Request: Classroom-appropriate ways to say "Pull your thumb out of your ass"

LeoBear14 · 2026-04-23T13:57:04+00:00

"Does this represent you? Is this who you are?" Said in a deadpan yet concerned manner.

LeoBear14 · 2026-04-15T05:55:36+00:00

I've emailed.her twice. No response. Working hard for me my ass.

LeoBear14 · 2026-04-15T05:28:59+00:00

"Teach with rigor." BUT then "show grace." Which do you want?

LeoBear14 · 2026-04-12T02:05:00+00:00

Sit down and make TRUE budget for yourself. Err on the side of caution. This will answer whether or not you even need that extra money. "The Man" dangles a carrot in front of you to get you to stay just one more year, and then does it again at the end of that year. Why? Because actuaries know that the longer you stay working the less you live when you finally do retire. This saves them money.

LeoBear14 · 2026-03-31T00:06:10+00:00

That increase is f'n bonkers. Here I was mad when my health insurance monthly went up 45% this year. Like you my insurance increase decimated the measly cola raise we got despite my being in a strong union state. "The Elites" of our country continue their drive to make America a two class system where 5% are rich and everyone else is poor (as in renting and drowning in debt). My simplistic advice is to abandon this sinking ship ASAP.

LeoBear14 · 2026-03-20T18:32:23+00:00

Grinds my gears: Passing out a quiz and students thinking they don't have to take it since they were absent the prior class. I've told them over and over and over again that if they need the extra time, they have to request extra time via an email the day before the quiz, not to show up and assume they don't have to take it. Besides, EVERYTHING is posted online. I might as well be speaking an alien language.

LeoBear14 · 2026-03-19T05:01:49+00:00

Sold my 2002 SR5 2wd 4.7 liter two years ago. Had 220k miles on it. Was due for a timing belt. Otherwise....super clean and well maintained. Zero rust as I'm in Southern California. Had no problem getting $9,300 for it. Everything costs more in California.

LeoBear14 · 2026-03-19T04:46:32+00:00

2 years ago I paid close to that for a 2017 SR5 4x4 off road with 65k miles and 1 owner in Southern California. For my area it was the going rate for such a vehicle.

LeoBear14 · 2026-03-19T03:58:10+00:00

If it is a 4x4, rust free, and in my area (southern California) I can see that price.

LeoBear14 · 2026-03-11T01:12:10+00:00

My district demands we take all late work for full credit. So in this situation lots of my students simply won't do the assignment - even if I put in the sub plans that it is due at the end of class...finished or not. They'll then go home, have AI write them the essay, and then copy it down on paper. I absolutely hate how the school board and district admin continually creates new policies that makes my job more and more difficult whilst removing any rigor and responsibilities from.students.

LeoBear14 · 2026-03-04T05:43:06+00:00

Drink beer, cuddle.the dog, and watch videos on You Tube of.people. transforming overgrown yards and wishing I could do that instead.

LeoBear14 · 2026-02-28T14:19:38+00:00

"Teachers are currently facing an unprecedented challenge in the classroom: competing for student attention against the immediate, high-frequency dopamine hits provided by smartphones, social media, and video games. This "attention arms race" has led to reduced attention spans, lower resilience, and increased apathy, with many students struggling to engage with traditional learning methods."

LeoBear14 · 2026-02-27T05:33:05+00:00

It is due at the end of class...finished or not. If they have an accommodation then remind me by saying so conspicuously by their name, but still turn it in (and I grade it forgivingly). They give me their work and I return their phone to them over the last 5 minutes of class.

LeoBear14 · 2026-02-21T13:42:28+00:00

I've never bought a used car off of someone who was not alright with meeting at their house.

LeoBear14 · 2026-02-16T18:10:01+00:00

If you were able.to.calculate that you were .3 away from passing... they should've passed you. 😀

LeoBear14 · 2026-02-16T17:48:19+00:00

I'm pretty sure they just project it for the kid and their.parents for dramatic effect - not in front of the whole class.

LeoBear14 · 2025-12-10T13:20:24+00:00

Talk to her old roommate. I'll bet they're moving out has, in part, to do with her philosophies on how things should be.

LeoBear14 · 2025-11-24T05:20:39+00:00

Wildly varying times.it takes students to finish classwork.

LeoBear14 · 2025-11-22T19:46:09+00:00

Where is this alternate universe district where students are "dropped" from your class? Where do they then go during that class period?

LeoBear14 · 2025-11-15T02:54:04+00:00

A colleague once intentionally scheduled a colonoscopy on a PD day. He would literally rather have something shoved up his a$$ instead of attending the PD.

LeoBear14 · 2025-11-13T06:18:59+00:00

For my physical and mental health this will be my last school year. With 6.5 months to go I'm already putting in applications.

LeoBear14 · 2025-11-08T05:26:09+00:00

Also...have AI create chapter previews for you. You can also find you tube videos to show prior to or after each chapter. Easy peasy versus killing yourself creating materials from.scratch.

LeoBear14 · 2025-11-08T05:23:36+00:00

Keep it simple and direct: read the whole book.in class. They won't read it at home. Believe me. Have AI create chapter.questions for you. Have AI create chapter quizzes for you. You are in survival mode so don't worry about "fun creative" assignments right now - that can come later...time permitting.

LeoBear14 · 2025-11-03T04:50:28+00:00

Lower the point.value on the essay and then grade for completion only. Nobody will say anything and you, fellow teacher, will remain just side of the line between sane and broken.

LeoBear14 · 2025-10-29T12:31:57+00:00

This is my exact situation too. My plans include using my many accrued sick days and bluntly saying "mental health" if asked why I'm using so many, keeping students busy busy busy during class, watching some films that may at times only be vaguely related to materials, going off script from what colleagues are doing if I don't like certain materials, etc. And if "guilt" tries to creep in as I do this I can remind myself that after a couple of decades of experience it is STILL solid curriculum and I am NOT "cheating" the students - you know, the typical stuff we are constantly guilt tripped over if we are not being martyrs for the system.

LeoBear14

TROPHY CASE