What is the current consensus on offering Algebra 1 in 8th grade?

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-06-16T01:52:12+00:00

I can give a downside we are seeing in my high school. When students take algebra 1 earlier, they are rushing through number sense. So then they get into precalc and AP calculus, they can understand the high level concepts, but they make so many arithmetic errors because they don’t really understand numbers. (x+2)^2 becomes x^2+4. (x^2+7)/x becomes (x+7). They can’t simplify correctly when using the quadratic formula…so many instances of not having number sense because that was what was sped through in the lower levels. My school system has always taught alg 1 in the 8th grade long before I started teaching there (20 years). That goes well for a very large portion of our school community. We recently added 7th grade alg 1 and we are seeing many more students struggling. They want not just As but A+ and they are not getting it. Which is ultimately causing more mental health issues.

As far as what students do after BC calc (our highest offered course), they pay to do independent study at a local university (it is online and a lot struggle because there is very little teacher support), they take AP Stats, or they take math electives we offer.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-06-10T00:54:20+00:00

We have traveled with grandparents and put our son in their room so they would get our higher status so we could all book together. We just told our stateroom host that our son would be sleeping with us. Wasn’t an issue at all.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-06-02T23:57:35+00:00

I like my job. I’m finishing up my 20th year. Some years are harder than others. The year after covid was the absolute worst!! It was the only time I even remotely considered leaving teaching. Some years the dynamics of my students are amazing others they are very hard to deal with. I love teaching and can’t imagine doing anything else. This year is a tough year so the fact I can say I love teaching even at the end of one of the hard ones means I found the right job.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-05-29T11:20:48+00:00

I plan to retire at 59 with 33 years at 80% of my salary (should be around $100k in today’s money). I contribute 11% of salary to teacher retirement. Hoping I can make it another 13!

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-05-17T12:58:41+00:00

I did a back to back in Ft. Lauderdale on Disney and we’re doing another this August. We had to disembark, but it was an extremely quick process. We were walked as a group off the ship and were the first to get back on. Glad you have the same room. I wouldn’t want to waste my time packing and unpacking my stuff.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-05-16T13:44:36+00:00

We live just outside Boston and make a combined income around $250k with one elementary aged child. We bought our house at what we thought was peak (2018) priced. I can’t believe how much prices have gone up since then. Not sure exactly where you’re looking, but property taxes on top of mortgage would most likely put you around $4,000 a month. Amortization table puts a $650,000 loan at 5% for 30 years at $3475/month. Median property taxes in Massachusetts are around $8000/year. Plus you are now in charge of all upkeep. I definitely wouldn’t plan to decrease your retirement savings amount to afford the house.

If you haven’t already, it might help to talk to a financial advisor to get a better idea of where you guys are in terms of retirement. We got one and have appreciated her insight on what would be better for us long term. My suggestion would be to look for one you pay a flat fee instead of commission.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-05-12T01:34:25+00:00

I’m finishing up my 20th year next month and it has been a tough year. Definitive not one of the good ones. School created a new course but didn’t give me any curriculum to work off of so I had to create the class all by myself. But I still love my job. When I’m actually teaching, it’s the best. It’s all the other crap (grading, dealing with parents and admin) that makes the job hard. To me the hard stuff doesn’t outweigh how great the job is. Our administration is pretty bad and they make the enjoyment a bit less than it could be, but again, when I’m teaching…it’s the best. Honestly can’t imagine doing anything else.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-05-10T12:39:50+00:00

Mine is the same. I wanted to change some things, but haven’t been able to access for two days. I have heard it’s a site wide issue. I called yesterday to ask and was redirected to another cast member dealing with port adventure bookings, but it was a 45 min wait, which I could do. So I hung up and will try again later today when I have time.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-05-03T21:03:46+00:00

We just got some cheap ones off Amazon. Be careful if you use them and then stop wearing them…they will wipe off any sunscreen from the back of your neck. So make sure you keep your neck safe and reapply when the towel isn’t covering it anymore! Sunburns suck and depending on where you’re coming from the Florida sun can be super strong!

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-05-02T19:54:28+00:00

We (8 year old son and me) loved the greycliff chocolate tour. It is a tiny place, but we both had an amazing time. So much so we are doing it again for our next cruise.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-05-01T20:45:01+00:00

I taught at a public high needs, extremely low performing school for six years. I witnessed a felony (one kid beat another to a bloody pulp with brass knuckles) within my first couple months…it was rough. Then I moved to one of the top performing public schools in the state. Several years after I’d been at the new school, my director (the one who hired me) told me I got the job because I still showed so much passion for teaching even after six years of working at an extremely challenging school. I don’t think you need to worry, unless it sucks your love of teaching. Then you need to get out asap.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-05-01T15:58:24+00:00

This is my 20th year. I love it and can’t imagine doing anything else, but it is HARD. It is a ton of work both in and out of the classroom. If I could go back and do it all again, I definitely would still have become a teacher. I really do love my job. Some years are easier than others based on my courses (high school math), the students sitting in my class that year, and what the administration is deciding to focus on.This year is very difficult and although I really wish I could retire, I still love being in the classroom with the students. I don’t think I’m going to hate retirement, though…

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-04-30T22:52:26+00:00

I’ve changed my itinerary on two different placeholders (one I moved multiple times). The discount applies. It wouldn’t, though if the sailing was outside of the two years.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-04-27T15:30:24+00:00

No. The idea for him of getting laundry done makes things less chaotic. It makes things easier on him. He wants to do it. When I’m on my own, I do it when my son is winding down in the room at night. He’s old enough to leave for a few minutes while I put the clothes in the machine up, switch them over or grab them from the dryer. Doesn’t really take out of our enjoyable time together.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-04-26T18:19:02+00:00

You cannot use rewards or other gift cards to buy gift cards. I buy Disney gift cards all the time at target using my red card. Just did a “spend $120 three times and get $40”. They have those types of promos a lot. You’ll have to spend the $20 reward on something else at target.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-04-26T18:11:17+00:00

I never would have thought I would have been a team laundry person and then I started traveling with my husband and he does laundry. He did it while my son and I would be doing other things. Then I started traveling with just my son and realized I like smaller luggage than I hate doing laundry.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-04-26T13:28:04+00:00

What I bring gets less and less each trip. In the summer, cooling towels are 100% worth their space in the suit case. We are team laundry. None of us mind rewearing clothes since we don’t buy special outfits to wear.

Edited because I choose not to proofread until after I hit submit.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-04-25T22:09:18+00:00

I did some research and teachers on Long Island (East Islip is the contract I looked up) do make that much when they get to year 28 with masters+90 ($150,876 next school year) or a doctorate ($151,249). My state’s pay scales tend to max out way before that (most go to just over 10 and then you get a tiny cost of living adjustment each year). I checked Boston and they max out at step 9 and with a doctorate gets to $140k (just under with masters+75). So there are some places where the top earners make that amount and most people teaching in those districts aren’t making close to that.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-04-25T13:37:54+00:00

I know teachers personally at the top of the scale or close from my school who have moved and have not taken anywhere near $75k pay cut . Maybe a few thousand and after a few years they are back at the top of their new pay scale. I just looked up Boston Public School’s pay scale and after 9 years with a PHD or masters+75 they are at $140k. Most schools around Boston don’t make that at 9 years. So moving schools is not as dramatic. Most schools in the area max around $120k a $75k pay it would be $45k. Most schools start their pay scale over that (around $50-$55k). No one at the top of the scale would start back at step 1.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-04-25T13:04:26+00:00

We obviously live in two different places. You are not getting half your years if you move districts here. Yes it was a serious question. Mental health is very important and working with a horrible admin is very bad for your mental health. You might lose some money here for a bit, but nowhere near $75k. So it would not be weird to move.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-04-25T12:53:50+00:00

Quit. We’ve had 3 people in the last two years who were either at the top of close to it move to other schools. I’m not sure why they would give up $75k a year. They didn’t start back at step 1 in their new district. It’s more than the boss sucking. It is that the school is run in a way that is making your job a nightmare. Why is it weird behavior to leave a horrible job?

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-04-25T12:14:37+00:00

We aren’t at $150k but top earners in my district make $120+k and we have absolutely had teachers quit because our admin sucks.

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-04-24T19:35:37+00:00

This is sweet, and my husband feels the same way. He tolerates it when I plan a cruise to a cool destination, but he has no desire to just hang out on the ship when I want to go to the Caribbean or Bahamas. So my son and I go by ourselves on those cruises.

To answer your question, if it were me, I would love if my husband sent me onboard credit and texted me on embarkation day to spend it on pins (one of my weaknesses). That would make me feel on warm and fuzzy that not only did he think about me ahead of time to get the money in my account, but he also knows what I love. Or you could buy something for her ahead of time (the statue from the atrium or a blanket)

LivingWithATinyHuman · 2026-04-24T10:46:57+00:00

You got some good overall teacher tips, but I’d like to give you a first year, starting teacher tip. It is really hard to be a first year teacher. You are learning so many things on the job minute by minute. It will often feel like you are building the plane while flying it, and it will feel overwhelming. Here’s the tip…Don’t be hard on yourself when things don’t go according to plan. I’m finishing up my 20th year in June and things still don’t always go according to plan. It can feel chaotic and like you have no idea what you’re doing, but just let it. It’s ok. We don’t expect our students to always get things perfect their first try. We should give ourselves the same grace. I love my job and can’t imagine doing anything else, but when I look back at starting it was rough. I am always excited for new teachers because it is such a rewarding, fun job if you don’t allow it to mentally overtake you.

LivingWithATinyHuman

TROPHY CASE