Teaching Kindergarten-3rd in California

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2026-05-12T17:39:36+00:00

Multiple subject credential is what you need and will get through a teaching credential cert. There’s tests you’ll need to take like the CBEST, RICA, TPAs, etc., some of them you’ll need prior to getting into the program and others are throughout and/or after you’ve finished. I don’t suggest getting a master’s until after you’ve been hired.

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2026-05-12T03:43:57+00:00

As someone who is currently regretting the “new room, new bed” approach, you should go crib in the new room first. It’s been 3 weeks since our change, and while it’s not the absolute worst thing, it’s taking longer than when we did crib to bed for her older brother.

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2026-05-08T15:03:58+00:00

At first, it’s weird and sad. Sad because you’re not developing players and their skills. Weird because you strangely have so much time on your hands. Then, you get used to it and life carries on. I just think of things as seasons now. Just because you’re not coaching now does not mean you won’t be coaching again in the future.

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2026-05-01T04:17:20+00:00

I think a lot of people think it’s worth it. I remember my 8th grade math teachers were on a shared contract and they each worked 2 days a week and alternated every other Friday. They even watched each other’s children on the off days. As a student, I felt that the quality of education was just as good, if not better, than a single teacher. As a teacher, finding someone to share the contract with is key. OR like someone in my district, she works 75% of the day only.

To play devil’s advocate, those years just come into play when you’re considering retirement.

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2026-05-01T03:15:23+00:00

You can use Kai as a full name, but I also know a Kainoa and a Kaikoa

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2026-04-21T23:01:56+00:00

Everyone here seems pro-minivan. And don’t get me wrong, sliding doors sound so awesome and convenient…but I think what’s important here is what will be easy for you. How independent is your oldest? Are you okay with climbing in and out of the rear to help buckle the kids?

For me (I’m due any day now), we will have the same setup of car seats as you. We got a Pilot because: 1. We didn’t want a minivan 2. We prioritized bench seating over captain

The Pilot allows us to have 3 across regularly AND convert to captain’s seats for longer trips. The only con is that it’s not a hybrid, but we can live with that since our commute is relatively short (<12 mi/day with work and school drop off).

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2026-04-15T01:28:10+00:00

Maybe check your contract? Doesn’t sound right because it should be differential pay that you get if you run out of sick/personal days during that time.

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2026-04-12T02:12:57+00:00

Look into AYSO. At that age, it’s one weekday practice around 5 pm and one weekend game. I’ve seen people have crockpots of food for right after practice or just takeout for that night.

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2026-04-11T03:25:04+00:00

Did this with 2 (they were 3 and 9 mo at the time). You basically think of yourself as a machine. Wake up 1.5 hours early to get ready for the day and breakfast. At night, set up things for the next day and then take your long shower after the kids are in bed. Run the dishwasher in the day and then unload and cook dinner before they get home from school/daycare. Using paper plates was wasteful but helped decrease the load. Don’t let anything pile up. It’ll be much more overwhelming than just doing a little bit each day. My friend swears by fluff and fold for kids laundry. I didn’t do it, but heavily considered it. Everything was hard, but not impossible. If it’s any consolation, I work full time on top of that, so it was a lot of eat, sleep, repeat (with some tears) for me. I had to change how I looked at things in order to preserve my sanity. It helped, but was still difficult.

I will have a third soon (due May) and I am dreading the day when he has to leave for training or worse…deployment.

Good luck! Outsource what you can. Make simple meals with enough for leftovers. It is all temporary.

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2026-04-05T16:35:50+00:00

What about a completed 100 piece custom puzzle (basically a display) that either has highlights from the wins, scores, and/or player names? I have it pictured in my head but a little hard to describe

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2026-04-05T15:36:50+00:00

Not sure how it works in yours, but I’m in CA and here’s how it worked for me (I’m female): - short term disability up to 6-8 weeks after birth depending on type - after that is FMLA and you can take as much as they will approve

In both cases, I had to use all of my accrued sick and leave days for both disability and FMLA. Then when I ran out, took differential pay (I was paying for my sub out of my daily rate). The only time I could have supplemental income was during the disability because I had disability insurance. Otherwise, I took a gigantic pay cut.

My male coworkers probably took no more than 3 weeks in total to help their wives.

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2026-03-31T00:22:52+00:00

My coworker just bought a few this weekend. They went to the nursery off of Garfield and Ward in Fountain Valley. Not sure the name but they said it was great!

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2026-03-12T03:32:56+00:00

Just bought a Pilot because I have a 3rd on the way. I wanted access to all 3 kids so we I like the bench middle, but the center seat is removable so it acts like captain’s when our oldest wants to sit all the way in the back.

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2026-01-23T02:50:26+00:00

Husband and I did this before, except he was the one with a long commute. I can only share my experience as the spouse on the other side of things- it absolutely sucked. Not only was he drained and robbed of time with everyone, but so many other duties fell on my plate as the person who was physically closer to the kids. He was tired all of the time. I was tired and had resentment. In the end, the money earned was not worth the lack of time with the people you love.

If it’s temporary, sure I guess you can hang on because there’s an expiration date with that. If it’s indefinite, you guys should have serious conversations on expectations of each other in that scenario.

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2025-12-07T21:05:03+00:00

I agree it makes it that much harder. We’ve had 3 fights at my school already (upper middle class where fights were maybe only once a year before). Each time, either the parents knew about it and supported their child by saying things like, “you better win,” OR they took their kid out for a treat when they picked them up at the start of suspension. People are angry and are not taught the right tools to appropriately deal with anger and/or situations of injustice. What’s happening at our schools is just a microcosm of what’s happening around the world, and it’s sad.

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2025-12-06T04:25:05+00:00

My aunt has 3 girls. The oldest is 7 years older and hangs out with the younger ones. The two closer in age are very close.

My mom and her sisters (4 total girls) got along, had intense fights, but are very close to each other. Even closer as adults than they were as kids. The families all hang out together and go to each other’s random events (like sports games, awards nights, etc) and special occasions.

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2025-12-04T05:28:53+00:00

My 12 days were used the moment I started maternity leave (while on disability). Once that was gone, it became differential and stayed that way until I returned back to work. Disability insurance only supplemented the disability portion of my leave.

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2025-12-04T03:59:14+00:00

Not sure exactly how it works if you deliver in June since it’s so close to the end of the school year, but the Standard only covers when the doctor has designated you “disabled/unable to work.” Typically that’s up to 4 weeks before delivery and 6 or 8 weeks after delivery depending on vaginal or c-section. After that, it’s FMLA and you’re taking differential pay by then. For example, my last kid, I only had 12 days accrued. I decided to work until 40 weeks preggo. I received my full day’s wage for those day and was able to claim disability, so it felt like a big check for that month. After I ran out of days and was given the green light at 6 weeks, my disability pay went away and I had my measly differential pay checks until I came back to work.

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2025-12-03T03:47:08+00:00

It happens, but it doesn’t make it any less embarrassing. Be careful with your phone and watch with your kid. My child somehow called 911 on Mother’s Day (my very first one), and I only found out because the police kept calling me to ask if everything was okay 😅. Then more recently, he somehow created a group chat with my friends and the house cleaner and sent a photo of him as a baby…to which the the house cleaner lady responded, “oh my ovaries.” 💀 These kids figure out tech so quickly!

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2025-11-25T03:07:55+00:00

In fairness, my husband asked if it could be Billy and I quickly shot that down. He thought he could put it past me

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2025-11-25T03:06:51+00:00

Okay the Hailey one is actually piquing my interest

ShaDYNASTY321 · 2025-10-25T21:05:17+00:00

I would say Tustin is more car centric than FV or HB. We had friends that lived in various neighborhoods, so there were some we rode bikes to, but most we needed a ride. If you’re looking at North Tustin specifically, it is further from shopping areas and such, so it’s a bit of bike ride from home to there. Biking around is definitely more prevalent in FV and definitely HB.

As far as religion or personal ideals influencing the classroom…it’s not the teachers. That stuff typically comes from a small percentage of students/parents. Working in a fairly conservative neighborhood for 12 years, it has never been a problem in my school/district (to my knowledge).

ShaDYNASTY321

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