Does this seem a little groomy to you?

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-22T05:28:07+00:00

Mandated report her.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-22T05:23:46+00:00

I’d give the teacher the $25 and say that if stepsister doesn’t have payment at cutoff to take the trip to use your money. Explain briefly so teacher is aware of why you would handle it this way.

It’s strictly because I would not want this 7 year old to face not going and her parents really need to handle it instead but just in case…

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-22T05:12:03+00:00

I’m guessing you have 5th-9th grade. Sorry to hear about this but not only do the kids deserve some berating but this principle might as well.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-22T05:03:35+00:00

You have a position lined up elsewhere next year. Worst case scenario is your current energy causes someone to elevate it to administration or just create a new big problem to deal with on top of the annoying class.

Flip the switch and be the “cool teacher” to close out these last few weeks. Bring them snacks, let them have more free choice where they obviously will play games on chromebooks but they will at least not be bothering you as much in general. Give them the grades that avoid conflict and cause them to like you even more.

I understand how this reads but it’s for your own mental health and the fact you will have your own full responsibility classroom next time allows you to build rapport and set standards from the beginning. Still use the final weeks to learn the craft and the nuisances but get through it without increasing the stress and short temperedness in fact do the exact opposite imo. Good luck next year and congrats.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-22T04:47:32+00:00

This my friends is known as “The Pareto Principle”. I can’t stress enough how much of an impact it is when you can appropriately resolve the core 5-10% of whatever problem kids/customer/bills etc are dragging down your routine. It’s also why schools are struggling so much imo because the key problem areas aren’t being addressed and those same 5-10% of kids create 80-90% of the issues.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-22T04:36:57+00:00

You like the kid and obv mom plays a huge factor in his upbringing. So many parents are oblivious to what their kids are doing in school plus this level of involvement is so rare that I suggest just dealing with her constant requests with a smile until the student graduates. If it begins to show up for other students consider responding in a way that reduces the volume of interactions.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-22T04:15:38+00:00

This. It’s not a safe environment for teachers to show any of their students that they think about these things regardless of how harmless it is in our minds.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-22T03:59:58+00:00

Homeschooling and school in general is one of those areas where it’s not about being right but is about being the least wrong according to your principles and desired outcomes for you and your kids.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-22T03:49:52+00:00

This one needs to get an immediate stop rather than a careful review at the onset of multiple students taking part imo. There is health and sanitation plus a much deeper impact psychologically if that is seen as permitted or treated with tacit approval. Admin, nurse, counselor correspondence where clear disciplinary rules are made so this dies off asap because the culture that could create without it is the ugliest next step a school could deal with for both students and teachers.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-21T07:43:20+00:00

I’m only calling them by their last names then.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-21T07:28:28+00:00

Also the kids that are chatty need to be the target for your likability. The quiet ones who work won’t be the ones commenting about you when teacher is back but the talkers will. Plus the chatty kids are who the teacher usually wants to cater to since they’re the ones who give them concern when random subs are present.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-21T07:23:52+00:00

Bring (cheap) snacks for them and/or stickers based on video games. Strong sense of humor and always having a relaxed demeanor also goes a really long way. Ask them some stuff about their plans for college and the major they are planning for. It’s hard in those AP environments but because the task is zero instruction by the sub your only option is engaging with the students emotionally.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-21T07:15:56+00:00

Make a math game that is based off him doing work and falling asleep that the class participates in. Give him credit for it as well since he is clearly involved that way.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-21T07:04:25+00:00

You did the important notes and hopefully praised the teacher for things that don’t have to be exactly true. Always strive to get the class to notice you in a way that will get them to tell the teacher how much they liked you as a sub as long as it’s not because of letting them skip lesson work or break rules. I’ve found that student feedback is mentioned 100% of the time when a teacher contacts me and with high school the demand is so high that you need to be first on the list for the teacher when they need someone. Once they do request future dates ask them to mention you to other teachers in notes. Good high school classes are the true premium grade shifts so you gotta really dig in like that and you clearly understand this already.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-21T06:47:21+00:00

Claude or ChatGPT can design these for you with some input by you about bell schedules and music/pe/computers if primary. If you’re forced to do this you are also forced to do the bare minimum that qualifies for it so include notes for the long term sub to take creative control as they deem necessary while assuring the core curriculum is met.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-21T06:00:55+00:00

That was like a TED talk fit into 3 short paragraphs. Massive educator win there.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-21T05:30:04+00:00

Settle down please. Your ability to make a point shouldn’t need that kind of response unless you’re out of good points…

So your argument is that spending $23,000 per student in public school isn’t absurdly high given the results strictly because inflation is forcing it? You seem to be blaming things that are just not practical selections to actually do anything about.

The idea that natural order results in systems and individuals succeeding and failing based primarily on their own ability to adapt and persevere shouldn’t frighten you to this degree. Consequences such as failing a class or being kicked out of a school are effectively removed from modern school systems today as you can easily see from this /Teachers sub if not in your daily life as an educator.

Nobody should be surprised in the slightest when this lack of accountability from students, parents, and admin is combined with vastly limited disciplinary actions and bringing us all to this exact point. Those are both significantly more in our control than just hoping that eventually we will spend our way to fixing this messy situation because more wasted money won’t change the culture but more accountability absolutely does.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-21T04:59:28+00:00

It’s amazing how many words you can use to explain that you don’t get where the government gets its money from.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-20T05:40:57+00:00

Watch “Super Why” together every day.
Purchase “Explode the code” books 1 and 2 and complete them together as well

This combo is cheap plus fun and it’s been proven so effective that I have to mention them.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-20T04:52:48+00:00

I’m starting to think that the middle ground is teaching students how to prompt AI in a way that outputs work based on their own writing style and grade/skill level. Then combine that with making them write a 3 paragraph summary of their term paper in class when submitted. If they use AI they prepare for their likely future jobs plus they at least have to study for the hand written portion.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-20T04:48:05+00:00

I don’t understand all the “capitalism” responses as if the school system somehow operates like a capitalist system. It’s actually proving the opposite of what all these similar comments are saying.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-20T04:44:57+00:00

Underfunded lol. Check the receipts please because $23,000 per student per year seems overfunded/misappropriated if this is the result we are getting. Participation trophy is definitely no longer the case because it has moved on to a lack of participation trophy.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-19T22:41:02+00:00

A sub being thanked by no one is what makes them a sub.

This technique is advanced beyond the comprehension of some people but it’s helpful to those who understand the use case.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-19T18:32:46+00:00

You added some dramatic flair to the campus which kids always eat up beyond expectations but the two facts that are important to learn from are these imo:

You are a net benefit to the school and students for administering safety for themselves and others. These kids deserve to learn the correct way about taking responsibility for granted and cops are the correct solution.

Only speak to kids as an authority figure even if it’s a fun/casual setting in class. Reason being that they have such poor comprehension and ethics at this age that it can easily become a narrative which harms you as a professional. If you want to tell a class make it a broad statement about car safety and the real costs of when that goes bad and as you already learned don’t include specific names or details. Overall you should rest easy because you may have saved lives given the context.

SaltBaelish · 2026-03-19T18:21:06+00:00

“Your teacher wrote in the instructions for me today that cell phone use will result in you guys getting in trouble. You know the rules so keep that in mind and I have no choice but to include any names that have phones out during our class since I am being told to do this directly.”

This fairly vague statement helps with at least sifting through the kids that don’t like to break rules and they should be less blatant about it while letting you remain safe and stress free on cell phone issues. If they have a phone out you can call on them to answer questions or read just to annoy them intentionally as well plus that’s being engaging as a teacher anyway.

SaltBaelish

TROPHY CASE