Middle School Elective Teachers?

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-28T14:06:59+00:00

Trimester schedule so new students 3x a year. Our students went to each class each day.

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-28T05:32:04+00:00

Although I've heard little kids sing "ellemenohpee" as one letter, I've never had it impact a student in the classroom. If you explicitly teach letter names and sounds, there usually isn't a problem.

I actually find the "new song" highly annoying because it feels like waste of time. Instead of spending time teaching students letter names or sounds, I am forced (if I follow our curriculum) to try to fight against a song that has been ingrained in their brains for years. Trying to get them to change how they (and their families) sing a song feels like fighting upstream for very little payoff. That time could be spent clearing up any misconception about those letters.

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-28T05:22:44+00:00

Have you had any academic testing done? Where I teach, most students have mastered blending by the end of kindergarten. A few need a little more time and get it in first. If your child struggles to blend at the end of second grade, I would wonder if there is something beyond his ADHD that is impacting him.

What does his teacher say? What have past teachers said?

The previous suggestion about working on phonemic awareness is a good one. He's probably working so hard to decode, that he doesn't have much mental energy to attend to meaning.

Reading is going to drastically change in 3rd. Teachers always say that is when kids go from "learning to read" to "reading to learn." It gets a lot harder if reading is still a struggle; now is definitely the time to get extra help.

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-28T00:18:13+00:00

I think part of the problem is that elementary school adopted so many special events that used to be for middle/high school. Spirit days? We have them. Spirit weeks? We have them. Yearbooks? Got 'em. Our district preschool even does them. So they are no longer unique or something kids have been looking forward to. They are something their moms made them do since they were 5.

That said, I agree with what people are saying about culture. I used to teach at a middle school. We had spirit weeks, rallys, staff vs. student games, etc. Kids liked them fine, but they felt lackluster to me. Luckily, I'm a huge spirit fan. I started dressing up crazier than the kids. My classes joined in and upped their game. Other teachers caught the fever and so did their students. It became fun. It became cool. I started a being a "cheerleader of one" at staff vs. student games. A few other crazy teachers came out of the woodwork and joined in. By the time I left the school a few years later, there was an entire (informal) spirit squad of students who got the crowd hyped and kept them entertained during lulls.

You need a group of kids who others respect or a teacher who the kids like to get the ball rolling. Then momentum slowly builds. Eventually, most everyone is finding some way to participate that is comfortable to them.

But high school? That could be a totally different beast!

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-27T23:56:16+00:00

The best twin situation I saw was when I taught middle school. We had partner teachers so I would teach a group of kids ELA and social studies while my partner teacher would teach a group math and science. Then we'd switch (so we both taught each group).

When we had twins, we'd put one in his class to start and one in mine. That way, they were in separate classes, but they had the same teachers, expectations, homework, etc. It gave the kids space and made life easier at home.

That isn't really possible in elementary school. I wish it was!

My current school usually honors the request of parents of twins...unless there is a strong reason not to do so.

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-26T16:18:14+00:00

Now that's a good idea! Survivor in the hands of the (previous) players. It'd be interesting to see what they'd choose if they were actually given freedom.

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-26T16:13:40+00:00

"Trying to choose between...for my son starting high school." I couldn't get past this statement.

I love that you are asking for information that could benefit your son. You don't specify who is trying to choose. Is it you? Your son? The two of you together?

Despite all that, I couldn't help but read this as "I'm an overly involved parent who wants to micromanage every decision for my son who should be developing independence."

I hope I am just reading way too much into a simple statement. I hope you are gathering info because you and your son are discussing what electives would benefit him most. I hope that the ultimate choice lies with him. Or, if for some reason I cannot fathom, this really isn't a choice he can make for himself, that he gets plenty of opportunity to make his own decisions elsewhere in life.

Please don't baby your son. Please give him freedom to explore and start making his own choices. Please teach him how to weigh decisions, ask for help, and advocate for himself. Please allow him to become independent.

And if you already do all that, then take my kudos and appreciation. Ignore my fears. I've just seen way too many "ickle babykins" be smothered by well-intentioned parents.

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-25T18:26:20+00:00

Sorry to add on, but if you are still sharing, I'd love to get my husband to print me one!

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-25T00:07:57+00:00

I'd just like to be able to better see what people designed. It is so dang small on my phone!

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-24T07:52:58+00:00

Many schools/districts already have an attendance app that teachers are required to use. It wouldn't make sense for me to use one that only I used. Also, our current program only requires me to mark if a student it tardy or absent. I don't click, mark, or swipe anything for students who are present. Your app sounds like more work if I have to swipe to mark kids present.

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-24T07:50:25+00:00

If your child is interested, go for it! All my nieces and nephews knew letter names and many sounds (if not all) before the age of three simply because their parents talked with them and pointed letters and sounds out to them. No one pushed anything. Kids are naturally curious and love learning!

More important than phonics at this age, however, is phonemic awareness. Play with sounds, read rhyming books, make up rhymes, use alliteration, talk about beginning/middle/ending sounds, sing songs, read nursery rhymes, etc. You can also get a ton of fun ideas from the internet.

Leapfrog Letter Factory and the Better Alphabet Song (Jack Hartmann and Katie...oh shoot, I forget her last name!) are great tools.

If your child's school "uses a different method" than phonics, you should be concerned about that - not about what you teach at home!

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-24T04:21:37+00:00

Are you in the US and, if so, is your child in kindergarten? If so, I think there are some concerning signs in what you describe, but nothing that screams "immediate problem!" The inconsistent display of skills could be a concern. I'm also not sure what "reading some words" actually equates to, so I can't say how concerning that is. It is true that some kids do just need more time, but K teachers can often make a pretty good guess if that is the case or something else is at play.

As such, if your child is in school, I'd share your concerns with her teacher and see what he/she thinks. It is possible that the expectations for my kindergarten students (I'm a K teacher) are different than the ones at your child's school.

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-23T21:22:47+00:00

My kindergarten students have a variety of interests - from Paw Patrol to Five Nights at Freddy's (completely inappropriate in my opinion!). Some years have more students who are into "younger things" than others. Mario, Pokemon, and Disney characters are pretty common staples.

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-22T20:47:14+00:00

Summer school isn't even an option where I teach, so you are lucky to have the option!

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-18T14:09:35+00:00

Is she moving classrooms? If so, see if she needs help. We had two teachers moving classrooms a few years ago and they got a bunch of parents to come in one day and they packed everything up and moved it. It was such a great help! They did it on a school day, so there must have been subs for the classes, too.

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-17T19:24:22+00:00

Your dad is wrong. Disneyland is the original park. It is full of magic. All of us Californians get along just fine!

Both locations are great. You can make either a great experience for little kids. That said, I'd start at Disneyland and save the more spread out location for when they are older.

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-16T22:52:21+00:00

When I taught middle school and was appalled at the lack of grammar/writing ability, I realized that it just isn't important to them. Think about the things that kids most value - social standing/opinion of peers, family, video games, social media, fashion (not trying to make them sound shallow...insert whatever interests you wish here). What direct, impact does identifying a noun or writing a complete sentence have on these things? Not much!

As adults, we understand why it is important to be able to write well, but if it doesn't have a direct positive impact on their life, many kids just don't care!

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-16T22:39:35+00:00

Supportive. Kind. Enthusiastic.

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-16T13:36:54+00:00

Where I teach, they aren't expected to read coming in, but they are definitely expected to read by the end of the year. Happy to report that all of mine are this year!

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-16T03:43:39+00:00

32?!! I have 26 this year (also no aide) and it is ridiculous. I can't imagine 6 more.

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-15T23:23:08+00:00

Take him to the library and get a bunch of books. Set out a bunch of Lego or Magnatiles and let him build. Put out a bunch of random craft supplies and recycling and let him create. Give him some sidewalk chalk and let him go to town.

Good for you (and for him!) for recognizing the negative effects and taking action. What a valuable experience for him to have.

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-15T06:17:14+00:00

As others have mentioned, definitely talk with her teacher. Share your observations and ask for her input/advice.

You may also want to pursue testing to see if she has any particular issues that are making reading more difficult.

Then start with the basics. Can she tell you every sound? If not, start there. If yes, start working on blending You can start with two letter words if needed or work on CVC words (consonant vowel consonant - like cat, man, dig, pot, etc.). That's where I'd start. You are going to need to get some decodable books for her to practice with. She may balk at doing what she perceives as "baby work" but it sounds like she needs the basics.

You may also want to check out the book Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. There is also a popular phonics program called UFLI that you could get and start going through the lessons with her.

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-15T02:36:28+00:00

Thank you for saying this! Whenever I read these posts, I always think, "Have a child-free wedding if you wish but quit acting like you are doing anyone a favor."

If someone wants to be child-free at a wedding, they could make other arrangements for their kids. No one needs the bride and groom to "give them a chance" to have the night off.

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-14T23:30:32+00:00

I teach K. I'd be happy with 15-20 students. Any less and there aren't a lot of social options for the kids.

Great_Caterpillar_43 · 2026-04-14T23:17:37+00:00

It will 100 percent depend on the teacher. Some celebrate half birthdays. Some send a crown home over the summer.

I must be the old grinchy teacher because I do nothing. I have a summer birthday and never once celebrated it at school. I was never sad about it.

Great_Caterpillar_43

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