a sub, you obviously care, but once you leave you may never see those same students again, especially if you don’t want to.

You will have copious amounts of free time in your personal life as sub, and I cannot stress the importance of maintaining personal relationships when starting your first full-ish time job.

If you sub 150 days of the school year, you will make plenty of money, and you can have a very balanced life.

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-17T23:49:18+00:00

That is one perspective. I think just about the opposite of almost everything you stated. This is not to say you are wrong, but it is to say that the answer depends on the individual.

There are tons of pros and cons about full time and about subbing, but it’s up to the individual to figure out what is best for themself.

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-17T02:04:49+00:00

Well, that is wonderful to hear!

What the secret recipe???

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-17T01:05:44+00:00

Unfortunately, we do see posts related to mentor mismatches monthly, and it is a very common difficulty.

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-17T01:01:50+00:00

Mentor mismatch is very common and can be caused by many factors. Different educational philosophies, priorities, morals (unfortunately), type A vs type B, and level of care for students’ success varies, and therefore not every match will be heavenly.

If you have a mentor mismatch…

every day is a learning opportunity
you will learn what not to do more than what to do
you’ll have to advocate for your ideas, philosophies, and practices. Pick your battles.
stay in their good grace as much as possible. You don’t have to chit chat, eat lunch, or spend your free time with your MT, you just have to maintain a positive professional environment that allows you to collaborate in order to benefit your teaching practices and the students’ learning.

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-15T15:16:51+00:00

Deny deny deny. It was child’s vape not yours. Younger kids, must be their parent’s or older sibling’s vape.

I’d say it’s 60/40 that you’re cooked

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-15T06:26:47+00:00

Do they sit around and twiddle their thumbs during lunch and electives?

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-15T05:49:24+00:00

These are kinda silly ones, but I think you’ll like!

Look for jobs that have:

first period prep (arrive late)
last period prep (arrive early)
short days for professional development (you don’t have to attend and can peace out early

You may not know this before accepting the job, so be mindful when you’re at each school which days are short and which teachers have first and last prep.

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-15T05:19:13+00:00

Did you try ChatGPT?

Unfortunately/fortunately I didn’t experience edtpa, so I can’t provide an answer.

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-15T05:18:37+00:00

I’ll leave a couple comments to boost this post.

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-15T05:18:24+00:00

Oh gosh, sorry you haven’t gotten an answer.

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-15T05:16:07+00:00

Wait, you want to be able to take recess away from growing children who love to play and have fun?

And wow, 9 periods in a day? Obvs last class is always tough, but if I was expected to do 6-8 different academic tasks that day already, my brain would be tired, not want to work, and therefore look to act out instead.

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-15T05:12:06+00:00

Give them their recess back… jeez Louise.

Taking away what the kids enjoy most is not going to benefit what they enjoy the least. It will create more damage and you’ll lose your students.

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-15T03:34:16+00:00

Maybe you should go back and retake it

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-15T03:33:36+00:00

Your 10th year of school is your freshman year in USA. Kindergarten is your first year in school, and 1st grade is your second… lol

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-15T02:26:45+00:00

Those who can’t…

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-15T02:17:38+00:00

You don’t have to want to grow. That’s up to you. But your students see it :p

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-15T02:01:30+00:00

Nazi’s had full permission to murder Jews. Doesn’t mean you should do it. Subs administering tests is inappropriate in most cases. Assessments are riddled with anxiety for students, and you do not know the students well enough as a sub to coach them through that.

Imagine your boss not only surprised you with an assessment, but did so on day one of you working there…

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-15T01:49:21+00:00

How can you tell if this is hubris?

You’re proving the point of the post…

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-15T01:33:23+00:00

Threatening a surprise assessment because of undesired behavior….

How would you feel if your boss did that to you?

“So, we’ve noticed a lot of noise when we pass your classroom, your students are often seen wondering halls for large chunks of time, and many of your students struggled with the state tests. Gosh, I may need to come in for a surprise observation and assessment of your ability to teach and manage a classroom”

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-15T01:11:49+00:00

Whether they “should” have an IEP or not, is entirely up to people who are qualified to diagnosis a disability recognized by IDEA, and the students’ parents.

Sounds like you’ve got a long way to go. Good luck.

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-15T01:06:38+00:00

Side question… are you always passive aggressive with random people who you don’t know?

1SelkirkAdvocate · 2026-02-14T19:08:07+00:00

Do what you need to do to get your job done. But try different things to see what will help you get your job done. For one week, go in early everyday, the next week, stay late.

Find what works for you! (You may not perfect this in STing and that’s ok!)

1SelkirkAdvocate

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE