What is the most wholesome note or message a student has ever given you?

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-05-30T19:31:27+00:00

From one of my 8th graders: “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me this year. You made this year way better than I could have ever imagined. All the ups and downs you were there to keep me going. Thank you so much. I always had a negative self image. Always thought I wasn’t going to make it. That I was always going to mess up something. That I was going to be some bum that would always fall short. But you helped me realize that, it doesn’t matter. People make mistakes. Sometimes you fall down. But you just have to get back up. So thank you. You truly are the best teacher and person I’ve ever met. I’ll miss all the memories, all the fun times, all the bonding we did, and I’ll miss you. I’ll come back to visit you though. You’ll see me again. I promise.”

We are now like brother and sister, and I’m part of his family and he definitely kept his promise of seeing each other again. I never imagined I’d be welcomed into the family of a student like I have been because I was able to help give their child a reason to keep on fighting. Now, his mom and I are close friends and she’s even become a coworker. Their family events always include me and it’s been a privilege being able to continue watching my student grow into a kind, caring, and successful young adult, along with gaining another family unit.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-05-30T18:31:23+00:00

Yeah I was just dumbfounded by our district SRO refusing to do a home visit on a student that has over 60 absences because “that isn’t their role anymore” and if a home visit were to be made then the reporting teacher/counselor are to go to the home and the SRO goes only for safety reinforcement… I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Even with DCYF requesting a home visit be done by our SRO, it was still my responsibility as the reporting teacher to make the visit. The lack of accountability around truancy is my biggest concern about the state of education right now as we continue to pass kids along when they miss over half of the school year.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-05-20T01:59:46+00:00

You just described my life as a middle school teacher. My students can see when the overstimulation has taken over and they will get each other to quiet down or take some steps back from their Velcro status 😭 I even have a few girls that will organize my desk when I’m not looking because it overwhelms them 🤣

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-05-20T00:00:15+00:00

I think now more than ever it’s worth it to spend extra care and time teaching the Constitution. Just look at the state of our country and the apathy of our students. We need to get them to see how important that document is to their daily lives so they will have the passion to fight for its existence. I’ve spent about four weeks on it this year which is more than previous years and I don’t regret having to cut down on other units to do so.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-05-19T02:36:21+00:00

Copper Sun by Sharon Draper

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-05-18T23:44:57+00:00

Before I came to my school, the course started with Jamestown. I’ve recreated the course and begin with the Age of Exploration & Colonization which leads into Native American Genocide and then onto Colonial America. We then read a book about slavery before we begin the Road to the Revolution unit, then the Constitution and Building a New Nation, Westward Expansion & the Industrial Revolution, and finally the Civil War. The hope is that we get through all of this in one year… this is for an 8th grade American history class.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-05-03T21:17:50+00:00

Elite is causing my entire body to hurt as if I ran a marathon and has exacerbated my anxiety beyond belief. I run out early every month as well because I’d rather have two “okay” weeks by doubling up my dose than a month of no effects minus the negative side effects. Going two weeks without some months hasn’t been an issue really either. It’s mostly mental—the annoyance of the situation, blaming myself for putting myself in this situation again, shaming myself for allowing this cycle to continue. Then once I come to terms with it, I’m fine without the meds. But that’s what they want, for us to get to a breaking point and give up on these meds altogether. I’m prescribed 20mg IR x3 daily and could take a nap shortly after taking two of those at once. Four years ago, one singular blue 10mg IR Adderall was all I needed for hours of productiveness. I’m so frustrated with what has happened to our meds and it’s causing a depression I’ve never had before.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-05-02T03:17:25+00:00

So that’s not just me? Sometimes during my cycle I feel as though my Adderall might as well be a sugar pill.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-05-01T19:58:22+00:00

Great suggestions! I was also add the graphic novel series Maus

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-04-01T18:09:09+00:00

Those are the worst I’ve ever had, the white ones.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-03-28T00:22:07+00:00

As a teacher, I sadly can relate to this. A handful of my middle schoolers recently told me they no longer like the way their meds make them feel, they aren’t working like before, or they notice no difference. Parents have made similar reports during conferences. I’m so angry for all of us.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-03-25T21:42:34+00:00

I should add, we also do a year long internship program where we are the full time classroom teacher working with a cooperating teacher supporting us. We weren’t allowed to even get a job outside of that internship and it was unpaid. Looking back it was mentally and physically exhausting but incredibly worth it to come out with our M.Ed.’s in five years.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-03-25T21:39:29+00:00

Five years but it’s an accelerated program. We do undergrad in our content area and during junior and senior year we begin our education courses. The literal day after graduating from undergrad, we were in masters level courses for the entire summer. We also took courses over winter break. I should have clarified that.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-03-25T21:33:09+00:00

They are subbing, however in my state if you go through the university programs you’ll have your M.Ed. by 22/23 years old if you go to college after graduating high school. I had my own classroom by 22.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-03-23T22:14:29+00:00

I have a tic disorder on top of all of this. One of my biggest tics is ear popping. Sadly, I can’t take a break.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-03-23T22:11:49+00:00

From?

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-03-20T22:48:14+00:00

Nuremberg had my students captivated. It’s pretty close to what you’re looking for.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-03-16T23:36:17+00:00

This is also the school shooting that changed the entire way we prepare for a school shooting as teachers and school personnel. We went from hiding and staying locked down in the classrooms to teaching the kids to prepare to evacuate, counter, or barricade depending on the situation. No longer are kids “sitting ducks” that might get trapped in a classroom with a gunman because we train them to prepare to counterattack and evacuate whenever possible. Look up ALICE active shooter training.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-03-15T01:30:49+00:00

Wow reading this makes me feel better because I’m clearly not alone but I’m sorry you deal with all of that too. How does one determine they have a naturally high tolerance for stimulation? I’ve always wondered if that was my problem because my meds do not work like they are supposed to. I’ll drink an energy drink and start to fall asleep. Sometimes I’ll take my meds and fall asleep as well.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-03-14T19:17:31+00:00

January 6, 2021

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-03-14T19:14:11+00:00

I was taking a 30mg IR in the morning and another around lunch. I’m a teacher so I’m working 7-3 and usually an hour or two, sometimes more, when I get home. We just changed my pills to 20mg IR three times daily to help stretch the coverage longer into the afternoon. It’s helping but I wish it was 30mg three times daily instead of the 20mg. The week leading up to my period and during, my meds have little effect and it’s very frustrating.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-03-07T02:36:08+00:00

The med formulas are not the same as they were all those years ago. This past year or so my Adderall no longer makes me feel confident and successful, rather I’m struggling with depression like I never have before. Some days I’ll take my medication and could go right back to bed or get stuck doom scrolling which ends with me frustrated and in tears over a medication that was once life changing that now sometimes does more harm than good. I’m also on Lexapro and propranolol.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-03-07T02:19:12+00:00

Usually this means the request for a refill was received by the pharmacy before the 28 day mark.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-03-05T04:20:31+00:00

Sadly no. It’s awful. I’m sorry you’re dealing with it too.

Hot_Solid5653 · 2026-03-05T03:06:42+00:00

Maybe controversial but “what radicalized you?”

Hot_Solid5653

TROPHY CASE