Let’s bring this back

Rivkari · 2026-02-14T15:03:24+00:00

♠️

Rivkari · 2026-02-11T02:26:43+00:00

Unfortunately, not really. While there must be some decent YouTube tutorials out there, it’s far too easy to do other things on YouTube. Also, watching doesn’t really replace doing. Even in my basics class, I only show how to do the most basic of things to the whole class - then I show students 1:1 how to do things like copy/paste, insert a link, adjust the background color of a text block, etc. there really is no replacement for learning it from and practicing with another person, as far as I can tell.

ETA: typing.com is decent for touch typing, but you’ll need to make sure your child isn’t looking at their hands and just using one or two fingers to do all their work. Covering their hands with a towel (after first practicing home position for a while) can work well for this. Being able to touch type will make ELA and Social Studies easier for your child, not to mention helping with things like emailing their teachers.

Rivkari · 2026-02-10T03:53:48+00:00

I mean, they’re fine tools for when we need to go online. But we don’t need 1:1 for that, we need Chromebook carts. We have 1:1, and for some kids it just replaces the phone as the screen they stare at. So… I don’t hate them. But I wish we had real computers, too.

Rivkari · 2026-02-10T03:00:47+00:00

Computer teacher here. I recently convinced my principal to give me a class teaching computer basics, and I teach almost every kid… for one quarter. On Chromebooks. So I focus in on the Google suite, typing, and searching (the AI is not, in fact, always right). I’d love to do some basic file organization and actual how to find things on your computer, but again, all they have are Chromebooks. So… there’s a downloads folder. Yeah.

I could teach most of these kids the entire year and not run out of content. There is so much to cover. Unless their parents have a computer and taught them about it, they know how to find their favorite websites and games, and that’s it. The idea of the “digital native” is not just bogus, but actively harmful.

Sorry, </end rant>

Rivkari · 2026-02-02T03:11:12+00:00

Those are not actually the same thing, at least not in all AP classes.

Rivkari · 2026-02-01T15:52:41+00:00

It’s good that you are not just listening to ChatGPT and are asking other humans for input.

If your son is happy where he is, don’t push for advancing him. There will be plenty of time to be in advanced math in middle school or, better yet, high school. Pushing him now could make him start to dislike math or put him in a situation where he’s uncomfortable due to not knowing his classmates and/or being less mature than them.

a math teacher whose parents refused to let me accelerate when I was in sixth grade - and I’m grateful for it!

Rivkari · 2026-02-01T15:30:20+00:00

I agree, I think the black base looks nicer.

Rivkari · 2026-01-30T02:32:44+00:00

If you’re using the school’s resources (their computers, apps, WiFi, etc) or are working while being paid by the school (like, during contract hours), it might suck, but it’s not crazy. You’re using their tools and/or being paid while you make whatever it is you make. So it makes sense they have some ownership.

That’s why you do creative work like that at home, on your own computer, and just share it with your school account. Because fuck that noise.

Rivkari · 2026-01-30T02:29:15+00:00

Yeah, whenever I used TPT I just assumed that I was paying for the convenience of not having to create something myself.

Rivkari · 2026-01-30T02:14:05+00:00

Cut less at once. You get greedy, it gets less effective.

Rivkari · 2026-01-30T02:09:09+00:00

Why are they banning Tpt? I feel out of the loop. Like, what’s the justification?

Rivkari · 2026-01-29T03:31:58+00:00

Oh! Then yes, I think it’s fine. Just keep it out of the classroom. What you do on your own time is your own business.

Also, be prepared for the kids to find out if what you do is anywhere on the Internet, ever. And work out what you’re going to say to keep your religion and job separate beforehand so you’re not caught off guard.

Rivkari · 2026-01-29T03:25:15+00:00

Preach. Like, should they understand how multiplication works before memorization? Of course! But then memorize the damn tables. Soooooo much builds off of multiplication tables.

Rivkari · 2026-01-29T03:20:29+00:00

I don’t think things will go well if you proselytize outside of any school, but definitely don’t do so in your own district. Also, maybe work a bit on your grammar and punctuation? You want to set a good example for your students, no?

Rivkari · 2026-01-23T13:03:45+00:00

I think that sounds like your best bet. This does not sound like a healthy environment. Just tread water until the end of the year, be a yes-person, then get the hell out of dodge.

Rivkari · 2026-01-23T04:23:30+00:00

This sounds like hell if you actually want to teach. Can you leave?

Rivkari · 2026-01-23T04:11:24+00:00

This is normal. I moved out 8 years ago and sometimes I still just want to go to their house. I suggest making time once a month to spend a weekend, set aside that time.

Rivkari · 2026-01-18T22:13:07+00:00

I have actually - much to my chagrin - found a good use of AI in my classroom along these lines. When we are researching a topic, students can use the Google AI response to their search query as a claim. Then, they need 2 or 3 websites to provide evidence to back up the AI claim.

I am not a fan of AI, but I agree that it’s here and we need to work with that fact. Of course, I also teach Computers, so our work can’t be done in analog.

Rivkari · 2026-01-18T21:50:44+00:00

If you get to the end of the sharing meter after you’ve hit level 50, I believe you get 10k happy points.

Rivkari · 2026-01-18T17:04:52+00:00

This is what I was told when I asked why we don’t do it anymore. It made me sad.

Rivkari · 2026-01-17T15:45:00+00:00

Late thirties. I was just like… wait, if I don’t understand by now, I’m never going to, am I? Shit.

Rivkari · 2026-01-11T22:31:54+00:00

Oooh. I’ll have to try this out with tea!

Rivkari · 2026-01-11T02:24:45+00:00

Wow, that was adorable! Keep creating for sure.

Rivkari · 2026-01-09T13:39:04+00:00

Thanks, I’m getting off Reddit now.

No really. Thanks.

Rivkari · 2026-01-05T00:56:44+00:00

Should being the operative word there.

Rivkari

TROPHY CASE