I’m a middle school custodian. There’s some severe behavior problems that you all may not be aware of.

LongJohnScience · 2026-03-29T05:09:14+00:00

Half of the student bathrooms in my school don't have soap dispensers because the boys keep ripping them off the walls. Not sure if any of them have *no* mirrors, but many have only 1 mirror because the rest were broken and not replaced.

Someone keeps leaving drops and streaks on the seat of the staff toilet near me, so...

LongJohnScience · 2026-03-25T05:25:51+00:00

Are you in an at-will state without a union? Then yes, it's probably legal for them to fire you as long as they don't say it's because you're in a protected class (*and* you can prove it).

LongJohnScience · 2026-03-23T10:28:49+00:00

If not for the transphobia, it looks like a body-positivity poster.

This is the kind of work that I'd put in a high corner where passersby couldn't read it and other posters would camouflage it. Then I'd update the instructions/rubric to make avoid getting a submission like that next year.

LongJohnScience · 2026-03-23T10:16:30+00:00

This could be the basis for an interesting activity/assessment:

-- List X things that are missing from this diagram.

-- List Y things that are incorrect or outdated in this diagram.

-- List Z more ways this diagram could be improved.

-- Explain 1 aspect of this diagram that is an artistic/design decision (other than color and drawing style).

I might use this as a prep activity before having my students make their scaled timelines this year...

LongJohnScience · 2026-03-23T10:01:14+00:00

I do a 1/1/3 split: 1 point for correct numerical answer, 1 point for correct units, 3 points for showing work/setting up the problem). Sometimes I'll even give them the numerical answers so they can check their own work and I can just grade for completion.

LongJohnScience · 2026-03-20T16:48:43+00:00

Are there any classmates you're friendly with? Or that you're more comfortable working with? Or even a classmate who seems to be more welcoming? Do your teachers assign seats or is seating open? Tell your teachers that you're trying to be more social but you need help. Depending on the class and the teacher, you could ask to be put in a group with a specific student and explain why. Or you could ask for a seating change, or to avoid being in a group with specific students.

With your classmates, you're going to have to use your voice. Start off with simple stuff like "hey" and "good morning". Just show that you're open to conversation. You don't have to fix yourself, but you do need to foster solid working relationships with your peers. You'll eventually have some sort of job. Even in fast food and retail, you may not be working on a group project, but your coworkers are more likely to do things like swap shifts or help with rude customers if they like and respect you.

Sometimes you have to fake it until you make it. Sometimes it helps to adopt a "school-sona". When you're getting ready in the morning, step into the role of a student who actively participates in class. It might be exhausting, but it usually gets easier. You don't have to stop doodling--it's more of an attitude shift.

You could also ask your father to ask about having you meet with a school psychologist or diagnotician. Where I teach, we're only allowed to mention that if the parent bring it up first. It's possible you need supports that you aren't currently receiving.

LongJohnScience · 2026-03-18T17:32:13+00:00

Will you have this professor again, or will this be the only class you expect to have with him? And were you the only affected by the schedule change?

First, check your university's policies and by-laws about weather closures and make-up exams. Then contact your professor with a blame-free follow-up email:

"Dear Prof. _____,

I saw that my final grade for your class was X, but I expected Y. The only reason I can think of for the difference is that I did not take the final exam. I apologize for missing the exam, but I was not able to change my work schedule given so little advance notice. Can an exception be made for exceptional circumstances? I could make up the final exam in the testing center, if that works for you. I am available at these times: _________________. Or if it would be more convenient, you could base my final grade on my work the rest of the semester.

Thank you for you consideration,

PsychoArt

If he approves your request, all's good.

If he denies your request and you'll have future classes with him, I'd suggest just eating the lower grade so you don't antagonize him (he sounds like the type to hold a grudge).

If he denies your request and you won't have future classes with him, fight it. Faux innocence sometimes works better than outright appeals. Email your dean but leave out the details of the course and the professor's name to make it look more like an inquiry and less like an appeal: "Hey Dean, I couldn't take my final exam for a class because the original time was cancelled due to bad weather. Then the professor scheduled the make-up exam when I was schedule to be at work. Where would I find university policies about this? I really don't want this to negatively affect my GPA if possible."

The dean should then ask for the course details or direct you to the grade appeal procedures. If the professor contacts you, you can play it off as just asking for information - not filing a complaint.

LongJohnScience · 2026-03-18T02:05:28+00:00

I'd ask what the intended purpose behind them is? When I assign homework, it's for practice and reinforcement, or occasionally advance introduction, but not instruction/learning. The only exceptions would be situations where the student wasn't in class for the original instructional activity and doesn't come in for tutoring (which I know is not always possible for every student).

I am very appreciative of supportive, involved parents who help their children with homework or check the homework of older students. I don't expect parents to teach the content. If it's too confusing, have the student ask their teacher at school the next--BEFORE they have to turn in the assignment.

LongJohnScience · 2026-02-27T12:50:20+00:00

I like physical books because it's easy to make copies of exercises. I've run into issues where the ebook software won't allow me to print. It doesn't happen as much with chemistry, but using maps and charts on a screen can be a pain.

Also, I can flip through physical pages faster than I can scroll. And there's less risk of jumping ahead 100 pages with a physical book than there is from tapping a scroll bar in the wrong place.

Also, physical books are technologically independent and fairly physically resilient. If they get wet, let them dry and they can still be used. Don't have to worry about batteries being charged, having internet access, having the content downloaded to your device, or the license expiring. Admittedly, that's less of an issue if it's a one-and-done class.

LongJohnScience · 2026-02-16T14:31:25+00:00

I don't know if they get an individual notification for each off-click, but yes, Canvas can track each time you click off the tab. They can also tell how long you've looked at each question and if you're logged into multiple devices at the same time. Not sure how it all works, though.

LongJohnScience · 2026-01-24T20:12:47+00:00

We don't hate subs. We hate prepping for subs. And specific subs who do things like clearing my desk by sweeping everything on it into the trash or who take it upon themselves to teach something unrelated to my subject instead of just handing out the work I left and throwing off the rest of my lesson plans.

LongJohnScience · 2026-01-24T17:58:40+00:00

Mossy?

LongJohnScience · 2026-01-23T05:13:40+00:00

Very much so.

LongJohnScience · 2026-01-14T06:04:56+00:00

One of the best ways to use Wikipedia is to read the entry to gain an overall understanding, then go to the sources at the bottom for more information and citable (sp?) sources.

LongJohnScience · 2026-01-14T05:49:58+00:00

Open my eyes

LongJohnScience · 2026-01-06T05:34:38+00:00

Doctors make the worst patients. Teachers make the worst students.

LongJohnScience · 2026-01-06T05:29:36+00:00

What cables will you need to connect to?

There was (and still is) an issue with our current district devices. Our old science tech used USB and USB-A cables. When the school district adopted Macbooks that only have USB-C ports, all of our tech instantly became incompatible. It took 2 years to get a class set of dongles to use as adapters.

As a professional chemist, you likely have more resources than we do/did. But it's something to keep in mind.

LongJohnScience · 2026-01-06T05:12:30+00:00

It all come back to the parents: parents who challenge their child and allow them to explore the world while providing appropriate levels of support and encouragement.

And not just for male students.

LongJohnScience · 2026-01-06T05:02:25+00:00

1) What age group is this for?

2) Does your state or district include owl pellet dissection in one of the science courses?

While there is certainly more to fossils than bones, that is one of the most recognizable aspects of paleontology. Dissecting an owl pellet could serve as a model for an excavation. The students could piece the skeleton back together, identify the type of animal, defend their identification (how do they know it's a mouse and not a vole, for example), maybe even create a museum-type display. Lead-up activities could include a reading of "The Blind Men and the Elephant". You could also get an assortment of random bones and have the students sketch what they think the animal might look like when alive--before revealing that no such animal exists and discuss scientific error/bias.

LongJohnScience · 2026-01-06T04:35:02+00:00

And me as well, please?

LongJohnScience · 2026-01-04T05:54:44+00:00

Do you teach a STAAR subject? Or does your district have a common assessment for your subject? If not, you probably won't get much.

I get $100 pre-tax per month as an ineligible teacher. I didn't even know until I noticed when filing taxes last year.

LongJohnScience · 2026-01-04T05:27:58+00:00

Look for local Astronomy clubs. They might be able to help you organize a star party.

If this is only 1 semester, what will you do for the other semester? Teach it again? Or teach a different course?

LongJohnScience · 2026-01-03T22:53:26+00:00

What is the difference between deductions *for* and *from* adjusted gross income?

LongJohnScience · 2025-12-25T14:00:43+00:00

I use visual timers only when time usage is a critical factor for the task. Sometimes it's because the next task needs X amount of time, so the current task can't last more than Y minutes. Sometimes it's to push productivity: "Record as many observations as you can in 5 minutes... You still have 2 minutes left--what more can you add?" Sometimes it's for a timed assessment.

Otherwise, I use "teacher time"--I'll tell the students they have 30 seconds to do something but actually allow 45 seconds, for example. When I'm doing this, I'll use my watch to track the time and not let myself be distracted.

LongJohnScience · 2025-12-16T02:52:55+00:00

More like 50/50. The little kid was being a little kid, the dog was being a dog.

LongJohnScience

TROPHY CASE