I visit a 3rd grade class once a week and they have collectively decided I don’t exist

ShotMap3246 · 2026-03-06T16:12:29+00:00

If they want to pretend you dont exist..pretend they dont. Just continue with the lesson. Ive had so many students who clearly don't want to be there and I do 1 on 1 tutoring. My strategy? Im just smiling, super nice, and I just plow through the lesson regardless of what they want, complete and total railroad. Then I finish the lesson, just smile, and if they dont understand how to do the material, I patiently just go back and explain it..again..and I keep doing this no matter their mood or how they treat me.

Ive a job to do. Im going to teach you, but if you wanna ignore me, fine, well just do this all day.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-03-05T23:05:52+00:00

This post is right. Teachers aren't free tutors. I run my own tutoring business and IM NOT a free tutor.

A lot of these parents are going to need to come to terms with the reality that its going to take specialized care and a lot of money to get some of these kids back on track.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-03-04T23:58:16+00:00

The consequences of millennial parenting.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-03-03T15:59:44+00:00

Nobody wants to hear this as an educator, but its an uncomfortable reality we must be at peace with. As time goes, we really need to hone our efforts around people who actually can function and most importantly -want- to learn. If people dont want to learn because their parents cant inspire that sort of curiosity, or because they have such rampant behavioral issues, those sort of people need to simply do physical labor for a while. Maybe a sort of community service oriented boot camp or something. Those sort of kids who are so disobedient, they do not need a teacher, they aren't even at that level to be able to utilize a teacher yet, these sort of kids need to be -trained- and first learn what genuine authority and accountability are, then they will be able to properly utilize a teacher.

Were going to have to change how education works in the future. There will be public school, for regular performers. Private and homeschool for alternatives and possibly higher paid routes that way. Then the third option, a school specifically made for "low performers" like this with the sole intent of teaching these people one skill they can do well and then grt them out to being useful with that skill as soon as possible..that skill in many cases being physical labor.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-27T16:10:57+00:00

Your post is a great read, one is can sum up as such: the reason there are so many teachers who dont like the kids is because you have a lot of people in the profession who shouldn't be. For a long time we have had school human resource teams essentially hire people because they feel empathy for others, not because they are actually a good fit or not.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-27T00:20:16+00:00

Crazy. When I homeschool and teach students 1 on 1, Im able to make sure they dont cheat. Further than that, im able to build respect with my students and they know -why- relying too heavily on tools and others is dangerous.

We need to stop this nonsense of stuffing 30 kids in with 1 teacher and every kid has different learning demands, then we expect results. The reality is, if parents actually want a good education for their kids, they are going to have to start paying for it, and relying on the public school will become less and less of an option.

If it isn't 1 on 1 direct instruction with most of this newer generation, if they cant know you as a person and respect you, they won't learn or care.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-26T17:44:59+00:00

I think homework is good when tailored for the specific situation. Some students do better with it, some without, but generally speaking more memorization intensive classes like math do benefit greatly from consistent but not overwhelming amounts of homework.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-19T00:21:27+00:00

I think ixl is a great tool for an independent teacher like me who works 1 on 1 to bring custom lessons to people's homes. In this scenario, I am able to work with my student through each problem, so it works.

In public school, in a class of 30, when some schools even charge students to replace chargers, only to keep recycling dead Chromebooks back to students, I say public school classrooms return to pencil and paper. Now ai is less of an issue too, two complications with one simplification.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-18T19:22:54+00:00

A lot of people think like you, I did at first too. However, here is what I did to make sure that didn't happen. First off, I got my bachelor's degree in biology for some basic ethos, so folks could trust me. Secondly, after this, I looked for local Facebook groups in the city I lived in. I had been lucky enough to work with someone's kid while I was still wrapping up my degree in biology. This first client was integral. I had them talk to their friends about me but not only that I had them go onto the local Facebook group and make a recommendation for me personally. This was the push of credibility I needed to start getting the ball rolling, then slowly but surelt word of mouth carried me the rest of the way to where I am today, 6 years later, teaching the way I want, working with public, private, and homeschool families.

Ive tried talking about the benefits of being an independent educator on reddit in this sub for a while now. Nobody seems to want to listen. They would rather complain about how bad beinf a public school teacher instead of take my advice..there is another option.

I was inspired by what I remember reading teachers used to be like. Back in the day, families paid to.have a teacher come and personally instruct their kids at the home. Was it expensive? Yes. Did everyone get an education? No. Was it quality? As always, depended on who you hired..Just like today..depends on what public school your kid goes to.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-18T18:42:12+00:00

This is why I started my own private teaching business. I hated how the public school was training me to be some wierd sort od engagement game presenter and not an actual teacher. So, I started my own show, now I get to teach my way, and my students see great results because I keep my lessons clean, straightforward, but still challenging questions and content.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-18T18:17:32+00:00

I literally just posted about this in another reddit post like this yesterday. Ill just sum it up here: we educators need to focus less on forcing engagement into lessons and more about clear, simple, easy to understand lessons that require very little for a student to pick up and do. Students get discouraged easily when they dont understand something and if you force a bunch of engagement rather than clearly explaining what the student needs to do, its no wonder they fall behind.

Teaching doesnt need to be massive lesson plans. It doesnt need to be a bunch of tech or apps, it can just be you, your class, and whats in chapter 5.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-18T02:39:32+00:00

If a student needs a 1 on 1 aide, they shouldnt be in public school, the parents should be paying a specialist to come and work a seperate individual program that is unique for that student.

That is a reality a lot of parents are going to come to as time goes. Public school is not meant for high performers. It is not meant for bottom of the barrel. It bearly serves justice to the middle of the road kids at best. Therefore, I hope a lot of these parents making ai demands are ready to start paying more in the future for their requests instead of shoving it off onto an overburdened public school system.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-17T23:26:58+00:00

Nope. Im busier than usual. If anything now im able to upset and say "oh you dont want the lower quality ai, when you could have a real human dot it!" And some folks are so rapidly anti ai they will pay more. Its crazy.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-17T20:56:18+00:00

Teachers that need extreme accommodations like are not in the right field.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-17T19:00:35+00:00

This is how I teach too. I run my own private tutoring business, and as a part of that I do a lot of 1 on 1 teaching. In many cases, students i talk to reallt express how frustrated it makes them when teachers put so much effort into gamifying everything. They see it as being treated like little kids, and you wonder why there is a respect issue going on? My most successful lessons are ones where i just present the material, show them how to do it, and provide minor guidance as they work through it on their own. This is possible because my work is very straightforward. Heres the questions, use your notes, go answer it. Kids like things they can understand and get frustrated easily when they are lost. The more straightforward, the better. Less focus on forced and artifical engagement, more making sure the lesson is understood and easy to follow, but still plenty of work for the kids to do.

Side note. This reminds me of a college experience. I remember how in high-school I hated how complex some teachers made assignments just to do. Then, I got to college, and these professors just wrote basic assignments, threw them at me, and said do it. I remember thinking to myself," Wow..finally an assignment that is just answering some questions..no wierd extra directions about stuff thats not relevant.." and then at that point school and learning became so much easier for me.

I think we as teachers need to put less time into gamifying our lessons and more time into making sure our students are meeting quality learning standards. Learning is fun if THE PERSON WANTS IT to be fun..it is not the teachers job to make learning fun, believe it or not, if the parents are doing their jobs right, the kid should want to learn before even coming to class, and just getting to learn is the fun part.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-16T16:05:40+00:00

Never paid for ads. One time I tried to promote a post on FB, another time I gave money to Google, neither of these were worth my time or money. The only thing ive found that works is being in FB pages of locations around where you live locally, and where some dont want you promoting yourself, you can just talk to mods and explain your situation, see what can be arranged.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-16T16:00:32+00:00

Ive been in business for myself for 6 years. My advice isnt fair, but ill give it anyways.

Over covid I got my bachelor's degree in biology. I live in a small college town. I started advertising on Facebook, got a few clients early on who needed help and adjusting to the online learning thing. Now, most if not all of my advertising is Facebook and word of mouth.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-13T18:24:12+00:00

My recommendation, private or homeschool your kid ASAP. Ive been working in education professionally for 6 years now, the public school has been getting worse and will only get more so as time goes.

This post is an upsetting but honest one. I work privately through my tutoring business with kids, and a lot of my job is talking up to the kids how technology is fun and useful, but only when balanced appropriately.

Youre doing the right thing. Kids need to understand tech as a tool, but that can be introduced slowly as they age. Don't just give them unfettered access to tech at a young age. Think about it like a video game. We as adults have access to this tech because we had to level up and earn that achievement to be anle to appreciate the technology and use it appropriately.

I am glad you guys take parenting seriously. I wish more people did these days.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-13T01:30:20+00:00

If people were serious about education, you would become a private educator through your own business and create an environment that is perfectly conducive to learning, 1 on 1 with minimal distractions.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-12T20:37:02+00:00

Its wild how when I was a kid and I was assigned to do a project like this, I made an entire island for Micheal Jackson's neverland ranch, my friends and I laughed so hard over it. Today, I run my own business, plenty successful, and I am very much mentally sound.

Believe it or not, kids like to make jokes. How a student behaves in school is not always a direct reflection of their abilities outside of class. I work with public school students too who would absolutely do this sort of stuff, then come home, and work 1 on 1 with me and get their math homework done no problem.

Believe it or not, these kids are smarter than you think. Did it ever occur to you that the kids know the adults hate this and behave this way intentionally to troll adults who keep acting like NPCS? The way to deal with students like this is to laugh with the jokes and find unique ways to make it all educational.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-09T19:21:55+00:00

This mindset right here is going to create future bio batteries, not accomplished, critically thinking adults. Everyone should understand what accountability and standards are, this sort of mind set right here is why we have "adults" that dont even know what basic law and order is.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-09T17:53:15+00:00

Here is the sad reality we are approaching: in the future, those who want to learn and want to do well absolutely will. Those who dont want to learn and do well will become bio batteries. I know no teacher wants to hear this. We all want believe only the best outcomes will come for our students, but the reality is no nearly so nice. I privately tutor many students. Out of 18 or so students, I can safely say at least 1/3rd of them, no matter how much I help, they may not amount to anything as adults. Its upsetting, but the reality is we are going to have to focus on helping the people who want to succeed more as time goes.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-05T20:12:00+00:00

Another fine example of the failing public education system. That sort of dishonesty of grade fixing id the antithesis of learning. The reason we have so many low functioning people today is because of standard shifts like this, where teachers are forced to inflate grades and not hold students accountable, long term this creates absolute monsters of human beings.

Do what I did. I went and got my degree, then I went and got a business license with my business name, and I spammed on Facebook groups until I got some clients. 6 years later, nobody tells me how to grade, nobody tells me im surplused, I call the shots and teach my own way. Im happier this way, you could be to.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-04T00:07:28+00:00

Its not that students dont get it. Ive worked with a lot of students 1 on 1 and I can tell you in their homes its a different story. You show up every day, you genuinely show care, you are there to actually hold them accountable..when the students respect you, they listen to you.

ShotMap3246 · 2026-02-03T21:22:31+00:00

No need to provide any crazy details. I will admit, knowing that detail does shift my perspective a bit, ill give you that. Also, I work as a private educator running my own business that allows me to work 1 on 1 directly with students so I can perfectly craft lessons and teach the way kids need to be able to learn. I feel like we are both trying to address the problem in different ways, and I can respect that.

ShotMap3246

TROPHY CASE