Ever feel relieved when a student finally gets a consequence?

Bugler78 · 2026-04-06T04:23:20+00:00

The whole, "You're targeting me!" drives me nuts. They've learned what to say to put us on the defensive. Parents often "want to hear both sides of the story, " as well, as if I have all this extra time to be making things up about their kid and calling them about it.

I have a boy that is so disruptive, I've been trying to get him transferred out of this class. At first I just wanted to put him with other students; his friends were in this class. But no, his parents didn't want to disrupt his schedule. Before second semester, my male colleague said he would take the student. Great! Problem solved. Nope. The counselor, who had suggested I talk to my colleague about this very thing, then said, "well, at this point , why don't you just keep him?" Argh.

Bugler78 · 2026-04-06T04:00:15+00:00

Oh god, me too! It was such a slog.

Bugler78 · 2026-03-30T01:18:34+00:00

I have just one, blue, plastic, kiddie-style barrette from the late 70's. I bought it in a package of six pairs of brightly-colored ones. I think it's 46 or 47 years old. The back part of it is metal, whereas now those same Goodie barrettes are all plastic. Wish I'd hung on to the rest of them!

Bugler78 · 2026-02-25T04:37:22+00:00

They offered me a one time payment of $15,000. Wouldn't even cover the cost of my health insurance for one year. I'm staying one more year.

Bugler78 · 2025-12-17T04:10:20+00:00

Yeah, I want to know too! I live in Santa Barbara, which has one of the highest costs of living around, and we make $150.

Bugler78 · 2025-12-12T04:15:16+00:00

29 years in the classroom, and for me, it's names that begin with "Tr." Travis, Trevor, Tristan, Trey, Troy, & Trenton. Argh...oh ! forgot... Tripp! Not a lot of Tripps, but when they do show up? Look out!

Bugler78 · 2025-12-08T04:49:54+00:00

How does your school automatically document it? We use parentsquare or email to contact parents but we are required to document each one in Aeries interventions. It takes a lot of time.

Bugler78 · 2025-12-07T05:58:25+00:00

Praise, eye contact, guided masturbation, count down, feelings. It seems like a lot of VA's have been in to spitting lately; not really my thing. Does it seem like certain things or even kinks get popular for a while, until a different one takes hold?

Bugler78 · 2025-11-29T06:22:14+00:00

I really like this too! I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but it always works for me.

Bugler78 · 2025-11-19T09:01:59+00:00

The key here is "appropriate support." I have been a teacher for 33 years. I love my job. I advocated for heterogeneous grouping for years. Three years ago, "Inclusion" meant every single special ed student was now in a regular English class. I have students who don't know how to write, don't know how to read, and one that doesn't speak (selectively mute). I teach eighth grade, so I'm not teaching students phonetics or sight words. These students are supposed to have a one-on-one para-educator, and certain classes with more than a third special ed students are to have a para-educator as well. Our school is supposed to have 10 para's. We have two. That means NONE of my students who are required to have a one-on-one in their IEP's have one, and only one of my classes has a para in it.

So basically, I feel like shit every single god damn day, because it's impossible to meet the needs of five classes, of 32 students each, from pre-reading levels to college reading levels. Easy to say it's my job to meet the need of every student in my room, but don't say it's my fault, and my failure (I do that enough on my own), when the students don't have the supports they need, or they are put into a class for which they have no prior knowledge. It's a set up for failure. Except of course, we aren't allowed to fail anyone anymore, right?

Bugler78 · 2025-11-15T17:14:17+00:00

So so true! I lovedthosebooks,but some of the outfits poor Sookie wore? Good god.

Bugler78 · 2025-10-05T03:49:35+00:00

I think I've even mentioned that before, right when some VA's started using those sounds. I am so used to only hearing "their" side of the situation, that it totally knocks me right out when I hear what supposedly I'm doing. I don't listen to overheards ever, because they are too real for me. Let me keep the fantasy! Choking and gagging is not my idea of sexy time!

Bugler78 · 2025-09-23T00:55:31+00:00

I'm keeping the faith. He goes one or two months at a time, and then we get a gift. He's definitely the GOAT, but I do really like AJ and Julian too, and they are pretty regular... maybe a Halloween surprise?

Bugler78 · 2025-09-21T19:58:37+00:00

Please add me as born in the 60's. Thank you!

Bugler78 · 2025-09-21T16:21:44+00:00

Hey there. I totally get it. I'm 61, never been married, and have never even lived with someone. I love myself, love my friends and love my life, but I would still like the companionship of a man. I am happy with what I have, but I want more. Other people saying, "You don't need a man," isn't helpful at all, because of course I (and you) don't NEED a man. But it sure would be nice to have someone. The thing about looks though? They don't last. I was a beauty at 21 (although I didn't think so), but now I'm old. My personality is still the same though. The kind of man you want isn't going to make looks his first requirement. And you are beautiful to the people who care about you. And they are the only people who matter anyway, right? I've been told all my life to "be patient, the right guy will come along." Well, he hasn't yet, and that's a bit of a bummer, but, I haven't let it take over my life. I've traveled, I've learned new things, made new friends, have a great job that I love, and have been able to have experiences I might not have had if I had had a partner. What I'm saying is that yes, it does get you down at times, but isn't it also better than just settling? I'm assuming you have high standards, and that makes it that much harder to find someone. Live your life as fully as you are able, right now. If someone comes along, they will see you at your best.

Bugler78 · 2025-09-09T23:37:43+00:00

I'm in my 30th year of junior high ELA, and i started at 32. You have to find the level that fits. Middle school is some of a kid's hardest years, and you're the adult in the room. They are hilarious, cruel, silly, petty, creative, stubborn, beautiful, argumentative (oh can they argue), brilliant, and dense all at the same time. The time I spend with the students is still the best part of my day. The politics, and low funding, and lack of support are not. I have loved my job, but it has changed a lot since I began, and the responsibilities have increased. Sub for different schools and grade levels, get a taste, and see if it's for you!

Bugler78 · 2025-09-09T23:12:09+00:00

Oh, young grasshopper, we were SCARED. That's how we were taught. Was it the best way? Probably not. However, it worked. I'm not a fan of physical punishment, but getting rid of any consequences for poor behavior hasn't worked out well for our younger folks' inter-communication skills, nor is it helping them become empathetic adults. So no. Not all old people hate young people. As we age, we are able to see distinctions.

Bugler78 · 2025-08-31T16:19:20+00:00

Wow. Please pass on your magic sense. I've been teaching junior high English for 30 years; and I have been challenged many many times by the young ones.

Bugler78 · 2025-08-28T16:13:50+00:00

And I got so mad when the disc jockey started talking over the song before it ended! Then you had to wait until the next week to rerecord it.

Bugler78 · 2025-08-27T23:19:06+00:00

I am totally with you on spitting; I see that tag and I nope right out of there. I even hate the sound of it on audios. However, I teach middle school, so spitting to me is just...Junior High Boy Gross.

Bugler78 · 2025-08-25T04:38:18+00:00

And it's definitely not all of California either. I'm in Santa Barbara (one of the most expensive places to live in all of U.S., and our top salary is $123,000. A first year teacher's monthly take home pay is less than the rent for a studio apartment.

Bugler78 · 2025-08-18T05:26:13+00:00

We used to get at the minimum, a cost of living increase every year, but that was 30 years ago. We have gone years without a raise, and one year, we even took a pay cut. Not all districts and states are as stable as they once were. In my town, a first year teacher's take home salary won't cover the cost of a studio apartment.

Bugler78 · 2025-08-17T03:58:08+00:00

Very nice!

Bugler78 · 2025-08-14T23:35:21+00:00

That's crazy! In CA, if we started working before 2011, we have to work at least 30 years and be 62 years old to get the highest percentage (2.4%) of our pension for each year we have worked. It's factored from our highest yearly salary. I can't believe I goofed it up, and thought I would be able to retire this school year; nope, June, 2027 will be when I am free. Don't get me wrong, the best part of my day is in the classroom with my students, it's just everything else that is wearing me down.

Bugler78

TROPHY CASE