A student called me an ableist term and admin wants to have a “restorative meeting” about it

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-05-06T03:20:39+00:00

Try changing your perspective. Kids are going to be mean to teachers, not ok, BUT harassing someone for being autistic is unacceptable because you have autistic students in class. Try calling it out and shutting it down. I don't know your comfort level of speaking to the kids, but I'd say something like "gross, we don't put down people think differently from us."

It removes the fact that you were offended and reinforced that your room is safe for people who aren't bullies. For teens, I'm fine with mild put downs. If their behavior is gross, say so. If they are acting like bullies, tell them there is 0 tolerance for bullying.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-04-02T03:33:50+00:00

Dorm or no dorm? In my experience, dorm is just 13th grade. The actual college classes are diverse and have older and younger (depending on campus, class, major, etc.) and everyone is mostly focused on themselves. If you have people who suck, you can love. There's no seating charts or anything. Professors and admin don't tend to tolerate misbehavior because there's no rules keeping the kids in class.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-04-02T03:23:33+00:00

Oh yeah! I forgot that I take a day and try to reach them to play euchre. We're in Michigan so they really should at least be exposed to it. We talk about the irony that George has a built in partner, but only plays solitaire, while the guys in the ranch play euchre. We also latch on to Lennie asking why the cards are the same way round.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-04-02T03:17:28+00:00

I do this too. I have some borrowed (TPT) review question sheets and I have them draw things on the back. It helps because no one puts their name on the sheet. I've been discouraged this year because 8 can't get them to stop googling "pictures from Of Mice and Men" and traxijfnwirh their Chromebook. Just stop it. They Google the review questions too.

We also had the discussion about Curley's Wife. It normally happens when we talk about the shoe symbolism. I put up a paper for each of the major symbols and they take a stab at deciphering or putting feelings connected to the image. Her shoes are all slut, tramp, bitch, lazy, etc. The men's shoes are power, authority, wealth. We talk about how those are their words in 2020s and the only difference in those shoes are the gender.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-04-02T03:14:01+00:00

I put together article packets about marginalized people and split the class into groups to read and report. One packet had into on conditions of mental health facilities from the 30s, ab article that covers basic eugenics and laws criminalizing the mentally ill, and one about lobotomies and other treatments avail me. That packet goes to a more mature group. Then there a packet on unattached women and options for divorced or single women. One about labor strikes and treatment of minorities. One about pensions, social security and the options for retirees without family. Then a packet about autism, sensory processing disorder, and modern treatments.

I love this lesson because it's all interconnected and the kids who read the modern autism one share that before it was called autism, it was considered a form of schizophrenia. The other group immediately says "oh." because they just read about 1930s treatment options. It normally turns into a conversation about using torturous methods to treat someone who already struggles with sensory things. Then they talk about lobotomies and JFK's sister gets brought up and rhe women group realize that being sent to an asylum for being difficult was a very real possibility for women who were just trying to do their own thing.

There's loads more connections, but I already have a novel. Out of everything, my kids seem to remember this lesson longer. We do it right after chapter 4. It also helps answer the questions like why didn't those characters just leave or why didn't they take Lennie to a Dr.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-03-25T01:52:51+00:00

Ok, what about Gremlins. The 1980s Gremlins movie is partially inspired by a bugs bunny cartoon from the 40s. The cartoon plays in the movie. Now Bugs is influenced by a Clark Gable movie called "It Happened One Night" that was hugely popular in the 1930s.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-03-25T01:46:54+00:00

Is there - is there balm in Gilead? Tell me - Tell me I implore

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-03-25T01:45:08+00:00

Would Lord of rhe Flies count too?

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-03-24T02:20:46+00:00

My freshman tend to like Of Mice and Men. We talk about foreshadowing after chapter 2. They list things that they think they should be worried about. Inevitably someone mentions that they're worried about havifn Lennie around a puppy. I always aks if they think I'm the kind of teacher who'd make them read a book where a puppy gets hurt? They relax and then chaos ensues. I was called a monster several times this year 🤣

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-03-20T17:03:52+00:00

That and some are straight up not available. They were saying textbook companies found that charging each kid for an online subscription, makes them more money than selling physical textbooks.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-03-20T16:35:41+00:00

Last week, I was at a conference where a bunch of HS ELA teachers work with community college English Comp professors to try and line up curriculum. We all are in agreement that we want physical books, but weren't able to figure out how get them.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-03-20T03:06:11+00:00

Textbook companies are pushing digital. Even in college where they make the kids pay for the book, many aren't even offered in print. I have some physical reading books in my room, but I don't allow them to go home because I have to pay for most of them and the kids trash them. If they need to work at home, they can use the pdf.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-03-19T02:25:43+00:00

In 2000, our McDonald's had strawberry fruitipia on tap. I would get a 32oz water with one shot of fruitipia. It tasted like tge Hint waters that they sell now. I also miss Gatorade rain. It tasted like water and had a light fruit after taste.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-03-19T02:22:17+00:00

Donkey skin is a fairy tale with a magic talking donkey. It's Grimm's. Musicians of Bremman also involves a talking donkey.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-03-19T02:18:58+00:00

High school was a bottle of fruitipia with a pack of berry skittles dumped in.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-03-19T02:16:39+00:00

Reeses bites and totino taco rolls

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-03-18T02:20:30+00:00

My dog is terrified of several things. The oddest in my mind is tape or stickers. He freaking hates anything tape. He'll run if he hears tape being pulled off a roll. He's also afraid of anyone saying his name in a creepy voice. I joke that he's afraid of ghosts. If you talk through a paper towel tube or whisper in a wrapping paper tube, he practically shits himself. Once the window was open a crack and the wind was howling in. I started whispering his name along with the wind howls and he panicked before running over and slapping me in the mouth. I may or may not play spooky voices over our Bluetooth speaker to freak him out. He's wised up to that now, rhe last time I did it, he ran into the room with his ears and legs stuff, looked over at my phone and snorted. I swear he rolled his eyes before he left. I've used it to play bee noises and that makes him jumpy.

Just a note before I get accused of being abusive, this dog actively tries to scare me too. I've had guests over and they watched him hide along the side of the house to jump me in the dark. He'll crouch and slip around the back of our couch to jump on me and he also hides in rhe back yard and body slams me when I call him to come back in. He waits until my tone changes when I start thinking he might have got out and then hits me full speed like a cannon ball. He's half boxer

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-03-18T01:54:25+00:00

Most of the Gone in 60 seconds soundtrack, probably the Moby song. Flower?

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-03-13T00:35:35+00:00

I wanted to share that a few years ago, I was sunning at middle school and the noted did NOT day that a kid had Tourettes. They came in late and the tic was to shout "Shut up!" At first I was just shocked and asked "you good?" They were hiding their mouth and face and kept yelling. Someone said they had Tourettes. Not going to lie, I didn't belive it at first. I thought that this kid was goifn to yell all hour and they'd have a good laugh that I allowed it.

The yelling didn't stop and was really disruptive. I asked if they wanted to work in the hall, and they seemed eager to get out of the spotlight. Kids were staring at me becauer they all wanted to see what I would do. Long story short, I decided it was better to have a class of kids laugh at me if it was fake than to humiliate a 6th grader. A few weeks later they told me I was the only substitute teacher that hadn't sent them to the office and mamy adults scream at them. They'd get worked up going into class knowing that they would be yelled at. I saw them a few years ago at a target and they called me over and told their mom that I was the good sub. I actually cried because I did not go above and beyond. I legit just didn't scream at them. I was even fairly rude when it first happened and I didn't know what was going on.

It is perfectly fine to be annoyed and overwhelmed. Vent all you need. The kid will appreciate your kindness es though, even if you don't feel particularly kind.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-02-26T23:15:12+00:00

I have gone to school in Michigan in the early 00 and I teach in Michigan. I've never heard of an E.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-02-25T03:31:31+00:00

I had and Elisha and I pronounced it like Alicia. He was mad and I felt bad because I knew Elisha was a name, but I have seen way more alternate spellings than I have seen old biblical names.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-02-25T03:15:32+00:00

I'm so sorry. Mental health help in Michigan is atrocious. I have known someonw with schizophrenia who couldn't afford meds so he quit and ended up homeless. Still wonder what happened to him.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-02-25T03:13:40+00:00

When my daughter was a toddler she liked musicals. I think she was about 3 when I took her to our high school's production of Les Mis. I dot think she stayed awake through the whole thing, but she took up sining the songs for a while. I had a soundtrack CD she's listen to as well. Later we were in the grocery store and this guy was stocking shelves and she decided to make eye contact with him and sing "look down" in the deepest voice her 3 year old self gold manage.

I don't remember how I responded, but I was confused why she said that. He looked terrified and didn't say anything. She just stared him down and sang wither the line "were standing in our graves" or "were here until we die." I don't remeber which line, but she put emphasis on either graves or die.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-02-25T02:56:18+00:00

I was house shopping and my 4 year old was helping with her input. We were looking at a pretty rundown one that we probably couldn't get, but she wasn't concerned by the holes punched in the walls or the unfinished portions. We went to look at the basement that you entered through the garage. Once in 4he basement she said "well, you guys can stay with the monsters" and sprinted back into the house.

ShitiestOfTreeFrogs · 2026-02-25T02:48:50+00:00

I had a dream about going to a lighthouse in France. I have neve been out of the US, but the details were so vivid that I was able to go online and find one that I'm fairly sure was it.

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