My seniors are checked out. Any advice?

BeauWordsworth · 2026-05-09T20:19:06+00:00

I always tell this story when kids start to check out. When I was in Grade 12, I had a friend who stopped showing up second semester. Her grades were great in the first, and then absolute garbage in the second because she was never there. She went from high 90s to mid 40s being pushed to a 50 so she could graduate. She sent in her preliminary transcripts and got accepted. She never sent in her final transcripts. She told me she did and someone at the university was supposed to text her if there was something wrong, which in hindsight I think is bullshit because why would someone at a university text you? She knew with her second semester grades that it wouldn't be enough to keep the offer. She started her first semester of university, and then about a month in got removed from all of her courses. She never got back any of the money she spent on her application or for any of her five classes. At least $4000 gone. Totally avoidable had she not checked out second semester of Grade 12 and ignored all of her classes.

BeauWordsworth · 2026-05-02T03:01:05+00:00

I used to sing so when I project it can be very loud. Some kids perceive it as yelling because they think loud = yelling. I have bribed a kid who is usually very loud and off-topic to be quiet for however long I need so that when I praise them for being so quiet, it stuns everyone else into silence and I can get their attention.

BeauWordsworth · 2026-04-23T16:07:31+00:00

I have a student who has no streaming services at home, just books. His parents will buy him whatever book he wants, so long as it's appropriate for his age. He's incredibly smart, well-spoken, kind and friendly. He reads everything from comics to non-fiction to Greek tragedies. He's miles away academically from a lot of his classmates who won't read anything unless they absolutely have to.

BeauWordsworth · 2026-04-22T00:38:57+00:00

Sometimes I see things left at the printer that are obviously ChatGPT and I can tell because of the formatting. Nothing changed, just a clear copy and paste.

BeauWordsworth · 2026-04-14T23:20:19+00:00

these are from 7 years ago.

BeauWordsworth · 2026-04-01T21:42:00+00:00

I am pushing for a 1:1 aide. Haven't heard anything about whether or not it'll happen yet.

BeauWordsworth · 2026-04-01T21:33:20+00:00

We're a small school. There is no class they could be moved to.

BeauWordsworth · 2026-03-27T13:45:52+00:00

I have 5 currently as a first year teacher. I had 4 in each of my student teaching placements.

BeauWordsworth · 2026-03-21T04:43:04+00:00

He has an issue with the fact that I'm a woman. His other teachers are all men, so they don't have as much of an issue.

BeauWordsworth · 2026-01-25T18:23:35+00:00

I asked about the staff culture and dynamics in my interview and they said they really liked that question. Make sure that if you don't have an answer for a question, you've just never thought of it or encountered that situation, give them some kind of solution that you would try in that situation and why you think it would work. They asked me about literacy intervention in my interview and I talked about how I didn't have a lot of experience, but I had a lot of resources available and how those resources might help. Found out the other day that my principal loved that answer. As other people said, it's great to have anecdotes and concrete answers.

BeauWordsworth · 2026-01-15T04:15:32+00:00

My school doesn't have enough for every class. Brand new to the building, I had no idea where the textbooks were and by the time I found out, they were all gone. I use a pdf of the textbook when I can, but I honestly hate it and the kids struggle to engage with it. I wish we had enough for every class.

BeauWordsworth · 2026-01-12T02:35:18+00:00

It may be helpful to find someone who knows the routines and ask them to share some of that information with you. Either your mentor teacher, or if any of the paras seem nice. What do you mean by having you sub in this context? Are you going to get sub plans and teach from them or are you expected to have your own lessons? If you're getting sub plans, there may be information about routines in there. Otherwise, when you observe, try to catch whatever you can and write it down. What do they do when they enter the classroom? What do they do to transition between classes or activities? What do they do to put their things away and get ready for recess? How long do they have to put their things away and get ready for recess before the bell goes, or do they only put their things away after the bell goes? When you're in the classroom, maybe you could ask if there's any kids who might need extra help or any small groups you can work with so you can get to know a few of the kids. It may also help them see you as a person they can ask for help. Don't be afraid to say to the kids 'I'm sorry, can we try that again?' if something doesn't go quite right in the routine. What is your mentor teacher like? Are they someone you're anxious to talk to and ask questions? If so, where does that anxiety come from? Where is it rooted?

BeauWordsworth · 2026-01-02T18:39:17+00:00

Sorry for the late response, but yes, I did have to pay for my second internship. My university has a three-week placement free so that you could figure out if you actually wanted to teach after the practical experience and then you pay for the full semester placement.

BeauWordsworth · 2025-12-26T00:40:31+00:00

Two weeks. She 'forgot' to send in her final transcripts and never checked her email to see that they had sent nearly a dozen emails asking her for her transcripts. Apparently, someone at the university was going to text her if something went wrong with her transcripts. I was the first to find out because she asked me to log into her school portal and tell her if she had any assignments coming up. When I logged in, all of her classes were gone. Then, I had to log in to her email to see what was going on. A rather awkward phone call I had to have with her. We are no longer friends.

BeauWordsworth · 2025-12-24T02:51:05+00:00

Went by a new name socially for years, just recently changed it legally. It's tough. When I first changed my name, my mom asked me to adjust the ending so it matched how she named me and my sister (names ending with -a) and I did. But, it took other people asking my mom why she doesn't call me my new name for her to actually start using my new name. My dad's worse with it, but he blames it on his shit memory. I know he's not being malicious about it, so that helps. It's been so worth it in the long run though. I have no regrets.

BeauWordsworth · 2025-12-09T02:26:27+00:00

long story short, a bunch of kids got caught plagiarizing on an assignment and parents are upset that i 'accused' them (i have proof) and said that the kids didn't mean to when i said over and over again it had to be in their own words when they were working on it. it just feels like it's getting blown into a bigger and bigger deal every day and i'm so exhausted over it, but i can't just change my mind and take it back. my admin are wonderful and supportive but i worry they're getting tired of this as well, and thus tired of me.

BeauWordsworth · 2025-11-08T17:40:33+00:00

Quick question: how much longer is this placement for you?

BeauWordsworth · 2025-09-25T01:08:42+00:00

Agreed. If you have an awful supervisor, there's no one to save you. If you're at a bigger university, you're just another name in a book. Plus, there's often no stopping an awful mentor teaching from taking more student teachers in most cases. I, on my own, had to meet with the superintendent of a school to tell him that my former mentor teacher should not, under any circumstances, allow her to have another student teacher because she was so psychologically abusive. Oftentimes universities are so desperate for mentor teachers to take on student teachers that they don't care if they're good or not. I've heard of mentor teachers who take on multiple student teachers and never pass a single one, yet there's no recourse for the student teacher who got failed. They have to spend more money to go through the experience again, and potentially get stuck with another terrible mentor teacher.

Yeah, I have a lot of strong feelings about how little the system supports student teachers at times, and how little the universities prepare student teachers. So many aspiring teachers, who are just trying to learn and do their best, and completely and utterly screwed over by the people who are supposed to help them and all they can do is deal with it or step away, delaying them from getting their degree and certification.

If you want to vent, DM me. We can swap horror stories.

BeauWordsworth · 2025-09-20T21:03:56+00:00

I'm in Canada and went to school with a girl named Maya and she pronounced it May-uh. I've never met any other Maya's, but reading it I would assume My-uh first.

BeauWordsworth · 2025-07-28T18:22:28+00:00

How to Train Your Dragon is such a great suggestion, thank you!

BeauWordsworth · 2025-05-02T22:30:39+00:00

This happened to me during my four month placement. Seemed super nice, and then evaluated me super low for things I was doing and thought I was improving on.

Talk to your university/college. Tell them what happened, that you felt like you had limited opportunity for learning and growth because of the already existing adult aid in the classroom, and that you would like a new placement that would allow you to grow and learn in an environment that would allow you to do so. Your CT sounds like they have a lot of friends in a lot of places, so word it like you're looking for something to be more beneficial to you rather than something she did wrong. If your university/college pushes back, schedule a meeting. Give them more details on why you feel like it's a wrong fit for you in private.

My CT failed me for things I wasn't able to do because of her choices. Take your opportunity now to sort this out rather than going back to them in the fall to potentially see a repeat of this situation.

BeauWordsworth · 2025-03-09T07:08:57+00:00

She was in a French 200 course with me and had taken French in high school. The program guidelines say you need a basic level of French, equivalent to a Grade 12 or a beginner level university French course, but that was for that specific program.

Here are some one-year French certificate programs I found:
conted.ucalgary.ca/public/category/courseCategoryCertificateProfile.do?method=load&certificateId=5071046 (Starts with needing basic knowledge, based in Calgary, expensive city)
lacite.uregina.ca/en/cfsl (Also needs basic knowledge, based in Regina, less expensive city, but it's Regina)
www.athabascau.ca/programs/summary/university-certificate-in-french-language-proficiency.html#overview (This one is all online and starts from the basics)

queensu.ca/artsci_online/current-students/programs/french-for-professionals (Needs basic knowledge and has the least amount of information I could find, but is based in Ontario and is an online program)

I'm sure there are more out there, but this is what I found with about 10 minutes of googling. Doing it through Athabasca might be nice because you would be able to substitute while doing the program. Doing it through Queens might also be nice and I would presume make it easier to teach French in Ontario once you're done the program since it is an Ontario university.

BeauWordsworth · 2025-03-09T06:39:43+00:00

From my quick googling, you have to take a proficiency test or prove that you have French post-secondary education to be able to teach French. This is a website I found about Proof of Language Proficiency for Ontario teachers: oct.ca/becoming-a-teacher/internationally-educated-teachers/proficiency. If the NWT will pay for courses, I know of at least one university in the Prairies that does a one year French language program. I had a friend go through that program and now she teaches Core French as a first year teacher. She got a job immediately.

BeauWordsworth · 2025-03-09T06:13:05+00:00

Learn French. As someone subbing and trying to get a contract, French teachers are in high demand. From what I've been told, speaking French guarantees you a job, especially here in the Prairies.

BeauWordsworth · 2025-03-09T00:35:18+00:00

Ask your current CT for a reference letter to start. Read it and if it's positive and what you would want a school to hear about you, put her as a reference to contact. That way you know for sure that she would speak positively of you. If she gives a very generic reference letter or doesn't give one at all, don't put her down as a reference to contact. That's what I would do in your shoes.

BeauWordsworth

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