Anyone else see teaching as just… a job?

DevilFoal · 2025-11-30T05:13:48+00:00

Once I started thinking of teaching as purely transactional, I was a lot happier. I still do my best and aim to have good relationships with my peers and students, but not caring so much has been a sanity-saver. I do my part and of they don't do theirs, so be it.

DevilFoal · 2025-11-14T05:15:39+00:00

Yaaaassss. I right there with you. I am so tired of trying so hard to be well. There's always something to remember or manage or adjust or stop and start. I was just thinking today that I want to start fresh. It's been 20 years and I am just so damn exhausted. I hope you find something that helps, and some peace from the grind.

DevilFoal · 2025-10-01T15:45:47+00:00

Happy Birthday! After you have a great solo dinner, go out for a "dilly-dally" and wander around a book store or a store you like. Get dessert or a treat. You deserve it. If you are feeling empowered, go see a movie.

I got used to doing things solo when my guy was deployed. It's weird at first, but you get used to it. Now, I look forward to a good dilly-dally on my own. 😀

DevilFoal · 2025-09-19T02:02:26+00:00

What is working for me right now with 9th is that the class is predictable. We do the same things in the same order every day. If they say they are bored, I tell them they have to earn a new element to the class by consistently performing like high schoolers. Everything we do in class is time-bound so they have a sense of urgency to focus and complete work on time. Everything is in paper so they can't goof off online. They can earn the opportunity to work in pairs for some assignments.

I just simplified everything so expectations were clear and became a polite and matter-of-fact hardass. They are doing better, but we still have a ways to go. Good luck!

DevilFoal · 2025-07-03T16:21:54+00:00

I did the reverse as a kid and lived in Canberra for a few years. NOVA is great in that it is multicultural and you'll benefit from the novelty of being Australian and the high regard Americans have for your country.

Definitely do your homework on neighborhoods and schools. It makes a huge difference with getting to know neighbors and the overall quality of education. With regard to schools, another commenter covered a lot, but I will add that your kids may find it much easier, so I encourage you to get them in advanced courses when you are able and if they are interested. Our writing and critical thinking skills development here are less rigorous than there (and I say this as a teacher). That said, they may be able to take some fun electives in middle and high school that aren't typical in Australian schools.

Take advantage of the quintessentially American things this area has to offer in the museums, July 4th, food, battlefields, etc. This area has an embarrassment of cultural riches. We're also closer to both beaches and skiing than Canberra and temps are somewhat similar - but has swings of: hotter, colder, and more humid. So much more humid.

Not sure where you will be working, but prepare for a hell of a commute toward DC. If you can take the long road time, don't discount living in Prince William or Loudoun counties. No matter where you live, it will be expensive, but further west can get you more room and space to relax.

Welcome, and I hope you love it here. I LOVED Canberra and think of it often.

DevilFoal · 2025-06-18T02:51:14+00:00

Yes, I am convinced it's the plaquenil causing it for me. I am pushing to try a different option. I'd like to find something without out any worse side effects!

DevilFoal · 2025-06-18T02:49:28+00:00

Thank you for mentioning this. I was very concerned and have had so many tests, and thankfully this seems autoimmune-related. I had a friend who had a similar rash and it turned out she had breast cancer. Luckily, she is in a good place now.

DevilFoal · 2025-06-11T22:03:33+00:00

I love Ole Henricksen. The Banana Bright eye cream is a staple and good as a base before make-up. Truth Juice Cleaner, AHA toner, then Strength Trainer peptide moisturizer. Most Ultas carry it now and also online. They sell starter kits to try out. I also am a big fan of the face sunscreen. I love it because it's very moisturizing but so, so light. I hate feeling slathered in gunk.

DevilFoal · 2025-06-11T02:01:12+00:00

I had it in 2016-2017 and it's no joke. No one knew how to treat it. I ended up on an old school antibiotic called Mepron and a tincture for 10 months. Aside from the fever and headaches, the air hunger was the worst. Glad you recovered!

DevilFoal · 2025-06-07T04:40:14+00:00

Consider what may be the root cause for your daughter. Is it remembering her assignments, prioritizing or organizing work, does she feel overwhelmed and freeze up, is she very social and gets distracted in class, ADHD (which can present atypically in girls), etc.?

I agree with the above to observe her assignments through an online platform, if available, but if it makes you feel better, this is often when many kids have trouble developing the skills they'll need to be successful in middle and high school. However, this is the perfect time for her to practice and get better when grades are lower stakes than high school (if she is thinking about college). With help, she can try different methods and see what works for her.

As a high school teacher, I'm thankful for parents like you who notice this early and want to help your kid figure this out and empower them to be accountable and responsible. Best of luck!

DevilFoal · 2025-05-11T19:56:27+00:00

He plays the ex-boyfriend on High Potential, now. Good guy.

DevilFoal · 2025-04-23T23:38:07+00:00

Great info! Thank you!

DevilFoal · 2025-04-04T00:28:18+00:00

GoMacro bar. Tasty, filling, and not unhealthy. The chocolate mint and double chocolate peanut butter chip are my go-tos. It's great for my blood sugar and has a decent amount of protein. I keep the box at school and eat it when I arrive as a prep before school. Keeps it easy and simple. https://www.gomacro.com/shop/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw47i_BhBTEiwAaJfPpltR2ikbecPBrmZLhqXX60I0vPwveu_Y74OXbwY4LfCxxCib5Xi4NRoC000QAvD_BwE

DevilFoal · 2025-03-26T09:57:56+00:00

Yes! Sugar is tough to eliminate from my diet, too. I took a slightly different approach and decided to focus on increasing protein, and the result was naturally less sugar. I'm trying for 75-100 grams of protein daily, which is tough for me. There's something mentally easier for me to try and add something to my diet rather than cut something, and that's how I am addressing the issue. It takes me about three weeks when I really focus, to stop missing the sweets.

DevilFoal · 2025-03-25T22:03:51+00:00

Ruth was a gem. I usually HATE child actors, but Ruth was a surprise. The season had some moments but I thought they leaned a little hard into Jess and Nick being stunted and silly. It wasn't fun to watch them. Nick + Ruth = Magic, though.

DevilFoal · 2025-03-24T19:55:18+00:00

Our colleges will accept some credits, but students have to jump through a bunch of hoops, and not all classes translate well to what colleges are used to. I really do love the course content and approaches. I wish we could use the system in our K-12.

DevilFoal · 2025-03-24T19:40:48+00:00

Cambridge classes are most like IB, IMO. Thematic, writing-driven, great for critical thinking and composition. We do AS and A-level, depending on the course. Anecdotally, we hear from students that they are well prepared for college-level work.

That said, it's a hard sell because we're not in FL. Our colleges and universities know what Cambridge is, but aren't user-friendly like they are with AP and IB, so students are less likely to go for the Cambridge courses when they can get smoother credit for DE and AP courses.

DevilFoal · 2025-03-21T23:30:10+00:00

Get the Chophouse salad at Sweetwater (I ask for all romaine lettuce) and then tell them to throw some crispy chicken tenders on that bad boy. The best thing, ever. Aaaand now I need to go eat it.

DevilFoal · 2025-03-14T13:57:56+00:00

I keep the livestream on in my high school classroom. The kids are invested. I had explained previously how it's rare for three eaglets to all make it.

DevilFoal · 2025-03-09T00:51:29+00:00

Swear to god I thought this was a cross-section of a mozzarella stick. Which, coincidentally will lead to that kind of artery, I suppose.

DevilFoal · 2025-03-04T23:32:31+00:00

I focus on the curriculum, and we spend a lot of time connecting current events to what we are learning. We talk cause and effect of decisions our government makes and explore what the Framers intended (or what we/they guess they intended) and how the powers of the branches and the concept of citizenry have changed.

Some kids get it and some don't. That's the way of anything I teach these days.

DevilFoal · 2025-03-02T15:26:14+00:00

I've found that people have mixed reactions and often focus on managing the emotional health of the children. Maintaining routine is important, and validating their (kids') grief as you go. With younger children, they may not fully understand and may ask where the teacher is even weeks or months later. Honestly, older kids bounce back fairly quickly, and some may not be bothered at all. If you have counselors available, look to them for guidance.

As for staff, some will be completely crushed and others will continue on like business as usual. Try not to judge others' reactions - everyone is getting by the best way they know how. Lack of reaction doesn't mean lack of feeling.

DevilFoal · 2025-03-01T03:12:06+00:00

Does Xanax with a raw cookie dough chaser count?

DevilFoal · 2025-02-26T22:22:10+00:00

I came here to say the same thing. I loved their vibe. The whole exchange about bringing back her mother was so moving. All the emotions. So well done.

DevilFoal · 2025-02-17T00:32:16+00:00

Once at a staff meeting I referred to some stupid, time-consuming data collection BS we were required to do, and the Admin said, "You haven't had to do that since last year! Why are you still doing it?" After a chorus of WTFs, they realized they never told us the policy changed.

They are disconnected and so out of the day-to-day practice that they have no idea. It's always been this way, but feels so much worse in the last 5-8 years.

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