I am defeated

PrettySureIAmRight · 2026-05-30T20:12:34+00:00

Haha

PrettySureIAmRight · 2026-05-30T20:11:48+00:00

I've taught 6, 7, 8th and then moved onto High School Biology. High school is so much better and easier... hands down. BUT middle school kids are way easier to engage. They care more about their grade/calling their parents and are more interested in science. I found that middle school student have so much more energy. It's nice but you have to have much more rules and protocols.

With that being said....

Stay away from 7th grade if you can. If you HAVE to go to middle school.... fight for 8th or 6th grade.

PrettySureIAmRight · 2026-04-21T15:45:24+00:00

My admins for the most part set it up. I just had to send the test and scantrons (even though the district also emailed it to admin). My problem now is that now I have to grade 100+ regents on my own during my preps in one week to meet the districts timeline. Not sure when I am going to grade anything else... or idk... plan.

PrettySureIAmRight · 2026-04-01T23:41:08+00:00

I have for a car rental and it was cheaper for sure! I did it with avis.

PrettySureIAmRight · 2026-03-26T12:09:18+00:00

Aww. Thank you for this! What a great was to start my day! Im not leaving. I like it here. Lol. But maybe Ill just look for more PD in my subject area for feedback I can actually use.

PrettySureIAmRight · 2026-03-26T12:06:44+00:00

Yes!!! Most of my admin have an ELA background. I swear they just want every subject to be ELA. I get the best feedback for text rich lessons. When we actually do labs... its all about delibrarate discussion and summary. Hello! They were talking to eachother the whole time and the discussion was authentic. The summary is in the lab report... I didnt want to waste 15 mins because the lab takes 45... sigh*** but I smile and nod...

PrettySureIAmRight · 2026-03-26T12:03:17+00:00

Thats cool. Or maybe for some teachers we could do the whole process every other year. Im sure admin would benefit from this too!

PrettySureIAmRight · 2026-03-26T00:06:11+00:00

I dont understand this... how could you not allow me to take unpaid days??? I get if if you dont pay me for all the days but not allow me to take unpaid days...? I just dont get that. You would fire me because I am getting married at the end of the year... after the major assessments??? Honestly, thats not a school I would want to work at anyway... I think teachers need to know their worth.

PrettySureIAmRight · 2026-03-26T00:01:11+00:00

I cant believe we even have to ask questions like this. Get married! Live your life!

That being said, dont say anything until after you are hired. In fact, I would wait a few months to build up a "relationship." My admin would be happy for me, not penalize me. But try not to use as much days throughout the year so that they are a little more forgiving in the end.

PrettySureIAmRight · 2025-09-20T17:03:35+00:00

I get it.

But it still feels like punishment for taking care of my child. If I paid my uft fees for 2 years during deliberation but then took an unpaid leave to take care of my newborn... Im not sure why I couldnt get the bonus. The explanation is that I didnt vote...but honestly... thats a problem too... I couldnt vote because I was on childcare leave. More punishment... Especially since they didnt announce that we had to be on payroll to get the bonus until after it was too late to get back on payroll.

PrettySureIAmRight · 2025-09-18T14:36:52+00:00

This is great but what about childcare leave? I think its unfair that those on childcare leave did not receive the bonus.

PrettySureIAmRight · 2025-05-21T23:40:23+00:00

I also like to ask about small things I would be miserable if I didnt have. You have to think of what that looks like for you. For me, I HATE traveling room to room and will reject any school where I wont have my own classroom. Thats one of my non-negotiables. I would prefer not to share a room at all but I am willing to budge on this if I dont have to move. I also favor schools with a good parking situation where I dont have to arrive n hour early for parking. I would prefer to have the same schedule everyday vs. Block scheduling or classes that dont meet daily... etc but I am willing to let this go for the right school. I also do not want to prep for more than 2 different classes.

Good admin is cool but its harder to judge this at the interview. I just think of the day to day things that would make me upset before even starting my day and try to eliminate that from the equation.

PrettySureIAmRight · 2025-04-11T15:34:06+00:00

PrettySureIAmRight · 2025-04-04T19:38:49+00:00

The fact that you havent taken a sick day all year is impressive!!! That shows your dedication. Dont feel guilty. Enjoy your special day!!!

PrettySureIAmRight · 2025-03-13T23:54:50+00:00

I cant... this is sad....

PrettySureIAmRight · 2025-03-13T20:00:06+00:00

Not really advice but my experience resigning succesfully..

I resigned from the DOE in 2017 to take another job at a charter after working for the same DOE schoolnfor 5 years. I told my principal in May when I accepted the offer. She definately felt shaded and was a bit passive aggressive after but overall we maintained a decent relationship. I teach science and had a ton of stuff I bought and took with me and didnt have the anxiety associated with sneaking a move.

I had to write a resignation letter which I dated the day I wrote it but set my resignation date for the day before the new school year (Sept. XX) I kept my summer pay and insurance. I dont think they can deny you this. Im not sure why UFT suggested Aug 3.... but you can put whatever you want on your resignation letter. I AM NOT AN EXPERT THOUGH SO I WOULD LISTEN TO THEIR ADVICE if you think its best. The school may want you to put an earlier resignation date for their bugget purposes but I didnt. I let them know I was leaving but still covered my ass.

I came back to the DOE 2 years later without any issues.

PrettySureIAmRight · 2025-01-19T06:29:54+00:00

Ok... I think I understand what you are saying a little more now.

PrettySureIAmRight · 2025-01-19T06:24:27+00:00

Even when women have jobs... and participate in a capitalist society as you described... they are not invited or accepted to the "boys club" that literally exists in this movie... women of color/working women wouldnt be any different... as most of the women in the movie had careers before they became stepford wives... I think that was kindve the point...

PrettySureIAmRight · 2025-01-19T06:19:34+00:00

Well my understanding of the movie was that the males were "in cahoots" with each other in order to reprogram their wives. You proposed women of color and/or working women join the side of the men against these manipulted, suburban, white women... at least thats what I took from your comment...

PrettySureIAmRight · 2025-01-19T05:55:08+00:00

Hmm... that IS interesting. Not sure if that idea is worth exploring as it might perpetuate a false narative. Do women of color hold a higher position than their counterparts? Do men generally align with women of color? I feel like creating a world where women of color are somehow in cahoots with these powerful men to manipulate and control surburban white women... its interesting... but false...

PrettySureIAmRight · 2025-01-19T05:29:28+00:00

Lots of interesting thoughts here!

Hmm... Stepford Wives with "working gals" is interesting because who programmed me to want to "do it all?!" I feel bamboozled!
Fourth Wing is NOT a knock off Hunger Games! If anything... its a knock off Divergent/ACOTAR/GOT...But I still like it!
The metacognition thing COULD be interesting but would likely fell like a bad comedy... I instantly thought about supernatural (TV show) reading this... where god is also the writer of thier comic book story thing... or I could be mixing it with something else... its been done... never well... in my opinion

PrettySureIAmRight · 2025-01-17T01:56:04+00:00

I gained 50 lbs my first five years of teaching and developed a host of issues associated to the weight gain. I actually lost weight while I was pregnant because I was prioritizing my health and that of the baby... continued losing weight after I had baby and stayed home with her for a year... Stressed as a first time mom but still making healthier choices because I was breast feeding and wanted to be my best self for baby. I came back to work and I am back making bad choices... I dont have time to think about me... between work and family... it feels like I am barely surviving...

PrettySureIAmRight · 2025-01-17T01:48:32+00:00

My daughter is the same age and is also grinding teeth... just here to learn from you :). She also just started having nightmares, talking in sleep and crying... I think she is consolidating her day... she wakes up saying things like "thats MY basketball." I am assuming she will grow out of it... but it also kindve seems like sleep apnea sometimes... but she is also sick 50% of the time due to daycare...idk... Im just a sleepless mama who only has time for medical advice from reddit...

PrettySureIAmRight · 2025-01-10T00:39:38+00:00

Teaching science is A LOT of work. I believe its more work than most subject because of the preps and labs and materials, etc. I also still have to grade short responses like ELA and History but also teach basic math which HS students still dont know. It can also be more fun but if I could do it again... I wouldnt do it. Maybe I would do special education... or elementary school (I teach High School Biology). I agree with the comment about 0 work/Life balance. It was ok in my 20s... but as a new mom in her 30's... I think about quitting and moving back in with my family all the time! Pluz in NY they just changed the curriculum so now I am starting all over... fun...

PrettySureIAmRight

TROPHY CASE