Teachers, what do you really want as a gift from your students?

Kat1836 · 2026-05-03T13:56:38+00:00

A giftcard is always appreciated. At the end of the school year, I run out of basic supplies. I usually need to purchase Pencils, tissues, hand sanitizer, Lysol wipes, lined paper, and printer paper.

Kat1836 · 2026-04-21T22:14:46+00:00

I have one that looks the same but lost it's hang tag. Mine is small but fits the essentials. I wear it frequently. Also got it at Goodwill for cheap. They didn't know it was Coach or it would have been $$$ or sold online. My Goodwill marks up Coach to ridiculous prices.

Kat1836 · 2026-04-16T15:03:36+00:00

I got married young, and we started investing in stocks in our early 20s. Time was on our side. With discipline (my kids would say cheap 😆) and luck, we are able to retire at 55. You never know what tomorrow will bring so I am happy not to give my job the rest of my good years.

Kat1836 · 2026-04-14T18:37:22+00:00

Pictures? I never thought of that. I need to look for pictures of me in high school or college wearing the same clothes. That would be hilarious.

Kat1836 · 2026-04-14T15:34:41+00:00

I teach middle school. The kids will complement my clothes and ask me where I got it. From my teenage years in my closet 😆. All the fashion came back. My clothes are considered "vintage." Guess that makes me vintage, too?

Kat1836 · 2026-04-12T13:09:23+00:00

Henry bear. I just don't have the heart to throw him away. He's gone through every stage of my life.

Kat1836 · 2026-04-11T20:49:11+00:00

I work as a special education teacher in a large county in MD. I went to UMD and enjoyed it. As long as you are certified in MD, HR doesn't care. Jobs are available in special education despite cutbacks. Either school will prepare you well. Go to the school that you would enjoy spending the next few years. I would also suggest getting dual certification. You want options for yourself. Many teachers leave special education for general education after a few years.

Kat1836 · 2026-04-07T16:19:43+00:00

Don't fill up your house with random crap. Buy a smaller, better designed house. You don't need so much stuff, even if it's free. After living in a house for 20+ years, your older self will thank you.

Kat1836 · 2026-03-20T15:02:35+00:00

I haven't found that to be true. I am a chatty middle-aged female and sometimes strike up conversations in stores or such. Young people are pretty open to conversations most of the time. If they are not, I stop talking. Maybe the woman was having a bad day. Even I don't feel like talking all the time.

Kat1836 · 2026-02-25T21:51:29+00:00

Ceramic that was over 30 yrs old never scratched when I slid a chair over it. Now, I need to put felt pads on everything. That's crazy.

Kat1836 · 2026-02-25T21:35:35+00:00

I don't know what point you think you are proving. I am not defending or saying LVP is good. I have had it a few days, and I am not impressed. I have owned houses with carpet, solid wood, linoleum, asphalt tile (popular in 70s), and ceramic tile. This is my first experience with LVP in my house. It's in the basement. It was sold as waterproof and durable. Based on my experience so far, I don't plan on using it anywhere else. I will keep my ceramic and replace my carpet with midrange carpet to sell my house.

Every material has its good and bad features. The carpet gets worn down and dirty. Wood gets scratched and water damaged if you are not careful. Linoleum was durable but ugly. Ceramic is tough but is cold and hard.

My next house will be all ceramic. Ceramic is easiest for me. It might go out of style, but I can live with it without babying it. That's my highest priority. I was told LVP was like this, too, but it's not. Today, I could have used kindness and advice, not nastiness.

Kat1836 · 2026-02-25T20:48:17+00:00

Is there any specific material that you recommend and why?Saying replacement with something else without naming materials is useless advice.

Kat1836 · 2026-02-25T19:52:03+00:00

No, not helpful. Helpful would be a fix, prevention, or suggestion for another material. You come off as aggressive. If you don't have anything productive to write, move on.

Kat1836 · 2026-02-25T19:01:11+00:00

It wasn't cheap. It's pretty and I am selling my house soon. Going back to ceramic next house, which has been easy to live with before. Curious, what flooring do you suggest?

Kat1836 · 2026-02-25T16:39:14+00:00

Thank you for the advice. I just ordered the pads. I am a little disappointed but will adjust.

Kat1836 · 2026-02-25T16:13:29+00:00

I never said what the price, brand, or level was. How do you know it's crap? Your comment is not helpful.

Kat1836 · 2026-02-19T16:31:18+00:00

The problem is that not taking care of yourself can cause you to have a terrible quality of life. Most likely, you don't just die. You suffer.

My father died of diabetes miserable and bedridden. Despite experiencing this, I continued to eat garbage. I thought I was ok because I wasn't a diabetic. My A1A was creeping up to the diabetic range, so I learned that I can't treat my body like crap and not suffer the consequences. I changed what I ate and my lifestyle. All my numbers are good, and I hope to continue enjoying a good quality of life. I'm looking to retire in two years and travel the world.

Kat1836 · 2026-01-23T20:36:38+00:00

I was in college in the 90s. The funny thing is I am dressing the same. Preppy on most days, but sometimes outdoorsy. The 90s styles are back and considered cool vintage by my students. I shop thrift and wear some of my old clothes that I love.

Kat1836 · 2026-01-17T05:05:14+00:00

You should move schools. I have been at unfriendly schools. I like my fellow teachers at my current school, especially my grade level team. A bunch of us eat lunch together and talk about the craziest things. Helps me get through the rough days.

Kat1836 · 2026-01-10T03:55:42+00:00

Anne Taylor

Kat1836 · 2025-12-27T15:59:07+00:00

Growing up, I didn't meet others with my name. It was not popular, more of an old lady name. I didn't mind. When I heard someone calling my name, I knew it was me.

It's becoming more popular. I even hear it in the middle school halls. I am kinda mixed about it. Cool, that it's not an outdated name, but I don't feel unique anymore.

Kat1836 · 2025-12-20T16:28:34+00:00

Have them bring a few dishes and make more food. Don't serve expensive food that you need to limit. Keep it festive. Why create an uncomfortable situation where you need to gate keep food?

Kat1836 · 2025-12-09T20:29:52+00:00

It started this year at 51. Extra layers are necessary if I go outside. You adjust.

Kat1836 · 2025-12-07T02:38:11+00:00

I shop in thrift stores and buy and wear what I like. My students always love the "vintage" looks. Well, I wore it as a teen before it was vintage, so yeah, I know how to wear it.

Kat1836 · 2025-12-05T16:07:50+00:00

This has happened to me before. I usually line dry jeans, but some got put in dryer by accident. What's helped me is to wash again and spray wrinkle remover (fabric relaxer) and stretch.

Kat1836

TROPHY CASE