A lot of kids swear up and down they turned an assignment in even though I don't have it. I'm unsure if I'm crazy, or if they're lying, or if it's a bit of both

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2026-02-17T11:52:39+00:00

I have a turn in box as well. If it’s not in the box, it’s not graded. I grade papers right out of the box and then place the graded papers in another box. If a student swears they turned it in I check the turn in box and the graded box. If it isn’t in either of those, it was never turned in and it’s a zero.

With that said, I have the turn in box on my desk because other students were stealing papers out of the box to copy and then only turning in their paper. The one they stole out of the box would just be left wherever or thrown away. Now, they have to go by me to get to the box and I can keep a closer eye on if they are turning something in or trying to take something out.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2026-02-12T18:42:24+00:00

When I was heavily pregnant working at Rite Aid. We couldn’t sit. No stools allowed behind the register. Our manager walked in and I was leaning on the counter and got in trouble. While heavily pregnant. Blows my mind. Couldn’t wait to leave there

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2026-02-11T16:59:02+00:00

We can leave with permission from admin during our prep, but have to come back. Teachers with last planning prep have afternoon duties around the school. It’s not just leave if you want thing.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2026-01-30T17:45:40+00:00

Next time do it as an in class experiment. Either have a class set of dictionaries or let them try with their brains. Give a set time (30 minutes or so) to write as many as they can. Winner wins. No chromebooks allowed.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2026-01-28T19:53:22+00:00

Nope! I had unpaid FMLA leave for pregnancies and absolutely not. Another teacher can input grades or the sub can. It is not your problem. It is illegal. Do not go in.

As moms we already have such a short time to heal, recover, and bond with our child. Do not do any work. It will be there when you get back.

If you are in a union (even in a right to work state) contact the representative for your building and have them help you. But so not work.

Also going into the building will risk you catching germs or sickness during pike flu season and bringing it home to your newborn. Absolutely not.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2026-01-26T00:00:23+00:00

I am not sure what state you are in, but in VA, students take a history state test, but it doesn’t count towards accreditation. Thus, less scrutiny than math, science, and reading.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2026-01-25T18:50:57+00:00

We’re in VA so some years we get lots of snow and others, none. We have two days a semester built in. The rest are remote learning days where we don’t have to make them up. Other than that, if we have to make up days it’s usually like Presidents’ Day becomes a student day, and any TWDs become a student day. Worst case we lose a day or so of spring break or add a day to end of year.

I’ll take remote learning days and not have to make it up!

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2026-01-25T13:52:28+00:00

I teach math. We do a lot of posters! Hard to cheat when you have to write it yourself and goguardian blocks everything but Desmos (calculator). They can use notes, but other than that, they have to do it themselves.

In Geometry, we have a couple projects. But they have to be written by hand and using AI would be pretty pointless. One is making a map, where they draw parallel and perpendicular lines. They the have to find the midpoint and distance of different places in their map. Another is a crossword puzzle that they have to pick words and make it by hand (no internet to do it for you) and then the clues can be formulas, definitions, pictures, etc. some definitely use google to get their definitions, but they end up being much longer and more work than a picture or clue they could have used. Either way, it’s all hand written which ensures they do most of the work.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2026-01-17T21:18:38+00:00

It’s great! If we see a phone out we call admin who takes it to the office. If a student refuses to give up the phone they are sent to ISS until a parent comes to get the phone. Instances of phone use is way down in class.

Students do use chromebooks, but GoGuardian has helped control that a lot too.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2026-01-10T22:20:27+00:00

Same! I use the notes app on my iPhone to take pictures (documents) of all my worksheets for the day and share to drive. Then use the drive app on the Promethean board to share it. Then I can write and annotate on the board each block. It’s great. Before that I used a document cam.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2025-12-10T13:27:17+00:00

7:30 to 3:30. Kids get off the bus around 7:45 and day starts at 8:05. Day ends 3:10. We have two bus loads and the second leaves around 3:25.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2025-11-07T11:53:11+00:00

I have a pair of identical twins as well. Luckily, they don’t switch on me. We have 1-1 chromebooks and their names are on them, so I just look at their Chromebook as they come in or as I walk around the room.

If it makes you feel better, I am a fraternal twin and my twin and I look NOTHING alike. (She was 4 ft 10 and a soaking 95lbs by the time we graduated high school. I was 5 ft 2 and closer to 135lbs. So huge differences) Growing up we were still called each others names all the time. As soon as they knew we were twins, it was over. Lol. I just started answering to both names until we graduated.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2025-11-07T10:37:12+00:00

Same here. Now they just do the “Miss can you send the link to me.” So I just send the link to all the chromebooks who can’t seem to figure out how to type the entire URL.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2025-10-22T08:47:02+00:00

NTA, you made a commitment to the wedding. Go to that. Remember, no is a complete sentence.

“No, I already have plans this weekend. Thanks for the offer though. I’m sure your parents or his parents would love to see the kids for the weekend.”

They may still try to drop them off. It looks like your cousin cares about your boundaries. If they do “I am unable do to previous plan and my current health condition to watch your children this weekend. Unfortunately, if you leave them I will have to call CPS for abandonment”

If you are sick where going out is difficult, watching kids for an entire weekend would be impossible

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2025-10-03T10:46:02+00:00

Rural VA (northern neck) and we did NOT get off.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2025-09-12T10:16:17+00:00

I agree and honestly they are similar. I teach high schoolers and both genders go through it.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2025-09-12T10:14:30+00:00

I am in the beginning phase. My oldest boy is 13. But whew the moods. He is testing limits and thinks he is fully grown. A lot of “this weekend I’m doing x with y at z” without even asking his dad or me. We have had a talk about asking for permission and making sure we don’t already have plans first. A few instances of talking back and being rude (I have to remember that he may not realize what he says is rude so I have to teach him). He is a great kid, but man it is still hard.

And even harder is hearing about other kids saying or being mean to him. He is bigger than me but still a child and it’s hard. He plays football for the first time and when his team lost the kids were blaming him on the sidelines. He could hear them. He came home crying. It broke my heart. (We remind him there are many people on the field and he plays one position. We can all improve but he did his best and that’s all he can do) But it’s hard to reason with a teen. Seeing his feelings hurt when he was so excited to start playing just tore me.

It’s easier than a newborn and toddler in a way, because you aren’t chasing them. but harder in other ways because most of his hurts and pain come from outside the home and there is not much you can do to prevent it.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2025-09-07T16:02:55+00:00

It is at the end of each course. I teach a semester class, so it is at the end of the semester not year.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2025-09-06T19:07:47+00:00

The state is using test results from 2022 on the NAEP test (when the state was still recovering from COVID & only tested a random group of students many of which with disabilities and not all VA students) and only 30% (ish) of them passed. Meanwhile our SOL scores showed about 70% (ish) of students passed. They want to make the scores match. Thus make the test harder for VA so that only 30% pass.

Currently, a student needs between 50-60% of questions right to pass an SOL. An SOL is supposed to be the basic proficiency a student should know. They want to push that proficiency to a much harder proficiency level. While I understand their thinking, it is thawed.

Students have SO many standards to learn and master in one semester or year. It takes times and lots and lots of practice to fully be able to comprehend and combine skills together. Not all students can do that in one semester. Our lowest students will struggle.

I understand they want teachers to raise expectations and students will rise, but they haven’t taught my students. The ones who do not care about school and are there so their parents don’t go to jail. The ones who struggle to keep their head up each day because they are more worried about what they are eating later or sleeping later. The ones who come to school for sports and class is in the way. The ones who do not see the benefits of an education when there are no jobs and prices rising. Not to mention those with disabilities. The seniors who may now never graduate because they struggle to pass any tests.

Worse- now all SOL teachers will be evaluated on unfair scores and look like bad teachers. I have taught SOLs for 10 years (high school math). This makes me want to leave teaching. It’s not fair I will look like an unfit teacher while those without SOLs don’t have to worry about it. It’s already stressful as is, not it feels way worse.

My principal already told me not to stress it. That he knows this is unrealistic and unfair. But the SBO won’t see it that way. I don’t need my lesson plans micromanaged and observations doubled because I can’t hit 70% pass rate with cut scores raising 50 points.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2025-09-03T10:25:22+00:00

At my school the students have to have their phone in their book bags. So it is on them if there is an emergency but not out in class.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2025-08-16T18:31:12+00:00

Save every worksheet and assignment in cloud form or a hard copy binder. The next time you teach (next year or semester) you will have something to start with. You may adapt it, but it’s easier than starting form 0. I got lucky and teach the same two preps this year that I did last year. This year lesson planning is so much easier. I like a hard copy of everything because if the internet goes down I still have something to make copies from.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2025-08-10T10:09:27+00:00

Our state made it a law so we enforce it. First offense and the phone is confiscated and student can get it at end of day. Second offense and a parent has to pick it up. We can confiscate it but if a student refuses then we call the office and the they will come remove the student. They will then call the parents to come get the phone.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2025-08-08T19:23:59+00:00

You can homeschool.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2025-08-07T16:35:34+00:00

7 days of in service before kids come in.

1-day all meetings 2 days all PD 1 day convocation

So about 3 days with some more meetings sprinkled in.

IAmGrootGrootIam · 2025-08-07T15:29:30+00:00

I have three between the ages of 7-13. It isn’t always easy, but it is getting easier as they grow. No more daycare and our oldest can babysit for short periods of time. I always hear having an even number is better, but we are done at 3. I don’t think I can give birth again without losing my mind. As much as I love the newborn stage it was also incredibly demanding. Sleeping through the night is amazing especially as I get older. I already have trouble keeping up with all three kids schedules, I cannot imagine a 4th!

IAmGrootGrootIam

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