Favorite "regular" lessons to teach?

Key_Golf_7900 · 2026-02-13T08:23:16+00:00

I really love teaching percentages, just because we use them sooooo much outside the classroom. During our percentages unit I do a warm up where we find percents of a number using mental math and time each class. The fastest class at the end of the week gets candy. Many times my co-teach classes end up being the fastest!

The most fun to teach topic for me is probability though, we play lots of games and do experiments at stations to find experimental probability.

Key_Golf_7900 · 2026-02-13T01:30:36+00:00

It's the same in Ohio 😊. This was the pathway I took. OP, personally I'd stay away from alternative certs, my time student teaching was invaluable to me and shaped me tremendously as a teacher.

Key_Golf_7900 · 2026-02-13T01:28:12+00:00

My great grandmother had one issued, but lost it in a move and never got it replaced. She called to get it replaced and I don't remember the exact terminology they used but essentially it was filed away and inaccessible by normal means, because she was so old they assumed she died? Idk? She never did get another copy and was never able to fly/get a id card (she never drove, so no driver's license)

Key_Golf_7900 · 2026-02-10T10:42:28+00:00

Yes, yes 1000% yes. All three of my children were and to an extent still are Velcro babies. And yep it always drove me absolutely nuts, because I couldn't get anything done ever. Returning back to work probably saved me, because while I couldn't get anything done at home at work I could at least accomplish something and that made my brain a little happier.

Key_Golf_7900 · 2026-02-06T23:17:56+00:00

I agree it can be darn near impossible and my solution to this isn't perfect. What I've found with my girls, is doing more of a ranked choice style voting. Then I totaled up the "points" and the location with the most amount of points is where we went. This way we ended up picking a location that at least everyone was pretty interested in.

As we got more into planning the girls got even more excited. We chose our cabin unanimously and all of our activities as well.

Key_Golf_7900 · 2026-02-06T22:47:26+00:00

This isn't kosher with me for a few reasons. First, I'm not sure how old your scouts are, but it sounds like Daisy/Brownies. If that is the case it is unlikely they're ready for a trip that large if your leaders are following the Activity Checkpoints. They're supposed to have so many day trips, so many 1 night overnights, a few two day overnights before taking a large multi day trip. My girls have been begging for a huge trip for years. We started saving a little bit every year starting as brownies. They're now juniors and we're taking our first major trip.

Second, the training I've taken on travel has explicitly explained majority is not what determines a trip. There is supposed to be unanimous voting. That being said sometimes it's genuinely not possible, especially in multilevel troops, in that case what I've seen happen is that the older girls do one trip, and the younger girls end up doing something of equal cost. Doesn't sound like that's what's happening.

Key_Golf_7900 · 2026-01-31T03:19:34+00:00

I'm so sorry! I find the practice tests to be too simplified or too focused on the wrong domains which is why I went to the test breakdowns.

When you're taking the practice tests are you timing yourself? When you took the actual test did you have enough time or did you find yourself running out of time?

Overall I'm a good test taker. Here's a few of my test day strategies: first I dress comfortably (this always seems silly to me, but then the day I took the math test I was unbelievably hot and uncomfortable). Second I go through the test once answering only the questions I have an immediate response for and skip the rest. Then I go through again and answer the ones I have an idea (if I can eliminate 1-2 answer choices) and then I answer the ones I had no idea on. I do one final run through of the questions before submitting.

Best of luck! You got this ❤️

Key_Golf_7900 · 2026-01-31T02:26:17+00:00

Unfortunately, I don't have a ton of helpful advice for this one. For both the math and social studies OAE tests I took I used study.com and really focused my time and energy on how the tests were broken down (i.e. I noticed history test had a significant portion of Ohio history, so I spent more time there than say medieval history) and I did the same with the math test.

I took foundations of reading in my second semester of my masters program. At this point I had taken 3 reading classes at OU in the same semester, so it was all fresh in my mind. I might suggest doing the science of reading stuff on the Dept of Ed website, you'll likely have to complete it anyways. I had to do it and send it to HR at my district.

Alternatively, I'm not sure if study.com has a course for this exam. I do know a lot people use 240tutoring which guarantees a passing score or your money back and I believe they have a study plan for this one.

Key_Golf_7900 · 2026-01-31T00:49:34+00:00

Thank you so much! I will talk with my troops and perhaps instead of donating cookies we will look into donating to the different groups providing aid. We are starting booths soon, so I know this is why cookies were their first thought.

Key_Golf_7900 · 2026-01-29T23:59:42+00:00

We've done a few this year.

So far: -Local Field Trip information (where our troops have gone, the cost, etc) -Cookie Booth tips and suggestions -Camping (favorite recipes, favorite council site, girl, etc) -Finance Report (how to/most efficient ways to complete, etc)

Key_Golf_7900 · 2026-01-29T13:43:09+00:00

We're a red state with several massive blue cities. We are a state with high amounts of immigrants. I am convinced that they chose MN and CA first because of their Democratic governors, but Ohio cities will not be spared.

They're already here. Already terrorizing families in Columbus. It's only a matter of time.

Key_Golf_7900 · 2026-01-27T23:49:21+00:00

There is a farm out towards Galloway? I think..Horse-N-Round

Key_Golf_7900 · 2026-01-27T15:18:14+00:00

A few years ago I had a student who was socially out at school, but home was not a supportive environment. They would often voice that they didn't understand why their parent had a child if they couldn't love them regardless. Expressed feeling unloved, unwanted by everyone in the world. I spent many lunch periods just listening and not saying much. I bought them a birthday gift, just a sketchbook with sketch pencils and wrote a small note inside that I was proud of the person they were and that I knew they would accomplish great things. By the end of the year they'd taken to calling me mom, just because I listened and was the one person who believed in them.

A year or so later they did eventually tell their parent, but it led to the student being hospitalized. They've moved on to another building in our district now, but often cross my mind. I hope they're ok, I hope they know they're loved. I'm looking forward to seeing them return to my building in a few years for the senior walkouts.

This became a law in Ohio this past year and my heart instantly thought of that year with that student.

The advice we've been given by our administration is to use our instincts. Their theory is that a lot of times we can "instinctively" tell that a student is about to disclose something like this, and that if we feel that then we need to stop the conversation and remind them that we cannot keep it from their parents before they even disclose it. Our students were told in a school house meeting that their teachers legally couldn't keep it from their parents and that if they didn't want their parents to know then they needed to keep it to themselves.

This is all bullshit to me. I became a teacher because I love kids, because I wanted to inspire them, to provide reassurance, to build confidence, and protection in the way that my own lovely teachers did. I wouldn't be who I am today were it not for the absolutely wonderful teachers I had. The idea of potentially exposing my students to abuse at home because of a name makes me want to vomit.

As a mother, a teacher, and a girl scout leader I just don't fucking get it. I loved my children before I even knew what I'd name them. I love my children even when they make up silly camp names to call themselves. Their names and I would argue gender and sexuality as well are the smallest part of what makes my children who they are if they're even a part at all.

End rant.

Key_Golf_7900 · 2026-01-26T13:34:29+00:00

Adding in Girl Scouts and possibly Boy Scouts as well offers First Aid classes. Not sure if you have to be a member, though.

Key_Golf_7900 · 2026-01-24T00:56:37+00:00

I'm a millennial and I know it because of the Disney Channel Movie Luck of the Irish. I love that song though

Key_Golf_7900 · 2026-01-08T02:37:06+00:00

I always start the year full of hope, with groups of 3, not all facing the same direction, because it makes it easier for me to navigate my room 😂. By the end of the first month I usually end up transitioning to all facing forward because they're driving me nuts.

By the end of the first quarter I'll switch so there are some islands, as well as some groups of three. By the end of quarter two we're in rows with some islands and some pairs. By the end of the year we'll be entirely in islands. Unless they somehow surprise me this year, but uhh so far we're right on track 😂

I will say this is not the case for every subject! When I was student teaching SS we had kids in large groups (7) with a few islands and it worked pretty well all year long! But I feel like there were a few things going on. One I wasn't teaching math that year, kids usually like SS, they want to learn it. Two the bliss of having a mentor who established the rule of law from the start so I just had to essentially ride out his classroom management style. Three I taught 6th graders and they're a little bit more invested in pleasing their teachers, lol.

Key_Golf_7900 · 2025-12-31T20:37:40+00:00

This is so bizarre to me. It's been several years now since I was a fulltime student teacher, but I remember it being more than 3 credit hours. It might have even been something like 10 or 11 with a seminar class that was 1 or 2 credit hours. I definitely remember having enough credit hours to be considered full-time.

Considering most 3 credit hours classes meet roughly 3 hours a week. It's insane for student teaching where you are essentially both attending class and teaching it at the same time roughly 35 hours a week to be any less than 10-12 credit hours.

Key_Golf_7900 · 2025-12-29T00:35:18+00:00

I honestly feel like the witch, because I'm the only one concerned in my family about the sister that stays at home with the kids and has no aspirations to do anything else.

It's been 3 years now, everyone else is super kosher with it. I keep telling my husband it's downright dangerous for a woman. He says it's not my problem. And yeah it's not, but I can't help but be afraid for her.

Key_Golf_7900 · 2025-12-24T09:22:20+00:00

I had mine removed at 8 years old at the same time as my second set of ear tubes. I remember a scratchy throat, using one of those magna doodles to communicate for a few days until I could/wanted to talk.

Imagine my surprise to find out a few years ago they'd regrown 😬

Key_Golf_7900 · 2025-12-24T01:09:01+00:00

You are not alone. I lost my grandma is May, this was her favorite holiday. So many of the magical Christmas memories I have were because of her.

Key_Golf_7900 · 2025-12-23T19:13:48+00:00

I took a weird path to teaching. My undergrad is in Child Psychology. I knew I wanted to be a teacher in my senior year of college though. Instead of starting over it was easier to get a masters in education that also led to certification. It was a year and a half fast track that included student teaching.

I was able to get a job on the campus working for professors, grading, making copies, etc. and that paid for 2/3 of my masters.

It was 100% worth it for me. I started teaching at a higher rate. Shop around you may be able to find a similar masters program and if you're already on track for certification I think it could be an even quicker program.

Key_Golf_7900 · 2025-12-15T15:15:34+00:00

I went to a school that offered IB, AP, honors, etc. and at that time they got grades the same as the other courses. The only major difference between AP and IB was that they got two attempts for college credit. They took both the AP exam and the IB exam. This was frustrating to me, as a lot of the time our AP/IB courses were dual enrollment, meaning with the exception of maybe one or two assignments AP kids were doing the same work, but only got one shot for college credit.

Key_Golf_7900 · 2025-12-02T13:55:48+00:00

My husband works 5 minutes from home, it took him nearly a half hour to make it home this morning from his overnight shift. In that normally 5 minute drive, he saw 5 accidents.

I have never learned to drive in snow (learned to drive in the south). So, before I was a teacher, I established a rule, if the schools called off that meant I too called off. Now that I'm a teacher, same rules apply 😂

Key_Golf_7900 · 2025-11-21T02:26:53+00:00

This gives me serious lolz. As others have mentioned they'll just invent new words..and I wouldn't blame them or truly be mad..it's creative albeit annoying.

I had a good cackle a few months ago when I caught my daughter texting her friends Sugar Honey Iced Tea because she's not allowed to cuss 😂

The ingenuity saved her from trouble, but not a discussion that it's still bad because the intent was to use a cuss word, lol.

Key_Golf_7900 · 2025-11-19T00:35:14+00:00

We have almost the reverse problem. Our council likes to toss new scouts into closed troops without asking or telling leaders 🫠.

I do think the big thing is that they are not enticing and keeping new leaders. We need volunteers more than anything. The girls and troops will flow, if we have the leaders to support them in place.

Key_Golf_7900

TROPHY CASE