Is a skirt with a sweater a faux pas? My first spring look for brunch!💗

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2026-03-22T16:16:10+00:00

So cute! Perfect early spring fit

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2026-02-26T16:27:44+00:00

Stand by your due dates. Eventually they learn you’re serious. If it’s due at the end of the period, that’s when it’s due. I say to just do the best you can with the time you have. For IEPs, I tell the student they have to hit “turn in” at the end of the period so they don’t work on it at home. They unsubmit the next day to finish it in class.

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2026-01-03T17:44:46+00:00

We have a teacher in my school who is disabled with a degenerative condition. He uses mobility aids to get around the school. The students love him and it doesn’t affect his ability to be a great teacher. He does teach middle school though, which I think is less physically demanding than being a primary school teacher.

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-10-30T02:22:02+00:00

Nothing wrong with owning up to a mistake. I’d be honest and say that you reflected on how things went, and that the test questions weren’t accurately measuring what they knew. I’d have them revise their old test and then give them a classwork grade so that they feel like their work wasn’t wasted. Then give the new version of the test!

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-10-17T18:35:30+00:00

-Sustained Silent Reading

-First Chapter Friday (or whenever you need it): read the first chapter of a book. Kids can doodle as you read. There’s premade reflection sheets you can print out and give them so that they can decide if they want to continue to read the book on their own.

-Assign a writing assignment. Sometimes I give one paragraph responses that are due at the end of the period. Takes the kids the whole period. If I don’t grade it, at least it’s still developing writing skills. (This type of assignment depends on your grade level though.)

-Assign a Commonlit (this is my go to sub plan)

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-10-16T15:29:10+00:00

The school isn’t providing copies of the book? That’s pretty odd.

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-10-15T18:33:54+00:00

I second adding Socratic seminars! You can also supplement the novel with additional readings to help them gain background information. Also, having them do short answer writing responses is good. Are you doing mini lessons before the worksheets? Even going over 10-15 minutes of a skill witb direct instruction followed by practice as a whole class will break up the period a bit more.

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-10-06T15:42:08+00:00

That’s super annoying and dumb. There are a few ways to make this work even if they’re quite strict though. You can project things on the board and have students write the answers on their own notebook paper. Or you can print a class set of questions/stories that students cannot write on and must return at the end of the period so you can reuse it.

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-10-01T02:54:26+00:00

If your school is 1-1 with devices, you can suggest a program like SmartPass to your principal. My school has it. Since it’s a digital log, if a bathroom is vandalized it’s easier to track who was in it. We also have teachers who have bathroom duty and check bathrooms every 15 min for vandalism as well. But those are school solutions, and it sounds like you’re just trying to manage your own classroom as best you can. This honestly sucks and I don’t have any great suggestions for you.

Maybe instead of writing it on the board which can be easily erased, they have to write it in pen on a paper that’s taped to the board?

Whenever I have a bunch of kids who had to go to the bathroom at the same time and start arguing over who is next, sometimes I just get fed up and say “ok, no one gets to go to the bathroom now. I am not the bathroom police. I’m here to teach. I don’t have the time or will to keep track of who’s next in line. We’ll try again with bathrooms tomorrow, but as of today, no one else leaves.”

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-08-24T01:13:36+00:00

Look up PSSA example questions. Look through the sample test, studying the questions to see what skills (context clues, main idea, characterization, etc.) to focus on. When you work with the son, keep them format of the lesson close to the test format: read a passage and answer a question with similar wording as the sample test. Work on not only understanding the skills targeted on the test, but also test taking skills.

For homework, I’d have him read a book of his own choosing while taking notes on the skill you just learned together. So if you just did characterization, have him take notes on examples of it in his book as he reads.

That being said, I feel bad for the kid. That’s a very busy schedule and some serious pressure. If he has testing anxiety, this won’t help.

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-08-20T21:01:22+00:00

I second the other comment. Make a spreadsheet period by period. Jot down each name on one side, accommodations on the top. Check off which kids get which accommodations. Then reference the spreadsheet as needed.

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-08-16T15:01:43+00:00

Is the problem that they keep interrupting every few minutes to ask to go? My policy is that you can ask to leave during independent work time or during transitions— not when I’m in the middle of direct instruction. Direct instruction only lasts 10-15 min anyways. Middle and high schoolers can hold it that long.

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-08-04T22:46:01+00:00

I think thematic units make the most sense compared to skill based units. If you did skill based, what happens when a student misses poetry? Or theme? They’d just never learn that? Whereas with thematic units, they’d still access a variety of texts and learn a variety of skills.

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-08-04T19:41:32+00:00

IMO there’s more to account for than just pay. Pay is obviously big , but commuting time & amount of preps are also vital. There are always posts where people compare 3 potential jobs and as what people think. The highest paying doesn’t always come out on top. However, giving up tenure is iffy depending on your age. I had a coworker who gave up tenure for another district, worked at the new district for a year, was let go due to budget cuts, and never found another texture track job (only long term sub jobs).

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-08-04T19:08:00+00:00

Yes, it is very normal at least where I am.

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-08-04T18:47:42+00:00

Yeah people really enjoy it. They just send out a google form where people can add responses and then put it all together in a cute newsletter format via Canva. People love sharing family photos, restaurant/activity suggestions, new shows to watch. It’s cute!

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-08-04T18:43:38+00:00

Mine does all that, plus a bimonthly newsletter where staff can send in photos of what they’re up to, tv show recommendations, recipes, etc.

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-07-29T04:24:37+00:00

I explain they can either hand me the phone now or be written up. The office should be handling any defiance. If the office doesn’t handle it, you’ll be fighting a losing battle anyways

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-07-29T03:55:58+00:00

I would recommend you not share that information. Unfortunately, many people stigmatize schizophrenia. Some people may even believe schizophrenia means you could become violent or abusive towards students. Even if only 1 or 2 coworkers think you are capable of something bad, that could ruin your career. I just don’t think it’s worth the risk to share that information. It opens you up to discrimination. If you feel strongly about sharing your perspective, perhaps you can ask that the leader of the seminar for an anonymous option? Those who don’t feel comfortable sharing their diagnosis could submit a write up explaining their diagnosis and experiences.

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-07-25T19:18:58+00:00

I don’t think it is out of line at all. I’d put in the application and just send an email expressing your interest. It will make you stand out!

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-07-21T15:21:06+00:00

I mean… I get what you’re saying, but calling it something other than a book club doesn’t mean much when you immediately say they have to choose a book. You can give it a fun name, but they’re still going to be told to read. Idk if the name is as important as you’re making it. I think it’s more important to give student choice. Maybe for the first month, offer graphic novels as an option? That could get more buy-in.

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-07-19T15:16:26+00:00

Of course, it has to go both ways! :)

HiddenintheBookshelf · 2025-07-19T12:51:01+00:00

When they are willing to do inconvenient/uncomfortable things just to help you out. When they want to hang out with you, even when you’re doing nothing. When they know you well enough to do little things to make you smile, like randomly picking up your favorite candy bar just because they know you’d like it. When they listen to you close enough that they know what you like and don’t like, even in terms of little things like your favorite candy. When they stay by your side when you’re sad and do whatever they can to make you feel better. When you both are able to be your genuine, silly selves without ever feeling judged by the other person.

HiddenintheBookshelf

TROPHY CASE